triumphgal

I keep a sticky note pad of things I want to share daily, random thoughts, etc. The list is decent today but I can’t do it. I have to go to bed. I struggled to get my 8 billable hours in today. It took me almost 10. I feel like dirt. My symptoms are on ‘the list’. I am pretty sure I have just managed to catch a cold or flu although I have had a flu shot and Lord knows where I would have picked up any bug… I called 811, the Covid-19 line and both the person who screened me initially and the nurse who took the call after were kind and calm. Dr. Bonnie would be proud. I did hit several markers I guess as I was given the number to call to make a testing appointment. That woman was also calm and kind and very informative. I will be there at 5 pm tomorrow. And as of today I am on full isolation for 10 days. Until May 27th – lockdown. I have to get a negative result and all symptoms of any kind go away to even go to a store. It’s a shame really, my motorcycle is ready at the shop. Over $700 bucks to get it out… sigh. I may have to give them my cc over the phone and ask them to leave it out for me so I can walk over with my helmet and get it. If I trap my own germs in my fullface, I am pretty sure it would count as isolation and I would find so much joy in a spin right now. I must first feel better though. I shall start with sleep and finish sharing tomorrow, if the good Lord’s willing and the creek don’t rise.

A long weekend is such a treat! Just to not have to set an alarm for a third day in a row makes it perfection. I bet this is odd for some people to process, those who haven’t set an alarm in months but there are still some of us who Shout from the rooftops (as my friend Trevor puts it) TFGIF!!!! Expletive included for emphasis.

While in the UK in September I purchased a treat to bring home and after having one I decided to keep the other for a special occasion which as it happens turned out to be breakfast on Victoria Day. It’s just a funny supermarket dessert but was nummy and reminded me of the dear Hearndens. I do wonder when we shall ever see each other again what with the new world order.

I spent quite a bit of time Spring cleaning, rearranging my bedroom, etc., almost.. nesting. I even cleaned poor George’s bowl. I am scared I will traumatize him out of this world every time I do it. I do hope he hangs in until tomorrow and then I won’t be afraid to check in on him.

It is tradition in the Rocky Mountains to plant your garden the May Long as one hopes the threat of frost has passed. I knew my friend Maureen had some transplants for me and I had researched the selfwatering system I’d been gifted so masked up and off to the garden centre I went. I dare say Home Depot had this part very well organized. I needed bags of dirt for this system and wanted to grab some foliage while I was at it. I came away with some beautiful vines and hopeful tomato and cuke plants as well as some flowery things and a blueberry bush of all things. Oh and sweet peas. Sweet Peas and gladiolas always remind me of my Nana. Juanita (Houghtaling) Bellavance was a force to be reckoned with and I adored her. She taught me to gamble and smoke and drink and wear dangly earrings and red lipstick. These are all fine qualities in a lady if you ask me. She was gone too soon from a heart that didn’t survive her lifestyle. So I planted sweet peas as well.

While I was out there, with the rain beginning, I heard a truck slow down on the road behind me and heard ‘you weren’t supposed to be outside!’ We had a good laugh as a ‘Cranbrook kindness wine fairy’ was trying to make a surprise drop. She left a beautiful bounty. I had done the same for someone else today and it was double fun as I put Tupperware and treats in the cool box my shoes came in from Carnaby Street when I was in London. My surprised lady posted a thank you picture in the Facebook Group and exclaimed her love for Tupperware and the packaging. I had as much joy from that as I did from getting spoiled.

I made a dinner of wontons in chicken noodle soup (surprisingly good and comforting) and watched Capernaum and then American Factory.

It seems this weekend has been a study in cultures far removed from mine. Armchair travel.

Capernaum was mezmerizing and similar in style to Roma, complete with subtitles. Life in Lebanon from the vantage of a child. What a child!

American Factory was a documentory about Fuyao Glass near Dayton Ohio. The culture clash between the Chinese and American workers was interesting and informative. The filmmakers did a good job of not editorializing. I think they showed the flaws in both styles. ( oh, and there were some subtitles, lol)

I do feel more informed about the world out there. What an incredible gift to have these masterpieces available in my own livingroom. What a glorious time in evolution to be distancing. We have every option at our fingertips, every chance to evolve our world, to adapt, to reset, to fail and to rise again. Yes, I know I am using we in a way that applies to certain socio-economic statuses, not everyone…. I do feel blessed

Another enjoyable relaxing and productive day! I started by sorting my digital world; confirming and logging passworks in case of emergency. I then reached out to a couple friends for connection via text and calls. I actually am enjoying that Sunday morning habit. A good friend is church for me. Over the week I think I slowly (and sometimes quickly) wind down and don’t have any chat left in me. Saturday I recoup and by Sunday I am ready to be friendly again. I was inspired by both the communications today. I repotted plants, moved things around and cleaned the dusty corners in my living room.

Last night I won a bid for a table and two chairs on Bidwars and my friends Sean and Diane picked it up for me today. I do still miss my truck but it turned out to be really heavy and I wouldn’t have been able to get it myself.

I wanted it for a dining room table until I can get Jackie’s which is currently in Lac La Hache waiting for me to be able to road trip and get it as my plans were changed last week. The table I have now is a drop leaf with two extra leaves so it expands perfectly for all my work needs. I moved it into my den and claimed my living area back.

It felt so good to start laying out a puzzle and not be in the shadow of work on my off time. I shoved a lot of stuff aside and will have a bunch of sorting to do but I am happy with the results so far.

The news was so sad today, what should have been a pure message of joy ended in the tragic crash of a Snowbird. From the sounds of it the deceased is from Nova Scotia. That poor province has really taken the hits of late.

I watched a few more interesting movies:

1922 – a classic Stephen King (yuck, rats)

Have a Good Trip – a documentary about psychadelic drugs. Don’t look in the Mirror! (true dat)

Roma – honestly, I don’t think my brain could compute the style of this one after the previous two. I also watched “the Road to Roma” afterwards and it made it even more epic.

Got a bunch more done on my blanket but the Roma ones were subtitled so found myself just sitting back and watching.

There was nothing spectacularly interesting, good or bad in this day. It was just pleasant and productive and restful.

I woke up early and fell asleep again, spent 5 hours on some overdue bookkeeping. I like catching people up, feels like I am needed. Went out and mowed the lawn and tackled a huge job. Last year my gazebo was still up when we got our first snow. I used my broom to push the snow off and it ripped the cover. I have a 20 x 30 tarp that I covered my camper with in the winter which the kids had folded up for me when they were all here in April. That sounds so weird given they live 4 minutes away. I managed to get the gazebo together at a certain level, arrange the tarp over everything and then put the legs on to lift it all up. It was quite the battle of will at several points and I was sweaty and exhausted but it is up. I will see how it fairs the night and then put up the screens tomorrow. It will be nice to have my staycation spot complete. I am hoping to get my new home office space set up as I don’t want it in my dining room anymore…

I watched two very interesting movies as I got very far with the blanket I am crocheting. Arrival with Jeremy Renner and Amy Adams made my brain twitch a little bit. It was a reverse tower of Babel. The Imitation Game with Benedict Cumberbatch and Keira Knightly was touching and informative. I saw the Enigma machine in real life so it was interesting to watch this movie about cracking it and this early computer. Also extremely sad statistics at the end.

So, that was it. A very nice start to a May Long Weekend Staycation.

Seems I forgot to hit publish last night, what an odd couple of days. There has been what looks like a horrific stream of deaths of late among my friends and family. From pets to parents and grandparents, friends and loved ones, I ache for their losses and pray they find a way to mourn and celebrate these souls.

Is there anything quite as sweet (or long) as the Friday before a long weekend? I accomplished a great deal today.

My son Jake, whose name turns into Kale if my right hand is not positioned correctly on the keyboard (quite a trendy name it would be), has to go to Vancouver to look at places to rent as he will be moving there soon for work. I am head in the sand over this at the moment. I did think to ask him if he had a mask which he didn’t and was concerned. I prepped a baggy with two fresh ones and another bag for dirty. After I wrote the words I noticed the pictures I had inadvertently chosen to mark.

When he stopped to pick them up on his lunchbreak I got him to help me take the mattress out to my tent trailer so I can set it up as my staycation spot. It was a lovely and active Airbnb the end of last summer. Now it will be my escape. After we were done I broke my protocol and hugged him. Twice, for a long time each. I cried and didn’t want to let go. It wasn’t maudlin or clingy, just Mom and son moment.

I finished some big projects for work and that is always satisfying on a Friday. Took paperwork and swapped it out at the office and brought home a big red plant pot with a papyrus that hadn’t survived so I could plant something that would thrive in it. Sown deep in the dirt are some of the ashes of Jackie’s daughter Lena. Ever since Jackie’s stroke nothing has stayed alive in that pot where once it was a showpiece. It’s all coincidence I am sure but odd timing.

Also did an order online and curbside pickup at Home Depot. It was pretty well organized, took a bit of time as I am pretty sure the order got picked as I waited although I had placed it yesterday. I am happy for the option thought and now I have what I need to trim out the inside of the window. I am not a finishing carpenter, always prefered taking it to lock up and walking away but I am looking forward to doing something that doesn’t involve a screen.

I watched some saved sitcoms and then the special about Garry Marshall this evening. He really had an incredible career and life. What a legacy.

One thing I enjoy about WordPress is the stat map. It gives me joy and an extreme sense of connection when I see where you all live! Thanks for tagging along. Stay safe and sane out there!

Today, it seemed to be a marker of some kind, a moving through or beyond kind of day. I don’t know why but nothing bothered me today. In fact I did pay it forward type of things today even. And I was rewarded in SPADES, well, the joy came my way as well. I am really looking forward to next Friday off as a birthday perk from my employer. Yes, my birthday was in April, when I never get to take it as, well, April in an Accounting Firm.

I got out in the sun for my walk to the mail and around my .125 acres (sounds better than my trailer park property) and noticed that my rhubarb is weird. I may not have looked last year but isn’t that weird

I love a rainy night, it’s a great line in a song but also true to me. Today was high overhead grey and a low grade migraine which signalled, YEP, THUNDER! It was short lived and the sun sort of came out again… although at 9:36 at night I looked out to see an eerie gray sky and still light out.

I planned out my redo of the interior kitchen wall and placed a curbside pickup of my materials at Home Depot so I can pick them up tomorrow after work when I will go out for more work for Tuesday anyway.

Just as my dinner was about to be ready a fave client of mine texted he was on the way with his info. He’s a bit of a cutey and terribly sweet and always makes my day (Yes Diane, you know who it was). No matter what changes I make he keeps asking if I will keep being his bookkeeper. How can I say no to a cute cowboy?

I have come up with a few, if I may say so, witty status for my Fb lately.

Six Feet Apart or 6 Feet Under!

Haha, the sky just opened up again.. good I hope it blows over so no headache tomorrow and well, I love a rainy night.

I also had this realization tonight as I thought about the fact that people won’t know how happy I am to see them:

As an owner of a RBF, I’m thinking that now is the time to be hitting up on a fine species of the male persuasion because, you know, masks

xo

PS RBF = Resting Bitch Face. My smile will light up a room but otherwise I look angry or depressed when I am just listening or thinking.

I apologize to my regular readers for the interruption to broadcasting. It seems that as I was on the treadmill last night I was suddenly just done with the day. Didn’t even come out and turn off my computer, just went straight to bed.

It was another lovely connection kind of day. I am going to try to focus on what is positive although…

I had previously scheduled an older gent a few doors down to come and replace my horrible kitchen window. I had bought the replacement almost two years ago on sale and it was time. As he is 73 I had agreed ahead that he would give me his needs list and I would go to get everything. I booked off an hour at work and went to Home ‘Horror’ Depot. I was very glad to be wearing a mask as there was an issue with distancing, mostly from employees oddly. There were proper set up spacing areas around tills and to get in the store and the garden area but the aisles were harrowing. I started to actually panic so I made my choices and got out of there. Didn’t touch any skin or my mask until I got home. I unloaded the car and then came in and threw everything straight into the washer and did the Dr scrub of all exposed skin.

I can’t believe what a difference one tiny window makes.

It no longer sounds like the kids on the trampoline next door are in my house, more just happy sounds in the distance. Which reminds me, I did a swing by to blow kisses through the protective glass it’s like visiting my grandsons at the zoo….

A little later in the day Jackie FaceTimed from Vancouver and that was really nice. It has been a while and I was worried that she wasn’t connecting because last time when I said I was working she hung up right away. This time I just chattered and showed her my plants and new window and she made happy sounds.

Of course, I had used so much personal time I ended up working later and eating later and texting with my dear Mark. Next thing you know I didn’t even really have time to finish watching Survivor and it was walk and bed time!

I heard a commercial on a Michigan TV station today saying if you were exposed to the covid-19 virus on the job and you or someone you love became ill you should call 1-800-lawyers for assistance with filing a workers compensation claim. Really…. argh. Let the ambulance chasing begin.

Well that was a happy accident! Had just finished messaging and set my phone down to accidentally hit FaceTime… To the UK! Good thing we had been messaging and I knew they were up still. Was such a treat to chat with Nigel and his lovely bride, Linda. They always put a smile in my day. Seems nearly impossible some days and yet, like a spoon full of sugar, as the song goes…

It did make it so I had to make up some work time though and I was finally done a file and off to switch out paperwork at the office around 7pm. Happened I was working on a restaurant file and he wished to have his books back so I called and ordered delicious take-away while I was at it. Pasta made by someone else always makes me sleepy after. Wrapped up party orders and wound down.

I wasn’t going to say anything about my postponed vacation time but in the spirit of it’s effect on me…

Through a ridiculous course of timing, I got upset and left a staff meeting as I was feeling the pressure of what I had to accomplish that day back on March 18th. It seemed to be over but apparently I missed the important announcement that no vacation would be allowed until at least the end of May. So when I checked in on Friday to ask if I could shuffle it two days and was informed it was not allowed I was sorely disappointed which of course made me mad. I do work my tush off all year long and feel that I am a strong team player. This… hurt and felt unfair. That being said, it is my job, if I am to continue working there I must live to the expectations.

The problem is that these ‘small’ things chink away at my armor. My mental health hovers over an abyss. It just sounds so F’ing dramatic but it is true. I don’t process disappointment easily and I had a plan of what I was going to do for me during my time off. It has not been easy to concentrate every day on such important things. I think if they had taken my email as oh no she must have missed that info and said hey we appreciate you deserve that time off but we really need you. Could you please take time in June instead and help us out right now as we are struggling? I would have said ‘of course, what do you need?’ Instead my psyche says screw you, I am hurt and you don’t care. Of course none of any of it matters. There are things to get done and I can do them, whether I want to or not… I will. I want to be the person who is completely selfless but I am not.

And there is a brainstorm that occurs in response to a rush of adrenalin. I have had nightmares for two nights. The past comes rushing in, I fear being fired, of not measuring up, of not being a team player. I find myself concentrating so deeply on what I am doing , the day is rushing by. And then I notice a text from my daughter that she has tested negative for Covid-19, do I want a hug? I burst in to tears when she lets me know the 7 or 8 person list of people she has already hugged. I am afraid to say yes. I don’t know why she didn’t come to me first as all the others have people with them. I can’t answer. In the silence she explains how it all went down and I have to understand, have to say no. More disappointment. For the last few days I have been back on my inhalers. Seems that disappointment makes me ill. That is no one elses fault. If I had no expectations I couldn’t be disappointed. That is what they say…

I did have fun doing a Tupperware Zoom party for Danika tonight. I am able to compartmentalize as needed. It’s a gift. A side effect of wearing masks, the invisible kind….

Didn’t sleep well, probably due to too much nummy sangria. Was checking in on the Tupperware party when there was a knock at the door and Rae-Anne, my eldest was here with a hanging basket for Mother’s Day. She was late to her virtual church as we stood and chatted and caught up on all the drama of the last week. Life is very challenging for her and the family right now as it is for many. They are dealing with the reality of her husband’s aging parents in the midst of this already challenging time.

Not long after she left, Danika and Emmy showed up. My granddaughter cracks me up. She spent the time playing in my rock garden including making Rock Angels as she put it. They brought me a very nice cooler cup, complete with a lime and essential spearmint oil you can ingest! Danika really is the gift whisperer. My favourite part was the card though which choked me up a little. My son, Jake was only married to her for a short time but we have become closer since their parting which is good for what she brings into my life and for my relationship with Emmy.

Taking care of all the Tupperware orders took a good chunk of the day but I am not complaining about that! I am also running a party for Danika tomorrow night so am running that group currently. It is fun watching the women all interact and play the games. Turns out this is a good time for group interactions.

Tried to do some bookwork for personal clients but after an hour I was done. Settled on the couch to crochet and watch SNL recordings. My grandson Gene called as he was laying in bed, ready to call it a night. He just wanted to say Happy Mother’s Day and tell me he loves me. He turns 13 next month and his voice has begun to change. He is happy that he is taller than his Auntie Ashlée. I remember when Jake was young and finally got taller than his older sister, Ashlée. He was so chuffed with himself. Seems to be a right of passage in our family. Poor Ash, the measuring stick for puberty.

I got up to an alarm, got showered and got ready because I was excited to Zoom with my ABC friends. in Sept 2013 a group of 18 was formed when 1 G Adventures guide, Nury , met with 7 Americans, 4 Brits & 6 Canadians in Lima, Peru, to begin a great tour that would bond these people together in friendship and further adventures right up until 2020 and beyond.

It was unfortunate that Celia from Santa Fe and The Newtons from BC were unable to join us. I used the Newton’s as my backdrop to bring them in.

I really didn’t want the conversation to end, it was so great to be catching up with everyone but we’ve made a plan to try and do it once a month. I find great value in keeping connection with people of a shared experience. For someone who has been divorced three times it is hard to go through life with so many great adventures and yet no one to chat about the memory, no one to reminisce about the moments that we shared together so I greatly appreciate the memories we hold as a group. Different connections have definitely been made, deeper relationships between different folks and I don’t know for sure my place in all the relationships but I do know the depth in the special one and that holds all the value for me. My life is enriched and uplifted by connection.

I spent a good part of the day getting ready for the Tupperware party I was having tonight and sending out messages for the host getting ready to zoom. it’s a new world where we zoom everything that used to be a house party so I am learning it and in a way I am advantaged because I don’t have to adapt to it, it is new for me in Tupperware world so I am just having the fun of learning it and making the best of it

While I was working away I heard footsteps running quickly up to my door then a knock and then running away and immediately I knew what it was. the Rona fairy had arrived. I open my door to find a bag with a bottle of wine and some chocolates. that made me so happy that someone in my community had reached out to bless me. it felt like instant karma for sending out all my postcards yesterday and on top of it it was a Apothic Dark which I love.

The rest of my evening was pretty much tied up with the Tupperware party which turned out to be a whole Lotta fun. We had a zoom party under the theme you can leave your hat on so ladies showed up in hats with alcohol in hand and I did a bunch of demos and it was lovely to catch up with mostly my theatre ladies in Cranbrook I enjoyed doing a demo of sangria in the cold brew coffee maker. Raspberries and peaches in the centre Smoky Bay wine and let steep.

Honestly the evening didn’t end on the best note because I checked in with work to confirm my vacation that is supposed to start on Monday to find out that I had missed a staff meeting while working from home and didn’t know that all vacation was on hold until after 31st of May. I am disappointed and that is all I will say about the subject

Yesterday was my Mom’s Birthday and today is my Dad’s Death Day. I worked, went for a walk to mail postcards to 11 random strangers across the country “From my heart to yours, a virtual hug from Cranbrook BC” worked on the two Tupperware parties I have going this weekend and arranged the neighbour two doors down to come install my new kitchen window next week.

While I work I have the TV going across the room with the 24 hour news channel. It stays that way with me catching bits here and there until I no longer can listen anymore and switch to whatever talk show is on. It is mostly babble in the background but every once in a while a show stops me and I must stop my timer, take a break and listen. I have discovered that two shows do this to me regularly, Ellen Degeneres and Kelly Clarkson. Ellen because I regularly find myself just outright giggling, especially at ‘average Andy’ and her and her sponsors generosity is incredible. Kelly is less polished, more chattery but also very real. She seems to just be who she is and that is lovely.

Today towards the end of the day a show I had not heard of came on and immediately I hit record series and turned it off so I could watch and concentrate later. Let me preface by saying I am an avid follower of the 90 Days series and most enjoy Pillow Talk as I cheer when they have the same reaction I did to what we are seeing. Well, it seems I enjoy watching people watch TV. Today’s show was Celebrity Watch Party. It cracked me up. But seriously is this what I have come down to??? I am watching, on TV, people watching TV….

It was my Mom Barb’s 79th birthday today and I spent time this evening setting her up on Zoom and then we tested it out with a bunch of family. I can safely say that I am a whole lot done on training people this week but I do have to do so in the morning so I should go rest up. It was super nice to chat with family together in three different parts of the province though. It is funny to see Mom with her hair growing out as she has kept it very short for years!

I especially enjoyed trying out the different backgrounds my friend Nigel pointed me in the direction of.

I worked hard and got a lot done today. I will be glad when all the calculations of subsidies are over signalling a return to the familiar. Of course I will spend the next few years in audit world as CRA ensures it gets back or accounts for every penny spent.

At the end of my day Tina arrived from the office with my special chair. I should have brought it the day I moved home because it has not been good for my body to spend all day in a director’s chair. I am sure I would suffer through if I were a full time Director but for now it is a joy to sit in my proper office chair. She also brought nummy treats from Cobbs and the local newspaper and People magazine. What a doll. All I was able to offer in return was an envelope of shredding and some homemade cookies

I did a personal tax return for an ex-pat living overseas, currently in a lock-down so severe he could be deported if he leaves their house. His partner was kind enought to find someplace to send my money. I remembered today that I hadn’t received an email or anything and that it was a while ago so I messaged to ask how to retrieve it. It was odd as I had to go online to moneygram, put a code and my last name in and find out it was available but then I had to go to the postal outlet in Shoppers Drugmart to actually have them emt the money to me.

The advantage was that aside from the Liquor store and corner store twice I have not been in anywhere and I love Shoppers. There is a little bit of everything now and nearly no one in there so I was able to wander and browse without being risky. Hair conditioner, sour cream, frozen pizza, vitamins and too many treats later, I had spent my earnings but had a lovely date night out on the town.

Came home and had leftover tortiere, did laundry, crocheted and watched my shows and even got all my steps in today! All in all a pretty great day and it was even a Wednesday.

Oh and I did an experiment to see how well my new Tupperware works. Last time I received groceries I got 3 English cukes. One, I used half of and put in a FridageSmart container. The other two were not cut nor put in anything. When I took them all out today to use for a cucumber salad the one in the container was crisp and fresh the other two needed to be used immediately. Pretty impressive. I now sell the stuff but want to know my products well.

Another day of intense concentration calculating wage subsidies. I had gained two pounds this week which was no surprise as I completely fell off the treadmill habit. and I shouldn’t have made cookies…

Ashlée picked me up a bunch of prawns on sale so that will be delicious healthiness.

Just as the day was ended there was a knock at my door and there was the hanging strawberry basket I forgot I had purchased from a school fundraiser. It even has strawberries!! Was nice to chat at Christi as well. That is the way it feels standing on my porch and talking at my friends. Will be nice to sit round a table and chat with again.

Just as I had pulled the tortiere out of the oven there was another knock and it was my son Jake. He had a beautiful lily plant for Mother’s Day. And of course I began packing him some tortiere to take home when up pulled Ashlée and she had a beautiful plant in a metal bucket for me. Another package of food and big love all around. Not sure why they both chose today but, yay me!

I’ve been watching Shtisel on Netflix. It is quite a fascinating look at life in a very different culture than I have ever experienced. Fortunataely I don’t have to look when I crochet as it is mostly subtitled.

I heard that the part for my bike has been found and ordered but won’t be here for a couple weeks so once again I am practicing patience which just means I shall compartmentalize it and deal with it when they call to pick it up.

It really was just a Monday, with so many things happening at the same time work-wise, that the day whirled past. It was a great moment when I got a message from an acquaintance from the building I moved out of in August 2018. He had mail for me that had already been written on Return To Sender. It was a cheque for me that was mailed April 24th from Bella Bella and I would have been crushed if it made the return trip as I needed to pay back an IOU and get my bike out of the shop. Small town favour, he even delivered it to the mailbox on the front of my place. Thanks Norm!!

I did make a deal to trade some King Crab legs for Crab claws and went to make the trade, ending up having a beer in the sun with my first husband, Bill and his wife, Deanne. We heard the kids all coming up the block and had a fun family photo moment, all appropriately spaced with the Guedes clump in the middle. It was just so nice to be in the sun and with family.

And they sent me home with lattice and stakes to make my Lily bed not crowd out the sidewalk AND a frozen tortiere.

Came home to make dinner, take care of some Tupperware business for the two Zoom parties in the next week, get a lot more crocheting done and watch the Voice. It is very interesting how many shows are adjusting to the new norm. 90 Days under Quarantine has some funny moments. It is also a treat to see so many women being their gorgeous natural selves. Truly inspirational to young people everywhere. Be strong, Be true, Be you!

I had no idea how gratifying this day was going to be when it was planned yesterday. My Ashlée is house sitting and asked if I would like to get out of the house and come for a distanced visit in the countryside. I decided to treat us both to take-out, yay curbside apps! Grabbed the food and sat having a lovely visit in the sunny albeit windy day. We talked gun control and tinfoil hats and love in a complicated time. That was good for my soul.

It was when I pulled up and the two big dogs met me as I opened my car door. They were so happy to see me and I could touch them!! While having lunch, little dog came and sat at my feet and it was delightful. I was standing watching the gophers popped out of their hole in the middle of a pasture when it suddenly dawned on me that we could go down and visit the horses. I was unusually excited when Ashlée suggested it. The whole experience brought me to tears. I am not a ‘horse person’ but I was at first just cautious of these large curious of me animals and then fascinated by the beauty up close of each of them. There were Gypsy horses which I didn’t even know existed. They reminded me of glorious Clydesdales mixed with my imagination of a unicorn. I wanted to put a horn on one and take a picture. The two largest ones were highly attentive although all of them allowed me to approach and pet them. I found myself the recipient of kisses and nuzzles and nose rubs on the top of my head and it dawned on me how long it had been. I had not had physical contact with another living being since Friday March 15th. If you know me, you know I am a hugger and toucher and that connection is what fills my tank, keeps me grounded or floating, whichever is necessary. These glorious dogs and horses did all of that for me today. Did I mention that I cried?

And I had a fabulous visit with my daughter, yay!!

Took a long time to get to sleep and every time I slightly woke up I remembered the intruder. I was still only a half hour late getting started on my work. It was very hard to concentrate all day though. I was grateful to have phone training with some lovely ladies who left me in a fine mood by day’s end.

I did my feed the pets routine this morning to realize my last Stick bug had died. WILSON!!!!!! Now it is down to me and George, my beta. We have a lovely relationship. He acts excited when he sees me and in reply, I feed him.

I finally watched StrongerTogether the Canadian Foodbank fundraiser and it really was great. A slice of Canadiana, even the rooms in their houses were almost kitchy. It was great. I do surveys sometimes and I had one in my email from Mark’s. I had to watch a commercial and give my comments on it. It made me cry!! It was about essential workers and one of the speakers was an Accountant working from home. He mentioned how hard it was to concentrate through all of this. It was so nice to see someone like me.

I also ticked something off my bucket list – being in a music video. A lovely duet called Big Little Lions included a clip of me listening to their new song in its video. I know Helen Austin (one half of the duo) from MusicFest and it was sweet to be allowed in it.

I really was quite triggered today. My fear kept trying to creep in to my thoughts, my neck would tighten up and I had already awoke with a tention headache. I probably ground my teeth in the night. I am not actually afraid someone will come into my home and hurt me, I just don’t like that my safety bubble was broken.

My friends in Courtenay started a private group for Fancy Friday which soon became Fabulous Friday. I managed to put on a smile, lipstick and my alpaca wrap I picked up in Peru. That was my fabulous.

Ashlée brought me a few things I needed from the store and hung out in the yard for a bit.

After work we had our strata council meeting distanced around my yard (tomorrow I will cut the grass!) and it was lovely to sit and chat with real people!

After they left I was following through on one of my tasks, calling a contractor for a quote when the birthday parade went by for the granddaughter across the street. It was quite something, vintage cars, every emergency vehicle type in town including a Mountie on a Motorcycle.

Right before the strata meeting I was happy to be able to do a curbside pickup of my new license plate for my bike which I get back from the shop tomorrow. I have decided to just have storage insurance on my car and ride my bike for the next few months at least. And I love my new plate number Zip 16 2 69 (I started on the road at 16 and hope to still be riding at 69!)

I do like my new May calendar, and it is very true!

Interesting tidbit at the end of Young Sheldon

Before settling for the night I smudged the whole house asking blessing and clearing of all bad energy. A peaceful sleep is on the way