9-1:30 or so working on finishing touches, assisting Leanne with auction items, etc
Home to shower and ready then off to see Melissa who did my lashes
At the hall by 4 to be sure all the light were turned on on the tables and then began champagne service from 5-6 or so with my ‘potion’ of edible glitter.
After that I was in guest mode mostly enjoying the peeps at my table. Ed and his family, Mike and Heather, Mark and Jo were very good company.
The 4 course dinner was exquisite and I loved popping bin yo get pics of Will over the course of the day. I bought a few auction items and dances too much. Next to Sandy in the cloakroom, I was the last Rotarian out having shut off lights etc.
Aside from the live auction taking too long, the evening went swimmingly and it was fun to dance to the Testers.
My ankle hurts and I have to be up in six or so hours. Good night!!
I am tired and my whole right leg hurts. It was a very good day of getting things ready for the gala, working with great people to pull off great things. it was especially fun working with g with Stacey from Sandman to get all the centrepieces done.
Sioux made it page 63 just for me
When I stopped at the office to pick up something Ashley gave me Rocky!
She texted me later in the day asking if I k ew Danny Reordan se there was a parcel with no name on it. As a matter of fact I do and I stopped at the end of the day to find a very thoughtful surprise!!
They are still in wax paper and come completed. Very cool.
I was ready to fall asleep shortly after I got home but I would have been awake again at midnight so I am going to take some nerve pain pills and go to bed now.
Winter came back with a vengeance. Power and internet was down in pockets.
It was initial set up for gala day. Back and forth moving things, creating on the fly and coordinating volunteers. Busy from 9 am to 6 or so. I am so proud of Mary Ann and I and how beautiful it is all coming together.
I received an incredible picture of the coliseum at night from Rae and Roger. I sent them this pic to say they didn’t need to go all the way here as this is in the Colombo Lodge.
Back at home enjoying a glass before hitting the hay.
I woke and enjoyed a memory of giving birth to my daughter Ashlée 39 years ago. how is that even possible? We are both far too young to be experiencing that milestone.
I had a pretty great day at work getting a lot of things done
I headed to Fenwick and Baker after work ready to enjoy the ducks versus Oilers game only to realize it didn’t begin until eight our time. I did have great chats with Norm at the bar who was a salesman for pet food travelling through and was very proud of his grandson who is probably going to be an NHL player.
I headed over to the arena to watch the Bucks game as we are in the second round of the playoffs and ended up having great visits up at Dave’s Canadian tire booth and then the two of us walked over to the bridges booth and had great visits. I am thrilled to be encouraging Tami, the owner of The Sammy to become a Rotarian. She said she will come to lunch next week and this makes me very happy. All in all it was a very great night and the Bucks won in OT.
I took a call from a T1 client and could have pushed it off but felt her urgency about a return she had sone in the past for her mom that was reassessed. I decided to deal with it right then and less than an hour later her husband showed up with a beautiful bottle of wine. So thoughtful
After a very productive day of work and creating a cool box light for the champagne service, I headed to see Melissa at Creative Soles and she took 15-20 minutes to apply my false eyelashes. After the first couple bunches she just kept saying ‘they are so pretty’ I couldn’t wait to see and I am not disappointed. Seems Nikki was right, I was going to do these ironically and would look o the mirror and say woooo. I did
It was a gorgeous warm spring day and also the first meeting of the Rotary District Public Image committee. Lynn, Tom, Haley and I had a good Zoom for an hour. I have committed to leading a session at the Fall district assembly
A Beddian birthday occurs when your age matches the last two digits of your birth year(e.g., turning 63 in 2026 if born in 1963). Named after NYC firefighter Bobby Beddia, this once-in-a-lifetime, even-year event means your age and birth year suffix are identical.
Key Facts About Beddian Birthdays
Origin: The term honors NYC firefighter Bobby Beddia, who noted the coincidence of turning 53 in 2006 (having been born in 1953).
The Math: It only happens in even years. If born in 1960, you turn 60 in 2020, 61 in 2021 (no), 62 in 2022 (no), etc. Because the sum of your birth year and age must equal the current year 1963+63=2026), this only aligns on even years.
The very first message of the day came from my high school mate Darryl and I have watched and listened to it many times today.
Over the course of the day I had many amazing messages and wishes via email, messenger, texts, calls and in person. The outpouring of love was overwhelming. I put on my pretty dress and Dr Bonnie Henry Fluevogs and headed to the office to meet Sioux and Mary Ann. While they worked on the book for the entry way I finished and filed a GST quarter. I had posted in our family chat asking if anyone wanted to join me at Fenwick and Baker for brunch. At one, Bill and Deanne, Will and Sawyer, Kael and Ronan, and Gene all showed up! It was lovely and the food was delicious and the Perreault’s picked up the tab which was also just lovely.
I brought Sawyer home with me to plant a bunch of bulbs. He did a great job and we got the yard more ready for the season . waiting on my porch was a bag of birthday swag from Diana. She is a gift savant!! I had seen those towels and refrained from buying but love them so much!
I went back to the office where the ladies were still busy and finished another file.
At 6 I was picked up by Judy and we went to Heidout for a wonderful visit. We were treated to dessert as her birthday is tomorrow. I got a candle and she got the sparkler. It was fun and the beermisu was delicious
I woke up well before my alarm this morning so I got myself ready had some nice messages back-and-forth with Mary Lynn as it is her 65th birthday it’s hard for us to process the age we have reached. We have always called each other Aries sisters and I miss her very much. I feel some sadness in her life and aloneness, and I wish that I was closer.
I made it to the office and got a tax return completed and An averaging agreement done. While doing my ABC Zoom on my phone because suddenly the camera attached to my computer is not working. This is a problem. I’ll have to make sure I replace it before Wednesday when I have a teams meet with the auditor for one of my clients. It was nice to have a short but sweet visit with the friends that could make it for the zoom.
And then it was full tilt go as a lot of people arrived to help out with killing the gala decor ready. Mary Ann and I were there first prepping and then John Z and And Sioux arrived with the parts of the book for the door. Then Maureen and Bridget arrived to help to finish off the trinkets and the cover for the Queen’s throne. Judy Lallah, Nancy, and Nadine worked on the mushrooms. Mary and Sam put together the visuals for the pages of the front of the book. Rick and I worked on the frame for the mirror around the door. And then everyone just jumped in and helped working on the book including Lauren and another lady whose name I don’t know. It was a huge team effort and so much got done. That feels awesome. It really is like putting on a play. Everything comes together at the last minute.
Thank goodness for being able to use the Ground Floor. We were able to leave the parts of the book in the maker space and Sue and MaryAnn will go work on it tomorrow. I told them that I wasn’t setting an alarm as it was my birthday and I’ve been working too many days in a row, but that I would definitely come at the end and help put everything away where it needs to be and that if I was available earlier to help, I would come then
I made it home in time for the 6 PM happy hour Rotary zoom. It was Debby and Scott from Hawaii, Dave from Sandpoint, Lorne from Nelson, Muraleen and Lynn from south of the border, Ndagado and Emma from Africa. We had some great conversations and sharing about what the wild factor in Rotary is for us. I’m enjoying this little hour out of my week to learn more about my fellow Rotarians.
And now it’s not even 9 o’clock and I’m completely exhausted and ready to go to bed which is fine except for that I will be awake at four or five in the morning. I may still try and make myself go back to sleep if I wake up at that time.
This is after all my New Year’s Eve. I’m glad to go into my 64th year on the planet ,age 63, with fresh pedicure, manicure, hair and brows. Most important I’m taking with me the joyful memories of the past year, uplifted by the love I felt especially in the last couple days from my peer group and looking forward to what this next year on the planet brings me.
My first fun was when I grabbed a pair of socks out of my drawer and it matched my calendar, so I went with it
I was blown away when I got to the office and saw the TV in the lobby of the Ground Floor with a personalized message created by Ashley the Ground Floor community manager. I couldn’t believe how many details of my life she has learned and managed to incorporate into that message. It left me very veklempt
Later in the afternoon, I was surprised with a delicious chocolate and raspberry cake by the ladies of CFEK.
I bounced back-and-forth all day between paid and unpaid things and managed to get some help from Shannon making some items for tomorrow’s gala session using the laser cutter. Turns out it works really great on Corplast. Shannon is really a lovely human who is so supportive to me as well and I’m glad that they hired her for the Ground Floor. I had taken over the books for her when I was doing them for Earth’s Own Naturals. And she is very open to supporting doing books in anyway that is necessary as well. I did make the tags for the big bottles we are making. I think they turned out pretty awesome if I don’t say so myself
It was another long day and it was around 8 o’clock when I finally made some pasta and enjoyed what I must say is my favourite jarred sauce I have ever had. It is truly delicious.
My new fave show is Resident Alien.
I should stop watching and go to bed though as I promised I’d be at the Ground Floor before 10
Woke up to snow again this morning. It’s a damp cold today. Days like this I’m grateful I have an office job.
Rotary lunch was very interesting and a bit hard on my soul. I sat with the guest speaker and had a very nice rapport with her and her husband they had had quite a harrowing drive to get here from Nelson as the roads are very bad over the pass. Betty gave an amazing presentation reading the story of a woman in Africa. Betty is involved with the grandmother’s for grandmothers hoping to support women in Africa who have AIDS and HIV. It is part of the Stephen Lewis foundation. They are doing remarkable things. It made me wish I had more money so I could support them.
The terrible juxtaposition in the programming was that after her talk, which left us all very emotional the poor chair of the prom committee and the chair of the fundraising committee for prom gave a talk. They are too lovely parents and I felt very bad for them that they had to follow what they did as they are fundraising for a $33,000 grad prom. It was a little bit Third World to first world jump in the programming.
My time is at the office today we’re fruitful although I was getting tired having been up since five. I decided I needed a little self-care and managed to book an hour and a half pedicure at the end of my day. Melissa did an incredible job as always, and I have pretty red toenails now. I did feel like I was walking on clouds. I grabbed some dinner and then headed to Key City Theatre to meet Leanne, Dannielle and Kirsten for the Michael Kaeshammer show. I’ve seen him several times over the years the first time being back around the year 2000 on Salt Spring Island. He has definitely improved in his showmanship, although his piano playing has always been mind blowing. I shared some things on Facebook and my friend Marty messaged me to say he used to play with Michael in a band and shared a clip of boogie Woogie that was really good. Paul Pigat was also part of that band who I know from island, living and music fest.
I know that I couldn’t capture it on film, but it’s remarkable that his hands actually blur when he plays
Arriving at the office to see this and texting Daryl that he ought not to advertise his proclivities at the office. Spent more time explaining to him what that word meant than it was worth
Lucy leant me her cup and treasure to enjoy as we ramp up to the gala. It makes me smile from my desk
Mark took the time out of his day to do a special errand for me. It is my stepmother, Donna’s, 85 bday. She is in extended care for dementia on Salt Spring. he had beautiful flowers and a card put together and dropped them off on my behalf. He understands that even if she doesn’t remember who I am, she will know someone cared. He is a good friend.
The strata council meeting went very well. I could feel Jays nerves at the beginning as he had been put in an awkward position by Fred. It was easily solved and we got a lot done as usual and created a text thread to lessen the email. I came home and moved all our documents onto the strata gdrive and am working at getting the contacts updated to make it easy to send the minutes out.
It was a good and productive day.
Oh my goodness and I almost forgot the inspiration to keep going
Up at 5, stress restless. At the office several hours earlier than usual. Got a lot done on all things and felt like the day should be done but it was only early afternoon. Had another coffee and filed some more tax returns. Finished at a decent time and went to F&B for mussel night. Had a nice visit with Robbie the bartender and then Mike the owner before coming home and finishing what there was to do of the party favours for the gala
On the way home I mailed a postcard to my friend Judy
I was up early and off to work. Much to do. Many things are showing spring buds in my yard. Today I was happy to see raspberries with new growth
Apparently the pavement outside my office was also producing
There is a sad sign of the times in the corner of our building restrooms now
My new glasses and one topper arrived today. I love them
I did manage to put the deposit on my cruise and requested a cancellation and refund of my Future Cruise Credits as I learned that I had been misled. They have to be applied against a cruise booked in US $ only.
I did get a lot done and then came home to make spaghetti with a delicious rosé sauce.
I then settled in to watch some TV and completed 100 party favours. Only 113 or so to go.
Started the day on a short play date at the park with Danika, Emmy and Gwen. Thea was sick at Grammas.
The rest of the day was at the GroundFloor working on gala decor with a group of volunteers. It was not without its frustrations but a lot was accomplished
I also got a bit of bookkeeping taken care of and my brain is fried.
Today was pretty great. I met with Bear at my office and helped him fill out his form 4 to take 2 Family Court. We had a good catch up as it has been a while. I then use the Dremel to make sure the holes were all even in my crib board
While I was busy working on these things and filing a tax return for my dead cousin, I was also checking with ChatGPT what would be the best things not to miss on our cruise, etc.
Eventually, I came home and built my birthday Lego as I waited for the zoom meeting for happy hour for Rotary. It was a lot of fun and I’m glad that I have been joining these sessions.
We did it! Leanne and I are booked into a forward facing balcony room on the Lido deck of the Sky Princess. We are going to the Land of the Midnight Sun in June 2027 and then jetting over to Barcelona for Rotary International
I invited Monica to join me, Leanne and Danielle to see Delhi 2 Dublin. Leanne had given us the tickets. First we had dinner at F&B and watched the astronauts return
The concert was great and so different being in a 600 plus seat theatre. I have previously seen them in smaller venues in Cumberland and on Salt Spring Island.
I got home to a rude demanding email from the past secretary of our strata demanding his keys back to the strata shed and compound and mailbox. He seems to feel they are his, but he is no longer a ‘boss’ but a regular owner. I shall have to deal with that tomorrow
I can barely focus on what I did for the rest of the day, even though I know it was a multi hat, crazy kind of day, and I could just explain that by rambling on and on and one single sentence
There was gala, there was Strata, there was work, there was therapy night with Brett at fire hall, there was a Rotary board meeting.
But really the most exciting part of the day was me finally asking Leanne if she would be interested in going on a cruise with me before going to international convention in Barcelona at the end of June 2027. And she responded positively. We have been texting this evening with options for the trip and I am getting very excited.  my stays with her in hotels for Rotary conventions has been extremely positive, and I know that I could share a cabin with her on a cruise. We are both kind of opposite ends of the clock and respect each other’s space so it would work well. Details to follow!!!
I am enjoying the new show from across the puddle. Interesting that swearing is completely allowed.
Today was a mishmash of clients, tax returns, and council business. Threw in a bit of an assist to Mary Ann working on gala, and a visit to Mom and I’d covered all the bases
Mon was not doing well and panicked that she was going to be late for dinner
I fixed her phone so that it rings at a good level. I still haven’t figured out how she managed to turn it off.
She was supposed to call me after dinner but didn’t. I’ll have to stop and check on her tomorrow
triumphgal 