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
Did it to myself this time. GERD/heartburn/intolerance… who knows except that it was hard to sleep again.
I didn’t rush this morning. I did some chores, skipped my exercise session and relaxed until I felt good to ready and go. I went to the office until I got the call that the Culligan guy was at my place. It was service time for me drinking water filter and softener. When he left I used the air fryer to cook some seafood stuffed mushrooms for lunch before heading back to the office. I did manage to get a lot done and headed home just before 7.
It was warm today and a perfect one to hang out the hummingbird feeder
It was pleasantly surprised to arrive at the family Easter egg and find Emmy was there. It is her 9th birthday and I didn’t know she was down from Elkford.
We all took turns hiding Easter treats for each other and then took our map and hunted. Ashlée did a good job getting me special chocolates from Bernard, the original Callebaut guy. she also made me a funny pen. The laugh though was when I opened a chest and found she’d hidden a bag of her tax papers.
Ash’s bday present
We all had a great time. I took Emmy to Walmart and she picked out a racer back bathing suit that she needed and started crocs. I told her she could spend 29.99 plus tax and she was thrilled when it came to only 30.42.
Dinner was a taco bar which was delicious but I may be suffering a bit now. Will and I went to the 7:30 showing of The Super Mario Galaxy Movie. I really loved it.
After managing to get a nail appointment with Ty today I wandered the mall. The new Winners expansion is great.
I picked up some mineral oil to wipe on the crib board. I did that while I was chatting with bunch of Rotarians who meet every Saturday for just one hour. It was a lovely visit and we all discussed going to convention in Barcelona in June 2027
Mike, Scott &Debi, Doreen, Karen, Linda, Lynn, Mureleen
Today was really great. I met Mary Ann and Sioux at GroundFloor and we took over the MakerSpace. I had my sewing machine and iron, they had their supplies and glue guns. I made a banner and hat bands and they made a giant mushroom top. We all worked so well together and it was fun but I didn’t take many pics.
I then did a little work before racing to get groceries as Landon had a seat for me at tonights game. He really wanted me to be there as his mom was arriving from Ontario. We always enjoy playing together. It was a fun night and I am glad I went. Three hours of playing and good company for $40. Yes, I unusually had to buy in and was first out but I had won a few good hands.
Lunch Rotary was especially great because I brought Ashlée with me who is back for Easter!
I did get a bit of work done but was mostly thrilled to have Shannon’s help to make a crib board for my donation to the Gala auction . Lucy even 3d printed pegs me n Rotary colours!
My Lego arrived. I ordered the Christmas one on sale so that I could use my points to get the birthday set.
Speaking of birthdays. It is my dear friend Mary Lynn’s birthday the day before mine. She is on Salt Spring and turning 65. went looking for a card and found 4 so I am going to randomly throw them in the mail over the next week and a bit.
Just after 5 I sat at the bar beside Bull and we had a big ce visit as I waited to see Ahren Beliske. Bill ended up getting comped by the owner lol. The show was great!!! I love a smart comedian who doesn’t punch down
When I got the call and I was in my nightie drinking coffee, I almost wanted to believe it was an April fools joke. For the second morning in a row, Jim was at my door to tell me about what went on yesterday with the Watermain fix.
I did tell him that if there was a third time he was going to have to bring me a black coffee
Seems there’s some kafuffle about how the project actually went and what it may cost us. I dealt with reporting everything to the rest of the board, got work done, went for a delicious lunch with Rae-Anne at Dash Eatery, and tried to concentrate on getting a lot more work done. All day it’s snowed often on, but didn’t really stick to the ground.
By 430 I was meeting Nadine and MaryAnn at the radio station to pick up all of our stuff and bring it to the Ground Floor for easier access and ability to work on it when the Radio station is closed as they were unable or unwilling to give us a key. Due to the kindness of Kerstin and Keri we now have a place to store a stuff and workspace to get more creating done.
Sioux met us and gave her a little tour of the maker space and then we met MaryAnn at Finnegan Baker for wing night and a discussion to plan our attack as we are going to meet on Friday afternoon to hopefully get a bunch of decor made. MaryAnn’s husband Ron met us and we had a nice visit and enjoyed the wings. I came home to a bunch of email from the Strata, etc., and decided to just quickly respond that I would deal with it all tomorrow as I am very tired from jumping all over between different things today.
Time is so strange. Today would’ve been my cousin Kelly’s 64th birthday and in 19 days I will be 63. My Dad made it to 64.5. She’s been gone for nearly a decade and he’s been gone for more than two decades. Here I stand trying to process youth and loss and the loss of youth and the number of days left. I was already thinking about all of this when I was asked a funny question today while signing up for a membership at our local arts council. “Do you present as a senior” I honestly laughed and said yes if it gets me a discount. The term senior is used so loosely some places give a discount at 55 and others not until 65 the waning age of retirement. Even the government decided we could work till 70 before starting to collect Canada pension.
I don’t know why I went down this funny road of thought, especially when my morning started with a knock on the door while I was in my nighty, doing my yoga, and it was the handyman for our Strata Park. Jim introduced himself and asked if I was the president and then proceeded to fill me in on the maintenance of the Waterman that was going on in one section of the park under his supervision. He was so happy to learn that I was fully engaged in the exercise and knowledgable about what had to happen and asked the right questions and approve the right things and also asked him to take care of another leak. A couple doors down for me and they mostly abandoned home. I felt….. fierce, at home in my skin, capable and respected. I really do miss the construction industry. I enjoyed all of it. I took some pictures before I left for work and then checked it out when I got back and was absolutely thrilled at what they managed to get done.
The rest of my day was filled with old clients, new clients, many payroll running an errand for the gala and making the decision that I wanted to just buy a ticket and be at the gala not due the 50-50 that night. I had seen a need and filled it without really thinking about how much time I’ve already been putting in and that I would be busy the Thursday night all day Friday and all day Saturday leading up to the gullet itself and it’s my busy busy month. A little self-care and a night off after all of that, I am looking forward to.
I did have a good laugh when I got my weekly stat from my old Fitbit app. There’s only one person left on it and then I hadn’t scrolled down on the email for a long time to realize that she and I see each other’s weekly stats as far as the number of steps. I sent her a screenshot and we had a good laugh, although we both agree more than beat her stats while I was on my vacation.
At 4 o’clock, I arrived at Key City Theatre for an Ed fest committee meeting. I’m not there representing any organization like the others are so I mostly just listened and gave a perspective when I had a valuable one. Afterward we were invited to come to a pre-sale at the arts council of items that the artists considered seconds. I got three beautiful pieces of pottery that are functional one is a small vase that I will use for Lego flowers and the other two are beautiful dishes to use for desserts or breakfast. And all three cost me $25. I love functional art, especially by people that live in my community.
On the way home, I gave into my craving for a teen burger combo as one of my clients was having that for lunch yesterday and it has been on my mind ever since. It was worth it. I guess I’ll have to walk more this week.
There was noise in the hall at 5:20 am and I managed to sleep a couple hours longer before I just got up, ready and packed in the car.
I spent the better part of the morning having nice visits with my American friends. First it was breakfast with Maggie and Karen then coffee with Theresa and Dottie before a last nice visit with David and Marlisa as they ate. I look forward to seeing them all May 1 in Sandpoint for the conference
I stopped at Ferraro’s and wow, what a store. It’s like whole foods with all the variety and speciality foods. The produce was perfect. I enjoyed the shop and even picked up my Easter treats for the Gkids
The drive home was relatively uneventful. No wildlife and only a bit of snowfall over the pass. I continued to listen to Will, his biography narrated by Will Smith.
Once home I did some chores and then watched High Potential and continued to build a dragon. I can’t find all the pieces yet but it’s quite cool
I did enjoy my faux cosmo that I picked up in Rossland and even used grapes instead of olives
triumphgal 