Planning

One good thing about Milo screaming at me early this morning was I that I was already awake when the boss called me to take a shift today.  I couldn't quite get it together enough to walk but I did make it in time.

One good thing about my brother's vet calling me to discuss his dog's hotspots(DB is on vacation with his new bride and their family) was the brilliant idea to board Milo at the vet next week when I take my own vacation with Ky.  Everyone was nervous about the 19 y/o cat declining in my absence. He's in relatively good shape at the moment but he does require careful feeding.  It's worth the money for all of us to have peace of mind. And they will call me directly should anything happen.

One good thing about making a travel list was the ability to check several items off said list today.  Some things cannot be done over the Internet (picking up wine for instance) while others (adding US roaming to my cell phone package) can - and were. 

One good thing about learning more limitations from my elbow injury is the ability to plan for it.  Mostly that means making sure I pack the < a href="http://www.traumeel.ca/Traumeel-ca-Home.html?ActiveID=10008493">Traumeel gel
.  It's one of the most effective tools in the healing process.  I can pack the car and walk the dog without doing it all at once.  Sheesh, that's just common sense - as are most of the solutions. 
I'm still plugging away at cleaning the house. It's another thing that doesn't have to be done all at once. Of course it will be trashed when I return but at least it will be easier to get back on track if it's been done thoroughly right before I leave. 

And the final good thing about today - I figured out how to end the horror story on a grim and disgusting note.  Yay, me!  Just the thing everyone wants to discover about themselves, how truly warped and twisted their mind can be.  I hope to finish the first draft tomorrow so it can rest while I'm away.  I need to fill my brain with visions of puppies and flowers and cookies.

What's new with you?

Blue Tuesday

I spent a great deal of quality time with the horror story this morning. I'm in the homestretch of the first draft. Some gross and disgusting stuff to tackle tomorrow burning think I know how to do it justice. I know where it's going. Getting there should be interesting. I'm blessed to have strong writing partners who have kept me on track.

The walk to work was gorgeous. There was a nip in the air - gloves were a good choice - but there was a definite scent of Spring. The snow pile beside the garage is down to a thin crunchy layer of grey.

My hockey team is officially out of the playoffs but I commiserated with a friend as we watched the flame-out. Misery loves company. The only good thing about any of that is I won't miss a game while Ky and I are in Indiana next week.

Monday's blessings

Gorgeous walk to work this morning
Excellent rainstorm this afternoon
Good session at the chiropractor for both Ky and I
Bills paid, budget on track
Kiki's talons trimmed
Doctor Who episodes viewed

A good day

Sunday stuff

Because the sun was shining today, people were in good moods. The library was still hopping but people weren’t grumbling about needing something to read while stuck indoors.

Instead of eating my way through the tin of homemade  chocolate chip cookies in the freezer, I'm folding laundry, tidying the kitchen and prepping salads for the next few days. If you put the dressing on the bottom of the jar, add copped vegetables then put the spinach or lettuce on top, the salad-in-a-jar will last for five days.  Don't add cucumber until you dump the jar's contents into a bowl. It's not a veggie that lasts once cut.

Eliot is missing his boy. That means he's snuggled up beside me. As soon as I go into my room, Milo is all over me. He's particularly drawn to my elbow. Most nights he sleeps right up against it. He's careful not to lie on it or purr, the vibrations hurt, but he is a furry heat pack. This is the same category who put his paw over the dog's injured leg and poured blue energy into her. I don’t have photos but I do have witnesses.

The day has had good food, sunshine and adorable animals. Good day.

Saturday

I had a great conversation with my niece about books vs movies. Nothing much gets past her. She keeps all the threads in one hand and follows them back to the correct books.   Divergent's movie adaptation wasn't true to the book - a sin in her eyes.  I've trained her well.

I didn't get the house scrubbed but I made a dent. That’s a good thing. Just setting aside the books I've read made a difference. Not only did I clean the kitchen, I made chocolate chip cookies.

I finished the book I was reading. It was excellent.  I don't know how I forget exactly how fantastic Maggie Shayne writes. Her characters and worlds suck me right in until nothing else exists.

Tease of Spring

Today spring showed her pretty face. The dogs and I went for a wee walk around the block. Sadly,  I can't hold a leash with my left hand. Well, I can hold it but I can't control the dogs. Any pulling or pressure on the elbow is agony. Casey and I just have to learn to walk with him on my right side. We played and cleaned the yard. Ky was overjoyed to find all the balls.

I'm watching a movie set in Edinburgh and it's reminding me of some great times.

I won't check in tomorrow. I will be at the hockey game. Yay!

Lots of good things

Wide awake and furious at 4am, I went for a walk. Ky was so happy trotting along at my side. No traffic, no people, no other animals - just the sound of our breath and feet hitting the pavement. By the time we got back home my brain had settled into a plan of solution rather than rage. The added bonus was a creepy element for the scene I wrote later in the day.

We had a good surprise visit with my great aunt this afternoon. She is deeply fond of my father, her nephew.  She asked him why he didn't have hair.  His father kept his hair, why hadn't Dad?

I walked to and from work. There's nothing like fresh air and stretching your legs. I want to get back into the habit of doing both, even though the temperature is supposed to plummet again.

My boys in blue won their hockey game, thereby halting the losing streak at eight games. Phew. Fingers crossed they play well on Thursday night when I'm actually in attendance. It's a birthday present with my brother. 

And I remember what my Good Thing was yesterday morning. Lady, the world's oldest breeding osprey has returned to her nest at the Loch of the Lowes in Scotland. I don't know why watching her lay, incubate and hatch wee osprey eggs makes me so happy but it does. Perhaps it's her resilience.

The return of good things

I have come to the conclusion that paying attention to the good things in life are the best way to survive the difficult things. While I have be doing an excellent job at being creative, I've struggled to appreciate my life. There have been so many challenges, few of which I've handled with grace or gratitude.

So back to posting my daily Good Thing.

I had a great one first thing this morning but I've already forgotten what it was. That's frustrating.

Today, the sun was shining,  my sweater boots looked great with my dress and hearing about the weekend some friends shared without me made me laugh. I could perfectly imagine all of their expressions as they sang show tunes while fixing dinner. The one dear friend doesn't listen to anything younger than baroque.

I wrote for a couple of hours and found my way to the end of a nasty scene. I consider it a Good Thing that I flailed around trying to find mean. I didn't know what someone could say to alienate one of their closest friends.

Tonight, I brushed Ky while watching television. He has such a thick soft coat. What is soothing to me is barely tolerable for him. Lots of belly rubs as a reward for sitting still helped him forgive me.

What good thing happened in your day?

Winter

We had another blizzard last night. People are freaking out, terrified winter will never end. They have short memories. I grew up with winters that lasted from October to April. One year,  while I was house-sitting it snowed on May 7th. For most of my life, it has snowed on my birthday - the beginning of April. Yes, it is cold. Yes, it can be dangerous. No, we do not live inside a snow globe that some jerk keeps shaking.

It just looks that way.

Genetic creativity

Last week was my DB's wedding. His third, her second.  The kids were their wedding party.  It was simple, lovely and very sweet.  I acted as one of the photographers.  My camera has a glitch that adds a dark shadowy ghost to some of the shots.  I'm experimenting with making that part of the scene.

My oldest DNi ran around arranging the background/foreground/people as I was shooting away. She wants to be a photographer.

This is one of my shots on which she assisted.

This is one I took without her influence

Today, we picked up some photography books from the library, grabbed my camera and had a lesson on depth of field.  These are two of her shots

Who knew

Today was lovely. Fresh Spring air, warmer temps, the steady drip of snow and ice melting. I walked to work. It was dark by the time I heard home bug that distinctive scent of fertile earth lingered interest night Air.

It's a two kilometer walk. This time last year,  I was tired by the time I arrived home. Now, I'm barely into my stride by then. I know I walked 32km last year but that was in June.  Since then, I've struggled with several injuries. Apparently, my legs and stamina were not affected.

We're on track for another winter storm tomorrow. I doubt I'll trudge through the snow with three little girls but maybe Ky and I will go for a stroll later.

I'm not sick of winter. I like the crisp air, the crunch of snow beneath my boots, the scent of the air. There's a strange silence to be heard even through the noise of shovels, plows and snowblowers. I enjoy it.

Catching up

I'm slowing down, choosing to use my time wisely. What that really means is I've been reading.  A lot.

Go to wattpad and read Between here and gone by Barbara Caridad Ferrer.  It's free but priceless. The work is impossible to explain but thought-provoking, heartfelt and lingers long after the last word has been read.

I've been writing every day. Horror is a cathartic genre to play with. I fill my characters mouths and minds with all the poisons I don't want in my own.  Win/win.

I cannot believe how challenging this year has been so far. I guess we're getting it all out of the way early so we can play the rest of the year. Lots of silver linings to those cloudy moments (strange expression I might look up later).  All of the usual suspects - friends, family, zoo - but also the realization that we are truly fortunate.  We always land in each other's arms. You can't buy that kind of fortune.

The wind is yanking on the windows and doors. Literally. Eliot just lifted his head to glare at the rattling window.  Considering he was making a creaky door sound earlier, perhaps the wind is playing with him.  He has so much energy.

How are things with you? What was an unexpected silver lining in your life recently?

Thrift shop find

I was in search of a black leather jacket to replace the one Casey the perfect dog ripped when this caught my eye

Several text messages with Stashaholic later and I brought the sad wheel home. She needs some work, and some parts, but I'm anxious to get to know her.  She certainly inspires the creativity I called into my life for this year.

Well hell

I said I'd be around more and showed up less. I'm scheduling things a bit differently. Time on the laptop is for writing and minimal play. The tablet and phone are for playtime but then the Olympics happened. I couldn't get excited about them for a lot of political and controversial reasons. The IOC is never going to change. Corruption and controversy will dog them until people demand a change. I wasn't boycotting. I support our athletes. I donate to their funding, shop at their sponsors and cheer loud.  On Day 6, I got sucked in and never looked back.

At the beginning of the year, I had decided to knit myself a top as part of the Olympic viewing spree. I cobbled together three patterns and bought the yarn.  I worked on it while watching other things.  I had five inches of red Maple Leaf lace by the time I did join the rest of the country in Olympic-mania.  It's a complicated pattern and men's hockey caused me to rip out five out of every seven rows I knitted.

More ridiculous stuff happened at home that required an incredible amount of my attention.  Everyone survived. But it turns out I wasn't sleeping on my arm wrong. I had dislocated my elbow, pinched a nerve and got tendonitis there.  No more knitting. No more typing and really no more using the left arm until it heals.  Progress has been made. Today, I scratched my ear when it itched. 

I can type one-handed on my tablet so I have been using it more often.  I can write with pen and paper so I should finish section three this week. The Olympics are over so I can wear something other than red and white, turn the television off during the day and go back to rooting for my favourite players(they played for their home country. Imagine that)

I'm going back to posting One Good Thing.  Maybe not every day, although I do still keep track at the end of the day, quietly and to myself.  But at least once a week. 

Because it's important to remember that flowers grow even in gardens of stone.

Catching up

The idea of being creative this year has not extended to the blog.  I've been writing every day but get easily distracted so I've been using pen and paper. When I get near the computer, Doctor Who sucks me in. For someone who had never seen a single episode until Christmas Day, I'm addicted.

One of the other things that I really want to accomplish this year is to stop apologizing.  It's not that I don't think my opinions, beliefs and actions are invalid so much as I don't like to offend people or prosthelytize. There's a reason we don't all think the same way.  Regardless, I'd prefer to have discussions or lead through example.  I've been working on it.

Today was less than exciting, I cleaned out the bedroom closet, and mended a huge stack of clothes that had taken over a corner of my bedroom.  Fascinating stuff there.  Apparently, about 15 years ago, I was awash in beige.  Or olive green.  Perhaps the occasional washed out blue that no one notices.  Even the multi-coloured clothes were pastel. I remember being pastel.  I was surrounded by loud jewel-toned people.  I thought being pastel gave depth to the view.

Funny thing about colours. They can change your mood. Feeling blah?  Throw on a red shirt. Or neon yellow. How about bright orange?  My closet looks a bit more Benetton now.  It's odd that I'm still wearing a blouse I wore thirty years ago but cannot fit into one that's only two years old. Clothes, and styles, are so different now.  I'm irritated that I donated a hat to Goodwill on the last purge simply because I hadn't worn it in ten years. I want to wear it now. I'm in that style in this moment. Plus, I have such great memories of buying that hat in a shop in Charlottetown and my grandma giving me grief for wasting my money. I told her it reminded me of her father's driving cap.  She still thought I was wasteful but had good taste.

I'm in a bit of quiet time at home while my brain sorts out new patterns and behaviours. They're not quite set enough to take out for a spin in the world so I putter here in the meantime.  It's the beginning of February and I've been quite productive so far.  I'll endeavour to get over here more often.

What have you been up to?

Niagara Icewine Festival in Jordan

All's well

Sorry I've been absent. My dad passed out last weekend, hit his head and needed stitches.  The ER doctor thought passing out while reading a book was out so he ordered tests. It turns out Dad’s heart stopped so they kept him until they could put in a pacemaker.

Yep, it was a rough week but honestly,  it went as well as something like that could go. He wasn't alone, he was treated right away and the procedure went well.  It's amazing that sticking wires in a heart is commonplace and no big deal these days.

Last year's daily good things helped me get through this week. There were many blessings,  helpful people and support. We had some good laughs, everyone is in good spirits and incredibly grateful. Mom and I found a really good routine. The dogs were confused a bit but liked all the extra attention.

The Littles came by the other night and filled the house with laughter and hugs. The Leafs won, twice. We're all back under the same roof and healthier than can be expected.  Even if it's not what we expected, life is good.

By-products

I'm making sweater boots for my nieces.  We haven't seen each other in a few weeks so not much progress has been made on that front.  I need their little feet in front of me.

We did cut the sleeves off their sweaters so I looked at them and thought - vests!

Here they are:

Dav rain boots

I've been pretty sick the past week, not thinking in complete sentences.  The good news is I dropped a couple of pounds. I couldn't find the belt the nipped in my top so I used a pin. It actually looked pretty good, all the drape and flow was flattering.

My Dav Rain boots arrived two days after I ordered them online. I loved them! But they were tight so I ordered the next size up. They arrived yesterday. Too big.  I walked around the house in them for hours debating whether to keep them. Too big means heavier socks in the winter.  However, they hit me right in the back of the knee so sitting down with them on wasn't a real option. Holy smokes were they warm. I didn't need heavier socks. I was wearing knee highs.  Other than bare skin I couldn't get much cooler. I decided to suck in the massive disappointment and return both pairs. The nine were too small and the ten too big.  This is why I don't like ordering things online.
Honestly, these are beautiful boots. Beautiful. And comfortable, stylish and versatile.  They were everything I was looking for in a boot.  Well worth every penny - if only they'd fit.  I'm going to spend some time perusing the website and see if there's any other style that might work better. I might give these a try.

Lions

Lions have always been important to me. Not only as icons and symbols of strength, teamwork and majesty but as very real individuals.  Odd, when you consider I've been allergic to cats as long as I can remember.

Twenty years ago this Fall, I had the opportunity to get to know a brother and sister lion pair up close and personal.  While he was fond of shoes, would slip them off your foot carefully with a gentle touch, his sister never hesitated to swat any and all passersby.  They were pet lions who worked occasionally in a magician's act.  They were big babies, weighing in at 280 pounds.  When the brother jumped up to slam both paws on my shoulders he dislocated one.  He never meant to hurt me. His size and enthusiasm did it.  Imagine your housecat when he's racing around the house chasing shadows.  Add in the extra weight and height and you have unplanned injury.

It's why I'm conflicted about videos like this.  Lions are dangerous.  They are wild animals. But then so are domesticated house cats.  And dogs. We tend to anthromoporphize them.  I truly believe they have souls and personalities as individual as humans. But they are not human. What makes sense to them, what makes them lion/dog/cat/parrot is different from what makes us human. Forgetting that, or even denying them their wildness, causes problems.  We expect them to conform to our rules, to fit into our lives, often at the cost of their own.

I have no doubt of the strength of the bond between this man and the lions. None at all. I've experienced it to a lesser degree. It is incredible.  Watching him rub their bellies reminded me so much of the feel of lion fur, the sound of purrs, as I brushed out their shaggy coats.  Some nights I would sit on a bale of hay and read Diana Gabaldon's Voyager to them while the male lion chewed on my shoe. The lioness always listened and watched me carefully.  I'm not sure how if she was contemplating time travel or just liked my voice.

There was nothing like waking up to the sound of a lion moaning, a mournful sound.  They were terrified of the chew toy yet batted my window air conditioner around like nerf ball. I miss them every day but know they didn't deserve their life in captivity.  There was only so much I could to to make it interesting when they weren't mine. Releasing them back into the wild was hardly an option here.

To this day, I associate that time with a burst of creativity. They kept me on my toes as I did my best to entertain them. I wrote every day of their four months in my care.  I read aloud to them in the evenings then researched as much as possible.

When the lioness was off for a vet trip alone, her brother broke out of his cage and ran amok in the garage.  He knocked over a bucket of paint, decorating our walls and floor with giant pink prints.  I wrote a note on the door warning his owners that he was loose.  A note that was more haiku that rebuke.

Lions. Dangerous and enthralling. Affectionate and endangered.  Protecting their habitat is as important as expanding ours. 

Blessed

The temperature was so cold here the other day that the boots cracked. I've reverted them to the purple vinyl and am ordering a gorgeous, durable pair of rain boots online. I saw the perfect pair when shopping in Toronto a couple of weeks ago.  Too bad they didn't have my size as the sale price is considerably less than it's-no-longer-Boxing-Week regular price.

It takes a special kind of creative to walk across the floor of the library and pop your sacrum.  Freaking painful too. I had to get creative about lying on the floor at home to watch the hockey game while reading a book. The game was horrid. The book was fun. Kristan Higgins' The Perfect Match.  It was a good break from all the suspense and horror I've been reading lately.

I needed to stretch my back last night. Sitting is painful, standing and walking less so.  I walked slow shuffling steps on the spot while knitting a sock. My family has gotten used to my odd behaviour. Nothing much fazes them.

An interesting note. While it's only been six days since I stopped daily posts, I find I'm still thinking of at least one good thing a day.  Today's is remarkably easy.  Unlike most of North America, including cities within twenty minutes of us in all directions, we have power, little snow and the sun is shining. Temperatures are dropping like a stone but we're in a sweet spot, weather-wise.

New boots

My rubber boots are wonderful. I can jump into them easily. Sadly, they've split at the ankle so I need new ones. I saw the perfect pair the other day when we were in Toronto but they only had a size two larger than I normally wear. Apparently, that's the size I take in that brand. Oh well. I'll order them online as none of our local shops carry them.

Snow is piling up today and I wore all three pairs of boots I currently own. Only because every time I went out the previous pair were still wet and my socks were not. 

While I was out boot shopping, I came up with a temporary solution for my rubber boots. While I really like the purple, I couldn't find anything in that colour that would work as a repair.

These are the ripped boots (the tear is on the other side)

I bought some plastic shelf paper and covered the boots.  I've already tested them in the snow when I ran out to empty the garbage.    Eliot thinks they're cozy (truth is that's Eliot's spot and nothing, absolutely nothing is going to keep him from it)

Not bad for a creative solution.  What do you think?

New Year

Last night at dinner I did a much better job of articulating what the past year of Good Things has meant to me than I wrote on the blog. Let's pretend you were all sitting at the table and heard my concise explanation.

If 2013 ended up being the Year of Balance, what does 2014 have in store for me? What will be the focus of this blog?  I've been thinking about it a lot for the last few months.

Should it be about sources of inspiration?  Things that fill me with pride? Being accountable for personal goals?  Do I stick with daily posts?

I'm not sure.  I considered posting a photo a day that best summed it up. My grandfather was a good photographer.  I still have the telephoto lens he gave me in my first year of college. I still have that camera.  Film m is hard to find these days. Getting it developed even more difficult.  While I like the ease and convenience of digital,  I don't think I compose as well now that I can't afford to waste a shot.

I'd like 2014 to be the Year of Creativity. Whether it's crafting a fine piece of writing, knitting up a warm pair of socks, shooting a glorious sunset or problem solving with a patron, I intend to be creative, to approach things from an angle that only I can reach, to share a perspective that comes from my vision.

No matter my mood, my expression will be creative and stretch me into areas of growth. I hope you share the journey with me.

A year of good things

The most important thing I learned this past year was contradictory. I needed time to feel bad about all the things that went wrong. By committing to posting one good thing a day, I was able to gain perspective on my life.

It really was a year of balance.

While friends and family were a source of concern, sorrow and worry at times they were also my salvation.  Apart from the unconditional love from the critters, those people were most often my Good Thing.

I am truly blessed.  Focusing on the good happening all around me really lly helped me know that in my soul.

Thank you all for being part of a year of Good Things

Honour

Susan Barclay nominated me as someone who has had an impact on her blogging experience.  I am honoured by that accolade. 

Susan and I are both librarians who write but we met over the Internet.  If I'm not mistaken, we met over at another writer's blog.     


The rules for this award are very simple:

1. Display the award logo (see left) on your blog. By the way, it seems to have expanded beyond the 'WordPress' family!

2. Link back to the person who nominated you.

3. Nominate ten others you see as having an impact on your blogging experience.

4. Let your ten nominees know you have awarded them. 

 

That’s it!  Now just spread the love!

 

My nominees are:

 

KD James - http://kdjames.com/

 

Elen Grey - http://elengrey.com/

 

Pirko - http://pirkcrochets.blogspot.ca/

 

Stashaholic - http://blog.stashaholic.com/

 

London Mabel -  http://www.mabeltalk.com/

Nancy Herkness - http://fromthegarret.wordpress.com/

Betty Fokker - http://bettyfokker.wordpress.com/

Lisa Deon - http://slcslavedriver.blogspot.ca/

 

Natalia Maks -  http://blog.stashaholic.com/

I don't have ten because some of the people who have influenced my blogging have stopped doing so themselves.  Having blogged for 350 days this year ( I think I missed about 15 days for a variety of reasons), I can appreciate there are times when it's more difficult than others to find something new and interesting to say.  Life is good, even when it could be better.

Friends

Spinach,quinoa, egg,grape tomatoes, kalamata olives, cucumber and feta cheese salad was delicious but the company was better.  I've been blessed to be able to spend the last couple of days with good friends.  

My DNi was fortunate to attend a hockey game with her dad.  Even better, her favorite player scored twice and the team won the game.

Good day

The day was full of laughter, good food and fantastic friends. We shopped for shoes, tried on hats and got fitted for bras which always makes me feel 20 pounds lighter. We met a sweet little dog named Henry at the jewelry shop then saw him again at the boot store, aptly named Heel Boy. We decided Henry was a cross between a corgi and a pug - a porgi. We laughed even harder when I went into the health food store but couldn't remember what I wanted.

Dinner was delicious, of course. A gentleman went in the same time we did. He was sitting by himself for a while so I suggested we invite him to join us if he was stood up. He might have heard me but then his friend arrived.  It was wonderful to be out and about, carefree and irresponsible for a change.

According to Fitbit, we walked three miles. I didn't buy any yarn despite the tour through two shops that had great product. No hats, no boots, no earrings, no coat but a lot of fun trying things on.

All three of us have completely different taste and individual styles but we really enjoy shopping together. It's not usually an activity that I care for so it must be the company that makes the difference. Such good company.

Adventure

My friend arrived safely from Detroit. She brought a bottle of Winter Classic wine.  Apparently the NHL has a winery. Who knew?  Tomorrow we're meeting up with a mutual friend who is home from California for the holidays. I'm looking forward to the pleasure of their company, good food and some possible shoe shopping. We will likely walk for hours and cover very little distance.

I walked to work this morning. It was a slow trudge but it was nice to be out in the brisk morning air.  It had snowed in the night. Most sidewalks weren't shoveled so I followed some small critter tracks down the one street. They went up a tree.  I went around it.

Who

I have spent the day immersed in Doctor Who backstory. Last night, I watched my first ever episode. It seemed fitting to start with a regeneration from Eleven to Twelve.  I didn't intend to fall into that world, or worlds as the case may be. I was flipping through the channels and tripped over a wrap up of Eleven's time as the Doctor.  It caught my attention so I stuck around for his final episode.

Anything that distracts one. And the idea of regeneration clearly appeals at this moment in time, far more so than others.

So I cleaned, did laundry, knitted while walking on the spot because I also ate date squares for breakfast(fruit and oats).  It's been an odd day.

Children

Three bundles of joy bounced into the house and danced through the kitchen.  So much energy in those little bodies but they alleviated the sadness. We watched movies, played games and even opened presents.  The best gift was the reminder that this moment can hold so much more than grief.

Merry Christmas

We're plugging away and doing our best. Remembering the Christmas we spent in Florida with my aunt and her husband has made us laugh a few times. She was a big kid who loved all the silliness of stocking stuffers, tacky Santas that ho ho ho'd when you walked past and picking grapefruit off the trees on Christmas Day. I cannot imagine this season without her energy to liven it up.

We're wrapping presents, baking butter tarts and watching the Boris Karloff Grinch. The original is the best.  Rain gave way to snow and it's truly a White Christmas out there.

Stay safe, bask in the warmth of your loved ones and enjoy the day

Bad day

It's been a really hard day. Mom had a bad fall this afternoon followed by a phone call that her baby sister died yesterday. There's no way she will be able to go to the funeral in Florida. Mom is gutted.

The only good thing about today has been the way we've all come together near and far.

Traditions

Big ice storm last night spared us but not many trees. The carnage was heartbreaking as I drove to work. Ice still bent our guys to the ground when I got home.

I finished the minion hats! I'm particularly thrilled with this one.

My friend and I did our annual wrapping party while we watch Christmas Vacation. Our exchange seemed to have a theme

Getting in to the spirit

None of the electronic devices were charged last night sonic continued with Christmas presents.
These are the socks for my great aunt.

Today someone came into work and gifted me with three lovely balls of sock yarn as well as a set of DPNs. She decided socks were too ambitious a first knitting project. She’d prefer to stick with crochet. I told her she could crochet socks but she insisted I use the yarn.  I will.

I baked some traditional Fenton treats tonight.  I always think of my great grandpa when I make shortbread. That was always his Christmas gift to us.

I'm still working on Minion hats for the nieces. The faces are hard, but fun.  What do you think? 

The smile looks kinda creepy. 

Mixed blessings

This morning, I dropped my car off at the garage then walked home.  I was beating myself up for struggling with a 2km walk when I'm the woman who walked 32km this summer from Queenston to Thorold.  That wasn't really fair considering I spent the night alternating between fever and chills, not to mention weird dreams in which my nieces were all nephews and Yoda was communicating on a much deeper level than sports and curiosity about my activities.  Later in the day, I walked back to get the car and it went much better.  Until I paid the bill.  That was higher than expected.

I made a healthy lunch from an acorn squash I bought locally as Autumnal decor when Stashaholic was here in the Fall. I'm allergic to sage so I substituted a clove of garlic in the barley stuffing. It was delicious but nothing says confidence quite like messing with a Jamie Oliver recipe.

I don't send Christmas cards but was delighted to receive one from Elen.  It had a little car putting up and down cute little roads past darling buildings. It was so Elen and her roadmance self.

I made plans to celebrate Winter Solstice with some good friends. Rain or snow, we're going to have a bonfire and celebrate the Longest Night. 

We left it too late to invite my great-aunt and her family for Christmas dinner but we're going to kidnap my aunt for a visit after their Christmas lunch.  She's a sweetheart and I'm always happy to have her company.

Surprise

I had a productive writer's meeting. I'm ready to start the third section of the horror story. It's changed from the original idea so we batted around the adjustments. The story is stronger this way. That's always a good thing.

I finished an interesting book, decorated the tree and discovered a thirteen pound difference in my appearance between the mirror my parents' front hall and the antique one in my bathroom. I ran up and down the stairs a few extra times tl split the difference.  No more cookies for me until next week.

Little moments

And big smile from a snowplow driver when I moved out of his way was a good thing. He slowed down to see what I was taking a picture of then gave me a thumbs up.

I came up with a way to host Christmas dinner with as little stress as possible. I'll let you know if it works.

Blogger wouldn't let me save or publish my post yesterday and I can no longer remember the content apart from receiving an autographed copy of Joshilyn Johnsons latest.  I have wonderful friends.

Focused

Things went well today. No accidents, no breakdowns, no drama.  What a welcome change.

Dinner was delicious and healthy, homemade chicken parmesan.  Okay, we could used some more vegetables but I was editing the horror story while I cooked.  Writing every day really does have positive impact on the story.  The writing is tighter for one thing.  I'm more focused and floundering less in the story-telling.

I did forget to take the camera out again today. I was too busy getting out of the snow-buried driveway and to work this morning. It was dark when I got back. Oddly, every day I count down how little sun Iceland sees per day. It makes me feel better about coming home in the dark. 

Snow

It just occurred to me now to take the camera outside. It's been snowing steadily since yesterday morning and is supposed to continue through the night to end mid-morning tomorrow. It is beautiful out there. The roads are horrible to travel on, mostly because everyone has forgotten how to drive on snow. The easy solution is to stay home.

DNi and I are snuggled together on the couch watching the snow fall outside the window. We just came in from a late night run to the store so we know how lucky we are to be home safe.

I hope you're curled up in front of the fireplace with a warm drink in your hand, Miz Elen. I suspect this is our fault for saying the ground was dry and gray.

Scraping the barrel

Good things - I'm employed, we have a roof over our head, food in our bellies, warm fuzzy creatures to share our hearts and home.

The rest of the crap is just that. We will either survive it or not.  One way or another it will pass.  I know I should be grateful - and I am - that there are solutions to most of our problems. We have each other. Occasionally that is as much part of the problem as it is the solution.

The snow is pretty.  Our furnace works.

Please excuse me while I hunt up a bottle of Irish Whiskey.  Cheers.

Done

It snowed while Mom and I were out Christmas shopping. It was pretty. I had pre-shopped, knew where the best deals were, so we only had two stores to hit.  We got everything for Dad, then I bought Mom's presents from Dad, so we're done!!  We had a tea out to celebrate.

In other Good News, I finished the paranoid section of the horror story.  It needs to be edited and tidied up but it feels good to be moving on in the story. It's broken down into five sections. I don't know how Stephen King does it. I need some time off from the craziness. 

Writing therapy

It turns out that all the worry, stress and melodrama we call life is fodder for a writer. I've been incredibly productive on that front and have plans to continue. I think I've come up with a creative way to show another character's point of view without switching perspective. It feels good to be back on a writing schedule. I didn't realize how much I missed it.

Family

Families are the source of my gravest frustrations and deepest pride. They bring me to tears for a wide variety of reasons.  Right now, I'm more emotional than usual so a sink full of dirty dishes can trigger a meltdown, as will a stealth smile from DNe.

The Little girls hugged my knees while the oldest girl brushed my hair.  Some people separated themselves from the family unit, then made me cry harder when they snuck back in as if they'd never said such a thing. Dinner was interrupted for a Sparks meeting while dessert was delayed to pick up the oldest kid.

All the chaos and drama(she splashed me with WATER) induced several headaches. Then hugs (you won a PRIZE ) as if nothing had happened.

No one said sorry. No one acknowledged the harsh words or dented feelings. There was more than one elephant in the room but they were fed, their trunks petted and ears scratched. This is more than an analogy. We have elephant salt and pepper shakers that amuse my mom and the nieces no end.

Earlier in the day, I wanted to run away from home, disavow all knowledge of these people to whom I am related and hide out in mountain cabin writing away my angst.

The reality is I love these people. They scare me, they worry me, confuse and ignore me. Even when we're all in the same room, it's not a Hallmark card. We squabble, bicker and kibbutz. We're also fiercely loyal and protective of each other.

We're all feeling the same stress right now. It's taking its toll but listening to the laughter that was shared around the table, hearing manners being expressed and watching everyone try to hold each other up (literally on the part of the four year old) made me realize - and more importantly,  appreciate - that we're all in this together. As long as we stick together we have a stronger chance of surviving - and enjoying ourselves in the process.

A very good thing indeed.

Book therapy

Lack of quality sleep makes a world of difference in coping and attitude.  The neighbours had a party last night that involved the police and an hour long dispersement. I was actually laughing at one point as I considered the disturbance karma for my youth. 

I could list for my blessings and know the truth of them but it's been hard to juggle things and cope today.  Honestly, the zoo has been a godsend. Ky is so happy to see me when I get home from work. He ate my vitamins which was just ridiculous. Everything has to go into his belly. He's a goof. Yoda's been cheering for the hockey game and making me laugh.  Sometimes, I feel like I'm just a food source to the cats but hey, it's good to be needed.

One Good Thing about reading < ahref="http://textpublishing.com.au/books-and-authors/book/the-rosie-project/">The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion
is hearing Sheldon Cooper's voice. I'm not far into the book but am enjoying it immensely. For someone who claims not to be a fan of first-person, I've enjoyed a lot of it recently.
If you're looking for a good Icelandic mystery translated to English, I recommend Last Rituals by Yrsa Sigurdardottir. I stumbled across it at work and have ordered the next. The rhythm of the language enchanted me, as did the descriptions of life in Iceland. The main character was easy to relate to which makes a big difference when reading a novel in a foreign setting. We're not that different when it comes right down to it.

Hockey night tonight

Another long day at work but we accomplished a fair bit and I helped a boy find books for his project about how pencils and crayons are made. No luck on the pen front.

I opted out of a night out to spend time with the family. It's important and I'm really feeling the need lately to spend as much time with my parents as possible.  It's a good thing I made that decision. My dad totally ignored my breakfast announcement of evening plans and went ahead on dinner with my attendance as part of the equation.  Oh well. It was steak out on the grill so no hardship for me. 

An exciting night of hockey with lots of parental interaction to round out the night. My phone was buzzing throughout the game as Stashaholic and I discussed the play.  My other game texting buddy was busy but Yoda cheered for her. I've never seen a parrot take such an interest in sports. He screams Wheeeee when our team scores and Eeeeek or What???? when the opposing team gets a goal.  I am greatly amused by him.

In other news, I have decided to make a pair of socks for my great-aunt for Christmas. She appreciated the last pair so much it seems mean not to knit some more for her. 

Laughter

Today was a comedy of errors, starting with the fact that I went to work three hours early.  One ridiculous thing happened after another but we laughed about all of it.

I went for a tea and walk with my convalescing friend.  She isn't fully recovered from her surgery but every day is another one grateful for her friends and family.  We had some pretty deep talks about life, survival, identity and our purpose in life.  She works in health care. There are people alive today who wouldn't be if it weren't for her.  She is the type of person who takes care of others. I suggested she do the same for herself. Yep, the pot called the kettle black - we both laughed.

I haven't been able to settle to anything tonight, lots on my mind, but I am continually reminded that friends and family are invaluable in helping one survive anything life can think to throw at us. 

Last night I dreamt about friends I've lost in the last few years. There are times when I feel like I should do more with my life because they were denied the opportunities I face every day. 

Today, I feel like it's important I be still and listen.

Little things

It's funny to be so pleased with myself for accomplishing little things but life has been so hectic the last several months that the only things getting done were the big things that could not be ignored. 

I met, and surpassed, my minimal daily requirement for writing.  I'm two scenes away from being done this section and cannot wait to move on to the next.  The story gets creepier and more disturbing as it progresses so in some ways I can wait but you knew what I meant.

I made my own boots today. They're need those little touches that finish them off but here's a photo anyway. They are ridiculously comfortable and come to my knees. I wore them to work.

Shopped til I dropped

Oh, I am tired but we got a lot of wedding prep done today, did the bulk of the Christmas shopping, went to see Frozen (cute) and removed the silver from my hair.  I'm pleased with my spending. Nothing frivolous (I put the Die Hard dvds back) all necessary with only one small item off my list.

We laughed a lot. I forgot my phone at home and barely missed it.  We ate junk food, walked for miles and vowed to get in shape for the wedding.

I'm lying in bed staring out at the neighbour’s decorations. They're quite pretty.

It's been a full day. All is well in our world.

Oh Happy Day

It was so productive that I cannot believe how much I accomplished this day. House cleaned, computer tidied and files backed up to external hard drive, two older manuscripts found on floppy disks and uploaded to laptop and Playbook. I finished a tricky scene in the horror story and set up the next scene so I'm good to go for Thursday morning's writing spree with one of my writing partners.  We discussed a writer's retreat for the Spring.

I bought groceries, made muffins, watched the hockey game, looked at waaaaaaaaaaaay too many wedding photos in an attempt to help my friend pick a photographer. We spent the entire night laughing (not at the photos) and joked about needing to know next season's hockey schedule in order to pick the right date for the wedding. Honestly, if Boston and Toronto were playing, she'd had to say her vows during the commercial breaks.

We had a great night. Tomorrow, we'll start making some of the decorations, look at more wedding paraphanalia and laugh a lot. I'll let you know.

Who knew weddings were such a great source of amusement. My deepest wish is that the entire experience is wonderful for her.  They're a lovely couple

Pleased with myself

What a great writing day.  I was able to figure out most of what's been holding me back with this section. I had great interactions with two of my writing partners. We made plans for tomorrow. I want to get this section done this week so I can move on to the next - as well as spruce up an old manuscript to send out. It's doing no good in my drawer.

Tonight was the Christmas dinner for work. Not only was the food delicious but the company was delightful.  It never ceases to amaze me how easy it is to talk with people.  There's always common ground somewhere. Most of our conversations revolved around travel.  My one coworker is headed to Costa Rica on Thursday.

Part of me laughed really hard watching >Canada's Worst Driver Ever but an equal part is horrified. One of the contestants lives in the Niagara Region.  She hits anything and everything in her path.  It's a very good thing we've never run into each other. I am a much better driver but the bar isn't very hard where she's concerned.

Mix and match

The last few days have been a whirlwind of activity.  Yesterday, DNi and I went to Ecofest in Welland where she learned all about sustainability. I consider myself fairly eco-conscious but discovered I am more so than I thought. I didn't learn anything new that I could apply to our living arrangements. I did have many wonderful discussions with DNi about how big a difference one person can make. We really enjoyed ourselves.

Once we were home and settled in for the night, we made winter boots out of crocs and sweaters we found at the goodwill.  I would have preferred to use materials we had at home but I rarely wear a sweater. Short sleeves with a wrap or shawl to warm me up when necessary.  We tore through my closet looking for a sweater to massacre, all to no avail. DNi is tickled with her new boots.  I'll get her to take a photo so I can share.

Work was busy today, hectic with a fair amount of problem-solving. There was a very serious complaint about a coworker. I think I was able to diffuse the situation and suggested a fair way to bring it up with the boss.  I truly think it was a case of two people having a rough time simultaneously and one hit a nerve so the other responded in kind. We're all human. Working with the public doesn't mean we're always able to push our own personal triggers aside.  We strive for it but are not always successful.

I've had a good couple of writing days. My critique/writing partners and I are back on a schedule.  I have a game plan for getting the work out into the public.  I've been talking to a friend who studied graphic design about a cover for Casey's story.  He's doing really well and it would be nice if his success could help another dog with its disability.  He was quite insistent yesterday that he needed to be wearing his brace.

The truth is I've been struggling with mood swings. I suspect that the lack of routine and schedule have contributed to improper sleep which results in increased pain in my leg. It's been kicking out a lot. So I get frustrated and irrational because I am in pain and exhausted.  Tonight is an early night and once I get back into the routine, the nerves should settle down.

Still, there were some fantastic moments over the last few days to balance out the ickiness.  I had a drink with a good friend last night. We laughed a lot. I had quality time with my DNi, something we've not managed for a few weeks. Watching her patient interaction with my friend's son lifted my heart.  I am blessed with those who share my blood. Family, not vampires. I don't share blood with vampires or zombies. That would not be fun ick.  I don't quite see the appeal.  But I digress.

I promised a report from the art show.  Look for it under Moniker Gallery. It deserved its own post.

Moniker Gallery

Mikal is part of a show at Moniker Gallery in Toronto.  We went to the opening on Thursday and I was blown away.  The collection is eclectic, diverse and amazing.  The artists represented there are incredibly talented.

There was one painting I was drawn to time and again. It's a snapshot of my life in 1994.  Anyone who knows me well will understand immediately why.  It's called the Child Within.  The artist has been working on it for nine years and the explanation beside it says, "It is about dreaming. It is about possibilities.  It is about being a tiny part of the universe and being the whole universe at the same time;the interconnectedness of all things."

 This is the artist, Alan Reimer and The Child Within

This is a close-up of The Child Within. 

Sun. Moon. Lion. Whale. Dove. Sea. Earth. Planets. All that is within and without.  The blue and the gold. Every angle from which I viewed it showed me something new. 

This is a painting that one experiences.  Thank you to Alan Reimer for capturing a piece of my soul and showing it to me.  I am reminded of my unique place in the world.

Lots of chocolate

Just a quick check in to let you know yesterday was amazing and there will be more details about the art show - with pictures.  I want to devote an entire blog post to it.

Right now, I'm too tired. Late night last night, early morning this morning then a party with friends straight from work means I'm headed to bed. Today was also a good day.  No one annoyed me, I avoided the temptation of buying a bunch of stuff I didn't need just because it was on sale then I hugged lots of fabulous people I adore while we drank wine (what I didn't knock on to the floor), figured out what's wrong with the world and came up with some good solutions.  Love, not hate.

I hope you've been well. Enjoying life and all it offers. That goes a long way to dispelling the angst of daily life. I am truly blessed to have you all along for the journey.

Full day

We woke up to a lot of snow on the ground, smothering the trees and hiding the sky.  It was enervating to get out there and shovel while the dogs played like puppies.

I went to fill up the gas tank when the power went out in half the town. There I stood with the nozzle jammed in the car's filler neck while people exited shops up and down the street. Snow continued to fall from the sky and for one brief moment I thought I was stuck. $5 does little to fill the gas tank these days.  I drove down the road and managed to fill up there.

Then I headed down the highway to spend time with my writing partner.  We talked writing, life, writing, politics, writing, publishing, writing, food and followed it all up with more writing talk.  Over Greek salad we discussed our current projects and the directions we're taking them.  Cheesecake with a hint of lemon was given our undivided attention.

The drive home was uneventful while I pondered my family roots.  My people weren't famous(on my dad's side anyway). They were the ones who kept things working and did the heavy lifting - line workers, farm workers, gardeners, bookkeepers and nurses. They may be harder to find in history books or on museum walls but they are the people who helped the ones whose lives are celebrated. That's something to be proud of, I think.  The support team is a vital component of any success.

Snow

All those years of watching NASCAR paid off this morning. My front tires caught road while the back hit ice and stepped out. I was able to save it from spinning off the curve I was transversing at the time.  It's snowing in earnest now but this morning it was merely a patch or two along the way.

On my lunch hour, I went for a short walk.  The air was very damp and heavy but I had on an ankle-length winter coat and mid-calf boots. I was warm and dry and the air smelled wonderful.

I love the first real snow of the season. The dogs race around like two year olds hopped up on sugar.  Their coats glisten in the moonlight.  Their fur smells as fresh as the white blanket beneath their paws. 

Humans aren't quite as enthusiastic but that's our problem.  It's fun out there and we should remember the joy of catching snowflakes on our tongues, shoveling the outdoor rink in anticipation of lacing up our skates and racing indoors to have hot chocolate with marshmallows. 

What are your snow memories from childhood?

Monday

I've had three wonderful people remind me today how wonderful life can be and is. They didn't yell at me or point things out. They held up a mirror and allowed me to see the beauty, and blessings all around.

Instad of focusing on the house that is far from my dream, I listen to the wind howl and appreciate the solid roof above my head.  There is food in the fridge, heat pouring from the vents, a nice reliable car in the garage, two jobs I like, friends who raise me up, and a family I adore.

Here's my raindrop phone photo.  Disappointing but it was fun taking it.

Laughter

Came home from work and watched 10 episodes of The Big Bang Theory while figuring out a new pattern.  That was my one good thing today. Laughter is good for what ails ya. So is sleep,  so I'm going to go try that next.

Tomorrow is another day.

Sis Boom Ra!

Last night was long and less than pleasant. It seemed like everyone was up half the night. 

It was a day with worrisome news and frustrations. Honestly, I've wanted to go back to bed and reboot since before I crawled out of it this morning.

Then the whole family came over for dinner. The Little Ones were entertaining, delightful and really cheered me up.  It's not every day your name is chanted in the living room as soon as you enter the room.  Lots of little girl snuggles, tickles and hair brushing did a lot to make things better.

I've prepped a hearty breakfast casserole for the household, done laundry and showered. Next up, a little quiet time with a good book, while the critters snooze.

Things are going to happen, or not, without any input from me. One way or another, I'll do my best.  I have my own private cheering section.  How lucky am I?

Breathe

Today was crazy busy with work and home stuff. I'm tired and klutzy.

I was pacing around the community center stretching my legs when I noticed raindrops on the bush by the door.  I ran outside and took a dozen photos of various trees and plants covered in raindrops. I haven't had a chance to see how any of the pictures turned out but something more important came from my rushing around in the rain. I got outside of my head, away from work and into the fresh air. I filled my lungs with oxygen, the scent of wood smoke and damp air, lost myself in nature.

Such a good thing, that natural high.

Making frustration work

For some reason, the entire household was cranky today. I spent several hours at the computer, writing. It was a frustrating time. Once I gave myself permission to walk away, things fell into place. I wrote a solid outline for part two. I should be able to get at least an hour a day over the next few days to flesh that out.

I spent the afternoon cooking - a big pot of pasta sauce and chocolate chip cookies. The latter were better but still not how I like them. That's good. I will eat less than the usual quantity.  I found an interesting website that explains chocolate chip cookie fails. It gives me some ideas to play with.

Ending the sentence with a preposition made me shudder.

Good day

I had tea today with a friend I haven't seen for weeks. It was lovely to fall back into our natural rhythm.  It is ever thus so.

Yep, I've been watching BBC drama.  Ripper Street this time.  It was slow to grab me but now that it has, I'm addicted. Matthew MacFadyen has come a long way from Mr. Darcy but not too far from MI-5's Tom Quinn.
 
I wrote this morning. Inspired by number 3, I threw a bunch of words on the page. They weren't that bad so I threw some more on the page. I've been thinking about that scene enough that things started to flow.  Tomorrow I will write some more.

Because that's how you finish the story. By putting one word down after another. 

Fall food

Just for Elen, the Squash soup recipe.  I put fresh grated parmesan cheese on the bottom of the bowl then ladle piping hot soup on top of it.  For someone who doesn't care for soup, I really like this one. And my go-to cold-killer garlic soup.  I'll share that one another day.

I had a lovely visit with my great-aunt. We talked about the cold, grey, windy day which of course led to some Scottish memories. She told me about being a nurse in a small town just outside of Toronto.  That would have been in the 30's.  I've never heard of  ThistleTown so I looked it up.  Wikipedia to the rescue.  After she came home and got married, my aunt gave up nursing because that's what one did in those days.  Oddly, both of my grandmothers were nurses as well, yet I never felt the pull. Unless one counts nursing animals which is completely different from humans. There's a lot less complaining for one thing.

I decided not to eat anything I haven't made myself. The chocolate chip cookies weren't up to my usual standards. I only had whole wheat flour and forgot to compensate for that. They taste okay but I suppose the good thing is I'm not eating as many.

Chicken parmesan with fresh squeezed lemon and a spinach salad for dinner was far more satisfying.

Without anyone's input shocked stare in Stashaholic's direction, I decided to seam the sleeves of the cherrybomb bolero rather than look for fun buttons. The yarn and stitch pattern are quite lovely and deserve to be the focus.

Warm

Lots of wind and rain and I'm grateful to be snuggled down in the house, warm and dry.

I finished my wrap. I'm debating buttons vs seams to turn it into a shrug or bolero.

What do you think?

Fresh air

Another freaking day of challenges so I choose to focus on that which is good.

I found the right recipe for squash soup and made seven jars of it. Most went into the freezer.  Two more jars of applesauce and five dozen chocolate chip cookies. I forgot to compensate for the whole wheat flour so they weren't as flat as I like them but tasty none-the-less.

Ky and I went outside to clean the yard and scoop out the pond.  Two days ago, it was winter. today, it was a nice Fall day.  I even picked fresh spinach I found still growing in a pot. Delicious.

One good thing

I walked to and from work today. It will be winter all too soon with snow, bitter wind and nose-numbing cold. It was not like that today. I enjoyed it.

The one good thing about being as tired as I am is the fact that my presence is not required anywhere until noon on Sunday. There are things I should do, things I said I would do but if none of it happens, it won't be the start of the apocalypse - zombie or otherwise.

It's quite freeing not to be responsible for the fate of the known universe.

Attitude

Last night was fantastic. Eddie Izzard is not only funnier than hell, he's also quite smart.  His humour can make you think. Then he goes off on a tangent and you can only shake your head.

It was nice that I didn't have to work until later in the day. The cats had a horrible fight last night so I ended up taking Milo back into my room.  Urgh. He didn't let me sleep.  It was a long day filled with one annoying thing after another.

I did spend some time looking at my attitude and recognizing how it influences my perception of events. I really can't do anything about anyone else.  Some people are going to always behave the same way, or not. The only thing I can control is my response.  It's not always easy being the grown-up.  To think there was a time when I resented being told what to do, or when to go to bed, just because I was a kid.  My parents were surprisingly lenient with me, all things considered.

So, one good thing today - finding chocolate in the side pocket of my purse.  Spinach salad with homemade lemon/garlic dressing.  Enjoying the sound of the wind as it howled and swirled around town.  It was all howl and no damage.  Excellent.

I heard singing in the empty museum when I locked up tonight. That was cool, not creepy.  I wonder if the ghosts will leave when the museum moves to another building.  I will miss them if they do.

Perception

Winter is on its way.  My poor garden wasn't prepared despite the fact that I've had several extra weeks to take care of it. Other things took priority. My convalescing friend is doing much better.  She no longer needs someone with her all the time. I picked up a couple of things while I was out shopping then popped by her place for a short visit.  Mentally, she's ready to be out of the house and back to work. Physically will be a bit slower.

I'm working on my own routine and habits. My jeans are looser but I feel like they should be the opposite. Funny how our perception is often skewed. 

I've been designing sweaters, jackets and wraps in my head. It will be interesting to see if anything comes of any of them.  I have quite a few lovely skeins I want to work with on those projects. First, I will finish my cherrybomb wrap. It's going to be a bolero, I think.  I'd made a big mistake that necessitated five inches being ripped out but I actually picked up the stitches on the right row.  I'm better at this knitting thing than I think.  Perception again.

I had a great time with my friend and her daughter when we went to see Thor: The Dark World. I shouldn't root for the bad guy with such enthusiasm but Loki is delightfully complex. 

Tomorrow, I will be quite late posting, if at all.  I'm going to see Eddie Izzard with Stashaholic.  I heard him say he's doing the follow-up to the Death Star Canteen. Apparently, all trays have been removed.  I'm really looking forward to it.

Grateful

One Good Thing about today being a day of Remembrance is the realization of how incredibly blessed we are to live in this country.

We have the right to disagree, to be indifferent, to vote, to protest, to buy stupid things, watch salacious movies, investigative films, mindless comedies. We have the right to drive. To cut our hair. To wear hats or not according to personal preference or fashion dictates.

We have the right to eat junk food, to buy locally, to support alternative fuel options, to drive gas-guzzlers. We have the right to experiment or remain entrenched in dogmatic practice.  We have the right to worship God or the Flying Spaghetti Monster. 

We have the right to our beliefs, to our practices, to our excessive, decadent, selfish way of life.

We have the right to be oblivious to all of the men and women who GAVE THEIR LIVES so that ours could continue in a manner to which we had grown accustomed or envisioned as our future.

It is a very good thing to realize, be grateful, and thank veterans and their families, for all of those things and so much more.

Thank you.  I wear my poppy in pride and gratitude for this life you have enabled me to live.

short but sweet

My day began with tea in my living room with my dear friend. It was a very good start to the day. We talked about life, mutual friends and planned a trip to Iceland together. She assures me ticket prices are quite reasonable at the moment. Sigh

Nothing remarkable happened at work. I twisted my knee early in the shift but continued movement loosened it up.

My friend's husband arrived just before I got home so we all went out for dinner before the headed out on the long journey home. The men all talked about boats and fishing while the women talked about family, friends and art.

I'm so blessed and thrilled that they were able to make time to visit with us on their short visit here.

Happy happy joy joy

I was so productive at work today that I danced and skipped my way through the stacks once the doors were locked.  It was a crunch to get everything done in the time allotted but I did it all and did it well.

A dear friend from North Carolina was in Toronto with her husband for his business meeting. He kindly shared her company so I drove up after work. We went out for dinner at a genuine Chinese restaurant. The menus and cheque were printed in Chinese. We hoped we didn't order the 8lb lobster or Alaskan King crab that they brought to the table live to show off its freshness before they cooked it for you.  It was an incredible meal. We didn't get everything we'd ordered but it was delicious, filling and not so fresh that I had to avoid its gaze beforehand.  I'm not good making an acquaintance with my food.  If I have to kill it, vegetarian I will be.

Now we're home, chatting, sharing stories and solving world problems. 

My other friend posted a photo of her engagement ring. It suits her perfectly.  That man knows what he's doing. And so does she. Their happiness is contagious. Here, have some.  Dance down the row.

It's all good

Oops, I was so tired yesterday I flat out forgot to post.  The weather was nice, work went well, the critters got lots of snuggles, I found a few bargains when I went for groceries, I had interesting email interactions and life was good.

Today no one was injured when the light fell out of the ceiling. The tether caught it. The well-known and much beloved local actor who was standing beneath the light at the time made a joke about it. The printer didn't catch fire five minutes later. I turned it off as soon as I noticed it was hot. And the man who put expired creamer in his coffee didn't choke.  He spit it out instead :)  That all happened in a span of twenty minutes.

All disasters were averted and everyone had a sense of humour.

Then I got a great phone call from a dear friend. She's engaged.  He's a wonderful partner for her and I couldn't be more excited, thrilled or happy for the two of them.

Good day

I was so tired driving to Grimsby this morning that I wasn't enjoying myself. Then the car in front of mine drove through an enormous pile of leaves. They swirled up and over my car to shower mine in gold and orange, maybe even a few burnt sienna.  It was glorious and made me giggle.

I was meeting my good friend Brenda Harlen for tea and writing chat.  I was much later than we'd planned and didn't see her when I entered the cafe. I texted to ask if she'd given up on me. She texted back that she was still there, was I coming?  I started to text that I was there also but looked behind me first. There she was, sitting at the table that sat behind my chair.  She'd been at the counter when I came in so we hadn't seen each other.

We had a great visit, caught up on life, conferences and brainstormed our current projects.  Having someone to bounce ideas off, to work through plots and character arcs is valuable beyond measure. Being able to work out motivation and staging with someone who understands their importance can save hours of bumbling around on our own.  It's one of the many reasons we set another meeting in two weeks.

The drive back to Queenston was equally gorgeous and I was more alert, full of how to continue the horror story.  My convalescing friend and I had a healthy dinner, spinach salad with lemon/garlic dressing. It was so good.

She's craving a milkshake, so we're distracting ourselves with Beowulf and Grendel. The scenery is exquisite, the script excellent and full of fantastic dialogue.  Oh, and Gerard Butler.  :sigh:

Tuesday tidings

Another balmy day. It's been a real yo-yo season.  Freezing one minute, warm the next. I have no idea what to wear. Today, I chose a long dress,very purple.

I taught a class on downloading ebooks. It went well. Everyone thanked me and said I did a great job. I was flattered as we all struggled with various apple and google devices.  We all had fun with the frustrating bits and celebrated the successes.  I won't be teaching another class like that as we're hiring a full-time tech to take care of many things, including digital classes.

I'm home tonight catching up with my zoo and family.  They're all pretty understanding about my absence and the reason for it, but Milo spent most of the night telling me, in a very loud voice, that he missed me.  Yoda has been fairly quiet. No hockey tonight.

Monday

I am grateful to be home to sleep in my own bed.  It is exhausting look after another person, especially when you need to be vigilant about their care. In some ways though, it was relaxing down in the little village. We watched documentaries, drank lots of hot liquids and received deliveries of soup,cookies and edible arrangements. Air was stolen from our lungs as we took our evening consitutional.  We both thought a cat was a raccoon this morning. 

The neighbours probably shouldn't walk around half naked until they put up window coverings. No, stained glass panels are insufficient.

For some reason, my friend found the word hummus funny. 

This is what we've been consuming steadily for the last few days.

Today, I discovered recipes on the back on the chocolate wrapper.  Coconut muffins probably taste delicious but I'm not wasting my Icelandic chocolate on an ingredient. It's best enjoyed on its own and allowed to slowly melt in one's mouth.

Good things

Just a brief post to say we had a couple of gorgeous walks in the brisk Autumn sun. Tonight's walk was colder but the smell of decaying leaves and wood stoves balanced it out.

There's lots of healing happening. Definitely a good thing.

Plus, there was chocolate. Precious Icelandic chocolate.

Relief

It was pouring rain today as I drove along the Niagara parkway. Yellow, orange and red leaves carpeted the road and I wished for my camera. I contented myself with the images that rolled past my windows.

I'm staying with a friend as she recovers from surgery. We almost lost her yesterday so I'm incredibly grateful to spend time with her.  She may be in a lot of pain but her sense of humour is intact.

After watching a horrible hockey game full of injuries, penalties and goals for the other team, we turned to Netflix. Nothing caught our attention despite the fact that some of the titles made me giggle like crazy.  I suspect relief made us giddy. Then I found YouTube and Eddie Izzard.  Laughing is not the best choice for someone with stitches in her belly.  We watched him in spurts.  Even truncated,  Izzard was the better choice over the horror movie.

Silly Friday

Man, today seemed long. The good thing is I can go to bed now. And sleep in tomorrow. My presence is not required anywhere until late afternoon, early evening. I  need to make scones. From scratch.  I just shamelessly begged my cousin for her husband's recipe. They were worth the drive to Prince George - from Whistler. They may even be worth the drive from Ontario but I don't have that kind of time.

One good thing about three interrupted phone calls was being able to catch up with a good friend.  Texts and facebook weren't cutting it.  Hearing each other's voices did.

One good thing about searching for my replacement credit card is I found all of the greeting cards I bought for family a couple of months ago.  Now I need to find their addresses (I can drive to their houses but have no idea what streets they live on).  While I'm certain the bank would have sent me a new credit card, I cannot find. Yay, that means I won't use it.  Silver lining squared.

Ooo, math joke and my head did not explode.  There's hope for me yet on that front.