Monday, December 31, 2007

2007: Memory lane

So 2007 is coming to a close and now is a good as time as any to review what has happened during the last year.

I have joined the technological age and have finally upgraded my walkman (yes, the one that takes cassette tapes) to an iPod. That is what the monetary gift from D’s parents and grandmother went into. It’s pretty and so far I have yet to use it. It is synced with my computer; so there is music on it, I just haven’t used it. However, I do foresee some good times with it as I exercise. It will be nice to carry that around instead of the walkman as I go for my walks and such.

The new windows are in and the exterior of the house is underway. That has been both the biggest worry and the most extravagant spend this year. Of course, it was only possible because a car was paid off this year. Though I feel we are still on ‘house poor’ alert, I actually feel like we have something to show for it this year. Unfortunately, it is a pink house right now, but by mid 2008, the house will look amazing and now I just have to convince D that we need the gargoyle chimney cover. And we have discussed getting a broken tombstone to hold the address. Do you think the neighbors might worry about us? Heehee.

I have learned that despite the fact that 2006 led to me learning so much about forgiveness, it appears part of me is not ready to forget some things that happened in the past. Certain reminders keep occurring and while I would love to just forget it all, I guess that is why I am a Scorpio, best keeper of secrets – both others’ and my own.

Career wise, I have worked hard at getting myself promoted. It was a scary time, but I am so glad that I took the leap. I am learning so much and if only to have met one of my co-workers, it was totally worth it. The needed pay raise (see house paragraph above) was appreciated and certainly put to good use. As my boss keeps saying, this year will bring us some interesting times. There are going to be lots of things happening in our department and it all leads up to a complete revamp in 2009. It is kind of cool having my toes in so early.

My office cleaning and tidying attempts have maintained a consistent level in priority and though it is not the cleanest it could be, the filing and messiness are at a reasonable low level. My attempts are decluttering the rest of the house continue with as much gleeful freeing toss outs and tearful refusals to let go.

I started taking yoga. I feel so much better having taken that step and I am going to sign up again when it starts in a couple of weeks. In fact, these past two weeks, I haven’t done my yoga and I have noticed the change. I am glad that I am back towards being as flexible as I was and that the instructor has noticed and is taking that into consideration as we do our stretches. I wish I could have been involved in the chocolate meditation as it sounded delectable (heehee), but I still get so much out of yoga.

I have had to (and continue to) work at reminding myself that the numbers on the scale are not the end all of life. My father lost 120 pounds this year (at least) and my mother lost about 30-40 pounds herself. I am officially the largest of my family, though I certainly don’t necessarily look it. And the scale has been arguing with me every week about what it should read. I know the numbers on the measuring tape are more important and I know the fit of my clothes is even more important. I have dropped 1, possibly 2 sizes (I haven’t gone shopping to verify the second drop). And I am pleased with that. Most of my clothes are far too big and I know that is a wonderful thing. Part of me wishes the scale showed more, part of me is pissed off cause I have some really nice clothes that are too big now (some I even recently bought), and part of me is still curled up waiting for me to give up on the changes and go back to status quo.

I am not at the state of depression I was this time last year. Nor am I feeling quite so run down. I won’t say there is no stress in my life because that would be a lie, this year has actually been quite stressful, but I think I have handled it with a lot more panache that I have in several years. I have discovered a lot about myself, not all of it good, and I hope to continue this. Rumor has it that Generation X is being called the Lost generation because we don’t feel like we know where we belong, because we have committed so much time and energy to trying to find ourselves and because we are stuck between a large generation of baby boomers and a large generation of Gen Y’s. And then there is the Entitled generation that follows, but that is a topic for another day. I think that Gen X is among the first generation that has been allowed the time and energy to try to find ourselves. People have taken their moments in the past, but really, there is so much in our life that is convenient that really, it is easier to take that time to just make ‘me’ a priority. And maybe we feel like having watched our parents and grandparents that we need to take the time for ourselves so that we can be better people. I don’t think anything is wrong with that. I know I need ‘me’ time to survive and I am better at taking it and it shows.

My friends still ROCK! I have some really good friends and I hope to continue my relationships with them. And I am looking forward to a new year of meeting people and getting to know people better. There are people in my life that I really don’t know (S!) despite them being in my life for more than a year. There are people I haven’t connected with in a while that I really do want to get in touch with again. Facebook has certainly been an interesting conundrum. So many people from previous times and the question arises: do you let them in your life now or not? How deep that question can become as the mouse wavers between ‘friend’ and ‘ignore.’

There are so many moments I could cover, but I think those are the big ones right now. It has certainly been a year of learning and taking those leaps of faith. I can honestly say that despite the outcomes, I am happy that I have come out of my shell and remembered what it is like to live.

Quote to end 2007
Not all of us have to possess earthshaking talent. Just common sense and love will do. Myrtle Auvil


I wish you all the best for 2008. Here’s to more adventures, fun, learning, love, cuddle piles, tears, hugs, smiles, friends and family.

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Friday, December 28, 2007

And the new rules are…

I am not allowed near any more Music Worlds. Sighhh. As you already know, Music World is going out of business and while I will miss their selection, I rarely shopped there recently due to Future Shop being more affordable. However, now that they are down to 50% off, I have already been there twice. And I have spent far too much money. Now, I have purchased a few b-day gifts and of course, a couple of Christmas gifts (yes, Christmas 2008 – it’s an illness, you will just have to deal with my need to buy everyone gifts). So the good news is that it wasn’t all for me. The bad news is a lot of it was for me. But I am very happy with my choices. Heehee. And to show my geeky Canadian side, I went in the second time ONLY because when I was last in there before Christmas, I had seen Anne of Green Gables #3 and when I didn’t receive it for Christmas, I went back to see if it was still there. I ONLY found it once I had a handful of cds and was at the end of my shopping experience, but I did find it. Teehee.

I am not allowed to shop for Christmas 2008 gifts.
I bought another Christmas gift today. It was just tooooooo cute that I couldn’t say no and the price was fabulous. If I keep this up, I could have everyone’s 2008 gift bought before the end of 2007. Nahhhhh! I am not THAT sickening.

I am not allowed to get any more calendars. I have several desk calendars this year and not because anyone else bought me them. They were all bought by me, except one small Happy Bunny that will be going to work. I am missing only one that I REALLY wanted but so far out of 3 Calendar Clubs/Coles I have not found it, so unfortunately I will not be able to enjoy the When Darkness Falls calendar. Instead I have my Alchemy Gothic, a couple dragons, a horoscope, another Happy Bunny and my secret one. It’s a secret because I believe it will become very useful for naming my blog entries, plus it may become my newest thoughts of the moment.

D is not getting any clothes for presents this year. That one could be hard to keep, but there were lots of shirts in D’s Christmas presents this year. Yeah, most from me – okay, I think they were ALL from me. Oops! I kind of forgot how many I had bought until I started wrapping. I got to think of interesting ways to disguise them as I wrapped them. Aren’t I creative?

I should not be shopping anymore this year, except for milk – I will need milk and bananas this weekend. But besides that, I need to stop shopping. You would think I would be done, but the few weeks of very limited shopping (because I was done my Christmas shopping early), has led to me wanting to buy, buy, buy. It is not like I didn’t get a whole lot of loot for Christmas, I did, I just wanted a few things that I didn’t get and now I Need them.

A&J are not allowed to move during winter. I get why they did it and I certainly would have done the same in their shoes, but dang, was it cold the day we moved them! It started out a really nice day, but then the wind changed and shite, it got cold. However, with the limited people we had, we rocked!! By quarter to 5, they were all into the new place and we had stopped briefly for pizza, which I don’t think anyone really tasted, but it was good nonetheless. Heehee. Actually, I am going to amend that rule – none of my friends are allowed to move during winter. Too damn cold!

I must find my watch. Somehow on Christmas Eve, I lost my watch – supposedly in the house, cause I never left the house that day. I remember finding my watch while I was wrapping the last gift and I remember putting on then coming into the kitchen and realizing that I needed to take it off again because I had to wash dishes yet. I cannot remember where I put it then, nor can I remember if I was wearing it that night and I lost it after that. All I know is I spent a long time finding that watch in the first place and now I am without it. Sighhhh. I have searched the house and I have NO idea of where it could be. Unless it went home with someone or ended up in the garbage (which has been picked up already), I have no ideas left of where to look. I very sad. I really liked that watch. Thankfully, I found another watch that still had a working battery (because I am naked without a watch on), but still…I want what I cannot have. Sighhhh.

Next blog to come – the resolutions. What shall I promise to do this coming year? What is the reasoning behind? What am I going to do to ensure I follow through? Are you excited yet? Heehee.

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Tuesday, December 11, 2007

Ahhh, man…

For all you animal lovers, here is

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Monday, December 10, 2007

An act in stupidity

Performed by none other than moi
The boss invites me to sit in a meeting this afternoon as the minute taker. Things are going fine, it’s a meeting, so lots is being said, nothing is being resolved, but it is all new to me, so it is kinda interesting. Then a few people start leaving and the eastern company says they have to leave because of the time difference. I look at my clock and realize that that person must have stayed late cause with the time difference it would be 5:25. Where did the time go? So I continue writing, but now keep an eye on the time cause I have so much to do tonight that I cannot miss my bus. 10 minutes before the hour, people are in and out of the meeting and it is mentioned that we should have planned for a break. Of course, I am thinking, well, no point now, cause we need to wrap this up. So at the hour, I whisper to the boss that I gotta go or I will miss my bus. He nods, so I race back to my desk, put my winter boots and coat on, deciding that I will grab the toque and mitts when I get on the bus. Someone else is leaving and we make idle chitchat as we take the elevator. I get to my stop and one of my bus buddies is there. The bus is running a little late and I notice that the other bus buddy is not there, but then again she has been getting a few rides home lately. The bus pulls up and I get on, noticing that there are LOTS of seats. I sit and look for my bus buddy to make the comment about how empty it is, but she sits at the front. I look at my clock and much to my surprise it says 3:12. I blink a couple of times, but the time doesn’t change. I ask the guy beside me who confirms it is only 3:12. Two stops after getting on the bus, I get off and start huffing it back to my office because I don’t get off until 4. ACK! I race back to work, run into the boss as I arrive where we share a huge laugh at my stupidity and I ask if he would like me to return to the meeting and he says if I want. So I get my total embarrassment under control and return to the meeting (missing just 25 minutes). The boss is a really great guy and he teases me a couple of times about the actual time. Of course at the end of the meeting, it comes out what happened and we all share a laugh and I state that this just proves my dedication since I came right back.

The funny thing is – they didn’t get much further in the meeting, so I really didn’t miss much.

And that was the tale of my day. You can imagine how the rest of the day was, in order for it to get that bad. I hope it gets better. Oy!

And now for the normal news – I have new windows and doors! Yeah! The insulation on the exterior of the house is at least 50% done. Yeah! My house is almost back to order. Yeah! My desk is, of course, a mess.

Y’all can hate me if you want. Not only am I done my Christmas cards and shopping, I have completed my baking and I have wrapped all but 3 presents. Rockin’! Now that the contractors are done in the house, I can decorate this week and start prepping for Christmas Eve party, which has grown a bit. Have a few things left to do for that.

The next 2.5 days I am in training and it is the Christmas season, which means I will probably have to figure out how to get home. According to my calculations, three buses later, I should be home about an hour to an hour and a half after I get off work. Sighhh. It is going to be very looooong days for the next few days. Wish me luck.

Anyway, it is the last day of Yoga, so I should get ready to go. After Yoga is the Social Event of the Season, so I must also make sure that is all ready to go so D can take that along for when I get picked up. Long days indeed.

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Cheri Scotch is a truly wonderful person

D got me the bestest b-day present. At least 2 years ago, I had seen this trilogy of books in Chapters and I thought it looked interesting, but since it was in the November/December time, I am not allowed to buy myself anything, so I wrote it on my list and gave it to D who has been searching for it ever since, cause they weren’t there when D went back. So this year, D contacted the author via her website to ask for some assistance. She responded with a couple of ideas, which D had already tried. So she then responded by sending the first two books (they were all she had) personally signed by her to me. One says my name and Happy Birthday and her signature. The other says my name and Enjoy your birthday and her signature. They were two days late for my b-day, but I didn’t care. What an awesome gift! What an awesome effort by D! And what an awesome author! So to Cheri Scotch, I say thank you from the bottom of my heart. You made me one very happy reader.

Thanks also to those who came to the cheesecake party to celebrate my b-day. It was most appreciative and I needed some time with friends. But please – no more cheesecake. Heehee.

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