I'm not bossy. I'm just right.

Nicked this video from a friend (Alfred Lives Here). It is amazing how a less than two minutes video can show how love starts and blossoms between two people.


I had so many controversial topics I wanted to say last week, but this week just drained me. So did the massage, but more about that later. I had wanted to comment on the reserve whose members are living in third world conditions and are expecting the governments to come and do something. Here is a brief summary of my thoughts: I know the papers only show one side. I know there are several people posting articles about how horrible things are and the people are justified in their demands. I still have a problem with this situation. A page later is an article about how the chiefs don’t want to release the salaries they earn. And what?!? We are not supposed to figure out how these are related. I am not supposed to know from other articles that there are chiefs who are earning 6 digits in salary while their members live in sub-par housing. I don’t understand why the government has to get involved. A lot of funds go to the reserves from different levels and departments of the government. Why aren’t these funds being used to fix the housing? You don’t see the government stepping in and saving a person living in a rundown house in Edmonton or Gunn. Why aren’t the members holding their chiefs accountable? Why aren’t they demanding the chiefs provide them with better housing? Why aren’t they taking responsibility? It just frustrates me. I dislike people who use excuses rather than taking responsibility for their lives and doing something about it. We all have choices. Start choosing to take action and stop blaming and complaining. Demand to see the books, follow the money, start questioning.

So my b-day has come and passed and I had a good weekend. The Friday before I had my first ever professional massage and I feel bad, but it was just okay. I went for a therapeutic massage, not a relaxing massage. It was good, but other than some achiness, I didn’t notice a difference. Then Saturday, I wanted to go shopping, but not alone, so since that didn’t happen, I stayed home and cleaned and organized and it made me feel really good. I had the girls over in the evening and we sat around and chatted. Would have been nice to play games, but there were lots of good conversations and it was a nice mix of friends. Then Sunday was over to my parents so I could have cake and ice cream and get presents. Whoot! Monday was shopping (unfortunately for most practical stuff, though I did buy a smaller size pant) and then dinner out at Kelseys. Kelseys has definitely improved since our last voyage there. The service was much better; the menu has improved and has an enlightened section for those of us counting calories. Plus it was Monday so appetizers were buy one get one free, so D and I each had a warm soup and then our dinner. Aside from there being very little in the way of steamed veggies, it was delicious. I did not have dessert since I had leftover cheesecake from Saturday.

Friday I had my follow-up massage and after spending some time on my back, he had me turn over so he could work on the front shoulders. Let me just say – OWWWWW!!! I had marks on my neck by the end and while he said my muscles felt looser, all I could feel was the ache. I used ice Friday night and no one has been able to touch my shoulders since. OMG! I can’t even tell if it did any good because it hurts so much. I think I need a relaxing one just to calm the muscles, except I don’t want anyone to touch me. Very annoying. Hopefully the pain will fade soon and I can see what state I am in.

And yes, I did say ‘he’ for my masseuse. A little disconcerting, but he has been quite nice, letting me know what we are doing and giving me tips and stuff. Is he the best massage I have ever had? No, I do hold true that Mr. H was still better. D gives more of a relaxing massage, so that is a different feel. But hey, if it helps with the stress and the headaches and such, then it’s worth trying.

Work is frustrating on so many levels and I am so uninterested in it. My unit is just so messed up and there are more changes coming in the new year and talk about downsizing and a new manager. Oh goodness, I am hoping the rumors are wrong on that one – the person they are suggesting for a manager has no clue what we do. It would be nice to have someone who has some knowledge, but then again, the people who do have knowledge scare the crap out of me as well as they are micro-managers. That is what makes things so tough. Having a set of people who act like they are your bosses, when they aren’t. I have a boss, thank you, and I only need one.

Funny story – one of the big, big wigs came by to meet everyone and our team met with him after my old team. Well, I guess my old team brought me up and how they wanted me back. When I introduced myself, he said “oh, you’re that person.” Nothing like the big wigs knowing who you are… ack! It was really flattering, but also a little nerve-wracking.

Annoying story – the disadvantage to leaving the unit is now I have become the scapegoat for some people. I mean honestly, some of these people I had to train and clean up a lot after them. And now, when there are screw ups, I get blamed. What really pissed me off is the paperwork is completely missing to support these accusations – convenient. Though really it backs me up, but goodness knows, that is not how the story is being told.

I keep thinking I am almost done Christmas and then I find another present I haven’t completed. Sighhhh… Technically I am down to 3 presents. Two I have to pick up the gift certificates (what else do you get grandmothers!?!) The other is half done and I am kinda stuck on what else to get. I think I have an idea, but now I have to find it at the price I want at a location close to where I work/live. That could be difficult. Once those are done, then I am done. I sat down yesterday and did 99% of the Christmas cards. Whoot! Those just need addresses and then I can mail them. Then I have to start planning the Christmas Eve party - what to make this year? Ack - I have no ideas right now. I need to come up with the big supper idea soon! I have to wrap the presents and send off the few that are out of the city. And I bought several b-day presents! Whoot! I am so good. Teehee. Oh yeah – and I need to do baking yet.

D is currently managing two stores, so is super busy; so I should have lots of alone time to get stuff done.

I am completely in love with Adele. Mostly her album 21, but a few from 19 are also good. I also am in love Glee’s renditions of her songs. Wow! And the new Evanescence album is fantastic. I have actually found quite a few new albums I love. And of course a couple greatest hits for bands from the past that I still love. I know I am such a music whore. I like just about any kind of music, though my tolerance for thrash and old country is very limited.

Anyway, I have more to write about, but we are doing a glucose curve for my poor kitty, so of to draw some blood.

The best way to get over someone is to get under someone else.

I write this while I ignore the hacking cough tearing at my chest. It is not like I haven’t wanted to update you to the wonders of my life; October was just a hellish month, culminating in a week of the flu, which I am still trying to recover from. And goodness, does it drain you of energy. Mind you, perhaps if I wasn’t trying to get so much done, it wouldn’t matter, but I took 4 days off of work. That should be enough time to recover. Perhaps I shouldn’t have done the 15% off Tuesday shopping followed by 30 minutes of working out. And I probably should have still stayed home on Friday and then not pushed through the day. And perhaps I should stay home tomorrow, but you know it ain’t going to happen – well, that’s not totally true. It could happen. It all depends on how much sleep I get and how I feel in the morning. They all know I am sick. The manager I called recognized it in my voice (I kept ensuring I said my name because it did not sound like me at all), and then on Friday, most people heard me try to talk and then the coughing. I hate coughing – almost as much as I hate the nausea – but I hate puking more. I was going to blame the party, but it appears there are others at work who have the same symptoms as I do and I hadn’t seen them since prior to the party. I haven’t had the flu in ages and goodness, I don’t remember it being this bad or taking this long to recover. I know I have taken some time to just chill. I was attempting to sleep 12 hours (didn’t often happen, but I tried to go to bed at a decent hour and get up late) and I hung out for the most part on the sofa catching up on shows (whoot!), but as soon as I get energy, I start doing shite and wearing myself out. Like today – I couldn’t sleep very well, so I was up earlier than I wanted. Then after a leisurely breakfast, I was out to do some Christmas shopping for a couple hours. I was exhausted after that! So I sat down for a half hour and enjoyed my slush float and popcorn chips (nummy!). Then I was off to the basement to clean up and re-arrange furniture. Oh – My – Goodness – it took forever to move the sofas around. I don’t think I have been that weak in a long time. Oy! After about 2 and a half hours, I was done and beyond exhausted. So I ate supper, then hopped on the next set of things I wanted to do (I know – half my problem right there!) and here I am some 2 hours or so later and really, I should be in bed! I actually have one more thing on my list of things to do today, but I think I have to put that off until tomorrow. Plghhhht!

October started with two weeks of holidays – yeah! It should have been relaxing. I didn’t plan things for every day. I tried to keep things casual and… it just didn’t work. It was one thing to the next and by the time the holidays were done, I was still exhausted. Then it was a week of getting things back in order and trying to get the house ready for winter (yes – this wasn’t completed while on holidays). And prepping for the Halloween party we were co-hosting. Due to the suckiness of the weather this year, we had water seepage. After months of trying to talk to a contractor, finally one told us to find the back flow valve of the weeping tile (who knew?!?). After tracking down another contractor to help us with this impossible task, this contactor said we needed to get our weeping tile scoped. This led to finding a plumber to do this, only to be told they don’t do this – but I specifically said it on the phone when I booked – arghhh! Regardless, after a lot of work, the plumber managed to located and chip out the back flow valve and unstick it. So we are 99% sure the problem is fixed. After trying to get ahold of another contractor about the potential mold issue, we were assured we had no mold, only effervescence. So 4 months or so after we discovered the problem, we potentially have it all fixed.

But of course, in the meantime, we usually host a Halloween party. A friend of ours very kindly co-hosted at her house with us. Which was great fun and hopefully everyone had fun. It was a lot of work to prep everything with someone else. Not that I didn’t appreciate all of her assistance or the cost-sharing or the duty-sharing, etc. I do! It is just coordinating with another person is hard work. It seemed to be a hit with everyone and it was insinuated we should do it again (partly because people don’t want to choose one party or the other and I got the feeling we would lose).

So the party was awesome and we were there until almost 5 am. I woke up the next afternoon with a sore throat, but attributed that to perhaps using my voice in a house full of people. Sunday, my throat burned and by Sunday night, I was freezing. Honestly, I could not get warm. This is very weird for me… I had my usual winter covers, two really warm blankets we use in front of the tv, D sharing body warmth, and D’s two duvets… and I still couldn’t get warm. Soooo odd. That led to me staying home Monday with nausea and extreme fatigue keeping me home the other three days. I was able to catch up on Vampire Diaries and Secret Circle – just in time for them to go into hiatus for the rest of November and December – WTF!?!?! Also caught up on all my sitcoms, Fringe, etc… So while I am still behind on lots of shows (there are too many shows!), I feel good that I caught up on my faves. I could have watched more, but for some reason I have been antsy and wanting to get stuff done. So I have been cleaning and organizing and shopping and wearing myself out all weekend. Sometimes, I am such a sick puppy.

And I didn’t even get to enjoy the extra hour of sleep last night. Really I just went to bed an hour later than normal. And I should be in bed already, but I am still writing this. Sighhhh… I really need to learn to stop.

Anyway, now that I have reminded myself how tired I am. I am off to bed. I will return (hopefully sooner than later) with a discussion on the number of Halloween stores there were this year, the holidays of busyness, and all that exciting stuff.