It's Friday morning...almost noon. Thanks to the help of a little pill last night I slept in until almost 11am this morning. It was glorious. Today is my earned day off from work. And boy have I earned it.
The trip to Edmonton as you know was cancelled and I was kinda totally bummed out about it. On Thursday I took a friend out to lunch, she was having one of those days and needed to get away. At lunch she got a text from one of her friends saying she couldn't make it Saturday for their trip to Edmonton, well she could still make it but she wasn't going to take her own vehicle and could they take my friends. So...this person wants to go shopping and wanted someone to go with her. She asks my friend T to go. She agrees to go knowing that none of the stores they visit will have anything that fits her. (What a good friend!) Then the friend says I still want to go but we need to take your vehicle....so T says thanks but no thanks. The other person across the table from us was in need of having a cot picked up in Edmonton and wondered if we knew anyone driving down. Suddenly I go "We should go to Edmonton on Saturday. We can take my truck we will pick up M's cot, go to Ikea and come back that night.
And so we are.
Today is my lazy day cause tomorrow is gonna be great but tiring. It's about a 4.5-5hour drive each way...yeah...each way. But with some good music and a friend in the passenger seat I know I'll be able to do it. And who wouldn't drive 10 hours to go to Ikea???
I'm in the middle of bleaching my hair so I can redye it. The last look of chocolate brown and fushia was great but I'm not willing to spend $200 every 4 weeks to keep it up. So fingers crossed that this experiment will work out. I may need to wear a hat for a while if it doesn't work out. LOL
The girls are enjoying my presence at home today and have been spending a good part of it on the deck watching traffic. If I get up some energy this afternoon I was thinking of doing some baking. But you know it isn't critical at this point in time. I love long weekends...and we have another one coming soon October 10 is just around the corner!
I have moved offices at work. Just across the hall. It's a step down...I lost my window office for an interior hall one...but whatever it's just an office and I have plans for it. Not only are we stopping at Ikea tomorrow where I will pick up some frames I am stopping at Walmart to pick up a few photos that I am having printed off to hang in my office. Then I hope to pick up a few office accessories to complete the look. It will be famulous when I'm done and I won't remember that I don't have windows. My inspiration for the office is T (who is going to Edmonton with me), her BF bought her this huge awesome print of Paris that hangs in her office. It must be 3 or 4 feet wide. Looks great and gives her a view.
So, how's your Friday?
Friday, September 30, 2011
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
So in a good news sad news story. The good news is the cats won't be alone this weekend. The sad news is I'm not going to Edmonton. I'm disappointed but there is nothing I can do but pout about it and be upset...I'm trying not to take that road. Instead I am trying to see the positive side of it...I won't be spending a ton of money on hotels, meals and shoes.
Since I hadn't mentioned the trip to the cats they don't seem to have any sympathy for my cancelled trip. On the other plus side one of my co-workers who had to sit through the pouty J when I first got the news on Friday offered to have me drive to Edmonton with her at the end of October. Which is truly very sweet of her and I'm debating taking her up on the offer.
Another forest fire yesterday just south of FMMA had us on high alert at the office yesterday in case of evacuation. With only one highway in/out of the community and the fire blocking that exit I'm not sure what evacuation would have meant but I didn't worry about it. It was 10km away from town and I was confident that they would do something to keep it away. Reports this morning are that the highway is open so I think the worst is over.
Since I hadn't mentioned the trip to the cats they don't seem to have any sympathy for my cancelled trip. On the other plus side one of my co-workers who had to sit through the pouty J when I first got the news on Friday offered to have me drive to Edmonton with her at the end of October. Which is truly very sweet of her and I'm debating taking her up on the offer.
Another forest fire yesterday just south of FMMA had us on high alert at the office yesterday in case of evacuation. With only one highway in/out of the community and the fire blocking that exit I'm not sure what evacuation would have meant but I didn't worry about it. It was 10km away from town and I was confident that they would do something to keep it away. Reports this morning are that the highway is open so I think the worst is over.
Saturday, September 24, 2011
If this is my dad...stop reading now. It's another cat story.
My kitties are growing up. The other night I was laying on the couch reading and suddenly I had two cats with me on the couch taking cat naps. One cat on each side of my legs. They were quite content and if wasn't for the end of the book I'm not sure how long we would have cuddled. They are not really cuddly kitties--at least not with me. It was a great step forward in our life.
So, Friday night I come home with some take out food and there is a plastic fork in the bag that is wrapped in a plastic bag. I drop it on the floor with the intent of picking it up later. I never got the chance. Tundra decided that it would make a great toy and has been playing with it ever since. She picks it up, carries it around and comes running if I pick it up and make noise with the bag. It's so funny and cute and free!
Ok Dad you can start reading again.
Went to a trade show today here in FMMA. It was fun. Another gal from work and I went and almost 4 hours after we arrived we left with bags of stuff in hand and a few of those mini donuts in my tummy. I purchased a new pair of mitts, some Dr. Watkins vanilla and a bottle of roasted red pepper and onion relish. Plus 6 reusable shopping bags which are a necssity here in FMMA where plastic bags are banned and only available from take out restaurants and clothing stores--but only some of them. I also came back with a few pens and squeezie toys. With a ton of luck I will win a couple nights stay in a hotel in Edmonton. I'm hoping for that or that I win on my Lotto Max ticket I bought. LOL
My kitties are growing up. The other night I was laying on the couch reading and suddenly I had two cats with me on the couch taking cat naps. One cat on each side of my legs. They were quite content and if wasn't for the end of the book I'm not sure how long we would have cuddled. They are not really cuddly kitties--at least not with me. It was a great step forward in our life.
So, Friday night I come home with some take out food and there is a plastic fork in the bag that is wrapped in a plastic bag. I drop it on the floor with the intent of picking it up later. I never got the chance. Tundra decided that it would make a great toy and has been playing with it ever since. She picks it up, carries it around and comes running if I pick it up and make noise with the bag. It's so funny and cute and free!
Ok Dad you can start reading again.
Went to a trade show today here in FMMA. It was fun. Another gal from work and I went and almost 4 hours after we arrived we left with bags of stuff in hand and a few of those mini donuts in my tummy. I purchased a new pair of mitts, some Dr. Watkins vanilla and a bottle of roasted red pepper and onion relish. Plus 6 reusable shopping bags which are a necssity here in FMMA where plastic bags are banned and only available from take out restaurants and clothing stores--but only some of them. I also came back with a few pens and squeezie toys. With a ton of luck I will win a couple nights stay in a hotel in Edmonton. I'm hoping for that or that I win on my Lotto Max ticket I bought. LOL
Monday, September 19, 2011
The girls and I survived the fire alarm from Saturday night. They have likely long forgotten the incident--nice to have a brain the size of a pea.
Whipped up a HUGE batch of chocolate chip banana muffins. It was a disaster and the muffins are all still sitting on the counter waiting for me to take them to the garbage. I'm not sure what happened to them they seem very tough. Oh well. At least i did a quality control check on them yesterday and didn't bring them into the office.
The pool at the fantastic amazing multi-complex thingy here in town should be open again tomorrow so I hope to get back into a semi-routine and go swimming again. And the added bonus is that most of the construction that was in my way there is over now...most, but not all. I will now need to get on the highway to pass an intersection they are working on downtown--it isn't as out of the way as you might think cause the highway is close to downtown. Anyway, I'm excited about the pool being open again. It's big enough that I've always managed to get my own lane when I go to do laps.
Working on my list of things to buy when I head to Edmonton at the end of the month. I guess a trip to Value Village will be in order to pick up some clothes for my upcoming trip to Argentina. I'll need some new work clothes for the build site.
And my team from India is looking for some direction for another build sometime in 2012. I'm all for it but am not sure if we need to aim for the right month of the right country. We will see. Guess I should do some research and send off an email to Habitat to see what might be available.
The leaves are changing colour but according to a long term resident they go green, yellow, gone. Apparently there won't be many other colours besides yellow to look at then then suddenly one day they will be gone.
I know it sounds wrong and considering we will hit 25 again this week unlikely to happen soon but I am looking forward to the crisp days of fall.
Whipped up a HUGE batch of chocolate chip banana muffins. It was a disaster and the muffins are all still sitting on the counter waiting for me to take them to the garbage. I'm not sure what happened to them they seem very tough. Oh well. At least i did a quality control check on them yesterday and didn't bring them into the office.
The pool at the fantastic amazing multi-complex thingy here in town should be open again tomorrow so I hope to get back into a semi-routine and go swimming again. And the added bonus is that most of the construction that was in my way there is over now...most, but not all. I will now need to get on the highway to pass an intersection they are working on downtown--it isn't as out of the way as you might think cause the highway is close to downtown. Anyway, I'm excited about the pool being open again. It's big enough that I've always managed to get my own lane when I go to do laps.
Working on my list of things to buy when I head to Edmonton at the end of the month. I guess a trip to Value Village will be in order to pick up some clothes for my upcoming trip to Argentina. I'll need some new work clothes for the build site.
And my team from India is looking for some direction for another build sometime in 2012. I'm all for it but am not sure if we need to aim for the right month of the right country. We will see. Guess I should do some research and send off an email to Habitat to see what might be available.
The leaves are changing colour but according to a long term resident they go green, yellow, gone. Apparently there won't be many other colours besides yellow to look at then then suddenly one day they will be gone.
I know it sounds wrong and considering we will hit 25 again this week unlikely to happen soon but I am looking forward to the crisp days of fall.
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Where were you at 3:30am? Probably tucked in your bed sleeping. I was until that time then I was woken up by a loud beeping noise and a white light flashing in my apartment--the building fire alarm. The cats started freaking out and I stumbled around for a few minutes wondering what was going on. It finally clicked and I was able to shut off the alarm in my apartment--the sound is turned off but the strobe light continues to flash. You can though still hear the sounds coming from the hallway.
I pull on a pair of jeans, sweatshirt and shoes, grab my keys and start for the door. I stop unsure what to do about the cats. Is it really a fire? If so I need to take them with me. If it's not a fire then they will be ok. I head out the door and make it to the top of the first set of steps when I decide to turn around and go back to the apartment.
I grab a backpack and stuff Hudson into it cause she is closest to me. As I'm trying to stuff her into the bag I find another bag inside it and take it out to put Tundra into. Hudson is in the bag and the bag is moving around as I try to find Tundra. She's terrified and hiding under the bed. She doesn't like to be held at the best of times and by the time I finally drag her out from under the bed she is frantic with panic. Try stuffing a large cat into a small bag in the dark. Not fun.
I grab my computer hard drive, put the backpack with Hudson on, pick up the bag with Tundra in it and head for the door. Everything else can burn. I walk down the 4 flights of stairs and out into the night. Just as I hit the last flight of stairs that pityful mourn that only cats can make comes from Tundra. It sounds horrible. I find a quiet(?) spot in between a couple of trucks and sit to comfort the cats and wait for the fire trucks that have yet to arrive.
There is no visible sign of smoke or fire so I assume it is some sort of false alarm that is attached to the power outage we are experiencing. The fire trucks finally show up and the firefighters go in to check out the building. I sit on the curb and allow one cat at a time to poke her head out of her bag while I pet and try to comfort. Hudson is taking it much better and I opt to, once she seems ok with whats going on, focus my energy on Tundra who has started the mewling again. I open her bag again and the head and a couple paws come out. She was ready to make an escape given the opportunity. I'm watching the firefighters go in and out of the building and notice eventually that the power has come back on. We eventually get the all clear and no matter how hard I push and shove can not get Tundra's head back in the bag. I give up and allow her to watch as I walk back up the stairs to the apartment.
Had it of been a fire I would feel ok with my actions. I saved the cats and my computer. Everything else wouldn't have mattered. My flashlight that stays plugged in all the time in the bathroom was fully charged and able to help me find my way around in the dark. I was also fully dressed and able to be outside in the weather we were having--unlike the lady in the bathrobe and slippers.
When we got back inside the apartment they seemed quite happy and after a quick snack settled down again to sleep. But, let's hope this isn't a regular thing in the building cause I don't think the cats could handle it again. (I'm sure they could but they were pretty scared at the time) Me, I wasn't scared just set in my mind about what I needed to do.
I pull on a pair of jeans, sweatshirt and shoes, grab my keys and start for the door. I stop unsure what to do about the cats. Is it really a fire? If so I need to take them with me. If it's not a fire then they will be ok. I head out the door and make it to the top of the first set of steps when I decide to turn around and go back to the apartment.
I grab a backpack and stuff Hudson into it cause she is closest to me. As I'm trying to stuff her into the bag I find another bag inside it and take it out to put Tundra into. Hudson is in the bag and the bag is moving around as I try to find Tundra. She's terrified and hiding under the bed. She doesn't like to be held at the best of times and by the time I finally drag her out from under the bed she is frantic with panic. Try stuffing a large cat into a small bag in the dark. Not fun.
I grab my computer hard drive, put the backpack with Hudson on, pick up the bag with Tundra in it and head for the door. Everything else can burn. I walk down the 4 flights of stairs and out into the night. Just as I hit the last flight of stairs that pityful mourn that only cats can make comes from Tundra. It sounds horrible. I find a quiet(?) spot in between a couple of trucks and sit to comfort the cats and wait for the fire trucks that have yet to arrive.
There is no visible sign of smoke or fire so I assume it is some sort of false alarm that is attached to the power outage we are experiencing. The fire trucks finally show up and the firefighters go in to check out the building. I sit on the curb and allow one cat at a time to poke her head out of her bag while I pet and try to comfort. Hudson is taking it much better and I opt to, once she seems ok with whats going on, focus my energy on Tundra who has started the mewling again. I open her bag again and the head and a couple paws come out. She was ready to make an escape given the opportunity. I'm watching the firefighters go in and out of the building and notice eventually that the power has come back on. We eventually get the all clear and no matter how hard I push and shove can not get Tundra's head back in the bag. I give up and allow her to watch as I walk back up the stairs to the apartment.
Had it of been a fire I would feel ok with my actions. I saved the cats and my computer. Everything else wouldn't have mattered. My flashlight that stays plugged in all the time in the bathroom was fully charged and able to help me find my way around in the dark. I was also fully dressed and able to be outside in the weather we were having--unlike the lady in the bathrobe and slippers.
When we got back inside the apartment they seemed quite happy and after a quick snack settled down again to sleep. But, let's hope this isn't a regular thing in the building cause I don't think the cats could handle it again. (I'm sure they could but they were pretty scared at the time) Me, I wasn't scared just set in my mind about what I needed to do.
Friday, September 16, 2011
Friday night and I feel alright. Actually I have a small headache starting but I'm sure that will end once I get out of the apartment. Heading to a movie tonight--The Help. It looks interesting.
Saturday night I'm headed to an event here in town. The company bought a table and then we had some extra tickets so I grabbed one and am looking forward to attending. It's cocktail attire so I get to get dressed up. Now to go through the closet and see what I have with me that might be acceptable for the event.
Banana muffins are on the menu for this weekend and the folks at work will get the fruit of my labour on Monday. Other than that no plans for the weekend but I suspect after two nights out and some baking I'll be tired and ready for the next weekend.
At the end of the month I'm off to Edmonton for a couple of days. Work for two and then one for me! Looking forward to that short trip. I will get to catch up with a former co-worker. Should be a good time.
Saturday night I'm headed to an event here in town. The company bought a table and then we had some extra tickets so I grabbed one and am looking forward to attending. It's cocktail attire so I get to get dressed up. Now to go through the closet and see what I have with me that might be acceptable for the event.
Banana muffins are on the menu for this weekend and the folks at work will get the fruit of my labour on Monday. Other than that no plans for the weekend but I suspect after two nights out and some baking I'll be tired and ready for the next weekend.
At the end of the month I'm off to Edmonton for a couple of days. Work for two and then one for me! Looking forward to that short trip. I will get to catch up with a former co-worker. Should be a good time.
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
The Northern Lights were out and about on Sunday night. It was so great to see them again. I sat out on the deck and watched for about 20 minutes--until Hudson managed to get past me and jumped over the balconey railing to go and visit the neighbour. I went inside and closed the door until she returned. Last night we three went outside again to see if there was a show going on and the minute my door opened the neighbours closed....guess he wasn't in the mood for a kitty visit.
My summer herbs have died. We had a frost warning one night a week or so ago and some of them took a hit that night. The rest have browned and shriveled in the days since. My not watering them for a while likely didn't help but it is hard to compete with temperatures during the day in the 30's and zero at night. Now I will need to figure out what to do with them during the winter months. I'll keep them out on the deck--no room inside the apartment but do I need to pull the dead plants out now? Or can I leave them until spring? Anyone know if I could plant tulips in them and have them grow in the spring? Now that's an idea!
My summer herbs have died. We had a frost warning one night a week or so ago and some of them took a hit that night. The rest have browned and shriveled in the days since. My not watering them for a while likely didn't help but it is hard to compete with temperatures during the day in the 30's and zero at night. Now I will need to figure out what to do with them during the winter months. I'll keep them out on the deck--no room inside the apartment but do I need to pull the dead plants out now? Or can I leave them until spring? Anyone know if I could plant tulips in them and have them grow in the spring? Now that's an idea!
Sunday, September 11, 2011
I had planned on an update last night but ended up having to go to work for a while and wasn't really in the mood by the time I got home. This morning also kind of went away as I was at the office for the whole morning and then had lunch with a co-worker...Monday will be arriving way to soon.
As a quick note for the day I remember being in Corner Brook at work when the first word of the towers came out. I went around looking for our US students to let them know what was going on. There was a lot of disbelief going around and concern. I watched HOURS of the news footage and couldn't really understand why this war had started. To this day I still don't understand war. In the days that followed I began to wonder what would become of me and my travels to the US. Was I safe travelling on a plane and would I be safe travelling in the US. I was and it was fine. Best to get right back up on the horse.
To those of you who lost loved ones that day there are no words to express our feelings but you should know we are here for you.
----------------
FMM is a 24/7 kind of town. The work at sites never stops and people are coming and going at all hours...but it does get quiet at night at least here in town. The stores understand the 24/7 shift work way of life and while none of the grocery stores are open 24 hours they do retain the same hours every day of the week...most of the stores do actually. There is no short hours on Sunday. It makes life easier for those employees who work so many days in a row followed by a few off and it makes life easier for me because I don't need to time my shopping around their hours on the weekend. On Sunday I can start my grocery shopping as early as 8am and finish as late as 10pm. At least at the store across the street.
What have I been doing lately? A lot of nothing. I haven't been camping because the bears have scared me away. When the bears are willing to walk around the very busy Walmart parking lot I can't see how my tent will protect me from their need for a snack. Most people have agreed with me and a lot of the runners and walkers are no longer out and about on their own. I have been doing a lot of reading lately. I haven't read a book in a long time. Yes, while travelling I read but not a Sunday afternoon dive into a book kind of read. That has changed in the past month. I'm starting off with easy read books. Novels about nonsense that I don't need to pay a lot of attention to the plot. Not romance novels but definitely some chick lit in my apartment lately. One book was so good that I stayed up late one night reading it. Sometimes its good to read books that aren't good for you.
----
Work is good but incredibly busy. My boss left a month after I started and I've been doing double duty ever since. She didn't leave the company but has been pulled away for a special assignment and has left FMMA. She sees it as a badge of honor that she went months without extra help and that I should see it that way. I don't. But I guess that isn't surprising. I like the people I work with and am very happy to be where I am. But it sure would be nice to have some extra help. I have about 500ish employees to look after.
---
I'm still a baking machine and I don't think a week has gone by that I haven't brought something in for my co-workers to munch on. This week will be banana muffins. I'm just waiting for the bananas to over ripen.
-----
The girls are doing fine. I bought some diet food for them a couple of weeks ago and poor Tundra has had dandruff ever since. I'm hoping that a couple weeks back on the regular food will clear up that problem. Hudson who has no weight problems--skinny minny was getting extra treats during this time to make up for the diet food she clearly doesn't need to be on. But they are both off the diet and we will just live with the chubby kitty for now.
They are changing their personalities a bit. Hudson has been rubbing her face up against my feet a lot and the she lays on her back and lets me rub her belly. This is very new behaviour for her. The belly rubbing is nice for both of us--I love her soft fur.
I bought them one of those scratching things you see on tv. It's an arc shape. Cardboard covered with a small bit of grit and that sits in a plastic holder. I have thrown out the plastic holder and turned the arc upside down. Tundra sits on it and rocks a bit now and then before she tears it apart with her claws. The little bits of cardboard over the living room carpet show me how much she enjoys it. Funny how they don't like it the way it was designed.
We are one big happy family most days.
---
I think (and am hoping) that I need to go to Edmonton at the end of the month for work for 2 days...and will hopefully be able to spend a day shopping.
I'm on track for my trip to Argentina in December. My vacation has been approved and now I just need to do some more research and book my ticket. Lots of time for that yet....it seems like a LONG time to go but I know it isn't.
This week will be the end of my 3 month probation at work. 3 months already--imagine that.
So...I'm hoping to do this again on a regular basis...I think I'm back.
As a quick note for the day I remember being in Corner Brook at work when the first word of the towers came out. I went around looking for our US students to let them know what was going on. There was a lot of disbelief going around and concern. I watched HOURS of the news footage and couldn't really understand why this war had started. To this day I still don't understand war. In the days that followed I began to wonder what would become of me and my travels to the US. Was I safe travelling on a plane and would I be safe travelling in the US. I was and it was fine. Best to get right back up on the horse.
To those of you who lost loved ones that day there are no words to express our feelings but you should know we are here for you.
----------------
FMM is a 24/7 kind of town. The work at sites never stops and people are coming and going at all hours...but it does get quiet at night at least here in town. The stores understand the 24/7 shift work way of life and while none of the grocery stores are open 24 hours they do retain the same hours every day of the week...most of the stores do actually. There is no short hours on Sunday. It makes life easier for those employees who work so many days in a row followed by a few off and it makes life easier for me because I don't need to time my shopping around their hours on the weekend. On Sunday I can start my grocery shopping as early as 8am and finish as late as 10pm. At least at the store across the street.
What have I been doing lately? A lot of nothing. I haven't been camping because the bears have scared me away. When the bears are willing to walk around the very busy Walmart parking lot I can't see how my tent will protect me from their need for a snack. Most people have agreed with me and a lot of the runners and walkers are no longer out and about on their own. I have been doing a lot of reading lately. I haven't read a book in a long time. Yes, while travelling I read but not a Sunday afternoon dive into a book kind of read. That has changed in the past month. I'm starting off with easy read books. Novels about nonsense that I don't need to pay a lot of attention to the plot. Not romance novels but definitely some chick lit in my apartment lately. One book was so good that I stayed up late one night reading it. Sometimes its good to read books that aren't good for you.
----
Work is good but incredibly busy. My boss left a month after I started and I've been doing double duty ever since. She didn't leave the company but has been pulled away for a special assignment and has left FMMA. She sees it as a badge of honor that she went months without extra help and that I should see it that way. I don't. But I guess that isn't surprising. I like the people I work with and am very happy to be where I am. But it sure would be nice to have some extra help. I have about 500ish employees to look after.
---
I'm still a baking machine and I don't think a week has gone by that I haven't brought something in for my co-workers to munch on. This week will be banana muffins. I'm just waiting for the bananas to over ripen.
-----
The girls are doing fine. I bought some diet food for them a couple of weeks ago and poor Tundra has had dandruff ever since. I'm hoping that a couple weeks back on the regular food will clear up that problem. Hudson who has no weight problems--skinny minny was getting extra treats during this time to make up for the diet food she clearly doesn't need to be on. But they are both off the diet and we will just live with the chubby kitty for now.
They are changing their personalities a bit. Hudson has been rubbing her face up against my feet a lot and the she lays on her back and lets me rub her belly. This is very new behaviour for her. The belly rubbing is nice for both of us--I love her soft fur.
I bought them one of those scratching things you see on tv. It's an arc shape. Cardboard covered with a small bit of grit and that sits in a plastic holder. I have thrown out the plastic holder and turned the arc upside down. Tundra sits on it and rocks a bit now and then before she tears it apart with her claws. The little bits of cardboard over the living room carpet show me how much she enjoys it. Funny how they don't like it the way it was designed.
We are one big happy family most days.
---
I think (and am hoping) that I need to go to Edmonton at the end of the month for work for 2 days...and will hopefully be able to spend a day shopping.
I'm on track for my trip to Argentina in December. My vacation has been approved and now I just need to do some more research and book my ticket. Lots of time for that yet....it seems like a LONG time to go but I know it isn't.
This week will be the end of my 3 month probation at work. 3 months already--imagine that.
So...I'm hoping to do this again on a regular basis...I think I'm back.
Saturday, September 10, 2011
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