Journey & Adventure

I have so much going on and “on my plate” at the moment, I don’t know where to start. Summer seems to be flying by, but I can’t recall where it went. I’ve only been to the beach a couple of times, whereas I’m usually there every weekend. The reason for my beachy absence has been a direct result of high water levels and high winds. When the water is high, the beach disappears. Combine little-to-no beach with high winds and waves crashing on shore, there isn’t a beach to walk on. The two times I have been, we’ve had to wade waste deep in the water for quite a distance until the beach opens up. Once again, high winds preclude me from wanting to venture waste deep into less-than-tropical water with crashing waves. Hence, not many visits to the beach. Sooooo, instead, J and I have been seriously hitting the trails on our mountain bikes. When I bought my bike a year ago, I thought it was the dumbest idea…EVER! My cardio was horrible and I could only make it a couple of miles b...

Where to begin?  I promised a full trip report from our trip to the Galapagos in March.  It’s now almost May and let’s be honest - that report isn’t going to get written.   I’ve been too busy at work to mentally process anything by the end of the day. Why have I been busy at work?  Well, while I was on vacation, they finally terminated a long-term, painful employee in our department that has been a thorn in the side of many for years.   Hence the reason for my busyness – I’ve been asked told to take on some “extra” work until they can “figure things out”.  So, in addition to my already busy contract portfolio, I now am responsible for our trademark and corporate portfolio.  Honestly, I’d gladly give up contracts for trademarks and corporate because there is WAAAY less drama and interaction with the outside world.  When did I become so anti-social?  Good question. Now, back to a brief synopsis of our Galapagos trip.  ...

Why am I expected to stay at work for a full 8 hours when I can accomplish everything I need to in 3 hours? I can hardly wait to turn the calendar page to February.   January has an ugly picture and I’m so over the woman in the photo wearing 80’s jeans. Exercise always seems like a great idea at 3:00 in the afternoon when I’m at work.   Not so much come 7:00 p.m. when I finally have some time to exercise. My jewelry business is doing very well considering it’s January and everyone is typically broke from the Christmas season. I wish my jewelry business paid as well as my full-time job. I have so many personal projects on the go, I could really use a few more hours in the day to work on the fun stuff. I’m mid way through the book Inferno by Dan Brown and I’ve loved all of his books up until this one.   It’s too slow for my liking and in my opinion contains way too much unnecessary fluff. I’ve noticed that it’s staying lighter a little longer in the evenings...

Just about sums it up...

I can’t believe we are already in the last week of July.   Eeeks!   Summer is passing me by.   How has that happened?   Where did it go and how can I get it back?   Seriously, I’m freaking out about this one.   The weather has been on a “cool” side and not in a “wow that’s awesome” kind of cool.   More like cold, put on socks kinda cold…brrr…   This summer has been a summer of “procedures”, with visits to Drs., Dentists and Specialists.    First, I had a filling, then a root canal, then another filling to fix the crown where the hole was made from the root canal.   Then there were miscellaneous Doctor’s appointments, blood tests or as I like to call them “tune-ups”.   Then, I had a biopsy on a spot that I’ve had above my left eyebrow for at least a year and that hasn’t seemed to heal and just last Friday, a follow-up appointment for the results.   Turns out, I have basal-cell carcinoma – a form of skin cance...

Turns out the pain I’ve been experiencing is actually a tooth infection, which when cleared up will lead to either a root canal or extraction. Extraction would be the cheaper route, but not likely the one I will choose, as it’s the very back molar on my lower right side. Without that tooth, I seriously doubt my ability to chew anything other than pudding. Regardless of the route I choose, it can’t be done before I go away, so I’m on some antibiotics and some regular pain meds. The dentist won’t guarantee that nothing will go wrong given my insistence on scuba diving, but he is hopeful that my “tooth won’t explode while on holidays”. He’s a glass half empty sort of guy…. I’ve been continuing to research the move to Ecuador and want to go now. I don’t want to wait 5 years, but moving sooner isn’t feasible since there is too much work to be done on our house in order to maximize our return on investment. I know patience is a virtue, but honestly, I don’t even know what that means… ...

It’s a pay week. Pay weeks are what makes working for “the man” all worthwhile. Our weather here has been very unusual. One day it is unbearably cold, windy and snowing and then the next morning, it becomes unseasonably warm, with tons of rain and then by the end of the same day, we are back to sub-arctic temperatures, flash freezing and snow. The mood swings of Mother Nature are killing my sinuses.  It's January, I guess I shouldn't complain...shouldn't and won't are two different things. I received a terrifying call from my sister-in-law yesterday telling me that my father-in-law was in the hospital with a suspected blood clot in his lungs. She went on to tell me that they suspected it was a blood clot because he had recently flown. All I could think of is “great, now I’m going to be blamed for killing their father because it was my idea to take them to Hawaii”. The requisite tests were completed, but nothing could be found and by the end of day yesterd...

I hope not because here we go…   Summer is fast escaping my grasp.  All I’m hearing about these days - how chilly the nights are becoming, back to school shopping advertisements are everywhere, soon the first frost will arrive…BLAH, BLAH, BLAH…  When it comes to my summer – I’m a glass half full sort of girl.  If you’re not on the same page as me, you need to stay the hell away or shut the hell up because you’re stressing me out.   J and I are going “camping” with friends this weekend.  I use the phrase “camping” loosely because we are actually staying in a trailer (with air conditioning and television) in a trailer park (with a pool).   I’d honestly prefer to rough-it, in a tent in the woods with no modern amenities or patio lanterns.  Trailer camping is not my version of camping.  I loathe the idea.  It’s tacky and unappealing.  What was I thinking?  Oh yeah, apparently I wasn’t…...

The deed is done – J and I have booked our trip to Hawaii in December and will be bringing along an entourage with us - consisting of my in-laws, my 27 year old niece and The Boy.   I still suspect my sister-in-law from Ireland and her husband will end up joining us there.     Because of the cheap flight prices, we couldn’t get everyone on the same flights, so The Boy and my niece are travelling separately, but together with each other.   They have two stopovers and limited time in between flight changes. Technically they are adults and I shouldn’t worry, but when two easily distracted people get together, it could mean chaos.     The trip should be okay – J’s mom is over-the-top excited and has started to pack already.   She is even talking about trying to snorkel.     This trip will earn us at least 3 get out of jail free cards from future family functions.   Whoo hooo!   Never in my life have I had ...

My boss is still crazy – no doubt about it.   He’s a make work kind of person and instead of just answering a question, he in return asks about three more.   By carrying on with this circular questioning, he’s postponing actually having to focus on making a decision.   I’m wise to his “stall tactics” and now, I’m managing to think 3 steps ahead and have the answers before he asks them.   This drives him slightly more crazy than usual.    If I can manage to push one person over the edge in a day, I’ve fulfilled my life’s goal.    I LOVE my job…   Speaking of jobs – I had my 6 month review on Friday.   It went as I suspected and I am now slightly richer with the modest raise that came along with passing my probationary period.    I don’t consider this a big deal because according to the HR Manager – “Nobody gets fired from here, unless of course you feel the need to jump off the building naked.”   Hmmm… that left...

I cannot seem to shut my brain off or at a minimum fine tune it, so that I can organize my thoughts.   As much as I try to focus of something, I’m distracted by another thought or thing.   So, with all that said, here’s what’s on my mind:   The Boy is moving some of his stuff home this weekend.   I’m excited to see him, but not excited to see all of the crap he’ll be bringing with him.   I don’t know how he has managed to accumulate so much stuff in such a short period of time of being away at school.   Speaking of The Boy, he got the great summer job I told you about a couple of weeks ago.   He’s disappointed it’s not in cemetery maintenance, but he’s happy (and so am I) that he’ll be earning $12.50 per hour.   J had a phone interview for a new job yesterday.   Secretly I hope he doesn’t get it.   I know I’m awful, but I think he’s making the wrong decision by wanting to go to this company.    I believe ...

I haven’t felt like I’ve had any time to myself in a very long time.     My brain is mush.   I don’t know what the hell is going on in my life or where I’m at within it.     I’m actually thinking about taking a *cough* sick day (or two) just to stay at home and catch up on some “me” time.   I miss me.   I usually try to save my sick days for June or July (when the weather is warm, the sun is shining, the beer is cold and my deck chairs are clear of snow), but I’m getting desperate for some solitude.   Really, really desperate.   Over the past couple of weeks, my jewelry business has been picking up steam again and I’ve actually just received an order for a wedding in June.     Yay me.   Problem is – I have no motivation to get moving on it.   Hence, another great reason for a “me” day.   The Boy was home for a quick visit on the weekend.   He was actually home for a summer job interview...

It’s January and just when you thought it couldn’t get any more depressing, let me say this - it’s a mere 11 more months until Christmas.   Feel better? We are in the deep freeze at the moment.   Yesterday morning, I woke up to it being minus 27 Celsius or in Fahrenheit that would be….um….somewhere around friggin chilly.   Speaking of chilly… J got frostbite on his cheeks (not his ass ones) when he was snow blowing the driveway on the weekend.   He was out for only an hour, but the wind was nasty and hence the only exposed flesh got it.    He’s not disfigured or anything, so no pictures. It was our nephew’s birthday party on the weekend.   It was at the local bowling alley.   One would think bowling would keep 7 year old boys entertained – apparently not.   Playing hide and seek in plain sight was much more entertaining.   Sometimes, juvenile boys are just dumb… Speaking of dumb, my sist...

The first full week back to work after the holidays has been brutal.   For the first 2 days, I kept my office door shut.   I was so miserable, I feared for the safety of my co-workers.   I think a lot of my mood has to do with the lack of carbs and good protein in my life these days.   I would seriously sell my first born for a big serving of garlic mashed potatoes, gravy and barbecued spare ribs. Speaking of The Boy, he heads back to school on Saturday.   I’ll be sad to see him go, but it will also be nice to get a complete night of sleep.   When he’s away at school, I sleep just fine, but when he’s home – I’m constantly listening for him and wondering if he’s home and if he's not, is he safe.   Stupid…I know. What is considered the cut-off date for saying “Happy New Year”?    Just wondering, but I believe it should 12:05 on January 1 st . I hate my treadmill, but considering "someone"...

Once again, I’ve been missing from the blogosphere.   I don’t know where I’ve been, what I’ve been doing or what I’ve accomplished.   The past couple of weeks have been a blur.   The holidays tend to rot your brain, make you stupid and fatten your ass - at least these things happen in my household.    I love the holidays, but I’m happy to see them move on.   I’m excited to get back to some sort normalcy in my life, minus the work thing of course.   Speaking of work, I’m still blocked from all internet sites that are meant to keep me entertained.   No justice in that… I watched Despicable Me over the holidays.   This is the animated one with Steve Carell.   It is the best animated movie I’ve seen since Finding Nemo.   It was so good – leaves you all warm and fuzzy. My mother-in-law had a fit that I took my Christmas Tree and decorations down yesterday.   She believes that because I’ve done it before ...

  Holy hell, it’s been forever since I’ve had any random thoughts.   Okay, okay – all my thoughts are technically random, it’s just been forever since I’ve wrote them down. I’ve failed at Christmas shopping this year.   Everyone has something under the tree, but in my opinion the purchases aren’t as good as they’ve been in the past.   I certainly won’t win any “You’ve Wowed Me Awards” and honestly, I don’t really care.   To those on my Christmas list - take that! I’m now into my 4 th week of work at the “new place” and I’m still not sure what to think.    Things are far more disorganized than I could have possibly imagined and while it’s my job to get things in order, I’m finding that it’s overwhelming me (which is unusual).   I like organization and process, but I can’t seem to find any of that here and I’m starting from scratch on a lot of things.   In my heart, I know I’ve made the ...

Guess What?  It's that time again - a time to randomize your thoughts and confirm to the world how crazy you actually are.  Now, you can thank The Un Mom for hosting this loonie extravanganza... I burnt the roof of my mouth and tongue yesterday and it is still numb and fuzzy today.   That’s what I get for letting myself become famished and then scarfing down my lunch fresh out of the microwave. I’ve had a kink in my neck and shoulder for the last month that I cannot get rid of.   I’ve been going to the chiropractor once a week since it started and have spent a small fortune in Icy Hot Neck Patches and Robaxacet but it’s just not going away.   Grrr… Only 4 more days (including today) that I will be working at my current job and 3 out of the 4 days, I’m being treated to lunch by co-workers and my boss.    Now, I just need to find someone to take me to lunch today… J and I leave for Samana, Dominican Republic on Monday....