Journey & Adventure

I’ve managed to go at least 2 years without a cold and since October, I’ve had to contend with three of them – yes three! I’ve been fighting with a cold bug for about a week and a half now. It started with just chest congestion, then a cough. Before I knew what hit me, it blossomed into a full-blown cold – sinus pain, congestion, runny nose with all the unpleasant side effects. Now, the major cold symptoms are gone, and I’m left once again with the chest congestion, cough and overall crappy feeling. I’m hoping it’s not starting all over again. I can’t afford it – between cough drops, cough syrup, Kleenex, Vicks Vapo-Rub, nose spray, Tylenol Cold and Sinus and Vitamin C, I’m going broke. On the upside, I haven’t had an appetite either, so I guess with what I’m saving groceries, will help pay for all the cold meds.  Just another reason to despise these Canadian winters...*ugh*

Technically I was back to work yesterday after being off work for almost a week. I am fortunate that the company I work for provides for five days paid bereavement leave, which allowed me to attend the funeral of my grandfather in New Brunswick, Canada and spend a few additional days with family. Although the circumstances weren’t ideal, it was nice to spend some time with loved ones that I haven’t seen since my mother’s funeral in 2007. We also spent a fun day with my dad, just driving around the back country roads looking for moose for J to photograph. Sadly, no moose were seen, but plenty of laughs were had at my dad’s expense. He’s quite the character. After spending time with family, J and I took off to my favorite place in Canada - St. Andrew’s, New Brunswick. This small seaside village is located on the Bay of Fundy and is absolutely deserted in the winter, but the clean, cold ocean air and sunshine was just what I needed to clear the cobwebs and stress of the previous ...

The weather this past weekend (yes, I realize that was almost a week ago) was not nice – at all.   It was either raining or when it wasn’t raining, it was so cold that pants and a long-sleeved shirt were required.     With the arrival of colder weather, cold and flu season has also arrived.   There are two people in the vicinity of my office that are sick.   I cannot stand the sound of someone sniffling and not blowing their nose.   “Gross” is all I have to say about that…   My father-in-law held a yard sale this past weekend (in between when it wasn’t raining).   I swear that man could sell air conditioners to Eskimos.   We had taken him a small amount of “junk” that had been lying around our basement for years to sell on our behalf and he conveniently made us a nice $400.   Have I said how much I love than man?   I love him even more since he didn’t ask for a commission.   My new found wealthy feeling...