BEAUTIFUL DAY....

Can't believe it's still so warm.... leaves flying all over the place though... definitely the Fall!

Have finished all my shopping required prior to leaving for Australia... now to cook the dogs' food and repack the old suitcase and I'm pretty much done... better be... only 3 more sleeps!

Still feeling a tad apprehensive about the flight and 2 months away but I'm sure once I'm there I'll be okay....will just miss my own home and bed!

Going to retirement banquet tonight... for all city employees retired this year.... taking Marianne so feel okay about going... just don't want any aggravation! Wouldn't go but that feels like I'd be giving my power away... staying away because of some elusive THEM! They just can't matter that much! And I'm receiving a lovely gold/silver bracelet so that's nice.

SUNDAY

Thought I would do tons today but I'm not.... did put deck furniture and candles and pillows and blankets away... but not much else.... maybe this evening....

Talked with the kids on Skype.... funny to see everyone in the regular day to day setting....

Had such a nice time in Waterton that I feel lazy today.... and most of the stuff on my list can't be done until closer to my departure date...


Marianne came over for coffee and we had a good visit.... she certainly isn't supporting Darcie no matter what.... recognizes her limitations but also that Darcie is the boss and that's just the way it is....Marianne is willing to go to the retirement event with me so I shall phone the City and make sure okay to bring a guest.....

FRIDAY NIGHT!

WOW! only 7 more sleeps and I start the horrendous trek to Australia! My fingers are crossed that I make all my connections and I'm upgraded and have the best trip ever!

Heard that the grad for my last training class was last week... and Darice didn't let me know after all her stuff around me coming! I was pissed off for awhile but okay now.... Darcie apparently believes I don't want anything to do with them and maybe she's right.... I'm okay with not doing anything about that!

Spent half the day with Deb.,.. she brought over the poster for Lucas's 13th birthday.... not what I wanted but I still love it! It's very very good and I can make up as many as I wish if everyone loves it....we also went to Broxburn for strawberries and to Chapters for books... I finally bought the calendars for my AUS family.... so think I'm done except for cooking the dogs food... and that is up for the first part of the week.....

Going to Waterton tomorrow with Jan.... after meeting with the Pet City girls who will be looking after the dogs over the Thanksgiving weekend.....

Tired... going to bed early!

HOT HOT HOT

Summer is back again if only for another week! Time to clean up the yard and put away furniture, outside stuff.... by the time I return there'll be snow and too late to do!

Had lunch with Nicole Kozak today... she retired as of last week ... she looks great already... think she was more ready than I... but who knows what it will bring her.. just nice to see her happy and positive!\ She's going to retirement function so think I'll go too!

Bought a pair of Clark's runners today to take to Australia... very comfy and look casual but I could wear as dressy.... runners today are sooo different!

Got my US$$ yesterday and saw the Doc so have all my meds for the two months... the pain pills are horrendously expensive and not covered under my medical! But I shall send in for reimbursement and see what happens! Probably won't use them much anyways as I seem to tolerate the discomfort fairly well.....

Still not sure what to wear on plane... want to wear my black/white coat/jacket so restricted.... but have lots of "black" choices! Just really want to be comfy!

SUNDAY SUNDAY

What better day of the week to be raining! Effe, Tess and I stayed in bed until noon watching old movies and drinking coffee! Haven't done that in forever!

It's time to get serious about the final things to do before Australia.... purchasing and cooking the dogs' meals....final choices of clothing to take...cleaning up the yard and putting yard stuff away for next year!

Supposed to be hot hot next week so will leave out a few things so we can still sit on deck.....

Everything seems quiet when it's raining out... a lovely cozy feeling!

HOW MUCH BETTER CAN IT GET!

Feeling good.... had a massage and my body feels normal again.... so much better.... didn't have lunch with Deb today .... they got caught up in buying new car...

So,I spent money on a new laptop.... found a 14 inch for $550 ... at Visions... it has everything I wanted and it feels much smaller so will be easy to take to Australia... happy I did it as now I know I'll be able to use and play and create and not disturb David....

Very tired today as I pretty much was awake from one to 6:30 .... yawn!

The $$ thing.... I realized today that I was treating my little extra pot as something I couldn't touch when in fact I saved this bit top handle my "settling into retirement" fund... so I need to let go just a tad and do just that... the computer, the new door and the trip are all coming out of that pot and then life will settle down.... it's my safety fund!

FABULOUS

Just had the last of my guest for Cheryl's "dessert evening" leave.... think everyone enjoyed themselves.... especially seeing Cheryl's slideshow....

Marianne stayed later and she got around to talking about "work".... of course! God, I cannot believe how I get pissed off at what she tells me... mostly because
what is happening is seen as something I haven't done... which is so not true..so I took the time to dig out the emails and letters and files that I gave to Darcie...
and I refused to give it to Marianne.... suggested she suggest to Darcie that she call me.... if Darcie would rather bitch than learn, so be it... I will not take that on! Her responsibility... not mine anymore.... and to think of all the time I was there for her and she just couldn't sit still long enough to hear or learn or take notes.... and now she puts it out like I didn't leave anything or tell her anything! What I would like to say to that!!

Okay, calm down.... breathe.... back into the moment... you cannot change what Darcie does or says.... you can only control how you respond/react! And on that note I'm going to bed......

Monday, Monday....

and isn't it lovely! Today was a great day and I am grateful for every second of it... I think I started to get the hang of "retirement" today... a little step forward anyways....

didn't do much and did it in my own time and in my own way... you know, the wash, the loading and unloading of dishwasher, making dinner for the dogs... having a nap, etc. etc.

it makes me tired just reading this..... yeah!

Wonderful weather....

It's Saturday... how do I know?! Alicia isn't in school! It's actually cool how it doesn't matter any more... what day and pretty much what time.... only if I have an appointment or!

Went through closet again and all of letters and cards I had set aside to take to Lee.... cut them in half... just won't have the room.... I do believe I know have my travel outfit handled... why is that important... well travelling for 30+ hours is a bit of a nightmare and anything can happen so wearing something that is "cool" and then if it gets too cool, ability to layer.... and also it has to be comfie... able to sleep in it! So, will take a clean t-shirt in my backpack as I am renowned for spilling and a pair of yoga pants for the 13 hour flight from San Fran to Sydney...should have room in there for those... if not I'll delete the pants!

Took Alicia out of her birthday lunch ... we went to Georgio's and it was excellent... she's fun to hang out with... a very mature 22 year old! We went to the new Shoppers Drug Mart on the westside... wow! Bought a book for the plane so that's done too!

Have done well in figuring out how to upload photos to Facebook... Lee was proud of me!

This week it's the "dessert night"... will make pavlova, ribbon cake and possible coconut cupcakes...hopefully they eat it all!

TIRED....

Not sure why but I feel so tired today.... weather change is likely the culprit!

Finally got to Gayle's today with all my jeans for alteration.... have gone down a size and even though I don't mind loose, I really hate it when they bag all over...so Gayle is taking them in here and there..... and a very lightweight dress for me to take to Australia.... haven't worn it for ages but it'll be good for this trip....

Went to library too so I have books to read until I leave.... if I didn't do that, I'd end up reading the books I've bought to take with me....

Going to bed soon!

And more and more....

Feeling discombobulated (?) today.... slept well so not sure what this is about other than I do get myself tied up in knots about packing for Australia... never seem to have all the "right" things with me and don't have the $$ to shop the way I usually do ..... and two months is the longest I've been for years so need more clothes than usual.... taking jeans/capris and t-shirts is the plan as well as a warm scarf, cardigan and maybe even a light coat for travelling.... sweats for around the house and beach.... and a pair of dressy slax and top for the theatre and any other "dressier" occasion. We don't do that very much so one outfit more than enough.... it's the changing of seasons that makes this difficult!

Or maybe I'm just making it hard cause I need to fuss about something!

Enjoyed working yesterday with Penny.... and fun to go to Calgary... bought the Nintendo DS games the kids want so another 'task' to tick off the list!

Penny hinted very heavily that there will be work for me next year if I want it... and I am sure I do.... feels like a good fit.... get to use what I know and do it as a "project"....and mostly from home! Couldn't get much better!

Must get the shopping done so I actually have food to cook for Griff and Cheryl!

23 MORE SLEEPS!

Yes, that's all! So lots to do so need to get my ass in gear!

Just back from Calgary .... saw Dallas and met her Liam.... gorgeous baby! Stayed
at Delta Bow Valley ... paid by Provincial Victim Assistance Association... worked
with the President for l/2 day today developing a new funding application to
hopefully get more $$ to do the work needed.... it was fun to use my brain again!

Shopped at Shoe Company and bought a great pair of Naturalizers for 2/3 the price of the store in Lethbridge.... also found another pair of jeans and a dressier white t-short.... so that's my travelling outfit.... comfy enough to withstand 30+ hours of travel!

Cheryl and Griff coming to dinner tomorrow so out to buy groceries....and take my
stuff to Gayle for alterations.... or she won't be able to do them in time for the
trip....

Wow, Cool Day!

Supposed to hot today but stayed about 22 degrees with a light wind.... loved it! Massage this morning, the dogs to grooming and picked up my "recovered" photos from London Drugs..... so good to have them even though it cost a bit...

Massage got my poor body stirred up so taking Tylenol steadily and resting... reading a good book so not so bad!

Labour Day Weekend.... how did it get to this so quickly!

Picked up jeans for David today... so that's one more task ticked off for Australian trip...

Rest of weekend will be quiet... will put finishing touches on closet, clean off deck, etc.... also need to find some paperwork for writing funding apps... going to Calgary Monday afternoon to do some work with the provincial victim assistance association.... also to see Dallas I hope....

SEPTEMBER?!

Well, what a great week! Have spent time with Cheryl and with Deb .... two of the best women on the planet! Loved seeing and being with them again!

Also, took my camera into London Drugs and they are pretty sure they can recover my photos.... will know by the weekend.... soooo happy about that!

Had a pedicure today and did some groceries....too hot to do anything else!