Month: January 2013

The Daily EO: January 28th, 2013

I received a text saying my husband invited someone for dinner the next night.  This threw me into a little bit of a panic –  plan these things ahead, thinking out menus, grocery shopping, pre-prepping food, cleaning.  Everything is planned.  So, this was hard on me.  But then he said “Don’t worry about it, I’ve got it.”

Ok?

Hmmm.

Fine, I’m busy at work anyways.  Carry on.

So when I got home, Emile announced that he was going to make either Butter Chicken or Pad Thai.  I immediately tried to talk him out of butter chicken – afterall, neither of us have ever made it before and our guest was coming in less than 24 hours.  We are out of control – there isn’t a plan for this!

But do you know what? – other than rice and curry powder (easily purchased downstairs) – I already had everything on hand to make butter chicken and a readily accessible cook book with an excellent recipe.

January 28th, 2013 Extra-Ordinary:  It’s my planning and foresight and Emile’s spontaneity and willingness to try something new that works for us.  And his butter chicken was really good too.

The Daily EO: January 26 & 27th, 2013

I went to see The Hobbit for the second time this weekend – this time in 2D with my grandma.  Nobody else wanted to go with her, so Emile and I said we would go even though we’d seen it before.

The Hobbit does not seem to be getting the sincere love that the Lord of the Rings series got.  Reviews call out the 48 frames per second and the lack of action and hodge podge presentation of the stories.  I enjoyed the movie the second time.

And there you go “I enjoyed the movie”.  Why is it that I hesitate to tell you the truth – I loved the movie.  I love the Lord of the Rings and I love this movie.   Perhaps Peter Jackson is drawing perhaps more than he should on the appendices and and unused material from the Lord of the Rings.  Perhaps the Hobbit is supposed to be lighter.  Perhaps it doesn’t need 3 films to tell.  But there are few movies that I actually pay to rewatch.  I love the “moments”, the score, the scenery.  (the rock giant fight I could have lived without really).

January 26 & 27, 2013 Extra-Ordinary:  Admit I love something – who cares if someone else doesn’t agree.

And thank goodness, that it wasn’t my storage unit that burned down – it was just right beside the vacant warehouse that did.  Talk about a clutch in the heart driving up that day.

 

 

The Daily EO: January 25th, 2013

I left work as soon as I could on both Wednesday and Thursday.  Both days it seemed to be one more problem, one more email, one more political maneuver than I had the capacity to deal with.  Full up here, people.

And the weather seemed to suit this – dark when I got in, dark when I left, pattering rain on my skylight, and foggy, overcast for days on end.

So, Friday, when work began at 6:30 am for the first of my departments three team meetings, I expected more of the same.   Dreary days with a burdened heart.  Here I was telling my team members that “good enough is not good enough” and that I needed a shift in thinking from “what can someone else fix?” to “What can I do differently?” and here I was struggling to get through my days.  “Working too hard to be only mediocre.”

January 25th, 2013 Extra-Ordinary:  I heard what I was telling my team members and my outlook changed too.

The Sun Comes Out.
The Sun Comes Out.

The Daily EO: January 24th, 2013

I went to a new massage therapist.

I often feel like I have something to prove with RMTs because I never want to complain about the pain. I feel like I should just take it – the pain is good, it is releasing something bad right?  So, I usually suck it up during the rough patches, because I don’t want to be wussy.  (my mother would say “Get some self-esteem, Susan”)

But this new RMT started using elbows on my gluts?  Oh, my god that hurt.  And strong fingers along my scapula?  Wow. How did theose thin little fingers exert so much pressure?   It felt bizarrely terrible and good at the same time.   I didn’t cry out, I just told her later than that was “sure something”.

January 24th, 2013 Extra-Ordinary:  It’s funny what we’ll take if it is presented in the right framework.

The Daily EO: January 23rd, 2013

My husband is fighting a bird battle.

Our balcony – which I am a bit afraid of – has become the hang out spot of a couple of birds.  I am not sure if they are the same pigeons or just lookalikes.  But as far as Emile is concerned, it is the same damn birds pooping on his deck.

He came home from work tonight and spied his feathered nemeses out the window.  He ran over, quietly and carefully opened the balcony door, then grabbed the pre-staged water squirt bottle and soaked those birds.

They didn’t like it much, but Emile?   He was triumphant.

January 23rd, 2013 Extra-Ordinary:  The Bird Battle for the Balcony

The Daily EO: January 22nd, 2013

Tuesday night I ambled 1 block north of my place to get my haircut.  I like this system.  I previously drove 175 kms to get my haircut and that was a little annoying and time consuming.  But really, finding a good salon is hard – and I passed through Toronto enough to co-ordinate it usually with something else.

But now, it is a 1 block away.  And now, it isn’t just one block away, it is also an Aveda Teaching Salon, so I can get my hair cut for half price.  It takes longer and you can’t always be guaranteed of what who you’re going to get.  But everyone is supervised by an Aveda Instructor, and well, hair grows back.  And if you don’t agree, well, I probably will not find you sitting in a chair across from there.

So, I have had all good experiences there except one that was only okay.  Firstly, the girl – we’ll call her Sara – should have been a Swedish masseuse.  Her head massage hurt, her combing hurt and her cutting hurt.  And I wasn’t too too crazy about the haircut.  (she cut it bluntly by sight across my ears).  So, every time I made an appointment subsequently, I ask who it will be with and have been able to not get Sara by just selecting another person when I’ve had the choice.  I didn’t really want to complain about her and the haircut wasn’t terrible.

So, when I showed up and they said “Hi Susan, you have a hair cut with Sara at 6:30, I see”, I was taken aback.  I then had to actually say it was with someone else.  And then I drop to a whisper to explain that I didn’t want Sara tearing at my head again.

January 22nd, 2013 Extra-Ordinary:   Rescheduled hair appointment for Friday night without Sara – and no charge.

The Daily EO: January 21st, 2013

I have a tendency to draw squares with my mouse pointer when I am bored or thinking or unable to do what I need to do.

And that is what I was doing on Monday evening while trying to write the Daily EO.  I was exhausted, I was just wanting to not write it.

It was just then – 9:00 pm – that my husband came in the room, closed my laptop, said “Enough.  You need sleep.”  and turned off the light.   I laid there in the dark trying to get the gumption up to get my flashlight and laptop under the covers.  But before I could, I fell asleep.

January 21st, 2013 Extra-Ordinary:  I like someone who knows best taking care of me – and I am so glad I have Emile to do that.

 

The Daily EO: January 19th & 20th, 2013

Being unemployed, my weekends lost their value.  What difference did it make if I didn’t have to work? – I never had to work.   So being back to work is different – suddenly these two days take on new importance.   These are the days that everything else needs to get done – and the days that you get to relax.

On Friday night, I purchased yet again another piece of IKEA furniture – a bookcase.  This allowed me to be able to place all the books in boxes and a number of pictures and other items in “something”.  Before Emile even got out of bed on Saturday morning, it was all completed and looking great.  Most of the boxes are unpacked and we have storage for everything now.  Pictures are on the walls and it feels more and more like home.

I made soup from some wilty broccoli and some wrinkly orange and red peppers. romaine lettuce hearts (why not?) and the non-moldy onions. (not that I was saving the moldy onions for anything)   It tastes pretty good, but is a weird bright orangey green.  I guess that is what happens with soup – you get what you get.    With that I was able to clean out the fridge to make room for better and fresher produce in the drawer.

I went grocery shopping to the biggest and busiest grocery store I have ever entered on Grandview Highway.  It had ever piece of produce I could imagine – and some things I couldn’t.  Since when do carts cost $1?  I know I get it back, but it irritates me – is the quarter so low in value now that people won’t return the carts?

For the first time since November – and even longer since outside – I ran.  I ran through Chinatown, up Main Street, along the sea wall underneath the conference centre and back again.  I managed 5.26 km and felt so accomplished, strong and better than I have in a while.   I use “run” loosely because honestly, there was some walking involved, but that is okay – I am back out there.   I ran by where my car was broken in to – said “ha ha!  I am not scared of you neighbourhood!”

I finally figured out how to make folders on the iPhone, and spent several happy minutes organizing my ap’s.  And downloading some new fitness things for the hell of it.  Did you know you can use “Squat Pro” ap which counts your squats while you hold it out in front of you?  Do I need such a counter?  Is it difficult to count to 10 or 15?   But cool, I guess and I’ve done 40 more squats this weekend than any other weekend.  (that also means that I cannot walk or sit down on the toilet well).

Laundry was completed – though after my run which means I have to do another load.   Afterall, it was cold out there and I am still getting over a cold – so yes, my sleeves are a little dirty.  Yeah, eeew.

January 19 & 20 Extra-Ordinary:  A productive weekend makes it easier to face the week ahead.

The Daily EO: January 18th, 2013

Friday’s Schedule:

  • 8:30 – 9:00:  Production Status
  • 9:00 – 9:30:  Review of Skid Flow into Production
  • 9:30 – 10:00:  Establishment of perimeter cleaning schedule
  • 10:00 – 11:30:  Operations Team Meeting
  • 11:30 – 12:00:  Review of coverage for vacationing team member
  • 12:00 – 12:30:  Webinar to review Annual Physical Inventory Process
  • 1:00 – 3:00:  Software Training Session on Scheduling Module
  • 3:30 – 4:30:  Handheld scanner training and process establishment

January 18th, 2013 Extra-Ordinary:  Internet problems caused the Software Training Session to be cancelled.  It was the most freeing thing that happened all week.  2 hours of unscheduled time – I didn’t know what to do with myself.