Can You Hear Me Now?

What more is there to life? I’ve had another wonderful weekend, of the quiet variety this time. A fabulous FOOD weekend because I hit up two of my favourite restaurants.

On Friday my friend Pam picked me up and we went to My Favoutite Vietnamese Restaurant for dinner. After that we went by Safeway to grab some soy milk, because Pam has an espresso/latte machine and was going to make me some soy lattes at her house! Woo hoo! So we went over there, she unwittingly made me decide to get one of these machines as soon as I can (once I realized you can actually find them for under $50… I always thought they were hundreds of dollars) and made me a latte just as good as anything I’ve ever bought at Starbuck’s or Second Cup. We watched a cute movie, Last Holiday, which is one of those inspiring “Live Life to the Fullest” kind of movies. Pam is my friend Russ’ sister, so I got to see him briefly too, which was nice. During the movie Pam made us a second round of lattes that were better than the first (apparently because my soy milk started off colder. All this milk temperature and foam stuff that affects taste is complicated, but I will learn).

On Saturday morning, my mom and Bob came by around 10:00 to help me around here a bit before we went to our Chiropractor. It turns out our chiro and his wife went out for dinner last week to my Favourite Lebanese Restaurant. Well, my Favourite Restaurant period, Aida’s. So I asked him to talk my mom into going there today while he was treating her, because we were going to be dropping something off to my brother anyway, who lives about a block from there. It worked, because after running a few errands, we were all seated in Aida’s. Me eating at Aida’s, twice in one week! And two of my favourite restaurants, in the same weekend! I’m so lucky! And my life revolves around food way too much! Heh.

Anyway, my mom and Bob LOVED their food and I know we will be going there again. Bob went on and on about it. I told them they weren’t allowed to ever go there without me, and Bob responded “fuckin’ WATCH US!!” Hee.

It was close to 4:00 before I got home. I scootered over to Wal-Mart to pick up some bottled water (I am going through it very fast these days, which is great) and then I stayed in to watch movies for the night. A long day like that tires me out, even if it’s not strenuous. Just being out will do it.

I watched two good movies last night - The Break Up and Click. I loved Click. I even cried! You know the part, in the rain… (don’t want to say too much in case you haven’t seen it). I bawled like a baby. I didn’t think I would love that movie so much, and who knew Adam Sandler could make me cry over anything besides laughing too hard?! And Christopher Walken is always a genius in my books, forever and ever babe. It’s our modern day “It’s a Wonderful Life”, with a little David Hasselhoff thrown in for good measure.

Oh! On Thursday after I wrote my last entry, I decided to go for another walk. It was a beautiful day. I grabbed my walker and headed over to the mall, where I made it all the way to the food court (with one little rest on a bench) where I bought my latte and sat there to drink it. I texted a few people “I’m drinking my latte at the mall because I WALKED HERE!!” and then walked home (stopping for a rest on that same bench for a few minutes). It took me over an hour, but I DID IT. That’s only about 1/3 of the way to Wal-Mart and back, which is my goal, but I’ll get there eventually. I’m going to do that again today, using my latte as incentive. I think I used to say “I’m not allowed my latte unless I walk there to get it”, but I do believe that was before I broke my wrist and all that crap that set me so far back in mobility terms. Maybe it is time to set that rule up again (weather pending! I won’t walk on ice!) That is, until I get my own espresso/latte maker. I found one for $35 but it was out of stock. I’ll keep checking, I could have one by next week!!

Taking a rest after kicking the ass of yet another fuzzy ball.

This is how they ended up one day after I kicked them off my desk for the 100th time (this table is beside my desk).

Peace! Last night was my 4th week in a row of taking an evening for myself with no telephone or computer, very little if any television, lots of reading, meditation, mud masks and no visitors. I really enjoy doing this, and will keep it up. It’s a little difficult to do if you’re married and/or have kids, though, so I’m lucky in that respect. I can be selfish! The next thing I want to start on my list is the daily meditation and affirmations, but I’m going to wait a bit until other things I’m doing are cemented as habits. Baby steps, you know. I have completed 14 out of my 101 things, and still have a few in progress. Go me!

I quit my therapist, and she tried to talk me out of it by saying that “running away after stirring things up in therapy is common…” but I insisted to her that “nothing was stirred up”. We didn’t talk about anything I haven’t already talked about with friends, past therapy attempts years ago, or my friend/client Coach K (Personal Life Performance Coach). She thinks I’m running away from an “intimate relationship” with her, because I mentioned in the beginning that I seem to have trouble forming intimate relationships. But that is with MEN, as in, dating and relationships. Not friends. And the only way that is going to change, is by loving myself and believing I deserve it. I thought therapy would be the road to that, but I have since realized it is not. It is the road to talking about yourself until you are blue in the face! Talking doesn’t heal, action does, so I’m taking another route. She said I could call her if I change my mind and want to go back, so that is good. I’ll think about it. But really, it came down to the fact that I’m starting twice/week exercise classes at Living Well, plus work is getting busier, and I need time for myself. Another weekly appointment would get in the way and I know hers would be the first one I would cancel to make time for other pursuits. Like reading and meditation! And hopefully volunteer work, if that woman would ever get back to me.

Yesterday AH had an appointment so he just took the entire day off. He came over for a bit in the afternoon. He picked up coffee first, and we just hung out and talked. It was really nice because he was relaxed for once. He didn’t have to be anywhere in a big hurry, like he usually does. I was telling him about quitting my therapist, because if I want to talk, I have him for that! Hehe. We talk about everything to the point that sometimes we hang up the phone and think “I can’t believe we just talked about that”. Now, if I could just find that (and more) with someone who is single and available, I’d be laughing.

Let’s see, what else… on Tuesday I worked at the Pub and tomorrow I work at Troy’s. It’s Crystal’s first week working without Melanie, and my first week that a Tim Horton’s coffee won’t be on my desk when I arrive That was Mel’s thing. Crystal says she’s going to make coffee in the office, which is fine, but I warned her that I tried that before, and that Costco sized tin of coffee has been sitting there for about 3 years. I was the only one that ever used it. Everyone else preferred to buy coffee from Timmie’s on their way in, and I eventually just went along with that. If she wants to get into the habit of office coffee, she best get Troy to buy a new tin!! Oh, I better remember to bring in a mug, too. Something tells me there won’t be one.

I sent this video to Rob, and he wrote back “Holy shit Donna!!!!! If I had some concrete nearby I would smash my head against it cause that’s soooooo cute!” Hehe Once again, I lose it when the scratching on the monitor starts. I try my best to stifle it but I just CAN’T, that cracks me up every time. So here’s a little Rob Szabo with a dash of Pepper.

Friday night, I went out with Christine and her boyfriend L@khena. I brought my digital camera.

Christine

L@khena

And then, because I am digitally challenged and haven’t recharged it since I got it, the battery died. Figures. I was finally ready to snap a bunch of photos of actual human beings!!

It was so great to see them both. Christine heads back to Quebec today, I’m going to miss her. She also gave me a gift card for the Olive Garden that she bought for me when she was here last summer! It’s going to be hard to go there and not eat their bread sticks now! Yikes!

They got me drunk, paid for our delicious dinner and wine, then took me home. I wish that happened more often for me haha! Christine always spoils me when I see her, and if her boyfriend is there too, he spoils us both.

Saturday, I knew I had made a mistake. Not because I was hungover or anything, unless I want to start calling it my MS hangover. I stayed in bed for a looooong time. It was a combination of too much red wine, which contributed to my lack in judgement, which contributred to my ordering baklava for dessert, and the Arabic coffee, which is not only full of caffeine, but white sugar. I slept horribly and was tired all day. I stayed in bed until almost 4:00. I hated having to get up, I hated having to shower, I hated having to get dressed in something besides sweat pants because I was going out, and I hated trying to prepare my first and only meal at 6:00 pm that consisted of rice crackers and tuna. I just wanted to stay home.

So that just tells me I can’t drink any more than a glass or two of wine, and that my eating plan is not worth falling off of (no, I don’t consider swaying from my regimen once in awhile breaking my making-it-to-two-years goal - it’s if I lose it for days and start eating like before and have a hard time getting back on track, then I’ve broken it).

Anyway, I tried to cheer myself up about going out, because I was going to see some amazing musicians and an old friend and it was going to be a brilliant night. I HAD to smarten up and get in better spirits!

My Access driver helped. He was on time and told me the other person he was going to pick up and drop off before me had cancelled, so we had a lot of time. I was going straight there, and I would be super early. So we decided to go to Tim Horton’s and get coffee! My driver was really nice, and said he would buy me coffee because “you are a sweetie”. He was, of course, Muslim. Haven’t I said before that all those Muslim cab drivers love me??? Anyway, we actually talked about our views on marriage (how do these conversations even start? I don’t know) and he said that when he gets married, he expects only two things from his wife: That she respect his parents, and that she keeps a clean home because he likes a clean home. I asked “um… will you help with keeping the clean home? Or is that ‘woman’s work’?” He hesitated… then said he would help on his day off if he’s not too tired. “What about if she works full time? Isn’t she tired on her day off, too?” He said they could do it together on their day off, but he didn’t say it like he meant it, he just knew what I wanted to hear. “What about a cleaning lady, are we allowed to hire a cleaning lady?” (Yes, I said WE ahahaha) He said if he can afford a cleaning lady, then yes, we can hire a cleaning lady. We. Ahahaha

Well, I’m glad I cleared that up.

So, XL coffee in hand, I arrived at the Church where the show was (I love it when musicians perform in churches, such a better atmosphere than a bar because everyone is actually listening). I was first in line and when the doors officially opened a few minutes later, I got a great seat in the first pew. Padded pews even! I remembered that my friend Debbie was married in that church, I recognized the carpet.

Anyway, the show was A M A Z I N G. All on stage were Melanie Doane, Jeremy Fisher, Jenny Whiteley, Barney Bentall, and Blair Packham. They each took turns performing a song, and after two rounds they took a break. When the second set was about to start, Blair came over to me, leaned over and kissed me on the forehead and asked how I was. Then he asked me if I could film parts of the second half with his video camera. Okay, people, I’m still learning the ins and outs of my own little camera, I’ve never even held a video camera before! But I took it and did my best. He knows I’m a one handed wonder, and considering that, I think I did pretty damn good! I kept switching from his camera to mine, and I got some decent footage too. I’ll be sending them all to Blair for him to do whatever he wants with, and uploading them to You Tube if you’re interested, including Barney performing “Somethng to Live For”, his hit song from the late 80’s with his band the Legendary Hearts. They’re all a little shaky because a) I’m a little shaky, and b) I was tapping my foot which I have now learned the hard way is not a smart thing to do when you’re trying to hold a camera still. Just tap and bop your head along with me, and it will look normal.

After the show I went backstage to return Blair’s camera and then we went out to the main lobby. I got a picture with each of the guys… I don’t know where the girls were. Typical me.

Me and Blair Packham

Me and Barney Bentall

Me and Jeremy Fisher

It was a great night. I called a cab and was home around midnight. My cab driver, who I did not recognize, surprised me by asking me if I still did accounting. Apparently he picked me up from the Pub about two years ago. GEEZ those guys have good memories!! And I am simply unforgettable. I hope that’s a good thing.

I wanted to leave you with the Awesomeness of Mr. Jeremy Fisher performing “High School”, but that video is 149MB so I can’t even upload it to You Tube!! So instead you get part of the encore; Barney got everyone up to join in a sing-a-long. L-R: Melanie, Jeremy, Jenny, Barney and Blair. Enjoy!

The Scrubs Musical last night? Best half hour of television ever.

This morning I went for my second assessment at Living Well. As mentioned, I had to book Access to take me because I don’t have the thingy for the back of my scooter to carry my walker yet. And I can’t go there without my walker. So, the first thing Tracy (P/T) did was take my blood pressure 6 times in a row, and test my resting heart rate and oxygen levels. I am in great shape in those areas! I’d like to get my resting heart rate lower, although she said it’s fine, but as I exercise more that will happen.

I guess my little morning stretches are helping, because I did really well on my tests. I walked “laps” for 6 minutes and didn’t need to stop for a rest during it, although I slowed myself down at points. I got 29/36 on the balance test, which pleasantly surprised Tracy. After we were done, I then had to wait for Access to pick me up. It was 10:45, and I called to double check my time on their automated confirmation line, and it said “pick up between 11:05 and 11:25, estimated drop off time 11:42″. I thought… 11:42? I’m basically across the street. They’re probably picking me up and going somewhere else before they come back this way and drop me off, I wouldn’t put it past them to schedule like that. I decided to cancel because a) no driver is going to complain about losing that fare, b) they’re probably running late anyway, and c) I walked for 6 minutes, so I’m sure I can walk home!

I sat on hold for 15 minutes to cancel, and then went on my way. Tracy made me promise to walk slowly and carefully, and call her when I got home. It took me 20 minutes, but I did it! I needed to spend the rest of the afternoon flaked out in my La-Z-Boy (after scootering over to the mall for a celebratory latte), but it was worth it to test my ability like that. I haven’t tested myself to see how far I can walk, because then how would I walk home from the furthest I can walk? Heehee. I definitely see the walking to Wal-Mart and back in my future!

Of course, the entire day couldn’t go as well. When I left my apartment on my scooter there was a car parked at the end of the sidewalk I had to wait for before I could get out, three skanky teenage girls got in my way as I was going through the handicapped mall entrance door (there are 5 other doors for the able-bodied to choose from at the same entrance), hitting my scooter with the door and then butting in front of me, (all I said was… “EXCUSE ME??” and they responded “oh, sorry!” *giggle*) Bitches. And, the new girl at Second Cup tried to overcharge me for my latte and was all “whatEVER” when I told her (very nicely) what she is supposed to ring in, then tossed my change on the counter. I normally put it in the tip jar, but noooooot today.

I read for a couple hours this afternoon, and am finally almost finished the first of all my books I own and need to read. I’ve been trying to read this one for a few years. I’ll start it, put it down and forget about it, read other books, then start it again, etc. This time I was determined to get to the end. It’s an interesting book, but not the easiest read. Most of the unread books on my shelf are like that, which is why the goal to read all my books is under “Personal Growth” and not “Entertainment”. This one is Anatomy of the Spirit by Caroline Myss, and it is, of course, about healing. To steal just a couple paragraphs:

Do all that is necessary to support your physical body, such as taking the appropriate medicine, maintaining a daily exercise program, and eating properly. Simultaneously, do all that is necessary to support your energy body, such as releasing unfinished business and forgiving injuries from the past. Make whatever personal changes are necessary for healing to take place - leave that stressful job or marriage; take up meditation practice; or learn cross-country skiing. The specific changes you make are not the important point here. The point is to actually make the changes that healing requires.

Talking does not heal; taking action does. While it is essential to work at maintaining a positive attitude whatever your illness, healing requires dedication and commitment. Visualization will not work if you practice it only once a week, and no one’s body becomes fit from only one trip to the gym. Healing one’s body or one’s life challenges - or developing symbolic sight - requires daily practice and attention. Healing illness in particular may be a full-time occupation, although you can simplify the steps required to accomplish the task.

So, as I’m sure you can tell, 300 pages explaining the 7 Chakras and their relation to healing is quite an overwhelming read. But I believe in a lot of what she’s saying, and have two more of her books on my shelf, so I’m going to get through them and take what works for me. I’m still in the early stages of my personal healing journey, after, what, 10 years? Hehe. I’ll get there.

Oh, and last night I went to the mall for cat food and came back with yet another book to add to my reading list. I’ve got about 30 now, which may not sound like a lot to some people, but for me that is a lot! Especially when every time I sit down to read, Pita jumps up and sticks her bum in my face, doing her best to get my attention over some not-nearly-as-cute book (and she often succeeds). At least Body Clutter looks like a fun and easy read.

Tonight I’m going to my favourite Lebanese food restaurant with my friend Christine from Quebec. I haven’t had a falafel in soooo long! (Yes, I can eat those. And hummus and tabouli… yippee!)

Pepper is so pretty… that is all.

Edited to add: I forgot to mention that my Stepdad, Bob, is in the hospital with pneumonia and is very weak. He’s going to be in for a few more days yet, at least. Please send him good vibes!

Ohhhh today was another bad Access day. Let’s start with bitching about that for a couple paragraphs, shall we? My ride was due at 8:50 a.m. At 8:40, I happened to look out the window and saw a yellow taxi, which is usually an Access vehicle. Sometimes they are early (!!) and wait outside until it is actually time to buzz your apartment. I figured, I’m ready, I may as well head out there. As I was walking up the hall, I saw one of my neighbours, who also uses Access, leaving his apartment. Oh well, maybe it’s his ride, maybe mine, maybe he’s picking us both up, who knows. Anyway, as I got to the door my neighbour was already walking back in saying, “he’s here for you, it’s not mine”. So I headed out to the car and the driver put my walker in the trunk, I got settled in, seat belt, etc. As he was about to drive off, he asked “are you from #11?” I answered, “no, #(my #). There is no #11.” “Oh, well I am here for #11″. “There is no #11, can I see your sheet?” so he hands me a piece of paper clearly marked with my neighbour’s (male) name. I said “that’s my neighbour, he was just out here and you told him you weren’t here for him!” Sigh. He gets my walker out, I go back into the front entrance, and since the driver had no clue which apartment he was here for, I buzzed my neighbour to let him know the car was his.

I sat on my walker and waited for my ride. He finally arrived at 9:15. He came to the door, saw my walker and said, “oh, you have a walker? I already have two passengers with walkers. I have no more room in my trunk”. Sigh. “What am I supposed to do, then?” I ask. He says “wait here, I’ll go call Access” and he heads back to his car. 15 minutes later (even the drivers have to sit on hold with them) he comes back and says they’re sending a taxi for me. Another 10 minutes later I’m finally on my way to work.

Sigh.

The day got better, though. It’s Melanie’s last week working at Troy’s, because she is going on maternity leave. Another boy on the way for her and Louis! Anyway, Troy told us to take the company credit card so Melanie, Crystal and myself went for lunch. We didn’t even drink and the bill was $75.00! Earl’s is not what it used to be. New menu, new prices.

I worked there until 4:00, got everything done I missed out on doing last week, even filed their T4’s. Shortly after I got home, AH picked me up to take me to the bank so I could deposit a cheque, and then we went to My Favourite Vietnamese Restaurant for dinner. $15.40 for the two of us… that is my kind of dining out! Oh, and I ate my entire meal with chopsticks, so there is another item crossed off my list. I have finally perfected the left-handed-chopstick-usage.

AH and I agreed that if neither of us are married when we are 80, if we live that long, we will get married. Just so we don’t die alone. I think everyone needs that back-up plan. My friend Jason is my back-up to my back-up. I told AH he can push me in my wheelchair and I’ll carry his oxygen tank on my lap. Of course, he’ll probably still be with his wife because he will never be able to afford to divorce her, (there’s a nice dower involved, as it was a traditional Muslim marriage), and because she lives to make his life miserable (okay, I know there are two sides to every story, but trust me, that woman is batshit crazy), you can bet she won’t die first!

Let’s see, what else… oh, I helped get Rob this great interview in a Worcester, MA newspaper; he is playing there Thursday night! He has quite a few dates in the N.E. United States over the next couple weeks, including NYC and Chicago, so check him out if he is playing near you! You will not be sorry.

I get to go to Bluebird North on Saturday and see my buddy Blair Packham and a plethora of great songwriters. I’m looking forward to that.

I didn’t have time for a latte today, and I still haven’t changed everything in my purse over to my new bag. Maybe tomorrow.

My friend Shawna (in WinterWinnipeg) called me yesterday. When she called, I was sitting in the living room with the curtains wide open, sun shining in… by the end of our conversation, I was sitting in darkness. We can talk. Winnipeg, for the record, is one of the reasons the rest of the world thinks Canada is SO COLD. I mean, sure, other parts of the country can have nasty days in the winter here and there, but nothing like Winnipeg. Last week they hit MINUS 48 DEGREES CELSIUS. And that’s without the wind chill. That’s right. You heard me. The street lights even froze, I kid you not.

I used to live there. I don’t anymore.

Also last night, I received a surprising Email. My friend Christine (the beautiful French one, who moved back to Quebec and I haven’t seen/heard from her since she was here in July), emailed to let me know she would be arriving in Calgary today and wants to take me for dinner this week “for being such a bad friend” hehe. I’m thrilled! We have so much catching up to do (or, she does… my life has been rather boring… yet, I find things to write about in here continously, but when someone asks me “what’s new? What have you been up to?” I have no response except “not much” because I figure they don’t want to hear about lattes and new purses and what my cats are up to like I force you all to you all do).

By the way, I really enjoyed the premiere of Little Mosque on the Prairie last week. That’s definitely a new weekly TV addiction for me. For anyone that missed it or isn’t in Canada, a very kind You Tube member has uploaded it in four parts. The first part is here, and the rest can be viewed by looking at the “related” links down the side. I think it helps to know a little bit about Islam and the culture. I laughed my ass off, as did AH and his friends, but some people don’t quite get it.

Ever wondered what it’s like to have MS? No? Me either. I don’t have to, hahaha! Here’s a website that let’s you (sort of) experience a few symptoms. And then, YOU CAN CLOSE YOUR BROWSER! Be grateful for that!

MS Simulator

With the vision thing though, they needed to add sparkly silver bits and black dots that fly about. I have those and they make me think a) I’m seeing stars, and b) there are bugs on my desk. Until I realize it’s just the floaters (and I have cats who would beat me to them).

So I’ve been looking at other people’s 101 in 1001 lists and I realized that I didn’t make it very easy for myself. I simply said “lose excess weight” as ONE item, instead of: 1. lose 10 pounds; 2. lose another 10 pounds; 3. lose another 10 pounds, etc. And, “read all books I own and haven’t read yet” instead of listing each book as a number on their own, or at least authors, saying that I will read their book(s). If I had taken that route, I could have cut my list in half!! Bugger.

Tomorrow I start my 2 weeks of drinking 4 litres of water every day. I really need to get guzzling, I’ve only been drinking 1 - 2 litres/day and that is not nearly enough for someone my size! I can see it in my feet that I’m retaining water again. Hopefully 2 weeks will turn into more, even 3 litres/day would be good for the future. Tomorrow is also my third weekly evening of “solitude”. Ahhhhhh.

I worked at the Pub today. My ride was over an HOUR late taking me there. And no, I did NOT use the time to breathe deeply and say affirmations. I sat on the phone on hold waiting for someone at Access to tell me where the hell he was and watched out the window and huffed “fer chrissakes!! Where are they?!?!” When the driver showed up, he told me he had just been dispatched 7 minutes before. Yet another of my trips falls through the cracks, forgotten about, until I call wondering where it is. Sigh.

Anyway, I had to take work home with me because I didn’t have time to do it all there. Then my brother came by, and we did some shopping (he helped me drag lots of bottled water home) and had dinner. I watched the Golden Globes on and off, but I’m too tired to watch the rest. I’m going to upload this entry then get to bed, where my fresh T-shirt sheets await me. G’nite!

I’ll film just about anything while watching TV.

I received my Sling Sac yesterday. I really like it. It’s very orange, and somehow orange has found it’s way into my wardrobe a lot, so that’ll work. I hate changing from one purse to another, I like to keep everything in one place. However, this bag doesn’t have sections for pens and lipsticks and such, so I’ll need to get creative. It is big, however, so plenty of room for a make-up bag to carry lipsticks and even a pencil case for my pens! Hell, it’s big enough to carry my current purse, so I may as well just toss that in there along with my digital camera and I’m ready for anything. My current purse is good for holding my latte in place in my scooter basket though, and considering the colour, the latte spills from when I go over bumps don’t look too out of place. I’ll need to find a new way to brace my latte in there, because I am NOT getting stains on this bag!! Or, you know, I could stop drinking lattes.

Oh, yes. Lattes. I haven’t stopped. Did you actually believe I would? I haven’t kept a new year’s resolution since quitting smoking 11 years ago. You should know better. Oh, sure, I haven’t gone every day, but I haven’t exactly cut back, either. I am, however, keeping track of every penny I am spending in my budget and so far I’m at $60 $65 out of the $150 I’ve allowed for dining out/entertainment this month. As you can see, I’m not really going out these days, so I think lattes are allowed. I am usually getting decaf, too. (Oh, man… all the new staff? “Large decaf soy latte with sugar free vanilla” makes their heads explode. It’s really not so hard. At least some of them know me and just say “the usual?” and I thank God for them).

I found out that my little video of Pepper scratching at the computer monitor while on the Polyjesters home page has become an Email forward. How cool is that? I don’t believe I have ever done anything worthy of Email forwarding before (and no, I didn’t start it!). Figures my cats would become famous before me. Next up, America’s Funniest Home Videos!!

Pita, the little brat darling, knocked over an oil filled candle in my bedroom yesterday. I heard the “bang” but it was more of a “oh, I knocked something over” bang than a “oh, I BROKE SOMETHING!!” crash (I can usually tell the difference) so I didn’t go running in there right away. But later on when I went into my bedroom, there it was… oil all over my dresser and everything on it. Good thing it’s solid wood furniture, the oil probably did it some good! Pita was playing with the wick, of course, so she would have pulled at it and pulled the entire candle/bottle over in the process. And then ran for her life to another room to act like she didn’t do anything, but oh, I know it was her. I never knew two cats from the same litter who have never lived a day apart would have such different personalities.

There is this commercial on TV these days for some laundry detergent that is supposed to be best for washing dark colours. The woman says “I love wearing black clothes. They make me feel so sexy and seductive. I bought this black hoodie…” and then she loses me. Yes, when I think “sexy and seductive”, the first thing that comes to mind is a HOODIE.

Every time I sit down in the living room with a fresh bottle of water, I toss the cap onto my walker tray. It always disappears, and Pepper here demonstrates how. Once she’s got it in her mouth, she takes it where her and Pita can knock it around until it ends up in my shoe or in my bed, where I am sure to “OW!” when I land on it.

I really need to learn to mute the TV when I’m filming kitties. Hehe. This was a commercial break during “The Office“. If you don’t watch that show, WHY NOT?? OooOOoooOooo you think nothing could be better than the BBC version? Well, listen up, you are wrong. So many people list “The Office - BBC” as one of their favourite shows. You know, don’t be such a snob. The U.S. version is frickin’ hilarious too. Try it, you’ll like it.

I got my poop in a group the past couple days, and I’m feeling much better because of it. And by that I mean, my apartment is generally tidy and my office is in order. Not 100%, but it’s close. At least I can work in here without looking at the mess and thinking about all the filing and organizing I need to do. That is just stressful! I only have one pile of papers beside me that are annoying me. My photos are out of the way too, all boxed up and not taking up room on my desk. I should have this room 100% by the end of the weekend. Then the trick is to keep it that way.

I’m still doing my morning stretches, and yesterday afternoon I met with therapists at “Living Well with a Chronic Condition”. I hope I benefit from being a part of this group. Not just physically, either. My neighbour goes too, and the people there helped him get his apartment rent subsidized. They looked after all the paperwork and stuff for him. They are well connected, so I hope they can do the same for me. I’ll hit them up with that request one day, after they get to know and like me

Oh, I forgot to mention, that neighbour finally came by and paid me back the $10 I loaned him many months ago. Now that his rent is subsidized, I guess he’s got the cash! He paid it back to me just before Christmas, and gave me a box of chocolates as well. Eeek! I almost tossed them in with the cat poop to prevent me from sneaking any, but instead I gave them to the first friend that dropped by to get them out of here.

I was assessed by various people for TWO HOURS, and I still haven’t completed my “initial assessment”. I need to go back on the 19th for that. I’ll need my walker because this part involves me walking for 6 minutes while they watch me. I ride my scooter over there because it is close, so I’m not sure how I will get my walker over (it’s a little too far for me to walk it at this point, I think, plus they don’t want me tired when I get there!). My neighbour has a contraption on the back of his scooter that allows him to hook his walker on. I called the medical supply place I use this afternoon to ask about one. They said they had to get it made, and it would probably cost me about $175 including delivery/installation. I said to go ahead, because I simply need it - I’ll need to bring my own walker every time I go to this place now. No guarantees I’ll have it by the 19th, but they’re going to try.

Anyway, after all my assessments are done, it will still be about a month before I will get into the actual exercise/education part of the program. I guess there is 8 weeks of education and exercises (they want me in their balance program, 2X/week, and even though most of the education is about COPD and living with a respiratory condition, they want me to attend) and then you can continue going for maintenance. I think you can choose your days and times according to the schedule I saw up on the wall, and it’s a supervised group exercise class for people with all kinds of physical conditions. I had no idea there was a gymnasium nearby in the community centre, full of various exercise bikes and equipment (including the Nu-Step I want!) that was open 5 days/week for people in my situation. I can’t believe it took me this long to find out. I’ve only been asking about it and wishing there was for years…

You know what bugs me? When you’re on hold with Access Calgary for 20 minutes, and when they finally pick up, they accidently cut you off and you have to call back and be on hold for another 20 minutes. I’m just sayin’.

Today was sort of a hellish day. I worked at Troy’s and nothing about him or anyone there is hellish, but Simply Accounting can be. I was installing the upgrade for 2007. Of course the computer freezes up while I’m doing that and yells things at me like “you don’t have enough disk space, blah blah blah”. I finally got control of that situation, and went to look for the 2007 payroll update, but that hasn’t arrived yet. Hm. So I called Simply to find out if I could download it from their site or something. I was on hold for about half an hour, and when customer service finally picked up, I told them the situation and their response was “we sent them out Dec. 22″. Maybe so, but I don’t have it, and I need to run payroll today. She told me to hold on a sec while she put me through to a tech. I sat there on hold for 40 minutes and finally a guy came on the line. It took him 30 seconds to tell me where on the website to go, and what info I needed to input. I said “that was easy… why couldn’t the first person I talked to tell me that? I don’t think I needed to hold for 40 minutes for that information”. Argh. Troy really needs to get a handsfree phone for his desk. I wasn’t able to do much work, trying to cradle a cordless handset in my neck.

So at this point, I am behind in my day. It just got worse as I needed to download and print new 2007 tax forms, and Adobe wasn’t working. Then Troy called from his accountant’s office where they were going over his year end, and his accountant had some questions for me. Set me back another hour. Then Mel informs me she needs her ROE for her maternity leave done today, because next Friday is her last day (already?!?) and I don’t normally come in again until the end of the month. I ended up not getting even half of what I needed to get done today and not even taking a break to eat. I am now going back next week again to catch up. WAH! I’ve got something on my agenda every day next week, including Saturday. That’s too busy for me! I need my-putter-around-doing-nothing-rest-days.

Last night my mom and Bob came by. We ordered in Chinese food, and Pita helped herself when I was done: