Can You Hear Me Now?

I’ve stretched 3 days in a row. Woo hoo! It’s damn hard, though. I don’t remember it being so hard to arrange my right foot and leg. My right knee keeps buckling. Argh. Patience, patience, it will improve…

I went outside my January budget (which is okay because I went $10 under with my cell phone, which will do me until February now) a tad the other day by donating $10 US to NetXperiment. Allison is using the power of the internet to raise $1,000,000 for MS research. I don’t normally give money to causes that raise money for research, because I don’t believe these organizations have any interest in actually curing anything, but just finding drugs to mask symptoms, and we all know my opinion on that. However, I like Allison’s project and her approach, and her attitude. She also has an allergy to pity wallowers. Plus, it is in Australia, and they are allowing stem cell research there, among other things I like about that part of the world. $10 isn’t much, but every little bit helps. (I read an article yesterday about the current US Administration and how they are manipulating scientific research and it just made me hate Bush even more, so I will gladly support the goings on in other parts of the world where the administration is hopefully less corrupt). (Yes, I realize I don’t live in the US, but sometimes we are too close for comfort).

The phone rang yesterday when I was in the shower. It was that woman I helped ages ago, with getting a letter off to the College of Physicians and Surgeons to report her neurologist. Anyway, her message was: “I’m trying to get a hold of the nurse that comes out to visit me, you know, where they supply the chairs and everything? Like the bath tub stuff? And I can’t get the legs on my chair and I can’t walk to do it…” Whoooo boy. That was weird. I called her back because I assumed she was talking about Home Care, and that number is easy enough to find. That’s the most I could do for her! Anyway, when we talked she said she found the number and had a call in. She said she can’t walk anymore (she could with a cane when I met her) and has been evicted from her house, and everything is someone else’s fault (seriously, the reason she is being evicted is because her neighbours say she annoys them constantly because, according to her, she has asked them for help twice; they rented out a room in the house to a young kid who calls her names and treats her like shit; when she calls the police about the threats her neighbours make to her, they show up and tell her she is crazy, and “maybe we should take you away”, and the whole world is out to get her. I’m starting to wonder if anything she said about her neuro back then was true). Anyway, she is full of the sob stories and I’m going to have to be careful because it looks like I’m on her “sympathetic people to call who will listen and help me” list. She was hinting at needing help to find a new house to rent, “I can’t even see to read the paper…” but all I could do was wish her luck. I do sympathize with the pain she is in and her deteriorating health, no doubt, but I can’t do much for her. I’ve got my own to contend with! She is moving in with two other people anyway, why can’t they look?

Further to my earlier post about Islam and Muslims, there is a new TV series in Canada that starts on Tuesday that looks hilarious… Little Mosque on the Prairie. Only in Canada would they make this show! I can’t wait to watch it.

I received a phone call the other night from a telephone solicitor on behalf of some marketing research firm that wanted to talk to me about my shopping habits. “Often”. Heh Actually, I said “no thanks” and hung up. But it reminded me of when I was a teenager, and I had my own phone/separate phone line in my bedroom. My friends and I really enjoyed making prank phone calls… sometimes I would call a number and tell them I was doing a survey for a marketing research firm, and would they be willing to answer a few questions? Then I’d get them to reveal what kind of milk, eggs, yogurt, bread, etc. was in their kitchen. Fear ME and my badass prank phone calls. (Damn call display has ruined it for everyone!)

Today’s agenda: TIDY MY FREAKIN’ OFFICE.

I still have pictures from my old cameras to use up, so bear with me as I switch back and forth. Maybe you will even be able to tell the difference!

I edited this to reflect the fact that I will use You Tube to upload and share my videos, that way I’m not taking up space on the server and I don’t have to take them down in a week. SMART, HUH!!

This one is of Pepper and her love for the Polyjesters. I manage to stifle my laughter until just the very end.

Yes, I stretched this morning, for all of 7 minutes. Standing up, holding my walker, because I can’t get up off the floor yet without a MAJOR struggle. But if my past attempts tell me anything, it is that even 5 minutes a day will make a big difference in the long run. When I can get up off the floor, that will be a sign that I am improving and it’s back to the water workouts for me. I’m shooting for May…. after the busy work season, and after I’ve given therapy a good chance (which will free up time for going to the pool!). I’ve gone 3 times and I still don’t know why, all I do is talk about stuff I always talk about, on here or to any of my friends. However, I did say I would give it a few months and see how it goes… there may be subtle changes that occur. I think it takes many visits with a therapist before they really get to know me and see through whatever wall I’m holding up that I don’t even realize I am. So far she has said that I am very open and self-aware and I think even she wonders why I’m there.

When I went yesterday, I had a driver I last saw in March. It took me a few minutes to realize who he was, but when he was putting my walker in the back he was singing in Arabic. Then it hit me - “are you Abdul?” “Yes, yes, I am” “You gave me a copy of the Qur’an awhile ago”. Ahh, yes it all came back to him, too. He asked me how I liked it. I told him it was a hard read and it didn’t tell me what I really wanted to know about Islam (the beliefs, in layman’s terms, and stories about Muhammed’s life and what he was like, for example), so I have another book to read about it (no, I haven’t finished reading that one yet either, and it’s back on my shelf with all the other books I have yet to read). He said “that is why I put my number in there! You call me, anytime, 24 hours a day if you have any questions about the beautiful Qur’an. Everything you need to know about anything is in there. Everything!” He went on to say that Muslims don’t want to push their religion on anybody, but “we want everyone to know about Islam. We want everyone to join us in Paradise! On judgement day, it is either the fiery gates of Hell, or Paradise. We want everyone to know about Islam so they can believe in Allah and go to Paradise.” I told him… “everyone does know about Islam; the terrorists have made sure of that.” Heh

Oh, I brought up a line in a passage in the Qur’an that gives “beat her lightly” as the last of 3 steps you take when your wife is “disobedient”. AHEM. His response:

“Oh, it is only in an extreme case, if your wife is unfaithful. First you talk to her and ask her to stop the behaviour. You do everything you can to work it out and make her stop. If she continues, then the ‘beat her lightly’ is actually how you would hit someone if you had a loaf of bread under your arm and didn’t want it to drop… you can’t hit very hard that way. It’s not a beating. And it is more of a public humiliation, because then you will divorce her if she doesn’t change her behaviour. And we all know, the man wins in the divorce. He can go on and find a younger woman and start over… a man can be 90 and still be a man, he can pick a girl up off the street for $100 and still do his thing. Women can’t do that.”

OH.MY.GOD.

Sure, okay, if that is your definition of a MAN! It’s not mine. And, excuse me, the woman is the one having the affair? She’s moving on to her younger man, and taking your money with her. Ha!

Anyway, I held in my desire to freak out all over him in ways he has never heard a Lady speak. I kept it all inside because we were at our destination and I was being set free. I didn’t want to argue with him and his beliefs. I just vented to AH later when I saw him instead. Hehe! He’s more modern in his thinking than Abdul, although there are certainly areas where we disagree when it comes to men and women and marriage.

I’m becoming less and less interested in learning about Islam. It was a curiosity at first, but I hear such conflicting views everywhere I look for information, it’s almost useless. People can twist every verse of the Qur’an to suit their own need. For example, the line “Beat her lightly” (which is from a verse in ‘The Women’ that states “As to those women on whose part you fear disloyalty and ill-conduct, admonish them (first), (next) refuse to share their beds, and last, beat them (lightly); but if they return to obedience, do not seek against them means (of annoyance”) gives some believers permission to beat their wives when they ‘disobey’. Others (like AH), interpret that to mean it’s the last straw, and divorce is the final option. To be on the safe side, I’m interpreting it to mean “I will not be dating any Muslims in my future”.

I see/talk to so many muslims on a daily basis (AH and Access drivers mostly, plus many live in my building and shop/work in ‘my’ mall), that I started wanting to learn about Islam because of my own ignorance about it. I’ll just read that one book I’ve got on the origins and future of Islam and call it a day.

I think I have spent enough time talking about Islam today. Let’s bitch about something else, shall we?

Like the other day in the post office, I needed to send a package Express Post. I always make a point of printing very clearly marked address labels on my packages, but with Express Post you still need to fill out a to/from waybill. I kindly asked the postal clerk if she would mind doing that for me, because I have “lost the use of my right hand and am unable to write more than my signature on a good day…” As she huffily began filling out the waybill, she asked me WHY I haven’t learned to write with my left hand yet and when exactly I planned to. #$^&$%#$@%

Oh, and tonight on my way home from my little camera lesson there was a car blocking the sidewalk. I was on my scooter and saw someone was in the passenger seat, so I tapped the window and asked him if he was able to move the car so I could get by? He apologized and got out to go to the driver side. PEOPLE, seriously, do NOT block sidewalk entrances and ramps with your vehicles, ever, okay?? Please and thank you.

I watched a few minutes of what used to be my favourite Soap, Days of our Lives, today (I still pop into it once in awhile… 15 years ago I never missed a second of it. Marlena has not aged a day in that time). Baby Claire has been taken (again? I think?) When she comes back in the next few months, I bet she’ll be 8 years old. Then in another month she will be 16. And then she’ll be dating, and then she’ll get married and have her own baby, and all the while her mother will still be 22. (But seriously? Marlena? What is your secret, or who is your surgeon?)

I’m still learning the ins and outs of my camera. I need to get that “zoom” feature down.

No, I did not flip that upside down, Pepper was looking at me from that angle.

Pita has those sad green eyes.

I sat here, trying to think of a title for this post for about half an hour. Seriously not worth it.

Last night was really hard. Not only was I not allowed to hang out at the computer, I wasn’t allowed to call anyone to whine about it.

I wasn’t even home when 5:00 hit (and AH called at exactly 5:00, trying to get in under the wire haha) because when I got home from work I needed to package up some stuff and race to the post office to send it before it closed. While I was in the mall, I decided to get my hair cut. I created a budget for January, and visiting my own hairdresser does not fall into it. I desperately needed a cut, so I figured I’d pop into a walk-in place. Whatever damage they do will grow out soon, right? It’s actually not too too bad. I’ll probably love it in a couple weeks. I’m going to bottle colour it, too. Next time I do see my actual hairdresser, she may cry…

I also made an appointment at the camera place to go in for a little training session tomorrow afternoon. In the mean time, AH popped over earlier tonight and set it all up for me. I have a faaabulous digital camera. He is SO JEALOUS. He was ooohing and ahhhing over every little thing. He even read through the instruction manual as he did things, “because it’s yours. If it was mine, I wouldn’t read the instructions and just go ahead and try stuff and break it.” Hee! Anyway, the battery is charging right now and this weekend I’ll be going nuts with it. I did manage to get one picture as we were playing with it:

He looked horrible in that picture because his eyes were closed and stuff, but he was all “that is such a gorgeous picture! Look at the detail and the colour…” and he’s right. My camera is awesome. I can’t wait to get great quality kitty pics… and VIDEO!! Woo hoo! (We filmed one small video to test it, and the picture is so perfect… I love love love it!)

So, yes, I have created a “cash flow” budget for January. It’s realistic, it addresses my debts, and I even made room for the bag I’m getting:

I think it’s pretty funky. And a handmade original by a Canadian designer, which was the goal. I didn’t shop around a lot… I just did a couple online searches and when I found a bag with a long enough adjustable strap, it was the winner. I actually ordered a different one, but she was sold out and sent me a few pictures of other ones she has, and I picked that one. I love the colours.

So another item is crossed off my list! By the end of this month I should be able to cross off a few… I’m doing the budget, weekly no phone/computer, and weekly mud masks this month. I’m also starting morning stretches tomorrow. I made a deal with myself that I am not allowed near the computer or my first cup of coffee until I do that. (As per Dr. Phil… he said something about getting into the habit of doing something you don’t want to do before you get to do the thing you want to do. That was advice for a girl who wanted to get into the habit of flossing her teeth every morning… he suggested she make herself do that before she is allowed to do her hair). Remember “you don’t get dessert until you eat all your vegetables.”? I could apply that to so many things. Like… “you can’t drink your cup of coffee until you drink your 4 litres of water”. HA. Coffee at 9:00 p.m. sort of defeats the purpose.

The big test with my budget is “dining out”. I really have no idea how much money I spend each month eating at restaurants, the mall’s Food Court, ordering in, and lattes. This will be a real eye opener.

Seriously??

WHAT is so interesting about this??

Dear God: please have my landlord surprise me one day with “we’re re-doing all the ugly yellow floors and counters in your kitchen and bathroom”, please and thank you, amen.

The hotel emailed me back and told me who they buy their bedding through, and there is an online retail site, which gives a phone number if you are “looking for bedding from a specific hotel.” How cool is that? Now I just need $1,000. (And thank you Sasha, for all your help!)

I also found my Canadian designer purse at Flyball Bags. I’m getting a Sling Sac because it has a long strap, which I need to wear over my shoulder like a messenger bag. It’s hard to find nice purses with long straps, but I need that when using my cane or walker. Which is every time I’m not on my scooter. Heh.

Funny, how the things on my 101 list that involve shopping are the ones I want to do the most.

I switched “read the Bible” to “watch The Passion of the Christ” because there is no way I’m going to get around to reading the entire bible when I have so many other books to read that I own (if how long it took me to read the Qur’an is any indication). I have been avoiding that movie because it sounds so overwhelming, as does reading the bible, so it’s a fair trade-off to me.

Tonight is my first night of no phone/computer after 5:00 p.m. I’m off to work, and when I get home I’ll do a quick check of emails and then that’s it for the night. Read, read, meditate, read. Oh, and go to the mall to see if I can learn how to use my new camera. That’s my plans.

I don’t have time to upload photos, I just wanted to post something before I left, and now I’ve got 3 minutes to get my coat and shoes on, so see ya!

Yesterday was a mighty fine New Year’s Eve. My mom and Bob came by in the morning, and we went for a delicious breakfast at the Blackfoot Inn. They have an all-you-can-eat brunch buffet, but I never seem to get my (well, their) money’s worth at those things, so I ordered a vegetarian scramble off the menu and asked Bob to grab some extra bacon for me when he went to the buffet. It was really, really yummy.

Then we came back here and while Bob went to run an errand, my mom and I worked on cleaning out my bathroom. So that is done, now. I still have so much stuff. I mean, I will use it eventually, but then I keep getting more and it piles up until I have 6 bottles of body wash that I LOVE, but I can’t use it up fast enough. Case in point, the cranberry Body Shop set I got from my client… soap, body butter, lotion, lip balm… I love it all, so in the basket it goes, but before I get to it I will end up with more. I had about 5 bottles of shampoo and conditioner under there I forgot I had! Keep me the hell away from Lush for 6 months.

And as I sit here typing this, I notice two jars of body butter on my desk. My thought at the time was if I kept some in here, I would remember to rub it on my legs and elbows when I’m sitting here in my PJ’s in the mornings or evenings. That’s part of my problem too… I covet this stuff, I hoard it, and then I forget to actually use it. (Lotions/body butters only… not a problem with body wash or anything I use in the shower!)

Anyway, after my folks left I went over to the mall, with one of my 101 in 1001 goals in mind. The night before I had been looking online at duvets, trying to see if I could find the one I really, really want. Ever since I spent a night at the Banff Ptarmigan Inn about 10 years ago, I have been wanting a duvet like the one that was on my bed in that hotel room. I saw one online that seemed to be the best this particular store offered, so I went to Sears today to find one similar and actually see/feel it. I was shown all the different duvets and explained the difference between “2 star, 3 star, 5 star” etc., and ended up with one in my arms set to purchase. While in line, it dawned on me… “this is NOT thick enough. It may be worth lots of money, and it may be the best here, but it is NOT like the one at Ptarmigan and you won’t be satisfied until you find one like that”. I have a duvet already, a cheap one, but not much thinner than what I was about to buy, to be honest. So I stopped myself. I may have to spend $1,000 to get the one I want from some specialty store, but the fact is, I won’t be satisfied with anything less, so no sense spending money on one that is second best. I already have that. So I emailed the hotel last night and asked them for their bedding details from 10 years ago. Heh. Also, Rob’s girlfriend works for a fancy hotel chain that most likely has those big beds with fancy duvets. Maybe she can find out for me. And get me a deal from their supplier! Woo hoo! Now we’re talkin’.

Then, it was evening, and for the first NYE in a couple years, I actually went out somewhere public. Wearing earrings! That itched my ears like crazy and needed to be taken off by 9:00!

Anyway.

Michelle picked me up around 6:30, and we headed to the Pub. I know, very glamorous. But hey, Heather Blush and Triple S were playing and we love them, the owners gave me a free ticket, I would know a few other people there, and none of the nice clothes I own fit me at the moment (hello? The Gods of 6 weeks without wheat/dairy/sugar? Could you possibly cut me some slack, or at least a size in my slacks, for that effort?) Haha slacks. I haven’t called pants slacks in forever.

Anyway.

We went to the Pub early so we could get a good table and order some food. I mean, NYE, you’ve got to eat out, right? The night started out rather quiet, when the band played their first set there weren’t a lot of people there. But that changed, the closer we got to midnight! It was a lot of fun; I won a couple door prizes (a plastic shotglass you wear around your neck, some glow sticks), chatted it up with the hot guitarist (he’s SO cute!) for a long time, drank cheap champagne at midnight, and got lots of new year’s hugs. We left around 1:30 a.m., way way way past my bedtime these days!

On the way home, we were stuck in traffic because of a check stop. They pulled Michelle (and almost everyone) over, and the cop was such an asshole. He literally yelled at her like she was some sort of idiot drunk. So, you know, shame on him when her breath came up ZERO. She only had one drink with dinner many hours before! I hate dickhead cops who pull that Power shit on you and act like they own your ass. Was someone a loser in high school and trying to show ‘em who’s boss now? Huh?

Anyway, we finally made it back safe and sound and I was in bed by about 2:00. Today is all about being lazy, drinking coffee, cuddling kitties, and eventually getting some work finished. Here’s to moving forward in health and happiness for 2007! Happy New Year!

“Why can’t we keep the presents?”

“Why can’t we keep the tree out?”

“Why can’t we keep the bin of wrapping stuff out?”

“Okay, well, we’re totally keeping this necklace.”