Archive for December, 2007

Hello 2008, Nice to Meet You


h1 Monday, December 31st, 2007

It’s New Year’s Eve day. I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas or whatever you celebrate, if anything! Mine was nice and quiet, my brother stayed over and we ate lots and watched The Number 23 and episodes of The Office and Flight of the Conchords. I have to watch The Number 23 again because it’s really weird and I know I missed stuff.

So, a new year is upon us… I don’t want to reflect much over the past year. Overall, I had a really great year… all the great friends, making new friends, the music, the traveling for and with the music and musicians… yeah, it was good! My health, however, is another story altogether, and one I don’t want to get into.

So we start fresh in 2008.

I guess you could say I’ve made some resolutions. Goals, things I’m going to do differently, what-have-you. I took a look at my 101 in 1001 list, and made a couple changes to things I know I won’t be doing (with regards to the no wheat/dairy/sugar attempt I made last year). #16 and #36 are now relevant to the next month. I need to do a lot of things on that list in 2008 in order to reach my deadline!

So this is the rest of my 2008 list:

  • Exercise every day. Nothing major, I will know when I’m able to do more and increase it. But just do something - every single day.
  • Get up about an hour before Home Care arrives (which has now been increased to 5X/week), to do those exercises and to spend at least 20 minutes meditating.
  • Choose what clothes I’m going to wear the following day, before I go to bed.
  • Food… well… it has to get better this year, because it can’t get worse!!! With the help of some great friends I’m starting the new year off getting some delicious and healthy meals delivered. I plan to stick with using this service quite often, instead of ordering in pizza!! Breakfast and lunches are easy and I’ve got some no-excuses ideas for those. Less junk, less jink, less junk.
  • The Second Cup order: Sugar free vanilla latte with soy or skim milk, (depending on my recent dairy intake), and NO MUFFIN, PASTRY OR BISCOTTi.

As mentioned above, my home care service has been extended to 5 times/week, Monday through Friday. I’m really happy about this! Dressing myself has been a huge struggle lately, so I haven’t even really bothered on Tuesdays and Thursdays unless I had to. So it’s going to be nice that every weekday I’m up and around, showered and dressed at a decent hour. Plus, Harpal does little things like tidy up, wash dishes and take out my garbage when she has time. HUGE help! So, yay for that.

BOO for Access Calgary, however. Today I had my appointment at the Clinic for Mind/Body Medicine, and my ride never showed up. Well, he did eventually, but only after I called them and said “he’s so late now, my appointment is in 10 minutes (it takes half an hour to get there, if you’re lucky enough to get direct) so I’m not going to make it. There’s no point in going.” Buggers! The last time I went to the clinic, I saw their Psychiatrist, to talk about weaning off my anti-depressants and sleeping pills. It is SO REFRESHING to talk to a Psychiatrist who doesn’t want to see you on pills. He even went so far as to say that anti-depressants don’t work in the long term, “for anyone”. I asked “but what about people with a chemical imbalance?” and he said - are you sitting down? - “a chemical imbalance is just a marketing term made up by the pharmaceutical companies to make their drugs sound necessary. It’s not even real.”

Woah.

Anyway, bottom line is, according to him, anti-depressants work to pull someone out of that “dark place” they’re in (which is what I used them for) but then you need to get off them as soon as possible. Our bodies have an “inner pharmacy” that is perfectly capable of producing that which we take the drugs for. Of course, it’s a different story for schizophrenics, we didn’t get into that. But for someone like me, there is no reason to be on these pills. So, I’ve started the weaning off process with the anti-depressants. Then we will work on the sleeping pills. Which will be a lot harder to stop!! I told him I’ve bought a couple CDs to help put me to sleep but as he said, “it’s as much about what you do during the day as it is about what you do at night”. So, yeah, exercise is a key part of that. And I need to invest in some decaf espresso.

I asked my psychologist there, how it is that this clinic even exists. I mean, don’t pharmaceutical companies rule the world? How can there be a psychiatrist alive who doesn’t want to prescribe drugs? How can there be a medical clinic funded by the GOVERNMENT that believes our bodies can heal themselves? Read this!! Can you believe this exists, and it’s not an “alternative health centre” where I have to pay tons of money out of my own pocket to attend, because Alberta Health Care would never cover such a thing? How how how how how???

The answer is, that a man who was helped by a psychologist that uses these methods of healing, left millions of dollars to the Calgary Health Region when he passed away, with the specific instructions that they only use the money to fund a clinic like this. YAY Mr. Dead Millionnaire Guy! So now I’m going to plan a fundraiser to raise money for them, too. One of these days. I’d rather give my money to this than the MS Society, or any other Society that raises money for research to find a so-called “cure” for anything, ANY day. I’m really blessed to come across this clinic, and to live in a city that has one. I wonder if any other cities do? I expect to get a lot of help from them this year!

Well, it’s almost New Year’s Eve night, now. Since starting this entry I have been to the mall, visited the rental office, signed a one year lease and paid my (increased again - blah) rent, and made plans for tonight. Those plans include a visit from my friend Melanie, who is staying with me for a few days before she goes back to her job up in Fort MacMurray. We’re ordering in food and watching movies and stuff like that. We also have 10 million things to talk about, as I think we both need to let go of a lot of shit before 2008 starts. There may be tears.

Ciao! Happy New Year!!


Yo. Happy New Year, yo.

If I Talk Negative, Shut Me Up


h1 Monday, December 24th, 2007

It’s Christmas Eve day. 10 days since I last updated! My excuse is that my vision is still double and my balance is still way off and I’ve been feeling crappy, and I don’t like writing when I’m feeling crappy. Because it’s all I seem to focus on and it doesn’t do any of us any good to focus on the ill health of anyone.

Which brings me to the reason for today’s post. A few days ago I started listening to a 5 CD set called The Law of Attraction: The Teachings of Abraham. It’s amazing, and it makes me wish I had never given any of my money to the marketing machine infomercial that is The Secret. THIS is The Secret, but Abraham’s been teaching it a lot longer, and better.

It’s that same old principle… we are what we think. Our thoughts create our life experiences, good and bad. Ever notice that the person who speaks often about ill health, has it? (Hello!) NO MORE!!! Ahhh I’ve said it a million times. Seriously, though, I have to stop. I have to stop talking with people about the “rough times I’m going through” with my health, or how much of a downward spiral I seem to be in the past couple years with regards to it, etc. etc. People ask me all the time because they care, but I need to steer that conversation towards something more positive.

I’ve only listened to the first 3 of the 5 CDs and I already know it is the best purchase I’ve made in a long time. Once you can get past the weird stuff… that Abraham is a spiritual entity channeled by Esther Hicks, and speaks through her physical being… and actually listen to what he/they have to say, it is very powerful and makes a lot of sense. Yesterday I took a few hours with CD #2 and typed out some of it, so that I can read it out loud every day. It’s the part where they talk about the “workshop” you spend time in every day to think about and feel the emotions involved in what you want, and begin deliberate creation. We are magnets, and what we think about the most and talk about the most draws to us more of the same. So think the good stuff to GET the good stuff.

I made a Law of Attraction Workshop page. Every word is taken from that CD as Abraham spoke. If you find it useful, you can refer to it whenever you want, as well. Better yet, buy the CDs, because this is only a fraction of the approximately 6 hours of discussion on the CDs!

Pay It Forward Update

The final amount raised was $580, and I spent every penny of it and more. When Kim was here on the 14th, she brought it all back with her the next day. Her sister works for the shelter so it was all delivered. I’m assuming the ladies and kids will be getting stockings and gift bags to open Christmas morning, and our gifts will be included in that. A lot of the items I purchased off eBay, cutting that off Nov. 20 to give the items time to get here. Everything arrived in great condition and on time, except this one woman I bought a bunch of Avon stuff from… I paid Nov. 19 and just received them last week. They weren’t shipped until Dec. 6!!! I was SO upset. What the hell am I supposed to do with 40 lip balms??? I spent $70 of my own money on that lot of stuff. She got some negative feedback from me, that’s for sure. Anyway, some of the make up I will keep (mascaras) and I gave the slippers to my home care worker. Next time I see Kim I’ll probably just give her the rest to drop off at the shelter another time. The make up is brand new, there are 40 sealed lip balms, and 4 new bottles of body iotion…

Anyway, if you include that lot, I spent $673 so even without all that, I did not waste any of YOUR money! ;) Thank you again to everyone who contributed!!!

Oh, remember last entry I mentioned that my friend Pam gave me those healing stones? And that the Jade went flying across the room somewhere when I went to put it under my pillow? Well, last night I decided to take the two other stones I had tucked in my pillowcase at the bottom of my pillow out, because today I’d ask my home care worker to change the bed sheets. I didn’t want the stones flying out when she removed the pillowcase. So, I reached my hand in to retrieve the two stones I knew where there… and pulled out three. The Jade was there. WTF?? Seriously?? So, what’s that, a ghost? Or maybe just my home care worker found the Jade on the floor and being from India, knew what it was for and put it with the others. I guess I could have asked her, but I kind of like the *not knowing*. That’s way more fun.

So if I haven’t freaked you out yet with all my spiritual new age frou frou talk, I’ll end this by wishing you and yours a Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, Happy New Year, etc. etc. I hope you have a safe and warm holiday with lots of love, food, and frolic! My brother is coming over and we’ll get that food part down good, I think. Mom left us one of her amazing cheese balls!!


Pita wishes you a Merry Christmas


Pepper also wishes you a Merry Christmas

General Ramblings & Pay it Forward 12/14/07


h1 Friday, December 14th, 2007

I figured I should update y’all on the Pay It Forward project. So far, I have collected $550! See, all your little $10-15-20 contributions added up. Some people gave even larger amounts, which is so awesome. This week I received $100 (combined), so yesterday I went and picked up some more pajamas and a few more things from Dollarama (brushes, soap). I’m trying to keep photos of what I’ve bought up to date at Flickr. Later today my friend Kim arives and she’s staying the night, so on Saturday she will bring everything I’ve bought so far to the shelter. I’m not done yet, though… I’m making December 23 the official cut-off for contributions, giving me one last day to shop, before the remainder of what I get goes to the shelter on Christmas day. I was hoping to reach at least the $800 mark, but I’ve done pretty good! My living room is pretty full of stuff, but we need MORE PAJAMAS.

So, to sum it up: if you haven’t contributed yet, you have until December 23 to do so! Use the paypal button at the end of the entry, or email me (donna@innereyes.com) for other payment options. Thank you all SO MUCH!! (All money is going towards buying necessities for the women and children escaping abusive relationships at CAWES. A quick peek at their website just now tells me that Alberta has the highest rate of family violence in Canada, and leads the country in domestic assault, homicide-suicide amd stalking. Oh, yay for us. *shudder*

***********************************

My vision is still double, and it’s REALLY annoying. Screws up my balance and everything, too. It’s been over two weeks… I sure hope it’s temporary!! I went blind in 1999 for 6 weeks, and that went away (leaving my right eye messed up, but at least I could see again) so I am hoping this is like that. No longer than 6 weeks!!! Double vision 24 hours a day SUCKS ASS.

Last weekend we did Christmas early. It was the only time my mom and brother could both be here… my brother is moving this weekend, and Mom and Bob leave next week for New Brunswick. They’re spending Christmas with Bob’s family out there (including all his grandkids!) So my brother came over here, which he hasn’t been able to do for months. His work is keeping him soooo busy, and now moving. We exchanged gifts; of course, money towards my new electronic lift chair was my main gift I already received, but I still got a few other things. My mom can’t handle not having presents for us to open! I got a new microwave oven, which is awesome. I’ve had this old thing I got used, many years ago, without a turntable thingy, and it did an awful job. The new one is great, stuff is heating up way faster, and evenly! Yay. I also got a nice large basket to collect my recycled bottles and cans (instead of the green garbage bag I had been using), and a shower shelf to keep all my bathroom stuff on! Mom gave us stockings filled with goodies that I am quickly making my way through. Darren gave me a DVD (Number 23) and the one I ordered for him didn’t arrive until this past Monday, so he’ll get it on Christmas. We are doing our own little Christmas this year, just us.

Oh, and before my brother came over, my friend Pam popped by for a bit. She brought me a mini-loaf of her freshly baked banana chocolate chip bread, as well as some great pressies (hemp soaps and candle, and some healing stones). I’m not sure how to use the stones, but that is why we have Google. Last night I decided to take the Jade stone (for sleep problems) and keep it under my pillow for the night. Why not, right? I’m desperate to get off sleeping pills and will try anything. The plan was, to put the stone inside my pillowcase, under the pillow. Not to drop it as I was getting into bed, and have no idea where it ended up.

I bought a cheap CD player for my bedroom, and have been listening to various relaxation CDs to try and get to sleep without pharmaceuitcal interference. It’s not happening yet, but it may take time!

Anyway, Saturday night my mom stayed over, and between Saturday night and Sunday, lots was done around here. My office became a place I am able to work in again, and a few trips to the garbage dumpster were made. My place is “tidy” again, which makes such a huge difference. This vision/balance things has made every move more difficult and I’ve been feeling so useless. I wonder if I’ll be weaning off my anti-depressants any time soon? I’m still seeing my psychologist at the mind/body medicine clinic, and next week I’ll be talking to the psychiatrist there about getting off these meds. I figure it will be basic weaning, 10mg less every couple weeks or so until I’m off them. I don’t want to need them. Being sad because your vision is fucked up and you’re unable to do even the most basic of tasks for yourself is totally normal. Even on the dose I am taking, I’ve been breaking down in tears a lot lately. Which is to be expected, who wouldn’t? So I’m not sure pills are what I need. What I need, is a Time Machine to take me back to this night (I was thinking about it last night - how good I felt, how much healthier I was, how that is the night Jason and I officially became Friends, not just acquaintances, the clothes I could fit into, the just needing a cane and sometimes not even that…) When Jason was helping me into his van a couple weeks ago, I made a comment about how much things had changed since the first time I got into that van and didn’t need more than a little boost. Now it is a workout for everyone involved. I’m heavier, my MS is worse, my emotions are heavier… Jason, always the sweetie, said “you’re still the same Donna to me. You’re doing great! You’re fine! You have up and down waves with this. You’ll be just fine and I think you’re doing great”. It makes me cry just thinking about it. I love that man.

Okay, where was I before I got off on a “woe is me” tangent?? Oh, my place being tidy thanks to my mom and brother. Yes. And, of course, my home care worker helps me so much too!! I’m so grateful for that.

This week, so far, has been quiet. Lots of reading, working, going to the post office… AH picked me up from work on Wednesday, which was nice. I haven’t seen him in ages. He’s taken on an office painting project BECAUSE HE DOESN’T KNOW HOW TO SAY NO which is taking up his evenings and weekends. And somewhere in there he has to bring his kids Kinder Eggs every night. He started it, and now he has to keep it up hahaha!

Tonight will be nice, with Kim here. We’re going for dinner, and hopefully to see live music… but it will depend on how I feel… I’ve been such a party pooper lately. I’ve canceleed so many plans I’ve had because of my current condition. Pleeeeeease let it be temporary!!!














Pita missed her calling


As a Tightrope Walker.


THIS Makes Me Happy


h1 Friday, December 7th, 2007

Jason and Sheldon just left. I asked them to try and interpret things for Dietgirl’s Scavenger Hunt, 3rd Installment by me, just because it’s fun. They didn’t think they could do a wedding dress or Greek Yogurt, but here are the others. Videos are short because I started laughing too hard. Photos are blurry from shaking with laughter. Just the usual, when these guys are around…

BICYCLE


BALD MAN


Jason portrays a bald man.

ELVIS



Jason portrays Elvis, alive.


Sheldon portrays Elvis, dead. “Wait! His pants were down!” I am DYING FROM LAUGHTER here…

THE LETTER “D”

THE LETTER “G”

Sigh… I love those guys.

Shopping Centre Scavenging


h1 Friday, December 7th, 2007

Today, because my vision has not improved (still seeing double - doctors are so helpful when it comes to shit like this, you know? “Well, you have MS” *shoulder shrug* In other words, learn to live with it) and I’ve been feeling rather down about the whole thing, I decided to spend today doing ONLY things that make me happy. That means drinking lattes, reading a good book (with one eye closed… I do need to be grateful that my left eye is normal), listening to music, going to the mall… and you know, making a decision to be happy today brought happiness back to me TENFOLD! When I opened my mailbox, inside was an envelope from “Cooking For You“. I thought… it looks like a Christmas card… I’ve been to their website a few times (drooling and dreaming) but I’m positive I never left any personal information… hmmmm. I open it, and it is… drumroll please… a $350 gift certificate!!! A combined gift from 7 amazing woman, including my good friends Kim and Carolyn, as well as a few woman I haven’t even seen since HIGH SCHOOL, and a couple that I just met up with for coffee recently after not having seen them since HIGH SCHOOL. I guess you could say it was the work of Facebook Elves. Un-fricking-believable. Nancy masterminded the plan, and what a genius plan it was, because that is about the best gift I could ever receive (besides a live-in personal chef… so keep that in mind for next year). Thank you Nancy, Carolyn, Michelle, Stephanie, Lise, Paula and Kim… y’all ROCK.

Earlier, before all the excitement in my mailbox, I went out to the mall. I wanted a) a latte I didn’t have to make myself, and b) to take pictures. I enjoyed putting together my last entry for Dietgirl’s Scavenger Hunt, but I didn’t take any of those pictures myself. Today I thought I’d hit the mall and see if I could fill the requirements of the hunt over there! Here are the results:

BICYCLE

BALD MAN


Everybody’s favourite bald guy, Mr. Clean

ELVIS


2008 Calendars are everywhere!

GREEK YOGURT


I have never seen Greek Yogurt in stores here. So, I took a picture of the yogurt section, and the Greek fast food place in the Food Court!

WEDDING DRESS


Wedding magazines = wedding dresses

THE LETTER “D”


D is for Downy

THE LETTER “G”


G is for Gain. How appropriate for a Dietgirl, huh? Hee

I’m actually expecting my friends Jason and Sheldon to drop by for a bit this afternoon. I may make them pose for Scavenger Hunt photos and create another set, because it’s fun. Jason does a GREAT Elvis impersonation. And this day is all about making me happy! So they must do as I say. :D

Scavenger Hunt


h1 Wednesday, December 5th, 2007

One of my favourite people and bloggers, Shauna a.k.a. Dietgirl, is having a contest (I could win her book! Wahoo! And if when I do, I’m still keeping the one I pre-ordered as my reading/page-folding/highlighting copy) and all we have to do is take some/upload pictures. So, this entry is for Shauna and anyone else interested!

BICYCLE


This is how my old friend Paul does it!

BALD MAN

ELVIS


My friend Janet is Marilyn, and sometimes she hangs out with these guys.

GREEK YOGURT


Changing of the Guards at the Greek Parliament Buildings… and Yogurt.

A WEDDING DRESS


Okay, so, it’s me in a Flower Girl’s dress… but I’m in white, lace, at a wedding AND going down the aisle, and it may be the only time that ever happens.

THE LETTER “D”

THE LETTER “G”


(Please see previous entries for Pay It Forward updates! )

Week in Review 12/2/07


h1 Sunday, December 2nd, 2007

Another week goes by, another update… I meant to do one earlier, but I had a fall on Tuesday night, hit the back of my head, and knocked my equilibrium out. It’s been difficult to see at all, everything is blurry and spinning, and never mind my balance. Non-existent! Computer time has been fairly minimal. Yesterday I saw my chiropractor and he made some adjustments and gave me some homeopathic drops. I’m not as spinny today, but my vision is still really bad; blurry and seeing double. He said it would take a couple days to straighten out, and to take these drops every 1-2 hours, so hopefully that will help. I see my regular doctor on Wednesday as well, so I’ll see what he says if it’s not better by then. I’ve never gone for an IV cortisone drip like most MSers have at one time or another, and this is the first time in my life I’m actually considering it. Whatever will help my vision and balance get back to how it was before, which was bad enough!

Anyway, I’ve been busy since my last update. On Monday night I was taken out for awesome Indian food by two of my favourite people, Jason and Sheldon. We pigged out. Oh, my, I love that stuff… samosas, pokora, curry, vindaloo, butter chicken, naan bread… yum!! We were sort of celebrating the completion of their new CD artwork, on which I worked hard editing the lyrics. So they took me to dinner as a thank you. And, because it had been a loooong time since we’d hung out! Anyway, the CD is ALL done now, and should be ready to buy in time for Christmas. Keep an eye on their website and Facebook group for the latest updates!


Lovely self-portrait attempt of me and Jason


I love Jason!!


Sheldon and the FOOD. Sooooo good.

Pay It Forward update:

On Tuesday, I went to the mall and piled up on things for the ladies and kids at the shelter… I bought many pairs of pajamas and slippers! The store that had slippers 2 for $15 last week now has them at 2 for $12! We now have about 10 pairs of ladies slippers (sizes 5 - 10) and 6 pairs of kids. I bought some 2 piece pajama sets in a variety of sizes (small to 3X) and a couple nightgowns. I also took a swing through Dollarama for hair brushes and emery boards. I added a few pictures to the Flickr album, but I kept everything in the boxes because it is just too hard to lay it all out to take photos, I hope you understand! (The cutest slippers are at the bottom of the box. Darn!) Anyway, I’m getting lots of stuff, but still need more! Thanks to everyone who has contributed so far, and if you re able to help out (all $$ is going to buy necessities for the Central Alberta Women’s Emergency Shelter) please use the PayPal button below, or contact me (donna@innereyes.com) to send money another way.

Tuesday night I fell trying to close the office door behind me to LOCK PITA IN to keep her from running outside when I was going to open the front door. That damn cat! I love her to pieces, but she has caused me about 4 falls now (including the one when I broke my wrist) because she always has to run for the frickin’ door and out into the hallway. I don’t know what to do with her!! I can’t chase her or even bend over to pick her up without falling, so she gets out there and then I have to wait until someone else comes along to help, or she jumps up on my walker (at which point I can lift her inside) or she comes back in on her own accord. Which she doesn’t do anymore, because she likes the hallway… she knows behind every other door is a person who could potentially pay attention to her. Every time someone enters the hall, I ask them to “please scare my cat back inside!” and they go “awwww, she’s so cute…” and pet her and give her love. So of COURSE she wants to be out there! Sigh. The landlord has given me shit because “cats are not allowed in the halls, people have allergies” but I can’t HELP IT!

Wednesday morning, blurry eyed and screwy visioned/unbalanced and all, I had to go to a client’s. The second I opened the door, Pita raced between my legs and was out in the hall. Roaming up and down, crying at every door, looking for attention. Rolling on her back, showing off her cute tummy, waiting for someone to come along and snuggle her. I stood in the hallway with my winter coat on, which made me really hot; they keep our hallway at a ridiculously hot tempertaure, made only worse when you are already wearng your coat. Normally I am just walking out, so it doesn’t affect me much; but this time, I couldn’t leave until Pita was back inside, and the heat was really getting to me. The heat combined with Pita frustration got to be too much… then a door opened at the end of the hall, and Pita ran towards it. Three people exited the suite, including my landlord, who was showing an apartment to these two other people. Oh, crap. “No pets??” said one man. “uh - cats are allowed” said my landlord, as she shot me a dirty look. I was almost in tears. The heat, Pita being a brat, PMS, embarrassment… I cried out “she keeps running out the door and I CAN’T GET HER!!” (I may have stomped my feet like a 3 year old) My landlord tried to calm me down by saying, “it’s okay, I got her…” picked Pita up and put her inside my apartment. I apologized and said “I am JUST SO HOT” and she said she wasn’t allowed to turn down the heat. (Year round sauna in our halls, it’s nuts!) Anyway, I tried to keep my stupid tears at bay as those two men commented on how cute my cat was, and then went outside in the cold air to wait for my ride to work. Within seconds in the cool air I felt better… it’s so weird how that is.

Oh yeah, also on Tuesday I received a call from UPS about my electronic lift chair that I had ordered off eBay (to save $$). Because it was coming from the U.S., and was in a huge cardboard box. it was considered freight, and I needed to hire a broker to get it through Customs. Ack! I was referred to a one-time brokerage firm, and they helped me with the paperwork and charged me over $100. Thankfully, I only had to pay broker fees and GST. N0 duty. Thank GOD. The chair then crossed the border Tuesday night, and would be delivered on Thursday.

Thursday I was supposed to go out for dinner with my friend Melanie. I told her about my condition after my fall, and that it would be best if I didn’t go anywhere. So she offered to come over and hang with me instead, order food in, stuff like that. Cool! I received the call from UPS about my chair around noon, and they said it would be here within the hour. Then Melanie called, and asked if she could come over now, because she had been out shopping and didn’t feel like going home and then all the way out here again. Okay, sure, but I’m not even DRESSED. Anyway, UPS arrives… one guy with this huge cardboard box on a dolly. “I can’t get it through the doors” he says. “Can’t you take it out of the box?” I ask. He’s not authorized to do that… “we’re not furniture movers… we just deliver to your door. I can leave it on your patio.” (He couldn’t get it through my patio doors because of that big pole I have in the middle). So, brand new electronic lift chair on the patio in the freezing cold. There is no way Melanie would be able to lift it in. So, I call my client Troy… he does upholstery work and has big Sprinter vans and technicians who are used to moving around furniture. Fingers crossed, “Hi Troy, it’s your favourite bookkeeper…” wink wink. Troy, because he is amazing and awesome, was at my place within an hour with one of his techs, Dave. (I managed to quickly shower and throw clothes on just in time for Mel’s arrival moments before). They unpacked the chair, moved it inside, set it up (”we work on these kinds of chairs so if you ever have any problems, we probably have the parts to fix it”), removed my old ripped up recliner and all the cardboard to take to the dump, and were off. Talk about service!!! If you are in the Calgary area and own or buy a piece of furniture from a major retailer (La-Z-Boy, Leon’s, The Brick, etc.) and it needs repair, you tell them you want Customer Choice Upholstery to do the repair!!!

So, in the end, the chair is here, safe and sound, and it is perfect… however, I am very lucky to know someone like Troy. Otherwise I may have ended up needing to pay a furniture mover a LOT of money to come on such short notice and do all of that! Plus to remove the old chair… a junk removal place had quoted me $111! I emailed the eBay seller and warned him to advise any other potential Canadian customers (I was his first) of the extra fees and work involved with getting their chair moved in. The chair cost me $999 US, plus $175 UPS shipping plus $105 broker fees… still a savings overall (this chair costs about $2,000 here) but I’m going to have to get Troy and Dave nice thank-you gifts!!


This is why it’s called a Lift chair. No more struggling to get up! (Spots are from my camera. Oops)


Fully reclined. Everything important within reaching distance… latte, water, vitamins, drops, remotes, books, kleenex…

Melanie and I broke out a bottle of wine, watched Elf, ordered Chinese food and just hung out. We were celebrating her birthday (which had been on Monday) and the fact that she landed a sweet 3 month contract working up in Fort MacMurray for mega $$. She left Saturday. I hope it works out for her!


Me and Mel at Pam’s birthday party a couple weeks ago!

Friday my monthly housekeeper came, which was good because I am pretty useless for any of that at the moment. Melanie had helped me load the dishwasher and stuff the night before. My intentions of working on Friday were tossed out the window… I’m just too OUT of it. I just watched a movie that night with one eye and spent a lot of time cuddling kitties in my new chair.

Saturday (yesterday) was the chiropractor, and hopefully I’m on my way back with my equilibrium. My mom and Bob took me out to eat at this Asian place they had tried once before, but I was not a big fan. LOVED my spring rolls, but hated my curry… I guess an Asian restaurant isn’t the best place to get a curry dish. I sent it back because the chicken was nothing but stringy fat. Gross! Most of the menu was pork or seafood dishes. I’d rather stick to my Favourite Vietnamese Restaurant and my #50 chicken satay, any day of the week!

Today I slept in something awful, (I mean, I slept in late, not that I slept in… like… something other than my bed) and finally decided to shower around 4:30 when I could no longer stand the smell of myself. It’s one of those days…

Time to take more drops and rest my eyes settle in for the night… PayPal link below is for my Pay It Forward project! Thanks!














New favourite hangout - the piles of clothes going to the Salvation Army.