Can You Hear Me Now?

Last night, I finally saw the movie Pay It Forward. I bawled at the end… the ugly cry. Wow.

Anyway, it reminded me that I wanted to do another “Pay It Forward” type project this year. Last year’s was a huge success! Thanks to everyone who contributed! This year, I am doing something different, for a very good cause. Inspired by my friend Kim’s sister, Kate, who is also now MY friend (thanks, Facebook!) She works with women in/escaping from abusive relationships. She has started a Facebook group called Sisters in Ending Violence Against Women, which pointed me in the direction of the Central Alberta Women’s Emergency Shelter, and my decision was made. We’re going to raise money for this shelter and to help these brave women!

If you notice on their website, it says “CAWES is in urgent need of the following items”:

• Shampoo/Conditioner
• Deodorant
• Toothpaste
• Toothbrushes
• Combs
• Brushes
• Women’s Pajama’s (all sizes)

Seriously? Who can’t help with that?!? They also have an urgent needs list here. I say… we can do that! You guys send the money, and I’ll do my favourite thing, the shopping! And because I REALLY like their products and their advertising campaign, I’m going to buy Dove brand deodorants/soaps/shampoos etc. None of this Dollar Store stuff. Although, I may hit them up for nail clippers and combs. And I can’t WAIT to buy pajamas. Ohhhh, I love me some pajamas!!

So, here is what I need you to do, same as last year - send me your donations via PayPal. If you are not comfortable with that, you can email me for an address to send a cheque, or an email money transfer. If you’re not comfortable with giving me the money because you haven’t been reading me long and think I’m going to spend it on lattes for myself, you can make a cash donation to the shelter yourself, right here. But I am REALLY hoping you will let me have the pleasure of shopping for these ladies and their children!!! Once I have bought all the loot, I will make arrangements for Kim or Kate to pick it up from me. They don’t know this yet, but since they live in the same city as the shelter and I do not, AND they come to Calgary fairly often (or at least Kim does), I’m sure we can arrange something

Anyway, I’m sure we have all had people do nice things for us this past year, so here is your chance to pay it forward, and eventually it will come back to you again I realize this time of year is a financial burden on many people with the holidays coming up, but I’m not asking you to give much! These woman have taken their children and run from their abusive relationships with nothing but the clothes they are wearing. They need shampoo, people! A few dollars buys a lot of shampoo! Every little bit adds up - last year your $10 here and $15 there added up to over $800 for that family’s Christmas! And the best part was, I got to do the shopping… I LOVE shopping for other people!!

So don’t go thinking you can’t make a difference with only $2 or $5. Skip buying your coffee today and add it to this pot!

Click the button below to contribute and let the Good Karma begin!! Just like last year, I will keep you updated on how much I’m collecting and what I’m buying (pictures included!) And for the record, I have no idea how to move this button up higher:

Saturday, September 15

Our day began once again with breakfast in the mall of the hotel concourse. There is a stand with Seattle’s Best coffee down there, have I mentioned that??

I think I have the days mixed up here, because according to my photos and what I was wearing, it was Friday we went to the Bay and tried on hats and I raided the MAC counter. Yes. So what did we do Saturday? Because I wasn’t picked up until about 2:30. So I’ll say… we went to the Bay, tried on silly hats, Gaby bought a really cute one, and I raided the MAC counter, buying mascara, lipstick and lip gloss. MAC rules. But the mascara stings my eyes, just like the Estee Lauder brands, which owns MAC, so there is something in their mascaras that my eyes don’t like. But every other part of my face likes MAC make-up.

Gail and Loren picked me up in the afternoon and Loren dropped Gail and I off on Roncesvalles for the Polish Street Festival while he took off to run other errands. It was great fun, especially the parts where we had to get me in my wheelchair over all the damn streetcar tracks!! Heh. I bought a few things, surprise SURPRISE. Mainly some handmade jewelry, and some $10 sunglasses that are designer rip-offs. I had forgotten my sunglasses at home, and actually looked for a pair in the Bay, but I wasn’t about to pay $100 when I knew I would be able to get some for $10 from a street vendor at some point!

Roncesvalles Village - Polish Street Festival

We also stopped at a wonderful vendor, The Queen of Tarts, where Gail talked me into buying a bag of ginger-encrusted pecans. She says she goes out of her way once in awhile to come buy these… and, I can see why. They were delicious, AND they helped my menstrual cramps!! (Ginger is great for that, and what a tasty way to get it!) I need one bag/month! I should have bought a year’s supply or so.

After roaming the street fair (pictures in Facebook) we stopped at a cute coffee shop called Coffee and All That Jazz for lattes and pastry while waiting for Loren.

Another day, another coffee shop

Then we went back to Gail’s place so I could see her condo and meet her cat, Pollyanna.

Pretty girl! Thanks for the Sigg water bottle!

We chatted and drank some yummy chocolate liqueur… I don’t remember the brand, but it was amazing! I also called my mom from Gail’s place… I wasn’t even aware Looney call existed. YAY! You learn something new every day…

Then it was off to meet my cousin Carrie and her boyfriend Matt for dinner at Dr. G’s. It was a great choice. Gail and Loren go there a lot, and when Carrie was trying to think of a restaurant nearby her that was accessible, Dr. Generosity was near the top of her list, too. So that worked great. AND they had my beer on tap, Big Rock’s Grasshopper, which you don’t see very often East of Calgary! (Pictures inFacebook, even of my beer).

It was an early night, and I was back at the hotel and in bed by about 10:00. Gaby and Emma had gone to see a dance performance by Peter’s girlfriend Andrea, and came back later than me.

Sunday was Lazy Day. I needed the rest! I did some packing, puttered on the computer, wheeled myself around the hotel and took pictures while Gaby visited with another friend of hers and Emma did homework. Sort of.

Waterfall in our hotel lobby

Nathan Phillips Square across the street

Just a picture taken outside our hotel

While hanging outside the hotel, I ran into the Scooter Guy I had met outside the bus depot the other day. He told me more about his terminal illness (liver and kidney diseases) and that he has been living in a long-term care facility for the past year. “I used to stay in this hotel a lot - I used to be rich” he told me. Apparently he gave his money to his children when he thought he was going to die, but he ended up living longer than anyone thought he would, and now his kids don’t talk to him and he has nothing. But, he would like to take me on a date, to see a show… “I’m leaving tomorrow,” I told him. He was a little creepy, and who knows if any of his stories are true (I imagine he drank his money and life away, but I believe his kids don’t talk to him!) Also, you don’t have to be rich to stay in the Sheraton, for the record. It was the cheapest hotel downtown I could get through my travel agent (but almost twice as much as my Montreal hotel. Oh well).

Anyway, Sunday evening was a BLAST. First we met up with Emma’s friend Gillian for dinner (at the Java House, of course). I had Pad Thai mmmmmm! Then it was down to the famed Cameron House to see Kevin Quain and the Mad Bastards. Our buddy Adam plays drums with them.

We parked my wheelchair in the back room and got a table up front. The band was A-M-A-Z-I-N-G and Kevin Quain is a crazy ridiculous talent. He played guitar, banjo, piano, accordian, even a SAW. I bought all 3 of his CDs immediately and asked him if he knew my old friend Scott McClelland, because his show made me think of Carnival Diablo and I figured they should be friends. Which they are, and Kevin has even done gigs with him! They are a good fit, I tell ya.

His trumpet player plays with Feist! AND gave me directions to the bathroom. While he was on stage haha The stage is so small that he actually stood on the floor, by the curtain that led to the back room. He walked back there with me and Gaby to show me where the women’s bathroom was, but due to all the stairs I said “you know, I’m just going to use the men’s…” and I did that while Gaby stood outside to make sure no men came in!

After the show, I was standing up, chatting with Adam, and then I turned to say goodnight to Kevin. I felt my right foot not land properly, and knew I was falling… the sort of stumble where if a table or something was beside me I could have stopped myself, but because nothing was there I had to let myself fall. So I landed flat on my ass and scared some people. I played it cool and asked for a chair to help me get up, and I got up okay on my own. The girls had just retrieved my wheelchair out of the back, so I held it to balance me as we walked out. I could feel the tears welling up in my eyes, dammit, so I didn’t talk to anyone on my way out except to say a quick goodbye to any band members we passed. Then we got outside, I sat in my chair, and let it rip! Dammit, I hate when that happens. I wasn’t really hurt, but I guess falling in front of a bunch of people is an ego bruiser. Adam was there, giving me big hugs, as I was apologizing for being a big baby. I felt like such an idiot!

Anyway, we said our goodnight’s to Adam and headed back up Queen Street to our hotel. I was still sniffling so I didn’t want to stop in the Horseshoe, as was my original plan, to say hello to an old friend (and former Phantoms guitarist) who works there on Sundays. Emma asked “don’t you want to stop in there and see him?” (It has been, after all, over 15 years). But I knew I wouldn’t be able to do it. I have a hard enough time seeing people I haven’t seen in that long, who have no idea I have MS (it’s the looks of shock and/or pity that I can’t handle!) never mind running into an old friend while in a wheelchair when I’ve just been crying… I’d lose it and start bawling like a baby and not even be able to get out a “hello”! I could have done it if I hadn’t been snivelling. Dammit!

So instead we stopped at a hot dog vendor and bought hot dogs. There is nothing like getting street meat at 2:00 in the morning! (Gaby got a veggie dog. I should point that out in case she is reading!) Apparently, Emma and Gaby don’t have that in Montreal. We have them in Calgary… isn’t everyone hungry when they roll out of the bar after it closes? It’s a necessity.

We were back at the hotel and in bed by about 2:30, I guess. The next day we checked out and caught our bus at about 1:30 pm. Next up, Montreal!!

Sending love out to all who died, their families, American friends and all affected by the tragedy of September 11, 2001.

And oh yeah, please Impeach Bush.

I am so very excited about leaving for my trip tomorrow morning, but a little peeved that so many of the items I ordered off eBay and expected to receive by now haven’t shown up. That includes the top in the picture a couple entries down… so paying extra shipping to get that here faster didn’t do me any good! I also didn’t receive all the Crocs and shoes I was planning to wear, execpt the Mary Jane Crocs. Cross border shipping is sooooo slow!! Well, it is on this end. The stuff I sent TO the U.S. is arriving in good time. It’s probably because, like every other business in this city, Canada Post is understaffed, too.

Speaking of service sucking, I ordered some food in last night. It was the third time I have ordered from this place that they forgot a little 99 cent side item. Not a big deal, but it’s a pisser offer and after a few times it starts to add up. So I called them and told them I don’t normally complain about this, but it was the third time they forgot. The customer service guy offered me a $3.00 credit towards my next order, and told me they would get one out to me “right away”. Half an hour later, when it still hadn’t arrived, I called them back and told them not to worry about it… “it’s been half an hour and I’m done eating now, there is no point”. She apologized and hung up on me.

Fast forward to 10:30 at night, and I was almost in bed. There was a buzz at my door. I thought… noooo way!… and ignored it, because you can’t have a conversation through those intercoms anyway and I wasn’t letting them in. There were two more buzzes, and then my phone rang. It was the restaurant. “We have a delivery for you?” I told them I had cancelled it a couple hours before… “oh my!” he said. Yeah.

And the thing is, there is no one to complain to, and no point, because all you get is “I’m so sorry ma’am” from an 18 year old customer service manager who doesn’t speak English and has only been with the company for 2 weeks himslf.

WHY do we live here. WHY, WHY, WHY, when there are perfectly good small towns nearby where housing is affordable and everyone gives you great service, either because they truly care, or because they know they’re going to see you at the market the next day? If Jason would let me live with him I would move to Carstairs in a heartbeat. Or to Didsbury and live with his parents. OMG that would be so fun!!! I want to be adopted by the Valleaus. (But still have my mom. I love you, mom).

There is a Fan Club for me on Facebook (courtesy of dear Emma) and there are almost 50 members. That’s right. ALMOST FIFTY. There are close to 50 people on this planet who would buy my CD should I choose to record one.

Jeremy Fisher is one of them.. Freakin’ JEREMY FISHER joined MY fan club.

I got a pedicure today, because, you know, I’m going on a trip, so I want nice toes. That being said, because MY SHOES DIDN’T SHOW UP, no one’s going to see them anyway, because the 3 pairs of shoes I will be taking are closed toe.

The past few days I finally got around to watching Season 3 of Arrested Development. Oh. My. God. SOOO funny! Better than the first two seasons combined. Awesome. I just… get that show. Just like The Office. It’s not for everyone, but when you get it, man, you literally burst at the seams from laughing.

Well, my brother is on his way over to help me pack and stuff. I’ll see you in a couple weeks, with loads of stories and pictures!!

Pepper shows off her assets.

Pita shows of hers.

Eeeeeeeee!!!!

Planning the Great Escape?

Okay, so, the past 24 hours have kinda sucked.

It started yesterday afternoon when I went to Wal-Mart to pick up a few groceries. I usually use the self checkout, of which there are 4 stands. One line-up, and you just wait for the next available checkout stand. So I was ringing my things through and almost finished, when I hear the woman next in line say “excuse me ma’am, you have to go to the back of the line, it’s all one line - you don’t stand behind a specific till.” I looked over and saw the woman she was talking to. She yelled “who the hell are YOU?! You can’t tell me what to do!!” and the woman behind me got defensive and said “get to the back of the line! You can’t butt ahead, you’re no one special” and the other one said “and YOU ARE?? And YOU ARE?? Who are YOU??!!?” I then piped up and told the woman behind me I was almost done, and to come on over… and told the troublemaker “she’s right, you know, it’s one line and you need to go to the back,” to which she responded “SHUT YOUR FUCKING WHITE-ASS MOUTH, BITCH!! YOU CAN’T TELL ME WHAT TO DO!” I was done bagging my stuff so I just scootered right on out of there. It was only when I was half-way down the mall that I remembered I had used the “cash back” feature on the debit machine and requested $40. In all the commotion I totally forgot my money!! I raced back there, but too late. The cash was gone from the slot, and the woman who used the till after me was nowhere to be seen.

ARGH!!!

Today I slept in. Yeah, so, no big deal, just had a hair appointment at 1:00. So after I got dressed for that I checked my email and eBay stuff. I had left negative feedback for a woman last night who WAY overcharged me for shipping (I don’t normally care too much, because we’re not only paying the cost to ship, but for their time and materials and stuff, so a few bucks more is no biggie). But $10 over was too much, plus she advertised her Crocs as BRAND NEW and what I received had obviously been worn. Anyway, I left negative feedback so of course she left me negative feedback, saying “watch out for Canadians!! Refund offered and still left negative. Not nice.” and rebuffed my negative feedback by saying she offered a refund. SO not true. I had emailed her before I left the feedback and all I got back from her was a rude email, telling me I’m “too picky”.

So my day started out with me in a bad mood. And you know what they say in The Secret and all that, we create our world with our thoughts, and if you’re in a bitchy mood to begin your day, things just spiral. So 20 minutes before I needed to leave for my hair appointment, I lost my balance and fell backwards on my ass. Scraped my hand pretty bad:

There is a lovely bump and bruise forming there and it hurts like hell to touch!

but I think that’s all. It just shook me up. I didn’t really have time to regain my composure when I managed to get myself up; I wiped the tears from my eyes and got on my scooter to leave. I backed it up, and the walker carrier on the back of my scooter attached itself to my TV stand and DRAGGED MY TV ACROSS THE ROOM. I’ve been soooo careful when backing up not to hit my TV since I got that walker carrier, it sticks out pretty far. But I guess I was too flustered today.

Hello there, you belong in the corner. You’re also supposed to be a 52″ flat screen.

So. Yes. Great day so far, huh?

Then I got my hair done, so let’s hope things turn around now, because I think that worked out well:

I think I’m attempting a “look down like a mysterious temptress” look. Ahem.

So anyway, a couple lattes and a voice mail message from my buddy Jason later, I’m feeling better. Tonight I’m going to watch a movie and go to bed early… and hope for a better day tomorrow!!

Pepper is SO going there.

“Mmmmm…. paper…..”

Boxy but Good

My friend Russ came over on Monday night with the intent of helping me get my new computer set up and transferring files from this old thing to my new hard drive and all that stuff. Why aren’t things ever as easy as they should be?? The external hard drive my brother lent me was not the kind Russ thought it was going to be, so there was some fussing about to get that set up. Then we started copying files, and went out to the living room to watch some TV for a bit, not knowing how long it would take at that point. Russ said it actually might take several hours, so he would come back the next night after work to finish up.

About half an hour later, we went into my office to check the status, and it had stopped altogether. I forgot my computer is set up to go into stand by mode after a certain amount of time and that cut the transferring off. So he started it over, and left, because there was no sense in sitting around here waiting, it was already 9:00.

I went back into my office, and there was an error message on my screen. The external hard drive didn’t like some of the files I was transferring. In the end, I stayed up until 1:30 a.m. transferring files folder by folder, so I could catch the error messages, delete whatever file it was, and then copy the rest of that folder without having to start ALL over. This went on the next day as well… it took me most of Tuesday to finish it up.

Then I get the call from Russ… he had to work late! Damn responsibility! No worries, there is always the next day. Which was Wednesday, and Russ called me and told me he was sick… bronchitis. Which, of course, is not only contagious, but can turn into pneumonia if not taken care of!! So, now it’s Sunday, and I think Russ is over the worst of it. I haven’t heard from him yet, but I’m hoping he will be able to make it by tomorrow. In the meantime, I will have a bunch of files to transfer over again, because I’ve got another week’s worth of work and stuff I’ve been doing. I hope it’s all over and done with soon, I want to be working and playing on my new computer!!!

I received my Mary Jane style Crocs on Friday. I love them! I hope I get the other ones before I leave for Toronto and Montreal. I’m selling one pair of my Crocs on eBay, and they’re already up to $19.50 US. (I started the bidding at $10). Not bad, considering they’re used! The other shoes I’m selling have no bids on them. Crocs will always sell! The clothes I put up have sold/are selling. Everything ends by tomorrow night, and I’m hoping a couple things sell for a bit higher. One woman has bid on and is so far winning 4 of my things! She lives in Canada, which sucks for her, because shipping within Canada is way more expensive than shipping to the US.

Oh, and my latest eBay phase is Philosophy products. Yes, I am going to smell like freshly baked cinnamon buns or gingerbread or vanilla birthday cake with chocolate frosting and YOU’RE NOT! But I’m done now, I swear. No sense in ordering things that won’t arrive before I leave for vacation, right? As it is, some stuff will arrive while I’m away because the post is soooooo slow.

Pita is a BRAT. The cutest, sweetest, friendliest brat ever, but a brat nonetheless. Here’s what she did NOW. I like to keep those toys around that are a bird or mouse or feathers or something that hangs from those elastic strings, and provide hours of entertainment for everyone involved. The problem with Pita is, she MUST chew the toy off the end of the string. Which ruins everything, and leaves her with a useless toy that doesn’t do anything fun. (Except the chirping bird one Lisa got them - oh, my, when Pita finally chewed that one off, the bird still chirped when she tapped it, so both cats had a lot of fun racing around with that. But I don’t know where it ended up, haven’t seen it for weeks). Anyway, I was all out of the toys on strings, and I like to have at least one, that I keep in a drawer. I will keep Pita from chewing it off for as long as possible. I picked one up the other day, a blue fish one. It was in plastic packaging, but the fish part was loose on the outside of the package. I had it in a bag with a few other things, and when I pulled it out of my scooter basket, I put it on the sofa… to be put away whenever energy returned or I felt like it. I made sure the toy was tucked under the other stuff, and the bag was closed.

Can you guess what happened?? The next day I went out, and when I came home, there was a blue fish on the floor. The rest of the package was in another area of the apartment, on the floor. She found the toy inside the bag and chewed the damn fish right off the string before it was even out of the package!! B-RAT!!!!

It’s the Evil Eye of the B-Rat

Rob Szabo is heading out West again with Peter Katz. Yaaay!!! They’re calling this the “Lanky Wimps Tour”. I’m so lucky I get to see them in Toronto in a week and a half, and then again a month later here. I’m sooooo excited about my trip!! Do you remember, back in September ‘04 I went to Toronto, and after I had booked my flight and everything, I found out my friend Jerome Godboo was having a CD release party at Healey’s?? Yes. Well. GUESS WHAT!? I just found out the other day that Jerome is having a new CD release party at Jeff Healey’s Roadhouse on the Friday I am in Toronto. HOW AMAZING IS THAT?!?! It’s so kind of Jerome to make it a habit of releasing a CD for me when I come to Toronto.

This trip is going to be so incredible. Toronto is going to be such a whirlwind, I have so many people to see and so much to do in such a short amount of time. I’m going to have to do many entries when I get back!! Montreal will be a little more peaceful, I don’t know as many people there, so until the weekend when Scott, Caroline and Lobelia are there, the days and nights will be spent hanging out with Emma, Gaby, Noelle and Tim (the latter two I’ll finally meet in person!) and some of their other music friends! It’s going to be tons ‘o fun.

Oh yeah, I first brought up Rob and Peter goig on their Western tour because I have to get started on some promo for that. If you have any media contacts in Western Canada let me know!! Check their websites for details if you live out this way and want to check them out; they’ll be here in Calgary on October 20 at the Ironwood!!! Oh, and even if you’re not out this way, check out their websites for tour dates. You never know, they could be near! Rob will be in NYC on Sept. 28 and Johnstown, PA on Oct. 6. The man never takes a break!

And I shall leave you with Peter Katz’s video for “Forgiveness”, because it’s awesome, and has an inspiring message. Listen carefully!

I’m getting a little Croc crazy on eBay. I’ve been going through phases… clothes, then health related things, now shoes. On a positive note, (well, to me finding Crocs on eBay is positive, just not for my wallet) I’ve got 8 items up for sale myself, now. 3 pairs of shoes and the rest are clothes I never wear. I’ll be adding more soon too… a couple cheap purses and more clothes. So far I have received ONE bid on an outfit! Woo hoo! I can make back some of what I’ve spent. I am officially an eBay Addict.

Crocs are cheaper there than buying them in stores or at crocs.com, and they have the styles I can’t find in stores here. I’m getting all of these:

Cleo - black/charcoal

Patra - orange/white

Prima - cotton candy

Mary-Jane - black

Alice - chocolate

Shush, do NOT lecture me. I think I’ll have Lisa beat in the Crocs department, now? That makes… um… 9 pairs. 4 of the ugly normal style and ALL THESE NEW CUTE ONES!!

Oh, there is one more pair I have bid on that ends Wednesday, but I’m almost outbid on them and I won’t bid again. They’re the black Cleo style with a lavendar bottom, and I bid on them before I found the all black ones which I’d rather have. At this moment I am tied for highest bid, so I’m sure by tomorrow someone else will bid higher. Crocs are in demand there. BUT, if I do end up having to buy them… ohhhh, well. I will just have to buy some lavendar tops. Heh (My mom just fainted). I also wouldn’t have bid on the Mary Janes (BIG bidding war! But I waited until there was 20 seconds left, let her think she won, then bid at the last second and got them. HA!) if I’d even known the Alice style existed. But I didn’t see the Alice ones in black in my size anyway, so I will justify the purchase of chocolate brown. How CUTE are those?

Maybe I’ll polish up and sell the other Crocs I have because they’re butt ugly (except the pink ones!)… if these ones are as comfortable!

I’ve bought a few more things from eBay, but not clothes. (I think I have enough). I decided to buy a few health-related items to help me with those goals. The first thing I ordered, after seeing Suzanne Somers on a repeat of Ellen recently, was a Thighmaster. Why not? It’s one of the best selling pieces of exercise equipment ever! And it’s something I can do to strengthen muscles in my legs and arms while lying in bed or sitting back in my recliner watching TV. It is also too small to sit in the corner of my bedroom and act as a clothes rack, so that is a plus.

Then I purchased a Tai Chi DVD for Seniors. My understanding is that the seniors level is one people with MS can do if they can stand at all. I’d love to get into yoga and pilates one day, but even the beginners DVDs are way too hard for me. So I’ll try this and my Gentle Fitness DVD and COMMIT to this DAILY.

Then I bought Season Two of The Office. I won it for about half the price it is on Amazon! Yay! Laughter is, after all, the best medicine. And one of my favourite episodes of all time, The Injury, is in season two.

And finally, the big one… an ion cleanse machine. Ever since that one and only ion cleanse session I went to, I have wanted one. The machine that woman had is about $3,000 US. I’m not really sure what the difference is between these expensive models and the one I bought; I figure the expensive ones can handle more sessions/day for a business, whereas mine will be personal? Other than that, I’m not so sure. I bought mine for about $450 CDN with shipping (thanks, Visa) and this is what I’m getting. It sounds good to me, and the seller feedback is great, so, I’m happy. If I had gone back to that woman for a 10 session package, it would have paid for this one. And I never went back because she is so far away from me, and I knew I was going to end up with my own machine soon anyway, it’s on my “vision board”. I can’t wait to get it! (And the seller is kind enough to mark it as a “gift” so I won’t have to pay customs!)

So… I’m going to use my Thighmaster to strengthen some muscles; Tai Chi and gentle movements to increase my balance, strength and “chi”; laughter for fun and all the goodness that brings; ion cleanses to detoxify and give me energy, and whatever the “chi” belt does that comes with it; and still go to the odd Quantum Release session. That’s my “plan”. As usual, it’s the regular exercise I have a problem sticking with, but I must, I must, I must!!!

Hopefully regular ion cleanses will get me off my sleeping and anti-depressant meds eventually!! I’ve been trying to cut back on Paxil again on my own, but it just doesn’t work. I’m at 40mg/day, so I was doing 40-20-40-20 for a few days, and then last night I struggled like mad to get my bra off and then once I finally did, I threw the FUCKING BRA across the room, fell onto my bed and bawled like a baby. Yeah. I think I need to stay at 40mg for the time being. Although, you know, every couple weeks I think I should be allowed a 5 minute pity party to cry and get it out, and then just get on with it. I mean, sometimes it just sucks, you know? It can be very frustrating when you can’t do a simple task, so I shouldn’t think it isn’t normal behaviour to react like that once in awhile. Yeah. Okay, glad I got that sorted.

It’s amazing, the things you can find when you go through everything and completely re-organize your office. Things like, CDs you’d given up on ever finding since you were in the hospital the year before… your brand new, unwrapped Madonna and Johnny Cash CDs and your favourite Paul Anka CD, for instance. Has that ever happened to you? Truly wonderful.

I’m still working on my office, but I found those CDs when I was looking for all my software to load onto my new computer. My brand new, unwrapped Mika CD was in there too!! And I found a tax receipt I have to fax to the government for a client. ‘Whew.

My mom was here this past weekend. We weren’t as productive as we were the time before, when we cleaned out my closets. But we did manage to get some shopping in. My mom recently found the Cotton Ginny gift card I gave her for Mother’s Day in 2006 that she thought she may have accidently thrown out (wonder where I get it from?) and bought some nice tops. I bought a skirt… because I NEED MORE CLOTHES OH MY GOD.

Yesterday I worked at the Pub. That is getting harder and harder to do… not just the stairs, although I’m not a fan of those stairs and they’re REALLY not appreciated when I have to pee, but the entire place isn’t exactly accessible for me. Walking from the inside of the pub through the edge of the kitchen out the back door to the bottom of the stairs outside… is an obstacle course of small, cluttered spaces and uneven ground. I had a fall in the kitchen yesterday. Didn’t hurt myself at all, it’s just annoying, and not a safe place for me. The back door is also close to the gas stove - can’t you just see the day I land on THAT. Reach my hand out as an auto-reaction to break my fall and place it right on the fire. Uhhhh huh. I’ve been trying to do most of their work from home, but I DO need to show up there once in awhile. I only stay for a short time, organize stuff and file, eat my free lunch then bring work home. The Pub is for sale and it looks like it may be sold pretty quick here… at which point I won’t do the books anymore. It will be hard to let go of it after 7 years, but I don’t even want to think about trekking back there in the winter. Plus, I do twice as much work for that place for half the money of any other client. That’s because a) I love that place; b) I love restaurant accounting; c) they treat me well and give me free coffee, food, and a promo account for drinks and stuff; d) I see their cash flow and it’s not great so I feel guilty taking more, and e) I’ve known both sets of the owners I’ve worked for a VERY long time, and it’s always been “in the family” so to speak. The new owners (should this deal go through) are not a part of that “family”, so it’s time to say goodbye. And replace them with a client that will pay me twice as much!

A couple weeks ago my DVD player jammed. I put in a DVD and it took forever to load, and then it said “wrong disc”. I couldn’t even get the DVD out, after many tries and restarting the player, etc. etc. Eventually the tray opened (after… like… a week) and I tried a couple other discs, even a DVD cleaner disc, but the “wrong disc” error message keeps popping up and then the DVD is jammed. Has anyone had this problem? Is my DVD player toast? My mom and Bob have lent me their extra cheapie one they never use for the time being. I will finally be able to watch In Cold Blood since I finished the book a couple weeks ago. One of these days I’ll get a new DVD player. Visa raised my limit another $2,500 but I am NOT taking that as a license to spend. I do, however, marvel at the good timing as I’m off to Toronto and Montreal in a few weeks!

I’ve kind of been slack with my 101 list lately. The new computer one got crossed off, as luck would have it, with no work required from me! I am currently taking all of my vitamins and supplements daily and plan to do that until I go away, which will cross of #11. One thing I’m happy about, is #91, where I wrote a letter to a newspaper in response to this article back in June. I just noticed the other day that they published my letter (and I know they received hundreds, so I’m pleased!) It’s the last letter on this page.

See, I need to get my body acceptance/fat politics blog off the ground to talk about stuff like that. Yes. One of these days.

Self-portrait with Pepper

Pita is so gorgeous in this picture!

Pepper is the Shelf Cat.