Random thoughts

Okay, here is the official public announcement: as of July 1st, I will no longer be a Realtor. That's right folk, I quit. 10 years, bye, bye. Done and done. Can't wait. You may be wanting to ask me what I'm going to do now? Don't! Nothing much. Summer of Liz. After that? I don't know. My skills may be wasted, who knows. Do I have some grand career plan? Nope, never have. Did you? Are you now in life where you thought you'd be ten years ago? How realistic were those dreams anyway?

So I am of course feeling tremendous guilt by this big decision, and perhaps that is part of my wanting to reply nastily when people ask me what I'm going to do now. Maybe I'll discover some fantastic occupation that I was destined to succeed in, perhaps I'll become an expert on soap operas or maybe I'll take up World of Warcraft. The fact of the matter is that the most important person in my world totally supports this change, and I can't wait until Canada Day.

So Facebook eh? I think Halia (the pooch) may have a profile on it. I won't go any further than I already have, as I see myself easily hooked. It is a little bit (or byte?) of superficial crap is it not? How many friends do I have? How many people have thrown food at me? Is this the ultimate example of people living in cyberspace often because they are disconnected from the real world? Is it just another form of entertainment? Is it better to communicate with someone via email, then sitting watching TV, detached? I do see connecting with old friends or family separated by distance or time... however, I'll be honest, my goal in lurking was to see who was friends with whom, and what stupid quotes they say they live by, books they read, tv shows, etc. Not good intentions, but then again - who am I to judge? (except I know some of them, and I know they live in Dreamtown) I blog therefore I am. Whatever.

Oh, I'm in a fairly nasty mood. Let's see why... I have a great husband, family, friends, house, dog, life, possessions... why the mood?

Picture time

Here are some pictures from camping! At the Drive-in in Grand Bend, it was an hour before the show started...

Walking on a trail at Point FarmsOkay, this picture is funny because this drive in is in Canada and yet they have an American flag on the roof of the snack hut. I didn't realize when I took this picture that there was a Canadian camping chair in it! Ah... juxtaposition! (I did know about the um, 'unattractive' woman... not a fair representation of us Canadian girls...)
Halia on the Maitland Trail in Goderich.

Starlite Theatre - the newest drive in for miles and miles around....

This insanity is the sleepy town of Grand Bend (pop. 600). Every week-end is a zoo of scantily clad tourists looking for sun, sand, cheesy t-shirts, flip flops and greasy fries... oh and beer, lots and lots of beer... I think that it is law that in order to walk on the sidewalk in GB you have to be under 22, be wearing less than an ounce of clothing and have at least 3 tattoos and a buzz. Ah, memories...

Another trail in Goderich.

Waiting for the drive in to open. This was an hour and a half before show time. Crazy! Note that the speed limit is 90 kms/hour!

Here is proof that Ridgebacks can swim! MomG is 'laxing on the beach at Point Farms.

Billy and Poochy getting ready for a swim in Lake Huron. Chilly!

More to follow!

Back

I'm back, I arrived at home yesterday afternoon. It was a great trip. The weather was perfect, and we were able to golf 4 times. It rained one day which worked out well because it gave us the perfect excuse to spend the day shopping. Fun, fun, fun.

Very strange is....

I've been going to that house since it was constructed about 22 years ago. Never once have I even glanced in the crawlspace, (according to my mom, she didn't think that there was a vapour barrier...). This is the first trip that I have ever decided to do something about the stank. Kiks and I noticed immediately that the stank was almost non-existent. Also a first. When I ventured to the side door and looked down, lo and behold! The crawlspace hatch was open. Weird.

Thank God that there was vapour barrier in there! I guess it really just needed a good airing out, (despite 6 vents that are always open - in a way to prevent rain from entering) No snakes, no cobwebs in my hair, and best of all, no Kiks sucking venom from my ass. Whew! What luck! I bought a fan with a clip on it, ($6 Big Lots, I love Big Lots!), and put that along with an extension cord, and an old window screen in crawlspace, and left a note stating if the stank is bad, to open it up and turn the fan on. I'm truly brilliant. Okay, not really...

We did rake the leaves, which is considerably less work when someone is there to help you. It really is a welcome difference. I cleaned out the eaves and caulked (we had fun with that word...) a piece of wood that causes leaks in a bedroom window (yes, it's a temporary fix...). I weed whacked my heart out and the place looks great and ready for the few summer rentals we have. All right!

I also should mention that camping was great. Perfect weather, the drive-in was PACKED and fun, poochy and MomG had a good time too. Pics to follow when I have some more time.

Tonight some of us girls are heading to Mexican Village in D-Town to celebrate SuperT's birthday. Golf for me tomorrow night, Billy on Wednesday, and hopefully some time together on Thursday.

That's the short of it, I still have a pretty significant announcement to make, but I'll wait on that for a few days, as well as some pictures, stories, comments, rants and the usual.

Count down in more ways than one...

We're ready to go camping. Very exciting indeed. We leave tomorrow morning... am I really at a point in my life where I invite my mother-in-law on vacation with us? Apparently. Actually I know that she'll love it as much as us, (she used to got there all the time when the kids were small...) and she deserves a good time. Weird though.



Stranger still is that my mother-in-law has invited me to go to Vegas with her and my sister-in-law. Expenses paid.... dilemma, dilemma... I have until 9 pm tonight to decide...



I am very excited about Tennessee, but not excited by the prospect of laying a vapour barrier in the crawlspace (to get rid of the STANK), as I believe the crawlspace to be inhabited by snakes. Yep, there are poisonous snakes down there. Great.



My anxiety level is running high, but it will be more then worth it.



Oh, oh, oh, I just had a phone call and my stress level has decreased dramatically! Ah, relief! Details in a week or so, (BW, KT, KP keep quiet...)

Monday already

I can't believe it is already Monday! It was a pretty busy week-end. Couples golf league on Friday night, very fun, Saturday I spent most of it doing errands and extra cleaning, then some lounging by the pool. Yesterday was my mom's birthday party, (today is her b-day) so that was a bit of work, (cleaning, barbecuing, etc), then Billy and I golfed 18 last night. We were beat! More so Billy than me, as he spent an hour hitting balls at the range in the morning, and threw the kids (who are all getting HUGE) around the pool for the afternoon.

And over again it starts.

This week will be great, and there won't be many post from now until about the 25th of July, as we're going camping with Thursday until Sunday, then on Monday I leave for Tennessee. Busy fun good times. Woo Hoo.

So, tonight I expected to be home, make dinner, watch Hell's kitchen, maybe read a little, then hit the sack early because I'm pretty beat right now and its only 11 am. Maybe golf if Billy is feeling up to it. Well, I just got off the phone with Billy and he told me that he made a tee time for tonight - perfect, it is a beautiful day! We are set to go off tonight at 5 with an ex-boyfriend of mine and his girlfriend. Billy golfed with them at a tournament on the week-end and in his drunken not thinking clearly - ness, enthusiastically called and booked a tee time for tonight. Super duper!

So me and this guy broke up literally a decade ago (that officially makes me old!), and of course I've seen him around quite a bit over the years, (one time on our couch when I had to make a pit stop at home during on of Billy's male only poker nights, yeah that was weird,) and it doesn't bother me too much. It's not like an episode of Seinfeld we're Jerry and Elaine are all buddy buddy and hang all the time. Not at all. We broke up for many, many, many reasons, including that I didn't want to be anywhere in, around, or near him ever again to infinity and beyond.

Well.

It's not all that bad. In fact his girlfriend is one of the nicest people you could meet, (too nice for him that's for sure...) I'm positive that he's not anywhere near anxious to spend the evening with me.

It's actually one of those things that will result in being a great story for 'church', and will surely get some good laughs. It could be a lot worse, and should prove to be an interesting night!

Sitting here...

Here I am, waiting for a bank to call me back. What else is new?

Sometimes I feel like I waste so much time waiting for people to call me back. I think that because a big part of my job is customer service, I really notice when I'm getting poor service, like now...

So BMO Kingsville, you get my award for sucking. I've tried to reach someone there for days now, and after listening to your incredibly long list of options, then patiently staying on the line for someone to assist me, only to discover after a dozen rings that no operator is currently available. What kind of service is that?

With my impatience building, and an important date looming, and several attempts later, I finally hit '0', although it is not an option, and lo and behold! It rings and someone answers.

I ask for the person I need to speak to, and after a couple of minutes I'm again talking to a human, amazing, however, it's the wrong human. She tells me she'll have to take my name and number because she doesn't know how to transfer me.

Well I completely understand because I know how complicated that new fangeled contraption called a multi line phone system can be. It is after all only 2007!

So anyways, that was well over an hour ago, and I called back. I sat through all the options, rings, and again, no operator available. I decide to let my tension build, and redial, wait, and check my email, then finally after several attempts, an 'operator' becomes available. Maybe she knows how to transfer me to the appropriate person. Oh, no, she doesn't. I don't even have the option of voice mail.

She takes down my name and number again.... and here I sit.

So I presume she's really busy. Give me a break. A bank is more full or bureaucracy and red tape than parliament. It takes forever to get something done.

I hate you. You waste my time. Where would I be if I didn't call my clients back in a timely fashion?

Still, please call me back....

Resolution review

Okay, it's pretty close to the middle of the year, and I was wondering on how I'm doing with my New Year's resolutions. Usually they are well forgotten by about mid February, so let's have a look back...

Keep going to the gym: I've really stumbled on that one in the last month. Do I have excuses? Sure! I've been working a lot in the yard, and golfing quite a bit. Also the price of gas is painfully high, and driving into Essex every day (although only 7 minutes away) does affect my monthly petrol bill. My new plan is to go on days that I'm not golfing, and on days that it is raining. Confident in a bikini by May? Well, I've been in a bikini in my mom's backyard, and I'll feel much better once my cellulite ridden legs are tanned. Losing 20 lbs this year? I've lost about 5 this year and a total of about 15 since October. Not bad, could be better. I shall recommit myself today!

Be a better wife: I think I have been a better wife, as I've been in having great moods so far this year. I feel like I'm have been very attentive, understanding, and fun. Billy tells me all the time that I'm the greatest wife in the world and that he is so lucky to have me. (awhhh...) I'm the lucky one.

Sell at least a house a month: Hahaha! Not even close!

Take more pictures: I have been fairly sucessful with that this year, but it seems like whenever there is an event I forget to bring the camera, (like MomG's birthday). I'll try to remember to bring it along more often. I also have to better organize them on the 'pute.

Keep the car cleaner: I must say that the car right now looks like it just came off the lot. I've been doing a good job keeping it very clean lately.

Dress nicer: Not so much. Joggies still rule and unfortunately they don't match any comfy tops I have. I'll give this a little more effort.

Speak better: I have been consciously trying to avoid sounding like an uneducated backwoods hee-haw.

Read a classic novel at least every month: I was doing really well at this, and actually went to the library the other day to get 'Grapes of Wrath', but they sent it back to the main branch. (Excuse?) I just got stuck on some really crappy books, and haven't been able to get back into it. I'll start when I'm done the (rather boring) book I'm reading now.

Spend more time with friends and family: I've been trying. The kids are really busy and growing up. I see Madisyn a couple of times a week, and I try to have morning coffee with my mom a few days a week, and I see MomG every few days. I want to spend more time with the older kids, pool season is here, although they don't need me to watch them anymore...

Kayak at Point Pelee: I forgot about that one. I still want to do that a few times this year, hopefully with Billy. Hey, it's only June 5th!

Wear make-up more often and do something with my hair: I've been trying. I need a trim.

Recycle more: I've really put an effort into this, and I find myself several times a day recycling the smallest scraps of paper. I can't do much more...

Be more careful with money: I've been very good at this. So far this year I've only bought one trashy magazine, I rarely go to Tim's (like less than once a month), and have been buying groceries that I know we'll eat. I'm trying to drink less diet Pepsi and bottled water, and I resisted the urge to spend money at nurseries this year, and just work with what we have in the yard and garden.

Break 85 at a reputable golf course: Not even close! Haven't even broke 90! It is only June, but my game is not what it was at the end of last year. I know it will happen... eventually...

Don't judge people, stop getting caught in other people's drama, and quit ignoring bad behavior: I've luckily been able to distance myself from people that cause issues in my life. It still pisses me off when good things happen to bad people. I feel that I'm better able to laugh at other people's stupidity rather than get consumed by it. It's hard though, there are so many stupid people doing stupid things.

That's it. I guess I'm not doing too bad. The gym thing is really getting to me, although I can't complain about the weight loss. New goal: Lose 15 by September 1st... I'll let you know how I do...

Week-end wrap up

Once again, the week-end went by way too quick, except of course, the part where I had a home inspection that lasted 2+ hours and the buyers hung out for another 1/2 hour. That felt like an eternity, especially since the A/C in the house wasn't on, it was 90* with high humidity. I'm so glad that is over.

There are so many things in life to look forward to, and somethings that just plain suck, or give me anxiety that I just wish were over and done with. I have to learn to better enjoy the moment, as time moves so fast. Although I can't wait to go camping, or to Tennessee, or golf tomorrow night, I want to learn to be happy in the moment, because before I know it, it's the next week or month. Life needs to slow down.

This week-end was MomG's birthday which was nice. We ordered Chinese, and played the new Mario Party 8 for Wii. It's really fun. I had a short visit with B&B on Sunday which was good. Probably the best part of the week-end was Friday night Billy brought home some great steaks which he barbecued and cooked some asparagus. It was a nice dinner and just the two of us. It's a great feeling to have someone that will cook and care for you. Very indulgent and luxurious.

Once again this week-end I discovered that that squeaky bitch gets the grease. I hope that when people do something nice for me it is because they love me, and I deserve it, rather than to shut me up, prove something to others or make their life easier. It really makes me laugh seeing someone go through life with custom made blinders on, seeing things, not what for they are, but what they want to see.

I've decided that I'm not going to post the rest of the Letter to a Friend. I'm over it. I feel better having it written out and filed on the computer. It's a waste of my thoughts, sanity and energy to go any further. I don't want or need to be That Person. Enough said. I hope for KT that the pins and needles sensation dissipates. You should write your own letter, it's quite cathartic.

Life is good, but moving too quickly. I love how uncomplicated my life is, it makes me so happy. I owe Billy for everything I have and am. He's truly the best.

Letter to a friend, part 1...

Just as a note, the only reason that I have not sent this letter to her is that I have way too much love and respect for 2 people in my life, and there would be a very serious negative backlash as a result of my thoughts, feelings and opinions, which is actually pretty sad, as this has absolutely nothing to do with them... I will never send this letter, unless there is an event which makes it okay. (I doubt and hope not because it would be a very bad thing...)

I feel better just writing it. For so long I made myself not care, but recently I have been really angry, and now I'm starting distance my feelings again.

I'm sure that she, nor any of her family members or 'friends' read this, or I wouldn't post it. I may not post the whole thing, just in case.

Here it is, part 1:

Dear "W",

It's been awhile since we've seen each other or talked, I guess it was in about January or February, (aside from your Grandfather’s funeral,) I thought it went fine, we all drank and had fun, but apparently not. Haven't heard from you since, and under the circumstances, I assumed, (perhaps wrongly) that you should have contacted me.

I thought it would be a good idea to let you know how this all went down to me. This letter will be a good discussion point for you and your family. Enjoy. (Be sure to read through the whole thing first, you’ll have to delete some things that you don’t want your parents’ to know.)

I knew that there were problems between you and "X", that was pretty obvious. Of course I listened to X and was as good as a friend as I could be (she did lose a boyfriend and what I perhaps wrongly assumed was a best friend in pretty close timeframe). It never occurred to me to really judge you. Of course I heard stories and gossip, some I couldn't even believe, as I never thought I could be friends with someone so mean spirited and cold hearted. However, I tried to keep the rumors at an arm's length and just continue to be a friend to someone in need. A truly good person who was going through a bad time. I didn't realize that I was choosing sides. I was really disappointed when I heard a story from someone who I thought was completely out of the loop about you hating on X… I’ve had some other disappointments since…

I thought that this was a great time in your life. You finally left a job that you hated for so long; you were pursuing passions dear to you. You were busy literally 5 or six nights a week. I never thought to hound you and ask you why you hadn't called, or where you had been. I never called you 'Sparrow' as you have done to busy friends over the years... I assumed that you were very happy, planning for your sister's wedding, Karate, French classes, German classes, and hanging with the family.

I was a little disappointed when I heard through the grapevine that you had a boyfriend, only because I thought that this would be something that you would like to share with me. Instead, you approached me at your sister's wedding reception to give me the 'heads up'. No problem, we're busy people with full lives.

I liked him right away. I thought he was good looking, charming and funny. He seemed very attached to you even at such a big family event. It must be serious, I thought. How awesome for you, about time, you deserve it!

Before leaving, I invited you to come over the next week-end for a little get together, and you did. Although you didn't stay long, due to a Karate tournament the next day, (no problem, I understood,) it was nice to see you, and he impressed me even further; greeting everyone with a handshake, and watching the UFC with complete strangers on the couch while we sat at the table with the girls and chatted. How nice. You looked like a great couple!