fall camping

This was home for the past 2 days.  MacGregor Point Provincial Park.  Let me say that this is camping at its best.  Propane fireplace, hardwood floors, bunkbeds (the kind with a double bed on the bottom and single on top).  Covered shelter with bbq and picnic table.  Lights and hydro (that means electricity, for non-Ontarians) inside the yurt.  Not exactly roughing it, but perfect for a fall camping trip for 2.  Perfect because we literally packed clothes, our lawn chairs, reading lamp and books and sleeping bags and pillows.  Didn't bother packing food, because we are realists.  I'm not much of a cook at the best of times.  Plus, with the week of insanity that just wrapped up, we were totally unprepared for our camping trip.  C'est la vie.  And Union Burger for supper suits me just fine!  Kids stayed home (thanks to the oldest coming home from university to ensure there were no wild high school parties and that our house would be intact when we got home!).  It was a beautiful weekend!  Sunny and fairly warm (although I dressed as though we were on an Arctic expedition...cold all the time).  Went on a nice long trail walk, then vegged out and read.  I curled up on the bed to read, and woke up a couple of hours later.  I love naps!

After returning from Union Burger (town is only a few minutes away) we lit a campfire and sat by the fire until long after dark, chatting and enjoying the brightness of the full moon.  We didn't even need our flashlight on the way to the "comfort station", but were able to see quite clearly by the light of the moon.  Beautiful.

The best part of the weekend?  Spending quality time with my hubs, resting and feeling ready for the week ahead.  Spending wifi free time is absolutely necessary every now and then.  When I'm at home, I always feel obligated to spend part of the weekend working, catching up on emails, doing all of the little stuff I never get finished up at school.

Of course, we picked the weekend of "Pumpkinfest" in Port Elgin.  We chose the weekend about 6 weeks ago, not realizing that the town would be a beehive of activity.  I know I'm going to be asked if we enjoyed the festival, and yes I did.  Because we avoided it like you would catch the plague there.  Crowds of people looking at antique cars and a midway (not much to do with gourds, right?!) are not my idea of a good time.  Making fun of old dudes reliving their youth by way of their historic ride though?  Totally my thing.  I believe there is a rule somewhere that states that regardless of temperature and weather, drivers of old cars must drive with the windows down, elbow resting on the door, hair slicked back and wearing a tacky windbreaker jacket.  Not much wonder my dad sold his vintage car.  No way he would fit in with that crowd.  Windbreakers and slicked back hair are not his style.  And my mom wouldn't want the windows down.

Of course, once home I caught up my work emails, and got some stuff ready for the week ahead.  And cuddled with my dog and cat, who clearly missed me.

Next weekend is Canadian Thanksgiving.  The real reason we need pumpkins.  I have to figure out a gluten-free pumpkin pie.  And gluten-free stuffing.  I know what I'll be pinning this week (provided I have time!).

Camping and rocking Don King hair and yoga pants?  2 of my favourite things.  It was a great weekend :)

The good, the bad and the ugly

First the good.  Blood tests indicate that chelation was working and antibodies are decreasing.  Very good!  So will be continuing with more cycles of chelation.  And after a lecture from my ND, will be going for IV treatments every other Friday morning before work.  Apparently it's very important while undergoing chelation.  Umm, I skipped that little part when reading my protocol.  She was not amused.  But this is exciting news!!!  In other good news, still melanoma free.  Very good news indeed.  Although nothing as humbling as the head to toe skin inspection--mortifying.

The bad--hip not good, still getting therapy, may never be better--or so it feels.  Also bad--in a series of disastrous small mistakes, had the scariest day of my professional life this week.  It all ended well, but not without panic and police and fire dept involvement.  The worst part?  Had ONE specific person done what we asked of her, the entire situation could have been resolved in about 5 minutes instead of 30.  It was a glass of wine night that night!

The ugly--huge bruises on my arm from the last IV/bloodwork 1 & 1/2 weeks ago.  One is particularly nasty looking, and looks like somebody tried to beat me up.  Not so, just a little bleeding under the skin.  Which will hopefully disappear soon.  Amusing watching people at work try to work up the courage to ask what happened to me (I may have a rather sinister sense of humour).  And actually really ugly hair today.  But that's ok.

It was quite a week, I must say.  Rewarded myself with comfy shoes for work--buy one get one 1/2 off Clark's at Shoeper in Orangeville.  Hopefully very sore hip and sore knees will feel better from wearing frumpy, yet comfy shoes to run up and downstairs the million times a week on ceramic tile floor at school.  It's always a bit of a comeuppance when you realize that you must wear shoes that aren't even snazzy enough for your mother....*sigh*  Frumpy shoes match today's ugly hair.  Actually kind of Queen Elizabeth looking shoes.  HOT! 

The past week kicked my a$$, but I still love my job and life is good.  First day of fall has brought rather bizarre weather to southern Ontario (Mother Nature is acting like she's in the throes of menopause--without the benefit of progesterone assistance!).  If the weather would cooperate, I would love to go on a long walk.  But since it's rather uncertain, I may just settle for having a bath and reading instead.

PS--a few minutes after posting (when the sun was shining!), thought I heard rain on the deck--nope, HAIL!  Or some sleety kind of precipitation.  She definitely needs some bio-identical hormone therapy!

life is great!

School week #2 down.  TGIF!  Love the job, just need some sleep.  I have solved the world's problems from about 2:00 am to 5:30 am EVERY DAY, when it's time to get up.  I need to sleep tonight.  But even given the serious lack of sleep, life is FANTASTIC!  Clean bill of health at dermatologist (take that melanoma!  Ha!), Vit C iv at the naturopath (my arms are a mess of bruises and whatnot, it wasn't a good vein day :$) and some therapy on my hip yesterday.  Dr. Hotty (no, that's not his real name.  He would be mortified.  But this is the freedom that being over 40 gives one...*insert smirk*) has said I can do any activity I please and is actually encouraging running.  Not the guarded, "well, I guess" I've had all along.  And I'm going back to yoga.  So excited.

Having said all that, I have to say I'm enjoying the best part of my week yet--2nd glass of sauvignon blanc, DVR of last night's Big Brother, and the promise of an early night.  Does it get any better?  Well, it would be better if my hubs wasn't on afternoons, but whatevs.  Two solid weeks of days coming up.  Gotta love it!

Now having said all of these glowing things (I know, I'm not usually so sunshiny.  And no, it's not just the wine!), life continues to have its challenges, including not seeing hubs for 2 weeks at a time.  That is not cool.  But I determined to have a more positive life outlook, and here it is.  Enjoy!  

Week one recap....

If  you are reading this, then I can only surmise that you too have conquered the first week of school.  Let me be the first to congratulate you!  It could only have been the longest week in the history of the world.  For real.

But in that crazy long week, I must say I have discovered something very cool.  I LOVE my new job.  Yes, every day there's a ton of stuff that I have no clue how to do, or what the answer is, and feel like I'm faking it (ok, not totally, I generally have a fairly good clue of what I'm doing).  The best, when the new smartboard was delivered, only I knew nothing about it, the people delivering it were asking me really hard questions (so, what room is this going to?, sign here please...and finally--have you ever used a smartboard?).  I looked and felt like an idiot.  But in my own defence, it was the first day of school.  As often as I don't have a definitive answer, and I'm feeling my way along, I actually do have an answer.  A right answer!

I feel like I never get a chance to sit, yet if I do get a minute there's about a billion emails to answer (billion may be a slight exaggeration.  Maybe million.)  Kids who don't have enough lunch, so we share ours.  Phone calls to answer.  Parents to call back.  Kids who need ice.  Or some "redirection" for behaviour.  Or a teacher who needs something.  And I love it.  I am now convinced that I have really made the right decision.  Yes, I know, bit late to consider that.  But change always makes little niggling doubts in the back of the mind, don't you think?!  And before I get accused of being Pollyanna, yes, I am aware that there will be very difficult days.  Days I just want to get a job at Dairy Queen.  Or McDonalds.  You know, somewhere that doesn't expect me to make decisions that impact others.

And honestly, I miss my old school.  I miss the classroom.  But I still know that I have made a good move.  And I get to visit the old one :)

In other first week news, my youngest has had a great first week in high school.  He's happy.  Of course, that may just be because of the older girls.  And young girls.  Girls.  Should I be alarmed that a grade 11 or 12 Link Crew leader was "grinding on him" at the dance for Grade 9s?!  Believe when I say that I am!  Evil girl of loose morals, I say!  (although, the story may have been slightly exaggerated.  He is a boy after all)

Middle child seems happy enough too.  And pleased to be sought out by the senior volleyball coach to come out for the team.  He managed to get his brother recruited too.  I am baffled by why they love volleyball so much.  Baffled I say!

And tomorrow, I move my girl child back to university.  Apparently she is taking everything she owns from her room.  Or maybe the giant bins of clothing she`s taking are just making it seem that way.  I`m glad her brother and boyfriend are coming to carry the heavy stuff.  Which is just as well, as hip is raging soreness from going up and downstairs a zillion times this week, and running around the halls like a demented woman trying to be 10 places at once.

Which reminds me of how glad I am to have spent a fortune in $$ and time to heal my hip this summer.  NOT!  How could I have concentrated so much to heal the stupid thing, to be in nearly as much pain weeks later?!  I don't care how hot that dr guy is, I'm not happy.  No running, no yoga and clearly after this week, no solution.  Grrrrrrrr!

Enough about me.  How was your first week of school?  I've been thinking about all of my teacher friends and friends with kiddos going back.  And those with kiddos going for the first time.  I'm sure the perspective is vastly different!

A couple glasses of wine later, and it's time for me to climb into my bed.  To not wake up at 5:30 tomorrow morning.  Enjoy your weekend friends.

happiness is...

A great haircut and the perfectly made Earl Grey Tea latte made with soy milk.  Stylist was sufficiently apologetic, so I deigned to reschedule.  GREAT haircut!  It will look demented when I wake up tomorrow, but it's now manageable and won't look like Carrot-top or Sideshow Bob.  Followed up by a trip to Starbucks, where the perfect soy latte was purchased and consumed whilst listening to Green Day on the way home.

One more day of getting for school and then the long weekend.  Life is good.

countdown....

The countdown is on.  One week before the kiddos are back in school.  Of course, I've already been back for a week, and what a week that was!  BUSY!  And that's without kids!  The next week is all booked up already too, it's amazing how much stuff goes on behind the scenes in a big school, that no one ever sees.  Even I didn't know just how much.  I do know that without students I was so busy that on a couple days I didn't have time for lunch.  I ate on the run. 

So, eating on the run, while not good for your body, is the way it's going to be.  I literally do not sit down in my office for more than a few minutes at a time, and that's only for making phone calls or interviewing teachers for open jobs.  I need to pack healthy, easy to eat lunches.  Stuff that I can graze on all day.  That kind of leaves leftovers from dinner out.  I have to be intentional about what I pack (and pack it the night before, not as I'm running out the door).  It will be good for me.  But since I also know myself, I am going to stash some little cans of tuna, lentil soup (canned), protein bars and portioned protein/greens powder in my desk drawer.  If I'm caught without enough (or forget my lunch), I'll at least be able to get through the day.  Maybe some applesauce too, and take some fruit/veggies to leave in the fridge for the week too. We'll see.  I know that I eat healthy as long as there are options ready for me.  When there's not....well, it's just too easy to slide into unhealthy choices.

I also need to make my life easier by organizing my closet and getting clothes for the following day out in the evening.  Madly trying to find something to wear in the morning does not get the day off to a smooth start....we all know that.  And given the distance I will be travelling each morning, and the fast pace of the job, I need smooth beginnings to the day.  There's enough that can go wrong once I'm there, I need to be in a calm, rational frame of mind.

I had some nice comments (on the blog and by email) following my last post.  It was just one of those days, and the simple act of writing about it made me feel better.  I was able to see the humour later.  Seriously, who cries over hair and tea?!  Although, given the state of my hair, maybe it wasn't an unreasonable response.... :)  Thank you to everyone who cared enough to comment.  Knowing that others are empathizing and get what you're complaining about makes it all feel better.  As crazy as that is!

Autoimmune Girl commented about the changing seasons causing stress.  Back to school time always causes those in education stress, but she has a very good point.  Changing seasons, changing weather, all of these changes cause stress--when you think of it, what triggers migraines and physical feelings of unwellness?  For me it's changing seasons and weather.  Go figure that I would be having a tough day!  I am still feeling a little out of sorts, but really only when I have time to sit and think about it.  One good reason to be back to work--less time to think obsess about everything.

Weather here in southern Ontario has been beautiful the past week, really hot yesterday and again today.  So I am doing the only thing that a sane person can--I'm heading to the beach.  It might be one of my last beach days.  I always try to get to the beach the last week of August, and I'm not going to mess with tradition.

Enjoy the last countdown week, we'll be waiting for your kids :)

One of those days...

It's been one of those days.  I feel like Alexander in the book, "Alexander's Very Bad, Horrible Day".  Since the moment I opened my eyes this morning.  Things that have contributed:
1.  Stress about the upcoming school year.  I'm in top stressed form.
2.  Stress about my practicum project and Ministry of Education grant funded project--which are intertwined and getting too big and OMG!  (although did get about $10 000 more funding to expand the project to new school).
3.  Stress over my teenagers.  Need I say more?
4.  Today is my last paycheque for a month because my role has changed and the pay schedule is different.  All will be well, but it means watching what I spend.  And I'm not overly good at that.  (good at all actually)
5.  Had an appointment to FINALLY get my hair cut.  Sat at the salon for half and hour waiting for my stylist (who is very fickle, but I have followed her from salon to salon for YEARS).  I love how she understands my very baby fine yet wacko curly hair.  I am terrified to try to find someone else.  TERRIFIED!  I have hair issues.  Anyway, after driving the half hour into town, waiting half an hour, I get a text from her that she's had something come up and can't do my hair.  Which is absolutely wild.  And I go back to work Monday and need to look like a professional, not like a madwoman who combs her hair with a weedwhacker.
6.  Huffily proceeded to Starbucks to drown my sorrows in a venti Earl Grey latte made with soy, only to be informed they didn't have any soy (AGAIN!), but could make it with milk.  Hello?  People who order soy want frigging soy, not dairy.  I have an allergy! 
7.  Utterly incensed, make my way back to van, and cry in parking lot over hair and tea.  Puhleeeze!
8.  Drive half hour back home with disastrous hair, no tea latte and a bad attitude.  Drink lime Perrier as a substitute and consider killing the bottle of Sauv Blanc in the fridge, only realize will result in wine hangover and another horrid day tomorrow.  And will still have to face hair tomorrow anyway.
9.  Wish I was at Summerfolk, Blue Rodeo or Havelock for the weekend instead of obsessing over tea, hair and work.  Not necessarily in that order.
10.  Am resigned to crappy day, looking forward to a fresh start tomorrow.  And desperately trying to find the humour in my day today.