Feb 29 -Leap Year

Once every 4 years...Leap day!!!
Today I had an EDO day...because I work an extended day I get a day off each month. I have had not had such a day in ages. Today, Darcy and Chrissy were also embarking on their road trip adventure to Klamath Falls...we were there visiting Terry years ago when he was at the University there. It will be a long drive with Walter and then back with Darcy's new vehicle. I hope it is everything that he wants as he has done so much research and so much prep work for his Toyota fully-loaded Rav 4.
So...I tidied up a little...did loads of laundry and spent the afternoon doing some Wings work. It was so nice to meet up and go for dinner with Kari, Janice and Sandy at the Mr. Mike's grill. It was just a dinner visit to catch up on news and what all the kids are up to and doing. I had a nice chicken breast with scallops and shrimp on rice pilaf. It was nice to go out with friends instead of being home alone.
Wanted to make a posting for Feb 29...wish I could remember where I was and what I did last leap day...don't have a clue...I think it was when we were having the worst days of our lives dealing with Chrissy's rough days....but maybe not...anyway...I would like to remember what I did this leap day...four years from now!!!
Hope that the road-trippers are doing well and safely arrived at their first pit stop!!!

Sunny Sunday

When the sun shine it really feels like Spring is coming and soon will come the warmth of summer. Yesterday Darcy did a round-trip to Kelowna to drive Caiti back up and then to switch vehicles so we are now bringing Walter home so that we can get him ready to be sold. It is time for him to move on. Caiti has been having a few issues with him and does not need the stress of trying to get to her practicums and when she is on-call for work. So she made an offer to Darcy and they came up with a deal so she will make car payments for the Honda that has been named Andy.
Before Caiti went home both girls went on got their matching tattoos...cherry-blossoms to signify their healing process and renewal of their selves. The option is there for me to get the same one but I am not ready yet for a tattoo...have to lose that extra weight first!
We went to the Aftergrad Pub night yesterday and I think lots of money was raised. Mimi and Linda won the 50/50 draw. We ended sitting on our own table as the upstairs area was full but that was Ok since this is a usual social group for us. It seems that we have only a few circle of friends and we hardly have the time to really hang out with any of them. Our Trivia Night is coming up so that is something to look ahead to...always like to exercise the brain and have some fun at the same time.
Darcy and Chrissy are planning a huge road trip to Klamath Falls next weekend to pick up the Toyota Rav 4 that Darcy has been researching and wishing for...so he will get his dream car at long last.
I have decided that I have procrastinated long enough and will try and complete caiti's grad scrapbook in time to start working on Chrissy's. It won't be a big fancy project but something that I can have as a keepsake. Anyway, so I have all the tools and all the stuff to get going so I will embark on this next weekend...well Friday I have to take my EDO day because I am working the extended hours so I get an extra day off a month that I have not taken yet for Feb.
I was so excited yesterday when I stopped in to work and there were 27 people doing drop in line-dancing. I would love to take up line-dancing..it is not just western but you do ballroom moves, salsa, cha-cha etc...maybe I can persuade Shannon, Kari or Sharon to try because on Sat. is open to all adults and is a $2.00 drop-in for non-members.
I need to get back on track with WW...have fallen off the band wagon so incredibly badly. I have been saving the box of Purdy's chocolates that I got for Christmas from Shannon when I hit that 20 pound mark...the box is still waiting unwrapped!!!!
Took down the Chinese New Year lanterns as that is now over too...onto to Leap Day next~!

Shopping

Today we did our monthly jaunt across the border to shop...mainly for the dog food that Speedo and Sheba love. Very good quality beef kibble and great price. So all four of us left for the day. We seem to go down to Tulalip for a quick browse through the Premium outlet centre...today it was so busy because of President's Day weekend so there were some excellent deals...today we got luxurious bath sheets...time to throw out some of the rags we own. Caiti used her Victoria's secret gift certificate and her Christmas money. She also found a pair of Nikes as Nursing shoes. Chrissy bought another pair of Emu boots...shoes are always such a great price. I bought a couple of bras and of course Bath and Body Works at Bellis for some hand-soap that smell divine. Darcy is in search of a new vehicle or a not very old used Toyota and his research tells him that buying in the US will save him a good chunk of money. So we went looking at some of the car dealerships as well.
We always end the day at Target...my WW food is so incredibly cheap like 2 for $4.00 where it is almost $4.00 each here at Safeway. We buy odd and ends and things we can't get here and then we head home. The dogs have had a lonely day but they are happy because we always bring them treats!
It was a sunny day and it was fun going on a road trip. We ate at the Royal Forks Buffet in Mount Vernon...it wasn't great but a buffet is a buffet!!!

Caiti is home and sneak preview of "the dress"!

Caiti came home on Friday night for a week long reading break and we are so happy to have her home. She is on a "break" with James at the moment but still wearing his Xmas ring and they are still talking but we shall see...he needs some space at the moment and maybe it will still work out.
Today was the day to take Chrissy out to look for a dress...she has really been reluctant to go to her Grad event...so many reasons why she does not want to go and alot of it is fear of ridicule, mean so-called friends. We wanted Caiti to come home to get her wanting to find the dream dress and for her to be convinced that she cannot miss this momentous event now that we know that she is graduating. She got an invite from Genelle and Lawrence to join them for photos and such, and it has helped her slowly warm up to the idea that she can go to Grad an enjoy it.

So, we borrowed the black Honda and the three of us took off for the day to find that dress. And we did...we told Chrissy that she has to LOVE the dress....and it may not be not be what the other girls are wearing...it may not be what is currently trendy but it should reflect her and what she wants. It has to be what she really wants for this evening. After a great deal of looking...we found it. It is not what the other girls might be wearing...it is vibrant...it is bold and we want her to look spectacular and shine for herself as herself.

So I am sneaking a preview of the bodice of the dress...it is spectacular...well, Caiti and I think it is amazingly awesome and it suits her. The sequins on it is dazzling...little flowers in a very intricate pattern...it really is eye-catching and stunning. Caiti who has some impeccable fashion sense confirmed that it was suitable and it may even be slimming for Chrissy to wear a dress that will give her some shape. We are relieved that this has to cement her decision to go...jeez it better as I paid a huge deposit on the thing. Now she can think about going and accessories and such. Whew!!! Please let this be a good experience for her.

Happy Valentine's Day!!!

What an absolutely crazy day!!
Started with a long Bus Trip Committee meeting...I gave all my seniors a large box of Lindor chocolate hearts and I also gave a small box for all the girls at the front desk (that used to be me!). Then...it was crazy running around the centre like a chicken. I was sitting in The Hub meeting with prospective dance club volunteers when I look over and see Helga, Nancy, Corinne and all laughing away at the surveillance camera screen we have...next thing I know...Darcy is walking into the area with a large bouquet of pale pink roses...that was a nice surprise. I hurried through my meeting so that I could check out my valentine surprise...first time ever I have received flowers at work. I also got taken out for a wonderful dim sum lunch at the fancy Kirin Restaurant close by even if it was at 2pm!
What a chuckle though...imagine if he had been picking his nose on the camera...maybe he was!
All the seniors came to admire my roses...but they also counted and I only got 11 roses and not a dozen! They made a big stink about that...but all roses are sweet and better than none!
Anyway...it was Wings straight from work on this Valentine's day...and now in Jammies preparing to watch Survivor!!!

Home day

I wonder why the weekends seem to go by so fast. However, last night Darcy and I were bored. Didn't feel like watching TV and really had nothing to do so we went to the movies. We watched Atonement. It was a little slow but the story unfolded and developed and then it concluded and to my dismay it was not expected but that is what makes a story tragic...like Jack and Rose. We had pop and popcorn and it was an evening out of the house. I guess we need to find things to do when it will just be us and the girls are gone off leading their own lives. We did get a DQ Blizzard and shared the 2 burgers for $3.99 on the way too since we didn't get around to cooking dinner. This was Chinese New Year week and we did all wear red to work and had decorations up to the enjoyment of our asian members. I didn't have a good evening at Wings though on Thursday and that was very disheartening. I would like to retire and move on from that job. I am having challenges there and it is getting to be a huge toll to work full-time and head off twice a week to another job...it must be time to call it quits at some point.
I had these roses at my desk at work from Lorraine..it was very sweet of her. She wanted to thank me for all the help I have given her as she settles down to work at Dogwood. I really never expect anything at all.
This week I work on Monday night as Karen wanted to swap for Wednesday which means that I can go to WW as well as the Aftergrad meeting, I guess.
I can't seem to get myself to work on tidying up and cleaning the house as I seem able to just let it go for another time.
It was nice speaking to both Jot, Jen and Mum for Chinese New Year. I think we are aiming for a trip to Malaysia this Fall and I really do need to plan for that trip....which means getting back on track and losing a few pounds so that I can go clothes-shopping and come back with some new stuff. In truth, I really need to get back on track and eat properly and get to that Alpine Fitness gym. So far I have been to Lunch Crunch twice and I really enjoy that class alot with Kathy Bramley...I like the combo of aerobics, ball and weights very much.
So...back to counting points tomorrow properly and with some effort to get back on track!

Chrissy has done well the first week of the semester but I know she is counting down to be out of the High school fray. Caiti is home on Friday for a reading break and she is still confused and not sure where she is at with James at the moment too. I hope that she works it out. She will need to move off campus this Fall so she may have to look for a house or an apartment to rent this summer. I know she will figure things out...at the moment I think she wants to serious contemplate buying her own first car and get rid of Walter the temperamental van.
We started watching Survivor Micronesia because I am in the Survivor pool at work and could potentially win some cash-o-la...highly doubt it though with my random pick of Mary Sartain with the large boobs in a hot pink bikini...we shall see.
Off to play Scrabble on Facebook now.

Another countdown to Chinese New Year!

This is Glen Pine...the little tree decked out for Chinese New Year and our new mascot at work. I must confess that I do love Chinese New Year even though I don't celebrate it the way it is supposed to be done. We were going to try and get together with Sharon as we always do for Chinese New Year last night but we were tired...so will try and get it in during the 15 days of New Year. Tonight Chrissy and I were at Wings for the first night of the new session...when we came home Darcy had take-out from Hons so we had heated up friend rice, sweet & sour pork and brocolli & beef..such common fare. I have not cleaned the house from top the bottom as I should have...I have not bought new furnishings or done that sort of traditional stuff but I want to bring in good luck...getting more superstitious as I age. I hope Darcy will vacuum and do the bathroom for me while I am at work until 10pm tomorrow night. Chrissy seems to be having a good start to this semester and we want it to stay that way...upbeat, positive and on a good track. Caiti is a little bummed out at the moment...Walter is misbehaving again and she is a little angry with relationships at the moment. Its tough when you don't know what to do about it but she is grown-up and can handle things and when she wants to talk I hope she will. Wow...tomorrow is already Wednesday...time just flies by. It was another CRAZY day at work when all we seem to do is put out fires and deal with glitches...such is opening a new community centre and setting up new programs. I am sure it will calm down...I have been up to the gym only twice and haven't even actually taken my lunch break. But I love Glen Pine and at least the drama is not the same as up at Dogwood because it sounds really traumatic up there for all those seniors who are volunteering...I must confess I do miss Dogwood most of all for the kindness and caring of the seniors there.

Chinese New Year is coming up!!!

Today I decided to go to T & T Supermarket and it was so festive. Chinese New Year music playing loudy and so upbeat, lots of red and gold lanterns and decorations and the staff all dressed in Chinese silk tops. I bought some red envelopes, and some treats but now I am panicking a little because my house is a disaster mess and come Feb 7 I will not be bringing the new year in very auspiciously if I don't get some massive housework done.
Anyway, the morning and well pretty much the afternoon goes by so fast when just running errands. To the Bank for the Wings deposit, to the supermarket, stopped at work to see how one of my support groups is doing (women's friendship circle - for women who need a friendship group because they are of low income, single mothers, or want to offer and share as "sisters" to other women - I am a diehard sucker for trying to empower women to gather strength in numbers - I also offer them tea, and whenever we have sandwiches available leftover from Friday lunch that will have to be tossed on Monday morning, I want this group to help us enjoy them and take home you know as a favour to us) to Costco, then to Rona where Darcy bought 2 new snow shovels (I told him that now that he has two new shovels it will never snow again!), then we stopped at 7-11. I had 2 books to return to Cameron library and since I was in that area I thought I could finish getting the treats for the Valentine's goodie bags that Chrissy is making for Wings...what a nightmare it was at Wally-mart. I must have been in the line-up for 1/2 an hour..was tempted to abandoned my purchases but that would mean coming back...so NOT!
Then it was home to unpack everything and then Darcy rushing off to get to the Honda dealership to get his car looked at and oil change...(some light has gone off which means go to the dealership).
This evening, I think we are heading up to Helga's for dessert and wine. Both Roy and Helga have been owing Joanne and Bill their 50th dinner out so they are going to the boathouse and then we will join them after for dessert! This won't be hanging out with the boss or anything.....

Anyway...Tomorrow...clean house tomorrow then.