13 on Thursday

13 Things in restructuring, thinking, or doing

1. Being invited to more parties since leaving the XSU behind!

2. Being with someone new means going to twice as many parties this year.

3. Having to carve out time for myself and not being together 24/7, but this is difficult

4. Understanding that living together would really cut expenses almost in half: newspapers, cable, internet, snow ploughing services, lawn cutting services, divided instead of multiplied by 2

5.Understanding that living together means I have to share my space. Not sure yet.

6. Understanding that waking up with someone every morning who wants to be there and make the coffee is not to be scoffed at.

7. Even though the offspring want you to have someone in your life, they are still not completely 100% sure it is something they like.

8. Making travel plans with someone is fun.

9.I still prefer shopping by myself - for anything - groceries, clothes, shoes whatever. I will go myself.

10. I have better taste in movies – seriously Night of the Living Dead – of any iteration is not great cinema.

11. He thinks he has better taste in cars. He is certainly more knowledgeable, but yellow cars still suck in my opinion.

12. He shares the remote control. I get the Food Network almost any time I want.

13.Being loved, adored and cherished is a gift.

13 on Thursday

13 Ways to Not agree to a proposal..... just yet

1. No not ready to get married again.
2. I said, no, not yet.
3. Not today darlin
4. Ummmmm I have to wash my hair
5. This week? I couldn't possibly be ready
6. I don't have a dress
7. See # 3 - again
8. I couldn't get married without my best friend being there and she's busy this week
9. Not in a month that has an R in it. Or is that just for lobster?
10. See #1 - again.
11. well... maybe, but not yet
12. where would we live?
13. eventually, but ... see #3

13 on Thursday

1. yes, I have been pre occupied.

2. I really need to not be so pre occupied, but it's rather nice to have someone waiting for me and wanting to spend time with me

3. We're going to a Ukrainian function together. That ought to be interesting. I'll report back.

4. Rebel Junior is as rebelly as ever. I picked up 6 garbage bags of her clothes and threw them into the garage.

5.Getting to work at 8 AM is problematic. Having every second Friday off is not. Short term pain long term gain. I am still not a morning person.

6. Rebel and the loser BF were evicted from their apartment. She claimed all sorts of things. WHY they didn't see it coming I don't know. Long story. Problems with the landlord, and yet, they were tossed. They are living with XSU. heh heh heh

7.I lost my cell phone. CANNOT find it anywhere. One minute it was on the hutch in the kitchen, then it wasn't. meh. I don't miss it much. It was a hand me down blackberry. i can't go back to a non keyboard phone t9 for text.. doesn't cut it.

8. I can't wait to wear my new Fleuvog shoes. OH my they cost me nearly half a mortgage payment. Worth EVERY penny.

9. Wow! Even Gene Simmons got married.

10. It's turkey time this weekend. I'm having 11 people for dinner. I LOVE it. XSU is NOT one of the invited guests.

11. I really have to stop playing mah jong dimensions on FB. I'll never ever get all that time back.

12. My cousin told me about this really cool stuff that looks like granite for counter tops and it's less than $100! A DYI project even I can handle. Pour it on. Epoxy. Done. I'm gonna do it. Instead of painting my bedroom. Which is also on the list.

13. I think I'll have a perogy party open house at the end of November. I plan to make perogies every Saturday morning from now til then. You're all invited. All three of you who might read the blog once in awhile.

13 on Thursday

Traveling with a man. 13 things before that happens!
1. The personal grooming. back at that again... bikini waxing, pedicure, cut and colour.
( This should also count for 2,3,4,5,6. But whatev
2. Decent undies. Gaining a tad of weight means shopping to ensure little things that fit the big thing behind me. roll eyes.
3. Can't hog the hotel vanity so must downsize on stuff. Just a little.
4. Change the password on the laptop. He won't be bringing his (doesn't own a laptop) and might want to call home. He doesn't need to know passwords. Yet. ( there are some things that remain personal)
5. PJs? Nightie? Both?
6. camera. We don't have any pictures of ourselves.
7 walking shoes. Hotel treadmill. ( sure Marie.... Sure....)
8. those mini single malt bottles. Been saving those for a rainy day and someone who appreciates them.
9. books to read. Regardless of who's in my bed. I still like to read.
10. GPS. I get lost. All the time. A good way to avoid potential disagreements. maybe
11. call a taxi to pick us up. He doesn't want to leave his precious little go kart at the park and fly. What ev And Rebel will have my car. Thank goodness for business travel and reimbursements for the $60 fare. if not more
12. a good sense of humour
13 flexibility can't be all my way this time...

13 on Thursday

13 damn Things I'm Thinking About


1. Damn car. Can't afford a new one, old one is costing a fortune. What to do what to do?

2. Damn kid. Refuses to help. I know I know... same old story. And she's living at home while going off to university. I think I'll ship her to her dad's for a few months and let him deal with her.

3. Damn other kid. Only calls me when she needs my car or my money. Both being regular occurrences

4. Damn XSU. Off on his two month vacation without any sense of responsibility. ON the other hand, said offspring regularly calling him for money too. That is a good thing.

5. Need a dog sitter for two weeks. Don't trust Offspring the Younger while I am away. Two possibilities, now that number one choice has a life and no time for my dog.

6. Damn thighs.... so much for the treadmill these past few months. Not getting enough usage. Got the treadmill and the man at the same time, and treadmill just not seeing any action. Too many tight capris and skirts are sending me a pret-tee strong message. See the eyes rolling?

7. Damn new washing machine. High Efficiency or not, it isn't working properly and the troubleshooting guide isn't helping me much at all. It stops working after the wash cycle when I do towels and bulky stuff. Must call Sears....

8. Damn carpet in my bedroom needs steam cleaning. It's summer. No steam coming out of this room for a while. Might have to settle for the Resolve instead.

9. Damn you Rogers cable. You cost a fortune. And I don't even get the Food Network. Never mind high def and a bazillion channels. Is there a Relationship channel yet. I wonder what would be on the channel. Break up movies, chick flicks. What else

10. Damn gel nails. I got rid of them. I`m having a tough time growing real nails. Never could. But the UV lights that cure the gels are causing melanomas on women, and frankly, I can live without that.

11. Damn! I really hate garbage day. I can handle pretty much anything about being a single woman again, but garbage day and mice in the house for different reasons are not things I enjoy!

12. Damn I should stop whinging and start enjoying instead.

13. Damn I have great friends who are wonderful to spend time with. I just need to do more of that.

13 on Thursday

13 ways to express disbelief.
( no reason to, just feel like it!)

1. NO waaaaaaay!!!
2. You've GOT to be kidding?!?!
3. Whaaaaat?
4. You're shitting me?!
5. No, really?
6. SERiously!
7. Get OUT!
8. SHUT up!
9. I DON'T believe it!
10. C'mon!
11. Get REAL!
12. yeah RIGHT!
13. oh PUL-EEEEESE

13 things on Thursday: Catching up!

1. Had a terrific time in Halifax accepting my outstanding award as the outstanding alumnae. Pictures on FB. Podcast to be uploaded to the university's web site. Eventually. Rebel came with me.
2. Sister in law in Halifax and I had a great time. Had some great chats while staying with her in Halifax. For now she likes me better than her brother. Bwa ha ha.
3. Started a new job where I have no staff, no budget responsibilities. I LOVE it! I can just do my job.
4. Contrary to that, the young one who replaced me is already burning out. You have a lot to do don't you? And they only pay you at THAT level?
5. My blog at work is number 3. My tweets are number 1. Sorry - intranet only.
6. XSU caught Rebel Junior planning yet another do at my place while I was away last weekend. A day late. She cleaned up everything this time, however, she left crucial details undone. GOTCHA!
7 .I have a scrapbooking weekend this week end. Gone for three days. With my little dog too!
8.Had a perogy making party two week ends ago. The young librarians wanted to come over to make perogies - then eat. We had about 9 dozen potato cheese, 2 dozen meat filled ( Russian) and two dozen cherry filled. All I had left were about 4 meat filled and about 8 cherry filled. And some dessert.
9. Rebel has had three accidents in the Taurus station wagon, XSU's former vehicle. He now has an old man car - a silver Fusion. The hybrid Fusion was going to be my car if the Mustang didn't work out. I am not going to buy a Fusion now, unless it comes in some sort of sporty model.
10. I can't decide if I want to teach next term or not. Not worth the money, I hate marking, but love being on the teaching stage. Maybe I should look to community theatre instead?
11. I am trying to be a morning person. It's still not working.
12 I am trying to go bed earlier. That's not working either
13. The divorced older man shuttle driver at work is hitting on me. Why do I attract these types?

13 on Thursday

What's left in the house now that the ECO-Audit is done
1 add cupboards on one wall in kitchen. Glass doors
2 change the door pulls and drawer pulls in kitchen
3 light ballasts under cupboards up graded
4 paint the kitchen
5 paint powder room
6 refresh paint in bathroom
7, 8 re do bath room counter tops both bathrooms
9 new faucet in kitchen XSU took the one he planned to put in with him. seriously.
10 buy curtains for living room
11 get the dining room table re finished.
12 new chairs for dining room
13 have dinner parties.. 1st one? perogy party with grad school friends in town next weekend.

13 on Thursday

13 reasons I love my country
(click on the different colour since I can't seem to make the hyperlink show up!)

1 open prairie skies
2 the concept of multiculturalism - even if it doesn't always work in practice being Ukrainian Canadian is who I am and learning who others are helps be open minded I would hope.
3 bilingualism - even if it doesn't always work in practice - it doesn't hurt to speak more than one language and appreciate and understand the history of our beginnings
4 poutine - from the chip truck or in a gourmet restaurant
5 the CBC in all it's formats
6 how others perceive us - people the world over usually smile when you tell them you're Canadian
7 sea to sea to sea - the variety, the beauty, the differences - see 1, 2, and 3
8 speaking my mind
9 a justice system that usually works
10 seasons - usually 4 but in many places called winter and construction season
11 police and security forces who are not corrupt and don't strike fear into the hearts of its citizens... occasional lapses of judgmental perhaps but not usually feared.
12 freedom to elect idiots to lead our variety of governments be they local provincial or federal. It's my choice.
13 a pretty decent beer can be found in most places.

13 on Thursday: Reflections on being at home mostly.

Reflections: Family Home
I haven't been home since Rebel was sick. Catching up with the girls was the best. These are the people who've been my friends since childhood. It was great to be here.

1. Driving down a highway where flood waters have barely receded is a little eerie.

2. Mecca is SUPER Target .... or possibly Kohl's but it is always in another country.

3. American beer is still akin to drinking water even if you drink with friends.

4. Fancy seniors residences are still "homes" and what a glimpse of the future they can be. OY!

5 Family is family. Thank goodness I have a brother who is there and handling things. Same with the sister in law. I am very lucky.

6 Driving in a your home town after being away a few years is frustrating. Everything has changed and yet.... it hasn't.

7. I look like my mom. So much so that when I was at the family church on Sunday with dad, more than one of her friends told me it was "spooky" how much I looked like her. Missing her every day. It's been 8 years.

8. I still have no sense of direction and need a GPS.

9. Cell phone providers and roaming charges need to get real.

10. Thank goodness for texting. Doesn't help when the text says - *you didn't leave enough groceries and I can't find dad!* sigh.....

11. Getting away is always good.

12. Seeing old friends is even better. These are the girls who know my history and my life. And we watch our children growing up now. They are becoming adults and getting married. WOW. No talk of grandchildren ...... yet.

13. Home is always where the heart is - here or there.

Thursday Thirteen:

You know when....

1. The big garbage bag corporate logo is “TUFF” the bag ain’t. sigh....
2. He says he’ll be ready to pick the offspring up at 5 PM it really means 5:40 PM
3. The other offspring says she’ll have the car back in an hour it’s merely a window for between 2-5 hours.
4. The either offspring asks do you have any money, it really means I’ll take $20++.
5. The offspring does take the car and it was full of gas it will only be replaced by half – if that.
6. He says he’ll curb the spending on the younger one, it means he’ll buy her the $90 pair of shoes instead of the $160 ones that she thinks she deserves.
7. She says she isn’t hungry it means she’s just too lazy to come downstairs and sit at the table, but if you take a plate up or down – it’s hoovered.
8. You show up at work and you’re the first to arrive and it’s 9:15 AM it’s not a good sign.
9. Any light goes on in the car on the dash panel, brakes, oil, battery, it means a $1000 bill.
10. There is even so much as a hint of snow falling during morning rush hour it means an exponential delay of getting to work by at least 30 minutes for every .5 inch of snow.
11. There is any amount of chocolate milk in the fridge it will disappear within 30 seconds of leaving the grocery bag and being put into the fridge.
12. Someone- offspring-like asks “are you doing anything tonight?” they either want the car, a drive or both. And Further more are shocked, annoyed or both if you answer yes to the first and no to anything else.
13. Your offspring wants to have a house full of friends because she is madly cleaning the house – something that has only happened when there is a blue moon in the sky.

13 on Thursday.

13 things I am working on 

or doing in the next month or so.

 
1. Meeting with the President of the Gymnastics Club to get her organized for the Annual General Meeting.  How to run a meeting according to rules of order.  She needs coaching.  That' s me.  Coffee and banana bread 
2. Finance Committee meeting for the professional association. All day affair next Saturday.  
3. Scrap booking open house - so much new product - so little time to get the scrapbooks done. Renos nearly over, house nearly in shape - the tools are coming out. 
4,5, 6, 7, 8.   yeah - I'm cheating.   Five classes - orientation sessions for new part time instructors at the college where I will be teaching a course during the winter and spring term. 
9. ummm design the course I will be teaching in the Winter and spring.   Draft curriculum to department head by 25th November. 
10. Finish the damn church directory project.  Damn and church usually don't go together.   I couldn't get a volunteer to help me finish it. sigh... it went to the back burner during end of marriage beginning of renos period.  
11. The big Danish Bazaar in a few weeks.  LOVE the Danish food.  I will be stocking up on real Danish pastry for the freezer. 
12. Perogy making Saturday.  Nephew has asked for a care package to be mailed.  That should prove interesting.   
13.  TRANSIBERIAN ORCHESTRA!!! Next Wednesday evening.  So looking forward to that.  A little early for the Christmas music, but perhaps it will inspire me.