Hooooo HAAAAAA AAAAHHHHHHH HALLOWEEN

Forget Freedom 55!

I have been at a pre retirement seminar for the last three days. They recommend we take them at the start of our work life mid way through then again at the 5-10 year mark before we retire. I have to say I am quite fortunate to have a government pension as well as my RRSPs. Listening to the various people give us the goods on how much money we're going to need to live on was a little scary but I am nearly okay. The only thing I find is it looks like I'll have to work til age 62 or 60 rather than saying good bye at 58 or so. No Freedom 55 for me much to my chagrin.

Not enough equity in my house due to separation, no spousal unit to split my income and bring down my tax rate and a will that according to the resident legal expert brought in, is in need of some revision. This all adds up to a few more years of work.

I decided to take a teaching assignment at our local community college. Gotta bring in some extra income for my investment portfolio - such as it is - or better, pay off the credit cards. I am going to be teaching a marketing course for the paraprofessionals. Should be fun. I am designing the course too so that will give me a few extra bucks. It's not a huge amount of money, and I only get paid during teaching time, not prep time which is typcial. hmmm I could use my rabble rousing union shop steward expertise and maybe get them "organized." It's a challenge I wanted to try just to be in a new environment and meeting different people.

We've started the count down for Frenchy five days and she's back to France.

Wordless Wednesday

Be prepared- back up plans

The crankiness continues, but I am working through it.  RJ has made it plain that as soon as Frenchy leaves, she's outta here.  She's going to live with Dad.  Okay.... am I supposed to do something about that?  It almost sounded to me like a challenge, but I am not sure.  Of course she'll go. 

Meanwhile, "Dad" is doing whatever he does in his lonely little bungalow in Bells Corners, AKA, BC, where he resides a few minutes away from me.  I got an email from him asking me what RJ's weight was when she was born.  I sent it to him and figure what the hell, may as well ask why he needs it.    He's applying for a birth certificate for her. UMMM  That's been done. Over 18 momths ago I got her birth certificate.  The girl needs a Social Insurance Number so she can get a job.  At the time I got her birth certificate I asked him to please get the SIN card since the government office where the paper work needs to be dropped off is two minutes from his school. I asked him to finish up the details, take the girl down there and get it done.  18 months later we continue to wait. Same with her passport.

Frenchy's time with us is nearly done.  Seriously - it's been three months already.  Can't believe it. The only two things I asked XSU to do with the girls:  1- Take them to Montreal for a day, and 2- take them to a hockey game.  Montreal was nixed - he doesn't have the money, and he'll get tickets for a game this week. They're playing out of town this week and back for a game on Halloween. I roll my eyes.  RJ of course, has plans for Halloween night.  The game for some reason is at 2 PM so they will go - IF XSU manages to actually go out and buy tickets. I thought I was doing both girls a favour since XSU really does know the game better than I do, but I LOVE the arena, whereas XSU prefers to sit alone with a beer or something and watch in the privacy of his own bungalow without people around him.  WhatEV. 

Rebel has been talking "break up" again - it comes it goes.  But more often these days.  I think she's sorta getting fed up but not quite ready enough yet.  She breaks up with him she's going to land at my house.  I so do NOT want her dog. So I will have to have a back up plan and I suspect it will be XSU.  This does make me laugh as he so wants to Garbo it - "I vant to be alone" but he'll have both girls and whatever noise they both bring around.  All speculation so far, but it's good to be prepared.

Cranky

I am giddy with tiredness.  I am waaaaay over tired.  But here I am - in bed- in the dark watching U2 on YouTube. It was apparently very loud as RJ came in and told me to turn it down.  What? It's Elevation - my absolutely favourite U2 song.  I LOVE that song.  Grudgingly I did turn it down.  It's 12:48 AM and I should be well into my beauty rest.  God knows at my age, puffy eyes in the morning are totally not attractive.     

The Edge... coolest of the cool axe men and my goodness what is it about those strong quiet guitar types anyway?   That touque though.. as much as he always wears it - I bet he's gone bald under that hat and has "issues." WhatEv. See how tired I am rambling away on the blog. 

This has been a seriously stupidly busy week.  I had things going on every evening after work.  A couple of meetings, an exit interview with a coach leaving the gym - that was some one hour- a memorial service for a friend's dad, plus the usual chauffering and dealing with RJ and Frenchy.    Rebel came around more than once scrounging for food.  

The windows were all replaced and I had to take care of a couple of little imperfections. TattooYou - the Hunky Handyman's work partner - came in to paint trim along the front hall and finish the main floor. I had planned on a quiet weekend alone at home but for some reason RJ didn't go to the XSU's place and I ended up having to run her around with Frenchy.   The weekend was no better.  I didn't stop either day and I find I am not interested in that kind of pace but with no one around to pick up around me, I did what I had to do. 

On the one hand I don't mind RJ being here but she has not an ounce of gratitude in her little self and I am rather tired of it.  I am hoping that once Frenchy leaves, in 10 days, that RJ will go spend some time at her dad's and leave me in peace for a week or three.  Unmotherly?  Perhaps but the reality is - I hope she is as brutal towards her father as she is to me.   I am exhausted with her and need the break to re group.

 This single parenting thing makes me tired and at the same time makes it impossible to sleep as stuff keeps racing through my head.

The two girls are eating me out of house and home.  Have I ever mentioned that I do NOT enjoy grocery shopping except as therapy?  To actually have to keep track of bread, milk, cheese and yogurt bores me.  It was an SU task  as was the monies spent on thd is stuff.. Two teen age girls in the house and I swear I am spending a small fortune every week on food.  And of course the usual refrain of "there's nothing to eat" two minutes after all the groceries were put away.

I had Rebel, her BF, RJ Frenchy and one of RJ's friends at the house this evening.  Rebel wants take out food - and half the groceries went out the door with her. My kitchen is totally turned around due to the minor imperfection with the windows.  too long of a story for now.

   
Do I sound cranky?  I feel cranky.  Perhaps a good night's rest would cure that?   Vertigo - my other favourite U2 song.   Time to crash.  6:30arrives way too soon. 




 

Wordless Wednesday

The Buck Stops Here

I have spent the weekend schelpping stuff either up or downstairs.  I am trying to empty the dining room of stuff from the basement and then shifting other stuff around in the other rooms as my windows are finally being replaced this week.  I don't like the idea of these *guys* traipsing through my house - every room in my house - but how else are they gonna get the job done.   My main floor is slowly getting back to being a real living and dining room.  I need to have a garage sale but the season is done.  So the stuff in my garage might just get hauled away by some charity or other.  I don't believe I'd make much money.  I am going to post a few things on our employee forum for sale board at work and see if I can unload a few things.

I called XSU to find out if or when the girls were coming back.  I asked what consequences he imposed on RJ over her skipping classes.  AS expected - not much of anything from his blah blah blah.  "I told her she had to go apologize to the history teacher."  big whoop.  I told him I left a message for the history teacher and the Athletics Assocation teacher and that they were to throw the book at her.  No more leaving classes to take photos at sports tournaments, no skipping classes at all, or her trip to France would be jeopardized .  He told me that was too "harsh"  My eyes are rolling so hard I am getting a head ache. 

Of course the girls didn't get back here til after 9 PM and sure as heck were not in the mood to help me at that time of night.  As expected RJ was going on about needing the laptop.  I told her sure, after she tidied up the ktichen that was spotless until she walked into the door and had to have a snack. Well, she never came back for the laptop so I am just guessing when I go downstairs my kitchen will still be a disaster zone.  sigh...

And yes... point well taken, when RJ is at his house, I have zero control  But when the calls from teachers come to my house and I have her during the week, oh baby the buck will stop with me.