13 on Thursday

You know the relationship is hitting the comfort zone when....

1. Farting in bed isn't a big deal any more

2. You wear the comfy pants - regularly

3. no make up

4. you make your own coffee at his house

5. you read the paper while he's talking and say "uh-huh" and still know what's going on

6. you don't bother with the bra

7. his cats decide that they would rather sleep with you on your side of the bed than his side - NOT good for the allergies... but whatev

8. you leave clothes behind and figure he'll launder them and they'll be ready for the next time you need them

9. you share one glass of scotch because neither of you wants a full shot

10. you read a book while he watches the hockey game because really..... there's just no point in pretending you *love* hockey when it's only the last 5 minutes of any game that counts.

11. you insist on watching the movie even though you know he's bored to death... Burlesque with Cher - NOT fantastic.

12. you're not punctual all the time, well, not a lot of the time, OK... NEVER!

13. you sleep together all you do is ......... sleep! Thanks be to the gods because I'm not 23 anymore and really need my 8 hours...

Wordless Wednesday

TOP 10 PLUS ONE in restructuring

Being preoccupied is not a bad way to live. It’s been a few weeks since last I posted. How about a Top 10 list of the things I’ve been up to recently on the ole restructuring front.

1. A month after father law died, mother in law passed away. I managed to attend the funeral as I had been planning on being on the East Coast anyway. I checked with the SIL who wanted me to be there. I was glad to be there for the girls and my SIL. Interesting side note – would you believe that XSU wore blue jeans to both his parents’ funerals?!?! Seriously. My personal theory – XSU has really packed on the pounds – beer weight I’d say. Probably doesn’t fit into his dress pants any longer and is too lazy or can’t be bothered to shop.

2. Real reason for heading to the East Coast – grad school reunion. Had a great time. We received our 30 year pins from the University who also hosted us at a reception.

3. Week previous to East Coast trip was prairie trip to attend High School Anniversary and reunion. Spent the weekend with all the girls I grew up with. Another great time. We picked up and kept on going without missing a beat. It was wonderful. We’re all still alive, healthy and enjoying each other’s company. My dad- oy! Not going well. Physically he’s strong but he’s totally losing his marbles – cognitive impairment they say. Can’t have a conversation with him. He has nothing to say. He’ll be 80 this year.

4. Left RJ home alone. Same old. Same old. Left me a mess to clean up. I turned off her blackberry until she cleaned up the worst of it.

5. Union meetings for a week downtown last week. I stayed at a hotel. The Beau came with me, and we spent the week together. RJ was sent to her father’s house, and I totally lied and said I wouldn’t be home until Saturday. I spent two extra days with The Beau at his place down the street. Bonus day added when RJ decided not to come home on Saturday.

6. Met several members of The Beau’s extended family over breakfast on Sunday. That went well. His grandkids like me. I like them too, even though they spilled grape juice all over my pale yellow jeans last week. No worries, I got it all out. Between Shout, lemon juice and bleach – you’d never know.

7. The Beau hasn’t met any of my close friends or family as yet. He’ll be coming to Calgary with me for a union convention. The Uncles and cousins will be there. Must have fondue dinner with close girlfriends and The Beau. Soon. Eh Lily?

8. My car is falling apart around me. If I didn’t have the credit card debt that I do have, I’d be shopping yesterday. So far, the list includes, water pump, starter, muffler, brakes (again), wheel bearings, and some kind of whatzit behind the steering column. It’s always something.

9. The Beau has been seeing more action than my treadmill these past few months. NOT a good thing as too many pairs of my summer capris are too damn snug. I’ve told him he’ll be seeing less action so I can deal with the thighs, unless he can figure out a way for the action to be as productive as a treadmill. He’s thinking on it and apparently researching.

10. I’ve started working a compressed work week. I have to work an extra 50 minutes daily in order to have every second Friday off. Don’t know why I didn’t do this years ago. It’s fantastic. Keeping track of all the exclusions of when and how I need to work the 50 minutes is a bit of a pain, but all in all I am happy to NOT be at work. Arriving at 8 AM is killing me, and by 4 ish I am going into brain mush, but it’s only week 4 after several weeks not in routine, so I keep expecting things to get better. And by my Friday off – they are MUCH better.

BONUS 11 – more about the relationship with The Beau another time. I just re read the first post I wrote about him after learning his wife died. WOW! How did this ever work out the way it did? While I said it, I really didn’t believe it.

SHE`S ALIVE!!!!!!

Yes... I am AM alive and kickin and have been far too occupied with things around the home front. Including life with The Beau.... AKA VNN. I`ll be back shortly. Between travels to home and the east coast for school reunions, and a union trip next week.

Life is okay. I`m doing all right. Still maneuvering the new relationship and figuring that all out. More to come.

Hello, Yes,

It's been awhile {again}.

This time being the abject failure of the hard drive on my little red Dell. My Facebook withdrawal is killing me, and even getting to the library to post every now and again just doesn’t do it for me.

VNN took off for a two week trip to Florida to visit a cousin. Took the golf clubs and whoosh! Gone! I thought I’d be fine and would be glad to have my life back but surprisingly, that was no longer my life! I pined away terribly, counting down the days til he returned, but don’t worry, I did have some fun with friends as well.

VNN had been planning a four day drive back from Florida thinking he’d sight-see, and in the end, he power drove back in two days! I got a call around 9 PM on Tuesday this week, and practically *ran* to his place to welcome him back. We toasted over absolutely wonderful 21 year old Glenlivet single malt that was ambrosia. So different from the Oban we said goodbye with. We bond over single malt in oh so many unique ways.

In other news, XSU’s father died last week at the age of 94. Not sure how well he is coping but it’s not my problem. Rebel drove down east with him for the funeral. I have not been very communicative and have not sent him a condolence note or anything. I just didn’t have it in me. However, I guess I’ll have to say something, as I can’t see just launching back into business type emails. My father in law was a grumpy crusty, old man who paid more attention to his friends than to his sons. Surprisingly, at the funeral, a couple of the boys from the Legion Hall told Rebel he talked about her all the time especially during her illness and recovery. The man clearly kept his emotions from those who mattered most but shared his stories about his family with his friends.

I am pretty much in intense besotted mode acting like a 20 yr old in love but …. with a 50 year old woman’s experience. I tell ya, there ain’t NOTHING like being in love, and having a great time with the man who makes me smile and laugh, and who adores me. And I am reminding myself to reciprocate as well. lessons learned from the disaster that was the marriage. I am working hard at living this relationship in a new way. VNN though has very good communication skills and does not shy away from anything. It's a work in progress I'll tell you. On the upside, my GOODNESS, I have not had such great sex ever in my life. Ever.

We’ve even started talking about living together though I am still NOT on the marriage track. But with his two HUGE cats, my dog, and my one, for now, live-in daughter, I am not running to make changes that quickly. For now, the once-in-awhile sleep overs and barbecued steak dinners work for me. I still kinda need my space and solitary time.

Here's hoping I find the Dell recovery disc for the laptop. My new BFF got a new hard drive for me and will install it. Talk to you all soon, I HOPE!

It's been awhile

Yes dear readers, it's been awhile since I posted. A month it appears! I've been busy. And when I haven't been busy, the damn laptop keeps fritzing out. Dell~ I loved you but not so much, even with your lovely redness! sigh. So I hve a friend running diagnostics on it and I keep bringing dinner to his place for his wife and my favourite kids books (Paperbag Princess for starters) for their babies. In a few short paragraphs this has been my life so far. Still spending a lot of time with VNN. He's been in Florida the last week and won't be home til around the 14th or 15th of April. Surprisingly, I am missing him. A LOT! He calls me every couple of days before bedtime, so we have a lot of what shall I call it,.... phone sex? In a way I am glad he did leave town, because frankly, I am not as young as I used to be and I have sore muscles in places I didn't remember having muscles. It's a good rest to rejuvenate for when he gets back! Though not sure I'll be able to cope! I applied for a job. I didn't get the job. I am okay with it. I heard through a variety of sources that the presentation I did in front of the staff was the best out of all of them. The interview - not great I don't think, so I am not surprised I didn't get through. No worries, I still like what I do and think I'll be fine where I am. Rebel borrowed my car a week or so ago, and rear ended someone. This was accident number 4 I think. She wasn't hurt, just upset. And the car is fine. She didn't get her license until after surgery so I am not impressed. Not sure she'll be getting my car again. RJ is planning unversity and prom. She came back from the Dominican Republic and added over $375 roaming charges on her cell. Which I won't pay. She may have to borrow a prom dress. I have been teaching one course at University this term. Last day tomorrow. That was great fun. I hope to do it again next fall. AND I am taking French conversation two mornings a week to get up to management level. That's okay except we start at 8 AM. So I have to be at work at 7:30 AM to catch my ride with the other two girls. These early morning wake up calls are killing me. All is quiet on the Reconstruction Front. I like it that way. I'll do what I can to

Happy International Women's Day

My all time favourite most empowering song that I play or listen to when ever I feel hard done by or just having a bad day. Thank you Amy Sky and Maya Angelou