OH - and the best part is: I won't know everyone there.  I know the three ladies I'm driving up with (one a good friend), but everyone else is a cousin or friend-of-a-friend.  So there won't be a single one of us who knows EVERYONE.

I'm really looking forward to this fun way of expanding my circle of friends, knowing that we're all in the same boat of meeting new people.

 LOL Chemgal!  We're actully a pretty fun bunch!  With good doses of black humour!  And we do notice stuff like ergonomics & weird gait patterns, odd ways of holding a pen or dinner fork or glass at the bar ... 

Sadly seeler, I will not at the conference this year - a few folks from hospital will be there though, presenting posters, gathering knowledge etc.  It's a great networking opportunity.  The last one I went to was in Charlottetown some years ago - and wow did we ever have a great lobster feast!! 

I believe it!  I just figured there must be some idiosyncracies that would make a bunch of OTs all together stand out a bit :)

Ah Carolla - couldn't you juggle your schedule or something so you could come down.  Remember at Christmas I invited you to have dinner at Isaac's Way restaurant with me.  It's right across from the big new Convention Centre, downtown near the river.  We could meet there - or anywhere, depending on your schedule.

Yeh, I know.  We can't do everything we would like to.

After a great (but busy) day yesterday - I took today off.  It was drizzley rain most of the day - changing to downpour with a single loud thunder clap this evening.  A friend of mine phoned this morning.  I invited her over.  We had a nice chat about books, church, our planned week to a seminar in June, a man she recently met that she is interested in, and, and ....  A pleasant visit.  

Tonight Seelerman is watching the hockey game and I'm listening from the other room to hear how Montreal is doing.  

I went to the national OT convention last year-when it was in BC. It tends to alternate east and West.

Wonder if Mrs. anteater is going? She's relatively close.

Ah seeler - thanks for reminding me of Isaac's Way - I will pass that name on to colleagues who might be looking for a wonderful meal!  

Good question about mrs.anteater ... the big conferences are always so interesting.  Twice I've had the wonderful opportunity to go to the World Congress of OTs - once in Montreal, and then I presented a poster on my Zonta Accessible Playground when the congress was in Stockholm, Sweden which was a wonderful gathering! 

Good Friday morning to all.   The sun is shining, the snow is practically gone (except in the woods).  The world is waking up.  

Today is a Teachers' Professional Development Day.  Granddaughter will be dropping off Grandson so he can spend the afternoon with us while she has dance rehearsal.  He'll come bowling with us.  

Also, I picked up a couple of books for him at our rummage sale.  I'll try to get him interested in reading one.  

And then the weekend to look forward to.

Good afternoon all!

The sun is shining, but it is covered over in clouds , perhaps a bit of rain.  Snow is practically gone here also - but lots in the woods yet.  I think the world here is getting ready to have an afternoon nap.

When you share your stories of your grandchilden, seeler, I think how blessed you are to be so close to them.  In distance, but also in relationship.  Many are apart far distances from their grandchilden and try to build a relationship with visits throughout the year (although modern technology like Skype, etc. are a benefit too).  How blessed your grandchildren are to have your guidance, presence, and influence in their lives.  You are making forever memories with them.

Spent the morning with my daughter doing some chores at her house, and then grocery shopping.  Have a few errands to do this afternoon.  Looking forward to a lazy evening - perhaps a DVD or a good book.

No other exciting plans for the weekend for me - just trying to accomplish some indoor jobs and projects before the time comes when I want to be outdoors.

Hope, Peace, Joy, Love . . .

I had a really great appointment today.  I won't go into details, as I wonder if it's a bit outside of practicing rules, but there is someone on my street who is willing to help me with IVs if I need it, and their medical office is walking distance (I walked today) maybe 5 min to walk, and driving there's nothing closer.

Does anyone else suck at estimating walking times?  I should probably actually time it out sometime, so I know for getting there.

Chilly out, the walk there wasn't great, my hands and ears got too cold with the wind.  I want the nice warm spring weather back!

Snowing here like crazy, it is melting as soon as it hits the ground right now - but great big fluffy flakes.  Yikes, it's May 2nd - hey Mother Nature, give us a break.

21 here today. Summer is coming!

Tabitha - now could you find a way to hold it at 21 degrees (except for a few afternoons at the beach)!

But it was nice to wake up this morning to the sunlight streaming in the window in my den and livingroom.  I was up late square-dancing last night and slept in until 7:00 o'clock so it was daytime bright.   And it's so sunny and cheery in the Room that I don't think I'll start a fire.  Instead people can pull their chairs around to gaze out the picture window to the garden, and the mist rising from the water beyond.   Look, I think I just saw two ducks out there!   And the birds are flocking around the feeders - lazy birds, they should be able to find their own food now.  Soon we'll be putting the seeds and suet feeders away and getting out the nectar to welcome the hummingbirds.

What's everybody's plans for the day?   Me - I've got to take a quick run to the Coop store.  Then make sandwiches for the Square Dance Spring Festival.  Then this afternoon and evening we'll be dancing.   (My poor house - it's been ages since it's had more than a 'lick and a promise'.  

I'm off to interview folks for leadership position in :two countries one world:  http://www.waterlootcow.ca/

It is always good to be with folks passionate about justice, about new ways of learning and being, and working with youth.  

I have my list of questions, and am ready early for leaving...

Then home to visit dad and get the car ready for tomorrow's run to the US.

I never knew that Harlequin was a Canadian company.  surprised me.

seeler, my mom used to say "a lick and  a promise".  I wonder where that expression came from, do you know?

I LOVE IT. i ELIMINATE THE LICK AND JUST DO THE PROMISE.

snow flurries. eek.

Your guess is as good as mine.  I've heard it all my life.  Perhaps a child is out with his mother - just before they arrive at church, or grandma's house, or the doctor she notices that he has a smear of peanut butter on his chin.  She grabs a tissue and gives it a rub.  If its dry she may dampen it a bit with her saliva.  That's the lick.  She promises to clean him up better when she gets a chance.  A 'lick' may also flatten down a cowlick for the time being.   And a swipe of a cloth over the table just before you answer the door for unexpected company might also be a 'lick'.   The promise is of course that you will do better next time.

CH, have you seen pictures of Calgary?  20cm and still coming.  We'll have snow soon too, hopefully not that much!

Alta is really getting it. Not us, cross fingers.

My mom never said "lick and a promise", but my MIL did, and so, of course, does my SIL.  I use the term now too.

My mom used to say "give it a quick going over".  And I use that term also.

A quick once over

Thanks for reminding me beloved

what about spit and polish. Anyone use this?

Seeler's apparently on the right trail with her answer ... here's my Saturday afternoon trivia contribution ... 

http://www.grammarphobia.com/blog/2012/10/a-lick-and-a-promise.html 

Okay, I have to share this with you folks, as it is cracking me up.

First, you have to know that I am a large woman still.  though workng out, etc, I still have a long way to go..

Anyhow, I was driving for 5.5 hrs today so decided to be comfie and wore yoga pants.  I never wear yoga pants in public.

i stay at the same hotel every time, to the point where I get the same room every time that I come to HQ.

Today, I arrived, checked in, and headed back out to get my luggage. 

The young woman on the desk shouted after me "hey, mrs ____, have you been working out?"   I turned back to respond, and said sure, for the last year or so, though been slack for a month.

She said, "well, you are just rocking that butt.  It's awesome. I'm jealous.". 

I am still laughing.   That is what squats will do for you, I guess.

Now, if only the gut was as easy to get rid. of.

- validation on your hard work, Pinga.  It must have felt good to know that someone has noticed your hard work and how it has paid off for your so far.  I think the gut is the last to go.

I've used "spit and polish" Crazyheart.

Glad to hear that Pinga!

Awsome pinga - ROCKIN" IT!!   That's great!   made me chuckle too - and it's not even my butt!! 

Lol.@ Carolla

 Went to church this morning, My granddaughter was baptised. She was so good as well as the other little 7 month old who was also baptised. My little girl is very sober but today she entertained the entire congregation - looked everyone over, tried to take a bath in the font and didn't make a squeek.I was thinking of you chemgal. She wouldn't hurt your hand but might grab your cheeks if they are chubby like the ministers.( a old friend and colleague)

Her 5 year old brother sat an watched every move that was made

There was also a bonus - there was communion. Thanks be to God for the opportunity.

Knew many people. Was a good day.

She would grab my hair CH, it's what babies do :)

Lovely CH-glad you could be there and celebrate!

Ah Pinga-keep rockin that butt-and back for our upcoming journey. Please e-mail me the time of your return flight!

Night all!

The baptisms of our grandchildren are special events - so is the sharing of bread and drink - the communion, the community!   I'm basking in your joy, Crazy - and remembering mine at similar events.

Square danced Friday night, Saturday afternoon and evening.  Wow!  The guest caller was fast.  Even those younger and more experienced had trouble keeping up at times.  But we did good .   I was really pleased to be able to participate until the end - although I realized at the end that I couldn't have done even one more.  But Sunday I was off to church and handed out cards to eight new people transfering in.  (Next week we receive others through confirmation.)    In the afternoon I helped with a church family bowling outing.  Lots of fun.  But am I exhausted.   I keep pretending I don't have Parkinsons.

Today's appointment was a bit of a step back.  I went in not feeling all so great though.  I think I did a good job of doing quite a few of the steps despite how I was feeling, but after a while it was time to just focus on breathing and not everything else.

chemgal, sorry you are having such a rough go of all of this.  I hope things turn around for the better for you soon.

Thanks Beloved.  I felt ok about this one, as I was kinda expecting it based how I felt.  I'm just a bit frustrated, as I still have quite a ways to go before I'm independent with the med.  I'll be at home for the next one though, so I've still gained a bit of independence.

I do feel better if something like this happened at home.  As long as it was started, I can just tape it down and wait it out before continuing.  I'll just always make sure I'm prepared with a drink and a cold cloth.

Chemgal - it's a learning curve for you right now - learning procedures, giving your body time to adjust to medication, and perhaps having the dosage modified at some point.  I wish you well.

Today I am just plumb tuckered out.  Other than stripping the beds and putting the sheets in the washer, and transfering them to the dryer, I took it easy all morning.  Went for my regular Monday afternoon bowling - and found that my legs are turning to jelly and my concentration lacking.  I don't know how I managed to get through the first two strings with a 79 and a 77.  But then I came alive and bowled 97 in the third.  Seelerman was driving so I could kind of chill out on the way home.  Leftover spagetti for supper.   Sometime during the evening I'll have to find the energy to make up the beds.    Perhaps I have been pushing a bit.

Seeler, it sounds like you've been doing quite a bit.  Can Seelerman do the beds?  Don't be afraid to break it down into little steps either, get the sheet on, untucked, relax and go back to get it over the corners later.

My bed is stripped too, seeler - and my sheets are still wrinkling in my dryer . . . I know I have to make my bed soon cause my hubby will threated to go to bed on a bare bed with a blanket thrown over him.  I will get around to it soon.  I hope you get a burst of energy for tonight.

Quite often chemgal I will do chores (especially ones I don't like to do) in steps and stages.  Sometimes I will start by putting the fitted sheet on, and then go and do another chore or check out Wondercafe or read something, and then I will go back and do the pillows, and putter at something else, and then the top sheet and the duvet.  Sometimes all I need to do is just make the start and then I finish it right then and there.

It is a dull dreary day here this afternoon.  I had to run an errand and it was raining out.  Oh well, rain is better than snow.

I am started to this about gardening and flower pots . . .

Sometimes if I make enough steps Chemguy just takes over :)

sunny day here.

I love it that you break big jobs down into small steps. That's the way to get them done-and enlisting help ie partners is a good idea too!

Ugh I've been a bit worn out lately but yesterday I ran a few errands and made cookies.  It was clearly too much, as today my throat hurts.  I *should* treat and then go hang out near a hospital just in case.  This is quite minor compared to what I've experienced in the past though, and with me based on how it's come up this time I know this isn't going to escalate like that.  I went for a long time with no treatment with worse throat swelling.  I just had a dose yesterday, and was supposed to recieve more to take home with me and but it hadn't come in yet, so I have a lower supply than I should have at home.

Just to update you guys, I didn't take my medication.  I did have a popscicle (with real fruit and other tasty stuff) and now the pain has subsidied to the point where I only notice if I pay attention to it.  I think I'll keep some drinks with ice cubes around.

I think that we should all share some real fruit popsicles!  I brought enough for everyone, just don't sit too close to the fireplace.  It's snowing here today, but that doesn't make me want a frozen treat any less.

lol It's snowing here too, but my neighbour appears to be fertilizing, mowing, etc.

I'll share my stash!  I forget what they are called, they are from Costco and have coconut water and chia seeds.  Flavours are banana, mango and strawberry.  Silly Chemguy wasn't convinced at the store, but he thinks they are the best ones now.

I made homemade popsiscles with Pim's (gin) and fresh fruit and they were lovely to eat on hot summer days! Yum!

Feeling a little melancholy tonight - it's my son's birthday, and we haven't even seen each other today   First year for that to happen.  We've both been in & out, just not in synch with each other's schedules.  Oh well ... they do grow up - it's inevitable.   We've got a dinner organized for Saturday night with him & his girlfriend, so that will have to be good enough.   Will wrap myself up in a prayer shawl here, and remember all the sweet times we've shared over the years. 

Grandson is no longer nine.  Today is his tenth birthday.  How did that happen so soon?   Just last weekend someone asked me how old he is, and I answered "Nine".   Not "Almost 10".   Somehow it doesn't seem possible that he is ten.  Leaving childhood behind.  

He will be having his party at his father's place.  Next Monday his mom (Seelergirl) will have a family dinner for him.  

So, Carolla, I'll just take this other prayer shawl and wrap up in a nearby chair, and remember that sweet little child who is now a kid who rides his bike around the neighbourhood with his friends, plays in the brook, and tries to be independent - but still needs us.   But the time will come when he will be moving on - his own life, interests, friends, girl-friends.   

And my own children are middle-aged.  My son will be fifty on his next birthday.  No - he can't be!   I must be doing the math wrong.  He's still my boy.

Double Digits - Hooray!  The time will fly now . . . before you know it seeler, you will be attending his high school graduation.

carolla, thinking of you as you feel melancholy . . . I've experienced that with my son as he grew older and began his own life.  When he was 17 going on 18 he had his first girlfriend.  I felt his emotional ties from our family unit move from us to her, and I felt melancholy thinking "this part of our family life will never be the same again" as he became a young man.  Hope carollason had a super birthday - enjoy your celebration with him when it comes.

Off to walk on the treadmill, go to a meeting at the church, go to bible study, run some errands, and hopefully get some housework/chores done around the house.

Have a great Wednesday everyone.

Another nice day in the Maritimes - sun pouring in my picture window - clear sky - slight breeze.  It was up to 19 yesterday.  Today promises more of the same.  These are the days that could make spring my favourite season (especially after such a long winter).   But - don't let it get much warmer to soon.

Yesterday I put in another full day.  Down at the church by 8:30 for my volunteer job.  We were short-handed.  Before long someone from our team asked if I could fill in another position.  "Sure."  But how?   I looked around at our clients.  I knew one of the women.   She had been new in our church at about the same time as I transfered in - she sang in the choir, helped in the kitchen during 'fellowship time' after church.   Then she disappeared for a time - and now she's back and in need of a little help.  I called her over, explained how to run our 'pantry', and then crossed the room to do another job - all the while talking to our clients, directing them to the self-serve coffee and breakfast snacks, making them welcome.  It worked out fine.  Later other clients helped to get out more chairs - and then clean up.    We have competent people in among our clients - people who are intelligent, willing, capable - but this province has a high unemployment rate - and not everybody is in a position to move to Alberta.

Anyway after working most of the morning, I came home, took a break, made lunch, and then spent two hours helping Seelerman put up the gazebo on the deck - something that involved moving from step-stool, to step-ladder, and back again - and standing with my arms above my head helping to support a fibreglass panel as he manouvered it in place, or holding the end of a steel rod as he bolted the other end.  (Him almost eighty standing on the deck railing, leaning back, with a ten foot drop behind him - and me praying that he wouldn't fall.)  Seelerman won't admit that he is getting older and we shouldn't be trying to do the things we took for granted a few years ago.)   

A short rest and then I made a cake for company tonight;  put some chicken legs in the oven, and made up a new recipe for a cauliflower dish that I'd been planning for some time.

Then a pleasant visit with a friend from church - no special reason - just getting together for tea and 'tomato soup cake'.

Had my first dose at home.  Chemguy did great, first try.  Couldn't tape it down properly due to the position and that caused me some mild pain on the first few pushes.  I did about as well as the last dose, and I don't think the pain had anything to do with it.  We forgot to have a drink handy it's easier to think about having everything to go when you're not at home.  It was nice to curl up in bed right after we were done, I had a nice little morning nap :)

Hopefully next week will go better in terms of the dizzyness.

Sounds great chemgal. You both must feel pretty good about your success. Hope the rest of your day is good.