I can't believe another year is drawing to a close. It certainly has been a busy and adventurous year for us.

Our recent trip to the mainland was enjoyable. It was so nice to see family again. I saw my niece and two of my great nephews, one of my nephews and his girlfriend who is visiting all the ways from Croatia(that was were my father was from). Our first day there we met up with my eldest daughter and had lunch with her and then did a little sight seeing and then off to my sister's.

The next day the boys decided they wanted to go to the Aquarium.....great idea, I haven't been there in years. The down side was that many others had the same idea and the place was very busy. We did take in the Beluga show and saw tropical fish, marine life on the westcoast and from around the world. It is great how they have it all laid out lots of indoor viewing areas where the sea life come right up to the glass windows, like they are saying hello to you. It was a good time.

There are 4 Beluga's in this tank.....this one appears to be looking right at me......

This sea lion is over 2000lbs.....you've heard me talk about the sea lions over here in Fanny Bay where they make home during the herring season....they are very loud....this guy just seems to be lounging....
There was so much to see....this little guy is one of those gecko like creatures that skim across the water.....they move very fast....
I am not particularly fond of this picture but I love the carving behind us..it is of an Orca whale carved by local artists....this is just outside of the Aquarium....

This of course is me and the Birthday girl....now I ask you does she look 60 something? I don't think so. Yes a good time was had....her roommate had made a wonderful lasagna dinner enough to feed a small army. The birthday cake was fabulous, those of you from the mainland who are familiar with Bon Bon cakes, you know what I am talking about....it was yummmmmmy!!!

Tonight we are home and taking it easy....hubby and I are going to make a Chinese dinner, hubby had gone out earlier and got some fireworks for the boys to set off at midnight....So there you have it...our plans for New Years.

I hope whatever your plans are for this evening you stay healthy and safe.....and bring in the New Year in your own special way. Cheers to you all and a very Happy New Years!!!!

We're off to the Mainland.......

Today I am up early. We are wanting to catch the ferry to the mainland to go visit my sisters. It is my eldest sisters Birthday tomorrow, so I thought it would be nice to be able to celebrate with her.

We tried to make reservations for the ferry but any of the sailing we want the prebooking is closed, so we just have to take our chances, hence I want to leave early to catch the 1030 ferry. They have been have such a terrible time with the mechanical function of the ferries lately. Currently they had to take one out of service and move another to another location hence certain sailings on the route I would take have been cancelled. We are to be getting two super ferries come January. I think we could have used more.

The boys have never really been able to spend to much time on the mainland doing any tourist things so I am hoping that we might get in an attraction or two. I am sure eldest son will want to check out some of the stores. There are so many people I would love to see, but I know the boys would be bored stiff, so I think this trip will be limited to visisting just family.

Anyhow, that is what I will be up to for the next couple of days, I hope life is treating you all well, and I will catch up with you all on Monday. Cheers and have a great weekend!

Let's go for a walk......

So now the hustle and bustle of Christmas preparation is over and for those of you who venture out on Boxing Day to get some of those sales I hope your survived and are now resting.


Yesterday, instead of shopping which is the last thing I wanted to do, we decided that the kids and I would take a nice long walk down to the fish hatchery and see what was going on. There are no fish in the hatchery right now, just some dead fish carcasses on the waters edge. Hence it is home to many eagles. I was able to capture a few Bald eagles and one Juvenile although I think by it's colouring it looks like it might be a 3rd year juvenile......so here are some of the photos from our walk yesterday.....



This is the 3rd year juvenile I was talking about.....see how their colouring works as a wonderful camouflage for the surrounding area....


I'm not sure where eldest was in this picture but here are the middle daughter, youngest daughter and the boys at waters edge.......and then dear Bert decided that the water was just to inviting and so.....
That water is darn cold...it is fresh run off from the mountains........yikes!!!!

The salmon return to spawn up this river, the way in which the water is falling is called a fish ladder....when the salmon are returning it's amazing to see them jump this ladder.

Anyhow, that was our day out....although it looks bright is was cool, by the time we all got home our cheeks were rosy and the fire and hot chocolate were in order.

And so this is Christmas.......

Yesterday I spent a good portion of my morning looking up Christmas songs on the Internet to add to my Christmas collection. I have what you would call a very eclectic taste in music. Anything from Roger Whittacker, Nana Mouskouri, Pavarotti, Enya,Sting, Great Big Sea, Tim McGraw and Reba Mcintyre just to name a few. But one of my favourite all time Christmas songs is the one by John Lennon" And so this is Christmas" When I think of the first lines of this song...."And so this is Christmas and what have we done, another year over, new one just begun....." it speaks to me about giving, caring, patience and tolerance. Every Christmas I look forward to hearing this song. If there ever was a utopia mine would be a world of peace and harmony.

I know that is a tall order. But wouldn't it be wonderful. We don't need to look at the war in Iraq or Afghanistan to see injustice being done and cruelty to mankind. It unfortunately is all around us on a daily basis. The senior who is victim to a home invasion, the store keeper who is robbed at gunpoint, the addict breaking into a vehicle to get the change for them to get their next fix, or the gang violence.....and even closer to home the intolerance of others that we experience. The unkind person who buds in front of another person, or says an unkind word because they don't like the way the person looks, smells or speaks. We talk about freedom of speech, but it only seems to apply if the person says what we want them to say, that they have to agree with our view point or we reject them in no uncertain terms using cruel words and profanity, rather than debate an issue and just agree to disagree.

Oh yes what a wonderful world it would be......oh that's another song now isn't it. But truly wouldn't it be such a wonderful world if we all just had a little more patience and tolerance for each other. I'm not one for making resolutions but if I want change to happen then it must begin with me, oh here I go again with another song. Anyhow, I am making this pledge to myself, to try to be more tolerant of others, and to recognize that we all have differing opinions and that's ok, to let that person in front of me in line, and to try not to curse at that person who just cut me off in traffic. Yup that is my wish for myself, and for you my dear friends I wish you all good things peace, harmony and happiness.

Merry Christmas.

A thought for Christmas.....

Well the countdown to Christmas is on....the house is quiet....hubby and the boys and grandpa have all gone shopping.....yes shopping. The boys are wanting to get a little something for me... they kept asking me what I wanted.....I can honestly say....I don't need or want anything...truly....I said that to my hubby as well....I just want us to be happy and healthy and together...and it appears that I will get my wish for Christmas, that is the best gift of all.

Have you ever read the story The Christmas Box written by Richard Paul Evans? It was given to me as a gift many years ago by my girls grandmother. She briefly explained the concept of the story to me and I thought how lovely, I will have to read that one day. Well the years have passed and the other day when I was preparing the boys room for their arrival I was looking at my bookshelf and there it was. It's has a charming cover and I thought it would make a nice table book. But something said to me read it.....read the book. So I got myself a cup of tea and laid on the couch and started to read it. The author of the book wrote the story out of love for his two daughters and it was his gift to them. The story was then given to others as gifts and finally someone suggested he publish it, which he did.

It is a story about a man and his young family who move from California back to his home state of Utah where he was going to start a new business. The wife while reading in the paper finds an ad for a small family to move into a mansion and to help with general chores and meals for an aging woman. The family move in and the story goes on about life in the mansion and living with the woman and the lessons he learnt. It was a touching story, one fit to be read at Christmas. It definitely gave me food for thought and reminded me about what is important, not only at Christmas but all year through.

It is hard not to get all wrapped up in the preparation of Christmas and easy to forget about why we do what it is we do for Christmas. I guess at some point in time after all the years of preparing for Christmas that maybe one Christmas we will truly get it.....I mean why we go to all the effort, why it is so important that we get just that right little something for Suzy or Johnny, why we spend so much time in the kitchen cooking the feast to end all feasts......or decorate that tree....that perfect tree.....maybe just maybe, that one year will come when we realize that it really isn't just about Christmas, but a time for us to renew and remember our feelings of humanity. We go to all this effort because we love.....because we care.....because we want those around us to know how much we care.....and because we feel so blessed and fortunate that we want to share this with others. Even if it is only your neighbour....just to share that warm caring feeling with someone other than your immediate family....to be able to do something for someone else....not because we have to.....but because we want to....and for some reason we have decided as a society that the best time of year to do this is Christmas......Christmas reminds us that there are more important things than ourselves...... when will we learn the lesson to carry these feeling through to the whole year....will it be this year? Or will it take another Christmas for us to figure it all out?

I wish you all a very blessed and Happy Christmas!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas........

The boys arrived yesterday.....oh and what a pleasure it was to greet them at the airport. Their flight was only 40 mins delayed....I thought that was pretty good considering the weather conditions that have been happening out east. They arrived safe and sound....tired but in good spirits. You know what it's like having to get up at 0300 then drive for an hour to the airport and then they had 9 hours to get to their destination, but they made it and we are thankful for that.

Hubby wanted to do some shopping on our way home, and I couldn't believe it but the boys were totally ok with it....mind you it was going into electronic stores...with all the computers and gadgets and all...it's like a candy store to them. Hubby never found what he was looking for....I picked up another couple of boxes of silver ornaments for my tree and a couple of things and then it was off home. It was a glorious day yesterday....I told hubby if we can't have snow for Christmas I want a day like today...it was cool and crisp the sun was shining and the snow on the mountains and glacier was picturesque......I had thought to bring my camera, but forgot it on the dining room table....good place.....NOT.

Today I am up early, I want to get on my stepper and do a few chores. I am going up to work today to pick up the Christmas hamper we have been preparing to give to a family for Christmas. This year we have a family that is a single mom and two small children. The youngest is 18months and suffers from asthma and frequents our paediatrics department at the hospital. It was our Social worker who told us about this family, and we all thought it would be just perfect. We had asked the mom if there was anything special she or her children would like for Christmas....her list was very small. The one thing the mom asked for was colourful towels. I had already bought her a collection of bath creams and shower gels, so when I found out she wanted towels I thought how perfect, so I went and got her a couple of bright yellow towels a vibrant pink and a turquoise coloured towel.....I don't think you can get much more colorful than that....for the youngest I bought a musical toy that lights up and pops up....very interactive I thought...and for the 3 year old I got her a very cuddly Christmas bear dressed in it's Christmas best.....the staff have been very generous I thought and a colleague and I will be delivering the hampers today.....you know it feels so good to be able to give to someone who really needs it....that's what Christmas is about isn't it?

Wishing you all a wonderful day.........cheers!

Happy Holidays.............

Life has been hectic as I am sure it has been for all of you. Our boys arrive tomorrow so I have been busy try to getting the final touches on wrapping gifts and organizing their rooms and just general Christmas stuff.

Hubbies recovery is going very well. He is just amazing me. He is a very fast healer. We were at physio on Monday and go again today and he is getting great range of motion with his arm. I am so happy. I on the other hand am not doing as well as I had hoped. I met with my employer and the powers that be on Monday and we decided that I should stop my gradual return to work and not try to come back until the New Year. My shoulder is starting to show signs of impingement, but what bothers me the most is my spine. I have pain up an down my spine and am getting numbness in my finger and great toe...all just to weird. When I saw the physiotherapist on Monday she did some mild traction on me...and ever since then my spine has been killing me...I actually took hubbies pain killers yesterday and basically vegged on the the couch....that is sooooooooooooooooo not me. I am more mobile today, I was to see my GP but he called in sick today so they had to cancel all of his appointments and now they are not open until the New Year. Living in a small town there are not many options available to me at this point in time. I asked to see another doctor but they are all booked up. My only option it would appear is to go to the ER but it is not that bad and it is not an emergency, but I do feel as though I need a xray of my spine and possibly at CT scan, but it looks like that will have to wait until the New Year now. So much for that.....

I am so excited about our boys arriving tomorrow. I want to do one last baking which I will do today, and then I think I am done. We got our tree the other day....and you know.....I love it....it is much smaller than I wanted....I mean it's not the 13 footer that I am used to...but we are anticipating a lot of people on Christmas and didn't feel the larger tree would fit........so here it is our 2007 Christmas Tree.....

It would have been nice if there had been snow outside. We did have snow off and on yesterday....our weather has been so odd this year. Our boys are travelling from back east and we know how hard they have been hit with the winter storms, we are being optimistic about their being able to travel tomorrow.

One of the things I collect, are Santa's....this year I added two more......here is what I have done with my Santa's this year....

The White Santa on the right on the table is one of my new ones.....and here is the other.....

He stands a couple of feet tall......I just love him.....I don't know how or why I got into collecting Santa's but I did, so now I am always on the look out for a Santa........other than my Santa's the theme around my house is blue and sliver. The garland around the window as are decorated with blue and silver and the tree as you saw is blue and silver.....well I can across this lovely table runner that is of varying materials of blue and with silver stars, I just loved it...then I saw the candles and holders and well I just had to have those......the center piece was given to us as a gift a couple of Christmas's ago......

The nativity scene in the back ground was my mothers....it's nothing extravagant, but it was hers and it brings such fond memories for me.....

The angel with the blue candle was my sister's, her husband gave that to me the first Christmas we celebrated without her, so to put it by the nativity scene just seem appropriate to me, so when I look at that I think of both my sister and my mom.......Merry Christmas Eileen and Mom.......

Sugery update....

It was a long day yesterday. It started at 0500, we had to get up and head out to the hospital. Hubby was first case of day the. We got there and they called him in. So now what do I do.....it's only 0650 in the morning. Nothing is open. My intent was to go finish up some Christmas shopping while I was in town. So to kill some time I went and had a "skinny Latte"(gosh I could be a barrista, Not!) and read the local paper. It was getting on for 0800 by that time so I decided that by the time I drove to the Mall at least Wal-Mart would be open.

I was amazed at how much time I was able to spend in there, they have everything from nuts and bolts to peanut butter, and so I end up wandering about getting all glassy eyed. Actually it was really pleasant...the store wasn't busy at all.....Christmas tune(country style) were playing and I was singing along....it was very enjoyable. By the time I left Wal-Mart the rest of the mall was open. This then provided me with an opportunity to do some of the other stuff.

One of the things my youngest wanted was a P-Coat.....do you remember them? I always thought of them as the "sailor jacket". Well they are really nothing like the original P-Coats

but they are fun and come in a variety of styles. My youngest is about 5'4" and weights maybe 100-105lbs...she is tiny. Anyhow, it just so happens the clerk in the store was about her size. Oh did we have fun, I had her try on a variety of jackets and then the bulky scarves. The sleeves on the jacket I picked had 3/4 length sleeves which then meant longer sleeved gloves....oh did it ever look classy and fun. Oh I do hope she likes it. I had already bought her some jeans and a dress top so I am hoping the whole outfit just goes together....I can hardly wait to see her in it.

I love shopping for my girls. They are so easy to shop for. They certainly make the clothes and not the other way around. I was also suppose to try and find some stocking stuffer for my step sons but is so hard. I got everyone scratch lottery tickets, and the older boys deodorant and toiletries....but what do you put in a 12 year olds stocking besides the candy, orange and nuts and lottery ticket? I am stumped. I have asked hubby numerous times what he thinks, but he just says...we'll go shopping and find something....well now with him being laid up I don't think he is going to want to be going shopping. Ah I will find something.....

So after 3 1/2 hours shopping I had enough, I decided it was time to go back to the hospital and see where they were at. I wasn't really expecting him to be ready to go home until 2:00 pm at the earliest. I arrived at 1230. They have this waiting room with recliner chairs and a TV....I bought a paper and then just dozed off and on. Finally at around 2:45 they came for me. I go into the area were he is....he was semi upright in bed, looking much better than I had anticipated.....the surgeon was there and explained to us what he had done. The damage to my hubbies shoulder was much worse than he had anticipated, and hence the surgery took an hour longer than he thought. He told us that even with all the muscle manipulation he had to do there is still an area on his shoulder that is not protected and hence he potentially will never fully regain the ability to lift his arm to up towards his head. He told us it was going to be a very long recovery, 6 weeks of immobilization and working with physio to do passive range of motion.

Last night was a long one. Hubby just couldn't' get comfortable in his recliner chair and the sad thing....the wonderful big comfy chair that I bought him for his birthday with the anticipation of him having to use it a fair amount of time, didn't work out the way I had anticipated. I over looked one major thing .....the leaver that is used to extend the leg of the chair is on his affected side....so every time he needed to get up....I would have to get up and move the leaver and assist him up.....it was a sleepless night. I think we are going to have to come up with some device to help him manipulate the leaver himself.....hmmmm....got to get my thinking cap on...I was able to get a couple of hours this morning.....I finally went up to bed and grabbed a nap. He is doing amazingly well under the circumstances. Thank you all again for your kind words of support. I got to fly now....got to go bring in some wood and make some lunch and do some chores......hope life is treating you all very well....cheers.....

Just touching base......

Thank you all for your kinds words of encouragement. Sorry I haven't been around very much....haven't had much to say really. Been busy doing the Christmas preparation and all, and my back to work program.

Well I have been back since last Friday I have only been able to manage four 4 hrs shifts. My shoulder hurts all the time. I keep doing the exercises physio has shown me and actually when I saw her last I reviewed what I was doing to make sure I was using the proper technique, but wow I hurt. Today I worked 4 hrs and will be going off to physio shortly. I think part of my problem is the driving. You see I have to drive 50 mins before I even start work, that static position is just not good for me. I reposition myself, moved the seat up and down forward and back as the same with the steering wheel. It has now been suggested that I pull over and take a rest. Well if I am going to do that I am going to leave my house even earlier, as it is I give myself an hour to get to work. Anyhow, that what is going on with my shoulder, I have met with the powers that be and will meet again with them next week to review my progress. I am remaining optimistic, that all I can do.

On another note, I got my final grade for my course......drum roll please......I got an A+.....I can't believe it. I thought oh they've got the wrong person here....but nope it was my paper and presentation that was marked. I am really doing the happy dance. My hubby was sleeping on the couch when I opened the envelope....I said "hey I got an A+" He grunted....I am hoping he will be a little more enthusiastic for me when he wakes up. If my mom were alive I would call her, but instead I sent a text message to my middle daughter she got right back to me....doing the happy dance is for sure. I am going to take an English courses in January and I was hoping a nursing course but I don't think that is going to happen. I have volunteered for our local Hospice society and have to take their 6 week course come January, so I thought I should make my plate to full. So there's my educational update.

Hubby has his long awaited surgery tomorrow. To be honest I am scared and happy at the same time. I am so happy he is getting it done because he has been in excruciating pain since the dislocation in September and constant pain since he was hit by the car almost 2 years ago. But tomorrow it will be done. I am scared one just for the simple fact that he has to have surgery....I know this has been done a bazillion times before but he is my hubby and well.....I just worry....the other is the post op pain I know he is going to have and the long road to recovery that lays ahead, but at least it is recovery, this is a positive.

The continuing saga of me and my shoulder.....

So I was at physio yesterday, working on strengthening my shoulder and range of motion. It's funny..with all the manipulation that she has been doing it has made my old injury on my left shoulder flare up. So much so that it caused temporary numbness to my arm. Urgh!! That left shoulder has never been the same since I had a work related injury to it over 4 years ago. Anyhow, she was doing some massage therapy on my scapula's and well that is when my left arm started to go numb. It did pass. I asked the physiotherapist if she thought I could go back to work this Thursday...being tomorrow. She looked at me like I was crazy. I asked her to fax her observations to my doctor and tell him what she has been doing etc. Anyhow, today I go visit my doctor. I have now got the go ahead to try what we call a gradual return to work, with 2 weeks of half days and physio and then 4 weeks of no lifting above my waist and nothing greater than 10 kg. So although I am excited about getting back to work, I am amazed at the differing of opinions. Here we have a physiotherapist who on Tuesday worked on me for over an hour saying by no means did she think I was ready, and then the next day my doctor who spends 15 mins with me tells me I can go back on the GRTW program. Go figure. Long and short of it, as I said I am glad to be getting back, I hate not working and pulling my weight at work. There's a part of me that feels like I'm being a slacker. Like I should be able to handle it all and do it all. Then there is my body, that says...hey wait a minute.....don't do that to me.....

But I feel the longer I am off the worse I mentally feel. Even though I have been active and busy and going to physio, I still feel like I am not being productive. So there you have the update on me and my shoulder. Physio tomorrow and then hopefully if all the powers that be can coordinate things I shall be back to work soon.

Hope you are all having a fantastic day.....cheers!!!

Heads or Tails Tuesday

This week it is Heads and the theme is 3

Three things I did today

1. Got out of bed
2. brushed my teeth
3. had my yogurt with bran and blueberries

Three things I bought today

1. More Christmas lights
2. Another extension cord
3. Milk

Three chores I did today

1. Dust
2. Make my bed
3. Laundry

Three things I have to do tomorrow

1. Exercise
2. Go to physio
3. Christmas shop

So there you have it...my three .....now if you would like to play along check out Skittle's Place for all of the instructions. Have fun!!!!

Seven Radom Things about me......and Christmas

Well I have been tagged by my own woman to do the 7 Random things about me. Now I am told it can be 7 strange things, or 7 things I like or dislike...whatever I want. So in in keeping with the Christmas theme, I will try and tell you 7 Christmas things about me.....I then have to pick 7 of you to play along.....So here it goes.....
I usually don't allow Christmas music in the house until December 1st.....this year I broke that rule....it snowed yesterday and well it put me into the Christmas spirit.

• I like to colour coordinate my gift wrap with my decorations....I spend a lot of time wrapping my gifts....
  
  


• I collect Santa's and I am hoping to find a decorative Santa for my front doorway....









• My hubby has started a tradition of us going out into the mountain to cut down our tree...it has proven to be quite the adventure...it's going to be very interesting this year as he has his bad shoulder and I am working out the aches and pains in mine......


• I'm a bit of a control freak so I like things to just be so....well as so as they can be around Christmas....I want a Better home and garden Christmas on a beer budget


• I truly do love to give rather than receive.....I get so much joy out of watching the expression on others as they open their gifts.....I know that sounds so corny ...but it's true...as a kid I would rip and rush to open the presents just as quick as any kid...but as I've gotten older I really do appreciate the simpler things.....


• I love Christmas Eve.....way more than Christmas day.....Christmas Eve you still have the anticipation of Christmas....everything is done and it is just time to enjoy the family....we use to always get together at my brothers for Christmas Eve and do a gift exchange, it was a wonderful time...we all dressed in our Sunday best, all the nieces and nephews and cousins would be there...the house would be bursting with people....laughter,and song....oh yes Christmas Eve....so very special to me...

Oh I am just getting on a roll....and I see that I have listed 7 things......so there you have it

So tell me....what are 7 things about you that you would like to share.......

Oh the weather outside is frightful.......

Well I can't believe it....here we are at the beginning of another week.....and another week closer to the big day......Christmas!!!!

The weather has been cooling off and today as I type this we are getting our first snowfall of the season. It's funny how snow really gets you into the spirit of Christmas. I use to have a rule in the house...no Christmas music until December 1st....but you know what.....with the snowfall this afternoon, I just couldn't help myself.....yup....I played a whole bunch of Christmas tunes. You know what else I did.....I made hot mulled apple juice.....yummy....and it smells so good and festive. Hubby has been working outside all day so he very much appreciated coming in to the smells of the mulled juice.

I got my Christmas cards done last evening....so those will be off into the post by the end of the week. Had a doctor's appointment today so did a little Christmas shopping while I was in town.

I have been off work since last week due to a shoulder injury I incurred as a result of a patient transfer. Even with three of us transferring this patient and using a lift I still managed to hurt my scapulae and shoulder. It's feeling much better than it did last week, but the doctor wants me to do some physiotherapy this week and then I think I should be ready for work by next week. So with not working this past week I have been able to get a good start on Christmas. This coming weekend I am hoping to get my decorations out and maybe get a start on some baking.

Hubby is working like crazy....he's doing to much with that terrible arm and shoulder of his....sometimes he just amazes me as to what he can do.....I can hardly wait to see what he can do after his recovery from surgery. I think that is what has put the fire under him. He knows his surgery is in a couple of weeks and wants to get as much done before hand as he knows he is not to do anything....and we mean anything for the first couple of weeks. The first week they told us that I would have to bath him as he isn't even allowed to raise his arm. So this is all going to be very interesting. Lucky for him I am a nurse....actually he has always been very appreciative of having a nurse around....my poor accident prone hubby....actually I don't know if he is accident prone or if he is just a risk taker....what ever the reason he has certainly had is fair share of injuries. I think he has been injured since I have known him.

When we first met he was recovering from a motorcycle accident in which he tore his tri and bicep muscles.....he finally recovered from that only to have a quad accident.....recovered from that and then got hit by a car....never recovered from that....and hence the surgery and with his dislocation of the shoulder while we were in Mexico that kinda expedited things a bit. So here we are, finally we can see light at the end of the tunnel and it is wonderful.

As far as the fog I was experiencing last week....still not sure I have figured that out...but just so you know....while I was out on my run I realized that I could take a later ferry which meant I could go to hubbies appointment, take him home....and catch the ferry to see my girls. I spoke with my girlfriend and we are going to exchange calendars and hopefully get together in January.

My course is finished next week....I can't believe it...it went by so fast. I start another one in December and then another in January....so I will be busy....but it will all be worth it in the end.

Anyhow, I promise to get around to saying hi to you all very soon. Thank you all for your wonderful comments on my last post. I know I sounded down....I was....but it all worked out in the end.

Cheers!!!

There are two things you can be certain of.....

You know the saying ...."there are two things you can be certain of in this life....death and taxes" I think there is one more...."Life never goes according to plan" But then I guess one has to ask oneself...is there a plan. Were we brought into this world already predetermined as to how our lives would play out? I know there are some philosophers and theorist who believe this to be so.

Today, I certainly don't feel that my life is following my plan...so who's plan is it following?

My plans for going to the mainland to see my friend and my daughters has fallen through. Try as I might, I couldn't coordinate things on this side of the pond. My husband's appointment and his schedule are conflicting. I can get him to his appointment and even stay....the plan...or so I thought was that he was going to take a couch line bus home....as it turns out there are none. He wasn't going to tell me this....or so he says. We are in the mists of a disagreement...one that I feel backed against a wall. As a result I have cancelled my plans for the mainland...I called my girls left them messages, emailed my friend and left a message at the hotel she is to check into. I am feeling very bad about not being able to follow through. My eldest daughter cancelled a shift at work so she could see me and my friend, and my daughter is in no position right now to give up a shift. I have told her I will pay for her loss of wage for today. Then there is middle daughter....I told her I would be there to wish her a Happy Birthday.....and never mind how I have disappointed my friend.

So who's plan was this anyways?.....I make no one happy....especially myself....my husband and I are having words.......I certainly did not plan this nor anticipate it, so whose design was this? What is it that I am to learn from this? What could I have done differently? I like to believe we learn something from our mistakes or life's experiences....in this circumstance, I think it is going to take some time before the fog clears so I can see what it is I was to learn.

Oh by the way.....Happy Thanksgiving to my friends accross the border.....gobble gobble

What to do.....

Do you remember this song?

Nelson - Garden Party Lyrics

I went to a garden party to reminisce with my old friends

A chance to share old memories and play our songs again

When I got to the garden party, they all knew my name

No one recognized me, I didnt look the same



Chorus

But its all right now, I learned my lesson well.

You see, ya cant please everyone, so ya got to please yourself



People came from miles around, everyone was there

Yoko brought her walrus, there was magic in the air

n over in the corner, much to my surprise

Mr. hughes hid in dylans shoes wearing his disguise



Chorus



Lott-in-dah-dah-dah, lot-in-dah-dah-dah



Played them all the old songs, thought thats why they came

No one heard the music, we didnt look the same

I said hello to mary lou, she belongs to me

When I sang a song about a honky-tonk, it was time to leave



Chorus



Lot-dah-dah-dah (lot-dah-dah-dah)

Lot-in-dah-dah-dah



Someone opened up a closet door and out stepped johnny b. goode

Playing guitar like a-ringin a bell and lookin like he should

If you gotta play at garden parties, I wish you a lotta luck

But if memories were all I sang, I rather drive a truck



Chorus



Lot-dah-dah-dah (lot-dah-dah-dah)

Lot-in-dah-dah-dah



n its all right now, learned my lesson well

You see, ya cant please everyone, so you got to please yourself



Transcribed by robin hood

More Nelson Lyrics...

Well it's the course that actually came to mind. " Ya can't please everyone so you gotta please yourself" For the past few weeks now I have been trying to organize and coordinate getting the girls over for middles daughters birthday. If there is one thing to know about me. it's that I like to have things organized and have a plan. I think that stems from having worked night shifts for so many years and having to balance raising children and working shifts and all of lifes commitments.

Anyhow, along with this my dear friend who I haven't seen in 3 years will be in Vancouver around the same time that I was thinking of having my girls over. So through many emails and telephone calls I am not sure I am any further ahead. Eldest daughter won't be able to make it at all due to work commitments, youngest daughter has alternate plans, and middle daughter tells me she really didn't want to come over for her birthday and that they were doing her birthday thing with her grandmother on her birthday. "Sigh" lump in throat. Feeling a little sorry for myself and left out.

Now as far as my girlfriend goes....as it is the day she gets in town I will just be getting off of night shift. I told her I could catch a mid morning ferry and meet her at her hotel around noon and we could get together then. "Idea" insert light bulb here......I suggested to my girls that they meet me with my friend(note my friend and I go back a long ways and she is my eldest daughters godmother...they call her aunty sue). Logistics....again trying to figure out my girls schedule, and meeting my friend. My girls are being a little non comm ital.

Throw another wrench into the mix. Hubby tells me that the day I have been planning on going to the mainland is the same day he has to go to the hospital to have his pre admission appointment for his up coming shoulder surgery.

Time to take a deep breath. Ok I say, what time is it at.....1:00 pm....ok .....I start to rethink things again.....if I go with him to his appointment we could still make the 3:00 pm ferry and then meet my friend for dinner. I talk to my friend about it...she thinks its a great idea......I suggest it to my hubby.....he is non committal. Enter the wrench......I want to go to his appointment with him...if I do that and he doesn't come with me to the mainland than how does he get home.....you see there are no buses to where I live.....and well taxi's are rare and if he were to get one it would cost approximately $150 to get him back home. Seems silly, now doesn't it?

So what to do......I want to see my girlfriend ........I think it's important I go to my hubbies appointment with him.....and well then there is middle daughters birthday......

".....Ya can't please everyone so you gotta please yourself.....lota dah dah... lota dah dah da"

Little of this and that....

Well I think this post will be a mixed bag of things. I did my last flu clinic today. I injected just over 500 people, in 3 1/2 days....that's a lot of shots. By the end of it I was starting to feel like a broken record...asking the same questions over and over....but you know...you have to...even if the next person is within ear shot of what I am asking I have to ask them. It was good. No reactions. Everyone very pleasant, I chatted with so many charming people. It was a great experience and I look forward to next year.

This week I also went to my local Hospice Society and decided to volunteer, it's been something I have wanted to do for sometime now. After meeting with the Excutive Director it was determined that they would like to see me as a Team leader. I told them however I could be of assistance. I have to take a 6 week training course. Seems kind of strange seeing as I directly nursed palliative patients for 5 years and continue to nurse palliative patients. But I suspect volunteering will be different. I think my challenge will be to take off my nursing hat and just be a volunteer and remember my boundaries as a volunteer and try not to take on to much. But I am excited, I think this will also help me with my long term goal of getting back into palliative care and hopefully being able to be part of a team who provides palliative services in the community.

Middle daughter is on her way over for a visit. Poor baby had her wisdom teeth pulled yesterday.....all four....ouch.....she is in a lot of pain....and is just wanting some mom time. I have tried to organize a massage and pedicure day for the both of us tomorrow...but so far no such luck...every shop I have called are booked. But I shall perservere.

Renos in the bathroom had to take a back seat this week. Hubby has been sick. Had a temp of 39.1 celcius...that's about 102 F. He's been so sick, but I think he is on the mend now....so maybe over the weekend we can get a start on it again.

So that's about all I have to say about that.....hope you all have a fantastic weekend!

Cheers!

Storm season is upon us.....

Yesterday was stormy......very stormy....winds in some areas up to 130km/hr.....I was working nights...one of the day staff called early to invite me to sleep at her home...she didn't want me to drive home. I thanked her and told her if I can make the storms of last year I can certainly see my way through this one.

Little did I realize what I was getting myself into. I leave the hospital...I felt like Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz and the storm....it felt like I could be picked up and flown away.....and I am no light weight. Anyhow, I make it to my car....the winds are blowing the raining is coming from all directions and it is falling hard.

I make my way out to the main part of town, when only just in the distance there is the loud pop their is a big flash of light and the all the lights go out....no stop lights, no street lights, nothing....I continue on. I drove another 5 mins only to hear another pop and flash and then no lights. It was crazy.

My ride home takes me along the water.....ocean to one side tall cedars on the other...or sometimes both.....the wind is blowing the rain is coming in off of the water.....the waves are high and rolling....the birds are loving it. I continue on...the wind making my car sway at times.....tree branches are falling in front of my car....some hitting my roof....I forge on. I get to a little community, of course there is no power......trees have fallen on the lines....for about 3km the trees are on the lines. I continue on.....I get to one of my favorite places that I have talked about called Rosewall Creek....I am about 15 mins from home at this point, but I can't go any further. A huge cedar is down right across the road...there is no getting around it.....I have to turn around travel 15 kms back in order to get up to the upper highway so I can make my way home. I am exhausted at this point. Just coming off of a 12 hour night shift and I am already an hour into my drive home.

I make it to the highway....the winds seem like they are at gale force, the highway is of higher elevation .....trees are down along this highway as well....but because it is the main highway on the Island it is maintained fairly well. I finally make it home...about 40 mins later than usual and extra 45km added to my drive because of the detour. I get to our drive and make my way down..only to see the carnage the winds had on our place....the vehicle storage tents have been blown away....stuff is strewn all over. I get inside only to discover that our power is out....they power was out for about 9hrs. Thank god for our generator, and fireplace...we managed to stay warm and have coffee. The power came on in time for me to shower and get ready to go to work.

I am hoping this isn't signs of things to come this season. I really think I need to trade my Mustang in for a truck.

Remembrance Day

Lest we Forget.......Today is Remembrance Day. A day that has been set aside to take a moment to remember those veterans who so valiantly gave of themselves so that you had I could have the freedoms that we enjoy today.

This can be a very difficult time for those that have lost loved ones in wars of past and in the current unrest in the world around us.

Let us never forget how they gave and give so unselfishly of themselves.

As I had the honour of meeting a relative of the creator of "In Flanders Field" it seems very appropriate to post that poem here today.

In Flanders Fields By: Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD (1872-1918) Canadian Army

IN FLANDERS FIELDS the poppies blow Between the crosses row on row, That mark our place; and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved and were loved, and now we lie In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe: To you from failing hands we throw The torch; be yours to hold it high. If ye break faith with us who die We shall not sleep, though poppies grow In Flanders fields.

A brighter side of nursing......

The flu season is approaching and with that begins the start of another flu shot clinic. This post is not intended to debate whether we should get the flu shot or not. It's intent is to tell you about about another avenue nursing has taken me.

This year is my third year doing the flu clinic for my doctor's office. I usually start this time of year and do about 4 or 5 clinics. By the end of it all I will have inoculated approximately 500 people mostly seniors, or people caring for seniors. This year is no different than the past two years. I am meeting some of the nicest people I have ever met. They are talkative, friendly, inquisitive and so appreciative of the service that is being provided. It doesn't get much better than that.

As nurses we are very privileged to be able to enter the lives of so many in the way that we do. We have an opportunity to give guidance, support, information on prevention and so much more. Attending to the clients in the flu clinic is no different. Once I ask them a few questions and tell them a little about the flu shot and what side effects they might encounter , they go on to tell me about a variety of things going on in their lives. Medications they are taking, illnesses they have had, what they are doing in their life at present, and ask for advice. Just a whole gamut of topics. Yesterday was no different. A few jokes were shared smiles were exchanged and a sense of well being ensued. One encounter with a husband and wife lead me to becoming privy to a conversation. It turns out that I was giving an injection to someone who's relative was the creator of the poem "In Flanders Field". With Remembrance day approaching I couldn't believe what a honour it was to meet this person. We chatted. I said that poem was instilled in me as a child and in my children. That poem is synonymous with Remembrance Day. I remember doing my Remembrance Day post last year, where I sited the author and poem In Flanders Field by Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae MD, (1872-1918). I still feel so very honoured to have met this person, and had an opportunity to chat. Such a lovely couple, so warm caring and compassionate. How fortunate that I should be their nurse that day.

Nursing is so varied. There are variety of nursing options out there. Doing the flu clinics, is one of those options. It is such a nice change from the very clinical ICU environment in which I work full-time. You know that saying a change is a good as a rest. Well it certainly holds true in this case. Those patients in the clinic were all so appreciative of the service I was providing and yet it is I who felt fortunate to be able to sit with them and enter their lives if only for a short moment.

As a nurse I am able to spend a little more time with the patient, well in this circumstance anyways. I listen to what they are telling me and start putting things together in my head about their diagnosis their medications their treatments all the while they could be just telling me a simple story in the day and the life of themselves. But through that story I can detect many things and it is my nursing background that provides me with those tools.

I am currently working on obtaining my degree, that in itself is a story which I will share with you in another post. Through the course I am learning about the concepts of caring, humanism, phenomenology, ways of knowing, time/transition and personal meaning, just to name a few. At first I thought yeah right, we do this all time, so why do I need a course to tell me this and to analyze the heck out of it. But you know, I have really enjoyed it. It's helping me understand why I do and say the things I do...something that I thought was just an innate part of me and to some degree it still is, but to be able to explore it and how these concepts might effect my delivery of care.

So here I am venturing on a new path in my nursing career, trying to be more aware of my behaviours and actions towards my patients and exploring alternate nursing options. Nursing, even with all of it's ups and downs, it is truly an amazing profession.