Another end to a lovely weekend. Spent Friday at a conference in Toronto, battled traffic home for 2 hours, then, upon arriving in the house, immediately began to unwind. A glass of wine, stretched out on the couch to relax, watch a little TV, then to bed early in anticipation of waking up to a lovely sun-filled Saturday morning, which is precisely what I did.
It was crisp and cool. My daughter started a fire in the living room and we were all toasty warm with our coffees and teas. We watched the cats plays, the wild turkeys come in to peck under the bird feeders and the crows come to pick what my husband had left out for them.
Around 2pm on Saturday, I felt that I needed a little social interaction, so jumped into my trusty VW, and drove in to Barrie (Ontario) where I walked around The Bay. Bought some Lancome skin cream, got some "free" gifts, drifted in and out of the plus sized clothing wishing I didn't need to be in the plus-sized section, then drove home feeling somehow content with life.
I tried a new recipe for dinner...for chicken that I found on Youtube. It was Julia Child-style and included being stuffed with lemon, fresh herbs, garlic and cooked in a very hot oven of 400 degrees for about 1 3/4 hours. Yum! It was good!
So, another end to a lovely weekend in the semi-wilds of Ontario. My husband and I reviewed his pension plan. He hopes to retire in about 2 years. Upon review, I think we may actually be able to afford it. I will continue to work for a few years after him...ahh...the benefits of marrying a younger woman.
So what does entering the chapter of my life mean? Concentrating on financial security, health, continuing and/or reviving relationships? Is this it? Is this what it all comes down to? Is there anything else?
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Monday, April 5, 2010
Monday, April 5, 2010
Ahh....the end of a four-day weekend. How lovely. Now it is 9:30 pm and I am not looking forward to getting up at 5am tomorrow morning to start my usual work week again.
Yesterday, my husband and my 22 year old daughter went in the car for about a 1/2 hour drive north of here, (my daughter was driving--it was her surprise for us) when we pulled into a concession road, then onto another sideroad and pulled into a parking lot of the Bruce Trail. The Bruce Trail runs along the Niagara Escarpment from Niagara Falls up to Tobermory on the Bruce Peninsula. This peninsula separates Lake Huron from Georgian Bay. Cold, clear, deep and rocky Georgian Bay on one side and the shallow, sandy waters of Lake Huron on the other side and all within 20 minutes or less from each other.
However, our little bit of the Niagara Escarpment was a litte further south than the peninsula. The area of the trail was called the Nottawasaga Bluffs and what a little gem they turned out to be. We walked in on well defin
ed and groomed trails to an overview of a valley. What a nice surprise for us. My husband and I could handle the hike--no traversing up steep inclines or down rocky pathways!
The sun was warm on my skin. I wore a sleeveless top and shorts and was warm and toasty, especially after the hike. It was a little hard on my knees, but I sure felt good once we'd returned to the car. I sat on a rock and revelled in my elevated heart beat and momentary shortness of breath. How good I felt! I am embarrassed to tell you how long it has been since I had such physical activity as this, but it felt so good.
We returned to the house and put on our turkey dinner which we enjoyed around 7:30. My daughter had some friends drop over on their way back to Toronto and I enjoyed listening to their chatter and laughter (yes, there was laughter!).
My daughter's ex-boyfriend's mother dropped over after dinner and spent about 2 hours here. She likes my daughter very much and does not want to lose the friendship. I think it is giving my daughter false hope that the ex-boyfriend will call her and ask for a reunion. I am not convinced that this ongoing friendship is beneficial to her psychological well-being. My daughter was in a good mood before the mother came over, now she is very sad. The mother has good intentions, but I think they are mis-guided. My daughter wants her boyfriend back and I believe he will not be back. This visit may have put my daughter's progress in recovering from losing the love of her life (he's "the one") back a few days. I feel very unsettled about the visit.
Today, my husband and I did some chores that we both had been putting off. He put on a door knob on the kitchen door and I cleaned out the linen closet. We both felt so good after doing these little chores. The day was sunny, crisp and beautiful. It makes going to bed now with the intention of getting up in the morning for work, a little harder to take.
Yesterday, my husband and my 22 year old daughter went in the car for about a 1/2 hour drive north of here, (my daughter was driving--it was her surprise for us) when we pulled into a concession road, then onto another sideroad and pulled into a parking lot of the Bruce Trail. The Bruce Trail runs along the Niagara Escarpment from Niagara Falls up to Tobermory on the Bruce Peninsula. This peninsula separates Lake Huron from Georgian Bay. Cold, clear, deep and rocky Georgian Bay on one side and the shallow, sandy waters of Lake Huron on the other side and all within 20 minutes or less from each other.
However, our little bit of the Niagara Escarpment was a litte further south than the peninsula. The area of the trail was called the Nottawasaga Bluffs and what a little gem they turned out to be. We walked in on well defin
ed and groomed trails to an overview of a valley. What a nice surprise for us. My husband and I could handle the hike--no traversing up steep inclines or down rocky pathways!
The sun was warm on my skin. I wore a sleeveless top and shorts and was warm and toasty, especially after the hike. It was a little hard on my knees, but I sure felt good once we'd returned to the car. I sat on a rock and revelled in my elevated heart beat and momentary shortness of breath. How good I felt! I am embarrassed to tell you how long it has been since I had such physical activity as this, but it felt so good.
We returned to the house and put on our turkey dinner which we enjoyed around 7:30. My daughter had some friends drop over on their way back to Toronto and I enjoyed listening to their chatter and laughter (yes, there was laughter!).
My daughter's ex-boyfriend's mother dropped over after dinner and spent about 2 hours here. She likes my daughter very much and does not want to lose the friendship. I think it is giving my daughter false hope that the ex-boyfriend will call her and ask for a reunion. I am not convinced that this ongoing friendship is beneficial to her psychological well-being. My daughter was in a good mood before the mother came over, now she is very sad. The mother has good intentions, but I think they are mis-guided. My daughter wants her boyfriend back and I believe he will not be back. This visit may have put my daughter's progress in recovering from losing the love of her life (he's "the one") back a few days. I feel very unsettled about the visit.
Today, my husband and I did some chores that we both had been putting off. He put on a door knob on the kitchen door and I cleaned out the linen closet. We both felt so good after doing these little chores. The day was sunny, crisp and beautiful. It makes going to bed now with the intention of getting up in the morning for work, a little harder to take.
Friday, April 2, 2010
Friday, April 2, 2010
What a lovely summer-like day it was today. It was about 27 degrees. I actually put on my bathing suit and shorts and did some outdoor work. My daughter sunbathed in the lovely warmth and watched her young cat explore the garden.
I am looking forward to spending some time exploring the country side and hopefully finding some antique shops to browse through.
We had the annual ceremony of the toad today, and toasted a little iron casting of a toad and returned him to his annual spot on a rock in the garden. It is the official sign of good weather and another lovely spring.
Why can't every weekend be at least a 3-day weekend!
I am looking forward to spending some time exploring the country side and hopefully finding some antique shops to browse through.
We had the annual ceremony of the toad today, and toasted a little iron casting of a toad and returned him to his annual spot on a rock in the garden. It is the official sign of good weather and another lovely spring.
Why can't every weekend be at least a 3-day weekend!
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Today our student nurse finished up her final pre-grad experience in our PACU. She was preceptored and mentored by a senior nurse. This senior nurse actually volunteers to do this, not many do, and she is absolutely wonderful at it. She gathered up money from everyone (me too) and ordered a catered luncheon, brought in a big farewell cake, a gift of a little statue of a "nurse angel", a stethoscope and a card signed by all. The student was so surprised, overwhelmed and appreciative that she cried. I had a little tear in my eye too. She said the last three months were the best experience she had ever had. Ahhh....sometimes I really love my job.
After listening to a surgeon rant, rave and swear at me and several others--about the state of the instrumentation, a few of us went out to share a drink with the project manager of a construction job in our OR. It was nice to be out in the sunshine, having a cold drink, with some people from work in a stress free environment.
I drove home to a lovely dinner made by my daughter. She had deboned a chicken-Julia Child style, stuffed it and served it with roasted potatoes and green peas. What a nice way to start the weekend.
I am looking forward to waking up slowly, enjoying a relaxing cup of coffee, the sun and my free time with my family. Well-most of it.
After listening to a surgeon rant, rave and swear at me and several others--about the state of the instrumentation, a few of us went out to share a drink with the project manager of a construction job in our OR. It was nice to be out in the sunshine, having a cold drink, with some people from work in a stress free environment.
I drove home to a lovely dinner made by my daughter. She had deboned a chicken-Julia Child style, stuffed it and served it with roasted potatoes and green peas. What a nice way to start the weekend.
I am looking forward to waking up slowly, enjoying a relaxing cup of coffee, the sun and my free time with my family. Well-most of it.
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