Great Big World Out There

what else I did

So I stayed home from work today. I woke up with a splitting headache, a sore back (carry over from last night when I could not sleep) and a general feeling of icky-ness.

I accomplished a few things today. I took a shower. A couple hours later I was cold so I took a hot bath. I ate eggs. Drank tea. Texted with a friend periodically throughout the afternoon.

I slept my way through at least part of the afternoon. I read a book that feels like an old friend. Carried my unused canning jars downstairs. Put the drawers in the dresser my sister helped me carry to the basement. 

Tried cleaning my piano room floor but that was utter disaster. HOW do my cleaning ladies do it? Looks like a dragged my mop through the mud then decided to clean the floor.

On the bright side, I spent an hour playing the piano, then 5 minutes dusting it. Then I closed my pretty piano and put the orange blanket back on top. So I don't have to dust it every other day.

I think I need a prettier piano cover.  

What else did I do today? Talked to my mum. Theorized budget scenarios based on some financial stuff for a project. Sweet heaven, I hate dealing with budgets. 

Perhaps that is why I am so tired?

Done. Just.... done.

I had to reschedule my guitar lesson last night for I? Was still in Westlock at 5:30, my guitar was at home, I smelled like the ass end of a chicken and was not prepared for a lesson. 

My teacher, being a reasonable soul, allowed me to come tonight.  I am learning that old standard called The Rose.  Can't tell you how much I actually hate that song. I was at a thing on saturday night and so help me, someone sang that song.

Gaah.  

That being said, it is a useful exercise to make my fingers play that stupid song on the guitar.  I suck at it, so I wandered over to my piano and played it there just to feel better about myself. For I? Don't need music to play that stupid song. On the piano.

Hell, don't need it on the guitar either.  Just kinda need to know what chords I should be playing. This is exciting because that means I'm figuring this whole guitar thing out. Even if my fingers are basically stupid. 

At the guitar. 

***

I am exhausted. It's just before 10pm and I've been thinking about going to bed for the last 30 minutes. 

I had a conversation with a friend this morning that basically went like this,

Me: 'I am burnt out. You are burnt out.'  

Friend: 'Similar prose about burning and being out. Done. Exhausted.'

Me: 'Agreed.'

Friend: 'Let us never do this again.'

Me: 'Agreed.'

So since I am burnt out, and I recharge best when I am somewhere other than here, I changed my flight from Friday morning to Thursday night. It did not change my car rental charge and now I need only add an extra night of hotel to my bill (found a cheapie best western with good reviews). Yay!

***

I saw someone I hadn't seen for a while this afternoon. Usual chitchat followed of the 'so, what's new' variety. I mentioned heading off to Vancouver this weekend. Was quite expectedly asked why.  For a football game, of course.

'That's it?'

That's it. What better reason to travel? I've seen the country almost from end to end (how I wish I'd helicoptered or similar over to Newfoundland last year) mostly due to football. I'll do some hiking while I'm out west. Probably find a geocache or 12 while I am travelling.

We'll see if I come back happier or more tired than ever.

I'm hoping for happier. I need happier for I? Am burnt out. 

annnnnd.... done

I don't have much to say. I had a snifter or two of wine this evening to celebrate the doneness of some farm work and I've kind of lost a bit of my typing ability.

Is OK. 

For the travelling work is done. 

Yay!

Now the work that freaks me out must begin.

YAY!

That's all I got. 

sick

I was sick today. So tired it hurt. Apparently it's a thing that is going around. All I know for certain is that I was tired, nauseous and lacking motivation to do ANYTHING.

I had a meeting this afternoon so I dragged myself in for that but my big plan to get some garage stuff was foiled when I got to the store and was so tired I couldn't hardly move, let alone make a decision on anything.

So I bought a giant fall mum and a bag of potting soil and called it a day. I have palm trees and such that need repotting. Gonna do that tomorrow if I am not still exhausted. 

The one thing I did get done today (other than attend a dreadful football game, seriously esks, what the hell was that tonight?) was order myself one of these babies:  the Fitbit

I read about it on a blog somewhere and wandered over to the link as perhaps you just did. I thought, ehh, just a pedometer. 

Oooh! That will upload to a website where I can look at graphs of what I have done. The data nerd in me is totally excited and thrilled about that. THEN I read about how it will track your sleep patterns.

SOLD.

I am so excited about this thing, I ordered it today and I expect it will take a week to get here. I wants it now, please.

EXCITED I AM YES INDEEDY.

The weather was weird today though. 27 degrees (or close to it) but overcast all day. Hot wind which was good for the crops that need to dry out a bit. 

Made for a lovely night for a football game. Shame my team stunk out the joint so bad.

***

I am tired, I am sore and I need to go to bed. Wish I had my fitbit to track how I sleep tonight. SERIOUSLY SO EXCITED.

getting on with it

I just got home from my make-up guitar lesson. I surprised myself tonight - I sight read something and it sounded good. 

I am surprised. It only took a year.

Heh.

***

I went home early from work today. For I? Feel like hell. I thought it was just something I ate, but the feeling hasn't gone away and has been with me since last night.   I had to stop and get my car from the dealership on my way - because I finally got around to getting the oil changed and the back hatch fixed.  

The back hatch. OH THE BACK HATCH.  It has been the bane of my existence for weeks, nay months.  Back in July it just stopped working.  I googled the problem and discovered it was something that Ford would probably charge me an arm and a leg for. I held off because I like my arms and my legs where they are , thanks.  It just got annoying every morning, backing out of the garage and having to get out to kick the back door shut. The alarm would go off incessantly from time to time, an annoying beep and the overhead lights flashing. 

AWESOME. 

Finally the oil change was necessary and I decided to bite the bullet. I dropped it off this morning in a fit of despair. A bit of fluff in the engine cost me a couple hundred bucks back in July. I had similar expectations this time.

EXCEPT.

The back hatch thingie that was broken? Part of the safety restraint system, and therefore, covered by Ford.

The charge? $49.99 for the oil change. And the news that I need my tires rotated (I'll get right on that at my local tire shop, thanks) and the battery posts are corroded. I'll need to clean that myself since it is cheaper.

So that's nice.

Then I signed up for swimming lessons and went home. Dragged myself back to town in time for guitar lessons.

***

What else is new? Went to Lethbridge earlier this week. Did some excellent geocaching on Sunday and Monday - got 64 in two days.  Introduced a friend to geocaching on the drive to Lethbridge on Monday which was great fun. Bought some atomic fireballs at the Nanton candy store.  

Bliss.

Supper at the casino in Lethbridge on Monday night was a bit weird. Old people food at old people prices - my meal was half price because they have a sale on Monday nights.

Then I went geocaching in the dark. This was a good idea until I got out to the natural wilderness area and I twisted my back, sending shooting pain up and down my left leg. I thought I could walk it off but it didn't really get better. I was trying to do a night cache - a special version of geocaching nerdiness. It ocurred to me that hunting in the dark, in a natural area on an uneven path with no idea what was in front of me with a bum back was probably a bad idea.

I got over the disappointment by wandering around downtown Lethbridge looking for geocaches that are normally very difficult because of all the people wandering around during the day. I found some really neat ones, too.

Anyway. That's what I've done these days. I went to a cool event last night, and I'd love to talk about it but I've hit the wall of sitting in this chair. My bed is calling and my sick stomach needs rest. I hope I can make it to work tomorrow since I have much to do. I've gotten to the fun part of the data playing - tweaking and playing and moving things around is just terribly cool. 

So I could probably lie in a bed of sickness and still want to dork around with the data.  It's how I roll.

 

It's no wonder I'm a bit tired

I had a busy-ish day today. Started off way too stinking early. I woke up at the crack of 6am with no need to get up until 7. I managed to read a book for a while, watch some old fuddy duddy programs off my PVR and then finally, when Home Depot and Lowes were open, I took myself off to the city. I had a mission.

I needed some shelf brackets to stick on my garage wall. I wanted to store some leftover building materials - what I'll ever do with them I just don't know but maybe someday I'll take them to the habitat for humanity store. For now they are up off the floor.  I am getting ahead of myself, but whatever.  

I also wanted a window to stick in the door between my laundry room and the garage. It's so dark in that room any bit of light helps. So I found one of those. Got a retractable screen door too.  That'll wait until next spring to be installed, though.

I really wanted that windex stuff that you attach to your garden hose to wash windows. I've recently acquired water outlets outside the house so today was the day to wash the windows. I couldn't find either the brackets or the windex at Home Depot. So I headed off to Lowes (stopping at the same Tim Hortons for tea #2 of the morning).

Lowes had the windex, the brackets and a veritable plethora of lovely light fixtures that I covet. 

Will have to go back when I know what my lighting needs might be.

Then I washed my car. Drove to Leduc. Filled the car with gas. Bought some blades for my jigsaw. Got another cup of tea. 

Went to a meeting at church. Where I gave myself another thing to do, but it makes sense to do this thing so there you are.

Then off to see Grandma, have some lunch, then stopped at the nail palace to have my toes done.  That was a lovely way to spend an  hour or so.  Then home, where I washed the windows, hung my brackets, put the stuff up on the brackets, cut a hole in my door, tweaked the window/door hole so the window would fit and finish putting up the window. Vacuumed the crap up off the floor, rewashed the formerly clean clothes that got covered in dust and then had to take a shower to get all the itchy dusty crap (insulation) off of myself.

At some point it rained. The cat meowed. I farted around on the internet. Texted with some friends. Made plans for tomorrow.

Basically a good day. 

Now I am exhausted. So I am going to bed despite the fact it is only 8pm. I've had a long day, as my blow by blow account should have revealed to you. 

Heavens my hands are dry. Stupid insulation. The end.

waiting game

I'm an idiot, basically. I've said it before, I'm saying it now, I'll be saying it tomorrow. 10 years from now. This is an eternal problem.

I'm sitting at home for several reasons right now. First, I worked late last night trying to FINISH something for a change, so I have no need to go rushing off first thing.  Second, my grandma needs her shoes. Her shoes are in a box in my garage, so I need to carry her shoes over to her so she can pick the ones she wants.  Third,  I have a digestive complaint.

I ate too much crap yesterday. There were these delectable little peaches and cream pastries at the BBQ yesterday. Just looking at them I knew it was a bad idea. But so delectable, and shiny, and 

I ate half at lunch.  Then some jerk left them on the coffee table at the office and since I was there late, well... I am only so strong. THEY WERE GOOD.

I am cursing my own stupid ass this morning for I? Am in misery. Not quite safe to leave the house yet. Soon I'll have to just do it and hope for the best.

Next time you see me about to eat something gluten-y, please slap it out of my hand and tell me I'm an idiot. I deserve it. For I? Am an idiot.

***

Guess I forgot to post this before I left for work. Whoops. See above about being a bit of an idiot.

Watching the football game right now because that is how I like to spend my Friday nights. I had a kind offer to go do something more lively this evening but I'm not feeling lively. I wants to watch my football. FOOTBALL! I'm drinking the last of the wine from the box tonight and I have to get to a meeting at church by 9am tomorrow morning. I need to go vote in the PC election because that's really the only way you get to pick the premier in this province. At least in the last 40 years or so.

What else do I have to say? I'm thinking about going to work down in my basement. There is work to be done! I have a bathroom to outfit down there. Mirrors to hang! Floors to finish cleaning. Trash to carry out to the trash bin that I don't have yet because I forgot yet again to call the trash company. 

Le sigh. Maybe on monday I'll remember.  

***

I was at a class this afternoon for reasons that I won't get into but I was surprised by some of the stuff the students have to do. Personal reflections on their learning journey? Really? I don't think there is a way I could possibly take that seriously. 

I am assured by people that have done this that it is a worthwhile activity. I get that it's a bit rich that I am finding personal reflection weird, since I write here fairly regularly. It just seems weird to have it marked? Graded? Found wanting? It's a personal reflection, how can it be wrong? Or right?

What am I not understanding about it?

Whatever. I am really glad I don't have to do it.  I prefer personal reflection to be on my terms, thank you very much.

***

This football game is pretty awesome tonight, Fun to watch a game when your team is winning like this. Now if Fred Stamps can just get the record for the most completions in a game I'll go to bed happy. For I? Am tired as hell.  

With that I bid you adieu. Good night. Etc.

 

breathe in, breathe out

I am drinking boozy juice from a green plastic Ikea cup tonight because I was about to lose my mind. I spent the last couple of days working with a particular set of data. I've been tweaking, fixing, locating errors and discovering several pieces of missing data.

That's the one that kills me. Where the hell did it go? I have no computer file, no datasheet and no scanned copy of a data sheet.

So basically we wasted our time if the damn sheets don't show up.

This makes me crazy. Where could the damn data be? I have a glorious pile of glorious data all ready for playing and there are holes.

Where there should be no holes.

New rule. Take a photo of every data sheet as soon as it is filled out. Just in case.

***

I'm tired. I worked late tonight since I could see some teeny pinpricks of light at the end of a very long tunnel. I managed to get the data that we collected out in the field into a format that one could reasonably expect to mainpulate in fun and exciting ways.

This took entirely too long. For pieces were missing. Data entered incorrectly. Dates off. Copy and pasting errors. The kind of thing that isn't a big deal when you have 1 file. Or possibly as many as 10.

I had 126 files I was working with for just this portion of the data. There are many, many more. I'd be depressed about that but I like having stuff to do. I don't have to travel anymore as of next week so I'll be able to get some momentum.

***

I don't feel well tonight. I ate a lot of crap at lunch because our work group had a BBQ in the park. It was awesome. We need to do stuff like that more often. Since I ate all the crap I feel... gross.  I am self medicating with the aforementioned boozy juice. Doesn't really help but the haze is pleasant. I'm looking forward to finishing that stupid box of wine. It is far too tempting. 

Then no more boxed wine for a while. It's the sort of thing I can buy every 6 months or so. 

***

It might only be 9pm, but I'm tired and ready for bed. I was going to turn off all the technology tonight but I need the technology to read so I was kind of hooped. 

I'm keeping the tech to a minimum. Just writing here and then off the computer. 

forget

I keep forgetting things lately. I bought tickets to an event tomorrow night and remembered it was happening when I saw something in my twitter stream about it.  I guess I'll go into work late tomorrow so I don't have a pile of time to kill between work and the event.

Unfortunately, I bought 2 tickets but I never followed up with the person who was going to go with me, so I guess I've wasted 12 bucks.  Unless I find someone else that's interested in pecha kucha. Which seems doubtful. So I'm a little mad at myself for forgetting about that. Better be good if I am paying 2x to attend the thing. Only to find out they are live streaming it. Yay.

***

My blackberry annoyed me today. Dropped calls, wouldn't complete a call, would beep at random intervals. Bad phone. So I turned it off tonight. Anything on there can wait til morning.  I considered staying off the computer completely but I guess I'm a little too addicted for that. Maybe Thursday night I can manage to stay off the computer. 

If it even matters.

***

My darling nieces, nephew and sister just left my house. I am tired for they are exhausting. I just had two of them here with me for a couple of hours but they did me in. I made supper with the help of my safeway chef and chef boyardee.

We made pictures, Sarah had a bath and I managed to practice some guitar. There's nothing like going back to the stuff that absolutely did me in last year when I started and being able to play those pieces. I did a passable (you could almost tell what song I was playing) rendition of Dust in the Wind. I'm kind of proud.

***

What else did I do today? I feel drained, exhausted and utterly beyond caring. Demoralized, even. I can't remember a day quite like this one.  There might have been one like it back in April. 

I have nothing further to add to that. 

***

Sometimes you just can't get the music loud enough. This was one of those days. Bon Jovi hits from the 80s are a balm to my soul tonight.

easily amused

So, in general, I'm a bit of an idiot. I mean that in the nicest possible way. You ever do something, or say something, and immediately after you've done/said it realized, damn, shouldn't have done/said that. Or I forget stuff. Not realize what month it is, day. Or that I've already shampooed my hair twice or not actually rinsed the conditioner off my head.

That's what I mean when I say I'm an idiot. Example. I paid up for guitar lessons back in June. Changed the time for my lesson from 8:00pm to 7:30 pm (so I could listen to the Esks coach show at 8pm on Monday nights).  I swear on my honour I put this in my calendar. So I was just kinda waiting for it to show up in my calendar.

It never did.

This past weekend I was wandering the main street of Leduc in a quest to complete my first multi-stage cache and I walked right by my guitar studio.

Whereupon I thought, hmm. Isn't it September? Like the 10th? Wasn't I supposed to start guitar lessons? 

So yeah, missed my first lesson. Added the lesson to my calendar from now til the end of June so I don't forget again.

OY. 

BUT! I played some songs from the front of my songbook that I hadn't played in like... ever and I must say, I rocked the casbah. If one can rock a casbah with a classical guitar? If so, I did. My teacher congratulated himself on being such an amazing teacher that my fingers could be so clever.

Heh. That's why I pay you the big bucks, buddy.

***

I was thinking about cows today and it reminded me of this story. I swear, my blood pressure rises just thinking about that day. 

Kind of like falling in that damn hole last night. I hope I can get the mud out of my jeans. When I checked into the hotel last night the desk clerk kind of looked at me funny and I looked down at my clothes and said, 'Good Lord! I had no idea I looked like this.' Then we laughed, I explained I'd been hiking and fallen in a hole. Heavens. Then I got attacked by a teeny tiny dog that probably smelled the chicken on me and I retired to my room to clean up. And go to bed. And plan an awesome puzzle cache. For I? Am a nerd.

***

I can't think of anything else to say. My cleaning lady is coming Wednesday so naturally I have to come home and clean my house tomorrow.  Can't do it tonight for that would be silly. Am tired and maybe I'll fall asleep at a decent hour.

I'm not holding my breath on that one.

***

Plumber has been here for a few days...plumbing, I guess. Looks like my garage will have heat this winter. Exciting! My fireplace is in pieces on the hearth. I guess that's good. 

I have to be honest. I am waiting for 3 geocaches to be approved and it is killing me, this waiting. GAH. Just post already. I want people to go find them. 

Now I need to go get ready for bed. Am tired-ish.