It's 3 am on Sunday morning. I was awoken from my sleeping-pill induced sleep by this wretched cough that has been plaguing me for days. I just could not stop hacking. So I groggily got dressed and drove up to the 24 hour drug store to fetch some Nyquil. And milk and Zatarains Jambalaya mix (that stuff has been hard to find this week-I would have had better luck tracking down Jimmy Hoffa).
So I have come home a glugged down a dose and a half of Nyquil and am waiting for it to help me get some freaking sleep. I went through the exact same problem last night, but just kept tossing instead of taking anything.
We threw Chris' dad a surprise retirement party today. It was an open house between 2 and 8 and we were expecting about 50 people. I think about 30-35 actually showed and Chris' dad was really surprised. He seemed to have a really good time, which was the whole point. Chris' social anxiety had him physically feeling ill, but he made it through. Chris' sister got completely wasted, which is what I expected when I saw how much alcohol had come into the house for this party (Chris' dad rarely drinks, as his father was an alcoholic, and the alcoholism has been inherited by his daughter). It was a really long day and I had to fight not to cough to avoid spreading my germs as much as possible.
I did get to meet some wonderful longtime family friends af Chris' parents. It was the first time most of them had seen Chris and his sister in about 20 years. Chris' mom's illness and passing was kept a secret from almost everyone until after the fact, as per his mom's wishes (she was an intensely private person). With one exception, it was all good memories and happy times brought up and it was great to meet these people.
The downside was I couldn't tell any of them about the wedding, because Chris' grandmother was coming and he still hasn't bloody well told her yet (we won't go there right now). These 2 women had such an interest in what Chris was doing and how our relationship was going after all this time and then one of them commented on my lovely emerald ring...well, screw it. I told them, with the warning that they couldn't say anything aloud until after Chris grandmother had left for the evening. They were so happy for us-it was such a nice feeling after the damn apathy I'm getting from our families. I'm not how happy Chris was that I told them, but too bad. It's GOOD news, damn it. We should be sharing it with whomever we please. Gah-very sore subject right now.
Well, I'm heading off to try the whole sleep thing again. I hope you all are having a great weekend!
Sorry for the lack of posts lately, but I haven't been in an overly chatty mood. Anxiety, worry and depression are having a bit of fun with me right now, but it will pass. Unfortunately it has taken a physical toll on me as well, so on top of feeling crappy on the inside, I also feel crappy on the outside. Yee haw.
Chris and I got to celebrate our Valentine's Day on Saturday. We had a nice evening and treated ourselves to some Chinese food. I made carrot cupcakes for dessert (Chris' fav). Chris got me a beautiful bouquet of purple orchids, a cute little bear who is currently keeping me company at my desk, some chocolates and a blue sweater.
Again, my apologies for not posting but right now it is just...hard. Thank you for your kind thoughts and words and I'll try and post more later.
Wow, I haven't had a snow day since I was in grade school. I got up, showered and got dressed and headed downstairs to unbury my car. To my shock, there was barely any snow on my car-I was so excited. Then I looked behind my car, where there was a 4 foot snow drift down the length of our parking lot for the building. I tried backing through it, but barely managed to get unstuck and back into my parking spot. I came back in and phoned our service manager, who told me most of the staff hadn't made it in. I said if someone wanted to come by and pick me up, I would be more than willing to come in (it's a 2 minute drive from my apartment to work). He said just to sit tight and he would get back to me. I just got off the phone with my sales manager who said they are going to close at noon and I don't have to bother trying to get in. Woo hoo! Day off!
2 downsides to today, though. I miss my massage therapy appointment, which sucks. Plus I'm snowed in by myself. Not the most thrilling of Valentine's Days. Ah, well. Maybe I can get some scrapbooking done since I bought a whole pile of new supplies on the weekend.
I hope you all are safe and warm! Be sure to eat some chocolate for me today!
Mental illness hurts. Most people have been touched by it in one way or another, and it just bloody hurts. I am surrounded by it and have learned to deal with it, but there are times when it rears it's ugly head and bites you when you are least expecting it. I've crawled out of the deep hole that is severe depression and have to work damned hard to not fall back in. It's so heartwrenching to look at someone you love sitting in that hole of depsair, unable to find a way out. And to worry that they might decide not to fight anymore and just give in to that despair. I feel sick inside, from lack of sleep and too much worry, and I just don't know how to help...
A coworker e-mailed me this...
Noah in 2007
In the year 2007, the Lord came unto Noah, who was now living in the United States, and said, "Once again, the earth has become wicked and over-populated, and I see the end of all flesh before me. Build another Ark and save 2 of every living thing along with a few good humans."
He gave Noah the blueprints, saying, "You have 6 months to build the Ark before I will start the unending rain for 40 days and 40 nights."
Six months later, the Lord looked down and saw Noah weeping in his yard - but no Ark. "Noah!" He roared, "I'm about to start the rain! Where is the Ark?"
"Forgive me, Lord," begged Noah, "but things have changed."
"I needed a building permit. I've been arguing with the inspector about the need for a sprinkler system. My neighbors claim that I've violated the neighborhood zoning laws by building the Ark in my yard and exceeding the height limitations. We had to go to the Development Appeal Board for a decision.
"Then the Department of Transportation demanded a bond be posted for the future costs of moving power lines and other overhead obstructions, to clear the passage for the Ark's move to the sea. I told them that the sea would be coming to us, but they would hear nothing of it.
"Getting the wood was another problem. There's a ban on cutting local trees in order to save the spotted owl. I tried to convince the environmentalists that I needed the wood to save the owls - but no go!
"When I started gathering the animals, an animal rights group sued me. They insisted that I was confining wild animals against their will. They argued the accommodation was too restrictive, and it was cruel and inhumane to put so many animals in a confined space.
"Then the EPA ruled that I couldn't build the Ark until they'd conducted an environmental impact study on your proposed flood.
"I'm still trying to resolve a complaint with the Human Rights Commission on how many minorities I'm supposed to hire for my building crew.
"Immigration and Naturalization is checking the green-card status of most of the people who want to work.
"The trades unions say I can't use my sons. They insist I have to hire only Union workers with Ark-building experience.
"To make matters worse, the IRS seized all my assets, claiming I'm trying to leave the country illegally with endangered species.
"So, forgive me, Lord, but it would take at least 10 years for me to finish this Ark."
Suddenly the skies cleared, the sun began to shine, and a rainbow stretched across the sky.
Noah looked up in wonder and asked, "You mean you're not going to destroy the world?"
"No," said the Lord. "The government beat me to it."
Chris' dad is Cuba right now. Lucky bastard. It's -30 degrees with the windchill here. I don't mind winter, but this is ridiculous.
Not much going on here. Work is pretty much the same stuff, different day. I still don't have a pay plan and my take home pay last month was the lowest it's been in a long time. These guys need to get their asses in gear, quick.
The wedding chapel and restaurant are booked and I bought my veil. Now the long 15 month wait...
The weekend visit to Mom's was good, although the drive was super cold and windy. We watched "Mississippi Burning" on Saturday, which I had never seen. Great movie. We also watched "The Hurricane" that night, which is one of my favourite movies. We also went and asw my cousin's daughter play hockey, which was fun. Mom seems to be managing alright and has an interview with a new psychiatrist tomorrow, so that will be nice for her to have a doctor closer to home.
Is anyone one else watching American Idol? I can't wait for these kooky auditions to be over with and the real talent to begin. Some of these people are crazy! And does anyone think Paula is drunk or on drugs? She is acting too weird...
I hope everyone is having a good week!
Name comes from “kanata” which is Iroquois for “village”
Basketball was invented by a Canadian-James Naismith, from Almonte, Ontario. While working as an instructor at a YMCA in Massachusetts, he came up with the game of basketball.
Canada has more automobiles per person than any other country.
Is the second largest country in the world
Largets source of fresh water in the world, with more lakes than the rest of the world combined!
The one dollar coin is called a “loonie” (nicknamed for the picture of a loon on it). The two-dollar coin is subsequently called the “toonie”.
Canada has more doughnut shops than the United States (probably more than any courntry).
Rich Little
Pamela Anderson
Paul Shaffer (Late Night with Letterman)
Christopher Plummer
Eugene Levy
Dan Aykroyd
John Candy
Nathan Fillion (Firefly)
Jim Carrey
Donald & Keifer Sutherland
Michael J. Fox
Leslie Neilsen
Lorne Michaels (SNL)
William Shatner
Alex Trebek
Martin Short
Bryan Adams
Celine Dion
Barenaked Ladies
Gordon Lightfoot
Anne Murray
Rush
Tragically Hip
Paul Anka
The Guess Who
Diana Krall
Alanis Morissette
Joni Mitchell
Neil Young
Shania Twain
Nelly Furtado
It has been a very rough week and I'm thankful it's coming to an end. Month-end at work was abismal and the stress in this new job is almost too much. Almost, I haven't cracked yet...
Chris finally bought a car, so that is a little stress taken away. He's not crazy about the car, but I got a hell of a deal on it from a fellow dealer so we shouldn't complain. It's a 4-dr black 2003 Pontiac Sunfire. I would have liked to buy something at my own damn dealership but Chris had to have a manual transmission and we just don't stock them. Ah, well. At least Chris is mobile again.
I had another massage session yesterday, so hopefully my neck and shoulders will start to get better soon and the headaches will ease. I have been sleeping so poorly lately and even taking ativan isn't helping much. By the time I get out of work, I feel like a walking zombie (probably look like one, too, lol).
I got a bunch of my hair chopped off, so I can actually style it. I also dyed it dark auburn, which is my favourite colour to have my hair. My mom hates it, so I should get an earful this weekend about my hair being too dark and too short. Bite me, I like it.
We visited the wedding chapel last night and booked the date. It is a simple little chapel, but nicely decorated (and affordable). They have a really nice civil ceremony, so we won't have to worry about totally rewording a traditional religious ceremony. Now on to finding a photographer...
Well, I'm off to Chatham this weekend to visit Mom. I hope everyone has a safe and relaxing weekend!
