Counting down the days...

6 days, and I'll be in Arizona. :-D

For two glorious weeks... :-)

Since you asked...

I've slacked off terribly, haven't I? I even got a nudge the other day... still didn't motivate me... (sorry Susanna!) :-P

I'll give it a shot tonight... As usual, quite random.

Christmas was good. Sheldon got home for just a couple of days. I wish it would have been longer, but he had to work. It had been months since I'd seen him, so I was very happy to have him home. :-) Rob's girlfriend Vanessa spent almost a week with us, and that was very nice. Having someone else around helped with the Christmas spirit. We went to my aunt & uncle's on Christmas Day, had a great time. The highway was icy so that was not fun... it was a little stressful.

Chantelle called on Christmas Eve and we all got a chance to talk with her. It was Christmas Day there, and her and Terry spent it with a friend and her family. The family even loaned them (and Terry's mom who was visiting from England) their beach house for a few days. Nice! There is a chance she may be home in a few months, but I'm not getting too optimistic just yet... ;-)

I didn't do a thing for New Year's Eve, but then I never do. :-P I did enjoy having a few days off over Christmas and New Year's.

I finished up this one course I've been taking, I wrote my final tonight. I'm pleased with how I did. I get my final grade for the course next week. I have a one-week break, and then start the next one. That one will involve more reading and assignments, so I need to be more disciplined. I am such a procrastinator!!!

I'm taking two weeks vacation in March -- I'm off to Arizona again. :-D Originally we were looking at February, and I had even found a great seat sale (I got an email notice one afternoon). By the time I checked again a few hours later, it was gone. I was quite bummed. For various reasons, we decided that March would work out better and in the end I got an even better price on my tickets than the earlier ones I'd looked at. Sweet! :-)

We lost an elderly man in our church this week. He had been in declining health for quite some time, and he was ready to go. We knew it was coming, we knew he was ready, but of course it's still sad. I will miss his wisdom, his caring ways, his sharp wit. Sam was a good man, a wonderful example of a husband and father. He is home now. (Another elderly man in the community died on the same day as well. They were friends, and Sam's family smilingly said that they were accompanying one another on their final journey... )

Sheldon's 19th birthday is coming up in just a couple of weeks... I don't have clue what to get him. The older they get, the harder they are to buy for it seems.

I'm addicted to Heroes. Yes, I'm a bit slow, but I didn't see it from the beginning the first season. I saw an episode part way into the series, and didn't want to start watching it then since I wouldn't have known what was happening. Chantelle kept telling me "You have to watch it!!!" So I waited, got the first season on DVD for Christmas, and had a Heroes-watching marathon. Then I watched the first 11 episodes of season 2 online. I'm all caught up. Now if only the writer's strike would end!!!

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Currently playing: Beautiful Life ~ Gui Borrato
Currently reading: The Dying Hour ~ Rick Mofina

I'm feeling better about Christmas this year... so far, anyway! lol

I went Christmas shopping on Monday, and got almost everything. I finished up today, buying the last few things online. I'm never done this early... this is definitely an accomplishment! I made a few goodies last week, and will make a bit more but not much. I don't go all out like I used to, we never eat it all and we won't be home for Christmas anyway.

I went to an Advent study/worship/fellowship at our church last night. It was quite nice, especially the worship. The library staff and board were invited to the Town (town council, employees, etc.) Christmas party, which was tonight. It was good. My friend Lana and I left a little while after dinner, while most everyone else stayed to socialize/drink/play games -- that's not so much my thing. We (library folks) appreciated the invitation, this is the first time we've been invited.

A friend of mine also struggles with the Christmas season. She wrote to me last night to tell me that she had had a wonderful conversation with a friend of hers, in which they were able to be open with one another and share in many ways -- hopes, unfulfilled dreams, struggles, memories, joy and pain. It was healing for both of them, and my friend is feeling very blessed, and has a new, positive outlook -- she is approaching Advent and Christmas with a different perspective. I could feel the joy and the wonder in her words. God is good.

I'm going to try to get the tree up this weekend. Last year, I never even bothered. How sad is that? :-P I don't particularly like doing it, especially since I do it alone, but I'm making the effort. ;-) I think it will help me feel more "Christmas-y".

I got a birthday present in the mail today, from Josh. It made me very happy. :-)

Brrrr.....

"Environment Canada's temperature forecast shows the majority of the country will experience a "temperature anomaly" of below-normal temperatures through the months of December, January and February.

Much of Nova Scotia, Saskatchewan, Alberta and parts of British Columbia and southern Ontario will also see above-normal precipitation." CTV.ca

Oh yay..... I'm frozen already. :-P

AZ is looking awfully good....

I have a few (3) Christmas presents bought. With any luck I can do much of it online. I might head to Saskatoon on Monday to do some shopping, though. I was hoping for a nicer day, but the forecast isn't looking so great.

I don't usually like this time of year much. I used to, but for quite a few years now I find myself rather down and at times depressed. I struggle through the season. I'm going to try not to get into that funk this year. Sometimes it just depends on the day.

I should maybe do some baking this weekend. As long as I hide it so it doesn't get eaten before Christmas!

Robbie's girlfriend Vanessa will be spending Christmas with us this year. She's going home to Nova Scotia to visit her family for a couple of weeks the first part of December, and will be back here before Christmas. Should be nice. :-) The kids will do Christmas Eve with their dad, and we're going to my aunt and uncle's again for Christmas Day. I've been missing Chantelle -- this will be her second Christmas away -- but I talked to her a couple of nights ago, so that helped. I haven't seen Sheldon for over 2 months, either, so it will be great to have him home for Christmas. :-)

I know I need to update...

... feeling kind of lazy, though. :-P

In brief...

• the library got moved. Long, long week. Put in many hours, some of it frustrating. We are in, though, and we opened again on Tuesday and are getting settled. Everyone that has come in absolutely loves it, so that is great. :-)
• class is going well, I'm enjoying it. I got 97% on my midterm, and 100% on an assignment I had to do after touring various kinds of libraries. So yeah... I'm pleased. ;-)
• the church's 95th Anniversary celebration last weekend was really good. Looking at old pictures of Christmas programs and Sunday school and such really brought back a lot of memories. I'm not always too sure just where I am with regard to church, but I do appreciate all that I've had...
  
• kids are all doing well. I never hear from my youngest :-P, but I did learn via Facebook that he has a girlfriend. Last time I talked to him, he was doing well, enjoying his job and city life. Chantelle & Terry finished their job at the ski resort, and have since bought a camper van and are touring around New Zealand. Looking forward to a call from her soon.
• Have bought one Christmas present... lol. Yay!
• It's almost the middle of November, and we don't have snow! Double-yay!
• Rob went to the Roughriders football playoff game today, and I haven't seen him yet because he was going back to Saskatoon, but I'm sure he is absolutely thrilled that they won. He was sooo excited for this game. ;-)
• Now that the library move is done, I can maybe start looking at some vacation time. Arizona is looking awfully good. :-)
  

I guess that's about it. Nothing too exciting, life just keeps plugging along, the days go by, and I cannot believe that is nearing the end of another year. Where does the time go?!

It's finally going to happen...

Yes, after 10 long, frustrating months, we are finally going to be moving the library! We've been preparing some stuff this week, and will close on Friday -- scheduled to re-open on Tuesday, November 6. I'm tired already... we've had lots to do this week. It's going to be a long, exhausting next while. It will be so nice once we're there -- I keep telling myself that! LOL

I did finally get a hold of Chantelle, but not until a couple of days later. It was so weird, and I thought it was a problem with her cell phone, because I knew she'd been having a bit of trouble with it. I tried many, many times over the weekend. When I tried on Sunday night, I got connected with whoever I connected with the very first time I called on her birthday -- but it wasn't her! Some strange guy, noisy TV in the background, dog barking... it was very strange. He yelled at someone to come to the phone, but no one ever did and I eventually hung up. I was puzzled, and after not being able to reach her for a couple of days, I was also getting very worried. (It's a scary feeling when your child -- no matter the age -- is across the world and you can't get in touch at all.)

Long story, but eventually I was able to get her. I had been calling her with a phone card (for cheaper rates), and although it was the same kind I've always used, for some reason it wasn't working properly and it was either connecting me to someone else or not connecting me at all. (I later tried the same card, calling a different number, and it worked perfectly fine. Crazy.)

I had been rather stressed all weekend when I couldn't reach her, so it was a tremendous relief when I finally did get her. I still felt bad that I hadn't talked to her on her birthday -- mom-guilt, but I didn't want her to think that I had forgotten to call!

Missing my girl

It's Chantelle's birthday (Oct. 20th). I've been trying to call her tonight, since she's 19 hours ahead of us and it's well into her birthday already. I waited until the time she gets off work, but I'm not having any luck getting a hold of her. I have to call her cell, and I thought I connected once but then I got a huge amount of background noise and got cut off. Every time I've tried since then, I can't get through. *sigh* :-(

It's her second birthday overseas.

Just missing her tonight... and feeling bad that I can't wish her a Happy Birthday.

• I wrote my midterm last Tuesday. I'm very happy with how I did. :-)
• I went to a staff workshop in Moose Jaw last Wednesday. It was pretty good. We had a baby shower afterward for a fellow employee (who some of you may remember I posted about elsewhere). Sweet little baby boy. :-) I stayed overnight with my aunt & uncle and had a good visit with them.
• The next day I traveled to Regina with our assistant supervisor to meet a couple of other women who are taking the library course, and we toured various libraries. It was a fun and interesting day. I just completed my written assignment for that.
• The new library.... Oh, I'd better not even go there. Suffice it to say that the frustrations continue..... We have scheduled a library closure/move date, however, so things had better be ready!
• Thanksgiving was the previous weekend, and I ate too much... lol.
• I really, really need to start walking again. I've put on a few pounds, and I am not liking it at all. Must. get. motivated.
• Playing Scrabble on Facebook is addicting. Getting your butt kicked BIG time by John... humbling... lol.
  

Aimless wanderings...

• Library move -- maybe end of October. Looking good at this point, if nothing else goes wrong! :-P
  
• Class -- going well, I'm enjoying it. Mind you, it's a pretty easy one so far... lol.
  
• Chantelle -- still in NZ, her job at the ski resort is done at the end of October. Her and Terry are working out what to do/where to go next. I would love it if she came back here for a bit (a slight option), but I know it may not happen. It's almost hard to believe she's been gone for a year already. Some days I miss her so much.
• Boys are good, aside from each being sick recently. Sheldon hasn't been home for a couple of weekends, he's busier with his friends in the city now. I'm glad he's doing well there. The kids (Rob & Vanessa, Sheldon) are off to a CFL football game today with friends. At least it's a somewhat warmer day for sitting outside! I'm sure they'll have a great time. It's cool that my kids all get along so well and enjoy spending time together. :-)
  
• I've started sorting/cleaning out a bunch of junk in my house. The downfall of being a packrat. *sigh* I have lots more to do, so have to keep at it. As per the agreement with my ex, the house will be going up for sale in the next while. (Kinda scary for me...)
• I was kind of missing my grandma this morning. It was weird, I don't remember that I was thinking about her specifically, in fact I don't know what I was even thinking about at all, but I suddenly heard her say my name. It was odd -- comforting and sad at the same time.
  
• Wishing I could go on vacation...
• Realizing that Christmas is only 3 months away!!!!! :-S

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Currently playing: Remedy ~ David Crowder*Band

Yeah, so I deleted my post from Saturday. It was a bad night, I was in a lousy mood. Some people can always manage to push my buttons, time doesn't change things.

Today is a much better day. :-)

I was optimistic. In fact, for about an hour today, I was feeling quite good about the library move. I'm going to quit being optimistic. I'm going to hope we're there by Christmas, and heck... if we get in there sooner, I'll be overjoyed! Really!

The flooring was supposed to go in this week. The guy that was out a couple of weeks ago said things were good, so we finished up our painting and cleaned up. The actual installers (as opposed to the sales guy!) were out today. Not ready. There is still prep work they want done before they'll install. *sigh* Gotta get the guy out to do that, hopefully this week and not next. It will be a week or maybe two before the flooring guys will back.

So it looks like we won't be in until October, and -- due to a couple of factors -- we can't move in early October, so I guess it will be mid-month. Maybe... I won't get my hopes up. I'll just keep shooting for Christmas. ;-)

PMS sucks.

That's all I have to say.

Saturday night randomness...

I should have my new computer next week! My old computer died -- although it was doing this weird-possessed-thing where it would turn on by itself at odd times. Very strange... I finally unplugged the darn thing! Anyway, Josh has been building me a computer for awhile, he even custom painted the chassis. Very cool. :-) He shipped it earlier this week, it's scheduled for delivery on the 28th. Yay!

I ordered a new widescreen flat monitor and a new keyboard. Many of the letters were worn off my old keyboard... haha. It was time for a new one. I'm excited for it all to arrive. :-D

I had the orientation session for my class on Tuesday, it went well. I think that this course should be relatively easy. I'm looking forward to it.

Looks like we might be moving the library in the next month or so. We haven't set a definite date yet, but things are coming along.

Robbie's girlfriend Vanessa loaned me the first two seasons of Grey's Anatomy on DVD.... sweet! Now I just have to find the time to watch them. :-P

July was so hot, and August has been so cold and rainy and lousy -- there was even a frost warning the other night! It should has made summer alot shorter. I can't believe that school starts next week already. It's a bit odd not have anyone going anymore. Weather-wise, I sure hope we get an Indian-summer. It's far too early for this cool weather.

That's all the randomness I have for tonight. Boring, I know.... lol. Back to my book, now. ;-)

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Currently reading: One Grave Too Many ~ Beverly Connor
Currenty playing: Leave Out All the Rest ~ Linkin Park (I love this song)

Library course

So, I've been back and forth for months on whether to continue with the distance-ed. library course. I did the challenge in May for the prerequisite, and the next class doesn't start till August 21st. I had something happen a few months back that was unexpected and difficult, I was struggling for awhile, and it made me question whether I should go ahead with this or not. I had almost talked myself out of it, but then thought that I should do it anyway.

The other stuff worked itself out for the positive ( :-) ), and I was still thinking I'd continue. The full course will take at least a couple of years (probably more like 3) to complete. I'm looking at possibly being out of here before then. So should I do some of it, even if I can't get it all done? Would I continue it at a later time? Will it be worth the time and money spent?

Then the big issue -- the cost. I don't earn alot. My expenses are relatively few, so I do okay. But there isn't much extra. I have some things coming up that are going to require some expense, so once again I was questioning whether to spend the money on this course. I've been back and forth over this so many times, and was at the point where I was fairly sure that I wasn't going to do it. I need that money for other things.

Well... I got an email regarding the course when I was at work on Friday. The northern library region that is offering this course to their staff had offered for any of the staff from our region to take it with them, but initially it was at our own expense. They got a huge grant to cover their expenses, and have now offered to cover the tuition cost for us -- for this next class and possibly the one following. It's a substantial amount.

My tuition would be covered, probably for two classes from now until June. I actually emailed my supervisor back to get clarification, because I thought that surely I must be reading the email wrong! She assured me that it was correct, and that I would also be reimbursed for the fee I paid to write the challenge exam. Sweet.

Am I being told something here? "Hello, September... you haven't been listening to me! Can I make it any clearer?!"

I guess I'm supposed to keep going. :-P

Finished book 7

I finished Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows last night. It's almost a let down, in a way.

Overall, the book was great. There is one part I didn't like and I think could have been left out, but aside from that... great. :-)

I'm considering re-reading Half-Blood Prince because there's things that I don't remember that well.

Our town is having the annual "Old Fashioned Saturday Night" -- art displays, live music, pie and ice cream, cotton candy, a dunk tank, old buggy rides, etc. The library is hosting the beef-on-a-bun supper as a fundraiser. We made up tons of coleslaw and baked beans last night, and I have to go help out at the supper as soon as I'm off work in a few minutes. It's really, really hot out today, so hopefully that won't keep people from coming out. We're hoping it will be a good fundraiser for us.

Speaking of it being hot... I was checking online, and it's hotter here today than it is where Josh lives in AZ... lol.

SK: 97 °F / 36 °C
AZ: 91 °F / 33 °C

Anyway, I'm off.... I hope you're all having a great weekend!

So good....

... Deathly Hallows is so good. I'm trying not to read it too quickly, but once I get into it... well, last night I read till 2:15 if that tells you anything... lol.

The next couple of days are busy, but I might be done it by then anyway. ;-)

Ahhh.... Harry Potter :-)

I'm impressed... I pre-ordered Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows on Amazon.ca. Being in a rural area, I didn't get guaranteed Saturday delivery, but it did arrive on Monday. Very cool. I wasn't expecting it so soon, so that was a very nice surprise. :-)

Now I'm wishing I could be at home reading... lol. I'm going to be sad when I reach the end -- I've been reading these books for years now, and to reach the final one is sad. I want to know what happens, but I don't want them to end... *sigh*

It's been so stinkin' hot here for the last few weeks. It's clouding over and we've had a bit of thunder this afternoon, but only a sprinkle of rain. We could really use some rain -- everything is parched, and it might cool things off a little. In addition to the heat, it's been very humid, which we aren't really used to. I'm trying not to complain about it -- just a wee bit here and there. ;-)

Didn't sleep very well last night, so I'm sitting at my desk at work yawning and wanting to go home. :-P

Big Brother tonight, and more Harry Potter. Maybe a real good thunderstorm... that would be cool. :-D

This and that...

I went to Saskatoon on Monday. I did a bit of shopping, but the real reason I went was to see "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix". I went without any expectations this time. I saw "Goblet of Fire" with Josh last year, and while I enjoyed it, I was also disappointed. They left out so much, and because of that it didn't seem to "flow". It was my least favorite to date.

I must say, I loved "Order of the Phoenix". It was also one of my favorite books. Yes, they left out a lot, but with a book that is like 700 pages, there isn't much choice. Instead of dwelling on what was left out or changed, I just enjoyed the movie. I really did love it. I'd go again... lol. The DVD will be on my Christmas list. ;-)

On Sunday, Sheldon and I went to Moose Jaw to the family barbecue. I had a nice visit with my brother and sister-in-law and my aunt. We left shortly after supper because Sheldon needed to drive back to Saskatoon yet (hour home, an hour to S'toon). I know he was rather bored, not even knowing some of the relatives there, but he hung in there and I appreciated that he went. It was a good day.

I heard from a friend today, one who I thought was gone. I'd met her on a message board about 3 years ago, at a time when my life was a mess. We had many things in common -- it was almost scary... lol. She had a very positive impact on me at that time, but she was very ill and didn't want to talk about it. Suddenly, she disappeared. PM's and emails were never answered, and I would periodically check with some others to see if they'd heard from her, but no one had. She just vanished. Knowing that she was very ill, we all hoped for the best... but feared the worst. I came to accept that she may have passed away.

I rarely log into those message boards anymore, but I had a notification this morning for a PM. It wasn't from her, but when I went to my inbox, lo and behold I had a PM from her as well!!! She'd sent it last week, but for some reason I never received a notification. I was totally stunned! I was also so happy to know that she was indeed alive, and well. :-) Her message was brief, so I'm awaiting her reply to my message to her -- which of course was not brief. Can't imagine that, can ya? :-P

I was going to post about something else that was bugging me, but I changed my mind. At least for today. I'll stick with the positive, and leave aside the negative. ;-)

Oh, one more thing... I'm excited for "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows". I have my copy pre-ordered on Amazon. Unfortunately since I live in a small town I won't get it delivered on Saturday, but it should arrive within a few days after. YES! :-D

Friday update

Ahhh, nice weather. It's supposed to be quite hot for the next week, but I'm not going to complain. ;-)

Work at the library is bang-your-head-against-the-wall slow. We have GOT to get this moving. I'm beyond frustrated with it.

My brother and sister-in-law are coming out from Vancouver this weekend. They'll be at my aunt & uncle's in Moose Jaw, and there's a family barbecue on Sunday. Rob & Vanessa went to Calgary this weekend, so they won't be there, but Sheldon and I will be going down. Should be good. It's supposed to be 35°C that day... toasty for us. I have to remember to take pictures. I'm so bad at that -- if I remember to take my camera, I get busy and forget about taking pictures... lol.

Sheldon was home last weekend. He seems to be enjoying his job, and is adjusting to that and living with a roommate and all that stuff.

I can't think of anything else... life is generally pretty quiet around here. Have a great weekend, everyone!

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Currently playing: Hey There Delilah ~ Plain White T's

I went for lunch today...

... with Robbie and his girlfriend, Vanessa. They've been together for awhile, but I hadn't met her until now (she's from Nova Scotia, going to university in Saskatoon). He was in S'toon over the weekend, and they came down today and took me out for lunch, then they were heading to the lake for the day. She's very nice, easy to chat with, they seem to be very good together. :-)

On an unrelated note... I really want to go see Transformers, and then Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. I need to get to Saskatoon one of these days soon!