Musings on a Small Life

Happy New Year's Eve to all! 2013 was relatively uneventful for me, unless you count the exhausting roller coaster of pre-menopausal hormonal mood swings, the work crap, the neighbour crap, financial crap--the usual life crap. You know, same sh*t, different year. That aside, the pluses, for me, were getting my plantar fasciitis treated, so I can walk again; returning to regular (semi-regular) services at a local church, after a 30-year absence (which still boggles my mind, given how I feel about organized religion in general); getting the QuietRock done thanks to Dad, because even though it didn't give the results I was expecting (ha, what in life does?), at least it's helped; having the support and help of my former cubicle mate (and her hubby); the cats' not getting sick and/or dying on me; ditto re: my parents--I'm blessed to still have them in my life. And knock on wood for my own general good health too; that could be gone in an instant and I'm well ...

Well, not any word. Some of you might remember that my word for 2013 was "solace." Actually, I had two, "solace" and "serenity." Solace I've been working on, and have had to some small degree. Serenity is beyond my reach at this stage of the game. So I want a word for 2014. About a month ago, even less, I'd have said "gratitude." I even found a sweet little graphic that I printed out for my office space and also for my front door: However, after my little "chat" with my boss just before our Christmas break, in the aftermath of the move and reorg, I've decided that "gratitude" isn't quite the word I want for 2014. "Stuff it up your *ss, I quit" is more than one word, and will achieve only bankruptcy and ruin in general, as will "F**k off, I don't need this sh*t." So I want a word that encompasses learning to take a deep breath and to step back, not take every single...

I always breathe a sigh of relief when I make it through another Christmas, even though I do enjoy aspects of the holiday. But come Boxing Day, it's pretty much all over for me, mentally. I actually packed away the decorations--including the tree--this afternoon. That's early, even for me, but I was in the mood to tidy up and get back to normal. Plus I've had everything out and up for a month or more already and enough's enough. "Santa" was good to me, though didn't bring me either of the two things I really wanted (a lottery win and/or the neighbour's unit up for sale--lol). However, the neighbours did go to the grandmother's last Sunday AM, and while the father was here Monday and part of Tuesday for work, I don't think the mother was. So I've had a peaceful few days and am grateful for it. I figure he'll be back tonight for work tomorrow, not sure about the rest of his "loving" family. The "boys" bought m...

I'd like to wish everyone a very merry Christmas and happy holiday,  no matter what you celebrate or how.  I'm scheduling this post in advance, in case we do lose power in the aftermath of the ice storm. (I have my fingers crossed for a hot Christmas dinner, though.) Please spend this Eve and Christmas Day with those you care about, be they four-legged or two. And please spend less time on-line. Whatever did we do when we had to meet with people face-to-face? Perhaps drink more, given some families' dynamics. LOL. Take care, everyone. Universal Blessings and Light to All Beings. Three desktop wallpaper images that I love and had downloaded last year, resized.     Comments are off; I'll "see" you after Christmas!

Yes, the University, it its infinite "wisdom," decided we should be open today. No comment from me, I'm sure you can guess what I'm thinking. So here are some (grainy) snaps from early this AM, on my way in. I walked only part way in our neighbourhood, then was too freaked out by having to duck under limbs heavy with ice, so waited at the next bus stop.                                 I'm still a bit concerned, as it's too cold to melt the ice and we'll be plunging into a deep freeze tonight. If or when the winds come up, it could get far worse. Fingers crossed for everyone's safety, and for power to stay on! Purrs from the boys and peace from me.

I had to go for groceries, food that I could eat without cooking, and snapped some pics along the way.  It's far, far worse now, after another entire day and night of rain, freezing rain and ice pellets. (Ice pellets as I'm typing this at 5:30AM EST.) The power flickered numerous times yesterday afternoon and evening, and the TV shut off and then on again right away three times, and I lost cable/internet/phone for a very short time. But so far things have been okay. Knock on wood. Given that power has been off all around us (I've been checking our City's utilities site), I'm amazed mine didn't go out overnight. (I've probably just jinxed it now.) I've not seen the like of this since 1998, it's crazy out there. Waiting for a west-heading bus around 7:45AM on Saturday. Pouring rain at that point, no plows or sanders yet.   (Looking at a private business driveway/lot.)   For sale at the grocery store.   Obviously inside the...

We've had freezing rain since yesterday, all night, and now have a significant ice storm warning for this afternoon/evening. (Mentioned in the second sentence of the alert.) I was here for the Ice Storm of 1998 and that was a disaster. There are concerns that this could be as bad. The power cables in our neighbourhood are underground, though that's not a guarantee we won't lose electricity, and I'm pretty concerned about that. I've got ice grippers for my boots and hope to venture out in a couple of hours to pick up some groceries. I have no idea if transit will be running, but I can manage on foot, I think--at least for a short distance. (The nearest store is only about 1.25 kms.) I've got pails of water filled in the basement, pots of water on the stove. But I wanted to do a quick post, just in case we do lose power today or tonight, for some days. If you don't see me around on-line, that probably will be why! Couple of quick snaps of...