Once upon a time I tried to kill my husband. Now this is a true story but perhaps not in the context that you’re thinking. To be fair to me I warned him but he didn’t listen. Now the shoe might be on the other foot.
The original story is about twenty years old and not one that I have shared very often for you see it puts me in a bad light. Although I think in a court of law I would have probably gotten off as I did warn him.
It had the prologue of a couple of days work as making chicken soup from scratch takes time. You have to make the stock cool it skim it and then make the soup. I’m quite certain that it was the call that stage that I blew. I finished up the soup and served it for lunch. I took one bite and said “don’t eat it, it’s bad”. He consumed two bowls. He was sick, really sick for about 36 hours. I said I was sorry about 50 times.
Now today he pulled out fish from the fridge and cooked it on the BBQ. Fish in the fridge always smells bad to me but cooked it smelt ok. He thought not and told me “don’t eat it”. I proceeded to eat it as my first two bites had tasted fine. He threw his out. We shall see who was right. If you don’t hear from me in 36 hours maybe check on me!đ
So here is yesterday’s post today. Seems yesterday become some rather random other stuff Zzzzzz. This is what I was actually working on when I hit publish.
My best time is 9 minutes flat, my longest about 30. Now that’s not Formula One pit change speed but not bad for a middle aged woman alone.
Now that best time has to be put into context plus perhaps the subject! The jack and tire were still out from the flat 5 days before. I might add that a guy sat in his vehicle waiting for someone and watched me the whole time. Whatevs as the kids say.
My worst time was probably this past winter when it was like -35 and I had the new truck. I couldn’t get the handle in to let the tire down and had to call my son in law for help, which I might add, he gave very graciously and didn’t make me feel like a wimp.
I’ve had a few awkward tire change situations. A Suburban full of meat and the spare tire accessible only if I moved most of it. Two dogs in the back of the station wagon and it happens on the freeway.
The longest tire change was the old farm truck on a gravel road in the middle of no where in the rain. Only one very unquiet vehicle went by. He didn’t stop the first time but the second time he did and asked if I needed help. I wasn’t all that polite when I told him I was finished now but if he’d bothered to stop the first time help would have been nice. Whatevs.
My dad taught me to change a tire and expected me to attend to it myself. Remember the context there as well though. Cell phones hadn’t been invented and I was a farm kid who drove back roads to get places. So it was walk for help or do it yourself. 95% of the time I’ve done it myself. Once i was even attired in a long dress!
In case you don’t know how I included a How to Video. You never know. Driving on the rim isn’t an option and sitting there all night in an area with no cell coverage could happen to you. It’s pretty easy even if they do the lug nuts up tight. You just put the tire wrench horizontal, hang onto the roof and stand on it till it gives. Easy peasey especially if you get lots of practise like me seems I am a flat tire magnet.
The comment on the post asked if I was pocket blogging or post call delirium blogging. How about a combination of both?
Post call nighttime work ended @ 0545. Not enough time to go home before the 0730 start to the reggilar work day. I had breakfast and cat napped in the lounge — a real sleep would have left me feeling worse than a few minutes. By 0930 on my first break I was cold and hungry. So pretending I was a hobbit I went for second breakfast. While I was upstairs having hot oatmeal I started a blog post about flat tires. đ This was prompted from last night’s blow out flat tire. I did manage to save it but somehow ended up starting the Z post. Isn’t that hysterically funny that it was z! I thought I had deleted the post but somehow I guess not! I had no concept until two people left comments on the Facebook link. This I saw this evening after my 8 hour work day and my 1 1/2 hour nap. So then I’m like wow 3 comments, can’t let that post go to waste. Although it probably went to my waist. Second breakfast calories do count and then I had popcorn this afternoon and frozen chocolate chip cookies (2) now. That’s how I keep the momentum going on 2 hours of sleep is by carb loading. Really I should go for a walk but it’s cold, windy and my feet hurt so think I’ll skip it.
So there was some Z time today but it wasn’t at work except in the blogging sphere. No concept how I didn’t delete it as that’s what I tried to do.
Meanwhile back to those flat tires on the next post and some sleep for me tonight. Thanks for dropping in on my zzzzz time!
I love the big holidays as they are family time but perhaps my favourite personal day of the year is today. Anyone who follows the blog knows why!
That golden orb comes up at 4;45 and doesn’t set till 21:30 (9:30 for all you non medical sort). I know, in my head, that the days start getting shorter now, but I like to live in denial that summer has only long days like today!
I had a Facebook post from a couple of years ago lamenting the fact that on the summer Soltice it rained all day and we didn’t even get a sunset. We awoke this a.m. to open windows and rain at 4:05 so I wasn’t exactly hopeful for today but I did have a plan for a blog post if the weather did cooperate.
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My plan was to have a picture for every hour that I saw the sun. Which is easy for the first hour so here is my am pics at home and my commuter pic (taken while sitting at the red light). It’s so much easier to get up when it’s light and bright out.
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Then of course things go down hill for a few hours. The following picture is what’s left of our windows after they started building the Children’s Hospital. The dungeon became even darker and harder to handle. There are many of my colleagues who probably think I am stuck up because I leave the OR for my breaks. I will stay if the patient and the room require me to be close by but getting real life is very important to my psyche. You can see why I chose to leave when you see our “view”.
0805Then it’s a couple of busy hours where time zips by. First break of the day — outside view away from the smokers but right by the gophers. Can’t seem to win!
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The middle stretch of the day is insanely busy but finally it’s time for a lunch break in the Queen’s Garden. I wish it was still a secret treasure with crappy furniture as it’s always so busy but a late lunch allows for more quiet time.
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Usually that just leaves a couple of hours until the professional day winds down and I get to enjoy the sunshine. But alas I am on call his summer soltise and you guessed it. Staying late so I grab a 5 minute sunshine break before the next stretch.
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Three hours later a quick supper break of chili and cheese with a carrot muffin. Well at least it’s kind of decent food and didn’t come from a vending machine.
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And then the long stretch at the end of the day when you are feeling a bit tired. But I just kept thinking, maybe I will be out in time to see the sunset or even the never ending twilight.
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Turns out that twilight is a lovely time to change your tire. Even stopped in the most scenic part of the road so the church was in the twilight. I have shit for luck when it comes to tires. Not sure if I hit something or if it was a blow out not that it matters. Fortunately I’m pretty handy with a tire iron and my road side assistance guy was like 3 km’s away so it wasn’t the worst flat I’ve ever had. Now that could be a blog post all on its own.
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So that’s a wrap for today. I am thinking that next year on this day perhaps would be a perfect time to finally take that trip to the Yukon.
I struggle, always have, with getting up so setting the alarm on a weekend is not my favourite way thing to do. When momma asked if I’d like a play date I jumped at the chance. I just didn’t know it was time sensitive and my arrival slash her departure was 0830. So I dragged myself out of bed and watered my hair, which is a totally different story, and took my usual work breekie with me. Silently lamenting I wasn’t going to have my usual awesome weekend breakfast that my man creates I drove away.
My arrival elicited a huge smile and a happy gurgle from Baby A and being tired fell away. We had play time on the floor, story time and even bath time. I folded laundry while she talked to me and she told me a few more stories while in the gym thingie. She rolled around and around and played with fingers and toes and stole my heart, again.
Then she got a titch cranky and it was obvious she needed a nap. I’d forgotten how heavy babies can be while putting them to sleep in your arms. The chair wasn’t comfy for me and laying her down woke her up. So back into my arms she went and once asleep this time I just got comfy, as possible, on the couch. She had a lovely nap and I even dozed for a few minutes but mostly I just treasured how blessed I am.
Then momma came home ans the door woke her up which is weird cause she sleeps through her dad’s movies. Then she got super happy again after she had some momma milk. We ended it with laughter and squeals.
I’m very fond of January which isn’t a statement most people make but perhaps June is my favorite. I’m all about the sunlight and June just can’t be topped for that. It’s like the light goes on and on and on! I’m like a school age child and never want to go to bed because it is still light out.
These next two are from a walk that we finished after 10 one evening this week. The moon has been stellar this week, the twilight lingers on and on and then the morning sun starts peeking out so early.
The plus to all that sun is that everything is growing like crazy! We could certainly use some serious rain but even so it’s all very green except for the trees. They are just plain ugly. Fortunately the worst of the caterpillars seems to be over.
But the flowers and plants are a looking worth a few photos. I’m not sure what a couple of them are but the colours and textures are wonderful! The last one has only been growing for a few months but we will enjoy watching this little beauty pop up.
I’ve had a minor writers block and a serious lack of time to write. Today, while out walking, I was listing in my head, a few of my favourite things. So then Continue reading →
There are times were the ending makes up for the beginning and perhaps even the middle.
Such was how our evening ended. We enjoyed our first bike ride together, returning as the sun was setting. Glory be that the wind had totally died down so we sat by the fire for a couple of hours. We watched the twilight darken but even as I write at midnight it’s still a bit light. The joys of June. The stars and the moon are in full glory and if it wasn’t for the mosquitos it would be perfect. I’m more fond of ticks or caterpillars than those little biting devils.
The beginning of the day included 4 hours of financial data entering and ended with a small meltdown on my part. The weeding was way more fun than that and I’m not fond of pulling those suckers. We capped our afternoon off by spending over an hour hashing out details and options with our financial advisory. That always makes my head spin.
So how wonderful that the windy day turned into a calm beautiful evening and we were lucky enough to be home to enjoy it.
Have a good weekend everyone. I sincerely hope you can find some time to rejuvenate your soul as well.
I misplaced my phone. Again. Somehow my keys and phone never seem to be where my brain thinks they are.
Although it seems random perhaps it’s not. I’ve felt lately that reading has been a missing element in my life. I’m meandering through the original Anne of Green Gables as we watched the new series on CBC. I so enjoy Lucy Maud Montgomery’s incredible talent with words but the chase of the story isn’t there as I’ve perhaps reread them half a dozen times.
So on my much needed break from the dungeon I wandered upstairs to the library. In two seconds the visual of four women in an old car pulled me in. Once I read the title and skimmed the synapse of the story I was hooked.
I laughed, I cried and I pondered. I’m not advocating a traveling funeral, as I have mine planned out for here at home, but the heart of the book is really about living life to the fullest. It’s about loss and pain but also about accepting the parts that make us us.
Now the book is going travelling. I’m sending it along to a close friend who will be instructed whom to send it to and so on. Once it returns to me I’ll return it, well used, to the library. Reading enriches our lives as does friendship so this is a win win.
Today I met up with a fellow blogger and it was wonderful. Now I actually know her in real life but feel a closer connection because of our shared blog readings. At this stage in her career I would be a distant memory, pleasant but faded. She would be one of a string of younger colleagues I help mentor along the way.
But because we write we connect. I’ve never met her family which seems strange to her and I. She’s met my husband but he feels like he knows her better than two or three casual suppers calls for.
It’s a connection that I’m thrilled to have. She challenges me to think globally and to reach out of my own easy space. Perhaps I provide her with a bit of easy nostalgic reading about life on the safer side. We hug lots which is kind of funny because she was so not on the hugging team!
Today we hugged, talked, laughed and walked. Then we parted for a few months but she’ll be back because of what this photo shows.
In the meantime we’ll both keep writing and reading; sharing both the inner and the outer shells. Lucky us to have this connection. Silly us to have forgotten, again, to take a picture while we were together.
