Spooky Adventures

 

 

Yesterday I decided to wash all the windows in the house...... that was my first mistake.  It was a rainy day that turned to a snow storm!  The patio doors had what I thought were smudges at dog level ....... except they weren't smudges - it was a sticky gummy residue...... ugh!  took forever to scrap it off and get the windows cleaned...... did I mention it was snowing?!

By lunch time I had done almost all the main level windows.... I was in the kitchen cooking some noodles when I heard this buzzing sound.  WTF?!  I followed the sound to the bathroom.  It sounded like the fan was on...... only it wasn't! I traced the sound to the wall outlet.  WTF?!  I touched the outlet - it wasn't hot.  So what was the noise?? Then my imagination kicked in...... maybe mice had chewed some wires in the wall??

Sir Steve called and I had him listen to the sound via the phone.  He said he'd come home.... I was close to panic.... what if there was an electrical fire?!   He came flying in the door and went straight to the bathroom...... He felt the wall - he was looking for vibrations........ nothing.

THEN 

His hand hit the toothbrush holder and the sound changed.  He started pulling the electric toothbrushes out - one by one.  The lil one's toothbrush was running!!?? So no chewed wires in the wall ......... BUT why did her toothbrush turn itself on??!!  He turned it off......... my heart slowed down and we kinda laughed about it.  EXCEPT before he left it turned itself back on!!  Finally I took the batteries out of it !  and a new toothbrush is on the shopping list.  When the lil one came home from school and I told her about the mysterious sounds - she said "OHHHHHHH we must have a ghost!"

 Anyone got a phone number? I think I might just put it on speed dial........ 

THAT stage

 

 

About a year ago we started to see some changes in the lil one..... minor ones but still changes.

This year we've noticed some more major changes........ oilier skin/hair.... changes in body shape......... and Sir Steve and I started to prepare for the hormones ...... and changes to personality.

Was I ready for it? NO!   I've been down that road twice already with my daughters.  Did/do I want to do it again?  NO!  but ya know - it's all part of the parcel.

Anyway - after Spring break our government removed mask mandates.  Joy oh Joy!  We talked with the lil one and told her we wanted her to keep wearing her masks at school........ cause 6th wave ya know.  Every laundry day there were her dirty masks in the wash - so I assumed she was wearing them........ Yeah right!  Then the school posted pictures of her class - one in the gym listening to a speaker and another of her in class doing an art project.  Guess what?!  In both pictures she wasn't wearing her mask......... le sigh.  Sir Steve questioned her - 'was she wearing her masks?' 'Oh yes' she said.  Then he pulled up the school pictures and showed her ............ GOTCHA!

She came home from her mother's yesterday with a runny nose and laryngitis.  Turns out it started on Saturday.  First thing that came to mind - COVID of course.  Her mother never tested her - cause ya know - it's the mother.  So last night Sir Steve tested her...
OMG!  What a nonsense he had to put up with.... pulling her head away - holding her nose.... crying........  Fortunately the test was negative.  see me breathing again?!

This is what we call a teaching moment - don't like nose swabs? then sanitize your hands wear your bloody masks!!

and there have been other little behaviours that scream hormones....... can I do this again???  or better question do I WANT to do this again?  Life is about to get very 'interesting' around here - le sigh......... 

Saturday's To Do list

 

 

We had a plan for today....... garden work.

One of the big problems we have is someone - once upon a time - planted grape vines in the garden...... back and side gardens.  We have a pear tree in the side garden.  Upon close inspection - it turns out that the grape vines have grown up and wound themselves around the branches of the pear tree.  My first thought was cut the main stock and let it die - then just pull the vines out of the tree......... BUT...... someone already had that idea.... and the vine isn't falling out of the tree.

So the plan was - today Sir Steve was gonna dig out the ladder from the shed - climb up into the tree and cut and pull the vine from the branches.  

Except there's no sun today.... le sigh........and it's cold.  AND it's forecasted to rain.... le sigh.

I have paint to paint the side deck and the front deck AND the shutters and the trim ... and anywhere else that needs a coat of paint........ EXCEPT it's so cold and wet it's not a good time to paint...... le sigh. 

Another weekend in the house watching movies??? 

 

AND - it's Friday!

 

 

And it's Friday - my favourite day of the week..... it's MY day!!   

I shower and shave and manicure and pamper....... no pressure ... no schedules... just time for me.

IF I was the type - I would sit and eat bonbons and watch movies ....... it's just that kinda of day.  The best part on THIS Friday - the sun is out!!  YAY!!

Hope you all enjoy your Friday ! 

Thank you

 

 Thank you to everyone who has reached out to check on me... 

Let's just say all the stress and anxiety I have been living through for the last 3 months has caught up with me......... 

Usually I share everything - but right now I can't.  I just can't.  

please be patient with me.......... 

Changes

 

 

So ....... I have been feeling so bloody old.  I look in the mirror and I look old... tired and old.  It was getting me down ya know???  (and deep down inside I worry about how Sir Steve sees me....... I know I shouldn't but I can't help it.... )

Then this week I was looking at some 'memories' on Facebook.  and I realized my hair has changed....... well not my hair but my hair style.  Almost a year ago my hairdresser went on maternity leave..... and the new hairdresser didn't cut it the same and by the time MY hairdresser came back she had to work to improve the style.  I knew it would take time.... but somewhere during the waiting period the whole hair style changed and I realized I HATED it!!

Yesterday I had an appointment with my hairdresser..... I brought along some photos of my old hair style....... and we 'talked'.  She admitted to completely forgetting what style she used to give me...... I reminded her I liked a funky / cheeky hair style......

It took awhile  but she did it!! It sorta looks like this........... 

 

Only I am virtually completely white.

 

I came out of there feeling perky and cheeky and a little bit happier....  

Casulty of Covid?

 

 

We start our day watching our local news on the TV..... Once Sir Steve leaves for work and the lil one for school - I get on with my day but I don't turn the TV off.... it's background noise ya know??? and sort of comforting....... 

Yesterday about mid morning.... a talk show was on and the topic was how covid has affected 'date nights'.  That's all I heard...... but it got me thinking..... We haven't had a date night in over 2 years.  OH we had ordered in dinners and tried to pretend it was a date night...... but it just wasn't the same ya know?  

Date nights always involved showers  and dressing up complete with make up and perfume ....... ordered in dinners were eaten in front of the TV and some movie...... we didn't sit alone at a table and make conversation like you do when you're at a restaurant on a date........

I realized I am missing date night...... and it has affected our relationship a little bit.  I don't feel that sexy bond to Sir Steve ...... sometimes I look at us in my mind's eye and see an old married couple - and it worries me we're losing that 'spark' ... that thrill. and maybe the passion?

I made a decision a few weeks back to take a pride in myself again..... to do my hair more frequently - to put on make up every day (BUT make up isn't a whole lot for me - it involves eye liner and mascara and a touch of lipstick.  Lipstick!  who wore lipstick when you wear masks every time you go
out?? )  To start wearing my 'nice' clothes ... to make more of an effort ya know?  Sir Steve may not notice (though I suspect he does) but it does something to my mental outlook .......... makes me feel more feminine .. makes me tease more... laugh more... it actually lifts my spirits.

So tell me - how has covid affected your relationship and date nights??? Are you ready to find a way back ?? What steps (if any) have you taken to find your way back??? 

 

 

Too Much......

 

 I don't know how many of you remember back 2 years ago - pre-covid days - when the lil one tried out for the competitive dance team at her dance school..... and got a spot on the team!  We were prepared for the cost (sort of) and the demands on all of us.... 

Of course the competition got cancelled in 2020......... The lil one hasn't been in dance class since then.... only started back this fall.  

We got notification of this year's competitive dance - it is in April and in Niagara Falls!!??? that's a 6 hour drive from home.  And to make it worse - it runs from the Thursday to the Sunday which means  - are you ready for this? 3 days out of school and 4 nights in a hotel for all of us.    Sir Steve and I were in shock..... we are looking at a bill of close to $1,000 just for the hotel! never mind food and costumes and finding somewhere for the dog............. RIDICULOUS!!

So Sir Steve and I made a tough decision - our lil one will not be dancing in the competition.  Sir Steve contacted the school and explained the distance was just not do-able.  (usually the competitions are about 2 hours from home) The school says they understood our withdrawal and tried to explain their choice by saying they haven't danced in 2 years.  Yes ....... so????  And then they said they think there may be another dance competition in June 2 hours from us.  So why?? are they insisting on the Niagara competition??!!  I'm thinking it is a whole lot more about the school's name/status than anything to do with the girls dancing.... especially 9 year olds who just do it for fun/exercise.

Tonight Sir Steve will talk about it with the lil one and explain why she's not going..... another lesson on the realities of life.........

Challenges

 

The weather was  mild last week - well above 0 degrees  - and the snow started melting.... and .................... the gardens started to peak out.  

My initial reaction was ' GARDENS!  YAY!!' ........ then the snow melted some more... and I got more than a bird's eye view of them......... and I felt (feel) sick.   We were told we have raspberry and blueberry bushes.. and a pear tree. (who knows where) BUT there's also a whole lot of nicely laid out gardens - or they were nicely laid out way back when.  What we have now is overgrown choked flower beds of questionable plants.  I have identified a rhododendron bush in the backyard......... 

 

but as for the rest of it??? There might be a wild rose bush and maybe a 'real' rose bush.  

The grass hasn't been taken care of - and the driveway has been abused - cars and snow clearing has torn up what grass was between the actual driveway and the end of our property.  

There are 2 major lakes in the yard....... 

and there are dead leaves.... tree branches.... dead flower stalks and garbage strewn over the entire yard - back and front.

My OCD is kicking in big time........ I want it all cleaned up and fixed yesterday!  AND because I am ME - I am worried how we're gonna work on the gardens/grass all summer while we are at the campsite for the summer........ 

AND then I can't help but think here at the house we have everything we have in the country....... everything we didn't have at the old place - yards and gardens and peace and quiet - parks and splash pads for the lil one and KIDS!  AND we now have a barbecue !!  which we couldn't have at the old place.  We even had our first barbecue of the season on the weekend........ 

I can't help but think how much it costs to maintain two properties - almost 5,000$ a summer for the country place!!!   OHHHHHHHH the things we could do with that $5,000!  BUT then we'd miss seeing eldest daughter and SIL every weekend....... But then I think about the stress of packing everything up and moving it to the country - and the stress of getting the groceries and laundry and messages run one day a week... 

Right now I'm gonna try and focus on one thing - the gardens/yards.  

We have some challenges to face this spring and summer - and some tough decisions to talk over ..........

 

Spring Ahead

 

 

As of Friday at 3:30 pm the lil one is on Spring Break - which means she's with her mother for a week........ which means *I* am on Spring BREAK!!!!  see me doing the happy dance?!

I celebrated the start of Spring Break by giving myself a facial and a manicure and a long hot shower.............. and watching Netflix movies alllllllll day long.

Today is Spring Ahead Day....... where we turn our clocks ahead one hour tonite.  I was wondering - when I was planning this post - how many of you /how many countries actually still do the Spring Ahead.  I know some of our provinces have eliminated it.... not Ontario though  - le sigh - and did some research (thank you Google) to discover only about 40% of the world's countries do Spring Ahead.  So tell me - are you one of the ones I need to remind to put your clocks ahead tonite???  Do you like the extra hour of daylight?? I know I do!  and wouldn't have any problem if we went to Daylight Savings time year round.  Just think no more adjusting to time changes twice a year.

So - are you turning your clock ahead tonite?

 

 Good luck with the non smart clocks!

Food Adventures

 

 

One thing that happens when you're moving is trying to empty the freezers - yes freezerS ... we have 2 of them.  Last week I suggested to Sir Steve that I would make 'cooked' breakfast on Monday (it's a holiday here).... eggs and bacon.  

On Saturday I took the bacon out of the freezer..... On Sunday I remembered the promised 'cooked' breakfast...... Today I completely forgot the 'cooked' breakfast and Sir Steve had to remind me......... GAH!!! 

I dashed off to the kitchen......... and skidded to a halt.  I have packed the whole kitchen!!!  How the devil was I supposed to make bacon and eggs???? I had a fry pan - milk - bacon and eggs..... but no utensils ....... GAH!  I altered the menu slightly - scrambled eggs would work right?? EXCEPT I didn't have a bowl............ improvise!  I did have a coffee cup............. 

Breakfast got cooked................ 

(and yes we're using paper plates !  AND for those of you wondering - if I packed the whole kitchen - what we're gonna eat this week........ we are ordering chinese food tomorrow.  We're gonna order our usual 4 different dishes that usually feeds us for 3 meals....... Tuesday to Thursday 'cause Friday Sir Steve is taking me out to our favourite - only for special occasions - restaurant.)

Then yesterday when Sir Steve was packing up his cupboard/night stand he discovered a Christmas gift for me that he had forgotten about..........

 

My absolute favourite chocolate!!  I broke it open yesterday and indulged........... 

Then this morning Sir Steve and I went outside for a smoke.  When we came back in this is what I saw............. 

 The dog who NEVER steals food!!  decided she just had to have MY peanut butter cup!!!   

Moving!!!!!!!!!  who knew it would be such an 'adventure'..........  

Never too Old to Learn......

 

I love my duvets........... LOVE THEM!  Except when I have to change
them ....... Does anyone else have a duvet?? Anyone else just about kill themselves trying to change it??? For those that have no idea what I am talking about - picture changing a pillow case ...... except the pillow is the size of a queen sized bed......... somehow you have to stuff this HUGE pillow into this pillow case ...stuff it in and try and get it smoothed out ... corners in the corners and no lumps..... It just about kills me!!  and I dread it!!

This morning I was going to change our duvet cover.  Sir Steve sorta kinda glared at me when he was leaving and said " do NOT try and change it yourself we'll do it when I get home".   BUT I'm kinda stubborn.  and besides he has enough to take care of tonite - driving the lil one to dance class - running by the new house to organize the garbage and get it out... so yeah you know I'm gonna do this small/HUGE job myself!

As I was sweating and struggling trying to get the top of this "pillow" into the top of the cover........ I had an EUREKA ! moment.  There HAS to be a better way - let's google it.   It turns out I am not the first person who can't figure out how to change a duvet cover easily.  

And so I watched this video - then went and changed the duvet cover with a minimum of sweating and swearing........ EUREKA!!!  

 

 

 For your viewing pleasure - here's the duvet all changed and looking pretty darn good!

AND I have an update on the lil one's ice sun catcher........ 

We tried again yesterday......... but I think because we tried to patch the original one a piece broke off......... BUT the lil one still thought it was good enough to add a ribbon to and hang it outside.  She was thrilled with it....... sometimes I forget kids don't always expect 100% perfection.  

 

 

We do have plans to try again (probably next winter cause I have hopes that by the time we are moved into the new house it will be warming up and not a good time to try ice sun catchers) but next time use tin foil plates so we can peel the form away from the ice and selkie suggested using hot water so the ice isn't so cloudy.   

A Little Bit of Everything

 

Just got a little bit of this and that today............

I have noticed a marked improvement in my health since I started taking B12 supplements.  YAY!!  My energy has slowly improved ....... the muscle aches have gone from a 10 to maybe a 4...... I'm still suffering from 'brain fog' .... last week I put a pot on the stove to boil - put the wrong burner on - the handle from the pot was over the burner and was smoking when I discovered my mistake AND in my brain fog - I just reached out and grabbed the handle - burned my fingers quite nicely thank you very much!!  Yesterday I was trying to do a simple math problem - subtract a debit from a credit and I just couldn't do it........ I was SO frustrated!!  My appetite is still AWOL - but hey - that could be the eating disorder.  I believe though I am improving........ we'll see how much I improve in the next week (they say it can take 6 months to fully improve)

The house is looking bare ....... and it's a bit depressing.  My OCD is kicking in big time cause the spare room is FULL of boxes and it's getting on my nerves.  We get the keys to the new place next week YAY!!  once we have the keys maybe I'll stop worrying about everything that can go wrong.  Mind you I am stressing that we'll get covid for our move ............ I can't believe how close to home it is getting...... never mind the lil one having it... but folks at Sir Steve's work are testing positive.  

I really appreciated the supportive comments on yesterday's post.   I wonder sometimes if my lack of kink postings is due to the fact that so many who read here don't relate to BDSM activities and I worry about how you'll all react.  Positive / Supportive comments like I got yesterday go a long way to making me feel more comfortable to post more of our kink activities.

I've noticed a couple of times - comments I have made on other blogs have not shown up....... OR have shown up then disappeared.  I am a bit paranoid about it... and am now second guessing myself.......... I honestly don't mean to shock or upset anyone........ 

And that's about it for catch up................. 

It's January in the Great White North

 

 

 

 

(seriously this was the lil one on Tuesday waiting for the school bus)
 

Feeling like Crap

 

 

A few years ago I was feeling crappy - just a bunch of little things. So I went to the doctor and complained.  He sent me for blood tests.  I got a phone call telling me I needed to go on B12 supplements.  Why I asked ? cause I virtually had NO B12 in my system.  My extreme fatigue, my achy body, my dizziness, my forgetfulness all of those minor symptoms were because I virtually had no B12.

Fast forward a few years and I move here - find a new doctor and get sent for more blood tests.  This doctor tells me I don't really have a B12 deficiency.  It was low - so cut back from 1200mcg a day to around 250mcg.  So I did.

Life sputtered along.  Sir Steve insisted I start taking a multi vitamin (cause eating disorders ya know) At some point I stopped taking my B12 supplements.  It's been at least 2 years since I stopped.  I started to notice this summer fatigue and loss of appetite (but that's not that odd - cause ya know eating disorders) Then in December I was forgetting stuff - and feeling anxious - body aches for no apparent reason.   Then since Christmas I have noticed a much higher level of anxiety......... a fair amount of nausea (again eating disorders so who pays attention) achy muscles ... and in the past couple of weeks dizziness and losing my words.

Then I had an eureka moment............ B12.  Could it be possible?? I tried to remember the last time I took a B12 - couldn't.    It crossed my mind to call the  doctor but as he still isn't seeing patients and even if he was he'd just send me for blood tests....... I grabbed the B12 bottle and started taking my supplements.

It'll take a couple of weeks (at least) to see any improvement - if I don't THEN I'll call my doctor.  BUT for now - I'll take extra B12 and keep my fingers crossed - cause ya know - 5 weeks till we move - I just don't need to be sick.

Inching Forward

 

 

We have 6 weeks until we move.

I am dealing with a still flooded basement and landlords being S.O.B.s.  On Wednesday night the old landlord sent me a message saying he was coming to pick up the pump that I have been using once - sometimes twice - a day to pump the water out of the basement.  He's pissed cause the new owner's lawyer has hit him with the bill to put a sump pump into the basement.  He wants to get revenge?? so he's taking our pump and told us to get the new owner to fix the problem.  WTF??!!  So I'm busy messaging him telling him what an ass he is - and messaging the new owner and telling him if he doesn't get the flooding fixed he's gonna be paying us for damages 'cause the pump is going the next day.  Besides those messages I'm dealing with cheeky messages from youngest daughter and husband about helping us move......... I wasn't very diplomatic and took a couple of pot shots at SIL saying "you just want an excuse to not help us move" (wasn't very nice - mostly true cause he's SO lazy - but still not nice)  AND as well messages back and forth with eldest daughter and SIL about celebrating their birthdays at the end of the month.  

Moving on.......... 

I can't sell our extra kitchen stuff for love or money (colour me sad and frustrated) We really can't even give the stuff away!!  and most of it is like brand new - cause when I moved in here with Sir Steve we had doubles of just about everything...... le sigh.

Moving on.......... 

Our security company is charging us an arm and leg to move the security system.  I can't believe it!!  It's been in the back of my mind cause ya know - too many other things rolling around in my head.  Yesterday I fired off an email telling them how unsatisfied I am with their system........... listing problems we've had with it.  Then questioned the bill to move it (explaining it wasn't even our choice to move!)  and then summing up by saying 'considering my dissatisfaction with the system how much to cancel the whole damn contract!!' (well I didn't say damn) They were all "oh my S we're so sorry you're not satisfied - we'll look into everything tomorrow".  We'll see if they do anything to improve my attitude / mood.

Moving on.......... 

The lil one's family is still bad mouthing us on FB.......... but I came up with a neat meme I actually posted (usually I don't respond to their nonsense - but they are on my last nerve)  

(which actually worked for the lil one's other family AND the damn landlord)

Moving on........... 

I'm having weird dreams which are waking me up and robbing me of much needed sleep.  The latest one was - I was loading herds and herds of cows (yes you read that right C O W S ) onto an airplane - trying to squeeze them all in....... got it done when someone told me I also had to get a slew of humans on the same plane with the COWS!

Moving on.........

I have been working on the budget - some stupid decisions taken by Sir Steve many years ago have come back to bite him (us) in the ass.....not THAT serious - but frustrating.  So I'm working on the budget.  On the bright side - remember the pay equity payment I'm entitled to?? Welllllllllll that pay equity has increased my monthly pension........not by hundreds but still it's an increase!

So we are moving forward - by inches - but still moving forward.  May I get to the move without killing someone or having a full blown break down. 

Canada - continuing education

Over the month of December I had a couple of posts about Canada - my 'home and native land'.   There are still some bits of  erroneous information floating around the net about Canada......  I am taking on the job of educating you all about this country.

Get your note pads and pens/pencils for notes..... sit back and enjoy...........

 

 

 

Busy Days Ahead

 

 

I phoned that number for the Rental Board AND it was too good to be true.  (I kinda thought it might be)

I have to file a complaint with the local rental board first........ IF nothing happens THEN I can call them.  They were very nice - but nothing they could do.

So I d/led the form - and filled in all 8 pages.  GAH!!  Then I made an appointment to go over the forms - pay the fee - and submit them tomorrow at noon. I'm hoping the agent will take pity on me - and move our complaint to the top of the list.......... I'm about due for a change of luck no???

Anyway - if I go AWOL for a few days you can assume I'm up to my eye teeth in legal mumbo jumbo.  

Week from Hell

 

 Remember I told you our landlord has sold our lil home??? Welllllllll there were outstanding work permits that he had to get completed before the signing date.  One of those permits was for an 'illegal - not to code' sump pump. Do you know what a sump pump does?? it pumps water out of the basement.  The sump pump was removed.  Do you see a problem with this?

Yeah........ I went downstairs two weeks ago - after a week of rain  - to 2 inches of water in the basement!!!  We called the landlord.  He conveniently ignored us for days........... I guess he was hoping it would dry up on it's own.  BUT it has been raining here for days now....... 

This past Tuesday the landlord showed up to install a pool pump?! to pump out the basement.  ok seemed like a good idea....... sort of.

The landlord asked if I would be home on Wednesday cause the city inspectors were coming in to make sure the pump was gone and everything was closed up properly.  I agreed to adjust my schedule to be home...... (I have done that for our landlord frequently - whenever he has needed work done....... this way he doesn't have to take time off work) 

The inspectors arrived - but not my landlord.  GAH!  They were pissy cause he wasn't answering his phone.  I tried to appease them while trying to reach the landlord - they weren't going to give an inch..... so they came in to do their inspection.  I reached the landlord who lost his sh*t with me!!!  told me to 'make them call him' ....... REALLY??!!  They weren't having any of it......... The landlord got absolutely abusive with me.  I couldn't believe it!!  After all I had done - and Sir Steve too for that matter - and he's abusive with me.  I gave him a piece of my mind and announced I refused to talk to him further.  

On Thursday I messaged Sir Steve at work.  The swimming pool pump wasn't working it was overheating.  I had turned it off.  I  just sat in the living room and shook.  My anxiety levels were going through the roof.  I felt so damn helpless.  About 30 minutes later Sir Steve walked in the door.  

There is one thing about our basement - something I have questioned over the last 5 years.  There is a trough in the basement - filled with gravel?!!  I have suggested that our water problem might be coming from there.............. yeah well no one listened to me.  Until now.  On Thursday Sir Steve went out and bought some special cement that will harden even if it's wet!  He messaged the landlord and told him he owed him a day's pay AND the expense for the supplies.  Amazing how fast the landlord showed up....... 

Yesterday I had to keep running downstairs and turning on the pump - cause it stops working when the water gets low......... and the motor heats up.  Sir Steve (god bless him) has been using his shop vac to suck up the extra water.  BUT of course overnight the basement just fills up again.

This weekend - which was supposed to be a fun time of getting the Christmas decorations set up outside - and running down to Montreal for my grandson's birthday.... is now going to be spent with Sir Steve vacuuming up the water and digging up the trough - making cement and filling the trough in.  All in the hope that this will stop our water problem.  

Do you have any idea how stressed I am ?? Sir Steve too.......... GOD I'm not proud of this - but damn I want pay back........ so badly...................... 

I'm Pissy

 AND because I am pissy today this is what you get .........