Saltines and Gatorade

Tuesday, I left work early, feeling funky.  I had an appointment and had to take a new bus to get to it. I left early, walked VERY quickly to the bus about 1 km away.  Arriving at the stop, I was really hot, still feeling funky, but ok.

I thought I'd missed the bus, after waiting a number of minutes, I found-waiting 10 minutes, it showed.  Typical of the bus service here--a schedule is more of guidelines...The bus driver literally drove slalom down 2 streets, I arrived and sprinted to a store to find some Ginger Ale.

Too little.  Too late.

By 5 pm, I was getting sick in a strange bathroom.  Once home, I fevered, vomited, was delirious and in pain.  My skin hurt...my hair hurt....I haven't had a flu like this in a very, very long time.

It's now, Friday morning and I am still munching Saltines and drinking Gatorade.

I had such high hopes for work this week.  I had a couple projects prep'd and ready to go--only to be flat on my back for the week.  I am disappointed, but not discouraged.  There is always next week.

I was really worried that I hadn't recognized my symptoms early enough and potentially gotten others sick, then disappointed people due to not getting stuffs done.

Boo.

Today, I am somewhat upright, realizing I don't have any good furniture in the living room for laying on while sick....That'll need to change and be added to my list.

I'm also learning a lot about Fake Pharma on Underworld, Inc and the Fishing Industry on Wicked Tuna.  There is nothing to watch on TV.

Boo again.

2 Year Research Workiversary

January 2013--I was standing on the beach at Breezy Point, (post hurricane Sandy Clean up in NYC)when I got a call from staffing.  They asked me to take a block of work that would see me through the end of February 2013.

 

I took it.

 

You see, again, our finances were a concern as I had not been able to work for almost all of 2012.   We had some catching up to do.

 

When we got home--I set to work, a lot of night shifts, but I didn't mind the night shifts.  I could get a lot done, almost 3 movies, a lot of knitting, a good work out...it was a GREAT shift to take!

 

A few short weeks later (beginning of February) I got a call from Anika from Research at VIHA that they wanted me in for  an interview for a potential position with the Director of Research.

 

As you know, I got the job and this past week marked my 2 year "workiversary".

 

On the last weekend I decided that I would make some sort of cake to celebrate the anniversary.  So I made a pistachio lime cheesecake and took it into work.  Not to say, Yeah Kim!  But rather I realized how thankful I was for this job.  It kept my family afloat this past year while Kent was out of work.  As well, I work with some amazing people...and I learn something that makes me a better person, probably every week if not every day.

 

I learn from Tracy to find joy in the moment.  There is something musical about life and she finds it and lives it.  She's hard working and fun--she makes me laugh....a lot.

 

From Dawn I learn what it is to be highly professional and completely, totally yourself.  She makes me laugh, and laugh and laugh.  She loves me and if I ever think, I could use a hug--I know exactly where to go.

 

Terri has taught me to swat flying donkeys.  There are a few people that just grate me the wrong way at work.  More often than not its the people who are just joyless, fun-sucking Eeyore-like people that irritate me the most, but I do have one person at work that I can't please not matter what I do--I'd even say there's some bullying going on.  Terri told me when I feel that they are irritating me to swat them away, imagine they are flying donkeys and just swat...so once in a while in a meeting I might swat...or Terri might swat, we look at each other and we know....Terri is strong and confident with her job and work.  She has taught me that it's ok to be firm, set boundaries and make people stick to them.  She is teaching me to not be a doormat.  That can only be a good thing.

 

I learn from Cindy, to be compassionate, to celebrate the small and great victories.  She teaches me that you can lead and be a lady.  I don't mean be a woman, but a real lady.  She is graceful, gracious, kind and considerate.  We can look at each other and know what the other is thinking.  She also encourages me to use the "learning management system" that VIHA has--so I have been taking about a course/month.

 

When Kent was out of work, I supported him completely and told him often that if we needed to move we would go where he could find work and that I would be completely ok with that..  Today, I can say, I am so grateful that we get to stay in Victoria, that I get to stay at Research.

It's a team I would dearly miss.

More Changes

We returned from Vancouver knowing that the following week would be bringing us changes.

Max had moved back in--although I am happy to have him in our home, having an adult child in the house was going to be difficult as we navigate how to live together again.  It's going to be bumpy.

One of the statements I made before we left for the weekend was:  No parties, NO extra people in the house.  It wasn't our student or friend who stayed here that weekend that broke that rule, it would be our very own son.

So, Monday, when I found out, I clarified that I was serious--a couple days into living together and there is already tension.

Kent made it through his first days of work and I wished I had save it, but his signatory line in his emails changed EVERY day this week...as he gains his footing in his role.  This job is a BIG change from anything he has had in the past--but I know that he can rise to the occasion.

We were supposed to get a new student named Ramah--but he is having trouble with his Visa and his trip is on hold for now.  This past week we said good bye to Umut, as he headed back to Turkey and Lucas has decided to move in March 1. 

Lucas, how I love that kid.  It has been freaking me out this past year--how much he works, (sometimes with only 3 hours off between shifts) and his commuting to his place at Shawnigan Lake.  So, we offered for him to move in.

We also met with a Realtor this week to talk out our options for selling out house.  It is just way too big.  We were left with:  it may cost us up to $25 000.00 to sell and buy.  Is it worth it?  We're not sure.

Do we put in a suite downstairs and put up with the noise?  Or put in a suite and rent the house out to 2 different families?

So, decisions...decisions....

There is a list.

Kent and I spent last year wishing and dreaming that we had more opportunity to do more, visit more friends and family, do more to the house etc...

So we started building a list.

The list changed from month to month as priorities changed and life changed--but what was rapidly rising to the top of the list was....we need out of here.

Our house being the hub of activity that it is, is incredibly exhausting at times--but full of joy.  And Kent and I wanted out.

We couldn't remember the last time we had more than 24 hours of just "us" time.  So, that went to the top of the list.

But my cheap kicks in....

During the last year, I hoarded my Save On More Points so that I could turn them into: 2 car and Driver and 2 walk on passes.  I put them lovingly in the glove compartment of the car--with a hope and a prayer.  I want Kent time.

Once Kent confirmed his employment, I went looking for deals and booked us a weekend off--So we decided on a cruise!  A BC Ferry Cruise!

.........with our free ferry tickets:

We arrived Friday night, exhausted and so looking forward to a break.  We went for a walk around Vancouver--looking for a place to have a drink and listen to some live music.  We wandered and wandered and I said to Kent, I bet we are actually heading to that place we always go to....and we did.  We stopped in our usual place in Gastown:

 

 

The following morning we had a breakfast date, which was one of the "to do's" on our list.  We wanted to meet with our "daughter" Jamie and her husband Josh.  We found this nice place on our last trip, highly recommend, Catch 122.  We then went work clothes shopping for our men.  This is completely what I'd expect with being downtown with Jamie, we are both not into shopping....so we went to Army and Navy, (Forever 21 for men....). 

 

 

We drove over the bridge and hung out and had coffee at Josh and Jamie's little place on the North Shore.  Then we went to Mark's for more clothes shopping.  When we got finished there, our date with them was just not over, so Josh suggested we go for Pho.  So off to a Vietnamese Restaurant we went. 

 



 

It was tough to say good bye.  We miss our kids so much.  And just that quickly our weekend away was over.  We boarded the ferry -- last ones on:

 

 



We relaxed, read books, talked, connected--it was everything we needed.  This last year has been a long hard haul, but I wouldn't change a thing, we have been stretched, we've grown...I am more in love with Kent than ever. 

 

The following day, Kent started his new job.  A new chapter of life awaits us and I couldn't imagine life with anyone else.