Un mois déjà fini...

...comme le temps passe vite lorsqu'on s'amuse, ou lorsqu'on réalise son effet sur notre quotidien.  Peu importe la raison, nous sommes à quelques heures de fermer janvier, ce premier mois de l'an 2020. 

Déjà cette nouvelle année se veut quelque peu difficile, elle nous enlève de notre monde, ces gens qui font partis de notre quotidien, de près ou de loin.  Il y a environs deux semaines, je recevais un courriel d'une copine nous informant de l'état de santé de sa mère.  En lisant son message je n'ai pu faire autrement que de réaliser, une fois de plus, que malgré tout nos efforts, nos jours sont comptés et surtout que la vie ou la mort n'épargne personne.  Mercredi soir j'écrivais à ma copine, j'ai essayé de l'encourager tout en étant réaliste car après tout sa mère allait avoir 92 ans la semaine prochaine.  Quelques minutes après lui avoir envoyé mon courriel, mon téléphone sonnait.  Sa mère était décédée.  Malgré toutes les préparations qu'on puisse faire, la nouvelle frappe.  J'avoue que d'entendre mon amie parler de sa mère, d'entendre les larmes et la douleur dans sa voix m'ont touchées.  Cette  dame toujours bien mise, acceuillante, une force silencieuse, une présence, malgré sa petite stature n'est plus.  Ce départ laissera un grand vide.  J'ose à peine imaginer celui pour ses deux enfants...

Dans un élan de tendresse (ou de folie) j'ai donné un coup de téléphone à ma mère en Floride.  Je ne lui avait pas parlé depuis le Nouvel An.  Non, nous ne sommes pas très proche, et pourtant elle vous dira que nous le sommes... Nous n'avons pas la même définition, mais bon.  Par moment je rage, et par moment je m'en fout complètement.  Je n'ai jamais été très près d'elle; comme toute bonne fille j'étais la fille de mon père (pas seulement pour son sale caractère, mais parce qu'il voulait une fille, alors que ma mère m'a toujours dit combien elle aurait aimée avoir un garçon).  Elle n'a pas eu cette chance, puisque j'étais enfant unique. 

Je viens de regarder les détails d'appels sur mon cell. le 1er janvier nous nous sommes parlés 1 minute 49 secondes et il y a deux jours 4 minutes 30 secondes.  Nous ne sommes pas trop jaseuses on dirait et pourtant, lorsque j'ai parlé à ma copine l'appel a duré plus de 30 minutes...  C'est dingue quand t'as quelques choses à raconter ou que tu ne parles pas seulement de la température...  Enfin bref.  Je sais que ma mère vieillit, que le jour de son décès je serai peinée, et malgré tout je ne peux faire semblant et dire qu'elle me manque c'est comme si je me suis déjà résignée... étrange et pourtant oh combien libérateur.

This afternoon I realized that my computer and cell weren't syncing as they should and that brought on some insecurities that I would forget things, important dates and such, things I did not use to worry about and now I do.  Not only am I relying on technology too much - I feel I should almost go back to my paper agenda - but I also know that I can NOT rely on my memory faculties as I once did, and I'm not that old yet. Fuck!  This is bad!

Two weeks ago a friend turned the big 5-0 (yeah, yeah, our friends are younger than us, sue us!) and we got to see some people we don't often.  As I was chatting with an ex client who lost a fair amount of weight, I did ask him about it, what he'd done.  He told me about this Intermittent Fasting thing he did for a while and lost over 40 pounds.  I had heard about someone else who did that and had managed to lose a fair amount of weight, so I've looked it up.  It seems fairly 'easy' especially since I'm not a breakfast person to start with and have weird sleep patterns.  I'm leaning towards:

The 16/8 method: Also called the Leangains protocol, it involves skipping breakfast and restricting your daily eating period to 8 hours, such as 1–9 p.m. Then you fast for 16 hours in between.

Actually, I nonchalantly started it, i.e. I stopped eating after 10 pm (because on Tuesday and Friday night I have my meditation class and will eat after it, since I don't want to sleep during class), and within a week I did lose some weight!  Imagine how it would be if I actually did some sport?  ah!  Dream on my friend!

Oh, yeah, also meant to share that we will be traveling back to the beautiful island of Hawaii!  We will be there to celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary and our Best man and Matron of Honor will be coming too!  In seven little months!  We're already done with this month, so...

Catching up some...

I guess it is time for me to catch up some.  Life has been real, you know, daily routine, ups and downs, and everything is between, you know, life.

Summer took its sweet time to get to us, but then it hit us with such a heat wave, and oh so much humidity!  Thanks to all engineering gods for the A/C - wouldn't want to be stuck without that luxury.  In weather like this I'd say it is more a necessity than luxury, for me at least!

Still addicted to postcards, yep, that hasn't changed the slightest.  Even managed to drag Hubby for a road trip to Halifax for me to attend a meet-up!  Three thousand five hundred and one km later (or 2175 miles) we went to Halifax, did the Cabot Trail and drove...  You can read about it here, through Likki's Adventures.

Halifax Meet-up Participants - 10 of us from Toronto (2), Montréal (4) and Halifax (4)

It is always fun to meet people in real life after having chatted and written with/to them for a few years and actually click when you do meet them.  We, both Hubby and I, made new friends while visiting and that is always fun.

What else is new?  Oh!  I'm no longer member of the Executive for our condo association.  Gave that up after three years of being on.  Actually found out this week that we won our case against the Insurance company/builder for some of the issues that we were asking to be fixed under the warranty coverage which they had declined.  So I had opened a claim against them, built up a big file and called in a mediator who decided in our favor.  Had to testify and all.  Happy with the results of that, now time will tell how they will address the rest of it. I'm not holding my breath on this one!

The more I live here, in Pleasantville, I feel at home, this is a good place.  I love our home, we made it ours, and we enjoy the area, even if it is full of kids.  In all honesty, I would much prefer to live in a stand alone house, someplace where we wouldn't have to deal with moronic neighbors who throw their trash around the bins rather than inside.  At times, when I sit down and look at what is going on around us, I wonder how long the world has left, before it collapses on itself, really.  We, as humanity, are not improving, far from it. 

We have a whole new generation of phone zombies.

At first I thought it was aged based, but realizing, sadly, that it is not the case.  For example, Sunday we went to do a quick grocery run and ended up behind this lady (older than me, I'm thinking - at least she looked it!) who was playing with her phone.  I could not pass her on either side, we were in a grocery store, after all.  Ridiculous that she was so clueless of her environment and wasn't at all looking at what she was doing and where she was walking.  I expected that type of zombie-like behavior from a kid or young adult.  I just can't understand what is so important that they can't lift their nose from their phone.

People have less and less manners.  Watching people eat at the restaurant will confirm any doubt you may have about that.  From not knowing how to hold the knife and fork, to simply properly sit at the table and let's not get into the eating portion of this.  Man!  I swear, I've seen pets with more class than many in restaurants, no joke!  And don't get me started on couples sitting at a table together and both on their phone.  Whatever happened to people talking to each other?!

We did improve our lives with technology, science and such, but the people as such, and the way we treat others... not so sure.  One of my friend often says we are too many people and thus breaking the planet... when I think about it, he might be right... Something has to change, and since men (in general) won't, then the planet will, of that I'm sure.  It wouldn't be the first time, if we think of the Ice Age and such events, it is Earth's way to protect itself...

Few weekends ago, we made our way to a friend's place, he lives in the woods, really, by a late, really remote area.  While we were catching up, somehow the subject of weather changes came about (no big surprise there, since Spring was yucky and then we were hit with very high humidity, etc) and we all agreed that times were changing.  We all remembered when driving in the summer implied, without any doubts, bug splats. It was my job, whenever I went somewhere with my father, to clean the windshield when he would stop for gas.  In the summer, I remember having to use some elbow grease to get rib of all the dead bugs splat on the lights and windshield.  We we drove to visit that friend, we barely had any.  We we drove to and from Halifax we had some, but nothing like in the past. Granted, it also rained part of the drive, but still.  Times are changing, things are changing, we are too, but I'm just not sure it is all for the better...

OK enough venting for now.  Catch you around somewhere!  Enjoy what is left of Summer, be safe and enjoy each day.

Updates, etc

Hello peeps,

Returning home after two wonderful weeks in the sun, was rough to say the least.  The weather here sucks!  No kidding, it's been a freaking nightmare!  From freezing temperatures to melting ones, snow up the wazoo, and now everything is covered in ice, WTF?  No matter what people may say or think, and this being the regular smucks to the American presidents, we broke our planet and it shows!

Anyhoo, we had an amazing time in beautiful Hawai'i, not a drop of rain, very little clouds, nice warm temperature, lovely people, so yeah, a great time.  To get there and back, I could do without.  It is such a long trek, but the return was easier that the going there.  That was one friggin' long day.

I did manage to remain sun burn free - yeah me! - granted we didn't do the toast (or bacon) much.  We visited a little, and on the Big Island we did one awesome tour.  We witnessed a gorgeous sunrise on top of Mauna Kea... what a sight!  I've never seen so many stars (except at the Planetarium), shooting stars and even saw the Hubble Telescope as it flew above us, unreal!

Observatories on top of Mauna Kea, with its shadow...

We were lucky enough to be up there, at about 14,000' high, feeling a little dizzy like we've had one too many Mai Tai, with no wind whatsoever and some snow.  It was cold though.  Had my coat from home, plus the parka they gave us and it wasn't too much!  We were also very lucky with our guide, he loved astronomy and the volcanoes, and it showed.  He was passionate and made it much more interesting for sure.  Being there was something else, where the earth met the sky, above the clouds, such a beautiful place...

We did manage to catch up with some friends while there, so that is always a BIG plus.  Even made her visit this statue, at Punchbowl, which she had never visited before.  Figures, she's local!

Made famous with the opening of the original Hawaii 5-0

And then we came home... argh.

Yesterday I woke up with my left eye sore, as if a lash was folded wrong or something...  Tried some hot compresses, some eye drops and ended up calling my eye doctor for an emergency visit.  I was lucky enough that he could see me.  Good thing Hubby was working from home and drove, since I couldn't keep my eye open.  It hurt to blink and felt like cramps behind my eye. Within a few minutes of sitting in his chair with his microscope he said I had a scratched cornea.  - yeah me! - He prescribed some antibiotic ointment, to mostly prevent infection and promote quick healing and sent me home, with a follow up tomorrow.  I will say this, that little ointment of his works well.  As soon as I put it in I felt relief!

In other news, I think it might be a sign that you've been with your loved one for a loooong time when neither of you are sure of the date you started dating... we both know it was in January 1994, so that will do...

Yep, I've been with my grumpy old man for the past 24 years... who would have thought... Half of my life, I've spent with him.  It almost feels unreal.  Where did all that time go?

One thing for sure, even if it might be because I'm used to having him around, with all his noises, and man, trust me, he generates a LOT of them from sneezing, coughing, farting, burping, swearing, chewing and even breathing this past week (he's been sick, poor thing!), he's one noise making man, but I love him.  Like I've said in my vows when we did the deed on the beach, I love him not only for who he is but for how I am when I'm with him. He makes me feel loved, he's my best friend, and even if there are (and trust me, there are!) days when I don't like him so much, I do love him.

Six More Dodos...

Christmas is among my favorite time of the year, but it is not for everyone... plus, as we are getting older it is not the same.  My mother is now a snowbird, and she doesn't come back just for me.  Hubby's father is... well... we don't see much of him.  Hubby often offered to escape at Christmas time.  We did it once, to Napa, and it was nice.  It didn't feel like it was Christmas, but the time away sure felt good.  This year we had not, yet, really taken any vacation.  I did go spend a two days at a cousin in Québec City, but other than that, we we pretty much home bodies.  Hubby worked a lot. We had talked about going to Europe, visit with friends back in August, but the scheduling wasn't working out and the funds were low, so that didn't work out.  When we talked about escaping at Christmas we did think of Europe - I would love to visit the Christmas markets in Germany or Poland, but then it would NOT be a relaxing vacation for Hubby since there would be places to see and lots to do.  Given that he's the main bread winner in this household, he needs (and wants!) to relax some.  So, rather than going someplace where we would feel guilty about crashing and doing nothing, we thought why not go some place we know.  We won't feel the need to visit or the guilt of crashing. Plus I wanted some warmth.  When we started talking about it, it was for the week of Christmas leading to New Year's.  We thought of using this damn timeshare of ours, we pay for it so might as well try to use the damn thing, so Hubby started to explore different options.

In mid-August (one hundred twenty-seven days exactly from our departure date), Hubby booked us a Christmas escape, just the two of us. We are heading back to Hawai'i... again.  A part of me feels like the luckiest girl and another part feels like the old broad who hates to travel.  The twelve freaking hours in transit are not exciting me, but, come on!  It is Hawai'i after all!

We dug out our snorkel gear and went to a dive shop.  Man we care good consumers!  Let's leave it at that!  While on the Big Island, I would love to go snorkeling daily.  I will admit, I'm not the most confident swimmer, and the thought of those big winter waves is somewhat worrisome,  especially when our local friend texted us to let us know they had to close a surfing competition on the North Shore (of Oahu) because the waves were too big... nothing to warm my insides, let's say.  But I do love to see marine life, and being in the  water, so hopefully we will manage to get some days in the blue waters of the Big Island.

This year, again, I kept up my tradition of sending (a lot!) of Christmas cards, both folded and postcards. To my pleasure, I've been getting some back.

One the first weekend of December, this is how it started:

Then, the following weekend, I had a little more...

And then, this weekend, it showed that a nice load came in... I manage to almost fill out my first door. Check it out:

I'm hoping to get a bunch more this week, before we leave, I just love it!  Last night we had friends over and the man thought those were cards accumulated over the years... come on!  These are all cards received for this year's Christmas!

Remember a few years back I used to adopt a family in need at Christmas?  That was such a thrill and emotional thing.  I loved to do it.  When a friend of mine mentioned that she was going to be an elf  for a kid this Christmas, I jump on that bandwagon, I wanted in too.  I got assigned a little eight years old boy, who wrote me a letter telling me what he wanted, etc.  I had to buy him a gift, and write him back.  I wrote him a cute letter, as an elf, wrapped my gift and dropped it off at the assigned location.  I've been following the evolution of the project, organised by a teacher in a poor income area of town, and it is so touching and fun to see everyone's excitement.  Looking forward to seeing the kids'.  Hopefully she will post about it too, even if she's trying hard to keep the kids identities under wrap.

Tomorrow, since we will be missing the family gathering with Hubby's cousin at either Christmas or New Year, I thought of taking the kids (the three of them) shopping for their gifts.  They chose the stores they want to go to, so I will pick them up, drive them there, let them choose (in our set budget, of course!) and pay for it all.  The only thing I'm not certain of right this moment, is if I'm going to be nice or naughty... Nice if I let them take their gifts home with them, or naughty and take the gifts away and ask the parents to give it to them on Christmas... hmmm... decisions, decisions...

It's Christmas Time... already...

As I sit here, not moving too fast, since every time I move a wave of nausea hits me or I get very dizzy, and this for the past two days now, I think it is time for me to post about me hitting the BIG 5-0.

Despite the way our trip started, with a six hours delay leaving YUL and the three first days of rain, we did have a great time during our week away in Dominican Republic.  The resort was nice, beautiful property, and the staff was really pleasant. We met some interesting people, relaxed and enjoyed being away. 

While we were away, we missed the first snow fall - what a shame! - we came back in time to get ready for Christmas.  Since my mother is now a snowbird, it simplifies the family visiting time a lot. Not a bad thing, really.  Makes life simpler, less coordination and feeling like we have to, rather than want to.  I've had two Christmas parties this far and one more is planned between Christmas and New Year with his mother's side of the family.  It will be a calm and somewhat quiet Christmas this year, especially since it looks like Hubby will have to be available, if not working.

We had decided to get that Murphy bed unit a while back, for the spare room, and it was delivered and installed the week of our return.  We are very happy with the end result.  It not only looks good but will contain a lot of stuff, and our visitors will have a bed to sleep in!

 

Following that day of installation, our house feels, to me at least, cluttered, since all the stuff (and there was a lot!) that was in that room was dispersed throughout the house.  I've been filling up the new unit, but some of the things left to be put away don't fit, so I'm stuck with things that I don't know where to put.  Plus, to add to everything else, I wanted to do our Christmas tree, so after a visit to our storage unit we came home with more boxes.  Long story short, the guest room is back to being full of boxes.

It's not easy.  I want to get rid of stuff, and we did in between moves, but like Hubby so often says: ¨We have way too much shit for two people¨.  He's right, but how do we get rid of it all?  I have many boxes of Christmas ornaments, collectables, to name a few.  I'm planning to re-evaluate my ornaments as I take down the tree in January.  Things I haven't used in the past few years will be leaving the house, one way or another.  I've started sorting as I put up the tree and will do some more later.  It will not be an easy task for me, given that the ornaments I have were chosen, one by one, as souvenirs from different trips or received.  When we had the space (to store) I did a rotation, some year I would use some, and not the following year, but if our storage space will now be limited, I have to think about this better.  I will keep what I use, and will get creative with what I keep. Challenges up ahead!

On this challenging note of what is to come, I want to wish you a very merry Christmas!

Countdown to Half a Century...

It has begun!  I've been counting the days before I hit that milestone, the BIG 5-0, and I'm not even thinking of Hawai'i, my big 5-0!

In nineteen days I will turn fifty.  I thought that writing it down might make a difference, nope, still cringes... I know it is just a number.  I also know that I don't look it, or feel it - but, depending at what time you ask me that question, you will get a different answer, that's for sure.

In thirteen dodos we are leaving for the sunny beach of Punta Cana, in Dominican Republic, at least I'm hoping it will be sunny, because I sure need to crash on the beach and do nothing but decide with bathing suit to put on and what drink to order!  I always thought I would celebrate my passage to being half a century...  I've celebrated my 30th and my 40th, in style, you know, renting a room, DJ, catering, the whole shebang... My fiftieth (yuck, ugly looking word!) I thought I would celebrate in Disney, but turned out to be too expensive and I/we had different priorities, like getting this place organized...  I would have loved to be surrounded with friends and enjoy it all but instead Hubby and I will crash for a week in an all inclusive, which we haven't done in a few years, by ourselves.  It will be nice to recup together, he needs it more than me since he's been working hard lately. He's being pulled in different directions by many people, and he's not really wired to manage it all that well.  He likes his peace and quiet, and lately he hasn't been getting much of that.  He feels like a pooper scooper at even if that can make one feel good at times, it can be very tiresome as well.

Talking with Hubby earlier, we realized that we haven't been to a beach (read sea or ocean) for a good two years.  We were by the water in Bodø (Norway), but it was so friggin' cold it's not like we swim or anything of the sort.  I did go to Rimouski in June, but that as well wasn't really the best condition for a fun time at the beach... 

This summer I swam once, in a pool in July and it was friggin' cold that one time.  Did it anyway, because I like water that much, but time was not wasted between the pool and going in that night, that's for sure!  We are well past our expiration date in regards to some fun in the sand.  Time for me to build something, like a turtle or a Hawaiian Sandwoman... I just love the feel of soft sand in my hands or between my toes...  As Young Dory says: "I like sand. Sand is squishy."  Then again, I've recently watched a short movie made by the daughter of a friend (you can check it out here, very well made and quite interesting) where she talked about Tardigrades, those little water bears that live in the sand, reads all cute but I think I won't be able to help myself and think about them all as I crash upon them...

All in all, my brain has been on overdrive for some time now, and getting away, if only for one week, will do me good. Being away from a computer will also be a good thing for me.  As we are about to enter week 46 of this year 2016 - and a big week this will be as well, with the American Election Day on Tuesday - I can only sit here and wonder not only where did those past fifty years go to, but this past year seems to have gone by as one big blur as well...  Many things came and went at us in 2016 and the year is not over yet:  just this coming week, I have to visit my osteo, then my neurologist, then my dentist to have two crowns put in (can you hear the cash register?!), then next week it will be the hairdresser, annual check up with our family doctor and the esthetician. 

I did laugh when I saw this picture, even if I don't shave (I wax), this image feels true.  Since I'm thinking of joining the Y this winter, that might not work for me, darn!, but still love that image.  Another pleasure of aging is those hairs growing on my chin... never had that before, now every now and then I have to pluck one dark one away... strange and oh so ugly!

Before I get in the TMI space, I shall close.  I do find that people are over sensitive about every little damn thing.  It's unreal how you can not say anything without someone being offended or frustrated.  It's ridiculous.

I miss the days when as kids we were afraid of strangers and/or neighbors, not because they would abduct or hurt us, but because they represented authority and that was respected.  They could and would tell us to get lost or to go plain somewhere else, and we did without crying to our parents about it.  We feared authority and showed respect towards it.  Nowadays nobody says anything.  The kids, read brats, run the world and it's normal. Argh!  Nobody respects anyone no more.  We're all afraid to say something when we see something that is wrong, like a kid who won't give up his seat on the bus for an elderly, nobody says anything. A few years ago, we would have gotten a smack behind the head for remaining seated.  Times have changed.  I have grown old...er... and one thing for sure, I'm damn happy not to have had any kid.  I wouldn't want to be raising kids today.  I'm not saying that we should hit kids (well... no, I'm not!) but we should teach them to respect others and their elders.  I hate it now, when I speak (French) with a young person and they use "tu" (informal way to address someone) rather than "vous" (formal way to address).  It's a little thing but it does make such a difference, it creates a little gap, a little difference, it shows some form of respect. 

O.M.G. I read like such an old broad!  OK time to close up, and go drink my cup of hot tea...  Geez...

Cleaning, Painting, Packing and Forgetting...

 Already at week 17, or day 109 of 2016.  Man time flies even if we're not having fun!  Since I last wrote  we went for a week to Vegas, a week of rest, good eating and soaking up some sun.  It was a good week away, that we both enjoyed before coming back to our "go, go, go" lives.

We finally went to the notary and signed for our new (and final, for a long while, I hope!) place.  We did the inspection in the morning and signed in the afternoon.  They delivered as promised.  They say it was ready to move in, but since their standards of cleanliness and different from ours, we spent the weekend cleaning, getting it ready for our stuff to be delivered tomorrow.  Actually, Hubby did all the cleaning and I was in the locker painting it.  It was the only thing that was not painted, and since it was "the time" to do it, otherwise it would never get done, I did it. 

Our new place

This is our new home.  It will be different for sure.  Last night, in between two trips of us moving our clothes, cousin, who leaves a street over, came by for a visit.  Our first guests.  It will be our first place where we are so close to family. Exciting.

Lately I've been feeling like I'm neglecting people in our lives.  Between the traveling, the temporary move and now this (final!) move, I feel like we never stop long enough to catch up. 

Yesterday, was the first time in seventeen years that I didn't think of my father.  I would lie if I'd say I think of him daily, I don't think it is a daily thing, but I do think of him often and also often talk about him.  I feel that with all the commotions in our lives I (finally) let go of him...  It is a strange feeling and yet, I do believe it is a good thing.  A new beginning of sort.

Now, I need to get packing so that the movers have boxes to bring from this noisy apartment to our new place.  Can't wait to be home!

Toulouse in a week

Today was our last day in Toulouse. We've been here for a week now. We arrived last Sunday, for Hubby's work. I tagged along because I could and especially because I had never been here before. There wasn't much planning, since Hubby found out a few days prior to our departure that he was being sent to France for his client's client. Through Postcrossing I had contacted a member who lived in Toulouse to see if we could meet during our time here. We actually met up with her on Sunday evening, a brief encounter where she shown us the main things to see while here. She was super friendly and we hit it off.

The next morning Hubby went to work, and I walked around the city by myself. I will say this, I'm not crazy about doing the tourist thing all by myself. It is much more pleasant to visit with someone else, to have someone to share with, than being by yourself. Toulouse is a nice city, people are friendly and you can see a lot on foot. Our hotel was well located, right smack in town, so I could tour, on foot, easily.  I took a map and hit the streets.  I got lost (like every day I've been here!) and ended up by La Garonne (river).  Along the way I walked on "La rue du Taur" (top right). 

Bottom left, the flat bell tower of  "Église du Taur" and the St-Sernin Basilica.  It was interesting and very old buildings, all made out of bricks, orange bricks, even if they call Toulouse The Pink City, it is more orange than pink, for sure!

It was nice to see all those gorgeous buildings, and walking along these narrow little streets and back alleys, seeing all those shops selling local delicacies, postcards (which I bought!) and multiple little cafés.  Once Hubby came back from work, we walked around some, and made our way for a good dinner at Grand Café de l'Opéra on the Capitol Place.  It is what they call a Brasserie, which is very different from what we (in Québec) call a brasserie.  Their brasseries have a lot more class than ours.  Our dinner there was delicious, expensive by really good.

Tuesday, I got up later than the first day and made my way down to the Tourist Office, since a friend from Montréal, whose sister lives here, suggested to do a guided tour of the city while here.  Since the weather was nice, I was alone and didn't really know what to do, I decided to go for a tour of  ''Toulouse's Monuments''.  It was a walking tour of two hours.  We went to the Capitol, visited the Chambre des Illustres, where they now celebrate civil weddings and such, then made our way to Basilique St-Sernin, which I had seen (the outside of) the day before, but then got to go inside and learn about its history, construction.  Then we made our way to le Couvent des Jacobins, which is also gorgeous and so impressive.  Our guide knew her history and was (obviously) passionate about her city.  She gave us so much information, I was starting to zone out at the end; between being loaded with info, and having to walk and stand for over two hours (our tour started at 14:30 and ended by 17:15), I was cooked by the end.  She left us at l'Hôtel de Bernuy.  I got lost again on my way back, but did manage to make it back to our hotel.

The tomb (bottom left) is of St-Thomas d'Aquin, the center picture is of "le palmier" of the Jacobins and their refectory.  That building was among my favorites.  So much history in there, how Napoléon's men used that Church as a barn is almost unreal, and yet... the History of this place is unbelievable.

On our third day I spent it with C., the local Postcrossing gal.  We went to the market, get some local cheeses, bread, meats, and chocolates.  What a treat that was.  It is fun to hear them talk, with their Southern accents, and expressions, I love it!  We even managed to do a mini meet, the two of us, and send out about twenty cards.  After work, Hubby met up with us at their place, and we enjoyed a delicious meal of local food together.  It was a very sweet evening.  All four of us got along, talked a lot, laughed and ate well together.  We really hit it off with them both.

Thursday was a bit more slow for me, walked around a little, and crashed for a nap in the afternoon.  When Hubby got back from work, we stayed around and went to a place near by for dinner which wasn't that great, but they did have delicious fries.

Today, Friday, Hubby managed to leave the client at around noon, so that he could visit the city some.  We walked around some, and made our way to the Garonne River.  He wanted to see the bridges.  Along the way we stopped for lunch where we both had delicious meals; pizza for him and pasta for me.  We did some shopping, bought some souvenirs like a beautiful painting, a thin box representing the city and more postcards.  Today the weather wasn't all that great, but at least we did manage to finish this trip together.  Since I had been on a tour, I could share of the information I knew (and remembered) with Hubby.

We both agreed, Toulouse is a beautiful city and we would love to come back.  It was a fun, loaded week for both of us, in very different ways.  Worth the trip, for sure!

Soon to be on the road again...

Would you look at Likki getting ready for another road trip... Granted this one will not be as grand as the Norway one, but it will be new surroundings for sure!

She almost got packed away with office supplies, but I managed to get her out just in time not to be taped in a box for a few months.

While packing boxes (again), I came to realize this upcoming move will be the most I've ever packed in all of my life!

1- I've packed for our three months move to Norway - cleaned up the place before unpacking
2- I've packed after our water damage and for our temporary move to an apartment while our place was being fixed - which I also cleaned up before moving in
3- I've unpacked after our move back to our place and I also had to clean up before we moved back!
4- I've been packing for our upcoming move, and since this is a "temporary" move until our new place will be ready, I will have to clean (again!) the place we will be moving to for a few months...
5- Once our (new) place will be ready, by mid-April (hopefully!) I will have to pack again, from the apartment to our new place and then settled in for good (I pray it will be, for good!)

I didn't think I was a neat freak but I`m realizing that I may not have the same standards of cleanliness as others, so rather put it up to our levels, with all it involves!

To add to this pack/unpack fun game, we had also planned a week away in April (to go see Rod Stewart in concert in Vegas  -  can't wait for that!!) so I have to keep that in mind while I throw my clothes away in a box - I might want to dress up while in Sin City, since if not there, where?

So many things to do, to undo, to think about, hours of fun! I tell you!

Scandinavian Traveller: Likki the Trimmed Beaver - Chapter Ten, The Final One.

As I write this today, ten days after returning home, after a few days visiting Oslo, sitting in our living room, watching a movie, and after running errands part of the afternoon in hot and humid Montréal, we are back!

Before I get into how it has been since our return, I will share our last few days in Oslo.  Unlike Bodø, the weather was warmer and sunny!  We were able to wear shorts!  We walked around town, explore some.  We visited the Nobel Peace Center.  It's an interesting place, dedicated to peace.  Their main event was about children's rights with Malala and Kailash.  It was quite interesting even if their was a lot of reading to be done.  They also have a boutique, where they sold lots of postcards, and I did get a bunch, mostly famous quotes from Peace Nobel Winners.  Then after a refreshment, we made our way to Akerhus Fortress, where we had a nice view over the port and the city.

View from Akerhus Fortress

Akerkus Fortress

It was quite a large fortress and you could see why its location was so important.  Even if we didn't take the tour, walking around by ourselves on the grounds it was quite impressive.  

Not far from our hotel area, I spotted this little bookstore which had some postcards, or so I thought.  Turned out they had many artistic ones, very different from anything I could find in Bodø, so I bought lots. 

I had contacted J. a while back, asking her if she wanted to meet me when we would be back in Oslo.  She send us so many postcards from Norway, showing us different areas of their beautiful country, with explanations, I felt I just had to meet her.  And we did.  Likki got to send a few cards with her, which was nice.  We had planned a two hours meeting with her, and it lasted well over six.  We talked about so many things, such an interesting encounter and warm lady.

 J. and Likki, in Oslo

Our hotel had a nice lounge we could access anytime, where they served (Nespresso) coffee or tea and fizzy water.  After 6pm they also served dinner, which was also included in our room's price.We went twice but only ate there once.  It was actually a decent meal.  Because it was warm and humid, one afternoon we went up to enjoy a cold drink and since it was completely empty, I took some pictures of the view we had from there.  On one side we had the Palace and the other the North.

View from 8th floor lounge of our hotel towards the Palace

Overlooking Kristian Augusts gate

One evening we had made reservation at a little Italian restaurant, Ruffino, which we had tried to get in back in May with our friends, so we walked to it.  Along the way we passed this impressively nice building which had a little plate on its side, in Norwegian, of course, that I could read had something to do with the Gestapo back in 1942.  We had a delicious dinner at the restaurant, a nice way to end our few extra days in Oslo.

Victoria Terrace, the site of the Gestapo headquarters in Oslo. 

The morning of our departure, the street was mostly deserted.  As we walked towards the train station, we passed the university and I managed to quickly take a picture.

Oslo University, on Karl Johans gate

On the train, Flytoget, Likki made friend with a local, a little Norwegian moose, who was heading our way.  Lucky little fellow.

Once at the airport, we recuperated the rest of our luggage and made our way to check-in, security and duty free through which we simply walked through not even stopping anywhere.  We didn't even have time to get our tax reimbursement, since, once again, the line at check in was too long, and since we had a connection in Heathrow to Canada we couldn't use the automatic check-in machine, but had to go to the counter and see a person, which meant we had to do the queue.
 

Heathrow is a beautiful and big airport and we had over four hours there before our next flight.  We , hit duty free, grab a bite to eat and did some shopping while walking around.  We looked for a quiet place where we could get refreshed and rest a little before our long flight home.

A tea with some biscuits, please.

If not in London, where else would one truly enjoy a good cup of tea?  She knows her stuff that Likki, despite her your life, she knows!  It was strange, at the gate, hearing not only French, but Québécois and to see people with Montréal's Canadiens tee-shirts.  A fair sign we were heading home...

Last gate before heading home...

Our return home is done.  Our adventure in Vikingland is done.  We are now back to Montréal's never ending road construction, traffic and fast pace.  It was an experience of a lifetime, to be able to do so without the worries of what would await us upon our return. And this closes Likki's Scandinavian Adventure.

Recap

This post won't be about Likki and her fun adventures in Nordland, but more of a little recap about our time in Norway thus far.

• We've been here eight weeks already, that's right eight weeks.  We have another six to go, including this week.
• The past two weeks, the weather has been warming up and we actually see the sun more often.
• It isn't hot, it's warmer.
• I got my hair colored and cut.  I landed on a nice girl who knew how to die and cut hair.  It's not what I get back home, but then again, I'm in Norway.  One thing for sure, the cost of it was Norwegian - twice the price of what I normally pay.
• While at the Arctic Circle Center, I've sent myself a postcard.  I haven't received it yet.  I hope it's not lost.  I really liked it.
• The kid that a friend sent our way came and went.  It was actually nice to have him around.  Since the day he arrived was raining some, we walked around town a little and then went for a drive.  We managed to get a few nice pictures, despite the weather.  It's almost crazy how different things look between a cloudy and sunny day and with a few weeks later in the year.  The lakes were all ice free.  

 

We've driven past these little fishing camps a few times, and this time I did ask to go in. I was taken aback by how nice it was.  Look at the water, how clear it is.

TrygVesta

Not only was the little arbor pretty, but right next to it was this historical war site, where bunkers, canons and such were just there, rusting since the second war. Since most (not to say all) the little cards with information were in Norwegian, we could make out the distance the canons could reach, the weight of the shells they used, what the spots were used for, etc. It was an interesting little walk on top of a little rock hill giving out on the sea...

Around the bay, where the fishing camps are, there's this little white sand beach...I'm sure it must be popular during summer days.  On that afternoon, it was desolate.  Wonder if it had anything to do with the cold wind blowing?

• Days are getting longer.  It's a really strange.  For having lived with a guy who worked nights, and slept days, this is really different.  The feeling when going to bed is just strange.  At the moment, the sun is up for 22 hours/day!





Night sky at 00:11 on May 25th

• The kid kept going on his Summer trip - four months on the road.  He's making his way North, further up than here, willingly. Imagine that!
• This coming weekend I'm traveling to Grenoble, by myself, and will stay with a stranger with whom I share a postcard addiction.  Should be interesting.  I'm actually excited about it.  My first time in France. 
• Given that our travel plans coming here were sort of made out at the last minute; we had not really plan our return.  We had talked about vacationing after being in the cold, and being on this side of the pond it seemed like an occasion to visit central Europe. It will not be the case.  We've extended our time in Oslo, a city we both liked and would like to visit a little more, and then we will head home.
• A part of me feels like we haven't seen much of Norway, that we haven't done the hikes we've wanted to, that we haven't tasted what we should; I feel that our time here is coming to an end, and it saddens me.  Today, I've received postcards from a friend in Montreal who sent them to me to make me feel homesick.  It didn't quite work.
• Hubby is seriously starting to miss the comfort of home, of our home.  Especially when he's in the kitchen.
• He also misses his internet connection, which doesn't bounce him off, and he REALLY misses stores being open on Sunday.





Proof of life, as requested

Note: the waiter behind him, was on his way to serve him his beer.

With Aloha...

I don't know about you, but I'm one who do believe in signs; you know signs that life gives you at different times that we most often choose to ignore?  Hubby tends to ignore them, since the scientific geek in him likes visible, explainable facts, none of that feeling thing.

Before we left for our vacation, our much needed time off, I had a little episode which landed me in the ER.  Hubby has been telling me to slow down, that I was heading towards a crash of some sort.  I've been dismissing him, ignoring his warnings and kept on pushing; things had to get done.  On the Wednesday before we left I was at a client.  After lunch I got myself a latte mocca and had some palpitations, which I (still) think were caused by the coffee - I don't drink coffee often - so I didn't think much of it all.

That evening, while watching TV I had some foot cramps - no biggie.  I went to bed after 1am and woke up abruptly at 3 am with a major calf cramp, it wasn't just a cramp it was a hell of a cramp!  I was in such pain, and I've experienced pain before (between knee surgeries and full contact karate to name a few) but nothing like that.  I couldn't put my foot down, it was bad.  I slowly made my way to the bathroom, felt really dizzy and nauseous. I managed to sit on the toilet, but couldn't get that damn crap to let go.  I felt cold and was all wet and felt really bad.  I tried calling Hubby twice, and was starting to get scared.  I had never felt like this before, and couldn't help but think I was having a heart attack or something of that nature.  I did manage to wake him up by the third call and also saw my face in the mirror, and I will say that I had never seen myself so damn white.  By the time Hubby got to me, I was ready to pass out.  He called 911. When the EMS arrived, they plugged me to an EKG, took my pressure, my sugar levels and everything seemed to be fine.  They suggested I'd go to the ER anyway, to make sure.  So, they strapped me to a stretcher and we made our way to the hospital. 

As soon as I came in, I was wheeled to the ER, where I had another EKG, took my pressure, and waited.  And waited to be seen by a doctor.  She came to see me at about 7am.  Took my vitals again, asked a few questions, and sent a nurse for some blood tests.  The nurse came by at about 8:30 am.  They were doing a bunch of tests, to be sure, but it looked like it might have been a stress attack more than anything else.  Supposedly, often people will think they're having a heart attack when in fact it is a stress one.  I was let go, by 10:30am with a clean bill of health.  They couldn't find anything and my heart,  etc. were all good.

During the whole time I was lying on the stretcher, I couldn't help but think of our upcoming trip, and was hoping it was nothing serious that would keep me from flying.  Hubby was with me the whole time, and was periodically telling me, that this whole thing was a sign, if one believed in those, and that I should listen. 

I hate to admit it but I think he has a point.  I just don't know how to fix it, how to address it so that I'm happy as well as him.  I understand his arguments, they all make sense.  I just have to wrap my head around it. 

On Saturday, we visited our dearly missed karate master.  I had made sure we brought flowers and a beer.  He loved to drink beer and I thought of offering him one.  I know it's weird, but I like to think that somewhere, somehow he's still around and will/did enjoy the thought.  We spent some time at the cemetery, the time it took Hubby to sip his beer sitting on the grass by our friend's resting place.  We returned to our condo and as Hubby got out of the car he found a penny on the ground.  I couldn't help to think of this - found pennies come from heaven... Like I've told Hubby, odd that he'd find a penny on the day we visited our friend, maybe our Hawaiian friend threw us a penny to let us know he was also thinking of us... no matter what that is one sign I chose not to ignore as it warms my heart just as much as the warm sun of Hawaii does my bones.

It might be time...

... for me to update my side bar, where it says "Blog I Read", since I don't really read many nor do they post often, so I guess it evens out, somehow, right?

Weird to think I use to blog daily and nowadays I'm on Bacefook daily and on Postcrossing.  I even started playing with Flickr and uploaded all cards I've mailed since I joined in December 2010, all 199 of them!  In doing that exercise, I've realized that I'm sending a few less each year: first year I've sent out 70, second year 64 and last year 58...

Besides freezing my ass off (among other parts), I've been working a lot.  Funny fact: today while working at a client, our accountant currently doing our company year-end called me to answer some questions he had.  Turns out we had a good year, our revenue increased.  The way he was saying it was as if he was wondering why, so in my all natural way of being I told him:

"No shit Sherlock, we've made more money, we've been working our asses off lately!"

I've mentioned before wanting to ditch some clients, well, it looks like 2014 will be the year for that.  I'm heading (if not already there, depending who you're asking) for Burnoutville, and for having visited that town once before, and since it wasn't that purdy, I'll try to change lane and head in another direction.  I'm hoping one thing will help me change where I'm heading when in eight days we'll be leaving on a jet plane for our favorite location: beautiful Hawaii.  I will take that time to re-evaluate and soak up the sun for damn sure!  We'll see what the future holds when we come back, but I've already told my main client that I wanted to leave... We'll see how good these two weeks will be.  Time will really tell.

OK, now it's time to say good night! Ciao!

2013 by way of the alphabet

I did this last year, and since I always do a review of the year we're about to close I thought of doing it again this way.

Apron: something I started wearing one when I bake

Bowling: activity we did one night, was fun, but really a once a year thing at most.

Cold Shoulder:  what I've been getting from Hubby's cousin, don't really know why (even if I did ask)

Dermatologist: managed to see one, burned me with dried ice and didn't resolve issue. Damn Quack!

Expectation: what I still had, since some people manage to get me down... when will I learn?

Flushed: what I did to a few of my clients.  It did take a load off, somewhat.

Garage Door: after many arguments with our neighbor and discussions with the condo admin.,
we finally got an automatic door closer installed!

Henna: what I had done for Hubby's 50th... on my ass!

Idiots: those we seem to find more and more of, even without looking for them!

Jowl: reason why I'm happy not to have Richard Fish (from Ally McBeal) in my entourage

Kitchen: a place where I seem to be spending a lot less time than I used to

Las Vegas: where we celebrated on thirteenth wedding anniversary

Mother: someone I haven't seen much of lately

Neighbor: the worst one we've never experienced finally moved away!

Obscurity: what I was in when I wrote this list, due to yet another power failure

Postcrossing: what I've been spending lots of time on...

Québec: province where we live and think it might be time to move out off

Rings: what are too loose on my fingers...

Stinkypaw: what I sort of reveal to everyone on Bacefook...

Tobi: my sweet boy, I miss dearly

UVs: what I caught too many of in Punta Cana, DR

Visits: what we made too many of, especially to funeral homes

WW: what I joined and lost twenty-three pounds, before the Holidays that is!

X-Rated: what I should probably be

Yuletide: when we did a lot of "social", time of year obliged

Zoom: what 2013 did, it zoomed by!

Mish Mash

Oh my!  I can't believe it's been a month since I posted.  Funny thing is I don't have much to report... We celebrated our thirteenth wedding anniversary in Las Vegas.  We wanted to go somewhere we'd been before, where it would be hot and where we wouldn't feel like we had to visit, so Vegas it was.  I will say this though, one week on the Strip is a bit long.  After we've done some shopping, saw a few shows, and ate a good restaurants I was ready to come home.  We didn't lounge around much, and that was what I felt I needed.  I needed to rest.  I did sleep in most mornings, so that was good. 

We went to see "Menopause The Musical" at the Luxor.  What a funny show.  We both laughed and recognised the menopausal traits. It was worth it.  We also saw "Le Rêve" at the Wynn - what a show!  Being from Montréal, home of Le Cirque du Soleil, we've seen many Cirque shows.  I was at their very first show when they first started under their big orange and blue tent.  Over the years some of their shows wowed me and some disappointed.  I guess it gets to a point when it is hard to be inventive and to create something new. We've also seen some of their shows in Vegas, on previous trips: "O", "Love", "Ka" and "Elvis Story".  Only one was sad to watch, and this despite the soundtrack, it was "Elvis Story" - it is no longer playing.  Because of that we chose not to see one of theirs, especially after reading some reviews of their new Michael Jackson show which were not that good. We went for "Le Rêve" which turned out to be a flavor of Le Cirque... there was element of water, some acrobatics and some comedy.  We enjoyed the show, it was worth seeing for sure.  I'm glad we did.

Food wise we spoil ourselves some.  We're food snobs, I'll admit that much.  We sorted can afford it.  We like to eat well and at times we'll splurge.  This last trip was one where we did just that.  For our anniversary dinner we went to Roy's.  Since we got married in Hawaii, and had visited two other locations (in Hawaii) where we really the food, we thought it would be nice to give their Vegas restaurant a try.  They took care of us, the service was full of attention and the food was so good.  We had a great dinner, and this despite the high cost.  When paying that much money the food and service better be good.  It was.

While enjoying our delicious meal, we both came to the realisation that we do eat well at home, we feed ourselves well.  We like going to restaurants but we also like to cook, and that we do well.  Eating in restaurants and tasting different things made us appreciate what we prepare and enjoy in the comfort of our home.  The big plus of going out is and probably will always be the fact that we don't have to do dishes and clean up after we've eaten.

Another delicious meal we had was at Sinatra at the Encore.  It was delicious and pleasantly flavorful.  We loved our meal and the service, but when the bill came that was anything but cheap, that's for sure.  I'm glad we went though.  Between our cocktail and dessert I walked out of there feeling tipsy and oh so satisfied.

On the other side of this food extravaganza,  we wanted to try one of Gordon Ramsay's restaurant since we love to watch him on "Master Chef" and "Hell's Kitchen".  One evening we tried to get in at his new Burger joint at Planet Hollywood, but the line up was more than one hour and this despite having a bunch of empty tables - don't know how they managed their tables but that was strange. We decided to instead go to his pub & grill at Ceasar's.  That was way below our expectations.  There was no Michelin star coming out of that kitchen, where that new chef, Ja'Nel, from the last "Hell's Kitchen" has been working.  We didn't even have dessert there, that how disappointed I was.  It was overpriced and tarnished, for me at least, Ramsay's name.  Let's just say I'm not about to go back to one of his restaurant any time soon.

While we were in sunny Las Vegas we've experienced true heat.  I loved it.  I love the dry heat of the desert.  Even if it was friggin' hot, we could walk and not be drenched.  Dry heat is the best!  I love the feel of the warm sun on my skin, I truly felt like the heat was getting to my bones.  Over here, I always feel cold, inside.  Plus, it's so ridiculously humid here that summer and winter feel burk.  I know not the best choice of word, but the only one I can think of which reflects how I feel about our weather.   To see 44°C on our little travel thermometer was something we don't see often, ans yet I didn't mind it - go figure.

Maybe there is something to this warm climate thing for me in my old age...

One can only hope

A few weeks ago we hit temperature as if we were mid-July.  Last week we were below seasonal temperature - it's been for lack of a better word, a bit crazy on this side of the screen.  We can't rely on the weather network to predict squat  - they don't know much more than we do, so I've been looking out before going anywhere and bringing a sweater and umbrella just in case.

I hate it when it rains.  Except while I'm sleeping.  Then, rain is great.  This is what our streets have looked like the past few days...

it's wet and cold... eurk!

One of Hubby's cousin is getting married the first week of June, in Punta Cana (Dominican Republic) - we're going. It should be an interesting week away.  No matter what, I'm hoping for sun.  I need to recharge my battery and it will be sooooo good to not have to get up for work, to have nothing to think about other than which bathing suit to wear, or where to lounge, eat or drink... I can't wait.  Until then I will have a packed week, I have to make sure all my clients are in order because for the first time in a very long time, we will not bring our laptops so I won't be checking emails and this despite me having a smart phone since I didn't set it up to fetch my mail.  I'm old school when it comes to my emails, I want them here, at my desk.  It's bad enough that people can reach me anywhere and at anytime, emails I've restricted to pc only.  Since the resort where we'll be staying doesn't have accessibility everywhere, we've decided not to activate roaming on our phones either - it will be nice to really be unreachable...

This is supposedly what is awaiting us...

Somehow it seems a little more appealing than our local scene...

Copycat much?

You can call me whatever name you want, I'll assume it (most of the time), but I got this post's idea from flurrious' blog.  This time of year I often (not to say always) do a recap of my year, to see on paper what I've done, where I've been, my good and and not so good actions, etc.  I tend to do that in my journal, not really online.

Because I've done (and will most likely will do more in the future, now that we know that the end of the world isn't happening just yet) many memes, I thought of doing something similar to flurrious, by own alphabet meme.  Here goes:

Accident : One more in 2012, because some old Oriental man forgot to stop at a red light while looking for a street name.

Books:  Picked up a few good ones.  May not be fine literature but sure are entertaining books.  There's nothing like the smell and feel of books, that is one thing I don't want to go electronic with.

Colonoscopy: One of fun exams I had to go through in 2012.  Happy to report all is good.

Dentist: It might be time for me to find a new one, since once again he filing he did replaced is now hurting, unlike the old one that had been in there for 20+ years without any pain.

Elections: We've had some and I chose not to go vote.  I'm a bad citizen.  The choices were too bad, I felt like I would vote against someone rather than for, so I didn't go.

Friends:  Because of life getting in the way, it seems that we had far less time in 2012 to socialize with our friends.  We've lost touch with some old ones and met new ones.  Like everything else in life, it changes.

Graceland: We made it there, and I'm happy to have seen it, but wouldn't go back.

Husband: Still have one after 12 years.  He's one tough cookie!

Insurance:  A legalize form of extortion that will most like increase and this even if I wasn't responsible for my car accident.

Jewellery:  In my old age, I'm acquiring more.  I'm enjoying shiny things. Gah!

Knick-knack: Got rid of a lot of them this year, and will try to do the same in the year to come.

Laughing:  Despite my often foul mood, I did laugh often in 2012.  I'd say I did laugh daily, with my husband.  We laugh together or at each other, but no matter, we laugh a lot.

MRI:  Had to have one more to see of there was anything wrong with my back - seems not.

Nashville:  Drove down for a conference and besides the hotel where we stayed, didn't get to see much of the town.  Oh well.

Optometrist: After 13 years since my last exam, went to see one.  Still don't need glasses!

Preppygirl: The first blend I've ever met in person.  That was a first great encounter.  I would love to do that again.

Question:  I've questioned myself and others.  All the time.  I love it.

Refuge:  The place we call home.  Where we go to to hide from the world and its morons.

Swimming:  Didn't really enjoy it, but it did help my back. I should get back into it.

Tobi:  He's still hanging around.  He's still playful and this despite his really bad hips.  My old kitty.

Unbecoming:  The size I'm at currently is really unbecoming to me.  Especially when I see pictures of me, argh!

Vacation: I feel like we haven't had a real one in a long time, and this despite our road trip to Nashville.  A vacation, for me, is when I'm able to crash on a beach and soak up the sun.

Work:  2012 was a busy year for me, not that I'm complaining.  I just have to find balance.

Xmas: Did a tree this year, and while assembling it, decided it was its last year.  It is time for a new one.

Yoga:  I have a client which is a type of leech; she sucks the energy out of me.  I've been trying to let her go and yet, she just won't go.

Zen:  A state of mind I haven't reached yet, despite my meditation.