MenoMama

Can I just tell you how incredibly difficult it is to break down the skill sets you have acquired over 17 years, massage them a bit and set it to paper to inform the employer that you are the next best thing to come along?

Ke-risttttttttttt!

I just do my job.

I can do it in my sleep and have done it on auto pilot for years. I know what to do, when to do it and usually do it before I am asked to do it.

For me to big up myself goes against my nature for I am typically understated when it comes to boasting about my achievements.

I've had to undo all my natural instincts, reverse everything and blow my own horn if you will.

I have stared at this 'effing computer for yonks and then some. Hubby edited my resume. I tweaked it some more and the bottom line is that it is pretty damn good.

Have a wonderful Monday.

Hugs and kisses

It is raining.

Buckets of it.

It is Saturday and I am not amused.

Having said that, I will be sequestered away seeking out the Calgary job market.

Ta ra.

Hubby remarked the other day, 'You are a great partner Ma.'

*blinks*

'Da, I am not your partner. I am your fricking wife. There is nothing to suggest in a marriage that it is a partnership. Nothing is 50/50. At times, one will do 80, the other 20, vice versa and all but as long as the total adds up to 100% then everything is smooth if you know what I mean'

*rant over*

In other news, if there was one bit of advice I would give the young women of today, I would urge them to get an education, secure your financial future on your own, relying on no one, for at the end of the day when there is snow on your roof, no one will be there to support you.

I can not tell you how many mature women I have come to know that are in the latter years of their life, dirt poor and alone.

Damn shame really.

On the positive side, the effects of gainful employment when one has not been employed for ages on end, boosts the confidence beyond belief. I love to see a woman with her hair tied back, fully made up, wearing dressy, office clothes with a bounce in her step simply because she is now employed.

Bless.

Hubby's home tonight.

Resume writing is crawling along.

Some people can be total dicks.

Hoping it rains after I walk the dawgs.

Liking the new exercise regime.

Been referred to endo clinic.

Hair long enough for a tiny ponytail.

Total cuteness yesterday with said ponytail.

Gossipers at work know I am leaving and haven't the nerve to ask me questions...hehehehe

Homemade cinnamony raisin bread toasted with butter is ace.

Rose bushes in the front look ace. Pics to follow at some point.

Jacobite is gone and I'll miss him.

Watermelon can be 'specially refreshing on a hot day.

People can be total dicks x two.

*mwah*

The movers that will be moving the contents of our house will come to MenoLand, walk into the house, start packing our stuff into boxes and load the truck.

We do not hafta do anything.

A move with no stress allegedly

*wiggles*

And yet, I am not totally comfortable with that sweet arrangement for two reasons: I'll be damned if I want a strange man rifling through my granny pants and I'll be doubly damned if they are gonna touch my delicate hand blown Venetian glass, the jade wine glasses from China or the Limoge china set given to me from my Nana.

Somehow, the very thought of someone touching my delicates - ginormous granny pants or the precious glasses and dishes - is a no-no, so I'll be packing those myself, thank you very much.

Hubby sezs 'Ma, these movers are professionals and know what they are doing.'

'That's fine and dandy but once the stuff is broken that's that and I am not taking any chances' sezs the Meno to her hubby.

Gawd.

It's always a story now innit?

Hubby's afternoon flight was canceled due to the funnel clouds trawling through MenoLand so he had to wait for a very late departure last night.

Sooooooooooo...what to do in a crowded airport for 6 hours? Wander off to the bar with your mates....hehehehehe...did relieve some of his boredom.

Monday flew by.

As I was moving throughout my day, I keep thinking that 'I'll never see you again in this setting.' And was nonplussed about it too.

This week will be spent dusting off my resume, tweaking it a bit and then I shall be sending off a job application for a post in Calgary next Monday.

Ta-da!

Hubby finally painted the upstairs bathroom a light mauve color and when he gets back I'll have him take some pics to show you how gorgeous it is. Damn shame to be leaving it. Just had that reno done in February. Tumbleweed and her OH saw the claw foot tub and wanted to haul it off in their car. Sadly, it stays here when we vamoose.

Took Molly G for a 20 minute car ride on Sunday to build up her tolerance for drives. She whinged the whole way to our destination and then back again. It is gonna be a very long drive to Calgary. Either she goes on sedatives or I will be. no one will go on sedatives but it sounded good now didn't it?

I am down 10 pounds now *YAYNESS* and firming up my muscles. I spend about 30-45 minutes exercise exclusive of my daily walks with the Trio. Feel better for it and my endo has calmed down as well.

Hugs and kisses........

Neither hubby and I are clingy type people and abhor that behavior so thankfully, we do not drape ourselves over one another day in and day out.

Don't get me wrong - we do cling to one another when need be but for the most part we do our own thing.

I said to hubby the other day, 'It's a good thing I am independent because I will land in Calgary with the Crew et al and you will bugger off traveling here, there and everywhere leaving me to sort out the house and such.'

Hubby will buy the house and I will be the one to plonk our MenoLand contents into it.

S'kay.

I have since come full circle and now believe that this change coming down the pike is a wonderful opportunity to shape our lives and my life into what I want it to become.

I am considering changing my employment field into another complete area and now seems a great time to do it.

I have two degrees from university and have not utilized the skills acquired as much as I would have liked to.

The winds of change, no make that the torrential thunderstorms of change, hehehehehe,lay before me.

WOOHOOOOOOOOOOO!

In other news, it is overcast and the sky threatens to unleash its rain so I best skee-daddle and take the Trio out for a walk.

Hugs and kisses

Saturday we did the normal weekend stuff.

Sunday, my bezzie mate Tumbleweed and her OH came for lunch *chuffed* I do miss her.

She's looking pretty damn good these days....

...that's at her mum's wedding...she was the matron of honor...

..she's ever so serious as she signs her mum's wedding certificate as the witness...

...and there she is in MenoLand, in the back yard, after scarfing some bbq-y foody stuff.

In other news, hubby and I spent a gazillion hours cleaning, painting, throwing out crap from our house. And we still have a gazillion things to do. We expect the house to go up for sale on September 1 for a closing date of December 1.

Then we haul our fluffy behinds to Calgary.

WOOHOO!

And for those of you who do not know my virtual crush, my darling, sweet Paddy, you can find him here.

Despite his colorful language and at times, blustery way, don't be fooled for one instant as he is a giving, loving, caring, beautiful man and I am honored to have him as my friend.

Hugs and kisses

I've already done this...

...and this...

...and in my next life, I better have done this.

I luffs him.

That pretty much sums it up in a Meno nutshell.

Har.

Speaking of shopping, I can manage about 90 minutes straight and then I must get home or I become a snarling, pernickety MenoMama.

I hates shopping

*oddball*

Hubby has picked out all the fixtures, paints et al for the renos we have done in our house over the years. His taste is impeccable.

And truth be told, I really can't be arsed.

He has tried to drag me along to give input but it always end in disaster. He has the patience of a saint when it comes to placating me when we are oot and aboot!

My steadfast requirements for a house is simple really.

I wants a kick ass kitchen (a nice one) and some land to grow a veg garden. I'd love to grow my own veg. I find gardening soothing.

How about you? What would you want/insist on having in a house/apartment?

Hugs and kisses.........

A few people have asked me about what I am gonna do for living quarters when I land in Calgary.

I most assuredly said that hubby would be buying our home and I would see it when I got there.

Hubby would be scoping out the houses and would buy it as he will be there months before me.

What's the big deal sezs I?

A lotta women folk can't seem to cope with the very idea that hubby will select the house for us.

Doesn't bother me in the least.

Wadda 'bout you?

Could you, would you let your hubby/spouse/partner pick the house without you seeing the real deal?

BTW, there is always the MLS listings that show the virtual pics of the house. Hubby knows what I want and what he wants.

'Nuf said.

I am a smart lady.

I know how to do many, many things.

Having said that, I must say I am a doofuss when it comes to the hardware, files and such of computer thingys.

I am a first class dolt in that regard.

Can't make sense of it at all.

Spent mega time last night trying to sort something out and failed miserably. Seems like that side of my brain got fried in an unknown, alien experiment.

Usually someone comes to my aid and sorts it out for me.

Last night it was my sweet friend scoobydoofus.

Thank you hunny.

I appreciate the time and effort you make and take to keep me moving in the right direction.

In other news, no word on when we will be moving to Calgary. Hubby's assignment starts July 1. Could be in 90 days or at the end of the year at the latest.

I've noticed how I am beginning to detached (psychologically) from my surroundings. Work, the house and even the ride to work seems like it is on a time limit to end if you now what I mean.

Have a wonderful day,

hugs and kisses

This is my car...

...hubby drives this...

..guess who will be taking 3 dawgs, 1 kitty kitty and 12 birds from Oshawa, Ontario to Calgary, Alberta, oh, about 3600 kilometers, 4 days of driving with them as we scarper from one end of Canada to the other???

Hahahahahahahahaha!

I am a sucker!!!!

Talk about Noah's Arc on 4 wheels!!!

Told a few folks here in MenoLand about the move and some are sad about me leaving here to go there.

Makes me realize just how much I am loved by those around me.

Bless.

Guess who is moving to Calgary???

WOOOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

I tried three times to write a post and all I could manage was this drivel.

Welcome to Monday.

Truer words were never spoken.

Hubby remarked yesterday that the only constant we (me & he) have in life is each other.

Everything else is fluid, popping in and out during key moments in our life but we are the one constant we have.

Sounds about right to me.

*cue rambling thoughts*

It's also about undoing set patterns we have established over the years and building new ones. Ones that make sense and fit into our life.

That's the tricksy part. For me anyway.

Finding my groove.

In other news, I am amazed at the stuff we have accumulated over 17+ years. The very thought of cleaning up this house in preparation for a sale makes me want to lie down.

Gah.

Went to a wedding yesterday.

The bride is 70 and the groom is 75 years old.

Bless.

My mate Tumbleweed made this cake for her mum and step-dad. It looks way better in the 'flesh' so to speak. Just goes to show you how crap I am at taking photos. Where's AJ when ya need him?

In other news, I have just popped a Busy Day cake in the oven, will make a caramel sauce to go with it *yummers* and there's my day beginning to unfold. And yes, I will post this recipe in that blog.

Having some family over for a BBQ.

Weather is gorgeous and we are gonna sit out in my backyard and soak up the sun, the beautiful flowers and all that BBQ-y food.

Hugs and kisses

No word yet.

Hubby sezs that is typical.

Has put my nose outta joint.

Difficult to plan anything when you don't know where you will be or when you should be there.

Twats

*breathes in, breathes out*

Feel like I am suspended in time. Motionless. Helpless over my own future.

I wanna scream at someone.

And yet I don't.

Lots of political, corporate stuff goes on behind the scenes sezs hubby as 2 countries are involved in the 'process'.

Sezs they will tell us when they figure it out.

When they do figure it all out, then we (hubby and I) gotta get everything resolved within 90 days.

Double the twattage.

Lotta life changes to wrap up in such a short time.

*sighs*

*pops into BlogLand*

Hello!!!!

Been sorting out a few things in MenoLand, hence the absence.

Wanna share this story with you folks.

My BIL bought my hubby a homemade lemon meringue pie from a local bakery. That was a few weeks ago. Hubby ate one slice and pronounced it to be vile and refused to eat another.

The thing is we kept that pie in the downstairs fridge. And it has not rotted at all.

Isn't that disturbing to know that the homemade pie has so many preservatives and additives in it, it is still intact and looks ready to be snarfed??

Ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!!!

Hugs and kisses...

*pops back out*

He is in his late 20's but his life's journey ages him so he looks 20 years older.

The first thing I noticed were the deep, black circles under his eyes that suggested rather strongly he was at the bottom of the emotional barrel and one more kick to his emotional state would be the one that finally tipped him over into that dark pit of never-ending despair.

I instinctively knew that if he left my company on that day without a glimmer of hope someone would be finding him hanging from the rafters before that day ended.

He has lost everything he has cherished in his life and he was about to lose himself.

We talked, we shouted, we argued, we cried, we laughed and then we finally decided that, yes, there is a glimmer of hope that we both could see in his future.

Bless.

...is such an intangible essence and yet without it, we are doomed.

Today's Tip

When you amble over to the post office box, absent minded-like, to mail a letter, it would be ever-so-wonderful if you actually pay attention to what you toss in the post office box before the letter.

Yes.

I did throw in my newspaper into the box.

Numpty.

beat that will ya!!

Got up at 6am.

Noted the outside temp as 15 C.

Ate some toast.

Sitting here watching the mist roll in.

Pourquoi? @ the mist rolling in?

Cos it is gonna be close to 30 degrees C today and will feel like, oh, I dunno, 37 degrees C!!!!

'effing humidity.

I hates sweating my arse off.

Mind I do have a long way to go.

Made a fish chowder last night.

That'll be the last of the hot, frigging soups I be making till October or so.

There's me standing over a hot stove, in my granny pants and tee when in walks hubby who starts smiling like a Cheshire cat *do they reallly smile?* and sezs, 'Ma, you look cute'

*not amused*

'You, sir, are an eegit.' sezs I.

Soup was delish but I hates eating hot food when it is a gazillion degrees. Had the a/c on last night both in the house and the backup a/c in the bedrooms.

Where's a swimming pool when you need one?

Have a great Friday,

hugs and kisses

That's the title of my post as those words popped into my head and as you will discover, it has nothing to do with the post. I think.

I am a creature of routine.

You could set your watch by me.

I do certain things/tasks at certain times and there is comfort in routine.

Having said that, I do enjoy adventures and mixing it up a little.

The news that hubby is being transferred to another assignment has breathed fresh air into both of us.

He, for a new career direction and me, a new direction all together.

I'm okay with that. Finally. I mean I was initially thinking that if I must quit my job after 17 years in the biz, then I would be a Lady of Leisure as I reallly couldn't be arsed to start at the bottom of the working pile once again.

But that is just when I should change what I am doing and reach for new horizons and opportunities for whenever I am at a crossroads in my life, the path I eventually take can be full of opportunity, challenges, experiences that I may never have discovered if it was not for that moment in time when I said 'yes' rather than a flat out 'no'.

Looking back over the years when I desperately wanted change (job, location) there was nothing on the horizon. And now that I have accepted and enjoy my life (working and otherwise), the universe has decided to spice it up a bit with the winds of change.

That doesn't surprise me.

I learned the lessons I needed to learn for that moment in time and now I need to move on to learn more.

The last thing I ever want to be is boring and predictable. Just when folks think they know what I am all about, I wanna reach in for the 'kill' so to speak and *boom* I mix it all up again.

I just never want to be looking back on and over my life's experiences and say 'I wish...I should have...I regret...'

Life's too short.

In other news, I am always amazed at the emotional differences between hubby and I. For example, I remarked the other day, 'gosh, we have so many memories in this house and so many beautiful flowers in our garden that have come from our friends and families' gardens, it will be difficult to let go.'

Says the hubby to the Meno...'We will make new memories Ma.'

End.Of.Story.

Who woulda thunk me to be a sap? A softie? A gosh-it-will-be difficult-to-move-forward kinda gal?

Shhhh, let's keep that betwixt ourselves, shall we?

Have a great Thursday,

Hugs and kisses

Dunno why I do it but I do.

hmmmmm, that's a bit of an understatement.

I do know why I do it and it is instinctive.

When a friend is suffering, I dash in with my cavalry, swoop up the broken pieces and try to put them back together again.

I hates it when they suffer.

***

Here's some Meno facts:

1. I have lived in only 5 places since I was born 48 years ago.
2. I plant deep roots with people and places and find it difficult to break away.
3. I do not suffer disloyalty and have no problem cutting ties with people who are disloyal.
4. I hates cooked liver
5. I need to get off this damn computer and get ready for work.

Hugs and kisses

Once again, another one of my beautiful friends, has been viciously attacked via a p/m.

Twat.

It is simple really.

If you don't like what the blogger has to say, leave the blog.

If you don't have something nice to say, keep your bloody mouth shut.

Leave the snidy, bitey, I-am-so-insecure-I-need-to-put-you-down comment in your own damn blog.

Life is too short to be attacking others.

And mate, there are so many people here in Blogland that enjoy you so very much, don't you even think of going away.

Hugs and kisses

*mwah*

*munch munch*

Delish.

I am presently scarfing on some whole wheat homemade bread that has some dried apricots, cranberries and raisins in it. And don't forget the cinnamony sunflower and flax seeds.

*smacks lips*

I normally make bread every now and again but since visiting MiraLand, I have been inspired to toss in some scrumptious fruits and nuts into my bread recipe.

Double delish.

Kinda like a piece of Mira in my morning for she continues to influence how I move through my day.

Thanks hunny!

And for the rest of you, get those pervy thoughts outta your head!!!

Hubby's booked my trip to the UK in November. I land at Heathrow about 11amish and need to make my way to Scotland for the Scotland Bloggity Meet that afternoon/evening.

I fly back to Canada on the 16th of November and that is as far as I have got.

Trying to limit my time even more so on Blog. Just because.

Seem to be spinning my wheels catching up but c'est la vie.

Have a great Tuesday...

hugs and kisses

Usually after I visit/see my brother-in-law, I marvel for days on end at how joyfully happy he is with his life and himself.

Nothing bothers this man.

Nothing.

He finds pleasure and joy in everything.

I have known this man for over 15 years and I have never seen him in a bad mood and believe, he has had just cause for many a displeasure.

And he is genuine and the real deal for I can smell out ca-ca miles before it appears.

For a woman such as myself, that displays every type of emotion, readily and willingly, to the point of potential spontaneous combustion, I am in awe of my BIL's steadfast, joyful nature.

I want some. Just a little.

In other news, hubby and I are firming up our plans to move. If we stay in Canada and move to another province, I'll work. If we move to the US or any other place that forbids me to work for the duration of his assignment, I will reinvent the phrase "A Lady of Leisure" and perfect the art of being a kept woman hahahahahaha...

It is an exciting adventure coming down the pike but to get to that point, we must prepare the house to be sold. We have had over 17 years in this house and I have grown quite attached to it. It will be difficult to let go and say goodbye.

have a wonderful Monday...

Hugs and kisses