Tic Toc

Only O N E  more day and and we will complete the last module of training for Stephen Ministry. It has been a long and busy three months. Lots of prep for this course of 50 hours and regular life does not stop just because we are doing this training. But hey....we are almost done. It has been very interesting and the people involved have made it a lot of fun as well. In two days, I will be wondering what to do with myself...not likely!!

Update

Ok, so I see I have fallen behind a bit. I haven't really been in the mood at all. Sometimes you just don't have anything to say. I know that is a real joke to those who know me - the idea that I don't have anything to say. ha ha

Well, I guess I have been busy and this is a busy time of year for most people. Things are winding down or just starting up. Our small group is winding down for Christmas but we are planning a big party for Dec 11. I am finishing Stephen Ministry training and the last session is on Sat for a workshop. Commissioning will be on Dec 12. That is exciting. Check out www.stephenministry.com to find out what it is all about. 

We are enjoying the snow and the temperature is not too cool yet. Only -15 C this morning which is pretty good. The snow crunches when you walk on it. We have put up our new Christmas lights and they look great. We decided to go with one colour in the new LEDs. Very nice. I still did the multi-colour for the tree though.  Hard to believe it is only 26 days till Christmas...and counting!

I tried to put a few pictures here but it seems I have used up all my space for picassa photos so I need to investigate how to expand my storage. That will now have to wait for another day. So...just imagine...

It's evening and it's dark outside with only a few clouds in the sky. There is lots of snow on the ground and piled high beside the driveway. I see a cute little house with bright, blue lights shining from the eves and casting a soft, blue glow on the white snow below. A towering blue spruce is heavy with snow casting it's shadow across the front driveway. The whole picture has a blue hue to it. Even the garage has soft blue lights across the roof line. The imagine is warm and serene.

There! That's it! If you can't see it in your mind, I'm sorry about that! Maybe I will eventually get the picture online!

Christmas is Coming

My Christmas cactus doesn't know if it should bloom or not. Half of it is...the other half is 'thinking about it'.  That usually happens around this time of the year. I guess last week's winter snowstorm got it's attention!

My 'Charlie Brown' Christmas cactus

I love this big old Blue Spruce o/s our window

It definitely looks and feels like winter. Lots of snow and blue skies make everything look so serene.

Of Course It Is

Last week, I had to change my hair appointment at the last moment to Wednesday (today) due to a commitment I made recently. I think I have said this before but it is worth repeating (in my mind) that my stylist is 'way on the other side of the city' and it is usually raining, windy, miserable or snowing when I have to go there. The day before or the day after is usually sunny.

You guessed it. Yesterday was an o.k. day. Sun shining, almost spring-like weather after the snow from last week. Things were melting. This morning, it is snowing!!!!



Nov 7 2012 - winter begins

 Of course with the change of appointment, I had to change the time as well. I can't get in until 1 pm instead of 10 am so by then, I am sure the roads will be a mess but even more so... the return drive home through the snow, and the 'evening commute' will be bad. Oh, this picture does not show the heaviness of the flakes and the wind that is accompanying it. I am sure by the time I am ready to leave, it will be 'not nice' outside.

I feel like that little guy with the cloud over his head when it comes to my hair appointments! I know it is a Peanuts cartoon...what is his name? I may not know his name but I know his story! I am living his story today!!!

Oh dear, I just checked out the window again and it definitely is getting worse. On the good side though, we are on the outside of this weather pattern and are getting the 'least of it' so I shouldn't complain. It could be worse.

On the bright side, it is time for a cut and a little 'sprucing up' so will look forward to the end result. There...a little internal 'sunshine' for my day!

What to do

My neighbour took me to look at computers yesterday. We are thinking we might upgrade the desktop downstairs as well. There are so many to look at and so many different models. I was trying to type on all of them and it seems that they have added a few keys inbetween my shift key and cap locks. I guess I could get accustomed to it but it is annoying. I am not sure if people spend a lot of time playing around on the keyboard of a prospective new computer or if they try it once or twice and then assume they will adjust.

I looked at $999.99 ones and $699.99 as well as $349.99. I could get the backlite keys and the touch screen for a thousand bucks but who needs it. I don't have one of those iphones that let me moves things around with a touch so I do not miss what I do not have (yet). As for the keyboard being lite up, well, I could get used to that but I have not had it in my lifetime so I don't miss it yet either!

I would just like a computer that I can type on, connect fast, manipulate all my pics when I need them and do some creative stuff on through Word, Excel and play around on the Internet to get info as needed. Nothing too extreme but...not a quick pik (at least for me). Actually, that was MY computer until a while ago when it started to jam on me. Sometimes it works, sometimes it jams. It's a little like me. Maybe what they say about dogs looking like their owners, happens with people and their computers?? naw....

Anyway, I came home to figure out once again what I really need and all of a sudden my OUTLOOK is working (partially). Maybe things aren't as bleak as I had first thought. Most things work except for my hotmail - in that it takes a long time and often locks up on me. All the other programs seem to work just fine.

Anyway, it's not your problem - it's mine. And it can't be that big of a problem as I have not bought a new computer yet! Guess I will just spend a little more time up front...assessing the problem once more.

More Time Needed

I see I have been neglecting my blog which translates into ...  I have a lot of words in my head that have not been put to paper! So, I will try to spill them out slowly.

It has been a busy week and Nov and Dec tend to just get busier. I often wish that we could s - t - r - e - t - c - h  out the activities in these two months over at least three or four months, but then it wouldn't have the same dramatic impact. I might not even realize their importance or significance if it weren't for the fact that I am pressured from all sides!

Everyone takes pressure differently. What drives me crazy might not concern you at all (and visa versa). We each do life differently - isn't that what the experts tell us? Oh, I'm not complaining...just explaining. I'm not having problems, or if I am, the problem is with me trying to manage me!

For someone who only works part-time, I always figure I should have lots of spare time. However, I tend to use that spare time doing other things. Not, cleaning up that spare room, getting the basement cleared away, putting away the lawn furniture before the first snow (oops, already too late), organizing my closets, cleaning out my china cabinet, organizing my file cabinet, throwing out old papers, going through all the negatives and duplicates of pictures from over the years.

As I re-read that list I recognize the obvious...they are on my 'to do' list and I guess no one says I have 'to do' them right away or 'ever' for that matter. They are MY to-do items. If they don't get done, it does not affect anyone else. The things I tend to do with my spare time are often on someone else's to-do list. Of course, not ALL my spare time. I do get opportunity to do my own thing but I guess I have decided that those are not priority items and end up doing something totally different, likely something more interesting, or more immediate, or someone elses' request. These other things I can always do later, when I have more time!

Well, that used up a few words...I am feeling a little 'lighter' so will go and see if I can get started on a few of the things I listed. I wonder how many distractions will come up before I get to any ONE of them!! Ahhhh, the excitment of the day begins!