Rainy days and Sundays

My day started as a bit of a question mark.  I wanted to get out and go for a walk but it just wasn't great walking weather.  However, I promised myself to get out and take Precious with me.  So we took off to the beach but as I was driving near fisherman's wharf I thought I might as well walk around the inner harbour.  As soon as I parked the truck I bumped into a friend of ours Caroline  - she was walking her dog and it was nice to bump into her aside from the usual places.

Precious and I took off to Fisherman's Wharf and strolled about there for a while.  We met up with a brown Pelican.  The poor thing was shivering in the doorway - I think he is lost.

We continued our walk around the harbour and eventually headed up in bastion square.  I was taking pictures of the walk from what was pretty much a dog's eye view.  So it was a bit like what Precious might have saw if she didn't have so much hair in her eyes.

You can see those pictures here -

We had a nice afternoon, we didn't do a lot but it was nice hanging out together.  In the evening we decided to take off and see Les Miserables at SilverCity.  It was a pretty good show - very intense.  I kind of dragged Marla to the movie.  She used all her favourite delaying tactics but we still got there really early.  A few minutes into the show it was pretty clear that she was enjoying herself.

No spending day

I decided when I woke up and it was a combination of light rain and heavy mist that the walk was out and this would be a stay at home no spending day.  At least it started that way.  After breakfast, back to the two poached eggs regime, I went out to the garage, fired up the treadmill and walked for an hour.  Actually reading a book while plodding along is rather restful.

I came in and did some work around the house.  I got the Christmas Tree working again.  It took a new bulb so my no spending day was suspended while I went to Home Hardware with Precious.  We got a walk and a bulb and Precious got a cookie.  My highlight was to move the swords and knives from the living room and put them into the turret.  They are much better hung this time around.  Then I just had some nice time with Marla, playing with Precious and getting ready to go to work.

It was a very good hockey game and very restful from the first that I got there because my followspot would not start when I tried to fire it up.  Between Shannon, Simon and me we finally got it going but it took four trips up and down the stairs.  that is a bunch of exercise for the day.

The game was interesting the first two periods were all Prince George.  But in the third period the Royals came to life and did some serious scoring.  They tied PG's three goals and scored the winning goal in an overtime shoot out.

Post Christmas good day

Today was a really nice friday.  I was going to go for a walk in the morning but I actually slept in.  Must have something to do with staying up until 1am last night.  Tonight I am getting to sleep earlier.  I try to get seven hours of sleep apparently that is just on the edge for WLS patients.  They are supposed to get more. But I have too much energy for that.

But did do a lot of home stuff and Marla and I needed to get out this afternoon for some post christmas shopping.  I really wanted a new white shirt, maybe it is that urge to go Mormon.  Marla also needs a white shirt so we took off to Marks and got a really good deal with them.

We met up with Little Pam at the Garrick Head for a beer and some very nice conversation.  She is a nice girl and we had a delightful time.  A quick trip home and then I was back to the Arena for the Royals/Prince George game.  It was a really good game with the Royals winning 5-1.  Tom and Jason were not there which was really different. 

All in all a pretty good day.

Merry Christmas 2012

Today is Boxing Day but we didn't really have all that much to box up.  So with the tradition aside I left myself to a mega walk with Precious the Pooch, a little sight seeing with Marla, and a quiet night at home. One of the treats of the day was we did a walk through the Festival of Trees at the Empress Hotel.  It was very pretty and Christmasy.

 

 After that we came home and called it a day.  Precious was very tired from our walk earlier in the day.  She was tuckered out behind the couch.  

Reflecting on Christmas it was pretty good this year.  Marla and I got each other a reasonably good collection of small gifts.  I got some cool magazines, a station house for my train set,  a Roughrider gnome, and Marla got her diamond earrings, the calendar that I made for her, a new infinity scarf, and little treats and treasures.  We are sharing tickets to Burton Cummings this spring at the Skagit so we have something to look forward to seeing and another road trip.

The day after boxing day was a bit more busy.  It was normal routine type stuff.  Marla was volunteering at the Senior's Home and I took the truck out to Costco to get the tire fixed.  It was slowly leaking.  then we went downtown to Pags for lunch.  We went a little early and had to stand in line but it was nice out and we had a good time.  I sure couldn't eat much.  I think I had less than a cup of food - just tastes of soup, Capoletti, and some really good bread.  I definitely stopped eating before I hit any bad points - that feeling of a lump in the chest.  I am doing better at stopping before I feel bad.

After that we had a walk, Marla wasn't feeling so good so we hoped some exercise would help.  It did a bit and we took off to see the Gingerbread Houses at the Laurel Point.  They were very nice.  I will get the pictures up in a day or two.

In the evening we went to see Ballet Victoria's Pandora's Box.  It was nice and sweet.  We had a pre-show snack at Baan Thai.  We had the usual and it was okay.  I have really been enjoying my time off. 

this is me being social at Christmas

So I started my morning off with a walk down to Cuthbert Holmes park and back.  Precious really liked her walk but she came home covered in leaves and crud.  I cleaned up the car because it really needed it and it was an absolutely wonderful morning.  Then I came in and got all showered up and ready to head off to Leslie's for the traditional pre-Christmas dinner. 

I had a great NSV happen this morning.  I was fidgeting with my wedding band and I discovered that I am now small enough that the ring fits on my thumb.  It is like I drop a ring size every two months.  Marla and I were planning to get the ring re-sized in February so we are right on schedule.

The Christmas social was really nice.  It was good to see some old familiar faces and they had nice compliments for me.  My ego really liked it.

Marla and I left Leslie's about 3pm and headed downtown.  I am after some hiking shoe and found a great deal on Timberline hiking shoes at Atmosphere.  Normally they were $109 but today they were $54.  I am looking forward to having some good walking shoes.  And also being able to keep my feet warm.  The downside was that theyhttp://www.urbanspoon.com/r/317/1431297/restaurant/Downtown/Garricks-Head-Pub-Victoria are size 13 I was kind of hoping for 12s but this will do for now and as Marla says "All Shoes size differently."

We shopped a bit downtown, Marla tried on some nice dresses at Bryan's.  She looks really cute in the sparkly ones.  Then she went for glam in Roberta's Hats.

We were a bit hungry and thirsty so we tried out the newly renovated Garrick's Head Pub.  http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/317/1431297/restaurant/Downtown/Garricks-Head-Pub-Victoria

We came home and settled into a nice quiet night.

its beginning to look a lot like christmas

Today is December 22nd and I am finally getting into the christmas spirit.  Up until now my life has been very hectic with work at Camosun, work in the theater (Royals Hockey, Chantel Kreviazuk and Burton Cummings) all in the last couple of weeks.  The weather outside has been frightful with lots of storms and general yeechyness.  Lots of wind and rain and little opportunity for walking.  I finally got out today when Christopher and I got to go for a walk along the ocean front with Precious.

I have been having a good time getting Christmas presents.  I like christmas shopping.  I like making up presents too.  I am kind of excited to see if Marla enjoys her presents.

Of course the big item is my impending retirement.  This is the first time I mentioned it here but I am going to retire from Camosun College at the end of January.  With holidays taken into account I have less than 20 days to work before I hang up my spurs.  I feel bad that my leaving will be at the root of some big changes for the difference but also it is time for the department to change.

I am looking forward to retiring in every way except for maybe the serious drop in pay.  On the otherhand I am really looking forward to more time with Marla, being able to study in daytime courses at UVic, more theater work and just generally enjoying life.

I need to remember that I was given a gift of this wonderful surgery to change my life and ensure that I don't fuck it up.  I worry about that sometimes.  But I am also trying to make the appropriate changes and my body tells me when I did something stupid.