Looking for Advice - well actually just venting!

I need to reduce my stress levels!  Work is too much to do, not enough resources.  Suggestion was made to have a co-worker make some of my calls for me.  My co-workers are in the same position!  I can not in good conscience ask them to do anything more!   I know it is tough for everyone in the company right now - but I really need someone to give me some practical suggestions and help.  Could that be the ever present Internet?

I lay awake at night worrying about all the things I need to have done that I cant get to. The nights I don't are the nights I take the sleeping pill that the doctor gave me.  I only use them when I have gone more than 2 nights without sleep, but that is becoming more and more frequent.  The Doctor is not going to refill the prescription and I really don't want him too.  I want to have my life make more sense so that I can sleep at night again!

I guess it is time to dust off the old resume. 

Then there is the noisy neighbour issue.  I know we cant do anything about them, but it is still a stress I can do with out.  

We have been looking for a new place,  but so far all we find in our price range are pretty bad, or too small.  The last one was big enough but needed some repairs and regular maintenance done.  Overheard the landlord tell the other couple that was looking at it, if they wanted things repaired or fixed up they were free to do it but that the cost would be all theirs!  Now I am not talking about anything major here,  I am talking about drawer fronts and knobs in the kitchen and medicine cabinet doors in the bathroom., Stair railing to be tightened or replaced, screen doors that didnt close.  That sort of thing.

Makes me wonder,  if the tenant is solely responsible for that sort of thing, number one why didnt the last tenant do it, and secondly, maybe more importantly, why rent?  Landlords seem to be neglecting their properties and still expecting the tenant to put time in money into the property thereby increasing the equity of the Landlord.  Some how this seems wrong!

Well, that is truly a whine!  Thanks for listening!

35 Years and A Weekend to Remember

Monday, Phil and I celebrated our 35th wedding anniversary.  Somedays I find it hard to believe that I am old enough to have been married that long!  But apparently I am!   He bought me a lovely Pandora bracelet.  I dont think I got him anything?  Bad wife!  I guess I really should have bought him something!  Actually I did have a gift in mind, but have not been able to find the right one yet.  When I do I will present it to him!

Friday I got a call from my hubby, he asked if I would like to go away with him for the weekend!  I thought for a moment ...  a really brief moment... then said YES!!!!!

We dropped Brian off with a friend, and headed for the Langdale Ferry.  Checked into a great motel in Davis Bay on the Sunshine Coast.  Watched the sun set from our room. We had dinner at a nice pub in Sechelt.

It was a wonderful weekend of catching up with each other, seeing friends, shopping for Tanya's birthday present and eating lots of really good food.

It was very hard to say goodbye to the coast this morning and head on home.

BAD DEJA VU

Flashback to July 2009!  Rushing to the emergency with Phil

Flashforward to May 2010!  Rushing to the emergency with Phil!

Yes you read that right.  This morning at 5:30 Phil informed me that he thought he should go to emergency.  He had severe pain in his side.  Again, flashback to July 2009!  This time the pain was on the right. 

So off we went!  Thankfully the hospital is a short drive from here.  He was asking me to hurry.  I wondered if I should have called an ambulance. 

Got him into the hospital, where they promptly got an iv started and pumped him full of gravol and morphine.   6 hours..... and a couple of morphine shots later, he had a ct scan. 3 hours later we were informed that he has a 4mm kidney stone and he could go home and pass it,  Once passed we are to take it to a specialist.

Now we are at home, he is well medicated with some sort of pain killer anti inflammatory, asleep in his chair.  And I am exhausted...

It is found!

About 5 weeks ago, I misplaced my bluetooth headset.  Just in time for it to be illegal to talk on your phone in the car.  I looked for it at work, looked for it in the car, looked for it in my purse and in the house.  And then, we looked somemore.

On Friday, I gave up!  It was lost, gone, never to be seen again.  I went out and bought a new one.  Yes - you heard me right!  I bought a new one.  Charged it up and started using it.

Guess what I found today?  Yup - the stupid headset.  In a little pocket in a shopping bag!  I dont even remember putting it there. 

So now I have 2 headsets, lucky me!

Some Random Thoughts

Today I was thinking how fortunate I am to have such wonderful children.  I know that I have sung their praises before. But seeing as this is MY Blog --

Monday, Tanya and Andre took me out for lunch.  It was so nice to hang out with them and catch up.  Yesterday, Tara called and shared her day with me.  Monday, I got to go out with Brian and Phil for dinner and a movie.

Everyday I am thankful for the wonderful women my daughters have become.  Their husbands are such welcome additions to our family.  It has been a source of joy to watch my family grow.

I went to visit my mother on Saturday and was reminded of how the passage of time changes relationships.  There was a time when I went to my mom for parenting advice, relationship advice and such like.  She was the Grandma at family dinners.  Now that has been passed to me.  I am the Grandma!  I love it.


Who could have known how much fun being Grandma is!  I am looking forward to the next addition  to our family (hint hint).

How to respond?

Last night I had to tell Brian that the baby downstairs had passed away.  I asked him to pray for the parents and their family.  His immediate response was "I can't imagine how sad they are".

Me too!  I am so saddened by the news that this young couple have lost their less than 3 month old child.  How do you respond?  What can you do to help?  Is there any way to lessen their grief? 

Other than pray for them, and maybe make them dinner, I feel totally at a loss.  Suggestions?  Thanks!