The Big 'Aaaahhhhh!!!'

Whew!! It's over for another year.... one more Christmas behind us.

Interesting day..... not entirely as I would have liked it but, all said and done, it was alright. The only two downsides to it were being forced to spend time listening to the toxic spoutings of stepson #2 and consequently having to bite my tongue in my own house (#!*&%$, ouch!); and being scheduled to work tonight. C'est la vie.....

Once I was up for the day (but still very much waking up) I was tapdancing about the kitchen alternately trying to help Lynda where I could and also staying so much as possible out of her way. Dinner turned out great and right on time. Good job Lynnie!! Driving to work I was feeling the effects of a very full belly - chuck full of turkey, potatoes, dressing, veggies, cheesecake and apple crisp. Lynda and I were so busy we didn't even have a chance to exchange gifts. I left for work a bit early to avoid #2 and any possible confrontation and escorted our clients to an outside meeting. (Yes, A.A. operates 365 days a year.) Good meeting - one of our weekend counsellors happened to have been asked to speak and did a good job relating his story.

Things here at work are REALLY quiet; the clients are safe and secure being here; the phonelines are still. In years past it hasn't always been so; some upset and agony through the holidays. Looks like it may be time to choose another movie to watch. Last night it was the first of the 'Bourne' series - a good solid action film. Did I mention I've picked up another series of day shifts next week? Don't think so. Thankfully these land at the end of the week so I'll have the chance to reset my body clock and rest up to recharge the old batteries. I'm feeling all of my 54 years and then some.... due for a little break. (thanks again for your kind invitation Kel - if wishes were horses, beggars would ride.)

In relation to this blog's name - Constant Change - and the upcoming New Year - and my involvement in A.A...... I haven't made new years resolutions for a number of years now because my program is one of ongoing change. This does however provide an opportunity to review my inventory, track change and progress, and try to spot any deficiencies or defects of character that need further work. I got sober when I was 48 so I may be all grown up and almost perfect if I live until I'm 96. It's important to have a plan..... lol.

For New Years Eve I've asked Lynda if she'd like to attend a city sponsored alcohol-free event at our new GM Centre. It includes an evening of free skating (something I haven't done since I was a teen), an early music performance for the kiddies, and a later one for the adults leading into the big countdown. As chance would have it the headliner is a guy who ushered in a very drunken new year for me about 25 years ago. David Wilcox - worth doing a search for - a veteran blues-rock guitarist.

Scanning the blogs earlier I see some celebrated early, some on the day and some chose to opt out and not celebrate at all. Wherever you land in that range I hope your day was a good one whether in company or alone.

Merry Merry

Hope everyone has the merriest of Christmases!!

I haven't been my usual verbose self this week as I've had little sleep..... which really kills the urge to write. Last night I had to put my head down for a while here at work (which of course is verboten.) Couldn't keep my eyes open. Driving to and from work has been nerve wracking with all the never ending snow we've had. Ah well, I'll be a long time dead and can catch up on my rest then.

Today Lynda and I will have her two younger sons over for the day and dinner along with one of their girlfriends, plus her 5 year old daughter. When I arrive home from work come morning I'm to get the turkey out of the freezer, figure out how long it needs to cook, baste it with oil and depending on time pop it in the oven. By the time I sleep, get up and clean up it ought to be time to join the rest of the crew for dinner before I come back to work. Hmmm.... turkey for breakfast.... might start a new trend.

Last night before I had that lie down I watched the 2nd of those documentaries. This was the video exploration and expansion of Tom Harpur's book 'The Pagan Christ'. It made for interesting viewing especially so close to Christmas. The premise of the book was that there is no real historical evidence that Christ 'the man' ever existed. No hard biographical fact in the four gospels or elsewhere. Further investigation showed paths to Egyptian Coptic sects which predated Christ's birth by more than a thousand years. In Coptic beliefs there are a large number of like stories which parallel the story of Christ. Like I said - interesting viewing that provokes thought, asks pertinent questions and provides a few answers. I'll try to watch both productions again before returning them to my friend Cindy.

Tonight I brought to work a number of videos; a variety of music, action and drama. I think it's time to choose one, go sit and pass some time.

Seems I've Hardly Been Away

.... back at work once again.


(If you haven't stopped by lately I'd suggest you scroll back a couple of posts to check out Kel's 'Aussie Christmas' guest post.)


For the last few days here it has all been about the weather, and how!! The sight of snow blowing horizontally past the windows becomes hypnotizing after awhile. And even while it is blowing about it still piles up and needs to be cleared so I have all the subsequent aches and pains that go with that sort of grunt work; Lynda too. On Thursday we had a few inches on the ground - tonight, pulling out of the drive I had to be careful because the snow was piled higher than I could see out of the car. The good news is that the plows, sanding and salting crews did a good job despite all the drifting and largely the roads are pretty good.


My Xmas shopping is done!! Woo-Hoo!! I only have Lynda to buy for and I made it out Saturday afternoon to cover that off. I hope she's happy with her variety of small gifts. During that excursion I made a quick stop at the liquor store - here they are all government run - and was surprised at all the new product on the shelves since I stopped drinking. I was like a kid in a candy store wandering up and down the aisles - ooooo, that looks tasty. It wouldn't take me long to get into a pack of trouble there, I tell ya.


I think I've mentioned here before about a friend of mine who is a documentary film producer / director / writer. Seems each time something of hers airs I'm at work so I emailed her asking that she drop DVD's of a couple of her latest productions with a common friend. I arrived at work tonight and found them waiting for me. Cool; I'll have plenty of time this week to check them out.

We won't have any kids around this Christmas and I think that is the primary reason I haven't much enthusiasm for the season this year. That and the fact it's a typical work week; no break. Two of Lynda's sons are coming over for an early dinner Xmas day and that'll be the extent of it. Then I come to work..... If we see #1 g'son Owen it won't be until the weekend.

Work is good - a good group of guys in-house. Quiet, just the way I like it.

Shoulda Kept My Mouth Shut

The bunch of us had agreed we would go light on Christmas this year buying only for children. At dinnertime tonight I asked Lynda if there was anything that she particularly wanted because I can't see not getting her anything. She struck a pose daintily holding out her left hand and said, 'Yes, a 3 carat diamond would be nice along with a whole bunch of little ones!! Smother me in diamonds!!' Funny how she can be so specific but not much help.

Knew I should have kept quiet.......

A look back at Xmas and New Years

We didn't go over the top with gift giving this year but one thing I appreciated getting was some new clothes. A nice pair of pants, 4 shirts and a couple of ties; all of it for work. It's really nice to have some clothes that fit and look new. I used to weigh in around the 155-160 mark but when I stopped drinking I lost about 15lb of booze weight. Over the last few months I've lost another 5-7lb so now I'm in around the 135 mark - not much spread over a 5'11" frame. So, like I said, it's nice to have something that fits - snug at the waist, the butt doesn't sag and the collars don't gape.

For the first time we didn't go out for New Years or have people in as I had to be up and at work early NY day. Lynda and I watched the Alison Krauss/Union Station DVD that I'd rec'd for Xmas. Fantastic musicianship. It was over before the news came on so we saw how the year was ushered in around the world before it reached us. A fantastic firework display from Sydney Harbour.

There were a few cross country phone calls checking in with my kids, Mom and my brother's families. Lynda made it up to see a bunch of her family on Boxing Day.

Much as I enjoy celebrating the season it's always a relief to have it behind me again and feel the stress level come down.

Things are in a state of flux at my workplace again so there's some anticipation as to how that will shake out over the next couple of weeks. Situation normal - what will be, will be. Pitter patter - let's get at 'er!