Looking Back

Wow!! Wednesday already so how about a little recap??

Sunday I was up early in the afternoon to help Lynda with 'that' job we do each weekend. She had some car trouble Saturday evening so there was some checking around to do with that and stewing because she has extra hours booked to work all week. We both crashed before 10 that night.

Monday was a steady go from 5 a.m. straight through until after 10 that night. If my A.A. home group wasn't so small I would have begged off but I felt obliged to show up - and did. During the day I got some household stuff cleared up, some running around town done picking up car parts and shopping. Plus, catching up on blog friends new posts. The car got fixed by a friend. By that evening I was exhausted and wound up spending 12 hours between the sheets without feeling the least bit guilty.

I got up Tuesday not feeling all that great - headache, heavy feeling in my chest and generally blah. The plan was to take it very easy and do not much of anything but all it took was an early call from my Mom to rouse me. As my sister is leaving on vacation (again!) and weather isn't supposed to be good for the rest of the week she thought she'd best get a few things from the grocery store. No problem Mom.

My stepson was called back to work from his layoff and started back Monday. Lynda drops him off on her way to work and I pick him up at days end. That has worked alright so far but I figure there are already 3-4 inches of snow on the ground now at 10 a.m.; there is plenty more forecast and there is quite a distance to travel and get him. Oh, joy.

Yeah, the weather. Friday we had a tease of mild stuff to come - we actually got up to freezing!! That night it dropped right back to -20C; I could have cried. There were a couple more cold days but as this storm system moved in it brought much milder temps. I think we're sitting at about -5C which is comfortable.

Lynda is doing her regular shift all week but T, W, & Thurs she is putting in an additional 4 hours on-call for another department. She goes back in Saturday for a super shift; 16 hours from 7 until 11. (Then we do that job on Sunday again and she's back at work Monday. Fun, eh?? She's definitely working way too much.)

What's my day hold?? Well, shovelling snow for sure while trying not to blow a gasket. That trip to get stepson #3 and then have dinner on the table for when Lynda gets home. Last night it was pork chops in mushroom soup, sherry and seasonings with rice. Tonight it is schnitzel with peppers, onions, roasted garlic and garlic mashes potatoes.

Y'all have a good day; that's my plan.

Fat Pants, Skinny Pants

By the end of last week I couldn't bear to squish myself into the pants I usually wear and searched my closet for some older, roomier ones from a few years ago. Seems I've over-indulged somewhat at mealtimes and had a few too many sweet snacks between times, idled too much. I wrote awhile ago about reaching the 150 lb mark; when I stepped on the scale the other day I found I'm nudging 155. Just enough to feel I'm being cut in half when I wear my regular assortment of pants.

Ah well, better to have to wear old clothes than to have to run around pantless, n'est pas? And what's a guy to do in this situation??? Why,.... buy new clothes of course!! Maybe even a pair of those ones with elastic waistbands. (Nice, eh?) Exercise; bah!!!

Or I could resolve to eat less, eat smarter, and be more active. Whatd'ya think??

Anyway, hard on the heels of that last run of work this has been a busy week of catching up, running around town, doing a bit of visiting and trying to catch up on some rest. I was supposed to work today and tomorrow dayshift but the boss reneged on that (putting me into a foul mood for the day yesterday, which I had a tough time shaking out of). It's all in the perspective though - I'm due for a break and should enjoy the time off much as I could use that money. I still work Friday - one of those 26 hour sleep-over shifts.

Lynda was happy to walk into some yummy aromas last evening on arriving from work. I had browned some pork chops and then slow simmered them in mushroom soup with onion and sherry and spices - served over a bed of rice. Good stuff. Then we watched some of the best TV that we had seen in a while - the 2008 Honorees of The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. It was a great tribute show which included video highlights of each persons career and then performances of either dance or music. 2 great hours spent honouring George Jones, Morgan Freeman, Twyla Tharp, Barbra Streisand, Roger Daltrey and Pete Townsend.

Our plans for tonight, New Years Eve, are weather and energy dependant. We're either going to an alcohol free city sponsored skate and music event; heading out of town to Lynda's brother's house party; or hanging here at home. It is supposed to continue cold with some snow forecast so we'll see. We'll see how energetic Lynda is after work.

Hey friends!! All best wishes for a happy, healthy new year. It has been wonderful sharing '08 with all of you. Let's keep sharing all the good stuff and helping one another through the rough patches. Blessings on all of us.

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.

Winter Wonderland

We had a small snow storm earlier this week but now we're into a cycle which will bring accumulations like we haven't seen since last winter. One system is coming east - cross continent from California -, another is slipping north from the Gulf of Mexico. Forecasters are saying there are 3 storms backed up that we have to face one after the other. When I got up today I was expecting to see some snow but it didn't start until about 8:30. Now already at 11 my car, driveway and walks are completely covered. They're calling for up to 35 cm before this one is over and up to 60 by the end of the weekend. (That is over 15 inches today - over 25 inches total) We will be digging out for quite awhile; where to put it all?? Mom and I were supposed to go out to do some running around town but we thought better of it.

Yesterday after I left work I arrived home and put some beef ribs in the oven to slow roast through the day. Then I got into cleaning; with 2 dogs and 2 cats dusting, sweeping and vacuuming is a necessary daily routine otherwise the fur and dust bunnies quickly get knee high. (A slight exaggeration, but you get my drift.) A few loads of laundry and then it was time for a lie down before getting cleaned up in time for Lynda's arrival from work. We had dinner, cleaned that up and headed out to do some shopping for household supplies. I was surprised the stores were so quiet this close to Xmas. There wasn't much of interest on TV when we got home so we caught an early night.

Lynda has been caught up in a cycle of increasing pressure at work. They've lost a couple of people through buy-outs and so her workload just keeps increasing despite the fact she's very good at what she does. She is burnt out and about ready to blow a gasket. Overdue for a break. I put a call in to her earlier suggesting she leave early today as driving will get increasingly dangerous.

After that 11 day stretch of work, and different shifts, I'm pretty burnt out myself and trying to go easy. Quick rests when I feel in need of them; lots of water and tea; small frequent meals; vitamin supplements; whatever seems appropriate. I really don't want to be sick over the 'holidays'. (Holidays in brackets because I don't get any time off.)

I've had a look at a few blog buddies sites so far today and hope to find time to get completely caught up on blogland later on. Have a good one. It's time for me to find the business end of our snow shovel.

Jig's Supper

Before leaving for work Lynda started our dinner. Each hour you add something else to the pot and continue to let it boil - at the end you have a yummy concoction. So easy I don't think I can screw this up.

You start with a ham cottage roll.
Add turnip.
Then carrot.
Potato.
Onion.
Cabbage.
(roughly equal quantities of each except the onion; a little garlic is an option, too.)
Top up with water as needed; the cabbage goes in when you remove the meat to be sliced and needs only 15 or 20 minutes. Pour off the water (saving it if you wish for stock) and mash all the veggies. Actually by the time everything is ready the water has made itself into a nice gravy that can be poured over the whole shebang.

Just an hour and a bit to go before the feast begins. Woo-Hoo!!

With all the humidity in the air our fire alarm has been going off so the windows have been wide open all day. With the temp hovering just around freezing it's a crackling good fresh air day here inside.

We blame our east coast cousins - the Newfies - for this concoction but it likely has it's roots in our common English / Irish / Scots roots.