Daffodils

Hello Everyone,

Jerry brought me daffodils today. It's Daffodils Days in Calgary, to raise money for the Canadian Cancer Society.

So, this is the second time he bought me flowers without me asking. The first was the corsage for prom.

I love daffodils. It's a bit of a grey day and the bright yellow cheers up my office.

So, go out and buy your friends and family daffodils.

I owe, I owe, It's off to work I go...

Hello Everyone,

So, I did my taxes on the weekend and I owe the government $87.

So, it's not much but it's the first time I'm not getting money back. I didn't take as many school courses as expected so my TD1 amounts were off. This year, I didn't write any school deductions on it so it should be balanced out. As well, I didn't qualify for the GST credit. It was a nice break every 3 months to check your account and see a little bit extra.

I knew I was going to be close - either a really small return or owing a small amount. It caused a bit of panic though when I first entered my income and it told me I owed over $2000. Thank goodness for all those deductions.

So, a good weekend. Spent it at home relaxing. Jerry came over on Saturday and we watched movies. Spent Sunday cross-stitching. My neck's a bit sore but it was relaxing. Jerry's best friend's wife is expecting very shortly and I'm working on a baby afghan. It's got teddy bears and balloons stitched on it. I got considerably delayed starting it so it'll be a rush over the next 2 weeks.

Have a great day!

Cautiously optimistic

Hello Everyone,

I wrote my rewrite final last night and it went ok. I think I may have passed although it wouldn't be a high mark. I'll know in a couple weeks. So, if I pass, I send my transcript to CPA, can take my final course for certification and Jerry takes me to Banff Springs hotel for the weekend. If I fail, I redo the course (with full fees), wait until the fall to do my final course, and I take Jerry to Banff Springs hotel. They're having a really good deal on rooms for people who are Sunshine season pass holders. I've always wanted to stay at a Fairmont hotel - they're so pretty and there's all that history.

Getting settled in to the new place. It's a bit cool - my bedroom (and the bathroom you access through it) does not have a heat vent so I'm trying to figure out what's the best way to keep it warm. Mostly unpacked but my shelves themselves are not organized so that's what I'm doing over the next week. I've been enjoying laundry since it's so convenient now. Still have some catch-up loads but should finish during this organizing time. Then I'll take pictures.

Furry family is adjusting. I have rugs everywhere so Whiskers is finding it easier to hop around. I've decided to sell my cruiser bike (Calli) and rebuild Charlotte (single gear) into a cruiser style. I was going to buy a Kona Africa because I like the style and for every 2 they sell, they donate 1 to Africa. I still might - depending if I get a large enough tax return. It apparently uses only one tool for all its repairs. That would mean turning Charlotte into a parts bike. I'll see how things go.

Have a great day!

Karen the negotiator

Hello Everyone,

So, I went to cancel my Telus (phone and internet) and they dropped the price down. Now, it'll be the same price if I cancelled and went with Rogers & Vontage. Plus, it's one bill and they're automatically switching it over on Sunday. I'll save about $30/month.

Got a new cell phone. I went into the Rogers store and they told me I was eligible for an upgrade. This means still paying for a new phone but not as much. I was on a 3 yr plan with my pink one so I've got 2 yrs left on my new one. It's a Nokia and it's charcoal with 2 red stripes. Not a flip phone like the last but it'll work.

So, I'm back to my technology dependency...

Moving update

Hello Everyone,

So, the last of my heavy/bulky stuff was moved tonight so everything else now is small and can fit in the rental car. Had a slight change of plans.

Pets moving Friday night as I'm having the carpets professionally cleaned on Saturday afternoon. Inspection Saturday night. It was required by my landlord rather than me just doing it myself. And I'm ok with that. By the time you pay the rental, buy the solution, do the work, etc, it's just as easy to have someone else do it.

Tonight - patch holes from nails/screws in walls

Thursday - paint touch-ups. Clean bathroom. Vacuum 2 bedrooms. Clean oven. Clean kitchen. Finish last of packing.

Friday - So, after work, Jerry and I get car (he'll be 2nd driver). Move furry family. Move final stuff. Nothing left in apartment. Wash walls. Buy Rogers modem so I have internet.

Saturday - Mike has vet appointment at 10. Will leave Jerry at my apartment as carpet cleaner will call in morning to confirm visit time in afternoon. Drop Mike off at home. Come back and send Jerry for coffee as I vaccuum the livingroom/hallway. He has allergies so once he's got coffee for me, I'll put vaccuum in car and send him home so he won't have to breathe anything in. I need to be here for carpet cleaner. Once that's done, call landlord to confirm inspection. Unpack some stuff.

Sunday - with Jerry being so wonderful with helping me move, we're going to Sunshine. I know I need to be unpacking but he's been great through these past couple weeks. It should be a good weekend and since we'll have a vehicle, it'll be a much needed relax time for both of us. Will be back shortly after supper anyways so can do a bit of unpacking Sunday night.

My new place will be pretty well in boxes until the 25th. That's my rewrite so I'll be studying each night. Will spend about an hour each evening unpacking but the rest will be studying. I have a basic idea of where I want things so I think it will generally go smooth. My mattress is in place - just need the frame itself put together. I can get to the bathroom. Clothes will be only a temporary issue as the laundry is just outside my door.

And I know this stuff is pretty boring but by typing it out, it reassures me that I have a plan. I was rather panicky when I got home tonight and saw stuff all over my livingroom. We did 2 truckloads and I feel back in control again. I get really messed up when my household is out of order. Been sleeping poorly. Headache. Lack of focus.

Pets are surprisingly super mellow. Have no idea why. Whiskers is being very good. Mike calm. They've all seen moves before so they might remember what's happening.

Anyways, I'm really tired.

Good night!

Moving day moved up!

Hi Everyone,

So, my leisurely move over the month has been cut in half. The first person my landlord showed the place to fell in love with it and wanted to move in right away. So, I have my final inspection next weekend. This all happened as of Thursday night. Moved a truck load (no cap on truck so not a lot but it was heavy/awkward stuff). Rented U-haul cargo van today and did 2 big loads. Everything is in a pile at the new place and I'll sort things out once I'm officially there as of Sunday.

I don't have a lot of stuff left. One more truckload - a couple more heavy things that I'll get Jerry and/or Keith(roommate) to help me with. One van load for the furry family. They'll move on Wednesday. And I'm renting a car Friday night for the weekend. That'll give me enough time to move my final stuff, run errands and bring Mike to his annual vet appointment. I'll rent a carpet cleaner Thursday or Friday night and do major cleaning. All repair/touch-ups will be done prior to that. So, it'll be a matter of clean and go.

I forgot how physical moving is. Getting stuff pulled out. Putting it in boxes. Moving boxes around. Bringing boxes up stairs to van. Taking boxes down stair from van. Moving boxes around. I've gotten a couple bruises, 2 broken nails and my hands are extremely rough. I've had to put on my cycling gloves to help. Jerry helped me with the heavy stuff today. It's times like this that I realize just how much stronger his upper body is than mine. I struggled with 1 file box (textbooks, paperwork) and he was able to carry 2 at a time. I knew that men's bodies were build differently then women's (we've got the advantage with legs) but it was really noticeable today. We're going to start wall climbing at the end of the month so hopefully I can develope these muscles more. It'll be a big advantage when cycling. I've noticed they're a bit weaker than during the summer as I'm walking up the hills verses riding them. I can't justify the energy exhurtion and heat to go up them in bad road conditions, stiff lube, drag from the spikes and the layers I'm wearing.

When I was in the new apartment today, my impression was that it had more light than I remembered and the bedroom's a little bit bigger. It's still smaller than my current one but not by a lot. The storage room is also lovely as there's shelving along 2 sides and my freezer managed to fit through the narrow doorway.

The furry family's overally been good with the move. I shut Mike in the back room while moving so he wouldn't try to escape. Whiskers is being very well behaved and rather calm. Both are being a bit clingy but I was expecting that.

Jerry's birthday is on Tuesday so I'm making him chocolate loaf with white chocolate rum custard. His mom brought him a cake today so I thought this would be something different. The chocolate loaf looks like a heavy cake or maybe brownie made in a loaf pan. It's served with the warmed custard and lightly sugared strawberries. The recipe is from one of Nigella's cookbooks and I'm rather excited. It's also much easier to transport than a traditional cake. I'll let you know how it turns out.

We celebrated his birthday with his parents and friends at a Moroccan restaurant. I've never eaten Moroccan and it was very tasty. I told Jerry we need to eat this food more often. It was very flavourful (spice/herb combinations I wouldn't have thought to pair). And we got to eat with our hands. I think I'll need to pick up a cookbook since I'm now in the area of town I can get a lot of uncommon spices since the dishes were very tasty and it would be relatively inexpensive (lentils, couscous, vegetables).

Anyways, I have a cake to make. Tomorrow is birthday cake Sunday (probably one of the last times I'll be at St. Matthews). I'm cheating by using a mix and canned frosting. But, it will be great for the kids because once the 9x13 cake is cool, you cut it into the shape of a horse and use candy to decorate it. Smarties are used to make the eyes and bridle. Licorice (the pull apart kind) is used to make the mane. I got the idea from the Kraft website. They have some great (and super easy) cake ideas there.

Have a great weekend!

Vontage experience?

Hello Everyone,

With my move, I'm getting rid of my phone line. I've been wanting to for a while and this is the perfect opportunity. I haven't decided yet if I'm getting internet and cable through Shaw or portable internet through Rogers. Probably the later and I'll forego tv. After all, I can watch some of my shows online and the rest I can see at Jerry's. I've lived without cable before and I think I'll still get a couple local stations anyways.

Anyways, I'm looking at phone options and thought Vontage might be suitable. I'm looking at the $19.99 500 minutes local/long distance + unlimited inbound calls. So, my regular phone connects through a device hooked up to my computer and voila, a phone line.

So, has anyone used Vontage? If so, what did/do you think of their service? If not, have you used a different company with similar features?

I'm keeping my cell but with my long distance, I think it'll be cheaper to use Vontage rather than long distance cards. Thoughts on long distance cell phone cards?

Wild Roses tv show

Hello Everyone,

For those of you who watch Wild Roses (stupid Alberta soap opera on at 9pm, Tuesday nights) on CBC, there was a scene last night across the block from where I work. The scene is when David McGregor is eating a hot dog, making a suspicious oil deal so he can cover his other oil deal supply. In the background, there's a parking lot and a huge mural on the wall with drilling scenes.

In reference to my building, it's on the sw corner of 6 Ave and 2nd Street. The scene took place on the nw corner. The hot dog stand is actually on the NE corner (so he was an extra). The building with the mural is the Petroleum Club, an exclusive club for people in the oil and drilling industry. We had our Christmas party there this year and I've eaten there a few times for company functions.

Jerry indulged my interest in that stupid show (I like playing "where's that?") last night and him and his friend had fun picking out buildings. I've recognized a number of them so far. The plot line is rather overdramatic and silly but it's amusing.

Oh, and there was a reference about David's hat, when he was first trying to fulfill his oil contract and he had called an acquaintance from years ago. If you wear a white hat, you're an upstanding and honest business person. If you wear a black hat, you've screwed someone over. So, in Calgary, if someone asked you about the colour of your hat or makes reference to it, they're really commenting about your character.