Das Boot and the House Mother

I think the time has come to change my direction. Not in life but with this blog.  Lately it's more of a blo, it blos.  It's boring.  I've become bored. 

I tell my best girlfriend about my life experiences and she is constantly telling me I need to write a book about them.  Perhaps this is the place to start.  Maybe if I start now and write about this past weekend I can slowly work my way back to, I dunno, somewhere in the 80's when my adventure called life really took off!  Maybe by then I'll have enough material for an entire chapter. Time will tell.

So onto this weekend.  I should point out that I am a 40-something woman.  I have children, a second husband, pets, a sensible car (shudder), a home, a cottage, a niece, a nephew, a god son and a fairly decent job.  I spent Saturday night partying with university students.  Swear to god.

Now I'm not sure how much you remember about your university or college days but, surprisingly,  they actually haven't changed much.  I just forget how we all lived back then.  I went to the apartment of a wonderful co-worker.  Her and her boyfriend invited me there for a winter BBQ.  Sounded so quaint and a lovely way to spend a Saturday evening.  I hesitated at first, thinking I would spend a quiet night to myself, watching television, reading, and hanging out with my dogs.  Then the devil in me took over and I said "f*** it, let's go!"  So I did.

I arrived around 8pm.  The lovely Miss Jennifer (names have been changed to protect the guilty) met me at the front of the house.  We truged up the old wooden stairs to the second floor.  I should have known I was in for a treat when she said "no one else has arrived yet, just the boys are here."  Yup, the boys.  Not men, BOYS.  Some close to my own sons age!  Actually, some looked younger. They were in the living room playing electric guitars and drums.  No, not Rock Band, ACTUAL INSTRUMENTS with amplfiers and a light show!  IN THE LIVING ROOM.  I literally said "holy shit, there's a band in your living room."  Okay. Wonder how the tenants below enjoy that? 

We went off to her bedroom to mix ourselves a drink and to chat , where there were no boys.  Nope, no boys.  But there was an Australian Bearded Dragon named Allan (yup, from The Hangover).  Seriously, would I lie to you? Apparently he is grumpy but likes to sleep in Jennifers hair.  There's a fucking lizard in your bedroom.  OMG. 



Have I mentioned that I'm 40-something?  Yes, I was the house mother. 

So the evening progressed, more boys showed up and even a couple of girls (all at least half my age).  I got over my uncomfortableness and got to enjoy the crowd and even some of the music.  No, I didn't know any of it at all.  It's that screamy stuff, I'm not even sure what genre it is.  Oh well, they sure can play.

We just laughed and talked and partied and got to know one another.  That guy with the mohawk that I see everyday even showed up.  I was like "Jennifer, there's the mohawk guy from that store".  I was dying. 

For our entertainment there was even a German exchange student present, he was chugging beer from a glass boot.  Hence, Das Boot!  Hilarious.  I sent my husband an email at one point and simply said "I wouldn't even be able to make this stuff up."



I almost forgot about Brett. He was a sweet girl, I mean boy of about 4'8" tall.  Teeny tiny little thing with a massive head of dreads.  However, he was pretty enough to be a girl.  We just chatted about life and his shitty job. 

At about 3am the place was winding down.  I went off in search for a place to lay my head for a couple of hours before driving home.  I stumbled into the living room in the dark and was just about to place my assets onto a nearby couch when my eyes finally focused ON THE NAKED BOY WITH TOOTPICK LEGS cowering in the corner of the couch.  "Oh my god, why are you naked on the couch" I said.

"I dunno" says he.  Jennifer rescued me, she had made me up a bed in her bedroom from a little foutony thing.  When I left at 8am naked boy was still sitting on the couch with his knees to his chest, no blanket, nothing. 

I'm off to the chiropractor in the morning.

Sunday night in December

It's been so long, six months long.  I mean well, I really do - but then it's six months later and I'm amazed that it's 6 months later!  What happens?

It's been a very long 5-6 months.  Job has changed, living arrangements have changed, body has changed, back yard has changed, number of animals living here has changed!  New puppy!! 

Where to start?  What's going on?  I'm sitting here watching my 17 year old son sweep the floor - yes - lots has changed.

But enough of that.

It's December, it's close to Christmas again. 

Okay, the television is on and there's a show on about 30 year old virgins!  Seriously...oh my.  A 35 year old man has just confessed TO HIS MOTHER that he is a virgin.  Holy moly.

It's a slow night.  I'm not even sure what to write so I'll not bore you any longer with nothing.

Saturday in the Park

I think it was the 4th of July.

I did it - I have made a MAJOR change in my life.  I quit my job and secured a new one doing something I love.  OMG, finally.  I'm 44 years old and I'm going to look forward to getting up in the morning and heading to work!  

What's so significant about the 4th of July?  Well, that's when I will have completed my 6 weeks of training and I will be managing a salon (of 23 stylists).  I'm so excited I can hardly contain myself.  No more hard hats and steel-toe boots for this girly girl.  From now on it's manis, pedis, Redken hair care and all things beautiful!  Bring it on I say.

This past winter and spring has seen so many changes in our lives.  Not all good ones either.  My mom was diagnosed with breast cancer in February.  Luckily it was early and quite small.  She underwent a mastectomy in late February and has been doing marvelously ever since. No chemo, just an anti-cancer drug for a year.  Phew.

My husband has been transferred away for work.  He leaves our home on the 18th of July for another province, not within driving distance.  Yes, it's going to be a trying summer, fall, winter, spring, summer, fall, winter, spring, summer.  Two years.  

My parents have made the decision to sell their summer home.  My happy place, my place of pure contentment.  It's hard, but I know it's for the best.  Thankfully it is staying in the family and is being taken over by a cousin.  

You see, a year of many, many changes.  But we will persevere and get through it all.  And luckily, we will have fabulous hair and nails while doing so.

Quiz Night in Bedford

We tried something different last night.  Myself, hubby and two of our neighbours went to a local pub for their Quiz Night.  Actually, it's the first quiz night of 2011.  The quiz master was set to start at 7:30pm.  We were informed we should arrive at least half an hour early to grab a table.  We arrived an hour early and had to wait half an hour for a table! WOW.  

The pub is Finbar's at Sunnyside Mall in Bedford  http://www.finbars.ca/index.php?page=103&sub=110.  They have been undergoing kitchen renovations for the past 10 days or so and their propane still isn't in place.  Needless to say, they have a limited menu but it was standing room only last evening and everyone there seemed to be eating!  That's how popular this place has become.  It's a Wednesday night, it's January and this place is packed.  Kudos to the owners.

We had stumbled into Finbar's in early December while there was a quiz night going on and vowed to return for one.  So here we are.  The waitress who met us at the door was great, she said we'd have to wait about half an hour for a table, and she was right.  We hung out at the bar while we waited and even managed to snag 4 stools.  We were led to our table after about 1/2 a brew.  

So, onto Quiz Night.  It works like this.  They give each team a sheet to put your team name on and whether you will be playing for the season (of 6 weeks).  The rules are simple, no electronic devices, 6 members (or less) to a team (to be eligible for prizes) and to have fun!  The sheet is made up of two columns of 20 blank spaces each for a total of 40 answers.  There are two rounds.  The quiz master starts his questions with the aid of a microphone.  He was a great speaker and we never had a problem hearing what he was asking.  The questions ranged from science, history, geography, sports and entertainment.  Everyone was given ample time to write their answers down.  Half way through each round there was a speed round - whoever got the answer right first (by putting up their hand) got to pick a silly prize.  After each round your sheets are collected, your answers checked and scored and then returned to you.

Quiz night started at 7:30pm and it was done by 9:30pm.  I believe the winner of the evening gets a $25 Finbars gift certificate (with a total of 21/40 we didn't stick around...) and the overall winner of the league (after 6 weeks) gets a $100 gc.  Not too shabby.

It was a great evening out, hubby and I had one draft, a club soda and a ginger ale.  With a tip it cost us $10! Where else can you socialize, learn something, possibly win something and hang with friends for $10?

It was a great evening and we cannot wait to return next week.  Must brush up on my European capitals before then though.  Who know the capital of Bulgaria was Sofia?  Not this chicky.  But I should.

What I think

Someone made a suggestion to me last week.  They commented on my Facebook page that I should be doing something like Annie's Recommendations or something.  You know, like Oprah's Favorites...'cept not quite as popular obviously.  Apparently some people have done some of the things I have recommended so it seems I have an opinion that is valued!  Who knew? 

So, after giving it some thought, here I am.  I'll set the A Fair Maiden, or Affair Maiden blog on a different course.  Not just about me but about what I like to do, where I do it a and whether or not I think you would enjoy it too.

This all started with attending Grafton Street Dinner Theatre in Halifax last week for their presentation of Does Your Mother Know.  It is a story about a Cape Breton family reunion with its typical interesting characters, family secrets and greedy relatives - all set to the music of Abba!  Yes, girls, Abba.  

I have to admit, I was skeptical as I had the pleasure of seeing Mama Mia on Broadway only two months before (which I also highly recommend) but as soon as they picked up their instruments and started to play and sing the lyrics we all know so well, I was instantly transported back to my bedroom with my record player and my Abba albums, signing to my hearts content.  I was a Dancing Queen in Waterloo, feeling like a Super Trooper.  I do love Abba, I do I do I do I do I do.

This crew were outstanding!  They can really sing, really well.  And play?  I am still amazed at how much the music sounded like Abba.  The piano/keyboard player was second to none.  Admittedly, myself and my gf made him laugh a few times and he seemed to lose his place but regained quickly and on with the show!  That's the beauty of dinner theatre, it's casual, no rules and a great night out for all!  The price of the ticket is worth hearing the old guy sing Honey Honey.  I have seriously never laughed so hard in my life.

So give it a go.  For less than $50 a person you get a couple of hours of great local entertainment, some decent fare to keep your belly happy (2 appetizers, 6 entrees and 2 desserts to choose from, including vegetarian options) and you are supporting the local economy.  Obviously if you choose to consume oh wee bit of the spirits, that will cost you extra but it's hardly going to break the bank.  I think we paid $15.50 for two beer and a glass of ginger ale.

http://www.graftonstdinnertheatre.com/

Does Your Mother Know has been held over until the 30th of January, I recommend it for anyone.  A couple who would like an evening out, some girl friends, a work party, birthday party...anyone. 

Their next production begins on the 4th of February, "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road", featuring the music of Sir Elton and Billy Joel.  I suspect we'll be taking this one in as well.  

So there you have it, the first of many entries about my life, out and about in HRM and places beyond!

Wasting Time

It seems that's all I do lately.  I'm supposed to be working, I'm Twittering, I'm blogging, I'm surfing, I'm daydreaming.  What's with me?  I make my living in sales, I'm supposed to be selling!  

Do you suppose we sit around and wait for someone to yell at us to get off our keister and make a living, stop wasting company time and money.  I dunno.  

Lately I have been terrible for wasting time.  It seems I'm waiting for something but I'm just not sure what it is exactly.  Is it the time of the year?  No, I've been feeling this way forever.

Is anyone else out there completely bored with what they do?  How do we make a change without disrupting the balance of all things financial?  There's a lot more to think about here than just being bored with my job.  

Do I really want to start over again with a new career, a new company, new co-workers?  No.  But change is good.  Is it perhaps our generation?  What ever happened to working at the same job for 35 years.  Oh my god, I'm pretty sure I would not be able to keep my sanity if I had to do the same thing forever.

Seems all I ever think about lately is a new job.  I tell myself every evening that tomorrow will be different.  It isn't.

How do we find our passion when we have to keep paying the mortgage, the car payment, the power bill, the cell bill, the list goes on and on.  What am I missing?

Changes

No, not like David Bowie Chhhhhanges.  Changes in plans.  Life getting in the way of life.

Hubby and I left the house around 5:30pm last evening to take the pup, and ourselves, for a walk.  We had a wonderful little jaunt, until I got freaked out because of some tracks we saw which hubby said he thought belonged to a bear!  A bear!?  For gods sake, it's dusk, we're 2kms from the car and you tell me those are bear tracks!  Then the dog starts barking like a maniac at nothing (that we could see) in the woods ahead of us. I'm getting more scared by the second, I swear my heart rate increased ten-fold and I'm wearing my Alegraia open-backed clogs, so running is out of the question.  I walk, really fast.

Phew, made it back to the get-away Honda in the nick of time!  Not really, but exaggeration is good isn't it?  I'm not entirely convinced we saw bear tracks but there was definitly something about and I was not going to stick around to find out what it was.  Jane of the Jungle I am not, and really, what is a 15lb Mini Daushund and an ex body builder in flip flops going to do to save me from said bear?

So, changes.  Changes in evening plans, changes in weekly plans.

When we finally arrived home (stopping on the way to pick up something for dinner, no not fast food) we opened the door to the phone ringing.  I ran (sure I can run for that) and grabbed it and saw it was a co-worker of mine.  He was calling to ask if I had read the email that had come in from our boss around 6pm.  Nope, computer and blackberry are both shut down for the evening. 

"Oh" he says.  "When are you in NY?'

I respond, "From the 1st to the 7th.  Why?"

"We have to be in Montreal for the morning of the 8th" he announces.

"WHAT?"

We end our conversation, I boot up my computer and low and behold, there is the email.  Seems the entire sales team for eastern Canada are meeting in Montreal on the 8th for at least three days!  My heart drops to my feet.  Seriously.

Not only is it 12 hours after my return from a week away - it's 3 days away from my parents whom I see literally once a year.  Twice if I'm lucky, like this year.  They are staying with us until the 11th.  Add insult to injury, my children are turning 16 that same week, on the 10th (hence the reason for my mom and dad extending their time away).  With any luck, I'll be back on the 10th in time to celebrate with them and get to spend the 11th at home with my entire family, before mom and dad fly out at 11pm (on the 11th day of the 11th month...weird).

Ho hum.  I shouldn't complain about having a job that takes me places and what-not.  But of all the weeks in the calendar - why this one, why now?  My mom is going to be really dissapointed.  I'm not even going to tell her, it'll ruin her trip.  I'll wait until we are enroute back home before I announce "oh yeah, I have to leave at 4:30am tomorrow to catch a flight to Montreal, you don't mind spending 3 days alone do you?"

"Oh, and kids, I may not be here for your 16th birthday."

I am a true beliver in "family first", I'll put my family before anyone and anything.  But how do I manage this one?  I'm told we have to be in Montreal for this sales meeting, there are people coming from the US for it (big freakin deal).  Kinda difficult when most of these people work 23 hours a day, take their spouses on one vacation a year and can't understand why we don't answer emails after 5pm.  As it turns out, my co-worker's baby daugter (she isn 't one yet) is starting her first week at day care the same week!  Now that is heart-breaking.

Changes.  It's what life is all about isn't it?  Too bad so many of them suck.

“Change is inevitable - except from a vending machine.”

Robert C. Gallagher