Buying beef

Shopping for a bit of beef has been as exciting as my week has been.  We picked it up yesterday, and processed it this morning.  I wonder if that shouldn't have been the royal "we", as David did most of it while I stood around half asleep.  We later went to the library and I walked across the parking lot to mail a couple of letters.  The fresh air felt so-o-o good, and helped wake me up a bit.  I sure hope I sleep better tonight.

  Actually, I think I've been in a bit of a fog most of the week.  The art club I belong to has another workshop scheduled for Mar 9th and 10th, with a highly respected, internationally known teacher who, after much persuasion agreed to do it.  He doesn't generally teach, and there has been a lot of interest in this class, but that hasn't been reflected in the number of registrations, and we won't even "break even". The woman, who is acting as the liaison between the teacher and the club, got in a bit of a "tizzy", and many, many e-mails were exchanged between committee members.  These emails reflected a lot of things, such as the committee's frustration with a chair who rarely communicates, has not shown any leadership, and only talks about how she wasn't supposed to be in this committee and will be gone as soon as she can get rid of the responsibility.  The class liaison reverted into the style of a previous life, and became a raging harpy of a micro-manager, despite her obvious difficulty in reading an e-mail before responding to it.  All of this lasted about five days, and left me exhausted, mainly from biting my tongue and using every skill I have ever developed in terms of people management.  I finally, under remarkable self control, sent out an e-mail outlining the communication issues with e-mail versus face to face communication, suggesting that offence may have been taken,where none was intended, and that we should meet face to face. Quickly came two short, quick e-mail with general but vague apologies, and agreeing that a meeting was needed, and since then, dead silence.  For that I am grateful.  I think there are times when I would rather deal with propane heaters than a group of otherwise competent, middle-aged women, who engage in guerrilla warfare over the least important things, with smiles on both of their two faces, and gentle but lethal words.  I guess I am also grateful that a previous life prepared me for that sort of thing.  I actually went to an in-service presentation once that was entitled "Guerrilla Warfare".

There has been little time in the studio this week, but I did manage to get my handouts for Neepawa ready for printing.  David says that, considering they are 12 pages long, we would be better to take them to Staples for printing,and I'm all for that.

Back to work

I really enjoy having my Fridays off, but I sure hate coming back to all the work that's accumlated for me.  Today I have accomplished virtually nothing new because of a stupid plan that has all sorts of twists and turns to it.  I shall perservere. I am ignoring the other 4 plans.  I looked at one and it was all wrong.   Jim and I were playing crib last week and I got my very first ever 29!!  I was so excited my hands were shaking.  Jim said I could never play poker 'cause he could tell by the look on my face when the 5 was cut that something was happening!  Even with the 29 I almost lost the game.   It was my only good hand.  We moved a lot of Kik's stuff out on Saturday.  I don't know where she is going to put it all.  She is house sitting right now, so doesn't have to live in the new place while she sorts things.  She is house sitting an extra week, since they called and said they were having such a good time in Barbados that they were staying another week.  (nooooo,   I'm not jealous... what gave you that idea?)   I am going to the Union meeting in Brandon after work.  It is supposed to be informative so maybe I will get a better understanding of what will be happening with the takeover.  They also said they would have elections, but there appear to be more positions than we have staff in Brandon & Neepawa.   Dauphin only has 3 unionized employees.  I wonder how they will fill all the spots.  The union may have to re-define the districts.    Poor Jim.  He decided to make gravy last night with our pork roast.  He called me upstairs and asked what was in a container.  I told him it was powdered milk.  He had put some in the gravy, but I told him that was okay.  I went to get him some flour, but he said he already had some.  I came back upstairs a few minutes later, and he was adding icing sugar!  He thought it was flour.  Interesting gravy.  Time for work yet again.  Have a great week

WAG

Winnipeg Art Gallery, that is. Heard a radio commentary about the WAG and celebrating it's 100th Anniversary. Gion Gomeshi (?sp) from CBC Show Q attended this past weekend and had glowing praise for the WAG and for Winnipeg actually. It was refreshing to hear about Wpg - makes one feel good. My diet is still very nutritious - coffee and licorice allsorts lately haha And a few banana muffins. I intend to try a salad today and maybe throw in some salmon and perhaps a glass of milk just to make me think I'm eating OK. The best thing about the past few days is that the temps have been on the freezing mark and thus, and a really big plus for me, is that I have not had to light the propane heaters at night in the greenhouses. This whole week through to about Thurs is looking the same so maybe there is hope? I have been looking through dresser drawers and trying to see what I can get rid of - a thankless chore but at some point I have to cut back on my own. How many pairs of pyjamas does one need to have? What a quandry! If life were so simple! I did not watch any of the Academy Awards last night as they have never interested me and according to the post mordem on Q this morning, I didn't miss anything. I have lost all knowledge about movies and actors - can't recognize names or the young faces when they appear on the TV. The RCMP Musical Ride will be in our area June 22 and 23 and I would very much like to see them. It would be nice to plan to get tickets and attend but time will tell. Also Randy Bachman is playing in North Bay March the 6 but I don't have tickets so I guess I won't be going haha I spoke with a lady today on my walk with the dog, and we spoke about Casinos - she goes to Casino Rama in Orillia about 2 1/2 hours south of here. Apparently there is a bus that goes for the day the last Thursday of each month from the Legion and she told me the name of the person to register. I doubt if I will ever go but it is fun to think about it. Well, I just came in from outside and doing the roof and cleaning up aroubnd because it is dripping and water is pooling in places. If only this were really Spring I wouldn't mind but I am sure we are in for colder temps again and the snow just does not stop. The town backhoe came down our street this morning and pushed back all the snow banks at each driveway - this is great for me as it was getting tough to put the snow somewhere. Now I can see is traffic is coming when I pull out. My inspirational daily message today says: "Laugh it off, laugh it off; it's all part of life's rich pageant" I guess thats good advice. So here I go off laughing....Take care.

Sunday already??

Feels a little bit like a tightrope, around here lately, but everything is relative.  Life is usually so calm around here that any action is a change.  The sewing machine was in for servicing, so that I can be sure it is working properly before taking it up to Neepawa. They had it for a week, but I'm told several things got sorted out.  We got it back Friday around noon, and I spent the rest of the day finishing a beading project, so that the machine could be put back in its rightful spot.  Saturday, I took a collage workshop at the art group I belong to.  It was one of the better classes I've taken with them, only because it was closer to what I do.  I felt comfortable within the whole process.  Today I hope to put the binding on the beaded piece, and take a picture, so that I can enter it into the new  travelling Fibre Art Network show for May.  Then spend the rest of the day working with the machine, and testing out the things they say were fixed.

I also need to spend some time working with pictures.  My Photo Shop Elements is not responding the way it should, and I need to reduce the resolution on the pictures I send along with exhibition entries. I'm hoping I will be able to do that with the photo program on the desk top, otherwise I may have a real problem.  I'm working on  March 15th deadline, so need to get on top of this asap.

For today,  I think I need to be grateful that my problems as small ones, and significant only to me.

How about Egg Fritatta

You have your sandwiches, and I have Fritatta. When in the hospital, Harry was served Vegetable Fritatta and he liked it. So once home, the recipe was searched on internet, and we have tried several since - many eggs and lots of vegetables, and different cheeses go into the recipe. It is then baked in the oven  Not bad actually, but he continues to alter the makings each time so each is a little different. To the Doctor this afternoon for the first time ( new Doctor) and tomorrow we have to go for more blood work and further tests are being booked at Huntsville. Hopefully this will start to make a difference. In meantime, I just came in from lighting the propane heaters - it is colder these last few nights - thanks to you folks in Man for sending it my way. I also cleaned off the roof again today because it is to be much milder on weekend with potential rain/snow. Oh joy and bliss. Will it ever end? I had a noise in my car for last week or two, and it was getting worse - I dropped into the garage on my way home from North Bay yesterday to make an appt for Friday, and asked if a technician could drive with me first to hear the noise. They said they could do it right away so after a little drive, and a look on the hoist, it was determined to be the right front wheel bearings - and they could fix it right away, too!! So after about 90 minutes, I was back on the road home with NO noise and a large VISA charge haha but much less anxiety which is, afterall, the desired outcome right? My hair has reached that OMG stage and yet I cannot see me making an appt soon. I thought of shaving it off but in the end realized the error of this idea. So I wash it and put it in curlers, and then in two seconds it has all fallen straight and over my face. Thank goodness I can wear a winter hat to cover it all - I have even starting putting a barrette in the top to keep it off the face and you can imagine how glamourous that looks. So how are things with you folks? I was happy to hear of your winnings Patty and how you spent your earnings - on a new phone system. I hate to set up those things. I had to get a new cell phone for Harry on Tuesday when I went to North Bay - what an experience - and not a pleasant one either to enter the sanctuary of Bell Mobility. He kept talking about me getting "a hardware upgrade" and I kept saying no I wanted the same plan - turns out hardware upgrade means "a new phone". But I did come home with a new phone free and the same plan with a 36 months contract. Then I had to read the instructions to set up the voice mail only to find out it had not been installed - a phone call to the store again got that figured out and I was able to set it up. It works now and that is all that matters (I guess?) So I must go and check the heaters, and then jump into bed to get ready for another day tomorrow. Take care

Egg salad Sandwiches

Yesterday my Ravenesque group was to go out to Steinbach for the day.  However, the weather closed in, snow came, the wind blew and many highways were closed.  We had arranged to meet at Lagimodiere and Fermor, and with no way of contacting each other, David and I had to drive down Lagimodiere to meet and decide whether or not to take a chance.  Well, first of all we had to shovel out the car, as David discovered that the snow blower wouldn't start.  Then we barely made it down to Fermor, Lagimodiere was covered with blowing snow and barely passable.  Cars were stuck and we frequently bottomed out, but made it.   Met with Rose Anne, who was to drive me and we agreed that it was crazy to even think about hitting the highway.  She agreed to come and spend the day with me, but when we turned around to look at heading North on Lagimodiere, we realized that it was blocked, and traffic was quickly backing up all the way south.  We came home through the city.

When I spoke to Dianne in Steinbach, to let her know we wouldn't be coming, we mentioned the many egg salad sandwiches that Rose Anne had made to feed us all lunch, and I added that I had made a brownie for dessert.  Dianne told me that she had heard that you can actually freeze a brownie.  Who knew!!?  So yesterday David helped Rose Anne and I eat some of the sandwiches, and some of the Devilled eggs she had also brought, but she took quite a bit home with her, and left sandwiches for our lunch today.  Yes, we had them for lunch again today.  I think I've had enough for while, especially since I'm not supposed to eat eggs at all.

After Rose Anne left, David and I went to Club Regent for supper.  We enjoyed our evening and came home with a little extra money in our pockets.  Over breakfast we discussed what we would do with the money, and, other than paying a couple of bills, were undecided.  Still needing to run a few errands, we headed for the phone store to turn in the broken handset that we have had, and paid for, for over 15 years.  Yep, David saw a cordless set that he liked and we now have a completely new set up of phones.  The set included a built in answering machine, so, by turning in the handset, and cancelling our answering service, we figure we will have paid for the 4 wireless phones within a year.  Now all I need to do is find a teenager who can program the system up for me.

Pizza instead of Perogies

I had to shop on my way home form hospital for a few things so also bought a frozen pizza for my supper last night. So as you can see I have been eating very healthy over past few days haha. It would appear that Harry will be discharged this morning (Sunday) so I brought home most of his stuff including the plant his sister brought for him, and will only have a few little things this morning. Now, I'll get the house straightened a bit before I go, and of course my chores outside with the greenhouses. For two nights now with minus twenty something temps, I have had to light up the propane heaters - great fun. I got the roof done when I came home yesterday but not the shoveling so that I will do later. And so things will get back to some normalcy I guess? I am about to check my lottery ticket so with a coffee in hand and the numbers pulled from the computer, off I go.....Take care