TIme flies when you're run off your feet

Well, it's been a year since I posted here. Usually I blog on the Paper Doll blog about the dress of the week or whathaveyou. I've been kinda busy over the past year. Here's a quick (for me) recap.

Opened the store in March of 2011 with one full-time female, one part-time male, and one part-time seamstress. The grand opening was great, the sales were good the first month, and then nosedived after that.

The private opening. Few dresses but many lovely people.

During the summer I was offered three times to come back to the Navy. As tempting as it was, I declined each time, and so my last day was the 24th of July. I had about 12 people out to the retirement party. Three from BSup. Nice, eh? I'm still a little sad about that. One though, was my great friend who came on her last day of leave, in uniform, to MC for me. She was awesome. The BLog Chief gave me certificates and the PMC gave me my print. The new JAG came for it (my dear friend just back from Belgium), and lots of my other trade friends. Sailor ended up with a bottle of Bitch wine. They forgot a few certificates and whatnot, but whatever... I got my flag (not in a box) that was flown on my old ship for me, and a bunch of framed certificates to add to my Love-Me Wall.

PMC & Me with my print and coins

Two days before my military ID was no good, Sailor and I went to see George Canyon play at the Speedway. Awesome show.

We took the girls to Church Camp again. First time for Sailor. He wasn't overly impressed with the whole thing, but the girls and I had a good time. The camp is undergoing huge renos (with luck) this summer, so there's no camp on Thetis this year, but there's a week's camp in town at the end of August I might pop the girls into.

So the store carried on. The full-time female went down a few hours (but stayed full-time), the part-time male left in the fall and went to a local menswear store and never came back. The part-time seamstress was a nightmare and we never gave her more work, and ended up with an amazing replacement. We obtained a part-time female consultant to replace the male.

I danced in a ballet recital (and the girls danced in theirs). A good friend's daughter got diagnosed with Leukemia and we did a fundraiser for them. Ray danced a solo at the dance fundraiser. I was so proud.

Ray also took horseback riding lessons. Went from not touching a horse to posting at a slow trot, steering through pylons, and picking hooves! Again, so proud.

Sang again at the annual party at our friend's place. Way fun. Needed to Google the lyrics for Circle Be Unbroken. That was awesome.

The girls singing Circle... with me Googling the lyrics.

We did some camping up in Parksville. Booked it before the money ran out. Island RV is great! They drop off the RV to the site, set it up, and then pick it up when it's all over. Best time ever. We went to Qualicum Cheeseworks, Tiger Lily Farm, Coombs Country Market, and the Sandcastle Competition. Had one of the two weeks of sun.

The view from our campsite.

Went back to work at the store and it was doing okay. Couldn't meet rent though - the cost was SO high!

The girls went back to school. Greta in Kitten-Garden (TM) and Ray in Grade 2. I got roped in to play a witch with the South Island Musical Theatre Society at the Forest Museum's Halloween Train.

Two School Trustees and me! We had a BLAST!

From there it was a short jump (to the left) to dance in their Sound of Music production.

Waiting for my 20 seconds of fame backstage with the boys.

And now I'm going to audition for Oklahoma. Guess I should see the show first, eh?

I sold the Morgan to a guy who admired Grandpa. Used the money for the store and to have a good Christmas and to catch up on bills.

In January I was asked to "don't let the door hit your ass on the way out" and we had to move the store. I found a smaller place just south, and it was a good choice. The owners are awesome and the rent is MUCH more manageable.

Also in January I was asked if I wanted to come back to work as a Civy at BLog for a casual employment opportunity. I jumped on it.

The girls take the bus to and from school (and I'm really missing them) and we have four babysitters for five days to watch them until Sailor can get home. I said I'd only work til three but they paid me til four, so I owe them a ton of money and hours. So I'm working til 4:30 every day (unless I have an appointment) to make up time and I'm still getting a day's pay or so docked off each pay.

The job's over the middle of June. If there's another opportunity, I'll only work 3 days/week. It's taking a toll on me working 6 days a week - never seeing the kids, trying to put out fires at the store via distance, and trying to keep things together. I can only do business when I'm at work, and getting off late means I don't often have time to get things done in a timely manner. And that costs me money.

So now as the spring is winding into summer, the girls have their rehearsals all week and then recitals on the weekend. I have mine on the 8th of June. Probably won't be able to dance next year, but if I get a part in OK, then I'm okay with that.

The school year is over the middle of June (just before my job ends), and the girls will spend their summer with me, split between the shop and going to attractions like Butterfly Gardens, the Royal BC Museum & Imax, Undersea Gardens, Saltspring Island, hanging with friends... etc etc.

So, we're broke, trying to make ends meet, and trying to keep things together. Wish me luck.

Busy start to a busy year

I'm definitely slowing down on blogging here. Mostly because I'm trying to keep another blog going for the store, as well as a Facebook fan page, and all the money-balls in the air too.

I open in 27 days. Freaking out. Just a little.

Well, last one, eh?

Yup, I failed. I lasted longer than I thought I would though. I DO have photos, just not the desire to post them I guess.

We're waiting to see if Sailor is posted off when he sees his career manager in a couple of weeks. We can only hope he's off before they are gone for all of March. It'll suck not having the sea pay, but it'll be good to have him around while I'm starting up the store.

I have my dental on the 14th of Jan and return my kit on the 24th. I have two appointments with SISIP on the 24th and 26th, and at some point in May I'll have my final medical done. My last out-clearance has to be done by the 8th of July and my last day is the 24th. Freaky.

I hope your 2011 is amazing and that you find joy and happiness, wealth and peace.

21 Jan 97 - 24 Jul 11

That's how long I'll have been in the Regular Force. I joined in October of 85 - but that was the Reserves. So, that's what... a 14 1/2 year career. Gone.

I have until the 8th of July to get my out-routine finished. I return my clothes on the 24th of January. I have two interviews with financial and insurance that week too. I still have to book my medical (sometime in May) and my dental cleaning (June probably). And then I'm done. Finished.

I get my whole month's pay on the 8th and then starting August, I'll be at 75% pay for 24 months. I'll receive a small pension on the 20th of each month, and whatever I manage to make from the business. I'm going to have to change a lot of bill payments.

Sailor will bring me on as his dependent for medical and dental, but I still need a BC Health Card and a local doctor and dentist. People I haven't needed for 14 years.

I have asked for the whole enchilada for my retirement party (whenever that may be): the 25 year letter from the PM (due to my Res Force service), the letter from the Premier, a Canada Flag from the Algonquin, a framed and named print from the Mess. I'm a little worried because the people in charge of my retirement are not those of my trade - they're busy, stewards, and not even my branch. I'll put a bug in my supervisor's ear about maybe passing it onto someone down the hill. I've already had a few people asking when they can say good bye to me, so I suppose a party will be in order.

Thing is, it has to be a Monday or Tuesday because I work the rest of the week.

I'm terrified. This is all I've known for a long, long time. But I know it's time to move on and use my many gifts to my family's benefit, not to the Organization's.

December at last!

I have photos. They're on the card. I'll upload a whack of them soon. Promise. First, I have two assignments to do, work to finish, business stuff to get through... oh,,, and Christmas!

We have no tree. No presents wrapped. No decorations up. No baking done. I'm so far behind this year, it's silly. I did buy phase 1 of gifts for the girls and Sailor, but still have to venture out again after the 15th to finish off the little things for the girls and get Sailor's trigger lock.

The Forest Museum yesterday was great! A lot has changed in 30 years, that's for sure. I think I'll try to find the time to bring the girls there when we're all off for a Christmas train run, and then bring them out in the summer a few times too.

Sailor is super sick. We've both been fighting this cold, but he got hit REALLY bad and is still functional. Tonight is his Christmas present - a concert by Dick and Jimmy Dale (of Misourlu fame), so he's saving the last two Advils for the show so he can enjoy it without hacking up a lung. We have two tickets that we bought for friends who can't make it, so we're trying to get rid of them, but it's not working so far. My cousin just facebooked me and might be able to make it, so that will be nice.

I managed to whiten Ray's school shirts after pinking them in the wash. Thank goodness for a soak in Javex.

Today we're busy. The girls had dance and then after lunch we're going to the Mess's Kid's Christmas party from 2-4 at Playzone. I have all the santa gifts in the trunk, and some guy off the Calgary is going to play Santa for us. Which is nice and all, but we're not the Calgary's mess... whatever.

Then tomorrow after church we have a birthday party to go to. THEN we can search for a tree and start decorating the house.

This week's flex:

Mon: school and work. My last dance lesson of 2010. (Ballet, that is)

Tue: school and work.

Wed: Breakfast with Santa at school and then I'll go to work. Pay day!

Thu: school and work. Chiro, meetings perhaps.

Fri: school is out at 11:30. That night is our friend's birthday party.

Sat: the girls' last dance class of 2010. Then we've been invited to a friend's open house that night, so we'll see what we can do.

Sun: church and then the girls are going over to a friend's to make gingerbread houses!

Somewhere in there I have to fit in decorating, assignments, business stuff, and baking. Oh, and cleaning the house too. Ha.

Ugh.... I suck

I've been taking photos. I just haven't been uploading them. I'm running out of time to do all the little things it seems. So much out of time, that I'm listening to an audio book while doing homework. My first audio book - Crossfire by Dick and Felix Francis. Typically great writing... that I'm not reading. I'm getting read to. The guy's pretty good too. Strange not reading a book though, flipping the pages, devouring the words, creating images in my mind.

I'm finishing my assignments for Retail Marketing. Well, more like I'm ALMOST finished the last paragraph of number 3. Then I have numbers 4 and 5 to hand in by Monday. Not gonna happen.

I'll post photos soon. Honest. Once I have some time to do so.

This week's flex:

I'm on Academic Leave, however:

Wed: Dr. appointment, then I meet my successor. Gotta get the girls from school. Ray has dance exam practice.

Thu: Chiro, Jr Ranks' Christmas Dinner. Gotta get the girls from school. Maybe. Sing and play for the Arbutus Ridge gang.

Fri: Choir practice, thank-you lunch at the school, bring the girls home.

Sat: Exam # 1 - business math. Guess I should try to sneak in some studying for that this week at some point. Maybe at dance practice and on Friday night.

Sun: church. More marketing assignment typing.

Mon: Ray's dance exam, then drop her off at school. Then my Exam # 2 - marketing. Ballet that night.

Tue: back to work for the week. Except I'm taking Friday off to go with Greta to the Forest Museum.

And our School Photos are in

Ray and her "hiding the missing tooth" smile.

Greta and her "I have no idea who you are and why you're trying to make me smile" smile.