The More Things Change...

This weekend a very good friend of mine came over for a 2 night stay. She brought her lovely children and they played so well with my girls! We had a great time. One thing she did was watch the kids while Sailor, Neighbour, Neighbour's Wife and I moved the big stuff out of the store and into a storage locker.

It took us 2 hours to take the majority of stuff out - all that's left are mannequins, a couple of chairs, dresses, stands, a computer and the printer. Well... a couple of boxes too... and the racking... and a giant counter.

ANYWAY, everything else is leaving by Tuesday (except for the counter) and tomorrow I'll be busy bagging the dresses and hopefully selling a few, before taking them all to the storage locker and storing them in preparation for the mobile service I've come up with. With luck there'll be room for the manni's too... and the chairs, stands, boxes and racking. The computer and printer are coming home with me.

Speaking of which, the desk and printer cart came home - broken. So now the desk is really only good for firewood and the printer cart needs the rollers taken off so it's not cart, but more of a table. With luck I can sell it, but so far no bites on either.

Ok, so Friend and Kids arrived and while we were out loading and unloading, she would text me - the kids are eating muffins, we're having a great time, stay out as long as you want, the upstairs toilet has overflowed, and we changed the living room around!

Awesome!

We got home and put stuff downstairs into what is supposed to be my craft room but is now turning into my crap room, and then I came upstairs into the living room... it looked amazing! The sofa table was where the sofa was, the sofa was cross-ways, the giant entertainment centre was empty and items were put on the bookshelves, which were moved to the other end of the room and the tv (#1) was in the corner... It looked great but we decided it could look so much better! So Sailor, Friend and I took apart the Monstrosity (giant entertainment centre) and though we thought we found the base and sticky-uppy-thing for the flat screen tv (#2), we realized we didn't have the right sticky-uppy-thing, so we bought the stand-with-a-stick from another friend and put that in the corner... which we liked until we realized the cable wasn't turned on in that corner (the outlet part), so the tv is now back where it started, only on a smaller, more modern stand with a new tv on it. I just need another HDMI cable to hook up the Apple TV and we can toss cable TV!

Now, my office area has always been in the living room and moving it is a gargantuan job. But Friend convinced me the girls don't need a playroom - they need a play area with the majority of their toys in their rooms and if they don't fit, then they leave! The toys, not the girls.

This morning, we moved all the toys in the living room and told the girls to sort out what's garbage, what's being sold and what's being kept. Then we moved the office into the playroom - that L-shaped desk was a to move but we did it! WOMAN POWER!!

The far end of the living room has a loveseat against the wall facing an older tv (#3) which only takes cable. I hooked up all the cables to the receiver, speakers, DVD and VCR but the remote for the tv (#3) isn't working and the other things are hooking up, so Sailor needs to bring back the other tv (#1) and I can re-hook that up. He wants to use a tv (#3) for his PS2 (yes, we're old and out of touch. Whatever.), so hopefully this old one will work for him. It's super heavy and he's not going to be impressed that he gets to move them all again, but seriously, the whining from these two is going to drive me mental.

Then two tall bookshelves became one tall one with books and games on it and one short one with dvds and vhs on it. The other tall one went downstairs across from the freezer and is holding canning stuff. The coffee table is in the far corner with a tv (#3) on it and the speakers with the receiver, DVD and VCR under it. The girls' paint/chalk board easel has a large toy under it with a small square table in the corner holding current larger play toys. Their huge toy bins are going to be sorted out (they're in R's room right now) and all toys are to be purged to fit ONLY in their three cloth bins in their rooms. Anything else is being sold, donated or tossed. Honestly, they don't need that many Barbies, especially since G is into Monster High now.

We decided to put the sofa back against the wall and the sofa table back under the window with the Christmas cards, the keyboard piano in the corner and when the Christmas tree is taken down and gone, a couple guitars will round it out nicely. Sailor's recliner is in front of the fireplace and can be moved around along with the wooden rocking chair in the opposite corner.

The whole living room is opened up now. Very linear, but looks much more spacious and the walls will be much easier to paint now that we can actually get to them! We just need to agree on a neutral colour and get some paint on sale (and the accoutrements!).

So, though the living room is REALLY different, some things are the same - the couch is across from the tv, the area rug is in between, the horse cabinet is still in the corner and the sofa table is against the window.

Now Friend is working on me removing more stuff! She sure has her work cut out for her... but in all honesty, I'm looking at the stuff in my craft room and thinking, "I could get rid of this and this and this..." so it might be possible after all!

I'm Getting Older and This Is How I Know

When my Mum had me she was 30. Back in the mid-60's that was pretty much the upper limit of women's reproductive age and by the time I realized she was THIRTY YEARS OLDER than I was I thought she was OOOOLLLDDD.

Mum moved away when I was 17, just a few months shy of turning 18, and for some reason, even though I know she's in her late 70's now, I still see her in my mind's eye at about 48. I told her she'll always look 48 to me, and she probably always will. She sends me photos of her Sweet Adelines' singing group, and there's a few more wrinkles, but she essentially looks the same to me.

Now I have two kids of my own, my last born a week before I turned 40. I didn't FEEL 40. I felt more like 28 or something, 30 tops. Now I'm in my last two years of being in my 40's and I'm not liking what I see in the mirror. Well, ok, I like it a bit, but I'm starting to really understand how women can go to a plastic surgeon and say, "Fix this!"

Today is annual Christmas photo day. The girls are dressed up in their beautiful Christmas dresses and I'm busy putting on the war paint. Usually I go with the matte shadows because it hides the creases in my eyes so well, but today I throw caution to the wind and decide to use the cream makeup that I have. The blush is a great colour and goes on smoothly. Then the eyes... I have amazing eyes. They're built to be a perfect palette for eyeshadows with lots of space on the lid, the crease and under the brow.

But wait... once the eyeliner goes on, there's nothing left to be seen. In fact, it looks a little... droopy! I know I've gained weight (and I'm dropping it thanks to aquafit and healthier eating), but on my EYELIDS?! I have fat eyelids?! Why isn't there any colour showing on my eyelid? Why is the crease all puffy? Where did my canvas go?

And hey... are those... jowls? Seriously? JOWLS along my jawline? Where the hell did they come from?

And under my chin, why is there another chin? I tighten my throat to get rid of that and notice the horizontal lines going across my neck are a little deeper today than last week. And then my gaze travels to my 'decollete' and it looks a little... lizard-y. And lower to find my boobs. I swear I didn't have to look as low a little while ago.

Down my gaze travels over a body I have known intimately all my life but now looks completely foreign to me, with new hills and valleys, new contour lines and dimples that I've never met. At least my knees... nope, they're gone too!

I know kids have done some work on me, and those are my battle scars I wear with honour. I know some of it is the love-hate relationship I have with ice cream and late-night snacking versus lack of desire to exercise. I know some things are just natural aging processes. Not really liking this 'older' stuff.

But my eyes? I pull my skin a little, just to erase the jowls and puffy eyes. Ahhh... plastic surgery... now I get it. When your inside is contradicting your outside, you need to align them again.

I can't afford it that's for sure. So I will keep on eating healthy, being mindful of what I'm actually noshing on, and exercising as often as I can (I guess that elliptical I've used twice this year will start getting more use), and maybe, just maybe my eyes will come back, the jowls will disappear, and I'll find my knee caps once more.

At least Mum still looks 48. That gives me hope that I can hang on too.

Well, HELLO there!

Yes, it's been a LONG time since I've blogged here. A lot has been happening and now that things aren't happening quite as much, I've decided to start writing again.

Essentially, the store is closing as of the 30th of this month. I'm moving to a mobile service instead. This will allow me to sell off stock in a personal setting and still be able to hold down a job.

Speaking of which, the military has asked me to come back again in the New Year for a 90 day contract. I said I'd do it, but I'd prefer to do only 4 days/week instead of 5. I'd prefer to get an STS position instead of a CR position. I'd PREFER to work in town instead of commuting an hour each way every friggin' day. But whatever. I'm applying for jobs left, right, and centre. So far, no interview phone calls yet, and that's kind of depressing. I mean, I'm spectacular with warehousing - why hasn't anyone called me? I'm a good receptionist - where's my interview? I think I'll need some help with my cover letters maybe. Bah.

The kids are good: R is in Grade 4 and has been diagnosed with three separate disorders: ADHD inattentive sub-type, Sensory Integration Disorder hyper-touch-hypo-sound, and Anxiety Disorder - Social. Poor lamb. Her teacher is awesome though, really helping her through. Her classmates are wonderful, but they should be worried about themselves, not about R. G is in Grade 2 and acting more like 17 than 7. We're in for a rough ride through her teen years I fear. She is loving and kind, but can't understand why people think she's bossy. Well darling, it's because you are.

Sailor is still in the Navy, although not sailing. He's teaching now. He seems happy enough but we're expecting a posting in the New Year to either a ship or another part of the School. I hope it's a ship - we're out of duty free booze and could use the sea pay.

So, that's caught me up now. I will go back to more in-depth fluff next time around.

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.