May 2019 - Books and Bookish Things

I started blogging 15 (gasp!) years ago, back when the internet was just a baby. And Dooce was The Queen back then. She started a few years before me (before most of us, actually) and ruled The Mommy Blogger genre because of her raw transparency, her writing skills, her ability to tell a story (tell HER story) with humor and heart. And her story has been wild. 

This is her second book, and it's about her ongoing struggle with crippling depression. It was so out-of-control that she was at the end, the absolute end of what she could handle. So she, her doctor, her mom and her psychiatrist, agreed that she was a good candidate for an experimental procedure where she would be clinically reduced to a state of being 'brain dead' (flat lined) ten times over the course of three weeks. (Like restarting your computer a few times to reboot all the factory settings.)

She outlines in detail, how desperate she was for help, how she felt during and after each procedure, and what life is like 18 months later. Fascinating. 

This was our book selection for May: Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine.

I loved this book!

Reese describes it as 'incredibly funny', which it most definitely is NOT. It's got a few quirky light-hearted moments, but I cried more than I laughed. Cried because I identified with Eleanor on a few levels and ached for us both in certain parts. And the ending was perfectly satisfying. I love that in a book, a movie and a life. 

As per usual, we had a great discussion about it at book club. 

Can I say something? If you love reading, you should join/start a book club. I think we're in our tenth year, and it's just been getting better and better. So much stretching and growing and learning and enjoying. Members come and go over the years which keeps it interesting and grounded. And best of all, our original rules have relaxed and become suggestions. :)

Sheri read this at during our most recent read-a-thon weekend and loved it. (This will be a book that she reads out loud to her kids this fall. I will save this book so I can read it out loud to my not-yet-even-conceived grandchildren.) 

It's a children's novel and it's lovely. 

And I'm glad I read it. Sometimes a fairy tale is exactly the right thing to get lost in.

If murder mysteries are your fav genre, I'd recommend this book. Which is a story within a story. So, two books for the price of one, in essence. I read it in one day, (it was a sunny day at the lake over the long weekend in May). Sometimes I think that's the best way to read books. By binge-ing. 

Every summer I attend a couple free public lectures Under The Green Roof at Regent College.
This year I'm going to hear NT Wright in July, and in May, Kim and I attended this:

YES. It was! (A totally inspiring evening.)

YES. Absolutely I'm going to read all Louise Penny's books this summer. 

YES. I read the first one in one day.

YES. I can hardly wait to read the next one. 

YES. I would love to visit Three Pines and have a meal or six in The Bistro. 

And yes, last summer I attended a Louise Penny book reading and heard her speak. I admire her greatly. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Three things I'm thankful for:

1. Writers
2. Publishers
3. Time to read

Shalom,
xo

March 2019 - Week 14

It was Jule's birthday on Monday.
(Julie is my sister. Somewhere along the way she went from being Julie (which I personally feel is the most beautiful, most feminine name ever invented) to Jule. (Which is nice too, but about as interesting as "Jane".)
I didn't do anything.
For her birthday.
I suck.

But I will say this; as far as sisters go?
She is the best.
I have not met a more selfless, faithful, committed person.
Nor a more hardworking one.
And she's a mean cook and an outstanding baker. Turkey dinners, steak BBQ's, grilled chicken, AND ALL THE FIXIN's ALWAYS. Everything that comes out of her kitchen tastes delicious.

Their house sold this week, so Christmas 2018 was our last one in their love-filled home. So many memories there. Thanks Jule (and Daryl) for hosting All The Family Events for the past decade. Love you x 1000

Mondays in general, are challenging. THIS Monday was even more so.
I realized I'd left my curling iron and make-up bag at the lake.
So I scooped the last drops of foundation from an old container with a q tip and smeared it on the most important regions of my vast face. Then I found a black felt pen that I used for eyeliner and mascara. My hair was just. You know. Just. Hair.

My first email of the day was, "Jane? Uh, there's been a mistake ..."
And my first activity of the day was to attend my first ever Management Team Meeting in the Boardroom for 1.5 hours with 18 other managers. (Yes, you remembered correctly. I am an introvert. In fact, if you'll recall, I am SO introverted,  I hug the Introvert Line on the Extrovert/Introvert grid. SO YES. This activity was a stretch. I was so ready for a nap, in a dark, empty room when we were done.)

And then, seeing we don't have an HR department, my activity of the afternoon was to prepare for a couple meetings I'd be in charge of on Wednesday; interviewing applicants for our Sr. Designer position. In the past I've simply attended these interviews/meetings with someone from HR hosting the 1.5 hour conversation. This time, I was to do it. Why is it that I don't accept new challenges with enthusiasm? Haha. It felt like I was preparing for an exam. Reminded me of being at BCIT, getting ready for a presentation. Regardless how I felt about the course, I was still determined to get an A.

I never did get around to doing any of my real (project management, list-making) work, but DID resolve the crisis of the morning satisfactorily. Everything is still on time and on budget, despite 6,000 letters being printed incorrectly. (THAT error took place last Tuesday afternoon when I was chasing the sun around my mom's back yard.)

ALL THAT TO SAY, by the time 5:30 rolled around, I was spent.
So I went to KFC and finished reading the final chapters of our Book Club book while eating greasy food dipped in gravy.

(I am consistent in my bad food choices.) 

A quirky, fun, mystery novel that I enjoyed.
Light reading with a storyline that combined typography, writing, Google and book selling - all good topics.
At 7 I met my book loving friends and chatted about Mr. Penumbra's 24 hour bookstore for a few hours. THE BEST WAY TO END A MONDAY.

My mom had an eye doctor appointment on Tuesday morning, so I took 2 sick hours (Sick hours can be used by younger employees to stay home and look after sick kids. And us older employees can use our sick hours to take our parents to their medical appointments) and drove her to her doc. After I dropped her off, I went over to McDonalds to pick up a muffin and spin some Pokestops. I multitask like a boss.

Some days I, too, can't believe how mature I am.

After work I drove out to the lake. (Because a person really can't put too many miles on her vehicle.) I made a vegetable laden meal (because I was craving broccoli something fierce) which I ate while watching Netflix with Jenn who was still working on the final edits of her book. A lovely relaxing evening which, I warned her, HAD TO END AT MIDNIGHT (not 4 am as per our usual habit).

Wednesday morning I was up at 7:30 and out the door at 8 and at work at (roughly) 9.
I will never live an hour away from my job.
That morning commute is so tiring. I yawned the whole drive in.

Then I hosted the two interviews. And the debrief afterwards. Sadly, neither candidate was a good fit, so we're back to the drawing board. IF YOU KNOW A GRAPHIC DESIGNER with print and web experience, please send them my way. Job description is here. 

After work? I did laundry. Like a normal person, who does chores and doesn't spend every single night out. However, like an abnormal person, I tried to access a British show. (I'd figured out how to watch the first episode last week, and ALL DAY LONG I was looking forward to watching the second episode.) No matter how many ways I tried, I just couldn't get it to work. At about 11 pm, I discovered an app that'd allow me to watch it on my phone. My phone which is 4 years old. Has never been updated. And hasn't got a drop of storage left. Did that deter me? No it did not.

When I ran into trouble, (as expected, given that I was dealing with an antique brain and antiquated equipment) I contacted Apple's chat line and was connected to Ernest, The World's Most Patient Tech Support Person EVER in the History of Chat Support Persons.

He was friendly, kind, not condescending, not once did he call me stupid, and not once did he indicate I was unfit for this century. His mother has done a wonderful job raising him.

(I felt I needed to let him know I was old and non-techy, as he'd likely be frustrated with me.)
(I'd had an unfortunate conversation over the weekend with someone I'd given birth to. I was told "you don't even know how to learn", which, to be honest, stung. I do so know how to learn. I just happened to want him to simply tell me what to do about a cursor getting stuck in the second screen.)
ANYWAY -
Ernest was lovely. So I tweeted this, then sent him a screen cap of it.

He was delighted.

We chatted for an hour, and by midnight, I was watching my show. On the world's smallest screen.
(Sadly, today? It's not working again. Now I can't access it on my laptop OR my phone. Someone in the UK, or maybe God (?) does not want me watching.)

I've started an email conversation with the app people. Simon is trying to help me at the rate of one email per day at a time. (I miss real-time chatty Ernest) Seriously. I should just move to England next Wednesday.

Also on this day?
My Max recognized his 8 Years Clean Date. His Facebook status:

"Today marks my 8th year of being clean and sober. This last year has seemed to be defined by a lot of drastic changes happening every few months, but the people that I met early on in the whole recovery journey remain a solid foundation of support that I can turn to when things get bad or to celebrate with when things are good. I don't have any deep insights or advice to leave here, and hope I don't come across as some sort of braggart, but I am very grateful for the ability to live my own life, something that seemed impossible so long ago."

I am so very proud of him.
Those seven words are inadequate. They don't capture my heart.

When you hold your soft and smiley baby boy with his big brown eyes and dimpled chubby thighs, you can't imagine that he'll be a teen with a drug dependency.

When you drop that super cute, loving, gentle, excited little boy off at kindergarten for the first time, you can't conceive that someday he might smell like weed and spend his weekends drunk.

When he graduates from middle school so damn happy to be surrounded by all his best friends, it doesn't cross your mind that in just a few years, his high school graduation will be in jeopardy because he can't keep his shit together.

When you celebrate his baptism at age 16, you have no idea that within a year, his life will become unmanageable, and the boy you knew, raised and loved has disappeared.

Hell on earth is watching someone you love be replaced by a stranger who lives for his next hit.

I know this is Max's story, his journey, his life. His telling of those years would be different than mine.
But no man is an island, so those of us who love him ended up tagging along on his ride.

His decision to get help ranks up there as one of the happiest days of my life.
Which is not even a little bit of an exaggeration.

The night after I dropped him off at The Door, was the first time I'd slept peacefully in years. It was such a relief to know he was in a safe place with people who understood and were committed to helping him get clean.

I am so proud of him for sticking with the recovery plan they established for him. It was hard work every single day. I am so thankful God had provided him with a set of quality friends who walked alongside him.

I am so grateful for the man he has become. He is principled. Hardworking. Wise. Witty. Focused. Kind. Still cute. And clean.

If someone you love is struggling with addictions, I'm so sorry. It's hard, isn't it?
Don't be afraid, embarrassed or ashamed to share your fears with some close friends. Let them love, support, and pray for you. It's hard, and you don't have to walk this path alone.

I hope Max's story encourages you. And gives you hope. Some of the chapters in our stories are filled with angst and fear and pain. But later chapters are filled with peace and sparks of joy. Hang in there. Don't stop praying. God loves your kids even more desperately than you do. He's on it.


~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thursday morning I bought a million donuts and asked Google Maps to direct me to one of my suppliers. (My way of saying Thank You for their help on Monday.) I drove on roads I'd never driven on before. Which is kinda exciting, no? I've lived in the lower mainland all my life, and there are places I've never been. (!) It was like going on an adventure. (!) A Spring Break adventure, (!) through the cedar mill district under the bridges. It smelt like sawdust and looked like a movie set.

Then after work, Heather and I drove west into the sunset.

She'd just arrived home from her Hawaiian Spring Break adventure, which had less sawdust and more beach than mine.

We needed to catch up and catch Pokemon.

Errrhm, yeah. I haven't been to the gym again this week. HOW DO PEOPLE DO IT? EVERY DAY?  Arrrgh. I suck at gymming.

I'm gonna have to come back to do this walk again during the day. These flowers are probs pretty spectacular when the moon is sleeping.

On Friday I hosted a GLS lunch with my team where we watched Juliet Funt talk about communication in the office and how to work smarter. She, as per usual, was funny, articulate, professional and entertaining. I love those Global Leadership Summit presentations. I always learn something. SO glad I get to share them with the Creative team.

And after work, I headed east. Friday was the 88th Day of the Year - also known as National Piano Day, and I was going to celebrate this day with Val, the Musical One. 

When I got there, she had noodles waiting for me. She listened to me debrief my week, then she soothed my savage soul by playing the piano for me. 

My view from the comfy chair in her music room. 

I've never done this before, just sit and listen to her play. 

It was so very perfect. 

I thought I'd leave Val's by 9, but I missed that target by a couple hours. I arrived at the lake after 11. It was super quiet and a tad cold. Haha. I HAVE AN APP that allows me to turn on the thermostat before I arrive and I almost always forget.

Saturday was all bright and sunny so I put on some pajama shorts and a 25 year old tank top and found a slice of sunshine in the back corner of the yard.

It was perfect.
Almost.
The was a teensy issue.
The baby flies.
Who dive bombed my head like it was a game of Red Rover, Red Rover.
For one hour I swatted the air around my head like a crazed woman.

Finally I got myself another chair and set it up in my neighhour's yard and left the first one for the bugs that were bugging me.

No one followed me.
They tanned on their chair, and I on mine.

I spend the afternoon reading and underlining large sections of two books:

Interestingly, (non-faith-based) best hospitable business practices look alot like (faith-based) good marriage practices. I'm halfway through both and highly recommend them. (If you or someone you love is in a difficult marriage, please consider this book as a great resource.)

On my way to back Abby on Saturday evening, I stopped at the 'I love Endives' field where daffs were in full bloom.

O God.

Thank you.

Thank You for seasons, especially all the ones that come after winter. Thank you for blue skies, even though, artistically speaking, the grey ones are more dramatic. You chose a lovely shade of blue to paint the sky with; so bright and happy. Thank you for warmer air and longer days and rays of sunshine that make you squint and give you eye wrinkles.

Thank You for deciding that families were the best way to grow people. Thank You for my family. Thank you that they're all back in Canada. Thank you for Spring Break vacations, for safe flights, for homes to return to. 

Thank you for Max's internship opportunity. For Clint's new office space. For Drew and Dani's warm home, filled with kittens and love. I pray your hand of protection on them all. May they find favor with those they work with and for. Please open and close doors of opportunity according to Your will. Please fill their lives with good friends; people who journey alongside, people who love and challenge them. People who learn and grow with them. And I pray You would bring into all of their lives role models and mentors who inspire and care for them.

God I pray they would know You better, lean on you harder, pray to You more often, and trust You more fully. I pray Your will be done in their lives; right this minute and every minute that comes after. 

Thank You for inventing marriages. Thank you for the solid, loving, happy marriages around me. Thank You that there is help for those who have difficult and damaged marriages.

God, I pray for those couples who are hurting, hope-less, and hardened. Please direct their paths to counselors, resources, therapists, friends, books, anything that can help. Please repair, rekindle, rebuild those marriages that are deeply in trouble. God, give us wisdom and patience.

Thank You, God, for AA, NA, The Door, and other agencies that help those with addictions. God I pray for those who are struggling with drug and alcohol dependencies (and their families) ... PLEASE bring them to rock bottom, then meet them there. Provide them with options. Enable them to accept help, stir in them the desire to get well. Hold them close. Give their mom's peace-filled nights with good sleeps.

God. Thank you for babies. Such a good idea. Thank you for their cuteness. Their softness. Their sweetness. I pray for those babies who aren't born yet. Give their mom's peace and a sense of awe about their pregnancies. Surround expectant moms with supportive, happy, partners, friends and family who are delighted with the exciting news. I pray for healthy pregnancies, and easy deliveries.

And God? I pray for all the families that have welcomed newborns into their lives this year. So. Many. Babies. !!! I pray for smooth transitions, gentle night feedings, supportive spouses, helpful grandparents, excited siblings, and a feeling of confidence for those moms. Fill them with peace, wisdom, and purpose about their role as mom.

Thank you God, for writers who write, singers who sing, actors who act, builders who build, farmers who grow things, stylists who do hair, bus drivers who drive, teachers who teach, editors who edit ... thank you God for All the Jobs.

For those who're looking for meaningful, life-giving work, I pray that You would direct their paths to job situations that You've hand-picked for them. Let it be purposeful work, with people they enjoy and a boss they respect. May they work for a leader who invests in them, cares for them, and is committed to their growth and development.

Amen.

I met Maureen at Mill Lake at 7 pm. We walked and talked, as you do.
Then went out for something to eat.

Such a beautiful evening.

And on Sunday?
We celebrated Sue's birthday.

Happy birthday, Sue.

Three things I'm thankful for:

1. Daffodils, tulips and cherry blossoms. It's like they're shouting, "Spring is heeeeeere..."
2. Afternoons in the sun with a book or two.
3. Bubble baths.

• Proudest moment this week: Being able to tell my 'client' that despite a (big) mistake, there would be no delays or additional costs. 

• Most embarrassing moment of the week:

• Funniest moment of the week: I watched this on my lunch hour of a challenging day and then reapplied my mascara because it was dribbling off my chin. 

• Biggest achievement of the week: Haha - going to a party (wearing flips flops and having non-pedi'd feet, where there would be many people, all standing around talking, some of whom I won't know,) on Sunday night. 

• Best moment of the week: Friday evening, sitting in Val's music room, listening to her play a song that made her happy. 

• Best holiday memory of the week: Other than my 5 minute Spring Break cruise through the cedar mills under the Alex Fraser Bridge, there was no holiday this week. 

• Best advice I heard this week: 

• Most grateful for this week: Moments of perspective

• Favorite family memory of the week: Insert sad face. I didn't see my family again this week. 

• Biggest regret of this week: ANOTHER week that I didn't make it to the gym. I am going to have the worst doctor appointment ever. 

• Best thing I learned this week: How to be chatty with tech support. 

• Biggest change I made this week: 

• Best gift I received this week: You might recall that I bought this exact same mug for Val last month, and gave it to her on her mom's birthday, filled with a purple plant. Hahahaha, she bought this one for me. And filled it with my fav chocolates. :)

• New friend this week:

• Most inspiring person this week: Jenn. It's hard work being a writer. In awe of her stick-to-it-iveness in getting her books published. This is not an industry for whimps.

• Word to describe this week: Draining

• Unexpected obstacles I faced this week: All of Monday was an obstacle. From no make-up to a project going sideways. Grateful that by Tuesday the worst was behind me.
• Unexpected surprise this week: Seeing that field of daffs was a delightful surprise. 

• Best place I visited this week: Mill Lake was lovely. 

• New skill I learned this week: Nada

• Biggest obsession this week: I gained 24 new friends (Pokemon) and as part of the game, friends share gifts with each other. Having an inventory of gifts to give my new friends has been an obsession this week. This will mean nothing to you if you're over 12. 

• Best food I ate this week: Sushi for lunch. I love dynamite rolls. 

• Best TV I watched this week: I enjoyed watching King Arthur (on Netflix) with Jenn on Tuesday night. Her husband works in The Industry (on sets, as a sculptor/artist) so she often has a running commentary of background info that I find fascinating.

• Best viral video I watched this week:
• 
  
• Best movie I watched this week: No nights at the movies this week. Maybe next?

• Best song heard this week: Arabesque #1 (Val assumed this would be familiar to me, but alas. It was not. I was raised on country.) This is what Val played on Friday night.

• Most excited about this for NEXT YEAR:
• New skill I want to learn NEXT YEAR:
• Place I want to visit NEXT YEAR:
• Something to try NEXT YEAR:
• One thing to work harder on NEXT YEAR:

Checked out, tuned up.

The last time I blogged, the view from my office's rooftop patio looked like this. (Above)

The trees are now naked.
And the streets have permapuddles.

(I was JUST talking to Jenn, my writer friend, about my need to increase my vocabulary. I'm starting with permapuddle. It may be a made up word, but its not one I've used before, so I'm on the right track.)

Have you read 1984? (By George Orwell)
I did, (for the first time), last weekend, in anticipation of Monday night's Book Club meeting. What a difficult, dark story. I couldn't finish it. Those torture bits at the end were just too much. But controversial books that stir up strong feelings are catalysts to good invigorating discussions, and this one was no exception.

We were a small group (November is Travel To A Place with Palm Trees Month for those who have the freedom to do so), so our numbers were low, but those of us who were there were enthusiastic and committed. We talked for hours. And now, a week later, The Thing that I'm still wrestling with is our language and my use of it. English is rich and full and we have so many words at our disposal. There is no law against using all the words; we can pick and choose from about 170,000 of them.  In the book, the government was removing tens of thousands of words every year , and the resulting language was called NewSpeak. (Newspeak is a controlled language of restricted grammar and limited vocabulary, meant to limit the freedom of thought, personal identity, self-expression, and free will.)

This prompted a good talk thoughtful dialogue about words. And how, if you don't have a word for something, you don't know that thing. We think in terms of language. And if we don't have words, we don't have a point of reference. It was suggested that we need to be intentional about learning/using new words. The young mom amongst us does this daily by reading books to her kids that are beyond their current reading level. They talk about the words and ideas they don't understand.

When's the last time I did that? Intentionally learn new words and purposefully add them to my day-to-day conversations? A million years ago? As I was talking with Jenn, I remembered a Public Salon presentation from 2017. It had to do with this very topic and the speaker challenged us to keep track of identify the ten words we use most often, and thoughtfully replace them with new/rarely used words. I should do this.
Someday.

Wow that was a rabbit hole and a half.

It's gonna take a million hours to get this blog written if I need 5 paragraphs to explain every word choice (permapuddle) I make.

Carrying on.
It was surely beautiful at the beginning of this month, yes?

It feels like foreverago, but I had one of those Full-Meal-Deal doctors appointments at the start of this month. I was expecting bad-ish news because of the weight gain due to this stage of life and my inability to adjust. But to his surprise and my astonishment I'm 'a very healthy woman'. Hahaha. Everything is perfect based on what he touched and saw. So. Yay me. 💣 Boom. (And today I'll have those annual tests (blood and boobs) because that's what we do here in Canada. Last time I failed them both (grrrr) which resulted in bananas and a biopsy. Hoping for an "A".

Speaking of exams, earlier this month we had our Annual Employee Review Interviews. Oy.
In the past year, I got a new boss, built a new design team, and established relationships with some new-to-me account execs. My first five years at Focus were fairly predictable, which is easy on the nerves, amIright? And then last fall, that calm season ended abruptly causing me to face a few challenges head on. And now? It was time for my report card. How did I do?

We have a new HR person, and she supplied us with new (I've just used the word 'new' 5 times in the past 4 sentences) review form. As an employee, I was to fill it out myself, and my boss would chat with me about it.
1. What were my achievements this past year?
2. How can I maintain this level of performance?
3. What did I not do well?
4. What can I do to improve this performance?
5. What can my boss do to assist me?
6. How can the organization assist me?
7. What are my goals for the upcoming year?

I filled that form out like a bawse. In case you were wondering why I didn't blog during the first half of this month, it's because I was writing an 8 page document about my work wins over the past 12 months.

And then? The 4 employees who report to me needed to fill out their forms so we could talk.
I wanted to be contribute meaningful observations to those 4 meetings, so I prepared by coming up with my own list about their individual successes. In case you're wondering, I am a believer in Simon Sinek's leadership philosophies:

If you're a manager or a boss, what's your north star guiding principle? Who's your mentor? Which writers/presenters/leaders have been influential in your life? Do you have a philosophy? How do you know what to do? Instinct?

I'm lucky blessed very fortunate in that I have a great (means large, expansive) fantastic (means bizarre, eccentric, fanciful, imaginary, whimsical?) BRILLIANT team; talented, self-disciplined, trust-worthy, hard-working. Makes my job super easy. (Seriously, it's gonna take me a year to get this blog post done.)



My Max had a birthday this month.

Above photo is not current. 

We met at the lake to celebrate. 

Celebrate? 

How do families recognize birthdays? We have a meal together. I transfer money into birthday child's account. We may or may not have cake. We definitely do not sing. 

I feel I need to put more effort in. 

Birthday boy, cooking some of the steaks (above).

His older brother, cooking the other ones (below).

Youngest bro chopping chives and garlic.

... and the girls, cuddled under the heat register. (Dani, Misty and Toto.)

Instead of a cake, the requested desert was chocolate chip cookies. 

Which I haven't made in 5 years. 

So the recipe was no longer in the forefront of my memory bank.

I texted Jule, who was out of town, but had it saved in her phone. 

And this was my first batch:

Where I had accidentally doubled the butter.

Threw it all out, and hours later, finally, the second batch was ready to be consumed:

According to Max, I redeemed myself. 

They were good. Very good. Awesome. Perfect. Almost as good as Grandma O's. 

We ate them all.

A typical evening with the Okids:

I guess our biggest birthday present to Max was the gift of him being allowed to be the first one to leave on Monday. Haha. The other two stuck around to unplug the cabin. Drew used a snake and Draino to clear the completely stopped up sink. (Ewwwwww.) And Clint climbed up onto the roof to clear out the completely stopped up downspouts. 

Trying to capture the wall of water that spilled over the roof once things were moving again...

And then, channeling his grandfather, he built a fire. To burn the garbage. 

There's a certain amount of peace to be had, knowing that the drains are flowing, right?

So very thankful for my boys. 

In keeping with the theme of this month (Looking After Things) next up was my truck.

It too, was poked and prodded in all it's private parts, checking to make sure all the drains were flowing. (Last tune-up there was some talk of transmission troubles. But alas, it, like me, is very healthy, despite it's advanced age.) HOWEVER, it did need a new set of tires. 

So I made another appointment and sat in the showroom with my laptop and worked while I waited. (Same thing as the day before at the dealership.) If you see me out and about in Langley during working hours, I will likely have my laptop with me, fully connected to the office, running things from a customer service lounge or doctor's waiting room. 

I feel like this month has been all about appointments.

Of course my semi-annual dental check-up was this month as well.

No cavities. But two more teeth are on their last legs. So to speak. (That's not a pretty image; teeth with legs.) UGH.

I spent a hundred hours this Spring getting three new top teeth. SO not looking forward to going through that process again. (Another 'aside': was at a gum specialist this afternoon. She asked me to fill out a double-sided form. Which I did, the whole while thinking, "Someone needs to redesign this document. The font is blurry. The formatting is atrocious. The spacing is all wrong." I imagined, as I wrote in my answers, how any one of my designers could improve this sheet. Despite my critique of the form, I was very thorough in my answers. (I'll never get this blog post finished. I'm spending this month filling out forms. )

Half an hour later, when I'm in The Chair, the dentist's assistant sits down beside me and said she'd like to go over my answers with me. Her first question was how do I pronounce my last name. And then she started reading all my answers. She flipped it over and kept reading. Then she turned it back to the front and looked at the info at the top. 

"Where do you work?" 

"Focus." 

"Do you fill out forms alot as part of your job? Because you did this very well. I don't often get patients who do this as well as you."

 💣💥 BOOM. 

"Thank you for noticing. I really do try."

Hahahaha. 

It's the little things, innit?

Then the dentist/specialist used a sharp pokey thing while examining me, talking to his assistant while he measured.

"She has tight cheeks" he observed. 

"Yes, I noticed that too, when I was x-raying her."

(What? Tight cheeks? That sounds like a compliment that I'll accept.)

"Hmmm," he noted as he tied to stretch my mouth to open wider, "she has very firm lips."

"I know," she agreed.

(Firm lips? OK, I'll take that too.)

"Can you pass me the blah-blah-thingy. Her tongue is very strong, eh. I'll need to move it aside."

"Uh huh. Very strong. And big."

(HELLO? I'm right here. RIGHT HERE. And I can hear you. Big, strong tongue? What the heck. Suddenly I'm feeling less like The Princess of Filling Out Dental Forms.)

He looked at me and said, "There is so very little room in your mouth, and yet you've got 10 capped teeth. Do you know what a challenge that would've been for your dentist. Commendable. He's done a great job. Your mouth looks great."

Anyway, when he was done, he looked at me and said, "You have a healthy set gums. You and your dentist have been taking very good care of them. There's nothing I need to do."

If you're keeping score, I'm totally winning with form filling and doctor/dentist appointments this month. 

ANYWAYS, in addition to Max's party (wow, that's a stretch, to call what we did a party...) there were two other celebrations this month; a significant birthday:

... and a My Favorite Things Party. 

Five years ago (WHOA time flies!) I hosted a My Favorite Things Party and invited Dani. She was still a teen, and one of the youngest partiers, but it left an impression. She has now hosted two MFT parties herself. Aacccckk. SO proud of her. She's a thoughtful, creative, organized, welcoming host. 

...

On my list of 101 Things to Do in 1001 Days, is "attend an Anne Lamott event".
WHICH I DID!
IN NOVEMBER.

Fifteen hundred of us were lucky enough to get tickets to this sold out event. (THANK YOU Maureen for getting them for us.) Thank you Village Books (favorite-ist book store, ever) for hosting the event. We met at the Mt Baker Theatre in Bellingham for two hours of listening to Anne talk about life. And writing. And fears. And hope. She has a way with words, a unique faith that doesn't sync up with my more traditional one, (which keeps me on my toes) and a sense of humor that is delightful. I was enchanted all evening.

I first heard of her through Nelson, (a friend/CBC instructor), who recommended (in 2001) I read her book, Travelling Mercies. I've been a fan ever since.

Afterwards, I treated Maureen to supper. It was her birthday, so I took her to a McDonald's off the I-5 in Bellingham. (Seriously. You don't want me planning your birthday celebration.)

As per usual, the conversation in my truck is always the best part of an evening. I love a good talk.

~~~~

On the opposite end of the spectrum, I joined Val and Karm at Greendale Church's Pajama and Pancake Ladies Event. Best part of the evening? Listening to Val play the piano. When was the last time that happened? Decades ago. New bucket list item: Sit on Val's Music Room floor and just listen to her play songs that bring her joy.

And thus ends the 11th month of the year.
As far as November's go, this one wasn't half bad.

Everything (house, vehicle, body and teeth) have been checked out, tuned up, and prepared for another season.


Three things I'm thankful for:

1. FULL sunshine all next week. Roll on December!
2. Music. Musicians. (Saw Bohemian Rhapsody last night. And watched the documentary This Is It with Michael Jackson tonight. In awe of their talent. Saddened by their tragic, early deaths. Decided again, that I need to pray for entertainers/actors/singers/performers. )
3. That moment (last Wednesday evening at 10:15 pm) when I felt loved by my kids.