And the decluttering continues at lightning speed!

Hello my friends! It's  good to see you again. This week has been a little rough so I am glad ecstatic that tomorrow is FRIDAY!! My group of EAs is warring against each other - well that's not completely accurate. There are 3 who feel superior to anyone and everyone and they are bullying the other 3. There has been an EA in tears every day this week, sometimes 2, like yesterday.

It's complete and utter bullshit. There are 3 nasty ones and 3 really and truly hard workers who volunteer, don't watch the clock, don't do a crossword puzzle when they take a student to an integrated class, are helpful, friendly, cheerful and positive. The other 3 take verbal potshots, play games, feed the kids junk food when I'm not around, do as little work as possible and poison the atmosphere. It's beyond belief. And what can I do? Nothing. It's up to the individual EA to speak to the principal or call their union. I can't intervene or who knows I'd end up with another grievance against me like last year. And I'm not going THERE again.

So I'm happy to be at home and talking to you! And keep repeating my mantra - 87days...86 days...

Anyhoo - the April challenge continues - decluttering my work space and bringing home the things I want to keep. Yesterday's selection encompasses 2 days since I haven't posted since Monday. I did bring home more yesterday and will post that tomorrow.

As you can see I am bringing home more than 3 things a day...but then who can wear just 3 shoes? These have been hanging around my office since the snow started up in November (what a craptastically long winter we have had!!) I'm looking forward to wearing shoes everyday from now on! (fingers crossed!) I haven't worn boots now for a few days...I'm such a risk taker!!

I brought home my last box of greeting cards plus many many pads of paper because I am in LOVE with paper, nice clean fresh unsullied paper for lists, ideas, drawings, songs I hear on the radio and want to hunt down on Youtube and a million and one other reasons. I can never have TOO much paper - in fact I get kind of anxious if I'm getting low! In addition, two, yes TWO books on "Hug Therapy" - I forget where I got these but they're filled with different examples of hugs and what they mean. I'll post a page or two sometime. Last but not least a vintage box of poker chips. Kind of an unusual thing to have at school no? There was an activity using poker chips I wanted to make at one time but never got around to it. Maybe I can start having poker parties in PEI? Who knows? I may not keep them but am undecided as of this minute so will let them hang around for a little while. I could probably get rid of them at my upcoming yard sale.

Well, that about wraps up this post. Oh, Kazi finally printed off her tuition slip so I'll be finishing our taxes on the weekend - YAY - I'm getting a refund but not sure exactly how much...somewhere in the vicinity of $1,000 give or take. Oh yes...I've finished DAY FOUR of another juice cleanse. I feel pretty determined to rid myself of what can no longer be referred to fondly as a "muffin top" but more accurately a hideous "spare tire"!! The more days I complete the stronger my resolve to rid myself of my stress-related eating.  I had a headache on Day 2 and a lessor one on Day 3 as my system gets used to NO CAFFEINE!! Today I feel great! No headache, no hunger pangs and I am allowing myself one little glass of wine nightly because I AIN'T PERFECT!! Three pounds down so far. If I am successful I might post a before and after picture - now THAT'S something to look forward to lol!

Ok, now it's really goodbye! Thanks for dropping by :)

Weekly Wrap - Jan. 12/2014

Here are this week's numbers:
1.  Km. cycled - 80km!! Yay me, that's a very good number as my goal is 60km a week. I'm going to try cycling 20 km each time now instead of 15km. The only thing standing (sitting?) in my way are my poor old creaky knees. I need to remember I'm not 20 anymore (or 30 or 40!) and sometimes my knees need a break.
2.  Days left til retirement: 168!! 

3.  No Spend Days in January - (I include days that I buy food and/or gas as they are necessities!) I am 8/12.  I spent: $7.00 to go to a movie, $9.00 to take our neighbour to Swiss Chalet, $11 for a bottle of wine to take to the "Stones in the Shed" night, and withdrew $20 cash yesterday to cover the cost of a newspaper & a coffee whilst visiting with my brother and sister-in-law at the Red Roaster. I did buy a coffee today as well but I used a Tim Hortons giftcard that a student gave me for Christmas. So I have spent a total of $47 on purchases outside of paying bills, buying groceries and gas. That seems pretty thrifty to me.

4.  Juicing: I juice once daily now and make enough for Kazi to have a glass too. I juice while making dinner and take it to school the next morning for breakfast. I'm feeling healthier and stronger by the day. At lunch I eat some sort of vegetable soup and for dinner I've been eating salmon, stir fry root veggies and salad. Today I'm making more soup and Aloo Gobi, an Indian dish made with potatoes, cauliflower (the vegetable of the year I'm hearing!) and peas. I lucked out and bought 3 packages of skinless, boneless chicken on sale at the Canadian Superstore today so will be eating some of that too this week.
5. Finding $1500.00 - I was reimbursed this week for some expenditures at school so I transferred $100 into my savings leaving me with a total now of $1300.00 left to find.

What a crazy week! As you know we had two days off at the beginning of the week. I was up at my usual time, 5am, ready and raring to go, then got sent home. Needing to do something with my energy and not able to go out due to snow and extremely cold temperatures I got busy, very busy, around the house.

What with all the renos going on around here the house has been a disaster zone for several months. On Monday I focused on the kitchen scraping the wallpaper backing from above the cupboards. I also cleaned out all of the cupboards and washed the cupboard doors. The pantry got cleaned out too. I washed all the floors and vacuumed and cleaned the bathrooms. I did about 10 loads of laundry and filled the truck with bags and bags for Talize (thrift shop) and took bags and bags of garbage to the dumpster. Whew!

New floor & clean cupboards

New subway tiles - I love them!

Removing the wallpaper backing

Wallpaper all gone! Ready for painting.

Then I had Tuesday as well! So I cleaned the laundry room and decluttered it - several more bags of garbage. I rearranged what was my bedroom and turned it back into the TV room. I am now sleeping upstairs in my former bedroom. I dusted, decluttered, organized the linen closet and my closet. I  carried furniture from upstairs to the basement and from the basement to upstairs. Again, more bags for Talize and more bags for the garbage. I cleaned out the storage area under the stairs and now there is lots of room in there for the storage bins I've been filling with the things I want to keep.

And I finally did something I've always wanted to do - at the bottom of the stairs to the basement there is some extra space. Michael used it as a little office but I always wanted to make it into a cozy reading area. So I did! I put an antique rocking chair, footstool, some bookshelves filled with my remaining book collection and a lamp!

Wow. I was so impressed with myself. The only area needing attention in the basement now is the furnace room/workroom. If I can psych myself up I'll start it today after lunch.

This is not to say the basement will be completed. I still have to fill nail/screw holes and paint everywhere! And I'm considering replacing the cheap laminate flooring with something impermeable to water, either ceramic or vinyl. BUT almost all of the house now is usable. AND I know where everything is once again. There's still lots to do but at least we can now live comfortably in the house.
Kazi went to an interview on Thursday for a "big girl" job. It was with a great company and the interview went well but it wasn't what she wanted. Darn. So she's still looking and going to Australia is on hold for now.

Well better go, it's almost lunch time! What have YOU accomplished this weekend?

SNOW DAY!!

I was just talking to Kazi yesterday about what a gift a snow day is to a teacher. Our lesson plans are prepared and we are all set to go. Then when the schools are closed, LIKE THEY ARE TODAY, we can save those lesson plans for the next day....hence...NO PREP! But just so you don't think we teachers sit around eating chocolates and watching the soaps on a snow day I do have plans to finish my marking and do some research for my next unit - The Winter Olympics!

Here's the funny part, sort of. I managed to be sitting at my desk in my classroom by 6am this morning as usual. Yes, there was a foot of snow on my truck so I just went out earlier with a broom to clean it off. Yes, not all the roads were plowed so I stuck to the main roads. Yes, the parking lot at school was filled with mountains of snow but I managed to park my truck. Yes, the buses were then cancelled but I didn't think they'd close the schools. BUT, lo and behold, at 7am the school boards announced the schools were closed! So, silly me, I gathered my belongings and headed for home.

Now I have a chance to write a post, read the paper, leisurely work at my marking, shovel out my parking spot so it's not a mess for tomorrow and get some cycling in. I've changed into workout clothes so I can get 15km in on my bike. Life is good.

Challenges:
No/Low Spend - I am 4/6 (4 No spend days out of the 6 days of January) Well, it is only 8:17am but I'm not going to any stores today. We'll eat what we have on hand so I feel confident I can call today a No Spend Day.

Cycling - 15km yesterday after taking Saturday off. Will cycle another 15km today for a total of 60km so far in January. I'll try to aim for 300km this month.

5 Day Juice Fast - COMPLETED!! And I feel so much better. Good energy, alert. I am having a breakfast juice right now (beet, beet greens, carrots, celery, cucumber, ginger, grapes and a grapefruit. I also drink two mugs full of hot water laced with lemon and fresh ginger every morning instead of coffee. And I drink cold water throughout the day infused with lemon and cucumber. Yum.

How's the weather in your neck of the woods??

No/low Spend

I had a nice day today, I am happy to report. I got up a little earlier and went to have coffee with my brother Gord and sister-in-law Pat. We chatted for almost 3 hours! Then I went to my Asian grocery store as I needed more cucumbers for juicing and some zucchini for making Ratatouille.

While I made soup I listened to the World Junior Hockey Game (Canada vs Finland) on my laptop. I don't have cable TV anymore, just Netflix, so I listened to a live audiocast of the game. Unfortunately my team took a lot of really stupid penalties - like a 10 minute misconduct for a stick to the head of a Finnish player. We deserved to lose that game. Tomorrow Canada will play for bronze at 9am and guess who will be listening while she does her school prep?

Tonight I am going to see The Life of Walter Mitty with a girlfriend. I watched the trailer and it looks pretty inspirational - just the kind of kick in the pants I need.

So while I didn't have a NO Spend day I consider it all money well spent. I made a huge pot of soup that I'll take to school for lunch saving me mega lunch money. And I'll make coffee or tea at school instead of spending $2.00 daily at Timmy's.

For the price of a coffee I got to see family members and listen to my brother ramble on about birdhouses and motorcycle trips. And for the price of a movie I get to spend time with a girlfriend who understands my life right now.

So all in all I spent ($2.00/coffee + $12.00/vegetables + $9.00/movie) for a total of $23.00. No, I won't be having popcorn. This is Day 4 of my Juice Fast and I'm doing great! I've had two mostly green juices today (kale, chinese broccoli, celery, cucumber, carrots and a fruit thrown in to sweeten it up - blueberries in one and an apple in the other. Delicious. Really. I mean it.

I'm beginning to notice more energy and more clarity in thinking. And my immune system really needs the boost. One more day and then I move on to Ratatouille and a root vegetable stir-fry. Can't wait! I use potato, sweet potatoes, turnips and onions and believe me when I say it is sooooooo tasty!!

No time for biking today but that's OK. I was really feeling it in my knees today so I'll postpone til tomorrow. And I did do 16km last night. So, I'm on track for spending, on track for biking, on track for juicing and on track for getting out there and socializing.

Yup, a good day. Hope yours was just as good...or better!!!

PS - I never thought I'd say this but I just told Kazi to have fun at Bingo!! Now who's the old lady?!

Short and Sweet

That's me, short and sweet! Well, short anyways...

Jan. 2, 2014 - how time flies! Lots of challenges going on...I stayed inside today so had a 2nd No Spend day. Too damn cold for anything else. Sure hope Dougie the Dodge starts tomorrow - not that I HAVE to go anywhere but one can only stay cooped up for so long.

Completed Day 2 of my 5 day juice fast. So far so good. I did wake up with a headache in the night - no doubt withdrawal from caffeine - so I took a tylenol and had a few sips of leftover coffee and that did the trick. Today - no headache and feeling more energy so I pedalled 15km on my stationary bike. I'm keeping tabs on my total km cycled in my sidebar. Spent some quality mother/daughter time with Kazi watching Freaks and Geeks on Netflix. I'd never heard of it before but it starred James Franco, Jason Segel and Seth Rogen before they were rich and famous. Unfortunately it was cancelled after one season even though Kazi and I think it's hilarious! What do we know...?

So today was supposed to be the BIG DAY when I begin my application to retire but when I went onto the website I could only pick a retirement date up until May 2014 so boo, hiss, I'll have to wait another month or two. I guess there must be so many of us oldies but goodies retiring that they can only handle so many at a time. So that was rather anticlimactic! To make up for that letdown I got busy and sorted through a huge pile of personal papers that has been gathering for the last couple of months AND put Christmas gifts away. The fun never ends...

January Challenge

My goals for January's No/low Spend month are very simple:   (Click on the link to go to Carla's page about the January challenge!)

1.  No use of credit cards. They (all 2 of them) are currently at ZERO and the plan is to keep them that way!
2.  Spend $ only on food for Kazi and I and gas for Dougie the Dodge.  No stopping for coffee in the morning, no newspapers etc. (Kazi has joined me in eating mainly fruits and vegetables and enjoys the juice I make. I will buy NO meat. My main place to shop is the United store which is an Asian grocery store. I bought 5 packages of yellow peppers for a $1.00 per package - 4 peppers in a package, that's....25 cents per pepper! They have great selection and LOW prices. They also have a big section for produce that is past its "best by" date and that stuff is perfect for juicing. I have $20 in my wallet and $463 in my acc't to last until next payday which is Jan. 15th. Anything leftover will go to savings...immediately...do not pass GO!!)
3.  Put extra $$ towards my savings. I was short of my savings goal by $1500.00 at the end of 2013. With interest added since yesterday and a small transfer of $17.27 from my chequing account I now need to find $1400.00 in additional savings. (This is on top of what I normally save in a month.) It won't happen all in one month as there is just not enough $$ in the budget but I will whittle away at it the best I can. This is important as when I retire in a few months I want to have a certain amount of $$ in savings. Although I have NO FREAKING IDEA how the year will unfold and whether I'll sell the condo or sell Crofters Lane or whatever... I'm going to continue as I started my journey - saving and keeping expenses as low as I can. I'm sure some plan will unveil itself to me eventually if I keep listening and watching.

Personal goals for 2014 include eating a plant-based diet and getting my fat arse back on my bike! The main reasons for overeating in my case relate to the stresses in my life (wow, what a shocker!) The more stress there is the more I eat!  Hope you were sitting down for that revelation!

Right now I'm on a 5 day Reboot with Joe as my health, while usually excellent, has suffered recently. I had a nasty cold and then I had the flu from which I am still recovering. If ever a system needed a REBOOT it's mine. So far Day 1 is going fine. I'm currently enjoying a juice made from apples, cucumbers, kale, parsley and a yellow pepper just for fun. I'm so glad I didn't have to use up my sick days during the flu. I'm back to work Jan. 6th so HAVE to get my health shipshape again.

I had a pretty good New Year's Eve. My friend Troy hosted and we all brought food and wine to share. It was an amazing spread but I'm happy to say I didn't overdo it on food or drink. We had so many good laughs it was very therapeutic. But now I'm feeling tired and am going to listen to a book on tape while I lay down on the couch. If I fall asleep well then I must have needed to. Just another aspect of regaining my health - SLEEP!

Until tomorrow my friends :)

Taking Care of Business

I think I'm at that place where I've wallowed in self-pity for as long as I can and now I just feel damn angry.  While I'd say I'm better at wallowing than I am at demonstrating anger I need to get things done and wallowing isn't good for getting things done. So...ahem...
                                 BITE ME!!

HEY, not you guys!! Come back!!

You know who I mean! That being said this will NOT be a blog where I pulverize Michael. While I am angry at him I am not a basher...except in my own mind. I won't get into "he said, she said" kind of stuff. He has his own issues to deal with, he's made his decision. Now I need to get off my ass and take care of business because....life goes on.  Right now it feels like a crappy life but once you've reached my wise old age you know there's nowhere to go but UP. 

So I got my budget done for January and paid all outstanding charges on my Mastercard. What with all the renos I was a little afraid of facing this day so I waited until it was a payday to buffer the numbers a little. I also lost a day of pay too so the paycheque wasn't quite what it should be. I now face 2014 with no credit card debt and no debt except for a small mortgage on my PEI home. I've paid off more than half of the original cost and have the amortization whittled down to 8 years remaining. Where I have fallen short is in my savings - I'm short by $1500. Yes - $1500.00!! Not too bad eh? I can live with that. What with interest, tax refund and extra scrimping I can probably make that up by the end of June.

Yes, June 30th is on its way! I have around 180 days left til retirement. The day after new years I am going to phone OTPP (Ontario Teacher's Pension Plan) and get the process rolling - I am going to make it OFFICIAL!! Exciting!!

I went out grocery shopping for the 5 day juice fast I'm going to do starting tomorrow. For those of you interested in the details of the juice fast GO HERE. This is the "Reboot with Joe" site (Joe from Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead fame); scroll down to see the different plans - there's a 3 day plan, a 5 day plan etc. I still felt a little light-headed while shopping - that flu bug was nasty! I also took back 2 large bags full of wine bottles (no alcohol while fasting! - hence starting tomorrow not today!) Now I'm gathering up all the garbage around here which will be no mean feat! I'm making a fresh start tomorrow - JANUARY 1, 2014!!
I don't know what 2014 will bring but anything will be better than December 2013!! Tonight I am getting together with my gal pals for drinks, treats and laughs. Honestly, I can't think of a better way to start the new year.

I wish for you all a blessed New Year, lots of time spent with loved ones whether they be partners, siblings, children, friends or the furry kind :) Love comes in all different sizes and shapes, sometimes it lasts forever, sometimes just for a brief moment in time. Experience all that you can!

                                Me and my Best Girl
                                  December 25, 2013

Thank You

Hi everyone. I just want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart to all of you out there who have supported me with kind words and offers of help, whether it be to offer your home to me or a shoulder to cry on, to go for a coffee or just stunned shock.

I appreciate each and every offer, every supportive word, every cyber hug, every email from some of you who are unable to comment. Why is that anyway?

Right now I have nothing figured out. I want to take my blog in a different direction but not sure what that will be yet. Unfortunately I ended up with the flu also so I really was down and out for awhile. I haven't been out of the house since Christmas Day but am going to attempt going to the grocery store tomorrow morning and to a friend's house for New Year's Eve tomorrow night. Nothing too strenuous. The flu was mostly in my respiratory system - lots of thick coughing, fever and chills, headache and body aches. I still have a bit of a cough but not too bad and am over the chills etc. I guess my immune system was pretty non-existent.

Again, I've made no decisions. But there are some obvious areas I need to work on. These include:
1. Health and Fitness
2. Renos and redecorating
3. Preparing for Retirement

I have started thinking about #1.  Tomorrow I am starting on a 5 day juice fast. I recently watched "Fat, Sick and Almost Dead" on Netflix about a fellow from Australia who went on a 60 day juice fast because he was obese and on many medications due to the diseases he had developed by being obese. He was able to rid himself of all medications, drop a large amount of weight and become physically active again. I have also researched somewhere close to school where I can join a beginner's yoga class. And I have researched a place close by where I can treat myself to a spa day.

I'm not kidding myself that doing these things will change my life but I have to do something and start somewhere and where better to start than on myself.

LOVE you guys!!