Ponderings...

A few thoughts today...
1) Why do I always feel more qualified than my boss? And this boss I even like and I had a day where I think I should switcheroo with him.
2) Lately I've argued with salespeople. Not something I like to do, but sometimes necessary. Recently one was at Sears where I had purchased a blazer and a bra for about $70 and spent $14 on a gift card and the rest was debit. So, I dragged the blazer on my recent trip to Ontario where I go to where it and it is huge (obviously lost weight in wierd locations since purchased), so needed to return it and the salesgirl gave me the news that she would put the entire amount of the blazer ($50) on a gift card. I nicely asked - What? She nicely replied, well, that is our policy. I returned with, a have the receipt, the tags and the blazer and you owe me the cash. She less nicely replied with, that is our policy. I said, your policy on the receipt says you return with tendor paid. My tendor was debit. She argued again. I then did the awful thing and asked to speak to the manager. She said no, he is very busy and would tell me the same thing. I replied. unless you want the lineup of 8 people behind me to continue waiting, please get me the manager. I want my $50 cash. It is my cash. She called the manager who came up slowly to the counter, she explained the situation and the manager turned to me and said "What was she thinking?" I replied, I have no idea. I left with my $50 cash and the saleswoman was quite rude.

Then today, I have to go back to MPI because yesterday I renewed my autopac and the sticker they gave me wasn't sticky, so I brought the non sticky sticker in to swap it. This rather cute dude says, well, that will be a $15 charge. I reply with no, it won't. I pay $1200 for a crappy car to be insured, I am not paying $15 more because your sticker didn't stick. He replied, it's MPI policy. I argued that I brought the other sticker back. He got his coworkere who said "What are you thinking of?" and immediately gave me a new sticker for free. He at least apologized.

So, arguing the last month saved me $65 cash and was quite satisfying.

3) Why did Global promote the fact that the Office did an episode with Winnipeg in it when an hour later on the news they admit it was filmed in LA?

4) Why is the media talking about Angelina Jolie/Brad Pitt/Jennifer Aniston as if their breakup happened last night?

5) I went to a nightclub tonight to "tour" it for a work event. Why is it the first time I have entered one?

6) Why was I excited today when I made a Starbucks run and they had their red cups? I am so not in the happy spirit of Christmas.

7) Why is it that this is my 32 winter in Manitoba and I still am at a loss as to what to do about winter boots? Cute ones? Warm/cute ones? Heavy duty? Fur/not fur? Lined/not lined? WTH?

Rejection

So, who hasn't been rejected? By your friends kid, a dog, a teacher, an old boyfriend perhaps. Well, in my case it's been by about 100 individuals on internet dating sites. Just taking one glance at your profile and then bam. Close Match. the ultimate rejection. So, I think I've gotten used to it. And I think it builds character in how you handle each rejection. Especially those ones where you've gone out once and either he thinks or you think it's not going to work. Or the worst, the ones I think are great and never hear from again. Or my latest one, he's halfway to dragging me to meet his family and I'm thinking how can we wrap this up? Well, against a few of my friends advice, I decided to not go out again. Just couldn't do it. Woke up thinking about how not to do it. Not a sign that romance is in the air. So, after three messages from him tonight, I emailed him a very gentle, direct and honest rejection. And obviously my gut is accurate as he reacted with anger and is actually accusatory in his reply that I let my friends influence my opinion. Dolt that wears splash pants. Not the one for me.

So, it's been a while.

For whatever reason I just have not been in the mood to blog. I'm not really tonight either, but just read mapquest's blog about single people and have to share a few questions I have on my mind tonight in reference to the hell that is dating. (I had one this weekend (that is - a date) and 24 hours later am still wondering why I even bother).

1) Why is it that only the fellows that you meet that you really aren't interested in are the ones who call within 36 hours?
2) Why did someone tell me dating was fun?
3) Why do I get so tired after a date? I feel like I could crash onto my steering wheel and sleep for hours afterwards.
4) Why would someone wear splashpants to a first date?
5) Why does someone still have splashpants from the early 90's?

In Toronto,

and simply grateful to be connected to technology again. I've had no cell phone, computer or tv for four days and I was going a little stir crazy not being able to connect with anyone but my coworkers. Nice people, but 4 days straight is (including evenings) is plenty. Had a good time out here so far, managed to go to a vineyard on Monday for a tour, enjoyed a hike near the Falls yesterday and tonight am heading to shopping and Sound of Music here in Toronto. It's a much needed down time getaway and I'm just starting to process the last few weeks. It's another beautiful sunny fall crisp day and I'm heading out shortly on one of my "wing it" adventures. Ahhhh, solitude.

On a Jet Plane...

So tomorrow another adventure begins, I fly to Toronto to spend the day with colleagues and head to Niagra Falls for a three day long and intense conference that World Vision put together. I am excited about being part of a strategic plan as a senior member of a not for profit. I am not excited that the days are longggggg. I am excited that we are staying at Mount Carmel which is on a hill overlooking the falls. We apparently need to bring rain jackets and outdoor footwear. This will not be a suit and tie type conference. So, we will see.

From the heart...

That is what about 20 people who complimented me on my talk to K at the reception. What other way would it be, I thought. That is who I am and what my friendships are. Honest and from the heart. So, this is my talk to Kountrygirl.

As I prepared what to say today, I thought of the many moments, memories and stories we have in 13 plus years of friendship. But then, I decided to keep it a bit more interesting for everyone else and chat about antiques. Krista and I have spent many moments, Sunday afternoons, an hour here an hour there combing antique shops in Manitoba, the odd auction sale, garage sale and just generally bargain hunting together. These times together, whether it be shopping for furniture or toys for our nieces and nephews have meant the world to me and I will cherish them always.

Then one day, Krista went antique shopping in Saskatchewan. And found the one. The one antique she didn’t need my opinion on, the one that was available, a reasonable price and even deliverable to her acreage. She fell in love. Not immediately. To true Krista form, she took her time, made a few visits to the shop, thought about in between and then made the final decision.
This particular antique would be Milton. And yes, in the early months of dating, we did refer to him not as Milton, but as Antique. Milton didn’t seem to mind and we shared many a laugh over this.

But then lately, I realized it also describes our friendship. Old, solid, worn around the edges, perhaps a little thin in some spots, not totally perfect, but tried, tested and true. And although I don’t handle change well, it does continue to get better with age.

Milton, I know you have already, but love her the way she deserves to be loved. She won’t ask. She’ll just aim to please. But love her the way she has dreamed it. We have dreamed together, of the lives we have wanted and she has found hers in you. I thank you for that.

Krista, I thank you for your loyalty, your friendship, your care and your love and look forward to cherishing our “antique friendship” together in the years and miles to come.

The Burn

Okay, so one of my closest last single friends got married yesterday. And I have to share about the burn. The burn in honor of single women everywhere. This is the abbreviated story and vent about how married people who were single on average less than 10 years previous don't think, lose their intelligence and well, are generally idiots. Now, this seems to be on average about 40% of married people. I am not friends with any of these idiots. At least I try not to be.

Regardless, here is the story. K's brothernlaw who isn't the nicest, most charming person in general, gets up with K's sister to give a speech, started off lovely and quickly turned into a story about what he has done for K instead of really what K has done for him. And for whatever reason, he goes on about how he made this sign that says Rich, Single, Marry Me and makes K stand on a street holding the sign and waiting for them to pick her up. Sound fun? I would say not. Anyway, he shares that as K no longer needs the sign and his oldest daughter is too young, well, why don't we give it to.....drum roll please....(keep in mind I was still in tears from giving my speech and hadn't gotten a hold of my emotions)...Lori. Yep, he did it. He actually rubbed salt into an obviously gaping wound and did it with laughter. I attempted to crack a fake smile and accepted the sign from her cute niece and tried not to continue crying. My heart was stabbed in that moment about 14 times. Wow. Then, it was time for K & M to give their thankyous and that was lovely and emotional, so got over my hurt and just enjoyed that moment.

The best part? Two of Milt's cousins (married at the age of 32 plus) came up to me with their spouses, hugged me, introduced themselves and brought matches. I stood in shock, tears and joy as the four of them said it was necessary to burn the sign in honor of single women everywhere and to make idiot married people aware of maybe the need to think once in a while about other people. We went outside, friends, family and K's two oldest nephews in tow, the sign was split in pieces by her nephew who seemed to understand what was happening and we burned it. Completely.

Here's to single women everywhere!! Your life is not dependent on marrying a guy. Yes, I want to. But the life I have built, the success in my home, my friends, my city, my hobbies, my career are mine and marriage and a guy does not delete what I have accomplished on my own, it will enhance it, maybe improve areas of it, but does not negate everything I have done to be the best and happiest I can be in my moment in life.

Kountrygirl's Wedding

Kountrygirl is married. I could go on about how I'm feeling at the moment, which those that know me could guess quite quickly; lonely, excited, unsure, insecure, impatient for my turn, self pitying, a little sad it's over, happy about how the day went, confident in how I looked. Really a combination of range. I could go on about how the day went; K looked unbelievable, glowing from the inside out. For K the day went perfectly and although there were many moments snapshots and I dealt with, she was unaware and that was what we both wanted. I could just babble on, but it's really hard to know how to seperate out specific moments. Maybe I should just do a few highlights from my perspective;
1) The time snapshots, Kountrygirl and I shared the night before the wedding. I'll cherish that special time forever. Just talking, praying, dreaming of the day ahead.
2) The moment K started down the aisle to her music staring directly at Milton. Glowing. I let the tears come.
3) The moment after the ceremony when the wedding party walked down the aisle to the foyer and K kissed Milton. The passion and love was all there that K had said she wasn't capable of showing. She showed it. I was honored to see it.
4) The moments, tears and laughter shared with snapshots all week, especially that belly laugh she got out of me moments before we went down the aisle. Brilliant. Never to be forgotten.
5) Snapshots and her husbands care of me. I needed it, didn't ask for it and got it.
6) The moment I gave my talk to K. My heart was aching in pain and love at the same time. My heart was broken and put together in the same moment.

A lovely day.

Lovelies...

Lovely moments this week so far...

A fire in the morning with easy conversation is a lovely way to stop and enjoy fall. that is what I did yesterday and loved it.

Another lovely thing, is to feel as excited about an evening as if you were going a first date with absolutely no anxiety that you feel on a first date and have a wonderful much needed time with a close peep.

Crying during a wonderful chick flick.

My newly purchased credit card/interac machine for work worked today.

And it's only Monday.

10lbs.

That is what I have lost in 5 1/2 weeks. I am so proud I could burst. I'm also very hungry and about to head downstairs for some veggies to celebrate.

I even have surpassed my November goals for body fat, inches and some fancy electro reading that I don't really understand, but my trainor was very excited about.

So excited. Until I have to exercise again on Monday.