STARTING THE LIST

I can only vaguely remember those years, so long ago, when April 30th was not a ‘Scramble-Day’. Yes – last day for tax reports to be filed, under dire (and expensive) threats from our Powers to Be. Not so much of that today. I finally decided to stop torturing myself with multiple individual returns, which I loathe doing. This time I accepted a minimum, and stuck to handling just small business. It’s still busy enough, but not panic fuelled.

So – this morning I didn’t hit the floor running. I don’t believe I could at the moment anyway. I’d probably stumble and end up on my head. What I did was slip leisurely from under my cosy blankets, stand and admire my tall, budding trees, only slightly visible in an early, grey dawn, then press the button on my Tassimo coffee brewer. The smell of the day’s first cup spread through the house; together with the soft snores of the doggies, still sprawled on their respective couches, it complimented the relaxed mood.

Maybe it’s because of the disappointing results of my medical tests, or maybe it’s just the accumulation of fatigue, but I spent a good part of the day yesterday searching for the reasons that had put me in the ‘business’ field at all. As a child I was what the adults called a day-dreamer. At my high school reunion my teachers expressed surprise that I was working in accounting; journalism, writing, librarian was more what they had foreseen as my vocation.

I think I’m wise enough to realize that regrets are only useful to incite change. One has to be realistic, of course. There are bills to pay, and certain files to be completed. However, when I sat to write down what was really important to me, what I would do if told there was an expiry date, I noted what I had suspected all along: ‘business’ is nowhere on that list, and material things was at the very bottom.

I don’t have to tell you what was scrawled all over my paper, do I? Yep – it was decorated with doodled SMILES!

I blew on that list real hard, and some of them are on their way to y’all as you read.

Luv from the Bush in Quebec

STILL ALIVE!

I am not back to ‘me’ yet, but am feeling much better, although I still need to snooze off and on at the most inconvenient times. My son called to tell me that both he and the younger couple who toured Japan with us had found the pace and the return extremely difficult, so I shouldn’t wonder why it hit me so hard. Hmmm...yes, well, I guess his assurances did soothe my pride, if not one whit my body.

My doggies have been most patient, putting up with short walks, or even days without one at all; my clients not so much, understandable with it being tax season. I’ve done some work, but not nearly enough to catch up, so writing and reading come in last. We’ll slowly get back to where we left off.

In the weeks preceding the trip, my doctor had sent me for tests of this and that. Letters from the clinics where the tests were done came in both days just before departure, telling me the results had been sent to the doc and to get in touch with him. Nothing seemed to be normal, damn it. I did call him last Wednesday, when I was able to stand straight for more than an hour. He was out all week, they told me, but his secretary gave me an appointment for mi-May. She advised that I call his office today so he could see me earlier if need be. It’s on my List of Things to Do. The more I talk to other people, the more I realize I shouldn’t complain (but I will) because, up to now, I have benefited from excellent health in spite of an ample share of stress , the eternal insomnia, and being a bit lack-a-daisy about self care. Many have not had such luck.

I’ll look into getting pictures up, and putting together some of the highlights of Japan as soon as possible. I do wish to publicly thank SAM444, whose texting of play-by-play during our Habs games kept 3 fans very, very happy! We were disappointed that most places did not connect to Wifi, so her being there was a boon to us all, and we’re extremely grateful! And now both her Wings and my Habs are in the series. Kool!!!

Although I still have some snow here in my mountains, I heard some Canadian geese arrive yesterday. The sun is shining, and high temperatures are predicted for the week. Spring is here, the flowers will grow, and my Dunany Demons have been sent to hibernate until next October rolls around.

Life is good, and that makes me SMILE.

Luv from the Bush in Quebec.

JUST A NOTE....

Sick.

So very sick that I can’t remember changing or getting off the second bus in my brother’s town in NB; his wife’s picking me up is hazy. I fell onto his couch and slipped into near comatose state caused by a raging fever until 2 PM the next day. I woke to my sibling watching over me, trying to feed me (Ugh – nope!), then groggily climbed back on the airplane to the city, where my daughter, who had been panicking because I wasn’t answering her texts, waited to drive me home.

Home, sweet home. If anyone even mentions my leaving this place before the year is out they had better be ready to duck. They risk being bonked on the head by any missile I have handy.

I’m still unable to work; I feel completely washed out. It must have been a combination of the Hong Kong type flu and jet lag. Although Japan was an interesting visit, it was anything BUT relaxing. There was very little sleep, more than enough stress, and...I am now fully convinced that I am NOT a traveler.

I have much to tell you about the trip, and the events following, but can’t keep my head together long enough to give an adequate description. I have been in reading the blogs, one at a time; a short visit before heading back to bed again. My doggies find me an extremely boring person right now.

All the same, I miss throwing out those virtual SMILES for y’all – so sending out a couple until I get my act together!

Luv from the Bush in Quebec.

OFF AGAIN.....

I thought I would have time to post some pictures of the trip and tell you more about my adventures in Japan, and catch up on my own reading of everyone’s blogs, but nope. Not at the moment. Helen was kind enough to keep my doggies during my absence, and now she needs to be in New Brunswick ASAP, so I’ll be driving her (and her car) down tomorrow. I have a brother there who will kill me if I come straight back without seeing him, so will spend Monday with his family, then fly back (can’t believe I’m getting on another airplane so quickly!) Tuesday night. This time my grandson, Fred, will look in on the hounds, feed them and let them out for a bit each day while I am gone.

On Thursday I am to pick my DIL up at the airport when she returns from her native land; she stayed for the extra time with her parents, who she sees once every 3 years. Then I really have to buckle down and get work done for the business!! It seems whenever someone wants to include me in their vacation time, they chose the month of April which is, of course, one of the busiest months for anyone laboring in an accounting field.

It’s already past midnight, and we’re to leave for the 10 to 12 hour drive early in the AM, so I bid y’all goodnight, send you a huge SMILE, and will catch you later!

Luv from the Bush in Quebec.

THE TRIP....(GULP)

I’m home.

It was an eventful trip, from the landing in Tokyo after the 15 hour flight from Chicago:

Me to my DIL: What did the pilot just say, Yoshiko?
Yoshiko: There is a storm. We can’t land right away. We are going to circle....
Me: (gulp)

30 minutes later:
Me: Now what did he say, Yo?
Yoshiko: We are going to attempt to land now.
Me: ATTEMPT??? Whadaya mean attempt?? I don’t like that word ‘attempt’!!!

It was a rough landing, even for a seasoned traveler. For someone like me, the famous non-flyer, it came very close to being a sh*tty (literally) landing. But we made it. I’m sure my fingerprints are still on the armrests.

Then there was the earthquake in Osaka. A 6.2 – the biggest they have had there since 1963, according to my DIL. It happened around 5:30 AM, and our room was on the 10th floor of the hotel. Have you ever experienced swaying from that height?
Fortunately, my insomnia was in full force. I had only fallen to sleep at 2:30 AM and I was still quite groggy when the rumble woke me, then the movement, then the warning blare of the sirens:

Me: What’s that?
My son: Shit – the Koreans launched their missile!
Yoshiko: Earthquake.
The noise got louder, the sirens blasted, and the building began to sway.

Me: Wow!
My son: What should we do?
Yoshiko: It’s a big one!!
Me: (gulp!)
Then it stopped. Our floor was intact, and Yo assured us it was over. I grabbed my camera and from a sitting position n bed snapped a picture of the city through the window beside me.

“Aftershocks?” I asked my DIL

“No. Not so bad.” She answered.

“OK. We’re good.” I turned over and drifted back to sleep in spite of the excited, but muted, chatter of my son and his wife.

Then there was the chairlift ride to visit Mount Fuji and the bus driver’s race up the narrow, winding mountain roads – all cumulating in our arrival...and delay...in Chicago.

A trip I’ll not soon forget.But I remember it with a SMILE.

(To be continued)

Luv from the Bush in Quebec.

D-DAY

We had a couple of inches of snow last night and it’s still falling. I’ve heard more than one car spinning to get up the hill, and wonder why people in this area do not realize that snow tires MUST stay on until the end of April. It happens every year, usually immediately after the Municipality puts the snow removal equipment in storage, LOL. I love it – one look outside, everything under a clean, white blanket – the scene is beautiful.

And – the day has arrived. My daughter will be here at 3 AM to take me to the airport, where I will meet my son and DIL, and his friends, the couple who are coming with us...and bringing their 5 year old, very energetic, son. I’m wondering how the lad is going to handle the 16 hour flight. Maybe I should have invested in that parachute after all. Or even more than one. I could get him going, then sell them to other passengers and make a dollar on vacation.

My suitcase was nowhere to be found when I finally decided to start the packing procedure. I’ve lent it out often, and wasn’t sure who had forgotten to return it. Ah – it was my youngest boy, the daddy of my Rug rats. A couple of texts later and it was arranged that I pick it up at a garage in the village. He would leave it there yesterday on his way to work (do you think he’s not allowed to come here anymore?). It’s still downstairs in my truck at the moment, but I’ll haul it up and get to it after I complete this post. I was too tired when Helen and I arrived after picking up my passport and some last minute shopping. Well, the hockey game was starting also, so everything went on hold, of course.

Speaking of hockey, my daughter informed me gleefully that she has obtained a lodge in the Bell Center for the Habs vs Boston game on Saturday night. It’s a surprise birthday gift for her BF, but there was lots of room for me too if I had not been thousands of feet in the air at that time. ARRGH!!! No, I didn’t think of cancelling my ticket. Well, the thought kind of crossed my mind but one must exercise control....even if we’ll be missing FIVE games, unless we can manage to stream it over the Internet. My Japanese DIL informs me that, unlike baseball, hockey is not a big thing in her native country. Sad but true.

I guess I’d better get cracking. There are still a few things to complete on the business front, and the suitcase, and the last minute instructions for Helen and the doggies. I made a list, but have to find it before I can start marking things off. Sigh.

Take care, y’all, while I’m gone. I’ll let you know how things went...if I make it back. Sending you all huge, warm SMILES to remember me by... in case I don’t.

Luv from the Bush in Quebec.

ABOUT THAT TRIP TO JAPAN...

Ok – I MUST start packing today. Without fault. I have to be at the airport for 4 AM Saturday morning, smiling to show my son and DIL that I am enjoying their gift....and presumably be pulling a suitcase with all the necessities needed for 10 days existence away from home. Oh, and my passport that I am to pick up tomorrow, and my ticket, and my driver’s permit, which my son tells me is required to visit a temple in Japan.

Nah – I’m kidding. Well, not about being prepared, because I’m not, but about forcing the smile. My biggest worry was the doggies. It didn’t help when I was informed that Fred’s little GF was reluctant and nervous about being alone with the rambunctious Smooch. I know that Fred could be called away to work anytime during my absence. My neighbour (Louka’s master) is often unavailable too, even if he did promise to look in on them each day.

Then eureka!! Helen, the friend who had spent some time with me after selling her home, showed up and offered to house/dog sit. She is here all week to learn their routine, and handles my youngest, energetic pit easily.

SO – with that problem solved, I am now quite excited about the trip. I will admit that I looked up the price of a parachute on the internet, and tips on ‘What to do in the event of an earthquake’.

The encouragement from friends and family and my much loved Blogit community has helped enormously. Two of my close buddies, Kilroy and Dawna, both well seasoned travellers, assure me that all will be fine, the airplane will be safe...and neither of them are in my will so I figure they’re sincere.

I’ll sign off now, find my suitcase, and get to it. I’ll imagine what the airport employees will be thinking as they serve me double shots of rum for breakfast on Saturday morning, and I’ll be SMILING!

Sharing it with y’all, as always!

Luv from the Bush in Quebec.