SUZIE, ME & TEQUILA

Boy, was I out to lunch in my last post here. There was no Habs game Saturday; it was on Sunday and started at 3 PM instead of 5 PM. Maybe the players were hung over too,because they skated rather lazily, and lost. Not that I could fully concentrate on my ‘living room couch coaching’ ability. I had headed up to Suzie’s earlier than planned the night before, and we managed to empty that whole bottle of tequila between the two of us – that’s in shooters with beer chasers!! Heinz was my designated driver. I don’t remember calling him to come for me, and I’m not sure that I even recall his arrival, nor the drive home. He tells me we were dancing the flamingo, and alternately singing and laughing at the top of our lungs when he walked in, the music at full tilt – just the 2 of us – Suzie & me. I do remember that my daughter came to join us for an hour or so, but she was sober, not quite on our wave length, so she hightailed it out of there. LMAO!

I was expecting to feel groggy the next day, of course. But I was also smiling inside. Suzie & I do this once or twice a year, and it always seems to work as a much needed ‘time-out’ in my head. We don’t go anywhere; just stay at her place, the two of us, and there’s a lot of giggling, sometimes crying, much loud music and dancing, and just….FUN! No one else sticks around for long - we’re too foolish. It’s like a mini-vacation.

Sunday I read, did some writing, relaxed with the hockey game, and drank gallons of water. By Monday I was back in the office, but had already decided that I badly needed a couple of days off. I contacted my associates to warn them. High season will be starting in a couple of weeks (yep, tax time again!) and, if I want to be able to handle it, some vacation time was necessary. I’ll be there Thursday, but today, tomorrow, and Friday are all mine. I’m going to play outside with my doggies, do some writing and reading, sleep when I feel like it, and just chill out. I’m sure my friend, Kilroy, is proud of me!

Speaking of sleep, I’m heading for an afternoon nap right now. The pits are already curled up by the fireplace, the bush is quiet in its layers of snow, and dreamland awaits. Ah, but life is good, and I’m SMILING!

Luv from the Bush in Quebec

ON THE SECOND DAY OF NEW YEAR....

One of my favourite writers from the author’s site I have joined e-mailed me a complete story she had written, and I was looking forward to receiving and reading it. She sent it on Dec 27th, but it was still not in my mail-box. I was thinking of calling Sympatico.ca to complain, but it was New Year’s Day, and I really didn’t feel like losing a couple of hours on the phone, trying to understand broken English. Who needs that kind of frustration to begin the year? I decided to play with the ‘tools’ tab in Outlook (my mailbox) and, although not at all electronically talented, did something right. I think. Or maybe the dudes working at the main server switched on a lever during the night. Whatever happened, I not only received her story, but also 53 e-mails from various contacts...some of them written in October!!! I was flabbergasted! And very, very happy. Needless to say, I spent most of the second morning of 2010 reading and laughing (a lot of them were jokes) which, next to hockey, is my ‘cup of tea’.

I had planned to go shopping this afternoon but, due to all the time I spent on the computer, this did not happen. There is a Hab’s game staring at 5 PM, which I don’t want to miss, and then I am to go to Suzie’s house and celebrate her birthday (happening at midnight) with tequila... I need to find a designated driver, or sleep over at Suzie’s. I’d prefer the former, because I expect to be in the throes of a hangover tomorrow, and my own bed is where I’ll want to be. Do I sound like a glutton for punishment? Not really. A conversation with my friend this morning set my mind whirling. His words stung. The events of the past year, both at home and in business, HAVE turned me into a lady far too serious, too tense and not much fun anymore. Even when very tired, I didn’t usually have to force my smile. It appears all too infrequently at the present – a classic sign of burnout. Anyone who knows Suzie can vouch that her character, and our joint shenanigans, are a good staring point for the antidote to this flaw….so tonight I’m gonna let it all hang out! At least my groaning tomorrow will be for the right reasons, LOL!

My wise friend, Kilroy, was frank with his comment on my latest post. And, as usual, he was also right. Sometimes we lose sight of our needs, and tend to stubbornly look to the muddle inside for a solution, instead of accepting advice from those who care, who can be objective, and who are far clearer about what is required. Breaking habits is difficult. Every now and then we need a gentle nudge from a loving friend. Thank you, Kilroy!

Time to go – the Habs will be on the ice in moments. If I don’t write tomorrow, know that I am suffering…but with a SMILE!

Luv from the Bush in Quebec