SOME GOOD CORRUPTION....

“Umm...Boss? You do know that the Olympics are starting next week?” The rather formidable lady stopped and looked at me.

“Yes, I do,” she answered. “And?”

“My guys are over there. Two of my Hab guys. And they play at noon instead of in the evening.” I grinned at her. I knew it would take her but a moment to realize what I was asking. One of the things I had stressed when being interviewed for this contract (besides Brad Pitt being my notion of an ideal boss) was that there be no overtime on hockey nights. In spite of their agreeing, I had missed most of the games in January and February due to working late in the evenings and on weekends for setting up the new accounting program. I hadn’t grumbled...much....yet.

Now the Manager not only gave permission, she had one of the more computer savvy administration dudes come and download the site onto my station, and she made sure I had ear pieces to also hear the plays. Work at my desk was pushed aside for 90 minutes of play.

I can’t help it – I get so into the game that when our Canadian team scored I yelled out a ‘Whoop! Whoop!’, startling more than one co-worker. I had remarked that not many at the office seemed too interested in our National pastime, even the men, so was slightly surprised when one or another would stop by and ask me how we were doing, or who had made the goal. For the second game, I noted that I wasn’t the only person watching, and then there was more than one cheer ringing through the building when our girls won the gold.

Last Friday the Head Boss (who couldn’t help but see my enthusiasm for the upcoming game between USA and Canada) got into the spirit of the thing too. At his invitation, we filed into the conference room where he screened the game onto the projection wall, pizza and French fries were ordered for all, and the business was put on hold while we encouraged the lads to win, and I wasn’t the only one jumping up and down ,laughing gleefully, when it happened.

Haha!! My son tells me I’ve corrupted the office! More like educating, I would say. 

My daughter arrives from Cuba at midnight, and I’ll be picking her up at the airport, then I’ll be off to the city where I’ll watch the final game for gold with my son, and that’s happening at 7 AM tomorrow morning. I’ll be finishing up the day at the office, one of my last overtime stints (March 1st is to be the limit date for that nonsense!) and perfect timing, because the NHL is back to its schedule next week.

I can’t wait to get some of my life back: time with my doggies, hockey, Blogit, writing, and reading...not necessarily in that order.

Life is good – I’m sure you can tell by this huge SMILE on my face!!

Sharing with y’all as always!

Luv from the Bush in Quebec.

MEANWHILE, BACK IN THE BUSH...

When I first joined the office, I warned my colleagues that if there was something that wasn’t functioning quite right, I would be sure to stumble on it. They believe me now.

The reports the antique accounting program wasn’t able to generate were the ones I requested. The alarm sensor on the warehouse door loosened and the system wouldn’t come on; being the last to leave the building, I made that discovery too. It didn’t help that the person responsible for such things had omitted to give anyone the passwords needed when reporting problems to the alarm company.

The filing drawer in my desk had lost some screws and fell apart; the day it was my turn to prepare coffee I found the container empty...the designated purchaser forgot to bring some in.
Yep – a walking ‘Law of Murphy’ – that’s me!

It has been a hectic 3 months of reintegration: dressing in something other than pyjamas very early each morning, commuting, punching a clock (so to speak), being surrounded by people constantly, relearning, reorganizing, readapting; I remember it being much easier when I was much younger.

Through all this I did manage to brave the storm of the century and drive down to Detroit one weekend to bring Suzie home for Xmas. It took 13 hours to get there, and another 15 to drive back the next day. And we made it safe and sound, quite happy we were not one of the vehicles found in the ditch every 40 KM or so. People in Ontario should look into changing their all-seasons radials for winter tires!

I made up for having no Christmas last year by having two full-houses, one after the other, during these holidays. The lovely Léna, my great granddaughter, was cuddled and spoiled, as were my 3 rugrats, and the crowd swelled with bf’s and gf’s of the older grandchildren. Some of Helen’s family also joined the fray. Rock and roll!

If you have wondered why I haven’t been writing, it’s because there has been overtime nearly every evening and most weekends, and I’m totally pooped when I get home, where the doggies and kitty are waiting so patiently for my company. I have to admit that I have less insomnia now; Morpheus is beckoning from my bed before I make it all the way upstairs from the garage! In fact, I have to struggle to get out of his arms at 5 AM in the morning – isn’t that a nice turn-a-round?

We introduced the new accounting system this week. When we get over the adjusting and finish ironing out the bugs my workload should be greatly reduced. I miss my reading and my writing and my hockey and can’t wait to get back to it.

In the meantime I’m sending y’all big, lonesome SMILES!

Luv from the Bush in Quebec.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

I really don’t know how I ever managed (because once upon a time I could), being part of the rat-race and having any kind of time for other things. I’m still waiting for that moment when my brain catches up to my body...or vice versa...and it doesn’t seem to be happening. My email box has over 500 messages NOT read, there are more than 10 in my voicemail too Helen tells me, I don’t dare count the envelopes stacked unopened on the table, and I still don’t seem to find enough hours to sleep.

But...it’s Christmas tomorrow...there are only 2 days off for family and friends I’ve been missing, so I’ll take care of all that next year!

Wanted to come in and tell you that I have been reading off and on, and to wish you all a MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! My gift to you? A big, huge, loving SMILE!!!

Luv from the Bush in Quebec.

ON NOT BEING AMBIDEXTROUS...

I don’t think it’s the job alone, but the travel and the re-adapting to being away from home 5 days a week for 12 hours at a time...or maybe it’s age. Whatever, I’m not finding it easy. Then I did one better; when taking Grump for his walk last Saturday, I slipped on ice, went down, and badly sprained my RIGHT wrist. Fortunately I could move my fingers so, well aware that I am still a ‘newbie’, armed with ice pack and extra-strength Advil, I was able to work all week anyway. I admit that by the time I got back to the house each evening I was dragging butt and whining in pain, complaining about NOT being ambidextrous! Ah well, the swelling is down now, but my arm is black from the wrist to the elbow and still sore. I use it as little as possible outside the office.

Soon will be just another memory. Helen being here for the fires and the doggies helped enormously.

If I wanted any more proof that animals are sensitive to their human’s condition, Grump and Smooch provided it with their actions. We have a hockey game ritual. I turn on the TV and sit on the couch, and the doggies approach. They stand, one on each side of me, and Mistress scratches their ears, their necks under the collars, their backs...using both hands at the same time. They couldn’t help but notice how I was favoring my right arm after the fall, of course. That evening, instead of coming one to each side as usual, they lined up to my left; Smooch was first, and Grump stood behind him, waiting patiently for his turn...like cars going through an automatic wash. They did that off and on all week. I know my arm is healing now because last night they went back to the old routine, LOL!

I visited Blogit regularly – need that fix – but was limiting my arm movements as much as possible, saving it for work, so rarely made a comment. I should be right as rain in a few days, and will be back in to give my two-cents worth! Until then I send my friends south of the border a belated Happy Thanksgiving, and those wishes are accompanied by a huge, warm SMILE!!

Luv from the Bush in Quebec.

ONCE UPON A TIME....

Time was already hurrying by, but now it has quickened its pace! This lady is hard put to keep up. When I leave the house in the morning, it is dark; when I get home in the evening, it is still dark.

My doggies are pining for more exercise. Helen would gladly walk out with them, but I worry that the stupid neighbor let his mongrels loose, and she would never be able to hold my boys if they decide to chase. I was hoping to get a fence in before the ground freezes, but it is financially impossible for the moment, so I fear we will all have to endure until spring rolls around. In the meantime, walks are mostly restricted to weekends. I suppose they could get enough exercise by chasing the cats around the house, but Mistress has forbidden that antic.

I say ‘cats’ because Dora will be joining us next week. Now that the new baby, Léna, had arrived, Dora is no longer allowed inside Grandson’s house; Léna’s Mommy worries that she’ll bring disease. My grandson is calling the vet today to arrange for Dora’s needles, after which she will be subjected (finally) to the big ‘O’, then she’ll move in here with Bandit and Smooch and Grump. Both dogs know her, and Bandit, being male, will hopefully be happy for her company, and Dora will escape having to brave the winter weather. And Helen will learn to live with TWO cats...which she professes to hate, LOL!

There are positive aspects. The money, whenever it starts coming in. The realization that I can still put up with traffic jams without going into a tizzy... or road rage. The fact that my brain is waking up – it has to if I want to keep up to the young lassies a work, who maybe lack experience but are certainly rapid super girls on computers or related equipment!

Ah well – everything happens for a reason. And I am working at the part of accounting I like the best, so all is well in the Bush. Although I haven’t much time to read, or even less to write, the snow is falling, Christmas is around the corner, and I’m still SMILING!!

Sharing with y’all, of course!!

Luv from the Bush in Quebec.

THERE IS A NEW GIRL...

I apologize for my prolonged silence, folks. It’s taking me some time to get into a smooth routine here. The commute to the new job is anywhere from 45 to 90 minutes each way, depending on the traffic, and there are 2 doggies, and now a kitty, who are finding the change not at all to their liking. They are demanding attention in the before and after hours. I also kept the couple of small clients I had, and their stuff needs to be done too. The most important thing is that I now see a light at the end of that financially-harassed tunnel and no longer fear losing my home.

During my absence my great granddaughter, Léna, was born. I haven’t had the pleasure to meet her yet; that’s a plan for this afternoon. Both mommy and baby are doing well; grandson Fred, who assisted his daughter’s birth, even to cutting the cord himself, is ecstatic and proud as a peacock, and my daughter is glowing with that special aura reserved for first-time grand mammas.

Another thing that needs to be done today is the introduction of Bandit to two very curious pit-bulls. Bandit has been enclosed in my bedroom for the first week, except during night hours when doors are closed, allowing him to roam and get familiar with his new habitat without the attendance of Grump and Smooch. Each is aware that the other is there, but I have yet to have them interact. The dogs were used to grandson’s female cat - she grew up here – but this is a new, 3 year old male, also used to dogs, but not THESE dogs. Helen was quite adamant that I be present for the event, with good reason, but I was too tired during the week and yesterday was spent doing errands, a long walk with the dogs (who get very little during the week) and catching up on tasks in the house.

If there is any day to help me forget that I have once again joined the rat-race, it is this wonderful Sunday! We have at least 3 inches of snow outside, and it is still falling; the fires are burning cheerfully, a good part of my time will be spent cooking for the week ahead, and I’ll be cuddling the sweet little newborn, surrounded by family. What more could a lady want?

I am so SMILING!! And because I’ve been storing them up, there is a whole whack of SMILES going out your way...big and warm and happy!!!

Luv from the Bush in Quebec.

NOT MUCH...

Yesterday:
The forecast says that my area is in for a wild windstorm, which will probably cause a power outage. Helen has not yet experienced that since her move, and I warned her to be prepared – we often have them during the winter. Storms seem fiercer here somehow, or felt more, maybe because of being so high up, and the wires running through all those trees are susceptible to being damaged. Helen is also nervous about negotiating my hill when the snow comes, with good reason, and has decided to look into purchasing a 4-wheel drive. We’ll be out visiting garages this afternoon.

Unfortunately there will be no little goblins visiting us tonight. We are too far out – and be truthful. Would you want to wander around in the deep, dark forest on spooky Halloween night? No amount of candy...right?

And today:
No sooner said than done. This afternoon we’ll be picking up a new 4 wheel drive; it took Helen all of one hour to make the decision, sign papers, and she is no longer worried about getting stuck anywhere on our bush roads. That lady doesn’t fool around! Most of the time yesterday was spent trying out the vehicle, doing the paperwork...and reassuring her that it is okay to spend money on herself – she tends to give it away to others instead.

It has been raining for the last 24 hours, much to my doggies’ disappointment, but we have not yet had the winds as predicted. TWN are telling us it will be today instead, and are still warning about possible power outages. Hopefully it won’t happen during the HABS game tonight, although I’m not sure how much hockey I will see with 3 Rug rats clamouring for attention. In the future when my son asks me to babysit, I’ll remember to check the schedule before giving my answer!!

No news on the potential job yet, but they did say I was the first interviewed, and there were others to see before making their decision. I know they want to hire ASAP, so expect I’ll hear before the weekend. In the meantime, I have applied elsewhere, but in surrounding areas; I want to avoid driving right down into the city if possible.

That’s it for now, folks. Hope you have a great weekend, that you don’t get sick eating too much candy, and sending you a big, cheerful SMILE!

Luv from the Bush in Quebec.