Saturday, March 12, 2016

The Reason Why I Couldn't Make the Bed


We were a little housebound this week madly working on a gigantic company project that we are 50% to completion on.  We are trying to get most of it completed prior to our holiday so are working a lot of long days.  For everyone who thinks self-employment is such a breeze - it has lots of advantages but it is definitely not easy.  That plus the weather has frankly sucked.  Lots and lots of rain, day after day with a storm on Wednesday that blew 107 km per hour winds just off the coast near Comox.  Fortunately we saw little damage the next day other than some trees near local roads and an area where the town had to clear ocean debris off the road due to extremely large waves.  That evening we ate supper  at 4pm as thought the power was going to go out but fortunately it didn't.


Buddy hates the rain, and wind even more so he has been cooped up inside too. I usually make the bed after jumping in the shower each morning - this little face greeted me when I got out.  He had made a blanket fort/tunnel for himself.  I let him stay in there as long as he wanted as he seemed pretty cozy.  He had his booster shots this week and was totally unimpressed.  Also had a kennel cough shot of goo up his nose - hated that the most and wouldn't even take treats from the vet afterwards.  Hopefully that is the only visit to the vet we will need to make this year.

Not much else happening around here.  My stepdaughter is in her final semester of highschool and is suddenly getting more than 52% grades with a recent one in the 80% area in a course that she hates.  That is a good sign, she is likely going to make it to graduation which is kind of exciting.  She has decided that she absolutely does not want to attend any graduation ceremonies however as feels that she no longer has friends at her school and hates the pomp and circumstance of it.  It is her life, she is technically and legally an adult now and we aren't going to push - it doesn't work with her anyway.  It is kind of difficult being "that girl" who lives with her boyfriend in a Catholic highschool.  Shades of scarlet letter.  Instead she is coming out here for the May long weekend for a couple of days.  Although we haven't always agreed with her choices in the past year and a half fortunately we have maintained a pretty decent relationship with her.  She is actually starting to think about her future and knows that she is responsible for supporting herself 100% after graduation.  She has a part-time job but is looking for a better one where she can get more hours.  She knows there is money set aside for her education if she decides to go.  That is looking like a much better prospect now since she is starting to understand what things actually cost and that a minimum wage job isn't going to cut it.

My other 3 stepsons are doing well.  The oldest in the military has completed his first year and has 2 more in his contract.  There are rumors his division may be deployed overseas and although he would love to go likely only the soldiers with more experience will be picked as he still has some training left.   He is still determined to be a policeman afterwards which is very likely achievable with military training under his belt.  He has now learned how to take orders and be flexible and that will serve him well as a policeman as if he ends up in the RCMP he could end up in the far north which is usually where they send new recruits.  There was a time in his life when he was very inflexible and unwilling to live anywhere but Alberta but now he sees that may be what is required to get the job.

The second oldest is enjoying the fruits of his college education as he has a great job with a lot of responsibility and over-time and it pays him well.  He is also enjoying living in his own nice new apartment.  My youngest stepson is starting to think he might also like to go to college after experiencing a winter of unemployment.  He will go back to his landscaping job in April but is starting to realize if he wants to get ahead he might have to get a trade - he also knows there is money set aside for his education if he decides to go down that path.

Our corporate tax year end is now complete and filed - just have to do our personal taxes in the next 3 weeks.  I always hate tax time, lots of hours of accounting and I am so relieved when all that is done each year.

I think this weekend I will drag out the suitcases and start to think about what we need to buy/do before we go on holiday.  Although we have a ton of work left (including weekends) I have scheduled an overnight visit to a friend that I recently reconnected with in 2 weeks time.  She lives 2.5 hours away so an overnight is the best way to get a decent amount of visiting time in.  I am really looking forward to it.

That is what's shaking in my little corner of the world.  What's up in yours?


24 comments:

  1. We're back in cold, wet and blustery Langley after three glorious months in San Miguel de Allende. Patienly waiting for spring to keep her promise. We have two sons in the Canadian Armed Forces, one full time and the other in the reserves...

    Have a great holiday! We look forward to reading all about it.

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    1. Spring is coming, watch we will have another long hot dry summer and I will be wishing for rain lol. Welcome home, there is always more travel in your future!

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  2. Beings self employed is definitely not for wimps. My hubby's hard work all last year finally paid off in the form of a nice tax return which will really help us out for a while. Glad to hear the young people in your life are doing well and yes, how can you possibly make the bed when your adorable fur baby is all snuggly like that. Enjoy your overnight visit with your friend. Safe travels.

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    1. That is great! We just found out we lost money (on paper) this past year but at the same time still managed to increase salary! It was because we had saved a bunch of money from the prior year so had the cashflow. Due to that our accountant applied to get some of last years taxes back so we get over $1000 refund for the company too - that made me extremely happy.

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  3. Oh you are so wise to realize children must make their own choices and live by them. Trying to persuade a young adult you are wiser only proves you are not! That is the hard part of parenting, embracing their choices. You are one in a million. All the kids sound like they have benefited from you wisdom and are doing well.

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    1. That or they just wore us down lol. I met them when she was 5 and the oldest 12. I got all the hard years!

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  4. Don't let anyone in my family know I agreed that bed making is not essential to life!

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    1. So funny, if the kids were still in our house that admission wouldn't have come so easily.

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  5. I've been self employed before and at this time I'm a self contractor in home care business.

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    1. Good for you - but definitely not an easy path!

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  6. Give the SDaughter time. I was soooo smart when I was her age and couldn't believe how dumb my mother was about life/things. Since I knew it all, I got married,when I was barely 19. After a year of marriage, I couldn't believe how smart my mother had become in that period of time,
    lol. Guess I didn't know it all after all. We celebrated our 50th this past January. Unfortunately, Mama's been gone 11 years. I miss her so much.

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    1. You are right. Even hubby's boys have said that now that they are a couple of years older. She is also still in the rebelling stage, hopefully will grow out of soon. She hasn't talked to her Mom in a year and a half now - not good. I understand why, she does have good reasons but it still isn't great for her mental health. She does seem to be trying a bit more now so fingers and toes crossed. She is the kid in the family that if there is an easy way and a hard way she always seems to choose the hard one.

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  7. It is time for us to start planning our trip back to Canada. We leave Mazatlan on April 1st with the intention of arriving back in Kelowna April 16th. Lots of driving with a few extra days here and there to rest.

    Has your son thought about maybe joining the Edmonton City Police or another Alberta city rather than the RCMP? The next recruit class starts in June. http://www.joineps.ca/ApplicationProcess/ImportantDates/RecruitClasses.aspx

    My Dad was an Edmonton City Policeman. You son could at least contact them now so see about the future.

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    1. He would prefer to get into the Edmonton City Police and has already applied (pre-military). Has to finish the military contract then will reapply. They are the ones who told him that since he was so young and they don't like to hire really young recruits to go into the military first. He is willing to do either City Police or RCMP, whoever will hire him.

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  8. We've been having amazing weather - the snow is gone, the sun has been shining, plants bursting into bloom. I'm more than a little leery however, as it's still technically winter! It's grey and gloomy today and I'm feeling the time change. I'm going to challenge myself to go with a smaller suit case this year. I took a lot that I didn't wear last year. Buddy looks so COZY :) I love how animals love to burrow into blankets and afghans.

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    1. I am definitely packing less than the last time we went to Europe. We are taking one smaller suitcase too - lugging suitcases on and off high speed trains had something to do with this decision :)

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  9. Spring has sprung in Montreal, Quebec! People were out walking in droves enjoying the March sun. We are still emptying my Dad's place, he had so many, many cookbooks ....Unbelievable! One step at a time, one day at a time!
    Buddy has it down pat! There isn't a better way to relax than make a cover tunnel!
    Take care :)

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    1. Cookbooks, it seems no one buys them anymore. I collect really old ones (75 plus - 200 years) but avoid the modern ones and just get my recipes on the internet. Something very cool about the old ones though. Buddy does know how to relax :)

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  10. So how much do you pay Buddy to get settled on the bed so you don't have to make it? Our cats get extra treats on those days.

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    1. Its funny but he is such a slow-poke in the mornings, definitely not a morning dog. He does his business and races back to bed every morning, not even stopping for treats. Usually he prefers the top of the bed though.

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  11. Buddy looks so sweet.
    Gah, that rain! We had loads of it last week but the last couple of days have been glorious, probably a bit too soon start mentioning the "S" word, though! xxx

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    1. We finally got some sunshine this week - 2 days worth so we took some nice long walks with Buddy so we could all get some Vitamin D. I think we get very similar weather to you here on Vancouver Island - lots of rain in winter although I think the summers are quite a bit drier and hotter here.

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  12. It takes a while but it seems kids have a way of working things out. But there is a lot of worry along the way for us.
    Have safe travels and take lots of pictures on your trip.

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    1. I will. I was checking out the way to order the tasty cheap white wine there as I can't do reds (Verdejo should you ever need to know :))

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