Redeemed

Eric and I went for a wee drive.  Getting into 4x4 is a very tight/hard lever pull.  But once in 4x4 Oscar was able to redeem himself.  Thank goodness.  I had fun driving into, on and through snow piles.  Then I dropped Eric back home and took Lili to the library to drop off ps4 games that were due back.  The main roads are in pretty great shape overall.

Our new neighbor came by and cleared most of the driveway this afternoon.  He's doing everyone's on the street.  We had him come in for banana cake and coffee.  His house is similar in age to ours and his water lines froze and hot water tank went.  We're all so unprepared for cold snaps like this one.

Fei is in Nanaimo and when we were texting this morning she wanted to make sure we took Izzy out to play in the snow today because she loves the snow.  She wasn't interested earlier but this afternoon she did go down into the snow and then fell and came back up the stairs.  She's back in her bed by the heater.  Coco and Sassy wouldn't even go down one stair.  

Snow Day

Eric is outside now shoveling.  I'm fairly certain he's digging Oscar out in case we need him.  Plus I mentioned that I wanted a picture of him out in the snow and that I couldn't get a good one of him from the porch.  

I'm fairly certain the kids won't go out to play.  Zero interest.  I sort of want to head out and wander around but I'll just end up cold.  Best to gaze out the window for now.  I do hope that Eric and I can go out this afternoon and try out Oscar in 4x4 mode.  I tried to shift him into 4x4 on the weekend and couldn't do it so I need a lesson.  

The boys school was cancelled.  I canceled Kai's speech lesson.  Lili's VIU campus is closed so we're good to be home.  I had a doctor appointment in Victoria yesterday so we stopped at Costco and endured the most crowded shopping event of all time.  We had to line up to get into each row!  We were parking the cart and reporting back.  Two hours in there.  It was sort of fun but completely nuts.  We didn't shop any fun isles.  Just food.  We're nicely stocked up for a few days.  I'm assuming the store was that busy on an early Tuesday afternoon because there was snow in the forecast.  

I had seen pictures of the falls at Goldstream frozen solid and our plan was to hike in and see for ourselves but after two hours in a cold Costco I was too chilled to bother with the hike.  

Eric has layered the hot tub.  Haha.  It's working.  The cheap little blow up spa is holding temperature!  Walter has been home every night, so in a cold snap he does actually live here.  

Yesterday I dropped the year end box for work off with the accountant.  So my desk is actually under control before we leave.  I'm almost done swapping the files around for 2024.  The packing is under control and the forecast for next week bodes well for the road trip part.  

I always pack a night light for cruise rooms.  I forgot to pack one and then found this one in a thrift store.  Too cute.  Color changing too.  

The house is warm, there is banana cake in the oven.  Lili, Eric and I did some chores around the house.  We have some shows to watch later.  It's all good here.

2011 Snowfall

Oh Facebook memories.  You kill me.  

Procrastinating

A quiet morning at home and I got some ducks in a row ;)  43 to hide plus 100 tiny ones.  Door magnets and my phone all ducked.  Eric and I are packed.  The boys are close.  The girls typically pack last minute.  Down to little details now.  Ordered Finn's medication to be here next week.  Trying to locate stupid Ozempic for me.  The only thing left to buy for the trip is travel size deodorant for the boys bathroom bags.  Esmei visiting the groomer on Saturday. All pets must be ready and pretty for Jessica. I have one doctor appointment left for next Tuesday in Victoria.

I have lots of actual work to catch up on.  I don't know why people like working from home. I find it extremely difficult to get my head in the game.

It is soooooo much easier to split up for holidays.  

I thought todays tuition cheque for Lili was the last one and it was exciting to write it but then I realized there will be tuition for her Japan trip.  So not quite done.

On a whim we picked the kids up from school on Tues and went to Nanaimo to run an errand.  Lili and Fei were both already there so they met us out for dinner.  So fun.  We went to Milanos and did their movie/dinner deal.  So now we have 7 movie tickets waiting for a rainy day.  Plus Jia, Luk and I got their baked spaghetti, which alone is worth the drive.  

I noticed last night that Eric has thrown 12 pricey items in the amazon cart for Oscar.  Yikes.  A whole new exhaust system.  My fault for setting him up with the app.  Thank goodness he hasn't figured out he can one swipe buy.  I was hoping for new springs first so when we drag the trailer to Jeepapaloosa in May Oscar will look nice and level.  

Apparently the snow is coming today.  It was a gorgeous sunny, blue sky day when Eric and I had a hot tub soak this morning.  It has started in Nanaimo and Lili just took off to campus.  No fear of driving in the snow yet.  

So this is January.

Not a lot of picture taking going on.

We did have a holiday miracle yesterday.  The boys both have shoes for the trip.  Our first get a way that I'm not shopping for out of season shoes!  

The packing has begun.  The cash, visa cards and passports are in my travel purse so we're basically ready. Bhahaha.  Seriously.  It's well in hand.  We'll see who derails me.  So far so good.  I tried on bathing suits today and picked a couple.  I'm getting wet this trip.  I will not be stuck in the room for the whole cruise!  Fist in air.  

Lili has been super busy.  Having a social life and moving into her new room.  Shelves were bought.  Eric installed a new outlet.  Closet organization happened.  She showed me pictures and it looks so nice but I'm not allowed to post.  

On Saturday Eric and I escaped for a bit.  It was sunny.  I've been pretty down with the worst news about a friend. So getting out and just not sobbing for a bit was much needed.  We went out for lunch and went to Mom's so Eric could help her with a broken cupboard hinge.  We stayed cozied in for a while.  Then sirens came.  Next door.  After some sluthing we figured her neighbor Kevin was the person of interest except the car that came after the ambulance left and his girlfriend was on the porch on the phone. Then the police came with a camera.  Not good.  He had died.  How brutal.  So that was a tad jarring.  I didn't know him but Mom really liked him.  We heard the next day that someone else in the park died that night.  Two in one day!  

My friend and co-worker Sandi is ending her battle with cancer.  She has gone home to die. We've worked together for 37 years.  Fuck cancer.  I will miss her tremendously.

So life is short and often sucky.  We have to find the joys.  Like miracle not having to go shoe shopping days.  Oh and Kai cried about having to try on shoes so I put words over his crying "how fortunate I am to have a Dad that will help me find shoes to wear in Mexico so I won't be too hot in runners".  Then he stopped crying and thanked Eric.  

Late on Friday night, like midnight, I went online to see when the booking for camping season was opening.  Only to find out it was already open.  Oy.  I booked my favorite site number at Rathtrevor for Easter.  Then sent out messages to the camping friends.  Early Saturday morning we had five families booked for Easter weekend!  So fun.

I also booked random April weekends at French Beach and another at Rathtrevor.  With Jeepapaloosa that four weekends booked.  Next to book is our anniversary weekend June 1.  We haven't decided what we're aiming for yet.  I want San Josef Bay but Eric offered up high tea at Butchart which sounds fun too.  

Wednesday I'm off to the gynecologist again.  Every three months.  Monitoring a growth/tumor.  I hate this.  A lot.  I did have an appointment with the Endocrinologist on Saturday.  Nothing monumental for changes.  

Today I'm at my desk.  I just keep thinking that every month I take my back up accounting stick to Sandi and this time I don't even know who it will go to and I'm dreading going to her office.  Sob.  

The weather report says we have snow coming.  Which is fine as long as it's gone by the 24rth.  The van is in today getting an oil change and check up in preperation for the trip.  We purposefully didn't sell the Commander yet in case we needed a 7 seater 4x4 for this trip.  Praying we won't need to use it.  

Facebook Marketplace

The world is full of scams.  I have had soooo many about the convertible being for sale.  They usually message through the night, I assume their hours.  They often include details that appear to be almost real.  Like a local account, in the same groups with a reference to something Cowichan Valley.  In the end to sell me a $35 dollar car fax.  Usually I lie and say yes I have one and they go away.  I did resort to a pat let me know when you want to see the car.  It's been for sale since Aug.  Shocking to me it took this long but we did get half the money e-transferred today and the 2nd half coming tomorrow.

Here's the funny part.  New buyer messages in the wee hours and says he's in Mexico and won't be home until end of January, he's friends with a friend of mine, if the car is as clean as it looks in the pictures he'll send the money. I'm so convinced he's a scam that I give him my pat answer.  Not giving out personal information like emails and addresses.  He persisted and I told him tons of scams and let us know when you want to see the car.  He sent a friend the next day and today his daughter e-transferred money.  Turns out he is the Dad of one of the girls co-workers from the Rock Cod.  Hillarious.

If only he had mentioned the more obvious connections and used more words.  

Anyways.  The car is half sold. Haha.

New Year

We were 3 families, 6 adults, 8 kids, 10 dogs.  I think the dog party went well.  They all got along ;)  

Floof time of course.

Fei and friends went out for hot pot.  I asked if it would be a fun family thing to do.  She said it was difficult without good chop stick skills and she was getting help.  So we decided that perhaps just a night at home forcing us all to use chop sticks first.  I mean we can get the food to our mouths but reaching out and cooking would be a stretch.

Lili went out to the Showroom and then to the Fort with a friend.  She came home after we were all in bed.

More floof time.

Ken brought his new waffle maker and treated us to a breakfast feast.

Then on day one of the new year I was feeling great but tired.  When our guests left Eric and I held down couches for a nap.  We woke to someone at the door, Eric's sister.  I was chilled and shakey. So of course figured I just needed food.  We ate a late lunch.  The chill presisted.  We had someone coming to see the convertible in an hour so I figured there was time for a hot tub.  

I spent half an hour in there and it didn't even touch the chill.  I had goosebumps and was shivering.  Then was dizzy getting out so E helped me to the couch and settled me under the electric blanket.  I guzzled some apple juice, ate a cookie and had a dozen smarties.  Then prayed for sleep so I could get a break from how freaking cold I was.

This was likely more crohns related than diabetes.  Possible electrolyte and dehydration issues.  Hard to tell with me.

Eric locked the pups away from me, we fear they'll bite the electric blanket.  Coco in particular likes to chew holes in blankets.  

From here it just got worse.  There was fainting, extreme sweating, dizziness, nausea.  I needed help to walk upright because I was wanting to just crumble to the floor and all the while still freaking freezing.  I did faint while sitting on the toilet.  When I came to Eric was holding me up and Fei was taking vitals.  Blood pressure, heart rate, temperature and she even did a finger prick for blood sugar.  

This was quite possibly the longest and worst chill to date.  Frankly I was a bit surprised I didn't wake up in the hospital.  I did try another hot tub 2nd day but stupidly thought since I felt better it would be ok.  Nope.  Thankfully Eric came to check on me and helped me navigate back into the house.  Oy.  I was alternating between cold and sweating all of day two but I think the worst is over.  Pedialite freezies, liquid iv and gatorade to the rescue.  

What a way to start the year.  Oh, and thinking seeing their Mom fainting would be scary I tried talking to the kids, they didn't even know.  Wild.  

Oh and a deal was made on the convertible, we'll see if there is follow through.  Operation downsize is working.  I still have to let go of the moho and my Commander, I'm not ready.  In my secret world of fantasies we drive the moho to Puerto Vallarta and put it in an rv resort.  The resort I'm interested in is $5000 a year and a 10 year permit for the moho is $180.  This isn't realistic yet.  I know that.  But dreams are good.  

Oh, oh, and in a feverish state I realized I missed the opening of ticket purchases for Jeepapaloosa 2024.  I got our ticket in the wee hours.  It's a camping weekend  with a guided trail ride. And all things Jeep.  I'm insanely excited.