One Step Forward

It is summer!  Yippee! Triathlon season is upon us. World Cup Soccer is on the television. It is the season to swim and sail and snorkel...my favourite time of year.  But I haven't been feeling that peppy lately.

On Tuesday morning this past week I decided that I HAD to get more ACTIVITY in my life.  I had purchased a good pair of Nikes when visiting my Aunt in late May and yes they called to me. "Bee Bee Bee, put us on!"  So I did and then the magic happened.

I stepped outside at 7 a.m. and walked 200 steps- not so bad I thought to myself.  I wondered if I could jog 200 steps.  And yes- I did it, thanks to those new Nikes! This pattern continued for another many sets of 200 steps walk, 200 steps jog for the next four and a half kilometers.  I was thrilled and surprisingly, not too sore the next day.

On Wednesday I forced myself to jump in the lake. Much to my surprise the water was actually quite pleasant.  I took several strokes towards the neighbour's dock and it felt not too bad.  Late June and already the water is up to 72 degrees F!

By Thursday I was able once again to walk and jog but tried a 200 step walk followed by a 500 step jog.  Not easy but I did it!

Friday came and went with a lot of outside work and another swim. Believe it or not the water felt even warmer than on Wednesday.

Saturday was spent mostly in the car driving to and from a birthday party, about two and a half hours east of here.  I started the day with a brisk 30 minute walk with the dog before being picked up by my husband.

So that brings me to today, Sunday.  There was lots of work to be done down the lake at our daughter's cottage so I happily swam down, hopped out and changed to work and then happy swam back-  It was a little tougher coming back because of the prevailing winds, but all in all a nice and relaxing way to end the week.

My goal is to gradually increase activity on a daily basis.  If I can do one aerobic type of activity every day, I am sure I will begin to feel better overall.  The ads for Nike say, Just Do It!  I hope to end each day in the coming week with a Just Did It!

Until next time,

Bee Rich

Just Do It we are admonished!

Making Progress!

I started this blog entry several weeks ago when I wasn't feeling very happy about the job situation.  I was moaning and groaning and feeling tremendous pressure to get out and get a job. The school year was (and still is) quickly coming to an end and because I left my supply teaching job in September, I was (and still am) really missing teaching and all the satisfaction of having spent a year with a specific group of children.

Adding to the unhappiness was the fact that my hubby was traveling to visit our daughter in Europe for two weeks. I had decided not to accompany him but stay home and catch up on some much needed house cleaning, job searching and down time. He will be returning this week and today I can say that I am glad I stayed home and accomplished several important jobs on my list: 

• Painting new trim- we have an almost completely finished "mudroom" entry way off the side of our house.  One of the items on the list was to fill the nail holes and seams and then paint the trim as well as paint the set of double doors for the closet. 

• Cleaning the house- after the construction the entire house was covered in a layer of fine drywall dust. This combined with an abundance of debris from not having cleaned for at least a month left our home looking pretty well dusty and dirty and ready for a clean sweep. I combined the cleaning with the purging of used items that were no longer necessary.   

• Painting the bathroom- a fresh coat of paint in the master bathroom kept me busy for one entire day.  How can such a small room take up so much time?  Perhaps it was because I was painting with a lighter colour and the walls required several coats of fresh paint.

• Cleaning up the cabin- my daughter has a log cabin just down the road from us which required a spring cleaning job.  Two half days of washing and sweeping and vacuuming has that job well under control. Did I mention that there were several families of mice living in the kitchen cupboards and in a Kleenex box?

• Visiting- It is always nice to step outside and have a visit with neighbours on our road who enjoy coffee in the morning and wine in the afternoon. We catch up on the latest news and views, swap recipes and gardening tips and enjoy said beverages. Sometimes we even share a meal together. Even more fun was the trip I took to visit with the grandchildren last weekend.  

• Writing job applications- I have applied to several local job advertisements as well as some international and Canadian teaching websites. I even got an email from an Egyptian school that may be interested in hiring me for the upcoming school year. 

• Cutting the grass- Usually I rely on my husband to start the gas lawn mower but the grass was getting much too thick so I was able to complete the job.  

• Refinishing dining room table- this is in process and would take an entire blog to explain some of the challenges.  Hoping that it turns out okay. 

• Weeding the flower beds- Just came inside from a warm afternoon in the flowers, pulling the alien plants. I love getting my hands dirty and it always looks better when it is done! 

• Laundry- It is amazing how little laundry gets dirty when there is only one of me at home.  I am sure I will have plenty to do when my husband comes home after two weeks away. 

• Cooking- not my favourite past time, but since I still have to eat, I have been trying out some new recipes.  Today is chicken soup with rice. Earlier this week I baked a banana bread and yesterday hosted a barbecue. Unfortunately the barbecue ran out of gas even before the burgers were on.  I guess I hosted a broil! 

We look forward to two events this summer. To celebrate our upcoming anniversary we are hosting a party in mid-July. I just know the next few weeks will be full just getting ready for that. In August we are flying to Vancouver as a first stop on our Alaskan cruise. This is one trip that we have looked forward to for many years. I am thankful to our daughter who has given such a wonderful gift.  Before you know it it will be school time again and hopefully by then I will be once again teaching.   

There are no pictures to document my jobs from the past two weeks because my husband has our camera.  Hopefully next time I will include some good shots!

Until next time,


Bee Rich

PS  I am passing on this blessing to readers everywhere...

Taking it Easy...

On May 20, 2014 I was dismissed without cause from a job that I truly loved. Since that date I have gone through the stages of grieving...

Sometimes it just takes time

Not sure if I really had a chance for denial.  It was what it was and I suspected it was coming so my denial, if it happened at all, was very brief.

However, I do remember my immediate feeling of anger.  I was angry at myself and the situation. To be quite honest I sometimes still feel angry, especially at myself for allowing the situation to become as complicated as it became.

I bargained for awhile, thinking that I should get another chance, a better severance or at least a going away party....

Then it was the depression...the feelings of hopelessness, serious self-doubt, self-pity, despair....

But finally, now almost three weeks later, I am beginning the final stage of grief, that is acceptance. Ah yes the old These things happen for a reason reasoning. While I haven't yet discovered the reason for this thing happening I have been able to experience the consequences of not working 40 or 50 or even 60 hours a week and there are many.

Things to Do Instead of Working

1. Spend a few days with my aunt in upstate New York and meet up with cousins, cousin-in-law and cousins once removed
2. Apply for a new passport
3. Help build a new deck with my husband
4. Spend a few days at my son's home and visit with my two adorable grandchildren
5. Garden
6. Shop for paint and painting equipment
7. Paint the walls in our new mudroom
8. Shop for running shoes and clothing
9. Go for a run
10. Spend time with my brother
11. Take my sister out for dinner on her birthday
12. Apply for new jobs
13. Attend a job fair
14. Email former colleagues and administrators
15. Shop for flooring for our new mudroom
16. Help install flooring in our new mudroom
17. Play with the dog
18. Swim in the lake
19. Love who I am with and what I am presently doing
20. Forgive- life is too short to hold a grudge

My lovely Aunt and cousin!

The pictures are ones that I have taken over the course of the past two weeks. They represent just some of the wonderful memories I am making during this time of transition.

Until next time,

Bee Rich

The Fountain outside my aunt's home

My Sis and her Son

My granddaughter and daughter-in-law

He shoots and scores- my grandson