Ah, weekends...

This one was great! I must admit, though, that it wasn't the most relaxing weekend ever...

We spent most of the weekend unpacking (FINALLY - we moved Aug. 15th!) - it was REALLY nice to put things in places, hang things on walls (even though we still need to paint) and shove things in the basement that we're not going to need until the basement is finished.

I REALLY like the feeling of having done something - especially something that's been inadvertently put on the back burner for SO long. You know what I ALSO really like? Being able to walk through our house without constantly banging into things, thinking "jeez - I really need to do something about that".

Will post photos when we've painted :) (or when we've Christmas-ized the house).

Really?

Is this REALLY how I roll?

cleaning/cooking/shopping/paying bills/working/taking care of kids/driving people places/laundry/home improvement projects/... I could go on, but my point is:

REALLY?

good god that's boring.

A new ... something?

Not really.

I have decided a few things:

1. I'm tired of living in boxes - it's TIME to finish unpacking, which necessarily means:

2. We need to finish the basement. YIKES! Expensive, but necessary - we'll just have to do it a bit at a time, starting with framing... wood's cheap, right? Anyone know any electricians that will work for food? Once the electrical's roughed in, we can insulate, drywall and install the carpet/hardwood/w'ever... which means that the girls can move into their new spaces/unpack their playroom and we can have our OFFICE!!!! (which means that I won't be posting from the desk in our bedroom! - which, by the way, is VERY EXCITING!!!). The basement bathroom will have to wait though - bathrooms are VERY expensive. Guess we'll just have to put the walls up (the plumbing's already roughed in), close the door and hope for a lottery windfall :).

I'm actually very excited about the idea of starting all of this. I like working with my hands - I work with my head most of the time, so it'll be a nice change. I'm going to take the first step this afternoon after work - measuring, taping (removing and changing the plan 5 times, at least), then figuring out wood requirements for framing, etc. IF I'm lucky (and fast, and GOOD), maybe we can have our office for Christmas! Baby steps, right?

3. Speaking of baby... we're going to give it one more shot the old fashioned way. If the worse happens again (ectopic, surgery, etc), IVF is the only way that I will consider. Some (my parents, for example) think I'm crazy for trying - but hey, it is what it is. I hope it will work out for the best this time.

Come the end of the year, I WILL have a big decision to make... whether or not I wish to continue in my current position. It has its benefits - but also its challenges. To the good?: Time. I build my schedule to meet the needs of everyone around me. That's a BIG DEAL. To the bad?: If I don't work, I don't get paid. New client acquisition is always an issue. People are shy about what I do - they tend not to see it as, for example, savings for their retirement (boat, house, whatever) as much as they see it as giving someone else their money. Not sure how to get around that/alter/change their thinking or assumptions. Enh. It'll either happen or it won't. Meantime, I'll just keep plugging away.

And thus ends this particular installment of suburbanwank. Ciao for now - and if you know anyone who needs my particular expertise (or an electrician that's willing to work for food), let me know!

Since the last time....

My, what an interesting roller coaster is this life thing.

Since last time...

Winnipeg. *sigh* For work... 6 days/5 nights of the worst hotel in the worst city (my opinion only) on the planet. I *do* wish they'd move head office to somewhere more civilized! And to top off the loneliness of being away from home, I didn't feel well the entire time - so going out was kinda out of the question... which leads me to...

Pregnant... again. Found out the day after I got home. Weeee... now for the waiting. HCG tests, ultrasound in 2 weeks which leads me to...

THE WORST ULTRASOUND CLINIC IN THE UNIVERSE!!!!! The tech was HORRIBLE - at 6 weeks, trans-vaginal is the only way to find anything... instead (and inspite of positive and rising HCG bloodtests) I am told that "I'm NOT pregnant because she can't find anything". This was a Monday. Sigh... leading me to....

Wednesday. Felt ill. Called clients to cancel meetings 'cause I was feeling feverish and morning sicknessish. Got a phone call from my Dr. at noon - she wanted me to go in for yet ANOTHER blood test and a proper ultrasound at RCH. YAY! Blood tests!!! *sigh*.... which lead to...

Another ectopic pregnancy - fraternal twins this time (2 embryonic sacs). Emergency surgery an hour or so later. Overnight in the hospital. Yucky horrible emotional roller coaster - hey, isn't that where we started?

The surgeon was able to save the tube - I suppose that will mean another internal x-ray to determine whether or not it's open *enough* to consider trying to get pregnant the old fashioned way again. I dunno. Maybe we should just find the money for IVF? At least then the embryo(s) will land in the right spot?

It's been 6 days and I'm no closer to an answer that's right for me. I don't want to risk my life anymore - but we still do want to have a baby. Shouldn't be this hard, should it?

Stolen

Well, it's finally happened to someone I know.

My identity stolen and my accounts maxed out/emptied.

*sigh*

Maybe this year's not so good isn't over yet.

Home sweet home?

After months of drama, heartache, frustration and disappointment, we're home.

Our home.

We even bought/unpacked/set up a shed! You only do that if you're staying, right?

It's going to take me a little while to get accustomed to owning again - funny that. But I suppose that the renting experience of the last year has scarred me ;)... okay, maybe only a little... It's more the MOVING 4 TIMES that's scarred me!

C is doing the full commute from Langley to Yaletown today... and I feel for him completely. IF he catches the right bus, the commute should last 1hr 22minutes.. start to finish (including the walk to the office from skytrain). If not? 2 hours or more, depending on just how much the bus was missed by. Translink? If you want people to use your services (rather than buying a car and driving in, which is what he's talking about at the moment), you NEED to make them more accessible/frequent/cheaper. The traffic on the #1 is caused by people that live here! Right - going to stop there before it becomes a full-on rant.

Back to the house :)

We need to fence the back of the back yard... we need to finish the basement for the girls... other than that? Can't WAIT to hit the garden store! (to that end, we've made a pact - one that I'm positive will be broken the SECOND we step foot inside the hothouses... we're actually trying to make ourselves believe that we're only going to "have a look" ... to "scope out" what's available and "make a plan" for the yard. Yeah. We'll see.)

It's getting done. And the more stuff that gets put away, the better it feels.

Hope to invite all of you over soon :)

A wee rant. Sorry.

WHAT IS IT with nutbar landladies??? I'm WORKING, madame, which is why I am not answering my cell phone. I am SPEAKING WITH A CLIENT, madame. There is absolutely no need to track down Chris's sister, rant at HER about me not picking up my phone, tell HER that you heard from your son who heard from a friend who heard from someone else that the daughter of our back alley neighbour said that we're not moving out on the 31st, then tell HER that if we're not out by 2:30 on the 31st you "might as well call your lawyer now and declare bankruptcy" for crying out LOUD.

1. Becci's amazing - but she does not follow our every move - and even if she did, what right do you have to call her to try to track us down DURING WORK HOURS???
2. Bankruptcy? Okay, well, you're nuts... but here it is - you do not declare bankruptcy by calling your lawyer.
3. DO NOT use - what? 5th party information to disrupt all of our lives! Lady - your son, who heard it from someone who heard it from someone who heard it from someone else is WRONG.

How on EARTH do you function in everyday life? Try picking up the phone IN THE EVENING - or leave us a message rather than sending a terse fax to my place of business.

Lady, I will be glad to be done here.