make the most of the time I've been given

what it is

On Wednesday evening, after another good but long work day followed by dinner out with my Nan, I returned home to find several trays and pots of plants lining my driveway – gifts obviously from my Mom.

I’ll be honest – I was initially a bit annoyed. I know it seems ungrateful to feel that way upon receiving a spontaneous gift, but at first glance, to me it just looked like another CHORE!

In short order, however, I corrected my attitude, found my gratitude, and headed back outside to see what little treasures I’d been gifted. It was close to 8:00 p.m. by then, and I didn’t expect much more daylight, but after I had a look at the tomatoes, peppers, daisies (gerbera AND shasta – yay!), the rouge cardinal clematis, three varieties of delphineum, and this handsome devil:

I couldn’t wait to grab my gloves and spade and get down and dirty.

That was how I spent the remainder of my evening. As the sun set and the solar twinkle lights began to illuminate, I lovingly welcomed all 27 new plants to my garden. I savored the familiar aromas of damp wormy earth, stale garden hose water, and freshly mown grass. I enjoyed the fresh air and exercise. I realized that I had been wanting to spend time puttering in the garden, but that other obligations, as well as not having the money to buy materials, have prevented me. I realized that my Mom had given me an invaluable gift – an excuse to spend time doing what brings me joy. Thanks Mom!

Despite my ever-growing list of stuff that I need to tackle in these busy two weeks off, I jumped at an invitation to see last night’s Twist and Shout: The British Invasion performance at the Grand Theatre. I haven’t been out in ages, and I haven’t been to the theatre in ages plus a week!

We first went for dinner at the best Indian restaurant in London – Massey’s. We shared the most delectable tandoori mahi, as well as garlic naan, palak paneer (spinach and cheese curd) and khumb matar (peas and mushrooms in thick, spicy tomato gravy). Had I been hit by a truck on the way out the door I’d have died happy. But lucky me, I survived the rest of the evening and even luckier me, the show was great too! It was upbeat, humorous and visually dazzling complete with groovy costumes, colourful sets, and BIG hair.

_{not the greatest photo but the only one I can find online}

The stage was designed to look like the set of a 1960’s TV variety show (a la Ed Sullivan). It was four years to the day that The Beatles first landed in America, and “The Roy Solomon Show” was airing a revue to celebrate the many British acts that made that period in music history so toe-tappingly, sing-alongingly unforgettable.

Strung up in both corners were two black and white monitors alternately broadcasting news and film footage from the era, the action on stage, and commercials (really funny nostalgic ones for Alka Seltzer, Dristan, Heinz pickles etc). The host of the show, “Roy Solomon” came out in front of the sparkling stage curtain to introduce the acts, which began and ended with The Beatles, but including so many more such as Dusty Springfield, the Dave Clarke Five, Lulu and Procol Harum. And the dancers accompanying almost every song were incredible too – pure energy in their movement and pure joy in their faces.

I’m tired today, of course, after such a late night, but it was a lovely fun evening out – a real treat for me.

This hasn’t been a great day. Lots of upset and stress right now, and not much life experience in dealing with it in healthy, productive ways. But today, during a moment of feeling really lost, and knowing I was about to cry, I stuffed a handful of Kleenex into my pocket and headed into the small chapel next door to my office.

I have to say, if you MUST cry at work, having a small chapel handy really is lovely. And after I wept a while, and was sufficiently drained of energy to cry any longer, I took off my shoes, folded my legs into a half-lotus, and meditated for a while. Reading “Peace Is Every Step” has taught me a new technique for lightening up, which really did/does help.

I think I’ll try to spend a few minutes in the back of the chapel every day, with my shoes off and my eyes closed, reciting the little verse that brings me back to peace.

I am not only NOT making the most of my time these days, but I am actively, determinedly, frustratingly WASTING my time. I’m feeling under the gun to catch up my reading for school (especially in pharmacology) and start prepping for exams, but the more I think about how much work I have to do, the more I avoid it, and the longer I put it off, the more anxious I become. What frustrates me is that I can see and feel it happening so clearly, as though I’m looking in on the cycle from a place outside it, yet I don’t seem to do, or know how to do, anything to stop it and get on with business! I’m a bit demoralized, but I’ve been here before so MANY exams in the past, I know I’ll be okay and I’ll pull it together in time. I guess I’m feeling sort of sad at myself for not using this time, this experience, to break those old patterns and stay on top of things for once. Sigh.

Don’t know if that made any sense :o\

Went to the RBG this weekend with my Mom… partly because there were several ‘green’ exhibitors at the show, partly just to get away for a day, and partly just because it was at the RBG!

As always, we had a lovely day. We enjoyed the show – got lots of food for thought (might even use some of the information we gathered in an upcoming school project). And because we were there and couldn’t NOT visit the Mediterranean pavilion, we wandered through the rainforesty room and stopped to make fish faces at the koi.

This time, for the first time, we also went to the ramshackle hot dog joint behind the RBG instead of dining in their fabulous cafe. We’ve always meant to check out the hot dog place though, because it bares our last name! So in we went – I had a ‘Reuben Dog’ and Ma had the ‘Chicago Dog’. Delish!

All in all, a lovely few hours.

After years of waiting, M finally bought himself a drum kit. And for years, he’s insisted we hang on to this silly plaster-cast pedestal so that when the day came that he had drums, he could set the it beside his kit as a beer pedestal (because really, where better to place one’s favorite beverage? ! ? !).

Well, my man’s got his kit, so I painted up his post for him on the weekend. I even gave it a ‘test drive’, with my glass of wine :o)

Quick update … I poured a glass of wine instead of making hot chocolate, but I’m reclined in Marty’s cushy office chair, Christmas lights on, watching The Santa Clause and eating bon bons … yep, this is just what I had in mind!

I have a filthy house, a stack of overdue typing, five boxes of corporate holiday cards to sign, all seasonal decorations still in boxes, and a host of other hobbies, chores and activities I could – and should – be doing… and what did I just spend the last 30 minutes on? Carefully researching when and on which channels I can catch my favorite holiday television specials this year! hahaha.. not my best effort at productivity!

As excited as I am to settle in with hot cups of tea and revisit some of the Christmas classics I remember with love, I’m a bit disappointed that it’s such a sedentary activity. Maybe I could circle the block twice before each show…

Today is my first day back to work after four glorious, fun-filled, all-about-me days off. Ahhh… I’m still enjoying my weekend, and it’s after 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday! hahaha

I can’t remember what we did on Friday night, but I just know I had fun. Saturday I got up early to run with David, then went to Nia and shared hugs and love with my new treasured friends there. When I went home, Miss Anne was waiting on the sidewalk with Marty. She had come to see if I wanted to join her on a visit to the dollarstore and Stamp Art shop. But of course! So off I went after I made the three of us some really yummy peameal bacon “mcmuffins”. I bought way too much stuff on our little outing, but oh well. Got home around noon, puttered around the house cleaning and avoiding my school work. Later I made cheddar-pepper bites to take to the hors d’eurves contest at M’s teammate’s party, and then off we went. My treats didn’t win, but I only lost because I voted for the winner instead of myself. Doh!

Sunday I had a wee bit of hangover so I skipped our scheduled jog, which was probably for the best because I had the fam coming for brunch and needed the time to prepare the house and food. I made a fabulous feast (I’m not tooting my own horn here – I botch plenty of meals, but by the grace of God, on Sunday morning I was serving up some super-tasty eats). We all had a really enjoyable visit – everyone stayed happy and calm and there were only maybe two moments of questionable tension. Otherwise, we felt like a family for the first time in years and years. After they left, I watched football with M for a while, and then I ran a really hot, really bubbly bath. How lucky am I?

Monday I spent the day touring scrapbooking shops all around Ontario with two of my favorite ladies. We enjoyed both breakfast AND lunch out, found lots of exciting supplies for our various projects, and shared lots of laughs. The only thing that might top that day is a day of actually scrappin’ together at one of our homes with a bottle of wine at hand.

Yesterday was all about me. I booked the day off work and went to the Memory Mill in Dorchester where I spent five focused hours making ‘cards for all occasions’ for my Mom’s Christmas present. The woman who runs these ‘crop’ times was generous with her ideas, advice and supplies, and I like the few cards that I was able to (mostly) finish. I thoroughly enjoyed my ‘artist’s date’ and plan to make it a regular gift to myself.

As a perfect wrap up, yesterday evening I went to Nia for a new (to me) routine that I LOVED, and gave and received hugs a plenty. When I got home M decided I was too tired to cook so he ordered in dinner for us. Wow. What a weekend.