Itchy Feet

[Bad username or site: @ livejournal.com] has posted his photos of the trip to Africa he took with [Bad username or site: @ livejournal.com]. They include an adorable one of a lemur on Amanda's head. :)

Also, while you're there, support Phil's Movember fundraising by making a donation towards prostate cancer awareness and teh beyondblue campaign, which is aimed at providing assistance to the depressed.

Today's a donation day for me. I've done my United Way contribution and the OPS is currently holding a toy drive for Christmas gifts for underprivileged kids, so I offloaded some bits and pieces I've accumulated via stocking fillers (if anyone has any decent condition, clean, unwrapped toys or games they'd like to contribute, we have boxes in the foyers of our building at Bay and Wellesley). I also have my Remembrance Day poppy for tomorrow.

I have tomorrow off, since I'm a government worker. I was going to do some pre-emptive Christmas shopping, but the pay cheque is a tad stretched already, so I'll settle for a new pair of winter shoes and a haircut. Considering I haven't had my hair trimmed since August, it's sorely needed.

I'm also about to be alone in the office for a bit - B's father passed away evening before last and so people are going to the funeral. I'm not good with the funeral thing, so I offered to stay and man the phones so others could go.

Oh, you're one of those viruses. The ones whose symptoms come and go and make me look like a total hypochondriac, but which manages to make me feel cruddy any way.

Random bouts of fever/hot flashes, chronic tiredness, bouts of wooziness and emotional instability exhibiting as a tendency to feel like I'm about to burst into tears any time I get stressed. Fantastic. I haven't had one of these since summer camp in Iowa and they wound up testing me for mono/glandular fever (which it wasn't, btw).

On the positive side, I'm having sushi tonight with Mindy and Johnny. So let's see you stand up to wasabi and lots of tea.

From an email conversation with Mindy:

R: Next weekend is fine for me as far as I know right now. *grins* But yeah, count me in with helping - it's personal between me and those damn thistles now!

M: Alright so next sunday we will launch a counter attack on the thistles of doom!

R: This time It's Personal!

M: We're gonna need a soundtrack...

So, randomly on a Friday where I really don't want to work, by all accounts... what song do you consider Indispensible on the Crowning Moment of Awesome Sountrack?

(YouTube links will have to wait until I get home, since they're blocked here. *pouts*)

So, I survived another St Patrick's Day in the Village. It was a good one this year, with Lee showing up unexpectedly and Maria bestowing upon me a rather spiffy Guinness t-shirt. Even the morning after wasn't horrendous, although it wasn't pleasant. Taking the day after as a vacation day was the best idea ever.

Oh, and [Bad username or site: @ livejournal.com]? People were sad you weren't there. Lee and Mindy asked after you. :)

So, round up of the week aside from Irish New Year... um, stuff happened? Counselling is going swimmingly, I'm edging closer to having the courage to Go Be Social outside of my comfort zones, French is progressing nicely and the weather has been gorgeous all week. Proper sunshine and warmth and everything - I was outside in a t-shirt yesterday! Of course, they're predicting below freezing next week, so making the most of it while it lasts.

Work has been on-off. Wednesday was Expenses Day, apparently - not only did I have Alvin's expense claims for the year to process, but Jane decided she wanted hers done to. So yeah, the slightly crazed Twits were brought to you by a day spent with spreadsheets, receipts and way too many numbers. We finished, however, and got Alvin submitted a full two weeks before end of fiscal year, which was a great feeling. Even if I stayed until 6 to do it, missing valuable pub time!

Also, I got a bit extra in my pay this week. Accrued backpay for a small raise given in October. It covers various expenses nicely.

Other things I have accomplished:

Driver's licence renewal - everything's assembled and done, just need to mail the envelope on my way home tonight;

Doctor's appointment - meds have been renewed and purchased yesterday, so I'm good for another 90 days;

Hair appointment - made for next Friday at 5:15 p.m. Cut and colour;

Credit card - $250 on its way through Paypal, $160 on its way into my bank account for processing;

Tax return - submitted. I should get about $500 back.



Yet to do:

Contacts and glasses - today after work, if [Bad username or site: @ livejournal.com] is available I got the red ones - they look even better with my hair down and dry;

Gym - cancel membership and join YMCA;

Emails/texts - respond to everything that came through Wednesday/Thursday, since I was incommunicado for most of yesterday;

Feedback meme on [Bad username or site: @ livejournal.com] - half done. ;

Clothes shopping once I get the insurance money for my contacts and glasses back - jeans, a couple of t-shirts that aren't a) black and b) from Dexcon, swimsuit and swimming cap (I hate the things, but I hate chlorine-damaged hair more and if I'm swimming regularly, I'm going to need one);

Use the gift cards Aisy got me a while ago now for microdermabrasion;

Scrabble on Monday? I'm not sure, given they're not exactly the most social of people and I haven't been for ages due to feeling out of place, but that could have been the depression talking again. I'll give it a go again on Monday and see; Not this Monday - I'm needed to make dinner.

Book discussion group - April 14 at High Park library. Must get book and read it;

Sign up on some kind of social/dating site. Follow up on various leads. Be proactive about getting my own social group and GASP! actually getting back to that dating thing. It's time.

Send positive thoughts to [Bad username or site: @ livejournal.com], who is undergoing back surgery today.

Got your card yesterday. :) The kitties wish you a happy holiday (as well as me). ;)

I feel kind of bad for forgetting until now, because this is a very special person who has done so much for me I can never repay her. Happy birthday for yesterday, [Bad username or site: @ livejournal.com]. You are truly a gem among people and I wish you so much - if anyone deserves happiness and peace and glitter, it is you. *hugs*

Off to the Dex family picnic. Back later. :)

Never before has an acronym meant so much...

Work has been insane lately. I've worked overtime pretty much every day this week, whether it's working through lunch, or working after hours, or both. I normally have time during the work day to do other stuff as well, but not this week. Hell, I've barely had time to get my lunch break. And it's all combined to make me one cranky Rossi. Apologies for anyone who's had to bear the brunt of that, btw. I was in a bit better mood this morning after Angel decided to come curl up with me for the last half hour of sleep, at least.

Johnny's birthday party tonight, which will be good, and then the weekend. I'll be spending some of it cleaning the apartment - with Dexcon coming up, there's some major cat hair removal needed, for a start - but hopefully that shouldn't take too long. I'm also trying to brush the cats more since they're shedding like nothing else, but with Spike it's an uphill battle. *wry*

Now to plow through my email and hopefully get up to date on everything. Ai-yi-yi...

Tomorrow is my last full day in Australia.

I want to go back to Canada. But I miss the people here. But I miss the people there too. I is so confused. And drunk. My mother is a naughty influence.