Well Wednesday proved uneventful overall until after work. I paid another visit to the YMCA's community women's volleyball night and had a really good time. There were more women in attendance than the previous week and even though we still had a few to teach some of the basics and about rally scoring, a good time was had by all.
Thursday was more of the same. It was a pretty good day overall, ending in me catching the 13 home for a walk from 24th. I have come to enjoy riding various buses that travel near to my neighbourhood and having a bit of a walk home on nice days. These November days of late have been quite kind to us in that they've been pretty mild overall compared to years previous and what they could be, so I am trying to maximise my time outside as well as take advantage of the mild weather and exercise opportunity after a long day sitting at a desk, and trying to avoid a long evening of sitting on the couch. Or at least seemingly trying to compensate for such inactivity with the walk.
Later I was antsy still and althought I had decided not to drive out to Morgan Park for volleyball, I decided that the possibility of more exercise (depending on if and when anyone showed up as I had to leave by 8-8:15 to be able to stop at the grocery for a few ingredients for two kinds of bars I planned to bring to a pot luck for work on Friday) outweighed the gas and time factor of traveling to the west end. Too bad only three of us showed up by 730-745 and basically it was cancelled. Approaching the parking lot another gentleman from the previous week pulled in and inquired as to the possibility of playing, to which we replied, next time try to show up a bit earlier - but even if you had, it would have only been two-on-two and we weren't up for that, me especially recovering from the shoulder injury.
I really don't get why people stagger in for that particular night of games. The week before it didn't start until 745 and only seven of us showed in total. Pretty slim pickins.
I stopped at the store and then proceeded home to make two pans of bars for work then crashed.
Friday. Well this day was the more interesting of the past few. What with the pot luck at work, and more importantly it was a day of celebration of the birth of my children, Rachel, 23 and Samuel, 20. For Sam it marked the end of his teens and also his golden birthday, for Rach it was a day venturing closer to her quarter century mark and also to celebrate her successes of the past year - namely graduating from cosmetology school in May, and moving out to her first apartment in June. My children are my pride and joy. They are both intelligent, successful and if I can brag - gorgeous. They are heaps more than that as well.
Not only was it a special day, but it was an uncharacteristically warm day for November, the temp/clock downtown reading 51F at the noon hour. Clear and sunny, it was hard to look out the windows at work and not daydream of making an escape to enjoy it to the fullest. Since that wasn't really an option, monitarily anyway, on each of my breaks I made my way outside to fully enjoy the clear sunny skies and warm temps, mainly heading to the park/picnic area outside the United Way building just off 5th Ave W and Superior Street to read and bask in the sun. Ahhhhh.
After work I remembered that my friend Krystal was hosting a jewelry party at her parent's home and so after a quick stop at home, I ventured over to the party and just blocks from there I noticed the #3 to Proctor turning onto Cody Street then to 57th as I traveled down Cody to 56th. Kinda funny as my friend Renãn who I've not seen all week has that route, so I had a bit of a Twilight Zone moment there as we both headed towards each other, then turned as if on some parallel path.
The party was nice, and I was lucky to meet Krystal's family - her mom, sisters and grandparent's as well as her aunt and another woman I knew as the neighbour of my boss. Small world really. Her grandpa didn't seem to mind he was the only male in attendance and he and I actually had a very interesting conversation about the forestry as he was a retired MN Forester and I had previously worked for the Minnesota Logger Education Program. Her grandmother was very fun as well - telling us some farm stories as they used to run a dairy and still farm hay.
All of us had a lovely meal of Chicken Salad and veggies as well as rum punch and other snacks before the demonstration began. Pam, our Primere representative gave a lovely yet unpretentious or pushy presentation of many pieces and their versatility using Jill as the perfect model in that she had a seat that gave way to convenience as well as a brown top on that leant itself to a generic background on which to display the pieces, also blending well with them to bring out their colouring. She also has a short bobbed and I might add, a perfectly coiffed hairstyle that helped to show off the jewelry as well.
When all the pieces had been brought out, we were invited to try them on and mix and match them to our hearts content. This was fun in that I hadn't done something like this (try on jewelry and play like young girls) since I was a young girl. It was fun to see Krystal's sisters, aunt, mom and grandmother all having a great time and trying the jewelry with/for each other. It made me miss my mom and daughter's presence. I wish I could have had both of them there with me to feel that same closeness that Krystal and her family shared. *sigh* I understand though as my mom is over 150 miles south and my daughter was out with her mates for her birthday. Still, I felt good as her family made me feel very welcome and comfortable.
Saturday Began earlier than I had expected as I woke at 8 and couldn't go back to sleep. I sorted some things around the house then my boss called to meet me downtown at 1030 to move my office - seems they had hired some new guy to start Monday and with the office renovations incomplete, it was decided he would take my office until the new ones were ready and as I only work mostly in the evenings or on weekends.
I ventured down and since I had arrived a few minutes early, I was lucky to find parking across the street in front of the Holiday Center. Not long after going inside, the mobile rang and it was my boss saying he wasn't to arrive for about an hour, but to go ahead and pack up the contents of the desk and credenza and move my computer to the conference room. Grr, I would have not gone downtown as early. Then I remembered the Greenery's awesome cranberry orange scones and decided to check if they had any for my brekky and grab a Reader as well. Score! on both counts. Yum!
On leaving several buses pulled up, one being driven by my mate Renãn, stopping dead in front of me as I was to cross the street. I grinned a hello and after his riders boarded, stopped for a quick minute to say hello and see how he was going. All was well and he inquired the same, then we were both off on our respective ways. Cheers!
I spent until 1p sorting my belongings and the materials for the ship and financial clients, then headed out home, first stopping at the Festival of the Seasons at the Farmer's Market.
Once home I sorted a few things then decided to start the grill as it was just too nice and had been too long since I last had done so and had been craving something properly charred and perhaps a bit of a fire afterwards.
My crows decided to pay me a visit soon after the coals were lit. Typical that for them. I found some bacon fat and placed it along the deck rail for a change and tried to entice them to eat it there with me ready to take a pic -but until I went inside, they stayed back. Sad as I have fed this particular pair - well at least I reckon it's the same pair as only those two appear regularly and follow me to and from my bus stops in anticipation of a treat - but they also wait til my bus arrives and I board before flying off. Kinda cool really - my non-pet pets. I did manage to snap a few shots of their timid approach to the scraps I had placed out for them, several times managing to grab and go - making off with the treat before I could even snap a pic as I was preparing the meats for the grill. (Chicken Breasts, Burgers, a Pork Cutlet and a few Prawns for brekky and to last the week's lunches.)
Afterwards, I tossed on a few Birch logs I had gathered previously and had a bit of a fire. Once it was nearest to dark and I had finished eating a Pepper Cheese Burger, fries and Beets, I took off to the liquor store for some beer and wine. then took a ride up to Skyline/Chester Parkway to snap a few pics of the setting sun/evening sky/city lights. They are a bit grainy, but it was more the experience of being there at that point to witness the last rays of the day casting their hues on the sky as the city lit up below and the crescent moon glowed bright over all.
Once home, and making sure the fire was out, I closed out the grill and deck for the night. Then hopped online to see who was ab00t and read some and put this post together. Enjoy!
*pics due soon*
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