This is sorta like one of those newsletters you get around the holidays telling you about the wonderful accomplishments of people you really can't stand. The only difference is I had no accomplishments to report, and you all love me! 
This is a bit blog-like, newsbits and personal ramblings and rants. I hope you don't mind listening to me whine  Here's my update:
November:
This was the month that sparked the insanity that made December pretty much disappear. The second week of November we learn my mother has a new type of cancer in her right collarbone area. It is not the same type as she had in her breast. Radiation treatment is prescribed, and she will be in the hospital from the first of December to the 23rd, at which point her and my dad will make their first trip up to visit me in a year. Not the greatest news, but at least the doctors had a treatment option. The people at my dad's new workplace are great, and don't mind the fact he has to pick her up every Friday morning to come home for the weekend. He's loving his job, though he's making half what he used to, but in Nova Scotia, any job is better than none.
On November 23rd, we had our first bad snowstorm of the year after a few days of rain. On his way to work after his lunchbreak, Richie was involved in a car accident. Losing control on a patch of ice with nowhere to go and brakes that just wouldn't grip, he slammed into the back of a half-ton truck. Luckily, he had been going slow enough that had had time to brace for impact, and his airbag did not deploy. Unfortunately, he suffered injuries to his muscles in his neck, shoulder and left leg, and was out of work for two weeks. Even worse, our car was beyond repair and was written off. And as unhelpful as insurance companies are, we were given a rental until they finished up their paperwork, at which point it had to be returned. This does not equal the time that we actual get a cheque--a cheque doesn't show up until a few days before Christmas--almost a month later. Suddenly we're pressed for time--we have to find a super cheap reliable car and purchase it with money we don't have. Thanks to some wonderful family members, we are loaned enough money to purchase a car. And as luck would have it, one is advertised in the paper the same day we secure the loan--one that's in good shape for a good price and we buy it. We're now proud owners of a 1998 Chrysler Intrepid that has a trunk so big you could live in it. I'm thankful that issue resolved itself--though the stress damn near killed me for a week and a half!
December:
The first two weeks are lost running around trying to straighten out the accident stuff. Then Richie ends up with an ear infection that takes over his head, then his chest, ending up in bronchitis. Due to his injuries and subsequent illness, I'm going positively mad trying to organize and clean the house, and prepare for the holidays. Christmas decorations don't get hung, gifts aren't bought till Christmas Eve, and the Christmas tree just barely makes it up a few hours before my parents arrive for a week's visit. December just disappeared so quickly it seems like I'm missing a month.
For the week my parents were here, I ran a hospital. Richie had bronchitis, my dad had a cold, and my mom had a sinus infection and burns from the radiation treatment. I felt like Florence Nightingale, getting pills, orange juice, blankets, pillows--you name it. Now I have to try to get back on track...that should be fun!
My business:
Because of the terrible luck we've had this year (the house fire, dad's losing his job, mom's new diagnosis, the car accident...I'm happy 2005 is over), my business just died this holiday season. I had tons of stuff ordered and had been lined up to sell at a number of places--until I lost reliable transport, I had to cancel them to get my deposit back. I only made it to one sale, and actually lost money there. It cost me six bucks for the half table I was renting and I only sold $2 in merchandise. To say that I was disgusted and frustrated was the understatement of the year. Instead of pulling in an expected $1000+ of revenue, I'm now staring at a load of debt from product I purchased and now can't move. I'm working on a catalogue so people can email or mail in orders (it will be available for download or you can request a copy of it in an email) but I've serious doubts it will work.
I think I'm suffering from stress overload. It's been a whirlwind of chaos since November and instead of planning, then acting, I've only been reacting to everything that has popped up. I'm absolutely exhausted but can't sleep because I'm so tense, and when I do drift off I have nightmares of every possible kind (Carl Jung would have a field day with them, I'm sure).
I've started taking classes in Hong Sau meditation--reputedly one of the best forms of meditation in the world, as it is practised by Hindu sages and Buddhist monks (and is taught in high-end Asian spas). I'm sure this is what I need--a way to unwind. We'll just have to see how it goes.
Thanks for listening to my long spiel. Take care everyone!
Katse
|
Mallanox : "My mother was Irish and my father was an alien. I was an only child and I dress funny." 
