to-do list

I have so much to do. It is insane.

Today I am TRYING to get organized. I have a calendar and I am scheduling everything. Today I called: OHIP, ordered more contact lenses, made Dr. appt, dentist appt.... all things I need to do while I am still in Ottawa and still have medical insurance through work. I need to reserve a moving truck. So I should call them too. The tricky part is that my friend Jodie is driving the truck and I do not have a credit card. Jodie does. AKKK. I have money though. I have not started packing. yet. I have reserved 2 weekends on my calendar to pack- that should be more than enough!

I went to see The Strangers last night. SCARY. Loved it. Did I mention it was SCARY? omg....I had my sweater up around my face through the entire movie. I actually screamed OUT LOUD at one part and jumped several times.

One of these days I have to buy the kids a much nicer/bigger scratching post!

They do LOVE this one though!

I have been nicotine free for over 3 weeks. And I made it through my first cycle of birth control pills.

I gave in my letter of resignation at work. I gave almost 5 weeks notice.

I received my 5 years of service gift at work- a card with a note written by our executive director and a $50 Keg giftcard :)

I have 19 days of work left!!!!

I better go. lots to do.......

Esprit Rafting Adventure

I went white water rafting yesterday. It was so nice to spend the entire day outdoors. The picture above was the scariest set of rapids that we did. Only 5% of rafters ever get to do this one as the water levels have to be exactly right.

Going over the waterfall I was in the front of the raft (kind of like being in the front of the rollercoaster) and then I saw a WALL of water coming at me so fast..... then BAM! So...... in this giant pool of rapids 4 of us fell out of the raft. We all went under. I thought the whole raft capsized. I was pulled under and I couldn't tell if I was under the raft or not, could not make sense of where I was, could not get to the surface, could not see anything except water...... then I got to the surface and kept getting pulled under as it was like a whirlpool and I kept inhaling massive amount of water. I was hyperventilating cause I could not breathe as most of this time I was under water. then one of the guides threw me a rope. I held onto it.... I was now about 100ft now from where I fell in (I fell in where all the WHITE is in the picture above). I kept inhaling water. I could not breathe or catch my breath. All I knew was that I was NOT going to let go of the rope. finally I made it to shore and had to wait until the next raft was in position and then I walked across to another raft and they taxi'd me back to my raft. I stood there feeling pretty shaky.

We were on a 7 person, 14ft raft- much more sporty and punchy

than the bigger, more tradition rafts

also, going in the spring when the water levels are higher gives you bigger waves....

A little shaken up, but still good to go. I think I was in shock, it really did not hit me until later after I processed it. I think I now know what it feels like to drown. You feel pressure from the water, but no pain, confusion, time seems to slow down, you cannot breathe but you cannot process that fact. I could not think or react to what was happening.

Today I think I have a concussion. Last night my pupils were different sizes. I have been abnormally tired since I got home yesterday. Today I had the worst headache. Likely I wacked my head on a rock or with my paddle or someone else. 4 bodies flew out of the raft after going over a waterfall- anything is possible.

I feel as though my entire body was put through a washing machine. I ache from head to toe....my head, face, arms, hands... etc. etc. I have bruises all over.

This was us doing some recreation swimming :) The water was FREEZING. And it is really weird to swim with runners and socks on!

This was my second time white water rafting. Likely I will go again.

Jodie and I/ 60k in the rain

Ottawa River Parkway Bikepath

I biked from my apartment all the way to Moodie Dr/417/Corkstown Rd yesterday. I think it was about 60km. ALMOST to Kanata!!! and we started biking in the pouring rain..... Today I was exhausted.

I move in 6 weeks!

I am VERY excited.

numbers

• 52 days until I move to North Bay
• smoke free (with NO patch) for 10 days (I seriously feel like a junkie....)
• on birth control for 10 days (not recommended to do this at the same time as quitting smoking. I have been incredibly nauseus, tired, emotional, mildly depressed and at times very irritable...)
• number of times I think of Bruce and smile throughout any given day: about a million :)
• number of times I have been to aquafit in the past 3 weeks: once :(

avec glasses :)

mmmmmmuffins

I bought fresh blueberries today and made blueberry lemon muffins. They are delicious!

Isabelle

Bruce is on his way back to Tacoma today. It seemed much more bearable when he was in North Bay because he was close enough that we could drive to see each other, and in the same time zone, not to mention the same country..... It was also really nice because we had long chats on the phone every night :) That is something we don't do very often when he is in Tacoma, mostly due to the time difference and our work schedules. In less than 2 months none of that will be an issue. I cannot wait to move. I am sooooooo excited to start "our life" together. We will be going from 3000 miles apart to living in the same house!!! I am so happy we are skipping the months of long distance dating between Ottawa and North Bay.

:)

Pub Italia

Last night two of my coworkers and I went out for a couple of beers at Pub Italia. All 3 of the beers pictured here were fantastic (2 were raspberry, 1 was strawberry- all VERY different....) I had a raspberry belgium beer that tasted like fruity sparkling champagne. We walked over from my place and hung out for a couple of hours.... They have a "beer bible" with over 200 kinds of beer. It is very impressive. They also have ~36 beers on tap. And the atmosphere is very nice.

tip toe through the tulips

I have given my notice to my landlord (he then asks me if I could put an ad on the internet for him. I said sure!)

I always said "I am not leaving my job until I get my 5 years of service plaque"..... well I get it in June!!! talk about timing. I will have been at the shelter 6.5 years by the time I leave (there is a bit of a delay in getting the award...)

I get a 3.25% raise (back paid to April 1st) which I am quite happy about.

I am so excited to be moving. I am excited to start my new life. To see Bruce every single day. I am ecstatic beyond words. I love him MORE every single day. He really is very very sweet. The next time I see him will be moving day. I have smiled every day since mid January, without fail. A coworker said "you are the happiest person I know. It makes me sick."

The Tulip Festival donated some of the tulips to our shelter. Sue and I spent quite a bit of time cutting the bulbs and organizing a way to dry them out so we can plant them in the fall and make our shelter pretty next year. Also I got to keep some, which I will plant in our yard in North Bay and they will remind me of the shelter, and Ottawa, and Sue.

moving.......

After much discussion we have finally decided on a moving date. July 26-27th. I am soooo excited. but a little overwhelmed. The next time I see Bruce I will be moving into "our house" in North Bay.

Since yesterday I have....
cancelled my cable (all of it).
started taking birth control pills.
quit smoking.

free sunsets!

heart shaped jaccuzi tub

I LOVE this!!!!

our little walk through the woods across from the Inn

the view from outside our hotel room

I loved falling alseep every night next to the fire


a wonderfully fun & relaxing week

I miss him already

It was so hard to leave

North Bay

Our second "date" involved buying a house and staying at an Inn that overlooked a lake (that also had a fireplace in the bedroom and a jaccuzi tub for two ). Bruce taught me how to play chess and already I am addicted. Our second date was even better than our first.... I am even more in love with him.

OMG I adore this man!

I love being with him.

talking to him.

sweet, sweet love of my life.

I cannot wait to move to North Bay and be with him......

Our House

"sold" :)
side split, 3 level, single family home

huge yard, walk to the beach

1.5 bathrooms

~1700 square feet

big yard

with birch trees!

back deck- off the rec room

front deck off the living room

more birch trees

spacious kitchen

glossy hardwood floors

3rd level- 3 bathrooms

master bedroom with french doors overlooking the backyard



kitchen

the most gorgeous bathroom in the world

rec room

fireplace!

the large window with the trees is the first thing you see when you walk into the house!

big dream

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHkwdPwLevQ

I feel intoxicated by the overwhelming love I feel.
I leave for North Bay Monday to spend a week with Bruce.

I cannot wait.
There is nothing in the world I want more than to be with him :)

I am an aquafit junkie :)

my "new" $5.00 maryjane shoes :)

In the past week I have gone to aquafit SIX times!!

and on the weekend I walked almost 15km. I walked to Westboro and back and I walked to Holland and Wellington and back :) two days of lots of walking.

I am going to North Bay next Monday.... in 6 days. I will be there for a week with Bruce :) I CANNOT wait to see him again.

a moment of complete clarity!

I spent 20 years looking for my soulmate. I never found him. When I finally stopped looking and found real inner peace and happiness.... he walked into my life. People always say it happens when you are not looking. And that that you "just know". And that is EXACLTY how it happened. Blindsided. and I JUST KNEW.

He is sweet, gorgeous, sexy, kind, funny, honest, loving, affectionate, trusting, gentle, fun, smart. He is everything I have ever wanted and more. He has qualities that I love because they are so much like me. And he has qualities I wish I had. We are similar, different, and very complimentary. I feel so lucky and grateful to have him in my life. He makes me smile every single day.

It is magical and wonderful. I love him more than I have ever loved another person. I look forward to every minute that I will get to spend with him. I look forward to every conversation.

I look forward to everything.

Oneday I will marry him. And that day will be the very best day of my life :) The day I get to marry my very best friend. the love of my life. I never knew I could feel this way about another person. I never knew I could feel this good.

I get to see him again in TWO WEEKS......

I want to wrap my arms around him and NEVER let go. I *wish* that were possible :)

How Cute Am I?

Mick

I spent a week trying to save this cat. Yesterday my supervisor decided to euthanize him. Last night I sobbed for 2 hours. I am angry. and upset...... for so many reasons.

the hardest part was saying goodbye to him yesterday. and then working all day, trying not to think about it.

Some days I hate my job.

21

I am going to see this movie tonight. with Tim and Jodie. I used to go see Matinees with Sue on a fairly regular basis but haven't been in months. Looks like a good movie.

UPDATE: this movie was fantastic!!!!