Going to the chapel....

And I'm going to get married. Well...maybe not in a chapel. Actually its the big park in our home town. And in less than 3 months! But David asked...and I said yes. It's a little scary going into this again. Knowing how my last marriage ended. But...David is not Curt. And I am not the same naive, innocent 22 year old that got married the first time. We are sooooooo very happy.

Can't sleep....

I somehow doubt anyone reads this anymore....but I'm going to post here just to think out loud. If anyone has read this...or actually knows me in real life....then you know it's been a while since I posted. And lots of life has happened. I've resolved things with my parents. We talk several times a week now. And I get together with them several times a year. The relationship is stronger than it's been in a long, long time. I've been in a relationship with David (not his real name) for 2 1/2 years. He is part of the reason my relationship with my parents has improved. He is the reason I'm still in Canada. He knows everything about me. Things I've never told another living soul. Things I never thought I could say. He knows when I'm thinking about something and tries to figure out what I'm thinking. (and scarily....often gets it right!) I've sent away the last of the requirements for permant residency. I could have it by the end of the month. Yeah...its been a busy time.

Hmmmm...should I even keep this????

So...It's been...five months since I wrote anything here. But I'm thinking again...I should start writing. So much has been happening...that maybe I should be keeping a journal of it somewhere. So...where to start???

Well I guess I'll start with what is probably the most important part. I met someone in late February. Hmmmm....call him David. David is in his early 40s. He's been married and divorced. He has a teenage son who lives quite far away. He drives a truck. Was not planning on giving my heart away again...ever. It's been hurt so often in the past few years. Even kind of dated a guy between Pat and David that I must admit...I kept my heart from. But David, well...won me over.

Oddly...he reminds me of my dad. I know...I know. All girls marry their fathers. But I didn't. I married the anthisis of my father. And eventually realized it and divorced. But now...wow.

He does things for me I don't even realize I need. Like cleaning out my car. Or buying a small book for me to write lists in so I'm not carrying a million pieces of paper in my purse. Or noticing the EXACT purse I carrying and when finding it on sale elsewhere...calls to ask if I'm going to want another just like it when this one is finally too old to carry.

Random thoughts....

I saw a bilboard advertising a job that I need to get a picture of to post here for a friend who is currently out of work...it's only a part time position...but how many places are actively searching for a winemaker? But there is a store here that is looking for just that.

We are having another town's underwater hockey team come and visit and teach us a bit. It's not until the end of the month, but I'm looking forward to it. I think it will be both fun and interesting.

I'm back at the first house I was at last April. It's a small house and that makes night shifts really hard to stay awake for as there just isn't as much to do. Thankfully I'm only there a month, and my night shifts are one week at the first (already done!) and one at the end of the month...and that's a short week! YAY!!!!

The weather is looking...possible for a trip to Minot on Friday. I need to take my car down to get some recall work done on it so I can actually get it licensed and insured here in Canada. I'll call the dealership tomorrow and try to get it all set up.

Until then...laundry, work, band, UWH....busy, busy, busy!

Where has the time gone????

Wow...what a busy past few weeks! Holidays (complete with 3 get togethers of friends!) and now...back to the busy-ness of band, underwater hockey, work, getting the immigration stuff more in order, and....finding a new roommate. :(

Pat has decided to move on. He's moving quite some distance. To another part of Canada. It's been an odd feeling. We've settled into a kind of routine life together here, and to have that be going away...is odd. But at the same time, I think it's probably for the best overall. The new housemate moves in this weekend while Pat moves out. It's another guy, who I think I'll call...Paul. We'll see how things go, but at least the bills can get paid and he likes my dog. :)

On a far, far happier note....UWH! Wow! Each time I get in the pool I feel better about what I'm doing. Two weeks ago we had two new players, both of whom will be back! And one is female! :) We also had local radio and TV crews in and they will be doing short stories about us! Good publicity all around. We're pretty pumped up about it all. Last week...we had 7 people in the pool...played an actual scrimage game! Lots of fun!!!!



I bought a mask and snorkel a couple of weeks ago. :) I feel more and more a part of this sport all the time.

Work continues to go well...I'm heading back to the first house I was in come February. Which starts me back on a rotation thru all the houses (new order and different numbers of months at each house, but still...I'll have been to them all now.)

Went to talk to immigration (the local provincial folks) today. As soon as I get all the paperwork finished and in they think it will take about 2-3 months to process. :) So I maybe a permenant resident by summer.

The weather here...has been snowy! And now it's getting cold. I have to get a cord for my block heater. I got one installed last week so as the weather gets colder, hopefully the car will be happier about starting!

Me...I'm happier than I've been in years. :)

Events of the last few weeks

So I started the month working overnights. And at a house where residents go to bed by 9pm...leaving me alone in the house from 9pm till 7am. Nightly cleaning takes maybe 2 hours...if you go really slowly. Which leaves 8 hrs to sit, watch tv, drink coffee, and stay awake. I was really bored. And starting that again next week. UGH.

Last week and this week...I'm working days. Including Christmas day and Boxing Day (not that that seems like a holiday to me...but it is a paid holiday here in Canada.)

I had a root canal done about 2 weeks ago now. The need for it came on suddenly, just like the other times. :( But thankfully I found a good dentist here, thanks to a co-workers reccomendation. And my dental insurance covered 80%. :) Even better. I did have to pay up front. But got my check back fairly quickly. (would have been quicker if my workplace had told the insurance company I'd moved!) Oh well. I'll have to remind them. Again. :(

My involvement in underwater hockey has been fun. We had more new people out last week, so it was quite fun. Hopefully by this time next month...we'll have enough people for a scrimage at the end of the sessions!

Less Ugh...More Ahhh

So the Dr visit on Monday was...interesting and helpful. Interesting in that I got to see again the differences in the Canadian vs. US medical systems firsthand. Helpful in that I got a possible resolution to my problem with the assurance of other options of this one doesn't work. :) The interesting part is that routine Gynacology (pap smears, exams, etc) are done by GPs/Family practice/primary care doctors. So with that in mind...my next full physical...will be a full physical. Everything including gynacology. (Although pap tests are suggested at 2 years at my age/lack of family history instead of every year--the comment Dr. K made when I said it had been 14 months and I needed a new test was "American health care...they just want the money!" Which seems to be the common perception here in Canada. But since nothing has really changed for me...other than a fairly normal (for me) increase in pain levels during my period, no test until my next physical. The cramps have always kind of come and gone, gotten better or worse. And now..it's becoming worse. So as I discussed this with Dr. K., he came up with several possibilities to ending my pain. Some seemed better, some worse. We're starting with a stronger NSAID than the advil I've been using. If this isn't better (or the side effects are too much) we'll try something else.





Until then, I have several things (OK...maybe more than several...like several dozen!) to do.



I have a band concert on Sunday. It's our Christmas concert and I think Pat and a couple of other friends will be coming out to watch. :)



UWH (underwater hockey) is really starting to gear up. I'm the primary organizer (which is funny as until this week...I've never been in snorkeling gear for more than 15 or 20 minutes at a time!) And this week...I was in the pool, in full gear and doing drills(!) for more than a hour. Wow...tiring, but satisfying too. Rob (the coach here in my hometown) and James (the organizer in the next town over) were there to give me my first lesson. Two experienced players to one newbie hardly seemed fair, but that's just how it went. Hopefully...the next time we try this it will go better. And have more people!

Better get to my stuff...still have some cleaning to do, as well as decorating a tree, a house and baking...Wow...I've got a busy day ahead!