Cold and Snow!!!!

Today has been an interesting day. This morning I looked at the weather forecast for today for here in Winnipeg and for back home in Littleton. Littleton prediction was a high of 17F and 1-3 inches of snow. Winnipeg prediction was a high of 18F and up to 4 inches of snow. Hmmmmmmm, these be looking pretty similar. I appreciate the cold so much less now in Colorado, since I am here in Canada, feeling the WIND that comes with the cold. We are predicted to get a high of -10F this Saturday (yes you read correctly, a HIGH of -10F). Any of you folks in Colorado wanna come keep me company in this? Maybe we’ll go for a walk….. How about you big sister of mine with your Southern California weather? If anyone is thinking to themselves, “self, you have money you want to spend on Stu.” WARM stuff is appreciated, I want to make sure I come home with all the appendages I left with still attached. I am looking at true, killed dead, animal hide and fur hats for my dome. A good one can run over $250 Canadian. Maybe a coat and gloves from a snowmobile shop, made for Canadian winter on a sled. And long underwear, the good stuff, to keep my bits toasty.

Dang it looks cold out there, with snow blowing sideways from the North. I think I will detour via the mall on the way home from work, and take my time so as to avoid the rush hour hell of traffic in this weather. I can grab a book and a cup of coffee or tea and wait it out without the frustration of being in it.

Stay warm my friends!

Training

Five hours of my work day today was spent in training. I have been more than thoroughly trained in all of the areas covered today in my past lives. I knew more than the instructor in most of the subjects. But, when working at a different company, one simply smiles and follows their process, even though it ends up being a GIANT waste of time. Oh well, now I can actually access an area I need to so I can get more real work done. So not a total waste of time I guess, more of a nuisance. Oh, and the classes could have been shortened and gained more in depth knowledge with a little effort on the part of the training staff. But, since they really don't know the subject matter and have no REAL experience with it, we will have to live with what was provided.

Another day, another doughnut.

Next Trip Home Planned

Alright! I’ve got a plan for my next trip to Colorado (aka Home). Flights are running in the neighborhood of $1400 round trip near the holidays. I’m not comfortable with that neighborhood, so the plan is to drive. I will decide semi-real time if I will do the trip in one or two days each way. One long day coming out here was not pleasant by the end, so I am leaning toward a stopover for food and sleep somewhere along the way, maybe near Omaha on the way home since that will be more than half-way. The plan is to take Friday 21DEC13 off of work here and start the drive at a relatively early time (NOT 2 am like when I came out here). So, with a stop and restart, that would put me back in the house the afternoon or evening of 22DEC13.

I will take a couple extra days of holiday near Christmas since I worked through Thanksgiving here (Boxing Day and the 27^th I am thinking). I will work as needed the other days home, and plan a two day drive back 04JAN14 – 05JAN14 to be back at work in Winnipeg Monday 06JAN.

Some important things to happen while I am home. One of the big ones, is getting Danny his driver’s license. He will be right at his year with a permit and well past the 16 years old requirement, since he just turned 17J. I need to spend some quality time with both Danny and Josh, having some fun with them, and need to spend some time with friends while home as well since I did not do that on my previous trip. Other things on the list are get set up with a new doctor and get Rx filled. See what I can do to get the house on the market. Have Christmas with my sons, and celebrate the coming of the New Year. Get an oil change (0W-30) and block heater installed in the truck, maybe two new tires. Just things that have to happen, and have to happen there, not here.

As with any and all plans, these are subject to change with little or no notice. But, there are some priority items herein that will take some pretty large factors to get changed.

Keeping the Streak Alive

Today's post is just to make sure I don't break the streak of daily posts I've got running. My creative meter is pegged pretty low this afternoon, but I will say this. Life is good, no matter how bad it gets. No, mine is not getting bad, but even the humdrum daily drag can get us down. But, life is good. It is good to be alive. It is good to have work, a purpose and most importantly a family and friends, all so very far away right now, but close in my heart and mind.

Coffee

I just wanted to say how much I love my coffee. First thing in the morning, mid afternoon pick me up, what have you. Nothing can compare to good coffee. As we all know, there is plenty of not-so-good (read: crappy) coffee out there, and we all have our own tastes. But, a GOOD cup of coffee can go a long way. Have a cup with a friend or a first date. Sit and read with a cup or watch the world go by. Yes, I am an addict, but we must all have our vices. Good coffee is one of mine.

Have yourself a GREAT day!!

Not Feeling Well

Posting to keep the streak alive, but am not felling well this evening. Allergic reaction to shrimp being made in the cafeteria at work today I think. Oh well, benedryl and early bedtime isn't all bad.

Happy Thanksgiving

I hope everyone has had their fill of turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, cranberries, green bean casserole, pumpkin pie, apple pie, etc. I trust you have spent the day with loved ones (friends, family, or pets) and have said your many thanks for the things we say we are thankful for each year. Maybe you've got some parade and football watchin' done as well. Good for you!!!

BUT, let me stop you there...............we say the thanks, we hug the loved ones, we eat the food, but do we REALLY take those moments to cherish each other, what we have, where our choices in life have taken us? Are we on the journey we expected to be on, or have we ended up in new, different, exciting places? It is so easy to get caught up in the cooking, the chatting, the football, the company. I want you each to take at least 10 minutes today before you go to sleep. Take the time ALONE. No significant other along side you watching TV, no radio or TV distracting you, truly alone. Use the porcelain throne room if you need to, most folks don't barge in there on you. Now, when you are alone, reflect on life, the last year, the last 5-10 years, the last week. Truly reflect on YOUR life, not your kids lives or anyone else, just yours. Find the happy moments that take your breath away. Find the sad ones that still make you cry. Find the times when adventure worked in your favor and the adrenaline flowed. NOW........be truly thankful for those moments, those parts of YOUR journey are yours and only yours, no one can take them away from you. Remember, life is the journey through time not the destination. Hop into your TARDIS if you have one, and go for a spin. Happy Thanksgiving!!!!

R*A*N*T

AAAAaaaaarrrrggggghhhh!!!!!!

This is Winnipeg, you know, in Canada, the Great White North....So WHY do these people (I use the term loosely here) NOT know how to drive in the snow?!?!?!?!?

I live 6.8 miles from the office while I am here. Six Point Eight Miles.......It took me 2 hours and 10 minutes to get home after work today! I did not see any accidents holding up traffic, just AssHats who don't know how to drive!!!!!!!! And then, go figure, some of them decide it's still okay to PARK in the third lane while traffic is backed up for miles and kilometers and furlongs.......

DEEEEEEP Breath.......

Thanksgiving Week

I see a few posts throughout November with the “I am thankful for…” theme. Well, being one to buck the system, that is exactly NOT what this is. Instead, today, this post is for me to tell you what YOU should be thankful for. Here’s a list, be thankful dammit!

1.       Be thankful you have someone in your life to tell you what to be thankful for so you don’t have to think for yourself.

2.       Be thankful that you did not spill a cup of hot coffee in your lap this morning. THAT is a bad way to start the day.

3.       Be thankful that you are/were involved in your children’s lives (even if your children are of the furry four-legged variety).

4.       Be thankful that every once in a while you remember what it was like to be a kid and take the appropriate action (aka play).

5.       Be thankful that you don’t have to wait days for the Pony Express to get you this list, but have it from the comfort of your seat.

a.       By the way, this and the big turkey dinner coming up, is also why we are all getting fat……just sayin’

6.       Be thankful that YOU are YOU and that noone can make you be anyone else.

7.       Be thankful that you have a sense of humor……I know you do, or you would not be reading my blog……..Use it often!

8.       Finally, be thankful that this is the last item on this list………….now, turn off the computer and get active. I’m taking a walk in -25 deg C wind chill, you can do something.

Done and done