There's no such thing as too much culture

Now that things are getting settled around the house, I've started us on an old tradition from when we lived in Guelph, Ontario.  Once a month I drag Kier out to something that resembles "culture".  It started in October when we went to the Imperial Theatre to see Red Green's Wit and Wisdom Tour.  I know what you're thinking...on what planet would Red Green pass as "culture"??  But hey, I did say "resembles 'culture'...and he did perform at the Imperial... On Sunday evening we went to "A Celtic Christmas" and enjoyed some musician's straight from Ireland.  The storytelling and step dancing was excellent, although, I have to say, I did expect the music to be a bit more lively...but an enjoyable evening none the less.  In December our culture will be in the form of some new slot machines in Las Vegas.  Now, now, we all have different definitions of "culture"....you say po-ta-toe and I say po-tat-o...  We've also got tickets to a comedic play in January, and front row seats to the comedian John Pinette in February.  I also arranged a girl's night out in February to see the Vajayjay (as Oprah would call it) Monologues.  When I picked up the tickets at the box office, the employee said that some people come in all embarrassed and ask for tickets to "that Monologue show".  It promises to be a funny evening with, I'm guessing, very few males in the audience. 

With all my Christmas cards sent and my shopping done (gotcha...I don't have ANY to do this year!), I've just got to sit back and wait for that big silver plane to carry me off to Vegas on the 20th.  And you read that right...I have NO shopping to do!  The White side of the family opted to not exchange gifts this year, and Kier and I haven't exchanged gifts in years....since that first Christmas Kier and I spent in Vegas, to be precise....so, that leaves me with none to do!!  So don't be looking for me in the malls or stores until sometime in January...and if milk and eggs didn't spoil, you wouldn't see me in the grocery stores either...especially on the weekends.  But hey, don't let me stop you all...stop reading right now and get back out there in those crowds and finish that shopping!!!

WHAT I LEARNED TODAY:  Yes, my eyes are getting worse...and yes, I have bifocals...and yes, I'm soon going to have to wear those bifocals continuously, instead of just when I read as I've been doing lately.  When did I make this revelation?  Well, it's been a few weeks in the making, but I've been noticing that it's getting more and more difficult to see the skip at the end of the ice when I curl.  She's getting just a bit blurry.  It hasn't interfered with my game as yet...but it won't be long before it'll be ME behind those Foster Grants....oops, that's dating myself, now isn't it???

Do they KNOW what day it is???

Yes, I know Christmas is coming.  It's evident when you look at the calendar.  And it's also evident when you go into the shops and malls to hear Christmas music being played.  But it IS only half way through November...well, okay, two thirds of the way through.  Christmas is still over a month away.   I know that people tend to put their Christmas lights up outside when the weather is still warm...heck, some leave them up all year long.  Prevents what I'd call that "make work project" of putting them up just to take them down a few weeks later.  However, if you don't want to be the brunt of neighbourhood jokes by leaving those icicle lights hanging from your eves all summer long, then the weather's been warm enough these last couple of weeks to get out there and put those lights up.  But, hey, just cause the lights are UP doesn't mean they need to be turned ON!  When is it the right time to start ramping up for Christmas?  When should you start turning on those lights and putting up that tree?  I'm not sure what the right answer is to that...but I am sure of the WRONG answer.  And that would be November 19th!!  I was out last night and could not believe how many people had their Christmas lights on ALREADY!!  Not to mention the total waste of electricity, aren't they going to get tired of looking at all those lights long before Christmas?  And what about those people who live across the street from us and have their tree up and lights on already??  What's that about??  Oh well, gotta run.  I've got to get to the mailbox and get my Christmas cards mailed...it is almost December 1st!!  ;)

WHAT I LEARNED TODAY:  Never go to Costco on a Sunday this close to Christmas.  To say it's a zoo, is an understatement...but, oh, the deals!!

What is that about??

I'm confused...okay, more confused than normal.  Where did this new trend start?  The one where you tip the drive-thru employee at Tim Horton's (TH)??  I don't get that!  And it's got nothing to do with just getting back from Australia where tipping is verboten...well, not really forbidden, but definitely frowned upon!  I've noticed it's been going on for a while.  I first noticed it when I moved back to NB from Ottawa.  Now grant it, I'm not a coffee drinker, so the times I would have driven-thru a TH's in Ontario would be limited, but I'm fairly certain that this trend is localized here in the Maritimes.  I'm all for a tip when someone has waited on your table and provided expedient service, or at least something above and beyond the job that they are paid to do.  So that's where I get confused...the drive-thru employee at TH's is just doing just that..."the job that they are paid to do"....and quite often, it's not done very quickly!  Mind you, I realize it's not the employee's fault if some bonehead is in the drive-thru lane ordering soups and sandwiches for all their office colleagues, but only after asking which are the soups available on that day, followed by what are the sandwich options and a request for the ingredient list of each sandwich.  But more often than not, it's just slow service.  I know I'm coming off sounding a bit cheap...and I know that employees at TH work hard, cause I've worked there on a couple of occasions...and I was in uniform at the time, wearing 25+lbs of gear on my gun belt...so I KNOW they earn every cent.  I KNOW they are likely overworked and underpaid...but I don't see it as my duty to supplement their salary.   I figure it should be enough that I take my business there, which, in turn, ensures that the store stays open and they remain gainfully employed.  And who knows...if my job hunt doesn't pick up soon, you may soon see me on the service side of the TH drive-thru window...at which time I won't be expecting a tip from you as you receive your coffee and donut!!

WHAT I LEARNED TODAY:  It's a big day for us Corrie Street fans!  William Roache, aka Ken Barlow, is coming to Halifax in the spring.  I'm waiting patiently for the tickets to go on sale so I can get the VIP ones that ensure a photo op and autographed picture at the end of the show.  Oops, gotta run.  I'm hearing the introduction music to tonight's episode....

Finally found full time employment

Yes, I've finally found full time work.  What is it, you ask?  Well...it's applying for jobs.  It's just a shame that it doesn't pay!!  I've got so many "irons in the fire" right now that if half of them materialize, I'll have more work than I can perform in a 40 hour week.  I've applied for jobs that have been advertised, I've sent my resume to places that haven't advertised, I've applied for future work, and I've even had an idea for a business I can start up of my own.  I've got so many versions of my resume and covering letter that I can't keep them straight.   I can do up a resume and cover letter in less than 1/2 an hour now.  The first 2 jobs I applied for, I felt perfectly qualified for, yet never heard anything back.  So now, I'm throwing my name in for all kinds of jobs.  It's becoming more of a challenge now just to see if I get an interview...

WHAT I LEARNED TODAY:  I always worked best when I was on a deadline.  If I had 2 weeks to perform a task, it was always when things were down to the crunch that I performed at my peak.  And this extends to my personal life as well...I can really only get things done when it's down to the wire.  Yes, I know, that makes me a procrastinator...such an ugly word...and really not a good thing to be when you're retired...cause you can just keep putting things off until tomorrow...and tomorrow, and tomorrow again.  I may never get anything finished ever again!!!  OMG!!!  Give me a deadline...somebody... please!!!

***BTW...we need more votes to help us with our painting dilemma.  We've got a colour picked out for the front door.  It's going to be a burnt orange, or dark pumpkin, or whatever you'd like to call it...but, we still need help deciding on the garage door colours....so, if you haven't expressed your opinion in the poll...it's time to weigh in!***

And the tie goes to....

Okay, we've hit our first disagreement.  We've been pretty much in sinc throughout the entire building process.  Or, more accurately, the things that Kier felt strongly about, I didn't so much care about, and vice versa.  So, it was smooth sailing.  Until now.  We need you all to step up and vote on our dilemma.  I've put a survey on the right side...see it??  Ya gotta help us break the deadlock.  What is causing such a problem, you ask?  Well, it's the colour of the garage doors.  I won't tell you which of us is in favour of which...but just take a few minutes and help us decide.  Cause when it's one against one, how do you break the deadlock???

WHAT I LEARNED TODAY:  Blogging is more than just a hobby...it's a mediator, it's a problem solver...it's so many, many things beyond entertaining!!!

The more things change, the more ........ they're different! (you thought I was gonna say "stay the same", didn't you??)

I love my microwave.  I remember way back, when my parents got our first one.  Mom actually just got rid of it a few months ago.  It was so old that you could almost cook things quicker on the stove!  But I digress...  For years I've been hearing all the stories like you shouldn't put styrofoam in the microwave, you shouldn't look straight in the window while food is cooking, you should let all food cooked in the microwave cool before consuming.  The jury's still out on what long term effects all this microwaved food is going to have on a person.  Some would say it likely contributes to the high rate of cancer these days.  Who knows.  I just know that it's pretty hard to give up that convenience.  It used to be that some foods weren't good cooked in the microwave because they wouldn't brown.  Things like meat pies or anything with a pastry, wouldn't come out with the same crispy brown crust.  A trade off really....what is more important....speed or crispy, brown crust??  I'd generally opt for the speed...cause when I'm hungry, I want something NOW!  Yeah, that impatience thing rears it's ugly head yet again!!  Anyway, do you all remember one of the absolute first, and most important rules you learned way back when you got your first microwave?  Remember??  Never put anything metal in it.  It'll cause arcing.  But you tried it anyway, didn't you?  I know I did.  And sure enough, it arced.  So, can you explain this to me....why has my new microwave got a metal (wire) shelf inside??  How can that be??  I mean, it's great cause you can cook more dishes in it at one time, but how does that work??  Why doesn't the microwave arc all over the place??   The advancements of modern science!!  Oops, gotta run...I just heard the bell signalling that my Michelina's is done!!

WHAT I LEARNED TODAY:   Remember that Porter sale that I told you about yesterday?  Well, they've extended the deadline to Monday, November 7th.  Anyone up for a trip to Toronto???

Nothing beats a good movie

Finally getting back into a routine includes taking in movies, so last night I went to see the Ides of March.  I'd heard it was a political type movie, and I must say, it was nothing like what I'd expected.  It was pretty good, but it had what I'd call a "do it yourself" ending.  I hate when movies end like that.  You don't really know what happened.  It could have been a couple of different things...you have to decide for yourself...thus, a "do it yourself" ending.  When you pay good money for a movie, it's disappointing to walk out not really knowing for certain how it ended. 

And this is the time of year that Empire offers their big holiday special.  With the purchase of a $30 gift card, you receive $30 worth of coupons.  I purchase a couple for myself each year.  Why not!  It's a good deal, and I know I'll always use them.  I've noticed, though that the coupons have changed a bit.  It used to include a free movie coupon during the month of your birthday.  I see that coupon is gone, but there are other good deals, like discounts off of admission tickets and concessions.  The only catch...the coupons are only valid for specific periods, ie one is good in January, another in February, then one in March and the last one is good in April.  All in all, I think that if you're a movie buff....like myself....you'll certainly get your money's worth.  And the gift cards...they don't expire, so you've got lots of time to use them.   I always wonder, too....if someone buys a gift card as a Christmas gift....do they keep the coupons for themselves??  Or give them with the gift card??  Hmmmm....something to wonder...especially if you're the recipient of an Empire gift card this Christmas....don't throw out the envelope until you've shaken it for the coupons.  If there aren't any there...then you'll no doubt see the giver of your gift card at the movies some night!!

WHAT I LEARNED TODAY:  Porter has a big 5th anniversary sale on.  It's 50% off their flights from Moncton to Toronto and Ottawa.  You have until March 31st to fly, but unfortunately, you must book by end of day TODAY.  I've been checking the Toronto theatre scene to see what's coming up in the New Year...can you ever get too much culture???

Coming out of the fog

As the clutter starts to vanish from our house, so does the clutter that's been inhabiting the right side of my brain (the so-called "creative" side) for the past month.  Hopefully this will mean that I can get back to something called "normal".  Although, can it really be called normal when in reality it is the beginning of a new phase of life.  What we've been living from July till now hasn't really been retirement OR normal...who had time during the housebuilding and then 5 weeks in Australia to determine what life would be like?  So, retirement starts now. 

I'm trying to make subtle changes in the things I do which reflect my new "fixed income" status.  Today, for instance, at the grocery store...other than milk, everything we bought was on sale, or reduced in some fashion.  Of course, it did mean sacrificing squash in favour of the 30% off rutabaga.  So I don't like rutabaga...I'm sure I'll learn to like it...right mom!!

And that next trip to Vegas...well, it's booked.  We tried to use Aeroplan points, but you know how they just aren't conducive to last minute travel...so we compromised...we paid for a one way fare to Vegas and used Aeroplan points to come home.  It saved us a few hundred  bucks....or only cost us a few hundred bucks...depending on if you're a "glass half full" or "glass half empty" kind of person.  But our rooms...now there's a deal...6 nights for $35.  And no, not $35/night....that's $35 total.  I love my Total Rewards card!!

WHAT I LEARNED TODAY:  I've got a heck of a lot of reading to do!!  I've just been unpacking the endless number of boxes marked "books" (around 4 or 5 in total) and stocking my bookshelf.  I've slowly been making the transition to e-books, but still have MANY, MANY hard copy books that I've yet to read.   Now...if I could just find the time to sit down and read them....