On The Bright Side

While we still have chosen not to go the route of Sattelite or Cable television in our home, I have discovered AccuRadio Holidays channel, and am sighing with a big heart in my eyes.
I do my baking, cleaning, and reading with my laptop close-by and music in any genre playing til my heart`s content.
Just thought I`d share :o)

It's So Close

It's been a great season so far. other than the fact that I am busy as all get out. ;)
I've been hired back on in the Daycare at work, and as such, come the New Year, I will be working alone in the daycare on two afternoons during the week. Kinda scary, but this will definitely inspire me to further my Early Childhood Education certifications.

Winter is turning out to be all I expected it to be in this region, and I won't lie...I'm loving it!
There's snow when there should be snow, there's muffled quiet, and there's beauty in every tree I can see from my kitchen window.
I have officially survived the Christmas Parties that I had planned on attending, and removed myself from the guest-list of those I decided I didn't have the energy for. I'm continually amazed at how much energy Christmas is taking from me this year.
I'm at home this week. I thought I had a hangover on Sunday, then I realized when I woke up the next morning, (and the morning after) that I must have caught a version of the stomach flu that is circulating in our area. It sucks. I just now got the idea to place buckets randomly throughout the house. I wish I had thought of that before.
My tree is up, my home is as decorated as it's going to get. I've gotten the makings for Christmas Dinner, and my mom has H for this week (thank goodness!). All those relatives who will be joining us, and a few who were un-expected, will be arriving soon.
Ready for the holiday. And, honestly, I didn't buy any gifts for anyone else, besides the kids. It feels kinda weird, and Grinchy, but I think I may be able to get used to it.
I'm lookin forward to having some time with family, but will also be working through the holiday season. Shame.

Normalcy

And life is back to normal. The kids had it out with me over the weekend, I spent the entire day with them at home today, and now we're gearing up for a non-stop Christmas round up for the next three weeks.
I truthfully don't know when I'm even going to get an opportunity to do any Christmas shopping, but we will just have to wait and see and seize some spontaneity.
We had a birthday party for a friend on Saturday night that went fairly well, with a non-rowdy crowd and a friend jammin out on his guitar.
Mr picked up a short-term side job that'll end just before Christmas, and I managed to pick up a few hours at the daycare. All in all, should be a bit of an adjustment with the hustling around that I'll have to do, but nothing I can't manage.
I'm enjoying the snow and cool temps here at home, that weren't there in Vancouver when I visited. It's nice to be back in snow and normal winter temps, rather than silly rain!
Looking forward to heading back to work tomorrow.

Well, I've learned a lot over the past four days, and today I received my certificate to prove it!
I'm tired, but happy.
I'm headed to visit with family before I leave tomorrow in the early morning hours.

Day Three

I people watched lastnight.
I watched as people seemingly not paying any attention to what they were doing avoided bumping into each other as they charged through skytrain stations. I watched people honestly pay for their fare, even though no one was there to check.
I watched lovers say goodbye to one another. I watched friends greet each other, their faces lighting up as they spotted one another through the crowd.
I witnessed anxiety on professionals faces as they prepared to enter a room of their peers.
I watched the poor beg for money, cigarettes, a place to stay.

Life is amazing when you consider just how many others are living it, through whatever it is that they are experiencing.

I caught the new Harry Potter movie with my uncle lastnight, and really enjoyed myself. Neither of us were in a hurry, and we strolled through the evening streets of downtown Vancouver chatting away the night. It's hard to remember the beauty of this place when you're hustling through, trying to make it to your destination on time. With no other commitments, we admired the lights, and the people, the store windows, and each other.
I'm reminded just how glad I am that in a city of unending bustle, that I know someone who genuinely cares about me, and who's willing to listen to the rambling thoughts in my head.
It's a good day today, and I'm glad I'm here.