Christmas Eve

The snow has stopped for Christmas eve and the winds have calmed. It's sitting at -28C and with the wind chill it is a happy -33C.

 DS1 headed out to the farm with grandpa yesterday. The top of the quonset and the greenhouse were buried in about 5 feet of snow. Far too heavy a load and things could collapse, especially the greenhouse. My dad had gone out by himself last month to do it when  we had a different dump. IMHO 76 is too old to be out there by yourself, climbing up on things and shoveling for hours. I told the boys to tell him that he was too old to do that and they had this look of horror on their face. I'm not going to do it!! they both yelled. So we compromised and the boys will take turns going out with dad. They were out there about 5 hours yesterday and DS was amazed at my dad's stamina (read - stubborness). We used to do this in the winter. My sister and I would go out and she'd go down the rungs on one side of the quonset and I'd go down the other and we'd race to see who could get their side done first. 50 or 60 trips up that ladder just about did you in. So did the bolts that hit you in the *ss if you didn't center your behind properly. Ahhh good memories.

We had a nice evening last night at the in laws. SIL was sick with the flu so she mostly curled up in a blanket in the living room. Her husband and grown kids finished the meal. We got to see the nephew - I think that's all we see him is once a year even though he only lives an hour away. The house was full of two dogs and four kitties so in the quieter moments, there was certainly something to focus conversation on.  Turkey meal #1 was good. (not as good as my mom's but shhhh don't tell them that)

The to do list today wasn't too long. Go to the bank. Run to the cable store and buy mom and dad their gift card. Run to the pet store and get a present for their dog. Get seriously distracted by the cats at the pet store including one that stole my heart and I wanted to bring home. We had a great time shopping and he helped me pick out a toy for the dog. When we went by the cat toys he let me know which one cats would like best. I let him eat one of the feathers as a reward. Man pet therapy is amazing.

I made a quick run to walmart and was taken aback by the lack of folks in there. I didn't have to fight anyone in the aisles nor did I have to wait in line to pay. Very unnerving.

I just finished making 120 lil meatballs for the sweet and sour meatballs for tonight. They are in the crockpot and DS1 is driving them over to grandma's as we speak. Our Christmas Eves the past few years have been an appy meal - meatballs, wings, salads, mini lasagnas, dry ribs etc. Mom made a blueberry cheesecake for dessert. We will head over around 4 to help get things ready and visit. Sister 1 and 3 will be there with their families. Sister 2 is away with hers.

DH may well have to work tomorrow. They are digging and may not get done today. If so then we will just wait to do our gifts when all four of us can be at home.

So now I have a couple of hours before we have to head over. Time to do some laundry and some dishes.

I wish you all a wonderful Christmas with your family and friends.

One Year Ago...

(not really finance based, so feel free to skip if it's not your cup of tea)

I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis and a very sick little girl. I ended work before Christmas a couple days early as I was so dizzy and weak it was ridiculous. I spent most of the Christmas break at home, including a good part of family time. I learned that those symptoms were a part of the meds I was on.  (Ironically I would be put on that same med, under a different name, and get sick again in April)

While Christmas alone sucked it wasn't the end of the world, but being that weak and down the whole break was no fun at all. I didn't know if I was going to get better or worse.

A couple weeks ago I went for my yearly colonoscopy. It was in the city so I had to stay in a hotel near the hospital while I drank the 'drink of doom' to tidy up my colon. DH actually went down with me, to my complete shock.  He usually steers clear of anything hospital related. He went shopping while I stayed in the room. I took books down to read...silly me. I didn't have the time or the energy to do it.

The procedure itself was different than my first one here at home. I made sure I called ahead to ask that I would be receiving sedation. They assured me I would. Much to my dismay, when I got there, I learned that their idea of sedation was different than mine. For my first one it went like this "It should start working soon...................wake up it's over'. I could tell by the look on their faces that they don't do the same kind of sedation in the big hospital, though the papers I had to sign all looked the same.  It didn't help that it took three nurses and five attempts to get the IV in. I've never had IV troubles before.

They told me the sedation would relax me but I would be awake. I did not take it well and did a bit of crying. In the procedure room they put the sedation into me. I have visions of them giving each other the look and shooting it into me to quiet me down :-). It burned like hell!!  As I twisted myself to look at my hand, sure that flames were shooting out of it, the nurse said sweetly "sometimes it burns a bit when it goes it." My oh so eloquent replay "ya think??????????"

Eventually I did calm down but was wide awake for the whole thing. As in I could feel everything. The video cam was two feet in front of my eyes and ................................I couldn't help but watch. It was disturbingly interesting to see it.  Even the biospy claw that reminded me of those games in the front of a Dennys.....you know the one...with the claw that grabs the toys???

End results (ha! 'end')  My colon was a hot mess of infection last year. This year with the exception of turn #1, it was all beautiful and pink.  Quite amazing. The doctor said the Asacol meds couldn't have done that. I credit the herbal drink I am taking.

The 90 min drive home was awful. I was so nauseous it was ridiculous. It was a great feeling to be at home and curled up on my own couch. I had spent 8 hours of TV watching the day before as I lay in the hotel seeing all kinds of commercials and I knew what I wanted to eat for my first food - a Dairy Queen Candy Cane Blizzard. just a teeny one. my lord it was soooo good.

There is some cost to this. I thought my insurance covered this but apparently not. I am told to save my receipts and I can submit them at income tax time.
 - gas there and back - $75. I claim for mileage apparently.
-  hotel - $160. The ones farther from the hospital were not any cheaper. This was it was only a 5 min drive in the morning. This included parking fee of $8.  They charged me a $2.50 fee on my bill for putting it on my MC!! First time I have ever seen that fee.
- parking at hospital - $14.50
- meds to take for the procedure - $28.50
- mini blizzard - $2.99 ( I don't think I can claim that)
Total cost - $ 280.99

I posted about potential expeneses back HERE.

DH ate in front of me three times when I was on the first. Once on the way down. Once when he came back from shopping and brought A and W. And in the morning at the hospital . By that point I could have cheerfully killed him.  It was really good of him to go get me. I didn't have to go and stay back at the hotel for a second night - taking that sedation makes one legally impaired for 24 hours. I could just close my eyes the whole drive home and home desperately I fell asleep before I threw up.

So the news is much better than it could have been for my colitis. I still have to watch what I eat and steer clear (or just really be careful) of my triggers - nuts, broccoli, popcorn, raw onion and spicy food. I still have incredibly fast stimulus to response time for bathroom visits. But at least most of the colon is pretty  in pink. If it had looked like last year then I would have had to start a new med to clear things up so I didn't run an increased risk of colon cancer.

So happy day before the day before Christmas everyone! It's snowing and blowing here. We are off to DH's sister's house tonight for the family meal on that side.

Lazy Day

Don't tell anyone, but it's been glorious. really really glorious.

Having completed almost all my shopping I didn't even go out of the house today. I woke up to lounge around in my jammies and used some of my gifts from students as a way of spoiling myself. I opened up my scentsy warmer and put a few of the mandarin wax wedges in. I haven't had one of these before so it was a new experiment. It's quite strong so I only kept it on for awhile. I opened a box of Keurig coffee from another student and when that brewed up (and smelled divine) I plopped in a wee bit of Baileys given to me by another.  Such a lovely treat.

The house was quiet. DH went out to finish his shopping and both boys slept ridiculously late. I confess I had a wee nap on the couch before lunch.

My sister was heading off to Calgary for Christmas with all her children. Her daughter is expecting so it was easier for them all to go to her, than her to come home and be so far from her doctor.  I quickly wrapped up the books I bought for her two grandchildren and their cheque I give them for their RESP. There are enough people to buy them 'stuff'. I told them all I will be the aunty who gives them lifetime gifts - reading and education. I am excited for the new great-niece to be born.

I watched a bit of the world junior hockey exhibition games on TV.

Supper was leftover chinese - we always have chinese on the last day of school before Christmas.

I started my Christmas house hold cleaning/tidying/sorting to do list and it will feel very good to give everything a once over before work starts up again.

I am eyeing up one of the homemade packs of hot chocolate I was given as a gift and thinking it will be perfect in about an hour, on this chilly night.

Tomorrow is supper at the inlaws.  Good night all and keep warm.

A big ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Well I am in a pretty good mindspace right now.

We made it through the last week of school with some nice days and some ice cold ones (complete with indoor recesses). The carnival is done. My class potluck is done (amazing how many don't know basic potluck etiquette on how much to take etc. ah well  a learning opportunity) and our movie morning complete with freshly popped corn was a success.

We now have  a week off school before we are back at it.

My tree is up and decorated and the cats are very excited to see it and hide under it. I even got some presents wrapped last night. It gave me a clear idea of what I had left to do. I wrote my list out and ran after school. Everything is all wrapped and under the tree. GREAT feeling. Just need to get something for mom and dad and I am done.

Went to DS's last game before XMAS tonight. They lost. badly. but it was great to see the little kids team he helps coach (as part of his community duties for his team) were all there tonight to cheer him on.

This year for  our charitable giving I/we did a couple things. The first was to contribute to the raffle one of our teachers does at school. She makes two lovely baskets - one for girls and one for boys and then sells raffle tickets. Proceeds go to a gift card for groceries for one of our families in need.  She raised over $250. It was a great event.

I am sitting here, watching the tree and NCIS. I am out of baileys and wine so it's just chai tea for this girl. I have a lovely candle lit and it feels very odd to know that tomorrow, the day is mine to do with as I please.

I hope you have a safe and wonderful Friday night and weekend.

How long $20 fuel lasts

Ok so Monday I warm up my vehicle in the morning before we head off to school as it is bitter cold and it screams if you drive it too soon - even if plugged in.

When I get in I see that the tank is low and that  my 'range' is 78 KM. Now I get that the range is a subjective thing and not tick for tick like the odometer is. It's still less fuel than I want in my vehicle on a frigid winter day. Sure it's 7K to work and 7K home but who wants to run out of gas in these temps? not lil ole moi.

So I am already en route and realize all I have is $20 cash in my fuel envelope (wallet) that I leave in my car. Ok, $20 it is then.  I plop that in and off I go. The range now read 178K so that $20 got me about 100 K in range.

 I drive home Monday after work, and do one quick Walmart run that night. Tuesday morning I warm up the car for about 10 min and off I go to work and home again. No other stops.

Ditto for Wed.

This morning I get in and realize I am back at that magical 78K. I thought that was a rather interesting coincidence that it was the exact same number.

So what did that $20 get me?

3 trips to and from school and 1 trip to Walmart.

And quite a bit of time of warming up in these bitter cold temps.

I just found it an interesting observation.

Shiver me timbers it is cold out.

Keep warm everyone :-)