Going through all of my worldly possessions and deciding what is worth keeping, what goes to charity, what goes to the dump, etc.
From a hidden away corner down in my basement, I found an assortment of evening gowns that I saved from my graduations, friends' weddings, etc. These garments have some sentimental value and out of curiosity and nostalgia, I decided to try them on. To my chagrin, they don't fit (surprise surprise!) Man, I must have been skinny back then! I've put on a couple pounds lately but I'm not huge; I can't even zip 'em up! Hmmmmph!
I’m not sure which is worse: the fact that a few garments that I wore 20+ years ago no longer fit me or the fact that I still have garments from 20+ years ago???
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Counting down the days!
Saturday. Laying in bed. Time to get up and get moving because today and tomorrow are two of the precious few days I have left to get things done ... and there is a lot to be done! Packing, errands, appeasing my antsy puppy (nice day, might take her to the dog park).
Sweetie and I have been in negotiations as to our future and this week he has indicated he just may come to Dubai ... oh happy day!!! Course, that's not final but the door is open a crack.
My Tuesday volleyball team took me out for beers this week which was really nice. I have some really amazing people that I will really miss ... unless they all decide to come visit which would be kewl!!! A couple people are already talking about it and my sister will no doubt come at some point too.
Sweetie and I have been in negotiations as to our future and this week he has indicated he just may come to Dubai ... oh happy day!!! Course, that's not final but the door is open a crack.
My Tuesday volleyball team took me out for beers this week which was really nice. I have some really amazing people that I will really miss ... unless they all decide to come visit which would be kewl!!! A couple people are already talking about it and my sister will no doubt come at some point too.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Break it to them gently
One of the things I have been dreading is telling people about the changes I have initiated and fielding the questions and judements of what I'm doing/where/when/how/why/you're crazy! I have been especially anxious about telling my nieces.
My nephew is a little older than the girls and is reaching the age of one word answers so I wasn’t too worried about him, he'll be fine either way. Lately I have spent more time with my nieces so they are maybe a little more attached and sentimental.
I was visiting them this past weekend for Family day. Yesterday morning we all squished into my truck and went to Tim Horton’s for hot chocolate and Tim-bits (or alternate treat of their choice), a little ritual that I do with them pretty often, sometimes with one or two of them, sometimes we all go. I decided that TH might be the right setting to bring up the dreaded subject of me moving away.
So when the appropriate moment came, I told them that I'm moving far away for a different job and I'll be gone for a long time but I will visit them when I can. Then I braced for the worst - wasn’t sure what to expect, sometimes there's a lot of drama and tears that really break my heart. The girls asked a few questions… is Du-bay further than Calgary? (Yes)… Will you still come to our birthdays? (Mmmm, probably not) … When are you coming back? (When when you are 9 years old) … Now both aunties are going away *sigh* (other auntie will be back soon.)
My nephew also had a few thoughts on the subject … Will you get paid more? (yes, part of the reason I‘m going) … If someone else will be living in your house, is that like rent? (yes) … So you’ll be getting more money from that? (yes) … Kewl!
And then the conversation turned to more important things such as the temperature of the hot chocolate and whether the “8-inch Long John“ was really 8 inches long.
Now I need to have that same conversation with my boss. There may still be drama and tears.
My nephew is a little older than the girls and is reaching the age of one word answers so I wasn’t too worried about him, he'll be fine either way. Lately I have spent more time with my nieces so they are maybe a little more attached and sentimental.
I was visiting them this past weekend for Family day. Yesterday morning we all squished into my truck and went to Tim Horton’s for hot chocolate and Tim-bits (or alternate treat of their choice), a little ritual that I do with them pretty often, sometimes with one or two of them, sometimes we all go. I decided that TH might be the right setting to bring up the dreaded subject of me moving away.
So when the appropriate moment came, I told them that I'm moving far away for a different job and I'll be gone for a long time but I will visit them when I can. Then I braced for the worst - wasn’t sure what to expect, sometimes there's a lot of drama and tears that really break my heart. The girls asked a few questions… is Du-bay further than Calgary? (Yes)… Will you still come to our birthdays? (Mmmm, probably not) … When are you coming back? (When when you are 9 years old) … Now both aunties are going away *sigh* (other auntie will be back soon.)
My nephew also had a few thoughts on the subject … Will you get paid more? (yes, part of the reason I‘m going) … If someone else will be living in your house, is that like rent? (yes) … So you’ll be getting more money from that? (yes) … Kewl!
And then the conversation turned to more important things such as the temperature of the hot chocolate and whether the “8-inch Long John“ was really 8 inches long.
Now I need to have that same conversation with my boss. There may still be drama and tears.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Big decisions
The last few days have been tough. Getting down to the nitty-gritty details of what needs to be done in order to move overseas.
My Sweetie was here on the weekend and I told him that I am for sure going to Dubai. I wasn't exactly sure how I was going to tell him but I knew it would come up. It did. I wasn't sure how he would respond. He took it fairly well all things considered. He says he is happy for me but not happy about it. Not sure what will happen there. Turbulent times. I still have hope that he will decide to come with me.
The next major detail to figger out is the fate of my puppy. Well, not really a puppy, she's 11 years old. Wasn't until today that I really truly thought about it in ernest, up until now I just thought I'd bring her with or I would find a new home. However, I emailed with the Boxer Rescue network today (where I adopted her from) and it was suggested that neither shipping her to Dubai, nor re-homing her here were ideal options given her age and her precarious health. It may be the best thing for her to have her put to sleep. Hmmmm, I dunno 'bout that. I'm not ready. She is still full of life and love, just doesn't seem right. But if it's the best thing for her ... it will be a sad day in my world.
My Sweetie was here on the weekend and I told him that I am for sure going to Dubai. I wasn't exactly sure how I was going to tell him but I knew it would come up. It did. I wasn't sure how he would respond. He took it fairly well all things considered. He says he is happy for me but not happy about it. Not sure what will happen there. Turbulent times. I still have hope that he will decide to come with me.
The next major detail to figger out is the fate of my puppy. Well, not really a puppy, she's 11 years old. Wasn't until today that I really truly thought about it in ernest, up until now I just thought I'd bring her with or I would find a new home. However, I emailed with the Boxer Rescue network today (where I adopted her from) and it was suggested that neither shipping her to Dubai, nor re-homing her here were ideal options given her age and her precarious health. It may be the best thing for her to have her put to sleep. Hmmmm, I dunno 'bout that. I'm not ready. She is still full of life and love, just doesn't seem right. But if it's the best thing for her ... it will be a sad day in my world.
Wednesday, February 06, 2008
An Experiment with You Tube
Trying to embed a video about Dubai from You Tube, hopefully it works.
I've read almost everything there is to read on the internet about Dubai so I think I'm prepared. But there will be surprises I'm sure. In the mean time, just getting prepared to leave, tying up loose ends. My Sweetie will be here this weekend which will be nice.
I've read almost everything there is to read on the internet about Dubai so I think I'm prepared. But there will be surprises I'm sure. In the mean time, just getting prepared to leave, tying up loose ends. My Sweetie will be here this weekend which will be nice.
Sunday, February 03, 2008
Hitting the wall
After a particularly frustrating week at work on a particularly frustrating project, I decided its time for change. Overdue actually. Long overdue. I could see the signs on the road because I have traveled this road before. There were other things to consider, though, so I "hung in there" but when ya go home from work crying, there’s a problem. I’ve been accused of being “unemotional” and “closed” so I am definitely at my limit when there’s tears involved. So change is in the works and I am moving to Dubai. Yup, Dubai. Perhaps a bit of background:
Two years ago, the winds of change were stirring up a long-time wish of mine: see the world!!! Take time off work, trek around a bit, learn a language, immerse myself in another culture, perhaps transition into a new line of work, maybe discover a new side to myself or one that has been long forgotten and neglected. I just needed change. I left my job, took some classes, explored ideas and possible new career directions but the world travels never materialized.
At about that time I was mentally packing my bags for South America, an old flame came back into my life whom I had always kinda wondered about. It ended on a bit of a sour note but thing were different now, I was different. I could hardly leave the country when “happily-ever-after” seemed to be knocking at my door! So I stayed.
Things with Sweetie have been going well for the most part but everything else in life kinda slipped back into a rut. Same old same old. Kinda mundane, kinda stagnant. A slow descent into mediocrity. Something had to give.
Working overseas has always intrigued me but the opportunity never really presented itself and I never really pursued it as more than as a passing idea. A few months ago, a former colleague from 8 or 9 years ago surfaced on Facebook. He’s been in Dubai and eventually offered me a job which I eventually accepted. Coincidentally, the weather here has been unseasonably cold so sub-tropical climate seems pretty appealing on those mornings when I gotta suit up in my parka/scarf/touque/boots/ski-doo gloves/long underwear ensemble and scrape the frost off the car windows! It's quite a production.
So that’s where I’m at today. Going to Dubai!
There’s only one drawback: not sure if Sweetie will come. I've made my sales pitch and negotiated and pleaded and even appealed to his entrepreureal side with a "pro-forma" of how lucritive it could be (but always with a disclaimer! Haven't actually been there myself yet.) The jury is still out. I believe he will eventually come with me but ultimately, he will assess his own situation and make his own decision. He has respected my decision to do what's best for me and I have to respect his decision to do what's best for him. In the interim, we will be far apart for an extended time me thinks and that makes me sad.
I guess no one ever said change would be easy.
Two years ago, the winds of change were stirring up a long-time wish of mine: see the world!!! Take time off work, trek around a bit, learn a language, immerse myself in another culture, perhaps transition into a new line of work, maybe discover a new side to myself or one that has been long forgotten and neglected. I just needed change. I left my job, took some classes, explored ideas and possible new career directions but the world travels never materialized.
At about that time I was mentally packing my bags for South America, an old flame came back into my life whom I had always kinda wondered about. It ended on a bit of a sour note but thing were different now, I was different. I could hardly leave the country when “happily-ever-after” seemed to be knocking at my door! So I stayed.
Things with Sweetie have been going well for the most part but everything else in life kinda slipped back into a rut. Same old same old. Kinda mundane, kinda stagnant. A slow descent into mediocrity. Something had to give.
Working overseas has always intrigued me but the opportunity never really presented itself and I never really pursued it as more than as a passing idea. A few months ago, a former colleague from 8 or 9 years ago surfaced on Facebook. He’s been in Dubai and eventually offered me a job which I eventually accepted. Coincidentally, the weather here has been unseasonably cold so sub-tropical climate seems pretty appealing on those mornings when I gotta suit up in my parka/scarf/touque/boots/ski-doo gloves/long underwear ensemble and scrape the frost off the car windows! It's quite a production.
So that’s where I’m at today. Going to Dubai!
There’s only one drawback: not sure if Sweetie will come. I've made my sales pitch and negotiated and pleaded and even appealed to his entrepreureal side with a "pro-forma" of how lucritive it could be (but always with a disclaimer! Haven't actually been there myself yet.) The jury is still out. I believe he will eventually come with me but ultimately, he will assess his own situation and make his own decision. He has respected my decision to do what's best for me and I have to respect his decision to do what's best for him. In the interim, we will be far apart for an extended time me thinks and that makes me sad.
I guess no one ever said change would be easy.
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