Happy new year - almost!

It's just under an hour away from New Year's Day!

I'd like to wish you all a great 2023 ahead. Here's to a year full of joy, love, good health, and yummy food and drinks.

Happy lunar new year!

It's here! Happy lunar new year!

Here's to a year full of wonder, hope, joy, and good health. Cheers to a terrific year ahead, with some fun and good eats for good measure.

I have the day off. I'm so glad that I do.

Health card renewal

I need to get my health card renewed. I can't do it online. I need a new photo.

I plan on getting it done later on today. Here's hoping that the lineup isn't horrendous.

A colleague saying hi and sending a virtual hug

On Friday, a colleague whom I haven't chatted with for a few months pinged me on Teams. She said hi, wanted to know that I was good, and sent me a hug from afar. It was so sweet of her.

On the whole, our working relationship has been decent. I've been at this company for nearly eleven years and she was there when I started.

We had some rough waters when she transitioned from a quality assurance team lead to a program manager on my team. She was so stressed out that she took some of that out on me and I wouldn't have it.

Eventually, another colleague took over my role on those two teams as I moved over to reviewing everyone's work on our writing team. When this colleague resigned, I had to step back in and complete the work that she hadn't done. That's when the program manager realized how valuable my contributions were and our working relationship went back to what it was before. I completed everything that the previous person had left behind and the program manager was thankful.

Late last year, she was involved in a serious car crash. My manager let me know about it because he knew that we had worked closely together. I sent her e-mails of encouragement and let her know that I was pulling for her.

It's great when you have a lovely chat with someone on a Friday afternoon. She is doing much better these days, which is wonderful news.

Renewing one out of three expired items

Last July, my driver's licence, driver's licence plate sticker, and health card all expired. It was the expiration trifecta!

Due to the pandemic, the government of Ontario said that these expired items were still valid until further notice. I decided not to renew online. I thought that, for sure, I needed a new photo for my driver's licence, but wasn't sure about my health card.

The situation is the same a year later. However, the government estimates that there will be huge lineups once these ServiceOntario places reopen to everyone that it recommends that folks renew online.

I just did my renewal for my driver's licence plate sticker online. It felt normal. Part of me didn't do it last year because a colleague did and got his sticker several months later. I believe that our mail system is doing much better these days that it shouldn't take that long.

Maybe when I get paid next, I will see if I can renew the other two items online. It doesn't hurt to try.

Knowledge and getting shelled with questions

I am one of those breathing fountains of knowledge. A while back, the diva on our team nicknamed me the data bank. I don't mind it.

The downside to being fairly knowledgeable is that people often fire questions at me and forget that I'm a person who doesn't enjoy constant interrogation. How about saying hi first, for instance, before you start firing your questions at me?

I have one friend who has been doing that online in direct messages. It's always a question that he poses.

The weekend, I had proudly mentioned that I got my vaccine shot in a public post. He congratulated me on said post and then privately asked me what vaccine I got.

I decide not to respond. It was the first time that I felt good about not replying. It's always a question. It's never how I am doing or a simple hello. I had had enough.

I am still training a new member of our team from India. Although he is good at asking me how I am doing, I find that he asks questions that are too advanced for his current understanding. It's not horrible, but it means that I have to explain the same concept twice. The first time is a basic version until we get to the actual topic in training where I need to explain it in more detail.

On Monday, I learned that his questions that he had about late last week's training sessions were off, meaning that he had either forgotten or he is the type who isn't the research-on-my-own type.

I have him working on an exercise on his own. We'll see how he does when we meet later on today.

My friend's cancer turn for the worst

I got some discouraging news from my friend who has been battling leukemia for several months. I've been bummed about this news since learning about it just after 4 pm on Thursday.

She let me know that her treatment in Houston has failed. The cancer has now spread to her spine and she is paralyzed from the waist down. Radiation hasn't helped shrink her tumour, either.

She will be air-ambulanced back to the Mayo Clinic in my former home of Rochester, MN either today or shortly thereafter. 

It's encouraging news that she will be with family before Christmas. However, this news wasn't what we all wanted or expected.

Her message to me had an ominous tone to it. It's understandable, but I may be reading into it more. She ended it with the following:

"I really enjoyed our friendship. I love you and wished we could have travelled more together!"

I let her know that I treasure our friendship and said that I love her back. She is a dear friend and the thought of losing her is devastating. I continue to pray for her.

I hope that my seeing her in March wasn't my final time. Not being able to see her during a pandemic and with a closed Canada-US border is frustrating.

Team name with a spanking reference

At work, we have a health program where there are exercise challenges every quarter. I like that someone created this name for a team:

I wish that I had made that suggestion. Next time!

Masks

In Toronto, it is mandatory to wear a mask in indoor public areas, such as grocery stores. In my area, this bylaw takes in effect next Friday.

I have eased into wearing a mask, even when we didn't have a bylaw. I find that when I'm in a store that has one-way arrows on the floor to let you know in which direction you should be walking, most folks don't follow them. I'd rather have a mask on in such circumstances.

I own a total of four masks. Three have the same pattern. All four are cotton and have small flowers. I definitely stand out in a crowd. Everyone either has solid black cloth or the blue disposable ones.

For some reason, I can't see myself getting disposable ones. I am good washing my mask and reusing it after every use.

Leukemia

I learned on Tuesday that my good friend, whom I last saw in Minnesota back in March, has leukemia.

I knew that she was going through something. She went in for a medical appointment after we had had lunch together. I wasn't expecting cancer.

She is currently getting chemotherapy and is on a pill. This treatment combination has a pretty high success rate, which is helpful and reassuring. 

She will need a bone marrow transplant once her cancer is in remission.

It's scary. I have known her for twenty years. I can't visit her, but I am definitely there for her when she has the need to talk and whatever support that I can provide to ease her mind.

I am thankful that she's getting treatment. I can only hope that she gets through this first hurdle of many.

Eye update and relaxes after decluttering

On Friday, I visited my ophthalmologist. I haven't seen him for five months, which is a good sign.

I called earlier in the week to find out whether my appointment was still on. In a pandemic, sitting in a waiting room to get an injection in my eye is not the ideal situation. The woman at the clinic speaking to me over the phone indicated that safety precautions were top priority.

I asked about seating in the waiting room. Each row has four seats. I told her that I didn't feel comfortable if someone sat next to me. She said that they have measures to space people out. She also said that only patients who needed injections or were emergencies were being accepted. I felt better and went with it.

I was asked to wear a mask when I dropped by the clinic. I let her know that I didn't have one (I have since ordered one, which came in the mail after my appointment), and used a scarf instead. It worked well.

Sure enough, staff were great making sure that everything was sanitized. My regular diagnostic tests were streamlined down to my right eye, which had the issue.

My ophthalmologist was in good spirits. He said that he'd evaluate my eye in another five months and will likely stop injections. So, it is possible that last Friday was my last injection, which I am grateful.

I am fortunate that my blood vessel burst hasn't recurred. I bounced back nicely and my eyesight is practically back to what is used to be.

Switching gears a bit, I have been reorganizing my bedroom and decluttering. It's therapeutic. I feel relaxed and accomplished.

My friend is a nurse and a meal discount for her

A few hours ago, I learned that my friend in Ottawa is a nurse. She had indicated that she was in the health field. I never pry when it comes to what people do for a living. When they are ready to let me know, they will. She quietly let me know.

She's doing well. I told her to take care of herself. She is on the frontlines with Canadians who may or may not have COVID-19.

I let her know that Harvey's is having a promotion for health care workers and first responders starting today. When they present proof that they are in the health care field, their meals are 50% off. It's a nice gesture. She was thrilled to hear about the deal. It lasts for a week.

I'm glad that I did a small part to brighten her day.

My friend, elephants, and a case

My colleague and friend returned home to be with her mom, who was sick, in late November of last year. My friend has been away from work for nearly two months. Her mom is doing much better.

On Monday, my friend returned to work. She got me a present. I let her know quietly that she shouldn't have. She got me a cute bag with elephants on it. She knows that I love elephants. It was thoughtful and sweet of her.

A couple of weeks ago, I ordered a case for my cell phone. Last week, it arrived. I ordered it in rose gold. I got a grey and green one. Obviously, my order was messed up.

I tried putting the case on my phone. It fit. The problem was that the volume keys were on the other side of the case. I basically could not use my phone with this case on.

I contacted support on how I could return the item. The company refunded my money and said that I could keep the case. It was generous, but what do I do with a phone case that it useless to me?

I didn't know what phone model this case was for. It certainly was not for a Google Pixel 2XL.

I brought this case into work. I asked my friend whether it would fit her iPhone 8 Plus. It was like Cinderella's slipper, but for a phone. It fit! I gave it to her. She was happy. So, I was I to have her back.

Sore left buttock, reflections of being single, and my staycation coming to an end

I did CPR exercises a couple of days ago. It required doing 30 chest compressions, followed by two breaths. I did this cycle five times. I was doing it on a mannequin.

Kneeling on the floor and doing these exercises has caused me to use muscles that I don't normally use. Oddly, my left lower buttock is achy. It's almost as if I was spanked in that area.

I still miss being spanked. It occurred to me that this Christmas will be the first without having a partner to love. To cuddle up to. To kiss.

It's perfectly okay. It isn't everything. I am thrilled that I am in good health. I am happy to be alive. I am grateful for getting this far.

Being in a hotel room allows me to relax and reflect. I like the idea of driving to work in 25 minutes. It has been great watching TV, which I don't normally do. This change has been refreshing.

Tomorrow, I check out and return home. I hope to do another staycation again soon.

Surgery eight years later

Eight years ago yesterday, I had back surgery. I can't forget the date or how I felt that morning before heading to the hospital. Everything happened so fast.

I recently reflected about my surgery with my dear friend. She had had surgery and I was visiting her at the hospital. I haven't really talked about my surgery with friends. The experience is still pretty fresh in my head.

I am thankful for having the surgery. I have lived a pretty normal life ever since. I have lived my life as best I can.

My friend was discharged from hospital on Tuesday. She is resting and mending at home now. I'm so glad that she is doing so well.

Visiting and thinking about my friend who is in hospital

A dear friend texted me the other day to say that she was in the hospital. She let me know yesterday that she had had surgery.

Later on today, I will be heading over to visit her. The drive is just under 1.5 hours for me. I asked if she wanted visitors. I'm so glad that she said yes!

I just finished writing a get-well-soon message for her. I filled out an entire greeting card and will bring it with me. I want to get her a gift card, too. I'm keeping things lightweight.

Bye bye, Fitbit! Google Fit now get sleep information from my Sleep app

A few months ago, I got a Fossil Sport smartwatch. I love it. The only downside is that it doesn't track my sleep time.

My Fitbit Alta does track my sleeping time, as does my Fossil hybrid smartwatch. There are pros and cons with all three devices. I ended up wearing both of these devices, as the step counts differ between the two devices.

Well, great news for me. I use a sleep app that didn't sync with Google Fit for years. It finally does!

I am involved in a corporate health app. That app requires step and sleep information from Google Fit. I can finally get this data to this app with either Fossil smartwatch. Yay!

I am so happy.

New Year's Eve

Hey, we made it through 2018!

Thanks to everyone who has dropped by this year to read my blog. I appreciate the support! I wish you a happy 2019 to come, full of joy, love, and good health.

Take care,
Cutiebootie

Keto diet and Mr. Meanie

My guy called me from the gym. I like when he works out and chats with me.

He was excited to learn about the keto diet. It's like the Atkins diet, but there seems to be a fasting component, too.

Doing a low-carb diet did me a world of good. I lost sixty pounds and have maintained it over the past six years or so. I got so inspired talking to my guy. I have re-introduced carbs in my diet, but I feel like going back to eating salads instead of sandwiches for lunch.

"I have only been on this diet for a week. I like it so far, " he admitted.
"That's great. Keep at it," I encouraged him.
"It's not like I want to be mean and lean. I just want to control my sugar levels," he explained.
"Well, you are my Mr. Meanie, so you're half of that still," I teased.

We laughed. I like when he tells me about things that excite him. He likes when I listen to him and get equally as enthusiastic.

Steps, payout, and bills

I have mentioned being a part of the health program at work. You take a certain number of steps and you get money every quarter. I track my steps with my Fitbit Alta.

Potentially, in a year, you can rack up $300 if you reach the points goal for each quarter. I am fortunate that I work hard and hit this mark. I max out this payout.

It's great that I win no matter what. I feel good about myself because I exercise. It's a bonus that I get paid to exercise.

I welcome the money. I put it towards bill payments these days. It's not the most glamourous thing to do. However, I do feel good about paying off my debt. It's all about feeling good on so many levels.