Update from my friend with cancer

On Saturday, I received an update from my friend who is battling leukemia. She has finished her treatments at a clinic in Houston. It's a clinical trial.

She is now staying at an Airbnb. She is a high risk to travel during this pandemic, as she has had a liver transplant. As a result, she's not flying home and will likely continue her stay in Houston for a bit.

I hope that her treatments are effective. She has to do a biopsy next to find out. I hope that there is good news.

Taking it easy and cooking this weekend

It has been a relaxing weekend. I went out to fetch groceries and run errands yesterday, which I enjoyed. Today, I have been lounging around. I made breakfast and lunch, which I like doing on an easy Sunday.

I made banana bread french toast this morning. It turned out nicely. It was my first time making it.

I overdid buying dessert yesterday. I have Japanese-style cheesecake and cheese tarts, and banana bread. I'm glad that I thought about making banana bread french toast. It would be more difficult doing it with cheesecake!

Moments of sadness and reflection

I have been sad here and there as of late. I can't help but to think about the ex right about now. We started dating in mid-September. It was exciting and wonderful going into October.

That feeling is long gone. 

I loved the fun, loving guy that he was. He ended up sucking the fun out of our relationship by making up terms. I had had enough when he wanted to be friends only -- no relationship and no sex. He then changed his mind a year later. He wanted the sex and friendship. No relationship.

I had had it. I wanted no sex, no relationship, and no friendship.

Even though I am at peace with my decision, I still have moments of sadness. When we were together and he didn't impose these ridiculous terms, it was magical. When he added terms that appeased him, it made me upset. When he ended our relationship, he hurt me. I felt abandoned and unloved.

For over a year, I have had to rediscover who I am. The person that I was before this relationship. The person that I am after having my heart torn apart, picking the pieces up, and telling him to shove it.

It's okay that I have moments of sadness and vulnerability. I was in it for nearly eight years. I'm entitled.

Maybe someday, I'll be with someone who loves me unconditionally. I'm still not there. I'm okay with it. 

Loans update

Yes, loans is plural. 

For the last two years, I have been paying off a secured loan. The idea is to pay money towards this loan and build equity. The regular payments, in turn, contribute to building your credit history and score.

I realized that I truly didn't need this loan. I was doing fine steadily paying my my debt of regularly. I wanted to simply pay off this loan. It was a huge lesson learned.

Well, I had the opportunity to get out of this loan by taking out a regular loan. I don't get why I needed the second loan, but I did it.

I have officially closed the first loan. I got my equity back, which I immediately put in my RRSP  (Registered Retirement Savings Plan) account. 

I paid off the new loan immediately. Yesterday, I called the loan folks and got confirmation that it is both paid off in full and closed.

As for paying off my debt, it's still going well. I look forward to seeing the amount that I owe go down. It's satisfying to see my progress. It's like night and day between my financial situation a year ago versus what it currently is.

Tea steeper - work anniversary has arrived!

Roughly two weeks ago, I picked out a tea steeper as my ten-year work anniversary gift. I was given a delivery date of late October. Well, I got it on Monday.

Early is great. I'm not complaining one bit!

The tea steeper is fancy. I love it how it looks. I haven't tried it out yet, but I'm looking forward to. I love small appliances. I'm also a fan when it's free!

Good day with a crumbling memory

Monday was great. I vacuumed and washed my car. I also filled it up with gas.

I managed to pick up food from the two places that I had in mind in downtown Toronto I also visited my old neighbourhood.

I feel like my past is crumbling as the years go by. As I passed by the apartment building where I spent my first nineteen years of life, two men were destroying the concrete front steps. I am sure that they've been there for decades, well before I was alive.

I felt completely relaxed being a tourist in my hometown. I should do this excursion more often when I have a day off.

A different kind of Monday

I am taking Monday off from work in lieu of working the hours late last week. I have a relaxed, yet somewhat adventurous plan.

I do need to vacuum my car. Here's hoping that I can do it safely. I suspect that it won't be all that busy.

Last week, I was hoping to venture into the city. I never made it. Instead, that's my goal for today. I'm now picking up two food orders. I also hope to take in the new Toronto sign that was recently installed.

After that, I may visit either a cafe that is offering a free beverage or visit my old neighbourhood where I grew up to reminisce.

Toilet roll dream

A few nights ago, I dreamt of a toilet paper roll. It was odd.

I looked at what it may symbolize. There are many interpretations.

One interpretation is that it's a warming. Someone is apparently wanting to invade my personal territory or get confidential information.

A second interpretation is the following from dream-meaning.net:

To dream about toilet paper rolls, represents aftermath and cleanup of emotional release. You are ready to heal and recover from your emotional outburst. It should be noted that you will still leave a mark somewhere, but those marks will soon be forgotten.

My guess is that telling my ex that I hate him and that he's an asshole fits this interpretation. Although I don't like saying cross words to anyone, it was time to tell him off. I'm at peace with my outburst. He needed to hear it, as opposed to his thinking that we could continue being friends, even though he hurt me deeply.

Working overtime

Yesterday, I put in a fourteen-hour workday. It's all thanks to three software developers who could not get the software deployment steps right until noon.

I have a deadline to get a draft out today. They added an extra eleven pages of content and revamped two major sections of this document.

Yeah, I'm not pleased with the extra hours that I have put in. On a good note, I hope that I can take Monday off with the extra hours that I have clocked.

My tarot reading post will need to wait. I need to rest my eyeballs.

Tarot card reading

Last week, I took a virtual introductory course in tarot card reading. I enjoyed the hour-long course, but felt that I needed to learn more about it on my own.

I ordered a deck of tarot cards after the class. I received the cards yesterday. I did my first reading just now. My reading of my past, present, and future is pretty accurate as far as how I interpreted the three cards that I chose.

I'll write more about it in my next post. I'm absorbing everything in. I do love my deck of tarot cards. They have a nice weight when you hold them. Thank goodness for an instructional booklet for this novice!

Downtown today or Saturday?

I'm debating whether to drive down to downtown Toronto to check out a takeout deal and the new Toronto sign after work today. I have a feeling that it won't be that busy and that I can take advantage of taking photos of this sign. 

On the other hand, I could do this trip on the weekend. Both the food deal and the sign will be there. The downside is that there will be more people.

At least I have options! I tend to go out on Wednesdays to get groceries. I'd be going to a different grocery store, which is cool.

Vacuum for pores on your face

I have oily skin. The good news is that I don't have a ton of wrinkles on my face. The bad news is that my pores are often clogged.

I bought this device that acts as a vacuum for your face. It sucks up the impurities in your pores. It's relaxing and fun. It does a decent job.

The aftermath of seeing what is in my pores isn't wonderful, but it's simultaneously satisfying.

Trimming pubic hair

An hour ago, I trimmed my pubic hair. It's oddly relaxing. I do it once a month.

Years ago, I never did it. When the ex-guy broke up with me for the second time, I decided to trim it. I don't believe in shaving it off with a trimmer. It just screams ingrown hairs and I don't want to deal with that issue.

Trimming is good. I use a small pair of eyebrow scissors. It doesn't take too long and I find them easier to use than a regular pair of scissors.

It's all a matter of preference. I can't see myself going hairless in this area. A good trim makes me feel good.

Google Pixel upgrade coming soon

The contract on my cell phone is up at the end of this month.  I own a Google Pixel 2XL phone. I love it.

On Saturday, I went to Best Buy to take a look at the Google Pixel 4a phone. It is roughly the same size as my first Google Pixel phone. It's smaller in size than my current phone, but the screen real estate is the same.

Rumour has it that the Google Pixel 4a supporting 5G networks will be the same size as my current phone, which is 6". I feel like holding off upgrading till that phone is on the market. I like the larger size. I need to figure out how much that phone will be when it's out and determine what I want to do. Options are always good.

I am excited to do a cell phone upgrade. I do love my current phone. I will still use it, as I don't have a decent tablet and I like having a backup phone.

Weekend, Blogger, and food

The weekend is finally here!

With the revamped Blogger, when you first write something in a brand new post, the editor moves the cursor over by one character. It's weird. I need to backspace to get the cursor left-aligned. I'd like to know who thought that was a decent feature to implement. Every other paragraph is left-aligned, as expected, as the default.

I am on a food journey this weekend. I have a $40 dinner to redeem. I have been going back and forth as to whether I should redeem it this weekend or next. It's cooler outside these days (at night, the temperature has dipped into single-digit territory on the Celsius scale), so I'm thinking some mac and cheese is in order. This eatery offers three types of mac and cheese, so you know that screams comfort food.

This restaurant's first location has been in my city for at least a decade. It recently opened a second location in Whitby, which is roughly half an hour away from where I live. That's where I'm going to pick up this food perk. I'm excited. I hope that all goes well.

Have a safe and happy weekend, everyone!

Enjoying a break

I have good and bad days, as do many folks. 

Although it has been over a year since my relationship ended, part of me misses the affection and playfulness of being with a partner. The other part of me knows that I'm not ready to be in a relationship at this stage. I'm okay with a break.

Having friends to talk to, keeping busy with my hobbies, and putting my thoughts down in this blog have been more than helpful. However, there are some days where I want to be by myself, lay in bed, and do nothing. I want to take a break from doing hobbies and blogging. I simply enjoy doing nothing.

And, it's okay. I work hard. Downtime is okay.

So, I have missed a blog post here and there. I know that there is no need to justify why. I'm good. I just need some downtime for myself now and again.

Visa debit and loan update

Yesterday, I paid off my loan in full. It is the first time that I have done it within two days of opening the loan account up. It feels weird, but I'm glad that I am not paying it off in 48 months.

My bank is setting up its bank cards with Visa debit. I have requested a new bank card. I was invited to make the request. I'm not sure if everyone who has a bank card gets invited and it's just a formality, or the bank is rolling this update out to customers in waves. It's be great, as I can use my debit card as a credit card should I making online transactions.

I'm waiting for the equity from my secured loan to get deposited into my account. It takes up to five business days. This loan is officially closed. I'm pleased.

Loans and my debt

Here's an update on my financial situation. It'll be a medium post in length.

A couple of years ago, to repair my credit rating, I decided to take out a secured loan. Looking back, I shouldn't have done it. This loan company alleges that when you make regular payments to a secured loan, it helps your credit rating. Although somewhat true, repairing your credit rating takes time and dedication. It's not a quick fix like this company had implied. I didn't need to take this loan out.

Luckily, its term is only three years. I was closing in on two years of my loan. On Monday, I received a text message from the loan place saying that I could take out a cash loan thanks to my positive payments on my secured loan.

Now, I didn't want a cash loan. However, it allows the equity for the secured loan to get deposited back into my account and close that loan account. He said that I could pay off the new loan immediately. I decided to do it, as I just want out of both this secured loan and this cash loan that I never wanted.

The guy that I was dealing with was a pain as the process unravelled. I wanted the smallest loan amount possible, which is $2500. His confirmation text said $7500. Huh?

I also didn't want insurance protection, as I was going to pay the loan off immediately. At least he got that detail correct.

I have to call a special department to have my loan completely paid off. Fun! I wanted a specific day to have automatic payments come out of my chequing account to coincide with my payday. Nope, that didn't happen. It's the same special department that I need to get that changed. Even though I am not making regular payments, I'd rather be safe than have money taken out of my account that I have not budgeted for.

He asked for my bank statement overs the last three months. Since we were texting, I sent them that way. He then asked for them sent to his e-mail account. Why not say that to begin with? I actually had to download the statements from my laptop and transfer them over to my phone. I could have avoided the extra work.

During this process, I felt like this guy wasn't clear and upfront. He wanted a pre-authorized form filled out with my banking information. I put the company name in. When he got it, he wanted it blank. Well, why not tell me that upfront? I'm sending you a document with my banking information through the Internet. How safe is that it have any person take that information and authorize taking money out of it when the company name is blank?

Yeah, I had it. I told him off that I didn't appreciate these missing details, including the loan term. He frankly wasn't understanding my point of view. I told him so and said that we need to move on. I was tired of texting him who had the listening skills of a brick wall. I'm sure that I hit 100 text messages just to this guy by the end of this loan setup.

In the end, the loan money has been deposited to my bank account. My secured loan has been closed. I am waiting for the equity to get deposited. I'll call this special department to pay off this loan and close this account later on today.

What I am not thrilled with is the fact that having this loan company do a credit check on me will temporarily make my credit rating go down. It's sad that I simply couldn't pay off the secured loan without opening another loan. Then again, the secured loan was at a higher rate of interest and it's really not worth going through the loan for another thirteen months.

Other than this weird loan situation, I am thrilled that I can make more payments towards paying off my debt and improving my financial situation.

My manager can ruin a perfectly nice day

I have an interesting working relationship with my manager. Sometimes, I dig what he does. Other times, I shake my head.

Our team has these brief chats at the end of the workday. Last week, he suggested that each person lead a chat with a topic. I was the first person to say that I liked how casual and natural it flows. We think of topics to discuss as if we were in the office, chatting in the lunch room. It should not be a structured meeting. It's a chat.

Yesterday, a colleague congratulated me on my ten-year work anniversary. Naturally, my manager ruined it by saying that in our human resources system, my start date working for the company is September 24 and that I should contact HR to have it fixed.

Why? I told him that I know what my start date is. Obviously, my three colleagues in this chat knew what my start date was, because they signed my virtual card. He dropped the ball by failing to sign it. He got the e-mail. He chose to not act on it.

Anyway, I contacted HR and spoke to a nice guy. I know that my manager won't and wouldn't do it. As noted, in the system, my start date is correct. However, my signed contract date is September 24, 2012. It's practically two years after I started working for the company, which obviously makes no sense! Anyway, he has a separate department who will fix this issue.

It's always nice when my manager ruins such a lovely occasion. It's not every day that one hits a milestone like what I just did. He could have been more attentive. That's just my take on it.

Anyway, my colleagues left me nice messages in my virtual card. They made Monday far more cheerful.

I got to select a gift to commemorate this occasion. I got a fancy tea steeper. I drink lots of tea, so it will come in handy. It will take a month to ship, which is the downside. Luckily, I am patient.

Ten-year work anniversary on a Sunday

Yesterday marked my ten-year work anniversary. It was quite the unexpected milestone.

I used to be the person who held a job for two to three years. At this company, there have been many ups and downs that I have experienced and that I continue to endure. I am still kicking around.

I feel that I have stayed on for this long because my role seems to change every year or two. I also have established myself as a competent, reliable employee that I'm comfortable and my manager feels the same way about me. I also continue to pick up new skills and my job is still interesting to me.

Reaching this mark makes me look forward to a week more of vacation.