Driven to drink? Can I get a ride?

My life has been moving at such a fast pace I haven't had a chance to catch my breath. A couple of weeks ago, my bf and I decided that we would go look at some houses in the west end. We'd been talking about moving back into town for awhile but hadn't actually done anything more than talk about it. Two weeks ago we didn't have any plans and decided to go to some open houses in Kanata and Stittsville. We saw one place we really liked in Bridlewood (MLS 654797) because it had a similar "feel" to what we currently own. Although I nearly choked on the pricetag, the following Monday I emailed the agent to ask a couple of questions. The next thing I know we're seeing the place again and putting in an offer. OMG, what have I done? Is my chest supposed to hurt like this? I might be having a minor heart attack.

Of course the offer is conditional upon us selling our place. So now we're frantic because our house wasn't even listed or ready to be listed for sale. So on Monday night the agent came to see our house, gave us some tips on de-cluttering etc. and we signed the listing agreement. Tuesday night I started to declutter and put primer on some areas we had planned to repaint. At this point I'm still thinking that we'll have a week to get all the stuff done we need to do.

I was wrong. Yesterday we were advised that the agent wanted their photographer to come by this morning to take pictures to go on the website. Unfortunately we were not prepared for the speed that everything happened. So last night our plan was to paint, declutter and clean as much as possible to make the house "picture pretty" or at least presentable. Then the ridiculous happens! Of course it does, because this is my life. At 8:15 p.m. last night Rockland was struck by a power outtage. So we dug out the flashlights and the camping lamps and proceeded to do all that needed to be done in the semi-darkness. Hopefully when the pictures come out tomorrow, they look better than we did this morning. (MLS 660603) They have to look better than the pic's currently posted (and taken by) the agent.

This weekend is more cleaning and decluttering. Blah!!

Easter, who has time for Easter? Although if frantically searching the house for anything chocolate counts as an easter egg hunt, I celebrated yesterday. Mmmm found some in the freezer.

Happy Easter!!

Went to Cuba for a week with the bf and his parents. It sounds strange and disturbing but it really wasn't. His parents are cool people. His mom is in her early 50's and plays a ton of sports. His dad can match me drink for drink and didn't mind fetching those drinks from the bar.

We stayed at an all inclusive resort (NH Krystal Laguna Villas and Resort) on the island of Cayo Coco. Loved it! The guests of this particular resort were almost exclusively Canadians and the resort was actually built by a couple Canadian hockey players.

The island was amazing and the beach was spectacular. I've never seen such white sand or such blue/green water. I pretty much camped out at the beach...close to the ocean, close to the beach bar. It was like sandy alcoholic heaven.

I drank a lot of beer (called Cristal) and alot of pina coladas. Mmmmmmm...

"Dad" became the entertainment for two of the nights. He plays a mean guitar and made friends the first night with some of the local talent. By the end of the night he was leading a sing along in the main foyer of the resort. Must've been 100 people who joined us in the impromptu event. After that he was asked on several occasions to pick up the guitar and play a few tunes.

We did a couple of day trips, one into the closest town (bought some souvenirs, visited a crocodile farm) and the second on a catamaran to snorkel. I burnt myself pretty good on the boat. I am now peeling of a layer or two of skin. I kind of look like I've got some sort of nasty skin disease. Ick.

But of course the week passed by too quickly. I had only just starting to feel like I was relaxing and the week was over. I could have stayed for another week.

My work schedule has not let up. It's been at least 6 months since I've been able to take a day off. I did take two days at Christmas (Christmas Day and Boxing Day) but only because I was out of town and unable to remotely access my work computer. I'm working 75 - 80 hours a week and over the last few months it has really started to take it's toll. Especially since in the last two months we've realized that we're running out of time and we're no where near being done. Anyways, the excessive hours are not by choice, but only because a multi-million dollar case requires that I (and my colleagues) put in this many hours. In fact, the only reason I don't feel guilty about not working at this very moment is that I've been unable to log into my work computer. Instead of updating my journal I should have gone back to bed to catch up on my sleep and try to get over the plague that I've contracted.

Suffice it to say I've lost touch with my friends and I've had to bail on sports, social and family events. I've missed important occasions in friends and families lives (medical procedures, the birth of child, birthdays, anniversaries etc.) Although, I have thought about them and what they're going through/celebrating (and felt appropriately guilty about not keeping in touch), I just haven't been able to connect. Thank you to those people who understand what my life has become and regularly send me emails to update me on what's going on. Although I haven't had time to respond, I appreciate it.

I'm so far behind in life. In fact, I just got around to taking down our Christmas decorations last week. (A little dusty and inappropriately festive for February).

They tell me there's a light at the end of the tunnel and in two weeks, whether I'm done what I needed to do or not, It'll be over. Thank god!

When its done, I'll have to reconnect with friends and apologize to those I've lost or offended.

If I live through the last few weeks, I'll see you all in March.

I'm down 10lbs in time for Christmas. Yeah!

However, since the official weigh in last week I haven't been able to stop eating. The temptations are everywhere. Christmas dinners, wine and cheeses and well meaning people dropping off baked good at the office. I just can't stop myself. In fact, I'm red faced with shame....the extra large Toblerone bar that I purchased for someones stocking did not survive last nights stint at gift wrapping.

My struggle to be thin, remains a struggle.

It's been recovered:

http://zine.nationallampoon.com/index.php?option=com_jambozine&layout=article&view=page&aid=247&Itemid=32

For those interested is beating the cold spell with alcohol. The plan is to have dinner at Maxwell's at 6:30. (Thanks alot Allison! Her idea of a joke, since we all know that Maxwell's is the most popular cougar bar in town....grrrrr).

Anyways, we'll dine and drink there. When dinners over we'll move on to somewhere fun and drink until they run outta booze. If we're up to it there may be YukYuk's around 10:30, but we're going to play things by ear.

If you're up to it....come out and play.

Another year has flown by and I'm three days away from adding another candle to my birthday cake. (With all that flamage it's best to have firemen on standby!)

Friday night I plan to get together with some supportive friends and drink until I'm no longer conscious of my advanced age.

I'm off to the Casino tomorrow night with some friends. This is an annual outing, but it'll be strange this year, because I'll be the only one there without a "significant other".

In any event I plan to have a good time. A trip to the Casino for most people involves gambling. Not for me! My true purpose for going is to eat at the buffet restaurant. Mmmmm, it's a beautiful buffet. While the others are off feeding tokens into the slot machines or counting cards, I plan to park myself under the chocolate fountain. And that's where they'll find me at the end of the night....

Mmmmm happy chocolate thoughts....

The G N'R concert was (mostly) amazing. We'd heard the rumours that they were late going on in TO, so it wasn't a big surprise when our waitress (that's right baby, we were in a box!) gave us the evenings itinerary including the fact that Axl had ordered his dinner for 11:30p.m. so he wasn't expected to go on before midnight.

The line up started at 8:00p.m. with a band called "The Suicide Girls", who were reminiscent of an 80's high school rock and roll band with the lead singer desperately trying to be Joan Jett. Their music wasn't horrible.

Then came the hour long peeler show. That's right peelers!! For an hour, 5 women danced, paraded and stripped down to their g-strings and pasties. Each dance got increasing lewd and sexually explicit. Not something I expected to see at a concert....and not something any of the parents were advised of before buying the tickets for their kids.

SEBASTIAN BACH of Skid Row was next and he was fantastic!!! He's the ultimate showman. He came out around 10:30, got the crowd worked up. Everyone enjoyed the Skid Row classics (ie. 18 and Life) and the new tunes due out in 2007. Near the end of his show he was joined by THE TRAILER PARK BOYS. The crowd went crazy. Bubbles performed a few songs to overwhelming applause. Truly a Canadian thing!

Then at midnight GUNS N' ROSES made their way onto stage. They played all their hits and it was a fantastic show. Although I wouldn't have recognized Axl from years gone by. Time has not been kind to him! We left just before 2:00 a.m. and the band was still going strong.

Was there ever a more fitting song for this month...

So never mind the darkness
We still can find a way
'Cause nothin' lasts forever
Even cold November rain

(Guns N' Roses 1991)