No 3 Day Weekend For Me

This weekend is/was Victoria Day for us Canadians.  Which means a 3 day weekend.  Since l am in New York, l have to work today, the Monday of that 3 day weekend.

Next weekend is the US 3 day weekend.  Memorial Day, and guess where l will be?  Back in Canada.  So again l miss out.  Now don't go feeling too sorry for me.  A saying we use in Canada is "oh, you're so hard done by".  I know some of the USA don't have a clue what that means.

When l lived in Virginia, people would look at me like l had 3 heads when l would say that.  They had not heard that saying before.  I think it comes from England....or at least the UK people l know, know it.

It kind of means.....Oh, you have it so ruff....with a heavy dose of sarcasm.

So, yes, l am " so hard done by".  Working and missing out of a 3 day weekend (twice) surrounded by beautiful sights and working out of a campground.  Life Sucks (heavy sarcasm).

 

Losing it

In a previous life l sold books.  I used to do book fairs for a company, where l would go into corporations and set up a display of books (quite a big display - equal to a mini store) in their lobby, break rooms, meeting rooms, etc.  Why does this matter?  Well, during that time l learned the value of an elastic.  Silly as it may seem.  Since everyone has a few uses for an elastic.  I perfected it to an art.

I would use them to bind a set of books together, which was the whole reason l had the elastics.  Then l branched out and used the almighty elastic for so many things.  I would close bags of chips with them, bind wires together to keep them all orderly, l would use them to keep my rolls of coins from flying around my cash register, wrap up my extensions cords...the list is endless.

Living in a Class B Camper van, l find that previous life melds nicely into this current one where elastics are concerned.  I use them to hang hats to nobs, keep all my electronic wires for my gadgets organized, l have them around files that l am working on, so if l forget to stow everything before l take off; l don't have a mess when l put on the brakes or take a corner, hold my garbage bag to a lower kitchen knob.

I also use them to hold my towels to my hooks.  I pinch a bit of the towel and spin the elastic around the pinch a few times and my towels are secure for transit. I don't have to worry about them falling to the ground when l drive in a damp mess.

Today l lost it.  Have you ever spent time looking for something when it is right there in front of your face?  Well, in my case, l had two elastics out for my towels.  After l secured the first one, l had to search for the other elastic.  I searched for a few seconds (which is an eternity) before l realized l had it in my mouth.  I have Certifiably LOST IT....OK, l found the elastic, but l believe l have lost my mind!!!

Nothing Like.....

 

A nice hot shower with endless running water after 6 days of Sponge Baths.

I always remember when l would go camping ....in a tent.....one of the best things was coming home and having the first hot shower in days.  It seems like such luxury, and so many of us are so use to it, we take it for granted.

I guess l am just like our ancestors having sponge baths, when it was only a Sunday event to have baths.  Actually l remember my Dad would have a sponge bath every other day when l was a kid, at least in the beginning.  He grew up in Holland, and when l visited there when l was 15 (Yoowzers - 30 years ago), l remember how much of a chore it was to have a shower.  It was in the back porch, which was very cool in the winter time, and they would have to fire up the water heater, then wait.

Kind of like what l have to do now.....lol

McDonalds is my Friend

 

Yep, proud to say l spend a fair amount of time at McDonald's.  Not eating their food mind you, just using their Internet.  Okay, when l am not outside in the parking lot, but inside the restaurant, l do purchase  a hot tea and a muffin.  In Canada, it's only $1.46, a pretty damn good deal.  AND they make the tea properly.  By properly l mean, open the tea bag package, put that lovely tea bag in the cup in Canada l can actually get my Earl Grey too), then ad the steaming hot water.  Perfection.

Funny thing, everywhere l have been in the USA (we are talking McDonald's here - not Starbucks- Starbucks does it right), they put the hot water in the cup and place the tea bag on the side.  It doesn't hit the hot water until l place it in.  Not the end of the world, l agree.  If l am just grabbing the tea and high tailing it out of there, l then have to put the bag in myself and play with it, until it is steeped enough, then pull the bag out and throw it in the trash.  Not the end of the world, sometimes it's the little things that make a day!

I would like to officially Thank McDonald's for the brilliant idea of Free Internet, and any other companies out there doing the same thing!  :-)

Hanging at McDonalds

I've been hanging at McDonalds in the morning having a tea and using their free Wi-Fi.  Thank you McDonalds.

I've noticed the same group of seniors come in every morning enjoying their discounted coffee that comes with free refills.  Will they miss me when l leave in a couple of days.  Probably not.  That's okay.  Didn't hurt my feelings.  I guess if you don't have things to do, you get to enjoy the finer things in life like free refills at McDonalds.

While l appreciate the fine folks at McDonalds supplying me with free Wi-Fi, l do miss having access to it at night.  When l was travelling around in hotels, l always had it.  Sometimes the connection was piss poor, but l still had it.  The last couple of days l have been researching a plan to purchase.  I haven't jumped yet since l will be in the USA for 2 months, and my Canadian plan won't work there.  Well, actually it will work, l would just have to sell a kidney to use it there.  And while l have two, and both function, ya just never know when you might really need that second one for yourself.

I spoke with a representative at Costco yesterday day gave me some great information about tablets and phone plans.  I have a pretty good one now, but need either a smart phone or a tablet in the future.  When l'm ready to jump l will be hunting that guy down.

Day 18 Lightening the Load

Isn't it just great to get things off of your chest?  I did yesterday.  My boss was playing hardball about my next deal.  Wanting me to stay at the next deal until Friday March 30th(which l don't mind doing, usually we fly home Thursday night or early Friday morning)  Problem for me is l fly out Saturday for Palm Springs (via Vegas - yes, all so confusing).  He did originally want me to fly home on Saturday, l said it wasn't possible since l had holidays (wink, wink).

So l laid it on the line, that there was no point in me staying longer when my inside co-worker doesn't get me enough appointments as it is.  Why would l stay longer on a project, if l couldn't get appointments to stay busy.  So we had a heart to heart, l showed him my numbers, that l have kept track of to back me up, broken down to show my lack of appointments.

My intention wasn't to throw M under the bus, l have tried to address the issues with her, and she brushed them off.  The positive thing about her brushing them off, and my Boss not listening to what l had to say a number of months ago when l tried to address the issue, M is their golden child who can do no wrong - and has been with the company for 3 years, where as l have only been for 9 months,is that it put my change of job plans in motion.  For that l am grateful for.

If things were going great at my current job, l probably wouldn't have made the phone call to the new job and say that l was ready to start, for another couple of years.

I guess you can equate getting rid of your excess possessions to lightening the emotional load, either one you just feel lighter and freer.

Beauty in the Eye of the Beholder

Beauty  truly is in the eye of the beholder.  I could be hyper-sensitive to all the commercials of the 'must have's' that are continually pounded into peoples heads, as l scale my life down to what l can pack into my van.

This morning on Good Morning America, while l was eating my breakfast at the Comfort Inn in Marshfield l could barely contain my shock that they were doing a feature story on nail polish that cost $5,000. a bottle, it contained actual GOLD in it.  No that price is not a typo,  $60. per nail, each time.

Who would even think of spending money on this?  That is a $720 manicure. WHAT???  Seriously??  And l  to even consider this news-worthy???

Then today on one of my appointments l was in a bike shop.  Not the motorized ones, but the peddle your ass off kind.  There were many for $1,000 and $2,000, l also saw one for $3,300.  That's almost as much as l paid for my van.  Okay, l could see if you were a professional bicycle rider, but the average Joe?

If just seems so....collapsible, this crazy mentality for excess.  As l said earlier, it's probably that l am just hypersensitive to it since l am running in the opposite direction.  Things that make you go......hmmmmmm.

31 Days until lift off

I'm expecting the next 31 days to be a bit of a roller coaster ride.  I will be going through exhileration at the thought of getting on the road, and a big case of the nerves of ....you guessed it, getting on the road.

I have experienced this before, about 10 years ago when l took a trip in my car around the USA.  I was so excited about going, and then about a week before l was to leave l remember getting a big case fo the nerves.  I even called a friend of mine who is was a world traveller to much more exotic places for longer periods of time (Asia, South America both for a year at a time) with just a backpack.

She assured me that the nerves are normal.  That knowledge in itself was very comforting and helped me relax.  It ended up being a good trip, and a small trial run for this adventure/lifestyle.  I slept in reststops and Walmart parking lots along the way as well as Hostels.  I will enjoy the experience of travelling with my home much more, l am sure.

It might be a bit of a challenge getting all packed and organized (with small van modifications done) before the end of March, so l have allowed myself a week in April after my Palm Desert trip to apply myslef to wrapping up my current life.

Bonus Day

Hey, tomorrow is bonus day.  How do you plan on enjoying it?  I will be working.  I'm thinking Leap Day should be a bonus day off for everyone.  Wouldn't that be great.  Kind of like thanksgiving, or so it should be.

How do we misplace 6 hours a year?  So after 4 years, we add a day to our calendar.  How skewed would our calendar be if we never made up those days.  Would we eventually have summer in the winter?  Christmas when it's 80 degrees out.  We would basically switch seasons with Australia.  That wouldn't be so bad in my opinion.  Christmas in shorts.  It's not as though Christmas is white anymore, anyways.

Good People

On Friday night l had dinner with a very good friend of mine, and her Mother, who l am honored to call a good friend too.  Dinner was delicious, company was better.

On Saturday l spent the night at a friends 50th Birthday Party.  Of course the guest of honor was busy dividing time amongst all his guest, but it was great to see him and his wife.  And a bonus part was another couple that l knew was there that l chatted with for the whole evening.

On Sunday, l visited my Grandfather who is in the hospital.  He fell at home about a month and a half ago, then just after Christmas he woke up with pneumonia.  I visited him a few days after he came out of isolation.  He wasn't doing too well.  I fed him dinner with my aunts, who have been keeping a vigil around him.  They are really great daughters.  I went again on Sunday and he was so much better.  He was so out of it before that he didn't remember me visiting.  This time we chatted, my aunts were there again.  It was nice to see him on the road to recovery.

And it got me thinking that there are some really good people l know.  Over the years l have collected a few good people l can call friends.  I have met lots of people, not everyone gets into that group, the few that are there deserve to be there.   I am lucky to have them in my life.

If you live in fear, it's just not living!

I attached these photo's on Facebook today.  I was surprised by some peoples reaction.  Their reaction was fear.  Fear that if they travelled by ship, this might happen to them.

[caption id="attachment_530" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Tear in the side of a cruise ship"][/caption]

 

 

I have been on a number of cruises over the years.  I've travelled by plane, train, automobile and by ship.  Never have l felt scared that l may not arrive at my destinations. That perhaps l was taking my life into my own hands.   If anything, l was excited about the possibilities of the trip, not just the destination, but about the journey.

I can't imagine not doing something out of fear.  I won't bungee jump, it's not out of fear, l just have no desire to do it.  Now parachuting out of a plane, l would like to do that.  I think its the view and the floating sensation that attracts me to parachuting.  Bungee is too abrupt for me.

[caption id="attachment_528" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Cruise ship off the coast of Italy"][/caption]

One of my cruises l sat at a table in the dinning room of  a couple that had actually been on a cruise where the ship had sunk.  It was an Asian cruise and many years ago now.  They had a great story, and were very entertaining the whole trip and they were full of life.  It didn't scare them to get back on a ship.  They didn't travel with fear.

I think when you can live through moments that are scary, they actually make you stronger and more alive.

 

I'm dreaming.......

I can't believe the beautiful weather we are having here in Turks and Caicos.  The beach is beautiful, with white sand for miles and miles.  The sun warms my skin as l relax and enjoy the sound of the surf lapping at the shore. I am almost finished the book l have been reading for the last couple of days on the beach.  My biggest concern is slathering on sun screen.   This is the life.....

Instead, my alarm blares at 5am, l get out of my warm bed into the chilly morning.  Hop in the shower slather on moisturizer because the "fake" heat is drying my skin and head to work in the dark.  Snow is starting to fall, they are calling for a storm, and l'm just trying to beat  the storm and the 3 million other people commuting to work.  :-)

 

Stationary

It's pretty tough coming up with subjects for blogs when you are stationary.  I can't comment on people l meet, since that is pretty limited when you spend so much time at home.  I can't fill my blog with wonderful pictures of places l'm seeing, since l'm not seeing them.  I don't have any photo's of the work l have done on my van getting it ready for travel, since it's too frekin' cold for me to undertake a project like that.

I've lived in Toronto too long to be interested in the museums here or tourist sites, and l'm not really a outdoor winter kind of girl (skiing, snowmobiling, skating etc...) and definitely not a shopping mall girl, even on the best of days.

So, for a little bit it will be a struggle for me, but don't despair, l will be travelling eventually (maybe, that last part is written for me, Tammy, don't despair, you will be travelling again soon) and will have adventures to write about again.

Access vs Ownership

Today I have been watching some little snippets of videos of people living small on www.faircompanies.com .  Not by living small, and not enjoying life, but by getting rid of all those things that society pressures us into accepting as normal, and living with smaller homes, less stuff, less imprint on the planet.  But a higher quality of life and to do the things that make us happy, getting out in the world and experiencing life, as to just experiencing the commute, the four walls of the office, the rat race that we have put ourselves in.

In one of the videos a guy said the term "Access verses Ownership".  I haven't heard it put so simply and eloquently before.  Who says we need to own it all, why not just have access to it.  It is usually cheaper, and therefor less time needed to be trapped by those four walls to pay for it.  Think about it.  Our society is actually helping us get there with the technology that is being developed, if only we could pry our minds off  of the need to "own it".

Think about it.  The list is endless.  Instead of owning the land, some of the best landscapes are owned by the government and therefor, we can access them for free or for a very nominal charge (and we don't have to cut the grass or shovel the snow).  Music is now available as downloads for your ipod, MP3 or what ever your device.  Do you really need to store that CD Jewel case?  Movies, same thing, Netflixs or Redbox is so cheap, and require no storage.

We have a storage epidemic across North America, never before in time have we had so many self-storage places for people to store their junk (except for the odd person who is using those storage places for a short period of transition from one place to another).  Garages on homes no longer park cars, but all the little must haves that we possibly think we can't do without.

Access vs Ownership, Freedom vs Chains.  I think the two sayings have the same definitions in this case.

Close to the End

There is only one day left in this year we know affectionately as 2011.

Its been a good year for me, l've gotten more focused on my travel adventure, and in the mean time l've gotten to do a dry run by airplane.  I do love going from town to town for my job, l just don't like living in a hotel.  Don't get me wrong, the housekeeping aspect of it is great!  Never having to scrub a tub or make a bed is pretty close to heaven for me!

I would prefer to be able to have a kitchen where l can cook my own meals, have some of my favorite books on hand or at least my current favorite book, without being concerned l will go over the baggage weight limit. If there are kids running in the hall at all hours of the night, l could just move myself. With RV travel, l can do it at my own pace, not on pre-determined, pre-purchased flights.  Also, let's not forget, my two furry friends can accompany me on the adventure.

Am l looking forward to New Years Eve? No, not really.  Over the years l've worked too many NYE's when l was in the restaurant business.  It always seemed over-rated, over-priced, over-hyped.  I don't wait for the old calendar to be thrown out and a new one to be ushered in to make decisions to change my life, to quit this or that, l do it far to often to wait for  that one day that comes by every 364 days.

 

 

One Step Closer

I'm done in the garage for now.  A friend of mine will be inheriting almost two full sets of pots and pans, a Flat Screen TV (which l haven't watched in over 6 months), some towels, my favorite gigantic wood cutting board, and bake-ware.

I really cleaned house last time l did this, so not much left to go through this time.

I've still got my clothes to go through, but l will wait to get closer to travel date before l let go of those, they are easier to dispose of in those bins in the shopping malls.  I'm not talking about those dumpsters, but the recycle clothing bins.

The hardest part will be getting rid of all the little shit.  The gadgets, the multiple flashlights, you know the stuff you never use....but might.  Kind of like, the life you want to lead, but don't.

Slither in the Back Door

 

[caption id="attachment_461" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Union Station Toronto, most scenic part of the trip"][/caption]

That's what it felt like on the train today.  I'm not kidding.  I felt like l was slithering into the few towns we stopped in on my way to London, Ontario.  As we left Union Station in the downtown core of Toronto we got to see the back yards of some of the homes of Toronto.  And the sight left something to be desired.  I'm amazed at the junk some people literally throw out in their yards.

Of course, prices tend to be less for your home if you are living beside railroad tracks....so....enough said.

Every-town we seemed to slink into the back door to the station.  My $60 train ticket saved me a whole whack of cash.  Why?  Well, l had this silly romantic desire to travel Canada coast to coast by train, and then also Alaska down to Victoria, BC.  What l discovered is, as romantic as that sounded, l think it would make me loopy.  The ride was nice, but what fun would there be if l couldn't get out and explore the towns l was whipping by?  Do l really want to see the crappy homes that line the tracks in some of the most beautiful cities in the country? Or do l want to poke around in the areas that catch my eye, and even lay down my hat for a night or two?  I think you can guess.

 

So....Tired.....

Don't make me do it!  I don't want to get out of  bed.

Tommy (one of my cats) was quite restrained waiting until 7:30 to start his meowing to get his morning treat.  He usually gets it at 6ish.  My fault though, it was 7:30 and not later, l opened my eye (yes, only one, l was just coming out of the sleep fog) and rolled over. He sensed l was back on this planet and attacked. Okay not really attacked, just gentle encouraged me to "attend" to his needs, when l would have much rather attended to my own need of sleep.

The stores close early today and l need to get some groceries and a gift for a nephew. Should be ease, just working with a time constraint, and the fear of the stores being back...okay not really, l just don't want to do it.  But l will.

Maybe l can sneak in an afternoon nap before l start baking.

 

American Airlines Redeemed

Well, the first leg of my journey from El Paso to Dallas, the plane was full.  It was on time and went smoothly for the short flight of just over an hour.

The second part of my flight, as l waited for the plane to board my name was called to the check in desk.  Not knowing why it was l approached the lady behind the desk.  She said are you Tammy, l said yes.  She said "we have you in a middle seat, would you like us to change you to a window or an isle?"  I said sure, absolutely.  Then she handed me the new ticket she just printed out then said "wait a minute, lets change that and put you in a seat where there isn't someone beside you" . I said, Fantastic, it's like Christmas, and smiled.

I got the seat, didn't have to pay for it, and had three seats all to myself.  I moved to the window seat and offered the guy behind me to move up in my row, since they were packed three across in theirs.

It is almost Christmas.....Thank you American Airlines, but your still not forgiven for all the little charges.  :-)

 

American Airlines

Wow.  I wasn't going to write anything about American Airlines last night when l checked in online.  I can't resist now after my check in at the El Paso airport.  I haven't flown American Airlines in a couple of years.  And l understand that airlines are charging extras (exit seats, checked luggage) where-ever they can get away with it.  But REALLY????

When l checked in last night on-line, l tried changing my seat, since the travel agent that books my ticket at work doesn't always seem to give me a window seat, and of course l prefer that seat,  if l'm tired, l get to lean against the wall and have a snooze, it tends to be better then the head bob for me.  American was very accommodating, if l wanted to up grade to a window or a isle, it would cost me an extra $20. plus change.  Now we are not talking about the emergency exit seat here, just a random window or isle seat.  That was a first, but not enough for me to put it in my blog.

Oh, also, if l wanted to "buy" extra reward miles for this trip l could by 35oo miles for $100 something, or 5000 miles for $152.  Still not enough for me to write about.  I don't know what you can get for those miles, but it seemed pretty dear to me.

What got me was this morning, checking in, on those machines that you HAVE to check in with first, even though you checked in online, and you still have to see an agent at the desk, was all the extra charges.  Again, l was offered to change my seat (for a fee), buy the miles, upgrade to business class (my company doesn't spring for that). On top of all those unbelievable offers, l could pay an extra $9.00 to upgrade my BOARDING position.

Really, pay an extra $9.00 to get on 5 minutes earlier.  Soon we will have to be paying for the 1/2 glass of soda we get, to use the loo or at least the toilet paper to wipe with, pay for every piece of luggage (purse, coat, camera case), checked or not., seat belts.....

It might even come to having to have  quarters just in case the oxygen deploys we might have to feed the machine quarters to get dispensed oxygen, just like a soda machine.