Well, this is completely new to me.  A blog of my own.  Seems weird, but I thought I would like to chronicle my year off and share some of my experiences whether they be dull and mundane or adventurous and exciting.  I am four days into my year off, and I still can't quite believe it.  It is so freeing knowing that I can do whatever I want whenever I want (within reason, of course!)

On my first day off (Saturday, June 30, 2012) I could have slept in like I usually do, but I didn't!  Just knowing that I didn't have to go to work on Monday, or Tuesday, or ANY day for that matter for 14 WHOLE MONTHS, has made such a difference. I actually got up before 10 am (shocker, as any of my friends can tell you!) and went for coffee with my mom and her friend.  After coffee, we headed over to the Bay and checked out the clothes.  I tried on some bathing suits, and one actually looked really cute, but it cost like $150 just for the top!!!!  So, I wisely decided to wait to see if it will go on sale.  Mary, my favorite saleswoman, advised me to wait because she thought it might go on sale this Thursday.  We shall see if it is still there this Thursday.  I am notoriously not good at getting things on sale, so with this kind of luck, I'll be surprised if the suit is still there on Thursday.  Like I said, we shall see.  I ended up buying a white pair of skinny jeans and some blush from Clinique that I needed.

Mom and I had planned to check out Winners after lunch, but we both ran out of steam.  Instead, I took my dog, Benny, for a walk and then headed home for a nap.  How luxurious to nap and not feel guilty about it!

Sunday, July 1st - Canada Day!

Today I visited my good friends Mindy and Ian who live by Fort George Park, which is where all the Canada Day activities take place.  Needless to say, the streets were packed with cars and people coming and going from the park.  Although there were dark clouds in the sky, the weather held out until about 4:00 pm when it started to lightly rain.  Luckily, Mindy has a lovely glass greenhouse with comfy chairs inside, so we all sat amongst the greenery sipping our pink lemonades (with gin, of course!).  Pink lemonade is something that has such good memories for me - it was definitely a childhood favorite, and now I think it will be my new favorite summer drink!   

After a lovely old-fashioned chicken with stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy dinner at Mom's (I contributed the salad.), I headed home to watch t.v.  I decided to take my laptop into bed with me even though I always stay up way later than I should when I do that...but who cares, I have no obligations now and I can sleep in as long as I want!!  

Anyway, just after midnight, I could hear some fireworks starting up in the neighborhood.  All of a sudden, I heard two VERY loud bangs, and I thought, "Wow, this must be some spectacular show!"  I jumped up to look out the window, but didn't see anything out of the ordinary in the sky.  I briefly wondered if it might have been gun shots, but laughed that off because I live in a very nice area.  Well, was I ever wrong...or right, I should say...the very next day I found out that there had been a drive-by shooting just down the street!!  This is the stuff I read about in the news, and it's happening in our middle class, suburban, sleepy neighborhood!!  Well, I should backtrack.  We did get a new neighbor a few years ago who was rumored to be a part of a motorcycle gang.  We all wondered if it was a good or bad gang at the time...now I'm thinking, not so good.  Apparently, someone came by and shot out the top window of the house and then ditched the rifle on the street - now, I'm no crime sleuth, but I'm thinking that's a pretty weird thing to do.  Who leaves the weapon behind...unless they're trying to incriminate someone else perhaps?  Who knows.  The incident has certainly stirred up our little neighborhood though.

Monday, July 2, 2012

A lazy, dazy, drizzly day!  I don't think I have ever been this white at this time of the year!  My summer tan is seriously lacking!  Oh well, I guess it's nice that I don't have to water the lawn.  My flowers are looking a bit forlorn though.  

After walking the dog, I visited my good friend Niels.  He had a spot cut out of his forehead that had been bothering him for years.  He told me that he had some swelling, so I was expecting to see him not looking like himself.  However, I was totally shocked when I saw him.  He not only had huge blue stitches and huge swelling, but also had some major infection happening!  I felt so sorry for him because he was also struggling with a headache.  Luckily, he was seeing the surgeon the next day to get the stitches out, so I knew it would be okay.  Just to be on the safe side, however, he decided to go to the walk-in clinic to get some antibiotics.

Tuesday, July 3, 2012

Well, Niels got his stitches out and the doctor told him that she was shocked that it got infected - apparently only happens to 1 in 100....well, now it's 2 in 100!

Another rainy day today...getting a little tired of the rain.  Oh well, I guess I'm going to have to stop waiting for the sun and just carry on. I'm sure that the rain doesn't stop people who live in Vancouver or Seattle - if it did, they'd be indoors all the time!

I didn't do too much today other than laundry and walking the dog.  My dog Benny is 16 years old.  He's a black poodle that I bought for my daughter, but unfortunately in the brief period I had him before surprising my daughter, he bonded with me.  But then again, I was the one that seemed to feed and walk him all the time!  Anyway, he is now almost blind and practically deaf, and some days he stiffens up with arthritis.  But then some days, he's as frisky as a puppy!  At any rate, I love him dearly, and dread the day when he's not around.