IT WAS PERFECT

Well we can all breathe now.  The wedding went off without a hitch.  Nobody died.  Nobody was in an accident.  Pretty much everyone made it.  The weather was incredible.  Nobody got embarrassingly drunk.  It was breathtakingly beautiful.  I think the only disaster that happened was upstairs where all the bridesmaids and bride spent the day with a make up artist and a magical hair dresser.  It all went smoothly and so much fun but later when Aryn went up to get something off the food and drink table, the legs were not attached for some reason.  The whole thing collapsed and covered poor Aryn's maid of honour dress with food and orange juice.

Some highlights:  Myles's family...I especially was so happy to have a short visit with them.  I don't get to see them very often.  They could only stay for the ceremony part but it gave me a chance to track them down for a few minutes while they were waiting for Gary to get their car.  Helen had on a beautiful outfit...I liked it to the point where I was downright jealous.  I was wearing a dress that made me look like a whale and if I had worn the same outfit Helen wore I would have not only looked a hundred per cent better but would have been way more comfortable, more me.  What's more I could have worn my black running shoes.  Instead I had to wear my combat boots to protect my neuropathic toes.  And Helen had done her hair in the cutest way.

  Baka, bless her, was her usual sweet awesome self.  At over ninety she is truly amazing.  And Gary..as good looking as his son and had by far the nicest male outfit there! is such a kind man and thoughtful person.  I see where Myles gets it from!

Another highlight:  The children....there weren't a zillion of them, just enough to really make the wedding feel like a family event.  The two flower children, Charlotte (almost 2) and Noah (2) were adorable.  All through the whole event they were so good and added to the ambiance for sure, all dressed up so cutely.  And another little one, Abigail from Keats, was the most amazing little dynamo dancer I have ever seen.  I am not sure how old she is, maybe four or five, cute as a button, and danced her little toes off for hours!!!!

Another:  All the family and friends I don't see often living over here on the island.  Some of them travelled a long way.  It was wonderful to spend some time catching up with everyone and as I said before several times...it was so awesome that this get together was a happy event, not a funeral.  And I got to sit with Aunty Joan, Cookie and Brian.  What more could one ask for!!!  Joan is the most easy person to be with and I just love visiting with her.  Now there is a lady that never ages!!!!  I met her almost forty years ago and she still looks exactly the same!  And Cookie!  My bestest friend...It would not have been the same without her there.  And Brian, bless his heart brought me a samosa!  He is such a hoot!  His dancing got us all going!!!

Another:  The venue...what a funky cool place.  There are over one hundred little tiny art studios in that building.  And there is a huge ballroomy type room where events happen.  Additionally there is a massive courtyard and there was a clear plastic canopy with lights over top.  It was perfect!  And thanks to the cousins and some other amazing souls, that ballroom sparkled with set tables and flowers etc.  I was blown away by how much they did.  What a true blessing that was.

And just one more:  Aryn and Bradley.  Aryn dressed April, fixed the dress where needed, kept her grounded, controlled the upstairs part with all the girls (who were equally amazing and helpful).  Bradley is just the most gentlemanly gentleman who somehow just knows where to be and to do what needs doing.  He looked after the groom, who was so emotional and a little overwhelmed by everything.  Bradley wheeled Baka into the ceremony seating.  He took rickety old ladies arms and helped them.  And the most amazing thing of all.  After everyone left, around 12:30 - one am ish, the whole place had to be cleaned.  Tables folded up and rolled into the back, chairs collapsed, tablecloths collected, bin after bin after rubbermaid bin filled with ALL the wedding paraphernalia.  The arch had to be dismantled etc...  at some point both April and Myles were beyond coping.  They still had to walk the few blocks to Aryn and Bradley's to get the truck they had parked there.

Then the most incredible gift.  Aryn and Bradley chased them out.  Forced them to leave.  Go to their place and climb up the loft stairs, climb into their bed!  When Bradley and Aryn finished all the clean up they came home and slept downstairs, Bradley on the couch and Aryn told me she curled up on their big ottoman!!!!!!!  Like who does that?????  Honestly April and Myles were overwhelmed by all the love and care those two gave them.  I am gobsmacked as the Brits say!!!!!    I am so proud of all my kids.  And they were all there.  And guess what?  We did not get a family picture!!!  (shovel list). Sigh.

There will be pictures to come.  Right now I am so tired I can't think straight.  Going to snooze with wee Leeloo in my arms.  Yes!  We get Leeloo until the kids get back.  It feels good to have a doggy back in the house.  All for now....TFL & TTYL

BRADLEY PUSHING BAKA....ISN'T THIS AN AMAZING AWESOME PICTURE!!!!!!!???????

 

PREP PREP PREP

 Weddings.  So many details.  I am keeping track of maybe one eightieth of all the details in that are in April and Myles heads.  I pray to the powers that be that their wedding works out on every level.  I know that she can cope with any glitch that happens but I am not so sure Myles could.  And if Myles isn't happy, April isn't happy.  Her number one priority in this whole event is that Myles is happy.  As we sit here at the nine day mark, they both are so happy and anticipating.

Wow I typed that first paragraph ages ago.  I have been busy finding an outfit for the wedding and baking.  Many many cookies!

Finding a decent outfit is very very difficult!!!  I don't wear dresses.  In the words of My Big Fat Greek Wedding bride, when I put on a dress I look like a walking table cloth.  Dresses used to look fabulous on me but a hundred pounds up?...not so much!  Like I said to April it's like putting lipstick on a pig!

So I do have a couple of outfits to try.  So a couple of nights ago I put on my top fave pick.  I love the dress.  It is actually a 12 dollar shorter dress, sleeveless and looks like stained glass pieces.  I really like it!  I had just put it on and was admiring  (shovel list...not really) myself in the mirror when Monte arrived home.  'How do I look?'  God no!!! he says immediately.  Why I ask.  It's too short and informal.  At least he didn't tell me I looked matronly, like his father did once.  So that was a no go.

I do have a very expensive dress I have never worn.  It is a beautiful animal print and almost goes to the floor.  I will put a pic below....easier than explaining it.  I was worried it would be too tight but it was actually too big.  Dam!!!  So I put a black jacket with it and that helped.  I had Monte take a pic and I sent it to April.  A very polite and gently stated question came back immediately...you are wearing black????  She then told me I could wear tights with a pretty top.  Well all my pretty tops went out in one of four massive garbage bags the other day.

Then I remembered that I had bought a couple of long dresses from a cheap Asian website I have mentioned from time to time, a couple of years ago.  I never tried them on.  I just figured they would be too small when I looked at them and I put them away.  Well guess what?  They fit!  One of them turned out pretty good.  And it is predominantly blue...which matches the wedding party colour.  I had Ange take pics and I sent it to April. She loved it. I shall put that one below too.  I like it but I still think I look like a tablecloth.

Monte and I made a trip to Nanaimo.  Costco and Lenscrafters.  I picked up my glasses.  Honestly there isn't much difference in the strength.  My biggest complaint with the old ones is they slid down my nose just enough to interfere with the bifocal part.  Well guess what?!!  These ones are even worse.  I think I am going to have to go back and get them tightened again and get a cheap pair that is all bifocal.  It's annoying because when I look away from phone or laptop everything will be all warped.

Monte's suit needs to be dry-cleaned and ironed.  I had Monte take it to the only dry cleaners in town.  And wouldn't you know it.  They were closed.  Til frigging Tuesday!!!!  We leave Friday.  This stupid town is getting on my last nerve.  You have to be able to live randomly and very unsophisticatedly.  Grrrrrr!!!

MY FAVE AND THE FINAL PICK (my only complaint is those artistic dark patches look like giant grease stains and with me that could be quite possible)

Well thats it.  I shall load the two pics.  It's getting late.  I apologize for the lateness of the post.  This next week I will try to slide a way more interesting one in before the wedding.  TFL and TTYL

    THE ONE

THE REJECT

MY NEW GLASSES

SCARY SCARY SCARY...I SWEAR NEVER AGAIN

 Ambulance time again.  This is the fourth time an ambulance has had to be called to our house.  Three times for me and once for Ange.  There are people that have never had an ambulance to their house.  The neighbours will think I am a weenie.

Last night I suddenly felt the symptoms of too low blood sugar.  Let me tell ya folks...it is extremely awful.  I would rather go through pain than that!  Never again.  

I was sitting on my bed around eight when that terrible feeling rolled over me.  I recognized it from the last time.  But this time was ten times worse.  While I could still move, because quite rapidly I would not be able to, I called Ange.  Monte wasn't home.  I couldn't talk properly but I managed to get out 'help me' in a sluggy slurred voice.  And that lady was upstairs before you could say bob's your uncle.  She is a hero.  I tell ya she IS a hero.

  She knew immediately what was going on and dashed into the kitchen and came back with the solid honey and a giant spoon and gave me two big tablespoons of it.

Then we waited.  But it just wouldn't let up.  It was taking so long I kind of thought that maybe it was a stroke, which would explain what the hell was going on with my speech and confused mind.  It didn't exactly explain what was horribly happening in the rest of my body.  I don't know, I have never had a stroke before.  But I have seen that commercial on tv where the dad's mouth goes strange (mine was) speech gets slurred (mine was) you can't move properly (I couldn't) and I have been super careful for this not to happen, checking my sugars constantly etc...

Long stupid story short, we called Monte and he came busting home and helped me out to the chair in the living room and we waited some more.  And it wouldn't go away, in fact it got worse.  My blood sugar was good now but it wouldn't get better.  I never ever ever ever want that feeling again.  I took a turbo gravol to see if it could tame my damned stomach down.  Ange finally phoned an ambulance.  

And just like sick kids, the minute they showed up I returned to normal.  Jeez Louise!!!  And all my vitals were perfect, even my blood pressure and blood sugar.  When I explained to April what I was feeling she said it sounded a bit like a panic attack.  I wouldn't know I have never had one.  And if that is what a panic attack is, holy hell, you people that do get them you have my deepest sympathy.  That was awful and scary as hell.  The gravol finally kicked in, The two paramedics were utterly amazing and taught me stuff for future, and the gravol calmed me down and made me sleepy.  It was over.

I need to say something important here.  You know that cliche " God works in mysterious ways"?  Well the powers that be, being God, Ohm, Gaia or the Universe, absolutely were working when they put Ange in our life and in our house.  Who keeps me grounded? Ange.  Who helps me when I can't manage something? Ange.  Who keeps me company enough to keep the lonlies away? Ange. And who comes running when I need saving and knows exactly what to do? Ange.  And who was there when we had to give up our beloved, in fact took him in from the car, Floppy?  Ange.  And finally who understands Monte and treats him with love and respect? Ange.  It's a mystery to me. How did Monte and I deserve this amazing person to be in our life when we needed it the most and didn't know we did.  We are truly blessed.

TFL and TTYL

SAD DAY TODAY

 Well it is done.  After one awesome year with the most fun crazy well behaved dog I have ever owned, he has been returned to the spca.  I am pretty bitter about the spca right now and not just because of this.

I have never been a fan of theirs.  They come across just too holier than thou.  And they aren't.  Four hundred bucks for a stray mutt is ridiculous.  And to qualify you have to be God.  You fill out a four page book on everything about yourself, even very personal things and then you might, or might not, get an unwanted dog, nine times out of ten with problems.

The other reason is that they did not tell us about Floppy's incurable yeast issue.  And that is a horrible and very very expensive thing to treat.  If we had known I would never have taken him.  I can't afford five hundred bucks a month to keep him from being miserable.  We did everything in our power to help him but he needed steroids and expensive creams and shampoo.  The dog food recommended was close to 200 bucks a bag.  

As we drove him today we got halfway down the lane towards the spca and he went nuts.  Happy nuts.  He knew exactly where he was.  He had lived there for two months before we took him.  So that made us feel a wee tiny bit better about leaving him.  

They weren't too happy about taking him back right then.  They aren't the biggest spca in the world and they have 22 dogs in there right now.  Now 23.  I didn't feel too sorry about that I must admit.  Flop will love the overcrowding!!

So with a heavy heart and swollen eyes I say good night.  My stinky bedmate will be sorely missed tonight.  I am going to super miss my morning nose kiss from him.  This is just so sad...almost as sad as when we had to put one of our many dogs down.  No more dogs in my life.

TFL andTTYL

HIS LAST NIGHT WITH ME

HOME AGAIN HOME AGAIN JIGGITY JIG!!!

 Firstly I need to make mention of my dear dear Facebook friend Dean Pierce.  I got word that he has passed away.  He was a true light in my life.  We met on a cruise in China and he became fast friends with Bill and I.  Upon arriving home we continued to communicate frequently.  He was such a wise comforting soul.  I am going to miss him horribly.  

My few days in Vancouver were awesome, as usual.  I arrived at April's on Sunday afternoon and we hopped into my car and drove to an awesome pub in Britannia Beach, half way to Squamish, about an hour over the most beautiful highway in BC.  Well one of them.  The highway from Terrace to Prince Rupert is pretty incredible and so is the John Hart Highway.  But neither of them have the ocean on one side of the road and mountains on the other.  Oh!  The highway through the rockies is also stellar.  Oh jeez! Never mind.

At that pub on Sunday nights BradleyBe, as Aryn's Bradley calls himself, was djing.  Myles, Aryn and Aryn's friend Liz were all there as well.  We had a wonderful time!  We headed home around eight through the magical golden hour outside.  What a magnificent sight the sound is at that time of the day!!!

April worked everyday til five.  Myles was with Bradley in Whistler having a 'stag'.  So Leeloo and I had some time together.   I don't think April sat down for more than two minutes when she was home.  She is tying up last minute wedding things. I spent an hour or two making phone calls on her behalf...research for limos etc...  Then on Wed. Arne picked me up and we drove out to Maple Ridge.  We had a fantastic time together.  We were headed to a private sawmill guy to get wood 'cookies' for the centre pieces on the tables.  After taking a wrong turn or two we showed up right smack at 11 o'clock, the time he told us to be there.  I texted him to let him know and he texted back, ' oh shoot!  I couldn't make it til 12 today'. Well thanx a lot for letting us know buddy. So Aryn and I went back into town to an A&W for burgers.  We had Leeloo so we couldn't go into a cafe.  

 We had unkind thoughts til we met him.  Haha...good looking and super nice.  oh...and apologetic.  All was immediately forgiven.

His place was so interesting.  Tons of wood.  Live edge tables, shelving, cut wood, uncut wood along with all those awesome wood smells.  We picked up what we needed and we were on our way.

I left the next morning for the ferry.  It was a quick trip home it seemed.  The dog was over the moon when I got in and now he will not leave me alone.  Which would be great except he absolutely reeks!  That yeast infection he has is playing havoc with his body and his odour.  We have another vet appointment on Monday in Parksville.  If they can't help us in under five hundred bucks a month he has to go back to the spca.  It's not right keeping him in misery.  Itchy misery.

Yesterday I spent an entire afternoon at the hairdressers, not my fave pastime I tell ya.  But it was past due.  I got a pretty hefty cut and a pretty tight curl.  I look like Little Orphan Annie gone grey.  Hopefully it will loosen up a bit before the wedding.

Today Monte and I went to a Mystic Fair.  It was lovely.  All the vendors were women who make amazing jewelry and things.  There were a couple of men with awesome stuff made from stone and/or petrified wood.  Beautiful!!

Thats it.  Nothing too exciting.  I am determined to once and for all get my room done.  It is still a big mess, just different stuff.  I just simply have nowhere to put it all.  I really do have to figure something out.  I still have to post a done room pic!!

TFL and TTYL