Mink's Moments

[minks]

People are funny. Let me first start with... so far so good I still have my job yay yipee but tomorrow starts a new week... so we shall see.....
Pity I have to put off my holiday planning because of all this. But better safe than sorry. We rang in at 17 laid off out of 109 cast members at work.
Friday we went out for lunch with some co-workers. I like all but 1 of them but hey for the sake of Morale you do what you gotta do. I sat with the girls (3 of us who are friends) and 2 ops managers and then were joined by the IT guys, R&D guy and lab guy. They sat at a table behind us....
Well holy mother of pearl do men gossip (in my company 10% of us are girls). At our table alone the men were gossiping about a member from the other table Never say women are the worst ahahahahaha Ah but lunch was fun and it ended up being free as one of the Ops guys picked up the tab. It is funny because us girls do friday lunch weekly and suddenly everybody is on board for this... hmmm so this is what it's like to be the popular ones.
Ok so as the day goes on we 3 girls are in a meeting of sorts when a different Operations guy comes in and asks where we are going for beers after work....OMG more beer well what the heck we better go or we could be the topic of gossip ahahahaha This time it's different people again coming out with us, and a whole new batch of victims to gossip about... Good lord what a crazy company.

Well I belive we have to keep in the social loop of work when it's upper management asking you out just to "talk" off the record. Funny how it's us girls all the time.

My daughter's and I are off to the museum this afternoon, the key display is Marilyn Monroe, it looks amazing I can't wait. It should be a fun afternoon with just us 3. We have a very good museum and they rotate some pretty interesting features in and out of there.

I can't remember if I can take pictures or not ah well who knows. Will take the cam incase.

Happy Sunday All.

[minks]

A special shout out to Floppy today... Congrats on expecting grand baby number 3 I hear ya on the crying part that brings back memories for this fellow grandma too.

Well if I were to title this posting it would be

2's and wii's

I have a funny little story to tell you all.

One evening I was blessed with the company of all my children. My oldest daughter and her family, and my youngest daughter and my folks. We were having an enjoyable evening digesting our dinner and watching the son in law play the wii. He was just playing tennis as his 2 year old son was mimicing him with an old expired cell phone. Grandson thought it was fun to use the little phone as his hand held gaming tool... well silly us adults, all thinking it would be awful if the cell phone slipped from his hand and hit my 40" lcd screen.... ahahaha yep real funny yup yup....

Well it happened... there it was a smack, and instand very colorful verticle and horizontal lines running through the picture of my TV. Well the pregnant pause was soooooo long I could have baked an angel food cake in that time... well I didn't know what to do, I just shrugged, and turned off the TV and we all felt awkward. I wanted to just ask everybod to leave so I could mourn the loss of my TV alone and wallow in my own misery and allow all the other mishaps to come back to me regarding my personal belongings that I have saved my blood sweat and tears for. Well oldest daughter jumps up finally grabs grandson, removes him from the room and tells him he did bad. I get up and go upstairs and cry. After a second or 3 oldest comes up and says she is sorry, they will replace it, and brings grandson to appologise. I try not to let grandson see grandmas tears but daughter says "he needs to know he made you feel bad" well I felt bad and picked him up and we both cried. Then I was better.

Well my $1000.00 TV was to cost $1600.00 to fix. So we called insurance, got an estimate on a new one and in the end insurance covered half of the cost for a new on and my daughter paid the other half.

Well we all learned a big lesson and now can look back and have a giggle about this. I see this as being an ongoing family comedy issue for awhile.

Awww life ain't it grand.

[minks]

I have spend many an hour on the internet drooling. No not at sites with buff men... pictures of Italy. OMG I can not belive I am going there for a vacation. I am over the top excited.
I am a bit of a research nut so found this site to be an amazing source of information, tripadvisor.com, along with travel reviews from expedia.ca. I love the ease of the net to do this kind of research.
Originally Jr Minks and I were going to split our 16 days between Rome and Naples. Then I got to thinking we still won't see "everything" so why not plan a little and get out to Venice too. Well after all my planning for Rome and Naples I had to research Venice because I don't know too much about it beyond gondolas and canals. Well I was thrilled to find out more about it and get some great reviews. I have to say it is most enjoyable to read stories about what travellers have to say about hotels. I take a trip to enjoy what the region has to offer. As long as the bed is available and clean and no water leaks on my head I can be happy in most hotels. I have been gearing our stay to include what we refer to as "character" hotels. I detest new fangled high rise hotels that are all glass and steel... no thanks that takes away from the ambiance of the holiday. I have come across this cool place in Venice called the Hotel Alle Guglie and I think this is it. It backs onto of course a water alley, and on the front side street side is a lively market. It will be facinating to just walk out of our hotel and be into the thick of Venice. It is old, and has great reviews and I am in love with it. I know people will write oh it was small, noisey, the free breakfast was unsatisfactory but who cares. I don't need an estate room, spa, pool, gourmet etc. I want it simple and memorable Again the reviews of this place are wonderful. I can't wait. This is exactly what I am basing my stays on for Rome and Naples too. So what if I am across from the Trevi Fountain and hear the water all nite I think that will be glorious. BTY Jr minks sleeps like a rock and I can always bring sleeping pills along.
I am soooooo darn excited.

We are planning to go in the early part of September and would like to be there for La Notte Bianca La Notte Bianca in Rome
But currently there is no date set but we won't get to worried about that if we don't make it then Ce'est La Vie.

[minks]

tic toc
tic toc
and time marches on.

What a week, just an utter emotional roller coaster... the worst is still yet to come.

Last Sunday a great man succumbed to death. He had battled brain cancer for 5 years. This man did not deserve to die before 70. He was the picture of health for many years of his life. He was diagnosed with diabetes but was such a healthy man he managed it perfectly, ate proper, did his exercise, cut stress from his life by leaving his long time job and moved into a new one that enabled him to relax more. He had a wonderful loving wife, 2 brilliant children one of whom was actually head hunted/sought out by the Disney Corporation. Both children are devoted to family and extended family. He was active in his community for decades and the church... he and his wife were avid curlers. You just could not meet nicer man. I am saddened to say my ex uncle in law Don Walker has passed on far far before his time.

Uncle Don, I shall miss you dearly.


I have not seen my past uncle for about 6 years and I can't begin to tell you how shaken I have been by his passing. I have been kept informed of the funeral time via my children and ex husband and have gone from thinking I should go to the funeral, and I should not as I have not been a part of that family for years.

Jr Minks told me the other day, I should go because "it's the right thing to do". My youngest daughter has said I should go because she would like me to go. The idiot ex husband said I should go to prove to his family that he and I still talk (yes hand me the gun now).

I have decided I will go, out of support and respect to a family I once loved unconditionally. My oldest daughter told me "you know when you go to the funeral you will make people cry" That made me cry more.

Yesterday I received a message on my phone ... it was my ex sister in law, she left a lovely message for me saying the children of uncle each asked her to contact me and ask me and ask my folks to come to the funeral, they would really like to see me there. She also said she would like to see me there and said i could call her anytime I wanted too. More tears.

This has been so difficult for me because for years I have not been in touch with these people and I know my divorce pulled the family apart and these people who have asked about me are family members of the ex husband who do not like the ex husband since the divorce.

It's just been up and down and up and down with the emotions. Tomorrow is the funeral and I am a nervous wreck.

On a high note my oldest had her 22nd birthday yesterday and her sister planned a small surprise party for her which was excellent and the oldest was so shocked as she just felt overwhelmed with the emotional week.

To add to the down side for the oldest daughter she found out her step mother has breast cancer so she had to here from her father the sad news.

Gosh isn't adulthood fun.

Well another day another adventure.

[minks]

I still have burning eyes from all the crying.
I went to the funeral Friday. It was one of the most difficult challenges I have faced in a long time. I had no idea I would be so nervous and unsure of myself like that ever again.... I thought over the last 5 years I had grown a pretty good backbone and could withstand a lot. WOW not so.
It started Friday while driving to the church with Jr Minks and I getting lost and having to call the other daughter to find us with her GPS and we get to the church (idots eh) and while on the phone the ex husband called. He could not reach me, so called Jr Minks he had a big woodie on for ensuring the girls and I showed up with him. I did not want to.
Well when we got to the church there was the ex and his mother in law.... now let me remind the world.... this is the woman I phoned at the beginning of the end when I wondered what was going on with her son, my then husband and she told me it was not her business and I was on my own... yep I still have not forgiven her and her lack of trying to help me. Ok so whatever.

I told my girls they could sit with whomever they choose I would not be sitting with their father, I dont like him, don't have some big happy happy joy joy proving to do to anyone, nor did I want people to think what he wanted them to think.... all things were peachy between he and I and his new wife.... I hate lying.

Sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Who comes to my rescue but the very lovely, ever wonderful ex sis in law. We hugged and cried and cried and cried and told each other how badly we missed each other. I hugged her kids, she mine, I failed to recognize my own brother in law and had to appologize to him when I did only so after he spoke. The insisted I sit in the family part of the church with them. It worked out well I did not sit with the ex husband. Oh but as people arrived I could not stop the tears as old memories flooded back and how much I missed family and friends from that side of my life. During the ceremony was a photo session and when the old family photos came on I again could not stop crying. I missed everyone so much and I was a mess.

Afterwards there was a reception and wow, I swear I made more people cry than the funeral did. Cousins from near and far, my aunt in law, old friends, old friends of the families, people where were at my wedding, many people I did not recognize and my oldest had to tell me who they were. Oiy it was tough. I was drained. I finally was able to leave 3 hours later. I was exhausted, I left with promises to keep in touch with everybody I was so deeply touched by how every one told me they missed me so badly.

[minks]

I don't know how many times I have used the term "this is ****ing bull *****" in the past 2 weeks around here.
I think there should be a quota and if you hit that quota it's time to find a better job.
OMG the people with the lowest pay are now the major decision makers, now bear the burdens of making the crucial decisions, now have to correct procedures, errors and bull *****. I am at my wits end. The blantant "I don't care until it breaks" attitude around here is choking me. I come to work every day thinking about stabbing people in the eye with a fork. Yep I am angry and upset and frustrated. I have just had to vent... I can't be lil miz sunshine anymore. I want out, but there is nowhere to go right now.... Heck I have had to make appologies for my outbursts around here, I have had to tell on people, I have had to hammer my fist into my hand to stress my point, make demands to prevent work for myself and my 2 co-workers, and whined about the fact I am not paid enough to be this stressed at my low man on the totem pole level... this is not me. I may die. UGH!
Ok thanks I feel better now for the next 6.9 minutes.

Have a nice day

[minks]

Ahhhhh the work day is winding down and I am fading quickly. I am so tired, and still so sick good lord I am tired ooo said that already.

I was reading some good threads here today and it was sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo ooooooooooo connecting to chat with Raven again bless you sis it's always a good feeling.

Anyways I was just thinking random thoughts and checked into my journal here and see I have written nothing about my trip to Italia, and Munchen hmmmm better get on that... one day

Today I am just blathering.

work is more bearable now that I have had my great vacation (even while I am sick)
Home life is slow, I just can't pick up the pace this week, I have cleaned in stages, sadly as one area gets cleaned another gets dirty.
my clothes dryer does not dry only spins uselessly ah well I can hang dry clothing at least the wash machine works. (I had to hand wash a few items on the trip no thanks for more of that ahahahah)
it is darn cold here in Cowtown so cold that snow is expected and in the mornings there is frost on my car windows, ah well what can we do but bundle up.
I want to go back to Italy ahahahaha


Oddly none of this really upsets me lately it's just inconvenient.

Hmmm either I am real sick, or the vacation was a kind of therapy.

Ok enough for today.

[minks]

Well that's another Thanksgiving under my belt. It was very nice, a bunch of us who never made a turkey dinner before pulled it off. Yep my guy friend got a turkey from work, my daughter suggested we cook it, so between us and my guy friends son we made turkey dinner for 9. Not bad for a bunch of rookies.
Thankful we all survived

The weekend was wonderful, it was darn cold, and snowed (yes living here is always a joy... NOT) but a good weekend to hibernate.

Sadly though I had to have a discussion with my daughters regarding our old dog. It has come to the point of deciding to have him put down. He is a very unpleasant breed of dog, well known for biting and barking. I suspect he is loosing his sight as I recognize the behavior from a past dog we had. He has bit before and so far nobody has sued me. The turning point is he has nipped at my grandson and my daughter (he grew up with my daughters). Obviously he has forgotten who she is and even when spoken to he has forgotten. Both Jr Minks and I work full time and his exposure to people is horribly limited. He is old, and miserable and I can not give him away in good conscience to anyone knowing full well he is unpleasant.
I know many people would disagree with me, but I can't allow this to go on. He is very unsettled these days and barks and growls at everything. As well he is old. I know in my heart this is the right thing to do. Sadly I can not have my grandkids in my house now as he is not to be trusted. He would never survive farm life as he has been an indoor dog forever. It's a terrible feeling by my heart tells me it is the right decision.
Prolly the one who will suffer the longest over this will be the other dog, I hope she will survive the loss of her housemate, she has always had him around.

I just had to get that off my chest.