Wednesday Medley: Let 'er fly

It's been a strange day so far!  I got up early to do my workout, as usual, and it was just in time for an early morning storm that rolled in.  The power went out once, but otherwise I was able to complete my workout amidst the thunder and lightening.  I got myself ready and was just heading downstairs to grab my lunch when I got a text from my boss saying the power was out at the office, no point in coming in until it was back on.  Hydro was estimating 10:30.  So I went to my mom's for a longer-than-usual breakfast before returning home to wait for a text.  I settled in with my book and read for about an hour, when I got the text to say the power was back on.  So I'm here at my desk, and it feels so strange to be doing my normal routine an hour later!

In any case... I'm going to squeeze in a quick Wednesday Medley post today!

1. Tell us about the first airplane ride you took and do you like to fly?

My first time on a plane was in January 2011, when I went to Cuba with friends for Kerry-Lynn & Jeff's wedding.  I was very nervous being my first time flying, and my first time going south, but after losing two of my cousins suddenly the summer before, it was very much a "life is short, seize the moment, live each day to the fullest" time in my life.  I remember sitting beside Brittany and holding her hand (kind of funny that I was taking comfort and consolation in the flying experience of a kid who was much younger than me lol!), and she kept reassuring me that every bump and movement was normal. 

I have flown several times since (once to Florida, twice to Nova Scotia) and while the flights have been mostly uneventful, I am always very happy when we land safely and I can move on to my destination.  I'm not a fan of the airport rigmarole or flying in general, but I take it as a necessary step to get me somewhere fun & exciting (or back home again, which I'm usually very happy to return to!)

2. Have you ever gone hang gliding and was it on the beach with a power boat, or from a mountain with only the wind and your body?

That would be a hard no on the hang gliding. lol!  If  I was to do it, I'd be more tempted to try the behind-the-boat style.  I've watched them gliding off the Gatineau Hills near where my sister lives, and I think I'd be panicking.  I'd be so worried about where I'd land!!  (Maybe they have more control over that than I realize?)

3. Have you ever gone kite flying and with whom?

I can't say kite flying memories are rushing to me.  I'm sure I did it as a kid, but the few times I tried, I don't feel it was very successful.

4. Experimental aircraft is quite popular as a hobby.  Have you or anyone you know ever constructed a flying machine and did you ride in it?

I definitely don't know anyone who has constructed a flying machine lol.  I have an uncle who owns an airplane, but I have never been up in it (and I don't think I would want to, either!!)

5. Another big hobby is Radio Controlled Airplanes.  Have you ever seen them flying or tried your hand at it?

Nope! BUT - there is a guy who usually shows up at our office every summer asking if he and his friends can fly their radio controlled planes in one of our fields.  I have never witnessed them at it, though.  I have never even seen a drone.  I apparently don't have much experience in this department! lol!!

6.  Tell us something about your week.

This was supposed to be Crochet Week.  I told anyone that would listen that I planned to devote every evening and all weekend to crocheting items to enter in the Shawville Fair.  I was supposed to be doing this all summer, but... here we are, a week away from the Fair, and hardly anything to show for it.  And so far this week?  Much of the same.  I am working on a baby blanket, but I haven't spent much time on it. I'm hoping that maybe I can get it done tonight, then move on to a dish cloth & towel set, maybe another toddler sunhat, and possibly a women's scarf (all smaller projects that I thought I might be able to get done in a short amount of time).  Here's hoping I get hit with some cro-jo soon!!!

The Weekend Rundown

This past weekend was one of those weekends when I wished I had a weekend to get over my weekend...  But oh, the fun I had!!  

Friday I got off work a little bit early and took advantage of an hour out on the deck reading.  I'm so enjoying the book Ask Again, Yes by Mary Beth Keane but I'm struggling to find time to actually read.  So it was nice to get that hour on the deck while the sun was shining.

As 5 o'clock rolled around, I went in and got ready as I was heading out to a trivia night at the Little Red Wagon, a lovely little winery just up the road in Shawville.  My friend Lolly had recruited a bunch of us to join her for the fun, and I was quick to jump at the opportunity.  Not only did we laugh a lot (as I knew we would!!), we enjoyed an amazing meal (seriously, drool-worthy), delicious pitchers of wine spritzers, and we were pretty darn good at the trivia too... riiiight up until the last question lol.  We were in first place going into the final question, which was a two-parter worth 5 points each.  We got both wrong, and dropped to second-last place. Whoops. LOL!  Overall, it was a fabulous evening and I'm hoping there will be another one in our future!

Saturday morning I awoke to a drizzly, dreary day.  To most, this would signify a crappy summer Saturday, but as I have mentioned a few times, I was kind of hoping for a rainy weekend day so that I could have a summer movie marathon.  (It always seems a waste of a beautiful day to sit inside and watch movies, hence why I hope for a rainy one!!)  The rain held off long enough for me to take another hour on the deck late morning to read, and then I settled in for the afternoon with my crocheting, a bowl of cheese popcorn, and the movies Rookie of the Year and The Sandlot.  I hung in for the first one, but fell asleep during the second lol.  That was OK, though, because I needed a nap before heading out for another fun evening out!!

This time, I joined friends Lolly and Missy as we headed to Cobden to the Whitewater Brewing Co. for dinner, and then we found an ice cream spot for dessert as well.  After dinner and ice cream, we scooted back over to the Quebec side to Campbell's Bay, where Summerfest was being held.  The reason?  The band Little Bones was playing that night, and when there's a Hip tribute band playing in my vicinity, you can bet I'm going to be there!!  My expectations were low - I've been a Hip fan for a long time, and three years after seeing them perform live for the final time, I didn't really think this band would measure up.  Gord Downie is irreplaceable.  But I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised.  This dude really did sound like Gord.  And his band was just as good.  They played every Hip song under the sun throughout their two sets and encore, even a few that The Hip themselves never played live (like 38 Years Old), and if I closed my eyes, I could almost pretend it was really them.

The only downfall of Little Bones?  They started late, which meant a much later night than I expected.  And yes, I am an old lady who doesn't like staying up past 11 PM anymore.  lol!  I feel hungover the next day when I'm tired, even if I've had little to nothing to drink.  (This time, I had 3 Michelob Ultras... so no, not enough to even feel a buzz.  They were not my reason for feeling blech,)

Regardless, I got up Sunday morning and went to church, then headed to Mom's for lunch afterwards.  My brother and his kids were there, so we hung out for a bit before Neve and I decided to go in for a nap.  Noah joined us, and while he never fell asleep, he played quietly with his toys while the girls snoozed.  It was much needed for me!!  Man, I can't handle late nights anymore!!  When I woke up, we had supper and then went for ice cream.  After that, I went home and started watching a doc on Netflix about Woodstock but I was falling asleep again so I packed 'er in for the night very early.

I was totally out of sorts yesterday.  I had a naggy little headache that bugged me all day, and spent the afternoon yawning my head off.  (I HATE yawning at work, it feels so rude.)  I had big ideas of making stuffed pasta shells for supper, but when my brother texted and said they were picking up corn for supper, I decided to forfeit my pasta plans for a night when I felt more like it.  I went to Mom's for corn and sausage on a bun, and then back home to do laundry and finish that Woodstock documentary.  It was another early night.

Today - back to normal!  My head's still been achey but it's better than yesterday, and the hungover feeling is finally gone.  The rest of this week is going to be all about the crochet!!  I would like to submit some entries in Shawville Fair this year, but I am not as prepared as I had hoped to be.  So I'm going to see what I can get done during the next week.  We shall see!

What I'm Loving Wednesday: Summer Loves

I've been thinking the past week or so of some of the things I've been LOVING lately, and this summer in general.  Here's a little list of them!

• My shades - I never buy expensive sunglasses, because they usually get scratched or broken or lost.  So every spring, I get a new pair from Walmart or the pharmacy or whatever.  This year, I happened upon discounted sunnies on the Rickis website and bought a few pairs on a whim.  I had low expectations without seeing them in person, but they've been great!  And so far in good shape, so maybe I won't even need to buy new ones next year!!
  
  
• Jean shorts & luxe swing tops from Old Navy - I admit, as last winter started to fade and spring sprung, I was dreading getting into summer clothing.  I'm just so much more comfortable in leggings and sweaters, being completely covered up and hidden.  But I bought a few pairs of jean shorts from Old Navy that ended up fitting perfectly, and I love their luxe swing tank tops for being loose, cool, and hiding my unflattering very large muffin top.  I have two pairs of the shorts and the top in four different colours, and I have worn all of them a lot.  
• Pineapple earrings from Newborn Feathers - My friend Sharon had a Facebook jewelry party back early in the summer, and I ordered a few pairs of the earrings.  I have loved them so much that I've ordered twice more since then, and I am now currently hosting my own online party!  I've loved all of the earrings I've bought so far, but my rose gold pineapples have been the ones I've worn the most. They are so much fun for the summer!
  
• Coconut Body Butter from The Body Shop - This was a birthday gift from my sister, and oh, how I've been enjoying it.  I love the smell of summer, and I've realized that mostly means I love the smell of sunscreen lol.  The coconutty scent of the body butter is delicious, and I love how it's helping to moisturizer my tanned skin.  
  
• My sandals - This was another online purchase in the spring that worked out SO well.  But I didn't think so initially.  I used to have a pair of black Nike sports sandals that were my most comfy sandals.  A few years ago they broke, and I never replaced them.  I decided for work this year I'd like to find another pair that I could wear comfortably all day long.  I ordered a pair of Under Armour sandals through Amazon, and at first I thought they were a mistake.  The straps were so tight on the top of my feet that they dug in and left painful marks.  But I persevered in the hopes that the straps would stretch a little, and they DID!  A week later they were perfectly comfy and now, several months later, they still look brand new and haven't worn down hardly at all.  Pretty impressive for sandals I've worn literally EVERY day since June!
  
• My summer reads - I wanted to immerse myself in good summer books, and I have had a great few months of reading!  So far, I have read Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan, The Mister by EL James, Bossypants by Tina Fey, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid, and I'm now well into Ask Again, Yes by Mary Beth Keane.  I have read all of these relatively quickly (for someone who considers herself a slow reader, this is a victory!) and I've very much enjoyed them.  Nothing I love better than sitting in the sun on the back deck reading on a beautiful summer's day!
  
• Big Brother - As I mentioned yesterday, it is my summer guilty pleasure.  I usually backlog the episodes and watch the whole week's worth on Saturday morning.  It took me a while to get "into" this summer's cast, but as usual, I eventually got caught up in their drama!  (And I'm a Michie fan. Even though he seems to have fallen from grace in there, I'm still rooting for him.)
  
• My summer jams - Every summer needs a soundtrack, and here's a few that make up mine!  
• One Thing Right - Marshmello & Kane Brown
• The soundtrack for the movie Yesterday
• Ed Sheeran's No. 6 Collaborations album (especially South of the Border ft. Camilla Cabello and Cardi B)
• You Need to Calm Down - Taylor Swift
• Beer Never Broke My Heart - Luke Combs
• Greatest Love Story - LANCO
• Knockin' Boots - Luke Bryan
• Somebody's Daughter - Tenille Townes
• Down to the Honky Tonk - Jake Owens
• And honourable mention to Old Town Road by Lil Nas X and Billy Ray Cyrus, because my 4-year-old nephew asks me to play it on my phone every weekend and asks, "Do you got the 10 hour version, Jilly?"  And none of us knows what he's talking about, but no, buddy, I definitely do not have the 10 hour version. LOL!
• My glider - I mentioned it yesterday, and I've only had it a few weeks, but it has been a wonderful addition to my deck and I am so grateful to my friend Lindsay and her family for gifting it to me.  I just love gliding and reading on my deck!
  
• Chipstand & Ice cream dates - My waistline is waiting for the day when these places close, but my gosh there's nothing I love better than a summer evening spent either at Robert's chipstand or at Marcotte's ice cream (or sometimes both.)  
  

What are YOU loving about summer??

Summering Hard

Anyone else feel like this summer is flying by like a streak of lightening?  I know I'm not alone in that feeling!!  A late start following a particularly crappy spring has led to me trying to cling to these summer days for dear life.  And yes, I do still love fall, and winter is still my favourite season, but I'm just not ready for that yet. 

Here's a quick bullet point list of what's been going down this summer:

• Pool days, and lots of 'em!
  
  
  
  
• Beach days.  Several!  Every summer I swear I'm going to spend more time at the beach, and this year I can say I've been successful.  I've had two of them at Aunt Marion & Uncle Eric's, and an evening and a day in Norway Bay.  And I'm hoping I'm not done yet.
  
  
• Reading on the deck.  And most recently, in my new GLIDER!!  A surprise birthday gift from the Woermkes that has become my new favourite spot to settle in with a good book. :)
• Side-note: I started reading The Tonight Show Summer Reads book club choice (if Jimmy Fallon starts a book club, you know I'm in!!) - the fans voted for "Ask Again, Yes" by Mary Beth Keane.  I am about half way through it and I CANNOT put this book down.  I'm so hooked.  And I can't even pinpoint why.  I just can't wait to get home to read each night.  SO good.
  
• Speaking of birthday... I celebrated my birthday! First at the Tractor & Truck pull the day before, then with a BBQ and cake with the fam on the day of, and lots of celebrating on my week off.
  
  
  
  
• Speaking of my week off... it was marvelous!!  Filled with fun activities, yet relaxing all the same.  It needs several bullet points of its own to cover it all. lol!  So here we go:
• An unexpected day out with my sister and her family.  I had planned to just veg at home that first day, but instead we went glow-in-the-dark mini putting, then went down to Landsdowne (I had never been!)  We had dinner at place called "Local" (best fish tacos I've ever haaaad), strolled around, bought chocolate at the Lindt store ($25 worth in fact lol), ate gourmet cinnamon buns at Cinnaholic, played in a park, and just had a fun casual afternoon/evening.  
  
  
  
  
• We went to see The Lion King (and LOVED it!!), then had dinner at the Chelsea Pub and ice cream at La Cigale.  (This was my one birthday wish, and it was delightful!)
  
  
  
  
• A relaxing day at the pool at Donna & Eric's with Kara, Chris & the kids, including a picnic lunch of snacks.
  
• My mom and I went on a road trip with my Aunt Marion to Newboro and Westport.  We shopped, had lunch at The Stagecoach Inn (NOT the best fish tacos I've ever had), shopped some more, then ended the day in beautiful Almonte where we dined at Cafe Postino... it was absolutely delicious!!  
  
  
  
  
• On the Friday, we had a beach day at Aunt Marion & Uncle Eric's.  All the fam-jam gathered, my cousin Dave roasted a pork loin, and we had a wonderful dinner of pork on a bun with a wide array of salads. Yum!  Beach days are the best days!!
  
• I attended a Celebration of Life for my friend's uncle.  This might sound like a "downer" thing to have to do on vacation, but despite it being a sad occasion, I actually had a great time.  It was held at the local Legion, and it was nice to visit with all of the friends and family that were gathered there.  Casey was also playing music which I really enjoyed, and it was just a really good afternoon and evening with friends.
• On Sunday, the church was closed for the long weekend but instead the Sunday School hosted a walk/bike-a-thon to raise money for their new program being implemented this fall.  It was a gorgeous morning, and I had a great time walking with family and friends.  It was a not only a very successful fundraiser, but also probably the only time I've had close to 10K steps before noon on a Sunday! haha!
  
  
  
  
• The Civic Holiday Monday was my last day off, and I spent it at the beach with friends.  We were a smaller group that we originally thought, but had such a nice relaxing day.  Not even a snake sighting scared me off! ;)
  
  
  
  
• A trip to the Carp Farmer's Market.  This trip yielded me: a delicious box of scones, a jar of pepper jelly, a basket of fresh strawberries, bath bombs, and butter tarts.  We also had lunch - homemade perogies, a falafel wrap, and gelato.  So good!
  
  
  
  
• Summertime Book Club... which we just had this past Friday at Jenna's, which was lovely.  Sitting out on her screened-in porch, enjoying snacks, drinks, and lots of laughs.  I missed the one in June so I was glad to be there with the girls for this one.
• MVT Golf Day!!
  
• I sunburned half of my face.
  
• Watching Big Brother.  My summer guilty pleasure!!  
• Trips for Ice Cream - more than I can count!!  
  
• Banana Popsicles... another of my summer favourites!
• Easy summer suppers on hot days... I've been enjoying these simple no-oven-necessary suppers on hot nights quite often. Nachos (in the mircowave), or plates of crackers and cheese, veggies and dip, and a handful of nuts.  
• One night at the ball field!  And I admit I almost didn't go, but I'm glad I did.  It was a fun evening, and I can check that one off the ol' summer bucket list.

It feels like "back to school" time is creeping up FAR too quickly, but I'm trying not think about that yet.  It gives me that icky feeling and I'm not ready yet.  There's still a few summery things I'd like to do in the next few weeks before Shawville Fair and school time.  

• At least one more evening at the beach... Danica is at my mom's this week, so maybe we can get there one of these nights!  And I'll make sure I have enough cash on me this time to get us some of the cool ice cream they have in the Bay!  lol!
• Hike to the Carbide Ruins.  Truthfully, this may become a fall adventure, but we'll see.
• Dinner at Red Lobster... My mom has never been and we've been talking about it all summer, so I hope we can plan a date in the coming weeks.
• Summer Movie Marathon - I have the movies The Sandlot and Rookie of the Year lined up to watch, but so far I haven't found a rainy, dreary, free Saturday (and that is a good thing!)
• See Little Bones (Hip tribute band) play at Summerfest in Campbell's Bay - plans in the works for this Saturday!
• Cottage day?  There's been talk of us going up to my friend Brenda's family's cottage on Otter Lake but no solid plans in place yet.  If it works out, I'll be a happy kid... I so enjoyed our day up there last summer!
• Camp day?  We didn't go to the Draper Camp this summer because the floods this spring left the property in a bit of a mess.  However, my cousin is there this week and might get a chance to do some clean-up.  My aunt has hinted that if he's successful, we might squeeze in a night at the Camp before the summer closes out.  That would just be a cherry on top!

I hope you have all been having a fab summer!!  Hang on tight, don't let these summer days slip away yet!!

An Update On My Neck Problem

So, I know some of you have been waiting on the edge of your seats to hear what ever happened to me and my weird neck problem from a few weeks ago (ha ha), so here's the update.

After being completely panicked and stressed out over it from Thursday July 4th to Tuesday July 9th, the problem seemed to, for the most part, go away.  Throughout that weekend, strange and painful pulses were going off on the left side of neck and running up behind my ear.  The pains didn't last long, but after it happened, I was left feeling kind of fuzzy and dazed, and my neck and left shoulder seemed sore and almost seized up.  It wasn't fun.  So I called my doctor's office and got a squeeze-in appointment for yesterday.  Of course, not long after making the appointment, the issue seemed to disappear.  I've had some twinges of pain since then, but nothing like what happened throughout that weekend.  I was pretty sure my doctor was going to just nod and say, "Ah yes, here's Jillian, the nut bar."

Of course he didn't.  He's too kind and too good at being a doctor to just brush me off as crazy. And for that, I am deeply grateful.

First of all, my doctor's office experience in this case was probably the best I've ever had in my life.  The fact that they were able to squeeze me in to see him just over a week after I called was a bit of a miracle.  It took a weight off my shoulders knowing I was going to see my trusted and respected doctor, as he is the best at calming me down when I'm "in a state".  Despite that, I was still kind of dreading the visit because my appointment was at 3:50 PM.  I don't think I've ever had an appointment that was actually on time, and I figured by that point in the day he'd be goooood and behind in his schedule.  I expected at LEAST a 45 minute wait.  I got there 10 minutes early, checked in, went to the washroom, and settled in to wait.  Then they called my name.  5 MINUTES EARLY.  I almost fell off my chair.  I actually looked around to see if there was another Jillian jumping up, because surely, this could not be possible?

There were no other Jillians.  It was me.  They were calling me.  I couldn't believe it.

They put me in a room and I thought, "Welp, this is probably where the wait will happen.  He won't show up for half an hour."  And within seconds, he came shuffling into the room.  Literally could.not.believe.it.

We greeted one another and he asked me what was wrong, and I launched into my spiel about what had happened two weekends ago, and he nodded and told me he knew exactly what was going on, because he too has experienced it.  (I think this is one of his calming techniques; I've noticed almost anytime I'm in a tizzy about something medically, he, too, has had that.  And it works.)  He said he was sure I had a pinched Occipital nerve (which my googling diagnosing had also suggested), probably from sleeping the wrong way, or from craning my neck funny to talk on the phone or something like that, and that if the symptoms had gone away I was likely going to be just fine, but should it happen again, the first thing I should do is book a massage with a good RMT (which my sister had suggested at the time, so I think that basically means she and I are practically doctors.)

We chatted a bit about it, what other things he could do if it comes back or gets worse, what the worst-case scenarios could be (which he assured me I don't have), but for the time being, despite the scare I had, it's probably over and I can go back to living life normally.  Which for me is just always kind of mildly worrying I might be dying, rather than really focusing on and fearing it.

While I was there, I had him check my blood pressure, also always kind of a concern at the back of my mind, but apparently that was very normal too. Another little "phewf".

I was walking out of the office by 4 PM.  I felt a million times better. 

Ironically, as I was driving home, an old familiar pressure started building in my head.  Sinus headache.  I have had these off and on for a million years, but I haven't had one for quite a while, so of course it hits when I'm finally getting over this other drama.  Strangely enough, that familiar dull ache that sets in with that pressure was almost welcomed after those other zaps I had a few weeks ago.  I almost felt like saying, "Oh, hello, old friend.  You, I can handle."

All's well that ends well. :)

The Kawhi Goodbye

I know I kind of already did this yesterday, but I figured the Kawhi Goodbye needed a post of its own.

Not long ago, I had a numerologist give me a quick rundown of my "numbers".  A lot of what she said didn't resonate with me, but one thing did.  She told me that when I love something, I REALLY love it.  I love it so much I want the whole world to love it with me.  I want everyone to experience the love that I have, I want to share it with everyone who is important to me, I want them to be obsessed with me.

And so that is how it has been the past 6 weeks.  My family and friends have been hearing an awful lot about a guy named Kawhi Leonard.

My interest was piqued when I heard about "the shot", my excitement level rose when they won the Eastern Conference, and I was all in for the finals.  My ride as a Toronto Raptors fan wasn't very long, but it was all because of Kawhi.

My obsession hit swiftly and it very quickly overtook my life.  This aloof basketball star, an enigma to many, was instantly intriguing to me.  At first, it was just his presence on the court that captured me.  I liked the way he moved.  And I liked the way he looked.  I was attracted.  (That's usually how my celeb obsessions begin.)  Then it was all of the amusing background stories - watching him leave a teammate hanging when he put his fist out to bump, hearing about "Board Man Gets Paid" and "apple time, apple time", and, of course, the laugh.

It was easy to fall in love with Fun Guy during an historic championship run for not only Toronto but our entire country.  He got me staying up to all hours to watch basketball, something I would have sworn I'd never do.  He got me caring for a team from TO, also a bit of a feat.  He got me cheering for a basketball player like I have done with no other than the likes of a hockey player named Wade Redden.

Seriously.  The Kawhi love was real.  Very real.

And then they won.  It was legendary, it was epic, and I was so swept up in Raptors fever.  I stayed up that night til 1 AM watching the post-game celebrations.  A few days later, I set my PVR to capture a whole day of the televised parade.   I ordered T-shirts online, and I was already daydreaming about following the team closely next season as they would surely be running it back and gunning for a repeat.

What I didn't really understand or realize, as such a newbie basketball fan, was that Kawhi had been traded to Toronto a year ago and was expected to opt out of the last year of his contract (as he was totally entitled to do), making him a free agent.  A very coveted free agent.  While the Raptors had the power to offer him the most money, it seemed widely known that Kawhi really wanted to play closer to home, in LA, probably for the Clippers or Lakers.  Free agency opened on June 30th, and pretty much from that moment, if not sooner, #KawhiWatch began.

That's when things got really crazy for me.  Every day, I was on Twitter as much as possible, following basketball "insiders" (who, by the way, know nothing, apparently), tracking Kawhi's every move as the internet provided it, and trying desperately to get the inside scoop on what the man was going to do.  Every time I saw a "He Stay" assurance, my hopes soared.  When they speculated the MLSE plane that was headed to San Diego last Friday was empty, going to pick up his family, with a Raptors press conference scheduled that afternoon, I thought we had it in the bag.  I was convinced Kawhi was going to sign for at least one more year, with most of the Raps lineup in place for one more season, and the tantalizing prospect of running it back.

I mean, he accepted Plant Guy's Kawahctus.  When fans chanted "one more year" at the parade, he held up his index finger and smiled.  Then he laughed when Kyle Lowry swung it around to a "five more years" chant.  He showed up in the Barabados wearing a Jays jersey.   I really believed him.  He never said a word, but I truly believed these were all signs that The Champ was going to remain on his throne as King of the North.

I truly believed Kawhi was going to stay.

That said, I've been a hockey fan long enough to know that professional sports is a business.  There is no loyalty.  The fans mean nothing.  Money talks, and when a player is in a position to dictate his own future, he will take it. That's exactly what Kawhi did.

For him, it actually wasn't about the money, at least not completely.  If it was, he'd still be a Raptor.  For him, it was about getting back home.  He did what he came here to do, and he was finished.  Off to the Clippers.  The news broke in the middle of the night, and I woke to it feeling stunned and saddened early Saturday morning.

And just like that, my brief whirlwind obsession with Kawhi Leonard came to a screeching halt.  All of the things about him, all of the stories about him, all of the reasons he gave me to love him, were suddenly tarnished.  We didn't get to celebrate for long enough.  The party came crashing to an unfortunate end.  And it all seemed so terribly unfair.

I keep hearing that I'm supposed to be thankful to the man.   That I'm to let him go without bitterness, because he gave us something amazing.  He gave us a championship.  Still, I can't help but be salty.  I can't help the bitter taste in my mouth.  I really wanted Kawhi to want to stay here; I really wanted him to embrace the role of our hero and saviour.  I really wanted the chance to go for it again next year.

Oddly, the only thing that really brought me comfort was something someone wrote on Twitter to this effect:  "He's like The Littlest Hobo.  He came, he made some friends, he solved our problems.  And now he's gone to make some new friends and help them."  I don't know why, but I kind of clung to that thought all day Saturday.

Goodbye, Champ.   I wish you wanted to stay.  But thank you for everything you did in your short time here, and the even shorter time I was paying attention.  I wish I'd had more time.  Thank you for teaching me to love a sport I never thought I'd care about.

Thank you for the most unexpected fun I ever had.

I hope we can show you next year that we can do it without you.

#WeTheNorth  #WeTheChamps

July Randoms: My Summer of Discontent (so far)

It's been a while... Again!!  Here's how my summer has been shaping up so far...

• We celebrated Canada Day on June 30th in my little town, and it was a wonderful celebration indeed!!  I had a great crew of family and friends that joined me at my place for the big day.  We got burgers and dogs from the Community BBQ that the Canada Day Committee runs, and we had all kinds of sides, salads and desserts to go along with them.  We all gathered on my front lawn to watch the parade, and I had such a good time. I missed out on so many of these parties when I was on the committee, so I really enjoy being part of them now!
  
• After the parade, most of the guests left to get their kids home to bed, but the rest of us hung out at my place and had a few drinks before heading down to watch the LEGENDARY fireworks!  They are always sooo good, and it makes my heart burst with pride to know our little town puts on such a damn good show.  Hats of to the Canada Day Committee for all their hard work!!
  
• So, then there was the after-party.  My plan was to go for one. ONE.  I had ZERO intentions of going on a rip.  And then, suddenly... there I was.  ugh.  I always forget... I ask for my drinks in a big cup thinking they'll be watered down, but instead, I end up drinking doubles (possibly even triples??)  One minute I'm responsible, the next I'm a mess.  THERE'S A REASON I DON'T DO THIS ANYMORE!!!  I dropped one drink.  I ran into a kid and spilled his drink.  Then I dropped another drink.  And I knew then it was time to go home.  Thank God I did, because I think I was one drink away from being VERY malade the next day.  oy vey.
• The rest of Canada Day weekend was a combination of preparing for the celebrations, and relaxing and enjoying the long weekend.  I had cut grass the previous Thursday evening, I got groceries on Friday evening, I did lots of cleaning and food prep on Saturday, but I also hit up a friend's yard sale, and then decided to go with my mom to my nephew's ball game on Saturday night.  A storm moved in and we watched from the car for a long time before they finally called the game, and then we all went out to eat at St. Hubert's.  Sunday was the big day, as described above.  And then Monday was low-key recovery.  Lol!  It had been a loooong time since I'd had a hangover, and I did NOT like it!!  But I had some chipstand grease for lunch, then spent the rest of the day on my sister and BIL's deck, soaking up the sun.  All in all, a great holiday weekend!!  I just wish it didn't fly by so fast!!
• OK.  So.  Now we get into the "discontented" part.  As you know from recent posts, I got on the Raptors bandwagon toward the end of their Championship run, and while I followed them in the finals, I fell in love with their star player, Kawhi Leonard. And I mean, I fell hard.  I have not cared so much for an athlete since, like... Wade Redden.  Seriously.  And once all the partying and celebrating faded, the attention turned to the fact that Kawhi was becoming a free agent.  Toronto fans were hopeful he'd decide to come back for at least one more year, for a chance to run it back with basically the same team and a great chance at a repeat championship next year.  
  
• Last week, I really got swept up in #KawhiWatch.  I was on Twitter as much as I possibly could be, trying to find out if he was going to sign in TO.  I followed basketball "insiders" as they shared the latest updates, I watched aerial footage of Kawhi landing in Toronto for his meeting, I tracked MLSE planes to see where they were going (IS KAWHI ON THE PLANE??), and I speculated with the best of 'em.  I have never been so caught up in hype quite like that. And deep down, I really, really thought he was going to re-sign here for one more year.  One more shot.  This section of the post is to be continued...
• Late last week, something weird started happening to me.  I think it started on Thursday afternoon.  I was getting these weird sharp pains - almost like pulses or shocks - in the left side of my neck.  They would run up my neck, up behind my ear.  They weren't extreme, but they hurt, and they'd leave me feeling a little dazed afterwards.  I didn't think much of it at first, but as they continued on Friday, I started to get worried.  They left my neck and shoulders feeling stiff and sore, even when they weren't happening.  It was disconcerting.
• Despite the weird neck/head issue, I proceeded into my weekend as if all things were normal.  On Friday evening, I had what I'd consider the perfect summer evening.  My sister and her fam came up, and we all went swimming at her in-laws (they live right behind me).  We ordered chipstand food for supper and ate out on their deck.  Then when I got home, I ate the Kronut my friend Sharon had brought me from Art Is In Bakery.... heavenly.  It was pure summer pleasure (aside from the pain in my neck).
  
• I tried to finish up House of Cards by watching it in bed that night, but I fell asleep.  I woke around 3:30 AM and I was not feeling too crash hot.  The pulses were happening in my neck again (the first time I'd been wakened by them), and my stomach didn't feel good either.  I tossed and turned for awhile, then I got on my phone and started researching my symptoms.  Some of my findings were assuring (pains in the neck are usually nothing to  worry about!), some were alarming (you might be having a heart attack or stroke!), and finally I landed on one that made complete sense... something called Occipital Neuralgia.  I had most of the symptoms, and I was reassured by the fact that it was a non-life-threatening condition.  There was a list of home remedies to try (heat, rest, Ibuprofen, etc), but it said for more permanent solutions to see a doctor.  I felt comforted by what I read, so I got up, took some Tums and an Advil, and went back to bed.
• And now, back to Kawhi...  I rolled over at about 7 AM the next morning, and immediately reached for my phone.  Opened Twitter.  And the first thing that popped up was a video posted by another Raps free agent, Danny Green, who had supposedly been waiting on Kawhi to decide if he was coming back or not next season.  In the video, he said that now that he knows what Kawhi is doing, he's decided to sign with the Lakers.  And I was like, "Huh?  What is Kawhi doing?!?!"  As it turns out, news broke in the middle of the night that he had decided to sign with the Clippers.  My heart sank.  Literally sank.  I didn't think it was possible to be that upset over a basketball player, and yet, I was.  I was heartbroken.
• And the funny part of it all?  When I was up in the middle of the night searching Google for a diagnosis, I never checked Twitter.  If I had, I'd have probably seen the Kawhi news as it was breaking.  I really think my body was trying to tell me something!!!
• Probably best that I didn't see it, though, because then I probably wouldn't have been able to get back to sleep. :(
• So, yeah, Saturday was a glum day.  I cut grass and went for groceries, all the while sad about Kawhi and at the height of my worry about my neck issue.  My mom thought I should go to the hospital.  I haaaaate going to the hospital.  So I chose to sit around home  and worry instead.  And be sad about Kawhi.  Fun times.
• That evening, I did one of Dr. Google's recommended remedies and took a muscle relaxant around 6 PM.  I fell asleep on the couch less than half an hour later.  I'd wake up, rewind House of Cards, and then promptly fall asleep again.  I eventually moved to my bed and slept through the night.  When I woke the next morning, my Fitbit told me I'd slept over 12 hours.  That just added to my feeling of discontentment.
• Sunday continued with more ignoring the pain in the neck, and forcing myself to have a fun summer's day.  We went to church, had lunch at my place, dropped in on Stacy & Maddy at their yard sale, and then went to the pool again for the afternoon.  I started to think I might be feeling better, as the pulses weren't happening anymore, just soreness in my neck and shoulder.  We had a BBQ dinner at my mom's and it was delicious.  I was starting to feel like maybe I was better.
• That night, I FINALLY finished House of Cards.  Thank God!!  I had wanted to finish it on Friday so that I could dive into Stranger Things 3, but that didn't pan out.  I'm glad I can finally do that, I'm so excited to watch it!
• Last night I finished reading The Mister by EL James, and now I have to decide what my next book will be.  Decisions, decisions...
• And one last bit of good news:  I called my doc's office yesterday and actually got an appointment to see him next Tuesday.  HUGE relief!  They usually book months in advance, but when I explained my situation, I got a squeeze-in appt, and I feel like I have a weight off my shoulders.  The neck issue seems to be getting better, though there is still some soreness and the occasional pulsing, so I definitely feel like I need his assessment.  I'm a worry-wart (which probably isn't helping) and that man can calm me down better than anyone else.  I feel better just knowing I'm going to see him soon.  Phewf!!

Well, I think that's enough rambling for one day, isn't it?  Sorry for the verbal dump, but... it's my summer of discontent.  What can I say.

That Summer Feelin'

That summer feelin' is finally starting to set in.  And, like... FINALLY.  I mean, it is almost July for crying out loud!!  It's taken a while, but now that the lazy hazy days are upon us, I'm ready to set out a little bucket list of what I'd like to do this summer.  Here's what I'm hoping to get accomplished:

• Celebrate Canada Day with family & friends:  This one is on deck first, with the big day rolling around this weekend!!  Our little town celebrates a day early, so on June 30th I'll be having a party at my place (since the parade route goes right by my house).  My relatives from the TO area will be in town, and I always love seeing the friends and family that wind up on my front lawn in their red & white.  Looking forward to it!
• Attend the Carp Market: I went last summer with my friend Sharon for the Garlic Festival, and I'm hoping to go back again this summer (not necessarily for the garlic) - plans are already in the works!
• Dinner at Chelsea Pub/La Cigale for ice cream:  My sister & BIL don't live far from Chelsea, and we often say we want to go for dinner at the Chelsea Pub but as far as I can remember, we've only done it once.  And La Cigale is just around the corner, we HAVE to go there for ice cream too!!
• Beach Days... often!!:  I think I say this every year... I want to go to the beach more!!  I love beach days in Norway Bay with friends.  It's so close to home, I don't know why I don't go more often.
  
• Boat Days: My heart is happiest when I"m on the water, and I hope to get out there a few times this summer.  Friends Kerry & Jeff sometimes invite me out on their pontoon, and I also love a good rip along the river in Uncle Eric's boat.  I just told my mom recently that my idea of a perfect summer day is to spend the day bumming around on the beach, reading, swimming, tanning, and then heading out on the river on the boat, followed by a BBQ dinner.  Fingers crossed that we can make this happen!
  
• Take me out to the ball game:  I would love to hit up a few ball games this summer.  I'm not sure if the Quyon Flyers plan to play any games in town this year (I think they're scheduled to play home games out of Shawville), but I'd love to catch some of them, and also go to some of my nephews games.
• Fix up my deck: This one is a big "maybe".  As I've mentioned before, my roof and yard have been infested with pigeons in the past year.  So while I like the idea of making my deck a more appealing place to hang out, I also won't be investing in new stuff just to have birds crap all over it.  It's a shame to have a deck that I can't really enjoy, but the pigeons are a reality.  If they somehow get them out of my life, then maybe.  I'd like to get new deck furniture - maybe a swing, or a couch.  An outdoor bin to keep cushions and blankets in.  A fire pit thingy.  Get rid of the old BBQ.  Get an umbrella for the table.  ... we'll see.
• Pool Time, Any Time!:  If any invite comes in to go swimming... take it, Jill!!  Nothing better than bobbing around in a pool on a beautiful day!! 
  
• Beat the heat - go to the movies:  You know how some days are so damn sticky hot you can't even enjoy them?  Those are the days I plan to hit up the movie theatre.  There are lots of movies coming out this summer that I want to see:  Yesterday, The Lion King, Toy Story 4.  The movie theatre is another of my happy places, so I look forward to that too.
• Celebrate my birthday:  There is already a nice line-up of events coming together surrounding my birthday on July 28th.  Our company golf tournament is the 26th of July, the tractor pull is on July 27th, and then I'm off on holidays the whole following week.  Let the Queen's Jubilee begin!! ;)
• Summer Movie Marathon:  I always like to find one rainy Saturday in the summer to enjoy a Summer Movie Marathon.  I'm talking Dirty Dancing, Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead, Cocktail, Mama Mia!... just summery movies, all day long!
• Hike to the Carbide Ruins:  I've been seeing pictures and hearing about this for a couple of years now.  Hopefully I can round up some fellow hikers to hit it up this summer.
• Enjoy fun summer reads:  I have a couple of books on my shelf that just scream "fun summer reads", and I've been kind of avoiding them, saving them for the summertime.  And now it's here.  Time to pick up those books and lose myself in some fun summer reading!
• Summer crochet projects:  I'm hoping this year to enter some crocheting at the Shawville Fair, and I have nothing accomplished thus far (thanks to an afghan I've been working on that is taking WAY longer than anticipated.)  I need to go over the list of categories and start working on those to have them ready for the end of the summer.
• Celebrate Kawhi Staying:  God, I hope...

What's on YOUR Summer Bucket List?