A Little Catch Up & A Small Rant(and a Surprise!)

Howdy! Well, as my aunt says, "I'm so far behind, I'm ahead", so I think I will take a page from her play book and just start "over again". Here are a few things that have been new and exciting around here :)

It has been COLD, y'all! It started snowing last Thursday, and no one was prepared for it. I had to go "up the hill" (as we locals call it), and I kept swerving all over the road. It melted the next day, and then started up again on Saturday, and it didn't stop really until Sunday night. Fun times. It is only -8C, but it feels like -16c. Brrr!!! The ranch got 15cms of now yesterday. Hello, winter, indeed! The winter tires are going on tomorrow!

I have been "busy" with 3-4 jobs. I look after a young girl for a couple of hours after school; I look after my nephews when needed; I do respite for a friend's sister, and I have been walking my friend's dog. I also have watching too much TV, reading too many magazines, and lazying about. I wish I could say that I have been walking every day for the last while, but I have not. 

I know it has been a month since, but I didn't talk about Thanksgiving, so I will highlight that here. We had Thanksgiving :) It was fun, and we ate lots :) In Canada, Thanksgiving is the second weekend in October, and I always joke that our Thanksgiving is really at the proper time :) We met at my parents', as we usually do. Anker and I went out on Saturday, just in time for dinner. The weather was pretty good; if I can recall. We also played "Code Names", which at first I didn't like, but after a few minutes, I really got into it! Dinner was delicious, and we had the added bonus of hanging out with 9 (reduced down to 7) adorable Guard Dog puppies! They are just the sweetest things. I wish I could have gone out a week or so again, and play with the puppies one last time, but it never really worked out, so I will have to wait until Christmas (they are keeping two) for us to see them again. They will be nearly 3 months old when we see them again. They won't be cute puppies anymore, but oh well :) Mom says that they are simply adorable; cute and fat. The next day, Sunday, we celebrated J's birthday. We had a fun afternoon of cake, tea and presents. 

My church had a games night October 1st, which was fun. Some of us from the church were also invited to a congregant's surprise 60th birthday party the other week. It was a fun evening, filled with food, fun, and laughter. Some of us got to experience a Vietnamese at home feast the other Sunday. I might have skipped church the last couple of Sundays, due to cold weather, and my trying to semi-quarantine (which, clearly, hasn't been working out so well!), but I was darned if I was going to miss that! I actually wasn't going to go, but I felt that I had to support them. They moved into their new house, and they invited anyone for lunch after church. I believe there are 12 members who are living together. They came from Vietnam a few years ago, then moved to Kamloops a few years ago. They are the sweetest family. The food was delicious! Did you know that BBQ is popular in Vietnam? I had no idea It was fun to hang out and get to know them better. I forgot my phone in the car, so I couldn't take any pics, but believe me, it was really neat! Our ladies got together the other Thursday for a chilli night. It was so fun! We also decided to start a "secret sister" "program" (for lack of a better word). It had been brought up the month before, when we had a Pumpkin Spice ladies' night (which was also fun!). Most of the ladies hadn't heard of it. Can you imagine? We had to explain how it worked. So, it was decided that we start one up. 

I have been still going over to Emily's for movie nights. We even had one or two with our new neighbour; Sarah. It has been fun getting to know her a bit better. Anker celebrated his 60th birthday as well last month. We had birthday waffles with A and K, and then we just hung out for the rest of the day. He didn't really want anything, and as usual, didn't have a ton of money, so we just relaxed. I did get him a fun cake and a pie, though.

I met up with my friend (twice in on week!) up for coffee this last week. We always have a fun chat when we visit. We somehow always find something to talk about. We met up at Starbucks one day, and then on this last Saturday, we met at Blenz (a BC-owned coffee chain) for Eggnog lattes before I went shopping. 

....and now for the surprise...I am going to the Philippines! Why, do you ask? My sister is getting married! Yah, we are all pretty surprised, too! Ha! If you have been following me along for any length of time, you know that my sister has been living in the Philippines on and off for the last 6 yrs. She met her fiancé a year and a half ago, and they got engaged in the summer. Mom, Dad & I are all going. We 3 are the only ones vxd, and are able to go. My aunt and uncle bought me a ticket, otherwise I wouldn't be able to go. I am anxious, nervous and scared. I haven't travelled since 1996! I was given the medical clearance to fly (I have a few health conditions, as you know); btwn my sleep machine (heart/lung issues), my sort of history of blood clots, and my diabetes, I wasn't sure if I could go on that long of a flight/so far away. Oh, and on top of that, I am pretty sure I am going through menopause..oh, gooddeee. My passport came last week (Yay!), and I got my necessary poisons  shots, I bought the health insurance, sandals and the dress, and here we are! Anker's sister bought him a flight to Victoria while I am away; which was very sweet. It will give him something to do while I am away. I am going to be gone for 3 weeks! EEEKKK!! My mom has already been there twice (V wanted her to go and meet the boyfriend), so she is a pro now! My dad is going, too! Can you imagine? He has got to California and Mexico, but this is going to be first time going so far away. I will most likely do all of mt blogging when I come, but I will try to post pics as much as I can along the way.

....and now for a rant (or two!). I have a love hate relationship with social media (mainly IG and blogging) lately. I feel that it is either about what they bought, "look at me/what I did", and it has been driving me crazy. I mean, I get so tired of people posting about stuff they bought. This world, I feel, is just out to buy, buy, buy. I cannot tell you how many of my blogs in my blog feed talks about what they bought, and I am not talking about Christmas and special times of the year. This happens allll time. I feel like people are trying to compete with one another, solely on what they can (not) afford/buy. Go on IG (or any SM platform, really) and it won't be long until you realize that you are OLD. Girls who are in their 20s and 30s seem to have taken IG over by storm. And don't even talk to me about the 30 yr olds (or younger) who have a large following, and then think they know it all, so they write a book. Then, they advertise their book. I mean, really. Who died and made you queen of-whatever-the-book-is-about's-subject? But let's get back to those people who buy, just because, shall we? I have found that this is a larger-than-life-subject. People will, with no thought or reason behind why they bought their item....just...buy...just because. And what does that do for their self worth? Not to mention, the amount of junk and useless items that they have in their homes that end of being used once or twice, and then thrown away in an attic or a basement; basically being stored away. Anyway, what is just what is been on my mind the last bit :) Take that for what it's worth.

Drinking some Pumpkin Spice Latte, and reading my magazines out with the leaves :)