Holidays 2006

Well, this holiday season has come and is almost gone...

Had a good time, even though I had to work. Mostly a whirlwind of a week so far. I was very happy that Walmart stayed open for 24 / 7 for the past week! Nothing like Xmas shopping at 3am!

On the 24th I worked in the morning and was off at 4pm, then rushed over to my parents, then over to friends for a little party and drinks and gifts, then home at midnight to wrap some last minute gifts. Then up on the 25th at 7am, let Stephen sleep until 8:30, then time to GET UP! Had quite the surprise when opening gifts only to find that my parents think I am huge for some reason...I am up to 190 pounds, not 290! Everything they got me was way too big, I take a medium to a large, so all I got was XL and XXL...Sheesh! ( at this point I threw the chocolates I got for xmas at Steve and told him they were his!)

So no time to enjoy gifts, had to rush and get over to Grandmother Carson's place for XMas brunch...she is so sweet that one...turkey and ham and wine for lunch, I was in heaven. Then a Short visit at my parents place then back here at work. I must say, it was a great shift, although super dead, but my employees Carol, Jacob, Graeme and I made the most of it, we chatted, laughed, harassed the lounge until they gave up some Cappucino's...but a good time.

So here I am at work this morning (yes, a lot of work this season as my Ass'ts deserve some time off so I have no problem working for them and letting them have some time off) and again I am feeling so drained. I am so looking forward to sleeping more than 4 or 5 hours tonight...woo hoo! Then back here tomorrow morning to do it all over again.

So, it was nice seeing my Grandmother, parents, sister and bro-in-law, my nephew and niece yesterday. Everyone is growing up so fast. Derek is now 14 and about my height and Kayla is 11 and almost as tall as Anita. I was going to text message Mike in Toronto at 8am to wish him a Merry Xmas, but he beat me to the punch and text'd me...next time. Mike should be home today or tomorrow.

Stephen is home playing Grand Theft Auto on the Playstation I bought last week, he's so funny when he goes into "kid-mode"!! He kept trying to freak me out yesterday and Sunday as we were driving everywhere by trying to find cars to hijack or people to hit on the road....(needless to say I put my book down and kept my eyes open )

So, to everyone out there...Merry Xmas, Happy New Year and I hope everyone is happy and hugging a loved one today!

Wat Up wit Me!

So...a little background. I am 36, Live an Alternative Lifestyle as they call it and have a partner named Stephen (whom I have known now for 13 years). No one in the family really says anything about it except my sister, who has fun at Mothers day trying to decipher whom to give a card to! I have had a few words with her on that subject.

I live with Stephen in a very small town called Morewood. It literally is a Hamlet, not a town as we only have about 300 people here. I love it though as it is so peaceful, spacious and has that small town quality...no we all do not know each others business and this is not like Wisteria Lane from Desperate Housewives. Morewood is about 45 minutes southeast of Ottawa.

I currently work at the Delta Ottawa Hotel and Suites and have been there for nearly 10 years. I love the hotel industry for the wide spectrum of peoples you get to meet. I have been in hotels now since 1990...wow...that just makes me look old as I view it on screen.

Stephen works as an Office Clerk at a Dental Lab in Ottawa. He is going on 11 or 12 years there. This is the 2nd house we have lived in. First one was in Gatineau, Québec. How he puts up with me no one really knows. Some have suggested giving him an award for being the most patient person in the world to put up with my antics and crap!

I am still immature at heart, as I refuse to grow up, but it is creeping on me so quickly now I have to pause to think. I am a little heavier than I was 10 years ago, can't party as much on a work night, and instead of cocktails, I prefer wine and martinis.

Was raised in catholicism, but am questioning the whole spiritual side of that...have been turning to Buddhism as they have such a natural way of looking at things without complication or self-punishment.



I volunteer my extra time (not so much lately though) with OPERATION GO HOME. It is a wonderful organization that does a lot of good things for displaced, lost, homeless teenagers not just in Ottawa, but nationwide. I have been with them for nearly 3 years now. I have been a guest speaker in their GED classes for rehabilitation into the workforce about what an employer would want from a youth or potential candidate...most were shocked when I told them that a professional does not wear floor length dread's and 3 noserings with horned ear spacers attached by a chain...meh! If you would like any info on Operation Go Home, please click on the link www.operationgohome.ca to view the latest news. Donations are welcome as this is a non-government funded not for profit organization.

I have quite the array of friends from close to socialite. Mike is my best friend and he makes me laugh. Other friends know who they are from Hockey buddies to coffee buddies to Golf buddies to Martini buddies and so on...too many to mention. If we were all to hang out together after a hockey game at a golf course and just have coffee, I would be happy. I have reconnected this past year with friends from school in days long ago and that has been almost like a circle coming to close in a chapter in my life...a few more from that group is who we need to connect with to make all good.

Well...I am gonna jet here and leave you all with this...any comments or questions are welcome.

Mark

Here we are...

Well, first off, I have Aunt Chris to thank for this whole blogging idea...fantastic. I am beginning this in hopes to keep friends and family linked. In my working world of late, I have not had time to always join my family as often as I would like, so in a way, this can help with my relatives. My parents certainly would not own a computer, so I will still need to visit them and use the ol' telephone to communicate (LOL).

I want everyone to use this and feel free to comment. I miss everyone and especially those relatives out west. After a family tragedy, we have lost touch and I want to thank Aunt Chris for always keeping us updated with her tradionally, fun humoured, letters at Xmas time...

Luv y'all!