Finally time to slow down...

It’s nice to finally have some time to think about what I am doing again…to actually sit at my desk at work and finish one task without being interrupted by someone needing something right away, a phone call or suddenly remembering something else that needed to be done immediately. Though this shouldn’t be taken as me complaining, because I love being busy, I thrive in that type of environment, but it is certainly nice to have this break again, catch up on some work I’ve let fall behind and look forward to the next busy season – Easter and March Break! Christmas was successful though with Santa Photos being up 7% and Gift Certificate sales up almost 20%.

First my ear infection story – though this is the condensed version as the long version would probably bore you mad. Just at the start of December my ear was feeling stuffy (is the best way I can think to describe it)...I thought it was caused by the cold I was getting over and went and bought some sinus cold medication (convenient to work in a mall – you can go out and get anything you want/need at any point in the day). I got home and my ear was bothering me a bit more than it had been all day. I have a hot bath but after about 10 minutes have to get out because the pain is starting to get worse. By the time my Dad gets home from work I’m sitting on the couch barely holding back the tears. He asks what’s wrong and I just mumble something about my ear I know that if I were to say much more I would start crying. Though I came to that point pretty quickly after anyway. I went to bed because I didn’t know what else to do. My Mom came home shortly after and asked what was wrong, gave me something warm to put on my ear and some Tylenol. I fell asleep almost right away though it wasn’t a restful sleep and I woke up several times for more Tylenol. The next day I tried calling my doctor, couldn’t get an appointment so I went to the drop-in clinic that my doctor belongs to after work, the ear infection was confirmed and I was on antibiotics for 10 days. The real intense pain was only that one night (thank God! I’ve never been in so much pain before), but it was still really stuffy, I couldn’t hear out of that one ear and it was making popping/crackling sounds with the occasional sharp pain. So about 3 days after the prescription ends I go back to the drop in (still couldn’t get any appointment until the following week) and the doctor tells me that it is healing fine, the infection is gone but I still have fluid in the ear. Again the following week, while I can hear better, the crackling sound and sharp pain is still there so I decide to keep my doctor’s appointment and she tells me that of course it isn’t better yet as I have some sort of post ear infection condition (can’t remember the proper name) and my ears and sinus aren’t draining properly so these symptoms can stick around for up to another 3 months. Now had the doctor the second time I was at the drop in told me that I wouldn’t have been so worried. But at any rate, I decided not to take medication for it as the doctor said it will heal on it’s own in time. So that’s my not-so-short-after-all story of my ear infection. Here’s to hoping it doesn’t stick around too much longer.

I can’t even remember anything exciting or eventful that happened during the holidays at work. You’d think something would have happened while I was putting in 10 or more hour days working all but 2 days in December, but between the cold, ear infection and pure hectic ness of it all, nothing really stands out on its own.

One of the two Sundays I had off (the second being Christmas Eve), I went to Tottenham to ride on the Santa Express (old steam train) with my sister, Del, the boys, Del’s mother and step-father and sister. The train runs May to December (I believe) and in December they make special trips to the North Pole with Santa as the special passenger. He comes around and talks to everyone. While the scenery was lacking snow, it was still quite nice. Though the night before one of the girls who does the Santa photos called at 5pm and asked what to do because Santa wasn’t doing well (not in the best of health) and they were supposed to work until 7pm. I sent them home, but then spent part of the drive down to Tottenham trying to get a hold of my Boss to inform her and with the Gift Certificate Sales Associate who was also having some kind of problem…I was a little glad when the cell signal dropped and it didn’t come back until we were almost back in Barrie later that night. We got back to my sister’s at around 6pm and I had to run to the grocery store as we were all brining in treats to work the next day and I hadn’t yet had a chance to pick up the things I needed to bake that night (mind you I didn’t even pick out a recipe until the drive down to Tottenham). So it was another late night as I baked the squares (chocolate pecan things).

Anyways I’m just babbling because I don’t really remember what all has passed in the last 3 weeks. Somehow I was ready for Christmas come 5pm Christmas Eve when we went over to my sisters. The boys were so cute. I love having Christmas with them. Nate of course was still most impressed with the gift wrap, but Ty exclaimed after he ripped open each gift: “That’s JUST what I wanted!!” Christmas with kids is the absolute best.

Christmas day I spent in pajamas and played some Monopoly with my Mom. Boxing Day I went and did a little shopping with Heather then we took Daisy and Asili out for a walk which was cut short as Asili decided to jump in the river, so I didn't want her out in the cold too long thereafter. Today it was back to work. Someone has to be in the office and I don’t mind as I get to take time off some other time when I want it (not to mention all the lieu time I have now)

Heather leaves for Glasgow tomorrow. I’ll miss our Soup Factoring Luncheons, Timmies Coffeeing, Aisle Dancing and Doggie walking, but I know she’ll have a great time there and it’s a great opportunity, and I certainly can’t wait to visit!

I’m off to bed now, still trying to catch up on my sleep, and also want to read more of my book. I’m reading Chris Gardner’s memoir “The Pursuit of Happyness”. I went to the book store and picked it up the day after going to see the movie with Heather. The movie was only “inspired” by the book, it’s really like reading an entirely different story. It’s quite a good read.

(Too lazy to reread this, so I apologize about the errors!)