Ketchup

As I sit here on my sofa, drinking a cup of coffee and waiting for the roof shoveler to arrive (I’m positive we have an ice dam on the roof), I thought I would update my lovely readers on what’s been going on as of late.

I’m still employed full-time, temporarily, at the same school I’ve been working at since December. I’m now working with a different little boy and I couldn’t be happier. He is such an amazingly smart and bubbly kid and he even insists that I participate in phys-ed with him. I love waking up every morning and going to work. My decision to leave the clerking world behind and become an EA was the best decision I have ever made. I love what I do, I love the kids I work with and my stress has been lowered immensely.  It’s also a bonus when I get inservice days off, too.

While my life seems to be going well, there’s been a setback – my dad has been in the hospital for almost three weeks. For a few weeks prior to his hospitalization he had trouble walking on his left leg. We were certain it was a pinched nerve and while a blood test showed a bit of an infection, his doctor wasn’t too concerned about anything major. Flash forward to the ER visit – the doctor there confirmed it was a massive infection that started to go systemic and it had been festering for more than two weeks. Not this again. He moved out of the care ward last week and is now in the rehab part of the hospital, working on regaining his mobility. They have a discharge goal for the beginning of April and we’re hopeful. I just want my dad to get better.

This whole dad in the hospital ordeal hasn’t been faring too well for me. I get stressed and upset when he goes into the hospital. It has indeed been a few stressful weeks – working full-time, back and forth to the hospital, taking care of the house (God damn leaking roof and effing snow) and fitting in personal commitments. I decided that this time around I had to fit in time for myself and I’ve been going to the gym almost every other day, and it’s working. It was also time to get back into the gym after a three-month absence. I love it, it’s working and I’m extremely happy with the decision. When you need to take care of others, you must also take care of yourself. I’ve been spending a lot of time on the sofa, catching up on TV shows and reading magazines. It’s been my way of taking care of myself.

Since my dad is in the hospital and won’t be out until April, I’ve cancelled my plans to travel to Grand Forks for Spring Break. And it’s okay. I was planning an entire week there just hanging out with my family that lives there, but, family commitments take priority here. PLUS there’s way too much snow on the ground and even though the snow looks like it will start to melt next week, there is also a high risk of flooding at the border crossing… which would make driving impossible if the river spills its banks. I was chatting with my cousin last night and I decided I’ll go in May. Take a weekend or maybe an extra day to just go there and veg out. I need a vacation, not a spend-cation. And my cousin agreed. I can so totally visit Grand Forks and not buy anything, other than maybe breakfast or dinner out on one night.

Since I won’t be traveling to Grand Forks at the end of the month, I decided to have a stay-cation here in my lovely little city. I’ve planned a sushi date night with my closest gal pals; scheduling a pedicure and planning on a coffee date with just myself at a local coffee bar. I’m going to make the best of my week off and enjoy what is being offered.

My sister went back to school to get her high school diploma. Since she was a teen, she’s been plagued with mysterious illnesses that has prevented her from finishing high school. I am so proud that she made the decision to go back! She’s doing so well and loving every moment. I’m helping her with homework and studying; I just love that she’s accomplishing a goal she has set for herself. She might not graduate until next year, but she’s okay with that. The important thing is, she’s going back.

Being 30 is much more amazing than being in my twenties. For reals. I’ve made changes, decisions and goals and I’ve stuck to them. I guess turning 30 has put a lot of things in perspective. I refuse to deal with bullshit from anyone – friends, family, strangers. I’m making sure that I am spending more time on me, building stronger relationships with friends and family. I am building this little life for me and I couldn’t be happier. Sure I have to deal with adult things like paying bills and making sure I have the money to do so, but I love the decisions I’ve made for myself.

So there you have it… I’ve been busy. Extremely busy. What have you  been up to?