Auto Pilot

So after almost five weeks and counting of Nurse Betty duties, I continue to get through the days and nights, by being on Auto Pilot, or so it seems. A few breaks in between have been: the gym a few times a week; TV season premiers; and the computer, when I can get on it.

Lately, the computer is being time shared by various people, with friend and mother interested in freeslots.com and friend's daughter interested in MSN Messenger. I'm on it when they are not around and/or are asleep. Like now for example, when I have the house in total darkness, mom in bed asleep, and me on the computer.

Also helping me get through the day is sugar. I am in such a sugar craving mode, and can't stop eating it. My two favs of the moment:

On top of this, cake, ice cream, cookies, and other assorted goodies.

This week, friend's daughter, Steph, who loves to use my straightening iron, but didn't want me to buy her one of her own, for her birthday, decided that my hair looked "like an afro", which I must admit, it did. She offerred to straighten it, and after fussing with it, for about a half hour, there was my hair in a poker straight never-before seen style. I really didn't like it that night.

Lo and behold the next morning, it had transformed ever so slightly, and was just perfect! Received many rave reviews this week about the hair, to the point that I now don't want to wash it, until my new stylist is over to re do it. Not Ashley is all thumbs when it comes to hair styling. Decision point for the evening: clean fresh afro or not so clean smooth & sleek. Smooth and sleek wins out because I'm too tired to wash hair this evening.

Over and out.

Couch Potato Commentary

In an effort to make the best of things, had an opportunity tonight, since I wasn't able to go out, to actually sit and watch TV, which I hadn't done in quite awhile. I am an unabashed TV addict, and while I take summer's off, the Couch Potato in me, comes back every September/October, as the new programs return.

Tonight was a good night for TV, as I hadn't realized that Grey's Anatomy was back on, and with the Season Opener no less, on a Thursday not on a Saturday. So after a whole summer of waiting to see if she-Meredith- finally ends up with Dr McDreamy, after pining after him the whole of last season: In typical piss-me-off TV fashion, the stage was set tonight, with Meredith uncertain whether she wants the now-returned to her McDreamy, or the vet, who's name I can't remember. The season will be spent with her "dating" them both to decide.

Last night, or was it the night before, I watched one of my other fav shows- Boston Legal--funny, in a dry sarcastic weird way.--did not disappoint, and highly recommend it.

Also, worth a mention is Desperate Housewives, which I suspect will be on soon.

Other fav show- Six Feet Under--ended last year, but can be seen sometimes on Bravo. Definitely, you will absolutely Love It or Hate It kinda of show - dark humour.

That's all for now.

End of the Weekend Thoughts

Further to last post, Friday has come and gone, and the work week looms. Sadly, work has become a bit of a refuge for me, and for once I actually don't mind going back.

Weekend was grueling, and I didn't even have to go to the gym to get my work out, as I had my fair share of work, ranging from the chore of cutting the grass, front and back, which had grown about 1 foot, to cleaning out my mom's garage of 10 years worth of clutter. I removed over 11 bags of garbage, and am still only about 70% done.

All this, plus my new computer activity, has brought on a reoccurrence of my carpal tunnel, in not one, but both of my wrists and hands. I'm hoping that I can get it back under control, with Vitamin B, pain killers, ice, and doing weights again, once it settles down a bit.

Emotionally, it's been rough too, as the shingles just go on and on, and she can't take it, and I can't take it either.

A friend of mine, let's call her Thelma or was it Louise? is also having a tough time, which she so doesn't deserve, because she is a wonderful, kind, strong person, who made it her priority to improve herself, (or maybe just to find herself again,) and her life and has succeeded. Stay strong and focused, and good things will continue to come your way.

I wish I knew the right thing to say, but I don't because I think that the right answers lie within, and are different for everyone. Plus, Dr Phil, I'm not.
That said, I am thinking about you. Know that I'm here to listen anytime.

So a Thelma & Louise runaway doesn't sound so farfetched, again except for the driving over the cliff part at the end, and except for the killing someone along the way. LOL

Almost Friday

At long last, it's almost Friday, and the weekend. It's been a long week, and it'll be great to have a few days off, to hopefully do whatever I like.

Got a lot accomplished at work this week, which surprised me, since I've got so much on my plate at home...I must work better in high stress mode--go figure. Had to cancel an upcoming conference for next week, that would have been at Deerhurst--disappointing but unavoidable.

Mouse Update: Caught 1 poor little thing, and have had cheese stolen and no critter for the past few days. Oh well, at least I've learned how to bait the trap, so I don't get my finger caught in it again.

Made it to two classes at the gym this week...feels good to be back exercising body (and mouth), even if my thighs are a bit wobbly right now.

After gym class tonight, had an eat & run visit at Jewel's, met her mom, ate homemade stew and got a care package of stew and sweets to take home with me. Did this in all of about 20 minutes, before I had to rush off.

Everything was delicious, especially the stew, which had the best spicing I've ever tasted in a stew. I had another bowl when I got home, with mom, who liked it equally as well.

The sweets were all undescribably delicious, from the petit four appetizer, the peanut butter cookie, to my fav--the biscotti.. All excellent, but my personal favourite was the ginger biscotti. Too bad the sweets aren't available on a regular basis for kwaffee tawk sessions.

Thanks for the stew, and for sharing the treats with me, Jewels. Whomever said only children never learned to share, is so wrong!

:)

Work Out

Summer's over, as evidenced by the return of fitness classes this week. Yay to the return of classes, boo to the end of summer and sun.

I found that I did so well for the first month, at keeping up my fitness regimen, but by the second month, my attendance really dropped off, to the point that I hadn't been at all for about 3 weeks.

It's amazing how my aches & pains go away when I'm working out, and how quickly they return when I don't. eg. my hands, especially my left one has been sort of numb and tingly all week.

Tonight, gym normality returned, and while my body protested, and will protest tomorrow, as my muscles become reacquainted, I'm sure, it felt good to move again, and get out of the house for a bit. As usual, the instructor did a fabulous job, even if she was a bit nervous, no one would ever have known it. Tee Hee!

I can't wait for the Belly Dance class on Thursday.

Mouse Tales

Mouse 1
Not Ashley 0












Critters creep me out.

The other night, I go into my mother's garage to take out the garbage. I pick this empty water bottle carton, with the plastic wrap still over it, and out jumps this mouse. Reaction was as you can imagine, quite vocal.

While one mouse, cute at that, is not the end of the world, they usually are not alone, or not alone for long. Action must be taken, even being a little squeamish and not really wanting to hurt the little thing.

I head over to local dollar store, and pick up a pack of 3 traps for $1.00--perhaps mistake number one. Proceed to fridge to get some parmesan cheese to bait the traps, yesterday around noon--perhaps mistake number two, as it's very crumbly.
Carefully set the traps up, and check about three times yesterday--no activity.

This morning, I head over there, and first thing I do is check the traps. Guess what, the cheese is gone and traps didn't activate.

Decide cheese was part of the problem and decide to try soft havarti instead.
First two traps set no problem, third trap snaps down on the index finger of my left hand. It is now a lovely shade of purple. Irony of this is not lost on me--mouse not only escapes unharmed, but also steals the cheese. I, on the other hand, or finger, get hurt by same trap.

After lunch, am cleaning up, and slice the index finger of my right hand on a very sharp knife--it is now sporting a band aid, and is a nice companion to the bruise on the left hand.


Mouse 1; Not Ashley 0

Cabin Fever Pity Party

My mom has been sick with shingles for two weeks now, and while the actual external shingles are getting better, the pain and itching seems to be getting worse. You name it we've tried it, from Calamine Lotion, Aveeno Ointment, Aveeno Oatmeal Bath(which we tried today, and it did provide a bit of very short lived relief), Benadryl pills, Benadryl Cream, Buro Sol Solution. Nothing seems to help for very long, and it seems like the magic pill here will be time. It's so difficult for her to endure, and for me to watch her suffer and not be able to really help.


To boot, at the risk of sounding totally selfish, I have Cabin Fever== I want to go out, I want to go the gym, go shopping, go anywhere, but be stuck at home or at work. I've gone into auto pilot mode just to keep going, and I'm afraid I am in desperate need of a break. I was thrilled just to go to Zehr's tonight.

This on top of the latest major crisis at work--the "ladies" are too cold and it's the end of the world and the sky is falling, and we're all going to get pneumonia & die because it's so cold, and I have to hear the story three times from three different people, just in case I didn't hear the first two times...give me a fucking break.

The building design genius put the thermostat in my office, which has a greenhouse bay window, so try to get that temp right so both my office and the rest of the department is comfortable.

Couple that with a bunch of women, who are difficult at the best times, and who are Olympic Champions at Complaining, and who are in various hormonal stages, from post pregnancy to menopause to everything in between.

Yes it's been a long few weeks, and yes I need a break.

Are you for real?

Came across this informative article, which believe it or not, was posted in all seriousness under the heading: Is Work Making You Fat?

After reading this, I've decided it should be filed under: Are you for real? Do I look like my name is really Ashley?

My personal favourite is the Photocopy Machine Workout. Think they missed the boat, and should have called it: How to Look Like a Total Idiot At Work .

Here's the article:

Avoid Office 'Spread'

Desk jobs are sedentary jobs, and sedentary jobs can result in weight gain and muscle atrophy. The answer: Strengthen your muscles while you work. Dr. Frederick Vagnini, director of heart health centres, recommends three on-the-job exercises to get moving without cutting in to work time:

The Desk Workout. To strengthen calf and ab muscles - and to help with your posture - sit up straight and squeeze in your stomach as you lift up on your toes to tighten your calves.
The Phone Workout. Whenever you pick up your phone, stand up at your desk to give your body a stretch and an energy boost. As you talk, one arm can do small circles, which help tone the upper biceps and triceps. Or, if you have a headset (and enough room for your wingspan), try circling both arms.
The Photocopy Machine Workout. When you're copying a big batch of documents, don't just stand there while the machine sorts your reports. Do a set of lunges or march in place to get your blood flowing.

Gifts

My friend J went on vacation for about three years, oops I mean weeks. She came home last Friday the 25th, at which point my mom got sick, and while we'd spoken regularly on the phone, we hadn't been able to go out for kwaffee tawk, and/or see each other live & in person. Finally today, we were able to get out for a bit and visit the local Starbuck's, for latte's and a delish pumpkin cream muffin, which we split--knowing that gym classes start next week.

From her travel's, J brought me back the following beautiful items, which the pictures do not do justice to, and which she really didn't have to do:

Oriental Tea Mug

Added secret bonus--it WAS filled with my favourite dark chocolate!

Silver "Unbreakable/Unbroken" Heart

This heart is lovely just to hold, and is especially so, since it makes a beautiful melodious sound when you move it, which I very quickly discovered, and couldn't stop doing, sometimes ignoring J, as I zoned out listening to it. It will come in handy to zone out the negativity at work.

What's truly priceless about it, is that it was given as one of just a few, to J's special friends.

Thank you for the gifts, the best of which is your friendship, and for thinking of me and considering me a special friend! I treasure your friendship as well, and wish you all the best in life.

From: An Unusally Open Not Ashley

Goofy Things We Do

Not Ashley is sometimes prone to do Goofy Things, particularly when it involves a "free" sample and/or promotional giveaway.

However, Not Ashley would never do something as goofy as this person below did, for a free tiny sample of lavendar body spray.

And what's wrong with her hair????

Picture replaced so Not Ashley can return to anonymity, but Not Ashley's hair has been looking a lot like this bird's lately.