Lining up my ducks (part deux)

This is an excerpt from an email that I sent to Danni, who had kindly inquired as to where I was at with a situation I wanted to sort out (I was unable, for reasons beyond my control, to resolve it at this particular moment). Just to let you know where I'm at with my New Year's life-tackle/sort out.

"I ordered a book called How to Be a Financial Goddess online today, because I’m tired of feeling completely foreign to the world of my finances. I’m going to spend a bit of time formulating my life plan, etc and I’m determined to get my ducks in a row (starting with a trip to IKEA tonight to get the necessary screws to fix my futon, some tea canisters and maybe a little shelf to put beside my bed in the little room). Somehow that all correlated in my mind, but the connection seems to have been lost. Oh yes. I am becoming a calm, sophisticated and competent individual and all of this will come together at some point. There was a book called Organizing for Dummies and it talked a lot about decluttering. My next step will be to tackle the drawers in my bedroom into which I dumped all the crap that used to be stored in that box in my room I no longer have space for. Cleanliness is next to Godliness, and I’m trying to improve on both. I’m learning!

I had a cross-the-desk mini-counselling session with Fiona today, and she advised me that I need to sit down, figure out where I want to be, and the things that I need to have happen to get there. I think she’s very right. What format do you suggest? A nice flow chart?

I also want to update my CD collection. Not only do I want to be a Financial Goddess, but I want to be hip wi’ it as well."

And that, my friends, is where I'm at...

The Piper is down!

And she's not just pissed (that will only make sense if you know and love "So I Married an Axe Murderer" as much as I do).

About a week to ten days ago as I was happily training for the 10K on Feb 11th, I started noticing that my knee was really hurting when I'd run, so I told my friend Ashley (who's currently training...or should be...for the London Marathon) about it, and she said it sounds like I have Runner's Knee (I'm making an appointment with my GP to have it checked out). This is sooo not according to plan. I, being the sensible one I am, won't do silly things like go running despite the pain and potential further damage that could cause, except that this morning I woke up and desperately wanted to. I suppose the good thing is that it's making me go back to the gym more, but oh! I want to run. Free...like the wind!

Oh, the plight of an elite athlete (hey, who's that snickering?)

My line of distinction

Hello from Glasgow where I've just found out from some relatives (my mother's second cousin) that I'm very distantly related to Lord Kelvin. Yes, that's Kelvin who invented the temperature scale. Yes, as in the "Absolute Zero" one. Pretty cool, eh? I have probably something like 1/1000000 of math genius blood in me. It must be the part that allows me to add 1+1 and generally get a reliable answer because my math skills don't extend much beyond that. Still though, Lord Kelvin, cousin of mine, thanks for passing down that little bit mathematical wizardry down to me. I'd be much worse off without it.

As a side note, I now understand why, when I visited Ireland when I was about 9, there were a huge number of men (and boys) in my family named Kelvin.

I can see clearly now...

As a result of this newfound piece of knowledge, I'll be sure to tote myself around Glasgow tomorrow and take lots of pictures. Oh, and go visit his grave in Westminster Abbey when I'm back in London. If you want to go see it too, please do. It's the one right next to Sir Isaac Newton. Seriously. How cool am I all of a sudden? Oh, admit it! You know I am!

Oak Barrelled Chardonnay

Rich and I have been taking a wine tasting course. Tuesday night we had the most lovely Chardonnay I think I've ever had (2004 Chardonnay Max Reserva Errazuriz, Casablanca Valley, Chile).

We're still working on refining our fruit identification skills a bit. Other people in the class seem to be able to pick out flavours like bell pepper, asparagus, celery, cinnamon, nutmeg and plum in their wine, while I often still think "it tastes like wine" Ah, never mind it will come. Except that lovely chardonnay. It tasted smokey and of fiddleheads and of cozy fall afternoons of being curled by reading by the fire with the rain falling and leaves blowing outside. Ahhhhh...lovely...

The Little Mommies Club

A couple of months ago I was asked to join a book club. So I did. As it turns out, it seems that I am the only single, non-preggers, and non toddler toting person in the group. I think I was tricked into a little mommies club, and after two hours in that room, I left feeling incredibly happy to be a single, child and fetus-free person. We played the "introduce yourself and say the highlight of your Christmas break" game. I went last. After hearing stories of "Little Jimmy pooped in the toilet for the first time" and "little Janey was going to build a snowman and ate the carrot that was supposed to be the nose (tee hee)" and "Poor Simon Jr had the sniffles and an earache" I debated whether I should lie or tell the truth. So I told the truth. "The highlight of my Christmas was, on boxing day, sleeping until 11:00, getting up for brunch, and then going back to sleep until 3:00 and then getting dressed only to go to the cinema". I was envied. I felt slightly cruel, but it was fun.

I'm sure I'll probably find myself in the Little Mommies Club eventually, but for now I'm happy wtih my freedom and a baby-turd free toilet.

I feel pretty!

Just to say, I think today will be grand!

I was on my way to the gym and opened the door to find three bottles of milk looking expectantly up at me.

Then I went to the gym, had a nice workout and have just eaten one of my favourite breakfasts. (with caffeine-free revitalizing herbal tea to boot). I feel like a million dollars (or about 454545.45 pounds) today.

Hooray!

And can it be that I should gain...

...my official pink British driving licence through the post today!

I had to jet home at lunch today to take The Flatmate to the place where her car is being fixed, and there it was. My smiling face on a pink piece of plastic that means I can officially drive in this country! I keep looking in my wallet to make sure it's really real, and sure enough, it is!

It's my first official piece of documentation with the EU stars and GB in the middle, and I'm so chuffed! I'd scan and display it, but that would make it very easy for people to stalk me.

Now I just have to find my Canada bumper sticker that I have somewhere...

Udderly Disappointing

I was over the moon with anticipation last Friday when I ordered our milk to be delivered to us each Tuesday morning by an honest-to-goodness real-life milk man (such as they don't have in Canada).

As of 8:35 am this morning our milk hadn't arrived. Argh! We were in the throes of despair. Not to mention that The Flatmate didn't get to have her muesli with warm milk!

No sir-ee Bob! There certainly wasn't any Dairy to Doorstep to be had at the Parish Lockup this morning.