My latest LinkedIn post. #truestory #wordstoliveby The key to success is having no qualms about failure! (Read that again. Let it sink in.) |
Friday, April 19, 2024
Q IS FOR QUALMS
Sunday, December 17, 2023
SOME AFTERPARTY PETRO
TOP: Our festive holiday view of the falls in our sleepy little town BOTTOM: Watching the sunset, waiting for my coworkers to arrive. TAKEN: DECEMBER 15TH, 2023 |
Last Friday, my husband and I rented a large AirBnB home overlooking the Bracebridge Falls, and hosted an afterparty for fourteen; which included the seven coworkers I am closest with and some of their life partners.
I was pleasantly surprised by the individual reactions I received as they walked through to the kitchen and spied the gaggle of Petro Canada glasses neatly lined up on the counter. There was one on display for each of us.
None of them readers of my electronic journal, I told my story of how my collection of over two hundred glasses came to be, then poured them a spot of holiday spirit.
I explained that whomever enters my home for the first time, always has to raise a glass and have a drink with my dad. Because my home couldn't sleep ten like the rental could, I brought my glasses to them - as if they were entering my home for the very first time.
As I told the story, one of the project managers I work with (who is the same age as Jukebox) Facetimed his parents so that they could meet me and hear my silly story about my glass collection. Similar in age, they remembered when my conversation pieces were all the rage.
Then, as so many do, promised to keep an eye out for them in Southern Ontario and have their son deliver them to me. As it does whenever anyone offers to help grow my obsession, it warmed my heart.
As I reflect on the last year, I am grateful it has been exceptional. I think I finally have this work/travel life balance thing in check. I took the business to the next level at work AND I got to have a drink with my dad in some pretty cool places.
Under the stars at the Bellagio fountains Las Vegas, in the sun on a beach in Jamaica, rockin' Broadway in downtown Nashville, and with fourteen work buddies overlooking the beautiful Bracebridge Falls.
Life is really good!
And keeping my pops memory alive with my Petro Canada water glass collection is just an added bonus!!
Thursday, April 27, 2023
W IS FOR WOMEN
March 8th was when we celebrated this year! Cartoon (c) maxine.com |
In recognition of International Women's Day, I posted this to my personal Facebook page this year with a song link (which I have added to my post at the bottom):
In celebration of International Woman's Day I am sharing a song that has carried me though a male dominated sector, to which I believe I belong. Truthfully, I've seen it all as a mature woman in Muskoka construction.
I've been told what to wear, coached on how to manage men that should have been let go, and had my intelligence diminished by bullies that hated the outgoing personality of an well versed woman.
Most importantly, for being unconditionally loyal, I was totally gaslighted as the internal political climate changed.
The point of my story is I have never given up - and I am really very proud of that.
PS: If you truly know me and you've read this far.... AND you've listened to the tune I am sharing; you know who was on the other side of this exit interview!
Sara Bareilles - King of Anything (Official Video)
Thursday, April 20, 2023
Q IS FOR QUORUM
The perfect way to end the day in Beamaris. Skating at dusk on Lake Muskoka. TAKEN: March 2022 |
Wednesday, August 24, 2022
LEAPIN’ LIFE BALANCE!
In fairness to Miya, this was a bad throw by me... I didn't want my lunch break served with a side order of soggy! TAKEN: AUGUST 24th, 2022 |
In 2007 at fifteen years of age, when my beautiful yellow lab Toby crossed over the rainbow bridge, I promised myself I would take time to truly grieve his passing and not get a new pup during my extended time of mourning.
Not only did I have no desire to try and replace him, I honestly believe once you have a unique bond and connection like we did; that bond remains singular forever.
As a family, we were more than two years before we entertained another dog.
Now fast forward to the realization that our beloved Puddin’ had a rare form of cancer. Her long-term prognosis was grim, yet this time it wasn’t only me being left behind; it was our beautiful Annie.
They had been inseparable since we'd rescued her at five weeks of age. When she arrived she fit in the palm of my hand, was sickly and unable to eat, and Puddin' never left her side.
Worried Annie may die of a broken heart when Pud parted, we decided to smooth that transition by working with a CKC registered breeder to purchase another Labrador Retriever.
Miya Maria (seen above) was born on April 9th, 2021, and we picked her up on my father’s birthday in June. We were blessed to have Puddin’ live a year (less two days) from the one year anniversary of Miya joining our pack.
My point?
When I left my construction management job
last fall, I was truly blessed to have several opportunities present themselves - and
In the end, of the six formal offers I entertained, I had it down to two. One paid more money, the other offered me the option to work from my home office from Christmas Break to Easter without travel.
When I walked away from the money
and accepted the other offer in another sector, 48-hours before I was scheduled to start, my current
employer asked me back to the table with his counteroffer.
The most important item he presented was because I would report to him and he splits his time leading our teams, I would commute to the Muskoka office the set three days he's in. When he's working from our other company office, I would work from home for those two days.
It sealed the deal - and I have been grateful to get to balance my home office hours between the house and my desk at Orillia Lake.
I will report that the my current team's much younger than I expected, but I am excited to share that they look to my decades of experience and appreciate it. I love that I have entered the mentoring stage of my career after having so many really great mentors.
Also, I love the fact that those I am mentoring don't care to chase flying pigs into the lake, never beg for my lunch using drool, chase the squirrels I feed until they are ready to drop, nor smell like rotten ass on a rainy day from swimming so much.
...Truly making my work life/real life/doggie daycare life balance perfect!!
Monday, February 21, 2022
OLD BESSIE AND ME
An Alberta Clipper passed though Muskoka and old Bessie rose to the occasion!TAKEN: FEBRUARY 19th, 2022 |
Tuesday, April 20, 2021
Q IS FOR QUANTITY
My quest for a greater QUANTITY continues TAKEN: APRIL 17th, 2018 |
From the April -Z Blogging archives.
This was originally posted April 20th, 2018
Friday, July 10, 2020
HAPPY TO HELP
Thanks Alberta! TAKEN: JULY 7th, 2020 |
Friday, May 15, 2020
KEEPING IT REAL
This is US at Orillia Lake. TAKEN: 2008 |
Saturday, July 13, 2019
MY COFFEE CONSTERNATION
Snapped this right before I hit the reset button! TAKEN: JULY 13th, 2019 |
Because you weren’t. The only person responsible for where you’re at in any given scenario, looks right back at you in the mirror!
Because in the end, the fella that had labelled himself the favourite, showed up for a gunfight with nothing more than a plastic pocket knife!
If you don’t give a shit about how you treat people, you will ultimately end up being treated like a piece of shit.
Friday, April 26, 2019
X IS FOR X-AMPLE
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Thursday, April 19, 2018
Q IS FOR QUANTITY
My quest for a greater QUANTITY continues TAKEN: APRIL 17th, 2018 |
Wednesday, September 20, 2017
THE BEST CATCH OF ALL
A tad over-tired, I may have beeen cranky a stitch but I’m not complaining. Though I've been busy, I am looking forward to a tropical fall vacation I booked last week with some great friends the first week of December. I am venturing back to Riveria Maya to meet up with the British pals I met last year, bringing other cool Canadian peeps for them to meet. I honestly can't wait.
Tropical vacation news aside, the point of my post is that at the end of last week I spent three days and two nights away from home on a team building excursion I'd had the pleasure of planning for the guys at work. It was a fishing trip and we traveled a little more than 2 hours northwest of Muskoka.
Grateful to be rewarded with one big team event a year (last year a Christmas Gala at Deerhurst Resort) this year the goal was to appease the angler in all of us. Our team occupied the entire fishing resort on the French River. The difference between last Christmas and last weekend? What you saw was what you got.
Not a single male employee worried if their shirt and tie matched their fishing rod, nor did anyone comment that my very sexy flip flops clashed with my sweatshirt. As I said repeatedly over the course of the 3 days, with close to 70 in attendance, "...everyone that was there, truly wanted to be," which in itself is very powerful and motivating.
Every single person on the leadership team got as much out of the experience as the newest employee; which speaks to why we stand so strong. From a personal perspective, thanks to my bestie floating me his company ball cap off his head at 1am Friday morn, as I only put product my hair once in three freaking days. For the first time ever, the team saw me as myself. No hair nor makeup, always smiling, with my very sick sense of sarcasm as sharp as a bag of razor-blades. For me, the entire experience was absolutely and unequivocally bat shit crazy amazing!
Oh, I should mention that though I did many mange to go fishing for about an hour late Friday afternoon (with my favourite carpenter and our company mascot Charlie) I didn't catch a thing. What I did land was the best catch of the entire event; the Saturday morning sunrise.
In my opinion it was much better than the $200 bucks awarded for biggest fish.
Because for me...it was PRICELESS.
Thanks, Wolseley Lodge.... We ALL had a blast! TAKEN: SEPTEMBER 16th, 2017 |
Friday, March 24, 2017
BRING ON THE HEAT!
Why? Because when you’ve geographically lived where I do as long as I have, you realize that this particular early spring cold snap is just winter leaving us with a sheer sense of haste whilst sticking its middle finger up at Mother Nature!
NO Hair, NO makeup, AND happier than a polar bear on an ice shift to be outside! TAKEN: JANUARY 1st, 2017 |
I've said it before and I'll say it again, I don't hate winter, just simply despise how it affects me. I don’t know about you but it’s been a brutal winter for me. No matter how much time I spent outside, I was unable to turn my funk into fab. I had great days, like the one I am sharing in my photo, where I made a massive fire in the effort of getting as much natural light and exercise as possible; but by sun up the next morn, those neat vitamin D produced chemicals were once again depleted.
Anyway, because the firm Darin is a partner in does work in Muskoka, once we confirmed my travel timing, he began sending me a weather updates from New Orleans. On the very day I ventured into the very cold spring tundra, his graphic read that it was 70F in the moment that he was walking to the office.
My first reaction was surprise in that appeared a tad chilly. Not sure why that was the first thought the entered my mind, it should have been how quickly our visit was approaching. If I think back, it probably had something to do with the extremely limited fashion choices I have to make and the single piece of carry on luggage I get to take away on my adventure to visit him; but that's another post.
I am looking forward to being in NOLA during the April A-Z Blogging Challenge.
Will F be for Fashion? Hell no! The letter F will definitely be for French Quarter Fest!!
Tuesday, August 2, 2016
MY LONG WEEKEND LAMENT
Were the hell does the time go? TAKEN: LONG WEEKEND IN AUGUST 2016 |
Like most empty-nesters, we have a busy summer calendar. Yet, for varying reasons, this particular long weekend landed us short on time. As I sit here looking up from my laptop, I find it hard to believe just how quickly the season's flying by. With our fall vacation booked and the summer nights getting cooler, I can’t help but start to shift my focus onto our plans to renovate the exterior of our home is September.
How the hell was your weekend? Mine seems to still be in full swing. Matter a fact, at this rate, it may last until the end of next weekend. First thing on the list for me to work on then?
A much better tan!
Monday, July 25, 2016
BITCHY WIFE 1 - HUSBAND 0
I always knew having two kickass lawn mowers would come in handy! TAKEN: JULY 25th, 2013 |
Monday, June 13, 2016
MY ANNIVERSARY NEGOTIATION
Knowing how he hates handyman duties I would always agree, though I truly hate baseball. In my eyes, no pain not gain, and my yard work result was always a win/win. So, suffice is to say, I wasn’t the least bit surprised when this past weekend dock repair came with a caveat. “I’ll help fix the dock …If we finally get rid of the slide!”
My good ole girl is down! TAKEN: JUNE 11th, 2016 |
Monday, May 23, 2016
MY INNER ANGST
Found 500 pecos in my bathing suit bag I moved this weekend. It'll stay on the cottage fridge to remind me of Mexico TAKEN: MAY 21st, 2016 |
With a wide range of activities planned until I leave for my fall trip to the Bahamas, the focus outside of those will be upgrades at the cottage.
This weekend had us complete the installation of a new pressure tank and hot water heater. Then, beginning next weekend, all the decks and stairs will be resurfaced. Lots of elbow grease to be exercised, which is fine by me.
Though we have a deck and dock expansion planned for July, I am most excited to build a new retaining wall along shore. Moving all the material in will be a bitch but after that I'll get to wade in the water, work, and suntan. A much better task than rebuilding the old outhouse which is something my husband keeps mentioning.
I get that it's currently a bit of an eyesore but the good news is that because I am the keeper of the list, I am pleased to report that particular renovation is only a topic of conversation and not currently earmarked as an official project.
...Which is where it will stay if I can keep adding to the list!
Friday, December 11, 2015
MIKEY-MIKE & THE FUNKY LUNCH
The honest reality is, until I started my current job last September, I'd never experienced working with a true team. Don't get me wrong, I have worked for employers that pontificate they embody a 'team philosophy'; yet in all my years in the workplace, this is the only employer that personally sets the tone and follows through.
Meet Masterchef Mikey-Mike... Always providing amazing internal customer service! TAKEN:DECEMBER 11th, 2015 |
Why? It not only officially gives everyone a chance to catch up, it gives us all a chance to laugh as a group, which as you know I always deem... 'the best medicine'.
Okay, so here comes the point of my post. When I snapped Mikey's pic serving lunch today, my core thought was that my post was going to be about our odd ability to BBQ and suntan at work (in Muskoka) in December.
Then, after we scoffed down our food, I headed to my desk and looked up a personal tidbit. I surprisingly discovered via my blog, that today marks exactly 2 years since I handed in my letter of resignation and keys for what I'd previously referred to as my "Dream Job".
When I clicked on my post titled "Christmas Came Early For This Cat"... My reaction wasn't what it had been in the past; which was that I missed and longed for those days to come back. It was simply... HOLY BOATLOAD OF PRECIPITATION BATMAN... LOOK AT ALL THE SNOW!
I guess time, and really amazing internal customer service, truly does heal everything.
Thanks for listening.
Monday, October 12, 2015
I’M OFFICIALLY SPENT!
I swear we're the only household on our street that doesn't have someone else do their yard work! TAKEN: OCTOBER 12th, 2015 |