Month: December 2022

Today we celebrate the birth of our eldest child. Would a warm-ish, sunny, cheerful day have been preferred? Yes. But given the time of year I’ll settle for not raining/snowing just yet. That may come later today, but right now, right this second no precipitation of any sort.

I remember how cold and snowy it was the year they were born. We had to spend more than 48 hours in the hospital before we could be allowed to leave. Others on the floor were having a rough go of it, so we got pushed back a few times. It was ok though. Nervous new parents liked having the safety net of the nursing staff around for the first two nights. They showed us proper baby bathing technique, and shared various (differing) points of view on just about everything baby related. Which was at once helpful, and weird. Depended on the nurse on shift.

Then by the time we had the second child a lot of protocols were different, and the views once again singular to the nurse on duty. No two were exactly in agreement. Which I felt was odd, but I’m no medical professional. We’re all so different I suppose it’s fairly easy to all see very different things and come to your own conclusions apart from everyone else, and what they have encountered. Human – aren’t we unique? Troublingly so, I’d imagine.

Almost a decade in with the oldest. Have come a long long way. Tried a tonne of extra curriculars, and right now Taekwondo seems to be top of the pops! Along with non competitive gymnastics, snowboarding, and swimming to round it all off. Wakeboarding was a huge hit this summer once we got over the fear of deep water starts, but then we got to see some wake carving, and a face plant or two. Two enthusiastic thumbs up! Tubing behind the boat was an even bigger draw for both our kids this year.

Today is Tuesday. I am waiting on a new project that had been held up by a foreign tourism board bureaucracy. Hope to see it today or tomorrow. Then I have been reminded we actually have two more coming before the end of the year, one of which I had totally forgotten about. And one large item for Feb/March. So still the potential to be busy right up until the new year! Different from the last five years that all just about shut down in early November, excepting one or two very little things that came in from smaller clients in need of one off items.

I have more laundry to attend to. Domestic Duties Tuesday is a thing this week, because I was busy yesterday. At least I have the option to move that kind of responsibility around. Rather than be forced to pile it on to an already jam packed day. I for one don’t miss being single, and working 60 plus hours a week, commuting for 20 more hours, and still needing to cook, clean, buy groceries and do my laundry, shower, shave, go to appointments, and have some kind of a life outside of work. It’s all so exhausting. I feel for those of you doing just that, but in this economy too! Yikes.

Three parties, one of which we hosted, a parade in the bitter blustery cold night, and a whole lot of driving & traveling between events. I am exhausted. On the plus side our birthday party festivities went off without any major issues beyond the pizza not being delivered to us. I ran out to get it myself. Apparently the building we were in is so new that it doesn’t show up on the delivery maps yet. Not a huge problem, and in less than twenty minutes I had it all back in gear with no interruptions to the party. Kids are happy and healthy. Roughly about half turned up with masks, N95’s or otherwise, so I’ll consider that a win. Also no coughs, colds or fevers on anyone present. We’ll see if it holds out.

Glad I worked do hard to get my latest report of for review on Friday late afternoon. I could not, at this moment, even conceive of having to put in any hours on a report with the rush & bustle of this last weekend. Glad I planned ahead, and worked as efficiently as I could. It helps that I do much of the leg work up front, to make my life easier when in the thick of it all. A pat on the back for past, present & future me. Nicely done.

I’m a few hours away from finishing up my water slide decals, of which I had about 160 to apply. I’m down to my last 30 to 40. I’ll be glad to see that project finished and off my table. I build the thing two Christmas’s ago, and then it took me about a year to get to the panel lining. And just shy of another full year to start on the decals. I’ve put in an hour or two every day for the last week. So just a couple more will see it finalized. I will clear coat it to make sure nothing runs off if the glue has been weakened with age. Could have done. I’m not sure just how long I can leave water slide decals unused before the glue off gases enough to become inert. Either way, the finish line is within sight. Then it’s back to miniature painting for a brief spell, and by then it’ll nearly be winter break and the kids home 24/7 for two weeks.

This month is starting to roll along fairly quickly too. Then in January, amid the freezing cold temperatures and snow, time will stand still. And as the temperatures drop even lower in February time may actually begin to move backwards prolonging the icy, grey cold misery of winter.

While I have a moment, I’m going to sweep and vacuum the floors. Stay well. Ciao Bella!

Things like wood working projects, of which I have a page of everything I completed, somewhere? If I can dig it up it lists all the things I made in 2022. I will also cover the twelve books I read this year. And lastly a post regarding the sculpting and painting I did this year as well. And perhaps on day 365, a look back at all the things I’ve written about for my one year write every single day challenge. I’m about ten or so days away from completing it. I aim to do it, so let us all pray that no calamity befalls us on our path to the finish line. Finish line? Not so sure I’ll be able to stop. Not that it’s the streak keeping me going so much as the outlet to chat in to the void, rather than be home alone all day. Will I attempt to write a book three of my series of interconnected short stories in 2023’s down time? I’m not sure. I look to be setting the pieces in place, but you never can tell with me. I might take a fancy to cross country skiing, or resin kit building, and will fill up my time in a totally different manner. More home DIY projects, perhaps? I do need to trim out the basement bathroom. The kids need more book shelves, and hooks for necklaces and such. Depends on the temperature. Icy cold hand tools don’t have much of a draw between late December and April 1st. Best to lean on another skill set between those dates. Keep your fingers toasty, if you can.

So stay tuned for the year in review posts. And possibly the return of my illustrated Children’s book, which got put on hold after a great deal of forward movement last winter. I can feel a short story or two percolating in my brain, so I imagine one or two of those will make an appearance in the early new year too. To those few dedicated readers out there, thanks for coming back every so often, and reading some of my daily nonsense. It means a lot.

Ciao Bella!

Oops, went a bit too hard the last two days to complete the first pass on my latest report before Friday at 5:00pm. Good news is I’ll have 48 hours to rest before I see any edits or revisions. So with some ice & applied heat I’ll be fine, and can start the next one early next week. This should, most likely, just about close out 2022 for large scale projects. I know of one coming in late February, and there was talk of another project, but I don’t know the specifics of it, or if it was for early 2023, or very late 2022. Given that we’ve managed to get three of the four I knew of out the door before December really got under way, I’m ok to add one more, if it’s coming my way. It’ll be great to know I can pay off Christmas gifts on the credit card in one fell swoop, and forget about the months spending.

Which reminds me, I need to send the year end invoices to make sure they get processed in 2022. Close out all of this years projects. Get prepared for newer 2023 items after the Christmas break.

I have a few of my own projects lined up for my down time in the new year. Clearing off my desk, so to speak. I have a big resin project in my closet that I bought before we even had a second child that is begging me to work on it, now that I have more experience with both my airbrush, and epoxy putty work. A big 18 inch tall mech that I need to build, sand, prep from the internal structure out to the armour, paint job & water slide decals. Could end up being a few weeks worth of work if I can stick with it and give it the dedication it needs. I’m excited. I have a few much smaller items to get to first, but the big one is there, ready & waiting.

Wish I knew why I was awake before 7:00am on a Saturday morning. Especially one so glum and dark. Lots to do this weekend. Well, lots but less than I thought since I got through more than fifty pages in two days for my report. Lots of social engagements, party, tea party, santa claus parade today. And our own child’s birthday party tomorrow which we are hosting elsewhere for a change. Have to set up, and lug drinks, snacks, party favours & balloons around. Then pick up fresh cup cakes on the way, and order pizzas too. It never ends. Also – where did all those years go!?! Not my little baby any more. Can’t fit lying along my forearm for bath time in the sink. Long gone are those days. Happy face: we can do lots more fun stuff together. Sad face: my bowling ball baby isn’t my little baby anymore.

Ciao Bella!

Making headway on my project which is always a huge plus. Few things feel as defeating as spending eight hours on a project and it seems like you are standing still, and not getting anywhere. But yesterday’s barn burner of a day has set me up for a great second day. Should make days three and four that much easier to bear, given how much I have going on this weekend. Parties, parades, tea party and more. Keep your heads on straight, and hope for the best. Have a great Friday To all who observe. Ciao Bella.

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Also I’m super-duper busy for the next few days knocking out this latest report. So only short bursts from me today, tomorrow, and likely all through the weekend too. We’ll revisit on Monday. Take care out there. Invest in great photography! Do it. You really should, if you can.