Last year I participated in the iNews880 #Movember campaign in support of finding a cure for prostate cancer. Which was pretty impressive, if I do say so myself, because I’m neither a member of the iNews880 staff nor a guy capable of growing a moustache. That’s why I drew a larger and larger moustache on my avatar last Nov. Oh, and I managed to kick butt on my team and raise the most $$ of any individual member.

This year I’m taking a break from campaigning for #Movember. Mostly because I’m constantly shilling for @ABbrowncoats, Kids Need to Read, and the Legion’s Poppy campaign.  Add to that Derby, work, and the beginning of full on panic mode at school and I just need a break. Or a vacation. So I’m vacationing from #Movember.

I choose not to feel guilty about this decision. The #yeg #Movember team is many times larger this year than in previous years. I know the fundraising is in good hands. Many of my friends are participating. It’s hard to choose who to support. And for how much.

Well, it was hard to figure out how much until I came up with my “grand plan”. I needed to go to the bank and a few shops after work yesterday so I decided to count the poppies on my journey, and then donate $1 for every poppy I saw. I was anticipating having to make a a large-ish donation. Sadly, that didn’t turn out to be the case. After passing hundreds of people over a 2 hour period yesterday, I had a grand tally of 18 poppies. 18!. Four days into the Legion’s annual poppy campaign and I discovered, much to my dismay, that few people are wearing poppies in Edmonton. That cracking sound you hear? That’s the sound of my heart breaking.

I counted all the poppies I saw on my way to work today. Walking. Train. More walking. An additional 8 poppies encountered. Of the 38 people standing on the #LRT platform with me this morning, only 3 were wearing poppies. With the passing of the last WWI veteran and the WWII & Korean veterans aging rapidly, I worry that we have begun to forget already.

Today, I’m picking 3 friends and donating to their #Movember campaigns. Hopefully, each will take a moment to go out and support the Legion’s poppy fund. And spread the word.

Hubs and I often spend time apart. comes with the territory of military spouse. With my past globe trotting history, we’ve celebrated more than our share of holidays and anniversaries while one of us was 1/2 way across the country or world. This is the first time I recall one of us being in a war zone for Remembrance Day.

While I stand in the cold honouring all those who’ve gone before, hubs will be sweating away across the world. I’m assuming there will be ceremonies in KAF.

In this era of near immediate communication, I find myself wondering what it was like during WWI, WWII & Korea for the families left behind. How did they manage to survive the long wait between newspapers printing or radio stories?

The differences in communication frequency in this tour vs hubs last a year ago has been huge. Cell phones & email (which existed prior of course, he just didn’t use them) mean that I hear from him every few days. Sure, I rarely get letters, but I do have a general idea that he’s physically ok most days.

As we cross off the days on a calendar until he comes home, I can add one more important date that can be marked while apart. We’ve got a lot to make up for…

I’m not the woman I used to be. I’m certain that’s a good thing. After years of being unhappy with me – but not unhappy enough to do something about it – I started the year, not with a resolution to be ignored, but with the determination to make small changes in my life and try to be a better version to me.

Small changes snowball. Each week a new change sparked a new interest and a new way of making my way through the world.

10 months later I’m no longer obese. I’m no longer overweight. For the first time in over a decade I’m “normal”.

The new me has a new wardrobe and a new do. That’s right. I’ve cut off my hair. Two feet of it was lying on various hair stylists floors (I had 12 in cut off at a time).

The new me is less afraid. Except for heights. I’m still terrified of heights! But I do things I previously thought myself incapable of. And I’m inordinately proud of me.

I’m still a hermit. As an introvert I’ll probably always be a hermit. I’m ok with that.

I still have a long way to go to reach my health and fitness goals but I no longer think of them as impossible. I’m a whole new me. Hope you learn to like who I’ve become.

i frequently tell the world how awesome my neighbours are. they puppy sit, they help rebuild our backyard & garage, they help lay flooring, fix stuff around the house, teach me new things, and generally keep me sane. once again i must repeat that phrase.

for the past few years we’ve had a communal meal for all the big holidays. christmas, easter, thanksgiving, and a myriad of bbq’s in between.

whether of not drew or i were home (or traveling the world), whoever was left home alone always had somewhere to go for a special holiday meal. same rules applied if we were both home.

and those “rules” don’t just apply to us. everyone in our circle of friends has an open invitation to the meal.

today i spent the better part of my day with some of my favourite people eating an awesome meal. when i left i was loaded up with enough turkey to keep me in sandwhiches and snacks for the next few days.

i have the most awesome neighbours and for that i’m truly thankful.

happy thankgiving weekend everyone. may you be blessed with good neighbours at sometime in your lives.

L had to work today so J and I went out to pick out flooring. I bought vinyl tile for the hallway and closet but didn’t pick up anything for the office (yet).

L promises he’ll be around to oversee the install before the end of the week.

I found an interesting patterned linoleum for my office but I’m not sold on it’s durability (how it’ll handle the weight of multiple bookcases, & my constantly moving chair). Think I’ll do some consulting with hubs before I purchase anything for that room.

The downside is that I have to pre-order the flooring 3 weeks in advance if I do want Drew to install it when he’s home. We can’t just wait until he gets home and pick a flooring type then.

I did rip up a small piece of the office carpet and it’s not as clean underneath as the hall & closet were. I think we’ll need to pour some of the flooring level setting goop before we can lay whatever flooring option we do select.

Blech!

J thinks L will be able to help Drew with the flooring install for one day. We’ll have to have the room cleared out before L can come in and help Drew. I expect that’s a good 2-3 days work all on it’s own!

Good thing Drew has already agreed to tackle this project on his tour break or I’d be pulling out my hair and in a mass panic.

Stay tuned for the hallway & closet installation victory dance.