Margaritas and Nachos

Last week was long weekend for us, Victoria Day. On Saturday, a friend and I went to Camrose. This is a small town east of Edmonton. We had gone there a few times because there are a few nice ladies wear store and a nice shoe store. Every time we had visited there, I always come home with a pair or two of shoes. This time, it was a comfortable leather sandals and walking shoes. Both on sale!

On Sunday, I visited my brother who is in an assisted living after I got upset with him when he ate the snacks I had brought in just a few days and his blood sugar went to 30. Lucky for him he did not go into a diabetic coma.

Sunday afternoon, a few friends came by and we had nachos and margaritas. We started to watch Netflix and a few videos on You tube. We found one which was played on wish 107 5 bus which is a radio station in the Philippines.

The guy won the Philippines Got Talent and this is a compilation of all the fans who have their own You Tube channel and this was a compilation. It is a bit long but worth it.

It is posted on the next post. Enjoy.

Pondering about Retirement

When I turned 50, I used to think about being close to retirement or wondering if I would retire early. But as I got closer to 60, I wondered if I should retire early and now that I am very close to retirement age, I am scared to retire because I think and feel that I will be bored.

At work they had asked me if I will retire and I had told them that I believe I will continue to work. If my health will dictate that I need to stop working then I will retire.

I know people who retired and now they are back in the workforce. Most of them say they got bored. And some are so busy after they retired, they are harder to catch than a pokemon. 

I thought of things I can do but it does not interest me. Yes I can volunteer, travel or just take it easy. With what is happening in the world now, it is a bit scary to travel but I still have a list of places I want to visit. For now, I feel that I still like to go to work even though at times I feel like...oh it would be nice to be retired. But that only lasts for a few days.

Hello.....I'm back

It has been almost two months since the last time I have posted. I had a short sabbatical from blogging. I also have not been feeling well and going to all kinds of medical appointments and lab tests. I spent Christmas holiday with my sister in San Jose California and had a wonderful time. I enjoyed shopping with her and my brother-in-law. We also had a nice trip to a casino resort with their couple friend G and J. G won at the casino and he treated us to a buffet lunch. They also invited us to a very enjoyable and yummy dinner and while there, I picked apples and grapefruit at night with flashlight so we can see the fruits.

I also had fun with trying to find my favorite fruit cherimoya. It took a while to find them. But now I know exactly which grocery store sells them. On my way home, I got caught in that storm that hit the eastern US and our flight was delayed for more than 6 hours.

Back at work and going for more tests. I might have to reduce my work hours if I continue to feel tired easily. I am also considering moving to one of the condos owned by our company. I looked at it the other day and like it but it will be a longer drive to work which I am not too sure I want to do every day especially in the winter time.

Today, I am just taking it easy and doing a bit of spring cleaning. I hope to post a bit more. Thanks for stopping by.

It has been a while.....

I was talking to two friends of mine today and the topic of why I have not blogged in a while came up. I really do not know why but I can't seem to think of what to blog. It is not for lack of things happening in my life but I just thought some are just too personal.

I finally got my Kindle Fire HDX and I have been getting used to it and I have read a book and it would be nice to have it when I travel.

Maybe it is the weather. I am really beginning to hate winter that when the temperature went down to -42 one day last week or was it two weeks ago, I thought of becoming a snow bird when I retire.

This weekend, some snow and then the nasty freezing rain on Saturday night while we were on our way to some kind of volunteer work. The fact that I also worked Saturday till about 2:30 pm did not help my feeling depressed. Then today it was melting as it was 4 degrees.

 In a few days I am on my way to visit my sister and whenever I am there, we always have a good time and crazy fun time. Lots of shopping. I have my bags packed and I hope I have not forgotten anything.

After this I am starting to look for trips I will take next year....something different. Well, last few days at work. I am off Thursday to get some rest so I am well rested for my trip.

Hopefully I will start blogging again. Thanks for stopping by.

Just did not feel like it.....

I did not realize how long has it been since I have posted here. A friend of mine had asked a few days ago if I had lost interest in blogging.

A lot has been happening and sometimes I would have wanted to write but it feels like I will just be whining. I have been really busy at work and by the time I get home, I did not even want to turn on my computer after having worked 7.5 hours doing stuff on the computer.

I had gone for a job interview and the job was offered to me but there was one condition about the offer that I felt was just prying too much information so I actually turned it down. And a few of my friends thought I was crazy. But when I went for the second interview to see if I fit the team, there was one person I did not feel good karma and that was bothering me after that.

As the saying goes, it is not always greener on the other side. But after I had turned it down, I got a text from the recruiter that they might something better to offer me. I wonder what that would be.

In any case, I will just have to wait and see.

Back from vacation....

I just got back this afternoon. And I am glad to be home after the annoying incident at San Francisco airport with United Airlines.

Usually I don't get annoyed with airlines and I have only complained twice and got results with Air Canada.

But today, I was checking in at United at Terminal 3 and I noticed that gate 35 is in Terminal 1 so I took the shuttle to go to 1 and after getting to gate 35, it was announced that there was gate change and now it will be gate 70 which is in Terminal 3 so I took the shuttle back to 3. When I looked at the departures board, it says there gate 77B.

Finally, I asked the agent if it was 70 or 77B and she replied she did not know yet but there is gate change for sure. A while later there was an announcement that it was gate 70.

Now you can do pre check in on line and they issue a boarding pass. You still have to check in your baggage and there have to do another check in and you have to print your boarding pass. So what is the point of doing it online 24 hours before a flight. And then once in the gate, you have to get your boarding pass checked to get the DOC OK stamp.

Oh, the hassles of travelling after 911. And to top it off, we had to get up really early to be at the airport 2 hours before your flight. At least I do not have to do it again until before Christmas which is worst because of it being the holidays.

Passwords.....

Tonight, I was trying to access an email account I have but have not used lately and I can't reme the password. I thought I am really good with remembering passwords or PIN numbers but I guess there is just way too many to remember. The annoying part is that they send me a link to get assistance and the link no longer works, but I finally guessed what the password is.

So I finally decided to write them down. With personal and professional email and whatever else we do that need passwords, I have decided to start writing them. Then there's the system at work where we have to change it after 90 days and I am beginning to run out of really good passwords.

I do not know how many passwords I have at work, I would guess more than 10 and for now I can remember them all. It is the ones I have to change that I sometimes have to think hard to remember. Maybe I should just have 3 that I should use but I think that will not work.

It has been busy at work and I hope nobody else is leaving, 5 left in two weeks. No wonder I am now second in seniority in terms of service and I have only been there 15 months. And when the first one goes which he might, heck, I will be top one.

Well, enough of this venting.....tomorrow will be a new week and hope it settles down at the office.

Snow, snow......more snow

The nasty white stuff has come and made it really difficult to drive or walk. It is quite annoying but what can we do....not much but take it.

It would be nice to walk but some of the sidewalks have not been cleared. Though it is not so cold, it gives me the feeling of winter being upon us and staying for four months. I don't even know why I complain as it happens every year.

I am glad it is Friday and another weekend and only a week more and I am off to San Jose to visit my favourite one and only sister. I am sure we will be having a good, fun time.

I only need to get her Timothy's K-cups which I will try to do today...hopefully the weather will be good as I do not want to drive and find parking downtown so I might take the transit with an office mate of mine.

And then I can just relax as I don't need to pack a lot of stuff.....need space for what I will buy when I am over there. I have a list of what I want to do and where to go.

Have a great weekend and thanks for stopping by.

Recycling and the cheque....

My place of work is proactive when it comes to recyling. We have one building which won a prize for being a green building.

We have all kinds of bins in our kitchen for waste, plastic, paper, cardboard and so on. Under my desk is a plastic container for recycling paper and another for regular waste basket.

As part of my job, I handle the deposits and any cheques that need to go to the bank or to a vendor.

One day, I was working in the reception area and Fed Ex came with a package. I opened the package and took the envelopes inside and gave to the recipients and threw the package in the recycling bin.

Then I had to go help across the street in one of our new buildings and did not come back until close to lunch, In the meantime our Project Manager was looking for me and looking in my desk for a cheque intended for him.

When I came back, he was after me for his cheque and I told him there was none for him and he was adamant and I too was determined to let him know there was none for him. When he told me that there was one sent by our head office in the same Fed Ex package and that it was close to a million dollars, I got worried and when I thought about it, I realized it might have been still in the package which was now in the recycling bin.

Thank God, it was still there and the million dollar cheque was inside the package. I don't know maybe because it was so big, it did not fall off when I did it the first time.

From then on, every time a big cheque comes...they will say....do not give it to her. I guess I will never live this down. There have been cheques more than that and it goes to the intended recipient. A lesson learned....check the inside of the package or envelope. There just might be something big there.

Random mumblings.....What??!!

Last week, I was outside my building waiting for my ride when this retired guy who lives in our building started to talk to two young ladies who were walking and both were texting. They also live in the building.

He asked them..."you two are busy texting" as both of them were holding their phones and obviously texting. One of the girls said....Oh, we are texting each other, it is better or faster. Now.....can someone explain that to me? They were only maybe a foot away from each other. Is that the epitome of laziness or just plain addiction? How could that be faster or better?

Another day, one of my office mate was crossing the intersection and she started when the hand was already flashing. A police car was turning right and the driver turned down his window and told her to walk faster. I don't know if this cop realizes how bad this intersection is....there are cars turning left when the green light has been on for a while.

I cross this intersection a lot every day as I go to different buildings we own just across the street or kitty corner. One day, crossing it maybe for the 7th time that morning, a guy asked me if I will be doing that when winter comes. He said I need underground tunnel which was ironic as just before I came down to cross, we were talking in the office and I said I will put a request for a zip line between the two buildings. What was weird was, how did this guy know I cross that intersection so many times in a day. He must work in a building where he sees me all the time. Now that is scary!!

TGIF.....

Yes, I am glad it is Friday. It had been so hectic and chaotic at work. This is a well deserved two days off.

I believe I have a lunch date with the lovely ladies of Laidley today. I am sure it would be fun and interesting. I don't know where yet but I am sure it will be one of two regular places we always meet.

Sadly, I might have to work until 6:00 today. Oh well....

I have been walking to work and I did it all this week including today. It is a lot better than walking when it is too hot, just a bit cooler is nicer, I don't sweat.

Today, we had the candy/nut man come by at work. We all tend to get some snack items. Last time I tried the coconut M&Ms and now I am addicted to it....bought another bag of it today. I know I should not get it, being diabetic.

Another brand of potato chips that I like, not too salty and kettle cooked which I prefer, I get them at Rexall Drugs and cheap. Sometimes store brand are better than named brand.

 

They call it jasmine plant here, we have this plant in the Philippines and it smells so nice. The one corner of my living room was smelling so nice when it was in bloom. I hope it will have blooms again. Great buy from Walmart...$2.97.

    Enjoy the weekend.

Lousy weather.....

The lousy weather started last night with thunderstorm, rain, wind and continued throughout  today. In a way it was nice as I got to do housework. I have been planning to rearrange my bedroom and I have decided to do it during the August long weekend.

This week is the start of Capital Ex....I think they are trying to change the name. We are again planning to go to Taste of Edmonton and try some dishes from different restaurants in the city. I hope they have new menu and new additon.

Last Friday, I had lunch with the ladies of Laidley and it was fun. I am glad that I have kept in touch with them. The Friday before a friend and I went out and had supper at Urban Diner where my son works. We tried the lemon sour cream pie and it was wonderful, smooth and not too sweet.

I looked at their dessert show case and next time I will try the peanut butter cheesecake ball. I was told they have specials of poutines on Wednesdays and another special on another day which for now I can't remember. I will have to make sure to take pictures.

When I visited the ladies at Laidley, I passed by Flirt Cupcakes in the afternoon but it was close to 4:00 and there was not much left so I bought mini cupcakes for the ladies. I remembered to take pictures before they ate them. I will post them later.

Back to the grind....don't work too hard and enjoy the week.



View from the top.......

My home has a really nice view and I have been lucky that in my new work place, I also have great view. I am not really high up, just the 8th floor but the view is nice.

That is my view when I am sitting....just look straight and that is what I see. We are building an apartment and that is the staging area.

If I look to the left this is what I see.

This is what I see if I look to my far right.

Annoying pigeons....

For whatever reason, the pigeon problem in the downtown area is getting really bad. I have tried all kinds of ways trying to get those nasty creatures away from my balcony. I am almost to the point of getting a bb gun and start shooting.

I know the owl or any other kinds of animals do not work, now spraying of WD 40 and rice. I know we can't poison them but they are really becoming a nuisance. I know in my old place of work, the problem there is so bad that they must have done all kinds of ways to get rid of them/ The noise thing works for a while.

Today, they just keep resting on the ledge of my balcony so I finally opened my bedroom window about a foot wide and put my clock radio there and played the radio, quite loud I may add and they seem to stay away from my balcony.

So tomorrow before I go to work, I will do the same thing and see what happens. I have monitored it today and they came once so I cranked up the volume and I never saw them at all after that.

I don't care if the next door neighbour can hear the music, at least it was on a nice radio station and they play top 40 which is the kind of music that is a bit loud which is what I want.

24 hours....

On Saturday, I woke up and it was such a nice day. I looked out my balcony and this is what I saw.

A few hours later the driving range was so full and everyone was out with flip flops on and just light jackets. What a nice day.

24 hours later Sunday morning, this is what I saw out of my balcony.

My gosh, winter was back and was so disappointing. By mid afternoon, the snow has melted again and I went out to meet my niece's daughter wearing flip flops again.

And I guess tomorrow it will be rain or maybe snow again.

It is only April and I guess all kinds of things can still happen.





White fluffy stuff.......

Ahhh, yes the nasty white stuff came down with a vengeance yesterday. After I had looked out my balcony the day before and noticed that the snow was almost gone on the golf course.

I had also just washed my vehicle on Tuesday afternoon. A bummer!!!

At least it is Friday and looking forward to two days of relaxation.

I am going out with a friend tonight to look for lady bug stuff. Hopefully we will find them. Or it will be ordering on line, I found a lady bug gift store. I hope they can deliver/mail direct to the recipient instead of shipping it to me and then I have to mail it.

That is it...will try to post more later. Enjoy the weekend. For you lucky ones with nice weather, we so envy you.

No cell phone for a week.....

Two weeks ago, I went shopping with friends and on my way home with one of them, my phone fell out of my purse and onto the floor of the vehicle.

I did not realize it until the afternoon of the next day. I knew where the phone could be and so I called her and left her a message about it. I knew the phone would be ok except that it would be dead and people who call me on my cell would wonder why I was not answering.

So when I told some that I was without a cell phone for a week, they were shocked. One said she would have died and another said she could not function. Honestly, it did not bother me at all. It was a nice break and I don't really give out my cell phone number to a lot of people. So for you people who have my cell phone number, consider yourselves lucky!!

 I can't see myself texting while I am walking or checking my phone while in a store. To me, it is a tool I can use in case of emergency. Besides, I hate texting. Mavbe I am just different, that is why I do not have Iphone, instead I have a Galaxy Nexus.

There are more important things in life. 

TGIF....

Yeah, thank God. It had been a busy week and I get home really tired and not in the mood to post. The company is restructuring and it is good.

Just one sad note, our receptionist/Admin Assistant was diagnosed with breast cancer and she is only 25. She resigned to deal with her illness and I wish her the best/ We had a short conversation about it and I know she will be ok.

I do not have specific plans this weekend so I think I will just relax and figure out what to do with my bedroom.

Today is jeans day at work and every Friday which is nice. I only have to worry 4 days a week of what to wear. The weather has started to get a bit better as well.

Enjoy the weekend and I will try to post more recipes on my Recipes page. I will be baking this weekend hopefully.

Friends.....

I did not realize that I have not posted ifora few days. Actually, I have been really busy with the new job and adjusting to it.

This weekend, I went shopping with two friends on Friday night and I had a nice time. Saturday, I went with another fiiend but was a bit disappointed as she likes to go to the casino. I went just to keep her company but did not enjoy it. I hope she does not read this and be upset.

Sometimes, I believe we outgrow friendship with a certain person. My New Year resolution of 2011 was to drop a friend or end the friendship. I have not regretted that decision. I feel like that was what should have happened. Maybe, it was meant to be.

I do not want to do the same to another friend, I feel like being mean. But there are times when a friendship becomes toxic and one needs to get out of it. I do not want to be responsible for someone\s social life or happiness.

Well, I could go on and on but I better stop. I have made lots of new friends and I would like to keep them and enjoy my friendship with them. 

It is another work week. I hope it goes fast.

Here is a song about friendship. ...Enjoy.



Warm again....

Yes, it is warm again but the roads are slushy. I am not complaining, just stating a fact. It is a bit annoying after I have just washed my vehicle and now this.

We will take this, so much better than -35. 

I have been baking but I keep forgetting to take pictures. I am thinking of what to bring to our next pot luck lunch. This time I have to bring main dish. I am debating between an asian noodle dish or paella.
It would depend on what kind of fresh seafood I can get on the Sunday I have to make it. I have to make sure I don't prepare something with pork as there are two ladies who do not eat pork...cultural or religious reason, I am not sure.

I might have to take a short break from blogging as I have problem with my left eye again. I won't know until Thursday but it is hard to read as it is a bit blurry. I hope nothing serious. I am starting to regret having the surgery.

I hope to hear from the recruiting agency about the job I was interviewed for, it would be great if it was offered. Keeping my fingers crossed.

Wishing everyone a great work week.