I know I’m not updating, but I have a really good reason. MY LIFE IS TOTALLY CRAZY RIGHT NOW!

I’ve started a new (friend and family) public blog but I’ll keep it under wraps until there’s more content.  Eventually, I’ll probably shut this one down, but for now I’m keeping it up.

No more updates until I’m on the West Coast and on vacation proper.  Things are just too busy right now to properly go into details…

Last night we went for dinner at a friend’s house (one of like, 20 social things we must go to in the next nine days), and I was so tired that I fell asleep on her sofa after we had eaten.  I mean, this is a very close friend so I didn’t care too much about ‘appearances’, but still.  Pretty rude of me.

I find myself being exhausted all the time with all the things going on and all the things to do.  The house is a mess because we’ve been going through everything, trying to decide what to take with us and what to get rid of and what to put into storage.  This is pretty difficult because the BF likes to keep EVERYTHING he touches in case he might like to look at it again some day 20 years from now.

I’m exaggerating a little bit. But not much.

And for some reason, all online systems (Canada Post, my Bank) won’t accept my new mailing address so I have to spend ages on the phone trying to change my address. And let me tell you how much I like spending my time on the phone with people who say things like, “OMG, it’s so TOTALLY COOL that you’re moving there! Fuckin’ A man! So, umm, about your account…”

All this, and so much more.  I don’t really like moving to begin with, and so this has been a really hard time for me. Last night the BF said, “You know, I’m really tired from all the social stuff that’s been going on, and if I’m tired, you must be ready to die.  Don’t worry baby, it’ll be over soon.”  At which point I collapsed into his arms and fell asleep.

Last night I picked up a book called Diplomatic Baggage: The Adventures of a Trailing Spouse by Brigid Keenan.  It has been recommended to me by a variety of people and the bookstore near me finally had it in stock so I picked it up.  So far, it’s incredibly depressing.  The loneliness that’s amplified by language barriers, the feeling of not having a life of your own, and the frustration of not being able to work.  It’s eye-opening.  I mean,  I never thought it would be a glamorouslife; I knew it would be hard. But lonely?  Isolating? Sad? 

At least now I have my XBOX to keep me company while BF is working and I’m at home, trying to communicate with the maid who doesn’t speak English. 

(I’m not being too serious. I don’t plan to sit at home playing games all day. I have my morning swim, and then hopefully full-time language classes for 2 months, and then hopefully some contracts at the Embassy…)

Still, I have no idea what to expect; other than it won’t be easy.  BF and I are still trying to figure out a way of organizing our finances in a way that makes sense to both of us.  I’m of the ‘All Money in One Pot’ person, while he wants to maintain separate accounts, ’so that I can have my own money.’  Well, if I’m not allowed to work, I won’t have my own money anyway so what’s the point? My earning potential is diminished in the long-term; I won’t be able to put as much away for retirement.  Basically, I’m going on blind faith that he and I are a team and that we’ll look out for each other when we’re old.   These are details that still need to be worked out (hopefully before children come along).

And so my life is consummed right now with finishing our inventory (we only have two free nights left before our departure; tonight and tomorrow) and we MUST finish the inventory.  Apart from that, seeing as many people as I can before going is #2 in terms of priorities.   Starting a travel blog that friends and family can check in on is #3.

I feel being at work is such a waste of time because there is really so much to do and I can’t do it from my desk. I end up playing games all day and being bored out of my skull. Thank Baby Jesus that my last day is on August 8th.

Only 15 days until take-off.  Then the sandy beaches of Thailand.  And then… the unknown.

Highlights from last Saturday (our karaoke sendoff):

-My brother showing up and staying all night and having a great time (he’s even more introverted/hermit-like than me and I know this was a huge effort for him to be around so many people he doesn’t know).  And then he tried to pick up one of my friends.

-The BF surprising me with two birthday cakes and a birthday serenade and all my friends pulling out silly hats and sparklers.  I had no idea he had this planned and I hadn’t expected something so awesome for my birthday.

-Some guy trying to pick me up all night. Finally, one of my friends had to tell him to stop because he was being really annoying. (I have to say I was wearing a very fabulous dress and looked really hot, but still. You’d think seeing me make-out with BF would be enough to deter potential advances. But apparently not.)

-When the owner of the restaurant (we all call her mama) gave me a basket of plums, which means she wishes me to have many babies (traditional Chinese gift).  It was very sweet.

-Me crying like a baby at the end of the night.

I’m very excited for tomorrow.  We’re having a leaving party at our favourite karaoke place in Chinatown and I have some friends coming in from out of town, which I’m so happy about.  These two girls who were my very good friends when I loved back here from Random European Country, and who both left (one to teach English in Japan and the other to do her masters somewhere far away) the same summer and it made me very sad.  

(In fact, this is probably the reason why I stayed with EmoEx after that summer. I felt very alone after my two best friends left and I don’t think I could handle being MORE alone.)

I think I might cry at this leaving shindig.  So many awesome friends will be there and unless they come to visit, it will be the last time I see many of them.

Okay, I’m getting teary-eyed just writing about this.  Gawd, I’m such a baby.

I’ve been trying to stay on top of everything these days with my infamous calendar. It helps a lot, except that when I look at it I want to crawl under a rock and disappear.  There is just SO MUCH STUFF TO DO.  I just remembered this morning that I have to change my address; which is an incredibly cumbersome thing to have to do (as anyone who’s moved will know). 

The helpful nurse at Health Canada sent me my immunization schedule:

Jul 18 @ 10:15 a.m. – Man #1 & Jap #1
Jul 21 @ 11:00 a.m. – Rdg & Hep A
Jul 25 @ 8:00 a.m. – Man #2 & Jap #2
Jul 28 @ 12:30 p.m. – Rdg, MMR & TYV
Aug 01 @ 8:00 a.m. – Jap #3

The BF and I have to sit down tonight and figure out what wines we want shipped over to us, and in what quantities (Ice Wine always makes a nice gift for people though I don’t much like the stuff myself). And there’s the famous inventory.  BF suggested I start doing it at work; which I would do because I’m bored right now except I’m afraid if I do this on my own, that I will ALWAYS be the one who has to do it.

What else is there? Oh, setting up power of attorney with my bank, getting a will done and deciding what Canadian products we can’t live without (so that we can buy it in bulk and get it shipped over).  So far, we have:

Clamato Juice
Kraft Dinner
Campbell’s Tomato Soup

That’s it. And those are just comfort foods that I like when I’m not feeling well. I’m fairly positive that we can buy shampoo and conditioner where we’re going; even though the brands won’t be the same.  You should see the amount of stuff some people take over; like hell would freeze over if they had to go one day without their precious Panteen Pro-V.

In other news, I’m still feeling like a fat whale because none of my clothes fit.  But… oh, and this is just so delicious… I HAVE A NIGHT OFF TONIGHT! Meaning, there is NOTHING PLANNED. BF has volley-ball, and I get the house to myself and I get to do NOTHING!!!! CAN YOU TELL THIS MAKES ME VERY HAPPY!!!  I plan to rent a movie and take a bath and make homemade pasta with homegrown tomatoes and basil and OMG IT WILL BE THE MOST AMAZING NIGHT EVER!

I’m finally back at work after a weekend of delayed flights and spending too much money at the airport.  I’m exhausted but happy I got to see my dad accomplish his dream (even though I missed the whole ceremony because I was drinking my eighth green tea latte in Toronto’s Pearson Airport, praying to whatever God would listen to please let me be one of the people on standby that was picked to get on the plane).

It went something like this;

My flight out to Toronto on Friday was obscenly early. at 5 a.m. I think. Urgh.  Anyway, I got to Toronto fine.  Tired, but fine. My flight from Toronto to Thunder Bay was a little later in the morning so I had time to dawdle. I finished reading Three Day Road, and then got a Starbucks latte to take on the plane with me.  The flight takes off great, and we get to land and there is a lot of fog. So much fog that after three attempted landings, the flight turns around and heads bck to Toronto.

Okay, so that sucked.

Back in Toronto I’m told that we have all been re-booked on a flight at 2:40 p.m.  That’s irritating, but I’m still getting there in the end. So I buy another book and settle down with another latte. 

About 20 minutes before I’m supposed to board the plane I check the information board on my way to the bathroom and it says my flight is cancelled. Great.  I make my way to the Air Canada desk and they tell me it’s because of weather and that the earliest available flight out is the next day, at 6 p.m. 

I ask if they’ll pay for a hotel and they say no.  Great. What are my options?  I ask if they’ll fly me back home now, and then back tomorrow to catch this flight. They say no.

I start calling people I know in Toronto to beg to crash on someone’s sofa. The last call I make (to a friend I haven’t seen in years) is the only one home.  And actually, it was great cause she picked me up at the airport and dropped me off the next day early because I wanted to put myself on standby for earlier flights.

I wait all day at the airport and don’t get on any flights.  Meanwhile, I finished another book (The Other Boleyn Girl), consume many more lattes, spend WAY too much money at Lush and get a pedicure because I’m just so damn irritated.  I finally get there very late on Saturday night and even though I missed all the festivities, it was great to my dad and step-mom. 

Coming back on Monday, my flight was delayed again, but just by a couple hours.

The cable guys came when he was supposed to (finally!) and the BF and I went out to dinner at a friend’s house.

I’m finding work impossible today; even though everything seems to be coming together really nicely. (Tenants found for the house, insurance booked, flights confirmed, visas submitted, immunizations underway etc.)  I just can’t be bothered to do anything right now, to be honest. 

Maybe it’s because I gained five pounds over the last four days and I feel like an absolute whale of a person.  Or maybe I’m just still damn exhausted from all the va et vien from the weekend. 

Time to start jogging off those lattes, I think.

I’ve been thinking alot recently about what to do with my blog when I’m away.  BF’s job is of a sensitive nature and we will be Diplomats in Random Asian Country so I obviously can’t be writing anything too personal or public about our lives.  Also, our family and friends here have suggested that we have a blog so they can see pictures, updates on our lives etc. and if I do that, then I definitely can’t post rants about how BF is leaving his socks on the ground AGAIN and how it makes me want to bash my head against the wall.

So, this leaves me with two options:

1) Keep this blog and have a seperate ‘family friendly’ blog.

2) Get rid of this blog altogether (keep in mind that even if I keep this blog, I won’t be able to write anything about BF on it).

I might do both in tandom for a while although that seems like a lot of work. I just don’t know yet.

I’m back at work after a four-day weekend and I’m having trouble getting into the groove of things.  Yesterday was Canada Day and so a public holiday, and Monday I was told not to come into work because I should use up my accumulated sick leave before leaving.

Leaving date is confirmed for August 14th.  Yes, that is only 45 days away.

Looking at my calendar, only about five of those days are free; although it’s not all craziness. This weekend BF and I (along with some close friends) are going canoe camping (something that I find incredibly relaxing and fun). Next weekend I’m flying out to Thunder Bay to see my dad come in to Fort William after canoeing across Canada. Yup, you read that correctly.  He left from British Columbia on Mother’s Day (June 16th here) and he arrives in Ontario on July 12th.  I’m really proud of my dad for doing something like this because it’s been his dream to canoe across Canada his whole life.  I guess it’s inspiring to me that at 56, he’s still following his dreams.

On Monday, a cable guy was supposed to come over and disconnect the cable seeing as we’re not going to be home much anyway in the coming weeks. He was supposed to be there between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m.  We left the house for a dinner party at 8:15 p.m. and he still hadn’t shown up. I called today to set up a new appointment and the young kid at the call centre tells me that there’s a note on the account saying that we weren’t home and that we missed the appointment.  Unless the guy showed up at 8:30 p.m. he wasn’t there at all and on top of that, there was no “Missed Appointment” card at the door when we came back later in the evening.  So I’m trying to reschedule the appointment and the kid tells me all he has is appointments during the day. Well, excuse me but I’m not taking time off work for the stupid cable man.  To get my hair done, yes.  Priorities, people! 

Finally we settle on on a date late in the month. “Oh, by the way, I hope I won’t be charged for cable during that time. I mean, it’s not my fault that your cable man didn’t show up when he was supposed to.”

He put me on hold, probably to write a note on my account saying what a bitch I am, and then comes back on the line, “Of course not. I’ve updated your account.  If you get charged, just call us back and we’ll credit your account.”

Great. I can foresee a big mess coming. I know they’ll charge me and I’ll have to call and spend half a day on the phone trying to sort it out.  So frustrating.

The only thing that’s keeping me going right now is the three-week layover in Thailand we booked for ourselves before going to Random Asian Country.  Three weeks of beaches, good food, and BF.  Absolute heaven.