Another good thing that has happened over the past few months was that I got into a program of Canadian Mental Health Association called Bridging Employment Supports. It is designed for people with disabilities, including mental health concerns. I registered not long after going into the day hospital program last February, but sat on a waiting list ( Read more... )

I need to revise my chosen 6 changes for the year again. I realize it is essential for me to begin planning for further employment before the current work runs out near the end of the year. I am dropping the plan to "Read daily" because it can be deferred. Others can't. So here is the revised schedule:

1. Jan/Feb: Focus daily on creative writing
2. Mar/Apr ( Read more... )

Someone asked for photos of my new place, so I will give a tour gradually as the place pulls into order. First the bathroom with its old clawfoot tub. I finally hung curtains Sunday evening so now I can shower, but before that I did not mind the excuse to bathe every day.

I've been working on renovations at Les's house. Spent yesterday stripping ( Read more... )

I am moving on August 1, and could still use two or three extra pairs of hands for the day or a few hours, especially for the moving-in part (afternoon). Or rather, pairs of legs, because it's a third-floor apartment with no elevator, so more people will definitely make it easier. I already have offers from djjo, Les, Brenna and Tory, unconfirmed from marian_w ( Read more... )

Paula says I have an affinity for stone. We have been working a few days at a time on the patio and pond. She doesn't enjoy making precise measurements so much of the actual stonework has fallen to me. In this formal design the stones have to be perfectly aligned and neatly trimmed along the edges. Paula is a farm girl, so meanwhile she has been ( Read more... )

Paula just called to ask whether I am available to work for her for a few days. She is a good friend of good friends, a pleasant denizen of my wider circle with whom I share mutual admiration, but we are both strong introverts so affection has never drawn us closer. Actually she is one of my favourite people. Paula is the archetypical "soft butch ( Read more... )

The hospital phoned this morning and made an appointment for Dad's bypass surgery tomorrow at 1 p.m. I'm clearing my schedule to drive to London for the afternoon, but if the operation goes smoothly I won't be staying overnight. I'm supposed to be working for Les this week, and can't afford not to.

Lately I've been away in another world fighting a war for control. The world is called Civilization III. It's full of oceans, trees, rivers, colourful lands and colourful little people, some of whom respond precisely to my bidding and help realize my dream of the perfect society. Other races cohabit the planet. I cannot control them, but if they ( Read more... )

I've had a lot on my mind lately:

• Yesterday we held a knit-a-thon to raise money for Out On The Shelf. It costs about $700 a month to keep the library open. We hoped to put together five teams of five knitters and raise a minimum of $500. Seven teams turned out and raised almost $2,900. Knitters rock.
  
• Dad's bypass surgery is booked for Tuesday, and ( Read more... )

bitterlawngnome has created another incredible composite image of me in the Eisegesis/Exegesis series. This one is ethereal. I left a comment about how it affected me.

I'm working all this week, which is good. We're renovating a basement bathroom. Well, mostly we're demolishing: tearing up old carpet, linoleum, tile, and fibre board that probably has never dried ( Read more... )