Wednesday, March 9, 2011

My favourite ugly chair

Ok so my last post seemed kind of like a downer so I thought I'd throw in a more positive one to balance it out.

I have this chair.

I got it when my grandmother passed away (the one I've written about in the past that my family and myself cared for until she died).

It is a large, deep, brown tweed sitting chair that just sits.

I'm guessing it was bought in the sixties and was part of a set. (I had the couch but when we moved to the apartment we had to get rid of it). I kept the chair because it is just so comfortable.

In our new house, after first moving in, it sat near the fireplace at the far end of the room away from the window.

We have our living room painted a rather dark colour so without the light from the window some areas aren't conducive to great reading. I love the chair for reading.

Well last week the matching love seat that goes with our couch got dropped off. I was really excited because I hate it when things are left 'in the air'. I worry that the company is going to rip us off, that when it comes it'll be damaged, or that the colours won't match (wow I sound like such a priss, I probly am).

Any woo I was glad when the waiting was over and for the first time ever we would have new matching furniture to sit on.

My favourite chair (by the way, NOT it's appearance) was moved to a spot right in front of the window.

Let me tell you, I had no idea how much my perspective on the room, the chair and my life could change JUST by moving my favourite chair.

Since the big move I have enjoyed, what seems to be a new oasis just for me.

Monday, as the sun came up, I enjoyed reading with a cup of tea. I noticed the beautiful light, the fact that I felt warm (physically and emotionally) and just hugged my everything.

I have since began to use this space (with the help of Wally's old laptop) as my blogging spot, e-mail area, and information absorbing centre.

When I want to get away from the media I just flip down the laptop lid and put it out of sight. It's amazing!!

It helps that Wally and I have never been ones to like having our tv and stuff in our main living room. Even in our former little home that did not have an unfinished basement we used one of our spares as a little tv room.

We have been fortunate to have the extra spaces, though even when we didn't we had specifically bought a GIANT tv armoire to hide our media when company was over.

I could totally write an essay on perspective changing, how simple it can be, how freeing and life changing as well, in regards to moving my favourite, rather unattractive, chair around. But I'm not in the mood.

I just wanted to share my excitement over a little thing that is making a big difference.

I love my tweed, brown, ugly-to-the-eye chair.

It hugs me every time I sit in it.

For some reason I don't mind it's hugs :)

Overwhelmingness

Oh wow. I can't even describe in words how many balls I feel are in the air right now.

Maybe it's all in my head. Maybe it's all of my own doing but they are there and seem very ready to crash down on me (hopefully their nerf balls).

Unfortunately none of the pieces seem to be from the same puzzle!

Last night Wally had found some links on government statuses regarding safety traveling abroad. Where we're going has the highest level of caution and the government asks travelers not to go there unessentially. Of course this sparked one of many great debates over this trip.

We went to bed disappointed in eachother and neither of us slept all that well.

Lucky for me I had amazing contacts where we are going that both replied immediately to my questions of concern and completely eased my fears (hopefully Wally's too).

I have to be honest, being so opposite is a challenge most of the time. Thankfully as much of the time we seem to work through it (not without a few things being strewn about on my part - it helps to throw things I tell you!).

Wally just texted me about the fact that we need to buy fanny packs to keep our precious documents while we're traveling. Apparently this is now a condition on us going.

I simply replied no and when he asked where I'd put my stuff I said 'In my bra, there's tonnes of room in there'.

Of course I am glad that Wally is so detail oriented. It will probably keep me out of jail while we're there (I'm not even kidding).

Other fun (being sarcastic) aspects of our trip I've been challenged by are comments from the workplace peanut gallery. Well, only one peanut I guess.

I had someone I work with ask me yesterday how my trip had been. I told her I hadn't gone yet. She asked how long I'd be away. I said '12 days'.

She retorted 'Is that long enough to save the world?' *snort*

If it wasn't for the fact that she's several months pregnant I'd had probably tried to push her over the 2 story balcony we were on (oh, and because she could likely crush me with her big toe).

I had to let the stuff some people say go because she is also someone who said in the same conversation 'I have this friend who thinks she needs 2 days off in a row every week. Psst.' Then stared me down. Clearly she knows I'm one of those people. Clearly I didn't care because I confirmed her suspicions by saying 'I'm one of those!' She then went on to complain about her work schedule.

Other trip fun ...

I am yet to find a dog sitter for the final week we are away. By dogs aren't bad but there are two of them and outside of their natural environment (except for 'Grandma's') their behaviour is questionable. Sour gets stressed out. Which I don't really care too much about except that it alters his 'functions' if you get my drift.

After going through my summer wardrobe I realized I'm a hussy. Ok not really. I just noticed that my required modest attire would need to be acquired. My t-shirts are likely too snug and I don't seem to have many of them. I'm wondering if I gave away half my summer wardrobe in the fall. I tend to get into a rip and begin giving the needy most of what I own just because I like getting rid of stuff. (And no, it's not because I like buying new clothes, in fact I hate clothes shopping).

Something else to hash out is how we're getting to the airport. Is it cheaper to stay the night before in a hotel that gives free parking while you're away and gives you a ride to the airport? Should we take a travel van there and back? Do we just drive ourselves and pay big bucks to leave our car? We don't know of anyone that would drive us. Well, we havent' asked but to be honest don't know anyone that seems like they'd want to make that commitment.

There's also the planning of our 2 1/2 days in Bangkok. What to do? Where to stay? How much?

Wally and I are hoping that we'll figure out all of our trip stuff this weekend as we're going NEXT weekend (WOW!!).

My head is swirling and that's only the trip stuff.

Other things on my mind:

* my parents are staying for 2 nights at our place while we're gone and my dad is doing some fix ups - we need to decide on some of the materials and pick them up before we go.

* Wally just looked at our bank account and noticed we're in the negatives. (This doesn't include our little savings account but still...). I have no idea what happened and am glad we both get paid soon. We need to make a budget on paper because it's disappearing and I have no idea where (we're not overly extravagant spenders - meaning we PLAN our spending). We'll figure it out, I'm generally a genius with penny pinching (yes I'm ok with being cocky about that).

* Our computer desk looks like our filing cabinet threw up.

*It's income tax time. This is actually how we're paying for our trip. We're praying and expecting a return that should not only cover the trip but also to make some essential home purchases for the spring (lawnmower, BBQ - yes the BBQ is essential). I hate gathering the paper work and pray that our taxes are done before we go away.

* Recently I finished my 'Clean Eating Classes' that were supposed to raise fund for Compasio. 3 of the people that came EVERY WEEK have seemed not to get the paying part of the class. They are great and I explained things several times (in terms of money) but so far nothing :(

* I think my sitemeter's broken and the cheques being sent aren't being applied to the meter. This makes me sad even though it's not a huge deal or shouldn't be. It keeping be aspiring. I need to relax.

So I just spent a whole lot of time complaining. I could go on, because I'm gifted that way. I won't win awards for being positive or overly generous today, but I don't really care right now. I just want to make it through my week and take some time to breath.