COUNTDOWN ~ Telemarketers

DAY 361

Pet Peeve: Telemarketers

Call display - best invention ever. You see a number that is crazy digits and you have the option of not answering and letting it go to voicemail.  OR you could answer to find that you have won a vacation cruise ...YAY... or answer an all consuming customer survey for gawd knows what (they say five minutes but it ultimately turns into fifteen). Best one is that some fella with a foreign accent is telling you your computer needs service. I did not fall off the turnip truck yesterday!

Then.......you check voicemail and the crazy digit phone number wants a call back to talk to them about your credit and they mumble the company name.  Well now I'm stinkin' curious about this cuz I don't recognize the mumbled name and I am sure I don't deal with any creditors from Quebec.

Bottom line...I'll pick up that crazy digit phone call and talk to a live person and get it all straightened out. Uh-huh!

COUNTDOWN ~ Movember

DAY 362

Movember (a portmanteau from the Australian-English diminutive word for "moustache", "mo", and "November") is an annual event involving the growing of moustaches during the month of November to raise awareness of men's health issues, such as prostate cancer and other male cancers, and associated charities. The Movember Foundation runs the Movember charity event, housed at Movember.com. The goal of Movember is to "change the face of men's health."

By encouraging men (who the charity refers to as "Mo Bros") to get involved, Movember aims to increase early cancer detection, diagnosis and effective treatments, and ultimately reduce the number of preventable deaths. Besides annual check-ups, the Movember Foundation encourages men to be aware of family history of cancer and to adopt a healthier lifestyle.

Since 2004, the Movember Foundation charity has run Movember events to raise awareness and funds for men's health issues, such as prostate cancer and depression, in Australia and New Zealand. In 2007, events were launched in Ireland, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, El Salvador, Spain, the United Kingdom, Israel, South Africa, Taiwan and the United States. As of 2011, Canadians were the largest contributors to the Movember charities of any nation. In 2010, Movember merged with the testicular cancer event Tacheback.

In 2012, the Global Journal listed Movember as one of the world's top 100 NGOs (non-government organization). Source: Wikipedia

To contribute to your favourite City of Welland Team member visit:
http://ca.movember.com/mospace/index/search/?q=City%20of%20Welland

Best moustache ever....eh, ladies, eh?!

COUNTDOWN ~ All Souls Day

DAY 363

All Souls' Day .—The commemoration of all the faithful departed is celebrated by the Church on November 2, or, if this be a Sunday or a feast of the first class, on November 3

Ten candles were lit this evening, one for our Mother Rosilda "Betty" Dixon who left this earth on June 3, 2014. May she rest in peace. Thank you to the St. Alexander Parish Community for the Mass and prayers.

COUNTDOWN TO RETIREMENT

DAY 364

 

I have worked since I was a fresh faced kid right out of High School. I worked for Canadian Tire Acceptance for fifteen years. During that time I met my husband and gave birth to two sons. When our youngest son turned two I had to make a decision ... I was fast starting to hate my job ... and my son hated daycare! What had I done...? As luck would have it our local newspaper had a foolscap size flyer, double-sided, announcing classes at the local Community Centre at Memorial Park. Wah-hoo and FREE babysitting. Long story short, I eventually became an instructor in my own right and a door was opened to work part-time for the City of Welland, Parks and Recreation Department. Well, that lasted twelve years and in 2004 I was hired full time. The Department went through a series of changes as most municipalities have which included several identifier name changes. In 2014 I received my ten year service pin (for full time) - some proud that day! Twenty-two years in total I have worked for the City of Welland.

 

Oh by-the-by...that foolscap sheet of paper grew into a full blown 96 page catalogue of programs and activities...guess who coordinates and designs that baby...moi!

COUNTDOWN TO RETIREMENT

DAY 365

Yesterday I arranged for a "Countdown" celebration at the office with a Meat/Cheese & Pickle Tray; Veggies & Dip and Fruit with a luscious chocolate dip. Last but not least was the "Countdown Cake" emblazoned with the number 365. The plan is that I will be retiring from my job as of October 31st, 2015....the countdown now begins...it is reality and out there! Little more than a year ago I couldn't say retirement without stuttering, it was an unfathomable concept, not something I could, would or should do. Now it is real, plans are in place. Secret is I love my job and even though I would be leaving the job...I could still go back - it's a Recreation Complex...I could take classes, volunteer for the Kitchen or Boutique, read a book in the Atrium or enjoy a soak in the hot tub or walkabout in the Therapeutic Pool. Stay tuned I plan to share each day as the countdown narrows!

 

Been away for awhile...Phew how the months do fly! Have had some pretty exciting things happen since I last blogged. I have a showing of my cherished art pieces on the Art Wall at the Welland Community Wellness Complex. Some pieces I could have sold a couple of times. Unfortunately, they are all sentimental pieces and can't see myself parting with any of them. Noone has asked if I commission pieces though!?. Quilling I will commission...but watercolours, not yet I've let my brush go dry. I will probably take up painting once again when I retire. One of my quilling designs was chosen to be published in a special book through Annies - quite excited about that...to be featured with other artists, some I know and others I don't. Feeling real special!

http://www.anniescatalog.com/detail.html?prod_id=104399

NEWFIE STEAK...ever had it? Delicious! What we are talking about is the Big Stick Waxed Bologna. Fry it up in a fry pan (secret is to have it cut in 1/2" or more thick slices) with some eggs and hash browns and you got yourself a meal. Did some reminiscing this past week. Hubby and I visited a quaint Fish and Chip place in Cambridge, Ontario that was also a small grocery for all things from Newfoundland and their culinary tastes (have never seen so much wax bologna in a deli case in my life). My hubby, although a Torontonian born and raised, his people hailed from the rock...Newfoundland! He remembers having these peppermint nob candies when he was a kid and THEY HAD THEM...wow what a find! Love tastes, smells and sounds that take you back to when you were a kid!