That was my Winter Getaway (or the blink you missed it holiday)

I am still recovering from a marathon driving/visiting/sightseeing/eating/drinking last weekend!!

3 Days and 2 Nights and a ton of fun!

We went to see my only normal family member and his family.  It was great and the kids - my big ones included had a ball!  Sight seeing, sporting events and so many laughs.

Unless you grew up where I did, have had to be around my family, you can never really know what it was like growing up and being a part of it.  We could just talk.  No need to explain.  No need to sugar coat it.  It was like a therapy session for both of us!

The question that they had for me was "How the hell did we break away from that craziness?"  Both of us are very removed from our parents and siblings. Really, I don't know, it took a very long time. A combo of the love of my husband and kids, my personal strength, the personal growth that I have had over the years from my job and a sense of the world around me.  I don't think for one minute that the world revolves around me (unlike my parents and sibling).

I'm back to work and back to sports with my kid #3.  It was a very nice reprieve.

I'm having a dilemma of sorts for the last few days...  there is an upcoming opportunity for me to work part time.  Half as many nights and weekends.  I found it so timely to read about others that have a guilt for not working full time or bringing home the max $$ that they can.  I did that for 11 years of full time + a part time + overtime and then I almost had to pack it in from permanent injury.  My job is very physical.  The desk job I have now ends this spring.  I don't think my old job of full time is sustainable with my bad back.  I hate my boss - and I mean it Hate. My. Boss.  One of the dirtiest snakes I have had to work with in 23 years.  I think at part time I can handle it. Or I can explore other jobs as well as my previous one being only part time.  With any luck the boss will be promoted as that is what usually happens to nasty SOB's and I can go back to full time.  I am not afraid of the decreased income but I am feeling guilt or something for wanting to pull back and slow down.

I have a whack of vacation to burn up before my employer's fiscal year end or it will be paid out.  I would rather have paid time off!! So there are a lot of long weekends for me in the next 2.5 months!

Tonight I am relishing quiet time alone.  Everyone else had somewhere to go and I opted out!  Yay!! A movie that I like, popcorn and a glass of wine!!



Getting Ready for Taxes

Thank you everyone that wished me well!  I really appreciate all of the support that I have here.  I have been so exhausted from work, and new meds that I am asleep by 8:30 every night.  Not much time to read or leave comments on others blogs.  This blog and the group that I read and follow have been a great source of ideas, commiserating, stress relief and humour!

Last night dh and I plugged in some numbers to the tax program.  I don't have my T4 yet so there were a lot of guesses.  With me being off of work and getting paid by a third party, yet my employer pays me the third party funds...good grief!  It is one big ol' cluster of who paid what, income tax on what amount, pension, union dues...painful.  It looks like will be getting a refund because I didn't make a big wage like I have in years past. In fact my salary dropped by $30k. Every 2 weeks for the last year I have been grateful that I have had no mortgage money leaving my account. We don't live an extravagant lifestyle, nor do we lack anything.  Slow and modest keeps you in the race!

Speaking of pains, Jane I have an old version of something on this puter so I can't comment on your blog :( .  http://lifebeginsatretirement.blogspot.ca/   I too know C6 radiculopathy well, 14 months and counting...  I have a bulging disk at C6-7 and 2 more lower down.  I fully endorse acupuncture and gentle physio (where she slowly lowers my 1st rib and stretches my neck out)  I've also started my 13th new med and this one seems to work with only a bit of drowsiness as a side effect.  Finally the ache in my arms is gone, fingers are still numb, neck still stiff but not like it was. I may start the juice thing!

I did some work with my RRSP's.  There were some that I took out of the "high risk" mutual funds and had moved into a short term GIC a couple months ago.  They are due on Wed.  After phoning my bank 4 times over 2 days and never reaching a human being, just a difficult to understand voice message that was not left by someone with an understanding of English, I said screw it.  They, for some reason can't get back to me within 7 hours.  (Yes I am calling the real bank and not a call center in who-know-where.) Yet when you physically go to this bank there are always employees standing around or jack-assing around behind the counter with no customers in the bank.  Nobody is smart enough to say "hello" and answer the phone when it rings.  Good-bye C!BC, Hello CWB.

These guys answer the phone! A real person that talks to you! You can get in to meet with someone when it works for you!

I've decided to keep these RRSP's in a GIC for 2 years, now with CWB.  Yes, there is a $50 fee to transfer.  I will make it up with a better rate.  And they have a promo on now that you can "scratch and win" a rate increase.  I got an extra 1/4% on the posted rate.  Not huge, but better than nothing, and will more than pay the transfer fee.

After plugging in my approximate tax numbers you get the little hints at the end.  Well it looks like I will carry over my RRSP contributions into next year.  It doesn't make tax sense to use them for 2012 with my wage so low.  Now that I'm full time again (still lower than before b/c no overtime) I will use them for 2013.  The return that comes in will go towards the LOC that has the 2 vehicle's on it and some towards home improvements.  I am guessing that a new roof will be around 7k and doors ? maybe 2k.  Roof first, and worry about everything else after.


What else is happening... Oh yes, I'm now old.  As declared by my 6 yr old!  I went to have my eyes checked as I do a lot of computer work now.  I need reading glasses.  I can still see to read quite well but after 4-5 hours of staring at the screen things start to blur!  I thankfully am fully covered by dh's insurance for the exam and the glasses.  I'm going to pick out a pair today as I could barely see from the drops they put in at the appointment.  Also taking the 3 kids to get there eyes checked too.  Kid #1 is 18 and is covered under the x's plan.  He needs new glasses (not that he will wear them!) grrrr!   Kid #2 and #3 are free exams because they are under 18.

My Grandma is doing really really well since the bad episode at Christmas.  After taking her off of a crap-load of pills she was taking but didn't need, her mind is clear! She was a joy to talk to this weekend.  I love my Grandma and not just because she calls me "Such a clever and pretty girl"!  She is so happy that I'm working again and that dh has a job now.  She always prays for me and wants me to be healthy again and happy and successful.

What else is happening... Sharon has a new address now:  http://midlifemommusings.com/
I will fix my sidebar...

The Good Things...
tax returns!
CWB
medical insurance for pretty glasses for "an old mommy"
my gram

Things that suck...
getting old
pains in various places
my parental units

The Tide Has Turned!

I have a full time job again!!  Horray!!

I can't give you the details of how the past week has shaken down but boy oh boy were there a lot of meetings and phone calls.  I turned my anger into action!

The short version of myself and others vs. employer:  give me the job that I should have been hired for, was most senior and most qualified for or.... we can go to the Labour Standards Act or all the way to the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.  Your pick.  You can not discriminate against an injured worker when they are capable of doing the job.

Ta Dah!  The job opens up and I'm given the position the next day.  The new position comes with free scowls and sneers from a manager that got her hand slapped hard.  I don't care.  My boss (that I still hate) got a spank too.  Don't mess with me.  We kicked a$$ and took names.

The best day of all was when my little guy told me that I looked "Just like Alicia in The Good Wife" when I was preparing to go in to yet another meeting.  One of the hags ladies at the table looked like she had crawled out from a creek bank somewhere.  Just sayin' that if you are meeting with a bunch of suits, you should look like you belong.  (Thank goodness for the Christmas gift card free shopping!!!)

Now by Feb 4 we should know the status of dh's employment.  It looks promising and we are hopeful that things fall into place quickly.

My salary is still lower than it was pre-injury because I don't do any overtime but it will be a lot higher than it was heading earlier!

This job has a time limit of a year but there are many opportunities that can come along.  Once dh is settled into something and my year is up I am open to ideas and opportunities.  Those include part-time and being around more for my kids!

The Good Things....
an extra almost $30,000 per year
awesome friends and co-workers
a complete "rock" for me to lean on in my dh

Things that suck...
first world problems of what to wear to work

On the Bright Side....

There seems to be quite a bit of badness about.  I have been watching the news this past week with such sadness and a bit of anger too.  Things aren't sunshine and lollipops for quite a few bloggers as well.

I like to use my blog as a place to vent and moan about how tough I have things but really in the grand scheme of things I have nothing to complain  about.

Kid #1 has been sick for a month with a cough and sinus cold.  Over the counter meds aren't cutting it.  Maybe pneumonia or maybe bronchitis... Bright side = able to be seen immediately at walk in clinic, chest x-ray done and prescription for antibiotics for $10 and a physicians sample of steroid inhaler for free.

Kid #2 got paid for a couple of days work.  Bright side = now he can pay me back for the $90 textbook he lost.

Kid #3 had a birthday.  Super bright side = I used Shoppers Drugmart points super redemption weekend and got him a Nintendo ds and 2 games for free :)  He is over the moon happy!  He's also having a kid party today with friends and cake.  Pizza and games for 4 friends at our house.  Cost will be under $75

The man had to do a "test" of sorts at work.  There will be one man left standing after the cuts in his department and they will use this to select the most suitable candidate.  Makes for very uncomfortable times.  These guys are all friends.  There are 4 of them.  I don't think it is likely that dh will stay as he is the least senior.  There have been job opportunities come up in other places and even in Ottawa (where I said that I would consider moving).  However if I move my benefits will be terminated from my work insurance.  I would not be hired anywhere with the current state of my back.  We are staying put for now as we couldn't survive without a huge lifestyle change on only his salary.  I also won't leave my older 2 here with the x.

Bright side = emergency fund is still in place, I've been putting everything extra to savings accounts so there is a parachute for us.

My back is a little better.  I have 60% hand strength in my right hand now.  Bright side = better than the 30% of 5 months ago!

My yard is looking after itself!!  Thankfully all of the work I did last year with moving perennials and mulch has made it presentable.  The rain that we've been getting has also helped!

Here is one of my big peonies before the wind blew it all apart...

   


My daylilies are happy in the new bed they got last year.  I had no idea what colour this little guy was when I planted it.  I like it!

Here's hoping for a better month next month...