The Winds of Change are Blowing....Again!

The deed is done...I listed my house tonight. What a tough decision this has been but now that the wheels are in motion I am feeling very good about it. The last 6 months have had their stressful moments but there's nothing like having to walk through the fire to find out just what one is made of and what really matters.
Do I love my house? Absolutely!! Is it hard to give up on a dream? I thought it would be. However, after this winter and finally being able to spend time alone and think things through without having to take others lives into consideration, I realized that I am not giving up on the dream, the dream is just changing. The saying that the only thing that is sure in life is that it will change is so true! Every day seems to bring new opportunities for growth and learning and I am grabbing every one of them. I am hoping when the house sells I will be able to find somewhere here in St. George to rent for awhile rather than jumping right back into home ownership. I think renting will give me a bit of breathing space for awhile and less stress.
Ninety nine percent of the people in my life are cheering me on and for that I am so grateful. I feel so lucky to have lived in this house for the past three years, not sure when it will sell and am prepared to be here another winter if necessary but my life is changing even as I write this blog.
In the next 2 to 3 weeks I will be starting yet another new job, one I have been hoping to get since even before I moved here. I am very excited about it and looking forward to the new challenges it will surely bring but I can't deny leaving the nursing home is going to be difficult. The owners are such great people and have treated me like an old friend from day one and the residents there are just like family...lots of surrogate grandparents that have lots of advice and stories for me. I'm pretty sure there will be some tears when I have to leave but I know they will wish me well. I am hoping to stay on as a casual in case they need a weekend shift covered on occasion.
I had the opportunity to take in a boarder for a couple of weeks. His name is Roy and he is from Cape Breton and was here in St. George doing some insulating work at the paper mill. What a treat it was to have him stay here. Very respectful and very funny! He helped me put together a shelf unit in the bathroom and also helped Tyler get the washer and dryer hooked up in the bathroom as well before he had to leave. Yes, I made another friend and am pretty sure he will be back (hopefully bring his family) for a visit. Facebook can be a wonderful thing as is text messaging so I am sure we will keep in touch.
I am looking forward to going back to Ontario for a visit in May. I will be there from the 8th - 18th and my friend Steve is coming with me. He's pretty excited as he's never been on a plane before and I know my family is anxious to meet him as well. As always there will be so many people that I will want to visit with and not enough time so I will be posting a date for a get together for whoever can make it when the time gets closer. Maybe we will have time to do a Kelsey's night in Brantford and a dinner at the Chinese place in Hagersville as well!!!
So, when the listing for the house hits the net, I will post it on here. It's a beautiful house and some lucky family is going to love living here as much as me. It would also be a great summer home for anyone looking to vacation down east. A great opportunity and not as expensive as the Muskoka area!! Heehee!
So my friends, worry not for me. I am loving life and am happy just being me. Everyone and everything else good that comes my way is just icing on the cake!
Happy nite everyone :o)

Good Things Come....

Every day it seems I find another reason to be a firm believer in positive thinking. I have been worrying about whether or not anyone would want to rent my rooms but have decided whatever will be will be and either way I will be fine.
Yesterday I received an email responding to my Rooms For Rent ad on Kijiji. A young man from Cape Breton was looking for a place to stay in St. George while he works at the mill for three weeks or so. I checked his reference and was happy to receive glowing reports about him. The exact words were "you will love having him around and will miss him when he is gone!" Now that's a good reference :o)
So after chatting with Roy on facebook for awhile and learning a bit more about him it was decided that he will be staying here for the duration of his job. I am looking forward to having someone in the house to bake for and since it's only for a short time it will be a good opportunity to see how renting out the rooms to strangers will go. So, it's a start and I am sure more good things will come from this experience.
I believe he arrives sometime tomorrow so I better get the rest of the rearranging done upstairs before I sleep today.
Happy Day :o)

"March"ing to the Beat of My Own Drum!

Thank goodness February is behind me. I believe there has been some record breaking amounts of snow in this area and I know everyone here is just sick and tired of it. Last week the snow had really started to disappear only to have two more storms blow through burying us again. Ugh!!! One thing I will say about this area though, is that the men plowing the roads have done an amazing job! If you can shovel your way out of your dooryard after the plow has gone by, the roads are clear and ready to use. I remember it being days before a plow ever saw my street in Brantford after a snow storm leaving the road full of frozen ruts to maneuver!

As for what's going on with me personally this month...I have been having lots of fun and laughs with my friends at Tim Hortons where I have become a regular! I have met so many new people in the last bit of time and this in turn has opened up new doors so all is good. The electrician I have been hounding since August finally reported today that he will be dropping off supplies on Saturday and coming to do my work on Monday. I will update this post again if he doesn't show up which has been the norm in the past.

Work at the nursing home is going great. I work mainly nights, only one day shift in February but I do love the night shifts. It will be a real switch and a nice change though to one day have a Monday to Friday day job with weekends off. Who knows...I may get a social life!! Hahaha!!!!

My boss had some tickets to a live show at the Imperial Theatre in Saint John that she couldn't use so a coworker and I took advantage of her generosity and used the tickets. The show was The Piano Men II, a tribute to Elton John and Billy Joel. The music was mostly from their 70's albums as well as a few from the 80's. It was an awesome show and Sherry and I had a great time.

Overall, I am enjoying the single life and living on my own...doing my own thing!! I am looking at renting out the two bedrooms on the far side of the house for the summer but will more than likely be putting up the for sale sign on the house. This was a difficult decision to make and I really struggled with it. However the more I think of renting a nice apartment, just for me and Maddie, with no responsibilities of home ownership...the more I am warming up to it. It will be nice after this winter...to in the future be the one sitting inside nice and warm while someone else does the shovelling!! Hahaha!!!!

I am still continuing to lose weight...at this point I am down 60 lbs since Thanksgiving and feeling great. Looking forward to the nicer weather when walking is not so difficult outside.

Guess that wraps up February and opens up March for new adventures.

Cheers!!!!