Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Better Day

Today was a much better day than yesterday!

I mean, I got kind of annoyed and frustrated like yesterday because my financial advisor suggested I try using the Bell Relay Service to communicate with the people at the CRA unfortunately the people at the Bell Relay Service had the same ableist attitude as the CRA.

(By the way I wrote an email of complaint today to the CRA, and I plan to write one to the Bell Relay Service tomorrow.)

After I spent 45 minutes arguing with the Bell Relay Service, I mentally shrugged and decided to simply go to the bank. It was the best decision I`ve made in days! The guy was so nice and helpful, and there was no abelist in him at all. He found out that I had indeed closed the first RDSP back in October 2012. Plus he helped me to pay my Mom`s 2012 taxes electronically.

I feel both happy and relieved that I got both things done and out of the way. See how much better things go when people treat you with respect!

Down with narrow minded ableist jerks! Up with enlightened minded people who actually care about doing their best for you!

Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Upset!

I feel upset and humiliated.  I'm not sure why I'm so upset; this sort of thing has happened to me thousands of times ... but, maybe that's the point!

I had to call the RDSP (Registered Disability Savings Plan) department of the CRA this afternoon to get some important information, because my financial advisor had told me that there was a problem with setting up a new RDSP account because my old RDSP account (which I thought I'd closed down two years ago) was still active.

However, the woman I spoke to at the CRA wouldn't give the information to me. She kept saying, "I need to speak to Anne Abbott." And I kept saying, "But you ARE speaking to Anne Abbott, just with my communication assistant acting as my voice." And she kept insisting that she speak directly to me. 

Yuula was my communication assistant, and even she was getting angry because the woman kept talking about me in the third person. Not only was the CRA woman talking about me as if I wasn't there, she kept insisting that I call the TTY line, and I kept saying "But I'm not deaf and I don't have a TTY machine." I told her another thing too, that even if I did have a TTY machine what could stop somebody from stealing my information and using the tty machine without my knowledge? The whole "security" issue is a load of bullshit! Anybody could log in or call with another person's information and they'd never know. So why must people with communication disabilities be treated any differently than any other shmuck? 

(Sure, sure, I can hear some of you saying, "But do you trust your employees with your information?" To you I say, " I sure do, I trust them with my life! And, what exactly is the difference between my communication assistants and the people who do the relay service for the TTY? None whatsoever!")

Finally, when the CRA woman said to stop spelling out the words to her because she said it was "annoying" her, I lost my cool and said fuck you! and then hung up.

If you were in my place, I'm sure you would have done the same thing ....

Sunday, April 27, 2014

Chilling Out

All day I've been writing/answering emails and trying to get Netflix to work again.

It's fixed now, and I'm watching House and chilling out.

That's all ....

Saturday, April 26, 2014

Celebrating Easter Late

It was another slow day at the market.  I only made $20.00 in card sales, and then, towards the end, $35.00 for a small painting.

"A Small Portrait of Hershey"

I also saw an old friend from the BBS Metro days.  It was nice to talk to him and catch up on our lives' events. 

 And, my favourite customer gave me another huge bag of Aero bars.  Yummy!

Speaking of yummy chocolate, I had dinner with Bruce and the kids at the Hard Rock Cafe, where we four exhanged Easter chocolates.




All in all, not a bad day at all ...!

Friday, April 25, 2014

Exciting News

Last night I painted until 3am.





I was going to try to finish it today, but, instead, I spent the afternoon discussing which offer on the condo to accept.

Finally, a decision was made and papers were signed.  Bruce, of course, has to sign, but other than that it's a done deal.

I feel one million different ways about this situation.  Happy, sad, regretful ...

and exhausted.

Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Counseling and Phishing

I had another counselling appointment this afternoon. I won't get into everything, but I will say it was very hard.

I talked about how sad and kind of nuts I felt last night after I got an email from the real estate agent telling me that my Mom's condo was listed and that people were going to view it. What's wrong with me? I arranged for the real esate agent to help us sell it and I arranged for my relatives to come and choose what they wanted. I know I should be over the moon and proud of myself for setting everything in motion, and yet I feel like my heart is breaking.

I can hear Mom say, "Be brave Annie, be brave and strong. It's just a condominium, people are more important than places and things!" Mom is. of course, right, and I know that once my mind gets wrapped around this new development I'll be fine.

I have so much of Mom around me, not just photos and furniture but within every cell of my body. She taught me the value of being kind and of having a sense of humour when things got hard. And, of course, she taught me to be brave and strong.

When I got home and had dinner, I checked my email and freaked out because one message said that I had spent almost $300 on two audio books - which I knew wasn't true! And that meant to me that somebody had hacked into my iTunes account, and if and if they could do that then maybe they could hack into my Visa and bank accounts. I clicked on the link it said if I wanted to dispute any purchases but it took me to a weird looking page. I should have recognized that it was a phishing scam but I was too panicky. I checked my online Visa and saw nothing, but just to be sure reset my iTunes password and called a technician but he never called back. By this time I had calmed down and looked at the email again and saw the smaller print below said they would ask for your financial details, and I mentally slapped myself in the forehead! iTunes would never ask for your financial details. It was a phishing scam!

I felt so foolish! But more than that, I felt sad. Because if Rob had been here I would have asked him for his opinion and he would have known right away that it was a scam.

I miss you, Mom! I miss you, Rob! You both taught me so much and shaped me into the person I am now.

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Getting Shit Done

I've had a good day today. I booked the meeting room for two events, I signed cheques for my employees and Mom's condo management office, and then got all kinds of more paperwork (my income tax forms for example), and C.I.L.T.'s bi-monthly report. 

The toilet was even fixed this morning!  Will miracles never cease?


I'm happy and I'm tired now,  so I'm going to relax and eat Esster chocolate and watch The Good Wife.

Monday, April 21, 2014

Lazy, Fun Day - UNTIL

Last night I felt very happy that I got all of my work done.

I was also happy that Laura had helped organize all of my Dandy Card Membership items.  She's like me, she has serious OCD and loves doing this kind of shit!



(Yes, yes, I know, I'm a geek because these things please me so much.  Well, so what! I'm a geek, and I'm proud of it!)

Because I had stayed up until 3am playing Scrabble and felt tired in the morning, I decided to have a nap. When I woke up, I bought a tuna sub at Subway; lots of marked down Easter Chocolates at the Drug Mart; and, my regular order at Starbucks.

It was a lazy, fun day - UNTIL I got back home.  My brother texted me and told me that my cheque to our mother's condo management for the monthly fee had somehow gotten lost. (I know I mailed it!)  And then, I got a dozen emails all begging to be answered.  In the evening, my bookkeeper came by and asked me to sign some mail.

Life is back to normal.  But I'm ready for it!

Sunday, April 20, 2014

Yay!

Oh my god!  I've finally done it  - I've completed all of the projects I've been trying to get done for ages!

I feel so happy and so free!

To celebrate, I'm going to drink red wine and eat chocolate Easter bunnies ....

Saturday, April 19, 2014

Easter at the Market

Although I only made $40.00 at the market, I still had a pretty good day.


First, before I left, I put on my usual bunny socks for Easter.   They made me feel happy and silly.



I had bunny and flower cards and merchandise displayed beautifully; and I wore the pretty, fresh colours of Spring.  Like I said in the beginning, despite all my charm and efforts, I only made $40.00 - but there's always next week!



And, my favourite customer dropped by to give me some chocolates too.  He's such a sweet man!


After the market, Brittainy and I went to Hot House for dinner.  I had a Caesar salad, a Maple Manhatten, and a steak dinner.


Everything was perfectly delicious!

Just one thing about dinner disappointed me, and that was the dessert.


I ordered a piece of carrot cake. I was expecting a huge piece, like they always give me, so I could share with Brittainy.  What I got instead was a carrot cupcake!  I ate it in three bites!  It was good, sure, but if you're advertising cake give me cake not cupcake!

Sheeeeeeeeeesh!

Still, all in all, it was a pretty good day ....

Friday, April 18, 2014

Percentages






My painting is 100% finished.  I'm 20% sure I'll sell it tomorrow at the market.   People usually buy less expensive items from me, like cards; bags; mugs; etc.

But you never know ....  Maybe I'll sell everything tomorrow! 

I'm 1%  that'll happen.

Sigh ....

Thursday, April 17, 2014

Alleycat in an Alleyway


The painting is 99% finished.

My other work is 75% finished ... so, I'm getting there!


Wednesday, April 16, 2014

Desire


I desire to paint.  I desire to lose myself in my craft, to finish the picture I'm working on and start on another ...

                                and another ...

                                                                        and another ...


And yet, even though I've done a lot of work today, I feel like I need to do a bigger chunk of work before I can go back to painting.

Employees' scheduling/payroll, book the meeting room in my building for two events, plan out yearly expenses in preparation for the eventual aquirement of my inheritance, and mail out my Dandy Card Membership-ect, etc, etc!

I desire a clone or an IV of Lorazepam....

Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Happy 8th Birthday, Hershey & Rascal!



Today was my cats' 8th birthday.  Happy birthday, Hershey and Rascal!

I remember when we brought you both home from the Humane Society.  You two were so small and so cute!










You're still cute, boys, but you sure have grown!



Next week, I promise, my boys, I'll throw you a birthday party!  Tuna sandwiches, catnip, extra wet and dry food, catnip, clam chowder, catnip, an icecream cake in the shape of a cat ... and, of course, catnip!

Sunday, April 13, 2014

Getting Together with My Family




I had a wonderful time seeing my family at Mom's condo this afternoon. Previously, I had emailed everybody and invited them to choose anything they want to take home as a momento of Mom.

Not everybody who I'd invited could come, unfortunately.  There were three relatives who did come, however, I hardly ever see (except for weddings and funerals), because they live so far away.  It was great to swap stories and experiences, and get caught up on all the news.

And, speaking of getting caught up - I need to catch up on my sleep.

I'm beat!


ZZZZZZzzxxxxxxxxxxxxxxZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz ...

Saturday, April 12, 2014

Springtime at the St Lawrence Market

It was quite a good day at the market.  So many people were there, and I made a lot of sales and chatted to many friendly and enthusiastic customers.


I sold this painting, which is both good and bad.  It's one of my favourites and I hated to see it go, but I'm happy to know that people appreciate my art.


It was a good, fun, and profitable day.  However, now I'm exhausted, and my neck; back; are killing me.  So, I'm going to chill out, drink my spiked frappuccino, watch TV, and then go to bed.

Friday, April 11, 2014

Too Busy Juggling my Life

I'm too busy juggling my life around to write.

However, here are pictures of my life from this week:






Yay Clever Me!

I found out what the problem was.  I had added a program to my computer called PrivDog, which is supposed to protect me from viruses, pop-ups etc - but it kind of went too far!  It took away BlogSpot's menu, which allows me to sign in and write my daily entry.

Programs like PrivDog are, to me, like over-protective parents.  So, figuratively speaking, I had to tell my dear old parents that BlogSpot and other websites are really good kids and that I should be allowed to hang out with them.

Sheesh!  I hate being over-protected!

Thursday, April 10, 2014

Something Weird is Happening

I just tried to write my entry in my blog with my computer, but it won't let me get in. All my followers have disappeared. I tried refreshing the page, but nothing works! It's so weird ....

Thank god for my iPad!

I'm going to try and figure this out and write tomorrow. Maybe I'm being paranoid, but I keep thinking that Loblaws saw my "fuck Loblaws" comment and took it down.

Naw, I'm just being silly.

Tuesday, April 8, 2014

A Beautiful Spring Day

It was gorgeous out today! I didn't feel even the least bit foolish going out in only my jogging outfit.

I met Sarah at Shopper's Drugmart to pick up a perscription and then we went to Starbucks. I didn't even realize I was going to Starbucks until I got half way up the ramp! Am I so addicted to Peppermint Mocha Frappuccinos? Why, yes I am!

However it's not just the drinks and brownies I'm addicted to, it's also the people who work there. Of all the Starbucks I've been to (and I've been to a lot) the people at the Carlton and Yonge location are the most friendly. They welcome me by name and know my regular order by heart. Even if I don't go myself and just send somebody they always say, "Hey, where's Anne?" I like that. It makes me feel part of a community. Sure, a coffee drinking community, but it's still something!

And then Sarah and I went to get groceries at Loblaws. Nobody gave me a warm welcome, and I go there way more than Starbucks. Well, fuck Loblaws!

After that, Sarah and I went up to the LCBO.  I bought peppermint Schnapps to spike my frappuccino and a bottle of Rye to spike my Coke occasionally. Sometimes the workers at LCBO recognize me and ty to be helpful, but most times, no. I'm just a faceless customer in their store.

Hmmm... maybe I should go there more often so they recognize me and become as friendly as the people at Stabucks.

Monday, April 7, 2014

Painting Again


I'm painting again.  This time a landscape: a Toronto laneway.


I'm on a roll!

 Yay!