Stuff going on
I keep meaning to blog about what's going on, but when it comes time, I just don't get around to it. Sorry, folks.
When I went to leave work last Friday, I discovered that I had a flat tire. I think I could change a tire if I had to, but I've never actually done it, so I'm nervous about it. Like the tire might fall off half way home or something. I tried calling CAA (like AAA), but because of the weather and shortage of CAA workers, I was going to be waiting at least eight hours. So I sent XM a text msg telling him that I had a flat tire, but at least I was still at work. I didn't want to ask him for help, but I didn't want to try to do this myself. Thankfully, he did offer to help, so I accepted. He drove over and changed my tire for me. After he was finished, we chatted for a bit. Chatted is a nice way of putting it. I asked him how he was doing and he said mostly okay. He asked me how I was doing and I started to cry. As I told him, it's still really hard to see him. It's so strange to me that here's this person who was such a big part of my life, and we still live in the same city, but we never see each other and never talk to each other. This was the first time in three months that I'd seen or talked to XM. I told him that I really appreciated him coming to help me. He said, "I told you I'd always help you out." I said, "I know, but it's not like you have any actual obligation to me now." He replied, "That doesn't matter." I'm glad that he said that, to know that he will still help me if I need it, but seeing him Friday just reinforced the fact that I'm better off not being in touch with him much at this point. It's just too hard and too painful.
Saturday morning I called the tire store where I'd been before and they said they could get a new tire for me, but it wouldn't be at that store until Monday. No biggie, right? Monday morning I went to leave to go to work... and I got stuck in the snow. It's been warmer for the past week, so instead of harder, packed down snow, it's a bunch of mush. I couldn't go forward or backward and I was blocking the alley where we all have to drive to park in these condos. I was stuck for probably 45 minutes before three of my lovely neighbors were able to help push me out. Really did not start out my Monday on a good note. I cried on the way to work and tried to pull myself together before I walked in, but when our receptionist asked me if I was okay - because I was pretty late at this point - I just shook my head and started crying again. Sheesh, I am such a wus! She and one of the other ladies there hugged me and were so sweet about it. Really, I work with great people.
So, since then I've just been parking on the street so I wouldn't get stuck again. Except that tonight when I came home there was a sign at the entrance to my neighborhood about them doing some sort of street cleaning and so we couldn't park on the street. So I pulled on into the alley and part way into my spot... and got stuck. @#$^*(*&$!!!!!!! I tried to dig myself out and go back and forth and Peachie was just not moving. So I called my upstairs neighbors for help. I didn't know what else to do. Fortunately, they did come out and help. Lorne pulled my car into my spot and then he chopped up the packed down snow so I could shovel it out of the way. I'm not sure he was all that happy about helping me, but at least he did. I'm thinking I'm going to bake cookies or something as a way to say thanks. I think I'm going to go back to parking on the street, although it's supposed to get cold again over the weekend. The only good news is that, according to everyone here, this is the most snow Edmonton has gotten in about forty years, so at least I won't typically have to deal with this. Sound familiar to anyone else about this winter? lol
Tonight when I got stuck, I had been coming home from a special appointment. I had my first counselling appointment today after work. I found a place just a couple minutes from work, which means that it's only about 15 minutes from home too, which is great. I think the appointment went well. I like the woman I met with. I'm guessing she's not too much older than I am, but I'm not always good at guessing ages. For any of you who've gone to counselling, you know that the first meeting (or first two, maybe) are mostly just a "fact finding missing" since the therapist is starting completely from scratch. So Kathy - the therapist - was mostly just asking questions to get the background of everything and find out what had gone on with XM and me. At the end, though, she stated that she thinks I'm strong and resourceful. I have to admit that it was a boost for someone who doesn't know me to make that statement. I definitely think I'll see her again, although probably not any more often that once a month or so. I'm just really glad that it went well.
Labels: Counselling, Edmonton, Me, Neighbors, Peachie, Weather, XM