Helenka, Queen of Outer Space

And shredded my abs that are present only during muscle spasms. But I feel terrific (and have to hope for a lot of healing overnight).

I went to bed at 1:30. Nothing new there. But I was so not a happy campy to wake up at 4:55. Sigh. Because of the pain, I spent half the day lying on my back and catching up on two weeks of Wheel of Fortune, hoping for a good distraction. It was … adequate.

When I finally felt a little better, I tackled the steam cleaning. Did the two major areas (kitchen/desk and entry/dining table). But the muscles were screaming at me so I'll do the bathroom tomorrow. Then, after another rest, I put out the Christmas bed linens. No, I wasn't doing my muscles any favours there, either. Because the bed is wedged into a corner, the only way I can put a fitted sheet on is to start on the farthest corner, lying diagonally on the mattress, Go on. Imagine it and have a laugh at my expense!

I also fluffed up the comforter and my penguin fleece in the dryer. Oh, yes, it was definitely cozy.

I checked on FB and saw that Brian had posted the memory of his Victorian tea with Peter and me. You can bet that, when this is all over, we are going to party like it's - uh - 2021!!! I suggested we should party over Zoom and said I was decorating, even if only to lift my spirits. Anyway, I need pills and bed and maybe even a piggy and formerly blind old tiger. Yup. Sounds good to me!

Yes, it was my birthday and all my special plans went awry. But I still had a wonderful day. Gee, the blonde is finally getting wise.

The day started off when I sprang awake at 5:25 (yes, I do love my palindromic numbers). The best part is that, despite falling asleep with the TV on, I was in no pain and had exquisite vision. So, I washed my face and put on eye makeup. Yippee!

Later, I tidied up and decorated. I took a chance by reaching up to my shelf in the closet and grasped the clear bag that held my cheap (but pretty) fake flowers. As I'd smashed my green vase, I had to put the stems into an empty peanut jar! Then I tried to remember where my more expensive and artistic rope was with flowers attached (created by one of the designers at the Shaw Festival). I found it, too! I added it to my bannister.

I made space for my iPad on the dining table. I'd planned to pour myself a glass of Coke, but ran out of time. I quickly put on my black/gold spider scarf on my head and added my two jewelled butterfly clips. I'd cut my bangs earlier, too. And, then, I tried to find the invite Brian had sent me. But I couldn't find the gmail icon I normally use. Help! So I was in the alternate one, but I couldn't read the print. Sigh.

Naturally, Brian called while I was scrambling. When I answered the phone, I think I disconnected the hotspot. [Of course I did!] It turns out S. had d/ld the incorrect app; so Brian and I talked while he and Peter were on Zoom. It was frustrating and I was pouting. And only then did Brian send a link to the correct app. Um … Brian … why couldn't you have done that in the first place? So, after the hour was up, Brian said we'd reconnect next weekend and he'd give me a tour of his special trailer.

After that, I was so weary. I'd already had to take a couple extra Robax. I enjoyed the rest of my lambchops and finally had that glass of Coke and the lemon tart I was supposed to eat on screen. At least I made use of my vision by racing through another book. As for birthday greetings, I was delighted to receive a pretty email from my childhood pal Danny and I emailed her back. There were also other electronic cards and greetings which I will answer tomorrow, as well as a pretty card from SuM and S. I was completely floored to get a phone call from the meals admin who wished me a happy birthday. She also mentioned that they'd received Covid funding for Seniors was were extending fully-paid subsidies for two months. Well, that was nice to receive. She also asked if I'd answer some questions about how I first enrolled in the program. I can still remember Brian nagging me to apply!

I finally had to lie down for a nap at 8. But wait, that's not all. We had a power failure in the house! Good thing I use my cellphone alarm. Anyway, it was restored and I slept for about 90 minutes. And then had to restore my last session. Naturally (sigh), there were complications.

Still, it was only the first of several celebrations. I told the boys I'd keep the decorations up until we do Peter's birthday in two weeks' time. Now, at the end of the day, I think I'm going to have some chocolate and another wee glass Coke.

All sorts of wonderful things today:
1. Warm and sunny.
2. I wore my spring coat.
3. My driver was early and rang the doorbell.
4. Church-John gave me an unexpected prezzie. I'm being virtuous and refusing to look inside the gift bag. He also gave Ash one, so I don't know whether he went matchy-matchy or not.
5. I'm going to suggest we all go out for a birthday brunch to a new place in the Village (that replaced one of my faves) two weeks from today (Ash's exact day, with c-J's day adjacent).
6. Rev. Jeff wore his special Diwali outfit (a gift from a Hindu friend) topped by a sparkling stole.
7. The music was all kinds of wonderful, from the jazzy carol variations on the piano, to the choir's glorious singing (including soprano descants that I used to be able to sing), to the dreamy, nostalgic closing song. Just … perfect.
8. My ride wasn't too late so I got home quickly.
9. Finally figured out where to put the string of clear lights. It's hovering over Santa's Marching Band and I think I'll be unravelling my tranxlucent ribbon, twining and twisting around the lights. Um … tomorrow.
10. Our musical guest for the Offertory was the actor who plays the Mayor in the TO production of "Come From Away"! He was fabulous. I can't wait to watch the webcast.

And that's a wrap!

Why, it's "Decorating While Blind"! You'll laugh as you watch the blonde pick things out of a storage tote but, because of the low light levels, she won't recognize the objects and put them back. It's been hours and I've finally chosen a few things to put up. As I'd broken my pretty green vase, I'm putting my gold stars on stalks in an empty Perrier bottle. Hey, it's green, too. I couldn't find the gold sleigh in storage and, then, remembered how clever I'd felt finding a spot just the right size to slide the sleigh. Where that spot was? No idea. Sigh. So, I'm removing the mini plush animals from the tiered tray so I can put more clear lights on it and cover it with a variety of scented pine cones and a couple of stars. I'll just arrange the plushies … somewhere else. But that's a job for tomorrow. As is seeing how much I can muffle the speaker in Santa's Marching Band!

I'd been so virtuous today, finally rewatching and writing about the Dec. 1st service. Whoa! And I did two loads of laundry. You'd think I would have finally broken out my new heated back massager, but I made do with showerhead hydrotherapy.

While doing the laundry, I finally watched Tuesday's N.C.I.S. Holy moly! Talk about loads and loads of telling but not showing in Ziva's back story. And I'm just eyeing the whole thing sideways, including who the obsessed enemy is. Arrgghh. Yes, I'm screaming. Okay, I think I'm going to watch a game show to calm down before taking my pills and hoping for wonderful sleep as a reward for some back-breaking pain. I done good today! So, I'll reward myself with some medicinal chocolate, then pills.

Oh, you mean those things I never have? Well, I'd already sabotaged myself by staying up until 3(!) and sleeping in until 10:30. That's one way of wasting daylight hours. However (and it's a huge one), I finally did something today. I managed to play storage tote Tetris in the bathroom with as little disruption as possible and removed my holiday bedding. But I had no energy to change the sheets. I'd also finally got around to doing my editing for the church, even though I couldn't access my iPad, and found to my delight that the retired Prof. had already submitted most of the corrections I would have. But I still had edits. But, because of my lousy vision earlier, I'm not sure my email went through. I'll try again tomorrow morning, especially as I have one final one.

In the evening, I watched my usual daytime shows. Still have last night's shows which will have to wait until … tomorrow? I'd been so anxious about tomorrow, as I didn't have a ride home from the restaurant. It finally came through around 7 tonight. What. A. Relief. I want to have at least one social occasion this holiday season. With lots of rosé spritzers! The organizer will be staying as long as I am, so that fills me with cheer.

Naturally, as I have to make myself go to bed earlier tonight, my vision is stunning (squash on dark chocolate). The universe must have lots of fun using me as a bauble!

That began at DUN DUN DUN 4:49 a.m.
No. It. Didn't, she growls through gritted teeth. I got up, swallowed two Robax and went back to bed. The next time I opened my eyes it was a far more civilized time of … 9:57. Hallelujah.

But my semi-joy was short-lived as the pain kept attacking. This is so ridiculous. After brekkie, it was back to bed. Out and in, rinse and repeat. I wisely talked myself out of doing laundry. One reason for the shrieking muscles was that winter temperatures had finally descended, obviously to stay. Sigh.

So, what surrender? Well, S. was removing the big tree from storage and asked if I wanted my two small trees. Yeah, yeah, drag them out. And, then, it hit me. Despite my desire, there was absolutely NO way I was going to move my furniture. A ridiculous hope. It would be difficult enough to decorate the trees with MY fingers. So I asked S. whether she'd help me and she agreed. A little yay.

In other news, S. told me where SuM and she had … uh … overindulged last night. They'd gone to a restaurant that was geek heaven, with lots of Trekkish (and other fandoms) items on the menu. Their downfall? Romulan ale (that was a blue cocktail, not beer)! And mystery shots. Oy.

I was really, REALLY hoping to write about the service on the 17th, but it just wasn't coming along. Sigh. So, instead, I emailed the worship coordinator about the changes made because of me and asked whether she could make even more logical changes (or discuss them with someone who'd approve). As I'm on duty on Sunday, who knows what'll happen.

Finally began to fall apart after I'd had dinner (a huge quantity of salad shrimp thrown into an instant noodle bowl and two more Robax instead of wine in which I'm totally disinterested for some reason). I watched my daily TV shows and began to nod off, beginning with seconds and then lengthening until I just woke up before midnight. But at least the pain is gone (for now).

And my sight is back, much better than the blurry yellow I'd had during the day. So I'd like to take advantage of it and finish my library book. ::crosses fingers::

Just ignore it. I'm just being a blonde … having flights of fancy of how I might rearrange my furniture. ATM, I can watch TV from my bed but not from the couch, though I can gaze at the fireplace from the couch, but not the bed. So, I said to myself, "Self, you can imagine having it all, can't you?" Of course I can, but - alas - I do not have millions and good health! I'll keep thinking about it; it all hinges on how far I can pull out the TV from the wall, arranging it to be perpendicular rather than parallel.

The work continued today but it sounded less destructive. But, because I had to be ready to be visited, I had no cats to cuddle. S. took a chance of sequestering them all in their bedroom. Recipe for disaster? I didn't hear World War Cat break out, so I guess everybody survived.

I spent a lot of time in bed because my spine was so not cooperating. Sigh. Otherwise, I watched my usual TV shows and caught up on lots of epis of Peppa Pig. For a show that's been around for years, there were 3-4 new epis recently, so I'm a happy little ::giggles:: piggy! Also making me a happy camper was the fact that I apparently fell asleep within seconds of lying down. Yay!

Got quite a lot done today. Had a reasonable sleep which is still better than intermittent insomnia. My groceries were delivered before 11. I ordered half my usual volume so I didn't kill myself putting stuff away. I did my laundry in the afternoon, so that's done.

Right now, there's a bouquet of gorgeous spring flowers on the dining table as well as my b-day prezzies. Tomorrow I'm having smoked salmon and cream cheese on a fresh bagel, along with many applications of Sweet Manhattans (as long as I can find where I hid the rye). And I have to ask my phone what the proportions should be!

I've ramped up my commenting participating on Savage Love and Slog this week. It's fun. Watched the usual daytime and evening shows and I'm about to enjoy a couple of bursting mandarins. Yum!

I still cannot believe how much I did today. OTOH, my spine and fractured leg are shrieking (one up from screaming) at me. I managed to ignore the cats and slept until 8:30. Miracle. Today, I decided to concentrate on the bathroom and clearing away clutter. Sadly, that involved dumping Dior - masses of eyeshadows = and half gift sets (where I used the shower gel but not the lotion or spray. However, I finally got to unwrap the special soap SuM picked up for me from NYC. I wonder if it was a Japanese shop because of the exquisite way it was wrapped. It's so lusciously slippery, too.

I can't believe how serene the place feels. There is NOTHING on the couch (and I don't count cat hair either). The bed is neatly made. I guess the next big job will be to tackle the desk. But that wasn't going to happen today as my sight was crap. Even so, I did blind group stuff and read. I also wrote my church summary in dribs and drabs. Just as with my story writing, I understand that I cannot hurry my words. They danced in my mind until they were ready to emerge.

I finally went on strike from the cats around 2. They'd had their lunch, so I shut my door and sent SuM and S a text asking when they'd be back. Luckily, they came home before 3. I watched my regular shows (I desperately needed to be lying down for a while) as well as MasterChef Canada in the evening.

Found out that Brent is having another public birthday party the day after mine, so I guess church-John and I will be going there I/o to brunch by ourselves. Anyway, sleep is calling me, so I think I shall retire.

Why? Well, I finally cleared off the coffee table. [Just ignore the fact that all of the papers went on top of an already-enormous pile in a hidden carton. I'm not looking forward to going through it after the holidays.] I also put up my stiff shiny lazily-curling ribbons, with one dorkily weaving through the slats of the staircase and the other in a weird and wandering route from china etagere to above the fireplace. But that means I am finished!

I felt so good sleeping in all the way to 11:24. Most definitely didn't hear the recycling truck collecting. Watched tons of recorded judge shows. Also caught up listing the few books I've read in the last few months. I'll have a packed book report at the end of the month.

Enjoyed my tasty supper of savoury pate on a bagel. And a fuyu and 'nana. Now it's time for bed again.