I woke at 4am ... I'd had a nightmare about Sealey being lost for hours then days. My family were there as were tri friends but it was somewhere in the UK. It took me 30 minutes of lying in bed trying to think of where to search again or what else we could do - I felt a deep ache of despair - then realized I was at home and Sealey was too. I curled up with her, relieved but still upset.
I volunteered to work 8-4:30 instead of 8:30-5 normally not a big deal but sleep deprived and had to work solo for an hr when there are usually 2-4 of us before the QC/ON offices joined on me "virtually". It was a busy morning and just not a good work day with some unusual cutting remarks not well received especially on the eve of my vacation, 50th milestone birthday and biggest endurance challenge of my life. Lucky for me, the translators who work in my office compensated - overtaxed with work themselves - they arranged a gf treat break in my honour... I clung to that silver lining.
Then two messages put me in the spirit of celebration - Barry wanting to know what time I'd be home as he wanted pick up something nice for the 3 of us (Tin and I had plans to "do" my hair)
Tin sent me a message to say I was not cooking a thing on my bday and asked if I had any special requests.
By the time 4:30 arrived I was just about skipping to the bus!
This was my Facebook post during my commute on the bus - little did I know how my evening and birthday was about to change ...
50th invite to all my friends... Not a party but I'd love to see you. So after the full birthday brick, I'm gonna hang on the deck on a lounger til I'm too hot then jump in the lake and repeat all day. "Birthday suit swim" when its dark. I'll toss a ball 4 doggies, yank weeds from my neglected gardens (or not)... Those coming to workout r very welcome to hang & the rest of you should drop by.
It's not like I turn 50 every year. BYOB though there'll be some refreshment to eat & drink... NSLC convenience store at the end of my street. 10 Mill Road Forks, Mt Uniacke (on google maps)
Won't go late - skyping with family 6pm onward & only leaves Sunday to pack.
"The best GIft is your Presence"
My drivers license was to expire on my birthday and I'm not usually a last minute type of person but had no other chance to get it done so I headed there. I add this for a reason... As I go to pay the $77 renewal my Visa credit card was declined and the teller said it was a strange message asking I call immediately. I paid by debit and called Visa from my car in the parking lot. They told me they blocked my card as they suspected and I confirmed I didn't use my credit card at Aruba Spa in Italy at 3pm ($90) nor had I authorized a $5 charge on Bell.ca five minutes later! My card had been used for fraudulent purchases. I had just started my vacation where I was travelling to the USA and now had no credit card.
Again, time to seek and find a silver lining! I thanked Jenna at Visa for the excellent security & for a replacement card by mid next week. I had US cash and because we travel to the States often, Barry & I have a US currency we use only for trips south of the border. Hahaha!
I did lose some time dealing with this and it had been a long trying day but I was/am determined to cope calmly with any potential road block or challenge placed on my path at this point in my life and especially so close to race day. It's just part of the adventure and test, isn't it?
Here's what I saw when I arrived home
Signs saying "Moka is 50 tomorrow" "1964 was a great year!" with balloons that glowed in the dark!!!
I went to give Sealey a hug and got lots of kisses.
I enter the house from the patio and see Kristin holding a Barbie and a sign ... I focused on the Barbie and said "wow! I love that brown Barbie. I got one for Birdie's bday and wanted one for myself" The sign on the Barbie doll says "what's better than a brown Barbie?"
I burst in tears and she embraced her sobbing little sister! It felt surreal. She did something similar for my 40th but I never in a million years thought I'd see her. (Photos to follow when someone sends me them - I was too blown away and in the moment to take any.)
She has so much on her plate - her house closing in Milton and new home closing, new job in PEC (Belleville area), living in a transition place and I would be seeing her in Lake Placid a week later. Besides, she'd sent me a pre 50th birthday gift every 19th of the month since January! She is the most wonderful sister and friend anyone could have and I am the luckiest sister one earth to have her. She always makes me feel so loved - so very special. Thank you is totally inadequate but THANK YOU Birdface Nerkle Lurly Calina from the deepest reaches of my heart and soul
Oh and Barry and Kristin were in cahoots for ages too. Amazing secret keepers as I hadn't a hint from either.
Barry and Bird had spent the afternoon together during which they went shopping and Barry bought me sunflowers and these beauties
We had a lovely meal and evening and then...
I had to dash about preparing all my tri stuff for the full 4 hrs brick starting at 7am. Just the prep takes 1.5 and I had to vacuum, wash floors and clean the downstairs bathroom and tidy up when Bird went to bed and Tin went home to her mums in Bedford. Friday night is my only chance to clean the house a bit. I had people coming over and it really needed it. Dang! Central vac drum in basement was full - Barry helped but still that dust triggers allergy attack which triggers asthma - not exactly a great thing to happen before a swim - bike - run workout. Oh well - took lots of meds.
Got it all done by midnight - my birthday - set alarm for 5:30am knowing my internal alarm would wake me at 4:45am. Feeling exhausted - not good!
Good thing I am an endurance athlete now!!! Good race simulation but not good prep for an Ironman race in 8 days.
Suck it up buttercup!
Besides its my birthday and all my favourite beings are here with me ... I'll draw on that and their energy.
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