Goodbye, old friend

It started so simply:  the occasional cappuccino after a dinner out.  Then I was introduced to chai lattes - iced in summer!  Then there were the frappuccinos ...  And now the caramel vanilla lattes from the coffee shop next door to the office.  Sorry, old friend, it's time to say goodbye ... 

 

HEY there, handsome!  How about a caramel macchiato?

Hair analysis

My hairdresser told me last week that cutting my hair was a challenge:  I have strong growth patterns, a scar, two crowns, and lots of hair.

How's that as a metaphor for life!

Metamorphosis

Here's how a real West Coast Girl dresses for work:

A $3 scarf from The Patch, a "premium recycled and vintage clothing" (read second-hand) store.

A cotton sweater.

A chenille skirt from The Velvet Crease, a "designer label consignment" (read second-hand, again) store.  A steal at $35, though I had to pay extra to get it shortened.

Black tights!  (Footnote:  I bought tights with no waistband - for obvious reasons - but discovered that a waistband actually serves a purpose - it keeps the tights from falling down!  Need to buy a different style ...)

Low-heeled shoes, complete with orthotics. 

Lotus Land

With sincere apologies to my eastern Canada family and friends, I must report that some of our spring bulbs are poking their little shoots above the ground.  Now, this is not to say that we won't have cooler temperatures still, and maybe even snow, but, boy, it sure does make the winter seem shorter to see this glimmer of spring already.  Oh, living in Victoria is THE BEST!

Cauliflower cheese soup

I have to write an exam on Thursday night.  It must be 30 years since I have been so afflicted, and I'm finding that age doesn't make studying any easier.

Travel agents sell travel insurance.  In order to sell travel insurance in BC, you have to be licensed.  And in order to be licensed - you got it - you have to write an exam.  So here I am, sitting in my comfy chair, study manual open on my lap, highlighter and pen in hand, eyes heavy.

I think I'll make soup for lunch!

Did you know that, while 84% of Canadians believe that buying travel insurance is worth the cost, only 60% actually buy it?

Cut up the cauliflower and onions ...

In BC, payment for hospital charges can be a maximum payout of $75 per day for out of province coverage.

Mash the cauliflower, add the milk mixture and the cheese ...
 
Coverage will most likely be excluded if the insured is injured while committing a criminal act.

Soup is simmering ...

Agents must comply with the professional standards and regulations set by the Financial Institutions Commission.

Lunch time!  Mmmmm ...

Client: 48 years old vacationing in California
Condition: Heart attack
Hospitalized: 10 days

Premium: $200 CAD Bundled package

Cost to client who purchased insurance: 0
Cost to client who did not purchase insurance: $87,000 US

Hmmmm, what should I make for dinner ...

Building bridges

For the past three years I have been volunteering with an organization called Bridges for Women in their mentorship program <http://bridgesforwomen.ca/bridges-for-women-career-mentoring/>.  We 'mentors' are matched with women whose lives are in transition to help support them through the process.  Though ostensibly career mentoring, the relationship is way more than that.  In travelling this path with my four matches, I have learned so much from them - about friendship, generosity, caring, faith, hard work, and courage.  I've also learned where to find the best carrot cake in Victoria <https://www.facebook.com/PureVanillaBakery>; received an invitation to visit Peru, an original Chinese calligraphy, and an introduction to 'Life of Pi'; had a whole lot of fun; and made four great friends. 

Takes one to know one

Had a problem with our computers this week.  While I can handle most of the routine stuff, replacing the router and setting up the home network on computers with different versions of Windows is very much outside my comfort zone.  Enter Ben, our most recent go-to computer guy.  Ben, bless his heart, said that it wouldn't take more than 10 minutes to set up the router, and since he was billing us for an hour anyway, would use the extra time to sort out the wires under the desk.  He confessed to being somewhat compulsive on the issue.  Not that I would know anything about that ...

Ben's wiring job

My kitchen cupboard