Christine Gordon Manley

Exciting! I used to get my bras from these women from NL who would rent out a hotel suite a few times a year here. They’d measure you and bring you custom finds, offer you wine if you wanted, and we’d laugh so much. Miss that (Covid killed their business, sadly).

October is almost over and I feel like I wasn’t prepared for it. I haven’t even bought any pumpkins yet (likely won’t at this stage). We returned from UK over 3 weeks ago but we’ve been in limbo since, as we await news on 2 critical care family members, one here, one in Scotland. It’s hard.

If you want info on nasal sprays, probiotics, or mouthwash that can add additional layers of protection, let me know! Also, thank you for masking and caring. ❤️

There is none. Those of us who still mask and take protections/precautions support each other. I get very little support (and some anti-support actually) from anyone outside of that circle, sadly. It's very isolating.

Taking in Open House at UPEI with my teen today. Feels weird to acknowledge that it’s been approx 25 years since I was a student here…

Women are still being denied. I'm 46 and my doctor refuses to let me try HRT.

If I were granted one wish, (aside from like world peace and feeding/housing people), I’d wish for the ability to sleep like a normal person. I’m exhausted all the time, yet I cannot sleep…and it sucks.

Happy you day!

We all took the night off from any commitments (it was needed).

As hard as it is coaxing an anxious child, I try to remember how hard it must be being said anxious child.

But told us afterward that we are excellent parents and he hopes to be like us one day, should he be lucky to have a child. I was gobsmacked. To be noticed like that, in the middle of a heated moment? Meant the world.

And yes we got her chocolate ice cream after; it’s our family rule. Needle = 🍦

Anyway, needless to say, various strategies today weren’t working and, well, it took a while and involved a lot of tears. Never once was I forceful with my child; patience is the way to go here. Super grateful for an understanding pharmacist who not only never rushed us… /2

Vaccine day for our family today (flu and Covid), and our youngest has a severe phobia of needles. It takes a lot of patience and strategy to get her to calm state to accept a needle. We take up a lot of time (I do call ahead and tell staff this). 🧵/1

I spent much of the day in my role as Chauffeur to my kids…but I did manage somehow to attend a rally for Palestine. Those always fill my heart. It’s encouraging to see the support from the community! 🇵🇸

I tend to take mist things about myself in stride. I laugh at myself because why not? But this whole not sleeping/chronic pain part of me can have some real lows, let me tell you. Tonight I hate whatever part of me is broken and won’t let me sleep.

For what it’s worth, I have 2 daughters, age 17 and 12, and it has never “sucked.” Also teenage years so far have been great!

Thank you for the encouragement! I’m on a life-long journey so maintaining motivation is def a challenge!

First day back at physio exercises in close to a month. They went as well as you’d expect. I had been riding a nice daily trend since March, but, alas, travel interrupted that streak. Time to find my groove again! (I’ll accept cheerleading! Daily physio is not exactly fun.)

Exercise has to be fun, I feel, or it's easy to ignore. Every morning, my husband and I go for a walk. It's time to connect before the day goes wild on us. I layer fun activities on top of that (biking, paddleboarding, swimming), and I treat them like appointments—I only cancel for germs/pain.

I don't claim to do this well all the time, just fyi, but the more I plan, the easier it is. On Sundays, I create a meal plan for the week. Knowing what I'm cooking each day helps significantly! If I do that, cooking a healthy meal takes the same time as an unhealthy one.

Always.

This week was a challenge for many reasons (post-trip catch up with work, supporting kids catching up with school, some family medical stuff going on, and stupid pain flare-up), but my heart remains full of gratitude for the many blessings I have. I promise I'll stop spewing sap all over here soon.

I’m content with it. We have a lot going on right now, where we need to be on standby (semi-urgent situation, not just regular to-dos…) so as long as we can get through the next 10-ish days, it’ll work out okay.

Reminder to book your flu and Covid vaccines!

I do have to go to public health for flu “shot” (nasal spray) for our youngest, which isn’t an option at pharmacies. I booked that as a separate visit. Phew!

I had a hard time booking for 4 people using online methods (we would have been there 2 hours which is dumb), so I ended up phoning a pharmacy, explaining the situation, and we are all in for Oct 21.

I’ll take another look; I must have been in the wrong spot…

Good suggestion!

Yeah, I still don't get this one so call me an old fogey I guess, ha ha.

We just got back from the UK, where solar panels have increased in popularity, like here, and everyone we talked to were shocked how we have a grid/credit system and it's not self-sustaining for most of us.

Yuuuup…