My roots...My foundation

"Roots" usually is related to gardening and growth. Well for me it is related to the people in my life and how they have made me grow as a person - be it biological family; friends who are your second family and your friends. You know how that saying goes something like - not realizing how important something is until it is gone. Well, I have been gone for 11 weeks (well minus a 36 hour layover 4 weeks ago) as I participated in the Canadian Institute of Health Information Reabstracting Study. It has been a wonderful experience - learning how many depts are facing similar issues like shortage of staff; restrict deadlines as well promoting outside the dept the importance we are to the hospital as we capture the data from the charts. Personally - if you have read previous entries in my blog - it has been a challenge. After the excitement of seeing different parts of Canada - the routine of airports to new destinations, taxis, hospitals and hotel rooms, eating on your own each week - does wear on you.

My life line has been my laptop and cellphone to stay connected with those people who are important to me. Those people (they know who you are) are "my roots" - "my foundation" - they are a part of me and as my friend (to me a sister) Sara shared with me today - they are a part of my journey - sharing in all that life throws my way.

Just using my time (4 years) since my move to Calgary - I realize the new friendships I have made in Calgary (Brenda, Rosalie, Dale from church; my coworkers at the hospitals) I have missed our conversations and sharing. My cherished friendships with the James family (my second family - a sisterhood with the gals) I love you guys - you are my family in every sense of the word. The one thing I learned being away, was the friendships I have made (connection is another way to explain it) with the younger ones - Ocean, Ethan, Sierra, Journey, and Solomon. Their moms shared with me how much they appreciated the postcards, emails and phone calls while I was away. I have missed them all too - they do give the best hugs too. For the past 6+ months it was wonderful spending time with and getting to know Emma, Josiah and Hudson who now home, living in Siberia - I will cherish those times together. I have been blessed to be called their "Auntie Laura".

It really hit home on Tuesday how ready I am to get back to my life in Alberta - as I was working my cellphone rang and the caller ID said SARA - and when I answered there was nothing just dead air. I thought it was poor reception, so I went to the lobby and called Sara back. Though Sara and I enjoyed our little chat it seemed someone else reached out to call me - our little Casendra (turned 1 yrs old Feb 17th). Casendra got a hold of the portable phone and with amazement called my cellphone!! How precious is that?

As I told Ethan today - only 5 more sleeps and I will be home...my home in Calgary where I am making my roots...my foundation.

Toronto, ON

I have spent this week in Toronto. The hotel was the same place I stayed in last year when I worked at Hospital for Sick Childrens (a block from University Street or my nickname is Hospital Alley as there are like 4-5 hospitals on this one street alone!!). This year I was staying on the 21st floor, so the photo above was a morning view out my room - a view of the Toronto's CN Tower (a former Guiness record holder of being the World's highest free standing building). It was nice seeing some familiar faces at the hospital whom I met last year. Small world - the director at HSC knows my director of Health Records in Calgary.

I ended my time here with some visiting. Last night I took the GO Train (I thought of little Hudson as he loves train rides) to Oshawa for a visit with my brother Bruce and his wife Kristin. He treated us for supper - I enjoyed a steak which is a nice change from Subway wraps. I don't get to Toronto all that often so I enjoyed the perk of this study to fit in some visiting too. Thanks to Facebook I reconnected with a childhood friend Lisa who lives in Burlington, so this morning, I took the GO train again but in the other direction. We figured it has been close to 15 years since we last saw each other. She lived with her grandparents who lived across the street from me growing up - so we have known each other since kindergarten age (that is a long time!!). We had lost track of each other and then she googled me last Fall and she came across this blog site. It is funny - it seems neither of us have changed look wise and we had no problem talking either - plenty of laughs reimensing.

8 weeks done...3 to go!!

January 18 seems so long ago - but I only have 3 more weeks to go before I head home to Calgary. I have enjoyed seeing different parts of Canada (can say I have gone coast to coast - Halifax to Vancouver); enjoyed meeting fellow coders and sharing some similar challenges we each face at our facility; when comparing codes from the original coder and myself - nice to see that we are matching up majority of the time (always great knowing you are on the right mind set. The major challenge I found on this study - being away from home and my support system. I have spent most of the study working by myself (I will be teamed up with someone for the next 2 weeks), so it does get lonely in the hotel room night after night. Of course, as I mentioned previously, a couple of my friends have been going through challenges of their own and I have felt bad not being there for them (they have told me they have appreciated the calls and emails).

Well, one of the perks of this study is that I have been able to reconnect with some friends too. I had finished my charts a couple of days ahead of schedule last week and my project lead said she could send me home. Being I was coming back to Ontario (Toronto), I said fly me up to Thunder Bay where my mom live (at least we would be in the same province). So for the past few days I have been enjoying a mini-vacation in Thunder Bay. Have been able to go out for dinner with some friends which was great (having some good laughs). Friday night my mom took me to see the musical CHICAGO. Great music and dance numbers too.

This afternoon, I fly back to Toronto to spend a week there. I will be going back to Sick Kids again. Knowing from last year - they will be challenging charts. Hoping at the end of the week, to meet up with my brother Bruce and his wife for dinner. Next Sunday, I leave for Manitoba. I will be flown to Winnipeg and then drive 3 hours to Brandon where I will be staying for a week. My last week I am at the 'Peg and funny enough a former coworker from Thunder Bay works at that hospital - it has been years since I have seen Peggy.

Wishing you all a great week.

Had a good day

Well, for those who know me well - I have these moments where I really don't need a reason - but I feel like a good cry. I had a mini one on Thursday, though I had a reason - my emotions collided. A misunderstanding occurred over a month ago and I was just hearing about it on Thursday. I was hurt about what occurred. Of course, it collided with my thoughts for a couple of my friends who are going through a difficult time. Knowing they was there for me in my hour of need, I feel bad not being there for them. Nothing feels better than a good hug from someone who cares about you. So around 11pm on Thursday, I had my cry as I was typing to another friend of mine. It was a mini release I needed I guess.

Yesterday, I did something I haven't done for a while - I read a book cover to cover in a day!! (okay I did that in Vancouver Airport since I had 4-5 hours to kill before my flight left for Calgary). I had a Calgary radio station on, so it was comforting hearing the weather, news and traffic reports from home. Then I joined friends for lunch. Heather's family and mine have known each other for like forever. I think I was 3-4 years old when they moved into the neighbourhood. Small world as I know Heather's husband as well - we have mutual friends and it has been years since seeing each other (that's the small town feel you get from living in Thunder Bay). It was great catching up. They are expecting twins and I am tickled for them (that would be tickled pink and blue!).

This afternoon I am having lunch with Lorna and Jide. Lorna and I go way back too - we attended the same church and later in our 20s/30s we were on the same church committees. When Lorna and Jide were planning their wedding, I somehow became their wedding planner. Lorna mentioned that in her thanks at the wedding reception. Maybe it is my organizing skills - it was fun but exhausting at times. Sounds funny - I was the last one to enter the church (you know fluffying the dress in the back for Lorna), so the only seat was the last pew at the back of the church, so technically I finally "saw" their wedding months afterwards. So it has been great by doing this study - we have been able to meet up for supper/lunch everytime I am in town.

So - this weekend has been a good day. Though my thoughts are with my friends out west - I have recovered from my cry episode.

Basement Closet

Last weekend, I arrived for my whirlwind visit home. It was great to see everyone but it was saddened by the sudden passing of Amy's mother inlaw. I always remembered her smile and loving to spend time with her family especially with her grandchildren. She will be missed by her loved ones.

Basically since late Nov, I have been having steady reno projects completed by my family friends Jon J (been doing the painting) and John P. (been doing the carpentery) Simply I have a new house (lol). Above is the latest project done by John - he made this wonderful closet for my blankets, towels and sheets for me downstairs between my bathroom and bedroom. Jon will be painting is while I am away.

I didn't get a chance to take a photo of it - I received an awesome welcome home from the great job from Jon and John. Jon has only one more coat of the beige colour, but my rich red colour is on the walls - it looks great. Now the fireplace - I was stunned - it looks so beautiful. John placed tiles around it and added a hearth with a different colour to compliment the other tiles. I have this huge entertainment unit that stores my dolls - and it doesn't matter your eyes still goes to the fireplace. I guess I have a new focal point of the livingroom - I have no problem with that. Come April, and I put things away - I will take photos of all the completed projects. And for my Calgary friends I will probably have to plan an open house for you - isn't that a great excuse for a party?

Wonder if my fortunes will come true?

This is my 6th week on the road with the reabstracting study and I thought I would treat myself to some chinese food (usually it is the hotel's pub or Subway/Quizno's). In Ottawa, my hotel only has a small cafe and I got home later so that was the reason for my treat.

So here are what my fortune cookies told me:

You will travel to many exotic places

Listen attentively, You will come out ahead

Many people are seeking you for your sound advice

So I wonder what 2009 will bring?

The Paterson Sisters

One of the things I have noticed since being gone for the past 5-6 weeks, the interaction between Casendra and her big sister Sierra. While I was there, if Sierra was in the livingroom Casendra would go see what she was up too. There is that special bond with sisters (just like what their mom has with her sisters). It was neat to see it with Casendra and Sierra too.

It's too quiet....

During my visit with Char (who were looking after Sierra, Ethan and Casendra) we realized it was way too quiet. Well, here was Casendra in front of the cupboards in the kitchen looking to see what would go with her milk. Turns out she likes dry noodles... It was so cute. She also seem to enjoy playing with that soccer ball on the kitchen too - her daddy John will be happy about that as he used to play soccer.

Our little Riding Hood - Casendra

While I was away - the littlest one, Casendra turned 1 year old. On my day off, I walked up to the shopping centre and I found this little outfit for her. After seeing, it was decided it will be like Casendra's Easter outfit. I was happy to find this matching coat too. Sierra really like it - so much we took of that blue dress (the photo just above) and put on the pink one. Then we put on the coat - Casendra seem to love it- our little "pink" riding hood gal. I had bought her another t-shirt/pant outfit too.

It was great to be in Three Hills and be with the gang again - even if it was just for a few hours.

Coquitlam, BC

I had completed the charts that I needed at UBC in one week instead of the scheduled 2 weeks, so for my second week - I took about a 45 minute cab drive to Coquitlam to start another hospital. I have to admit it was a little like being in Quebec as the signs were not just english. From what I am told - the signs had Korean and Chinese characters that seem larger than the english counterpart. There wasn't much to do around where the hotel was - plus the weather didn't help - basically was gloomy and rainy - hey that's BC coast for ya!

I have to say in all my travels - I have not seen a dispenser like this - it was great as I didn't have to use my shampoo and conditioner the whole week I was in Coquitlam. This dispenser was attached the shower stall - thought it was pretty cool.

The staff at the hospital were great - came by my desk asking if I wanted to join them for lunch (which I did Mon-Thurs). It was great as it was just like it is back at Foothills when I go for lunch with my coworkers. Some good laughs. Nice feeling.

Well, in a short while I will be off to the Nation's Capital of Ottawa - as my Project Lead tells me - I am scheduled to stay for 2 weeks, but if I complete early I will probably be heading to Toronto earlier to help out with one of those hospitals before my scheduled week at Sick Kids. I am in the last leg - 5 more weeks - Ottawa (2); Toronto(1); Brandon (1) and finally Winnipeg (1).