egyptian flu

I have not been feeling well this fall....i have been suffering from pretty bad fatigue, and had a couple bad weeks of flu-like symptoms and suffered for another few weeks with a bad cold within the past couple months.

I've been to the doctor a couple times, and it turns out i have the Egyptian flu. Sounds pretty scary and exotic, but i guess it's actually more common than most people realize - it's just usually not called by that name.

General symptoms (which are very consistent with my experiences) are increased fatigue, nausea and vomiting, and the like. Not very pleasant. And i guess this stays in your system for the better part of a year, with the fatigue lasting even longer, sometimes lingering for years. And of course there's a pretty good chance of having relapses during my lifetime.

But the main symptom, which doesn't appear for about 8 months post-diagnosis, is that you become a MUMMY!

ha ha ha, i know, bad joke. But yeah, Anthony and I are having a baby! I'm due June 30, and yeah, i've been pretty sick. It's getting better now, hopefully i'll be able to enjoy Christmas dinner.

We got to hear the heartbeat today at our appointment - more details about that (and a lot more stories from the past few months) can be read at babyepp.blogspot.com.

Hope springs anew

The light is now chasing away the darkness. That makes me happy.

Yesterday was the shortest day of the year. Which means that as of today, the days start getting longer again.

I don't really like mid-winter when it's dark so early - really, yesterday there were only 7 3/4 hours of daylight.

But I LOVE early summer (late spring?) when it's light out until 11pm-ish....i love those warm nights, fragrant with apple blossoms and the blooming of so many flowers. So i guess i can deal with the trade-off of the long winter nights.

It always seems to me, though, that the longest day of the year should be sometime around the end of July, not late June. I always get a bit sad on June 22 when i realize that the darkness is starting to overcome the light. But then when it comes to December, i am more than happy for the reverse to be true, and would not want to wait another month for the winter solstice to occur.

Plus, the light chasing away the darkness is a great reminder of another Light that came to chase away all Darkness, which we celebrate at this time of year. So when you notice the light at the end of the day (or a beautiful sunset), or notice a bit more light in the mornings, take time to reflect on He who is the source of light and hope and life.

A letter of appreciation

To the man who stopped his huge van to let me walk across 8th street today, then got out of his van, arms flailing, and yelling "There's a pedestrian trying to cross! Stop!" at the cars that were not stopping such that they had to come to a stop to avoid hitting him,

you made my day.

I dodge traffic each and every morning as i try to cross 8th at that intersection. I, too, get annoyed when one lane of traffic stops to let me across, but the other lanes keep whizzing by.

Today, you showed me that not all drivers are more concerned with getting to work on time than stopping for a few moments to allow someone else to continue their journey as well. Your passion and enthusiasm (and risk of life and limb) on my behalf were heartwarming.

reality hits home, finally

I just finished preparing my job termination form, effectively ending my employment as of Dec. 31.

I have known since March that this day was coming, but printing out that form really made it hit home.

In just over 2 weeks, I will be unemployed.

I have been doing pretty well with trusting that God has something else prepared for me, and I know that He will not leave us high and dry, He will provide for our needs.

But for now, i'm just sad. And a teeny bit scared/apprehensive.

almost done

2 more gifts to buy (mom and grandma), plus some little things for the neighbours, dog, rabbit, bird, etc.

I think this may be the earliest i've ever been done, and the shortest timeframe in which i've completed the whole list...i started last Monday, and if i get out tomorrow to McNally and Michael's after work, will be officially done.

Saturday late afternoon i had an urge to shop, so Anthony & I went out (downtown shops - not midtown, Lawson mall, and even Preston Crossing Can Tire and Walmart!). It actually wasn't terribly busy out, and we were able to accomplish a lot in a relatively short amount of time.

I can't wait to give these gifts to people. Honestly, moreso than getting things, i really love to put a lot of thought into getting people the perfect gift and then seeing their reactions when they open it. The best are gifts where i come up with an idea on my own that i know they'll love, but that they has not asked for or mentioned...my dad is the recipient of that type of gift this year, as well as another for Leon. Oh, and Mom Epp too.... Should be fun!

Christmas 2006

Looks like it will be a good Christmas season. At this time of year, i'm always thankful that both sets of parents (mine & Anthony's) live in the same city as us, it sure cuts down on hassles and headaches when planning where to spend Christmas (though it does increase the gut aches when we have two turkey dinners on the same day!)

This year, I'm really looking forward to the gatherings/celebrations we have planned...here's a snapshot:

Fri Dec 22 - special event for me n tony (more to come later)

Sun Dec 24 - probably supper out with Anthony, me, Leon, then hang out in the evening and go to the Cmas eve service at Ebby

Mon Dec 25:

- our own family Christmas at home that morning, then off to Nelson's for mid-morning, noonish turkey, and visiting. Both sisters and their spouses and Liv will be here.

- I believe we're then invited to Leon's parents for turkey supper around 4 or 5 (i've never met his mom yet, we've talked lots on the phone, though. we met his dad a few times)

-Later that evening, we'll go to Epp's and just hang out, eat appy's/snacks/baking and play games, maybe do stockings (?) Arleen's out of town over Christmas, so we'll be doing the Official Epp Family Christmas on Ukranian Christmas - Jan 6(see, i must be having an influence on that Mennonite/English family!)

Dec 26 - do you even have to ask? Shopping, of course! For nothing in particular this year....just to be out in the bustle, look for some deals.

Dec 27, 28 - All 3 of us are off, so just vegging around home, eating leftovers :)

Dec 29 - go to Montana
Dec 30 - wedding in Montana (the reason Arleen is gone, it's her best friend's wedding so she's down there helping in Dec)
Dec 31 - shopping in Montana (yay for lots of stores we don't have here!)
- evening party in the hotel. The whole Epp clan will be down there so it should be a blast. And yes, the hotel has swimming :)
Jan 1 - drive back home

So that's the plan... what does your Christmas schedule look like?

things you never knew...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pirates_versus_Ninjas

(or maybe you did.....)

fashionista? I think not.

Lately, i have felt very un-fashionable. In fact, most days, i feel quite like Kenny from South Park.

It has been COLD this week, and i have decided to give up all my pride and wear snowpants to walk to work.

Now, these are no regular snowpants. They are my father-in-law's, they are too big for me, they are quite a few years old, so they are PUFFY! My legs look like giant sausages, and combined with the three layers i wear on top, i am definitely not fit for a paris runway.

But who cares? I'm warm! And really, nobody can recognize me with my toque down past my eyebrows and scarf up past my nose... So :P