Tag: learning

Moving Along

YdonoLeave a comment
Unpacking

We have started to move our Store over to the new location. As John brings in the many boxes I am trying to figure out where everything is going to go when I finally have the cabinets and shelves in.

Tomorrow the final pieces should be coming and I can finally have it all in one room again.

Unpacking all the shirts I realized I have a great selection of different sizes,colours and materials for ab awesome promotional sale when I get the new printer in. I’m so excited that I can do full graphics Hugh quality prints myself and start doing up promotional bundles for local businesses close to us, as a way of introducing ourselves.

I am in process of adding the new location to my Google and Wish Local.

On the home front John and I continue our meetings with the life coach from COPE. Last night we discussed communication. We had a conversation this morning that was quite difficult but I think we are moving forward.

I’ll leave it at that for now as my brain is rushing with anxiety and I can’t find a balance at the moment.

Move started

YdonoLeave a comment

We were able to start moving stuff into the new space today.

Excited to see how this space will work for us to grow and expand. I love all the windows and clear line of site over the neighboring farm fields.

This week I have a few things to finish and then I can focus on packing the rest of the equipment and moving it over next weekend.

I put larger decals on our van. I realized I should have put the QR code on it but I can add it. I printed them a little larger than I should have so we put them on the side window. I’ll print them again so they can go on the other side.

I also started getting help from my mental health worker with getting through my anxiety attacks when I’m decluttering at home. She referred me to housing support.

I had my first meeting with housing support and we have set up a weekly session of an hour to move through the house. We have it set for 1 year.

John and I continue to meet with our life coach through the COPE program. We are working towards our goals and starting to work together better. We really didn’t have huge issues but we were both having difficulties individually and this has given us a way to support each other and come together as a stronger couple.

I am thankful for the support we have been getting and for John taking the help.

2022 New Beginnings

YdonoLeave a comment

The year has begun and already we have some big changes happening.

1 Probably getting a new dog to join our home. His name is Brody and he is Johns uncles dog. Unfortunately, Uncle Fred passed and that has left Uncle Mike alone with the responsibility of caring for him and he is a Doberman Pincer so a large dog. We are unsure of when this will happen but it will be a big change for him as he is born and raised in Victoria BC. So the climate is very different than here. All the same we will give him a loving home to be in. Honestly, I am excited to have a large dog again.

2 We have decided to move the manufacturing part of Uniquely Ys to another location for growth, the new location is in Arnprior and that means I will have an extra hour a day to work in between bus runs. The space is the upstairs with lots of Natural Sunlight and lots of room to move around in. John will take one of the rooms and Stan will be taking the other. There is a huge property that we can make use of. This is a big change but movement into progression.

3 Christmas break has been extended till Jan 17th so far… So I’m using the time to do up straggling orders but also going to be working on the website and preparing for the move.

4 Mental Health is so far stable, I have support from Community Mental Health and still continuing with COPE (Couples Overcoming PTSD Everyday) We are fortunate to have these available.

5 Mom has a Tumor on her Thyroid Gland and is waiting to find out what they are going to do about it. In the meantime she is down to 87 lbs and very lethargic, weak. I am hoping that after the surgery (whenever that may be) that she will start to get better again.

So as you see lots of things going on. I’m trying my best to stay healthy mentally. As I know I can put myself under a ton of extra pressure trying to do everything all at once.

oh and side note Covid Finally hit our Family. Steven and Rain had it. Thankfully they are both Vaccinated and it didn’t effect them to bad. They are both fine. It has hit a few of my friends as well but no one we normally associate with so for the time being we are ok.

Stay Safe and Healthy as much as possible.


COPE

YdonoLeave a comment

John and I did a full week of intense therapy. We did a program called COPE Couples Overcoming PTSD Everday.

We were part of a 4 couple group. We stayed at a resort and everything was taken care of. Food/lodging ect.

John and I had some intense moments together. Dealing with our combined PTSD is not easy and we built some tools and dusted some others off…

We had an issue with the landlord before we left and had to deal with that while we were away. He wanted Dylan out of the house before we left. Told us Friday and we left Sunday morning. So we got a paralegal to draw up a letter to him to remind him he is overstepping.

We are now nervous with the relationship we will have with him as we move forward. We are now thinking we will no longer be living there long term.

Mom was in hospital for 3 days as well her kidneys and liver are in distress. So she was in hospital being monitored. She us home again and is doing better.

BC is flooding. I checked on Dad and he is ok. Our old house that we started our marriage in is under water but it is in the Sumas Prairie which was a lake before the 40’s… so not sure if it will recover.

Jason is busy driving supplies in from the train to wherever.

Uncle Jim is on his last days… so John will be going out west soon.

So many changes. Also Vera is going back to Belgium.

I am trying to cope with everything but I’m feeling overwhelmed.

Missing you!

YdonoLeave a comment

Today is my Sister’s 49th birthday. She passed away in March of 2017. We are 17 months apart. I’m the older.

Waking up today and realizing today is this particular day is hard. I want so much for to be able to call her and wish her a happy birthday.

I know she is no longer in pain and that her passing before Covid was a huge blessing. She would have suffered greatly through the past 2 yrs.

This picture is before she started to really go down hill.

She was very giggly and extremely vocal. Lol Not many memories of her being silent. She would talk me through my toughest times by just talking about whatever. Sometimes repeating herself because I would lose track of the conversation.

Today is a rough one but I know she is better where she is.

Fall 2021

YdonoLeave a comment

So much has been going on since the last time I rook the time to post.

Currently we have Dylan living with us with his Dog Sid and her 9 4 week old pups… trying very hard not to get attached and beg John to keep one haha… trying…

Store is starting to pick up. I have a few orders and more are coming… Truckers Tourettes is going to build up. Needing new equipment to support the demand.

Replaced a mug press with the next one that does so much more. Ordered many more blanks.

Working with Jon and Vera the artists in house. To help sell their art but also increase the awareness of what can be done.

We are finally going to the COPE program on November 14. Will be away for the week. So will no bus or store for the full week. Looking forward to it as we have been on the waiting list for over 2 yrs.

I finally have a mental health worker again. Cassidy. Will work through the workbooks from bounce back with her.

Lots of moving forward…

I need to record that I’m still in a ton of pain from my left achiles tendon. Getting worse and sciatica is starting to act up again.

Uncle Jim is in hospital again. Prostate cancer and not sure what else. John is preparing for a funeral. I won’t be able to go with him.

Jaimie is coming to inspect again… we hired Rhonda to get house back in order. Mel is going to come up and help as needed. Dylan is building a space in the barn for him and Sid.

I think I have most of it caught up now.

Projects getting done

1st Week Back ✔

YdonoLeave a comment

So we went back on Tuesday. Mostly the same as usual. Road work, silly drivers, great kids, stressed out on the silliest of things…

I have 2 of my students back from online learning and 3 new students. One of them I have not even met yet but I know he will be on the bus. I’ll be doing up the name badges tomorrow.

Vera and I are sharing the driving from Ottawa back and forth between bus runs. We are helping each other at the store. I spoke with her today to let her know that if she feels crowded or imposed upon to let me know. She told me that was not even a thought. We found out we both have the same internal self speech and anxieties. We will help each other grow.

Charlene flew to Edmonton this morning. I made sure she knew that my saying that I won’t miss her was just a facade and in fact I will miss her dearly. I feel like another Sister has left me. I want what is best for her. I feel that being with her family out there will be such a great blessing for her. How lucky she is to have Grandchildren and the opportunity to be with them as they grow. She has her daughters in-laws welcoming her with open arms. She will finally have the love and support of family that she completely deserves.

Fred has brought me some backgrounds for my displays and things are starting to look much better. I need to focus on my website this weekend but tomorrow getting the space cleaned up and visually pleasing again.

I spoke with Jon and told him to go ahead with any resin art that he wants and if he needs anything to let me know. I want to focus on the CNC skills right now. Get that going before the Christmas rush.

I lost a sale today. My Square would not connect and as we were trying the lady put her card away twice. I had Vera come and try with hers and the customers card failed. I think she purposely put the wrong pin in. It was a spontaneous order so… I think the delay made her change her mind.

I have a tumbler that a customer gave me the art it was from a teen daughter that is now deceased. I decided not to contact the family to ask permission to sell it as it as it was ordered as a gift to the mother of the deceased as a gift.

So I will offer other possibilities to the person wanting it. Not sure if this is the best action but I believe so.

I’m mentally, emotionally and physically exhausted.

Back to School

YdonoLeave a comment

My last night before going back to work as a school bus driver. Feeling excited, and nervous. Have not had to wake early for about 9 months. Hoping I’ll be ok in the morning. So excited to see the kids.

So many emotions!

I have been working on my website as I changed servers. It is quite daunting as I need to redo all my products. I am lacking in product descriptions but I will figure that out.

So my busy days are starting again. 7-10 bus, 10:30-2:30 Store, 3-5:30 bus

This is Charlenes last week here. She flies to Alberta on Friday. She is staying here with us.

Our house is full. Dylan and his dog Sid are also staying here till he figures out what he needs and gets sorted.

John is feeling a bit overwhelmed but we are managing.

Ok time for bed

August

YdonoLeave a comment

Well that went fast. Next Tuesday I go back to work driving the bus again. I can’t explain how excited and happy I am to be with the kids again.

I have 3 new students that I’m excited to meet. I am going to do up the name tags this weekend.

I have switched hosting sites for my website so I am going to work on building it over the weekend. I am happy I will be saving some money but wish I didn’t do this switch at this time.

I am building healthier relationships which is great.

I am working on my mental health with the Bounce Back program. I did the first couple workbooks and am going to work through the next one on being assertive and building healthy boundaries.

We had a great visit with Grandma and took the dogs with us. The trailer was comfortable for the most part. We were in a heat wave so it was a bit hot in the afternoon but thank goodness for AC. Rusty and Sasha are great travelers.

Daryon and Taylor looked after Ester and Dylan looked after Mya, Rio and Copy Cat. Everyone survived lol

So now onto working the store and driving the bus. Getting my bookkeeping up to date with Wendy. Starting singing lessons to build up my confidence again.

Really trying not to overload myself as I am not wanting a crash. So I am trying to build a safety net of support to help me through this.