The Hangover....

Well it is not really a hangover b/c I did not drink (due to being on antibiotics) but it feels like a hangover due to lots of physical preparation for the Fundraiser, staying up very late and an overwhelming feeling in my heart that won't go away.

The event was so much fun and I promise to post pictures later when people send me some (I forgot to bring my camera). First and foremost the decorations that were installed by my C.I. friends Liza, Tanya and Greg were just stunningly beautiful. They installed Chinese paper lanterns and parasols in soft pink and white. Thank you guys!! Many complements to you from the guests.

The event committee we had really pulled it together in the final hour and worked so hard during the event. We had a huge silent auction with amazing items for people to bid on and as well, "Vietnamese Draw" auction (well that is what we are calling it) and for this you purchase a book of tickets and drop a ticket or a few into the box of the item you hope to win.

Then we had a great bar set up serving up a few libations to wet every one's whistle because it is a lot of work bidding on items and bidding over other people's bid. It was highly competitive.

The food of course was nothing short of spectacular. Spring rolls, cheese balls, the best sausage rolls from "All the Best Fine Foods" which were donated, veggie and fruit trays, snacks in Asian take-out containers and an array of umbrella cupcakes.

We raised funds for my upcoming trip to Vietnam to bring Lily home. We also raised enough money to purchase medical supplies, diapers, formula and toys for Lily's orphanage. And through the Dragonfly Campaign we raised $250.00 that will go directly to TDH Ontario for children's projects in severe poverty stricken regions in Vietnam.

So a big THANK YOU to the committee (Monique, Jackie, Shari, Rachel), extra help in the kitchen thanks to Juni, a smooth running bar thanks to Jane, shout out to Arletta who did the gorgeous ticket design, all the people (and the list is way too many to list here) who donated an item or service to the silent auction. Without your generous donation our party would not have been nearly as fun. Lastly, I want to thank Erik for allowing us to utilize and make-over the roof-top party room in his loft building. It was a beautiful spot for our gathering.

So as it is Sunday and I have been going like a European Train these days, I am planning on doing nothing. Well almost nothing as I need to clean and organize my house as it looked like a European train when straight through it.

Stay tuned for some pictures.

Auction Items up for Grab

I know many of you cannot make it to the event tomorrow evening....so if you see anything at all you would like to bid on please reach out to the following people:

We would be happy to put your max bid on an item during the auction hours before 10:00pm.

• 2 Bl & Wh Fine Art Photographs of Children - both 5x 7
• Original Watercolour - Michael Zarowsky - Northern Ontario Approx. 18 x 12
• Framed Bl & Wh Fine Art Photograph of Paris Ferris Wheel
• Framed Bl & Wh Fine Art Photograph -Children with ice cream in Brugge
• Framed Original Painting by Penny Maguire
• Framed Photograph of the Rockies - Kananaskis
• Matted photograph of the Rockies - Kananaskis
• Mexican gift basket--Tequilla. corona, kahlua, mexican old elpaso stuff mexican dips.. plus $50 travel voucher.
• Gift Basket of Aveda Products with tote bag
• Gift basket (clinique, estee lauder.. givenchy etc)
• Arbonne Basket - Seasource Spa Products
• Arbonne Basket - NutirMinC RE9 Anti Aging Skincare products
• Arbonne Basket - Aromatherapy Assorted Products
• Basket of Assorted Coffee, Cookies, Biscuits and Chocolate
• Basket of Italian Food Products
• 1 x gift certificate to ONE Restaurant, Yorkville ($100.00)
• 2 Prepaid No Reservation Passes To Craigleith Ski Club
• 2 x Shaw tickets to performances at the Festival Theatre
• 1 night hotel in Niagrara Falls Best Western
• Retreat on Rice Lake at Harmony Dawn (for 1 person - Meditation and Qigong Weekend Workshop
• 1 Deep Tissue Massage - Andrea Bartliff
• 1 hour Lymphedema Massage - Toronto Lymphocare Clinic
• A day with the Nail Bagger (handy man services) - 4 hours
• 90 minutes of personal communications training from JA&A Inc.- value - $750
• 2 x Nutritional Assessment sessions. An initial consultation and allergy treatment (1.5 Hrs). Follow up session (1 hr) The allergy treatment is a form of electro-acupuncture to rid the body's symptoms of allergy
• Turqoise Plate and Cufflinks
• Oakley Sunglasses and Touque
• Ecojot - natural paper products and books
• 3 bottles Autographed Dan Ackroyd wine
• 12 Alliance Films DVD's
• Antica Murrina Venezia Murano Glass Jewellery - Necklace, Earrings and Ring
• Yeti Golf Club
• Audrey Hepburn handbag
• Hockey hall of Fame merchandise
• Eagle Professional Swag Merchandise
• 1 x Gift Certificate - 6 pack of beer from Steam Whistle brewery in Toronto
• 1 x Gift Certificate - Casey’s Grill Bar
• 4 x $25 Gift Certificates to Mercato
• Restaurant Books with Coupons x 5
• and a handful more

Hump Day

I have no news to report on this day in the middle of the week. Our adoption community did get information stating that people are slowly getting back to work in the government offices in Vietnam so we should, sometime soon get an update on our status. For those who have been waiting so much longer than I have been ....I so hope they get a travel date this week or early next.

I am a bit under the weather today and under the covers for most of the day. I am of one mind thinking that it is good to be sick now so I won't be sick when I travel but I am not so sure it works that way. On the other hand I am so busy at work and as well prepping for the big fundraising party on Saturday that I don't have time to do nothing.

What I have learned, and sometimes it takes a few coconuts to the head to realize.... nothing matters but one's health. I cannot work efficiently when sick, I cannot socialize, I make Charlotte go to the back yard rather than give her a long walk.

For those wonderful friends of mine reading this blog this would be a time, once I have Lily, that I might have to pick up the phone, reach out and say HELP.

A Blustery Day

Thank goodness for a bit of winter to come our way. I just love snow and therefore, I am quite happy to see the chunky flakes coming down. And, it is Monday and I am not grumpy. Do you want to know my secret? Well, I had a half day vacation. Wow there is life outside of work!

Also, I am feeling really positive that I will hear something this week that will progress me to a travel date. I know I may not get the travel date today but I will get a little snippet of something.

Please focus on a positive update with me. Altogether we can perhaps make a shift.

First comes shower and then comes baby ?

An Update on my Updates

Well another week has come and gone and no news yet as to when I will be travelling. Some days it seems such a far away dream and then other days I feel as though I am about to travel.

Vietnam just celebrated the festival of TET:

Tet - Vietnamese and Chinese Lunar New Year, is the most important Festival of Vietnamese people. This scared Festival sometime between late January or early February (depend on Lunar Calendar ) and Tet has become so familiar to the Vietnamese that when Spring arrives, the Vietnamese, wherever they may be, are all thrilled and excited with the advent of Tet, and they feel an immense nostalgia, wishing to come back to their homeland for a family reunion and a taste of the particular flavours of the Vietnamese festivities.. Although officially a three-day affair, festivities may continue for a week or more with every effort made to indulge in eating, drinking, and enjoyable social activities. It is also a time for family reunions, and for paying respect to ancestors and the elders. Gifts of food are made to friends, neighbours and relatives in the days before Tet.

What this means is that no one is getting any information as all the government buildings are closed and many take extended holidays. I was concerned from the onset and knowing the timing when I received my referral of Lily that I would run into TET and there would be a delay.

So I just wanted everyone to know, because I know you are wondering, that I have not received an invitation from Vietnam to travel. I contacted my agency by email last week and by phone this week but I am not hearing back which tells me they have no additional news.

Well, I will focus on the upcoming fundraiser party which will be so much fun!!

Hopefully, fingers crossed and knock on wood that I will hear something next week to share at the party.

Waiting

What a odd thing "waiting" is. We all do it. I find myself waiting for a lot of things these days:

• waiting for more information
• waiting for more photos of Lily
• waiting for an invitation to travel
• waiting on a list for daycare
• waiting in line at the grocery store (when they should have had more cashiers)
• waiting to get an appointment for any type of primping/beautifying and removing type of work to be done
• waiting for mortgage rates to drop even more
• and just looking around my house it is obvious I am waiting to start editing all my stuff to make way for baby items.
• oh and my biggest wait is for the @*%$! Dupont #26 bus

What are you waiting for??