The Very Happiest of Christmas Tidings to You

From our house to yours .....


And since no one has mentioned it for days (HA!) the weather .... its raining, but everywhere else after a 40 miles radius .... its snowing harder that it has in the last couple of days.

Oh well, just one more thing you can't do anything about.

Stay safe, and we'll be bloggin' it soon!

Let It Snow! Let It Snow! No! No! No!

Well it seems that Old Man Winter took umbrage to my entry from last week. Victoria has been blanketed, duvet'd, multi-bedded, pillow topped with enough snow to last me for quite some time. Our front yard is sporting a good two feet, and from what I hear we got off pretty easy. (They are saying to expect some more of the white stuff today and later this week.)

And while everyone else gets a 'snow day' (including my husband) I am physically capable of making the trek across the church parking lot to my office from home. Although, I did not carry a cup of coffee with me this morning, as is my regular routine.

Don't feel too sorry for me yet though - I'll be outta here shortly. No sense me sticking around when I did such a bang-up job of clearing off my desk last week.

I've had phone calls from friends from the other side of the country. However, I use the word "friends" lightly as when I lifted the receiver and said "hello" I was greeted with gales of laughter at the plight this poor blooming city was in.

I had my turn laughed at them when I found out they were under 4 feet of snow and counting. Makes our weather sound paltry.

But I blather .....

There really isn't much else to tell today. I will be heading home shortly to catch up on some last minute Christmas crafting, and some package wrapping, and maybe a hot cup of cocoa or two.

If your weather is inclement then you have my permission to stay home and stay safe.

Merry Christmas from the local wildlife

The Weather Outside Is Frightful

But the fire is so delightful .... if only we had a cord of wood this winter.

Winter has hit Victoria. For some that will bring a shoulder shrug and a so-what. For some that will bring gails of laughter. For "Pirate" our young cat, it brought a whole new wonderland of play, but that's another story.

I moved to Victoria to escape winter, and for the most part - we do. However, it has become a trend of the last several years to have a minimum of 1 semi-major snow (2-4 inches) - and I pray this one is it. They say the temperature is -5 Celsius (23 degrees for my American friends), but the wind-chill factor makes it 'feel' like -15 C (5 degrees Fahrenheit). Bloody cold if you ask me!

I am amongst the few who do not care for a 'white Christmas', except for the Bing Crosby version on DVD. I prefer to look out my window on Christmas morning and see green grass and sunshine. I have come to firmly believe that Canada needs to acquire Hawaii as a new providence, and my residence. Failing that - I will remain in God's best kept Canadian secret - Vancouver Island.

But I digress .....

The inclement weather forced me to stay home and craft. A hardship, I assure you. A hardship I gladly bare - for you the occasional recipients of my labours of love.

And on that note I send you off on this cold, chilly Monday morning, and wish you safe journey's no matter the weather in your particular part of the world.

Mickie and me, we're like this ....

Tuesday Morning Wake Up

I love waking up to the sound and smell of coffee brewing.

I'm not so fond of finding out I forgot to put the carafe into its receiving position.

On the upside - I have a clean counter now.

Kicking and Screaming

The older I get the more I come kicking and screaming into the Christmas season. I was thinking my approach to Christmas is much like the five stages of Grief - denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. The only difference being that I tend to miss anger and bargaining, and then acceptance comes on Boxing Day and by then its too late.

So I settle for 'ambivalence'. (am⋅biv⋅a⋅lence - noun - 1. uncertainty or fluctuation, esp. when caused by inability to make a choice or by a simultaneous desire to say or do two opposite or conflicting things. 2. Psychology. the coexistence within an individual of positive and negative feelings toward the same person, object, or action, simultaneously drawing him or her in opposite directions.)

My husband said to me yesterday that he thinks he figured me out regarding Christmas. That I am in a state of inconclusiveness regarding Christmas, until I don't get my way. Then I'm just difficult.

What does that say about me? Don't answer that.

This year is no exception. I feel very blah about it, and am not very keen to "play in all the reindeer games". Don't get me wrong, I don't dislike Christmas. I'm not a bah-humbugger. I'd so like to get into the spirit of things, and embrace all thing winter solstice. It's just not in me, and increasingly so each year.

I think what I really need is a long hot Christmas in Hawaii. That would cure me up right!

Amongst the dumbest inventions

I have on my desk, as I type, one of THE dumbest inventions I have ever come across.

It's a pencil - seems harmless enough - but this particular pencil has a soft rubber casing. The casing (usually the wooden part, or hard plastic) is flexible. You can bend it into the letter "O" its so flexible.

How ... you may ask .... does the lead work if the casing is so flexible.

Well ... I answer you .... because the lead is also equally flexible AND it doesn't break.

AMAZING! You might exclaim ...

However, if you are lucky enough to get the flexible plastic and lead to sharpen (this took a great deal of tongue-gripped-between-teeth action) your first attempt to actually write with it is .... lets just say ..... too pliant for prose. With your inability to give proper grasp and grip to the tool your work quickly diminishes to a style not unlike that of a 4 year old.

And all of that without the lead breaking!

Whomever thought this was a brilliant idea that had to be patented and sold - - needs to write all his documents with his own invention.

I may keep it around as a joke, or I may pass it along to some other chump. OR .... who amongst you might want this for your expanding pencil collection? I will gladly mail it off to the first to respond with their desire.

100 things about me - only - not really

Enough of that face already!!

I love being busy at work, but I rarely seem able to come up for air these days. I'm not sure why. But its all good. I'm just sorry I haven't been faithful with updating.

I'm started a list of 100 things about me, but I'm only at #25. Here's the start of the list:

1. I am the youngest of three children
2. The only daughter
3. 12 & 14 years younger than my bros
4. I’m married
5. And this didn’t happen until I was 40
6. And he is the youngest of three
7. And the only boy (although these are in fact about him not me)
8. My hobby are paper crafts, reading, blogging
9. Although at present I’m slightly addicted to doing Sudoku’s
10. Our house is a very, very fine house
11. With two cats in the yard (on the couch actually)(Digit and Pirate)
12. I have lived in three provinces in Canada – Ontario, Alberta, and British Columbia
13. I have blue eyes (and I admit that I been a little prideful of them)
14. I want to learn to drive a motorcycle before my 50th birthday
15. But I don’t want a motorcycle. I want a high end scooter that is higher than 50 cc’s.
16. I have a sarcastic sense of humour which has got me into trouble on occasion.
17. I’ve never missed a season of “Survivor”
18. When I was 16 I competed in Rodeo’s
19. When I was 17 I ran for and won being “Rodeo Queen” for my small town in Alberta.
20. I’m a high school graduate, but that’s it. I’ve yet to figure out what I want to be when I grow up.
21. I’ve never had the Measles. I did get the Mumps when I was 6 or 7, and didn’t catch chicken pox until I was 17. I really missed the bus on the childhood diseases.
22. When I was a kid I thought that if you sold your house, you just switched houses with whomever bought your house.
23. I sometimes sleepwalk. I’ve woken up with the strangest assortment of clothes on at times.
24. I also dreamwake. I’m dreaming, my eyes are open and my bedroom is half real and half dream, but I can’t wake up. Only I know I’m dreaming too. Weird.
25. Four years ago I fell off my shoes and broke my foot, and that’s the only bone that I’ve ever broken.

I never realized how hard it was to come up with 100 things. Maybe I'm trying to hard, maybe not hard enough. Is this what you sick people come here for? :-)

Blessings,
LJ

You Asked For It!

Or at least some of you did.

Me in my ears!



I bet you're sorry you asked.

Something I Said I Woul Never Do

There were a number of firsts for us this holiday. It was a first to visit Florida (and it stands to reason - a first for Disney World). A first for flying with the hubby (in an airplane that is). A first time at a water-slide park. And so on ...

One particular 1st that comes to mind is something I swore I would never, ever, ever do! and it has to do with the Water Park. At Disney World there are two water parks to partake in (at an additional cost - of course) however, during the time of our visit only one of the water parks were open. "Typhoon Lagoon" was wonderful. Even in October the Florida weather is warm enough for Canadian hicks like us to enjoy a day at the beach (so-to-speak). You can drift lazily around the park on inner tubes, or slide down a three story enema inducing drop (if you don't cross your legs just right); or experience a minor typhoon-like hit from a giant wave. This last one was a lot of fun, but don't go thinking that sitting in the shallow end will lesson the impact. Just ask my husband, but that's another story.

Which all brings me back to another 1st, and something I vowed strongly to never do, and will never do (except under duress) again!

What? might you ask would I feel so strongly about ....

The change room / bathrooms & lockers are slightly away from the water area. So one must change then lock up their belonging - including all foot gear - before beginning ones drenching adventures.

We changed, rented a locker and headed on in. The lazy, lounging, wet, river around the park was the best way to relax and see things. Then we began to inspect and partake in some of the sliding action going on. Wet, wild fun!

Nature will have its way with our bodies, and it was time for a quick snack and potty break.

Think about this .... you and several hundred others are wet and dripping - without towels (for the most part) and without foot coverings of any kinds - all traipsing around and some - like us - need to use the loo. There are very few things that gross me out more than carpeted bathroom floors or having to walk into a public bathroom in my bare feet.

(side note: there were no carpeted bathroom floors involved in this particular story. It is just a generalized statement of YUK!)

One of these two things I had to confront and face head on. "Head On - apply directly to the forehead".

Sorry - I digress.

The mere thought of having to walk into that public bathroom toilet cubicle brings a grimace to my face. I was hard pressed to stay on my tippy toes enough to keep my feet away from making contact with the floor in front of the toilet - let alone not allow my tush to sit down. Hovering just over the seat in a public bathroom is a long practiced event for many years now. But the combination of the two actions was greater than I could bear. My disgust was at an all time high.

Directly outside of the bathrooms was a foot wash fountain, but this did very little to calm my heebeejeebee's. I did however, live to tell the tale.

It will be a frosty day in hell before this kind of situation occurs again.

On a level of 'must do again at any price' vs. 'won't catch me dead doing that' this experience set the bar on the adverse end. A very close third or fourth place winner is the 30 minutes of my life I will never get back from waiting in line and riding "It's A Small World After All" under duress. A vow I broke, against my better judgment, on this holiday.

And there lies another scary tale from "Disney World Adventures 2008" for your reading pleasure.

Disney World observations

You know the expression "What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas", well I've come to understand the same basic principle also applies to DisneyWorld.

What is in context in DisneyWorld, must stay in DisneyWorld

Example:
Inside the fantasy of Disneyworld, a 300 lbs woman with a tight pink t-shirt with the words "Princess" stretch across her massive tracts of land, is perfectly at home and acceptable within the gates. Once out of those gates ... well lets just say it loses a little of its lustre.

The same can be said for "Mickey" ears. You have a sense of "gotta have" while there. Be in on the fun. Would you wear those ears once home in your own Postal Code? For the most part, that is. In an effort to bolster my excitement about going a fellow co-worker, who was almost jealous for me, brought in his previously earned Mickey ears to the office the day before I left - to get me in the right frame of mind. In that instance it didn't seem completely out of place.

All this to say that I was constantly confronted with what was deemed acceptable within and without the walls of the happiest place on earth.

We really did have a fantastic time. And - yes - we did come home with our own set of mouse ears. We were going to buy some, but were given each a pair after riding one particular ride. Whewww Whooo!! I wore my for the rest of that day, but only within context.


This is us on the first day waiting for our shuttle to take us on a new adventure. (Pre-ears)

There will be more stories to come. I'm sorry its taken me so long to update. I only took two weeks off, but I feel like I'm backlogged beyond comprehension. It's all good, and I have more to share with you all.

Your Mugwhump Has Returned

Minnie and Mickie say "Hi!"

We got back to the land of reality late on Saturday night. Today is my first day back to work. I have so much to share with you, but am neck deep in finding my desk again.

I promise to do a proper update very soon.

Believe it or not - I missed you all very much.

;-)

Watching the Clock

Today - I'm watching the clock. Something my cover letters and resumes say I never do. Today, I exempt myself!

At present it's 2:19pm on a Friday afternoon. In two hours and 41 minutes I will be on holidays. Twenty-four hours from this time I will be boarding a plane in Vancouver bound for LAX where we will hurry up and wait until 10:30pm for the final leg to Orlando.

You'd think I'd be welling up with excitement and joy. And I should be! But all I feel is exhaustion, and an overwhelming sense of "what haven't we thought about?".

It's all good. Once I get on that first plane tomorrow I will be visually and verbally giddy. I can feel it building.

A fellow co-worker - who is an ultimate fan of Walt Disney World - even brought in and wore his one mouse ears for me today - just to get me in the right frame of mind. And he, like all past visitors to anything Disney - is full of advice of all the must sees. It's amazing to me how excited other people get when they hear that you're traveling to Disney. I've had total strangers give me instructions.

I called the credit card company to tell them that we'll be traveling and the moment that "Dave" heard my destination was Orlando, he cut me short and said "you're going to DisneyWorld aren't you? You've GOT to go to DisneyWorld!" Once I affirmed his dreams I spent the next 10 minutes listening to him pontificate on all the stops that can't be missed and why didn't I forget taking my husband and take "Dave" instead!

"Dave" is a total stranger to me, yet somehow I have a sneaking suspicion that in some office space in Winnipeg "Dave" will be day dreaming about a credit card customer who's at the happiest place on earth - where he'd rather be.

What is it about Disney that brings this out in people.

Anyway - it is now 2:50pm. I have one hour and forty minutes left in my day, and there are just some things I need to accomplish here before I put the key in my office door lock for the last time until the 28th.

The next time I write it will be with mouse ears on!

Playing Catch Up and Dreaming

What a duzey of a month behind us, and I sure knew when October 1st hit. But it's already the 8th. What happened?

People don't believe me (least of all new staff members) that when September 1st hits you start running and don't stop. I've lost count of the times our new receptionist has told me recently that she had 'no idea it would be like this ....' her voice trailing off, and a deer caught in the headlights look in her eyes.

I'm happy to report that the sparkle is returning, and the glazed over tired look has come over mine. But it's all good. I'm on holidays starting Saturday for the next two weeks. I'm on tidy up mode, and what info do I need to pass on mind-set. I've been busy today and can finally see the Spongebob Squarepants place mat that I keep on my desk. A joyous yellow smile to behold.

I've also been checking the weather in Orlando on a daily basis, and although it looks like we're heading into rain and thunderstorms (yay! I love to watch lightning) the average temperature has been in the 80's. So what if we get wet. It still beats the Winnie-the-Pooh blustery days we've been having here!

Three more sleeps and one long plane ride .....

Seriously Folks

If you are in need of some levity you have got to visit Yearbook Yourself. And have a photo of yourself ready. This should amuse your for a little while.

I brightened up my day and scared the heck out of me too. This picture came out way to close for comfort (circa 1980). The only difference being I didn't wear glasses yet, and my perm was a little longer.

On another note - it's October already! I have 10 more sleeps to go and I'm on holidays!

I know how they feel

It's Official - Fall is Here!

And I don't mean because the calendar says so.

I know the fall has arrived because I had to turn to furnace on this morning when I got up. The house was C H I L L Y! THAT's when I know that fall has arrived.

Autumn used to be my favourite season. But over the last several years my preferences have changed, and I'm all about sunny days and warm evenings for lounging on the back deck. When its dark by 7pm then its no longer fun to 'lounge' on the back deck.

The one great this about 'this' fall is going away on holidays next month. I'm sure your all sick of hearing about it, but we are both so excited we can hardly contain ourselves. Eighteen more sleeps and one overnight plane ride and it's Disney World, Florida is ours for 12 nights! And .... Lord willing .... warm weather and no hurricane's.

I'm gonna see me some Mickey, some gators, some fun rides, and maybe the Atlantic Ocean.

What more could one Mugwhump ask for?

Weeks End

A new sound is audible to my ear …..

The collective sighs of many Monday to Friday, 9-5 workers across the world as we embrace Friday!

There are some who would think that I live for Fridays, but it’s simply not true. I just appreciate the true value of the end of the week after a very busy one. I love my work, and you will not convince me otherwise.

I do feel that life (new responsibilities at work, and a new Ministry year) is falling into its newly developing routine. I thrive in semi structure, structure with some flexibility. The learning to accept “flexibility” in contrast to structure has been years in the making. That’s what working for a church will do for you. Or at least to phrase that more aptly …. working for this particular church.

It’s all good.

I’ve had a good week all in all. Fiscal year end stuff is the quagmire of life, a necessary evil as it where, and in the middle of it I am. This is what is partially consuming my work day.

I was told yesterday by a fellow co-worker – with all the staff changes that have gone on here over the last couple of years, it was decided that I am the “brain trust” on staff. They are trusting my brain to remember the who’s, what’s and where’s of this place. A very scaring thought for me. But what I find almost scarier is that I actually know the answers most of the time. Wild!

In the home front we are typically low keyed. As you can see from previous entry’s you’ll read that I’ve acquired a new toy for my hobby. It’s loads of fun, and I have high hopes for extracurricular crafting accomplishments. I am (almost) ashamed to admit that while I sat in church service last Sunday I was planning out our Christmas card. For shame, but I hope the vision comes to fruition none-the-less.

Our weekend is hopefully continuing on a quiet note. The weather tells us that rain is coming (for the first time in several weeks), which leads me to hope for completing a number of in house items. But you never know, what I set out to do is rarely where I end up - at least on the home front that’s how it goes down.

12:26pm, during lunch

It's here!
It's here!
It's here!
It's here!
It's here!
It's here!
See previous post!!
It's here!

Now I want to call in sick and go home and play, only I'm the person I would have to call in sick too, and I wouldn't be able to fool myself.

Is it 4:30 yet???

Can you hear it?

Can you hear my fingers drumming out an impatient tune on my desk? You should be able to, I'm rather loud at it ,and rather impatient too. But in a good way.

According to the Fed-Ex tracker website Quickutz Shilhouette Cutter is "on the delivery truck in Sidney, B.C." I should have it in my hands by later today.

Yippeeee!!!!!

Not a Deep Entry

Does anyone watch "Jon & Kate plus 8"?

Should I get my hair cut like Kate's? It looks so easy to take care of.

I haven't said anything to the husband yet. I already know his answer. It will be a definite "No"!

I almost forgot!

Well, actually I didn't 'forget'! I just forgot that I should blog about it ... sorta.

Today, September 14, 2008 is the hubby and my 6th wedding anniversary. I find it so hard to believe time has skipped along so quickly. I'm very sure that life went much slower before I met the husband. Or was in the least bit as rewarding ...

I did have to remind/tell him that I really really really wanted to receive flowers today. I've been disappointed to many times, that I had to put in a good word. He came through with flying colours.

So as requested I received a beautiful bouquet of flowers AND a lovely potted plant, when I came home from church. And I, as is the traditional gift for a 6th wedding anniversary, gave him candy - more specifically chocolate. His favourite. We decided a while ago not to purchase gifts for each other since we are off to Walt Disney World, Florida in less than a month... LESS THAN A MONTH, Oh My!!

And for that matter, at the rate we keep upgrading various parts of our trip we'll also be dispensing with gifts for Christmas and Birthdays, but that's fine with me.

So Cheers to Us!! We survived each other for 6 years. Here's to many many many more! Honey, I love you!

Update on Dilemma

I did it! I ordered it Online?

I'm not sure (yet) when my new toy will be here, but its coming none-the-less.

I'm not exactly sure what I'm going to say to the lady from the store up island, IF she ever calls me back, but I deal with that the day that happens.

A few of you responded to my pleas from the horns of a dilemma, and I thank you for your words and suggestions.

For anyone who knows me at all, knows that my hobby is paper crafts and specifically making my own cards. This little beauty, the Quickutz Silhouette will open up even more possibilities of creativity. It plugs into my laptop and I can download, cut any shape, graphic, or font I want. (Unfortunately for my Mac using friends - its not compatible with a Mac. Teehee!).

I'm very excited!

The hubby may be a hobby-widow when the package arrives, but to be honest I think he's more excited that I am. Really! Well ... not as excited as when he gets his "Model Railroader" magazine in the mail. But that's an entry for another day.

An Ethical Conundrum (I think)

I'm in a conundrum ....

There is a paper crafting tool that I want to purchase, and its not cheap. There is a supplier up island that is expecting the product in any day now, but it will cost $370.00 (Cdn) plus tax.

Just last night I found an American website with the same product on sale for $199.00 (US) plus tax and shipping (and duty -I think).

I'm huge on supporting local business, but we're talking about a $100 (give or take) savings for me to purchase this online.

What should I do??

The sale is only good for this month, and depends on supply, so I cannot delay this purchase much longer. Am I risking too much to purchase something as expense as this online??? What to do ...

HELP!!!!!!!!!!!

My Kingdom ....

for a blog entry!

Colour Me Adjustable

Many of you know, because of past rants, that I am not a creature of change. I fight it pretty hard, and generally lose. Particularly in the work place, this place changes faster that babies need nappies switched out. I find it exhausting.

Continuing in that vein my job is changing one more time and I sincerely hope this is the last adjustment (at least for a while). Last week was 'the' last week for another major player around here. Our "Director of Facilities" saw better opportunities in another town and he and his family vamoosed! This left a hole in the office staffing. The powers that be decided that three of us could take on aspects of his old job. Sounds like fun eh.

Ya gotta love the thought that when you leave an establishment that it takes three people to pick up the pieces. However the three people, in this case, that are taking on the new duties already have a full case load all their own.

As I've stated many times and venomously - I don't do change well - I realize that a big part of not adjusting well is the fact that I AM a creature of habit and routine. Create havoc in my routine and I'm not a happy camper as I scamper around trying to regroup.

This sums up my week this week. I feel somewhat out of place, discombobulated, and to some extent - out of control. Well maybe "out of control" is a bit strong, but I certainly am not feeling in control. New tasks, new routines, and all the old one too. Fun! Fun! Fun!

Don't get me wrong - I'm not complaining (how often have you heard me say that?). I love what I do, and will slowly ease into this new place. It's all good!

Twit-toYou

I feel like I've been updating on a regular basis, but it turns out that updating on Twitter is not the same as updating here.

I'm finding Twitter to be very addictive. Attempting to sum up a moment or feeling in 160 characters (including spaces and punctuation) is a fun challenge. I highly recommend it.

I've still been checking into all my regulars. Never fear. I've grown awfully fond of you all too. So if you're on Twitter let me know. If you're not ... check it out.

I promise an update soon.

I'm just askin' .....

Macaroni and Cheese:
- Kraft Dinner?
- Homemade?
- with our without ketchup?
- I don't DO Mac and Cheese!

Grilled Cheese Sandwiches:
- with cheese slices?
- with real cheese?
- with CheezeWiz?

French Fries:
- with Ketchup?
- with Salt and Vinegar?
- just plain?
- or ONLY MacDonald's?

I've got food on the brain, and I want to know what you think?

Me? I'm a Mac and cheese girl anyway I can get it, but if its from a box its got to be Kr@ft. Grilled cheese with real cheese. French fries - mostly with ketchup on the side (depends on the fries).

What about you?

P.S. - I forgot to mention that under absolutely no circumstances will I ever, ever, ever eat Mac and cheese with ketchup. Not even if tortured would I ever succumb to such a despicable act against food. I've seen the food laws and its in small print that Mac and Cheese is not allowed to be in the same room as ketchup. EVER!

Things I've Noticed While the Husband is Out of Town

- I've only JUST gone through one roll of toilet paper (usually its one a day)
- I haven't eaten as much, and feel better for it
- The dishwasher barely has any dirty dishes in it
- The kitchen garbage is only half full, and is not ripped from trying to be overstuffed
- I can find more 'cool' spots in the bed
- The bathroom stayed cleaner
- I'm ready for work even earlier
- I go to bed even earlier
- The evenings seem so much longer
- The bed is too big
- And my day is missing something

Lord willing - one more night and that all changes back.

I Have the Week Off .......

….. from my husband.

No, we haven’t had a fight or anything. I promise. If you’ve been reading me long enough you’ll have read that I took a trip back to Ontario without him in June. Now it’s his turn. He’s on a solo motorcycle trip to anywhere he pleases within a week. He left yesterday (9am ferry) and made his way to Kelowna, B.C. Today (Tuesday) his plans are to travel from Kelowna on down through Idaho with hopes of making it to Northern Montana.

I plan to enjoy having the house to myself – for the first time in our almost six years of marriage. I’ve traveled on weekends and such without him, but this is the first time he’s taken time away by himself. I’m tremendously supportive of this as I believe he needed to do it.

And to be honest – I really really really want our big queen size bed all to myself!

That said – I didn’t do that well with it last night. You’d have thought that since I’d never had to share a bed until I got married, that my visceral reaction would be to slunk down in and enjoy the space. But NOOOOO… I woke up all sore and out of whack. I think I must have over extended my sprawl and sprained myself. It was very hard to get up this morning.

I have only 5 more nights with which to luxuriate in the pleasure and then it will be back to sharing the bed – me: 1/3, him: 2/3, and the cats any remain spot they can find. Which translates to me desperately clinging to the side, one cat on top of my pillow, one cat between hubby’s feet, and hubby peacefully sprawled out and snoring.

Tonight!!! I’m gonna sleep good!!! Dern It!

A Friday Smile

No Tweety Bird, Just a Twit

Ok, do any of you use "Twitter"? Can you explain it too me?

On a side note: Boy grunge band is at it again tonight. They're louder than the TV in my livingroom. I'm contemplating drinking for a living.

---------------
Post-Script - The boy band had a little visit from boys in blue shortly after my posting the above. Actually it was a lovely lady cop. Someone (not me) in the neighbourhood called it in, and the lady cop was in total agreement that the allowable levels had been vastly exceeded. They've been given a warning, and if it happens again there will be an accompanying fine of $100. Supposedly the reason for their nightly jamming is a gig this weekend. No one can argue that they really do need the practice - especially the lead vocals. He was doing an excellent rendition of the demons from hell bursting forth from the belly of the earth.

A Quiet Summers Eve - NOT!

I am all for encouraging kids to be creative and active. I'm all for supporting kids tof find their talents. I must admit I'm not always appreciative of graffiti artists, and I can be seen to physically cringe when I come across skateboarders in underground parking lots. But I do appreciate the skills and abilities that those talents have underneath their flamboyant exteriors.

I think mostly I struggle with kids that show their talents by destroying property, or create loud noises (being such a quiet person myself - no really). I enjoy watching good skateboarders when they're not using private property as props for their tricks, or when I can't hear the grinding metal against metal. I'm completely envious and would love to have that kind of balance to stay on those small board with wheels.

It's the noise. I just can't stand when someone else's noise levels disturb the greater good.

Hence, my total annoyance at the kid across the street tonight.

That fateful Christmas 4 years ago the family across the road presented their pre-teen boy with a drum kit. No lessons, as far as I can tell, were also given. Five years ago this fall we moved into this tiny house. Its a very busy 4 lane street, which turns into a race way at the best of times. So traffic noises are constant and audible, but four years ago at Christmas a new sound level was introduced - a boy, his drum kit, and now .... his grunge boy band.

I may appreciate it better if the young drummer had improved with age, unfortunately he's of the school that believes that louder IS better.

In the last year or so he added some buddies to his basement group. The electric guitarist who only knows the key of screech, and his vocalist who sounds like he's very constipated and in pain. Not to mention the beat rarely changes, and the words are far from discernible (and believe me when I tell you that it's loud enough I should know every word by heart).

This goes on day after day, weekend after weekend, evening after evening, month in and month out. And always with all the basement windows wide open.

I am often torn between my desire to encourage kids to be creative, and my yearning to go over there and give his parents a shake. Unfortunately, my survival instincts kick in and tell myself not to start trouble in the neighbourhood and let bad musicians play. They'll have enough disappointments in life.

A Funny Thing Happened ....

...... on the way home last weekend.

Our old BBQ gave out on us last week, and due to some keen financing we felt it prudent and timely to purchase a new one. We deserved it, and we’re worth it!! So after looking online and at scads of newspaper flyers we trundled off to H*me Dep*t to take a gander at their BBQ goods. We found the one we wanted. And we felt just a little like kids in the candy store who’ve found an extra buck and could buy the extra big bag of candy. We did a serious upgrade from our previous BBQ. But again – we convinced ourselves that we deserved it, and it wasn’t break the bank by any means.

Hubby carefully measured the box that we thought the BBQ was from (one on the shelf) and went outside to make sure we could fit the box into the trunk of our car.

He came back in and felt we could do it without too much trouble. And we wheeled the largish box with our brand new BBQ on a dolly out to the car.

The darn box was NOT going to fit. Hubby had measure the wrong box to begin with. What were we going to do?

A number of ideas were bounced around, and I won’t bore you with the details, but I will share with you the end result. Even now I stand in amaze at the end result, and am still wondering how the heck it happened.

How did we (read “I”) get that new BBQ home? Well …. You may ask …. I pushed it.

Yes – you read that correctly – I pushed it the mile back to our house using the H*me Dep*t dolly.

I still don’t know how it happened, but my hubby talked ME into being the one to push it home. Could HE have pushed it home? Why, of course he could have. Could I have driven the car home while he pushed the dolly? Why, yes he could have. Did his name come up at all during his brilliant idea of how to get the box home? Strangely – no – it did not.

My walk/push home gave me lots of time to consider what exactly had gone down. It was also a good time to reflect on how I was going to let loose my …. volcano of emotion. Did I mention that a large portion of this mile was a slow, but steady up hill grade?

I was in a fine state when I exhaustedly arrived on our driveway. But I did get it home and with limited happenstance. And I even got home before the hubby, mostly because he stopped at another store to purchase a new man size toy he had his eye on. If it hadn’t been for the fact that he rushed into our kitchen and opened up a beer for me – I may very well have been a widow today.

The BBQ is all built and established on our back. We have already enjoyed a number of delicious meals. But I will never forget the fateful Saturday my metal was tested! (and neither will I let hubby forget either)

Renovations of the heart

They say that a family/marriage that survives renovations can survive anything. But what about your workplace?

We are in the middle of re-carpeting the entire church, upstairs and down, inside and .... well Ok maybe not 'out', so for the last week I've been living in complete and utter chaos! We have to move EVERYTHING off the floor, absolutely everything. Every bookshelf, every desk, chair, garbage bin .... etc. Then the carpet layers move and begin the demolition of old carpet.

It's disgusting (just like my spoiled milk from earlier this week)! The dust that is created from pulling up the old carpeting is positively gross - and every where. I go home after work and all I can smell is the dirt. I won't even describe what happens when I blow my nose.

Once the carpet is all up the glue goes down. A veritable assault on the olfactories. At least it gives a better 'buzz' than the dust does.

That, accompanied by all the extra bodies is very overwhelming for my introverted little soul. I function best in peace and quiet. It's very safe to say that I have not accomplished a heck of a lot this week. I'm thankful its summer and generally a little quieter around here anyway.

The carpeting guys are very nice, and are very appreciative of us plying them with coffee and donuts. These trades people have wicked senses of humour!

We have several thousand feet of carpets around here, so I'm girding my loins for another two weeks of this. Next week - if I survive until Friday - will be a mass move out of the office area. And, I might add, most of the staff are on holidays. How fair is that!

I think I'm going to call in sick that day!

A Successful Morning

I'm happy to report my cereal had not unexpected, gruesome, unpleasantness today.

On another success note - I found a rubber stamp with a Rhino on it this weekend. I'm so excited (little things do that for me). He's about to be mailed to a girlfriend with a quirky sense of humour for her birthday.

What do you think of him?

A Disgusting Thing Happened at the Office this Morning

I have never been one to do breakfast in the morning. The thought of eating within the first few hours after waking is not a pleasurable though. However, in the efforts to keep 'better health' in mind I have begun to bring a bowl of dry cereal with me with plans to consume it once I was ready. This morning was not exception.

We have had an over abundance of dairy products in the fridges lately. There coffee pot is always on, so there is always cream for it. We do a "Cafe" on Sunday evenings, after the service, and serve latte's and the like. But lately our purchasing of milk has been greater than the need.

I picked out of the fridge a container of 2% milk that had not been opened yet, but the expiration date was just today. Without thought, and without testing the waters I went directly to pouring it on my lovely fresh bought cereal.

The ensuing glug, blurb, bubbling, milky sludge that ozzed from the carton onto my cereal was enough to put me of EVER eating breakfast again - EVER!

I did not gag, but simply mashed the rest of the soured milk down the drain, and made my way to the box of fresh donuts. The breakfast of champions!!!

Memories Form the Corners of My Mind

How to write about my lying childhood memories has been mulling around in my brain for too long. It’s time to sort out thoughts and lay them to paper (or cyberspace if you want to get specific).

Harkening back to my holidays in Ontario (I’ve been back a month now), I was visiting scenery and people that I hadn’t seen in 26 years, and hadn’t lived there for some 34 years. That’s a long time for the memory to fade and regrow a new, more romantic version of things. I am thankful for the harsher rememberings to have had their edges dulled with time, but I had not anticipated the realities of physical places to have shrunk. The house was smaller, the yard was smaller, the long and painful walk into town seemed - - bitterly short compared to the ways I remembered any of it. You know “I walked to school every day barefoot in the snow, uphill both ways”.

The first reminder of faulty thinking was as we were closing in on town limits, my girlfriend ask “Do you remember the fort you found and showed me in that crop of trees?”.

The mental picture that I drew in my head at the word “fort” saw a large stand of trees far off in the middle of a farmer’s field. What I saw when I looked in the direction she was indicating was a much smaller group of trees with lots of brush, a child’s mere stone throw away from the road. It did not look familiar.

Once in the town limits my eyes were immediately scanning for familiar buildings – the house where my only “towny” friend had lived, but I didn’t recognize it. Shortly after her house was the lumber yard and store that my dad had managed. And when we first moved to town my parents and I lived in the apartment above the store. I had a grand playground of warehouses and saw sheds - a creative child’s veritable kingdom for imagination. However, once again my eyes and memories deceived me as the yard, the lumber, the outbuildings were all gone, and the store area and attached warehouse had all been converted into an apartment building. The once glassed store front had been bricked in and doors and windows from a ground level apartment greeted me.

Even the one main crossroad (no four corner stop, or stop light for that matter) had changed. The business’ had all changed, but to my now overwhelmed psyche is was (silly enough) relieved that the Appliance store was still the same old store with the wide cement stairs leading up to the front doors. It reassured me that I had not been dropped into the Twilight Zone.

My next major shock came after we passed through town. We only lived above the store for a year or so, and then my parents purchased an old farmhouse on an acre of land just a ¼ mile south of town. It was and still is the very first house you came to after you left town limits. Again in my mind’s eye I pictured it as I remembered it – huge yard with tall coniferous trees lined on one side and three big tall maple trees lining the driveway on the other side. The house itself had been your usual two story farm house, small rooms with small windows, a closed in porch on the front and at the side. I do distinctly remember its exterior being covered in ugly grey sand stucco with bits of coloured, sharp, broken glass in it. Never liked the stuff. I also had a HUGE weeping willow tree in the back yard that my dad had hung a three foot in diameter swing from. I spent hours out there in the summer.

My jaw dropped as we drove by that day. You could have blind folded me and plunked me down in front of it, and I wouldn’t have believed it was the house I once lived in. Half of the coniferous trees had long since been taken out. There was a 15 foot hedge that grew on two sides of the entire acre, they had once been shorter that me at 11 years of age. And the house!!! The house was now wide white siding, large-ish windows upstairs and huge bay windows upstairs and down. Upstairs where the single bay window is now was once two windows signifying my mom’s bedroom on the right and my bedroom on the left. Since the bay window was all one, I had to assume that they’d knocked down the wall between the two small bedrooms and made a decent size one bedroom (bravo!). And my wonderful giant weeping willow – was gone – as if it had never been. In my hay day in the house it took three friends and myself to link hands to make it around the trunk of the massive old man. I silently mourned the loss of my tree.

But I was also silently mourning the loss of my youth. The reality that life moves on was very powerful. The reality of my childhood memories of how things ‘were’ was being challenged. I hadn’t expected to feel so betrayed. I’m not naïve. I know things in life change, move, evolve, but I really hadn’t expected how I would feel. I actually preferred to remember things as they were. At least some things. The ‘harsher’ memories I alluded to earlier can stay with their dulled demeanor. I have no wish to revisit them.

It was, all in all, a good visit to see it all again. I wouldn’t trade any of it for any price. I did attempt to speak to the people not living in my old farm house, but no one was home. I’m not sure I would have known what to say to them anyway.

All of this has given me pause in thought of every visiting the town I was born in and moved away from at the age of 10. I had thought that it would be fun to show my husband where I spent those single digit years. But I think maybe I’ll just live in the moments that will live forever in my memory and leave it at that.

Redunkuless!

A full Sunday

It started off by me sleeping in until 11:10am, and missing church. Missing church was not an upsetting moment, but sleeping in so late was a bit of a surprise.

Another surprise came a little later. It is a habit that the hubby and I go out for breakfast/lunch after church on Sundays. We get a newspaper and enjoy a good breakfast at a local haunt. Yesterday was no different and we were just finishing our meal I began to look for our waitress to get the bill, but she seemed to be absent. I should also add that we had never seen this waitress before. A few minutes later out of the corner of my eye in a small secluded booth I spied her. She was visibly upset and crying while talking to another co-worker.

I'm not sure what compelled me to do it, but as we got up to depart I went over to her and gave her a hug. She began to apologize, but I shhh'd her and told her that its ok, and whatever was wrong was also going to be ok. She called me a 'Sweetheart', thanked me for the hug and we left.

I thought that the hubby would think my actions odd, but instead he asked why I did it. I explained that she was obviously upset and looked like she needed a good hug. He responded by telling me that me giving her the hug was a very nice thing to do.

Later that evening God gave me a hug, by showing me one of His summer creations - right in our back yard - it was a Doe (female deer) and she had her beautiful set of triplets with her. All three fawns still had their spots, and were completely adorable. Its a shame the little rotters eat my garden.

Sunday was a very blessed full day.

I couldn't help myself

This is too cute not to post.

Please enjoy with my compliments.


Stop Motion Spaghetti Cooking - Watch more free videos

State of Mind

As I laid in bed last night with the usual babbling brook of thoughts running through my brain, that I had not been "present" when I posted yesterday's .... giggle. For anyone who may wander by this site (and this is a true test to see how many readers I actually have) you might have noticed a small mis-step in my titling and post from yesterday.

Can you see the discrepancy?

Just put it down to a snoozey, summer state of mind.

I promise to be more alert when next I post.

A Friday Giggle

Down on the farm Part 1.5

Here are some pictures that I thought you might like to see.

I realized as I looked over my pictures that I completely forgot to tell you about "Howard" the 'house' cat. He weighs in at a hefty 22 pounds of purr, and dream of all dreams - he loves to be vacuumed (which he gets once a day).



Here is a new born calf - less than 12 hours old. His knees were still wobbly when I came in to see him. And because he was a "bull" he was just as large as his sisters in the barn who were 6 to 8 weeks of age. I felt sorry for him poor momma, this was her first calf.



And finally, this is "Tugger" one of the many barn cats. I was really trying to figure out a way to fit him in my suitcase and bring him home. He was so loving, and purred like there was no tomorrow. Most barn cats are feral, and not very approachable, but this little guy ..... he was ludicrously affectionate.



That's just a little sumpun'sumpun to tide you over until I find the next slot of time to update.

Time away down on the farm - Part I

Oh my gosh! I can’t believe how quickly time has flown. I’ve been back from my week away for almost two weeks now, and I was gently reminded (thanks Lindzee) over the weekend that I had yet to write about my adventures.

So today, because I’m pretty much the only one who’s shown up for work, and lacking motivation to push myself, I’ll finely get back to business here. Tomorrow is July 1st and Canada day. Many folks decided to make it an extra long weekend. How unfair is that? However, that said – I get a chance, relatively unhindered, to update. Yippy!!

My time away - - - - was wonderful, witty, wild, wistful, wacky, warm (does not express the extreme humidity, but it was the only word I could come up with that began with “w”). To begin my journey I needed to be at the airport around 5:30 am. Not my or my husband’s best time of the day. Being that I was up so early in the day the beginning of the flight was subdued in temperament. I had the darndest time clearing my groggy brain. A recommendation to all that fly and enjoy a ‘good’ cup of coffee – don’t drink the coffee on the plane. It’s a waste of taste buds time. However, the highlight for the 4.5 hour trip between Victoria and Toronto was that each seat had its own individual tv screen to watch a selection of tv show episodes, movies, documentaries or news. I could barely contain my excited with my choices. I started out watching “The Other Boleyn Girl”, but found it too heavy a fare to view at 7:30 in the morning, and was very displeased with its lack of sticking with the book. So I quickly changed gears and moved over to the family friendly selection and watched “The Spiderwick Chronicles”. Entertaining, and easy on the brain.

This filled a couple of hours after which I channel surfed (so to speak) and ended up whiling away the hours with my Nintendo DS. Spongebob Rocks!!!

I had a slight 1.5 hours layover in Toronto before continuing on to London (Ontario). This gave me ample time to stretch my legs, send “miss you” text messages to my husband, and “almost there” ones to my waiting girlfriend. Once fitfully stretched I sat down and began playing Spongebob again. With earphones in …. I almost missed my connecting flight. It wasn’t until I heard “Paging Passenger Mugwhump” x 2 that I realized I had been oblivious to all surrounding. After a stressful few minutes I got on the plane and settled down for a quick 45 minute final leg of my flight plans.

The minute I got off of the plane in London the weight of the humidity hit me full force. We don’t tend to get this kind of humidity on the coast. We have too much in the way of ocean breeze for there to be much time for humidity to takes its toe hold. But my excitement was such that I was pretty much walking on air anyway. Mere steps away from one of my oldest and dearest friends!!

Kim and I met when I was in grade 5 (she in grade six, being she was one year older than me, almost to the day). My family (my parents and myself) had just moved down to a very very very very (did I say VERY?) small town in Southern Ontario – the heart of the (then) tobacco farming country of Canada. Kim’s town and my town were 5 miles apart, and neither village contained a four corner stop, let alone a stop light intersection. They were/are mere blips on the radar if you weren’t paying attention. Kim’s family and my family attended the same church, and being small town our paths had little choice but to cross.

This moved proved to be the beginning of three of the most horrid years of my youngish life. Difficult times within our household, and well as being considered an “outsider” in my school environment. The two places I had to spend the most time. However, a bright spot was spending time with Kim’s family on their working tobacco farm. I loved it, and didn’t realize the safe haven they gave me until much, much later in my adult life.

Back to reconnecting with Kim – although Kim and her husband had come out to visit us in Victoria a couple of years ago, I hadn’t set foot back in Ontario since her wedding over 25 years ago. Her adult life there was completely foreign to me, and her four grown boys were strangers - but not for long. Kim married a dairy farmer, and that is what life is all about for her. They live just north of London in a very dairy oriented area, and I fell in step with farm life pretty quickly – the quiet, the smell, the pace – all so very different than my life in the city. Yet I felt strangely at home. Kim and I have never lacked for words between us, and almost immediately launched into news and happenings in our lives. To be honest, I don’t think either one of us took much of a breath between my arrival on the Wednesday and departure the following Tuesday. But it was so wonderful and fun to just “be” with someone you had so much history with. Relaxed as it was, early June is a very busy time on a farm. It’s a time of harvesting the first cut of hay, getting it into the barn, and keeping up with the birthing of new calves. And I was reintroduced to the importance of following the weather from a farmer’s perspective. This turned into a lunch time ritual – who’da thunk the weather channel could be so engrossing?

I got a full tour of the barns. Met several barn cats – some friendly (“Tugger” can be seen on my Flickr page), some … not so much (they call him “Hitler”). I met the 8 or so new calves they have, ranging between the ages of 1 week to 8 weeks. Too cute! At least in this farm girls heart's opinion. Kim and family have 62 milking cows, plus an assortment of “dry” cows (cows that are presently pregnant) and heifers (female bovine under 2 years that haven’t been impregnated yet). You will not find a bull on the farm. Dairy farming is a society that does not think highly of the male of this ruminant species. Other than a well qualified sperm donor, there is no use for a bull on a dairy farm. This takes the expression “As useful as tits on a bull” to a whole new level. Artificial insemination is all these girls get, down on the farm. I suppose this way Daisy never has to plead a headache!

I digress ……

The milking process was very interesting (to me), it’s changed greatly since I was a kid visiting my Uncle’s and Aunt’s farms. It’s much more sterilized and stream lined than I’ve ever seen. And for most “producing” farms – did you know that cows never get to go outside anymore? For the most part cows are not pastured. Due to the strict regulations on the germ free and cleanliness factor of the milk, cows are kept in as sterile an environment as can be. This would mean well ventilated fresh air barns, machines that come along the alley’s of the barn to sweep away the ‘aftermath’ of the regulated feed, to name a few. It also means that you can’t have any other farm type animals on the property for fear of cross-contamination. So no horses, no chickens, no goats …. Etc. (Dogs and cats permitted of course)

With the exception of not being able to have a horse, I was quite enamored by the whole lifestyle. The Romantic side of farming ……

But there is also the not so romantic side – the continual manure, the 5am wake up calls, the potential for constantly muddy floors, you can only have dial-up for your computer – no such thing as wireless in the country, and finally (and probably my clincher to never being a dairy farmers wife) the cows have to be milked twice a day – at the same time - EVERY DAY - regardless of the day of the week, weather outside, holidays, shopping sprees, or birthdays.

I learned quite a lot about dairy farms in one week. And I think that about all I’m going to fill you in on my holidays – for now. I still need to tell you about going down to the township that Kim and I grew up in, seeing her mom, seeing my old house, meeting up again with another girlfriend that I hadn’t seen in 26 years ….. You’ll just have to stay tuned, and I’ll have to make sure I post about it.

Happy Canada all you Canuck’s out there. Happy 4th of July to all my American friends!! Stay safe.

A Friday Feast

I’m back from Ontario and am still trying to sort out my thoughts. The trip was wonderful, but childhood memories are frightful liars (more on that later). So, until I sort out said thoughts I will tease you with a Fridays Feast. Feel free to play along.

Appetizer
If you could live on another continent for 1 year, which one would you choose?

Europe – The “Mother Ship” for the company my husband works for is in Grenoble, France and further down his career line there is always the chance of being transferred. His other choice would be Laverne, Tennessee. No offense to Laverne, but France sounds way more exciting for a year.

Soup
Which browser do you use to surf the Internet?

Firefox - unless I click on the wrong button and then it’s Explorer. Matters not really, one is as good and confusing as another.

Salad
On a scale of 1-10 (with 10 being highest), how much do you know about the history of your country?

5 – Growing up we had a lot of American History shoved down our thoughts. I learned all the states and their capitals long before I learn our own Canadian Provinces/Territories and Capital. It’s a cryin’ shame.

Main Course
Finish this sentence: Love is…

Love IS having to say you’re sorry. It’s absolutely impossible to go through life without hurting someone you love. We don’t do it intentionally, but it happens and we need to say “I’m sorry” sometimes.

Dessert
Have you ever been in or near a tornado?

Not in the Wizard of Oz kind of way, but in the Prairies and in Ontario you get the kind of winds that bring tornados. I’ve often seen little teasers touchdown, the thanks be to God I’ve never experiences the full fledged sort.

I got our cats stoned today

It was Pirate's first birthday on Friday, so over the weekend I bought our cats some catnip. A first for Pirate.

This evening has been quite entertaining, but I think we're going to have to stage an intervention for our older cat Digit. She won't stop licking the little back of kitty-weed.

Highs and Lows and long stretches in between

What is it about the world that it never stops? It never slows down long enough for you to take a breath. Or is this just my experience this week?

I’ve had the high of highs (booking vacation) and the low of lows (the loss of not one, but two friends) and I find myself at Friday emotional and physically wiped out. Where do I begin?

I suppose that I should expound on the death of two friends. One of those friends is the young woman I wrote about several weeks ago. Two months ago she thought she had the flu, her husband took her to the clinic after the fourth day of said ‘flu’ and it turned out to be terminal cancer. She died in hospice last night. Helene leaves behind a husband and two small girls (ages 17 months, and 4.5 years). This is so tragic. How does one go from the flu to terminal cancer? And pass of it in two months? And only be 43 years old?

The second death was almost equally fast yet has not hurt me to the quick like Helene’s passing. This was an older woman (58) who had volunteered for me on many occasions. She’d been having some heart problems that the doctors couldn’t get on top of. Then unexpectedly she has a mild heart attack in February at which time they discover an inoperable heart condition and she was told she had less than 6 months to live. She passed away in her home with her family around her, on Tuesday.

To be honest dear reader – I just want to go home, sip a beer, and lay on the couch. Just for today, not for always. Just until I stop feeling so tired inside.

But life must go on, and it will.

But there is no segue after what I’ve just written to talk about the highlights of my week. So I’ll launch into it. Please don’t think I’m callous.

I am blessed that I have two holiday sessions coming up. One begins next Wednesday. I’ve mentioned this one before, but it’s now fast upon me. I’ll be heading to London, Ontario for a weeklong visit with an elementary school friend. I haven’t been back east in over 25 years. I can’t help but wonder what (other than the people) has changed. It will be fun, and I’m going without the husband. I’ve never done something like this before. Hopefully we’ll miss each other desperately!

The second set of holidays that will be taken ….. is almost way more exciting AND it will be with the hubby. Twelve days in Disney World Florida!!! This time it’s a first for both of us. The flights and hotel are all booked. However, this trip won’t happen until October. You’ve got a few more months of me bouncing off the walls with excitement. We’re both looking forward to this so much.

Initially we talked about just going down to California and Disneyland again. But once I started to look into the costs of flights and such we realized that it wasn’t that much more to choose the other coast. The more research we’ve done the more we realize there is to see. So our itinerary is already looking full – other than the 4 Disney parks, there will also be a couple of days at the two Universal Studios parks, possibly Gatorland …. Sea Land ….. Kennedy Space Centre ….. and more.

So there you have it, my week in a nutshell. The emotions are all over the place, and I’m not exactly sure how to feel from one moment to the next. But tomorrow promises to be brighter.

Just please, I pray I don’t lose any more friends for a while.

Have a lovely weekend.

For all you FaceBook lovers

A Slap In The Facebook - Watch more free videos

Colour My World Photo Contest

(2nd entry in one day - you lucky people)

Over at Are We there Yet?, Christine is hosting a photo contest for colour. Check it out.

I wanted to play, but I couldn't decide on just one. Which one would you chose for the best colour?

1) Multi Coloured Wind Catchers


2) Glacial Lake Blue


3) Soft Pink Tulips


or 4) Hot Summer Red


Help me decide.

I'm dating myself, but do I kiss and tell?

Being a big TV watcher (yes – I admit it) I always find myself a little bit a loose ends at this time of year. All my regular shows are finished for the season. *

(* side note: You’d think that after a three or four month break during the strike they’d make up for it, but ….. Nooooooo!)

But last night as hubby and I were channel surfing we came across a classic film that everyone should watch at least once in their life - ”Bonnie and Clyde” (1967, Faye Dunaway and Warren Beatty). Watching it I could hardly tell this was a 40 year old movie. This 2 Oscar movie had amazing acting and cast. So many familiar faces that then would have been somewhat unknown, but today are considered experienced thespians – starters being Faye and Warren, but also Gene Hackman, Michael J. Pollard, Estelle Parsons, Gene Wilder, to name a few.

For such a tragic story they wrote quite a lot of humour into the script. Not to say this was a comedy by any means, but definitely had some light hearted verging on black comedy-esque moments. For those that like gunfire – it had its fair share, but don’t go looking for any spectacular computer generated special effects. I doubt the word “computer” was hardly spoken, except in whispered hushed tones of the future.

The one thing that really struck me after the film was finished was that although this movie was 40 years old ( which feels like a long life in moviedom ) it was made a mere 34 years after its depicted events. Thirty-four years doesn’t feel like all that long ago – in my warped way of thinking. Yet – the dirty 30’s feels like ancient history. So far out of our understanding of the times.

Does anyone else understand what I’m marveling at? Probably not, but that’s ok.

At the fear of dating myself – do you know who Bonnie and Clyde were?

What do the madding crowds have to say?

Spell it out

This, That, and the Other

Hello my lovelies!

I've no excuse, so I won't give any. Life just happens sometimes.

My sense of wit and humour are not returning as I had hoped. So I have kept myself from you, but not far. Its a Canadian long weekend this coming weekend, and I'm really looking forward to it.

Two weekends ago was our Church's spring retreat. I really shouldn't have gone, but I did. I was still paying back the lost sleep this past weekend when on both Friday and Saturday nights I slept between 10 and 11 hours. It was definitely a do nothing Saturday, and I loved it. The cold that had been plaguing me was still fighting to hold its grasp on me, and the sleep over the weekend did the trick to convince it to vacate.

Sunday was Mother's Day (as you smart bunnies all know), and since hubby and I had not been able to do anything on the Friday we decided to surprise the in-laws with a drop in visit on Sunday. Friday? you ask .... Friday was my parents-in-law's 50th wedding anniversary. My MIL is still recovering from her back surgery last month, so was not in to any big shindigs. Which is good because hubby only reminded me on the Thursday night that the next day was their anniversary.

They were happily surprised, particularly when I convinced my sister-in-law to come join us. She rarely comes over to the island to visit. And this was a good excuse. She also brought her 17 year old daughter - whom, I might add, I had never met. I think its funny how I had let my MIL and husband flavour my opinion of someone I hadn't met, but in this nieces stance, I had. I was delighted to find she was not the spoiled princess I had been led to believe, but a lovely young lady on the brink of adulthood. She still has a lot to learn, but I think the MIL is stuck in her memory the stuck up, hormonal, teenager this beauty had once been. Albeit, not that many years ago.

Speaking of children .... hubby and I have now acquired Mario Kart for the Wii. It's WII too much fun!! I think this is one of the reasons God chose not to give us children. We wouldn't want to share our toys with them. LOL!! But on the flip side, we can corrupt other peoples children with video games. YAY!!

Well, for someone who didn't have much to say (of intelligence) I rambled on quite successfully. My bad! But you must admit that I truly did manage not to say anything terribly articulate :-)

A huge Shout Out!! to Beth, Angel, and brand new baby Isobel (born over the weekend). Very cool in the life of blogg-O-sphere!!!

Keep on blogging!!

If there a Physician in the house?

Alright already! I give! Uncle!

Whatever it takes, just please let me feel better.

I was down and out all weekend and Monday. I started out on Tuesday at work, that is until my fellow co-workers made me go home. Nice co-workers. But here we are on Wednesday and I am determined to hold out until the final bell at 4:30pm.

It's a simple head cold, but its affecting every part of me. I sound like I've been a smoker from birth or Kathleen Turner, take your pick. I swear there is a large gum ball lodged in my throat, and every nook and cranny of my sinus's are stuffed with expanding cotton swaths. And to top it off my husband tells me that I'm snoring louder than normal.

Sound like fun, don't it.

I was sent a lovely bowl of virtual chicken soup this morning, and sooth my ravaged soul. Thanks Ms. V! Love ya, mean it.

I will survive! I must survive! I have to go to a church retreat this weekend - I'm the registrar and don't have much choice.

I think I can. I think I can. I can! I can! I can!!

Drill my head please

It's early Sunday evening and I have spent the entire weekend on the couch or in bed sleeping. A head cold has knocked me flat. I did get dressed today, but it looks doubtful for tomorrow.

I've lost count of the movies I've watched. However I can honestly say I will never get back the 2 and a 1/2 hours I spent watching "There will be blood". Can anyone explain to me why it was up for and got so many Oscars?

Another Friday Update and stuff

If this is Friday it must be update day!

What a week ....

The feelings of a black cloud surrounding me is still present and accounted for. But this too shall pass, and hopefully take the crappy weather with it.

My Aunt passed away this week on Wednesday. I never did get back to the hospital to see her, but I am glad that I did get a chance to see her when I did. She was 83 and never married, and before I had my hubby in my life I often wondered if I'd turn out like her. She always had an edge about her. Of years of living on her own, living with her own rules, and no one else to wear down the rough edges.

The one area that I was sure would be different between us was that I was (and still am) convinced I'd turn into that "old cat lady". You know, that old lady down the streets who can't say no to any stray cats, and will eventually get evicted from her small apartment because of the kitty litter all over the place.

I digress .....

So on top of my Aunts funeral next week, we have also had a lovely lady (and a friend) from our church pass away on Thursday. She would have been in her early to mid 70's, and was showing signs of Alzheimer's. Her husband took her into the hospital last Friday for an assessment and they wanted to keep her overnight for observation. The hospital called him in on Saturday morning to tell them that she had an "aggressive leukemia" and only had weeks to live. Five days later she was gone.

I really hate cancer. It has no boundaries, is not age restrictive, and can be either slow and painful, or short and not so sweet. My 44 year old friend is not doing better, and probably only has weeks to live unless there is a massive miracle with her name on it. I do believe in miracles, but this one is testing my limits.

I KNOW that God is good all the time. All the time God is good. But sometimes its so hard to see His hand in things. That said, I do see His hand in my friend with Alzheimer's life. He saved her from a frustrating, debilitating illness that could have gone on for years. But instead He choose to take her swiftly. Thank you Lord.

I am determined to leave this post on an up swing, and I will. This last week it was decided that I would fly back east and visit a childhood girlfriend of mine. We've known each other since we were 11 & 12, and although she's been out here twice in the last 8 years, I haven't been back to visit her since her wedding in 1982. Bad me.

Growing up I considered her family my family. I loved going out to their tobacco farm and helping in harvest season. Their dining room table was always an interesting place to share a meal. Way more fun than at my house.

Her father passed away this last year, and I never got a chance to tell her parents how important they were to me during some very difficult tween and teen years. So I am hoping to be able to chat with her mom, and hug her, and tell her how much she means to me.

I'm very excited about taking this trip. Even though it costs more to fly within Canada than it does to fly to London, England. Oh well, it will be well worth every penny.

Have a most excellent weekend people!!!

Wrong on SOOO Many levels

I woke up to MORE snowing, and continued snowing.

It's April people!!

This is Victoria people!

Doesn't the weather elf realize we have reputation to uphold?

We have a freaking "Flower Count" in February for goodness sake.

The Canadian jokes is that we mow our lawns and Christmas day, and when everyone else is using their snowblowers to clear out their driveways of snow, we're using the same thing to push blossoms off the street.

This is just so wrong on so many levels.

On the positive side - - I will not be able to go anywhere today, and I can craft craft craft!!!

Another week, another 'catch-up'

Once again I stand amazed that another week has flown by. It’s Friday again.

To update you on the previous entry ….

My mother-in-law was discharged on Wednesday (in which I mean - we had pop-in-law with us, staring at the wall from his chair in our living room, for 9 days), and they traveled back up island on Thursday. Although her surgery went well, the fall out pneumonia, then bad reaction from receiving blood ….. not so good. Once she got well enough to get feisty with the nurses and doctors, they kicked her out. Now, she is back in her own home and being well taken care of by dad.

Last night was the first night we had the house back to ourselves … and it was good. It truly felt different.

My 44 year old friend that was given the news of cancer last week started chemo on Monday, and a second dose on Wednesday. They are hoping that the chemo will shrink the cancer cells in her liver enough for her to go home for a bit, be with her young family, and get her affairs in order. She is an incredible warrior right now.

I don’t have an update on my Aunt. I did get in to visit her on Saturday, but haven’t had to time to return.

The one thing that I keep reminding myself of this week is that there is always someone out there that is worse off than you. Basically, we have absolutely nothing to complain about in this life. Hubby and I are (relatively) healthy, (relatively) financially ok, and in a stable marriage. All things being relative. And please don’t take this as a complaint – but boy life can sure be exhausting. There simply is not enough time for long hot baths, or quiet times to read an escape book.

I hope to gain back some funny bone soon. I miss writing about nothing and its irrelevance and irreverence to daily life. I long for my bed and a good nights sleep.

Happy Friday everyone. Keep up the good work.

++++++++++++++

Post Script 10 minutes later:
The ultimate insult after a long week - dateline - Victoria, B.C. - April 18, 2008 - 4pm in the afternoon - IT'S SNOWING OUTSIDE, AND THE GROUND IS STAYING WHITE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Catch Up

I realize I haven’t been as attentive to my blog as normal. Sorry about that. Life just seems to move at a quicker and quicker pace, and this week …. feels out of control. ( I admit it, I’m a control freak at heart )

As much as hubby and I are doing great it feels like everyone and everything around us is falling apart. And I just don’t know how to be positive in the midst of it.

This week alone:
My mother-in-law (who is 76, but don’t tell her I told you) had a third surgery on her back. She has advance spinal Stenosis, and is in much pain much of the time. We hope and pray that this surgery will give we some relief from the pain and a little better quality of life. Unfortunately, I have had the sniffles all week and haven’t felt that I should visit her. My in-laws don’t live in this city, so we have the hubby’s dad staying with us all the while mom is in hospital.

An pseudo Aunt who is 83 is also in hospital with pneumonia, and I haven’t been able to visit her either.

We got news earlier this week that a friend of ours (She's 44 on the 19th) has just this week been diagnosed with cancer. It is in her liver and lungs and is inoperable. Her twin sister is looking after her two small children (16 months and 4.5 years), while her husband has basically taken up residence at the hospital. A miracle is needed.

And that’s only this week.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m not whining. I am very blessed, and have little to no complaints. My heart is sore and tired of all the sadness, and I feel rather helpless to aid those around me who need support.

The weather still sucks and I just want to run away and lie on a beach somewhere. Anyone want to come along?

A once removed cousin

Friday's Mixed Events

I am mere minutes away from leaving the office (at noon) for the day. I and 3 other women friends are off on a weekend adventure up island. We did it last year and had a lot of fun.

However, the island is being hit with weird winter conditions, and shamefaced - we are not experiencing the usual spring verging on summer weather we normally would at the end of a March. All week we've been dealing with snow, hail, snow/rain, wind, and minute milliseconds of sun.

IF we make it to our destination we will have to get through this first:
here

I know many of you are laughing, and many of you just don't understand what I'm talking about. But this is major weather for Victoria, and to speak in plain English - it sucks!

Undaunted we are sallying forth.

Undaunted - I shall return.

Happy Friday!

Simply Amazing!