I can't remember the last time I was this excited about a coming up camping trip. Camping is my absolute favorite pastime and I could do it 24/7. My ultimate is going up in the mountains with nothing around you but the mountains and a creek or river for fishing. But this coming weekend has me smiling every time I think of it.
It will be the first time that our 3 1/2 year old granddaughter will ever go camping and although not the first time that our 2 1/2 year old will be going with us, she really was too young last summer to remember.
I have been out shopping for new things we needed for last couple of weeks with things starting to stack up. Rosaleen and Miranda have seen these cool things in the house and keep taking them out of the storage bins to show us and we have to keep saying "put it back that's for camping". They have no idea what camping means except that when we finally get to do it they will have their own new Dora and Princess dishes and cutlery, new Dora and Pooh beach play toys, new sleeping bags and all those treats and mini cereal boxes and their eyes keep growing.
Miranda can't pronounce words beginning with "sw" but swimming and being on swing sets are her favorite pastimes right up there with pushing her babies in her stroller. So for last couple of days she keeps saying "I'm going wimming and winging at camping right Nana?" How can you not love them hehehehe
They don't understand "pretty soon" or "later" just they know every time they ask are we going there now they get told pretty soon and then they say "in a little bit right Nana"? Yup in a little bit. But the highlight was when Papa brought the trailer home on Saturday and they both were here Saturday night and got to go inside and saw where they were going to sleep with their new sleeping bags then we had to tell them nooooo it still isn't time to go yet. Brings on a whole new meaning of "Are we there yet?"
Yup I can't remember the last time Nana was so excited at going camping hehehehehe. Just 6 more big sleeps!
Monday, August 06, 2007
Update on missing cousin Darrell Cloutier
I don't know which is worse... After 3 1/2 months of being gone, either knowing for sure he is dead and you no longer have hope but can move on with your life, or else not knowing anything and keeping what little faith you have left but your whole life is on hold as you wait and wait and wait. Sheer frustration! http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/story.html?id=a2746ba9-1e9a-4518-9aa8-a0660eda05fb
Sunday, August 05, 2007
New Drugs
I was at my doctor's this past week for several reasons but one of them was the fact that my shins have so many bruises on them that I hate to wear shorts anymore. Some of the bruising is so bad that they are perpetually there and I have these dark spots. I have variating degrees of bruising colors from purple and blue from fresh ones to green and yellow ones from older bruises.
Now where are these bruises coming from? They come from me. They are from kicking myself from muscles twitching in my legs during the night. The one medication that I have been on for several years obviously is no longer working. She went over my report from the UBC sleep clinic to see if there were new methods of help that they suggested that perhaps we had not tried yet but nope.. been there have done them all.
So after much discussion I finally agreed to try a new drug. Which normally would not be such a bad thing but the major side effects of this one are "tendencies to do self harm or harm others; anxiety attacks, unusual behavior, panic attacks, seizures". How exciting!! Keith asked if our life insurance was up to date and not thinking replied of course why? He said well if you kill me now you can say it was because of the medication and get away with it lol. Goof ball
I have also had to go back on my medication for my acid reflux. I haven't had to take it for 2 years since I had lost all my excess weight. We couldn't figure out why it has come back. $218.00 for one month has not impressed me. But then waking up while choking on a mouthful of bile doesn't impress me either. Hopefully both issues can be quickly fixed or at least lessened. I am going on holidays in a week and want to be able to relax.
Now where are these bruises coming from? They come from me. They are from kicking myself from muscles twitching in my legs during the night. The one medication that I have been on for several years obviously is no longer working. She went over my report from the UBC sleep clinic to see if there were new methods of help that they suggested that perhaps we had not tried yet but nope.. been there have done them all.
So after much discussion I finally agreed to try a new drug. Which normally would not be such a bad thing but the major side effects of this one are "tendencies to do self harm or harm others; anxiety attacks, unusual behavior, panic attacks, seizures". How exciting!! Keith asked if our life insurance was up to date and not thinking replied of course why? He said well if you kill me now you can say it was because of the medication and get away with it lol. Goof ball
I have also had to go back on my medication for my acid reflux. I haven't had to take it for 2 years since I had lost all my excess weight. We couldn't figure out why it has come back. $218.00 for one month has not impressed me. But then waking up while choking on a mouthful of bile doesn't impress me either. Hopefully both issues can be quickly fixed or at least lessened. I am going on holidays in a week and want to be able to relax.
Thursday, August 02, 2007
Fashion Dictator
Yesterday when I was at Playland I spent a lot of time sitting down waiting for children to finish their rides and 2 things struck me. I am a people watcher. I love just sitting somewhere and watching people go by. When I was growing up only the poorest of the poor wore flip flops. Only they were called thongs back then. We had them for the summer but I hated wearing them because then everyone would know we were poor. Like they didn't already know this. My sister and I had good sandals but they were for church or special occasions not for wearing out every day. So I went barefoot for the most part. Now they are a part of most people's wardrobe. Probably 3/4's of the people there yesterday wore them.
Another thing I noticed were the majority of the young girls and women wore 2 t-shirts. One lacy one and then another on top. I keep getting told it isn't 2 t shirts one is a tank top. Ok that is just semantics. Just because the one you wear underneath does not have sleeves doesn't mean the rest of the shirt isn't a whole shirt. It was 28 yesterday. My shirt was sticking to my back. I couldn't even comprehend why someone would want to wear another shirt on top!
It made me think of who comes up with these rules of fashion? Who decides that this year we're going to have people do this? It is like we are all puppets and when the Puppet Master pulls on their strings we have to dance to their tune and do what they dictate to us.
It is stupid. It really really is. Do fashion designers all sit at a conference table and say hey women aren't buying enough shirts so let's make it so they now have to buy TWO every time they want one? Who decided that thongs were now going to be worn under your pants and flip flops are now meant for the world to wear? Who died and made them President of the World?
I was reading a copy of O magazine last night and there was an article in it stating that the way you wear your clothes and the way you design your house says a lot about you. It stated that for the most part women dress in the same style they decorate their home. It made me think of the clothes in my closet. I have a lot of suits. They are all classic lines. Never will go out of style. I have nothing in there that is the latest craze of the day.
My casual clothes are comfortable. I don't have anything that is a "labeled" item. Then I thought of my home. Every inch of my home has pictures of my family. I have had my living room furniture (couch and chair) for about 15 years. It has withstood 5 teenagers, dogs, cat, and now 12 grandchildren) and there isn't even a tear on it. It is very comfortable to sit on and I spend a lot of my nights sleeping on there when my pain is too great to stay in bed.
So I guess Oprah was right. What you wear does reflect on how your home is decorated. The one thing that is the most important thing in my life is my family. I grew up in a home where we could not eat in the living room. You sat in ours at home you did not live in it as the name of the room suggests you should. My home is lived in. Many times I have had adults feel bad as their child upchucked on my suit or got mud on my pants or spilled something on my furniture and I always say their is nothing that can't be washed or cleaned.
So if I had to say what style I was I would have to say you would never see me on the end of a puppet master's strings. Not that anyone else should think they are because they follow fashions and fads and that they are bad or that I am judging them in any way. I would love to live in a home that looked like it belonged in a decorating magazine. But then I would have to turn into my mother and not let anyone "live" when they came into my living room. I would love to wear clothes that looked like they came off a Paris runway. But then I could not ever hold little children anymore because heaven forbid should their runny nose get on my shoulder of my pricey shirt.
I guess I will stick with my comfort laid back style if there is even a style called that. Maybe in my next life I can get excited about wearing the next latest fashion of jeans that show your underwear cause they are so low, shirts that show my belly button cause they are so short, shirts that show my bra straps cause the two don't match, everything that comes with a label, and shoes that cost as much as a week's worth of groceries.
But in the meantime I am going to sit on the living room floor and have macaroni and cheese with my grandchildren.
Another thing I noticed were the majority of the young girls and women wore 2 t-shirts. One lacy one and then another on top. I keep getting told it isn't 2 t shirts one is a tank top. Ok that is just semantics. Just because the one you wear underneath does not have sleeves doesn't mean the rest of the shirt isn't a whole shirt. It was 28 yesterday. My shirt was sticking to my back. I couldn't even comprehend why someone would want to wear another shirt on top!
It made me think of who comes up with these rules of fashion? Who decides that this year we're going to have people do this? It is like we are all puppets and when the Puppet Master pulls on their strings we have to dance to their tune and do what they dictate to us.
It is stupid. It really really is. Do fashion designers all sit at a conference table and say hey women aren't buying enough shirts so let's make it so they now have to buy TWO every time they want one? Who decided that thongs were now going to be worn under your pants and flip flops are now meant for the world to wear? Who died and made them President of the World?
I was reading a copy of O magazine last night and there was an article in it stating that the way you wear your clothes and the way you design your house says a lot about you. It stated that for the most part women dress in the same style they decorate their home. It made me think of the clothes in my closet. I have a lot of suits. They are all classic lines. Never will go out of style. I have nothing in there that is the latest craze of the day.
My casual clothes are comfortable. I don't have anything that is a "labeled" item. Then I thought of my home. Every inch of my home has pictures of my family. I have had my living room furniture (couch and chair) for about 15 years. It has withstood 5 teenagers, dogs, cat, and now 12 grandchildren) and there isn't even a tear on it. It is very comfortable to sit on and I spend a lot of my nights sleeping on there when my pain is too great to stay in bed.
So I guess Oprah was right. What you wear does reflect on how your home is decorated. The one thing that is the most important thing in my life is my family. I grew up in a home where we could not eat in the living room. You sat in ours at home you did not live in it as the name of the room suggests you should. My home is lived in. Many times I have had adults feel bad as their child upchucked on my suit or got mud on my pants or spilled something on my furniture and I always say their is nothing that can't be washed or cleaned.
So if I had to say what style I was I would have to say you would never see me on the end of a puppet master's strings. Not that anyone else should think they are because they follow fashions and fads and that they are bad or that I am judging them in any way. I would love to live in a home that looked like it belonged in a decorating magazine. But then I would have to turn into my mother and not let anyone "live" when they came into my living room. I would love to wear clothes that looked like they came off a Paris runway. But then I could not ever hold little children anymore because heaven forbid should their runny nose get on my shoulder of my pricey shirt.
I guess I will stick with my comfort laid back style if there is even a style called that. Maybe in my next life I can get excited about wearing the next latest fashion of jeans that show your underwear cause they are so low, shirts that show my belly button cause they are so short, shirts that show my bra straps cause the two don't match, everything that comes with a label, and shoes that cost as much as a week's worth of groceries.
But in the meantime I am going to sit on the living room floor and have macaroni and cheese with my grandchildren.
Playland
I went to Playland yesterday for the first time in years and had a lot of fun. The last time I went had been with our best friends and I had had so much fun! I love going there!! Especially at night time with all the noises, the people, the smells.. and ohhh those mini donuts, the candy floss, the caramel apples... yummy! And going on the rides over and over again screaming my head off and then doing it again hehehe. We both have husbands who can't do rides so it was fantastic to have a friend who loved them as much as we did!
But then my spine got to be too bad and I couldn't do the standing in lines anymore or take the rides as they put me in too much pain. I was kind of worried that I would consume all those calories yesterday. But I had a good breakfast, made a good lunch to bring with me and healthy snacks if I "wanted" to munch on something. I ended up forgetting my lunch but I was very good. I had checked all the calories online of carnival foods and when I smelt the caramel fudge I told myself that is over 1000 calories!! And it stayed away. I was very very good and only had 2 mini donuts. That is 2 little ones not 2 orders :)
I only went on a couple of rides though as I knew most of them would wreck me. But I had so much fun taking our 2 year old granddaughter on the kiddie rides while Lareta went on the rides with the older ones. Miranda fell in love with the Swing ride. It is below.
She must have gotten on that ride 20 times and would cry her heart out every time we would say no let's go on another one. I finally told the attendant that if he let her on one more time he would have to go home with her as we were leaving with or without her lol She was so cute on that ride. I was very happy that the park had benches at every other foot. I was able to sit and watch the kids on their rides instead of standing. Most were in the shade so that was a bonus. I was concerned about the grandkids asking for this and for that and wanting all the treats so before we got out of the van I told them that I was going to get them only one treat and that would be after we were all done. (Years of experience knows that high sugared foods and fast rides results in a puking contest)
Not one of them asked for something once. Not one of them had to be given a "look" or a reprimand of any kind. I was very very proud of them yesterday. Well that doesn't sound right .. I am always proud of them. But being well behaved sure made it enjoyable. 2 of the grandkids went on the log ride with me as the last ride and it was so exciting to sit behind them and hear them squealing as we climbed to the peak just before we went over the waterfall... :-D
I have to say it was one of the best outings I have ever had with my daughter and grandchildren.
But then my spine got to be too bad and I couldn't do the standing in lines anymore or take the rides as they put me in too much pain. I was kind of worried that I would consume all those calories yesterday. But I had a good breakfast, made a good lunch to bring with me and healthy snacks if I "wanted" to munch on something. I ended up forgetting my lunch but I was very good. I had checked all the calories online of carnival foods and when I smelt the caramel fudge I told myself that is over 1000 calories!! And it stayed away. I was very very good and only had 2 mini donuts. That is 2 little ones not 2 orders :)
I only went on a couple of rides though as I knew most of them would wreck me. But I had so much fun taking our 2 year old granddaughter on the kiddie rides while Lareta went on the rides with the older ones. Miranda fell in love with the Swing ride. It is below.
She must have gotten on that ride 20 times and would cry her heart out every time we would say no let's go on another one. I finally told the attendant that if he let her on one more time he would have to go home with her as we were leaving with or without her lol She was so cute on that ride. I was very happy that the park had benches at every other foot. I was able to sit and watch the kids on their rides instead of standing. Most were in the shade so that was a bonus. I was concerned about the grandkids asking for this and for that and wanting all the treats so before we got out of the van I told them that I was going to get them only one treat and that would be after we were all done. (Years of experience knows that high sugared foods and fast rides results in a puking contest)
Not one of them asked for something once. Not one of them had to be given a "look" or a reprimand of any kind. I was very very proud of them yesterday. Well that doesn't sound right .. I am always proud of them. But being well behaved sure made it enjoyable. 2 of the grandkids went on the log ride with me as the last ride and it was so exciting to sit behind them and hear them squealing as we climbed to the peak just before we went over the waterfall... :-D
I have to say it was one of the best outings I have ever had with my daughter and grandchildren.
Sunday, July 29, 2007
Island Retreat
Well we are finally back safe and sound from being on the island this weekend. We had not been sure if we were going to stay overnight or not but brought a change of clothes just in case. Which as it turned out was a good thing. We had thought the wedding was in Nanaimo but when we were on the ferry going across we realized the wedding was in Parksville. It was at a seaside resort and I don't think I have ever been to such a beautiful setting for a wedding in my life. You walked down a path to a gazebo looking out over the sea and the mountain ranges at what seemed like at your fingertips. We got there right at the very last minute (thank goodness the bride was late) so did not get a chance to get new film before the ceremony. Then the bride came down the path. Now this 20 year old girl is my namesake. We have always had a cool connection but as my brain acknowledged that this was her my mind couldn't wrap itself around that the girl in front of me was this stunning beautiful grown woman. What a knockout wearing a dress that a princess could only dream of!!
Her colors were soft pink and chocolate brown. Very sophisticated!! We visited with as many old friends as we could throughout the reception. Lots of squealing and hugs. I had not been feeling good and ended up laying down in the jeep for almost an hour trying to keep the nausea down. We finally left to come home and by the time we got back to Nanaimo I knew we had to spend the night as I was just too worn out. But finding a hotel there on a Friday night was near impossible but finally found one.
The next day at breakfast we thought we would stay an extra night just so we could continue visiting. We went to the gift opening and there we found out that 2 of the children of our dear friends were heading back to Alberta Sunday morning. We ended up deciding that we would head back together Saturday afternoon so they could visit with the rest of our kids last night etc. we have been family friends since our Regina days.
Well as the old saying goes.. best laid plans of mice and men... we got to the terminal in plenty of time and then got announced that the ferry would not be arriving as it had been turned around due to an emergency. That was it. We waited and waited and waited. All there was there was a coffee stall. None of us drank coffee. Their muffins were like 5 dollars each and juice not much cheaper. Keith to the rescue!! MY knight in shining armor! Only he could find a place that would deliver pizza to a parking lot! We were stuck there we could not leave and we couldn't go back. When the pizza arrived he had so many people ask him where on earth he got them from and we just gave them the phone number. They kept making announcements over the loud speaker that pizza was ready, then it was Chinese food ready. Keith said he should have started his own booth and made money!!!
We finally get told hours later that there had been a bomb threat on the ferry we were supposed to have gotten on!!! How scary is that! This isn't New York! We were happy that they had stopped the ferry but keeping 3 small children amused and happy was becoming a feat. We finally had the ferry arrive 6 hours later and we boarded. We were told that because of the delay our meal service would be free. It took us over 90 minutes of standing in line to get our food only to find out all that was left for us was some small dishes of ice cream and a couple of orders of fries. They had made an announcement about an hour into the ride that because of some customers over ordering they were running out of food and that they apologized again. They asked that although the food was free that people only order what they normally would order and to be respectful of all those who still had not ordered.
By the time that Keith got to the front of the line he said the staff were throwing away PLATES full of food. The staff told him that people were ordering 6 hamburgers at a time and taking all the muffins, cookies, anything that was wrapped and putting them into their backpacks. How greedy can people be???? I realize that the food was free but come on people the ferry was full of families that had been stranded for hours!! Kids were being turned away at midnight as there was no food and they were crying.. how sad!!! I can't believe people can be rude!!!
We got home at 1:45a.m when we were supposed to be home 7:30. We stayed up till 3 setting up beds for 3 adults and 3 children and bringing in bags etc. Then we got up at 7 to get breakfast ready for everyone and our kids and grandchildren were coming over to visit... fresh fruit salad, French toast, pancakes, cereal, fresh juice, homemade blueberry syrup, bacon, eggs... yummy....
Then everyone was gone by 10:30 and Keith and I just left the mess and went back to bed to sleep till 4! I was exhausted. Now it is just sitting in jammies, reading mail and getting messages from my voice mail. We watched the news about the ferry and the bomb threat tonight and found out this is the THIRD threat this year already!!! WHAT?? How come I haven't heard this before!!
Anyway it will be a quiet night tonight on the couch with my Pooh blanket.. see ya!
Her colors were soft pink and chocolate brown. Very sophisticated!! We visited with as many old friends as we could throughout the reception. Lots of squealing and hugs. I had not been feeling good and ended up laying down in the jeep for almost an hour trying to keep the nausea down. We finally left to come home and by the time we got back to Nanaimo I knew we had to spend the night as I was just too worn out. But finding a hotel there on a Friday night was near impossible but finally found one.
The next day at breakfast we thought we would stay an extra night just so we could continue visiting. We went to the gift opening and there we found out that 2 of the children of our dear friends were heading back to Alberta Sunday morning. We ended up deciding that we would head back together Saturday afternoon so they could visit with the rest of our kids last night etc. we have been family friends since our Regina days.
Well as the old saying goes.. best laid plans of mice and men... we got to the terminal in plenty of time and then got announced that the ferry would not be arriving as it had been turned around due to an emergency. That was it. We waited and waited and waited. All there was there was a coffee stall. None of us drank coffee. Their muffins were like 5 dollars each and juice not much cheaper. Keith to the rescue!! MY knight in shining armor! Only he could find a place that would deliver pizza to a parking lot! We were stuck there we could not leave and we couldn't go back. When the pizza arrived he had so many people ask him where on earth he got them from and we just gave them the phone number. They kept making announcements over the loud speaker that pizza was ready, then it was Chinese food ready. Keith said he should have started his own booth and made money!!!
We finally get told hours later that there had been a bomb threat on the ferry we were supposed to have gotten on!!! How scary is that! This isn't New York! We were happy that they had stopped the ferry but keeping 3 small children amused and happy was becoming a feat. We finally had the ferry arrive 6 hours later and we boarded. We were told that because of the delay our meal service would be free. It took us over 90 minutes of standing in line to get our food only to find out all that was left for us was some small dishes of ice cream and a couple of orders of fries. They had made an announcement about an hour into the ride that because of some customers over ordering they were running out of food and that they apologized again. They asked that although the food was free that people only order what they normally would order and to be respectful of all those who still had not ordered.
By the time that Keith got to the front of the line he said the staff were throwing away PLATES full of food. The staff told him that people were ordering 6 hamburgers at a time and taking all the muffins, cookies, anything that was wrapped and putting them into their backpacks. How greedy can people be???? I realize that the food was free but come on people the ferry was full of families that had been stranded for hours!! Kids were being turned away at midnight as there was no food and they were crying.. how sad!!! I can't believe people can be rude!!!
We got home at 1:45a.m when we were supposed to be home 7:30. We stayed up till 3 setting up beds for 3 adults and 3 children and bringing in bags etc. Then we got up at 7 to get breakfast ready for everyone and our kids and grandchildren were coming over to visit... fresh fruit salad, French toast, pancakes, cereal, fresh juice, homemade blueberry syrup, bacon, eggs... yummy....
Then everyone was gone by 10:30 and Keith and I just left the mess and went back to bed to sleep till 4! I was exhausted. Now it is just sitting in jammies, reading mail and getting messages from my voice mail. We watched the news about the ferry and the bomb threat tonight and found out this is the THIRD threat this year already!!! WHAT?? How come I haven't heard this before!!
Anyway it will be a quiet night tonight on the couch with my Pooh blanket.. see ya!
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Book fan
I have been listening to all the hype about the latest Harry Potter book coming out and thought how can you possibly be so wrapped up in a sequel that you would stay up till midnight to get a book? Then Keith so aptly reminded me of years ago when the series "The Work and the Glory" was first coming out. As soon as the next installment was out I would be there first in line and I would do nothing but read the novel till it was done. At one point, the year our children got married, 4 of us in the house were reading the same novel. If you put it down it was fair game for anyone else to read it. The rule was you could not take it into the bathroom with you and if you read it in bed you had to put it in a common place when you were done so someone else could read it.
I was at the last third of this particular novel and had a hard time getting my hands on it. Kim and Lareta had gone to bed. I don't know where Jody was but I went to bed to read. Because the light was on it was keeping Keith awake. Well not the light itself but the noises I was making when I was at a bad part or my legs would twitch cause I was worried or excited about something. He kept asking if I was almost done and I would always say let me finish this chapter. But every chapter always ended on the wrong note and I had to keep reading.
At one point he rolls over, takes the book from my hands, puts it on his night table and turns the light off and says "GO TO SLEEP"!. I laid there very quietly till I heard him sleeping then got out of bed very quietly, got the book and went into our ensuite to finish reading the book. Now I have to explain we had an Irish Wolfhound dog at the time which are very very big. He was my protector and went no where without me. So I closed the bathroom door before I turned the light on and heard him laying against the door.
I didn't realized I had been sitting on the seat of the toilet as long as I had till I went to stand up when I actually finished the book. Let me describe this bathroom. It was only a half bath and was very small. It had a toilet and when you sat on it you could lay your head on the sink. There was only a 8 inch space between the sink and the wall where I had a tall narrow metal shelving that held all my beauty stuff and hair dryers etc. When I went to stand up my legs gave out as the blood flow had been cut off from sitting so long.
I went head first into this metal shelving which knocked every thing off of it and flipped me backwards. But because there was so little room I ended up with my head, neck and upper shoulders on the floor by the toilet, my waist and hips on the toilet lid and my legs over the sink and tangled with this shelving. During all this the dog is literally slamming head first into the door trying to break the door down cause he knows I'm in trouble. Keith is trying to pull the dog off the door but the dog is barking and snapping at him. He has a very heavy chain choker and even yanking on it is not letting him get the dog from trying to bust through the door. Keith called Kim to come and hang on to the dog so he could get to the door.
Keith kept asking if I was all right but the dog was barking so loud he couldn't hear me. He finally got the door open and there I lay not being able to move with the book neatly sitting on my chest cover up like I had fallen asleep with the book on me. Keith finally asked if I was ok and I said yes. I would have said yes even if I had broken both arms and both legs. By this time the dog's collar snapped from his force of trying to jump and I now had a 150 pound dog climbing on me to lick my face. I finally was able to tell him to get off so I could get up. I managed to clean everything up and when I went back to bed Keith quietly asks "Now are you done the last chapter?" and I very meekly said yes.
I had forgotten all that till I was reminded. As I read my DIL's message to her hubby's comment that nothing is going to get done in the house now that she got her latest book of Harry Potter I had to smile as I remembered my racing through the house to clean it and make the fastest dinner possible when I was reading one of the new installments. But I have to say I haven't gotten into books like that series that had such a grip on me let me tell you. I still have all 9 hard cover novels on my shelf and actually just finished rereading them last year when I was laid up in bed.
I am glad that I have raised readers in my family and that all my in-law children are readers as well as all their children. It is a good vice to have if you have to have one :) I think I may have to go buy a new novel of something or other to take camping with me next month!!
I was at the last third of this particular novel and had a hard time getting my hands on it. Kim and Lareta had gone to bed. I don't know where Jody was but I went to bed to read. Because the light was on it was keeping Keith awake. Well not the light itself but the noises I was making when I was at a bad part or my legs would twitch cause I was worried or excited about something. He kept asking if I was almost done and I would always say let me finish this chapter. But every chapter always ended on the wrong note and I had to keep reading.
At one point he rolls over, takes the book from my hands, puts it on his night table and turns the light off and says "GO TO SLEEP"!. I laid there very quietly till I heard him sleeping then got out of bed very quietly, got the book and went into our ensuite to finish reading the book. Now I have to explain we had an Irish Wolfhound dog at the time which are very very big. He was my protector and went no where without me. So I closed the bathroom door before I turned the light on and heard him laying against the door.
I didn't realized I had been sitting on the seat of the toilet as long as I had till I went to stand up when I actually finished the book. Let me describe this bathroom. It was only a half bath and was very small. It had a toilet and when you sat on it you could lay your head on the sink. There was only a 8 inch space between the sink and the wall where I had a tall narrow metal shelving that held all my beauty stuff and hair dryers etc. When I went to stand up my legs gave out as the blood flow had been cut off from sitting so long.
I went head first into this metal shelving which knocked every thing off of it and flipped me backwards. But because there was so little room I ended up with my head, neck and upper shoulders on the floor by the toilet, my waist and hips on the toilet lid and my legs over the sink and tangled with this shelving. During all this the dog is literally slamming head first into the door trying to break the door down cause he knows I'm in trouble. Keith is trying to pull the dog off the door but the dog is barking and snapping at him. He has a very heavy chain choker and even yanking on it is not letting him get the dog from trying to bust through the door. Keith called Kim to come and hang on to the dog so he could get to the door.
Keith kept asking if I was all right but the dog was barking so loud he couldn't hear me. He finally got the door open and there I lay not being able to move with the book neatly sitting on my chest cover up like I had fallen asleep with the book on me. Keith finally asked if I was ok and I said yes. I would have said yes even if I had broken both arms and both legs. By this time the dog's collar snapped from his force of trying to jump and I now had a 150 pound dog climbing on me to lick my face. I finally was able to tell him to get off so I could get up. I managed to clean everything up and when I went back to bed Keith quietly asks "Now are you done the last chapter?" and I very meekly said yes.
I had forgotten all that till I was reminded. As I read my DIL's message to her hubby's comment that nothing is going to get done in the house now that she got her latest book of Harry Potter I had to smile as I remembered my racing through the house to clean it and make the fastest dinner possible when I was reading one of the new installments. But I have to say I haven't gotten into books like that series that had such a grip on me let me tell you. I still have all 9 hard cover novels on my shelf and actually just finished rereading them last year when I was laid up in bed.
I am glad that I have raised readers in my family and that all my in-law children are readers as well as all their children. It is a good vice to have if you have to have one :) I think I may have to go buy a new novel of something or other to take camping with me next month!!
Sunday, July 22, 2007
C.U.P.E.
As the cities go into strike mode with CUPE I am reminded of when I was a C.U.P.E. member. When I was a nurse we did not have our own union (that has since changed). We belonged to CUPE which included ALL hospital workers from nurses, lab techs, X-Ray techs, housekeepers, interns, security, office clerks, kitchen staff. If you worked at the hospital you were under the same union. The only ones exempt from this were doctors and administrative.
It seemed we were always on strike. Not the nurses but all the other workers. And because we had to support them, we always had to picket. It drove me crazy. I worked my butt off for 3 years sacrificing my family time, money etc to put myself through school and worked hard at my job yet I would get a lousy 10 bucks a day picketing. I could have saved myself all that money and time and stayed home with my children for all the good I was doing on the sidewalk. The nurses worked with union leaders and with other cities/provinces who had separate unions for them to get our own and just after we moved to BC the unions changed so now all nurses had their own union. Sure wait till I leave!!
Keith belonged to the Carpernters Union when we lived there. Just after we married, the entire union went on strike.. all trades. Keith's particular area settled in a couple of weeks but the plumbers stayed on strike for NINE months! Keith couldn't cross the picket line. We weren't eligible for E.I. as he was employed. We weren't eligible for Social Welfare as he was employed. He picked up as much side jobs as he could doing renovations etc in homes etc but it just barely put food on the table. We lost our home that we had bought when we got married. We had used up all our savings making mortgage payments till there was no more and we had to turn the keys over. We couldn't even sell it as the interest rates had rocketed to 24% and no one was buying homes then.
It was a hard pill to swallow. Now as I listen to the news about the city workers going on strike it grates me. Once again we will be held "hostage" by the union. The job Keith is working on now is a city building which means he will not be able to cross the pickets even though he is not a union man. I support nurses when they go on strike as they deal with life and death situations every day. I support teachers going on strike as they teach my grandchildren. Everyone else? You are on your own. You burnt me twice. I won't fall for it a 3rd time.
It seemed we were always on strike. Not the nurses but all the other workers. And because we had to support them, we always had to picket. It drove me crazy. I worked my butt off for 3 years sacrificing my family time, money etc to put myself through school and worked hard at my job yet I would get a lousy 10 bucks a day picketing. I could have saved myself all that money and time and stayed home with my children for all the good I was doing on the sidewalk. The nurses worked with union leaders and with other cities/provinces who had separate unions for them to get our own and just after we moved to BC the unions changed so now all nurses had their own union. Sure wait till I leave!!
Keith belonged to the Carpernters Union when we lived there. Just after we married, the entire union went on strike.. all trades. Keith's particular area settled in a couple of weeks but the plumbers stayed on strike for NINE months! Keith couldn't cross the picket line. We weren't eligible for E.I. as he was employed. We weren't eligible for Social Welfare as he was employed. He picked up as much side jobs as he could doing renovations etc in homes etc but it just barely put food on the table. We lost our home that we had bought when we got married. We had used up all our savings making mortgage payments till there was no more and we had to turn the keys over. We couldn't even sell it as the interest rates had rocketed to 24% and no one was buying homes then.
It was a hard pill to swallow. Now as I listen to the news about the city workers going on strike it grates me. Once again we will be held "hostage" by the union. The job Keith is working on now is a city building which means he will not be able to cross the pickets even though he is not a union man. I support nurses when they go on strike as they deal with life and death situations every day. I support teachers going on strike as they teach my grandchildren. Everyone else? You are on your own. You burnt me twice. I won't fall for it a 3rd time.
Monday, July 16, 2007
Old fashioned vs modern communication technology
I was watching a movie last night about an Amish young woman that was charged with murdering her newborn son. Her lawyer was told by the judge that the girl went to jail till trial or else the lawyer had to go chaperone her 24/7 till then. The lawyer gets there and when her laptop battery went dead she went looking for the "emergency" power supply and she couldn't believe that when they told her there was no electricity that there actually was none. She could not charge her cell phone battery and the nearest pay phone as 20 miles away.
The lawyer asks the young woman at one point if she had friends and extended family away from the farm and she replied yes. SO then she asked the girl well without a phone or computers how do you talk to each other. The girl looked at her like she had horns and simply said "We go to their house and talk". It sounded like a stupid thing to say.. too simple to be true but this afternoon as I was cleaning out my inbox of emails and returning voice mail messages that sentence came back to me. I had to really think other then from my mom, when was the last time I had gotten an actual snail mail in my mailbox?
I used to be so thrilled when I would get my mail and there would be these thick envelopes there waiting for me. It was a whole production... if it was winter I would make a whole pot of chamomile tea, summer meant lemonade and I would wait till the house was quiet and I would read the letters. First I would scan it quickly for the juicy gossip (oh wait not gossip but rather important information!) then I would start from the beginning and read to the end. The letter would stay opened on my desk till it was answered and I would read it many times till then.
My mom still writes to me as she doesn't own a computer but other then hers, I don't get mail anymore. If my mailbox is stuffed it's because it's Monday and all the stupid flyers are there. I can't remember when the last time it was that I wrote a long newsy letter either. I used to once a year with Christmas cards but even that stopped awhile back when everyone got email addresses.
Now my form of conversation is a paragraph or two by email. When our son in law was in the hospital last week I was stuck there trying to call people from my cell and didn't have anyone's numbers. Anyone really important are on my speed dials on my home phone but only my kids are on my cell directory. I had this friend in Regina when we lived there and at 9am sharp every day that I was off we would get on the phone. I don't know if it is still like that but back then at least one phone in the house had to be hard wired to the house as on the wall etc. You couldn't just have phones that plugged in the jacks. Anyway we both had 75 foot cords on our phones and we would talk for 1-2 hours every day as we did our housecleaning and laundry. I have no idea what we all talked about but we did. I had another friend that our husbands hooked up intercoms between the 2 homes because we talked to each other for hours and tied up the lines (this of course was pre-call waiting or voice mail).
Lately I have been working on Facebook looking up people I knew in Regina when we were there.... kids and grandkids plus work just seemed to have made contact all but disappear but as I find people I am surprised how many still don't even have computers or if they do they don't have internet!! GASP!!! Survive without internet?? Bit my tongue!
But today I thought of the old days of sitting curled up on the couch with my letters or talking on the phone and realized that somehow with all our modern communication technology of cells, pagers, Yahoo, emails, voice mails, call forwarding, call waiting, and the constant beeping and ringing wherever you go, we have somehow lost the art of just talking and listening.
The lawyer asks the young woman at one point if she had friends and extended family away from the farm and she replied yes. SO then she asked the girl well without a phone or computers how do you talk to each other. The girl looked at her like she had horns and simply said "We go to their house and talk". It sounded like a stupid thing to say.. too simple to be true but this afternoon as I was cleaning out my inbox of emails and returning voice mail messages that sentence came back to me. I had to really think other then from my mom, when was the last time I had gotten an actual snail mail in my mailbox?
I used to be so thrilled when I would get my mail and there would be these thick envelopes there waiting for me. It was a whole production... if it was winter I would make a whole pot of chamomile tea, summer meant lemonade and I would wait till the house was quiet and I would read the letters. First I would scan it quickly for the juicy gossip (oh wait not gossip but rather important information!) then I would start from the beginning and read to the end. The letter would stay opened on my desk till it was answered and I would read it many times till then.
My mom still writes to me as she doesn't own a computer but other then hers, I don't get mail anymore. If my mailbox is stuffed it's because it's Monday and all the stupid flyers are there. I can't remember when the last time it was that I wrote a long newsy letter either. I used to once a year with Christmas cards but even that stopped awhile back when everyone got email addresses.
Now my form of conversation is a paragraph or two by email. When our son in law was in the hospital last week I was stuck there trying to call people from my cell and didn't have anyone's numbers. Anyone really important are on my speed dials on my home phone but only my kids are on my cell directory. I had this friend in Regina when we lived there and at 9am sharp every day that I was off we would get on the phone. I don't know if it is still like that but back then at least one phone in the house had to be hard wired to the house as on the wall etc. You couldn't just have phones that plugged in the jacks. Anyway we both had 75 foot cords on our phones and we would talk for 1-2 hours every day as we did our housecleaning and laundry. I have no idea what we all talked about but we did. I had another friend that our husbands hooked up intercoms between the 2 homes because we talked to each other for hours and tied up the lines (this of course was pre-call waiting or voice mail).
Lately I have been working on Facebook looking up people I knew in Regina when we were there.... kids and grandkids plus work just seemed to have made contact all but disappear but as I find people I am surprised how many still don't even have computers or if they do they don't have internet!! GASP!!! Survive without internet?? Bit my tongue!
But today I thought of the old days of sitting curled up on the couch with my letters or talking on the phone and realized that somehow with all our modern communication technology of cells, pagers, Yahoo, emails, voice mails, call forwarding, call waiting, and the constant beeping and ringing wherever you go, we have somehow lost the art of just talking and listening.
Friday, July 13, 2007
Latest Craze
Out here there seems to be an increase of the latest fashion. No it's not the latest jeans or shoes etc. It is the latest craze of walking around in malls with miniature dogs. It drives me crazy. When did mall administrators decide that toy dogs were now seeing eye dogs? And seeing as how the owners are usually carrying said dogs just who are the dogs leading?
And it is bad enough when the owners are carrying them but they are sitting in a food area such as a food court with the dogs, or walking them on a leash. If the dog defecates in the middle of the mall who cleans it up? When is enough considered enough? Am I considered to be unbending and picky if I speak to someone who is doing this? Am I allowed to go to the mall administrators or security personnel to report this? I have to assume I am not the only one noticing this so is anyone reporting them or have we gotten so used to Hollywood setting standards for the rest of the world that we turn a blind eye to it happening?
Do I have a right to eat in a public area without worrying that I have dog hair on my table? Or that a dog is eating people food at the table next to me? (Which is what happened 2 weeks ago at a local mall. When is enough enough and when are we supposed to stand up for ourselves? Will malls listen to us or will they consider not wanting to turn away these customers that have their pets with them? Am I being petty?
And it is bad enough when the owners are carrying them but they are sitting in a food area such as a food court with the dogs, or walking them on a leash. If the dog defecates in the middle of the mall who cleans it up? When is enough considered enough? Am I considered to be unbending and picky if I speak to someone who is doing this? Am I allowed to go to the mall administrators or security personnel to report this? I have to assume I am not the only one noticing this so is anyone reporting them or have we gotten so used to Hollywood setting standards for the rest of the world that we turn a blind eye to it happening?
Do I have a right to eat in a public area without worrying that I have dog hair on my table? Or that a dog is eating people food at the table next to me? (Which is what happened 2 weeks ago at a local mall. When is enough enough and when are we supposed to stand up for ourselves? Will malls listen to us or will they consider not wanting to turn away these customers that have their pets with them? Am I being petty?
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Perfected Bodies
Goes to show what happens when you don't get sleep. I spent most of last night in ER watching my son in law's labored breathing and it made me think. Getting into bed at 4 in the morning didn't help in relaxing me to sleep and as I was thinking of Curt I thought of the belief that we all have that after we die, after Judgment Day our bodies and spirits will be joined once again in a perfect body. Well ok.. that is an assumption on my part that "we all" believe that so I will rephrase by saying that is what I believe. It made me think of perfect body. By whose definition will perfection be? Mine? God's? After all man is made after the image of God. But then the analytical part of my brain thinks wait a minute.. He is male I am female.. big difference right off the bat. Yes we both have one head, two arms and two legs but there the images stop.
I thought of all the races on this planet and how different we are. Again the same concept of one head and body parts are similar but some races are predominately taller, others predisposed to be heavier, others more fit etc. Why the difference? Then my brain shifted brain cells and dominoes over to the 70's game show with Monty Hall as the host. Can't for the life of me think of the name of the show but he would give winning contestants the choice of trading their winnings for what lay behind a different door. Sometimes they traded up and sometimes they lost big time. What made me think of that is beyond me. I did say at the beginning I hadn't been to sleep yet right?
Do we get a choice of what is a perfect body? Will it be a multiple choice? IF I don't like what is offered do I get to rechoose? Or pick what the person 3 rows over chose? If I get to choose then that's simple. I would choose to be 6 inches shorter, have thicker hair, and feet that are 4 inches shorter to match my shorter height otherwise they would look like canoes. Will we all be 5'10", blonde haired and blue-eyed?
By this time the clock has moved ever so slowly to now 5 am. I did the only thing rational I could think of.. I woke hubby up. He woke up with a start thinking the hospital had called and asks what's wrong? I ask " Do you think I have a perfect body already?" After quietly looking at me for a couple of moments, he asks "Is this a trick question?" Poor man. I keep forgetting that as a mere mortal male he has yet to figure out how to read my mind. I said never mind go back to sleep. And he promptly does. Now had he been able to read my mind he would have never done that. He would have sat up and asked what was on my mind and did I want to talk about it.
So fast forward to now 6 am and I finally give up trying to decide whose decision it will be for perfection and I got out of bed. This being 50 cough cough choke choke 1 really sucks. Now I am going to go have something very youthful for breakfast in the form of Apple Cinnamon Cheerios and pretend like I never had this 3 hour one sided conversation in my head.
I thought of all the races on this planet and how different we are. Again the same concept of one head and body parts are similar but some races are predominately taller, others predisposed to be heavier, others more fit etc. Why the difference? Then my brain shifted brain cells and dominoes over to the 70's game show with Monty Hall as the host. Can't for the life of me think of the name of the show but he would give winning contestants the choice of trading their winnings for what lay behind a different door. Sometimes they traded up and sometimes they lost big time. What made me think of that is beyond me. I did say at the beginning I hadn't been to sleep yet right?
Do we get a choice of what is a perfect body? Will it be a multiple choice? IF I don't like what is offered do I get to rechoose? Or pick what the person 3 rows over chose? If I get to choose then that's simple. I would choose to be 6 inches shorter, have thicker hair, and feet that are 4 inches shorter to match my shorter height otherwise they would look like canoes. Will we all be 5'10", blonde haired and blue-eyed?
By this time the clock has moved ever so slowly to now 5 am. I did the only thing rational I could think of.. I woke hubby up. He woke up with a start thinking the hospital had called and asks what's wrong? I ask " Do you think I have a perfect body already?" After quietly looking at me for a couple of moments, he asks "Is this a trick question?" Poor man. I keep forgetting that as a mere mortal male he has yet to figure out how to read my mind. I said never mind go back to sleep. And he promptly does. Now had he been able to read my mind he would have never done that. He would have sat up and asked what was on my mind and did I want to talk about it.
So fast forward to now 6 am and I finally give up trying to decide whose decision it will be for perfection and I got out of bed. This being 50 cough cough choke choke 1 really sucks. Now I am going to go have something very youthful for breakfast in the form of Apple Cinnamon Cheerios and pretend like I never had this 3 hour one sided conversation in my head.
Thursday, July 05, 2007
Yea it's summer!!
Well after finally complaining for months now of this stupid rainy weather summer has arrived with a vengeance! A tad too hot for me but I will not complain when my other option is rain. Lareta and I decided to take the kids to the water park and pool today and we had a blast. We also had my oldest grandchild as well who is down for 3 weeks and it was fun spending time with him. Lareta's youngest learnt how to kick her feet in the pool today and she kept saying "Terry watch me I'm wimmmmmmming!" over and over but you can tell he has a young sister cause he was so patient with her and kept coming to see her kick her feet.
We ran into several women from church there with their kids so it was nice to visit with them and see them with their hair down. Fun fun day. I bought this new cool cooler at Costco the other day. It is an insultated squarish one but it is on wheels on one end and a handle that pulls up like a suitcase. Awesome!! Even totally packed that I had it, the thing glided along even on the grass and sandy knolls on the way to the park. I was so happy with it. And the lid has a smaller "peep" window that is velcroed so that if you just want to grab something you just have to lift that little window rather then unzipping the entire thing! Very good buy at 36.99! Because Lareta and I spend so much time at the water park every summer it will more then pay for itself.
I finally got my last suitcase delivered today after 10 days! I was not impressed with UPS. I always use DHL for my courier but this time I decided to use UPS when I was sending all those parcels from my mom. They finally delivered them on Tuesday (after 8 days no less!!) but they were short my large suitcase. They had no idea where it was and I spent 2 days on the phone with them with no results. I finally gave the info to our son Jody and he got in touch with them today and lo and behold my suitcase is found. I was really getting concerned as an idiot I had not locked the suitcase and had all my jewelery in there and all the jewelry that my mom had given me (including emerald and diamond bracelet!) Some days I wonder where my brain goes.
But it arrived safe and sound and everything accounted for. But I will be going back to DHL as they never take more then 3 days for the exact same route.
But tomorrow is another great day as we are going to spend the day shopping in Bellingham! We've made our list checked it twice and we are off to catch all the summer sales! And Lareta and I went to our campground in Fort Langley and we have our sites booked in August. WOOOHOOO! Hopefully our son and his family from Lethbridge who are coming down at the same time will be able to join us for part of their trip, But man oh man have they ever completely rehauled it! Last summer was the only summer we have not been there in years as I had my surgery and then all the complications plus by the time I was able to get up and around I was too busy getting ready for our 25th so it was a huge surprise! But a good surprise.. I think.
We ran into several women from church there with their kids so it was nice to visit with them and see them with their hair down. Fun fun day. I bought this new cool cooler at Costco the other day. It is an insultated squarish one but it is on wheels on one end and a handle that pulls up like a suitcase. Awesome!! Even totally packed that I had it, the thing glided along even on the grass and sandy knolls on the way to the park. I was so happy with it. And the lid has a smaller "peep" window that is velcroed so that if you just want to grab something you just have to lift that little window rather then unzipping the entire thing! Very good buy at 36.99! Because Lareta and I spend so much time at the water park every summer it will more then pay for itself.
I finally got my last suitcase delivered today after 10 days! I was not impressed with UPS. I always use DHL for my courier but this time I decided to use UPS when I was sending all those parcels from my mom. They finally delivered them on Tuesday (after 8 days no less!!) but they were short my large suitcase. They had no idea where it was and I spent 2 days on the phone with them with no results. I finally gave the info to our son Jody and he got in touch with them today and lo and behold my suitcase is found. I was really getting concerned as an idiot I had not locked the suitcase and had all my jewelery in there and all the jewelry that my mom had given me (including emerald and diamond bracelet!) Some days I wonder where my brain goes.
But it arrived safe and sound and everything accounted for. But I will be going back to DHL as they never take more then 3 days for the exact same route.
But tomorrow is another great day as we are going to spend the day shopping in Bellingham! We've made our list checked it twice and we are off to catch all the summer sales! And Lareta and I went to our campground in Fort Langley and we have our sites booked in August. WOOOHOOO! Hopefully our son and his family from Lethbridge who are coming down at the same time will be able to join us for part of their trip, But man oh man have they ever completely rehauled it! Last summer was the only summer we have not been there in years as I had my surgery and then all the complications plus by the time I was able to get up and around I was too busy getting ready for our 25th so it was a huge surprise! But a good surprise.. I think.
Wednesday, July 04, 2007
O Canada
I have been wanting to write something for the last couple of days on what it means to me to be a Canadian but I was having a hard time wrapping my head around what I wanted to say. I was trying to think of what is unique about our country. When I think of European countries I think of national costumes, national dance and so on. We don't have that. We don't have traditions that are just ours. We used to have the RCMP as ours with their uniforms. I used to love to watch their shows at the PNE with the horses and their display musical rides. But now they have allowed some RCMP to not wear the whole uniform so because of a very very few officers we now have even lost that one thing that was uniquely ours. I don't like that. I mean if you don't want to wear the whole uniform then don't join it's plain and simple in my eyes.
When we sang our National Anthem at church on Sunday I still sang it in French as I always do. I asked my grandchildren if they still sing it in school. They said yes they sing it once a week but not every child has to participate. WHAT???? Who came up with that rule??? That should be a given! If someone wants to come to our country to live here and we are nice enough to allow them to, then they should become Canadians and sing the anthem when it was played, I was flabbergasted to say the least!
I thought of when it had been the last time I sang the anthem and it had been at a hockey game a couple of months ago. Most people didn't even sing along, a lot were still wearing their hats and some were still talking and joking around and some didn't even stand up. How disrespectful! I even gave them "the look" but that went right over their heads. These were all late teens/20ish young adults. It was very upsetting to me to say the least. When I was watching the Stanley Cup playoff game this season and the cameras would pan the fans in the audience you would see them with their hands over their hearts and singing with enthusiasm even the little children.
Why is that not like that here? I thought of our soldiers at war in Afghanistan. I don't agree with them being there but I do support them while they are there. They are proud to be Canadian and they are there to serve their country to the death if need be. Why is it that they can risk their lives for their country but some here can not even take their hats off to sing the anthem and show respect for their country?
Every Monday night at our house was stew night. My mom would take all the leftovers from the previous week and make a thick stew with it. We loved it! It was a like a melting pot of flavours and always a surprise of sorts as it never tasted the same! As I was thinking about what it meant to me to be a Canadian I thought of that stew. Our country is made up of all these different "ingredients" and nothing is the same as it used to be. There are too many different aspects of our country now to be unique anymore and that is sad.
I am proud to be a Canadian. I love my country. I love living in a "free" country where I am free to worship where I want and when I want. I love living in a country where I can walk outside without fear of being bombed. I love having the same rights as everyone not just the rich.
On the front of my Book of Remembrance I have a page that says "You can't know where you are going if you don't know where you come from." As I was thinking of my family history I came to the final conclusion that seeing as my family lines have been in Canada since at least the 1700's on most lines, I can safely say I am proud to call myself a Canadian. I will continue with the traditions that have passed down from one generation to the next and will teach my grandchildren these same. I will continue speaking in both Canadian official languages. I will continue to stand and sing the national anthem when in public. I can only respect myself as a Canadian and hope that in so doing I will lead by example.
When we sang our National Anthem at church on Sunday I still sang it in French as I always do. I asked my grandchildren if they still sing it in school. They said yes they sing it once a week but not every child has to participate. WHAT???? Who came up with that rule??? That should be a given! If someone wants to come to our country to live here and we are nice enough to allow them to, then they should become Canadians and sing the anthem when it was played, I was flabbergasted to say the least!
I thought of when it had been the last time I sang the anthem and it had been at a hockey game a couple of months ago. Most people didn't even sing along, a lot were still wearing their hats and some were still talking and joking around and some didn't even stand up. How disrespectful! I even gave them "the look" but that went right over their heads. These were all late teens/20ish young adults. It was very upsetting to me to say the least. When I was watching the Stanley Cup playoff game this season and the cameras would pan the fans in the audience you would see them with their hands over their hearts and singing with enthusiasm even the little children.
Why is that not like that here? I thought of our soldiers at war in Afghanistan. I don't agree with them being there but I do support them while they are there. They are proud to be Canadian and they are there to serve their country to the death if need be. Why is it that they can risk their lives for their country but some here can not even take their hats off to sing the anthem and show respect for their country?
Every Monday night at our house was stew night. My mom would take all the leftovers from the previous week and make a thick stew with it. We loved it! It was a like a melting pot of flavours and always a surprise of sorts as it never tasted the same! As I was thinking about what it meant to me to be a Canadian I thought of that stew. Our country is made up of all these different "ingredients" and nothing is the same as it used to be. There are too many different aspects of our country now to be unique anymore and that is sad.
I am proud to be a Canadian. I love my country. I love living in a "free" country where I am free to worship where I want and when I want. I love living in a country where I can walk outside without fear of being bombed. I love having the same rights as everyone not just the rich.
On the front of my Book of Remembrance I have a page that says "You can't know where you are going if you don't know where you come from." As I was thinking of my family history I came to the final conclusion that seeing as my family lines have been in Canada since at least the 1700's on most lines, I can safely say I am proud to call myself a Canadian. I will continue with the traditions that have passed down from one generation to the next and will teach my grandchildren these same. I will continue speaking in both Canadian official languages. I will continue to stand and sing the national anthem when in public. I can only respect myself as a Canadian and hope that in so doing I will lead by example.
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Mother and Child reunion
I just got back from 2 weeks “back home”. I have been used to where I live for 19 years now. I went home to a town of about 150 people if you count all the pets and people that are home for a long weekend. I had forgotten the different kind of life you live in a small town. Everything moves at a much slower pace. Rush hour traffic means there is a tractor and 2 cars on Main Street at the same time. By the end of the first evening we had just finished watching the 10 o’clock news and my mom decided she was going to bed. The living room is off her bedroom and as I couldn’t watch TV, I too went upstairs to bed. There was no cell service there. There was no high speed internet in the area let alone dial up or even a computer. The x-ray machine at the airport for some reason had erased all my data in my PDA so I had lost all my phone numbers, calendar items etc. So I lay in bed thinking now what do I do? But I soon got sleepy from the early morning trip and dozed off. I woke up and thought something was wrong. I listened and realized all I could hear were birds chirping. No sirens, no traffic, no noise.. just birds.
It was very early for me. I normally don’t go to bed till 2 am and am up and down most of what is left of my night. I have 2 debilitating illnesses that make sleep near impossible. I am treated by my doctors, specialists, massage therapists, physio therapists and acupuncturists. As I got out of bed I noticed that I had actually stayed in the same position all night. Wow.
I went downstairs and was met with a good morning and a bowl of porridge. I am 50 years old. I haven’t had porridge since I left home at 17. But I ate the whole bowl. By the second day I wasn’t wearing my watch. There was no point. I had no schedule to keep. I helped in the flower beds transplanting bedding plants and moving others. We went for walks around town. All 6 blocks long and 3 blocks wide worth of town. It would take us 40 minutes or so to walk every single block but only part of the time was spent walking, the rest of the time was spent talking to neighbors who were curious at who the stranger was with Pauline.
All cars that did manage to come by us on our walks were met with the other drivers waving hi. The excitement of the week was going to the big neighboring town for the weekly shopping expedition. This other town happens to be my home town that I was born and raised in and is also only 10 miles away. I travel that just to go to the store at home when I was just there because I forgot something. But with my mom, she only goes once a week. We drove by the farm that my great-grandparents started when they moved to Saskatchewan from Quebec. We drove by my high school and I was reminded of all the basketball games our girls team won that I played centre on and the boys football games they won that I was a cheerleader for.
As I dropped her off at the hair salon (better known as the beauty parlour there) I went to the cemetery to do some searching. I love family history and work hard digging up tangled roots. I had arrived at my mom’s with a gift of a 15 generation pedigree chart for her. Most lines were complete that far, and the rest were about half way done. I needed some dates and I had an elusive great-grandmother that I had no info on. Usually on my yearly treks home I take bouquets of flowers to put on my father’s gravesite. This time I started at the first row and went by every single headstone in every single row. I stopped at each ancestor’s gravesite and spent a minute thinking of a memory of them. If it was someone I had never met, I just said a prayer for them and thanked them for coming to this new land that they had tilled so that I could have a life here. I took pictures of every ancestor’s headstone for my book of remembrance.
I finally ended my search and went looking for my mom. We went for lunch and I came across one of my best friends from school that I had lost touch with. After much hugs and high pitched high school girlish squeals, we caught up a bit. I asked for her email address to keep in touch and she said “Sally I don’t even have a computer let alone an email address. We are still in the dark ages out here.” I thought how do you survive without it???
We had our lunch then continued on our errands. At the bank as we stood in line I commented to my mom that I could not remember the last time I had walked into a bank. She asked how I did my banking. I tried explaining online banking to her. Then had to explain ATM’s for her. As we went on, I saw that the pharmacy was closed. The hospital was now closed. They were down to 2 restaurants; well they call them café’s there instead of the 3. I saw vacant stores and it saddened me.
We then drove to the home I had grown up in. My mom had sold it when my dad died as it was too much for her. A couple of years ago the town, bought it for the property and they burnt the house down. As I looked at the empty lot, I saw the tree that my mom and dad had planted. I remembered that day. Every time we played in the back yard we would jump over this little twig of a tree. Then one spring day one of my brothers went to jump over it and it connected him quite smartly if you get what I mean. We never tried jumping over it again. Now it stood high in the sky, its branches outstretched as if it was trying to still protect us. I walked over the lot and talked about the garden that we had planted every year.
There are about five people in this world that talk pretty much nonstop, my mom, my sister’s daughter, my daughter, one of my granddaughters, and myself. But on the ten mile drive back to the new house I was strangely quiet in my thoughts. Every night I was there I was usually in bed by 10:30 or so. I had to work temperatures in Fahrenheit to my mom as she refuses to learn Celsius and even at 95 degree nights I still laid in bed with 3 blankets and a quilt covering me. I slept soundly every single night, through the entire night. I woke up every morning refreshed and able to move on my own. I could dress myself and even come down the flight of stairs on my own.
We spent 12 days laughing till we had to fight wetting our pants. We cried. We went through BOXES of pictures remembering memories of each and every one. I started collecting pictures that mom had, to take home with me. Scrap booking is a new hobby for me and I could already see the 2nd scrapbook that I wanted to do for my mom. She kept telling me I needed to take such and such home with me. The night before I left I had filled one large suitcase and 7 boxes worth of stuff to send off by courier.
Two of my brothers and their families came down to be with me and we spent some time together. I saw a new one year old nephew and a new one year old great-niece that I had never met yet. I tried spending time with each family member at the cabin by the lake as we cooked and ate together. I showed them the pedigree chart I had given mom and I watched as one of my nephews read it following his youngest son’s path to the original ancestor that came to Canada from France. This young 2 year old little Zacharie was his namesake. My dad would have loved to have known the name was continuing on after many years.
Another great nephew came running to me all tousled hair from his nap and a big grin on his face. It wasn’t until his big bear hug that his mom noticed two small perfectly muddy handprints on the back of my white t-shirt. I just smiled and said it’s ok, it’ll wash. I tried washing it when I got back to moms, twice actually but the handprints remained for some reason. I told mom you know its fine. I am going to wear this t-shirt with pride when I get back and if anyone asks I am just going to tell them it’s a love print!
I watched my oldest brother with his grandchildren and I remembered the day he taught me to tie my shoes, the day he taught me to ride a tricycle, then a two wheeler, the day he forgot to teach me to brake same bicycle; he taught me to use a bat to play baseball and how to throw like a boy. One of my granddaughter’s baseball team last year came in first in their finals. Tradition is important in my family.
The visit went by too fast. As I got on the bus at the small city an hour away from mom's to get to the city where I could catch my flight home, I waved to my mom and blew kisses at her. All of a sudden I saw her age in her face and her stance. It was like she was now the child and I the mother and I wanted to hold her and kiss her owie better. The bus pulled away and I watched her waving with one hand and wiping the tears off her face with the other hand. I waved till I couldn’t see her.
In my bag beside me, was my MP3 player, my cell phone, my laptop, my storey book and magazines, all untouched during my trip. Instead of turning every thing on, I spent the 3 ½ hours reminiscing. I thought of the teachers that spent time after school, in the evenings and weekends in their homes with us when we had problems. I remembered being able to walk to your friends and not even think of being kidnapped. I thought of my mom and leaving her keys in the car while we went to the store. I thought of the parades we had where the whole town turned out. I thought of the week long visits at each of our grandparent’s farm and how it was fun all of a sudden to do chores. I remembered the comfort of traditions and thought of just how many things I now do in my life that my mother and grandmothers did in theirs.
I continued doing this till I heard the bus driver say we were entering the city limits. I came to the greatest realization of all…. The one thing I couldn’t wait to run away from when I was a teenager is the very same thing I would do just about anything to be able to run back to. Thanks Mom. You did the one thing that all my doctors and specialists have not been able to do with all the medications and treatments I have been on. You took care of me. At your home, I wasn’t a mom, a wife or a Nana. There was nothing around me but love and peace of mind. There were no distractions and there was routine. You made sure I laid down every afternoon for a nap. You made me eat my vegetables and that I finished my plate before I could have my dessert. You let me be me without a care in the world and this is the best I have felt in years. Then I got stuck in an airport in a different city with a delayed flight and cell phones beeping all around me as passengers are trying to call homes and offices to let them know. I was 3 hours delayed in landing and ended up leaving Vancouver airport at 5 pm right at the height of rush hour traffic as 6 lanes of traffic tried to converge into 2. I could feel the tension already building in my shoulders and I have to remind myself of a better place that I just left, of a life where there are still people that follow the Golden Rule and still believe in helping their neighbors. As I conclude these thoughts I focus on your face Mom and I think of our mother and child reunion. Breathe in breathe out.
It was very early for me. I normally don’t go to bed till 2 am and am up and down most of what is left of my night. I have 2 debilitating illnesses that make sleep near impossible. I am treated by my doctors, specialists, massage therapists, physio therapists and acupuncturists. As I got out of bed I noticed that I had actually stayed in the same position all night. Wow.
I went downstairs and was met with a good morning and a bowl of porridge. I am 50 years old. I haven’t had porridge since I left home at 17. But I ate the whole bowl. By the second day I wasn’t wearing my watch. There was no point. I had no schedule to keep. I helped in the flower beds transplanting bedding plants and moving others. We went for walks around town. All 6 blocks long and 3 blocks wide worth of town. It would take us 40 minutes or so to walk every single block but only part of the time was spent walking, the rest of the time was spent talking to neighbors who were curious at who the stranger was with Pauline.
All cars that did manage to come by us on our walks were met with the other drivers waving hi. The excitement of the week was going to the big neighboring town for the weekly shopping expedition. This other town happens to be my home town that I was born and raised in and is also only 10 miles away. I travel that just to go to the store at home when I was just there because I forgot something. But with my mom, she only goes once a week. We drove by the farm that my great-grandparents started when they moved to Saskatchewan from Quebec. We drove by my high school and I was reminded of all the basketball games our girls team won that I played centre on and the boys football games they won that I was a cheerleader for.
As I dropped her off at the hair salon (better known as the beauty parlour there) I went to the cemetery to do some searching. I love family history and work hard digging up tangled roots. I had arrived at my mom’s with a gift of a 15 generation pedigree chart for her. Most lines were complete that far, and the rest were about half way done. I needed some dates and I had an elusive great-grandmother that I had no info on. Usually on my yearly treks home I take bouquets of flowers to put on my father’s gravesite. This time I started at the first row and went by every single headstone in every single row. I stopped at each ancestor’s gravesite and spent a minute thinking of a memory of them. If it was someone I had never met, I just said a prayer for them and thanked them for coming to this new land that they had tilled so that I could have a life here. I took pictures of every ancestor’s headstone for my book of remembrance.
I finally ended my search and went looking for my mom. We went for lunch and I came across one of my best friends from school that I had lost touch with. After much hugs and high pitched high school girlish squeals, we caught up a bit. I asked for her email address to keep in touch and she said “Sally I don’t even have a computer let alone an email address. We are still in the dark ages out here.” I thought how do you survive without it???
We had our lunch then continued on our errands. At the bank as we stood in line I commented to my mom that I could not remember the last time I had walked into a bank. She asked how I did my banking. I tried explaining online banking to her. Then had to explain ATM’s for her. As we went on, I saw that the pharmacy was closed. The hospital was now closed. They were down to 2 restaurants; well they call them café’s there instead of the 3. I saw vacant stores and it saddened me.
We then drove to the home I had grown up in. My mom had sold it when my dad died as it was too much for her. A couple of years ago the town, bought it for the property and they burnt the house down. As I looked at the empty lot, I saw the tree that my mom and dad had planted. I remembered that day. Every time we played in the back yard we would jump over this little twig of a tree. Then one spring day one of my brothers went to jump over it and it connected him quite smartly if you get what I mean. We never tried jumping over it again. Now it stood high in the sky, its branches outstretched as if it was trying to still protect us. I walked over the lot and talked about the garden that we had planted every year.
There are about five people in this world that talk pretty much nonstop, my mom, my sister’s daughter, my daughter, one of my granddaughters, and myself. But on the ten mile drive back to the new house I was strangely quiet in my thoughts. Every night I was there I was usually in bed by 10:30 or so. I had to work temperatures in Fahrenheit to my mom as she refuses to learn Celsius and even at 95 degree nights I still laid in bed with 3 blankets and a quilt covering me. I slept soundly every single night, through the entire night. I woke up every morning refreshed and able to move on my own. I could dress myself and even come down the flight of stairs on my own.
We spent 12 days laughing till we had to fight wetting our pants. We cried. We went through BOXES of pictures remembering memories of each and every one. I started collecting pictures that mom had, to take home with me. Scrap booking is a new hobby for me and I could already see the 2nd scrapbook that I wanted to do for my mom. She kept telling me I needed to take such and such home with me. The night before I left I had filled one large suitcase and 7 boxes worth of stuff to send off by courier.
Two of my brothers and their families came down to be with me and we spent some time together. I saw a new one year old nephew and a new one year old great-niece that I had never met yet. I tried spending time with each family member at the cabin by the lake as we cooked and ate together. I showed them the pedigree chart I had given mom and I watched as one of my nephews read it following his youngest son’s path to the original ancestor that came to Canada from France. This young 2 year old little Zacharie was his namesake. My dad would have loved to have known the name was continuing on after many years.
Another great nephew came running to me all tousled hair from his nap and a big grin on his face. It wasn’t until his big bear hug that his mom noticed two small perfectly muddy handprints on the back of my white t-shirt. I just smiled and said it’s ok, it’ll wash. I tried washing it when I got back to moms, twice actually but the handprints remained for some reason. I told mom you know its fine. I am going to wear this t-shirt with pride when I get back and if anyone asks I am just going to tell them it’s a love print!
I watched my oldest brother with his grandchildren and I remembered the day he taught me to tie my shoes, the day he taught me to ride a tricycle, then a two wheeler, the day he forgot to teach me to brake same bicycle; he taught me to use a bat to play baseball and how to throw like a boy. One of my granddaughter’s baseball team last year came in first in their finals. Tradition is important in my family.
The visit went by too fast. As I got on the bus at the small city an hour away from mom's to get to the city where I could catch my flight home, I waved to my mom and blew kisses at her. All of a sudden I saw her age in her face and her stance. It was like she was now the child and I the mother and I wanted to hold her and kiss her owie better. The bus pulled away and I watched her waving with one hand and wiping the tears off her face with the other hand. I waved till I couldn’t see her.
In my bag beside me, was my MP3 player, my cell phone, my laptop, my storey book and magazines, all untouched during my trip. Instead of turning every thing on, I spent the 3 ½ hours reminiscing. I thought of the teachers that spent time after school, in the evenings and weekends in their homes with us when we had problems. I remembered being able to walk to your friends and not even think of being kidnapped. I thought of my mom and leaving her keys in the car while we went to the store. I thought of the parades we had where the whole town turned out. I thought of the week long visits at each of our grandparent’s farm and how it was fun all of a sudden to do chores. I remembered the comfort of traditions and thought of just how many things I now do in my life that my mother and grandmothers did in theirs.
I continued doing this till I heard the bus driver say we were entering the city limits. I came to the greatest realization of all…. The one thing I couldn’t wait to run away from when I was a teenager is the very same thing I would do just about anything to be able to run back to. Thanks Mom. You did the one thing that all my doctors and specialists have not been able to do with all the medications and treatments I have been on. You took care of me. At your home, I wasn’t a mom, a wife or a Nana. There was nothing around me but love and peace of mind. There were no distractions and there was routine. You made sure I laid down every afternoon for a nap. You made me eat my vegetables and that I finished my plate before I could have my dessert. You let me be me without a care in the world and this is the best I have felt in years. Then I got stuck in an airport in a different city with a delayed flight and cell phones beeping all around me as passengers are trying to call homes and offices to let them know. I was 3 hours delayed in landing and ended up leaving Vancouver airport at 5 pm right at the height of rush hour traffic as 6 lanes of traffic tried to converge into 2. I could feel the tension already building in my shoulders and I have to remind myself of a better place that I just left, of a life where there are still people that follow the Golden Rule and still believe in helping their neighbors. As I conclude these thoughts I focus on your face Mom and I think of our mother and child reunion. Breathe in breathe out.
Thursday, June 14, 2007
Almost sisters
I was in a bookstore a couple of weeks ago and heard the most beautiful song I had ever heard in my life...it stopped me literally in my tracks so much that the person that was behind me walked right into me.. I had to go to the check out and asked what song that was. She pointed to a display and told me the name of the cd. So I bought it and have listened to it admittedly ad nauseum.. but I can't get enough of it. Then today as I was entering it into my MP3 I thought HEY!!! It went along the same vein of my friendship post the other day!!
I talked about how few very close friends I have had but that I would easily call them my sisters. I wish I knew how to post actual music on here (If someone knows how let me know!!) but the next best thing is posting the words. You won't get the whole effect I am sorry but take my word that it is absolutely amazing to hear. If you can imagine a chorus of angels singing this is what you would hear.
Sisters Rejoice
Women of God, sisters of light
The power of faith is guiding our lives
The truth of His words
Burns into my soul
Giving us strength
To live what we know
With vision and hope in these latter days
We're raising oour voice and singing His praise
Sisters rejoice we have His light
It lives in our hearts, it shines in our eyes
Lift up your voice
We're a part of His plan
We're led by His hand, sisters rejoice
We are His hands, we're serving each other with love
We're seeking the lost and lifting them up
We're anchored to God in perilous times
We honour His name through virtuous lives
Chosen to lead with banners unfurled
A standard of truth to all of the world
Again I can not even begin to describe how this large women's choral group sound especially the chorus.. it gives me goosebumps just writing about it. I will have to figure out how to post the actual music though!!
I talked about how few very close friends I have had but that I would easily call them my sisters. I wish I knew how to post actual music on here (If someone knows how let me know!!) but the next best thing is posting the words. You won't get the whole effect I am sorry but take my word that it is absolutely amazing to hear. If you can imagine a chorus of angels singing this is what you would hear.
Sisters Rejoice
Women of God, sisters of light
The power of faith is guiding our lives
The truth of His words
Burns into my soul
Giving us strength
To live what we know
With vision and hope in these latter days
We're raising oour voice and singing His praise
Sisters rejoice we have His light
It lives in our hearts, it shines in our eyes
Lift up your voice
We're a part of His plan
We're led by His hand, sisters rejoice
We are His hands, we're serving each other with love
We're seeking the lost and lifting them up
We're anchored to God in perilous times
We honour His name through virtuous lives
Chosen to lead with banners unfurled
A standard of truth to all of the world
Again I can not even begin to describe how this large women's choral group sound especially the chorus.. it gives me goosebumps just writing about it. I will have to figure out how to post the actual music though!!
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
New Business
Last weekend I went to an all day workshop on working from home and fell in love with the idea!!! I am going to be starting a new business in sales through the internet. And no it is not with a multi level marketing company nor a get rich quick scheme. You reap what you sow. But I will be able to use my newly learning skills of web design (yes Kim I am trying to learn new computer skills regardless of how many times you tell me the same thing heheh) into making my web page for the company into a reality. I won't say what I will be selling as it will be three different categories but only because I need to research the website name first to make sure it hasn't been taken. I also want to research the market for each area to see where the need is the greatest.
I also will need to locate manufacturers and distributors for the product so I have no need to buy bulk therefore greatly reducing my cash flow. I will continue writing my books as I love to write and may as well get paid for something I do anyway. I have decided on 2 avenues for the books. I am going to finish writing the one I am half way done and then I will start a young children's series... as well as a youth chapter mystery series.
So that should keep me busy. I was planning on bringing work with me on my vacation in case of quiet times but then realized that I am going to be with my mom almost the whole entire trip and if you think I talk a lot you obviously have never met my mother :)
But I will at least have some things to do on the plane and bus rides.. till later!
I also will need to locate manufacturers and distributors for the product so I have no need to buy bulk therefore greatly reducing my cash flow. I will continue writing my books as I love to write and may as well get paid for something I do anyway. I have decided on 2 avenues for the books. I am going to finish writing the one I am half way done and then I will start a young children's series... as well as a youth chapter mystery series.
So that should keep me busy. I was planning on bringing work with me on my vacation in case of quiet times but then realized that I am going to be with my mom almost the whole entire trip and if you think I talk a lot you obviously have never met my mother :)
But I will at least have some things to do on the plane and bus rides.. till later!
Monday, June 11, 2007
My Finds
So I found two things I wanted to share with all of you.. first one was Excedrin Back and Body pain relief pills that I saw a commercial for on tv. I bought it when I was in the states and love them!! Why can't they sell that here. I don't get it. It's like they can't sell Excedrin Migraine. They sell Excedrin but just regular strength! If I wake up really stiff in the mornings I take 2 and after about 30 minutes I am up and running.. well ok maybe not running but at least more mobile. Lareta says they don't really work for her. I guess our back pains are different. Never mind that our doctor told us that who listens to docs lol
The next find I came across is www.behr.com. You go to their color smart link and then pick your mood and it will give you different color palettes then you paint a room in your house according to the palette you picked. You can change the main color with the accent color etc till you are satisfied with the intensity. For those of us that live in white renters world it fulfills my need to paint :)
The next find I came across is www.behr.com. You go to their color smart link and then pick your mood and it will give you different color palettes then you paint a room in your house according to the palette you picked. You can change the main color with the accent color etc till you are satisfied with the intensity. For those of us that live in white renters world it fulfills my need to paint :)
Sunday, June 10, 2007
Friendships
I have been thinking a lot about friends lately. I go through phases of stuff like that. Sometimes I get really busy and don't think about much other then what is going on in my life at that time. But at times, something will happen that makes me think of that person or that one.. where are they, what are they doing, do they miss me. I think of things we used to do when I am doing that same thing. Or I will be watching something on tv and it will remind me of when I used to watch a show with someone.
I guess what set this "mood" this time was I got an email from a very old and dear friend of mine last night. I had not heard from her in years. But going through Facebook the other week I had gone through and typed in her name and different variations of her name. There were quite a few and so I sent them all a generic message saying hey is this you? I never expected to find her but she did reply and you could hear me cheer all over the house!!!!
But it made me think of how I tend to close off my heart to new friends over the years. Everyone of my closest bestest friends have all moved away from me (I swear I do use deodorant and toothpaste on a regular basis!!) and each time I swear I will never get close again. But somehow someone always manages to worm their way into my heart and it opens again.
So today, this post is a dedication to the women that I call my sisters. We have cried together, we have laughed together, we have shared together (and no that is NOT called gossiping!)and you have all helped me get through bad times and shared the good ones as well. Thanks for coming into my heart when I needed you the most.
This is Carmen. We truly are Spirit Sisters. And it is ironic as the first time I met her was at church and she was teaching a lesson. She seemed standoffish. I knew our son Kim knew her and her husband when they lived here so I called him that day and say hey what can you tell me about her. He said do not let first impressions fool you. She is nothing like that at all. He was right. She will defend her friends and family with a passion you can never imagine. We are so alike even though I have grandkids older then her children. We are both critical of ourselves, both perfectionists, both anal retentive lol. But I love her dearly. She was there for me when I decided to come back to church and opened up her arms to love me unconditionally. I will never forget that.
This is Dusty. She came in my life back in Sask. I refused for so long to give into her friendship! My previous bestest friends had moved away and I really thought I was going to die from the heartache. She was the opposite of me. She was a female version of Keith. In fact we used to kid around that we had the wrong spouses. She was the one who had the water fights in the summer with Keith while her hubby and I sat and visited lol. But she kept annoying me till I gave into her friendship. We joke around now that we couldn't bear to be away from each other so when one decided to move to BC we all moved together. Her youngest daughter is my namesake. I had never had anyone name their child after me. This same child is getting married next month.
This is Jan. We met here in BC just after we decided to move back to Surrey from Vancouver. We were at a party and started talking. We got talking about being overweight and I told her you know what? This is who I am. If people can't see beyond my weight to be my friend that's their loss. We haven't stopped talking since. Before they moved to Calgary we used to do everything together. I miss our Sunday dinners, our movie nights and especially our Survivor nights. She too loves me unconditionally and I can unload every single burden onto her shoulders and she takes them every time without question.
This is Jude. She is my very oldest friend. We met in Regina also when Keith and I moved in next door to each other. We talked so much on the phone the men hung an intercom system in our homes so we could stay off the phone. In all the homes I have ever lived in she is the only one that has ever come to my door to say hi welcome to the neighborhood. We have survived through real heart attacks, tornadoes, floods, and loud husbands. We survived car fars and our own language that no one could understand but us. I miss her the most.
This is Betty Lou. She is the one I thought I had lost. I met her when we first moved to BC 19 years ago. She was my shopping friend and we lived in Bellingham in those days. We met in a family history class and realized we were actually related!! She was with me when we drove to Salt Lake City to take our son on his 2 year mission. She was there when we drove away and I couldn't stop crying. She was there when I tried to put together Keith's surprise 40th birthday party. She was there when I was bed ridden for 6 weeks one time and took over the household. I have missed you dear friend.
I am loyal to my friends. I know a lot of women but I am close to very few. Those I do take into my heart I would defend with my life. I trust them with every ounce of me and that means the world to me. Thanks.. You mean the world to me even when we haven't seen one another as much as we would like.
(Now I just hope I have the right pictures with the right names :)
I guess what set this "mood" this time was I got an email from a very old and dear friend of mine last night. I had not heard from her in years. But going through Facebook the other week I had gone through and typed in her name and different variations of her name. There were quite a few and so I sent them all a generic message saying hey is this you? I never expected to find her but she did reply and you could hear me cheer all over the house!!!!
But it made me think of how I tend to close off my heart to new friends over the years. Everyone of my closest bestest friends have all moved away from me (I swear I do use deodorant and toothpaste on a regular basis!!) and each time I swear I will never get close again. But somehow someone always manages to worm their way into my heart and it opens again.
So today, this post is a dedication to the women that I call my sisters. We have cried together, we have laughed together, we have shared together (and no that is NOT called gossiping!)and you have all helped me get through bad times and shared the good ones as well. Thanks for coming into my heart when I needed you the most.
This is Carmen. We truly are Spirit Sisters. And it is ironic as the first time I met her was at church and she was teaching a lesson. She seemed standoffish. I knew our son Kim knew her and her husband when they lived here so I called him that day and say hey what can you tell me about her. He said do not let first impressions fool you. She is nothing like that at all. He was right. She will defend her friends and family with a passion you can never imagine. We are so alike even though I have grandkids older then her children. We are both critical of ourselves, both perfectionists, both anal retentive lol. But I love her dearly. She was there for me when I decided to come back to church and opened up her arms to love me unconditionally. I will never forget that.
This is Dusty. She came in my life back in Sask. I refused for so long to give into her friendship! My previous bestest friends had moved away and I really thought I was going to die from the heartache. She was the opposite of me. She was a female version of Keith. In fact we used to kid around that we had the wrong spouses. She was the one who had the water fights in the summer with Keith while her hubby and I sat and visited lol. But she kept annoying me till I gave into her friendship. We joke around now that we couldn't bear to be away from each other so when one decided to move to BC we all moved together. Her youngest daughter is my namesake. I had never had anyone name their child after me. This same child is getting married next month.
This is Jan. We met here in BC just after we decided to move back to Surrey from Vancouver. We were at a party and started talking. We got talking about being overweight and I told her you know what? This is who I am. If people can't see beyond my weight to be my friend that's their loss. We haven't stopped talking since. Before they moved to Calgary we used to do everything together. I miss our Sunday dinners, our movie nights and especially our Survivor nights. She too loves me unconditionally and I can unload every single burden onto her shoulders and she takes them every time without question.
This is Jude. She is my very oldest friend. We met in Regina also when Keith and I moved in next door to each other. We talked so much on the phone the men hung an intercom system in our homes so we could stay off the phone. In all the homes I have ever lived in she is the only one that has ever come to my door to say hi welcome to the neighborhood. We have survived through real heart attacks, tornadoes, floods, and loud husbands. We survived car fars and our own language that no one could understand but us. I miss her the most.
This is Betty Lou. She is the one I thought I had lost. I met her when we first moved to BC 19 years ago. She was my shopping friend and we lived in Bellingham in those days. We met in a family history class and realized we were actually related!! She was with me when we drove to Salt Lake City to take our son on his 2 year mission. She was there when we drove away and I couldn't stop crying. She was there when I tried to put together Keith's surprise 40th birthday party. She was there when I was bed ridden for 6 weeks one time and took over the household. I have missed you dear friend.
I am loyal to my friends. I know a lot of women but I am close to very few. Those I do take into my heart I would defend with my life. I trust them with every ounce of me and that means the world to me. Thanks.. You mean the world to me even when we haven't seen one another as much as we would like.
(Now I just hope I have the right pictures with the right names :)
Wednesday, June 06, 2007
Stress Care Package
So I am putting together a stress care package for my cousin, his wife, and uncle to my other cousin Darrell that has been missing in the Bahamas just short of 2 months now. I would like my family and friends to post here what they would like to find in a package if they received a care package in a time of high stress???
Idiocy of oven drawers
I decided last night that I would like to meet the person who figured one day that it would be really great if a drawer was invented to go under the oven for storing all your bake ware. What an idiot! Cause you know no matter what it is you need out of there it is going to be at the very bottom of the pile!! After wrestling the contents of mine for several minutes last night to get the pizza pan out I finally took everything out and slammed it shut!
Then I realized it was dirty so opened it back up to clean it. How the heck do crumbs get in there??? I mean I can understand UNDER the stove getting gungies from sweeping but in the drawer? So I pulled it out then realized under the drawer and behind the drawer was dirty so pulled that all out to clean there. How the heck did spills get way back there? It's not like the blueberry pie that I made last week that spilled in the oven made its way down there? Nothing usually spills io the floor or if it does it usually is in front of the other counter where kids pour drinks.
I give up. So now my oven drawer remains empty of all my round, square, oblong, rectangular cake pans, my 8". 9" and 10" pie pans, my 4 sizes of cookie sheets, my mini an0d regular sized muffin pans, my broiler pans and my grilling pans. Everything is nice and neat standing on their side on an eye level shelf in my pantry closet.
Now onto the bottom drawers of my fridge!!!!!
Then I realized it was dirty so opened it back up to clean it. How the heck do crumbs get in there??? I mean I can understand UNDER the stove getting gungies from sweeping but in the drawer? So I pulled it out then realized under the drawer and behind the drawer was dirty so pulled that all out to clean there. How the heck did spills get way back there? It's not like the blueberry pie that I made last week that spilled in the oven made its way down there? Nothing usually spills io the floor or if it does it usually is in front of the other counter where kids pour drinks.
I give up. So now my oven drawer remains empty of all my round, square, oblong, rectangular cake pans, my 8". 9" and 10" pie pans, my 4 sizes of cookie sheets, my mini an0d regular sized muffin pans, my broiler pans and my grilling pans. Everything is nice and neat standing on their side on an eye level shelf in my pantry closet.
Now onto the bottom drawers of my fridge!!!!!
Sunday, June 03, 2007
And the winner is..............
We are very proud to announce that our 11 year old granddaughter Britnee's hockey team won the championship!!!!!!!! They didn't lose a single game in the playoffs and the coach said to her mom afterwards that Britnee was the best forward he had ever coached or seen on a youth team!! If I wore buttoned shirts they would have been popping hehehe. So after they got the trophy the music was playing "We Are The Champions" by whoever sings that song... (if it isn't country it really isn't music so have no idea the name of the group!) so Britnee downloaded it on her MP3 player.
We went to Seattle for the weekend and all the kids had music something or other plugged in their ears on the trip there and back and most of the days and Saturday night the munchkin wanted to listen to something too so Britnee let her listen to her music and of course that happened to be the song that was playing at the time. Well Miss Miranda would not listen to any other song and learnt how to move the button so it played over and over again. After awhile Mommy pokes me in the ribs (she was cross stitching on the bed and I was reading ) and says listen to Miranda lol, The picture does NOT do it justice but here was this 2 year old saying "we are champons oooh oooh we no losers.. mumble mumble we are champons oooh oooh we no losers!!!! It was hilarious!!
Man to have had a camcorder on hand would have been priceless!
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Bored Bored Bored
Ok I am not so much bored with myself but more am hating not having my own money to blow on what I want. Keith doesn't have a problem with me using "our" money but I do. When I want to buy him a gift I hate asking him to use "his" money to buy him something or have him see the purchase and how much I spent when he does his online banking. So I have been wracking my brain to come up with a business proposal that will bring me money and yet be so flexible that when I need to lay down or stop sitting or not do anything on bad pain days I can do that.
Today I got a lightbulb moment. I use to write a lot in my previous life (pre-BC days) and was quite good. I had several short stories and articles published in papers and magazines. But I want beaucoup moolah not an allowance which is what short stuff would sell for so I have decided to write a book. I started one way back when then shifted career brains and went back to work and the book got put on a back burner. I don't know if I want to finish that one first or do something completely different, whether I want to do a series, childrens, or comedic (Erma Bombeck genre)etc.
Keith hates reading.. absolutely hates it and will only do it under great duress. So I asked him if he could read any type of book that would make him want to read what kind would it be. He looked at me like I was asking him which poison he wanted me e to add to his food. He said none. Maybe I will send out an inquiry to the rest of my family and friends and ask them for their opinion.
He did say he would read it if I had lots of pictures in it. I said "How old are you?2?"
Today I got a lightbulb moment. I use to write a lot in my previous life (pre-BC days) and was quite good. I had several short stories and articles published in papers and magazines. But I want beaucoup moolah not an allowance which is what short stuff would sell for so I have decided to write a book. I started one way back when then shifted career brains and went back to work and the book got put on a back burner. I don't know if I want to finish that one first or do something completely different, whether I want to do a series, childrens, or comedic (Erma Bombeck genre)etc.
Keith hates reading.. absolutely hates it and will only do it under great duress. So I asked him if he could read any type of book that would make him want to read what kind would it be. He looked at me like I was asking him which poison he wanted me e to add to his food. He said none. Maybe I will send out an inquiry to the rest of my family and friends and ask them for their opinion.
He did say he would read it if I had lots of pictures in it. I said "How old are you?2?"
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
30 days of sustainability
So Vancouver has been doing this 30 days of sustainability since April on the concept that if everyone that lived in the Vancouver area did one new thing off the list every day they would save enough power to take care of one town for one year. I am big on environmental issues and work very hard at doing my part. So I thought cool Keith and I will take part. Most of the things I was already doing like recycling everything possible, walking as much as possible, take transit instead of the car (which I did under great duress as I think everyone here knows how I feel about the idiocy of our transit system) and so on. One of the items on the list was to only use cold water to do laundry. Now I do that. Well almost do that. I only use hot water to do our whites. Keith wears white company t-shirts for work (why they do that when they are a construction company is beyond me!) and when he gets home they are dirty.
But I did it for almost a month now and I want to go on record as saying whites DO NOT get as clean in cold water as in hot water. Even with using Spray and Wash and bleach the clothes are still stained. Not as stained as when they hit the washing mashing but not Sally clean when they come out. I can not stand my clothes to have stains on them not even white socks. I take it as a reflection of me when my husband goes to work with a mustard stain on his T-Shirt.
So sorry Vancouver but I am going back to hot water just for my whites. It's called compromising. As soon as Keith starts making sure his food doesn't hit his shirts and he doesn't work construction wearing white t-shirts we will go back to cold water wash for whites in the meantime I will take transit twice as often to make up the difference. (And grumble under my breath the whole time!)
But I did it for almost a month now and I want to go on record as saying whites DO NOT get as clean in cold water as in hot water. Even with using Spray and Wash and bleach the clothes are still stained. Not as stained as when they hit the washing mashing but not Sally clean when they come out. I can not stand my clothes to have stains on them not even white socks. I take it as a reflection of me when my husband goes to work with a mustard stain on his T-Shirt.
So sorry Vancouver but I am going back to hot water just for my whites. It's called compromising. As soon as Keith starts making sure his food doesn't hit his shirts and he doesn't work construction wearing white t-shirts we will go back to cold water wash for whites in the meantime I will take transit twice as often to make up the difference. (And grumble under my breath the whole time!)
Monday, May 28, 2007
Like Mother Like Daughter
I have been thinking about my mom lately. She isn't doing well with what is going on in her life. Her partner is gravely ill and I feel so helpless way out here. I was used to just popping over every month and visiting for a few days and now I have to save for a year to go over. I am planning on flying out there next month to spend a week. I wanted to spend more time but now have more medical appointments coming up that I can't put off so will have to make do.
I remember growing up I used to think when I grow up I am never going to be like my mom. I am never going to do this or that and I am going to allow my children to do what they want when they want. That lasted till the first one started walking and that was it. But I was young and it would drive me crazy when people would tell me I was just like my mom.
I remember getting her an answering machine one time as I got tired of calling over and over again till she would answer. And one time after I had gotten it for her I had called for days before I reached her and she said she had gone away. Ok Mom why didn't you have the machine on? Because I didn't want anyone to know I wasn't home so if someone was going to break into the house they would know when I was gone. OK Mom but you do know if you don't answer the phone they also know you are not home. Yes but they won't know when I am returning.... Stop asking any more questions!
I used to call it small town logic. Then one day we had friends visiting from out of town and we needed something and I said oh we can just go to the store. They asked how far it was and I said oh it's car far. They looked at me and said what the heck is car far? I said you know.... too far to walk and so you need the car. Keith just shakes his head as I said don't even say it!
Then another time I had been working out more intense then usual and when I got home from my walk I was out of breath. Keith asked how it went and I said it was exegen. He said what? I said exegen. He asked what the heck is that? I said .. you know.. you exercise so hard you need extra oxygen! DUH! Every one knows that! He just smiled as I said DON'T EVEN GO THERE!
But last summer when my mom was down and I had my daughters and granddaughters around me I thought to myself I guess my mom did a pretty good job. When someone told us as I stood by my one daughter how alike we were I was so happy. To me she is so beautiful that if they thought I looked like her that must make me pretty good too :)
Thanks Mom for the good genes and I guess now that I am "more mature" small town logic isn't so bad! This picture is of my mom, my girls and their girls and me!
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Wacky Whistler Wednesday
So it is play catch up on our last week at our condo in Whsitler!! What a blast! And I mean that whole heartedly :) We got to be a part of the 1000 day kickoff celebration so that was cool. The grandkids got to sit in an actual luge so that was very exciting for them. We had a couple of nice days and a couple of drizzly days but that never stopped us from window shopping. I did actually convince my daughter to go up to the gondola and she finally agreed to it only to find out we could only go up part way then transfer onto a chair lift for the remainder of the ride up. ANNNND!!! TO top it all off we actually got to see a family of black bears right under our feet!!!She would not go on it at all so Keith and I took the rest but the two toddlers and off we went on the rest of the ride. COOOOOL@!!
Spent quite a bit of time sitting in the hot top relaxing my muscles which is always a good thing. The 3 year old taught the 2 year old how to open doorknob and for 5 days we kept saying Miranda don't slam the door just as she would open it again and slam it over and over again lolol.
Coming back into town we stopped at Brandywine Falls and took the kids on a short hike to see some falls and they were quite excited about that! I am glad to return to my bed tonight and no little girls saying Nana cmon!! Enjoy the pictures@!!
Cousin update
This is the latest I have managed to find on Darrell. This Mr. Ellislade needs to get his act together. If it was his family member that was missing I can guarantee you there would be fires planted under his staff;s butts to get in motion. Had they told the public he was missing the day he went missing instead of days later there might have been a greater chance of finding him. And what is this crap about the woman who had Darrell's wallet and credit cards and taken money out???? HELLLLOOOO!!!You have been in the sun too long if we are going to believe that crap.
http://www.jonesbahamas.com/?c=45&a=12664
this is the web page of the latest report for the Staff Detective of this bummer of a case.
http://www.jonesbahamas.com/?c=45&a=12664
this is the web page of the latest report for the Staff Detective of this bummer of a case.
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Cat Scan Results
Well I just got back from my doctor's visit. Good news is my brain is still there :) Not so sure for my mind though :) The results are no tumour or skull fractures which is a huge relief. What there is though is degeneration and bone spurs and disc bulging of my C4-7, The headaches are coming from the spurs pressing on my cranial nerves. I am going to be seeing a physiotherapist that deals strictly with cranial injuries so have to get an appointment for that. I also need to wear a cervical collar for different times in the day to give my neck relief from having to hold my head up as the weight of it is too heavy most of the time. I have to be careful not to wear it too much as my neck muscles will weaken and play host to a whole new set of problems. She did increase my sleeping pill dosage as I have not slept properly in months with all the headaches and extra back pain. I was lucky if I could get 2-3 hours a night which was just making things worse. Hopefully that will help in the short term. That's about it for that.
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Bathing Suit Blues
As we are going to Whistler for 5 days of R&R on Thursday this week I wanted to go out and get a new bathing suit. GROAN.. the dreaded event. I have a drawer with 1/2 dozen suits that are technically the right size but fit horribly. Having lost 150 pounds in the last 3 1/2 years and now having a so called "normal" sized body you would have thought this process would have been easier. WRONG!
After an entire mall search and numerous "Try this one" from numerous salesladies I finally listened to my daughter who was with me and tried on a tankini. I loved it! I loved the idea! My problem is I am tall and even trying bathing suits that are marked as "TALL or LONG" they were still too short in the body for me. That Cloutier height again! Although I can't totally blame my dad's side of the family as my mom at 5'8" was the short one and her one brother was 6'7".
But I digress. The first tankini I tried on was the PERFECT color and fit really nice. I did the bend in every direction and twist and turned in the dressing room much to the glee of my 2 year old granddaughter who kept saying "Nana silly!" But it stayed in place and nothing rode up and moved. And it was $29.99 to boot!!! All the other so called long/talls at the bathing suit specialty stores were sitting around a hundred dollars.
Then I did a search for Whistler on things to do this weekend and apparently it is the official kickoff for the 2010 Olympics and there will be celebrations going on and all the top athletes will be there!! WOOOHOOO! I am so packed and ready to go!
Sunday, May 13, 2007
More Steel
This is my latest stainless steel acquisition. If Keith had his way our entire house would be in stainless steel!! Does he think I live in an institution or something?? But on the other hand I found some wipes that are made for s/s appliances and it protects from fingerprints and marks which is a lot better. I hate having any marks on anything so when I found this I was very happy. I had gone to get some Lysol wipes and found it. So now I only have to wipe it down once every few days instead of every few minutes lol.
Friday, May 11, 2007
One month later......
Yesterday made a month that my cousin Darrell Cloutier was last seen alive. Today makes a month he has been officially missing. I am still angry at the way this seems to have been swept under the carpet with the authorities. They refuse to make any comments on charges that may or may not be laid on the woman who was found with his bank and credit cards. Hello!!!! How on earth can you plead not guilty when you are caught red-handed???
What kind of earth do we live on that makes people think it is ok to do harm to another person? What kind of upbringing did those people have that made them think it was ok to do wrong? I mean I am 50 years old and to this day if I walk in someone's house with my shoes on I can hear my mother's voice in my ear saying "Take your shoes off!"
I have prayed constantly for any knowledge, any word on Darrell. I have prayed constantly for my uncle and other cousin and their family that they might find some measure of comfort in their grief right now. If by some chance the person that did something to him or knows who did reads this, please.... Darrell has a very large extended family that loves him... please.... let his family have him back.
What kind of earth do we live on that makes people think it is ok to do harm to another person? What kind of upbringing did those people have that made them think it was ok to do wrong? I mean I am 50 years old and to this day if I walk in someone's house with my shoes on I can hear my mother's voice in my ear saying "Take your shoes off!"
I have prayed constantly for any knowledge, any word on Darrell. I have prayed constantly for my uncle and other cousin and their family that they might find some measure of comfort in their grief right now. If by some chance the person that did something to him or knows who did reads this, please.... Darrell has a very large extended family that loves him... please.... let his family have him back.
Thursday, May 10, 2007
Campbell River
Well we found out 2 days ago that Keith might have to go out to Campbell River for 2 months. His boss called him and said they had a chance to bid on a contract out there but did not want to put the bid in if Keith wasn't willing/able to go out there. He had been asked specifically from BC government to supervise the contract as he has done several of their contracts in the last 2 years and they have always praised him and his work. Keith told them we had to talk about it before he could give his answer. His boss said that was ok he would stay on hold while we talked lol. OK. Our "talking" about it means praying about it together and doing a pros and cons list :)
I am not impressed with the out of town though I have to admit. I know it is only for 2 months but I do not do well on my own. I hate it. I really do. I don't sleep well. I have to have all the lights on in the house at night time and every little noise makes me jump. We also had made plans to go back to Sask for a couple of weeks in June so that would be out of the question now.
On the other hand, he would end up getting about $5000.00 at the end of it (on top of his pay) which would come in handy as we are really needing to get a new vehicle. Ours is an 89 and although it has served us very well, it is starting to 20 buck us to death. We are not big on getting in debt either so that money would put a big chunk away for saving for a new SUV. We also had planned on going camping with the kids here in July for a week at our favorite campground in Fort Langley and now I don't know if Curt's van would be able to pull our trailer or not.
Decisions decisions... We did pray about it and Keith felt good about it (mind you he thinks logically instead of emotionally like I do) so I told him to go ahead. I didn't get an answer either way and I am sure cause my heart was yelling NO NO NO too loud for my mind to hear anything. I don't like the idea of being without a vehicle for that length of time though...
Oh well... maybe the company won't get the bid!!!!
I am not impressed with the out of town though I have to admit. I know it is only for 2 months but I do not do well on my own. I hate it. I really do. I don't sleep well. I have to have all the lights on in the house at night time and every little noise makes me jump. We also had made plans to go back to Sask for a couple of weeks in June so that would be out of the question now.
On the other hand, he would end up getting about $5000.00 at the end of it (on top of his pay) which would come in handy as we are really needing to get a new vehicle. Ours is an 89 and although it has served us very well, it is starting to 20 buck us to death. We are not big on getting in debt either so that money would put a big chunk away for saving for a new SUV. We also had planned on going camping with the kids here in July for a week at our favorite campground in Fort Langley and now I don't know if Curt's van would be able to pull our trailer or not.
Decisions decisions... We did pray about it and Keith felt good about it (mind you he thinks logically instead of emotionally like I do) so I told him to go ahead. I didn't get an answer either way and I am sure cause my heart was yelling NO NO NO too loud for my mind to hear anything. I don't like the idea of being without a vehicle for that length of time though...
Oh well... maybe the company won't get the bid!!!!
Wednesday, May 09, 2007
The end of a long weekend
So Sunday night brought tears as two little girls went home from the weekend of dollies and staying up late and bubble baths and French braids and homemade cookies. The tears came from Nana though as I said goodbye to them. It was a real joy watching them play with their babies and play house, chasing one another around the house with their babies in their strollers running over my feet and into the backs of my heels every other minute :) And I loved every second of it. As you can see from the picture they were plum tuckered out. The bed they are on is a queen size and it took the whole thing by the time you added all the stuffed animals and special pillows and babies that you can't see under the Pooh blanket.
I came across a quote today on Motherhood and it made me think of this past weekend. I always wonder about the way I raised my children, could I have done better, should I have done this or that, should I have stayed home instead of working, did they miss having a parent home 24/7. But as I watched these 2 little girls and how well behaved they were (well unless you count them screaming their heads off when Papa kept chasing them all over the house telling them he was going to take their babies away!!) and knew that the way my children were raised directly or indirectly, shows in how they are with their children and I am very proud of them.
The quote is from Neal A. Maxwell:
When the real history of mankind is fully disclosed, will it feature the echoes of gunfire or the shaping sound of lullabies? The great armistices made by military men or the peacemaking of women in homes and in neighborhoods? Will what happened in cradles and kitchens prove to be more controlling then what happened in congresses? When the surf of the centuries has made the great pyramids so much sand, the everlasting family will still be standing, because it is a celestial institution, formed outside telestial time. The women of God know this.
Friday, May 04, 2007
Tea Time Anyone?
My 2 year old granddaughter sleeping over this weekend with her 3 year old one while the rest of the family get busy with the family busy our son to their new place. Miranda got here before Rosaleen got here and so she decided SHE HAD to set the tea things the RIGHT way and no ifs ands or buts. So I couldn't resist taking a picture of her getting the tea pasrty ready for her cousin to show up lol
Thursday, May 03, 2007
Venting on Shopping and Dining Experience
So I have been to Washington State 3 times in last 3 weeks, twice to Seattle and once to Bellingham and I have come to the realization that Surrey sucks when it comes to shopping and dining selections. We are the second largest city in the province of BC and yet unless you are willing or financially able to spend hundreds of dollars on one outfit you are limited to Zellers and WalMart. As if that wasn't bad enough, try maneuvering around the jammed packed aisles that are crammed with displays let alone get a cart around the clothing racks!! Why can't we have a Target here? WalMart came here and they were a US based company what's the difference?
To buy women's shoes in size 11 again unless you want to pay hundreds of dollars on one pair (and I NEED way too many shoes to do that!)you are limited to shopping at Payless which of course means you have to follow the current fads of 5 inch wedges. Get real. I didn't like wedgies the first time they were in style in the 70's! So you have that or sneakers. Oh yes both of those will look real great with my suit and pantyhose.
Then you get the whole dining experience. Or lack of it. If you want to go for a steak dinner you get the choice of the Keg. If you want real seafood you go into Vancouver. There is one choice for a place to go for "coffee" and dessert at Death by Chocolate. Oh wait I lied.. there is also Tim Horton's I suppose. We stopped at a place called Old Country Buffet on Saturday in Bellingham on our way back from Seattle. They have a huge selection, everything was hot enough to burn your tongue, the trays were refilled before they were even half emptied, the dessert bar was almost as big and you had 3 main meat entrees, prime rib, baked ham and steak not counting the fried chicken, BBQ ribs etc.
We have one buffet in Surrey and yes it technically has a large selection but once you picked through the national dishes that are covered in sauces you can't name and anything deep fried, battered or breaded you come up having your token plate of limp green salad and potato salad swimming in what I assume is supposed to be mayo.
Why can't we have a open stall market like North Van or New West has where you can go along and get all your grocery items that are fresh? I was really excited at the beginning of this year when I found out a new strip mall featuring a "large" retail store, and restaurant was opening just a 5 minute walk from my front door. WOOOHOOO! That feeling of exhilaration was short lived when I found out this retail store was a Save on Foods grocery store and the restaurant was yet ANOTHER Tim Horton's. The grocery store is now flanked by a different supermarket withing a couple minutes of it and there is already a T.H. kitty corner!! There is now going to be a video rental store but there is one already at the end of that parking lot.
Puhlease! Come on city council!! Can you not limit the idiocy that some merchants have at requesting the same old same old? Do we not have quotas on how many donut places there can be in one square mile? Why can't we have real stores like Micheals or Linen's and Things or Ikea? Something useful? Why can't we have Red Lobster or Chili's or Outback if you are bent on allowing chains to open?
This city is so lucky that this is home to me otherwise I would be out of here! And as soon as I become President of the world and inheriting wealthy I am going to open up all those places. Stick that in your pocketbook where it hurts.
To buy women's shoes in size 11 again unless you want to pay hundreds of dollars on one pair (and I NEED way too many shoes to do that!)you are limited to shopping at Payless which of course means you have to follow the current fads of 5 inch wedges. Get real. I didn't like wedgies the first time they were in style in the 70's! So you have that or sneakers. Oh yes both of those will look real great with my suit and pantyhose.
Then you get the whole dining experience. Or lack of it. If you want to go for a steak dinner you get the choice of the Keg. If you want real seafood you go into Vancouver. There is one choice for a place to go for "coffee" and dessert at Death by Chocolate. Oh wait I lied.. there is also Tim Horton's I suppose. We stopped at a place called Old Country Buffet on Saturday in Bellingham on our way back from Seattle. They have a huge selection, everything was hot enough to burn your tongue, the trays were refilled before they were even half emptied, the dessert bar was almost as big and you had 3 main meat entrees, prime rib, baked ham and steak not counting the fried chicken, BBQ ribs etc.
We have one buffet in Surrey and yes it technically has a large selection but once you picked through the national dishes that are covered in sauces you can't name and anything deep fried, battered or breaded you come up having your token plate of limp green salad and potato salad swimming in what I assume is supposed to be mayo.
Why can't we have a open stall market like North Van or New West has where you can go along and get all your grocery items that are fresh? I was really excited at the beginning of this year when I found out a new strip mall featuring a "large" retail store, and restaurant was opening just a 5 minute walk from my front door. WOOOHOOO! That feeling of exhilaration was short lived when I found out this retail store was a Save on Foods grocery store and the restaurant was yet ANOTHER Tim Horton's. The grocery store is now flanked by a different supermarket withing a couple minutes of it and there is already a T.H. kitty corner!! There is now going to be a video rental store but there is one already at the end of that parking lot.
Puhlease! Come on city council!! Can you not limit the idiocy that some merchants have at requesting the same old same old? Do we not have quotas on how many donut places there can be in one square mile? Why can't we have real stores like Micheals or Linen's and Things or Ikea? Something useful? Why can't we have Red Lobster or Chili's or Outback if you are bent on allowing chains to open?
This city is so lucky that this is home to me otherwise I would be out of here! And as soon as I become President of the world and inheriting wealthy I am going to open up all those places. Stick that in your pocketbook where it hurts.
Wednesday, May 02, 2007
Exerisise in Frustration
I am so frustrated with life right now. I have had basically no news on Darrell since last week. My mom is feeling very left out of the loop and only gets what little I can pass on to her. For now all that is happening that I know is my uncle and his other son have returned back home to Calgary.
I am a mother of 5 and I can't even begin to feel the anxiety of separation, the feelings of guilt of desertion, the feelings of sheer hopelessness and the ability to keep a stiff upper lip. After all no news is good news right? Meantime I was so mad yesterday I threw a bag of groceries across the room when I walked in the door! How uncharacteristically of me. But I feel hopeless. I want to go to Nassau and smack those police across the backs of their heads to get them moving.
If they had gotten the message out to the public of Darrell missing then there would have been a greater chance of finding him by now. I am sorry for their tourism economy being hurt by missing visitors but maybe instead of hiding the facts they can do something about the crime level. People just don't go missing and leave their wallets and car behind. Not 3 weeks before you depart to go home.
Sigh... life really sucks big time right now. On a different note.. I finally got an appointment for my cat scan for this Monday the 7th at 9pm. My doctor had been on holidays and when I was in last week to see her replacements due to the increased headaches and intensity of them, she must have past the message to my doctor. All I know is they are staying open till 9PM for my appointment. Long after normal business hours. What a great doctor I have.....I am not looking to the day that she wants to retire.
Life is spent counting how many more days before this rain is done with. We get one sunny day but then 3 more days of rain. I see the Rheumatologist tomorrow and I know he is going to ask me if I am ready to move to a drier climate yet and my answer will still be the same. NO.
I have been working extra shifts at the Family History Centre just to get my minds off things and trying to keep busy. We have our youngest son and his family moving this weekend to a place about a 5-6 minute walk from here!!! I am so thrilled. So their little girl is spending the weekend here to keep her from being underfoot and I'll bring our other 2 year old granddaughter over for a sleepover and they argue about who is charge of the new babies and crib I bought for them to play with.
Well that is about it for now. Hubby is now working night shift at BCIT to correct something that a subtrade did wrong over a year ago. Keith told the company they were doing it wrong and they said oh it's ok it will pass. It didn't . But because there are faculty and staff there during the day he can only work after 10 pm. That's ok letsa me get caught up in all the shows I have on tape.
Till later.. thanks for listening :)
I am a mother of 5 and I can't even begin to feel the anxiety of separation, the feelings of guilt of desertion, the feelings of sheer hopelessness and the ability to keep a stiff upper lip. After all no news is good news right? Meantime I was so mad yesterday I threw a bag of groceries across the room when I walked in the door! How uncharacteristically of me. But I feel hopeless. I want to go to Nassau and smack those police across the backs of their heads to get them moving.
If they had gotten the message out to the public of Darrell missing then there would have been a greater chance of finding him by now. I am sorry for their tourism economy being hurt by missing visitors but maybe instead of hiding the facts they can do something about the crime level. People just don't go missing and leave their wallets and car behind. Not 3 weeks before you depart to go home.
Sigh... life really sucks big time right now. On a different note.. I finally got an appointment for my cat scan for this Monday the 7th at 9pm. My doctor had been on holidays and when I was in last week to see her replacements due to the increased headaches and intensity of them, she must have past the message to my doctor. All I know is they are staying open till 9PM for my appointment. Long after normal business hours. What a great doctor I have.....I am not looking to the day that she wants to retire.
Life is spent counting how many more days before this rain is done with. We get one sunny day but then 3 more days of rain. I see the Rheumatologist tomorrow and I know he is going to ask me if I am ready to move to a drier climate yet and my answer will still be the same. NO.
I have been working extra shifts at the Family History Centre just to get my minds off things and trying to keep busy. We have our youngest son and his family moving this weekend to a place about a 5-6 minute walk from here!!! I am so thrilled. So their little girl is spending the weekend here to keep her from being underfoot and I'll bring our other 2 year old granddaughter over for a sleepover and they argue about who is charge of the new babies and crib I bought for them to play with.
Well that is about it for now. Hubby is now working night shift at BCIT to correct something that a subtrade did wrong over a year ago. Keith told the company they were doing it wrong and they said oh it's ok it will pass. It didn't . But because there are faculty and staff there during the day he can only work after 10 pm. That's ok letsa me get caught up in all the shows I have on tape.
Till later.. thanks for listening :)
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