I love to blog... I really do.... I never seem to get to it as much as I want to... but I do love to blog.... and I also LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE comments... but that doesn't work out the way I want either... oh well...
on to the post I had to write regardless of exhaustion
My hubby is off right now. Vacay. Lucky man. Well he does work hard... so I am ok with it... the fact that he is off and I am not. Really, I am ok with it... That is my story and I am sticking to it.
Anyhoo....
First week of his vacay... and he is doing tasks around home. I am delighted, tickled pink actually.
He hauled out the carpet scrubber. Dashed off to the store and bought the cleaning fluid said machine requires and scrubbed the heck out of our creamish berber carpet we stupidly put in our family room when we should have done laminate or hard wood because two little girls and one hell of a clutzy mother spill tons of stuff. Sorry, I digress.
So it is seriously hot out, he scrubs and scrubs and scrubs. Does stair landings as well.
So me and the kids come home... carpet looks great! You can hardly see the 7 milion stains that were in it! Amazing! He instantly tells us to go around the corner with our shoes. And then we cook the beans and weiners we are having for supper.
We are one of those families (I KNOW THERE ARE HARDLY ANY OF THESE ON THE PLANET...) that sometimes... SOMETIMES NOT ALWAYS (although perhaps 99.8% of the time) eat in front of the t.v.
Yes I know that is terrible. I hate it for all kinds of reasons.... we are not connecting as a family... we are missing amazing bonding time... wonderful rich conversations etc. And I have guilt. Moving on...
So there we are beans and weiners and trays and a tv that is on.
Hubby heads downstairs to the basement for some reason.
Eldest daughter gets up... and somehow... (she is not clutzy like her mom and sister) her bowl goes flying through the air... SERIOUSLY... flying... does a friggin' swear on my life loop de frickin' loop!!!! and heads upside down towards the carpet...
NO word of a LIE... time slowed down... the whole thing seemed to be slow motion... HONEST TO GOD... I screamed "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" and it came out loud and slow like it was being played slow on a loud speaker... and SPLAT!
HOLY SHIT!
you should have seen her eyes! I have never seen eyes bug out that far! My chin was on the floor! We stared at each other for a moment. A long moment which involved time freezing.
My youngest daughter was looking on at us GOGGLE EYED.
Then time unfroze... I screamed again... "Move!" and in tandem we began... she RAN... grabbed paper towel... I shouted in staccato what the carpet stain remover spray looked like... get it ... under the sink.... I grabbed a dry dishcloth from the drawer... wet it, squeezed... she came flying back from upstairs where the stain remover was at the ready for potential cat puke (ANOTHER STORY I WILL NOT POST AS WHO WOULD WANT TO READ THAT)
frantic scrubbing ensued....
little one ran downstairs... "it is okay guys... I will tell Daddy it was an accident."
Time froze again.
Eldest and I simultaneously said "NOOOOOOOOOO" in long, loud slow motion....
She came back. "I did not tell him" Stared at us again GOGGLE EYED.
I go to sink and rinse cloths and towels...
He arrives from the basement....
Sees me at sink.... I try to look non-chalant... but my eyes are bugging out of my head.
He says... "Tell me someone did NOT spill something."
And the rest is up to your imaginations.... .... ..... ... ....
I do wish it had been videod though... cuz I really do believe it was in slow motion.
Friday, July 04, 2008
Friday, June 06, 2008
Brace yourself for a shock.... !!!!
r u ready? seriously... I hope you r sitting down... !
I am NO domestic diva!!!!
I know your mind is reeling at this revelation...
You all probably thought I was Martha Stewart-like...
BAAAAAAhahahahahhahaha!!!
ok, so those of you who know me... know I am NOT remotely "domesticky"!
So my mind is sorta spinning cuz yesterday... I tidied, I cleaned including scrubbing a bathroom and sweeping, LOL... went to an appointment, went to work, registered one of my kid for summer camps, got gas and did other errands on way home including purchased flour, shortening, and cooking oil, came home, ate, organized and then made two batches of cupcakes and a cake... FROM SCRATCH!!! and then found some quality time with hubby as well!!!
what the heck was up with all that????
have I turned over a new leaf?
BAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHHA!
I am NO domestic diva!!!!
I know your mind is reeling at this revelation...
You all probably thought I was Martha Stewart-like...
BAAAAAAhahahahahhahaha!!!
ok, so those of you who know me... know I am NOT remotely "domesticky"!
So my mind is sorta spinning cuz yesterday... I tidied, I cleaned including scrubbing a bathroom and sweeping, LOL... went to an appointment, went to work, registered one of my kid for summer camps, got gas and did other errands on way home including purchased flour, shortening, and cooking oil, came home, ate, organized and then made two batches of cupcakes and a cake... FROM SCRATCH!!! and then found some quality time with hubby as well!!!
what the heck was up with all that????
have I turned over a new leaf?
BAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHHA!
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Lately... & a difficult day ahead...
lately...
the girls played for hours downstairs with babies and toy dishes and then hosted a supper for G & I down there... they were very involved with the props and toys and it was so enjoyable to see them immersed in cooperative play... :) (and supper was good too!)
today they decided to use some sidewalk chalk... they chalked the stair railing out front, the step stone at the bottom of the stairs and all over the driveway as well... they had a super time with it...
It is 1:43 a.m. Today is my husband's late sister's birthday. She would have been 51 today. We lost her in February. Today we are burying her ashes. It will be a difficult day.
My littlest said "It is sad that the birthday girl will not be here" and I agreed. She then asked if we could give her a piece of cake. I said we would have to see how everyone feels... and she then asked if she could sing Happy Birthday too...
Isn't it amazing how kids can be... .... ... I don't know what to say here... I want to say intuitive... warm... caring... comfortable????? but perhaps when you read this you won't think so????
I should get to bed.... I have to make cupcakes in the morning so we can take one with us.
Miss you Cheryl.
the girls played for hours downstairs with babies and toy dishes and then hosted a supper for G & I down there... they were very involved with the props and toys and it was so enjoyable to see them immersed in cooperative play... :) (and supper was good too!)
today they decided to use some sidewalk chalk... they chalked the stair railing out front, the step stone at the bottom of the stairs and all over the driveway as well... they had a super time with it...
It is 1:43 a.m. Today is my husband's late sister's birthday. She would have been 51 today. We lost her in February. Today we are burying her ashes. It will be a difficult day.
My littlest said "It is sad that the birthday girl will not be here" and I agreed. She then asked if we could give her a piece of cake. I said we would have to see how everyone feels... and she then asked if she could sing Happy Birthday too...
Isn't it amazing how kids can be... .... ... I don't know what to say here... I want to say intuitive... warm... caring... comfortable????? but perhaps when you read this you won't think so????
I should get to bed.... I have to make cupcakes in the morning so we can take one with us.
Miss you Cheryl.
Monday, May 05, 2008
Kids' Thinking
Kids have the funniest thoughts and perspectives... the way they process information and what they come up with are the best!
My daughter and I were watching a show together on a Saturday afternoon and a Monistat commercial comes on. Yes, that is what I typed: Monistat. This woman buys it and then as she is doing something else a cartoon rainbow appears just above her privates. My eldest and I looked at each other and burst out laughing, then it continued... and as one woman goes to go outside to ride a bike a cartoon thought bubble appears again, by the privates, with exclamation points and you hear a sort of "hmmmmph!" exclamation... well by this point we are roaring with laughter. And the best part of it is.... I never asked her what she thought was funny. As I did not want to discuss what Monistat is for in any way.
So then we are watching another show, a family one at that, and this young woman finds herself in the family way. She tells her boyfriend and he looks shocked. So then my eights year old says "well she can always use birth control pills"... ... ..... I whip my head around and look at her and cannot ask fast enough "how do you know about birth control pills????" and then I quickly ask "what do you think birth control pills are?" and she starts laughing at me like that is the craziest question imaginable. "Mommmmmm! come on!" she says.... so now I am close to having a heart attack. "it keeps the baby in... you know controls it.. until you are ready." I think my eyes bugged completely out of my head and then I burst out laughing. "Cuz they are called birth control mom!"
My daughter and I were watching a show together on a Saturday afternoon and a Monistat commercial comes on. Yes, that is what I typed: Monistat. This woman buys it and then as she is doing something else a cartoon rainbow appears just above her privates. My eldest and I looked at each other and burst out laughing, then it continued... and as one woman goes to go outside to ride a bike a cartoon thought bubble appears again, by the privates, with exclamation points and you hear a sort of "hmmmmph!" exclamation... well by this point we are roaring with laughter. And the best part of it is.... I never asked her what she thought was funny. As I did not want to discuss what Monistat is for in any way.
So then we are watching another show, a family one at that, and this young woman finds herself in the family way. She tells her boyfriend and he looks shocked. So then my eights year old says "well she can always use birth control pills"... ... ..... I whip my head around and look at her and cannot ask fast enough "how do you know about birth control pills????" and then I quickly ask "what do you think birth control pills are?" and she starts laughing at me like that is the craziest question imaginable. "Mommmmmm! come on!" she says.... so now I am close to having a heart attack. "it keeps the baby in... you know controls it.. until you are ready." I think my eyes bugged completely out of my head and then I burst out laughing. "Cuz they are called birth control mom!"
My Girls: Backwards up the Hotel Pool Slide!
well first off I have been dying to post about a visit we had to the hotel pool a couple weeks ago... we went to the pool nearby on a Monday afternoon around 4 p.m. There was NO ONE there! that was awesome! so we had it completely to ourselves... Melanie had gone with us as well! :)
so my girls have never quite gotten up the nerve to go down the slide. They have gone up to the top and walked back down the stairs on many occassions. So since no one is there... I put them in the mouth of the slide (taking turns of course!) and encourage them to just go back a bit to try it. So they do, over and over... going up a little bit more at a time. I kept expecting that at any moment someone would come in and I would be banned from the pool... but no one did and the kids were having a great time experimenting and testing their fears in a way they felt comfortable with.
Now we have gotten to the point where they were were walking up and around inside it sooo far. At one point, my littlest had gone in and up and Mel and I got stressed... no sign of her.... and it was several minutes... I yelled out her name and then I heard giggling.... manic giggling---from above... I look up and see her up there waving from the landing at the top of the slide. So I said... well you might as well come down now. She beamed at me and hopped in and slid down!!!! and since she asked for me to catch her - she slammed into me! And then she kept slamming into me over and over and the other one kept watching and pondering... Then at one point when my littlest was whipping down the slide at top speed... I moved as I did not want to whammied again and came out spinning and kersplash - under she went with her Barbie life jacket on. She pops back up and burst out laughing and says I am going again without you there!
Before we left, my eldest decided to give it a go and loved it too! I was sooooo proud of her. She is much more cautious then her little sister. She asked if we uncurled the slide would it be as big a hill as Splash Mountain and I pondered it and said... yes, I think so. Then she said... "maybe, just maybe, I will go on Splash Mountain next time."
:)
so my girls have never quite gotten up the nerve to go down the slide. They have gone up to the top and walked back down the stairs on many occassions. So since no one is there... I put them in the mouth of the slide (taking turns of course!) and encourage them to just go back a bit to try it. So they do, over and over... going up a little bit more at a time. I kept expecting that at any moment someone would come in and I would be banned from the pool... but no one did and the kids were having a great time experimenting and testing their fears in a way they felt comfortable with.
Now we have gotten to the point where they were were walking up and around inside it sooo far. At one point, my littlest had gone in and up and Mel and I got stressed... no sign of her.... and it was several minutes... I yelled out her name and then I heard giggling.... manic giggling---from above... I look up and see her up there waving from the landing at the top of the slide. So I said... well you might as well come down now. She beamed at me and hopped in and slid down!!!! and since she asked for me to catch her - she slammed into me! And then she kept slamming into me over and over and the other one kept watching and pondering... Then at one point when my littlest was whipping down the slide at top speed... I moved as I did not want to whammied again and came out spinning and kersplash - under she went with her Barbie life jacket on. She pops back up and burst out laughing and says I am going again without you there!
Before we left, my eldest decided to give it a go and loved it too! I was sooooo proud of her. She is much more cautious then her little sister. She asked if we uncurled the slide would it be as big a hill as Splash Mountain and I pondered it and said... yes, I think so. Then she said... "maybe, just maybe, I will go on Splash Mountain next time."
:)
Saturday, May 03, 2008
Technical Difficulties!!!!! And Stay Tuned....
well.... my kids are up in the playroom / guest room watching the Chronicles of Narnia... and hubby wanted to watch hockey (ick!) and so I headed to the living room... thought I would watch a movie on my laptop while I did some work... I got the laptop in February...
so I put the movie in... and windows media tries to play it... and a message pops up and says that it cannot play as I do not have a dvd compatible decoder????? wt*????? so I click on help and it takes me to microsoft's help world... and suggests I buy one with many choices ranging from $11.99 to $49.99... I was soooooo p*^^ed. I mulled and contemplated... that can't be the case... every computer I have had and we have had at work for years and years plays dvds, from the day you get the computer.... what the heck?
so then I figure I must have a piece of software in the house that would do the job without me digging out a credit card. So I find Roxio Media Creator 7. I had bought it years ago... and was sooo excited... but then did not get to use it as I installed it on my old laptop and it had compatibility issues with my software that interacted with our camcorder. And since we had paid a lot for the camcorder... I had to keep that software on even though Media Creator had way more features. So I figured... I will install this.... that will enable a dvd to play and maybe I will finally get to use it! (GREAT PLAN YOU ARE SAYING RIGHT?) well not so... I try to install it and it asks for the keycode... go*^#mn it! where the heck could that be after all these years???? so then I go to the Roxio site to see about getting a new code (yah! that would be a No with a big capital "N") and while there I get mesmerized by the video advertising Roxio Media Creator 10. Wow! I think.... pretty.... shiny.... cool program with wicked features even better then #7 that I never got to enjoy.... look I can get $20 off if I prove I have an older version.... but no, I do not bite.
So hubby says... take the t.v. in here... and I say...no, I want to be able to watch a dvd on the laptop... it will need to watch one some other time so I might as well deal with this now. (Famous last words)
So I put on some headphones and crank some tunes while I get ready to purchase a decoder. My fave songs are blasting in my ears... loving the quality with the headphones on. And I purchase the cheapest dvd decorder possible. So it downloads and then I virus scan it... and install it... and then you WILL NOT BELIEVE WHAT HAPPENED NEXT!!!!!
It asks for a verification code or some other code... oh right! And it says if you have not purchased one to click here to purchase one! I am not joking! I am serious! Can you even believe it????? And now you will say... she did not then purchase one... right????? cuz am I that much of a sucker?
Well by this point I am on a mission, come hell or high water this laptop is playing a dvd... so I click on it... and the g/d activation code is double the price of the g/d decoder was!!!!!!!
so as the sage / adventure / nightmare / crisis / or whatever you wanna call it continues... I had turned my music off.... so I decide to listen to it to chill out. And ... now my music doesn't work.... you have to picture my face at that point... and my fury / confusion / desire to pound my head into the screen of the machine in front of me or perhaps chuck it against a wall..... It says I either don't have a sound card or it is in use by some other program....
ARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!
p.s. the company that sucked me in.... was the same company that makes the program that mesmerized me and they also now make the program that interacts with our camcorder... they took it over or something... wonder if they fixed the compatibility issue and what a scam with the activation codes eh????
p.p.s. wish me luck with all this please.
so I put the movie in... and windows media tries to play it... and a message pops up and says that it cannot play as I do not have a dvd compatible decoder????? wt*????? so I click on help and it takes me to microsoft's help world... and suggests I buy one with many choices ranging from $11.99 to $49.99... I was soooooo p*^^ed. I mulled and contemplated... that can't be the case... every computer I have had and we have had at work for years and years plays dvds, from the day you get the computer.... what the heck?
so then I figure I must have a piece of software in the house that would do the job without me digging out a credit card. So I find Roxio Media Creator 7. I had bought it years ago... and was sooo excited... but then did not get to use it as I installed it on my old laptop and it had compatibility issues with my software that interacted with our camcorder. And since we had paid a lot for the camcorder... I had to keep that software on even though Media Creator had way more features. So I figured... I will install this.... that will enable a dvd to play and maybe I will finally get to use it! (GREAT PLAN YOU ARE SAYING RIGHT?) well not so... I try to install it and it asks for the keycode... go*^#mn it! where the heck could that be after all these years???? so then I go to the Roxio site to see about getting a new code (yah! that would be a No with a big capital "N") and while there I get mesmerized by the video advertising Roxio Media Creator 10. Wow! I think.... pretty.... shiny.... cool program with wicked features even better then #7 that I never got to enjoy.... look I can get $20 off if I prove I have an older version.... but no, I do not bite.
So hubby says... take the t.v. in here... and I say...no, I want to be able to watch a dvd on the laptop... it will need to watch one some other time so I might as well deal with this now. (Famous last words)
So I put on some headphones and crank some tunes while I get ready to purchase a decoder. My fave songs are blasting in my ears... loving the quality with the headphones on. And I purchase the cheapest dvd decorder possible. So it downloads and then I virus scan it... and install it... and then you WILL NOT BELIEVE WHAT HAPPENED NEXT!!!!!
It asks for a verification code or some other code... oh right! And it says if you have not purchased one to click here to purchase one! I am not joking! I am serious! Can you even believe it????? And now you will say... she did not then purchase one... right????? cuz am I that much of a sucker?
Well by this point I am on a mission, come hell or high water this laptop is playing a dvd... so I click on it... and the g/d activation code is double the price of the g/d decoder was!!!!!!!
so as the sage / adventure / nightmare / crisis / or whatever you wanna call it continues... I had turned my music off.... so I decide to listen to it to chill out. And ... now my music doesn't work.... you have to picture my face at that point... and my fury / confusion / desire to pound my head into the screen of the machine in front of me or perhaps chuck it against a wall..... It says I either don't have a sound card or it is in use by some other program....
ARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!
p.s. the company that sucked me in.... was the same company that makes the program that mesmerized me and they also now make the program that interacts with our camcorder... they took it over or something... wonder if they fixed the compatibility issue and what a scam with the activation codes eh????
p.p.s. wish me luck with all this please.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
my first meme - thanks Lesley! I think... hmmmm
wow! my very first time to be tagged for a meme.... not sure if I am excited or fearful... well I will go with excited!
I have to remember that my blogspot imports into my facebook automatically as a note... so this could be dangerous for me... hmmmmm
1. Where did you meet?
We met at Shoppers Drug Mart which was the very first "food basket" Shoppers in Nova Scotia. The excitement was palpable... LOL... that over the "food basket" designation that is. He was my supervisor... we were a psychology experiment that the head cosmetician and the head cashier had planned... Linda, the head cashier, decided I was perfect for him. She pulled Ruth Anne in on her plan and between the two of the continually telling him I liked him and thought he was cute and vice versa... we got pulled in... tee hee... and every time I see the wedding video and see them arriving... I laugh wondering what they thought that day.
2. How long did you date? haha... that is soooo funny... well he started asking me around June to be his girlfriend... which sounds funny but remember that would be a couple DECADES ago, but I had been hurt a couple times so I was seeing a couple of people and was having too much fun playing the field so he was one of four at the time... wow... amazing to think back on it. But then I went away to visit a friend in Ontario and missed him desperately for the 2 weeks and called him constantly so when he met me at the airport and asked me again I said "yes". That was August 13th, 1987. And we got engaged the day before our one month anniversary.
3. How old is he? My darling husband of almost 19 years is 44 years old. I am not quite 41 but getting close.
4. Who eats more? well this question is a sweet one isn't it... well sitting down at a meal... definitely he does. Unless it is tacos... then I kick his butt as I looooooove tacos. We both get the munchies far too often! dammit!
5. Who said “I love you” first? have to say I cannot remember.... wish I could... it has been 2 decades. Must ask him if he knows....
6. Who is taller? He is... that was an easy one! He is 6'4" and I am 5'6"
7. Who sings better? crap.... I have no idea... I will sing in church... when my voice joins a crowd... I will sing with kids at daycare and I will sing my friggin' head off in the car but otherwise DETEST my voice... he sings to me when he has had some drinks and is dancing with me... which I can count on my hands as far too few dances for 20 years buddy!
8. Who is smarter? shall I respond by intelligent quotient comparison... LOL... I think we are pretty equal. We both have areas of knowledge that we are more familiar with but pretty much round and about the same on the whole.
9. Whose temper is worse? Emotionally speaking, my emotions are demonstrated in a far more intense manner. All of them, happiness, joy, excitement, sadness, anger etc. Actually off the charts compared to most people. I am a 150% into everything kind of gal. So my temper is sort of worse in that it gets riled up faster but it is over fast too. His takes more to flare and then can last for some time.
19. Who does the laundry? well he would say he does more but I definitely disagree. And G we are not counting the hockey jerseys for the team you coach! We can get tons done in spurts. We both fold. But I put it all away except his.
11. Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? he does currently but it all depends on where the bed is.... it is all about the location of the door in relation to the bed with him.... sorta weird eh?
12. Who pays the bills? he does... cuz years ago when I had an obsessive system with a ledger and logged everything to the penny... one day when I asked for his bank machine slips and he didn't act fast enough... I threw the ledger at him. I have only thrown 2 things in 20 years and they were all in the first couple years. The other was a tv remote. Never hit him and knew I wouldn't.
13. Who cooks dinner? hahahahahahahahahh..... BAAAAHAHAHHAHAHA.... 99.9% of the time he does. And when I get dinner together... once in a millenia... it is not a real cooked one unless you count warming a can of something.
14. Who drives when you are together? He does. He enjoys driving. I have only enjoyed driving once for a brief period of time... when we first got the Blazer (which we don't have anymmore) I loved driving it for the first couple weeks.... felt awesome... like it was powerful and I was on top of the world somehow.
15. Who is more stubborn? not sure... I think we are both pretty stubborn.
16. Who kissed whom first? He kissed me. It was so fast, and on the cheek, I was almost certain I imagined it. Me and my galpals had been out to a Kool & the Gang concert and were back at the appartment Rae was taking care of for a friend; he and the security guard for Shoppers came over afterwards and after spending some time alone in a room chatting (with me wondering the entire time if he really liked me and why did he come over since he was sitting sooooo far away from me....), I walked him to the door and thought about walking him out of my life.... holy shyness Batman... when he quickly kissed me on the cheek and dashed off.
17. Who is the first to admit to being wrong? always me.... he has never admitted to being wrong I don't think. right babe? or am I wrong again? LOL
18. Whose parents do you see the most? well mine are away a good chunk of the year... so sort of his mom I guess?
19. Who proposed? He did... he arrived on my parents doorstep with two bouquets of flowers. One was an assortment for my mom he told me as my dad was away in PEI and it was their wedding anniversary and a box of long stemmed roses for me. It was a Friday and mom was taking a bunch of us young'uns out to dinner at the Mother Tucker's. He handed me the flowers as we were walking upstairs. I asked why I got flowers and he said... "uhhhh... tomorrow is our one month anniversary and the florist might be closed." Which was sort of funny, but cute. He was nervous but I did not clue in to that... So then we were walking up the stairs and he blurted out "Will you marry me?"and my response, cuz I thought he was horsing around... was in a laughing but sarcastic manner... and I stress again... cuz I really 150% thought he was messing with my head.... was "F*^k off"... wow... painful to type it here... it is a much better story with a glass of something in hand and everyone giggling and on the edge of their seat. Which they are as they can't believe we got engaged so quickly and are still married. So we get to the kitchen and I give mom the flowers he got her and we are all chatting and gabbing and excited to be going out and I open the box of roses to get a vase and I am organizing them and then I see a ring box in the corner of the box... a burgundy one with the word Tradition on it.... and I am flabbergasted... don't know what to do or say or think... so I look away and keep talking and searching for a vase and am shaking... and he takes it out and asks me again. And this time my answer was obviously yes.
20. What’s his best physical attribute? hmmmm... his thick hair, his eyes, his hugs are amazing... his shoulders... I love him all what can I say.
21. Who has more friends? what the heck? I don't know... check our facebook profiles... LOL... about the same?
22. What are you most proud of him for? He is a wonderful father, son and educator. He puts so much into being there for his mom, and our kids and his students.
23. Who has more siblings? He does. He is from a family with 4 kids and I only have the one sibling.
24. Who wears the pants in the family? well now... that is a loaded question if ever there was one.... I shall plead the fifth on that one.
I have to remember that my blogspot imports into my facebook automatically as a note... so this could be dangerous for me... hmmmmm
1. Where did you meet?
We met at Shoppers Drug Mart which was the very first "food basket" Shoppers in Nova Scotia. The excitement was palpable... LOL... that over the "food basket" designation that is. He was my supervisor... we were a psychology experiment that the head cosmetician and the head cashier had planned... Linda, the head cashier, decided I was perfect for him. She pulled Ruth Anne in on her plan and between the two of the continually telling him I liked him and thought he was cute and vice versa... we got pulled in... tee hee... and every time I see the wedding video and see them arriving... I laugh wondering what they thought that day.
2. How long did you date? haha... that is soooo funny... well he started asking me around June to be his girlfriend... which sounds funny but remember that would be a couple DECADES ago, but I had been hurt a couple times so I was seeing a couple of people and was having too much fun playing the field so he was one of four at the time... wow... amazing to think back on it. But then I went away to visit a friend in Ontario and missed him desperately for the 2 weeks and called him constantly so when he met me at the airport and asked me again I said "yes". That was August 13th, 1987. And we got engaged the day before our one month anniversary.
3. How old is he? My darling husband of almost 19 years is 44 years old. I am not quite 41 but getting close.
4. Who eats more? well this question is a sweet one isn't it... well sitting down at a meal... definitely he does. Unless it is tacos... then I kick his butt as I looooooove tacos. We both get the munchies far too often! dammit!
5. Who said “I love you” first? have to say I cannot remember.... wish I could... it has been 2 decades. Must ask him if he knows....
6. Who is taller? He is... that was an easy one! He is 6'4" and I am 5'6"
7. Who sings better? crap.... I have no idea... I will sing in church... when my voice joins a crowd... I will sing with kids at daycare and I will sing my friggin' head off in the car but otherwise DETEST my voice... he sings to me when he has had some drinks and is dancing with me... which I can count on my hands as far too few dances for 20 years buddy!
8. Who is smarter? shall I respond by intelligent quotient comparison... LOL... I think we are pretty equal. We both have areas of knowledge that we are more familiar with but pretty much round and about the same on the whole.
9. Whose temper is worse? Emotionally speaking, my emotions are demonstrated in a far more intense manner. All of them, happiness, joy, excitement, sadness, anger etc. Actually off the charts compared to most people. I am a 150% into everything kind of gal. So my temper is sort of worse in that it gets riled up faster but it is over fast too. His takes more to flare and then can last for some time.
19. Who does the laundry? well he would say he does more but I definitely disagree. And G we are not counting the hockey jerseys for the team you coach! We can get tons done in spurts. We both fold. But I put it all away except his.
11. Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? he does currently but it all depends on where the bed is.... it is all about the location of the door in relation to the bed with him.... sorta weird eh?
12. Who pays the bills? he does... cuz years ago when I had an obsessive system with a ledger and logged everything to the penny... one day when I asked for his bank machine slips and he didn't act fast enough... I threw the ledger at him. I have only thrown 2 things in 20 years and they were all in the first couple years. The other was a tv remote. Never hit him and knew I wouldn't.
13. Who cooks dinner? hahahahahahahahahh..... BAAAAHAHAHHAHAHA.... 99.9% of the time he does. And when I get dinner together... once in a millenia... it is not a real cooked one unless you count warming a can of something.
14. Who drives when you are together? He does. He enjoys driving. I have only enjoyed driving once for a brief period of time... when we first got the Blazer (which we don't have anymmore) I loved driving it for the first couple weeks.... felt awesome... like it was powerful and I was on top of the world somehow.
15. Who is more stubborn? not sure... I think we are both pretty stubborn.
16. Who kissed whom first? He kissed me. It was so fast, and on the cheek, I was almost certain I imagined it. Me and my galpals had been out to a Kool & the Gang concert and were back at the appartment Rae was taking care of for a friend; he and the security guard for Shoppers came over afterwards and after spending some time alone in a room chatting (with me wondering the entire time if he really liked me and why did he come over since he was sitting sooooo far away from me....), I walked him to the door and thought about walking him out of my life.... holy shyness Batman... when he quickly kissed me on the cheek and dashed off.
17. Who is the first to admit to being wrong? always me.... he has never admitted to being wrong I don't think. right babe? or am I wrong again? LOL
18. Whose parents do you see the most? well mine are away a good chunk of the year... so sort of his mom I guess?
19. Who proposed? He did... he arrived on my parents doorstep with two bouquets of flowers. One was an assortment for my mom he told me as my dad was away in PEI and it was their wedding anniversary and a box of long stemmed roses for me. It was a Friday and mom was taking a bunch of us young'uns out to dinner at the Mother Tucker's. He handed me the flowers as we were walking upstairs. I asked why I got flowers and he said... "uhhhh... tomorrow is our one month anniversary and the florist might be closed." Which was sort of funny, but cute. He was nervous but I did not clue in to that... So then we were walking up the stairs and he blurted out "Will you marry me?"and my response, cuz I thought he was horsing around... was in a laughing but sarcastic manner... and I stress again... cuz I really 150% thought he was messing with my head.... was "F*^k off"... wow... painful to type it here... it is a much better story with a glass of something in hand and everyone giggling and on the edge of their seat. Which they are as they can't believe we got engaged so quickly and are still married. So we get to the kitchen and I give mom the flowers he got her and we are all chatting and gabbing and excited to be going out and I open the box of roses to get a vase and I am organizing them and then I see a ring box in the corner of the box... a burgundy one with the word Tradition on it.... and I am flabbergasted... don't know what to do or say or think... so I look away and keep talking and searching for a vase and am shaking... and he takes it out and asks me again. And this time my answer was obviously yes.
20. What’s his best physical attribute? hmmmm... his thick hair, his eyes, his hugs are amazing... his shoulders... I love him all what can I say.
21. Who has more friends? what the heck? I don't know... check our facebook profiles... LOL... about the same?
22. What are you most proud of him for? He is a wonderful father, son and educator. He puts so much into being there for his mom, and our kids and his students.
23. Who has more siblings? He does. He is from a family with 4 kids and I only have the one sibling.
24. Who wears the pants in the family? well now... that is a loaded question if ever there was one.... I shall plead the fifth on that one.
Monday, March 10, 2008
Being the Mom and Travels
being the mom and vacation coming about... equals many many many to-do lists and extreme multi-tasking....
packing for the kids...
remembering fave sleep time animals
cds for bedtime
medication, vitamins
their money from gram & gramps
toiletries
pony tail scrunchies
memory cards
cell phone chargers
recharg batteries
cameras
recharger for the batteries
hats
sunscreen
various footwear
outfits for various weather
coats sweaters etc.
mp3 players
electronic games
snacks
those are just a few of my many lists
you always wind up packing your stuff last...
and as you check the house over and check the cat and the fish and go over it all with the person house sitting....
you think to yourself... maybe I should pack for myself now....
I wound up packing TONS of clothes for myself... cuz I did not have time to plan or choose so I figured I would select down here..... ... ....
moms always come last in the planning....
but the smiles on the first day of vacay and the excitement in their eyes make you forget all about it
packing for the kids...
remembering fave sleep time animals
cds for bedtime
medication, vitamins
their money from gram & gramps
toiletries
pony tail scrunchies
memory cards
cell phone chargers
recharg batteries
cameras
recharger for the batteries
hats
sunscreen
various footwear
outfits for various weather
coats sweaters etc.
mp3 players
electronic games
snacks
those are just a few of my many lists
you always wind up packing your stuff last...
and as you check the house over and check the cat and the fish and go over it all with the person house sitting....
you think to yourself... maybe I should pack for myself now....
I wound up packing TONS of clothes for myself... cuz I did not have time to plan or choose so I figured I would select down here..... ... ....
moms always come last in the planning....
but the smiles on the first day of vacay and the excitement in their eyes make you forget all about it
Wednesday, March 05, 2008
You Were Loved
You Were Loved ~~~~ lyrics (NOTE: this is one of them Grant)
We all want to make our place in this world;
We all want our voices to be heard.
Everyone wants a chance to be someone;
We all have dreams we need to dream,
But sweeter than any star you can reach
Is when you reach and find you've found someone.
You'll hold this world's most priceless thing,
The greatest gift this life can bring,
If you can look back and know
You were loved.
chorus
You were loved by someone,
Touched by someone,
Held by someone,
Meant something to someone,
Loved somebody,
Touched somebody's heart along the way.
You can look back and say,
You were loved.
You can have diamonds in your hand,
Have all the riches in the land,
Without love do you really have a thing.
When someone cares that you're alive,
When someone finds their world in your eyes,
Then you'll know you've found all you need.
You'll hold this world's most priceless prize,
The sweetest treasure in this life,
If you can look back and know
You were loved.
chorus
So many roads that you can take,
Whatever way you go,
Don't take that road alone.
Better you know....
You were loved by someone,
Touched by someone,
Held by someone,
Meant something to someone,
Loved somebody,
Touched somebody's heart along the way.
You can look back and say,
You did OK
You were loved.
So remember to tell that one,
You are loved.
Monday, March 03, 2008
The Crusts Cut Off
It is a beautiful day out there.
Last night, while kissing my youngest goodnight, I reminded her that today is our day. I long to be a stay-at-home mom and a year ago, I became that... ON MONDAYS. Mondays are a day that I get to spend with our youngest and also get some stuff done as weekends tend to have birthday parties, play dates, errands etc.
So today she and I were to tidy, clean and also to pack for our vacation. We do not go away in the summer, I am needed every day, all day, on deck at work as it is a very busy time gearing up for the fall program. We go away in March.
I am aware of lots of families that get terribly sick in the winter. As I work with families, it is a phenomenon that I have seen time and time again. Usually January or February, whole families gets hit with both the blahs and a flu or two. We, knock on wood, have been quite impervious to this mystery. ... ... ...
Not this year: this year,
Last night, while kissing my youngest goodnight, I reminded her that today is our day. I long to be a stay-at-home mom and a year ago, I became that... ON MONDAYS. Mondays are a day that I get to spend with our youngest and also get some stuff done as weekends tend to have birthday parties, play dates, errands etc.
So today she and I were to tidy, clean and also to pack for our vacation. We do not go away in the summer, I am needed every day, all day, on deck at work as it is a very busy time gearing up for the fall program. We go away in March.
I am aware of lots of families that get terribly sick in the winter. As I work with families, it is a phenomenon that I have seen time and time again. Usually January or February, whole families gets hit with both the blahs and a flu or two. We, knock on wood, have been quite impervious to this mystery. ... ... ...
Not this year: this year,
- our littlest has had 4 cases of tonsilitis since the beginning of December, (I highly suspect the buggers will have to come out as they seem to be perpetually swollen as well)
- and my hubby was off work for a while with a back injury (due to G/D shovelling) that involved emergency room visits, chiropractors, many prescriptions, and an emergency MRI and now he needs surgery too....
- and our eldest who is always healthy as a proverbial horse... has had repeated colds.
- I have had a couple of little colds and a tummy moment or two but mostly I have been afflicted with emotional malaise... but having read this over... is it any wonder????
so today, on this glorious, yet freezing day... the little one is supposed to be helping me around the house and helping me pack...
She began to playing Wii: Disney Princess - Enchanted Journey around lunchtime... and after I finished my orange... she said "Mumma, go on up and pack by yourself for a bit so I can finish Snow White's chapter." She seemed so determined to continue the adventure I headed up. And every so often I would check in... as she usually does not stick with a particular activity for too too long... and now it is 3:15 p.m! and she is still at it! Now I don't like the kids to have too long on anything electronic, we have board games and books and playdough and paint etc.... but the determination with regards to this game is astounding me. Her sister has just come home from school and she paused the game and is speaking as quickly as she can about where she is and how she has overcome obstacles and how she is going to win the next chapter too. She still has not eaten either... so I have put my foot down and insisted she have a sandwich....
she came out of the trance long enough to say "don't forget to cut the crusts off"
and life continues... for her apparently without crusts....
(p.s. I don't mind crusts)
Friday, February 29, 2008
Shifting Gears
What are your weekend plans? I would love to know. Mine has a chunk of to-do's including catching up at work and multi-tasking at home and the fantasy of a nap or some wonderful deep sleep somehow.
Yesterday was the service for my husband's sister. The flowers were wonderful and Cheryl's african violets were all around us. I did a reading and my sis-in-law Heather gave the eulogy. She did an amazing job.
It still seems very surreal. Cheryl was only 50 years old. You sort of go on automatic pilot for the days after a death, or so I believe, you have to get yourselves organized and do the visitations and reminisce as well as share your grief and be open to consoling as well as recieving consolation. After the reception, we took the floral arrangements out to my father-in-law's grave.
Then, last night... my mind began to race. I kept trying to remember that in A New Earth, that is referred to as maya or dukkha.
Today felt very foggy. My husband was still off today, so he took our littlest to daycare as our eldest headed back to school. I got a couple pieces of paperwork done, a book order, a reference letter for a previous colleague and reviewed some other items to tackle. My brain kept feeling a disconnect.
I was really looking forward to doing a couple errands with my husband this afternoon. Just having some time alone even though we would be tackling some tasks.
So now it is evening, and while I feel a sense of accomplishment for what we achieved I just feel so scattered. I have to get my head back on straight.
We are doing professional development at work tomorrow and that always excites me and rejuvenates me. I hope this to be the case tomorrow as well.
I watched Oprah's launch of the Big Give today and I must say I am excited about it. Although they recommend you watch it with your children. The time it is on does not lend itself to that very well. I guess that is what the dvr is for. The promise was made that it will inspire so I cannot wait to experience that. I will have tissues at the ready.
Ellen had Dr. Wayne Dyer on today. She has had him on a couple of times in the past. He is pretty cool. I find listening to him really links what I am reading in A New Earth. I wonder if he and Eckhart Tolle have chatted? and I wonder if Ellen who enjoys him so much chats with Oprah who likes Eckhart so much have gotten together and dialogued about it all. LOL.... obviously more maya and dukkha on my part. Ellen mentioned listening to him all the time and so I have hunted up cds of his talks on his website. I must check Chapters for these. It really seems like a great fit with my other readings right now.
So my current reading list consists of: Bob Greene, Dr. Oz, Jillian Michaels, Eckhart Tolle. LOL... most is a pretty big link to Oprah recommendations eh? and now throwing in an Ellen one too by adding Wayne Dyer.
Lord love of God... I should throw in a Harlequin Presents or two in there to lighten the load eh? LOL
Yesterday was the service for my husband's sister. The flowers were wonderful and Cheryl's african violets were all around us. I did a reading and my sis-in-law Heather gave the eulogy. She did an amazing job.
It still seems very surreal. Cheryl was only 50 years old. You sort of go on automatic pilot for the days after a death, or so I believe, you have to get yourselves organized and do the visitations and reminisce as well as share your grief and be open to consoling as well as recieving consolation. After the reception, we took the floral arrangements out to my father-in-law's grave.
Then, last night... my mind began to race. I kept trying to remember that in A New Earth, that is referred to as maya or dukkha.
Today felt very foggy. My husband was still off today, so he took our littlest to daycare as our eldest headed back to school. I got a couple pieces of paperwork done, a book order, a reference letter for a previous colleague and reviewed some other items to tackle. My brain kept feeling a disconnect.
I was really looking forward to doing a couple errands with my husband this afternoon. Just having some time alone even though we would be tackling some tasks.
So now it is evening, and while I feel a sense of accomplishment for what we achieved I just feel so scattered. I have to get my head back on straight.
We are doing professional development at work tomorrow and that always excites me and rejuvenates me. I hope this to be the case tomorrow as well.
I watched Oprah's launch of the Big Give today and I must say I am excited about it. Although they recommend you watch it with your children. The time it is on does not lend itself to that very well. I guess that is what the dvr is for. The promise was made that it will inspire so I cannot wait to experience that. I will have tissues at the ready.
Ellen had Dr. Wayne Dyer on today. She has had him on a couple of times in the past. He is pretty cool. I find listening to him really links what I am reading in A New Earth. I wonder if he and Eckhart Tolle have chatted? and I wonder if Ellen who enjoys him so much chats with Oprah who likes Eckhart so much have gotten together and dialogued about it all. LOL.... obviously more maya and dukkha on my part. Ellen mentioned listening to him all the time and so I have hunted up cds of his talks on his website. I must check Chapters for these. It really seems like a great fit with my other readings right now.
So my current reading list consists of: Bob Greene, Dr. Oz, Jillian Michaels, Eckhart Tolle. LOL... most is a pretty big link to Oprah recommendations eh? and now throwing in an Ellen one too by adding Wayne Dyer.
Lord love of God... I should throw in a Harlequin Presents or two in there to lighten the load eh? LOL
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Why? Why? Why? & A New Earth
There is nothing like losing a loved one to make you contemplate your mortality, why you are here, and how you contribute to it all. It just really gives you pause. Well it does for the majority of us that is. Occassionally, you encounter someone who seems incredibly unaffected by it all.
So I have been mulling it all. Why do these things happen? Why the hell is cancer even around after all these years of so many people suffering? How long do any of us have? How can we ensure that our passing is as prepared for and as painless as possible for those who love us?
So having been mulling these questions over and over... I also am an Oprah watcher. Lord knows that woman is deep. She contemplates all of it and not only has wonderful perspectives on many a topic but often has amazing guests who speak to them all.
This brings me to her recent and consistent recommendation of the book A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose by Eckhart Tolle. It is her book club's latest book to be read and discussed.
Now, about Oprah's book club, I tried the very first book she recommended. I believe it was Song of Solomon. I could not and I mean could NOT get into it. I re-read that first chapter over 100 times I swear. I kept thinking somehow I will get into this. But I just could not. It was many years ago, so I should give it another go. But after years of sitting on my bookshelf, taunting me, I decided enough was enough and put it in a yard sale. Sorry Oprah. Sorry Toni Morrison. Maybe I should buy it again.
so then I did try The Deep End of the Ocean by Jacquelyn Mitchard. I enjoyed that. It scared me, worried me, engaged me and kept me in suspense.
so while I watch the show (don't you just love Dr. Oz?) faithfully and love having the DVR as it provides me with the reassurance that Oprah is there waiting for me when I need her, I have not always jumped on the Book Club wagon.
but right now, with the thoughts going through my head about who I am? where I am in life? where do I want to go? and having just hit the big 4-0... I feel ready to reach. My hubby picked up the book for me and then Oprah keeps talking about how she and Eckhart Tolle are creating the world's largest classroom.
Starting this coming Monday evening, and going on for 10 weeks, there will be an online webinar about the book and finding your life's purpose. It is free and live. You can ask Oprah and the author questions and participate in the discussions and have a workbook and everything. It took me a week of reflection as to whether I wanted to try it or not and last night I signed up. For two of the weeks, I shall be in the States and needed to see if I could participate there, and having confirmed this, I am both excited and scared.
I started this book this morning.
So... anyone want to join me and the other 300,000 people signed up? (at last count that is)
So I have been mulling it all. Why do these things happen? Why the hell is cancer even around after all these years of so many people suffering? How long do any of us have? How can we ensure that our passing is as prepared for and as painless as possible for those who love us?
So having been mulling these questions over and over... I also am an Oprah watcher. Lord knows that woman is deep. She contemplates all of it and not only has wonderful perspectives on many a topic but often has amazing guests who speak to them all.
This brings me to her recent and consistent recommendation of the book A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose by Eckhart Tolle. It is her book club's latest book to be read and discussed.
Now, about Oprah's book club, I tried the very first book she recommended. I believe it was Song of Solomon. I could not and I mean could NOT get into it. I re-read that first chapter over 100 times I swear. I kept thinking somehow I will get into this. But I just could not. It was many years ago, so I should give it another go. But after years of sitting on my bookshelf, taunting me, I decided enough was enough and put it in a yard sale. Sorry Oprah. Sorry Toni Morrison. Maybe I should buy it again.
so then I did try The Deep End of the Ocean by Jacquelyn Mitchard. I enjoyed that. It scared me, worried me, engaged me and kept me in suspense.
so while I watch the show (don't you just love Dr. Oz?) faithfully and love having the DVR as it provides me with the reassurance that Oprah is there waiting for me when I need her, I have not always jumped on the Book Club wagon.
but right now, with the thoughts going through my head about who I am? where I am in life? where do I want to go? and having just hit the big 4-0... I feel ready to reach. My hubby picked up the book for me and then Oprah keeps talking about how she and Eckhart Tolle are creating the world's largest classroom.
Starting this coming Monday evening, and going on for 10 weeks, there will be an online webinar about the book and finding your life's purpose. It is free and live. You can ask Oprah and the author questions and participate in the discussions and have a workbook and everything. It took me a week of reflection as to whether I wanted to try it or not and last night I signed up. For two of the weeks, I shall be in the States and needed to see if I could participate there, and having confirmed this, I am both excited and scared.
I started this book this morning.
So... anyone want to join me and the other 300,000 people signed up? (at last count that is)
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Many Battles Well Fought with a War Lost
Yesterday, my sister-in-law, Cheryl succumbed to a War she had been battling with cancer for about 2 and 1/2 years. She fought it valiantly through many rounds of chemo and radiation and she also fought it with wisdom and humour.
I met my sister-in-law about 20 years ago. She had me in awe for some time. She was tremendously intelligent about a multitude of things. At that point in my life I was going to university and was engaged to her brother. She, her husband and their young son, Jordan lived in New Brunswick at the time. Her job consisted of something I thought to be incredibly impressive at Via but for the moment it is lost in my fuzzy memory. I had her on a pedestal. When she spoke, I remember thinking wow... she is something. She and her husband had adopted our nephew Jordan and her life seemed busy and as I said I was in awe.
They moved back to Nova Scotia and I got to know her a little better. By now, I was finished my degree and working full time. I had a smidge more confidence to chat with her. She still fascinated me. Her sense of humor was brilliant and dry. She possessed a warm heart yet was much like my husband in that they were NOT morning people and were more quiet then the rest of their family. They adopted another child, a vivacious little girl to add to their family and she was as sweet as Jordan was brilliant. He could read masters level journals at the age of four or perhaps three.
I can still remember the day I asked her to be a bridesmaid. She laughed and said a resounding "no". She liked to march to her own drummer and did not hesistate. Although her son was our ringbearer and her tiny daughter danced delightfully at the reception.
As time passed I got more and more opportunities to get to know her. For several months we had long conversations about life and romance and validation. Her perspectives on this were new to me and felt right but it was not until more years past and I continued to grow that I could appreciate her incredible wisdom.
My husband and I found we needed to pursue adoption as well to grow our family and her knowledge and experiences were so appreciated. She counselled us and wrote a letter of reference for us as well. I gathered courage to ask her to participate in another ceremony... this time a baptism... and instead of a resounding "no" this time, she said "yes".
I had started my own business and Cheryl volunteered to help design all the documents needed for my business and do the typing. I was a computer scaredy-cat. She did not hesitate to show me the ropes.
Often when something interested her, she pursued it with a zealousness I envied. She loved computers and was extremely adept at them. She made lovely jewellery and in the past couple of years her passion Violets. She was always good at growing things but while battling her illness and disease she poured love and nurturing into these plants.
Cheryl was wise beyond her years. She also seemed like one of those people that you suspect has lived before, in another time. She seemed to have patience like no one I knew. I called her on occassion when I felt confused and she always led me to clarity.
Her daughter grew into a young woman and she would volunteer at my work, a daycare. Then she had summer jobs there as well.
Cheryl would pop in while waiting for Mel and chat and share a laugh. She really enjoyed the kids. She always had a smile for every child who would come to hug and visit and wave. Her smile was awesome... always completely genuine.
She shall always be missed.
I met my sister-in-law about 20 years ago. She had me in awe for some time. She was tremendously intelligent about a multitude of things. At that point in my life I was going to university and was engaged to her brother. She, her husband and their young son, Jordan lived in New Brunswick at the time. Her job consisted of something I thought to be incredibly impressive at Via but for the moment it is lost in my fuzzy memory. I had her on a pedestal. When she spoke, I remember thinking wow... she is something. She and her husband had adopted our nephew Jordan and her life seemed busy and as I said I was in awe.
They moved back to Nova Scotia and I got to know her a little better. By now, I was finished my degree and working full time. I had a smidge more confidence to chat with her. She still fascinated me. Her sense of humor was brilliant and dry. She possessed a warm heart yet was much like my husband in that they were NOT morning people and were more quiet then the rest of their family. They adopted another child, a vivacious little girl to add to their family and she was as sweet as Jordan was brilliant. He could read masters level journals at the age of four or perhaps three.
I can still remember the day I asked her to be a bridesmaid. She laughed and said a resounding "no". She liked to march to her own drummer and did not hesistate. Although her son was our ringbearer and her tiny daughter danced delightfully at the reception.
As time passed I got more and more opportunities to get to know her. For several months we had long conversations about life and romance and validation. Her perspectives on this were new to me and felt right but it was not until more years past and I continued to grow that I could appreciate her incredible wisdom.
My husband and I found we needed to pursue adoption as well to grow our family and her knowledge and experiences were so appreciated. She counselled us and wrote a letter of reference for us as well. I gathered courage to ask her to participate in another ceremony... this time a baptism... and instead of a resounding "no" this time, she said "yes".
I had started my own business and Cheryl volunteered to help design all the documents needed for my business and do the typing. I was a computer scaredy-cat. She did not hesitate to show me the ropes.
Often when something interested her, she pursued it with a zealousness I envied. She loved computers and was extremely adept at them. She made lovely jewellery and in the past couple of years her passion Violets. She was always good at growing things but while battling her illness and disease she poured love and nurturing into these plants.
Cheryl was wise beyond her years. She also seemed like one of those people that you suspect has lived before, in another time. She seemed to have patience like no one I knew. I called her on occassion when I felt confused and she always led me to clarity.
Her daughter grew into a young woman and she would volunteer at my work, a daycare. Then she had summer jobs there as well.
Cheryl would pop in while waiting for Mel and chat and share a laugh. She really enjoyed the kids. She always had a smile for every child who would come to hug and visit and wave. Her smile was awesome... always completely genuine.
She shall always be missed.
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Ellen and How She Brightens My Day
You know... I really really love the Ellen show. I mean love it.
I am not necessarily a talk show fan. I DVR Oprah now every day but then I just click info to see if it is something I would enjoy learning about or reflecting on. So 50% of the time I just click delete. The other thing is --- often Oprah is pretty deep philosophically speaking; which I will be honest, I love that. My head is usually interested or there... but sometimes... you just want the fun, the light hearted fluffy stuff that takes you away from wondering how to improve your life.
I had enjoyed Rosie O'Donnell's talk show for the years it was on. But the main reason I enjoyed it was because she seemed like a real person. Someone you could relate to. She would often be starstruck sitting there interviewing someone. (I did not enjoy her on the View the couple of times I saw that with her on it!!!! Argh! who was that person?)
Ellen never seems starstruck. I miss that...
oops, I digress. Please accept my apologies.
Back to Ellen.
From the moment her monologue begins... which isn't that awesome!!! Right away, within moments of tuning in, you get bang for your buck. Like way to go Ellen! You know we love you and we wanna laugh dammit and so you bring it! day after day! gotta love it!
and then, the dancing, gotta love that too! Even though that guy, I honestly forget who, did a spoof on his show re: the dancing and said she prob. does it as a time filler... he said it jokingly. But I love it! you have just been given joy from the monologue and then there is energy! she has this energy and the audience is charged and there is just this great energy that somehow comes across to those of us sitting on our butts at home.
And you know... Ellen is pretty real and relatable herself. She gabs away to her guests like they are all real people who deserve her complete attention. Whether a Mega-star or a person from Youtube or an audience member. When she plays games or attempts cooking (LOL) or when she shows us her heart by sharing her feelings about animals or something else that disturbed her. I love her all the more when she shows that side.
You gotta watch this! It rocks! So funny... just click these words I have hyperlinked them to the vid of her demonstrating the below.... I laughed SOOOO HARD and I was crying too... :)
I laugh every single day with her. But this week... I could not stop laughing when she was in the Hawaii Chair... oh my god did I laugh! and damn if they aren't going to sell some of those chairs as a result... because as stupid as it is... and when she poured the water and talked on the phone as well as interviewed her guests in it... it's ridiculous-ness was so apparent... it looked so friggin' fun. Honestly! I wanted one or better yet to try one. (and no! I will not be ordering one!)
Anyway, I had to blog about her show and her as well. She brightens my day! and she makes each crappy winter day just a little bit brighter. My hubby, my kids and myself: all Ellen fans and proud of it!
keep it up Ellen! :)
xoxo
(yah, I know she won't be reading this but I can send the love out dammit! don't criticize me, eh?)
I am not necessarily a talk show fan. I DVR Oprah now every day but then I just click info to see if it is something I would enjoy learning about or reflecting on. So 50% of the time I just click delete. The other thing is --- often Oprah is pretty deep philosophically speaking; which I will be honest, I love that. My head is usually interested or there... but sometimes... you just want the fun, the light hearted fluffy stuff that takes you away from wondering how to improve your life.
I had enjoyed Rosie O'Donnell's talk show for the years it was on. But the main reason I enjoyed it was because she seemed like a real person. Someone you could relate to. She would often be starstruck sitting there interviewing someone. (I did not enjoy her on the View the couple of times I saw that with her on it!!!! Argh! who was that person?)
Ellen never seems starstruck. I miss that...
oops, I digress. Please accept my apologies.
Back to Ellen.
From the moment her monologue begins... which isn't that awesome!!! Right away, within moments of tuning in, you get bang for your buck. Like way to go Ellen! You know we love you and we wanna laugh dammit and so you bring it! day after day! gotta love it!
and then, the dancing, gotta love that too! Even though that guy, I honestly forget who, did a spoof on his show re: the dancing and said she prob. does it as a time filler... he said it jokingly. But I love it! you have just been given joy from the monologue and then there is energy! she has this energy and the audience is charged and there is just this great energy that somehow comes across to those of us sitting on our butts at home.
And you know... Ellen is pretty real and relatable herself. She gabs away to her guests like they are all real people who deserve her complete attention. Whether a Mega-star or a person from Youtube or an audience member. When she plays games or attempts cooking (LOL) or when she shows us her heart by sharing her feelings about animals or something else that disturbed her. I love her all the more when she shows that side.
You gotta watch this! It rocks! So funny... just click these words I have hyperlinked them to the vid of her demonstrating the below.... I laughed SOOOO HARD and I was crying too... :)
I laugh every single day with her. But this week... I could not stop laughing when she was in the Hawaii Chair... oh my god did I laugh! and damn if they aren't going to sell some of those chairs as a result... because as stupid as it is... and when she poured the water and talked on the phone as well as interviewed her guests in it... it's ridiculous-ness was so apparent... it looked so friggin' fun. Honestly! I wanted one or better yet to try one. (and no! I will not be ordering one!)
Anyway, I had to blog about her show and her as well. She brightens my day! and she makes each crappy winter day just a little bit brighter. My hubby, my kids and myself: all Ellen fans and proud of it!
keep it up Ellen! :)
xoxo
(yah, I know she won't be reading this but I can send the love out dammit! don't criticize me, eh?)
Sunday, January 27, 2008
job description
so January is continuing... in all of it's lovely glory... friggin' freezin' temps, melancholy, and a desire to get things done... but lacking the energy to accomplish much...
Apparently the melancholy is due to a lack of Vitamin D... or so it seems according to a recent episode of Oprah... there was a wonderful doctor on and women could ask any question they wanted... and they did... all kinds of female question... but one was about how we get so depressed in winter and apparently we just need a Light Box which are readily available?
http://www.oprah.com/tows/pastshows/200710/tows_past_20071016_b5.jhtml
(p.s. how do you put a link there with a different label?)
So the weekend included: getting two kids ready for a birthday party, chauffeuring them to the party, then mall crawling nearby which is something I rarely do as I never get to a mall (I did pick up two cute tops majorly on sale!)
I contemplated a toy box for my youngest child's bedroom as a possible solution to contain the continual mess which requires my perpetual bending over... I realize I can't heft this around the mall alone... so I take a pic with my cell phone and move on.
Then I see a present for my youngest for the next occassion... well she might see it in the car so I whip the cell phone out again and take another pic.
Then I am in the dollar store with some stationery in the cart needed for the office but realize that they don't take debit so snap another pic is taken.
Then a feeding frenzy of ppl over suitcases in Bentley and I browse for the perfect purse makes me wonder what is going on until I see the sales tags and then the sign that says "Buy One, Get 2nd 1/2 off lowest price". Awesome deal! The entire store was on for this!
So then I get the kids from the party, and Liskie's dress is all unravelling at the bottom. They are stoked and excited and the party was still going with 21 kids in attendance. My hat goes off to the mom and dad.
We head back to the mall so the kids can choose suitcases for themselves and of course then pull them themselves as I could not balance it all. Before I pay, Lisk announces she really needs the bathroom, I tell the clerk we will be back and we negotiate the mall for the nearest bathroom... all the while Liskie's dress is trailing along. Once there, I have to hold the poufy party dress up and around her, and the second she finishes peeing she hops down. "Lisk, you drip that way. You have to get dried off while still on there. Now your legs are getting dripped on." Women's laughter erupts from the other stalls. I heave a big sigh as I am exhausted from the running around and the g/d winter. Winter just takes it out of me. So then after the wiping, she hauls her pretty pink pantyhose up and yes, over her poufy dress. So now I explain how you have to ensure that your dress is out and over your panties and pantyhose... and now the entire bathroom again erupts in laughter. Great! I am at least interacting with grown-ups! Although they are not within eyesight... but hey, it is almost a conversation.
As I drive home, with kids giddy from loot bags, Disney's Soundtrack from Enchanted belting out on the speakers and breaking up the occassional bickering over a treat or two, I ask myself... did I get a copy of this job description?
Not a problem I tell myself as I launch into the songs with them at the top of our lungs together. I didn't get a copy but I am signed off for life and 99% of the time, I love every second. or at least it is best to tell myself so... LOL... j/k.
Apparently the melancholy is due to a lack of Vitamin D... or so it seems according to a recent episode of Oprah... there was a wonderful doctor on and women could ask any question they wanted... and they did... all kinds of female question... but one was about how we get so depressed in winter and apparently we just need a Light Box which are readily available?
http://www.oprah.com/tows/pastshows/200710/tows_past_20071016_b5.jhtml
(p.s. how do you put a link there with a different label?)
So the weekend included: getting two kids ready for a birthday party, chauffeuring them to the party, then mall crawling nearby which is something I rarely do as I never get to a mall (I did pick up two cute tops majorly on sale!)
I contemplated a toy box for my youngest child's bedroom as a possible solution to contain the continual mess which requires my perpetual bending over... I realize I can't heft this around the mall alone... so I take a pic with my cell phone and move on.
Then I see a present for my youngest for the next occassion... well she might see it in the car so I whip the cell phone out again and take another pic.
Then I am in the dollar store with some stationery in the cart needed for the office but realize that they don't take debit so snap another pic is taken.
Then a feeding frenzy of ppl over suitcases in Bentley and I browse for the perfect purse makes me wonder what is going on until I see the sales tags and then the sign that says "Buy One, Get 2nd 1/2 off lowest price". Awesome deal! The entire store was on for this!
So then I get the kids from the party, and Liskie's dress is all unravelling at the bottom. They are stoked and excited and the party was still going with 21 kids in attendance. My hat goes off to the mom and dad.
We head back to the mall so the kids can choose suitcases for themselves and of course then pull them themselves as I could not balance it all. Before I pay, Lisk announces she really needs the bathroom, I tell the clerk we will be back and we negotiate the mall for the nearest bathroom... all the while Liskie's dress is trailing along. Once there, I have to hold the poufy party dress up and around her, and the second she finishes peeing she hops down. "Lisk, you drip that way. You have to get dried off while still on there. Now your legs are getting dripped on." Women's laughter erupts from the other stalls. I heave a big sigh as I am exhausted from the running around and the g/d winter. Winter just takes it out of me. So then after the wiping, she hauls her pretty pink pantyhose up and yes, over her poufy dress. So now I explain how you have to ensure that your dress is out and over your panties and pantyhose... and now the entire bathroom again erupts in laughter. Great! I am at least interacting with grown-ups! Although they are not within eyesight... but hey, it is almost a conversation.
As I drive home, with kids giddy from loot bags, Disney's Soundtrack from Enchanted belting out on the speakers and breaking up the occassional bickering over a treat or two, I ask myself... did I get a copy of this job description?
Not a problem I tell myself as I launch into the songs with them at the top of our lungs together. I didn't get a copy but I am signed off for life and 99% of the time, I love every second. or at least it is best to tell myself so... LOL... j/k.
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
What the Hell is it With January?
What the hell is it with this month anyway?
I mean... I know we all want to start the new year feeling fresh and new and alive and brimming with resolutions and posibilities... come on!!! you know you want to... you know you think it... some of you while getting quite inebriated during New Year's Festivities... slur your words with excitement... you expound on how 2008 will be the year of this, that and the other thing... the best is of course... "This year WILL be different!" and then... January begins...
January has to be a statisically bad month for depression...
some reasons for this:
I mean... I know we all want to start the new year feeling fresh and new and alive and brimming with resolutions and posibilities... come on!!! you know you want to... you know you think it... some of you while getting quite inebriated during New Year's Festivities... slur your words with excitement... you expound on how 2008 will be the year of this, that and the other thing... the best is of course... "This year WILL be different!" and then... January begins...
January has to be a statisically bad month for depression...
some reasons for this:
- it is in the heart of f*#$%$~ winter which is a season which includes shovelling and this particular winter too god*&^% much snow.
- you wake up on the first work weekday after New Year's Eve and think... I promised myself to change what? how? what the heck was I thinking?
- not one bloody friggin holiday or long weekend anywhere in the whole g/d month
- shitloads of people around you are beaming with positivity and energy and diets and good intentions
- there are smiling xmas decorations all over your house and you have to haul up the boxes from the basement and cram all the tacky smiling crap into them without breaking the stuff and somehow haul it back downstairs with the aching back you have due to overindulging over the holidays and also the g/d shovelling
- the bills from Christmas begin to drift in through the mailbox slot and now that the pile of shiny presents are no longer visible... you think... oh my god... how could I have possibly charged this much? I must be a victim of identity theft somehow... someone has my credit card and is scandalously charging stuff! you run... check your wallet... dammit... the card is there... am I possibly responsible for this bill?
- gym joining... the january question... to join or to not join... that apparently is the question
- new t.v. shows on t.v..... that look like they were written by monkeys... NO! I must not insult monkeys
- did I mention it is in the g/d season of winter?
so I write this as I nurse a tender, sore back that is being aided by Aleve and arnica. My hubby's back is currently so messed up he can barely move. Our 5 yr old is on her second case of tonsilitis in 6 weeks.... and I am surrounded by boxes of xmas stuff which I want to take downstairs... oh and videos... a pile of them... exercise ones.... mocking me... while by butt is in the chair at the computer getting wider by the keyboard stroke...
I think longingly of February...
I CHALLENGE THEE TO COMMENT... TELL ME
- HOW WRONG I AM ... HOW WONDROUS JANUARY IS
- HOW YOU AGREE AND ARE EQUALLY DEPRESSED
- HOW YOU ARE COMING TO TAKE THE BOXES DOWNSTAIRS FOR ME
- HOW I SHOULD SUCK IT UP AND PUT THE VIDEOS IN AND EXERCISE
- HOW I SHOULD BURN THE EXERCISE VIDEOS AND HAVE SOME FUDGE SHOULD SOME BE HIDING IN MY HOUSE
cheers!
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)