Clean-up day –

The last day of the MOVING EXPERIENCE. I headed into town early and began the task of cleaning the Hiram Street house…stove, fridge, kitchen, bathroom, and vacuum and mop the floors. THEN came the basement…YIKES – what a mess of garbage…mostly cardboard, but what a mess. I finally finished around 1:30pm, turned in the keys and before heading home remembered to stop and VOTE!!!

I flopped on the couch for 3 hours when arriving home, then finally summoned the energy to unpack the car and put everything away. Boy, am I tired. The crazy week is over though, and my roomie showed up tonight to move in. I didn’t help her move her stuff in – I had spent my energy and she was okay with that, she just trucked it all into her room. She decided to spend the night here after unpacking what she had as she was too tired. I can relate to that.

MOVING DAY – PART 2

Well, Saturday morning found us at the old house, packing the car and hoping Brad would arrange something for toting the rest to Halifax. It was a trying day to say the least with arrangements falling through here and there, but by 1:30pm, Amber and I had arrived in Halifax and promptly called the landlord to let us in and we unloaded the car. It was so hot in the stairwell, we thought we were going to expire – turns out the boiler is right beneath it…pant, pant…

After we unpacked what came in the car with us, we headed out to shop. We finally heard from Brad again who was FINALLY under way with his uncle in a truck with most of their things. Wal-Mart was an experience. We get there, its crowded, but not so much we can’t get around. Pick out a mop and broom, then head off to the vacuum cleaner department and after 20 minutes, pick one out…as we are picking one out, there is an alarm sounding…sounds like a fire alarm but no one is moving so we ignore it. We are about ready to checkout when Wal-Mart staff goes aisle by aisle and directs everyone to leave the store immediately…so we did and went grocery shopping instead. After the grocery shopping excursion, we went back to Wal-Mart, got what we needed again and managed to get in the WRONG checkout line. We just got up to being next and the checkout gal left the stall…just LEFT. She was gone about 20 minutes or more. I don’t know where the heck she went. She finally came back, no explanation and cheerily checked us out. Whatever. So then we finally get the heck out of Wal-Mart only to be stopped by the evil Wal-Mart greeter to check our stuff – WTF? We didn’t even make the buzzer go off. So we handed her the receipt and she let us pass. Let’s get HOME!

We aren’t home long before Brad shows up with his truckload. Amber called her dad up to help, who couldn’t leave the house without CB, but whatever…if she can carry anything, its less I have to drag up the stairs. Brad is in a FINE mood by then, surly as I have ever seen him – but Amber and I are no fools…best approach, give him some space and he will get back to us when he is ready to interact civilly. It didn’t take long…his uncle left, then Al and CB left, so I puttered around, made up the bed and they headed out to the balcony for some private chat. By the time he came back in, he was in much better form and tackled the tasks at hand with cheer. Brad put together the new furniture and Amber organized his CD collection while I washed the remaining dishes and put them away.

Then came the time to leave. I had planned on staying there tonight but the couch didn’t make it in the first load, so I was heading out to my niece’s to sleep…and darn near got out the door until this lovely child of mine demanded tears from me…I had managed to construct a nice wall around them until now, denial was working well for me…then she spoke and proceeded to inform me of why I should be crying…it was too much. I broke. Sob, sob, sob…I finally left after about 20 hugs and kisses and reassurances from Brad that he will be good to her and cried all the way to my niece’s house. I finally settled down shortly after arriving there and managed to hold it together for the rest of the evening.

Then I had to drive home in the morning. I cried the whole way. Just when I would stop and clear my head and eyes, I would start again. And not just easy tears falling – HUGE GASPING SOBS. My wall had come down. The car is a nice place to cry…no one is watching, but my vision blurred many times, lol. I found myself at my friend’s house in East Havre Boucher and stopped there for a hug – GAWD I needed one by that point. And she did, and we cried together. Then I finally got in control again, and sat and chatted with her for a couple of hours before heading home. What an exhausting day.

The Graduate

I watched you today as you stood on the stage
And thought to myself, you've come of age.
You're ready now to go out on you own
And it hurt to see how the time has flown.

Where is that child of only three
Who loved to climb up on my knee
And ask such questions as who or why
What is that thing up in the sky?

Wasn't it only yesterday you started school,
And I tried so hard to be very cool,
But, as you walked in the door and sat in your place,
I did what I could to hide my face.

Remember that day we walked to the park,
We played so late, it began to get dark.
We started back home, your little hand in mine,
You were so happy and had such a good time.

It seems to me you were only eight,
When you wanted to know when you could date.
I laughed and said, "You're a little young,
But all too soon your time will come."

Before I knew it, you were in your teens,
Sloppy T-shirts and scruffy blue jeans,
Parties and dances, staying out late,
Ignoring your homework, saying, "It can wait."

Now you stand before me with your diploma in hand,
In your cap and gown, and you look so grand.
I hold back the tears that threaten to fall,
And put on a smile as you walk down the hall.

I look at you and I want to see
The little child who sat on my knee.
But the years are gone and can't be revived,
Except in my heart, where I will keep them alive.

So now it's time for me to let go,
How much it hurts, you'll never know.
Go now, my child, take your place in the crowd,
For whatever you do, I know I'll be proud.

by Florence Brown
Corner Brook, NF

I had come across this poem many years ago in a Newfoundland newspaper while I still lived in Grand Bruit and knew it was the one I wanted to keep for her special day. I pasted it into a scrapbook with corresponding photos and it looks wonderful. I cry each time I read it because it says what I am feeling so well.

The Empty Nest

Well, she's moved out. I'm in Halifax now, at my neice's house. The original plan was to stay at Amber's last night on the couch, but it didn't make it from Port Hawkesbury yet, so I'm over here. So that found me leaving her behind in her new apartment with the boyfriend a day early...WAHHHHHHH...I had been holding it together very well, thank you, all along. Denial was working pretty good for me. Then as I left this young lady's apartment, she demanded tears from me before I left and then set to work telling me the reasons why I should be crying...ask and you shall receive...I cried the whole way here, and then some.

So there I stood, a blubbering mess, locked in embrace with my only child, leaving her as she begins the next chapter of her life - in her own home. It was one of the hardest things I ever had to do. Gawd, I'm blubbering again now.

How did I get here so fast? How can I be the mother of a grown child who lives in another city? Where is that child who would patter out from her room, Sally Ann (the doll) tucked under one arm as she sleepily rubbed her eyes and croaked out "good morning mommy". It's one of my favorite memories of her childhood. I heard this for years, and now I long to hear it again. Since moving into my new place, I have set this Sally Ann upon my closet shelf - she too had been outgrown...and when I feel lonesome, I will leave that door open so that I may remeniece about this child. My friends say having Sally Ann and the other dolls of her childhood on the shelf creep them out, but they bring me only comfort - although I have to admit, the porcelain doll is a bit creepy and will soon find new quarters.

I have left my daughter to take her place in the crowd - go now Amber and make me proud. (paraphrased from a poem by Florence Brown that will be posted in a few days).

Graduation Week

Oh what a night…or should I say nights…as previously described, the past week was to be a busy one…The week began with the Grand March and Prom Night. The Grand March appeared to be quite a waste of time and energy…you take over 100 graduates, pair them up and make them prance around the auditorium stage for an hour in various groupings. There is no significance attached, it just is. The auditorium is another story…there is no limit on who can attend, so everyone and their dog and their neighbor came, and because I though 20 minutes before it began was soon enough to go, I had to stand in the hall. The auditorium was PACKED and people spilled into the stairways, jammed the back areas, etc. I managed to finally squeeze in behind some others standing up, but it was uncomfortable to do so for an hour…elbows in the face and back and so on…all for naught…just a bit of prancing. So then they announce that the fathers are to dance with the daughters. Amber’s dad is still in Halifax so she had pre-arranged for Brad’s father to dance with her, just so she wouldn’t feel left out. It was very sweet and sure made her happy. Following that, they danced with their date, then proceeded into the gym for the Prom. I had a look around and took a few pictures before heading home. There wasn’t much for décor, but the tiki bar was cool. This year’s theme had been Tropical Paradise or something like that.

Tuesday night was the Grad Dinner. This was a purchased ticket affair, so tons of room for us to sit, and a lovely meal. The tech class had prepared a video collage which was very nice to watch while we ate dinner, and there were a few presentations and speeches…not much, which was FINE with me.

Wednesday evening, I finished off moving my stuff to the new house. I was getting tired, but not out of steam yet. Thursday morning I had to work, then spent all afternoon unpacking, then headed into town to have supper with Amber, Brad, Al and his crazy lady. Al treated us all to Pizza Delight which was a nice surprise. Then we headed off to the graduation and got excellent seats. It was a proud night for us as parents. Amber received the Honor Cord which is awarded for maintaining an 85% average all during high school…you could see the heads turn when she received THAT…as many judged her by her appearance and assumed she was just another dumb punk…NOT! She also received several bursaries, including one from each of the local newspapers, which was very cool. She beamed with pride as the tears rolled down my cheeks. I thought I was going to lose it a few times, but carefully reconstructed that wall around my emotions for a few more days yet…I had so much more to do…

Friday I spent cooking and cleaning, and getting prepared for the big party I was to throw for Amber’s success. My brother was even coming down, which tickled both Amber and I. I also had a bunch of the gals coming, Brad’s mother and sisters, Amber’s friends and parents, etc….It was a huge success, and people were so generous and kind to Amber…it was nice to see her enjoy the day so much. Brad was chief cook on the grill and did a fabulous job – Thanks bud! There was too much food, as usual, but settled nicely in my fridge and Amber’s. We wound down around 11pm or so and were EXHAUSTED.

Amber was able to garner tears out of many of the women by showing them the booklet I had prepared for her with the poem in it. I’ll post it above. It is a beautiful poem.

Moving Day

Well, its pissing down rain...I hadn't counted on that, but we will move just the same...I mean, its not like the boxes will disentegrate in the rain...will they? depends on how heavy...lol

Just brought fresh Timmys to the younguns in an attempt to get them moving this morning...they have limited lounging time this morning...

Lets get MOVING!!!

Grad Dinner

Ok, it was a good meal, we weren't crowded in and there were seats left over. They showed a video production that was pretty good, although Amber only appeared in a baby photo, likely because she finished school in January and the shot it after that. But the video was entertaining and well put together just the same. Dinner was hot turkey, mashed potatoes, veggies, coleslaw and rolls. Only one more night of this to go...

Well, got a call tonight that my house is cleaned and ready...whoo hoo! I can pick up the keys tomorrow, so that's AWESOME! I have to get some $$$ from my new roomie so I can give them a cheque for the rent and damage deposit. Then we are good to go! I can hardly wait...I'd begin moving tomorrow night if I had time, but there is that pesky grad dinner...wonder how late that runs? If I can just get out there with the entertainment unit and get that beast put together...we shall see...

I am ready to move. Now.

The Grand March

What is that anyhow...well, at SAERC (Strait Area Education and Recreation Centre) it means cramming 1000 people into a 500 seat auditorium, and having them watch the grads prance around in their prom outfits to the sound of Pachelbel's Canon. They walked SO SLOW, you know that old step shuffle that people used to do at weddings...and prance around on the stage for about 30 minutes, then they have the grads dance with their matched partner, then call for the dads and moms to dance with their son/daughter. It was interesting to see the parents try to shuffle their way through the overcrowded auditorium, over seats, people, etc...but they all managed to get there. Then they had the grads dance with their prom dates, and THEN they made their way to the gym where the actual prom was taking place. I went over to take a peek, as I didn't go to my prom, so wanted to at least say I had been to someones!!! It was a tropical theme, and looked pretty nice, but not overly decorated. Nothing on the ceiling at all, and very little on the walls. Just a few props, but the Tiki bar was pretty cool. I guess they had a problem with getting people to volunteer to decorate. same old story.

Anyhow, she seemed happy enough, whatever it looked like and they'll have a few dances there, and head off to the prom party after the dance ends at midnight or so, coming home to change of course!!!

So there we are, one night of Grad nearly over, only three more to go...

The Prom

Well, tonight is her last prom. As usual, some things are left to the last minute...I asked her a couple of days ago before I packed all my sewing stuff if her dress was too long. I had only seen it on her in the store, without shoes. She assured me it was indeed the right length with her shoes on. So tonight when this charming child tries on her dress now that she has her hair all fluffed and done, and this child shows her mother - it is about 2-3 inches too long. A disaster waiting to happen...GAWD. So rifling through boxes I go, just two hours before prom, digging out sewing stuff and off to the sewing machine I go. It got done, but I should have know better...

But par for the course. Earlier today, she headed over to Brad's aunt to get her hair done. I was to pick her up at the aunts and bring her home...after all, we can't have her hitchhiking back with such poofy hair. I had timed my last home visit to end at the end of the work day and then off I would go to pick up said child. 10 minutes left of my home visit and out comes a disclosure about another child being abused...WTF!!! So I get all the info I can, then tear off out the door, hoping to catch a supervisor still at work, phone half the building and find no one at their desks...of course, its 4:30pm and they're out of there like a herd of elephants...sheesh. I drive just down the street to my own house (see, clients are too close for comfort) so I can use a land phone, make another dozen calls, leave a phone message for my supervisor and take off to get said child. I am tearing off towards her and see traffic ahead (I live in SMALL TOWN) so I know the only reason for traffic is the causeway is open. DRAT! So I end up finally getting a hold of my supervisor, giving out the referral on speakerphone while waiting for the causeway to open up...it finally does, I am still on speakerphone, driving across the causeway, then make the turnoff to where said child is when I hear this enormous horn blow - I look in my rearview to see who the hell I have pissed off now, thinking I cut off a trucker or something and then swing my head back to the front of me just in time to notice the train coming down the tracks and the railway crossing lights FLASHING...I slam on the breaks, pull up the emergency break, all while still chatting on the speakerphone with supervisor and after hours duty worker...the train passes, I keep on going, trying to remember where the heck I am picking up this kid at as I have never been there before, still on the cell phone in the crook of my neck, imparting valuable information...I tear up someones driveway, not knowing where I am going, back up with cell still under my neck, hoping I don't land in the ditch (as anyone knows me, I don't do well backing down driveways...) and then decide ENOUGH!!! I AM PARKING TO FINISH THE DARN CALL! Just as I do, said child comes waltzing down the driveway - it was the right one after all...she says to me "didn't you see me waving my hands to you???" Sure...just get in the car before someone dies tonight.

So, we made it home, supper was a mixed bag...lovely roasted chicken that I had managed to stuff at lunchtime and entrusted to the younguns to cook. Brad burnt the potatoes and did not realize it would affect the taste when he mashed it all together...hmmm...I had also not realized there were only two measly carrots....so we had chicken and stuffing with a few scraps of carrot.

And now it is raining and I didn't get any outdoor pictures of said child in her dress because I spent too much time hemming it tonight.

And the fun has just begun...

moving day is approaching and it can't come soon enough! I have my living room filled with boxes and almost all of the entertainment packed up with the exception of this computer and my little tv in my bedroom. I may have to resort to a book.

Seriously though, I was reading Alistair MacLeod's No Great Mischief and should probably get back to that. Things have all been awry with all the changes this month...it will be great to get back into some sort of routine. I haven't been on my treadmill in a number of days, but not like I am not running marathons anyhow with everything that has to be done. It seems like I pack every day, for hours, and there is still so much to pack...endless!

And just when I thought I had a night to spend with the younguns, and had planned a nice chicken dinner...they were (and me) invited out to his parents for a lobster feast. Now I don't eat lobster, but was assured there was plenty else...it's the thought that counts. We are giving Brad his graduation present tonight too, an accoustic guitar that he has mentioned wanting no less than 100 times since I have known him and he darn near bought one a number of times, but we had been planning this forever. His face will light up the room tonight, I'm sure. He surely deserves it too, as he has worked so hard at everything and we are all so proud of him. Music means so much to him too, and he loves the accoustic sound of this particular one.

so my chicken dinner has been rescheduled to tomorrow night, and hope that everyone here can put a hand in towards cooking it as we are all fairly busy - me with work, Amber with grand march and then getting THE HAIR done, and I am not sure what Brad is up to tomorrow. It must be cooked tomorrow though as we are out of nights to cook for them.

they managed to work something out for moving their stuff. A relative of Brad's is going to let us use his truck to tow a trailer to Halifax with all their stuff in it. Who'd a thunk it was so hard to arrange a move, but I guess everyone moves out of Cape Breton, and few move in.

Brad is in the middle of a job interview right now, at A & W (not to work at A & W though) with some fellows from Rod's Machine Shop in Halifax. He was quite excited so I hope he gets the job. The real challenge will be figuring out the bus system in time to get to work! I may stay an extra night to help them sort that out.

Like Brad always says...things are coming up Brad all over...lol

ConBRADulations

Well, the boyfriend of resident teen has graduated tonight from college. He successfully completed the diploma in Welding, 2 year program. YAY BRAD! And today he received a call about a job. Remember the trip to Halifax last week? Well one of the resumes he dropped off paid off and they are down in Cape Breton for the weekend at Margaree, and will drive to Port Hastings (next door) for the interview at none other than A & W, where the resident teen will be working that day...talk about pressure!!! We wish him well, and hope he gets the job...he'll hear later this week.

So now the kid needs to get a job, but it looks good for her...her boss is going to make a call to the owner, who also owns the A & W's in Halifax and help her get a job there. With any luck, they will both be working just days after they move next weekend...now if they can only find a way to get their stuff there!!! There appear to be no rental trucks available, and they can't scrape up a friend to take a truck towing a trailer...not yet anyhow...I told them good luck...its their responsibility to get their stuff up there and I had cautioned them on gathering too much before they moved...now they have a truck load.

the younguns have headed out to a party tonight in L'Ardoise. At least they have a DD tonight, so I can rest easy, and the DD and b/f are coming back into town reasonably early to go to another party. I will content myself watching Ellen tonight, as I usually do!

well, my friend Kathleen has moved all of her stuff out, except for what she takes on the plane and in the car. The movers came today to take her stuff up north, and her dad was over to pick up her stuff for storage at his place...I guess I really am going to move in! The landlord wants to have a couple of days to check things out, fix anything, etc, then I can begin to move stuff in. We had a few drinks and food over at the local tap and grill tonight to say good bye and the gang at work chipped in for a digital camera for her. She is travelling the Dempster Highway and will be working up north for a bit and we want to see what it looks like up there! So I set her up with a blog and an msn community in which to share her photos.

seems tonight is not so newsworthy...

The Hubcap

Ray: Above all instruments, why did you choose a hubcap?

Kevin: Raymond, I am a hubcap player because my father before me was a hubcap
player Raymond, and his father before him was a hubcap player Raymond,
and in order to play a hubcap back in the 1930s, you had to be willing to grab on to the old spoke wheel, tire and all. So, give her, come on.
- Buddy Wasisname and the Other Fellers

And then there was the ordeal with the hubcap. Last Tuesday, as earlier reported, I had a flat tire in Halifax, just around the corner almost from the Toyota dealership. It was drizzling rain and so Brad was elected to change the tire and touch the "dirty stuff" - you know, the "guy stuff". Not that I can't change a tire, because I can and I have done it more times that Brad, who has no driver's license yet...however, I wanted to give him a "manly task" in light of the dress shopping we were about to do. So he changed the tire effectively enough, but left out one small detail - the hubcap. I recalled seeing it on the grass next to the parking lot where we changed the tire, and I recall thinking it was going to be left behind. I further recall mentioning such a thing and being assured it wouldn't. I can almost recall the hubcap being placed in the trunk on top of the tire. Almost

Great. We went to Toyota, got the new tire, and away we went. As we are leaving Halifax the next day and are already out of the city, I notice - no hubcap. Great. Did Toyota forget to put it back on? So I called them and got one of my HUGEST PET PEEVES - automated voice system. I got to a point where I thought I could leave a message, but was left wondering was I talking to a dead phone, or was something being recorded. I had politely asked that if they had my hubcap, could they call me back and let me know either way. If they had it, I wanted them to send it on to my local Toyota Dealership.

Well, no one called. A week went by so I called them again and found out that they had actually written on the work order that no hubcap was found to put on once the tire was replaced. I looked at my copy of the work order - no mention. Oh, sorry about that Ms Billard, it should have been noted on your work order. No shit. If it had, I would have realized right away that I didn't have a hubcap and could have gone around the corner to the Canadian Tire gas bar and gotten it where it likely sat on the grass. Now here we are a week later, who knows where it could be??? Thanks bud.

So I called the Canadian Tire gas bar - luckily there are a limited number and I got the right one on the first call. Yes we have a hubcap from a Toyota. CAN YOU HOLD IT FOR ME??? Sure, we will put it in the office. BTW, where did you find it - on the grass next to the curb. Oh, ok. Thanks. I will pick it up in two weeks.

So I talk to B-Rad and he swears he put the hubcap in my trunk when he changed the tire. Um, apparently not there B-Rad. But all is ok because I can get it back next week. Saved me from buying a $50 part for the car. I just have to have a naked rear right tire for a little while longer. heh heh.

Ok, I have had about enough sun. HAHAHAHA just kidding. It has been really nice weather here lately, and not too hot, just hovering in the high teens and 20s which is JUST where I like it to be. I sure hope moving day is about the same. There is talk that we won't be getting a very nice summer and not much heat. WEll, sunny days I would like, but the usual humid high heat spells, good riddance!

I would like to hear from my faithful readers - you know who you are. Hows about a comment or two once in a while? Just click on the comments below each entry, click post a comment and then type something in the box so I know who's there. I know of at least 4 of you that read this nearly every day :-) come on, admit it!

the worst is yet to come

Well, went to the Annual General Meeting tonight for my agency. Was chatting with someone from our board of directors who works part-time with the resident teen. He started talking about how I would miss her when she moves away...gawd, I nearly bawled on him. The worst is yet to come. When I have to drive out of her parking lot on the 27th, I know it will be just plain hard. How do you separate from someone who has been in your life for 18 years? And for the past 7 years, it has basically just been the two of us, with the exception of a few months here and there when her father lived with us (not counting the collection of room mates I had in university).

I know my every happiness isn't defined by her, but she sure brightens my day! Lookout Cibele, I will be looking to mother you, heh heh. FYI, Cibele is the new rommie that moves in next week with me. I took her out to see the house last night for the first time and she loved it. I can't wait to be living there and all unpacked. For anyone that knows me, I prefer my things ordered and in their place...I am not a neat freak by any stretch...the dustbunnies can attest to this, but I am bothered by clutter, so having my stuff all crammed into boxes here and there this week really bothers me! So by next Wednesday when I finally get to haul some of it out of here, I will surely be batty!!!

We chatted with the new neighbors last night too, and the landlord. They are such nice people, we are so lucky. And the landlord, Stephen is such a character, I just know we will hit it off. He was cutting the grass last night so stirred up all the black flies...they were NUMEROUS!!! I have a few bites already this year. Lookout West Nile Virus!

anyhow, back to the kid and the worst is yet to come - I imagine her graduation will be a tearful event...the school will likely be looking for a muzzle for me, as I am bad enough at weddings, let alone my only child's graduation. I will have to work hard to keep it in check for sure. Don't want to embarrass her too much, heh heh.

so now I am off to pack some more crap...it is neverending...

tomorrow is hump day

ah yes, Wednesday, aka hump day. And what a hump it will be. My life is so busy these days, filled to the brim with "stuff". If anyone is interested in what my calendar holds for the remainder of the month (as interested as you are in any of the other drivel I blather on endlessly about)much of it social obligations or desires

Wednesday, June 16th - drive to Sydney for work, getting home around 6:00pm or so and pack
Thursday, June 17th - work all day, go out with friends to say goodbye to co-worker after work
Friday June 18th - supposed to be my relief day off for being on duty all week - oh no..court that was supposed to be on Thursday is now on Friday and I have two cases so must be there. Attend court, then take kid to new foster home...then attend graduation ceremony for resident teen's boyfriend that night
Saturday June 19th - pack and clean
Sunday June 20th- pack and clean
Monday June 21st - work all day, then attend Amber's Grand March and see her off to the prom. After prom (midnight) take both to prom party. 5am, pick up from prom party
Tuesday June 22nd - work all day, attend grad dinner, then begin moving items to house in country
Wednesday, June 23rd - spend day moving into house in country with car, then evening with friends who have trucks moving furniture
Thursday June 24th - unpack and arrange all day, cook for party tomorrow, then attend graduation ceremony that night for resident teen (don't forget to make sandwiches for ceremony), take new graduate and boyfriend to grad party, then pick up at 5am
Friday June 25th - attend court AGAIN, finish cooking for graduation party at 4pm, then host party until who knows when
Saturday June 26th - move resident teen and boyfriend to Halifax, packing truck and then unloading truck in Halifax that day.
Sunday June 27th - return from Halifax, clean old house
Monday June 28th - finish cleaning house, return keys to now former landlord and finish settling into new home.

I will be a little tired.

Got me a nice sunburn today. I was sitting out back with a friend and the kid's boyfriend and we all got some sun. Except is is only on my legs, the left side of each...guess I should have faced the sun more, lol.

The packing is coming right along. I have most all non-essentials packed in all rooms. The walls are bare, the windows are bare and their curtains have been washed and packed. My desk is just about empty, and the only place left that has not been packed up is the kitchen. I've gathered one box of Tupperware and taken the blue glass off the window, but I have been avoiding it basically. Too many breakables. And I am almost out of paper, and don't want to use newspaper. I gave my friend Kathleen a huge bag of it that I really needed myself...darn.

What bugs me most is the clutter and mess that comes with packing. ARRRRGGGGGHHHHH! I can't wait to be all set up again in another place and packing far behind. Why did I decide to move again??? Oh yeah, I remember, the noise, the clients, the smell, the noise (did I say that already). So lets go already. I don't move for 10 days, but I am darn near ready now.

I tried to watch an old movie tonight, Trainspotting - ps-ycho, (psss cyco - its the new thing with the kid). All I know is that it was too hard to understand all those scots! Strong accent and I was not up for translating, lol. I just want to watch a nice happy story. I tried to watch one that they had rented last night (movies aren't due back until 10pm here) Club Dread...well holy cow...GROSS, so that wasn't a happy story either. Then I fell asleep watching Return to Me which is a happy ending story, but some sad stuff throughout. I gave up and am now on my way to bed...got a full week ahead of me...sigh.

sunny days, driftin away

ok, I wish, but the time is slipping by fast and I haven't finished packing yet! I move in just 10 days or so, and I have SO MUCH TO DO! And then we move the kid after that. Yikes! I did manage to pack up most of the living room the other day, but nothing since. Today my goal is to pack up at least two rooms, and get all the bedding washed out. My house is a mess, and I can't STAND it!

It is cold out again today, but sunny at least, so makes for a pleasant enough day.

Amber is working all day today and tomorrow. The boyfriend has gone with friends for the weekend, kind of a last hurrah before moving away in two weeks. So I am basically alone for most of the weekend...have to be productive, although I am hoping to visit friends out in the country later today or tomorrow.

must get going now...

Here kitty, kitty, kitty

ok, so I'm packing to move and the cat is insane. She is jumping in and out of boxes, and around furniture, on top of bags, threading herself through plastic bags, and so on...then she gets behind a box and gets trapped. I guess she squeezed in behind it, and realized the only way out was to back up...which she had some difficulty doing, so instead I hear scrabbling and scratching and I was wondering WHAT IN THE HELL IS SHE DOING??? so I finally found her, trapped behind the box and rescue her. She looks at me totally non-plussed as if to say "I was fine, I was just checking out this here box". She is too funny. Now she is curled up licking herself on a huge Walmart bag. I fail to understand the attraction of sleeping on a rattling plastic bag, but she does it all the time. Put a bag in a room anywhere, and she is ON it.

She is such a great cat...don't know what I would do without her. I hope she likes the new place, and whoops any mice that happen to inhabit the house.

Well, I deleted my last post. I just couldn't even stand to look at it myself. I have used this blog to natter on endlessly and felt I was spoiling the normally lighthearted mood I tried to keep here, even when complaining about the kid. So I deleted it. I don't want to be reminded every time I log on of the whole situation, and I don't want to remind others either. So here we are, back to the lighter stuff...check out my next post!

My dear sweet child

It is hot here. It is even hotter in my house because the dear sweet child was cold in the house, so opened all the curtains and windows and turned my once cool house into an OVEN. It is 29C with a humidex of 32C, which is not the worst its been, but coming from about 5C yesterday, it is hot enough. She had been outside, sunning herself, and got too hot so came inside and found it too cold, so opened the windows AND the screenless window in the side door. We now have several LARGE wasps in the house. Thankfully I have been able to trap most of them in the windows when I shut them all again.

You would think she had learned how to keep the house cool in humid weather...after all, we did spend FIVE years in hot, humid and polluted southwestern Ontario, but NOOOOOO, she forgot the whole thing. So I chewed her out for it, and she said she was sorry...doesn't help me though. Our air conditioning is not yet reinstalled at work, so I sweated the day away in the sauna that is my office, only to come home to absolutely no relief. ARRRRRRRGGGGGGGHHHHH.

Ok, I feel vented now...

and did I mention the accident that I inadvertently caused? While we were working on Friday, we were waiting to meet up with police in order to serve the parents, and I pulled into a driveway between two businesses, kind of like an alley. I wanted to pull out again and face the other way as I couldn't see the police when they came. So I began to back up, and the truck that had parked across the end of my car noticed, so he began to back up, BUT what he didn't do, is look in his rearview mirror...there was a little car right behind him, kind of the size of a Ford Escort...he crunched right into the drivers side front panel and tore paint and metal...I was waving to him and yelling for him to stop, but when he finally did, it was too late. He had one of those big dimpled steel bumpers too, so he didn't get a scratch. It was almost funny, although not for the escort...heh heh.

Glad it wasn't my car!

The Halifax Trip

Well, it has been an eventful two days...we left early yesterday morning for Halifax, and spent the morning having Brad drop off resumes in over a dozen Welding shops in Burnside and area. He got some good vibes from several of them, so hope that he gets a bite. Then we went in search of apartments...there wasn't much to pick from in the price range they can afford...the first place we looked at was a DUMP and STUNK. It was so tiny, there wasn't room to turn around. BUT the second place they looked at was so awesome, they jumped on it right away. It was $600/month with heat and hot water included. The apartment is clean, new looking with beautiful kitchen cupboards, roomy and bright, with a lovely view overlooking the harbour and bridge I think. We were shown the one down below it, but she clamied it was even nicer. A very secure building, nice laundry room right there, and an underground parking garage. So, they filled out an application and found out some hours later that they were accepted for a one year lease. AND, it is just down the street from where her father lives, so he can walk over any time. Which is awesome, then he doesn't have to bring HER, who Amber does not like, let alone me.

Following checking out the apartment, we were heading over to look and see where her father lives, and happened to skim a curb with the car and popped a tire. Thankfully it happened just up the street from the Toyota dealership!!! So Brad and I whacked on the donut tire and headed back to the dealership where they replaced the tire (all covered under my Extended Car Plan) and we were on our way. We headed down to Halifax Shopping Centre where Amber found the perfect prom dress at Sears at a very reasonable price, and then we picked up a tie for Brad, and shoes for the kid. They also bought some household items too.

So then we headed back to my neice's house for the rest of the evening, and visited. My other neice showed up and it was great to see everyone.

This morning we have to go to the bank, sign the lease, check out the shipyards (more resumes from Brad) and then we get to go home...I get to relax, they get to pack. Their apartment is free to move into on the 15th of this month, which is just next week! It panicked them a little, but they will be ok. We will be moving them on the 19th, as we have to wait for the weekend for me to be able to drive the truck up there. Amber can't move up until the following weekend as she has her Grad stuff all that week. And sometime in there I have to move out of my place!!! I just don't see any restful days coming soon...And I haven't even begun to pack!!!

no wonder I am tired...

I thought weekends were for relaxing...

Apparently not for me...sheesh...well, I did manage to squeeze some in at the staff bbq and overnight on Friday night...although I was late for that because I was too busy at work, and had to take two children into care, which creates a WHOLE LOTTA more work. Main thing is, the kids are now safe, and that is why I am there in my job.

So the BBQ and staff party...well, we had delicious steaks, lobster and chicken with tons of salads, and there definitely was alcohol flow...the entertainment of the night was a Scavenger Hunt that myself and another worker ran...BOY OH BOY do they get competitive when they think they can win something. It was cutthroat I tell you. And following the hunt, we went into Karaoke...WELL NOW, I never knew we had so much talent at the agency. Britney Spears and Christina Skankulara showed up (W.) and was trying to sex up the show, says she. Well, it must have worked on the Testosterone part of the judging because they won fo best act. Our group won for Funniest, and that we were. We had on big eye glasses, and sang Summer Nights from the Grease Soundtrack, then Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer...and when Britney tried to sex up our act and interfere, we pretended to kick the crap out of her (S. and I). It was hilarious.

So Saturday...drive back from overnight, shop for birthday party, then finish A.'s recipe book - had do hand-stamp the design on after good friend R. printed it off for me. The plain print looked a little blah, so used my scrapbooking stamps to finish it up. That took me only THREE HOURS!!! Then I had to write notes from the day before as I had to meet with our agency lawyer for an affidavit the next day....THREE HOURS MORE. I was exhausted but waited up for the kid to come home. She and the boyfriend had taken my car to Antigonish for the evening to visit with some friends. When they got back, we celebrated A.'s birthday, since it was just past midnight on the 6th of June. She loved her gifts, and try as we might to make her cry with our sappy cards and poems, we didn't crack her. She's tough...Brad even wrote her a song, and called it A.'s Song. It is quite nice. So after the gifts, we stayed up until 2:30am watching the Trailer Park Boys. Brad and I got hungry so we cooked up some spaghetti and no sooner had we sat down to eat it when the power went out!!! So there we sat in total darkness, with our spaghetti...I fumbled around for some matches, and we finished by candlelight. Mine got cold, however, so I did try to warm it up in the microwave...

Up again at 6:00am, got work to do...make potato salad, macaroni salad, make cookies...ooops, missing ingredient for cookies...phew, don't have to make those now. Head over to the office to put my notes into the sytem..can't because the server is down, probably from the power being off...head to lawyers office and print off there. Then got the gang up later to help clean up the house for company that was coming for lunch. Then chop up all the stuff for shishkabobs, realize I don't have room for them all on BBQ, look for charcoal for hibachi...send kid out, she comes back without starter fluid...I go out, 6 stores later, find some.

The BBQ was Awesome, we had 7 of us sitting in party hats and chowing down. We all hung out for a bit then it was time for the kid to head to work, and I had to get to the lawyer's office to do up my affidavit. THREE HOURS LATER I get to come home...and phew...too tired so go straight to bed.

Where does the relaxing part come in???

My famous neighbors

Did I mention that someone almost famous came to my yard sale? Turns out Ashley MacIsaac's mother was at my yard sale...they live two doors down. I am thrilled (HAHAHAHA).

For those of you who DON'T know who Ashley is, he is a very talented fiddler from Cape Breton with a very talented way for getting his bad boy mouth into trouble. He is also known for flashing the crowd when he wears his kilt when he plays.

If you want to know more about this local boy who made it big and pissed a lot of people off with his antics...check here - Ashley MacIsaac You can even hear samples of his music here.

Just think, they have lived there for months and I never knew.

And incidentally, I actaully saw Ashley perform on stage in Waterloo some years back. He played in Hagey Hall on the University of Waterloo campus - no admission charge. He was awesome and quite subdued, in spite of his knack for grandstanding and pranks.

Releasing my anger

Well, I was faced with a situation tonight that led to immediate anger. It wasn't even all that life alteraing, but I got angry nonetheless...welcome to a Sophia moment...

Picture it, Guatemala, 2004...it was towards the end of the trip I had dragged myself and daughter through sweaty central america and I hadn't bought hardly a single souvenir for myself. Finally, there they are, the perfect gift for me - a set of 6 lovely vivid blue and multicolor (as things in Guatemala always are) placemats and napkins. I HAD to have them. Sure, I had seen tons of sets before, but these, oh these were just the right shade and coloring. So I haggled, as they do very well in central america, and bought them. I don't even recall the price, really - likely about 25 or 30 quetzales, which is just about $4US or so. Not a lot of money, but I was very happy with them. I had bought a purse in Flores, and now we were in Antigua, I bought the placemats. I later bought a large cloth, and a book cover and that was it. Lovely daughter had bought dozens of things for herself. Good for her. We were worried about weight on the small prop plane we returned to Flores on, so I packed all my souvenirs in my old purse (its a big purse) and lugged them onto the plane. I had bought a number of things for friends and family. They all made it back to Canada safely, so it should have been a happy ending...

think again. I had thought about not using the placemats, but then, I hate the thought of buying anything and putting it "away" for later. So I put them out. The very first meal we have on them, my lovely daughter spills a large quantity of gravy on hers. So, deep breath...I take it and rinse it in the kitchen sink and hang it on the back of the chair to dry. She hears me rant briefly about it, and UNDERSTANDS that the placemats are important to me. AT LEAST THATS WHAT I THOUGHT.

Today, this darling child feasts on lobster on our dining room table. I am not home, but at work. It's her birthday in a few days and dad sent her money which she bought herself a feast of lobster with since he isn't close by to take her out. Wonderful. what a lovely idea. Too bad she forgot to take the placemats off the table. They get downright filthy, apparently, as you can imagine what two young people are like with four lobsters in front of them...why not do what she had done her whole life of growing up with lobsters and spread newspapers over the table??? Or better yet, eat them outside on the patio table and then hose it off. But no, that was too much trouble. Instead, they spill water and lobster crap all over them and then thinks that the best solution is to take these placemats and fires them off into the laundry with a bunch of clothes before I get home from work....

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I still am unaware. This darling child goes off to work in my car, I come home and notice the placemats are not on the table, but figure she just moved them off while they ate the lobsters on newspaper. After all, the table is cleared of everything, so it was a logical assumption. And as said previously, she has feasted on lobster every year of her life since she could chew it up, and it was ALWAYS ON NEWSPAPERS. I don't say anything to Brad, and hang out for a while before my friend comes over and we go out for shopping and a draft at Millers. Forward to me coming home and up the stairs to find Brad sitting on the edge of her bed, untangling something from darling child's clothing. I figure it is just the waistband of some underwear or a bra that has unravelled, like usual and wrapped itself into a knot on some piece of clothing.

I wish. Turned out to be the unravelling of my dear placemats. She had washed AND dried them in the dryer. There are threads everywhere as they unravelled from the abuse. They are faded and the blue color has run into the lighter colors, and they are shrunken to the size of napkins, or smaller. Brad looks helplessly at me, and asks me if I am going to lose it...I smile ever so sweetly and answer, OH YES, I AM. I call the darling child and chew her a new body cavity, and then get back to the placemats. He has managed to unleash the pair of pyjama pants they had tangled their unravelled selves up in and hands me the BALL of thread. I had to cut them apart and trim all the ends. It is a darn shame.

I have to wonder what possessed her to put them in the dryer, as she has seen me put our woven placemats (from Walmart or the Dollar store) hang on the drying rack in the basement for YEARS!!! And to add to it, when I cleaned the gravy off, she asked me how I did it and I told her I rinsed it in the sink because I didn't want to put them in the washer. Apparently I was tuned OUT that day.

Now I know that they are just material things, pieces of cloth, but for gawd's sake, I sweat my butt off on that trip and brought back very few souvenirs and now she has ruined one of them already. We haven't even been back a month yet.

But then I have to acknowledge a comment made by this darling child which puts it in another light..."I guess I just got you back for breaking my shotglass from the colliseum in Rome last year". Well, perhaps...but you ruined a set of 6 placemats, where I only broke 1 shotglass, and that was because you had it put next to the computer on an unsteady keyboard tray...comparable? good question.

I am left with one thought then, tonight...when is moving day again?

now, that's done. called all the utility companies and made necessary arrangements. The only possible glitch is that Aliant is on strike (the phone company) so we might be late getting my number moved out to the house...however, Cibele is taking over Kathleen's phone number and they don't have to come out for that, so should be able to do it in a day or two once she moves out. So we will have her line to begin with.

I have to say goodbye to high speed internet...whatever will I do??? There is only dial-up, so I won't be online as much. I am ordering the unlimited though, so I don't have to count hours. And we will have two phone lines, so if folks can't get us on one, they can try the other. AND there is internet call manager with Aliant that has a popup window that tells you someone is calling you if you happen to be on the net. It will just be the SLOWNESS we have to contend with. Perhaps I will rediscover other pursuits then! I have tons of unfinished projects that I could be working on instead of plunking here each night....be prepared to hear about them, heh heh.

half-way sunny day most of the day...I am getting worried about my tan fading though. Perhaps the sunny day on the weekend we are promised will be warm enough to tan. We have a staff BBQ and overnight event this Friday...I wonder if a raised blood alcohol content will affect tanning ability? Anyone know? ;-)

List of favorite male actors

In no particular order other than how they pop into my large purple head...

Matthew McConaughey - he is just a very beautiful man with an awesome Texas accent
Heath Ledger - mostly when he is in A Knight's Tale...not so much in Four Feathers
Mel Gibson - getting a little old, but what a butt
Robert Redford - just a handsome man, even if those crags are taking over his face
Hugh Grant - not completely handsome, but full of charm and wit - he makes me laugh
Matt Damon - that hometown look
Colin Farrell - its the Irish accent for sure
Harrison Ford - just remember his Han Solo and Indiana Jones days
Brad Pitt - not in the scruffy days, but in The Mexican or Ocean's Eleven - he was just darn cute

I don't have a long list and fancy pics like the Hoser, but there you go. Just click on the name to get a picture of them.

bright and early in the morning, it is..what in the heck am I doing up? Well, I misread the clock for one...thought it was 10 to 7, not 10 to 6. But I am up now, so will take advantage of the quiet morning. I have some reading to finish for NSASW anyhow (oops!), and I want to spend some time on the treadmill again this morning. Its hard work keeping it from becoming a clothes rack, you know.

Thought I might take a cue from the Hoser's blog and do a few lists of my own...

check back occasionally for one when I feel like it.

Moving Days

Well, the verdict is in - I passed the "interview" and have been invited to rent Kathleen's rental house in the country. I am hoping to move in around the 23rd if possible...now comes all the other work....packing of some sort, and phone calls to the utilities to change things over for phone, power, oil, cable, internet, etc.

I have begun a list of things that need to be done...and who is going to help me...remember all those offers of help folks? Don't even think of hiding...I know where you live...heh heh...just kidding...it should run smoothly on the moving days. I am usually organized enough that it just does.

And then at the end of the month, we have move number 2. Amber and Brad will be moving to Halifax for July 1st they hope...we are heading up next Monday to look for an apartment, prom dress and for them both to apply for work in person. I hope they are successful on all issues!

Now for a hello to my faithful readers...Tobey and Tammy...gawd, don't you guys do anything else? just kidding...at least someone is reading it! I like just having it as a record of my meager existence...proof that I have done something other than just sit and knit while watching movies...which actually sounds pretty good right now, only I have reading to do for my NSASW Supervision tomorrow morning (Nova Scotia Association of Social Workers). So off I go...

well HOLY COW

I forgot to mention yesterday that the sun actually came out...it continued to spit rain and we were cheated out of a rainbow, but the sun was out. and it is out again today! I have dressed in corresponding attire, so much so that people will have to put sunglasses on to see me...you see, lime green is back IN! I have on a lime green sleeveless top, and a lime green and dark green floral long skirt. Then you have the purple/red hair to go with that...and it shows off my tan just lovely...

I bought a new bag last night...not a purse, but a tote. I had been using a black soft nylon briefcase for work, but hated the way it looked...so official...yuck, and institutional. So I bought a nice blue and tan tote for about $13 and will use that instead. I thought of a neon beach tote, but rethought that one...after all, I don't want to look ridiculous...HAHAHA...I can hear your snickers from here...