101 Things About Me

borrowing this idea from another blog I stumbled across... http://madkata.blogspot.com/

Here are 101 things about me...and like the gal above says, not things I like or hate about me, just THINGS.

1. my hair is purple...'pimpin purple to be exact. I have also had it virgin rose, blue mayhem, and candy apply red as well as regular colors like black, brown and auburn.
2. I have one kitty, Via - a calico cat, who is 7 years old
3. I have one daughter, Amber, who is 18 years old
4. I have one ex-husband, who is going to be 50 on his birthday (hey old man)
5. I am auntie, many times over. On my side, I have three nephews and one niece. On my ex's side, I had 23 neices and nephews, and about 17 grand neices and nephews
6. I took piano lessons when I was in grade 3 and hated my teacher
7. I was on the badminton team in high school. Even got a school letter. We never won a game.
8. I once dated a sailor in the US Navy, from New York. His name was Raoul, and I still have the sailor hat he gave me.
9. I went out on a date with a police detective, who was much older than me. He was the older brother of the bartender I was good friends with in Labrador. Nice man, never heard from him again. He was just to take me out for dinner, since I was brand new to the place (Mississauga)
10. My first kiss was with a boy named Jim in grade 4. He was in grade 6. I can hardly remember it. My second kiss was with Hughie O'Brien, my first true crush, in grade 7. We "went together" for about 2.5 months, then some stupid girl named Zena broke us up by telling lies about us. I hated her.
11. My last kiss was from a guy I met online last fall and went on one wonderful date with. He never called again either.
12. I used to play the guitar when I was a teenager, and my friend Eugene was teaching me. I think he has passed on now, but I'll never forget those fun lessons...I sucked, but when I played with him during a party, no one noticed.
13. I used a gun before, a .303 rifle. My first shot missed the target by miles, and the second one parted the ground. so much for that. I also used a .22, several times down at our cabin to scare off the squirrels
14. I once met Mr. Dressup, with Casey and Finnegan, while working at a daycare in Labrador
15. I also met Josh Morrow, who plays Nick Newman on The Young and the Restless and had my picture taken with him (his arm around me).
16. My daughter dated a boy once who went to school with Avril Lavigne
17. My former next door neighbor was Ashley MacIsaac's mother
18. I have only been to two rock concerts - Trooper and April Wine, both when they were OLD.
19. I hate country music.
20. I used to work as a security guard, often using guard dogs to protect me and the site. We used german shepards and doberman pincers.
21. my first job was as a pinsetter in a bowling alley. I think I made about $2 a day, which I usually spent some of at the snack bar that day
22. I used to be a good bowler, and won two trophies as a youth
23. I love to snowmobile (and call it skidooing) and once owned my own skidoo, but sold it to my father when I moved away from skidoo country a few years ago
24. I hate shopping for bras more than anything else I shop for.
25. I own three sewing machines and can actually sew pretty good. Not perfect though. I have sewn many dresses, including some for myself, my daughter, for graduations and many bridesmaids dresses, and two wedding gowns. My favorite machine is an old one belonging to my grandmother, which I learned to sew on when I was a kid. Its one of those old black iron ones, I just love it.
26. I can also crochet (not very well), knit, do needlepoint, cross-stitch, embroidery, and I can even rug hook (and not just those mary maxim kind, the real kind with a frame and burlap)
27. I have travelled to Ireland, England, Belgium, Italy, France, Guatemala, Belize, and the USA.
28. I never lived in a place that had a dishwasher since I left home, and now I do, it doesn't work.
29. I hate curry. I hate the smell of curry.
30. I can speak marginal Spanish and French
31. I was baptised in the Anglican Church
32. I don't go to church, except when something is happening to other people...wedding, christening, funeral
33. I meditate occasionally and have for many years since I first attended a Buddhist group meditation in Waterloo
34. I miss my daughter, who lives 3 hours away
35. I once worked a gas station attendant for Sunoco in Mississauga and HATED it
36. I applied for the miltary, twice. And passed all tests except the eye exam, both times.
37. I have myopia with an astigmatism and wear both glasses and contacts (not at the same time)
38. I have only had my tarot cards read once (properly)
39. I used to weigh just 135lbs, and thought I was overweight and had big thighs.
40. I've broken my arm, twice. The first time I didn't know I did, and it went untreated. I found out about the old fracture when I was x-rayed for the second break in the same arm. I think it was from when my brother hit me in the arm with a crib board. I remember not being able to write for over a week
41. I've had stitches over my eye, twice, and once in my hand.
42. I used to smoke, but quit in 1987
43. I used to sell Tupperware
44. my favorite actor is Matthew McConaughey
45. my favotire actress is Julia Roberts
46. my favorite movie character of all time is Augustus McRae in Lonesome Dove, played by Robert Duvall
47. I like to read Torey Hayden, Amy Tan, Stephen King, and many of the books from Oprah's book club (not because she picks them, but because they happen to be pretty good books)
48. I hate sports. I especially hate listening to them in the background, such as hockey, baseball, curling and golf.
49. my first star crush was Scott Baio, from Happy Days, Chachi. My best friend, Gisele, was in love with Leif Garrett and we bought every teen magazine on the stand
50. my first favorite band was the Bay City Rollers, and then Meatloaf
51. my father was in the military for 22.5 years as a radar technician. my brother is in the military for the past 18+ years as something else. ( I can never remember)
52. I attended 10 schools over the course of 13 years of education. I lived in 21 different houses or apartments in my 37 years
53. I am allergic to dust, grasses, and pollen; I have a sensitivity to perfumes and other smelly things, especially vanilla, which is kind of like a sledgehammer in the head
54. I have had a computer and the internet for over 10 years.

to be continued another night...

Driven to Extraction

yes, I've been driven to extraction...of my wisdom tooth that is. Here all these years I though I had escaped that particular form of torture, having wisdom teeth, especially at my advanced age (37) I often felt left out as I sat through tales of others being put under the knife for the exquisite pain of having their wisdom teeth surgically removed. Left out, but LUCKY. Then this past couple of years, I've felt a little something at the back of my top left jaw, just some nubs, but they never grew into anything, so I thought I was safe. Until this summer. In August I began to get a little achy, then a lot achy, so much so that I went to the dentist, convinced I must have a cavity in my back molar. But when I went to see him, lo and behold he informed me I had a wisdom tooth coming in, not decay. And if it bothered me too much, to come back and he'd take it out.

So it bothered me. Once on vacation for about 5 days straight. And then last week it kicked in again, another 5 days. So I made an appointment with the dentist, hoping for a simple extraction, but after all those tales from others...well, I had fears that he would turn me away and book me into the nearest OR for surgical removal. Shiver me timbers...so I booked an appointment for the dentist in early afternoon, fully expecting to be laying in a cold sweat, writhing in pain after the extraction and poof...it was over before I knew what hit me. The freezing took longer and was more painful as he jabbed that friggin needle into my gums again and again. I had an x-ray that showed it was just a simple tooth, with only one solitary root. He gripped my jaw a couple of times and out it wedged. I asked to take it home because it looks so different than I expected.

So now I have hours of freezing to wear off, and I'm terrified to talk to anyone, for fear of chomping through my tongue or cheek...so I must blog instead...I can't believe it was over before it begun. Whoo hoo Dr. Corkum!

And the beauty is, since I can't talk, I took all afternoon off and am lounging at home instead of listening to the endless whining at work...(clients, workers, etc...lol...just kidding!)

a Few blogs of note...

this one is a new favorite that I stumbled across...she is cynical and I love her sense of humour...

http://failedlady.blogspot.com/

this one is is my neice, Andrea and her ramblings, although she isn't posting much...hint hint, Andrea...

http://newfiegurl.blogspot.com/

and this one is my friend, Shane's blog - usually rambling about work or his unsatisfying home life...

http://hairyhoser.blogspot.com/

happy reading!

I wish you enough...

I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright.

I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun more.

I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive.

I wish you enough pain so that the smallest joys in life appear much bigger.

I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.

I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.

I wish you enough hellos to get you through the final good-bye.

Weekend is over...now WHAT?

So, I've had a fairly productive weekend, more than usual. I was off on Friday, so managed to claw my way through the 6 loads of laundry waiting for me in my room. I hadn't done any since coming back from vacation and I just hate doing it...well, not really, I just hate getting started. I love putting away clean clothes, especially if I was able to put some outside on the line. Which I did. Amazingly enough, it wasn't raining on my day off, which is unusual. I didn't put much out, as not everything looks good after hanging on the line, but I put out enough, and it did smell rather nice. awwww...

So that was Friday's chore...on Saturday, it was cleaning up the house, including those dreaded floors. I swear, having no carpet makes for a dirtier house. And I HATE cleaning the floor...actually, I just hate doing chores in general. So I got to work, dragged out all the crap from the kitchen into the living room, swept the floors, then vacuumed up the HUGE dust bunnies (comprised mostly of cat fur, go figure) and mopped up the floors. And boy were they filthy...I guess tracking my shoes all over the floor really does make them dirty...heh heh. And then I had to sweep up again after they dried, to get the last of the dirt and dust. Now they smell clean. Good. Now for the rest of the rooms...sounds like a project for another day. I was pooped after that effort. Then I headed over to my friends house, A. and R. for a lovely visit, getting home late into the night.

Today, I cleaned up the dishes. Stupid dishwasher makes them even filthier, so I had to wash most of them all over again. Last time I use that beast. Then I set about cutting out pieces for my quilt...got that done...why not sew it up...so I did that too. All done. Now I need the fill and the backing and I'll have a lovely quilt. I also wrote the 2004 edition of the Christmas Notes I send out to everyone instead of a Christmas card.

So all in all, a productive weekend. Now to relax for the rest of the night. And I have only had one duty call (shhhhhh) all weekend. What a switch from last weekend where every teenager decided it was time to WHINE and piss everyone off...

It Was Fate, nothing more...

Had a call from the non-resident teenager tonight with good news...she got her purse back! Imagine her relief! She was at work today and when she came home, there was a note on her apartment door that the boyfriend of one of her friends from work found her purse on the bus yesterday, shortly after she had gotten off and because he didn't know her phone number, he left a note on her door. How cool is that? She was so excited, as was I. I know how stressed she was about it all. Great! Hoped that it had taught her a lesson, but then she reported that when she came home last night, she was a little tipsy and must have dropped her bus pass in the lobby downstairs. Got up for school this morning and panicked when she couldn't find it, then stumbled across it in the lobby of her apartment building this morning. Someone is watching over her, I tell ya...

The Non Resident Teen hits a SNAG

Got a phonecall from her last night, poor thing, in tears. She had been riding the bus to school, on her way to write a mid-term in psychology and fell asleep, nearly missing her stop. In the rush to get off the bus, she left her purse on the bus, with everything in it, and didn't realize it until hours later when she finished her exam. So after all the necessary calls to police, Metro Transit, changing her bankcard, etc, she realized that her house keys were in her purse, as well as her driver's license with newly updated address information. So she spent the day stressing out at work that she would come home to an empty apartment.

I just feel so bad for her. Thankfully they didn't get any money from her as it was the day before payday, but often times she carries all of her cash in there, and there would have been nothing to be done. All they got was about 14 cents. And some really good makeup that she just bought, which she seems to be almost as upset over. I know they don't have a lot of money, and she is stressing over replacing it all, including the ID. She even got quite upset knowing someone might have her SIN card. I asked her why she even carried, it...I sure don't. You should have it memorized and once you have a job, leave it at home.

So now she has to replace her driver's license, her health card, social insurance card, her bank card, and lets not forget the every important Optimum Card from Shopper's Drug Mart! She will have to replace the three new lipsticks, new compact, keys to the apartment, which really upset her. She had a keychain on there from New Zealand that a good friend brought back for her. Not to mention all those little things that rattle around in your purse.

What really pissed her off is the way she was treated by her landlord. Samira is such a bitch, and I have met her and dealt with her myself, especially with my name on the lease with the young couple. Amber called her and explained what happened, and Samira informed her in no uncertain terms that she must now pay to have her apartment door locks changed, the front door and side door locks changed and replace all the keys for those doors for all the tenants. Which is bullshit. Security door keys are all over the place in the city. Does she honestly think that when people move out, they hand in all of their extra copies? I think not. I never did. I just threw them out when I realized I had forgotten to turn them in. And the icing on the cake...when Brad called Samira, not realizing that Amber had also called her, she simply told him they would have to pay to have just their apartment door locks changed. What a bitch. We think it is because Brad reamed her out a couple of months ago for calling Amber off for something simple that Brad had done. (climbed over his balcony to get in his apartment when he forgot his keys at work in the wee hours of the morning - doors auto lock behind him at work, so no possibility to even go back to get them). Amber had been at home here in Cape Breton with me, so certainly did not deserve to be told off by the likes of Samira for something she didn't do.

So anyhow, I have offered to help my little angel replace her stuff, and have suggested she also ask her father for some help as well, since he appears to be rolling in money (from gawd knows where).

I remember having my wallet stolen once, years ago when I was just her age. I had been standing in line at the bank machine, which were fairly new 20 years ago. I lived in Mississauga and didn't notice it gone until I went to put my money away. Good thing I had my bank card in my hand, or I would have been super pissed. But I remember the feeling of violation, with someone having my id cards, and looking through my personal things. Gone was my driver's license, SIN card, birth certificate, etc. I never heard from anyone though, and no one ever showed up as me anywhere, thank goodness. But what a pain and expense to replace all of those cards.

Lessons learned from this for her are not to fall asleep on the bus - suggested taking a puzzle book or something on the bus with her to keep her alert; put your purse in your backpack before leaving the house, or better yet, don't even bother to take it. You only need your wallet and throw that in your backpack; you don't need to carry your SIN card with you when you are already employed.

This is when it really hurts to be so far away...I wish I was there yesterday to help her out and give her a big momma hug...

THE POSITIVE SIDE OF LIFE:

Living on Earth is expensive,
but it does include a free trip
around the sun every year.

How long a minute is
depends on what side of the
bathroom door you're on.

Birthdays are good for you;
the more you have,
the longer you live.

Happiness comes through doors you
didn't even know you left open.

Ever notice that the people who are late
are often much jollier
than the people who have to wait for them?

Most of us go to our grave
with our music still inside of us.

You may be only one person in the world,
but you may also be the world to one person.

Some mistakes are too much fun
to only make once.

Don't cry because it's over;
smile because it happened.

We could learn a lot from crayons:
some are sharp, some are pretty,
some are dull, some have weird names,
and all are different colors....but
they all exist very nicely in the same box.

A truly happy person is one who
can enjoy the scenery on a detour.

The resident feline

Well, I may have lost the resident teenager, but the resident feline is sure underfoot...she can't stand to be anywhere else but AROUND me. And we're not just talking hanging out in the same room, but hanging off me like a tumor. She is currently under my right arm/elbow as I type, sitting on the arm of my desk chair. It's not like she's watching what I'm doing or anything, as her butt is facing the computer. She just has some incessant need to be RIGHT THERE. Often when I am at the computer, she parks her ass right in front of the monitor...sometimes she will crouch down so I can actually see, while other times she is not as considerate...which is when I breathe on her...she gets quite irritated by that.

When I sit in the living room, she is either on the table beside me in her Garfield basket, curled up absorbing the heat from the lamp, or she is on my chair, on my lap, on my arm, on my shoulder, or around my neck. She just can't stand not to be front and centre. And now that I have the aquarium, well, she loves to lay across my arm and elbow to gaze at them while I watch television.

When I go to bed, she has to be curled up on my arm/shoulder. I normally sleep on my side, so I have my bottom arm out across the lower part of the pillows and she is tucked right in there, with her head on my pillow beside me. Its cute enough, but here I am, with another bedmate that snores...she usually gets too warm and will eventually move to the lower part of the bed, right between my legs. So you know how you sometimes like to just adjust your legs in bed, side to side to find that cold spot to cool your feet off (women, you know what I mean), well the cat is ALWAYS in the way and has managed to warm that cold spot. Then when I first stir in the morning, she is right back in my face again, wanting to cuddle. The fun comes in when she is tucked in my arm again, head on my pillow, and the alarm goes off and I can't reach it because she is laying on my arm. So UP she jumps and gone like a flash to begin the day.

And how about the bathroom...never a private moment, I tell ya. She has to be in there with me, playing in the sink, each and every time. If I don't let her, she scratches at the door.

I've never known a kitty to be that affectionate and attached to an owner, but boy oh boy, she is securely attached to me. She generally ignores most of my friends, especially K....not sure why. And she REALLY doesn't like M., but she has two cats and a dog, so has surely been branded a traitor.

She loves to play, and for a 7 year old kitty, she is just like a kitten when she gets going. She has these rabbit fur "mice" that I can bury at the bottom of her toy basket and she roots them out each and every time. She just loves them and will attack at any given time, especially when you're not expecting it. I've even found them under my bed, where you just know she's chased them. My room mate has found her mat and a mousie stuffed under her bed where you know she has chased the mouse into her room, onto the mat and then skidded under the bed with it all. Funny as hell.

All in all, she is by far the best kitty I have ever had, and wouldn't trade her for the world. Thanks Via, for all the good snuggles. And if I breathe on you to shoo you from the computer, get over it. You get your fair share of attention!

The Friday Night Rummoli Game

Well, I didn't lose all my money, or any of it I don't think. I managed to hold my own and may have taken someone elses money. I never count it, so I don't really know for sure. We had a good crowd, 6 at the table, and two visitors part way through. There was certainly enough to eat with sausages, perogies, meatballs, chips, nachos, dips, breadbowls, pita, hummus, and a wonderful tiramisu. The wine and beer flowed, and we all seemed to have a good time...the wine even flowed onto my shirt and skirt I was wearing, thanks to K. who tipped over her glass of RED wine! So I had to change my clothes and I'll be darned if she didn't tip it again, but didn't spill near as much. We wrapped up the playing and then just chillaxed in the living room for another hour or so before people headed off home. Some drunken players so they buddied up, while K. sacked out on the futon in the spare room, as she tends to do. I was and still am on call, so one glass of wine was my limit.

So we think we might try to make a regular Friday night per month thing to have the Rummoli. I have to organize another Girl's Day soon too, likely next Sunday I reckon. We missed out in September because I was away, and Halloween is not a good time, so that leaves next weekend.

Here's to gambling, drinking and eating...sinful pleasures!

A wonderful Message by George Carlin:

The paradox of our time in history is that we have
taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider
freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more,
but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have
bigger houses and smaller families, more
conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees
but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment,
more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but
less wellness.We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too
recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get
too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read
too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom.
We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our
values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate
too often.We've learned how to make a living, but not a life.
We've added years to life not life to years. We've
been all the way to the moon and back, but have
trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor.
We conquered outer space but not inner space. We've
done larger things, but not better things.
We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul.
We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We
write more, but learn less. We plan more, but
accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to
wait. We build more computers to hold more
information, to produce more copies than ever, but
we communicate less and less.

These are the times of fast foods and slow
digestion, big men and small character, steep
profits and shallow relationships. These are the
days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier
houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick
trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one
night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do
everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a
time when there is much in the showroom window and
nothing in the stockroom.

Remember, spend some time with your loved ones,
because they are not going to be around forever.
Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to
you in awe, because that little person soon will
grow up and leave your side.
Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you,
because that is the only treasure you can give with
your heart and it doesn't cost a cent.
Remember, to say, "I love you" to your partner and
your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and
an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep
inside of you.
Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for
someday that person will not be there again.
Give time to love, give time to speak, and give time
to share the precious thoughts in your mind.

AND ALWAYS REMEMBER:
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we
take, but by the moments that take our breath away

Martha Stewart - what an inspiration...

for a Halloween costume...yup, I am dressing up as Martha for Halloween...in prison garb. I bought hospital top and pants in white and am going to dye them orange, and then embroider her name and inmate number on the front. I have the blonde wig, and some orange flip flops. My friend K. is going as my groupie and will be wearing some crazy clothes and a t-shirt that says "Free Martha Stewart" and handing out flyers to people at the Halloween Party. How funny is that? I have to dye the clothes today and then do the liquid embroidery (not sewing...too much work for a costume). I had thought about buying coveralls but they are just too frustrating to get out of when you're drinking and have to go every 15 minutes! As well, I think they would be too warm and I always find it too warm!

Last year I was Sponge Bob Square Pants, which was a riot and everyone just loved it. I wasn't expecting him to be such a hit, so now the standards are high, I have to impress...lol

The party is on the 30th, and should be good fun. I was out until about 3 am last year, so I'm hoping for just as good at time this year. I'm sure there is a blog entry coming about it...

So much to RAMBLE about and so little time

Its been a busy week...Thanksgiving dinner on Monday, back to work on Tuesday, criminal court on Wednesday, drove to Halifax that afternoon, training on Thursday, drove back home that afternoon, Survivor last night, and tonight I have a Rummoli game going on at my house...phew!

So in criminal court, the guy who was charged appeared without a lawyer...the charges came from LAST SEPTEMBER and so the judge asked him how come he didn't have a lawyer, and his reply... "well, I didn't think it was serious until I was convicted, so I thought I'd get a lawyer then". Well, son, you have been charged with sexual assault, invitation to sexual touching, and assault...THINK AGAIN. So she [the judge] gave him a second chance and we all have to appear again in February. And oh yeah, GET A LAWYER! It was all I could do to keep from laughing out loud, but then I would be the one in trouble...heh heh.

Drove to Halifax later that day, checked into my hotel only to find out that I had been bumped up to GOLD level, no extra charge. Whoo hoo! Things really are better there. Just small stuff, but nice to be a little pampered. There were fuzzy white bathrobes in the closet, the bed gets turned down for you and the pillows fluffed and arranged, there is free high speed internet, free local calls, breakfast served in your room (free of course), the mini-bar is stocked (but unfortunately NOT free) and so on. Too bad I wasn't in my room much to enjoy it. I met a friend in Chester (more driving!) for supper and we chatted endlessly about all the latest news and gossip. She used to work at our agency, and moved last year. It was great to catch up! Then I spent a couple of hours with Amber before heading back to the hotel.

Training the next day at Dalhousie campus...well, it was not at all what I had expected. The day started off on the wrong foot anyhow, despite the lovely breakfast in my room, then I had to try to find the security office on Dalhousie campus, and it wasn't where they said it was, so I drove around and around until I finally gave up and called them to ask where it was...on a different street than listed. Anyhow, got to the training where the instructor proceeded to talk about herself for about 40 minutes...which really bugs me...we spend all this money on training and we get someone selling themselves and their books. Then we get into what the training is about and I am not enjoying it. Ordinarily, I might...it was all about visualizations - sit back in your chair, feet on the floor, relax, breathing in and out, blah, blah, blah...and close your eyes...well...recall just what happens to ME when I sit back and relax and close my eyes...you guessed it...that darn mycolonus - twitching and jerking. Sure, I am just in the mood to twitch and jerk in front of a bunch of strangers...forget it...so I patiently wait through that exercise, only to discover it makes up the bulk of the day...so after the third 20 minute one, I was getting rather frustrated. THEN, from outside on the street, comes this gawdawful music and loudspeaker rumbling away, totally blocking out most of the speaker's voice. And did I mention that the organizers thought this was a good room, and placed crappy plastic chairs in there that were locked together so that you were jammed close like sardines. I was so uncomfortable and my butt was numb...I decided at lunch time I had just about enough and left. It was either that or explode. And that would not have been nice.

So I got into my car, did a little shopping for my halloween costume and headed home. Just let me get into my house and be alone for a while. Thankfully, my roomie and a friend were there, but were leaving for Yoga for part of the evening, giving me the time alone in my house that I needed. Then I had a friend come over for a couple of hours and we watched SURVIVOR!

So Rummoli tonight is potluck supper as well...YUMMY! I'm hoping for a good time and no interruptions...I'm on call again for the next two weeks. I am also hoping to win lots of money...or as much as one can win when playing with nickels...

Fall Colours - Aren't they GREAT?

I was so worried that I would miss them by being in northern BC this fall, as they don't get much of the fall colours there - yellow leaves and then they all blew off and fell on the ground and it was all over in a week. What a rip off...so when I came home and saw that they had just barely started here, I was estatic. There were a few trees here and there with some color, and a fantastic one in my back yard, but I was so relieved not to have missed them. And then...last night they all seemed to come on out. There is still a ways to go, but they are looking GREAT! On Saturday we had a few in the back yard, so I had my friend Rob come and take some photos of Amber and I, as I mentioned earlier, and now the backyard looks as though someone has painted it...WONDERFUL!

My roomie was around the Cabot Trail this weekend and said they were just breathtaking, and on the mountains of the trail, I guess they would certainly be. Cape Breton is just so pretty in the fall...they even have a fall music festival they call Celtic Colors where people come from all over the world for the colors and the music.

It's the little things that I grasp pleasure from...

taken from a blog I stumbled on tonight - http://just-jacq.blogspot.com/

76
Men are born soft and supple;
dead, they are stiff and hard.
Plants are born tender and pliant;
dead, they are brittle and dry.

Thus whoever is stiff and inflexible
is a disciple of death.
Whoever is soft and yielding
is a disciple of life.

The hard and stiff will be broken.
The soft and supple will prevail.

Finally, I can RELAX!

The dishes are finally all done (two dishwasher loads, and 3 sinkfuls) and the kid has been safely delivered back to Halifax...I can finally relax. I have everything put back to rights, and the kitchen is tidy...now...what to do, what to do? RELAX!

Its almost surreal to think about going back to work tomorrow...seems like I've been gone forever. I'll only be in for a day and a half and then gone again to training in Halifax for a night and a day. Go Go Go!

I'm on my last block of my knitted blanket (the third one this year) and then I have to just sew it together. I don't know who I'm going to give it to, or if I'll keep it...then I'll begin a quilt I bought some fabric for in Halifax last week. A fall project I hope, that will get done rather swiftly...then I might take out my hand quilted one and get back moving on that.

So much change going on at work...who knows what the atmosphere will be like tomorrow...three workers quit in the past two weeks. Not because of anything that happened there, just what is going on in their lives is all. Now we will have two newbies again, and they hired our casual worker that I shared my office with for one of the long-term positions.

I spent two hours after I arrived home on Friday night, setting up the aquarium...man, it took forever! But was relatively straight forward, and the little guys were all settled in the very next morning when the temperature seemed to have settled down at a comfortable 78F. We had one casualty though, one of the tetra's that had neon dye in it. I think I may have bonked it when I was netting them to transfer to the tank, and then he drowned. Anyhow, the others swam over him for a while then began licking their lips, so I took him out and sent him down for a royal flush. The others seem to be doing very well though and have appetites like savages! Kitty is quite enamored of them, and sits and watches often, as do I.

Its pouring rain and blowing a gale most of the day here today, but the rest of the weekend was amazing. I invited a friend over yesterday to take some photographs of Amber and I in the fall colors, and I think they will be amazing as the trees were wonderful. I'm just looking for a few to hang and one to send out with the annual Christmas Newsletter.

Now for the relaxing part...zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

That's One Dead Duck, er, Turkey

Well, I arrived home safe and sound, and spent the weekend hanging out with the kid, setting up the aquaraium, and cleaning house for the big turkey day today. Had a bunch of friends over as did Amber and we managed to make short work of most of the turkey and trimmings. What was left over, I sent on up with Amber for Brad, who couldn't make it, and brought some treats to my next door neighbors, who love them. Now I just have the dishes to finish up. I have a dishwasher this year, so loaded it up with the first load - plates, glasses and cutlery...the next load is the pots and pans. What a treat! We sat around and drank wine instead of hiding in the kitchen this year!

The bird was amazing, which was grand as there is nothing worse than a dried up turkey. This one cooked up very well, and the vegetables were a little stuck on to the pots, but otherwise survived. I even had salt pork riblets and figgy duff, complete with brown sugar rum sauce! It was a hit, especially since I didn't have a white dishtowl to steam it in, so I had to use my blue plaid one...we had striped pudding! It tasted just as good, so that was fine!

Now I only have a small bit of turkey to manage for the next couple of days and no other leftovers, just the cookies....which will be just FINE with me!!!

alright...back to the galley, skipper...

Friday Again

well, here we are again, hello Friday. I have the energy of a dead tree branch. I didn't sleep much last night, thanks again to good old jet lag. they say it takes a day for each time zone you cross...great...I crossed through four. at least I don't have to work until Tuesday, there's that. I really don't have anything to do today except for loll around and eventually pack the car, including my new aquafriends. I hadn't realized that both Amber and Brad would be working the ENTIRE time I was here for a visit, so I have been left to my own devices since Thursday morning when they exited the apartment. Which is not the end of the world.

I did call a few friends, but one was busy and couldn't get together last night for supper as she is going away for the long weekend with her kids and has to pack. Then I tried to call my [ex] neice whom I haven't seen in a couple ofyears but recently moved to Halifax, but can't get an answer there. She might be at work, or have gone somewhere for Thanksgiving weekend. So here I am, alone in the apartment with my new aquafriends, just lolling about. Had a short nap, but then remembered everything I've read about getting over jet lag...try to sleep only during your regular sleep time in order to force your body back to your own time zone...rats.

But then, I think about all the whining I did about how tired and busy I was at my sister's house because of my darling nephews running me ragged, and I recall saying I needed a vacation from my vacation...so here I am. two full days with not a lot to do, why can't I just RELAX??? So that's the plan...to have a ME day today. Not that yesterday wasn't, but today I will be sure to. I'm heading out in a bit to prowl around a fabric store for something to make a couch quilt with, something I really like, unlike my many scrap quilts (which are also nice) but with fabric that matches! Then I'm going to treat myself to lunch at Swiss Chalet, just over on the next street. This afternoon, I will lounge around the apartment, watching crap tv, and eating bon bons, or something like that. If I hadn't spent so much bling on my aquafriends, I would have had money to go shopping all day...not that I regret buying them, just a note.

So here I go, off to RELAX.

Jet LAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAG

Well, my flying is over for the time being, but man am I tired! apparently crossing an entire continent can do that to a person...heh heh. I slept in until 10:30am this morning which is very weird for me, but not so much considering the time difference of 4 hours, so not really sleeping in...and then I had about 3 naps so far and don't think I'll last long tonight either!

I hope I can stay awake for ER and Survivor tonight!

Can't wait to finally get into my own bed for a GOOD night's sleep! Although I slept remarkably well in my sister's old bed, even with my cold...it was very comfy!

Proud Owner of a New Aquarium!!!

Well, I had already written this post and LOST it, so will go through it again...I just bought myself a real aquarium...now I've had a fishbowl with a tetra in it, and a three gallon one before, with goldfish and neon's in it, but this time I went whole hog...20 gallon setup with tons of extras, and some beautiful tropical fish...here's what I bought:

1. 3 columbian tetras
2. 3 froot loop tetras (their name, real name is painted glass)
3. 1 neon glassfish
4. 3 pristella tetras
5. 3 brilliant rasboras
6. 2 honey flame gouramis

and a partridge in a pear tree...heh heh, no, actually a hygro polysperma. I bought a cool log with plants in it, some gravel in various colors, and now I have to set it up when I get home tomorrow night. And then possibly the next night I can put them in the tank. The tank needs to acclimatize, and filter itself before I can plunk them in with some of their water. Hope the ride home isn't too traumatic for them! They are currently in a stryfoam cooler they gave me at the pet store...slosh, slosh...

I'm so excited...hopefully we can all cohabitate together well...me, the fish, and KITTY...at least this tank is big enough that she can't knock it over, and has a good lid, so she can't go fishing...

Homeward Bound

Well, the time is drawing near. I leave this afternoon for Prince George, and catch my early flight out tomorrow morning...another LONG day. I arrive in Halifax tomorrow night at 10:30pm...yawn...

Its been a wonderful visit, with plenty of opportunity to visit with my nephews, even if I did get sick...the next time I see them they will likely be much more grown up, and possibly in school! My sister and I didn't get as much time in to visit like we're used to, but then our lives are not the same anymore. We used to spend hours playing cards and watching movies, chatting the whole while...now its more like changing diapers, feeding children and doing household chores...keeping up. We managed a half game of cards, and an evening of playing Probe (a board game) and then we went out the pub this past weekend for the night. That's about it. We are both too tired at the end of the day, by the time the little tykes settle in for the night, to do anything and usually fell asleep watching television. How our lives have changed! The last time she visited me, I was the mommy and she was the single and carefree gal...

I've got my bags packed, and I think I actually have more to bring home, although I brought lots of stuff out here...I bought the youngun something yesterday, a pewter ladybug to wear on her backpack to remember me when I'm not there. Hopefully she'll like it. I had wanted to get a sign that I saw in the gift shop in Smithers last week, but I didn't buy it at the time and we didn't get back there...darn it. It was a sillouette of a tourist with a camera being chased by a moose - "Tourist Crossing"...I thought it was hilarious! I'll have to check on e-bay to see if I can get one there.

The weather has been beautiful the whole time I've been here. some rain when I first arrived, but nothing since, and it warmed up considerably after that first week. Nice fall weather...who could ask for more? I'm hoping to take the boys back to the park today for one last playtime with them.

So, the next entry will be from Nova Scotia, either from Amber's or from home...wish me a safe flight!

Me and My Sister

My sister and I finally escaped last night for some beers at the pub...we went out about 8pm and came home around 1am, closed the place! I didn't have much to drink, just four bottle, but my sister had 6 large drafts, and since she hasn't really been drinking much at all for the past several years due to pregnancy or breastfeeding, she got very drunk. It was good to see her so relaxed and we talked the night away. We hadn't been out in so many years, I don't even remember when...likely in Grand Bruit, going to the Cramalott Inn. Other than that, it was when she still lived in Enfield and we went out to the bars in Halifax one night with some friends of hers.

My time here is getting short...just two more days after this one...I leave the night after next. Gord will be driving me to Prince George where I'll stay with a friend of K.'s until my flight the next morning (wee hours). Then I fly ALL DAY and arrive in Halifax at 10:30pm, where the non-resident teenager will be picking me up at the airport. We'll hang at her house until Friday after she gets off work, and then head home to Cape Breton for the holiday weekend. TURKEY DINNER HERE I COME!!! I tried to cook a turkey dinner here, amidst the chaos, but it wasn't the same...no one came to dinner, not even Gord as he was busy cutting up his moose, and we didn't have half the regular trimmings I usually have, and only one of the boys was home. So I am looking forward to the big dinner I'll put on for Amber and my friends next weekend...Turkey (that actually has both legs and the wings...something our fine feathered friend here did not) cranberry sauce, potatoes, sweet potatoes, carrots, fresh rolls, fresh baked apple pie, sweet corn, gravy, and a nice bottle of Merlot...YUM! Its sort of a potluck as my friends would rather that, so who knows what they'll bring as well.

So I'll leave here on Tuesday, thankful for having the opportunity to have gotten to know my nephews a little better and with any luck, they'll talk to me on the phone now that they know who I am. I'll also be able to picture them when my sister is on the phone with me, and I hear them running around, screaming and hollering...

My youngest nephew is going to be christened later today, so that should be nice...we all head up to the inlaws after that for a wiener roast/picnic. There will be plenty of children...my sister's three boys, her sister-in-law's three boys of the same age, her other sister-in-law has one as old as the oldest, plus whatever friends come with their children...thankfully we will all be outside!

October Already???

I can't believe we're into October now! Before you know it, Christmas will be here...and another year shot to hell...

Well, October for me usually means getting down to business with fall and winter crafts, Christmas shopping, beginning the annual newsletter from Amber and I, and doing some fall cleaning. It also means checking out the Halloween candy for the trick or treaters, although from what I hear, not too many kids come by where I live now, so one bag will likely be enough. Sad...I remember living on the base where we would get hundreds of kids, and as a kid, would go to hundreds of houses...oh the loot we would bring home...remember? Kraft caramels, little chocolate bars, chiclets (two to a box), little foil bags of chips, rockets, and always those nasty molasses kisses that were the last to be eaten, if at all..they usually just picked up the lint at the bottom of your pillowcase. And all those apples that my dad never let me eat...not that I wanted them anyhow...who would choose fruit over SUGAR???

Now I'm too old, my child is too old, and Halloween is more of just a memory, especially if I don't get more than one or two trick or treaters this year...I used to do it up big at home in Grand Bruit. I'd invite all of the kids over for a huge Halloween party, complete with costumes, decorations galore, and so much food, snacks and junk food you want to puke..we'd play games all night, including that old favorite, bobbing for apples...I remember one of my neices trying to drown her cousin at one party, by shoving her head to the bottom...you know who you are girls...then on Halloween night, I always blasted the scary music from my house for the handful of trick or treaters that would come to my door.

Amber surely remembers being frightened walking across the brook bridge in Grand Bruit one Halloween...a friend of ours, Brian had donned a werewolf mask and hid under the bridge, roaring out at a group of them as they crossed the bridge...she never forgot the terror...I love it!

I also remember dressing up in old coveralls and sitting out on the deck, waiting for kids to come and jumping up at them...they thought I was a scarecrow...heh heh...the screams!!!

October is different for me this year...no kid at home, different home, but a 15 minute drive to and from work through some beautiful autumn colors...something northern BC doesn't seem to have...their trees go mostly golden...no oranges or reds, which are my favorite. Hopefully the trees at home are just beginning...

Another Day, Another Dollar

well, maybe a few more dollars...I've been prowling on e-bay again, this time for books and videos. I've been trying to round out my collection of Torey Hayden books, and just need two to do it. I managed to find them on e-bay and some other bidder keeps trying to outbid me...the wench...They're not easy to come by, and I hate to buy books brand new when there are so many used ones out there, looking for a home :-) I've also been on the prowl for some videos for my sister - Six Pack with Kenny Rogers is one of them...she has a need and its a hard one to get...I keep getting outbid. And then I noticed since being here that the kids really like the one Caillou video they have, so I peeked around for some more and found a bunch for cheap and bid on them...got outbid on a lot of 7 though, so will let that go...we bid back and forth for a while.

I recently set my sister up on e-bay too, so she is another one on the prowl...as long as she doesn't try to outbid me, heh heh. She lives in such a shopping void though that e-bay will make her shopping much easier.

now I must go check my bids!

Tuesday Night and the Race is Over

Well now what am I going to watch, the Amazing Race is over. Here I am on a Tuesday night with my regular show over...I guess it isn't that regular, it starts at Mark Burnett's will, whenever the taping is done and the show has been packaged to air. I hope there's another one for the winter season...this past one was quite interesting...love to watch those social interactions come into play, no matter how Mark's team has doctored it up. At least a worthy team won the race. I would have been pissed if that rotten jerk Colin and his stupid girlfriend Kristie won. I was rooting most for the bowling moms and they darn near had it. They sure played a good race though, and we're all proud (fellow moms :-)

The other show I love to rant over is another of Mark's, Survivor, the original reality show. Ever since it aired in 2000, I have been hooked. I missed part of the first season, and only discovered it about half way in, but luckily, they thought to replay the first season through shortly after it finished. Not all seasons have been great though...some have truly sucked, with rotten players, and even more rotten editing. I would have to say my favorite one is probably Survivor 2, Australian Outback. Who can forget Jerri, the rotten wench who everyone loved to hate? And Kimmi, who adored chickens and Alicia, who shook her finger in her face for it. And poor Michael, who fell into the fire...then there was Deb, who whined and wimpered about being voted out first...sore loser.

This season they're in Vanuatu, and its cooking up to be a good season. I don't like that they've separated the men from the women, but my guess is that it won't be for long. The dynamics are just BETTER when they have mixed tribes. I'm in the Survivor pool again at work (actually, I run it - which reminds me...many have not yet paid...if you're reading...you know who you are! :-) I think its the sociologist in me that just loves to watch human behaviour unfold. Many think the whole thing is rigged and staged, but I disagree. While it might be edited to tell a story, or to focus on a particular event, it is as close to reality as I think we're gonna get. Big Brother just makes me want to hurl...

Reality television seems to be running a strong course...there's one for every night of the week and there seem to be no shortage of ideas thus far. How about those wife swap and mommy swap ones...where the hell was that when I needed a swap???

Tomorrow night I'll be tuned in, as usual...can't wait! Who will be voted out next?

http://www.cbs.com/primetime/survivor9/

The Crossroads of Life

There seem to be so many of them, I need a map. Why can't I just be happy with where I am and what I'm doing? I have been busy this past few months thinking about where I want to go next, what I want to do next. In the words of John Lennon, "life is what happens when you're busy making other plans" and its true. I always seem to be planning for the next stage of life, looking for something else. A gal I visit from time to time to make sense of my life (YES, a THERAPIST) suggested that perhaps it is within the next opportunity that I will find the happiness and stability I seem to be searching for. I mean, there is no sensible reason why I need to go anywhere and do anything different. I have a decent job, where I work with people I like, doing something that I am not unhappy doing, live in a good house (I've rambled on about it before, remember?) and generally like my life...but somehow it doesn't feel like its enough. Like I'm missing out on other opportunities.

I one thing that would make me happy, and I've rambled about that before as well...to meet someone to share my life with. I put it off while Amber was living at home but now that she has moved out, I feel the need more urgently. Its just no fun going through this life alone. Not that I would ever choose to go back to my marriage...I spent far too long looking for a way out of that "blessed union". Although I often think about whether or not fate has only handed me just that one opportunity to be with someone and I blew it. The time has passed. What if that is true? Then I recall what my friend had to say earlier this summer when she read my cards. That there was a man in my future and only I would know when the time is right. She gave me some descriptors of the type of person he would be, and he sounded just right. So how do I know when the time is right? What if I leave where I am now and just miss him? It was almost easier to live when I had no choices...almost.

Some things I'm considering these days (yes, these days...Amber laughs at me because I have a new plan each week...so indecisive) are the following:

1. to move to Northern Ireland for a year or two and work as a social worker. They are recruiting for the UK and I might get lucky enough to get a posting in Northern Ireland. I haven't visited the north yet and am dying to go and spend quality time there.
   
2. to try again for work up north. I know I would get the job, they as much as hired me during this spring's job search/interview process. It sure would help to get ahead of my student loans
   
3. to return to university. I still don't feel like I have completed my academic goals by a long shot. I just truly enjoyed university. The conundrum is, I don't know for sure what I would like to master in - Social Work, Criminology, or Psychology.
   
4. To stay where I am, and work for a few more years, hoping something will present itself to me (which so far hasn't worked and I feel like I am wilting)
   
5. to move to SE Asia and teach English for a year or two, and really pay off my student loans quickly. Except I would hate the heat, language would be tough, and food even worse.
   
6. I have even thought of moving back to Ontario for a while. Don't know what the pull is, but there is one.
   
7. And how about moving to BC to be closer to my sister, like I had promised her for so many years. Now that I have gotten to know the boys, I would love to be Auntie Jude from closer by, like perhaps Prince George. Except I have no desire to live there
   

So what's a gal to do? My pull right now is to pay off student loans, and I think I will likely end up taking a job up north for a year just to give it a shot. I won't take much, just store most of my stuff, or better yet, have someone rent the house in my absence with my stuff in it, like my current roomie and another person. All I really do know is I need a change...but why?

Babysitting Again

I'm babysitting all three nephews tonight, the little tykes. I haven't done a whole lot of babysitting over the years since before I was married. The occasional time for a friend once in a blue moon. I used to do tons of babysitting when I was in high school. And some of those kids...well, they were a challenge. I remember one little "charm" who refused to go to bed until his mother came home..at 2am. She wanted me to lay down with him until he went to sleep and just when I thought he had finally dropped of, I'd sneak out of the room to go downstairs to do homework, I'd hear him up on the phone, talking to his mother at work. It was one of the worst...another was when a brother and sister played tricks on me all night, bratty ones too. Then there was the little gal named Reagan, who screamed for 3 hours each night. Her father was a dentist...I was thinking of asking him for some drugs to put her out for the night. She would rock in her crib and wiggle that thing right to the door, screaming blue murder the whole time.

So far, these boys have been quite well behaved. I've been here nearly a week, so they have gotten used to me, and listen fairly well to me. They are heading to be in about 10 minutes and we'll see what happens then. It is their parents worst time with them. It was always my best time with Amber. She would often come with her dolly and book in hand and tell me it was bedtime, could I please put her to bed. We would read a number of stories, and then she would either have tapes to listen to, or some books to look at until the half hour was up, then lights out. I never had a peep from her after that, unless she had a night terror. Remember those? You're in a dead sleep, probably dreaming of sunny summer days, lolling around the beach...and then AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHH
comes out of the dark...you think someone has slipped in and murdered your child in her sleep until you get to her room to find her soaked in sweat, eyes glassed over like someone on speed, and panting like a dog. She doesn't know who you are and continues to scream. Finally, you break through, she settles down and goes off to sleep like nothing happend...too bad your own heart is still thundering away in your chest...who is going to settle you down?

So its been an adventure so far. My cold is relenting somewhat, and I have not been hiding out as much from the family. I know its likely they will all get my cold, but I don't have to rush it. They may just give it back to me before I go.

My days are numbered though...11 days to go...

My Girl

Well, she is well settled in university at Saint Mary's. She is loving the life. I am still trying to get her to blog but she claims she is too busy and she actually is busy...she works three days a week, she has classes on Monday to Thursday (only one on Tues-Thurs), she volunteers at the Women's Centre on campus, she joined the Psychology society, she joined the Food Committee (I'll explain below), she goes to the gym on campus twice a week, and she is participating in some Psych studies for credit...whew! I'm tired just listing it!

The Food Committee is something else...Amber loves to eat, and loves to critique food..so she found the perfect committee. She meets with the committee twice a month in a huge board room, where they have prepared tons of food they plan on serving in the cafeteria, and they get to eat all they want for free and critique it...cool huh? That's her kind of committee...heh heh.

I'm so proud of her, my girl!

Sickness is for the birds

I hate being sick. I don't get sick very often, but when I do, I hate it...as I'm sure everyone else does. I can't sleep, I can't breathe, I feel like I am choking all the time. And it happens every time I travel. I am off to the drug store this morning for some more drugs...ech. This is for the birds...I won't share the gory details with you.

Auntie Jude is Tired (and sick)

Well, I am very tired...partly from those exhausting boys, but I now have a cold...rats. I always seem to get sick when I travel. Too many germs...will have to take to wearing a mask when I travel I guess. Who cares what I look like. might even get me more room on the plane if no one wants to sit next to me...I could make up some exotic disease...heh heh.

The boys are a challenge...I haven't been around this much activity in a while, that's for sure. They haven't been too bad today, not much screaming...yet...bedtime is an interesting time. I think I will hide then.

Took my sister out for a beer and pub grub this afternoon...nice to get out without any children in tow! Alexander wasn't too bad today, and listened to me well enough, but not his mother. They are a going concern, thats for sure. Alexander loves to play computer games, while Simon loves to be outside. He will even just go outside, barefeet and all and take off to the back yard to explore...little mite...bolted from the house when the Jehovahs were here today, pestering.

I wrote to my mother today...hoping to mend fences...either that or burn them down...its a crap shoot...who knows how she'll take it. I simply tried to explain how I felt is all and we'll take it from there.

Survivor is on tonight! Yahoo! hopefully the boys can be settled in their little beds by then...

Auntie Jude is Tired (and sick)

Well, I am very tired...partly from those exhausting boys, but I now have a cold...rats. I always seem to get sick when I travel. Too many germs...will have to take to wearing a mask when I travel I guess. Who cares what I look like. might even get me more room on the plane if no one wants to sit next to me...I could make up some exotic disease...heh heh.

The boys are a challenge...I haven't been around this much activity in a while, that's for sure. They haven't been too bad today, not much screaming...yet...bedtime is an interesting time. I think I will hide then.

Took my sister out for a beer and pub grub this afternoon...nice to get out without any children in tow! Alexander wasn't too bad today, and listened to me well enough, but not his mother. They are a going concern, thats for sure. Alexander loves to play computer games, while Simon loves to be outside. He will even just go outside, barefeet and all and take off to the back yard to explore...little mite...bolted from the house when the Jehovahs were here today, pestering.

I wrote to my mother today...hoping to mend fences...either that or burn them down...its a crap shoot...who knows how she'll take it. I simply tried to explain how I felt is all and we'll take it from there.

Survivor is on tonight! Yahoo! hopefully the boys can be settled in their little beds by then...

Small Children

Aren't they sweet? I haven't been around small children much for many years. The last time I visited my sister was in 2000 and her son Alexander was just 10 weeks old. Now she has three sons, aged 3.5, 2.5, and 3 months. There is noise, that's for sure, but so far, I haven't wanted to jump off a bridge. The baby is adorable, and other than an aversion to his car seat, he seems to be an easy baby. Alexander had taken to me easily and will often just climb up on my lap, or curl up next to me when I watch tv. He can say my name easily, and its awesome! Simon (middle child) is slower to warm up to me. He will come around, and ask for things, but not quite the cuddler yet. He is definitely the strongest personality of the three. Watching them is the most fun I've had for years. I love watching children interact with others and figure out what's going on in their little minds. Alexander is very much the big brother, and knows it. When Simon does something he is told not to, he is quick to react and reprimand him for it, sometimes overdoing it by pushing or smucking him. When Simon gets reprimanded by anyone, Alexander included, he is quick to react as well and lash out at anyone and anything. Books, toys, arms and legs go flying in a rage. And if he is reprimanded a second time for the mess, he either cries or laughs at you.

Isn't it funny how their little personalities are emerging at such a tender young age? They are both rough-housing boys, no doubt learned from dad, who loves to wrestle with them. No momma's boys here, that's for sure. They have been listening fairly well to Auntie Jude, which is good...hope they keep it up as I have a few babysitting opportunities coming up...my sister has a wedding to attend on Saturday (didn't I tell you Jude, she says). Which is fine. I always wanted to parent boys and never got the chance, so here we are...three of them! And I miss not living close to these little gems, watching them grow up. Perhaps that will have to be remedied in the future as I go through those crossroads again next spring.

One thing is clear...as an Auntie who loves to spoil, I often wander aimlessly through children's clothing and toys in the stores, looking for the perfect gift for these tykes...um, they don't need it. They have tons of toys, tons of books, tons of clothing. I guess having a gramma who works at the local second hand store has proved very handy indeed! So I am considering doing something else for them, like perhaps put some money away for university for them. Sounds like a much more practical idea, I think.

So here we are, on day 3 of Auntie Jude's visit to BC...hope we get out for a walk today! It has been FREEZING but I think I brought enough clothes...heh heh...

Its a LONG LONG way to Houston

Well, I've landed...it took all day, but I got here. I set both alarm clocks and neither went off. Imagine that. So I slept in, waking just 15 mintues before we were to leave for the airport, so it was a mad dash to get everyone moving, and get out the door. I wasn't late, I just didn't have time to get a shower...ick. So I travelled all day without one, not a new experience, after my international travels, but was not what I had planned. At least I DID wake up...

All the flights were basically on time, a new first for my travel experiences. My major complaint was that they don't feed you on West Jet. Now, you do get a "snack" which consists of 14 pretzels, or 2 cookies (sometimes those yummy digestive biscuits) and a beverage...but that's IT! On one flight I took, they'll sell you a sandwich for $5. no condiments on it, just meat and cheese. So of course, I snacked on junk food the whole way, thankfully I had stocked up before I left. I still have half of it left...amazing how 14 pretzels can fill you up...after 5 flights...

The flights were uneventful themselves...I did however have the opportunity to sit next to a good looking man who talked about his family - wife, 2 kids, farm, etc. Doesn't matter...at least he smelled good. The plane is small and cramped enough without ending up sitting jammed up next to a smelly, sweaty guy...which has happened to me before. On my flight to London in 2001 I was sandwiched inbetween two large Sikhs who smelled very bad. It was a lovely flight.

So I got to the last airport in one piece, then had a 3 hour drive to Houston. She had only brought just the youngest, so it was fairly quiet on the drive, although her youngest has an aversion to his carseat. But he worked through it...lol

Thankfully there is another 2.5 weeks before I have to travel again...

Here I sit...

I'm at Amber and Brad's apartment, alone. They just went out cosmic bowling with another couple. I am flying out tomorrow morning, so opted to stay home and relax. I hooked Amber up with her AOL internet, since they are putting a hold on the high speed for now - too expensive to install with Eastlink for their budget. She got 3 months free with AOL with her new computer. Couldn't remember the login for the new blog I made for her, so had to make another one tonight - http://ambersdomain2004.blogspot.com/ . And this time, I e-mailed the login and password to both Amber and I...surely one of us will remember it!

Its pouring rain...guess I won't be sleeping in the hammock tonight...

Vacation Time

Well, my vacation got off to a good start today...leaving the courthouse after testifying, I tripped on a grass clump where the sidewalk had become overgrown and fell down, skinning most of my left shin and ankle over...and BOY does it burn! So then I had to fill out those pesky accident and WCB forms. Then I came home and my dryer had quit. Thankfully I had gotten most of my laundry done, and the neighbor was home for me to finish up at. The dryer is only 2 years old, so I don't know what's up with that. All I know is GET ME OUT OF HERE! I leave in just 90 minutes for an appointment in Guysborough, then head on for Halifax. I fly out early Sunday morning for BC and then I will feel like I'm on vacation. Hope the kitty makes out ok!

Stress - It'll get ya

Just when you think you're doing fine, stress jumps up and GETS you. Here I was, ticking merrily along, or so I thought when this feeling started coming over me last week. I recognized it allright, but tried to ignore it. I had felt it last fall, right before I went on sick leave for 3 weeks. I wasn't off for stress particularly, but I remember that feeling. I had gone off for that whole SSRI issue that I talked about earlier. My last day of work though, I was STRESSED OUT due to not sleeping properly for nearly 3 months, and being overworked.

So here I am, sleep is not terrible all the time, there are some half-decent nights but in the past week, I have lost a few as well. Saturday night was an example - went camping, slept in my hammock under the stars...well, lets rephrase that...laid in my hammock under the stars. Don't know if there was much sleep involved. Comfy enough, just no sleep. Then there was the following night - roomie's phone ringing at 1:40am and she's not even home. So lost that night.

Anyway...work has not been especially stressful...well, then there was an incident on Friday that was totally a non-incident, but I got stressed over it for no reason (at least I didn't think there was a good reason) and my workload is not terrible...I actually have most of my notes up to date and all my visits darn near done. I'm going away on vacation in two days, so its important to have it all done before I go, since I'm gone for 3 weeks.

I've been on call more than anyone has ever been - I think I've signed up for 19 weeks this year...insane, I know...but I need the money and I don't feel like I mind the work...but this past week, I have not wanted to be on-call. It hasn't even been that busy - no apprehensions (yet...shhhh) just a few phonecalls here and there. I'm known as the "duty queen" as the on-call shifts are called standby duty.

But right there in the centre of my chest is that stress...I can actually feel it. I was getting ready to leave work today and I felt it. A co-worker came in and asked me to take her to Tim Hortons before our big union meeting tonight and I told her no, because I was going home. Bye. and I left. I've never been that short with her before, but I told her I just needed to get out of there before I said something nasty at the union meeting. I just couldn't take spending another minute with anyone from work...and it's not them, its just WORK.

There's nothing remarkable going on at work that is bothering me though, so its weird. I'm not even that busy, and certainly not behind. So why does a person get stressed out? I was away this weekend, camping with friends and had a hell of a time...we laughed, ate, sat around and talked the weekend away. I don't understand it.

Then the non-resident teenager called me tonight, all stressed out herself. History is not going well and she wants to drop it and add another course. Instead of being the supportive parent, I barked at her first. Then I heard myself and got it together and we worked through it, finding her another course and sorting that part out easily. But I shouldn't have barked at her...why did I do that? Stress?

Now I leave on Sunday to go to my sister's house for 17 days. She has three children under the age of 4. I've gotten used to the quiet of my house. What in the hell am I going to do out there to control my stress level? My roommate had a good idea - initiate a brand-new walking program that gets me out of her house for at least 1 hour a day, ALONE. We'll see. I am delighted to spend time with my nephews, but I haven't really spent any time with small children in ages...I hope I don't SNAP.

I think it's time for some alcohol...darn it...I'm on call. Well, tomorrow night I am off, so there is a drink with my name on it.

The Many Travels of Mrs Pickles

I met my friend Phyllis in Ireland at a hostel in Galway in 2001. We were both staying at the Barnacles Quay and she spotted my Canadian Flag and I hers so we hit it off right away. Our room wasn't ready right away, so we headed across the street to the pub...any street in Ireland has a pub across the street. This one was an old chapel, and many of the seats were pews and a couple of areas around where the organ used to be, the choir, pulpit, etc...very interesting. I think it was called the Quays (pronounced Keys). We had a couple of pints there, then headed back to settle into our rooms. Over the next few days, we toured Galway together, along with a Dutch gal, Madeline, and had great fun, and went on a bus tour of Connemara together, including Kylemore Abbey. Phyllis left and headed elsewhere, while Madeline and I continued on to the Aran Islands, and then I met up with Phyllis again in Kilkenny, surprisingly and we hung out again for a couple of days, and even hitchhiked to Ballyhale. We had such a riot, and she was such good fun. She had met Matthew McConnaughey in Dublin, so of course I was jealous...anyhow, on with the story...

Phyllis is in her 60s and has been travelling for a number of years now. She goes home for a short time, and then heads out again as soon as she can. She often works for several weeks at a time to be able to move on to the next spot and often works in hostels or at horse farms (where her talent lies). She has travelled the globe and has always kept a sort of travel log of her experiences, e-mailing every so often. I offered to post her travel log onto a Blog that she could share with everyone, so posted below is a link to that. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do...she really knows how to have fun and I hope I have her energy when I get to be her age!

http://mrspickles.blogspot.com/

Enjoy!

and now it has me thinking I should post my Ireland e-mails into a blog. I still have all of them...hmmm...

Why I Need to Go Camping

mainly because I had a little meltdown at work yesterday. The thing with stress is it kind of creeps up on you and before you know it, it has you in its grip. I had suspected it was coming all week, kind of like a dreaded aunt Edna coming to visit. You know she's coming, but you fight believing it all week. And then BAM there it is. I had gotten into a little bit of a pissing match with an RCMP officer, and when he called a coworker to talk about me after it happened, I just lost it. We work very closely with RCMP all the time in my field of work, so need a good relationship and I just wasn't feeling respected when I spoke to him earlier and things just went downhill. I conceded and agreed to do what he was asking, but apparently he felt I was too confontational to work with that day. WHAT, ME? I was pissed off, and had a little tantrum at work, which is totally not me. Then I started crying and had a very difficult time shutting it off. I tried to go out and do some home visits, and on the way there, all I could think about was going home and crawling in bed. I didn't, I fought it off, and ended up working my way through it, but I didn't work with that officer yesterday, and now I just feel stupid. We will have to sort it out another time as I will likely have to work with him again, but for now, that dog will have to lie asleep for a while.

So I am going camping today with a big group of friends, some from work, some not. We're going on a piece of private land belonging to a co-worker and there will be beach, hiking, bbq, junk food and lots of beer! I plan on sleeping in my hammock as it is much more comfy than sleeping on the ground. There is a little shack on the land, so I'll have to rig something up in there, otherwise I will be out under the stars, which sounds great, but the mosquitoes would have a feast on my face while the rest of me is wrapped in my sleeping bag.

Hopefully things will look brighter when I get back, and if not, I only have to make it through this week before I get to hop on a plane to BC to visit my sister...YAHOOOO! I haven't seen her in 3 years, so its quite exciting.

Texbooks 'R' Us

Its that time again...textbook shopping. I went with Amber to the university bookstore, only to discover that textbooks had not magically dropped in price now that I had a child in university. Drat. Turns out her books are going to cost her $415 for new. I tried to convince her that I could find them online somewhere for much cheaper, but she wasn't having any of that. Until she saw the price of her history book - $138 +tax. So she bought just four of the 5 books. I went shopping online last night and found the history book for $22US used, or $42US new, so bought the new one. Found her sociology book online for $19.95US (was$86.95CDN at bookstore) and couldn't find her psych book for any cheaper, unless she was willing to go for the 5th edition, instead of the 6th. Then I could get it for $1. yup, just a buck...US funds of course. Isn't that just crazy? Looks like the editors of the book update it every other year making each edition obsolete for most students. What a money grab. Anyhow, I have managed to save her a few hundred dollars, which is fine with both of us!

And then there was the book I found on e-bay for work. We have a standards manual that refers to it and we decided we wanted the source of information. I found that book at Chapters for $188CDN. I found it on e-bay for $2US. yup - 2 dollars. So I bid and won.

Many of my friends buy their textbooks online now...if you're lucky, you can even get brand new, like I did for a fraction of the cost. I wish I had been able to buy online when I was in school, but was not too adept at the time in online shopping. At least now I can save Amber some money.

My favorite site, besides www.ebay.ca is www.abebooks.com check them out!

Post 201

Well, we made it...my last post was what is called an audiopost, hosted by http://www.audioblogger.com Just click on the icon to hear my voice and my corny audiopost.

I'm going out of town for a few days, so no posts until I return...I think you'll manage.

Adios!

The Long Weekend

I can hardly believe its here...the last holiday weekend of the summer. Its seems we waited so long to even see summer weather, and then wham, it was over. September 2nd came in with a cool wind. The leaves have already begun to change color. Its like the first day of school had to mark the beginning of autumn. I'm not ready. I still have camping trips to go on, beaches to swim on, and sun to lay out in! How can it be over already? Its now September 4th and the cool weather is still with us. I don't really like it steaming hot, but I'm not ready for those cold winter nights either, that inevitably follow autumn.

So for my long weekend, I'm heading up to Halifax tomorrow to visit with Amber and Brad. I could have gone today, but they are both working and she wanted to go out on a "date" with Brad tonight since they have seen so little of each other lately with him working the night shift, and then last weekend she was here with me. So today I have spent doing laundry, packing up her new computer for transport, packing up things to take up with me for them, etc. She attends her first student orientation event tomorrow...YIKES! She is nervous and I am nervous for her. What an exciting time in her life! I'm glad I will be there to hear all about it when she gets home.

I'm in Halifax for a couple of nights...the first one at Amber's sleeping on the balcony in the hammock and the second one sleeping in a hotel room - I have a work meeting early in the morning the next day. We are hoping to get out on Monday to do something fun as she is busy all day Sunday.

and then, the long weekend will be over and it will be time to start Christmas shopping...

Kitties and FUR, and just Kitties in general

As you know, I have a kitty named Via, after the train. And as most kitty owners and non-kitty owners alike know, they come with a lot of fur. I think indoor cats come with more, either that or they don't have the opportunity to shed outdoors so I see it all.

Well, Via has a LOT OF FUR. It is everywhere. Of course, its all over my clothes, bedding, furniture, mats, rugs, etc. But it is also stuck to my keyboard, and monitor, on my phone, window ledges, and bookcases. And lets not forget the TUFTS of it flying around in the air. And then, it goes without saying, but I will here - it is in my food. And if it isn't I don't believe it and have to go looking for it until I find it. Sometimes I'm up into my elbows in pasta, looking for that cat fur.

The funny thing is, Via is a calico cat, the true kind with all colors and a white underbody. However, she only seems to shed white fur, and more white fur when she knows you are wearing black. And that's when she will rub up against you, again and again.

For the most part, I can't complain to much about my kitty, in the grand scheme of things. She is a good kitty. What makes a good kitty?

1. she doesn't use my house for a litter box and never misses the litter box
2. she doesn't miaow too much, and rarely at night
3. she doesn't ask to go outside, or make that mad dash when my friends come in
4. she rarely coughs up hairballs for me to step in at night when I creep to the bathroom
5. she LOVES to cuddle and understands when you don't want to
6. she knows when you are upset and will comfort you, listening inquisitively
7. she comes when she's called (at least, when she feels like it)
8. she eats dry cat food - and doesn't like that smelly, messy canned cat food
9. she likes my friends and will snuggle with them anytime
10. she can catch mice and bugs
11. she follows me from room to room, making sure I know where she is
12. she doesn't roam at night, at least, not too much - a couple of times a month
13. she has never had fleas, worms, or any other filthy animal disease (yet)
14. she keeps herself immaculate

I found a nice poem about kitties:

Those Crazy Cats
By Ron Fields

They come in black and white,
yellow, grey, and tiger stripes,
they love taking naps in laps
and little hands with gentle pats.

They grow-up with balls of string,
butterflies and birds of spring,
they wonder out into the night
lying by your door at first light.

This hunter sits on the windowsill
with instinctive dreams to be fulfilled,
now bathing in the warming sun,
purrs a loving song to someone.

Now onto your bed with natural grace
that flipping tail will find your face,
bite your toes and lie on your feet
and watch over children while they sleep.

A little scratch behind the ear
they’ll nuzzle away the saddest tear,
and so gently with soft calico…
touch upon your most inner soul.
…those crazy cats.

My Sister's Uncanny Ability

Yup, she's got one. She has the uncanny ability to know when I have gone to bed early and then phone about 30 minutes after I have gone to sleep. I am impressed too, by the way, because she lives in northern British Columbia, which is about 8000 or so kms away. She's real good. I know there is a 4 hour time difference and she often forgets about this, or thinks that, "oh, she's always up til midnight, I can call her" which is usually true, but once in a while, I happen to tire early so go to bed early. And she calls me.

Such was the case two nights ago. I had recently changed my room around following the evil blue paint episode. It was all about the feng shui. Sleeping has improved somewhat, but it had been so HOT and HUMID lately, I had brought in my big square fan and put it on a chair facing my bed. You know the kind - they belong on the floor, and they are two foot square or so. I bought it in Waterloo at the campus housing I was living in for $5. Because of the room being changed around, I didn't have a phone cord long enough to reach where my nightstand/desk was, so left it over on the dresser, thus I would have to get out of bed to answer the phone. Normally, the only time the phone rings when I am in bed is when I am on duty and get a duty call....except when my sister calls me on the nights I go to bed early.

So there I am, safely tucked in my newly arranged bed, the fan is not on because it is finally cool again but I haven't gotten around to moving it just yet, the lights are out - and I live in the country so when they are out...it is DARK. I have just drifted off to sleep, and that is what I call my "stupid time" - the first hour I am asleep I am usually very stunned if awoke during this time and confused.

BRRRRRIIIIINNNNNGGGGGG! The phone rings! I grab towards my nightstand/desk and fumble for the phone, forgetting it is way over on the dresser, knocking everything onto the floor - glasses, book, tv remote...so then I leap out of bed, charging towards the dresser, forgetting about the fan. Now the chair is at a perfect height to slam both knees into, which I do, and then fall over the fan, knocking it over and off the chair onto the floor, tipping the chair over. I lunge for the phone, cursing and knock it off the dresser. I finally pick it up off the floor, and stumble to my bed, shouting a confused "hello?" into the phone, fully expecting it to be the answering service with a call for me.

Its not. Its my sister. Oh hi she says...were you gone to bed? Grrrrrrrrr. She talks for about 4 minutes while I nurse my wounds, and then announces that she forgot her friend was coming over and had to go. Bye. Oh, there were choice words for her...

My roommate didn't know what to make of it. She heard the phone ring and then the mighty crash, and thought we were at war. I think I need to get an extension cord for the phone.