PostCards from Here

Wow.

2010-04-08T11:32:00.002-03:00

That's really all I can say about how long it's been since I've blogged. I got distracted by Facebook, and then Twitter came along, and it seems I've forgotten how much I like to write more than 140 characters at a time. I've just been looking back over three years of posts, and I realize that this blog's raison d'être - to keep me from forgetting things - is alive and well. I've missed two birthday letters (The Girl's 4th and The Boy's 9th), so I hope to do some catching up. Stay tuned!

Happy Birthday Boy

2009-03-10T11:43:00.006-03:00

Dear Boy,

Today is your 8th birthday. Eight! I know I say this every year, but I really, truly, have no idea where the time goes. Your eighth year on the planet has been a good one, sweet boy. A very good year indeed.

You’re in Grade 2 now, and things seem to be going along swimmingly. You’re still soaking up French like a sponge, which has made it impossible for your dad and me to talk about you while you’re around. I suppose it’s rude for us to be doing that anyway. Homework has been far easier this year than last, for which I am very grateful. You seem to be more patient this year with yourself, which has made it easier for me to be patient with you. Your writing skills have flourished. Sometimes when we’ve had a disagreement and you’ve been sent to your room you’ll wander out a little while later and hand me an apology note. You never cease to amaze me with your grammar, your choice of words and your sweetness. You make it easy to forgive and forget, and when you apologize, you are very sincere.

You’re moving on from some of your little boy things…you recently weeded your toy box of things you no longer played with, and Buzz Lightyear was at the top of the pile. I’ll confess that it makes me a little sad to see that Buzz no longer holds such an important place in your heart, not because I’ll miss him myself, but because it means you’re growing up. You also decided that character underwear is no longer cool, and have opted for generic boxers over Power Ranger briefs. You haven’t let go of all of your old-time favourites, though…you still let me put a mushy love note in your lunch box every day, and you still go to bed every night with your favourite Buddy and Blanket. I promise not to tell.

You experienced some new things this year. We took a short summer vacation, and you had a blast. Every once in awhile, from out of nowhere you’ll say: “Remember that time we went to the Super 8 and spent the WHOLE DAY on the water slide???” Who needs Disney when you have the Super 8? I had a great time with you too and I’m looking forward to a new adventure in the summer of 2009.

You also took on a new activity this year: tae kwon do. You started in August and Daddy started shortly after you did. You have youth on your side when it comes to remembering your forms, and you have both come a long way since you started. I’ve watched your self-confidence blossom and I’ve been very impressed by your respect and understanding of the rules and customs of tae kwon do. You got your green belt just before your birthday and you are very proud of yourself. You’re not the only one who’s proud.

Something that is not new this year is how sweet you are with your little sister. You have been an awesome big brother since day one, and that hasn’t changed as she has aged and been more interested in your toys, and your activities and just you in general. You greet each other with a hug in the morning and make sure to give each other a good night kiss each night. Recently our whole family auditioned for a commercial. You were so excited and nervous that your mouth didn’t stop, and they thought you were very cute. The casting people had trouble deciding, so they asked Daddy and your sister for a call-back a couple of days later. When I broke the news to you that you and I had not been picked you looked heartbroken. I asked you if you were disappointed and you said, “Yeah…a little. But I’m really happy for Sister though!” I knew you were more than just a little disappointed, but you put on a brave face. As it turned out only Daddy got the commercial. Maybe next time.

You’ve had another exciting year full of new experiences and new friends. You’ve made some really great pals at school and at daycare and I hope to see more of these kids in the coming years. You’re an easy boy to like, and I think your friends would agree with that. May your next year be as happy and healthy as your last one.

Love and hugs,

Mom

When I started using the Internet I thought I'd died and gone to heaven.

2009-02-05T09:48:00.001-04:00

It was 1994 and I was at library school (yes, we really call it that). The browser of choice was Mosaic and it took fo-evah to load a page. You couldn't move to the next page until the previous one had finished loading. Needless to say it took a lot of patience to finally get to the Friends drinking game, but it was worth it to learn that you're supposed to chug every time they mentioned Ugly Naked Guy. And then the was the MUD I played, although the name of the one I played escapes me at the moment. I spent a lot of time there. Seems like a zillion years ago.

Why I gave up on "A Fine Balance"

2009-01-31T13:04:00.001-04:00

This is one of those books that I feel obligated to read, like I'm not doing my duty as a librarian and as a Canadian if I haven't read it. It's a guilt book, which is why I can't bring myself to give it away until I've read it.

I started reading it after I had children and since the birth of my first child I haven't been able to read more than 10 pages at a time without falling asleep. This book is too densely written for me to read in 4-page chunks every couple of days without feeling like I have to start all over again. Combine that with my horrendous memory for plots and characters and it's a recipe for an unfinished book. To finish it I'll need unfettered access to a huge chunk of time and a boatload of caffeine.

If I had easy access to a helicopter, I'd fly to the Gulf of Mexico this weekend

2009-01-30T14:58:00.001-04:00

I don't care exactly where we go...we'll just fly south until it's hot enough to be outside in a bathing suit. Because it's cold here, very cold and snowy, and while I choose to live here, and there are lots of reasons to love it, the cold and snow and slush are not among them.

Plinky, anyone?

2009-01-29T09:01:00.003-04:00

I've recently started using Plinky, a festive new way to add content to your blog. If I've done this correctly, my answers to Plinky prompts should start appearing here. Hurray for killing two birds with one stone!

Then and Now

2008-12-31T13:14:00.003-04:00

I posted this on New Year's Day 2008:

New snow.
New hobby.
New habits.
New hair?
New challenges.
New friend?
Same old me.
Happy.
New year.

Let's see where we are today...

New snow? Oh yes. 2008 was a snowy one in these parts. And we're calling for a blizzard tomorrow.
New hobby? Sorta fizzled out, but I'll pursue it someday.
New habit? In 2008 I resolved to overcome my spatial issues and start backing my car in when I park. Done and done. Go me!
New hair? Yup. Had fun with shorter hair this year. Might start growing it back now.
New challenges? Not entirely sure what I meant by that, but I think it might have been theatre-related. I think I can safely say that I tackled a few challenging things this year.
New friend? Oh yes indeed. A friend that I think I'll have for a long time to come.
Same old me. Wouldn't have it any other way.
Happy. Most assuredly.
New Year. Here comes another one.

Happy New Year to you all...uh...both....

:)

An Open Letter to Shonda Rhimes

2008-11-24T14:47:00.002-04:00

Seriously? You’re losing me here.

I’m a big fan of yours. And your show? It’s the reason I don’t make plans for Thursday nights. You and your writers make me laugh and cry and think. The medical cases you’ve dreamed up in recent weeks are intriguing and unique while at the same time being believable. The actors who play the characters you’ve written are fun to watch, either because they’re good at their jobs, or they’re nice to look at, or both. I like where you are with McDreamy and Mer, and I really like where you’re going with McSteamy. I’m sad that Erica’s gone (I thought her “I see leaves” speech was fantastically written and acted), but Sara Ramirez is the perfect actor to find the subtle humour in her circumstance and move forward with the help of her friends. I like the guy fans have started to call McArmy, if only because I find it endearing that Cristina renders him speechless, and not in the deer-in-the-headlights, don’t-speak-unless-spoken-to way that her interns are speechless around her. I also laugh out loud every time Cristina calls Little Grey Lexipedia. I like (!) that Bailey’s husband was unceremoniously offed on Prison Break, because maybe, just maybe they’ll sort things out back in Seattle and they can be a family again.

But Izzie and McDeadGuy?

Help me out here.

I’m not complaining about the fact that you’ve found a way, however illogical, to bring back Jeffrey Dean Morgan. I’m a sucker for those dimples and that slightly clefted chin. And the broad shoulders and big brown eyes. And the smile, did I mention the smile? Yes, I’m a sucker just as much as the next girl, but where ARE we going with this? I’ve been trying to convince my husband that this show is one that’s worthy of his attention. He has dismissed it from day one as a chick show, a show that’s all about the relationships among the doctors, and who’s sleeping with whom. I’ve described several of the cool cases, and mentioned some of the fantastic guest stars in an effort to lure him over to the dark side (well, the dark Grey side). But I gotta tell you, it’s going to be an uphill battle to overcome this conversation:

Husband (walking in during the middle of episode 509): Who’s that guy?
Me: That’s her dead fiancé.
Husband: So he’s dead dead?
Me: Yup. Since two seasons ago.
Husband: And she’s taking off her clothes to sleep with him?
Me: Yup.
Husband: Seriously?

Please tell me that this will start making sense soon. The order of the universe at Seattle Grace is askew, and to be honest it’s making me slightly uncomfortable. And I’m the less logical half of our couple, the one who’s more likely to roll with things simply because they’re fun to watch. I’m pretty sure we’ve now irretrievably lost my husband, but unless there’s a brain tumour or serious mental breakdown imminent, there might not be an explanation that will appease my tiny logic centre.

In the meantime, I’ll take comfort in the fact that you haven’t disappointed me yet. After all…it is November sweeps, and you wouldn’t be you if you didn’t have a few tricks up your sleeve.

Sincerely and hopefully yours,

Me

p.s. - Apologies to those of you who don't watch Grey's Anatomy. You don't know what you're missing. Seriously.

Jobs I'd Like

2008-11-21T21:29:00.004-04:00

I'd like to be an actor in the opening scene of an episode of Law & Order, the scene just after the first 'duh-duh' (you know, the L&O sound that punctuates every scene?) I'd like to be the random chick out with her friend who happens upon the dead body. What a great item for my resume!

¿Yo quiero NaBloPoMo?

2008-11-18T11:29:00.002-04:00

Yeah, so it turns out Daily Blogging isn't really my thing. Who knew?! Maybe if I had a CrackBerry I could make it work, but I've always thought that it would be unhealthy for me to own one of those things, because I'd be checking my e-mail and Facebook every 10 seconds, like a nervous tick. It's bad enough we have a laptop at home and I can check in from any room in the house.

This isn't to say that I'm going to completely abandon the idea of posting more often, I'm just going to let go of the commitment to blog every single day. Failure or freedom? Discuss.

Thousand Word Thursday

2008-11-13T21:22:00.004-04:00

The Girl, freshly-napped...

I just entered a contest...

2008-11-12T09:10:00.005-04:00

...and you can too!!

My good friend Jen at Cheaper Than Therapy is running a contest...you have to check this out!

Go do it!

Edited to say: Damned fine print! I just realized that the awesome contest for the awesome jewellery for an awesome cause is only open to U.S. residents. So if that's you, go on and enter!

We now return to our regularly scheduled NaBloPoMo

2008-11-10T10:07:00.002-04:00

O.k., so maybe I have issues with commitment. Or maybe I was just a fool for thinking that THIS November would be a good time to commit to daily blogging. Either way, I fell off the wagon, but I'm back now. I think.

Last week was a little crazy chez nous, because The Husband and I were in a play. Together! For the first time in 20 years. I've spoken here before about my theatrical adventures, but this one was beyond fun. I got to play dress-up and look completely different than the usual me, and we got to perform a funny, well-written play in front of 5 packed crowds to rave reviews. Weeeee! So that's where I've been for a week. I'm exhausted but exhilirated at the same time.

Where were you when...

2008-11-04T15:10:00.003-04:00

Today's post will be a brief note for posterity about where I am today, this historic day when the United States will either elect its first African-American president or its first female VP. In some cases the news outlets refer to something as "an historic occasion" and I get the feeling that the only reason it might possibly be one is because that's what they're calling it. I don't think today is one of those days.

So, when people ask me 20 years from now, "Where were you during the historic election of 2008?", what will I tell them?

I was living in my hometown with my small, middle-income family, wanting for nothing.
I was working full-time for a fair wage in my field of study and able to enjoy a few fun hobbies on the side.
I was on the left of the political spectrum.
I was amazed at how many Canadians are paying closer attention to the race in the U.S. than the election that took place in our own country 2 weeks ago.
I was looking forward to the election being over because of the way is has polarized groups of friends and coloured every day for the past who knows how long.
I was hoping above all that regardless of who wins, the people of the United States will unite to support their president-elect.

It's 11:59 on day three...

2008-11-03T23:59:00.001-04:00

...did I make it?

Bought my poppy today. More details tomorrow!

Poppy Season

2008-11-02T20:41:00.000-04:00

Every year at this time, Canadians see poppies wherever they go. The Royal Canadian Legion sells them for a cash donation at grocery stores and shopping centres. All you have to do is put some change in the bucket and a war veteran will gallantly pin a poppy on your lapel. It’s a very small way to acknowledge the sacrifices our veterans have made on our behalf, a bright little ‘shout out’ to show support and remembrance.

I’m ashamed to admit that there have been years when I haven’t worn a poppy. Not because I don’t want to support our veterans, or because I’m not proud to wear it. It’s not the actually wearing of the poppy, it’s the purchasing; I feel at a loss for what to say when I approach a veteran to buy my poppy. I feel like a simple ‘thank you’ in wholly inadequate. ‘Thank you’ is what I say to the skippy who bags my groceries, so surely it’s not enough for someone who risked his life for my freedom. I want to say that I’m proud of our veterans, but that somehow seems patronizing. I want to tell them about my own grandfather, who spent years in a prison camp in Germany during World War II, and how buying a poppy makes me think of him and what he went through, not that I really know, because he never, ever talked about it. But that seems like a whole lot more information than they’re looking for, those who sit and wait patiently for the next person to pick up their poppy, without ever badgering or offering. I want to say so much, but it all seems so wrong that I simply say nothing. Which certainly isn’t right.

I’m not sure what I’ll say, but I won’t let the sun go down tomorrow without stopping for a poppy.

NoBloPoMoD'oh!

2008-11-01T23:47:00.003-03:00

So here it is, November 1st, day one of my commitment to blog every day for a month, and I almost forgot! Crap! My memory is less than stellar these days; I'm in a play that opens this week and for every line that sticks in my head, something else vacates the premises, like remembering my keys, or my lunch, OR MY NAME. Remembering to blog? No small feat. Stay tuned!!

NaBloPoMo, fo sho

2008-10-28T11:02:00.000-03:00

I must be crazy, but I’m going to embark upon a second NaBloPoMo
adventure. I like the idea of writing every day, and if I had a nickel for every time I wished I had the time to write, well…I’d have a lot of nickels. So for the month of November I’m going to make the time, every day, to say a little something here. Not sure what I’ll write about, but I’m sure I’ll think of something. I have a lot going on in November, including a play, a birthday and a family baby on the way (no, not me…no more buns in this oven!) Stay tuned….should be a fun month!

Just popping in to say...

2008-10-02T16:14:00.003-03:00

...that I can't get enough of this song. I've loved Idina Menzel since 'Rent', but this? This just gets down into my core. In a good way. Enjoy.

Passing the time...among other things

2008-09-13T22:03:00.007-03:00

The Girl turned three in May, and I'd be lying if I said I haven't been stressed about the fact that she wasn't potty trained by her third birthday. "Girls are easier" say all the books and all the parents who read them, so I'd hoped we'd be a diaper-free household long before there were three candles on her cake. We gave it an honest go in January, only to suffer several accidents a day, proving that she just wasn't ready. Finally one Saturday afternoon a couple of weeks ago she walked up to me and proclaimed: "My diaper's wet, and it's uncomfortable. Can you change me?" The next morning, she donned a pair of princess panties and we haven't looked back. She's had no pee accidents to speak of, but poop? Until a week ago she had never, ever gone #2 anywhere but her diaper. By Saturday of last week she needed to go so desperately that I feared she'd explode. She finally announced that she had to go so we sat and waited....and waited....and waited some more. Then I had the brilliant (if I do say so myself) idea that I could keep her glued to the toilet seat long enough to do the deed if I found a way to both distract her and reward her for her patience. Behold, my stroke of mommy genius:

"Is it dry yet?"
"No, not yet honey."
"How 'bout now?"
"Nope. Not yet."

And next thing I knew she had pooped, setting off a flurry of celebration, high fives and princess rewards. We're not all the way there yet, but we're on our way.

How I Spent my Summer Vacation: A Pictorial

2008-08-28T22:06:00.003-03:00

Offensive Punctuation

2008-08-20T09:42:00.002-03:00

So, Monday morning I come into work and I do my usual round of morning internet browsing…I check the news headlines in the local paper online, along with the opinions and the obits (Gasp! I’ve become my mother!). I then click over to CNN and see the following entertainment headline: Ellen DeGeneres “marries” Portia DeRossi

I become incensed. “Marries”. In quotation marks. So what do I do? I, who am newly learning to speak my mind? I dash off an e-mail that goes something like this:

Really? “Marries”, in quotation marks? The quotation marks would imply that you’re using the term loosely, that it doesn’t really count, that they’re not really married. The State of California made it legal, so they’re married. Period. Adding the quotation marks is an editorial comment, which has no place in a news headline.

I can’t imagine that I, a straight, married librarian from Eastern Canada was the only one who sent them a comment. I can’t imagine that I’m the only one who found their quotation marks offensive. The reason I can’t imagine it is that later that day, when I clicked back to CNN, Ellen had no longer “married” Portia; the headline now read: Ellen DeGeneres reportedly weds Portia DeRossi. Did they change their tune because of me? Hardly believable. But it changed nonetheless. Hurray! And while I’m at it, hurray for all the Ellen’s and Portia’s.

An Old Standby

2008-07-06T21:40:00.002-03:00

As you might imagine, I, a librarian, am a lover of books. I'm particularly fond of children's books which works out well since I have a couple of folks around here to share them with. I love them for their art, for their rhyme, for their prose and for the togetherness they bring to our house. We still read to both kids every night before bed, and we'll continue as long as they'll let us. The Girl and I recently rediscovered an old family favourite. I was shocked that she couldn't remember it, considering that I'm sure it hasn't been more than 6 months since we've read it together (has it?) and the last time it was in regular rotation she could recite it word for word. I'm sure it was stashed away in her not-too-distant memory, because tonight was night two of its revival and she's already back to chiming in on each page. I have a couple of photos to share, but first a question - what books will forever make you think of your children's childhoods, or your own?

Today's lunch has been brought to you by...

2008-06-30T23:25:00.005-03:00

...your friendly neighbourhood anthropomorphic rodent and panda. The Boy has been inspired to cook ever since seeing the movie with the rodent in it last summer. Combine that with the fact that he saw the panda flick last weekend, and voilà...lunch. It was every bit as tasty as it looks and making it was a hoot, considering that The Boy pretended we were hosting our own cooking show in the kitchen, narrating everything from the chopping of the onions to the sprinkling of the 'secret ingredient'. A fine way to spend a cloudy Monday.

Summahhhhhh

2008-06-23T09:58:00.003-03:00

Hurray! Summer is finally here! It was a very long winter in these parts, and as late as last week it felt like summer was never going to get here. Then school let out for the summer and almost simultaneously, the sun started to shine in earnest. Weeeeeee! Consequently we had our first fabulous outdoor weekend of the summer. Behold the festivities....

Cheap Fun

2008-06-16T21:44:00.003-03:00

The Girl, at age 3, still doesnt' have very much hair. Alas, that hasn't stopped her mother from collecting a disproportionate number of hair baubles. Her hair has been a little longish in the front, occasionally requiring what has come to be called a 'pretty clip' in our house, a name which harkens back to the day when, if The Girl wasn't keen on wearing something, any something, all I had to do was call it 'pretty' and she was on board. There was even a brief time last summer when I could make two teeny, tiny pony tails (which she called 'pony nails'), that is, before I brought her to my hairdresser to cut off the last of the baby hair in an attempt to encourage the growth of her 'big girl hair'. But while we wait for said big girl hair to arrive, the hair accoutrements are getting lots of use. The Girl, who can entertain herself with ease, spent at least an hour on the weekend with the bag of goodies, sorting them, piling them, classifying them and just generally becoming one with her inner librarian. Proud? Oh yes indeed. And a little creeped out, because it's exactly the sort of thing I would have done when I was her age.

Posies

2008-05-23T09:59:00.003-03:00

I just finished a little crafty project for The Girl's daycare...I offered to fancy up some gift cards for staff appreciation week. I did them in an assembly line, and when I got to this stage I thought they looked quite fetching all piled together. If I do say so myself.

It's a Magic Number

2008-05-21T20:15:00.010-03:00

Dear Girl,

Yesterday you turned three years old. The day before yesterday we had a little party for you with aunts and uncles and cousins and grandparents. You asked about your party countless times in the days leading up to it. Will everyone come?, you wanted to know. Will I have the princess cake I saw at the grocery store? Will everyone sing ‘Happy Birthday’ to me? They came, they sang, they had cake and you loved every minute of it. Never have I been surer of our decision to move closer to our extended family.

It has been such a pleasure watching you grow and develop over the last year. You’re quite tall for your age which, when combined with your vocabulary, means you’re often mistaken as older than you actually are. About six months ago you graduated from the toddler pool to the ‘big pool’ at the local Y and many of the parents in the class were surprised to learn that you were only two. You continue to be fearless in the water, which is a double-edged sword; I’m happy that you’re not afraid, but you are constantly asking me to let go which I’m definitely not ready to do yet, either in the water or anywhere else.

You take real pleasure in simple things: dolls, books, cups and blocks. You got a dollhouse from your grandparents for your birthday and you told me yesterday that you would prefer to skip dinner so that you could play as soon as you got home. You’ve named all the little dollies that came with the house (although it sounds more like you’re opening an accounting firm, what with names like Cooper and Johnson to go along with Stella and Lou) and I foresee hours of fun in our future. I’ve always wanted a dollhouse, you see. You’re also heavily into your Disney Princess years, which aren’t quite as nauseating as I thought they’d be. Yet. Several months ago you were give a set of 8 figurines and you have had more fun with those in more ways than I ever thought possible, as evidenced here; we call it Princess-Tipping:

I wandered into the living room one day to find your set of four princess books lined up on the floor with the corresponding princess placed neatly atop each book. Your mother the librarian was very proud.

By contrast, you’re just as interested in heavy equipment as you are in girlie things. Natural gas lines are going in on the streets around your daycare, and every morning when we turn the corner to park you look for the excavator with great anticipation. Another of your morning rituals is to look for ‘Judy’s Bus’, the school bus that picks up a young boy in a wheelchair on our route to daycare. You like to ask questions about the boy and what he likes to do when he goes to school and when he comes home. You have quite an imagination.

You and your brother continue to be each other's biggest fans. There are days when you frustrate each other, I won't lie, but for the most part you are each other's champions. We recently went for an old-school Sunday drive and I smiled the whole way home, listening to the two of you chatter happily in the back seat.

You continue to be accident-prone, narrowly averting injury on a regular basis. You are forever running, and you’re very slowly getting out of the habit of looking behind you when you run. I’m constantly reminding you to “look in front of you, not behind you”. If I sound like a broken record, I apologize, but believe me when I tell you…the good stuff is all in front of you. Happy birthday, Girl.

Love,

Mama

Pivot Questionnaire

2008-05-14T08:54:00.002-03:00

It's been awhile since I've seen it, but I love watching Bravo's Inside the Actors Studio. My favourite part is the questionnaire at the end, so I thought I'd post it here for fun. Put your answers in the comments and then feel free to post it on your own blogs. I'll be sure to add my answers in comments too.

1. What is your favorite word?
2. What is your least favorite word?
3. What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally?
4. What turns you off creatively, spiritually or emotionally?
5. What sound or noise do you love?
6. What sound or noise do you hate?
7. What is your favorite curse word?
8. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?
9. What profession would you not like to do?
10. If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?

A Classic

2008-05-07T12:37:00.004-03:00

The Boy, who is just finishing his first year of French Immersion, came home from school this week with this little gem in his backpack. I gasped when I saw it:

This, you see, is the very same book that was part of the curriculum when I was in my first year of French Immersion. Thirty or so odd years ago. It's called Rémi et Aline, and amazingly (considering my sad excuse for a memory), I still remembered some of the illustrations. I do so enjoy a good blast from the past.

Escalation

2008-05-06T09:26:00.001-03:00

I have this printer at work; we’ll call him HaPpy. HaPpy is a lovely colour laser printer and I’ve grown quite attached to him. He started giving me grief in November; apparently there’s a little sensor inside that was damaged when HaPpy arrived, but the damage wasn’t apparent until I removed the cartridges to replace them for the first time, almost 18 months after HaPpy arrived. So I dutifully called the helpful 1-800 number that came with HaPpy’s documents and kicked off a chain of events that would bring me to today. Yup, that’s right…5 months later. Apparently I’m very patient.

I won’t go into the whole song and dance, about all of the phonecalls I made and received, or about the guy who came and took HaPpy completely apart. Twice. Who, upon attempting to reassemble HaPpy left stray HaPpy bits on the carpet. Twice. Who eventually took HaPpy to his warehouse so that his entire team of technicians could fawn over HaPpy and attempt to get him in working order, only to return him to me, supposedly ‘repaired’, but still malfunctioning. I pretty much gave up on having HaPpy fixed at the end of this particular exchange:

Me: “I have a printer that was broken the day it arrived, and you sent an authorized service provider to fix it, who, by all accounts, made matters worse. And now you’re telling me that in order to determine whether or not the issue I’m having today is related to the feeble previous attempt to fix my printer, I have to pay someone $49.95. So I have to pay someone to determine whether or not I’m entitled to have my printer fixed for free. Does that make any sense to you?”

Tech Support: “No, it doesn’t. I’d be frustrated too if I were you.”

Me: “Can you pass me along to someone I can talk to who can help me? Someone who can see that this doesn’t make any sense? Someone to whom I can plead my case?”

Tech Support: “I’m not sure who that would be. Sorry I can’t help.”

Click.

Yeah, that’s right; “I can’t help you. Bye now!”

Then I got a ‘follow-up’ call from someone who cheerily wanted to check to make sure my issue was resolved before she closed the case number. No, Cheery. No it’s not resolved. I told the whole, long, sordid story to Cheery who listened intently; so intently, in fact, that she could finish my thoughts and sentences before I did because we were on the same page. Cheery agreed that my previous encounters have been ‘unfortunate’. Cheery promised to “make this right”. Then Cheery gave me a phone number. I dialed it, prepared to plead my case once again. I knew I was in good hands when the automated answering system said:

“You have reached the Corporate Escalation Response Team.”

‘Escalation response’, because apparently they’ve realized that things have, well, escalated. It’s like 911 for rescue from bad customer service. These people are amazing. Within 24 hours my issue was resolved and a new printer is winging its way to me right this minute. My question is simply this:

Why isn’t this magical number the one that COMES with your printer?

Passing Through

2008-05-05T09:58:00.001-03:00

The Husband and I just returned from a tropical getaway. I’ve got a lovely tan and temperatures here at home have been frigid of late, so it’s fairly easy for people to deduce that I’ve recently been out of the country. When I tell them that “we” just got back from a week in Puerto Plata, I am often asked, “Did you bring the kids?” My reply is always the same: “Hell no!”

Sometimes people are taken aback by my reply. I think some of them are disconcerted by how unthinkable I make it sound, the idea that we would bring the kids along with us on such a trip. It’s as though they feel a call to the Bad Mommy Truck is in order, because obviously I’m committing some sort of egregious parental infraction by not wanting to spend every waking minute with my kids. Some people, generally those with small children, understand. They understand that as much as we love our kids, we also love each other. And we take trips like these in part so that we don’t forget how to be a couple.

A colleague of mine was telling me last week that her mother explained it to her this way: our kids are just passing through. We meet our spouses and devote considerable time building a relationship with them. Then the kids arrive and it’s all about them. As it should be, of course, at least in the beginning; it’s not like they can do much without us in those first couple of years. But the kids won’t be around here forever. In the grand scheme of things, their time with us is relatively short. Some might say that because this time is short we should devote every single minute to them, we should savour our years with them because they’re so fleeting. I don’t disagree that we, as parents, should soak up their childhoods and help make those childhoods as happy and memorable as possible. But if we ignore the fundamental relationship that started the family in the first place for the entire time our children are with us, where will we be once they’re off leading their own lives? Is it possible to just pick up where you left off, pre-kids? Maybe, but I choose to believe that it’s better to try to feed the roots as you go, rather than waiting until the fruit falls from the tree.

Oh goodness...

2008-05-02T09:48:00.003-03:00

Seems I've been a bit of a blogrant again. I've got lots of new thoughts swimming around in my head. I promise to do my best make some of them coherent enough to be published. Soon. Meanwhile, enjoy the view...

Playing

2008-04-09T10:05:00.000-03:00

Theatre is something I’ve been involved in for a long time. The first theatre experience I can remember was grade 3…The Frog Prince. I can still remember some of the music. More plays and musicals followed throughout my academic career, right up until university. The last production I was in as a student was The Pirates of Penzance in 1991, when I was an undergrad. I was a chorus member. I hadn’t realized how much I got out of having been involved in theatre until I had been away from it for awhile. Theatre has given me the ability to:

º step out of my comfort zone
º rely on myself
º trust others and work as a team
º exercise different parts of my brain
º cope with stress
º be comfortable (or at least not completely UNcomfortable) in the spotlight

The most important of these Theatre Gifts is The Husband; we met on the set of a play almost 20 years ago. He pursued it, both academically and professionally, which is what lead us to live in The City for the better part of 10 years. That experience alone adds a whole laundry list of things that wouldn’t have happened if it weren’t for theatre: friends, work experience, lots of great memories…

Once we moved back to our hometown to raise our family several years ago, The Husband started a community theatre group with an old teacher of mine. It wasn’t until last year that I was asked to join in the fun, something which woke up my insides like nothing else had in a long time. Theatre, for me, is exhilarating; it’s exhausting, it’s inspiring and it makes me laugh, cry and jump up and down. It’s Fun with a capital ‘F’…a Fun that is unlike any other.

Tonight I take the stage in my first leading role in 20 years. Coincidentally, the part I’m playing tonight is the same one I played the last time I was a leading lady, so it’s added an extra layer of Fun to tackle this role a second time. My insides are all wobbly as I write this and I feel like I’m on the edge of tears because I’m so excited. Not nervous – excited. The kind of ‘excited’ that happens pretty regularly when you’re a kid – Christmas, birthdays, trips to the zoo - but less and less often as you age. The idea that instances of this eager anticipation dwindle as the years go on saddens me, but thankfully I still get that rush from theatre. I guess I can add that to the list of Theatre Gifts.

A Little Snippet of my Childhood

2008-03-28T10:10:00.002-03:00

I’m seven years old. It’s spring. My family is on a road trip through Québec and Ontario, and our final destination is our nation’s capital. My brother and I, both prone to carsickness, have enjoyed the security that comes with popping a Gravol each morning of the trip before getting into the car. Whether or not it’s required from a medical standpoint is questionable; the placebo effect of having taken steps to ensure a barf-free day is worth the discomfort of choking down the bitter peach-coloured pill. Also helpful is the knowledge that the glove compartment (who keeps gloves there, anyway?) is stuffed with plastic bags, just in case.

We arrive at our home base for the trip, the home of my dad’s high school chum, on the outskirts of Ottawa. Our first night, we head to bed early to rest up for our big day at Parliament in the centre of the city. Mom is particularly keen on seeing the Changing of the Guard . As we head out the next morning, I mention that I’m not feeling all that well. Mom assumes that I’m just nervous about being carsick, so she assures me that the trip into the city isn’t that long, and that I’ll be fine. We make our way in the family sedan to downtown Ottawa. I’m still not feeling well. At all. We stand in the full sun in front of the Parliament buildings, waiting for the “guards” to “change”. If I hadn’t been so preoccupied with feeling ill, it might have occurred to me to wonder about this whole process…What will they be changing into? Is this strictly a change of clothing, or is it a magic show, where they might change into doves or rabbits? I don’t bother to ask, and no one offers to explain. I just know that it’s the main attraction, the ‘not-to-be-missed’ part of the day. The longer we stand and wait, the worse I feel, until I am compelled to speak up. Mom fishes a Gravol out of her purse and hands it to Dad, suggesting that he take me to find a water fountain where I can wash down my pill. We head past the Centennial Flame and up the promenade toward the Peace Tower. Dad and I are about to go up the steps, when a car pulls up behind us. The back door of the car opens; a man exits and starts to head up the steps – at the same moment I lose my scrambled eggs. It’s Jean Chrétien, then-Minister of Finance, and he is less than sympathetic:

“Clean this up, immediately!” he barks, to whoever may be listening.

I’m pretty sure he’s not talking to me directly, but nonetheless I’m feeling guilty about having made a mess on such an important building, and I’m not completely certain I didn’t miss his black wing-tips. In fact, I later learned that there’s a Canadian tradition that the Minister of Finance wears new shoes on the day a new federal budget is released. It started with Mitchell Sharp in the 60’s, but was abandoned for several years.
Until 1978.
The year I turned seven.

Hmmm…..

Happy Easter!

2008-03-23T09:39:00.002-03:00

Lucky Seven

2008-03-10T12:34:00.003-03:00

Dear Boy,

Today you are seven. SEVEN! How did that happen?

You’ve had an interesting year, Sweet Boy. You finished Kindergarten in fine style and had a fun summer with your daycare pals. You even had your first paying job this summer! A friend of ours was looking for a handsome young man for a recipe calendar, and you were chosen to be Mr. October. The photo shoot was hilarious as you, in typical Boy fashion, talked almost non-stop. You were dressed to look like a mad scientist and you hit the jackpot that day; not only did you get paid $25, you also went home with your mad scientist goggles, a giant bag of ‘monster crunch’ (the recipe for October) and a container of dry ice to play with at home. We went directly from the photo shoot to the book store, where you had seen a display of Harry Potter paraphernalia. You selected a brand new Nimbus 2000 and could not have been more pleased with how your day had gone, as you whizzed around the back yard on your Nimbus. I was very proud of you.

Once September came, you started on a new learning adventure – French. Your Dad and I agonized more than we had expected about whether or not we should enroll you in Early Immersion, but we are very happy we did. Language skills have always been your forte at school, and you have been soaking up French like a sponge. Your pronunciation is fantastic, you’re eager to learn and you often initiate conversations in French. Despite how keen you are about learning a new language, homework can be a struggle. When you’re tired, you get frustrated and when you get frustrated – well, sometimes it’s not pretty. There has been some yelling. And some name-calling. And even a couple of incidents of pinching and kicking. These incidents are fewer and further between than they used to be, but when we’re in the middle of one, I worry for you. I’m hoping that this way of dealing with frustration is something you outgrow.

You have continued with swimming lessons and have made some good friends there. You were offered the chance to play soccer during the summer instead of swimming, but you decided you’d rather be in the pool than on the field. Your teacher recently told me that you’re a real pleasure to have in the class; you’re always happy and ready for anything.

You continue to be, to your core, a very thoughtful person. You ask me how my day was at the dinner table, you’re curious about what sorts of things I do at work and when you want to show your appreciation for something we’ve done together, or a special treat, you’ll often say, “Thank you Mommy. You’re beautiful. I love you.” You melt my heart. We’ve spent a lot of time in the kitchen together in recent months, which I’ve enjoyed very much. Since seeing the movie Ratatouille you fancy yourself as quite a chef. You’ve been my sous-chef on several occasions, and are an excellent saucier. I’m looking forward to seeing what we cook up together in the coming year, both in the kitchen and out in the world. I love you Sweet Boy!

Love,
Mom

Routines: Sunday Morning

2008-03-05T11:03:00.002-04:00

The Husband and I don't always agree when it comes to child-rearing, but there are a few basic principles on which we stand firmly together. One of those is routine. Children like to know what's coming next (heck, don't adults like it too?) in part, I think, because it gives them a sense of security. There are a lot of unknowns in a small person's world, but to know that there will always be supper on the table around the same time, and shortly after that there will be baths, then jammies, then stories, then lights out...it helps them to know their place in their surroundings and it gives them something to look forward to (stories) once they get past the things that are less pleasant (peas). We're not so structured that we're inflexible, and we're not tightly scheduled time-wise (i.e. stories could be a 6:30 on a night when everyone's tired, or 7:30 if we've all had naps during the day), but once we start a 'script', everyone knows how it's going to end.

The Boy and The Husband have a Sunday morning routine that they started when we moved into our house five years ago. First they go to the nearby coffee shop for doughnuts, and then they go the video store next door, where The Boy gets to pick out a movie for the week. The tradition has evolved a bit over the years, and in recent months they've started going later in the morning and bringing their treats home. What's the significance? None really, except that telling you about it offers a really good excuse to post this photo:

My Internal Metronome

2008-02-26T08:42:00.003-04:00

A friend of mine used to listen to the same CD every morning during his walk to school. If I remember correctly it was Blind Melon's self-titled debut. He said it 'set his internal metronome' for the day, i.e. it got his day off on the right foot or put him in the right mood. I've been a fan of the idea ever since, and I try to pick something appropriate on my way to work in the morning. Some songs that have set my internal metronome over the years include...

Gotta Be by Des'ree
I Was Brought to my Senses by Sting
Spanish by Craig David
Upside Down by Jack Johnson
Rollin' by Limp Bizkit

and most recently, 1000BPM by Beck

So how about you? What sets YOUR internal metronome?

How I Know I Picked the Right One

2008-02-17T21:40:00.002-04:00

The Husband, after having just finished emptying the dishwasher:

"Do you like how I Roy G. Biv'ed the kids' bowls?"

Why yes. Yes I do.

Wordless Wednesday: February

2008-02-06T15:43:00.001-04:00

I'm it!

2008-02-05T14:01:00.000-04:00

I’ve been tagged for a meme by my friend Ramblin’ Red, which is exactly the kind of kick in the pants I needed to get me blogging. So, without further ado:

Seven Random Things About Me

1. Although I’m not a huge fan of ice cream, my favourite flavour is chocolate. Plain old chocolate. There are others that I enjoy, but chocolate is my favourite.
2. I get allergy shots once a month to help with tree and grass allergies. It feels a little odd getting a shot for trees and grass when there’s a foot of snow on the ground, but I noticed a big difference last summer, so I guess it’s working.
3. I have a brown thumb. The Husband is the family gardener.
4. I have a pretty good ear for music and a decent sense of rhythm. I have been a choral singer for most of my life (alto, thank you very much) and can play a few tunes pretty well on the piano. However, I read music painfully slowly and would like to develop this skill.
5. I used to do calligraphy in my spare time. Y’know, back in the day when there was such a thing.
6. I make a mean whipped shortbread cookie. Even better when I add Toblerone chunks.
7. There are a few things I can never have enough of: colourful markers, jammy pants, beautiful journals and silver rings are among them.

Oh, now comes the part I hate…tagging people. Even though I was very happy to be tagged, I usually end up feeling like I’m somehow inconveniencing my tagees. I wasn’t inconvenienced, so why should they be? Why do I feel that way? There you go…one more random thing about me. I've just gone back and reviewed who Ramblin' Red tagged, and honestly, she tagged the only other bloggers I know. So there you have it...I guess the buck stops here!

Could do this all day long

2008-01-26T14:03:00.001-04:00

The Boy has some fine motor issues that need a little work, so consequently printing isn't exactly his favourite thing. Some days, in fact, it's the bane of his existence, and by extension, mine too. In an effort to help without making it seem like work, I tried something that I've read about countless times, printing/drawing in salt (you can do it with flour or sugar too, but I chose salt because it was less likely to be eaten). I'm not sure who had more fun, but for almost an hour The Boy and I sat side by side writing, drawing and having conversations about all kinds of things. Priceless time together to be sure. What I hadn't counted on was how therapeutic I'd find it to be able to write something and shake it away over and over again. Must do this more often.

Whirlwind

2008-01-17T21:12:00.000-04:00

I'm about to get sucked into a whirlwind of 'busy', and frankly, I couldn't be happier. I work well under pressure because I have a tendency to procrastinate if given the chance. I have a couple of major work projects coming up, one of which will involve a trip to our nation's capital. I promise to not be such a chicken with my camera, because there's a lot of good stuff to shoot there. I'm also about to embark on a theatrical adventure, which I'll likely write about here at some point. As a teaser, let me just say that I'm reprising a role I first took on *gasp* 20 years ago as a senior in high school. Let's see if I've developed as an actor since then. I sure as hell hope so!

It seems that my synapses are always firing these days, and I'm allowing them to lead me wherever. I'm also allowing myself to let slide the things that can...like those New Year's cards I made up but never mailed. O.k., so here's question for the two or three of you that lurk from time to time...is it too late to send a Happy New Year's card (a photo collage of the our 2007), which was designed as a replacement for the Christmas cards I never got around to sending? I printed them myself on photo paper, so it's not a huge deal if the ansswer "Oh yes, WAAAAAAYYYY too late."

Unfourtunately, these firing synapses haven't led me to my blog any more than usual. Must set myself little writing assignments to keep the juices flowing. Any suggestions?

Speaking Up

2008-01-09T21:24:00.001-04:00

I'm developing a new habit that I'm not entirely comfortable with, but it's growing on me: speaking up for myself. I have long been a person who sits on her hands to avoid discord. I guess it's the people-pleaser in me that doesn't want to start what The Husband and I would call 'a thing'. In the past, if someone said something that struck a chord in me (good or bad), my tendency was to keep my feelings to myself, so as not to get all emotional and say something that doesn't come out as I intended, sort of the 'better to keep quiet and be thought a fool then to open your mouth and remove all doubt' philosophy. Whether or not it's been a conscious decision I'm not sure, but I'm speaking up for myself more lately. I generally get a knot in my stomach at the onset of a 'confrontation', but I'm becoming more comfortable speaking my mind.

New

2008-01-01T20:51:00.000-04:00

New snow.
New hobby.
New habits.
New hair?
New challenges.
New friend?
Same old me.
Happy.
New year.

'Tis the Season...

2007-12-19T20:45:00.000-04:00

...to be jolly, yes, but also to be busy, munchy, often-overheated (shopping, crowded Christmas concerts), and occasionally cranky. Doesn't make for the beginnings of a very festive post, does it?

Just thought I'd pop my head in to say that I'm still around. I've been meaning to write a round-up of my National Blog Posting Month experience, but I haven't managed to find the time. There's a reason why NaBloPoMo(Fo) isn't in December! When all was said and done, I was happy that I made the decision to take on NaBloPoMo; I wrote regularly, and it felt good. I also took more pictures, which felt equally good. I have a few new ones to share, but nothing earth-shattering or time-sensitive that can't wait until a post-holiday lull.

I'm mostly ready for the holiday season, although I realized long ago that the holiday doesn't care whether you're ready or not, so you might as well just do what you can, and then sit back and enjoy the ride. I'll probably be back here before the guy in the red suit comes down the chimney, but in case I'm not, Happy Holidays to one and all!

Wordless Wednesday: Sunrise in Richibucto, September 2007

2007-12-12T13:55:00.001-04:00

At the top of the list of...

2007-12-10T11:54:00.000-04:00

...things that will never happen to George W. Bush:

The Gift of Time

2007-12-04T19:24:00.001-04:00

Today was a storm day. The Mother of all Storm Days, in fact, as the snow has been falling non-stop since before I got up this morning. The Husband spent over 2 hours of quality time with the snow-blower this afternoon, and he barely made a dent before it was all filled in again. We used this time productively, my family and I, and I am pleased to report that a good time was had by all.

I roasted some pistachios...

...for one of our favourite holiday treats, cranberry pistachio bark:

The recipe, if you're curious, is a pound, a cup and a cup: one pound of white chocolate to which you add one cup of roasted pistachios and one cup of dried cranberries. I only make it for the holidays, in part because it's the only time of year that shelled pistachios are readily available in these parts. Cran-stachio bark has become one of our favourite holiday give-aways.

The Boy and I also maintained one of our staple holiday traditions: The Gingerbread House

We asked The Girl to join us, but she was a little out of sorts as she had just gotten up from a nap. Or maybe she didn't know how much fun it would be because she had no clue what a gingerbread house was? I sometimes forget that she's only two, because she has a vocabulary that is beyond her years. She was certainly fascinated by The Little House, as she called it, once it was completed. I'm sure she'll be on board next year. Instead of helping with the house, she chose to hang out with her trusty companions...

She lines them up, she hands them around, she puts them in her Hello Kitty backpack, she takes them out and lines them up again... She could play with these girls all. day. long. At one point she had them all crowded on the newel post at the top of the stairs because they were 'on a break'. The is the term her daycare teachers use instead of time out, and I'm not sure what the infractions were, but the princesses were released from their prison one by one for good behaviour. She's quite a little disciplinarian, that Girl of ours.

We all take comfort in our respective daily routines, but it's nice to have a little change of pace from time to time. I'm sure we'll be back into our usual groove tomorrow morning, but for now I think I'll just stare out the window for a little while and enjoy the gift that was today.

All He Wants for Christmas...

2007-12-02T12:47:00.000-04:00

On Being Brave

2007-11-30T22:18:00.000-04:00

I've returned from my weeklong sojourn to my other old stomping ground, The Smaller City, the one in which I lived without The Husband before we were married. It was a feast of the eyes in many ways. But did I get photos? No. Not even one. Why, you ask? I think I was worried that I would be making a nuisance of myself by stopping randomly to take photos in The Smaller City. Or perhaps, because I had my smaller, more touristy camera, I felt like a fraud by stopping to take photos of architecture and scenery; seems a little Mickey Mouse to take wide sweeping shots of a beautiful old cemetary in the middle of town with a camera that's about the size of my wallet, no? Perhaps the biggest missed opportunity was the show and sale of jewellery made by students at the Provincial College of Art and Design. Beautiful, creative and inspiring work, and yet I felt too shy to ask whether or not it would be o.k. to take pictures. What was I so afraid of? That someone would say no? That I might look a little silly? That trying to create 'art' (i.e., a beautiful photo) among artists was miles above me?

Definitely something to work on, so as not to waste further opportunities.

Passing the Time

2007-11-29T17:35:00.000-04:00

Computer access has been sketchy at best. Shoulda thought of that when I made my NaBloPoMo(Fo) commitment. I'll keep that in mind next year.

I've been out of town on mandatory training for work. Over the course of the last four days I've learned how to list all 50 states in alphabetical order. This is not part of the curriculum of the course. As you can surmise, I'm ready to go home.

Blogrant

2007-11-26T19:57:00.000-04:00

Just a wee note to let you both (or are there three of you now?) know that I'm not being a blogrant, I just haven't had access for the last couple of days. Does that count against my NaBloPoMo commitment? I sure hope not. I'm visiting some more old stomping grounds...different ones this time, and without The Husband, therefore not nearly as much fun. Hopefully I'll have some photos soon to make up for it.

A Family First!

2007-11-24T20:22:00.000-04:00

Tonight we attended our first Santa Claud Parade as a family. The Husband tells me ours is the biggest Santa parade east of Montréal - who knew? We bundled up, grabbed some blankets and headed for the hillside that has become the traditional spot for The Husband and The Boy. The Girl is finally old enough to join in the fun and she was very impressed. Now that we've had our first visit from the old guy, bring on the holidays!!

Big City Sights: Former Workplace

2007-11-23T15:10:00.000-04:00

I used to work here:

I worked in that building for three years, and it wasn't until I returned last week, as a tourist, that I discovered that this particular part of the building has a name: The Allan Lambert Galleria. I always knew it was a beautiful space, but I didn't realize just how beautiful until a week ago. Sometimes you need to take a step back to see the whole picture.

Big City Sights: Chihuly. Gesundheit!

2007-11-22T21:24:00.000-04:00

This is not, in fact, the work of renowned glass artist Dale Chihuly, but it's origins were the source of intense debate while we were in The City. It's an eye-catching piece by Jeff Burnett that was screaming to be photographed. Enjoy.

"How do you spell...

2007-11-21T21:30:00.000-04:00

...dough head?"

This from The Boy yesterday, who had obviously been in the back seat when The Husband had a run-in with a driver who was, as we would say in the Chickmobile, not being courteous. Generally speaking, The Boy does his daily travelling with The Husband, while The Girl travels to and fro with me. As such, The Boy learned long ago that The Husband's preferred term for those morons who cut people off in traffic, is 'dough head'. So yesterday, The Boy composed the following note:

Dear dough head,
Please stop bothering my dad.

He called it a ticket, and said that The Husband should flash it to anyone who isn't a good driver. It may not make anyone drive more courteously, but it sure put a smile on everyone's face. I think I'll have it laminated.

Big City Sights

2007-11-20T14:23:00.001-04:00

I had had some champagne, and this struck me funny. In a giggly teenager kind of way.

Awesome Wedding Idea #56

2007-11-19T22:27:00.000-04:00

Worried your guests won't want to whoop it up once the dancing starts? Hire some Caribana dancers to shake their respective groove thangs for 20 minutes on the dancefloor and then entice your guests to do the same. It's the only wedding I've ever been to where the men on the dancefloor outnumbered the women.

O.k., so I missed a day...

2007-11-18T22:01:00.000-04:00

...But it was my birthday, so let's just say I took the day off, 'k?

To make up for it, I'll post this:

Awesome Wedding Idea #42:

Plan for your wedding to take place around Christmas time. Skip the guest book and have your guests sign their names on glass ornaments that match your über-classy wedding colours. Hang them on your tree this year, and every year hereafter, to remind you of what a classy party you threw the day you married your best friend.

Attention to detail that was second to none. More wedding tidbits to follow.

A Quickie

2007-11-16T09:35:00.001-04:00

Arrived late last night to a welcome present from the bride and groom, a little "thanks for coming all this way to watch us get married - here, have some snacks!" Fell into bed with the chip nuts and Bailey's chocolates. Bliss......

Thursday Thirteen

2007-11-15T15:24:00.001-04:00

Thirteen things I hope to experience this weekend:

1. I will watch my friend Kel marry his beautiful bride. They will both be nervous, he more so than she.
2. I will savour orange chicken (2 chilis on a 20 chili scale) from one of my favourite Thai restaurants.
3. I will try to restrain myself at my favourite bead shop...a small space crammed full of beautiful jewellery waiting to happen.
4. I will catch a glimpse of the country's biggest Santa Claus Parade.
5. I will devour peanut chicken over pad thai and rice at my other favourite Thai restaurant.
6. I will catch up with several groups of old friends.
7. I will sleep in on Sunday, of only just a little.
8. I will visit Ikea and try not to leave with more than I can carry home on the plane.
9. I will wear something under my dress to the wedding that The Husband will appreciate.
10. I will miss my children, despite the fact that I will be enjoying my grown-up time with The Husband.
11. I will have birthday cake.
12. I will run into someone unexpectedly. It seems I always do when I travel.
13. I will do my best to find an opporunity to blog.

The City

2007-11-14T20:53:00.000-04:00

I'll start with the weekend getaway, because it will explain why this post is so very short!

We are returning to our old stomping grounds, The City in which we spent our first seven years as a married couple, The City where The Boy was born, The City in which I had a good deal of fun as a young married, and the same City from which I couldn't wait to escape with The Boy and The Husband. It's been five years since we moved, and we've only been back once together. We can't wait to visit our favourite Thai place, and the bead shop, and the other Thai place, and... Oh! The people! Can't wait to catch up with the folks we left behind, the ones who made us feel like this City could be our City if we wanted it to be. We didn't, in the end, because the pull of friends and family back home was strong, but The City definitely holds some special memories. I should have lots to tell, and hopefully some decent photos upon my return.

So for now I'll sign off, as it's time to pack. I'm hoping that I'll be able to find an opportunity to post while I'm away, as my dash of OCD might fester if I leave my NaBloPoMo (I always have the urge to add 'fo' to the end of that!) commitment hanging. Stay tuned! Both of you.

What?

2007-11-13T21:09:00.000-04:00

As in, what should I write about tonight? It's not that I can't think of a topic, it's that there are too many floating around in my head right now...everything from:

an upcoming kid-free getaway with The Husband which I've been looking forward to since it was booked in August,
to an upcoming personal celebration,
to The Boy's very loose, so loose I can't believe it's still hanging there, tooth,
to The Girl's very peaceful statement this morning ("Mommy, I love snow."),
to a recent debate among friends about the merits of a certain very popular, soon-to-be-on-the-big-screen children's novel,
to my favourite bloggers and how they can make me laugh out loud.

I'll let you pick...which one to do you want to hear about tomorrow?

Pride

2007-11-12T22:20:00.001-04:00

I've mentioned here before (forgive me for not linking it here, but it's late and I'm tired) that I spent the first 20 years of my life thinking I was horribly unathletic, as the second I would break a sweat I'd start wheezing. I am a librarian after all...we're not traditionally known for our athletic prowess. Turns out I'm mildly asthmatic, and with a quick hit off my puffer I'm good to go (isn't that what the kids are calling it these days?). So imagine my surprise when, at age almost-36 I manage to run 3 consecutive kilometers without expiring. Hurray for me! No, it's not a nice round number, like, say a 5K, but it's a start.

Remembrance

2007-11-11T15:02:00.000-04:00

The Boy, age 6, was looking forlorn a couple of days ago. I asked him what was wrong and he said:

“I’m sad about Pépère.”

Pépère was my grandfather, and he passed away in 1996, five years before The Boy was born. We talk about him from time to time, about how much he would have loved The Boy and The Girl, how he had a special way with babies, how he loved to laugh, and how he would have jokingly called them ninnies on a regular basis. What The Boy was sad about was what Pépère had gone through in World War II. He was a veteran of the Second World War, and had spent almost three years as a prisoner in Germany. He rarely spoke of his experience upon his return, even with his wife, and never with his grandchildren. Luckily for us, he left behind an anonymous (at least to most) first-hand account of his time in the war, captured by a local author and published several years before his death. I am so very grateful that he agreed to share his story, so that I may someday share it with my children. The few details I have shared with The Boy have stayed with him. They pop up on expected days, like today, and at other, less expected times. As they should.

Me Time

2007-11-10T20:15:00.000-04:00

It's a toasty Saturday evening in my kitchen, the wind is blowing outside, there are flurries in the air, the kiddies are sleeping peacefully, they laundry's almost done and it's almost me time. What will that consist of tonight? Might make some Christmas cards. Might read. Might shave my legs. Might just go to sleep. I love the simplicity of me time. Hurray for the end of another day.

Surviving NaBloPoMo, and a Decision

2007-11-09T16:18:00.000-04:00

I've made it through my first week of NaBloPoMo with only a couple of minor slip-ups (which I tried my best to compensate for.) Yay, me! I've also picked up some traffic along the way, which pleases me to no end. Yay, me again!

As such, I've decided to 'come out', so to speak, and perhaps reveal a little more of myself. I had originally decided to remain anonymous in the interest of online safety, but I'm realizing that part of the fun of connecting with other folks is being available to be connected with. Make sense? So, coming soon, a more complete profile. If the stalker and axe murderers in the group could look away, I'd appreciate it.

Thursday Thirteen: A meme borrowed from a new commenter

2007-11-08T16:01:00.000-04:00

1. Something I am very afraid of: I’m not generally a fearful sort, but I’m not a big fan of heights.

2. One thing I dislike about myself: I cry when I’m angry, and it’s difficult to believe someone’s REALLY angry when they’re blubbering. I also cry when someone pays me a compliment.

3. One profession I have absolutely no respect for: Tabloid "journalism", print and otherwise

4. My favorite type of music: Whatever moves me, whether it be physically (Fred Durst is responsible for the fact that I recently ran 3 km for the first time ever) or emotionally (Marc Cohen’s True Companion still makes me cry every time)

5. A unique place I have visited: Ans, Belgium

6. Age at which I got my first real kiss: 15

7. My dream job: Broadway!!

8. A sound I love to hear: my kids making each other laugh

9. A food I cannot eat enough of: plain potato chips

10. Something new I really want to do as a hobby: paint with wild abandon on huge canvasses

11. My favorite word: today? bliss

12. Something that other people do that I hate: chew their gum loudly

13. My little "vice": craft supplies or my nightly glass of wine

Crap!

2007-11-08T08:22:00.000-04:00

Apparently that's my exclamation of choice when I've forgotten something. I was waiting in line at my nearest coffee drive-thru a couple of months ago when I had a realization and exclaimed,

"Crap!"

Enter the sing-songy voice of The Girl from the back seat:

"What did Mummy forget?"

I had indeed forgotten someting. Like yesterday. When I forgot to post. Oops.

Food for Thought...

2007-11-06T16:13:00.000-04:00

...from Unitarian Universalists...

"We do not urge all to think alike, but urge all alike to think."

This might be something I could get on board with.

Birth stories coming, I promise!

What to write about?

2007-11-05T13:33:00.000-04:00

So I was in bed last night, trying to decide what I would write about today. No, I’m not losing sleep over NaBloPoMo, I was just running through my nightly list of “Things to do tomorrow” and this was on it. So I started thinking about why I started to blog in the first place. Which led me to “Things I’ve been meaning to write down so I don’t forget them”. Top of that list? The Boy and The Girl’s birth stories. Tune in tomorrow for the first installment.

Everything old is new again...

2007-11-04T11:45:00.000-04:00

We've battened down that hatches and are riding out the remnants of a hurricane. The prospect of being housebound doesn't exactly thrill me now that I have children. It's nice to have options when everyone starts getting on each other's nerves, and I'm thankful to have children who generally like spending time outside, even in the dead of winter. So when it's so windy and rainy and generally gross that 'outside' isn't an option, I feel like I need a plan. Today's plan? The giant bin of toys we packed away when The Boy outgrew them. I'm not sure who enjoyed them more - The Boy, The Girl or their parents.

Haul

2007-11-03T18:08:00.000-03:00

This is the first year that The Boy and The Girl have done their trick or treating together. The Girl is only two, but she's a quick study...we were only one or two houses into our route when she figured out that a quick trip up the steps of some stranger's house could yield untold wonders, like gummies and chips and Smarties. The Boy was in full-on big brother mode, showing her the ropes and protecting her from scary masks by chivalrously standing in front of her, blocking her line of sight. They were exhausted when we arrived home from our trip around the block, and it didn't occur to them to fully peruse their treats until after dinner tonight. And were they impressed? Oh yes...I think it's safe to say that Hallowe'en is a new favourite holiday in our household.

Making up for yesterday...

2007-11-02T20:15:00.000-03:00

I'm one of those people who feels that if something is worth doing, it's worth doing well. This would explain why I've been thinking all day about when I would get a chance to post a second item today for NaBloPoMo, to make up for the fact that I missed yesterday. Not that it can really make up for it in the mind of someone like me, who will always know, even if I could change the date so that this post said 'November 1' that I had missed a day. And it will bother me, though only slightly. What does that say about me?
Discuss.
Both of you.

NaBloPoMo...a little slow on the uptake!

2007-11-02T09:21:00.000-03:00

Alright kids, it's NaBloPoMo, which means I'm going to do my best to put a new post here. Every. Single. Day this month. I love a good challenge! I know,I know, I'm already failing miserably because I've missed the first day, but I'll try to make up for it by posting again a little later today. There may be lots of rambling, because I tend not to post unless I actually have something to say (because really, do you care what I had for dinner? Probably not!), but I'll try to keep things lively and interesting. So Hammy ('cause aren't you the only one here?) if you have any requests, shout 'em out and I'll see what I can do.

Wordless Wednesday

2007-10-17T08:53:00.001-03:00

Expecto Patronum

2007-10-15T09:02:00.000-03:00

You haven’t lived until, in the middle of World War Three, your 6-year-old comes stomping from his room, the one to which he had been unceremoniously sent, clutching his homemade magic wand, and socks you with a Patronus Charm with all the seriousness he can muster. Because you’re his Dementor. You’ve sucked up all his joy.

If I had had my wits about me, I would have countered with Petrificus Totalus, just to see the look on his face when he realized that two can play at that game. Must remember that for next time. Because I’m sure there will be a next time.

Is a meme better than nothing at all?

2007-10-02T08:55:00.001-03:00

Here, a meme that I've been meaning to work on for ages...

I AM content.
I WANT pie. Right now.
I WISH for my children to have happiness always.
I MISS my life before children, but only occasionally.
I HEAR some of you thinking I’m a horrible mother because of what I miss.
I WONDER what the future brings.
I REGRET not asking my favourite cousins to be in my wedding party.
I AM NOT perfect, and that’s o.k.
I DANCE less than I used to. Drag.
I AM NOT ALWAYS working as hard as I could.
I MAKE WITH MY HANDS just about everything.
I WRITE quite a lot, actually.
I CONFUSE easily.
I NEED another vacation with The Husband.
I SHOULD start my Christmas shopping soon so I can enjoy my time with family over the holidays.
I START my day early, and I’ve grown to like it that way.
I FINISH only some of the things I start.

September

2007-09-10T10:30:00.000-03:00

New school supplies have always made me very happy, so I decided to buy myself some of these this year:

My little summer hiatus wasn't intentional, but rather resulted from the appearance of a new addiction in my life: facebook. Anyone miss me while I was gone?

Two

2007-05-20T08:57:00.000-03:00

Dear Girl,

Today you turn 2 years old. During this past year you have learned a lot, and your Dad and I have learned a lot about you. You are a fascinating little girl, and you’ve completed our family in ways we never could have imagined.

Your development has exploded this year. As expected, you learned to walk shortly after your first birthday. That didn’t last long, however, as you quickly decided that running was infinitely more fun. You’re particularly fond of running while looking to see what or who is behind you. Consequently, you’ve had your share of bumps and scrapes this year. But you’re not a crier. I’ve see you fall and skin your knee, only to get up and keep running without shedding a single tear. I think you’ve decided that tears get in the way of the fun stuff, and you simply haven’t got time for them. I think an attitude like that will take you far.

One of your daycare providers once asked me if The Boy likes to roughhouse with you, given the way you like to jump and roll and wrestle. “You’ve never met a more docile big brother in your life”, was my reply. “I don’t know where she gets it.” You are fearless, and it sometimes it scares the hell out of me.

On the other hand, you’re becoming quite a girly girl. You would rather wear a ‘pretty dress’ than anything else, and if there’s something I’d like you to wear, all I have to do is call it ‘pretty’ and you’re on board. For the most part, I don’t intend to argue with you about clothing (except for obvious things, like swimsuits in November). I’m putting that on the record here, so that when you’re older and you see photos of yourself in mismatched outfits I’ll have proof that it wasn’t my fault.

In recent weeks I have repeatedly heard you say three of the most terrifying words a mother can hear from her daughter:

“I do it.”

This means that I must now start allowing for extra time when trying to accomplish most tasks, as it inevitably takes longer for you to ‘do it’ than for mommy to ‘do it’ for you. It is time I am happy to allot.

Your speech astounds me. Your brother was a late talker, but once he started he never stopped, and he was always intelligible. I was pretty sure that you wouldn’t talk until you were a teenager because you simply wouldn’t be able to get a word in, but oh, how wrong I was. Your daycare director called me one day to ask if I minded if they move you up to the two-year-old room four months early. She didn’t feel you were being challenged enough with the one’s. I realize that this move had as much to do with the fact that they probably needed the space in the one’s as it did with your development, but I was proud nonetheless. You can count past 10, you can recite your ABC’s, you know your colours and I’m constantly surprised by your vocabulary and pronunciation. I’m also consistently amazed at the ways you put ideas together. You looked out your bedroom window one morning and saw the cat that lives across the street, sitting on the front step, facing the front door. Rather than just observing that there was a kitty, and that he was sitting, or he was black, or he was on the step, you made a leap and said: “Kitty…Kitty is waiting.” And you were absolutely right. The wheels in your head are always turning and I can’t wait to see where those wheels will take you.

Love,
Mama

Overheard...

2007-05-01T15:30:00.000-03:00

...in a ladies room along the Mayan Riviera:

"Mommy, that soap smells like pina coladas!"

She couldn't have been more than six.

The View from Here

2007-04-28T21:03:00.000-03:00

The Husband and I recently did something we've been meaning to do for a long time: take a hot, sunny vacation together. At first he was worried about leaving The Boy and The Girl for a whole week, but they had a grand time in the care of The Grandparents. Coming home from time away always seems to have some minor complications (a friend of mine refers to this phenomenon as 're-entry'), but it was worth it: I feel energized, wide awake and ready for anything. Hopefully that means more blogging, among other things.

Now We Are Six

2007-03-09T12:42:00.000-04:00

Dear Boy,

Tomorrow is your 6th birthday. How did we get to this point, the point at which you are such a charming young boy? Your rapid growth never ceases to amaze me.

This past year has been an amazing one for you as well as your dad and I, because you started school. You were SO excited on your first day. Dad and I walked you to school on that misty, moisty morning, and you skipped along, pumping your arm and shouting ‘woohoo!’ along the way. I’m sure the neighbours must have thought we had won the lottery. And then, once we arrived, you couldn’t get rid of us fast enough. There were no tears, no words of wisdom, no please don’t go’s. You gave us the kindergartener equivalent of ‘don’t let the door hit your ass on the way out’. I’m told that I’m supposed to be grateful for that kind of attitude, but I secretly hoped I’d get a big brave hug from you as you set out on your educational adventure. Since that first day you have learned SO much, including how to read. I wasn’t prepared for just how proud I would feel that first time you read me a book all by yourself. Incredible.

You continue to be a wonderful big brother, more patient and understanding than we could have ever hoped for. You continue to show The Girl the ways of the world, and you’re at your cutest when you go into full-on demonstration mode. Who knew you’d be such a great little explainer?

The past year has been one of a lot of ‘firsts’ for you, including your first trip to the eye doctor, and your first filling. You are apparently quite colour-blind, which is nice to be aware of. You still don’t always believe me when I tell you that something is red and not brown, but you’re working on it. Your first filling was as easy as pie, much to my surprise. Considering how much you hate loud noises I figured the mere sound of the drill would be enough to send you over the edge into full-on panic mode. You are indeed growing up.

Another, more festive, first this year was your first hockey game. Daddy took you to see the Wildcats one Sunday afternoon in January and you had a fantastic time. You ate boy food (hotdogs, pop, cotton candy) and cheered your heads off, and our team won. Your post-game grin was a mile wide…I think you even smiled in your sleep that night!

You’ve reached the ‘punny’ phase of your development, which is both charming and, I’ll confess, a little irritating. I love to hear your hearty laugh (you have always had a wonderfully genuine laugh), but to hear the same joke over and over and over again can be a little grating. Small price to pay to see your sense of humour develop. May you always have something to laugh about.

Since you’re old enough to be able to understand much of what I’ve written here, I pondered whether or not I should give this letter directly to you, rather than posting it here on my blog. I decided that I would post it here, and share it with you when you’re older…maybe when you’re a brooding teenager and you’re in your “I hate the world” or “I hate my parents” phase. Honestly though, based on your current temperament I can’t imagine that you’ll ever go through the former, and I pray that you’ll never put your dad and I through the latter. I know several parents of teenagers who will make me eat those words when the time comes, but we’ll cross that bridge together when we come to it.

Thank you for your laugh, for your charm, for your honest eyes and how hard you try. You are indeed a very special boy and I love you with all my heart. Happy 6th Birthday.

Love,
Mommy

Krispie Carnage

2007-02-13T19:23:00.000-04:00

I just finished a batch of treats for The Girl's daycare Valentine's party. Would you believe I've never made Rice Krispie treats before? Shocking, I know, that it's possible to have an almost-6-year-old and to never have made the easiest snack on earth. My original plan was heart-shaped treats for the occasion, but I realized that my heart-shaped cookie cutter might not be thick enough to get through the treats. So then I opted for the gingerdude. I think I watch too much CSI, because these remind me too much of wee chalk outlines:

A normal person might think, "Ooh! Snow angels! Pretty!" Not me. And don't even get me started on the representational possiblities of these guys...

The truly sad part about it all would be the giant mittfull of excess treat I stuffed into my mouth every time I went over there to take a picture. Note to self: rectangular treats for now on, so there aren't those pesky leftover bits!

100 Things: The 'No Rhyme or Reason' Edition

2007-02-09T15:52:00.000-04:00

30. Although I was raised Catholic, I am not particularly religious. This has made for some interesting conversations with The Boy. When he was three I tried to explain to him about the real meaning of Christmas. Without the context of catechism or Sunday school, the best I could come up with was that we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ because he was a ‘nice guy’ who taught us that we should all be nice to each other. You’ll all be pleased to know that I’ve expanded on that somewhat in the three years since we first had the conversation.
31. I spent a month in Belgium with three friends after we graduated from high school.
32. I spent my whole childhood and adolescence thinking I was terribly out of shape because I couldn’t run 2 minutes without being out of breath.
33. It wasn’t until my mid-twenties that I learned I’m mildly asthmatic.
34. I have since taken up running.
35. I have kidney stones. Right this minute. Just waiting to wreak havoc. As a kidney-stone sufferer I was told to avoid large quantities of leafy green vegetables, which is a problem for me because…
36. Spinach is my favourite vegetable.
37. I also love pie, which apparently has no bearing on my kidney stones whatsoever. Good news.
38. I’m also a chocolate lover, although I’m not fanatical about it.
39. My preference is milk chocolate. Belgian milk chocolate is especially tasty.

Welcome!

2007-02-02T09:44:00.000-04:00

After getting together with a wonderful group of ladies last night, I have decided to come out of the blogging closet by sending my URL to a few friends. I'm honestly not sure why I'm so shy about my blog...perhaps it's because my online friends and my 'bricks'n'mortar' friends have never really crossed paths before, or maybe it's because any writing I've ever done is something I've kept to myself for the most part. Actually, the more I think about it, the more I realize that I am, in fact, quite a private person in many ways. But I'm also a private person who loves to connect. I've been convinced that 'blog' is not a dirty word and that I should share, so here I am. Welcome! Feel free to 'shout out' to let me know you're here!

Fickle, fickle, me

2007-02-01T09:17:00.000-04:00

Since I don't get a lot of traffic on this site, it's entirely possible that no one will notice that I've changed my template for the second time in a week, but I thought I'd post about it anyway. I just wasn't grooving on the nasty orange-beige frames on either side of my blog, so I switched to this rather electric green. Thoughts?

Our Desktop Computer

2007-02-01T08:24:00.000-04:00

R.I.P. 2001-2007

Yup, our computer finally took it's last breath. As you can see, it lived a long life for a computer and it served us well. Were we prepared, fiscally speaking, for the purchase of a new computer? Not exactly, but more prepared than we've ever been in the past, so I was able to appease my rule-following self by doing something I've never done before: Along with the purchase of our computer, we bought a legal, registered operating system (Vista, no less!) and legal, registered home office software. I feel like I've gone to confession...I am positively giddy! I haven't had much of a chance to play with our new toy, but you can bet that I'll be spending some quality time with it soon. Weeeeeeeeee!

Weeee! A redesign!

2007-01-25T09:09:00.000-04:00

I figured I'd better get with the times and switch to the 'new' Blogger, so I took the opportunity to play with the look a little bit. I'd like to have more leeway with the colour scheme, but this will do. I'm currently going through a chocolate brown period, and I though this fit the bill quite nicely. Enjoy!

Yes, the photo quality is poor…

2007-01-24T16:12:00.000-04:00

But the image being captured couldn’t be sweeter. This is The Girl and I snuggling on the loveseat after dinner last night, as captured in our living room skylight. The Boys were downstairs watching Star Wars and The Girl, who had spent the afternoon home sick from daycare with my mom, was feeling all snuggly, which is very rare indeed. I hate that she’s not feeling well, but I do love those cuddles. Thanks, Girl.

10 More Things About Me

2007-01-22T11:24:00.000-04:00

20. I like to take walks on warm windy days.
21. I would love to take a road trip in a convertible.
22. I am happy about my age. I have never felt more comfortable in my own skin.
23. I am often told that by people that I don’t look my age (35), that I look younger. I am still unclear as to whether or not this is a compliment.
24. I have spatial awareness issues. As such, I have had a number of parking fender benders. I’m not sure if my condition is treatable.
25. The burner “map” on the stove is something I have to really concentrate on in order to turn on the correct burner. I think this is related to number 24.
26. I have a tendency to over-explain myself in an effort to avoid confusion. I have no idea why. Perhaps because I’m a people-pleaser and I don’t want to cause unnecessary confusion? Who knows.
27. Bad grammar makes me crazy.
28. I love paper, pens, ink, pencils, journals, notebooks, stickers….but I’m not into scrapbooking. Go figure.
29. My hair is naturally quite curly, although I’ve styled it straight it pretty much my whole life. Something about Number 22 is making me embrace my curls a little more. And I like them.

100 Things...the Psychoanalysis Edition

2006-12-20T09:26:00.000-04:00

Here they are...10 more things about me.

1. My husband and I often don’t find the same things funny. On the other hand, my brother and I do.
2. We watched a lot of Monty Python when we were growing up.
3. I was the first member of my family on both my mom’s side and my dad’s, to graduate from university. My dad was the second. It took him 11 years to do it by correspondence, and he graduated from university and retired in the same year.
4. I am proud to be my father’s daughter.
5. I am a lot like my mother, and I’m sure my husband would agree with me.
6. For the most part, I am proud to be like my mom. She is a kind woman, with only the best intentions at heart. Always.
7. I am a people-pleaser. I come from a long line of them.
8. I’m trying to learn to not lose sight of my own wants and needs, because pleasing other people all of the time isn’t healthy.
9. I was a very serious, uptight child. I only loosened up and grew a sense of humour in my late teens. People who know me now don't believe that I was ever that serious, although some habits are hard to break. Such as...
10. I am a rule-follower...I don't like to jaywalk, I always use my signal light and, now that garbage separation in my city is mandatory, I'm suddenly being extra careful about what goes in which bag. *

* Anyone wishing an explanation of our city's complex garbage separation policy, involving a multi-colored assortment of bags and personal rules of thumb for what's 'wet' and what's 'dry' need only ask.

To answer Sweet Marlo...

2006-12-15T09:41:00.000-04:00

THESE are kitten heels:

So tell me....how on earth is that wee nubbin of a heel supposed to support a full-sized human being? Impossible I tell you...

100 Things About Me...sort of...

2006-12-06T14:22:00.000-04:00

O.k., so I've been working on my '100 Things' list for some time now, but things have been crazy busy and I haven't managed to get around to finishing it. So here's the first installment. Stay tuned for more!

1. I dislike kitten heels. They just don’t look like they can support the full weight of an adult leg.
2. I hate the telephone, both the calling and the answering.
3. I have no sisters, and never really felt like I was missing out by not having any.
4. My husband was my first boyfriend.
5. My biggest pet peeve is loud, obnoxious gum-chewing. Actually, loud obnoxious chewing of anything makes me crazy.
6. I am addicted to Spider Solitaire. There. I said it.
7. I am a bit of a perfectionist about some things. When I was a child in elementary school we would be asked to hand our notebooks in periodically so they could be checked for neatness. I used to recopy my entire notebook the night before because I never thought mine were neat enough.
8. As a result of the above, my husband tells me that I write like a typewriter.
9. I love pie. Especially ones with two crusts.
10. I’m one of those people who gets all bent out of shape when her gas gauge gets below a quarter of a tank. Once it gets to that point I’ve been known to make a special trip to fill up (as opposed to doing it while running other errands) because GOOD GOD what would I do if the light started blinking?!?!? Don’t even get me started on how stressed out I get when that happens.

Blogrant in the House!

2006-10-27T20:18:00.000-03:00

Yup, I've been a bit of a blogrant lately. Not sure why exactly, and if the blogging critics are right you probably don't care, which suits me just fine. I guess I just don't have much to say these days beyond the mundane everyday stuff, and as MightyGirl attests, "Nobody Cares What You Had for Lunch" (available now at Amazon.Com) I've spent some time in recent weeks sipping the last dregs of summer, as evidenced here:

Love to see those smiling faces in the sunshine. I fear the cold weather is about to hit, which doesn't bother me in the slightest until there's shovelling involved. Ick.

Not much else to say tonight, just couldn't keep those apple day shots to myself any longer. I'm working on a "100 things about me" post, so stay tuned for that. Both of you.

Google History

2006-09-15T11:23:00.000-03:00

It occurred to me the other day that a great way to take a peek into someone's brain to see what's been on their mind is to check out their Google Search History. Here, for your perusal, are some things I've Googled recently:

states in the union 1935
"centennial park"
patricia clarkson
ordre du jour
hemorrhaging
rosh hashanah
"mcbuns bakery"
challah bread
nb college of physicians and surgeons (to help with the hemorrhaging, perhaps?)
treasury board
suri cruise
celebrity duets
standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater

An odd, disparate collection of search terms, wouldn't you say? I have very good reasons for having searched each and every one of those.

So tell me...what's in YOUR Google History? Looking forward to reading your responses!

Luscious

2006-09-06T09:26:00.000-03:00

That's the best word I can think of for these. They say 'summer' to me. The Girl enjoys them so much I think she wishes she could grow a third arm to shove them in her mouth, because two arms just don't do the job quickly enough. It used to be that you could only buy them when they were in season. And how I loved their season...hot, sunny summer days filled with family and fun. You can get them all year round now, and although that makes me happy, because I love them, it also seems to make them a little bit less special. But certainly no less luscious.

A Book Meme!

2006-08-15T09:35:00.000-03:00

I couldn't NOT play along with this one, considering my profession. Here goes...

1. One book that changed your life? Keep the list short, and exclude the Bible, Koran, or any other spiritual authority: I don't think there is one book that has changed my life. There are several that have affected me very much for one reason or another. Among them is Lois Lowry's The Giver, a fantastic book you'll find in the Young Adult section at any library or bookstore. Another would be The Moutain and the Valley by Ernest Buckler.

2. One book that you’ve read more than once: Like MommyHAM, I also re-read books often, for the simple reason that my memory is so pathetic that I can be almost as surprised the second time around! I have recently re-read The Da Vinci Code, so my memory could be refreshed for the movie. I have also re-read a couple of collections short stories by Jeffery Archer several times: A Quiver Full of Arrows and A Twist in the Tale.

3. One book you’d want on a desert island: The Oxford English Dictionary. I'd settle for the Shorter OED (2 vols.)

4. One book that made you laugh: Roddy Doyle's Barrytown Trilogy. Yes, technically it's three books (The Commitments, The Snapper and The Van), but bound in one hilarious volume.

5. One book that made you cry: Hmmmm.....very good question. I know lots of books have made me cry, but I honestly can't think of one in particular right now. Oh wait! I know...Love you Forever, by Robert Munsch. Read it in a bookstore for the first time, during my first year at university, with my friend Angela. When we finished it, we were both bawling. We both bought it for our moms for Mother's Day that year.

6. One book you wish had been written: I'll agree with MommyHAM on this one, and say the autobiography of Jesus Christ. I think it would clear up a whole lot of confusion for a whole lot of people.

7. One book you wish had never been written: I'm not sure there's any such thing as a book that should never have been written.

8. One book you’re currently reading: Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator, to The Boy at bedtime. Honestly I'm not enjoying it all that much, but we had read Charlie and the Chocolate Factory about 4 times, and needed a change. I'm also reading Freakonomics by Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner.

9. One book you’ve been meaning to read: Oh, there are so many...MommyHAM's answers to this meme reminded me that I would like to read I Don't Know How She Does It by Allison Pearson, I would also like to read Blink and The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time by Mark Haddon and a host of classics that I've either never read, or would like to read again: To Kill a Mockingbird, The Catcher in the Rye, Atlas Shrugged, Of Mice and Men, the list goes on...

Who to tag? Since there are very few people reading, I'll only tag one: Library Squirrel. But she certainly shouldn't feel obliged to answer. Squirrels can be very busy this time of year, you know!