No comments on my last blog... oh well, who cares. Time for another list. I am in PEI right now, and it is hot and sticky. People told me it wasn't really summer here yet- they lied. So while I sit here and sweat, and watch "A Few Good Men" (BORING), I will blog another list about fun things that happened on our camping trip.
1. Setting up camp before hubby arrived with huge rumbles of thunder going on for an hour. (Yes I'm weird, but that was FUN!)
2. Playing scrabble with W at the picnic table in the rain while holding the golf umbrella over our heads to stay dry so we could finish.
3. Listening to the rain on our tent.
4. Waking up (relatively) dry.
5. Insisting all day Saturday that it wasn't going to rain, and showing all the doubters that I was RIGHT.
6. Corn on the cob. Everything tastes better outside.
7. Sleeping in and waking up to the sound of birds.
8. Having the best camping neighbours one could want.
9. Watching W enjoy the freedom of being able to go anywhere in the whole park on his bike.
10. Fishing
11. Swimming
12. Dinner with the M's
13. Coolers by the campfire
14. S'mores
15. Raccoon hunting
16. NO schedule.
17. No computer
18. No phone
19. No emails
20. No work
21. No facebook
22. No electronics of any kind
23. Bacon. Did I mention everything tastes better outside?
24. Flush toilets- I appreciate them a whole lot more when I'm camping
25. We will be going for a week next year.
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Kittens and endorphins
About 2 weeks ago we got J a late birthday present. A new kitten. He had asked for one last December for his birthday. We took him to Disney World instead. But a few weeks ago, friends of ours were giving away kittens that they had, and the lone female caught our eye. She is a mottled little girl, and Jon absolutely adores her. We all do- except our other cat. He has moved on from loathing and now tolerates her.
I have never had a kitten before. Max (recently renamed "Gigantor") was 6 months old when we got him, and not very kitten-like anymore. I have had a few puppies, and while they are as fun as kittens in their own way, kittens are decidedly more low-maintenance and even a little more fun. Here, for your reading pleasure, is a list of things that are more fun when a kitten is involved:
1. Hanging birthday streamers. (They are surprisingly resistant to claws)
2. Blowing up balloons (Not so resistant)
3. Putting on socks. You must be sitting on the side of the bed and the kitten must be under the bed for full attack potential.
4. Playing with a yo-yo.
5. Crocheting. Yarn must be wound into a ball and laying on the floor.
6. Watching the dog wag her tail. This fairly throws the kitten into a frenzy
7. Turning on the ceiling fan. I don't know if kittens have trouble with depth perception, but she honestly seems to think that she can jump high enough to grab one of the fan blades.
8. Typing on the computer. She always seems to know just when to walk across the keyboard.
9. Moving the computer mouse. Depending on kitten's position, the fun can be in the chasing of the mouse cord, or following the arrow on the screen and trying to figure out why she can't get it with her paw.
10. Having a daughter with several braids. These provide surprisingly good grip for claws.
11. Vacuuming. hee hee
12. Opening any cupboard. Kitten must always be fished out before closing door.
13. Playing the piano. She often does this all by herself.
14. Taking clothes out of the dryer. Note to self- always locate kitten before turning on dryer.
15. Working on the pool pump- this requires some explanation, but our pump is under the deck, and when kitten, who was watching me through the window, saw me disappear under the deck, she freaked. Apparently the deck eats people.
16. Watching kitten figure out where the food in the automatic dispenser comes from. Efforts alternated between attempting to pry lid off and reaching up inside hopper trying to fish food out.
17. Reading a book. Must involve a bookmark with a tassle.
18. Drinking a latte.
19. Wiggling toes while laying in bed. This is fun when the comforter is on top of them. When it's just the sheet, and claws and teeth can penetrate, not so fun.
20. Folding laundry. Apparently it's a big game.
21. Hanging dish clothes on the holder. And picking them up off the floor once kitten has pulled them down. Repeat as needed.
22. Flushing the toilet. No cats overboard... yet.
That's all I can think of for now. The little furball is asleep on my lap as I type this. She has been for a while, and that can only mean one thing. At some point between 3 and 4 am, I will be facing the wrath of crazy kitten.
I have never had a kitten before. Max (recently renamed "Gigantor") was 6 months old when we got him, and not very kitten-like anymore. I have had a few puppies, and while they are as fun as kittens in their own way, kittens are decidedly more low-maintenance and even a little more fun. Here, for your reading pleasure, is a list of things that are more fun when a kitten is involved:
1. Hanging birthday streamers. (They are surprisingly resistant to claws)
2. Blowing up balloons (Not so resistant)
3. Putting on socks. You must be sitting on the side of the bed and the kitten must be under the bed for full attack potential.
4. Playing with a yo-yo.
5. Crocheting. Yarn must be wound into a ball and laying on the floor.
6. Watching the dog wag her tail. This fairly throws the kitten into a frenzy
7. Turning on the ceiling fan. I don't know if kittens have trouble with depth perception, but she honestly seems to think that she can jump high enough to grab one of the fan blades.
8. Typing on the computer. She always seems to know just when to walk across the keyboard.
9. Moving the computer mouse. Depending on kitten's position, the fun can be in the chasing of the mouse cord, or following the arrow on the screen and trying to figure out why she can't get it with her paw.
10. Having a daughter with several braids. These provide surprisingly good grip for claws.
11. Vacuuming. hee hee
12. Opening any cupboard. Kitten must always be fished out before closing door.
13. Playing the piano. She often does this all by herself.
14. Taking clothes out of the dryer. Note to self- always locate kitten before turning on dryer.
15. Working on the pool pump- this requires some explanation, but our pump is under the deck, and when kitten, who was watching me through the window, saw me disappear under the deck, she freaked. Apparently the deck eats people.
16. Watching kitten figure out where the food in the automatic dispenser comes from. Efforts alternated between attempting to pry lid off and reaching up inside hopper trying to fish food out.
17. Reading a book. Must involve a bookmark with a tassle.
18. Drinking a latte.
19. Wiggling toes while laying in bed. This is fun when the comforter is on top of them. When it's just the sheet, and claws and teeth can penetrate, not so fun.
20. Folding laundry. Apparently it's a big game.
21. Hanging dish clothes on the holder. And picking them up off the floor once kitten has pulled them down. Repeat as needed.
22. Flushing the toilet. No cats overboard... yet.
That's all I can think of for now. The little furball is asleep on my lap as I type this. She has been for a while, and that can only mean one thing. At some point between 3 and 4 am, I will be facing the wrath of crazy kitten.
Saturday, October 30, 2010
adventures and hippos
So I feel a bit like Avis from Julie and Julia this weekend. I hopped on a plane yesterday (thanks to my wonderful hubby who told me he and the kids would survive quite nicely for a few days without me) and have flown to Calgary to meet my Julia, aka, L, with whom I have been a pen pal for months now. And this weekend we met. Since being picked up at the airport yesterday evening, I have been whisked off to Banff for two nights of complete relaxation. It is a lovely clear and crips day here, and we are neslted in a beautiful little town in the middle of the mountains. I am in heaven. The only improvement would be to have the hubby and kids here too. Next time.
We spent the morning having breakfast across the street from our lovely hotel, and then we visited nearly every quaint little shop on the main street. I have fallen in love with the Christmas shop here, bought several little treasures there for our Christmas tree, and drooled over several other items.
In an hour or so, we are going to go horseback riding in the mountains. I plan for it to be more successful than the last time I rode in the mountains, when the first horse of the day decided to go running after a deer and nearly lost its saddle (and me with it), and the second horse tripped over his own feet and fell with me under him. I have been riding several time since then, but this will be my chance to redeem myself on a mountain ride.
After that it's off to Banff springs for tea, and tomorrow they are taking me to Lake Louise. What have I done to deserve to be this spoiled, I wonder?
Amongst all the sight seeing, we are taking and laughing and taking pictures and L is chatting with complete strangers and we are generally getting to know each other. Any worries I had of not knowing what to talk about have been washed away. It's more a matter of not having enough time to talk about it all. Ah well, that's what letters are for.
Time to go and finish my latte... mmmmm
We spent the morning having breakfast across the street from our lovely hotel, and then we visited nearly every quaint little shop on the main street. I have fallen in love with the Christmas shop here, bought several little treasures there for our Christmas tree, and drooled over several other items.
In an hour or so, we are going to go horseback riding in the mountains. I plan for it to be more successful than the last time I rode in the mountains, when the first horse of the day decided to go running after a deer and nearly lost its saddle (and me with it), and the second horse tripped over his own feet and fell with me under him. I have been riding several time since then, but this will be my chance to redeem myself on a mountain ride.
After that it's off to Banff springs for tea, and tomorrow they are taking me to Lake Louise. What have I done to deserve to be this spoiled, I wonder?
Amongst all the sight seeing, we are taking and laughing and taking pictures and L is chatting with complete strangers and we are generally getting to know each other. Any worries I had of not knowing what to talk about have been washed away. It's more a matter of not having enough time to talk about it all. Ah well, that's what letters are for.
Time to go and finish my latte... mmmmm
Friday, October 15, 2010
Blogging is not facebook
Thought I should blog today. It's been a few days, and I said I was going to start blogging again, so here I am. I always try to do what I say I will do, no matter how small. Dependable people in this world are too few and far between, so I want to be one of those rare folks. I mean, who knows? There might be some pathetic soul out there who, for reasons beyond my comprehension, is just waiting for Bee's blog to make their day. I doubt such a person exists, but if you do, a special hello to you. How are ya? Hope you're enjoying a coffee while reading this, because the blog certainly isn't going to wake you up this morning.
It has occurred to me that every time I blog, I check the next several days to see if there were any comments (No, I am not fishing for comments here- just a statement). I rarely get any. Now I said in my last post that I was blogging for myself and my new BFF, L. So if that's true, why do I care about comments... then it occurred to me. I expect blogging to be like facebook. On facebook you post a status, sometime pretty mundane, but always tried to be done in a witty way. Because, although no one will admit it, it's a bit of a continual contest. Successful posts get a lot of comments, encite a large chain of "likes" and silly comments, that sometimes morph into a conversation all their own. I don't know why this is- it just is. So when a blog fails to get comments, we somehow think it wasn't good enough, that no ones likes it. I am here to officially say- who cares? I will write whatever drivel I like, because it seems to please some of my closest friends. I really don't know why you care to read my thoughts- to me they are very ordinary and uneventful. Sometimes witty, I grant you, but not enough for a real, authentic LOL (admit it- how many times do you type that to someone, and you're aren't really laughing out loud? That's lying, you know. Except for L- she makes me LOL so many times in a conversation that E has stopped asking what I'm laughing at. I think part of the reason is that most of the time he just doesn't get our silly conversations.)
Don't expect anything profound most days. It's not that I don't have profound thoughts, but I just can't be bothered to put them into words. They just kind of swirl around in my head, and when I have had either enough provocation, or sleep deprivation, they will come out. But usually they just take up space in there. Good thing I'm great at organizing and packing. Too bad I can't have a yard sale of deep and profound thoughts. People who enjoy that sort of thing could get some real bargains and claim them for their own, and I would make a little cash. Spend it on a manicure or something. How's that for non-profound?
And now for the long awaited basement update. Well, probably not, but I'm sure someone out there is mildly interested. Trim is all painted. A couple of the doors need another coat, but after that it's just touchups from where the walls got banged by the carpet guys. W has been in his new room and is enjoying his man-cave immensely. There are hockey and clubhouse posters all over the walls (so much so that I am almost wondering why I bothered painting in there). I have to trim his closet door down to size and paint it, but that's all that's left in there. The den is completely done. The tiling is done in the bathroom, and if I get enough gumption today, I shall grout. Then it's install sink and toilet, finish a wee bit of plumbing, and finish trim in the bathroom. Then all I have to do it get uber-electrician friend to come over and help me finish up the wiring (right now it's all still on one switch and only 1/2 of the plugs work- the 1/2 that the builders installed- mine are all still dead). Once that is done, we will move the TV down there and have a major family movie night and I will go to get my nails done. The kinds on the end of your fingers, not the kinds I have been hammering into things in the basement for the last year.
Alright then. You have your blog. Hope you're happy with it- but don't bother commenting, because frankly my dear... :)
It has occurred to me that every time I blog, I check the next several days to see if there were any comments (No, I am not fishing for comments here- just a statement). I rarely get any. Now I said in my last post that I was blogging for myself and my new BFF, L. So if that's true, why do I care about comments... then it occurred to me. I expect blogging to be like facebook. On facebook you post a status, sometime pretty mundane, but always tried to be done in a witty way. Because, although no one will admit it, it's a bit of a continual contest. Successful posts get a lot of comments, encite a large chain of "likes" and silly comments, that sometimes morph into a conversation all their own. I don't know why this is- it just is. So when a blog fails to get comments, we somehow think it wasn't good enough, that no ones likes it. I am here to officially say- who cares? I will write whatever drivel I like, because it seems to please some of my closest friends. I really don't know why you care to read my thoughts- to me they are very ordinary and uneventful. Sometimes witty, I grant you, but not enough for a real, authentic LOL (admit it- how many times do you type that to someone, and you're aren't really laughing out loud? That's lying, you know. Except for L- she makes me LOL so many times in a conversation that E has stopped asking what I'm laughing at. I think part of the reason is that most of the time he just doesn't get our silly conversations.)
Don't expect anything profound most days. It's not that I don't have profound thoughts, but I just can't be bothered to put them into words. They just kind of swirl around in my head, and when I have had either enough provocation, or sleep deprivation, they will come out. But usually they just take up space in there. Good thing I'm great at organizing and packing. Too bad I can't have a yard sale of deep and profound thoughts. People who enjoy that sort of thing could get some real bargains and claim them for their own, and I would make a little cash. Spend it on a manicure or something. How's that for non-profound?
And now for the long awaited basement update. Well, probably not, but I'm sure someone out there is mildly interested. Trim is all painted. A couple of the doors need another coat, but after that it's just touchups from where the walls got banged by the carpet guys. W has been in his new room and is enjoying his man-cave immensely. There are hockey and clubhouse posters all over the walls (so much so that I am almost wondering why I bothered painting in there). I have to trim his closet door down to size and paint it, but that's all that's left in there. The den is completely done. The tiling is done in the bathroom, and if I get enough gumption today, I shall grout. Then it's install sink and toilet, finish a wee bit of plumbing, and finish trim in the bathroom. Then all I have to do it get uber-electrician friend to come over and help me finish up the wiring (right now it's all still on one switch and only 1/2 of the plugs work- the 1/2 that the builders installed- mine are all still dead). Once that is done, we will move the TV down there and have a major family movie night and I will go to get my nails done. The kinds on the end of your fingers, not the kinds I have been hammering into things in the basement for the last year.
Alright then. You have your blog. Hope you're happy with it- but don't bother commenting, because frankly my dear... :)
Friday, October 1, 2010
Time
Last night, while working a midnight shift, I was pleasantly surprised to find that the store I was in had full internet, so I proceeded to check my e-mail. An even more pleasant surprise awatied me when I found that my dear friend, L, was on e-mail too, and so we proceeded to have a lovely chat. It was that chat that inspired me to pick up my blog again and write whatever thoughts I may have. No one may find them interesting, but I will write for me (and you, L- you seem to find all my funny little thoughts interesting!)
Upon bringing up my blog again, I noticed that I haven't posted anything since last November. Wow, that's a long time to be silent. So here we go- it got me thinking about time.
Time is a funny thing. I don't think as a kid I appreciated this at all. And it seems the older I get, the more I am baffled by time. As I sit and look out at my world of sugar maples (which are a very interesting orangey-gold this year), I am mesmerized by the falling leaves. I love this time of year here. Doesn't seem like a year since last fall, and yet so much has happened since then. Time is weird.
Last week, on Sunday, I spent a lot of time reflecting on the life of my dear nephew, who we shall see on the other side. All day long, in the midst of the happy memories and the sad ones, I kept thinking to myself, "Seven years. How can it be SEVEN years?" No matter how I did the math, it was always the same. 7 years. It can't have been that long, and yet it seems like forever at the same time. Time was weird that day, and I didn't like it.
My L wrote me a letter that arrived in my mailbox yesterday. I enjoyed reading the whole thing, but one sentence fairly jumped off the page at me. "A year isn't long for forever friends." Time is weird, but this time I like it. A year seems like such a long time sometimes, but she's right. It's not long at all. Not when you think of forever- now THAT'S a long time. Got me thinking of how much time I will spend with J someday... all this time will seem like the blink of an eye. Hang on to that, B. Happy thought indeed.
The older I get, the faster time goes. Yesterday it was funny. I worked a midnight shift, so I went to work in September, and finished my shift in October. Time is weird.
Well, there you have it. Don't expect them all to be this profound. Tomorrow I'll probably talk about something completely inane.
Upon bringing up my blog again, I noticed that I haven't posted anything since last November. Wow, that's a long time to be silent. So here we go- it got me thinking about time.
Time is a funny thing. I don't think as a kid I appreciated this at all. And it seems the older I get, the more I am baffled by time. As I sit and look out at my world of sugar maples (which are a very interesting orangey-gold this year), I am mesmerized by the falling leaves. I love this time of year here. Doesn't seem like a year since last fall, and yet so much has happened since then. Time is weird.
Last week, on Sunday, I spent a lot of time reflecting on the life of my dear nephew, who we shall see on the other side. All day long, in the midst of the happy memories and the sad ones, I kept thinking to myself, "Seven years. How can it be SEVEN years?" No matter how I did the math, it was always the same. 7 years. It can't have been that long, and yet it seems like forever at the same time. Time was weird that day, and I didn't like it.
My L wrote me a letter that arrived in my mailbox yesterday. I enjoyed reading the whole thing, but one sentence fairly jumped off the page at me. "A year isn't long for forever friends." Time is weird, but this time I like it. A year seems like such a long time sometimes, but she's right. It's not long at all. Not when you think of forever- now THAT'S a long time. Got me thinking of how much time I will spend with J someday... all this time will seem like the blink of an eye. Hang on to that, B. Happy thought indeed.
The older I get, the faster time goes. Yesterday it was funny. I worked a midnight shift, so I went to work in September, and finished my shift in October. Time is weird.
Well, there you have it. Don't expect them all to be this profound. Tomorrow I'll probably talk about something completely inane.
Saturday, November 14, 2009
In lieu of...
Well, since no one submitted any sort of suggestion for another on of my "list" blogs, I will subject anyone who reads this to the details of my big exam yesterday. Oh wait, I can't. I signed a confidentiality agreement. Apparently the use the same cases over and over again, so we are not allowed to tell anyone what they were. Suffice it to say I think I did well, but I won't know for sure until Jan 11. That is when I can call for the results, not a day sooner. Apparently it takes 8 weeks to mark a multiple choice test and figure out how I did on my patient interviews. Sigh.
However, I had a lovely 10 1/2 hour sleep in the hotel last night (aaahhh), and on the ride home today, it officially clicked in that I am DONE. I mentally checked it off my list while driving home, and was thinking of what I have to do next. Then I thought, "Oh wait! I don't have to do ANYTHING next- I'm DONE!" It was a lovely moment.
So, me being me, I came home and started to draw up plans for my basement reno. I plan to go to the store on Monday and buy stuff to frame walls and make a bathroom. I have enough tiles left over from the house construction for the whole bathroom, so for that room I just have to buy lights and fixtures. I can hardly wait to get at it. I think once it's done, I will move the TV back into the basement and have the upstairs living room as I originally wanted it. A place to sit and read, talk etc, but no big huge TV in the middle of it. Hubby may overrule me, we shall have to see.
I am also planning on decorating for Christmas next week. It is tradition to do it the day after my birthday, but this year I have to work that day, so I will fit it in when I can. Maybe when I get home from buying sink and toilet. Or at 11 pm... I am a single mom all next week, so I can do it when I like. Speaking of 11 pm, that's what it is now, and I'm tired. Time for bed.
However, I had a lovely 10 1/2 hour sleep in the hotel last night (aaahhh), and on the ride home today, it officially clicked in that I am DONE. I mentally checked it off my list while driving home, and was thinking of what I have to do next. Then I thought, "Oh wait! I don't have to do ANYTHING next- I'm DONE!" It was a lovely moment.
So, me being me, I came home and started to draw up plans for my basement reno. I plan to go to the store on Monday and buy stuff to frame walls and make a bathroom. I have enough tiles left over from the house construction for the whole bathroom, so for that room I just have to buy lights and fixtures. I can hardly wait to get at it. I think once it's done, I will move the TV back into the basement and have the upstairs living room as I originally wanted it. A place to sit and read, talk etc, but no big huge TV in the middle of it. Hubby may overrule me, we shall have to see.
I am also planning on decorating for Christmas next week. It is tradition to do it the day after my birthday, but this year I have to work that day, so I will fit it in when I can. Maybe when I get home from buying sink and toilet. Or at 11 pm... I am a single mom all next week, so I can do it when I like. Speaking of 11 pm, that's what it is now, and I'm tired. Time for bed.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Friday the 13th
How ironic is that. Of all the days in the whole entire year, all 365 of them, how many are actually Friday the 13th. Even the least superstitious among us know that it is believed to be a day of bad luck. Now, I don't believe in luck, good or bad, yet I find it highly amusing that the most stressful part of this little journey that I am now on would fall on that particular day.
Tomorrow, Friday the 13th, I am leaving at 5:30 am, and driving to the big city of TO to write an exam. From 12:15 - 6 pm I will be doing a variety of things, from presenting and defending my learning portfolio, to doing multiple choice tests, to (GULP) simulated patient interviews. That is the part where I walk into a room and meet with a "patient" (a paid actor who is pretending to be a patient) and have the kind of interaction with them that I would have with any patient at work. Sounds easy enough. It's even open book. But the thing that is nagging at me is the fact that I will be being timed. And watched. There will be a third person in the room. A person with a clipboard and pencil. And I know that every time they write something down, I will be wondering what it was. Was it a good point? A bad point? Did I miss something crucial? Would my advice just have killed a real person? OK, so maybe I'm taking it a bit far, but it is stressful. I take comfort in the fact that in the real world, at work the other day, myself and the other pharmacist on duty caught a doctor's mistake that would have killed an 8 year old girl had it gone unchecked. The girl and her parents will never know about it, as the mistake was corrected before they came for their prescription, but we done good.
I did this kind of thing in university. It was easier then. First of all, it hadn't been 13 years since I'd written any kind of test. Secondly, my knowledge was all fresh. Thirdly, the material I was tested on had just been covered in a course. I knew what to study, I knew where to focus my efforts. I have been studying all week knowing darn well that I will never be able to cover everything a pharmacist needs to know. They can throw anything they want at me. It may be a drug that I have never seen in my life. It may be an AIDS patient. Anyone who knows anything about medicine knows that their meds are the most complicated ones out there. And we so rarely see them. But they could throw that at me.
I will be so glad when this is over. It is step three in an 8 week process that I am almost done. The internship is over- got the official call from the college that it's done and all my assignments have been approved. Haven't heard back about the jurisprudence exam yet. Would have been nice to know that it was a pass going in to this exam, but this just means I'll have two things to wait for and bite my nails over for a few weeks. The Lord is going to teach me patience one way or another, I fear.
Tomorrow, Friday the 13th, I am leaving at 5:30 am, and driving to the big city of TO to write an exam. From 12:15 - 6 pm I will be doing a variety of things, from presenting and defending my learning portfolio, to doing multiple choice tests, to (GULP) simulated patient interviews. That is the part where I walk into a room and meet with a "patient" (a paid actor who is pretending to be a patient) and have the kind of interaction with them that I would have with any patient at work. Sounds easy enough. It's even open book. But the thing that is nagging at me is the fact that I will be being timed. And watched. There will be a third person in the room. A person with a clipboard and pencil. And I know that every time they write something down, I will be wondering what it was. Was it a good point? A bad point? Did I miss something crucial? Would my advice just have killed a real person? OK, so maybe I'm taking it a bit far, but it is stressful. I take comfort in the fact that in the real world, at work the other day, myself and the other pharmacist on duty caught a doctor's mistake that would have killed an 8 year old girl had it gone unchecked. The girl and her parents will never know about it, as the mistake was corrected before they came for their prescription, but we done good.
I did this kind of thing in university. It was easier then. First of all, it hadn't been 13 years since I'd written any kind of test. Secondly, my knowledge was all fresh. Thirdly, the material I was tested on had just been covered in a course. I knew what to study, I knew where to focus my efforts. I have been studying all week knowing darn well that I will never be able to cover everything a pharmacist needs to know. They can throw anything they want at me. It may be a drug that I have never seen in my life. It may be an AIDS patient. Anyone who knows anything about medicine knows that their meds are the most complicated ones out there. And we so rarely see them. But they could throw that at me.
I will be so glad when this is over. It is step three in an 8 week process that I am almost done. The internship is over- got the official call from the college that it's done and all my assignments have been approved. Haven't heard back about the jurisprudence exam yet. Would have been nice to know that it was a pass going in to this exam, but this just means I'll have two things to wait for and bite my nails over for a few weeks. The Lord is going to teach me patience one way or another, I fear.
Saturday, November 7, 2009
It ain't over till it's over...
Well, today was it. The last shift of my internship. Lovely day- busy enough to go fast. Free pizza and pop in the lunch room. And now I'm DONE. As I imagined, it went way quicker than I ever thought possible. The children got fed, laundry got done, my house is still standing, and we are all still sane (or as sane as we were before all this started). I am actually going to buy my own groceries on Monday. E will be glad, I think he's tired of the grocery shopping. I have a week off now to study, and then it's the part time work I've been waiting for. 15-20 hours a week will be perfect. I can work it in two days each week and be here for my family the other 5 days. Speaking of which...
While I was working today, W was playing his first game of the year in nets. Helped his team to a 6-4 victory, and is now one of the two undefeated teams in the whole league of Atom B hockey. He was very excited about it- even called me at work.
J is under the weather today. Woke up with a fever and a cough. Seems to be feeling a tad better tonight, but is still fighting something. Glad he has Monday off school- will give him a few days to rest up.
K had her H1N1 vaccine today- our doctor got a stash of them, and considering her weird immunity, or lack thereof to Canadian bugs, I thought it best to give her the shot. Don't think I'll get the boys done, though. So far so good.
Off to have a date with my hubby to celebrate- bought a little bottle of Chianti and some lovely cheese on the way home. Mmmmm, brie.
While I was working today, W was playing his first game of the year in nets. Helped his team to a 6-4 victory, and is now one of the two undefeated teams in the whole league of Atom B hockey. He was very excited about it- even called me at work.
J is under the weather today. Woke up with a fever and a cough. Seems to be feeling a tad better tonight, but is still fighting something. Glad he has Monday off school- will give him a few days to rest up.
K had her H1N1 vaccine today- our doctor got a stash of them, and considering her weird immunity, or lack thereof to Canadian bugs, I thought it best to give her the shot. Don't think I'll get the boys done, though. So far so good.
Off to have a date with my hubby to celebrate- bought a little bottle of Chianti and some lovely cheese on the way home. Mmmmm, brie.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Looking back
I know what you`re thinking. Two posts in one day. Someone has abducted B`s blog and taken it over. She barely blogs twice in a month, let alone in a night. But I decided to go back to the beginning and read through my blog. Not sure if I`ve ever done that before, not right from the beginning.
It was lovely. I remembered how loved I am. I realized that I can be quite witty at times. I was glad, after last night`s post, to see that I didn`t do TOO much complaining. I need to do more posts of lists of things. They are funny.
So please comment with your suggestions of lists. Questions the kids ask in a 5 minute period have been done. Things I need to record so I don`t have to repeat them all the time have been done. Things I will NOT miss about the trailer has been done (and as a follow-up, no, I don`t miss any of those things, or any other things about it for that matter).
And as a disclaimer, stupid suggestions will be ignored. There, now you know it`s really me blogging twice in one day.
It was lovely. I remembered how loved I am. I realized that I can be quite witty at times. I was glad, after last night`s post, to see that I didn`t do TOO much complaining. I need to do more posts of lists of things. They are funny.
So please comment with your suggestions of lists. Questions the kids ask in a 5 minute period have been done. Things I need to record so I don`t have to repeat them all the time have been done. Things I will NOT miss about the trailer has been done (and as a follow-up, no, I don`t miss any of those things, or any other things about it for that matter).
And as a disclaimer, stupid suggestions will be ignored. There, now you know it`s really me blogging twice in one day.
H1N1 Pandemic
Thought that might get your attention. I`m actually not going to say anything about H1N1 today, except that I got my vaccine today and can still walk forwards and turn left. Phew.
Tomorrow I work the third last shift of my internshipness-thingy. It`s been a really fast 8 weeks, and I`ve quite surprised myself with how much I have stayed on top of things, what with crazy kid schedules, crazy hubby work schedule, and throwing an after party for rock-star diva sister. I know full well that the reason I have stayed on top of things so well is only because of awesome hubby, super-mom and uberfriend. Hubby has been doing laundry, running kids to and from things, cooking meals, and even doing K`s hair (and quite a good job of it!). Super-mom was here for a week and cooked and cleaned and chauffered kids around while I worked extra hours. Uberfriend was instrumental in the after-party preparations. She was indeed the brains behind the operation.
Spent my day off cleaning- the kitchen. It took me all morning to get that one room organized. Included such tasks as sorting through the pile of papers, fliers, school work and lost and possibly not paid invoices (e-mails have been sent to the respective employers asking if E was paid for those shifts), cleaning out the fish tank that has not actually housed any fish for weeks. Bummer how you have to remember to feed them every day. The snails aren`t nearly so demanding. Good thing the boys have been in charge of feeding the other pets. But the kitchen looks goooood tonight. Except for the dirty walls and gross cupboard doors and baseboards. Good thing my b-day present is a full house cleaning. W, I apologize for all the work you have ahead of you.
And now I have three shifts left. All internship assignments are oh-so-close to being completed to the college`s satisfaction, and on Friday the 13th I will do a mental gymnastics sort of exam to prove my worth as an actual pharmacist. After up to 8 weeks of humming and hawing, the gurus at the college will tell me if it`s all been worth it and I will have a license to fill, or if I have entirely wasted my fall. I am hoping for the former. Haven`t heard back about the jurisprudence exam yet, but I`m feeling good about it.
And I don`t even have the bubonic plague... I mean, H1N1 yet.
Tomorrow I work the third last shift of my internshipness-thingy. It`s been a really fast 8 weeks, and I`ve quite surprised myself with how much I have stayed on top of things, what with crazy kid schedules, crazy hubby work schedule, and throwing an after party for rock-star diva sister. I know full well that the reason I have stayed on top of things so well is only because of awesome hubby, super-mom and uberfriend. Hubby has been doing laundry, running kids to and from things, cooking meals, and even doing K`s hair (and quite a good job of it!). Super-mom was here for a week and cooked and cleaned and chauffered kids around while I worked extra hours. Uberfriend was instrumental in the after-party preparations. She was indeed the brains behind the operation.
Spent my day off cleaning- the kitchen. It took me all morning to get that one room organized. Included such tasks as sorting through the pile of papers, fliers, school work and lost and possibly not paid invoices (e-mails have been sent to the respective employers asking if E was paid for those shifts), cleaning out the fish tank that has not actually housed any fish for weeks. Bummer how you have to remember to feed them every day. The snails aren`t nearly so demanding. Good thing the boys have been in charge of feeding the other pets. But the kitchen looks goooood tonight. Except for the dirty walls and gross cupboard doors and baseboards. Good thing my b-day present is a full house cleaning. W, I apologize for all the work you have ahead of you.
And now I have three shifts left. All internship assignments are oh-so-close to being completed to the college`s satisfaction, and on Friday the 13th I will do a mental gymnastics sort of exam to prove my worth as an actual pharmacist. After up to 8 weeks of humming and hawing, the gurus at the college will tell me if it`s all been worth it and I will have a license to fill, or if I have entirely wasted my fall. I am hoping for the former. Haven`t heard back about the jurisprudence exam yet, but I`m feeling good about it.
And I don`t even have the bubonic plague... I mean, H1N1 yet.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Not that I'm complaining
I had a really good day. Busy enough at work that it went quickly. Short-staffed but not nutso. A really funny phone call from our resident hypochonidriac that made me laugh all afternoon. Apparently the H1N1 vaccine can paralyze you so that you can only walk backwards. (ppfffftt!) Hard to maintain a professional decorum in the face of that one. Maybe that's what happened to Zoolander. Got the H1N1 vaccine and now can no longer turn left.
But even with all the comic relief of the day, I find myself frustrated with people in general. I wish they would all get over themselves. Seems even some of the nicest ones are wrapped up in their own little worlds. Whatever happened to thinking of other people first? Whatever happened to the common courtesies of please and thank-you? Whatever happened to appreciation for a job well done? These things have not happened to me today, and I am not feeling particularly jilted by anyone, but it's just something I've noticed lately. Maybe I've noticed it as I see the surprise on someone's face when I express appreciation, or am nice to a stranger. But there's not enough of it anymore. I'm sure I'm as guilty of it as the next person when I'm honest with myself.
And what's with the love for complaining? I try very hard not to complain about things, and get frustrated when others do it. If you only knew how good you had it, people. If the thing that they are complaining about is the worst thing that happened to them that day, they are pretty darned lucky! I almost said that to a complete stranger once as he was ripping up a grocery store manager for not having the right kind of coffee cream for sale. I was too chicken. That's my problem- I'm all talk... most days.
Some days I am brave. Some days I call people on it. And when I do they don't quite know what to say to me. But it makes them think, and I like to do that. When we stop and think, quite often (I speak for myself here) we realize it's better just to shut up than to shoot our mouth off. Or if we are going to say anything, instead of complaining to someone, to say "I appreciate you. Thank you."
My birthday is two weeks from today. Everyone is asking me what my plans are. I don't have any. I don't say this to make anyone feel bad for me- I just don't have any. My hubby is going to be away for the week, so I am going to have a nice quiet evening at home. I may have a date with a glass of wine and a chick flick. And some Brie. People almost seem sad for me when I tell them this- I don't understand why. I am happy to be here another year, and I am even more happy to spend the day with my kids (wish my hubby could be home, but someone's gotta bring home the bacon!) and not have to go to work on that particular day. It will be a lovely day for turning 37. Just call me Dennis.
But even with all the comic relief of the day, I find myself frustrated with people in general. I wish they would all get over themselves. Seems even some of the nicest ones are wrapped up in their own little worlds. Whatever happened to thinking of other people first? Whatever happened to the common courtesies of please and thank-you? Whatever happened to appreciation for a job well done? These things have not happened to me today, and I am not feeling particularly jilted by anyone, but it's just something I've noticed lately. Maybe I've noticed it as I see the surprise on someone's face when I express appreciation, or am nice to a stranger. But there's not enough of it anymore. I'm sure I'm as guilty of it as the next person when I'm honest with myself.
And what's with the love for complaining? I try very hard not to complain about things, and get frustrated when others do it. If you only knew how good you had it, people. If the thing that they are complaining about is the worst thing that happened to them that day, they are pretty darned lucky! I almost said that to a complete stranger once as he was ripping up a grocery store manager for not having the right kind of coffee cream for sale. I was too chicken. That's my problem- I'm all talk... most days.
Some days I am brave. Some days I call people on it. And when I do they don't quite know what to say to me. But it makes them think, and I like to do that. When we stop and think, quite often (I speak for myself here) we realize it's better just to shut up than to shoot our mouth off. Or if we are going to say anything, instead of complaining to someone, to say "I appreciate you. Thank you."
My birthday is two weeks from today. Everyone is asking me what my plans are. I don't have any. I don't say this to make anyone feel bad for me- I just don't have any. My hubby is going to be away for the week, so I am going to have a nice quiet evening at home. I may have a date with a glass of wine and a chick flick. And some Brie. People almost seem sad for me when I tell them this- I don't understand why. I am happy to be here another year, and I am even more happy to spend the day with my kids (wish my hubby could be home, but someone's gotta bring home the bacon!) and not have to go to work on that particular day. It will be a lovely day for turning 37. Just call me Dennis.
Saturday, October 31, 2009
200 and counting.
So I signed on to post another blog, not really feeling like blogging, but feeling somewhat of an obligation resulting from the heckling I get from my family every time I take an extended leave of absence from blog-land. Then I noticed that this is my 200th post, so I feel the need to say something deep and profound. But mostly I'm wondering what I could blog about that would get made into a movie and make me rich, like the girl in "Julie and Julia". Great movie. Highly recommend it for foodies, girls in general and guys who want to impress girls by not taking them to an action-packed-things-blowing-up movie.
I got nuthin. So instead we have...
Update on the fam. I have five shifts left. 5. FIVE. Cinq. Cinqo. FIIIIIIVE. Then I get a week off, then a lovely 6 hour exam, and then I get to be a pharmacist again. I hope that by then the H1N1 panic has worn off. Seriously people- some of us just have a cold right now. Just because I am coughing and blowing my nose does not mean that I have the bubonic plague and will infect all of you and your loved ones. I was seriously considering pretending to cough up a lung all over every prescription just before I gave it to customers the other day at work, just to see their reaction and perhaps chuckle as they ran screaming out the door. Don't get me wrong, I know that H1N1 is a pretty nasty bug and that it's no fun to have. My dad has it right now and I am praying for his quick recovery. But there is a fine line between educated concern and outright paranoia. Most people are erring on the side of paranoia. But enough of that.
The kidlets all went on their annual extortion run aka trick-or-treating tonight. I headed out the door with Batman, a fairy princess, and Optimus Prime in tow. A good time was had by all, and now hubby and I are wondering what we can sneak out of their loot bags undetected.
W had a good lesson in helping others today. Went to hockey practice for his Atom B team at noon, got home after working VERY hard for an hour (around 1:40 by this time), and listened to a message on the phone from the coach of the Atom A team who just found out that they had no goalie for practice. Wondered if W could come out at 3 pm and help them by taking some shots. W did NOT want to do this. He was tired after a hard practice. He is liking goalie less as the season goes on. He didn't know anyone on this team. Had just settled in to a rousing adventure of Hot Wheels vs Bionicles with J. Had a talk with him about the fact that he had committed to goalie, so he at least had to see the year out in that position. Had a talk with him about helping someone who's in a pinch and how that shows them God's love. Also mentioned what good experience it would be to skate with the A team for a practice. He didn't want to do it, but decided to do the right thing. So we bundled all up, unpacked the player gear from first practice and packed the goalie gear for this practice. Headed back to the rink- I didn't know what to expect. I figured he would be there and take lots of shots but not get a whole lot of attention paid to him- just good experience for him to take some shots from the A team. Turns out these guys were more appreciative of his help than I expected. The coach thanked him several times, and during practice, whenever he wasn't taking shots, there was a goalie coach there who basically gave him a private goalie clinic. It was great. He even learned the basics of butterfly (all you goalies and goalie moms out there know what I'm talking about). He really ended up enjoying himself. Asked me after practice if he could go and thank the coach. I went with him, and the coach asked if he could call W up again sometime as he was so impressed with how hard he worked. W said of course, he'd be happy to help whenever he could. A proud moment for mom.
K saw figure skating for the first time on TV today. I feel that ballet may have gone the way of the dinosaur with her. This is ballet on skates- what could be better! And they get to jump and spin way more. Thus for the rest of the afternoon my living room became an imaginary skating rink for her. All was fine until I had to put a stop to things when she and J decided to mimic the pairs skating they saw- involving lifts and throws. No good could come of that. I was not popular. Ah well, everyone had life and limb intact for the trick-or-treating tonight.
Speaking of which, I think I hear a pack of rockets candy calling my name from the pantry...
I got nuthin. So instead we have...
Update on the fam. I have five shifts left. 5. FIVE. Cinq. Cinqo. FIIIIIIVE. Then I get a week off, then a lovely 6 hour exam, and then I get to be a pharmacist again. I hope that by then the H1N1 panic has worn off. Seriously people- some of us just have a cold right now. Just because I am coughing and blowing my nose does not mean that I have the bubonic plague and will infect all of you and your loved ones. I was seriously considering pretending to cough up a lung all over every prescription just before I gave it to customers the other day at work, just to see their reaction and perhaps chuckle as they ran screaming out the door. Don't get me wrong, I know that H1N1 is a pretty nasty bug and that it's no fun to have. My dad has it right now and I am praying for his quick recovery. But there is a fine line between educated concern and outright paranoia. Most people are erring on the side of paranoia. But enough of that.
The kidlets all went on their annual extortion run aka trick-or-treating tonight. I headed out the door with Batman, a fairy princess, and Optimus Prime in tow. A good time was had by all, and now hubby and I are wondering what we can sneak out of their loot bags undetected.
W had a good lesson in helping others today. Went to hockey practice for his Atom B team at noon, got home after working VERY hard for an hour (around 1:40 by this time), and listened to a message on the phone from the coach of the Atom A team who just found out that they had no goalie for practice. Wondered if W could come out at 3 pm and help them by taking some shots. W did NOT want to do this. He was tired after a hard practice. He is liking goalie less as the season goes on. He didn't know anyone on this team. Had just settled in to a rousing adventure of Hot Wheels vs Bionicles with J. Had a talk with him about the fact that he had committed to goalie, so he at least had to see the year out in that position. Had a talk with him about helping someone who's in a pinch and how that shows them God's love. Also mentioned what good experience it would be to skate with the A team for a practice. He didn't want to do it, but decided to do the right thing. So we bundled all up, unpacked the player gear from first practice and packed the goalie gear for this practice. Headed back to the rink- I didn't know what to expect. I figured he would be there and take lots of shots but not get a whole lot of attention paid to him- just good experience for him to take some shots from the A team. Turns out these guys were more appreciative of his help than I expected. The coach thanked him several times, and during practice, whenever he wasn't taking shots, there was a goalie coach there who basically gave him a private goalie clinic. It was great. He even learned the basics of butterfly (all you goalies and goalie moms out there know what I'm talking about). He really ended up enjoying himself. Asked me after practice if he could go and thank the coach. I went with him, and the coach asked if he could call W up again sometime as he was so impressed with how hard he worked. W said of course, he'd be happy to help whenever he could. A proud moment for mom.
K saw figure skating for the first time on TV today. I feel that ballet may have gone the way of the dinosaur with her. This is ballet on skates- what could be better! And they get to jump and spin way more. Thus for the rest of the afternoon my living room became an imaginary skating rink for her. All was fine until I had to put a stop to things when she and J decided to mimic the pairs skating they saw- involving lifts and throws. No good could come of that. I was not popular. Ah well, everyone had life and limb intact for the trick-or-treating tonight.
Speaking of which, I think I hear a pack of rockets candy calling my name from the pantry...
Saturday, October 17, 2009
5 down, 3 to go.
I am officially well over half way done the internship. This is shaping up to be the busiest week yet. Full-time work continues, on Thursday is the jurisprudence exam in Toronto, and Friday night is the long-awaited CD release concert for my rock-star sista. Before the internshipness began, I asked for the honor of hosting her very first after party that night, so amidst all else have been making fancy little finger foods for 250 people. Let us not forget to say that I couldn't do this without uber friend's wife, S. She is the queen of party food. She and I have been cooking up a storm and having lots of fun doing it. I am also very excited that B2 has asked me to play keyboards for some of the songs at the concert- yes, another thing in my already busy schedule, but one of the things that I love to do, and so not a stress, but relaxing. It is nice to have a reasonable excuse to sit down at my dusty, neglected piano and practice for the concert.
Mom and Dad arrive on Wednesday, just in time to see W play his first hockey game of the season. He is excited beyond words. So am I for that matter- it's always fun to have them visit, but they haven't seen him play yet, and he is so proud of his hockey, I love to help him show it off. And to know that Grandma and Grampa are here to help with anything and everything they can is so relieving. I am hoping that amidst all of the craziness, we will find time to just relax together. Maybe play a game or two of bridge. (You're going down, Dad!)
Had a dream about the concert last night- it was like a pre-wedding dream. Only 40 people showed, and we still didn't have enough food. The piano was put in the wrong room, so I was in there and couldn't see the rest of the band. We forgot our music, and B2 was trying to tell me which song we were playing next, but she couldn't remember the title. And the crowd was so dull- no response whatsoever. Crazy.
I thought B2 was supposed to be the one having those dreams. Not surprising, though if I think about it. I have found myself becoming very protective of this night of hers. I said to hubby one day "if anyone screws this up for her, they will have me to answer to!" LOL. Like D wouldn't take care of that in a flash.
Mom and Dad arrive on Wednesday, just in time to see W play his first hockey game of the season. He is excited beyond words. So am I for that matter- it's always fun to have them visit, but they haven't seen him play yet, and he is so proud of his hockey, I love to help him show it off. And to know that Grandma and Grampa are here to help with anything and everything they can is so relieving. I am hoping that amidst all of the craziness, we will find time to just relax together. Maybe play a game or two of bridge. (You're going down, Dad!)
Had a dream about the concert last night- it was like a pre-wedding dream. Only 40 people showed, and we still didn't have enough food. The piano was put in the wrong room, so I was in there and couldn't see the rest of the band. We forgot our music, and B2 was trying to tell me which song we were playing next, but she couldn't remember the title. And the crowd was so dull- no response whatsoever. Crazy.
I thought B2 was supposed to be the one having those dreams. Not surprising, though if I think about it. I have found myself becoming very protective of this night of hers. I said to hubby one day "if anyone screws this up for her, they will have me to answer to!" LOL. Like D wouldn't take care of that in a flash.
Monday, September 21, 2009
feeling the heat
I got stressed today. And it's only the beginning of week 2. Picked up kids at school and found out that the parents meeting tonight was also a dessert social and parents were to bring food. Hmmm.... haven't had time to do much baking lately. Came home to find messages saying that W missed hockey tryouts last night, and that there were additional tryouts tomorrow and Wednesday. Still trying to figure out how to get baked goods to meeting, I quickly e-mail hockey convenor and apologize for missing tryouts, but assure him that W was at the goalie tryouts the previous day- was that ok? And we'll figure out how to get him to tryouts on Tues and Wed even though W has soccer after school on Tues and K has ballet after school on Wed. Oh, and there's one parent available to get them everywhere.
Harvested the veggies that were ripening in the garden, before they got too big and/or went bad, and made a quick supper with improvised ingredients when I discovered my chicken broth in a box in the fridge had turned into some sort of primordial goo, and it's always on the nights when you want them to eat fast that they don't. At least they all finished, veggies and all. Oh, happy day.
Rushed off to pick up babysitter extraordinaire, and arrived back home with her in time to resign myself to the fact that I was not going to be taking baked goods of any variety to the meeting, even store-bought. Surprising OK with that. Did a quick e-mail check and found out that since W is a goalie, he didn't have to be at last night's tryouts after all, and he only needs to go to one of the other sessions this week, not two. Feeling a weight lift off the shoulders, and kids are happy that they'll get a supper at Timmy's between W's soccer and hockey tomorrow. Have a feeling hubby is just as glad to find out that he doesn't have to cook.
It is 10:30 pm and I'm just sitting down to relax for the first time today. Well, kind of. I have a contract in front of me to sign for my pharmacy internship, and I have a schedule of my work hours, trying to figure out when I'm going to go to J's class and tell everyone special things about him, and show them special things from his past when I don't have any because they all burnt in the fire. Think I'll bring all his soccer medals. And the cat. Pets are always a hit with 8 year olds. Maybe I can work in a little presentation to them on medication safety and check off my community presentation that I need for the internship.
This all gets me to thinking. Why am I feeling stressed? For the most part, things are running like a well-oiled machine around here. Hubby is going above and beyond on a daily basis- yesterday while I was at work he tidied- without being asked. Today he actually made a list of things he had to do while I was at work. Yes, a list! And there were things on it I never mentioned- like vacuuming. Unreal. Awesome. I am staying organized, making lunches and packing bags the night before. So why am I stressed? And then I realized, it's because my brain won't stop. Even though other people are wonderfully taking care of things and the kids are run around by and looked after by other people than me some days, my mind is still in everything. Today while I was at work, I was mentally going through the grocery list while hubby got groceries, I am thinking of what he'll have to do tomorrow with running the kids around while I'm at work. There should be a switch to turn that sort of thing off. I know it's in good hands, so I should be able to forget about it. I don't, and now my brain is full of all that and the full-time workload I have. Good thing I only have 6 weeks and 5 days left. Too much of this might drive me crazy, and it's a pretty short drive.
Harvested the veggies that were ripening in the garden, before they got too big and/or went bad, and made a quick supper with improvised ingredients when I discovered my chicken broth in a box in the fridge had turned into some sort of primordial goo, and it's always on the nights when you want them to eat fast that they don't. At least they all finished, veggies and all. Oh, happy day.
Rushed off to pick up babysitter extraordinaire, and arrived back home with her in time to resign myself to the fact that I was not going to be taking baked goods of any variety to the meeting, even store-bought. Surprising OK with that. Did a quick e-mail check and found out that since W is a goalie, he didn't have to be at last night's tryouts after all, and he only needs to go to one of the other sessions this week, not two. Feeling a weight lift off the shoulders, and kids are happy that they'll get a supper at Timmy's between W's soccer and hockey tomorrow. Have a feeling hubby is just as glad to find out that he doesn't have to cook.
It is 10:30 pm and I'm just sitting down to relax for the first time today. Well, kind of. I have a contract in front of me to sign for my pharmacy internship, and I have a schedule of my work hours, trying to figure out when I'm going to go to J's class and tell everyone special things about him, and show them special things from his past when I don't have any because they all burnt in the fire. Think I'll bring all his soccer medals. And the cat. Pets are always a hit with 8 year olds. Maybe I can work in a little presentation to them on medication safety and check off my community presentation that I need for the internship.
This all gets me to thinking. Why am I feeling stressed? For the most part, things are running like a well-oiled machine around here. Hubby is going above and beyond on a daily basis- yesterday while I was at work he tidied- without being asked. Today he actually made a list of things he had to do while I was at work. Yes, a list! And there were things on it I never mentioned- like vacuuming. Unreal. Awesome. I am staying organized, making lunches and packing bags the night before. So why am I stressed? And then I realized, it's because my brain won't stop. Even though other people are wonderfully taking care of things and the kids are run around by and looked after by other people than me some days, my mind is still in everything. Today while I was at work, I was mentally going through the grocery list while hubby got groceries, I am thinking of what he'll have to do tomorrow with running the kids around while I'm at work. There should be a switch to turn that sort of thing off. I know it's in good hands, so I should be able to forget about it. I don't, and now my brain is full of all that and the full-time workload I have. Good thing I only have 6 weeks and 5 days left. Too much of this might drive me crazy, and it's a pretty short drive.
Saturday, September 19, 2009
It's hard to be seven
So yesterday W gets an invitation to a birthday party for a kid in his class. They went to laser quest. J was very disappointed, as this was W's second b-day party at laser quest, and J had yet to go. He came home from school as W headed off to the party with a friend, and I headed straight out to the Richmond fair with he and K, hoping to stay for a short while with K, and then hand him off to hubby so they could stay on for the demolition derby. Only problem was that by the time we got there, it was FREEZING. We turned around and went home, a dejected little J sitting in the back seat. Strike 1. I promised him computer time, and he settled in to play his favorite computer game, only to find it wasn't working. Strike 2. Gave him permission to stay up late with W and watch George of the Jungle. Told him that maybe today we could go to the fair.
Today, I got to sleep in late (because of my stupendously awesome hubby), and as I rolled out of bed, (at 9:30, may I add), stumbled downstairs and poured my morning coffee, uber-friend pulls in to the driveway to help us finish putting the gate around the pool on uber-deck. No Richmond fair (but the gate around the pool turned out great.) Strike 3.
To make matters worse, before W headed out to his goalie tryouts today, he got a call from a friend inviting him for a sleepover tonight. J was crushed. A whole weekend of disappointment and missed-out-on fun.
There was nothing for it- it was time for a date with mom. So, he and I headed out to the Richmond fair. We rode the bumper cars, we went down the huge slide, we wound our way through the fun-house maze, we watched a strong-man demonstration, looked at antique cars, climbed on tractors, ate popcorn and pop for supper, and played carnival games to win stuffed animals and alien-shaped balloons. We basically went on every ride that wouldn't make mom barf. He had a ball and more than made up for the 10 year old fun he missed out on.
Where was K in all of this? Having some much asked for time with daddy. They had running races, wrestled, played disney princess matching games, and she had a bubble bath. Doesn't feel like she missed a thing.
Tomorrow it's back to work- I have to go in for a few hours in the evening and start week 2 of 8. I survived week one quite nicely and am ignoring the clutter and mess that has already accumulated in my house. As long as I stay organized, at least things will get done, and I will keep reminding myself that at the end of this 8 weeks, I will get my birthday present of a whole top-to-bottom house cleaning. Woot.
Today, I got to sleep in late (because of my stupendously awesome hubby), and as I rolled out of bed, (at 9:30, may I add), stumbled downstairs and poured my morning coffee, uber-friend pulls in to the driveway to help us finish putting the gate around the pool on uber-deck. No Richmond fair (but the gate around the pool turned out great.) Strike 3.
To make matters worse, before W headed out to his goalie tryouts today, he got a call from a friend inviting him for a sleepover tonight. J was crushed. A whole weekend of disappointment and missed-out-on fun.
There was nothing for it- it was time for a date with mom. So, he and I headed out to the Richmond fair. We rode the bumper cars, we went down the huge slide, we wound our way through the fun-house maze, we watched a strong-man demonstration, looked at antique cars, climbed on tractors, ate popcorn and pop for supper, and played carnival games to win stuffed animals and alien-shaped balloons. We basically went on every ride that wouldn't make mom barf. He had a ball and more than made up for the 10 year old fun he missed out on.
Where was K in all of this? Having some much asked for time with daddy. They had running races, wrestled, played disney princess matching games, and she had a bubble bath. Doesn't feel like she missed a thing.
Tomorrow it's back to work- I have to go in for a few hours in the evening and start week 2 of 8. I survived week one quite nicely and am ignoring the clutter and mess that has already accumulated in my house. As long as I stay organized, at least things will get done, and I will keep reminding myself that at the end of this 8 weeks, I will get my birthday present of a whole top-to-bottom house cleaning. Woot.
Friday, September 11, 2009
coming out of retirement
It's been a busy month since I last blogged. I've been finishing up uber-deck, which is almost done for now. There are a couple of stair railings to finish, and the gate around the pool must be done before the snow flies. I have decided that benches and flower boxes will wait until next summer. Enough construction for one season. What is done thus far has turned out to be even better than I expected. It's a wonderful place to hang out- we have had many suppers and lunches out there, and the kids love the 20 foot running start they can get on their jumps into the pool.
Garden continues to go crazy. I have 23 jars of canned tomatoes in my pantry, one batch each of pickles, relish, tomato sauce, crushed tomatoes, and spaghetti sauce. I have about 20 bags of beans in my freezer, and there are several nice orange pumpkins both on the vine and my kitchen table. Mmmmm.... pumpkin pies.... We have had beans with supper more times than I can count, as well as yummy corn on the cob, mashed potatoes that I grew myself (well, they were whole when they grew- I mashed them after I cooked them), peas and cucumbers. It's definitely been worth the work.
Through all of this busyness, life continues on. The boys are finishing up their first week of school, and all is well there. K LOVES it- that could possibly be the understatement of the year. She was QUITE put out when we dropped the boys off on Thursday and she wasn't allowed to join them- it will be a long 5 sleeps every Wednesday until Monday comes and she can go again. W is in the middle of hockey conditioning, has signed up for the soccer team at school, and announced that he is going to play the trumpet in the school band. Note to self- buy earplugs next time I'm at the pharmacy. J likes his teacher, except for the fact that she won't let them talk in class- imagine the nerve of that. K, as I said is loving every minute of JK, and has an incredible teacher. Makes me feel good to send them off to a place like that.
Things continue to change for me as well. Finished up with contract negotiations for my pharmacy internship today which I will hopefully be able to start on Sunday evening. Eight weeks of full-time work- a relatively short tunnel with a nice bright light at the end of it. My licensing is all being paid for and I am being paid a very nice intern salary in return for about 300 hours of work after I am licensed. Sweet deal. Hubby is being very supportive, even agreeing to cook supper on a weekly basis or whenever needed and taking his daughter to ballet. What a guy.
Garden continues to go crazy. I have 23 jars of canned tomatoes in my pantry, one batch each of pickles, relish, tomato sauce, crushed tomatoes, and spaghetti sauce. I have about 20 bags of beans in my freezer, and there are several nice orange pumpkins both on the vine and my kitchen table. Mmmmm.... pumpkin pies.... We have had beans with supper more times than I can count, as well as yummy corn on the cob, mashed potatoes that I grew myself (well, they were whole when they grew- I mashed them after I cooked them), peas and cucumbers. It's definitely been worth the work.
Through all of this busyness, life continues on. The boys are finishing up their first week of school, and all is well there. K LOVES it- that could possibly be the understatement of the year. She was QUITE put out when we dropped the boys off on Thursday and she wasn't allowed to join them- it will be a long 5 sleeps every Wednesday until Monday comes and she can go again. W is in the middle of hockey conditioning, has signed up for the soccer team at school, and announced that he is going to play the trumpet in the school band. Note to self- buy earplugs next time I'm at the pharmacy. J likes his teacher, except for the fact that she won't let them talk in class- imagine the nerve of that. K, as I said is loving every minute of JK, and has an incredible teacher. Makes me feel good to send them off to a place like that.
Things continue to change for me as well. Finished up with contract negotiations for my pharmacy internship today which I will hopefully be able to start on Sunday evening. Eight weeks of full-time work- a relatively short tunnel with a nice bright light at the end of it. My licensing is all being paid for and I am being paid a very nice intern salary in return for about 300 hours of work after I am licensed. Sweet deal. Hubby is being very supportive, even agreeing to cook supper on a weekly basis or whenever needed and taking his daughter to ballet. What a guy.
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Went to work today, and filled dosettes for 9 hours. It was a fun day though- a quiet one at the store, and had some great laughs with L and J while we all worked. Filled 37 dosettes, which translates to a few hundred prescriptions. An new record for me.
Got home to find all the kids and E in the pool having a great time. I guess they spent most of the day there, which was a great idea seeing as the humidex rested around 35 all day. The only reason I was not bitter was because I was in the air conditioning all day long myself. Did however, come home at 6 to find no attempt made at supper. Pancakes were requested by J, and feeling that a very easy item to whip up quickly, I proceeded to make a batch. I thought they tasted funny, but I blamed it on the syrup. Around bedtime, J started complaining of tummy pains (an all too common thing with him), but after some investigating, I concluded he just needed a good fart. His teeny tummy was stretched taut. Poor guy. Later found out that E also thought the pancakes tasted funny, and that is when it hit me. The recipe calls for 3 teaspoons of baking powder. I always find that odd, because it should say 1 tablespoon, as they are the same thing. Well, after working 9 hours non-stop, I read tablespoons, not teaspoons, and proceeded to put in three times as much baking powder as I should have. No one but J is in any pain tonight, but that little guy always eats his body weight in pancakes. oops. I am avoiding mommy guilt by reminding myself that I had just gotten home from a 9 hour shift, not expecting to have to make supper, and I meant well. Maybe we should order out next time.
Got home to find all the kids and E in the pool having a great time. I guess they spent most of the day there, which was a great idea seeing as the humidex rested around 35 all day. The only reason I was not bitter was because I was in the air conditioning all day long myself. Did however, come home at 6 to find no attempt made at supper. Pancakes were requested by J, and feeling that a very easy item to whip up quickly, I proceeded to make a batch. I thought they tasted funny, but I blamed it on the syrup. Around bedtime, J started complaining of tummy pains (an all too common thing with him), but after some investigating, I concluded he just needed a good fart. His teeny tummy was stretched taut. Poor guy. Later found out that E also thought the pancakes tasted funny, and that is when it hit me. The recipe calls for 3 teaspoons of baking powder. I always find that odd, because it should say 1 tablespoon, as they are the same thing. Well, after working 9 hours non-stop, I read tablespoons, not teaspoons, and proceeded to put in three times as much baking powder as I should have. No one but J is in any pain tonight, but that little guy always eats his body weight in pancakes. oops. I am avoiding mommy guilt by reminding myself that I had just gotten home from a 9 hour shift, not expecting to have to make supper, and I meant well. Maybe we should order out next time.
Friday, August 14, 2009
the dance
So day camps are over. K's last dance camp ended with a little recital today, and true to form she stole the show. Not during the show, though. Oh, she was very cute, as were all the little ballerinas, and did her steps in her little 4-year old way. But when it was over, and the parents clapped nicely as the kids left the stage, she turned around as soon as the stage was empty, ran back on and started a routine all her own. She was spinning and leaping, smiling from ear to ear. The place broke out in huge applause, and then she took a bow. I couldn't decide if I should join in or crawl under my chair. It really was very funny.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
a day (or two) in the life
I am spending a very lazy day today. Have spent most of it on the internet surfing around and ordered new clothes for work in the fall. I have no half decent pharmacist clothes- what better excuse to raid the clearance section at Coldwater Creek. Got some very lovely deals. The kids are watching TV and I have no guilt over them doing that on such a lovely day. Not after yesterday.
This was yesterday:
8:15 am - leave to take W to a friend`s house where he will hitch a ride to B-ball camp. Leave for CHEO with K.
9:30 am - K`s hearing appt at CHEO (she has perfect hearing)
9:50 am- leave CHEO, make stops at IKEA, bank machine (out of service), Wal-Mart, Boston Pizza for lunch, bank machine again (working this time), Canadian Tire.
12:45 pm - drive to Carp for K`s dance camp.
1:25 pm- leave Carp and hightail it to Franktown to pick up W at b-ball camp.
2:00-leave Franktown, drive into Carleton Place Winery for 2:30 with boys to bottle a batch of wine. Let them pick the foil covers for the wine bottles. I have 30 bottles of wine now, each with a different color cap. Most colorful batch I`ve made to date.
3:15 pm- drive to the Beer store to take back empty bottles. Earned $4.75 for my trouble.
3:30 pm- stop off at Timmy`s to spend my $4.75 on an ice-cap, two peach drinks and 3 chocolate timbits, and head to park for 25 minutes of relaxing in the shade watching the boys play.
3:55 pm- drive back out to Carp to pick up K for 4:30, who will then be done dance camp.
4:30 pm- drive back into Carleton Place, and go to McD`s for supper, where the kids start to get slightly cranky. So did I, but we all came out without too much of a scene.
5:30 pm- drive to soccer field to deposit W at soccer practice, then head to grocery store
6 pm- get groceries with J and K
6:45 pm- back to soccer field
7 pm head home
7:05 pm- back to soccer field to get W`s forgotten bag, only to find someone else had picked it up. Hope to retrieve it at tomorrow night`s game.
7:25 pm - HOME, kids into bed.
9 pm- me into bed.
The only similarity today had with yesterday is driving W and K to their respective day camps. Much more enjoyable, although I am pleased with what I accomplished yesterday. Got some good deals on end-of-season specials, got some things I`ve been meaning to pick up for a while. Clocked well over 200 K on the van.
W came out of b-ball camp today with a new shirt on that said `Best Effort Award` with his name on the back. Apparently at the end of yesterday, they said they`d give out an award every morning to the person who made the best effort the day before. W was the first awardee, this morning being given the shirt for yesterday`s effort, which is even better as he earned it without knowing that people were watching them. Watch for pictures on facebook in the next couple of days. I am presently washing said shirt as he plans to wear it to camp every day. Good thing I have to do laundry anyway nearly every day.
Right now the house is nice and quiet. I had forgotten what a difference a toddler makes in the house. It`s weird not to have K here, but I am enjoying the lack of busyness, and the quietness of the conversation. One of the boys commented that this is what it used to be like all the time, and the other quickly agreed, but said that it was weird. I think they prefer life with a sister. That makes me feel good. I will also feel good when I pick up my little princess at 4:30. But for now, I will enjoy my cup of tea without interruption.
This was yesterday:
8:15 am - leave to take W to a friend`s house where he will hitch a ride to B-ball camp. Leave for CHEO with K.
9:30 am - K`s hearing appt at CHEO (she has perfect hearing)
9:50 am- leave CHEO, make stops at IKEA, bank machine (out of service), Wal-Mart, Boston Pizza for lunch, bank machine again (working this time), Canadian Tire.
12:45 pm - drive to Carp for K`s dance camp.
1:25 pm- leave Carp and hightail it to Franktown to pick up W at b-ball camp.
2:00-leave Franktown, drive into Carleton Place Winery for 2:30 with boys to bottle a batch of wine. Let them pick the foil covers for the wine bottles. I have 30 bottles of wine now, each with a different color cap. Most colorful batch I`ve made to date.
3:15 pm- drive to the Beer store to take back empty bottles. Earned $4.75 for my trouble.
3:30 pm- stop off at Timmy`s to spend my $4.75 on an ice-cap, two peach drinks and 3 chocolate timbits, and head to park for 25 minutes of relaxing in the shade watching the boys play.
3:55 pm- drive back out to Carp to pick up K for 4:30, who will then be done dance camp.
4:30 pm- drive back into Carleton Place, and go to McD`s for supper, where the kids start to get slightly cranky. So did I, but we all came out without too much of a scene.
5:30 pm- drive to soccer field to deposit W at soccer practice, then head to grocery store
6 pm- get groceries with J and K
6:45 pm- back to soccer field
7 pm head home
7:05 pm- back to soccer field to get W`s forgotten bag, only to find someone else had picked it up. Hope to retrieve it at tomorrow night`s game.
7:25 pm - HOME, kids into bed.
9 pm- me into bed.
The only similarity today had with yesterday is driving W and K to their respective day camps. Much more enjoyable, although I am pleased with what I accomplished yesterday. Got some good deals on end-of-season specials, got some things I`ve been meaning to pick up for a while. Clocked well over 200 K on the van.
W came out of b-ball camp today with a new shirt on that said `Best Effort Award` with his name on the back. Apparently at the end of yesterday, they said they`d give out an award every morning to the person who made the best effort the day before. W was the first awardee, this morning being given the shirt for yesterday`s effort, which is even better as he earned it without knowing that people were watching them. Watch for pictures on facebook in the next couple of days. I am presently washing said shirt as he plans to wear it to camp every day. Good thing I have to do laundry anyway nearly every day.
Right now the house is nice and quiet. I had forgotten what a difference a toddler makes in the house. It`s weird not to have K here, but I am enjoying the lack of busyness, and the quietness of the conversation. One of the boys commented that this is what it used to be like all the time, and the other quickly agreed, but said that it was weird. I think they prefer life with a sister. That makes me feel good. I will also feel good when I pick up my little princess at 4:30. But for now, I will enjoy my cup of tea without interruption.
Saturday, August 8, 2009
same old, same old
Not much new to blog about, just more of the same. Uber-deck continues along nicely. Uber-friend was not able to come over today to help again, as he is moving today. I suppose that's a reasonable enough excuse not to come. Hubby is over at his place returning the favor of helping out on a Saturday. In his absence, I have been working hard here on the deck. All of the deck boards are down (except for the trap door over the filter, which will be left for uber-friend and rocket scientist b-i-l to figure out). Yesterday I went online and taught myself how to build a railing. You can find tutorials for anything online, I have discovered. Seemed easy enough, so I went out and proceeded to construct four railings. The look great and even appear to be structurally sound. Today I will finish the railings and possibly start the stairs, which are much more complicated. Found a few tutorials for them online, and every one of them refers to stairs as the most complicated aspect of a deck. Ah well, how hard can it be?
Garden continues to thrive. The beans and peas are slowing down, but we still get lots every few days. Now the green peppers are nearing maturity, and I have two lovely sweet huge ones in my fridge. There are many more coming, so I'm glad they can be frozen. I have had to reinforce nearly all of my tomato cages, as the plants are so laden with fruit, they just fall over ripping the cages right out of the ground. Cukes and pumpkins are getting big and lovely, and there are more than enough ears of corn growing to provide a lovely feast some night. It's definitely been worth the work. Think I may try watermelons next year as the onions are not going to be attempted again. I can never grow onions.
One month from today my kids start back in school. Man, the summer has gone fast. I have really enjoyed it, but it will be nice to have routine again, crazy as it will be with me working more. I'll probably be more ready for it then then I am now. Right now, I'm happy for a few more weeks of summer, staying in my housecoat till 10 am if I feel like it, sipping coffee knowing I don't have to go anywhere right away, and not figuring out what to make for supper until after lunch instead of having the whole week's worth of meals planned in advance.
Coffee is done now- time to put in a load of laundry to hang out on my new clothesline. Lovely.
Garden continues to thrive. The beans and peas are slowing down, but we still get lots every few days. Now the green peppers are nearing maturity, and I have two lovely sweet huge ones in my fridge. There are many more coming, so I'm glad they can be frozen. I have had to reinforce nearly all of my tomato cages, as the plants are so laden with fruit, they just fall over ripping the cages right out of the ground. Cukes and pumpkins are getting big and lovely, and there are more than enough ears of corn growing to provide a lovely feast some night. It's definitely been worth the work. Think I may try watermelons next year as the onions are not going to be attempted again. I can never grow onions.
One month from today my kids start back in school. Man, the summer has gone fast. I have really enjoyed it, but it will be nice to have routine again, crazy as it will be with me working more. I'll probably be more ready for it then then I am now. Right now, I'm happy for a few more weeks of summer, staying in my housecoat till 10 am if I feel like it, sipping coffee knowing I don't have to go anywhere right away, and not figuring out what to make for supper until after lunch instead of having the whole week's worth of meals planned in advance.
Coffee is done now- time to put in a load of laundry to hang out on my new clothesline. Lovely.
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