Posts
Shine down on me
Mani-in-the-face
Not-so-Little Man hands
For much, much better photography, visit LOTUS.
Mani-in-the-face
Not-so-Little Man hands
For much, much better photography, visit LOTUS.
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Saturday, November 29, 2008
The Music of my life
We are in the final stretch of NaBloPoMo here, and no one reads on Saturdays anyway, right? So I am grabbing this from Just Miss, who borrowed it from Hockeyman. Here is my life as a movie, as in soundtrack.
Here are the rules:
1. Open your library (iTunes, Winamp, Media Player, iPod, etc)2. Put it on shuffle3. Press play4. When you go to a new question, press the next button5. For every question, type the song that’s playing6. Don’t lie and try to pretend you’re cool. (because face it, you ain’t that cool)
Opening Credits:
Pictures of You - The Cure
Love this song. The Cure figure pretty largely in the music of my life especially after I met the Man. And it's a pretty song.
Waking Up:
Come Together - Primal Scream
Wake up psychedelic dancing, I guess.
First Day at School:
Everything's not lost - Coldplay
How melancholy. This is me, though. I was a very melancholy little thing, very shy, softspoken in school. Didn't like to speak, even when spoken too. Cry at the drop of a hat. Boy, where did that girl go?? This does have some hope to it doesn't it? I guess I turned out all right.
Falling In Love:
Weekend - Kenny Lattimore
This was from a CD we bought from the W Hotel Chicago, where we went for our 10th wedding anniversary. Perfect for this scene, clubby even in the lobby. It was the first time we had been away together alone since becoming parents. It was a couple defining moment, when we realized that we DID have more to talk about than just our kid.
Fight Song:
Neon - John Mayer
Well, sorta weird. But check the guitar work ... awesome.
Breaking Up:
Goodbye Yesterday- Nick Heyward
Remember Haircut 100? Yeah, I'm that old. I loved them, especially their lead, Nick. I guess this might be symbolic of the almost break-up, and then final make-up ie. engagement process that we went through.
Prom:
Sing it again - Beck
Sad song, what imagery in the lyrics. Don't know what it had to do with my prom though...maybe the fact that my hair was a wreck. Yeah, that's the connection.
Life:
Bury Her - Crash Vegas
This CD Red Earth, is timeless. Rather obscure, though, I can't figure out how to link a snippet of this song.
Mental Breakdown:
November Spawned a Monster - Morrissey
...called NaBloPoMo, and I'm killing it, aren't it? Gahhhhh!!!!Great song, though. Uh, the video, I don't know about that...
Driving:
Karma Police - Radiohead
One of my fave songs of all time. Funny that the video features driving.
Flashback:
Tomorrow People - Ziggy Marley & the Melody Makers
Oh, lovely memories of vacationing in the Caribbean, great beaches, sand, Jamaican rum, lean, mean, tanned bodies. Before we had to find beaches with water parks, and kid-friendly was the furthest from our minds ...ironic though, our kids ARE tomorrow people, aren't they?
Getting Back Together:
Blitzkrieg Pop - Ramones
Hah, what a hilarious song for getting back together. I guess we could have been bopping, but I highly doubt it.
Wedding
Reach up for the Sunrise - Duran Duran
What an optimistic song, and a comeback of sorts for these guys. Well, sorta. We saw them live on their reunion tour and they were AWESOME. It was the first concert I went after having the girlie, so after a lovely dinner, wine, and beer I was more than a little tipsy (I even had to pump and dump). But even to inebriated eyes, Simon LeBon doesn't always look like a 50 year old woman, at least not when he's on stage. In all honesty, he's likely the most well-preserved of the group. My fave, John Taylor, is looking a little skeletor-ish lately.
Birth of a Child:
Eyes of a Stranger - the Payolas
This is interesting. I remember the first night alone with the baby boy after he was born, he was all swaddled and facing me in the hospital room. Looking at me and almost saying with those piercing dark eyes, "Hey, are you my mommy, and do you think you're gonna know what to do with me? You'll take good care of me, won't you?".
And my previously terrified heart swelled with such love that I knew indeed, I would do everything in my power to take good care of him. I've never forgotten that moment.
Final Battle:
Soul Mining - The The
Hmmm, no words for this one.
Death Scene:
Choose Life - PF Project featuring Ewan McGregor (Trainspotting soundtrack)
Intense is the only word I can come up with. Amazing what things Ewan has done since this early film. I loved him since then and Shallow Grave. Hard to believe he's Obi Wan and was singing his heart out in Moulin Rouge.
Funeral Song:
Tom Sawyer - Rush
Does not compute at all, but another excuse to listen to a classic. And it's Canadian and all. BTW, Rush in Rio, best concert DVD EVAH!!!! Those Brazilians know every single word and go NUTs over these guys.
End Credits:
Stay Away - Nirvana
No video for this, but man, this song rocks. I forget sometimes what a great drummer Dave Grohl is...
Thanks for listening.
Here are the rules:
1. Open your library (iTunes, Winamp, Media Player, iPod, etc)2. Put it on shuffle3. Press play4. When you go to a new question, press the next button5. For every question, type the song that’s playing6. Don’t lie and try to pretend you’re cool. (because face it, you ain’t that cool)
Opening Credits:
Pictures of You - The Cure
Love this song. The Cure figure pretty largely in the music of my life especially after I met the Man. And it's a pretty song.
Waking Up:
Come Together - Primal Scream
Wake up psychedelic dancing, I guess.
First Day at School:
Everything's not lost - Coldplay
How melancholy. This is me, though. I was a very melancholy little thing, very shy, softspoken in school. Didn't like to speak, even when spoken too. Cry at the drop of a hat. Boy, where did that girl go?? This does have some hope to it doesn't it? I guess I turned out all right.
Falling In Love:
Weekend - Kenny Lattimore
This was from a CD we bought from the W Hotel Chicago, where we went for our 10th wedding anniversary. Perfect for this scene, clubby even in the lobby. It was the first time we had been away together alone since becoming parents. It was a couple defining moment, when we realized that we DID have more to talk about than just our kid.
Fight Song:
Neon - John Mayer
Well, sorta weird. But check the guitar work ... awesome.
Breaking Up:
Goodbye Yesterday- Nick Heyward
Remember Haircut 100? Yeah, I'm that old. I loved them, especially their lead, Nick. I guess this might be symbolic of the almost break-up, and then final make-up ie. engagement process that we went through.
Prom:
Sing it again - Beck
Sad song, what imagery in the lyrics. Don't know what it had to do with my prom though...maybe the fact that my hair was a wreck. Yeah, that's the connection.
Life:
Bury Her - Crash Vegas
This CD Red Earth, is timeless. Rather obscure, though, I can't figure out how to link a snippet of this song.
Mental Breakdown:
November Spawned a Monster - Morrissey
...called NaBloPoMo, and I'm killing it, aren't it? Gahhhhh!!!!Great song, though. Uh, the video, I don't know about that...
Driving:
Karma Police - Radiohead
One of my fave songs of all time. Funny that the video features driving.
Flashback:
Tomorrow People - Ziggy Marley & the Melody Makers
Oh, lovely memories of vacationing in the Caribbean, great beaches, sand, Jamaican rum, lean, mean, tanned bodies. Before we had to find beaches with water parks, and kid-friendly was the furthest from our minds ...ironic though, our kids ARE tomorrow people, aren't they?
Getting Back Together:
Blitzkrieg Pop - Ramones
Hah, what a hilarious song for getting back together. I guess we could have been bopping, but I highly doubt it.
Wedding
Reach up for the Sunrise - Duran Duran
What an optimistic song, and a comeback of sorts for these guys. Well, sorta. We saw them live on their reunion tour and they were AWESOME. It was the first concert I went after having the girlie, so after a lovely dinner, wine, and beer I was more than a little tipsy (I even had to pump and dump). But even to inebriated eyes, Simon LeBon doesn't always look like a 50 year old woman, at least not when he's on stage. In all honesty, he's likely the most well-preserved of the group. My fave, John Taylor, is looking a little skeletor-ish lately.
Birth of a Child:
Eyes of a Stranger - the Payolas
This is interesting. I remember the first night alone with the baby boy after he was born, he was all swaddled and facing me in the hospital room. Looking at me and almost saying with those piercing dark eyes, "Hey, are you my mommy, and do you think you're gonna know what to do with me? You'll take good care of me, won't you?".
And my previously terrified heart swelled with such love that I knew indeed, I would do everything in my power to take good care of him. I've never forgotten that moment.
Final Battle:
Soul Mining - The The
Hmmm, no words for this one.
Death Scene:
Choose Life - PF Project featuring Ewan McGregor (Trainspotting soundtrack)
Intense is the only word I can come up with. Amazing what things Ewan has done since this early film. I loved him since then and Shallow Grave. Hard to believe he's Obi Wan and was singing his heart out in Moulin Rouge.
Funeral Song:
Tom Sawyer - Rush
Does not compute at all, but another excuse to listen to a classic. And it's Canadian and all. BTW, Rush in Rio, best concert DVD EVAH!!!! Those Brazilians know every single word and go NUTs over these guys.
End Credits:
Stay Away - Nirvana
No video for this, but man, this song rocks. I forget sometimes what a great drummer Dave Grohl is...
Thanks for listening.
Friday, November 28, 2008
Fashion Friday: Spanx'ed and Berried
Well, guess who hasn't heard the word "recession" yet. Yeah, guilty as charged. I've been doing a little shopping. Cannot resist the deals.
For one thing, I had to buy a dress for the holiday party. More on that later.
But first, I'm loving the deep berry red shades of the season.
I needed a hat, and was looking for one of those slouchy types and believe it or not, this was the ONLY one I found in the accessories section:
.JPG)
So what do you think, Remy Shand or Mary Tyler Moore?
Back the party.
I had to get a proper mani, after all I'll be shaking hands with people later and what's worse than rubbing mitts with sandpaper? Ugh.
Here they are, in OPI's "We'll always have Paris".
And back to the Spanx. Yes, I had to get some to fit into this which I purchased for the part-ay tonite:
And since the dresses were so pretty at BCBG I had to get this too:
So no presents for mommy this year, she's done!!
For one thing, I had to buy a dress for the holiday party. More on that later.
But first, I'm loving the deep berry red shades of the season.
I needed a hat, and was looking for one of those slouchy types and believe it or not, this was the ONLY one I found in the accessories section:
.JPG)
So what do you think, Remy Shand or Mary Tyler Moore?
Back the party.
I had to get a proper mani, after all I'll be shaking hands with people later and what's worse than rubbing mitts with sandpaper? Ugh.
Here they are, in OPI's "We'll always have Paris".
And back to the Spanx. Yes, I had to get some to fit into this which I purchased for the part-ay tonite:
And since the dresses were so pretty at BCBG I had to get this too:
So no presents for mommy this year, she's done!!
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Little Emo
One of our favourite activities is tucking the kids in at night, especially if they are willing to go to bed. They're sweet, snuggly, and if you do everything according to plan they'll pass out before you're out the bedroom door.
The girlie, especially, needs the routine to be EXACT. Every night, after she washes up, she has a story read to her while she sits on Mom or Dad's lap on the rocker. Then she climbs into bed, with her little doggie Koko, and sometimes another guy (lately the IKEA rat) and asks for another story, usually one about our childhood.
I'll be honest, we've run out of stories and often have to make things up. After the "real" story, we then kiss her three times, Koko once, and we must tell her we love her, so she can say, "see you in the morning, love you too!!!'. Often she gets her "love you too" out before we say it first.
Last night, as her Dad was getting her wrapped in her covers, she said, "Daddy, I want to hear a story."
And her Dad started his usual trip down memory lane, before he was interrupted.
"No Daddy, I want to hear a story about the dead."
O...kay.
Daddy replied, "No sweetie, that would be a very sad story."
That seemed to satisfy her. So instead, the hubs regaled her with the story of the time when as a teenager, he and his cousin took his uncle's car out in the dark and did donuts on the field of a neighbouring cottage/farm, unknowingly destroying rows of freshly planted trees ...(well, not really, hopefully he'll hold that story until she's much much older).
A strange request though, don't you think?
And check her latest self-portrait:
It bears a remarkable resemblance to a familiar face:
(image from scifipedia.scifi.com)
You can call me Morticia.
The girlie, especially, needs the routine to be EXACT. Every night, after she washes up, she has a story read to her while she sits on Mom or Dad's lap on the rocker. Then she climbs into bed, with her little doggie Koko, and sometimes another guy (lately the IKEA rat) and asks for another story, usually one about our childhood.
I'll be honest, we've run out of stories and often have to make things up. After the "real" story, we then kiss her three times, Koko once, and we must tell her we love her, so she can say, "see you in the morning, love you too!!!'. Often she gets her "love you too" out before we say it first.
Last night, as her Dad was getting her wrapped in her covers, she said, "Daddy, I want to hear a story."
And her Dad started his usual trip down memory lane, before he was interrupted.
"No Daddy, I want to hear a story about the dead."
O...kay.
Daddy replied, "No sweetie, that would be a very sad story."
That seemed to satisfy her. So instead, the hubs regaled her with the story of the time when as a teenager, he and his cousin took his uncle's car out in the dark and did donuts on the field of a neighbouring cottage/farm, unknowingly destroying rows of freshly planted trees ...(well, not really, hopefully he'll hold that story until she's much much older).
A strange request though, don't you think?
And check her latest self-portrait:
It bears a remarkable resemblance to a familiar face:
(image from scifipedia.scifi.com)
You can call me Morticia.
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Tagged on a Tuesday
Thank goodness! Seriously running out of blog fodder. I even thought about vlogging myself bodyjamming every new release since the last one ... the latest even has Marilyn Manson, kills me, people...and then I thought better of it. Are you freakin' kidding me? I can't even believe I did it the first time.
I was tagged by lovely Colleen at Mommy Always Wins for this one word challenge. One word? I'm so longwinded. Here's a go at it:
Where is your cell phone? Purse
Where is your significant other? work
Your hair color? brown
Your mother? busy
Your father? TV
Your favorite thing? bodyjam
Your dream last night? sleep
Your dream/goal? balance
The room you’re in? office
Your hobby? blogging
Your fear? sickness
Where do you want to be in 6 years? here
Where were you last night? here
What you’re not? perfect
One of your wish-list items? spa
Where you grew up? Toronto
Last thing you did? type
What are you wearing? tartan
Your TV? big
Your pet? peeve
Your computer? Vaio
Your mood? okay
Missing someone? hubby
Your car? tank
Something you’re not wearing? perfume
Favorite store? Lululemon
Your summer? hot
Love someone? totally
Your favorite color? purple
When is the last time you laughed? Yesterday
Last time you cried? Yesterday
Now I hope I'm not gonna make you cry like my daughter did at a banquet on Saturday ( when no one tagged her to be "it"). But you go ahead and do this one if you'd like. It's quick, easy, and it fills. Have fun.
I was tagged by lovely Colleen at Mommy Always Wins for this one word challenge. One word? I'm so longwinded. Here's a go at it:
Where is your cell phone? Purse
Where is your significant other? work
Your hair color? brown
Your mother? busy
Your father? TV
Your favorite thing? bodyjam
Your dream last night? sleep
Your dream/goal? balance
The room you’re in? office
Your hobby? blogging
Your fear? sickness
Where do you want to be in 6 years? here
Where were you last night? here
What you’re not? perfect
One of your wish-list items? spa
Where you grew up? Toronto
Last thing you did? type
What are you wearing? tartan
Your TV? big
Your pet? peeve
Your computer? Vaio
Your mood? okay
Missing someone? hubby
Your car? tank
Something you’re not wearing? perfume
Favorite store? Lululemon
Your summer? hot
Love someone? totally
Your favorite color? purple
When is the last time you laughed? Yesterday
Last time you cried? Yesterday
Now I hope I'm not gonna make you cry like my daughter did at a banquet on Saturday ( when no one tagged her to be "it"). But you go ahead and do this one if you'd like. It's quick, easy, and it fills. Have fun.
Monday, November 24, 2008
Crush
"There are THREE more crushes on me today!" he yelled as he climbed into the van.
Hm. I hadn't even heard of the ones previous to these.
"So who has these crushes on you and how do you know?" I asked as lightheartedly as I could.
"Well, Mom, they TELL me! Like Lauren*, for instance, passed me a note that said "Love, secretly". I guess that wasn't too secret though. And Yvonne* came right up to me and said, "I like you. Right up to me!!!!" he replied.
"Well what do you think of it all?" asked Dr. Phil/Mom.
"It's sort of weird." Too funny. Let's ask him again in about 8 years.
"And how do you respond when they say those things?" (trying to keep the smile from my voice, honestly, I really, really want to know!)
"I just pretend to pass out and then I run away."
What else is an 8 year old boy supposed to do?
"Oh. So how do they react?" (Mom is so nosy!)
"They just go their own way giggling."
Then he switched the subject.
I suppose I should have taken the high road and mentioned that it was very flattering for these girls to tell him how much they like him. Or that he should be thankful that he's making such a good impression. That I'm proud of him that he's good with his peers and obviously very likeable and fun to be around. It's actually quite sweet and cute.
But I didn't, because my mama bear instincts just kicked in.
What? My boy??? Back off!!! (Well, not really, but I wasn't expecting this stuff for at least another few years. )
Wonder if this is why the Boy loves Archie's new song so much (it is really a sweet song).
Here's another sweet, driving song...
At least we haven't yet reached the angst of Garbage...
Oy.
*names changed to protect the innocent, and yes, they really still are ... and very cute :)
Hm. I hadn't even heard of the ones previous to these.
"So who has these crushes on you and how do you know?" I asked as lightheartedly as I could.
"Well, Mom, they TELL me! Like Lauren*, for instance, passed me a note that said "Love, secretly". I guess that wasn't too secret though. And Yvonne* came right up to me and said, "I like you. Right up to me!!!!" he replied.
"Well what do you think of it all?" asked Dr. Phil/Mom.
"It's sort of weird." Too funny. Let's ask him again in about 8 years.
"And how do you respond when they say those things?" (trying to keep the smile from my voice, honestly, I really, really want to know!)
"I just pretend to pass out and then I run away."
What else is an 8 year old boy supposed to do?
"Oh. So how do they react?" (Mom is so nosy!)
"They just go their own way giggling."
Then he switched the subject.
I suppose I should have taken the high road and mentioned that it was very flattering for these girls to tell him how much they like him. Or that he should be thankful that he's making such a good impression. That I'm proud of him that he's good with his peers and obviously very likeable and fun to be around. It's actually quite sweet and cute.
But I didn't, because my mama bear instincts just kicked in.
What? My boy??? Back off!!! (Well, not really, but I wasn't expecting this stuff for at least another few years. )
Wonder if this is why the Boy loves Archie's new song so much (it is really a sweet song).
Here's another sweet, driving song...
At least we haven't yet reached the angst of Garbage...
Oy.
*names changed to protect the innocent, and yes, they really still are ... and very cute :)
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Weekly Winners #46
Good Morning Winter
Pink-Monkey-dressed-as-a-bunny-wearing Mouseketeer
The Agent
The Actor
The Family Gallery
For much, much better photography, visit LOTUS.
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Weekend Cougar Update
So while we await further news about whether the demise of Lipstick Jungle is as imminent as initially reported, the cougar is, in the meantime on the prowl.
We've been watching So You Think You Can Dance Canada as a family since it first aired earlier this fall. And despite the current controversy, especially this week's results where two of the very best dancers were eliminated (Arassay and VINCENT??!!!) while some questionable choices remain, we will continue to watch.
Well, I will, with my children's blessing be watching because of this fellow. He's young, sexy, cute, French, and does he ever dance with passion and heat:
And here he is solo...
Oh I know he's like, 20 years my junior, but there's no harm in admiring, right? Me and all the screaming 16 year olds of the Nico fan club.
And then there's Miles, the cousin of bloggy pal Haley of Cheaty Monkey. He is brillers too:
Miles is a B-boy and Allie is a ballerina! Amazing stuff!
So I'll be watching and voting all right.
We've been watching So You Think You Can Dance Canada as a family since it first aired earlier this fall. And despite the current controversy, especially this week's results where two of the very best dancers were eliminated (Arassay and VINCENT??!!!) while some questionable choices remain, we will continue to watch.
Well, I will, with my children's blessing be watching because of this fellow. He's young, sexy, cute, French, and does he ever dance with passion and heat:
And here he is solo...
Oh I know he's like, 20 years my junior, but there's no harm in admiring, right? Me and all the screaming 16 year olds of the Nico fan club.
And then there's Miles, the cousin of bloggy pal Haley of Cheaty Monkey. He is brillers too:
Miles is a B-boy and Allie is a ballerina! Amazing stuff!
So I'll be watching and voting all right.
Friday, November 21, 2008
Fashion Friday - Loud
It's been a while since I posted one of these Friday nuggets. But I had to capture the rarity of shopping downtown in the middle of the week.
The Man had a meeting downtown for a couple of nights earlier this week. He packed first thing in the morning of the meeting (he's been doing a fair bit of travelling again, so this is old hat to him), got into his car and then joined the legions of vehicles making the trek into the city. About an hour and a half later, I got a phone call:
"Uh, Karen, could you do me a favour?".
"Uh, what might that be?"
"Well, I forgot my bag ... with my laptop and all my work in it. Could you bring it down for me?"
At first I was exasperated ... driving downtown can be tricky at the best of times, but if you time it right it can be smooth sailing. I'm always concerned about making it back home in time to pick up the boy.
Of course, I then snapped out of it and realized that his hotel was right in the middle of the Mink Mile.
"Sure, I'll pick up the girl and bring your bag down."
I'm not in the position to be buying Prada, Gucci ... but it was fun getting some holiday ideas at Pottery Barn. Of course I wasn't going to go home empty-handed, so a visit to Zara was in order ...
Cuter on...
.JPG)
Yeah, a little loud, eh? I yell so well because my clothes often chime in with me. Here are a few other items I've purchased in the recent past...
.JPG)
And I guess I've always had a soft spot for paisley, as this has been in my closet for about 8 years...
But alas, not all is lost. I did pick up practical mom wear which I wore today because it was the coldest day of the season so far, brrrr ...
So the favour did cost someone somewhat... but at least I didn't go ballistic at Tiffany's.
Happy Weekend all!
The Man had a meeting downtown for a couple of nights earlier this week. He packed first thing in the morning of the meeting (he's been doing a fair bit of travelling again, so this is old hat to him), got into his car and then joined the legions of vehicles making the trek into the city. About an hour and a half later, I got a phone call:
"Uh, Karen, could you do me a favour?".
"Uh, what might that be?"
"Well, I forgot my bag ... with my laptop and all my work in it. Could you bring it down for me?"
At first I was exasperated ... driving downtown can be tricky at the best of times, but if you time it right it can be smooth sailing. I'm always concerned about making it back home in time to pick up the boy.
Of course, I then snapped out of it and realized that his hotel was right in the middle of the Mink Mile.
"Sure, I'll pick up the girl and bring your bag down."
I'm not in the position to be buying Prada, Gucci ... but it was fun getting some holiday ideas at Pottery Barn. Of course I wasn't going to go home empty-handed, so a visit to Zara was in order ...
Cuter on...
.JPG)
Yeah, a little loud, eh? I yell so well because my clothes often chime in with me. Here are a few other items I've purchased in the recent past...
.JPG)
And I guess I've always had a soft spot for paisley, as this has been in my closet for about 8 years...
But alas, not all is lost. I did pick up practical mom wear which I wore today because it was the coldest day of the season so far, brrrr ...
So the favour did cost someone somewhat... but at least I didn't go ballistic at Tiffany's.
Happy Weekend all!
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Desperado...
Thirteen Things ...times three and then some.
I know, this is cheating. But I'm desperate. And I completed this on Tuesday.
It's just past the middle of NaBloPoMo and I've got nothing. So a meme it will have to be. Desperate times call for desperate measures.
I borrowed this meme from my bloggy pal Melissa (just in time, I must say). Well, at least most of it. I left the last question off because I'm a tad superstitious.
So here we go...
1. Do you like blue cheese? LOVE it.
2. Have you ever smoked? Yes, but not tobacco. Oh wait, maybe a couple puffs of cigar. But not even mary-jo-wanna. I did light up and inhale some weird herbal cigarettes that stunk; just to prove to myself that I could smoke if I wanted to. So now I know that I definitely don't want to.
3. Do you own a gun? No.
4. What flavor of Kool Aid was your favorite? Strawberry or cherry ... whatever the red is.
5. Do you get nervous before doctor appointments? No.
6. What do you think of hot dogs? Like them. Helped my kids polish off 54 of them, don't you know...
7. Favorite Christmas movie? A Christmas "You'll shoot your eye out" Story.
8. Favorite thing to drink in the morning? Coffee.
9. Can you do push ups? Some, but the lazy-ass lady kind.
10. What’s your favorite piece of jewelry? The ring that hubs bought me for the birth of my boy. Silver with encrusted diamonds and garnet stone, engraved with the boy's name and birthdate.
11. Favorite hobby? Blogging, how'd you guess?
12. Do you have A.D.D? Don't think so, but that would explain a few things.
13. What’s one trait you hate about yourself? I can be very impatient, often with my kids.
14. Middle name? Mary
15. Name 3 thoughts at this exact moment.
1) I drank too much coffee.
2) I have nothing to post tomorrow.
3) I need to get the invitations out for the girl's party
16. Name 3 drinks you regularly drink? Coffee, tea, water
17. Current worry? Getting my work project out without breaking my back.
18. Current hate right now? That hubby's working more weekends than he's not, at least it seems that way.
19. Favorite place to be? With my family.
20. How did you bring in the new year? We were in Mont Tremblant, in a ski condo, watching Shrek 3 with the kids. I think we slept through midnight.
21. Where would you like to go? Manhattan. Lurve NYC. Someplace I've never been? Ireland maybe Russia.
22. Name three people who might complete this: Go for it if you need it!
23. Do you own slippers? Yes.
24. What shirt are you wearing? Wine coloured sweater hoodie.
I know, this is cheating. But I'm desperate. And I completed this on Tuesday.
It's just past the middle of NaBloPoMo and I've got nothing. So a meme it will have to be. Desperate times call for desperate measures.
I borrowed this meme from my bloggy pal Melissa (just in time, I must say). Well, at least most of it. I left the last question off because I'm a tad superstitious.
So here we go...
1. Do you like blue cheese? LOVE it.
2. Have you ever smoked? Yes, but not tobacco. Oh wait, maybe a couple puffs of cigar. But not even mary-jo-wanna. I did light up and inhale some weird herbal cigarettes that stunk; just to prove to myself that I could smoke if I wanted to. So now I know that I definitely don't want to.
3. Do you own a gun? No.
4. What flavor of Kool Aid was your favorite? Strawberry or cherry ... whatever the red is.
5. Do you get nervous before doctor appointments? No.
6. What do you think of hot dogs? Like them. Helped my kids polish off 54 of them, don't you know...
7. Favorite Christmas movie? A Christmas "You'll shoot your eye out" Story.
8. Favorite thing to drink in the morning? Coffee.
9. Can you do push ups? Some, but the lazy-ass lady kind.
10. What’s your favorite piece of jewelry? The ring that hubs bought me for the birth of my boy. Silver with encrusted diamonds and garnet stone, engraved with the boy's name and birthdate.
11. Favorite hobby? Blogging, how'd you guess?
12. Do you have A.D.D? Don't think so, but that would explain a few things.
13. What’s one trait you hate about yourself? I can be very impatient, often with my kids.
14. Middle name? Mary
15. Name 3 thoughts at this exact moment.
1) I drank too much coffee.
2) I have nothing to post tomorrow.
3) I need to get the invitations out for the girl's party
16. Name 3 drinks you regularly drink? Coffee, tea, water
17. Current worry? Getting my work project out without breaking my back.
18. Current hate right now? That hubby's working more weekends than he's not, at least it seems that way.
19. Favorite place to be? With my family.
20. How did you bring in the new year? We were in Mont Tremblant, in a ski condo, watching Shrek 3 with the kids. I think we slept through midnight.
21. Where would you like to go? Manhattan. Lurve NYC. Someplace I've never been? Ireland maybe Russia.
22. Name three people who might complete this: Go for it if you need it!
23. Do you own slippers? Yes.
24. What shirt are you wearing? Wine coloured sweater hoodie.
25. Do you like sleeping on satin sheets? No. Too slippery ... okay, stop there.
26. Can you whistle? Not really. I can yell, though.
27. Favorite color? Purple.
28. Would you be a pirate? No. I get seasick.
29. What songs do you sing in the AM?: Top 40 stuff that the girl wishes I wouldn't. Like Pink, Katy Perry, Akon, Neo, Lady Gaga, Madonna ...
30. Favorite Girl’s Name: Quinn
31. Favorite boy’s name: Aidan (stop laughing, if we'd had a twins for the last pregnancy, it was definitely a possibility ;0)
32. What’s in your pocket right now? Grocery list.
33. Last thing that made you laugh? My husband's hair (a constant state of amusement for me... I need help).
34. What vehicle do you drive? Honda Odyssey. In universal bland tan. Wasn't my first choice but you can't beat the convenience when you've got kids and crap. Don't hold it against me.
35. Worst injury you’ve ever had? Probably happened when I was a kid, at about 3 years of age. I was being chased by my cousin Batman and fell into a wooden baby toilet seat ... my two front teeth were slammed back up into my gums. I don't remember it, thank gawd...just writing this made me cringe.
36. Do you love where you live? Pretty much.
37. How many TVs do you have in your house? 4
38. Who is your loudest friend? Probably my oldest friend, but she's at least a tie with me. It's an Asian thing... we yell.
39. Do you have any pets? Goldie the goldfish.
40. Does someone have a crush on you? I think so. My little girl is going through an "I love mommy" thing 24/7.
41. Your favorite book(s): Books, what are they again? I'm partial to the "Walter the Farting Dog" and "Knuffle Bunny" series, but I'll have to check my Goodreads. Maybe I need to jump on the Twilight wagon?
42. Do you collect anything? Everything. I'm a packrat. Magazines are my biggest thing (I think I've got almost every issue of Canadian House & Home since 1995, hidden in the walls ... don't tell my husband).
43. Favorite Sports Team? You know, I'm pretty lame. I don't follow any. Other than the hometown teams I don't know of many.
So are you still awake? Sorry it was so long.
Hope you have an awesome Thursday!
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Help, I'm alive ... and I'm in concert withdrawal
This is one of the rare times that I wish my kids were teenagers. In fact, the only time I've wished, as far as I can remember.
Because if they were, I'd make them take me with them to this.
Tokyo Police Club are the hottest thing to come out of Newmarket since, well, 80's sensation Glass Tiger. They've just been featured on Desperate Housewives, so they're not "bleeding edge" anymore. But they're good.
And Glass Tiger ... well, I've met Alan Frew (sans mullet) at a couple of corporate gigs. He's still an awesome singer, and I didn't forget him cuz I guess he's never really gone.
But METRIC, that's who I'm excited about. Listen.
Can't wait until their new disc comes out.
Because if they were, I'd make them take me with them to this.
Tokyo Police Club are the hottest thing to come out of Newmarket since, well, 80's sensation Glass Tiger. They've just been featured on Desperate Housewives, so they're not "bleeding edge" anymore. But they're good.
And Glass Tiger ... well, I've met Alan Frew (sans mullet) at a couple of corporate gigs. He's still an awesome singer, and I didn't forget him cuz I guess he's never really gone.
But METRIC, that's who I'm excited about. Listen.
Can't wait until their new disc comes out.
Monday, November 17, 2008
When I grow up...
I went out for dinner with my oldest friend last Friday. We headed out for a night on the town to try out a new restaurant. And managed to enjoy ourselves despite a bit of an "ick" factor as the mâitre-d' flirted and was a bit too touchy-feely than I would have liked.
By "oldest" girlfriend, I mean that she was my very first best friend in elementary school. We met and became inseparable in Grade 5. We had secret diaries, our own little club, would share our Judy Blume books and even our first crushes. When we found out how babies came to be and how they came into the world, we were shocked and couldn't imagine being mothers. Nuh-uh, not for us! We would walk home from school in the freezing cold trying to remember, but inevitably messing up the lyrics of David Bowie's "Fame". We were always laughing. Good times that I still remember quite vividly, memories from over 30 years ago.
Through the years, we drifted apart somewhat. We were always friends, but ran in different circles once in high school. I went through an uber-geek period, and she never did. We were never really quite as close on a day to day basis, our friendship not as intense as it was in those early years. We attended different universities in different cities, but still kept our friendship up. Everytime we talked on the phone or got together, even if it had been months between, it was as if we'd last spoken the day before.
We've seen each other through major life milestones ... weddings, babies ...and over the years we would get together occasionally with our families. I knew when she was going through a rough patch in her marriage; she knew of our struggles getting pregnant. When I called her with news of my second pregnancy she shared news of her own about her break-up. We both could guess what each other's news was before we even said the words.
But since that phone call, our relationship changed somewhat. We've gotten closer on a certain level. We stay in touch probably more than we ever did before. Perhaps it's her newfound "freedom" and my moving into a new phase of SAHM-ness while trying to keep a foot in the working door ...we relate as women now. Talking about raising kids to be responsible people; wondering how to best fight the good fight in our sagging 40s; our careers; the complexities of relationships; dealing with ageing parents. Sure, we still talk about men; I live somewhat vicariously through her dating stories (not that I would ever want to be in that scene again, but she's been seeing some hot guys!). We still laugh a lot, but it's no longer just girl talk.
Amazing, isn't it? We're adults now.
Do you ever feel like you're just a kid playing in a grown-up world?
Yeah, I do too.
By "oldest" girlfriend, I mean that she was my very first best friend in elementary school. We met and became inseparable in Grade 5. We had secret diaries, our own little club, would share our Judy Blume books and even our first crushes. When we found out how babies came to be and how they came into the world, we were shocked and couldn't imagine being mothers. Nuh-uh, not for us! We would walk home from school in the freezing cold trying to remember, but inevitably messing up the lyrics of David Bowie's "Fame". We were always laughing. Good times that I still remember quite vividly, memories from over 30 years ago.
Through the years, we drifted apart somewhat. We were always friends, but ran in different circles once in high school. I went through an uber-geek period, and she never did. We were never really quite as close on a day to day basis, our friendship not as intense as it was in those early years. We attended different universities in different cities, but still kept our friendship up. Everytime we talked on the phone or got together, even if it had been months between, it was as if we'd last spoken the day before.
We've seen each other through major life milestones ... weddings, babies ...and over the years we would get together occasionally with our families. I knew when she was going through a rough patch in her marriage; she knew of our struggles getting pregnant. When I called her with news of my second pregnancy she shared news of her own about her break-up. We both could guess what each other's news was before we even said the words.
But since that phone call, our relationship changed somewhat. We've gotten closer on a certain level. We stay in touch probably more than we ever did before. Perhaps it's her newfound "freedom" and my moving into a new phase of SAHM-ness while trying to keep a foot in the working door ...we relate as women now. Talking about raising kids to be responsible people; wondering how to best fight the good fight in our sagging 40s; our careers; the complexities of relationships; dealing with ageing parents. Sure, we still talk about men; I live somewhat vicariously through her dating stories (not that I would ever want to be in that scene again, but she's been seeing some hot guys!). We still laugh a lot, but it's no longer just girl talk.
Amazing, isn't it? We're adults now.
Do you ever feel like you're just a kid playing in a grown-up world?
Yeah, I do too.
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Weekly Winners #45
Shy (dressed up for his Heritage Schoolhouse field trip)
Not so shy (ski bunny)
Cookie Bakers
Bubble Makers
For other winners, visit LOTUS.
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Another one bites the dust???
NBC, I am not happy with you.
How dare you cancel my guilty pleasure? Don't you know that these are my girlfriends? Only in my dreams, I know, but imagination is important too.
What am I going to do without my weekly dose of eye candy, including a cute and often shirtless 27 year old?
How can I go on without knowing what happens to my 80's crush turned billionaire?
I guess the 45 year old whose washboard abs are hidden behind 20 years of desk job will just have to do. Life ain't so bad.
(and no, no pictures of the in-house shirtless wonder to be posted... we all want this blog to stay alive, don't we?)
(photos from Google images)
Friday, November 14, 2008
Hidden in the drawer
...buried under all the bedside table junk, was a piece of nostalgia that I suppose I just could not throw away.
It was my daily point of reference, my calculator, my diary, my medical chart ... all rolled into one. It was my life captured in a Milk calendar.
In reality, there were a few years' worth of calendars marked for "easy at a glance" viewing. I wasn't crazy enough to keep all of them, though. But this snapshot was a critical one. I should probably get it embossed.
I haven't posted about my infertility story in a while. Not because I'm avoiding it ... although the subject does take a lot out of me, much of which I have buried deep within. The story just deserves more than what a NaBloPoMo'd mind can give.
So the posts, they will be coming.
It was my daily point of reference, my calculator, my diary, my medical chart ... all rolled into one. It was my life captured in a Milk calendar.
In reality, there were a few years' worth of calendars marked for "easy at a glance" viewing. I wasn't crazy enough to keep all of them, though. But this snapshot was a critical one. I should probably get it embossed.
I haven't posted about my infertility story in a while. Not because I'm avoiding it ... although the subject does take a lot out of me, much of which I have buried deep within. The story just deserves more than what a NaBloPoMo'd mind can give.
So the posts, they will be coming.
(This Flashback hosted by Colleen at Mommy Always Wins ... )
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Thursday Thirteen: Working girl
 |
Now that there is no daycare, and work all of a sudden ramps up (how's that for Murphy's), what's a good mother to do to keep her girlie occupied? 1/ Get the girl McDonalds for lunch; 2/ Buy her a crawling Pinkie Pie ; 3/ Bake a cake with her; 4/ Bake sugar cookies with her; 5/ Let her eat said sugar cookies after McD's; 6/ Cave in and buy her prepackaged snack size Fruit loops; 7/ Let her eat said Fruit Loops, yes, after the sugar cookies, after McDonalds; 8/ Let her finger paint; 9/ Let her mess up the family room with Play Doh; 10/Let her eat cake decorations (sugar sprinkles) on their own; 11/ Let her eat a small bowl of Lays potato chips; 12/ Let her replay the "Ratatouille" DVD for the third time in two days in the hope that she'd nap. Note to self: sugar rush = no sleep for what feels like the next 10 hours. 13/ Let her Daddy put her to bed; lucky for him she passed out before her usual bedtime. I think this work gig is suiting someone just fine ... |
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Remembrance Day
The Boy had a bad dream the other night. He dreamt that his Dad was off for five months fighting in a war. He woke up crying.
When he told me about it, I comforted him by telling him Dad was away at work, at a conference. He knew that he was working, but the dream felt very real. I joked a bit with him, telling him his Daddy was way too old, that the army wouldn't want him anyway.
I didn't tell him the sad truth that there are kids for whom that bad dream is actually a reality.
*****
I always hoped and assumed that when I had kids, they would grow up in a world without war. After all, during my childhood, I certainly thought of war as something distinctly in the past. I knew that my mother had been affected as a child in China and my great-uncle had been an esteemed General; we had school assemblies to acknowledge Remembrance Day, we wrote poems, we learned about all about the World Wars...in the distant past.
But now we are in an age of war. Remembrance Day is not only about remembering the men and women and their sacrifices in history, but also those who have lost their lives trying to keep the peace just months, weeks ... even days ago.
*****
Today, we will remember. We will be proud of the brave soldiers, like my kids' grandpa. Who risked their lives, and continue to do so, to keep our world safe and free. It's the least we can do.
*****
This just in, my girlfriend the lovely C, has been on bedrest for weeks with her first pregnancy, and is now going into Labour and Delivery with her baby at just 28 weeks. Please keep her in your thoughts and send good wishes her way....
Edited to add: C had a baby girl!!!!!
Monday, November 10, 2008
Heavy heart
I, along with so many others, was so hoping for a different outcome.
When I first heard of Brandon Crisp's disappearance over Thanksgiving weekend, I was shocked and so worried for him and his parents.
A dispute with your parents when you're a teenager? How common is that?
I remember stomping off from my home when I was about 16 over something really silly. My parents wanted us to spend New Year's Eve with them at their friends' place. I had my own friends, my first boyfriend, and the LAST thing I wanted to do was to spend an evening with my parents' friends' kids instead of my own gang. (Most New Years' my parents would play Mah Jong the WHOLE night, in the basement of their friend's house, so honestly, we wouldn't actually be spending quality time with them --- no matter, if we were good Chinese children we would obey our parents and go with them when they wanted us to, right? I couldn't think of anything worse than spending time with other teenagers who would rather be elsewhere too...).
So I ran off into the night, over to my girlfriend's house. It was pretty late... way past midnight, if I recall correctly. It was cold, I had just taken off without my coat, in tears, running, then gasping and trudging through the streets of my suburban neighbourhood, bemoaning the tragedy that was my life. When I got to my friend's house, although she was out, her aunt was there, so I was able to let off some steam ... she had me call home once I had calmed down. Thank goodness she was there. Come to think of it, I think I ran off a few more times before I hit 18.
An addiction to computer games? I've already seen bits of that in this household, and it is so difficult to set limits. It's hard enough for kids, but for teenagers, young people who think they know everything ... but at the heart of it all are still children.
And this is what terrifies me. My children are still young enough that they pretty much think that everything we as parents tell them, is gospel. There's not a lot of dispute, other than whining about toys they can't have, or having to go to lessons that they're not overly thrilled about at the time. However, I already see signs of a bit of rebellion in my older one; he looks so much older and speaks with maturity beyond his 8 years of age. I don't know if it's because of this that we sometimes afford him a little more responsibility and assume he's more capable than he is. Sometimes we forget that this young man with the size 6 shoe, is still a little boy. I just do not know what to expect from him, or his little Diva sister, for that matter, when they become teenagers.
Brandon's parents, my heart just goes out to them. There was no "big bad wolf" here. I think they did everything most parents would normally do. I know they'll just be re-living their last moments with their boy for the rest of their lives.
The image of that little boy, in that cold field, all alone ... I've been in tears. I just cannot imagine what his parents, sisters, family and community are going through.
God bless you and your family, Brandon. I hope your family finds peace.
When I first heard of Brandon Crisp's disappearance over Thanksgiving weekend, I was shocked and so worried for him and his parents.
A dispute with your parents when you're a teenager? How common is that?
I remember stomping off from my home when I was about 16 over something really silly. My parents wanted us to spend New Year's Eve with them at their friends' place. I had my own friends, my first boyfriend, and the LAST thing I wanted to do was to spend an evening with my parents' friends' kids instead of my own gang. (Most New Years' my parents would play Mah Jong the WHOLE night, in the basement of their friend's house, so honestly, we wouldn't actually be spending quality time with them --- no matter, if we were good Chinese children we would obey our parents and go with them when they wanted us to, right? I couldn't think of anything worse than spending time with other teenagers who would rather be elsewhere too...).
So I ran off into the night, over to my girlfriend's house. It was pretty late... way past midnight, if I recall correctly. It was cold, I had just taken off without my coat, in tears, running, then gasping and trudging through the streets of my suburban neighbourhood, bemoaning the tragedy that was my life. When I got to my friend's house, although she was out, her aunt was there, so I was able to let off some steam ... she had me call home once I had calmed down. Thank goodness she was there. Come to think of it, I think I ran off a few more times before I hit 18.
An addiction to computer games? I've already seen bits of that in this household, and it is so difficult to set limits. It's hard enough for kids, but for teenagers, young people who think they know everything ... but at the heart of it all are still children.
And this is what terrifies me. My children are still young enough that they pretty much think that everything we as parents tell them, is gospel. There's not a lot of dispute, other than whining about toys they can't have, or having to go to lessons that they're not overly thrilled about at the time. However, I already see signs of a bit of rebellion in my older one; he looks so much older and speaks with maturity beyond his 8 years of age. I don't know if it's because of this that we sometimes afford him a little more responsibility and assume he's more capable than he is. Sometimes we forget that this young man with the size 6 shoe, is still a little boy. I just do not know what to expect from him, or his little Diva sister, for that matter, when they become teenagers.
Brandon's parents, my heart just goes out to them. There was no "big bad wolf" here. I think they did everything most parents would normally do. I know they'll just be re-living their last moments with their boy for the rest of their lives.
The image of that little boy, in that cold field, all alone ... I've been in tears. I just cannot imagine what his parents, sisters, family and community are going through.
God bless you and your family, Brandon. I hope your family finds peace.
Sunday, November 09, 2008
Weekly Winners #44 - Sick Day
Not too many this week.
The kids woke up this past Wednesday with sore throats/ stuffy noses. I lacked energy ... so I let them have a sick day at home.
It all started out just fine... perfect really. Homeschooling, hey, it can't be that hard...
Then arguing and fighting over and destroying Play-Doh creations (no pictures as I was too busy dealing...holy hell, what was I thinking?!!)
And then ended with a super-hero smile.
For other winners, visit LOTUS.
The kids woke up this past Wednesday with sore throats/ stuffy noses. I lacked energy ... so I let them have a sick day at home.
It all started out just fine... perfect really. Homeschooling, hey, it can't be that hard...
Then it disintegrated quickly into wrestling ...
Then arguing and fighting over and destroying Play-Doh creations (no pictures as I was too busy dealing...holy hell, what was I thinking?!!)
And then ended with a super-hero smile.
Back to school the next morning, of course. I needed the break.
For other winners, visit LOTUS.
Saturday, November 08, 2008
Brain Fart #428 - The Pick
"Mommy, a booger!" she shows me excitedly on her index finger.
Lovely.
I was reading an article in this month's issue of Today's Parent magazine, which talks, coincidentally, about this stage of 3 - 5 year olds when they like to pick their nose. They say it's not uncommon, and the reality is that most adults pick their nose too. Only usually with a tissue and behind closed doors. Kids usually grow out of the habit.
Or sometimes not.
The other day, I was at a three-way stop when an older woman drove up to the intersection on my left. Unfortunately she stopped before me, so she had the right-of-way. I say unfortunately for two reasons. The first of which was what I noticed right off the bat (because I always try to make eye contact at these intersections to make sure people DO REALLY KNOW their right-of-way rules). Mistake.
Because she was picking all right, not just a scratch, no, there was clearly some major excavation going on, along with flicking.
Ugh.
Unfortunate reason number 2? I had to follow her along the residential road, which had a 50 km/h speed limit for most of the way. Little lady pick, though, was driving at a snail's pace, 20 km/h if that. I could not pass her because of oncoming traffic. So I had to bear it for about 4 stop signs before she finally made a turn.
I can barely handle bad drivers on a good day. But bad drivers who are spending their time picking their nose when they should be focusing on the road? When I'm in a rush to drop off work at the printers in time to meet my 11:30 AM gym class?
Sure, pickers are people too...
But when it comes to road safety, I think that nose-picking should be banned in cars along with the cell phones. If for nothing else, to prevent distractions for other drivers. Safety first, right?
Lovely.
I was reading an article in this month's issue of Today's Parent magazine, which talks, coincidentally, about this stage of 3 - 5 year olds when they like to pick their nose. They say it's not uncommon, and the reality is that most adults pick their nose too. Only usually with a tissue and behind closed doors. Kids usually grow out of the habit.
Or sometimes not.
The other day, I was at a three-way stop when an older woman drove up to the intersection on my left. Unfortunately she stopped before me, so she had the right-of-way. I say unfortunately for two reasons. The first of which was what I noticed right off the bat (because I always try to make eye contact at these intersections to make sure people DO REALLY KNOW their right-of-way rules). Mistake.
Because she was picking all right, not just a scratch, no, there was clearly some major excavation going on, along with flicking.
Ugh.
Unfortunate reason number 2? I had to follow her along the residential road, which had a 50 km/h speed limit for most of the way. Little lady pick, though, was driving at a snail's pace, 20 km/h if that. I could not pass her because of oncoming traffic. So I had to bear it for about 4 stop signs before she finally made a turn.
I can barely handle bad drivers on a good day. But bad drivers who are spending their time picking their nose when they should be focusing on the road? When I'm in a rush to drop off work at the printers in time to meet my 11:30 AM gym class?
Sure, pickers are people too...
But when it comes to road safety, I think that nose-picking should be banned in cars along with the cell phones. If for nothing else, to prevent distractions for other drivers. Safety first, right?
Friday, November 07, 2008
R-E-L-A-X
"Mommy, Daddy, what does that sign say?"
"What sign honey?"
"R ... E.... L..."
Ian and I look around the room. We are at one of our favourite haunts. In a pub, or rather the little house/restaurant NEXT to what was our favourite pub that burned down over a year ago. They are still working on rebuilding it, but because it is a heritage building it is a long, slow process. So in the meantime, they've set up shop in the little converted house that sits next door, which was happily already owned by the same people.
This pub has actually become our favourite family hangout...we started coming here regularly after we had the Boy. It is the "downtown" in a wonderful family friendly neighbourhood, on a beautiful main street where you see families, tourists, people on their lunch break, new moms and babies after strollercize with Starbucks in hand, a great cheap shoe store, an amazing selection of Harley's parked at the end of the street while their riders enjoy their pints on a sunny day ....and if it weren't so far from the Man's job, we might have even looked to settle here.
The pub has a great kids' menu, and our kids are so comfortable there now that they order their own lunch. Yes, even the girlie... "Cheese sandwich with fries and white milk PLEEEEEEZE". And Mommy and Daddy can sit back and enjoy their tall glasses of Bud Light (yeah, for me, I'm a lightweight most times), or sometimes if I'm wanting a bit more, slurp back a Smithwick's or Guiness with the Man.
Our Saturday morning "thing" now is to go for our workout at the gym (the kids aren't too bad about staying in childminding) ... and then negate all those burned calories by visiting said pub. Oh well, the world isn't perfect.
But on this particular occasion, it was just the girlie with us. Her brother was still in school, and her Daddy had a craving for a nice lunch. While we were waiting for our meals, she was keeping busy by spelling out the signs on the wall.
"Well, sweetie, that word is RELAX.", the Man replied patiently.
"What does relax mean, Daddy?" (don't you just love the machine gun quickness with which the queries are fired back?)
Hmm, good question to ask a father of an 8 year old boy never stops moving and an almost 4 year old girlie who asks the same 5 questions about 100 times a day. What is the definition of RELAX?
"Well, you know how Daddy likes to lie on the couch and read the paper on the weekend, when I ask you guys to let me have some quiet time? That's when Daddy's trying to relax." Gee, that picture is quite familiar.
"Oh. So how come they have that sign here, Daddy? There's NO COUCH and nowhere to lie down? How can you relax?"
Good point. I guess we'll have to speak to the management about that.
"What sign honey?"
"R ... E.... L..."
Ian and I look around the room. We are at one of our favourite haunts. In a pub, or rather the little house/restaurant NEXT to what was our favourite pub that burned down over a year ago. They are still working on rebuilding it, but because it is a heritage building it is a long, slow process. So in the meantime, they've set up shop in the little converted house that sits next door, which was happily already owned by the same people.
This pub has actually become our favourite family hangout...we started coming here regularly after we had the Boy. It is the "downtown" in a wonderful family friendly neighbourhood, on a beautiful main street where you see families, tourists, people on their lunch break, new moms and babies after strollercize with Starbucks in hand, a great cheap shoe store, an amazing selection of Harley's parked at the end of the street while their riders enjoy their pints on a sunny day ....and if it weren't so far from the Man's job, we might have even looked to settle here.
The pub has a great kids' menu, and our kids are so comfortable there now that they order their own lunch. Yes, even the girlie... "Cheese sandwich with fries and white milk PLEEEEEEZE". And Mommy and Daddy can sit back and enjoy their tall glasses of Bud Light (yeah, for me, I'm a lightweight most times), or sometimes if I'm wanting a bit more, slurp back a Smithwick's or Guiness with the Man.
Our Saturday morning "thing" now is to go for our workout at the gym (the kids aren't too bad about staying in childminding) ... and then negate all those burned calories by visiting said pub. Oh well, the world isn't perfect.
But on this particular occasion, it was just the girlie with us. Her brother was still in school, and her Daddy had a craving for a nice lunch. While we were waiting for our meals, she was keeping busy by spelling out the signs on the wall.
"Well, sweetie, that word is RELAX.", the Man replied patiently.
"What does relax mean, Daddy?" (don't you just love the machine gun quickness with which the queries are fired back?)
Hmm, good question to ask a father of an 8 year old boy never stops moving and an almost 4 year old girlie who asks the same 5 questions about 100 times a day. What is the definition of RELAX?
"Well, you know how Daddy likes to lie on the couch and read the paper on the weekend, when I ask you guys to let me have some quiet time? That's when Daddy's trying to relax." Gee, that picture is quite familiar.
"Oh. So how come they have that sign here, Daddy? There's NO COUCH and nowhere to lie down? How can you relax?"
Good point. I guess we'll have to speak to the management about that.
Thursday, November 06, 2008
Historic Moments
So on the night that history was being made, a little wee milestone was happening on the home front as well.
I attended my very first Mommy Blogger Event. My coming out as a mommy blogger, shall we say. I was in blog heaven, and rendered almost speechless. To be in such fabulous company. I felt that I was crashing a "Better than a" Playdate.
Remember how I've been trying to hook up with the fabulous Don Mills Diva for months now, and we ran into each other totally out of the blue back in the early days of the fall? We had planned our get-together for this week, originally to meet up at her place. But then she forwarded an invitation to this evening for mommy bloggers and suggested that I meet up with her there. We got to bring our kids along, and double-bonus, there was WINE. Squeeeeeee!!!
.JPG)
She is so lovely in person. As I was saying to one of the ladies there that evening, when you "meet" someone through their blog, it's almost as if you skip past all the exterior "how do you do's" and the friendship and bonding comes that much more quickly.
It was an evening hosted by folks at Johnson's and took place at Glitter Pie, a cute little art studio for the little people set. The girlie was in heaven.
I was surprised that some of these ladies actually knew of me. I suppose that there are certain circles of blogs, so commenters are noted here and there. One of the first blogs I ever read as a mom was Her Bad Mother. Can I tell you how awestruck I was to meet her in person and see her adorable little baby boy, the cutest little cherub you're ever likely to meet?
So here I am with the DMD, Her Bad Mother, Mother Bumper , The Petit Gourmand, with a couple of the kids in tow. Girlie was playing in the rice box looking for treasures out front. Fun, fun, fun!!!
.JPG)
Also there but not pictured were Martinis for Milk (Nadine, who is a riot) and Maureen, creator of Wee-Welcome. (There was another lovely mom there, but I didn't catch her blog before she left). There were a couple of Dads there as well, but for G and me it was a lovely girls' night out.
I attended my very first Mommy Blogger Event. My coming out as a mommy blogger, shall we say. I was in blog heaven, and rendered almost speechless. To be in such fabulous company. I felt that I was crashing a "Better than a" Playdate.
Remember how I've been trying to hook up with the fabulous Don Mills Diva for months now, and we ran into each other totally out of the blue back in the early days of the fall? We had planned our get-together for this week, originally to meet up at her place. But then she forwarded an invitation to this evening for mommy bloggers and suggested that I meet up with her there. We got to bring our kids along, and double-bonus, there was WINE. Squeeeeeee!!!
.JPG)
She is so lovely in person. As I was saying to one of the ladies there that evening, when you "meet" someone through their blog, it's almost as if you skip past all the exterior "how do you do's" and the friendship and bonding comes that much more quickly.It was an evening hosted by folks at Johnson's and took place at Glitter Pie, a cute little art studio for the little people set. The girlie was in heaven.
I was surprised that some of these ladies actually knew of me. I suppose that there are certain circles of blogs, so commenters are noted here and there. One of the first blogs I ever read as a mom was Her Bad Mother. Can I tell you how awestruck I was to meet her in person and see her adorable little baby boy, the cutest little cherub you're ever likely to meet?
So here I am with the DMD, Her Bad Mother, Mother Bumper , The Petit Gourmand, with a couple of the kids in tow. Girlie was playing in the rice box looking for treasures out front. Fun, fun, fun!!!
.JPG)
Also there but not pictured were Martinis for Milk (Nadine, who is a riot) and Maureen, creator of Wee-Welcome. (There was another lovely mom there, but I didn't catch her blog before she left). There were a couple of Dads there as well, but for G and me it was a lovely girls' night out.
When we said our goodbyes, I even got a sweet hug from Graham. Lovely boy, lovely mama.
I couldn't have thought of a better way to celebrate history in the making.
Wednesday, November 05, 2008
Wordless Wednesday -"I can see clearly ..."
(So it's the dawn of a new day, a new age for our American friends.
For the world, really.
For the world, really.
Exciting days ahead...)
Tuesday, November 04, 2008
Na na na na, hey daycare, goodbye...
I'm pulling her out of daycare.
The "I'm not going to daycare today" dance is what officially pulled the plug.
Why is it that by the time I sit down to have my coffee at 9 AM, I feel like I've run a half marathon (even though I've never run a half marathon, but I have an active imagination, so humour me...)?
In some ways it seemed so much easier when I was working full-time out of the home. Yes, I had a child. Yes, I was running the household, buying groceries, making dinner for the family, the main caregiver at home, picking and cleaning up after him all the time. Still I managed to get us out of the house and be at the office and sitting at my desk with coffee in hand by 8:30 AM every morning.
But I had a schedule. And I also had daycare on my side. Daycare was something that the boy was used to, as it had become part of his life from the age of 2. Before that he had his grandparents, but there came a time when fraternizing with the local Chinese seniors association was just not stimulating enough for the boy -- even my parents agreed with me there. Luckily for us he thrived at the daycare. His teachers were great, and he made a lot of friends there.
When I got pregnant with the girlie, I just automatically signed her up on the waitlist for the same daycare. I didn't even know she was a girl yet; had no name other than Baby x. I wasn't sure what our plans were at that point as I was pretty sure I would stay home with her beyond one year. I figured that by 2 years of age, I might be picking up a project here and there, even if I wasn't in a full-time gig.
The 2 year mark came and went. By this point the boy was also used to me driving him to and from school everyday. Picking up work? Hah!! Impossible.
I still had that spot on the waitlist though.
Fast forward to last fall ... at 2.5 it was time for her to be with kids her own age. Sans mommy. Because I had been so forward thinking almost 3 years before (what happened to that organized woman???!!!) we had a full array of options for the girl. Nursery program every morning or whatever days I wanted; a full time spot; a part- time spot; alternate days .... pick my poison.
We went with three times a week. The girlie LOVED it. So I picked up some work, which while was fantastic for my self-confidence and pocket book, brought on the BELCHING COUGH that I thought would never leave. The stress of work with tight timelines while still managing a toddler at home and a school-ager who still needed to be picked up from school at 3:30 pm everyday almost wiped me out.
I thought that having kindergarten in the picture would allow me to handle work again. However, a two hour window every morning is barely enough to get e:mails checked and answered. The work was becoming daunting. Daycare for the girlie, for two days a week after her morning class, seemed the perfect solution.
But perfect for whom? Ever since I signed her up mid-September, she's been anxious every night, quizzing me about whether she'll have daycare the next day. Asking me a dozen times a day, and then bawling her eyes out if I confirm that she will. Crying again the next morning as she boards the bus (and it drives away with her little face pressed against the window, tears streaming down her sweet cheeks); and crying when she's being picked up by the daycare teachers for lunch. On days that she has no daycare, she's just thrilled when I pick her up. She just throws herself into my arms with excitement, as if she hasn't seen me for days.
I'm sure it's been too much for her, the adjustment to kindergarten, all the learnings from school, taking the bus ... she's been a real trooper. The daycare put her over the edge. It's a lot of change to absorb in a few short months. She is, after all, still only three.
And still my baby. So as of tomorrow she'll be daycare free.
I'll just have to buckle down and adjust my own schedule accordingly. Working later into the night and weekends, being more efficient with my time.
But I know it'll be worth it. This mommy and girlie time, it will disappear before I know it. I just need to keep this blink in suspended animation just that little while longer.
The "I'm not going to daycare today" dance is what officially pulled the plug.
*****
Why is it that by the time I sit down to have my coffee at 9 AM, I feel like I've run a half marathon (even though I've never run a half marathon, but I have an active imagination, so humour me...)?
In some ways it seemed so much easier when I was working full-time out of the home. Yes, I had a child. Yes, I was running the household, buying groceries, making dinner for the family, the main caregiver at home, picking and cleaning up after him all the time. Still I managed to get us out of the house and be at the office and sitting at my desk with coffee in hand by 8:30 AM every morning.
But I had a schedule. And I also had daycare on my side. Daycare was something that the boy was used to, as it had become part of his life from the age of 2. Before that he had his grandparents, but there came a time when fraternizing with the local Chinese seniors association was just not stimulating enough for the boy -- even my parents agreed with me there. Luckily for us he thrived at the daycare. His teachers were great, and he made a lot of friends there.
When I got pregnant with the girlie, I just automatically signed her up on the waitlist for the same daycare. I didn't even know she was a girl yet; had no name other than Baby x. I wasn't sure what our plans were at that point as I was pretty sure I would stay home with her beyond one year. I figured that by 2 years of age, I might be picking up a project here and there, even if I wasn't in a full-time gig.
The 2 year mark came and went. By this point the boy was also used to me driving him to and from school everyday. Picking up work? Hah!! Impossible.
I still had that spot on the waitlist though.
Fast forward to last fall ... at 2.5 it was time for her to be with kids her own age. Sans mommy. Because I had been so forward thinking almost 3 years before (what happened to that organized woman???!!!) we had a full array of options for the girl. Nursery program every morning or whatever days I wanted; a full time spot; a part- time spot; alternate days .... pick my poison.
We went with three times a week. The girlie LOVED it. So I picked up some work, which while was fantastic for my self-confidence and pocket book, brought on the BELCHING COUGH that I thought would never leave. The stress of work with tight timelines while still managing a toddler at home and a school-ager who still needed to be picked up from school at 3:30 pm everyday almost wiped me out.
*****
I thought that having kindergarten in the picture would allow me to handle work again. However, a two hour window every morning is barely enough to get e:mails checked and answered. The work was becoming daunting. Daycare for the girlie, for two days a week after her morning class, seemed the perfect solution.
But perfect for whom? Ever since I signed her up mid-September, she's been anxious every night, quizzing me about whether she'll have daycare the next day. Asking me a dozen times a day, and then bawling her eyes out if I confirm that she will. Crying again the next morning as she boards the bus (and it drives away with her little face pressed against the window, tears streaming down her sweet cheeks); and crying when she's being picked up by the daycare teachers for lunch. On days that she has no daycare, she's just thrilled when I pick her up. She just throws herself into my arms with excitement, as if she hasn't seen me for days.
I'm sure it's been too much for her, the adjustment to kindergarten, all the learnings from school, taking the bus ... she's been a real trooper. The daycare put her over the edge. It's a lot of change to absorb in a few short months. She is, after all, still only three.
And still my baby. So as of tomorrow she'll be daycare free.
I'll just have to buckle down and adjust my own schedule accordingly. Working later into the night and weekends, being more efficient with my time.
But I know it'll be worth it. This mommy and girlie time, it will disappear before I know it. I just need to keep this blink in suspended animation just that little while longer.
Monday, November 03, 2008
Greener Days
One of our local radio stations ran a "Green Day - American Idiot" weekend in honour of the upcoming U.S. election. Every few songs, they would play a Green Day hit.
How interesting that this band was credited by some as the group that brought to the forefront, or at least made publicly acceptable (remember the Dixie Chicks?) the whole anti-Bush wave.
Whatever their political inclinations, I've always really enjoyed Green Day's music. They came out with their first big album around the time that I got married (wow, THAT long ago) and they were just boys back then. I remember when I purchased "Dookie", to add to our audio library. There was a part of me that felt, well, let's just say a little mature to be buying music from this alt rock/punk band. But I found the music pretty catchy, and I was still young enough to imagine that I wouldn't look matronly in your average mosh pit.
As Ian has always told me, I have a golden touch when it comes to purchasing CDs. CDs that he wouldn't necessarily buy himself, but he would end up enjoying so much he'd forget that it wasn't him who bought the thing in the first place. "Dookie", of course, scored big time for the band.
It was still on pretty heavy rotation the year we started what unbeknownst to us would become a long infertility journey. Cranking up "When I Come Around" on a Friday evening after work, talking about plans for our weekend while making dinner in our tiny galley kitchen, enjoying what we thought would be limited couple time before having babies in our midst ... never expecting it to take four years before we were to become expectant parents.
Here we are in 2008. The Boy, after a couple of years of coaxing and cajoling from frazzled parents, has finally decided that he is interested in taking music lessons. Of the guitar variety. We found him a teacher who is a musician in a couple of bands. A long-haired young man, laid back, soft spoken with the look of a younger, thinner Kevin Smith. Certainly a change from my first music teacher (a scary nun who wanted to smash the ganglion on my wrist with a bible ... ugh).
And the first song the Boy is learning to play on the guitar?
(which incidentally, came out the year I got pregnant with little G)
How cool is that?
How interesting that this band was credited by some as the group that brought to the forefront, or at least made publicly acceptable (remember the Dixie Chicks?) the whole anti-Bush wave.
Whatever their political inclinations, I've always really enjoyed Green Day's music. They came out with their first big album around the time that I got married (wow, THAT long ago) and they were just boys back then. I remember when I purchased "Dookie", to add to our audio library. There was a part of me that felt, well, let's just say a little mature to be buying music from this alt rock/punk band. But I found the music pretty catchy, and I was still young enough to imagine that I wouldn't look matronly in your average mosh pit.
As Ian has always told me, I have a golden touch when it comes to purchasing CDs. CDs that he wouldn't necessarily buy himself, but he would end up enjoying so much he'd forget that it wasn't him who bought the thing in the first place. "Dookie", of course, scored big time for the band.
It was still on pretty heavy rotation the year we started what unbeknownst to us would become a long infertility journey. Cranking up "When I Come Around" on a Friday evening after work, talking about plans for our weekend while making dinner in our tiny galley kitchen, enjoying what we thought would be limited couple time before having babies in our midst ... never expecting it to take four years before we were to become expectant parents.
*****
Here we are in 2008. The Boy, after a couple of years of coaxing and cajoling from frazzled parents, has finally decided that he is interested in taking music lessons. Of the guitar variety. We found him a teacher who is a musician in a couple of bands. A long-haired young man, laid back, soft spoken with the look of a younger, thinner Kevin Smith. Certainly a change from my first music teacher (a scary nun who wanted to smash the ganglion on my wrist with a bible ... ugh).
And the first song the Boy is learning to play on the guitar?
(which incidentally, came out the year I got pregnant with little G)
How cool is that?
Sunday, November 02, 2008
Saturday, November 01, 2008
My Halloween Treat
Halloween was another busy and fun day this year.
I usually go all out with the decorations; my shopping strategy of picking up everything on clearance the day after celebrations actually worked --- I remembered where I had packed it! This year I only managed to get a spider balloon up, some of the faux webbing, and the usual stickers on the door. The man did the honours this year with the pumpkin carving.
It was successful this year. Given the strange weather of the past few days, it seemed like a dream that it warmed up to give us one of the most lovely evenings in recent memory. The kids got dressed up, and we went over to our friends for a casual dinner before they headed out en masse for trick-or-treating. I headed home to pass out the treats.
In between doorbell rings, I managed to clean up the halloween prep mess in the kitchen. The critical thing for me was to ensure that every seed salvageable from that pumpkin would be saved.
You see, I'm the proud daughter of a professional seed and nut eater. Any image I have of my Dad watching television includes a bag of snacks of the nut variety sitting right there with him.
Childhood Halloween memories for me include the cleaning and roasting of freshly salted pumpkin seeds. While we would be out trick-or-treating with my Dad, my mother would be at home roasting the pumpkin seeds. I looked forward to those salty snacks almost as much as I did the sweet loot at the end of every Halloween night.
So while my kids were out with their friends and their Dad, I prepared the seeds.
And after they returned home, surveyed their treasures, had a couple of treats before getting into bed, I set to work on making my treat.
Spread out on an oiled pan, and salted liberally, popped into the oven at 325 degrees to bake for about 25 minutes. And voila. But by this time the man had decided to hit the sack as well.
Too bad.
Now it's just me, my crunchy pumpkin seeds and the TV. Won't my Daddy be so proud of me?
I usually go all out with the decorations; my shopping strategy of picking up everything on clearance the day after celebrations actually worked --- I remembered where I had packed it! This year I only managed to get a spider balloon up, some of the faux webbing, and the usual stickers on the door. The man did the honours this year with the pumpkin carving.
It was successful this year. Given the strange weather of the past few days, it seemed like a dream that it warmed up to give us one of the most lovely evenings in recent memory. The kids got dressed up, and we went over to our friends for a casual dinner before they headed out en masse for trick-or-treating. I headed home to pass out the treats.
In between doorbell rings, I managed to clean up the halloween prep mess in the kitchen. The critical thing for me was to ensure that every seed salvageable from that pumpkin would be saved.
You see, I'm the proud daughter of a professional seed and nut eater. Any image I have of my Dad watching television includes a bag of snacks of the nut variety sitting right there with him.
Childhood Halloween memories for me include the cleaning and roasting of freshly salted pumpkin seeds. While we would be out trick-or-treating with my Dad, my mother would be at home roasting the pumpkin seeds. I looked forward to those salty snacks almost as much as I did the sweet loot at the end of every Halloween night.
So while my kids were out with their friends and their Dad, I prepared the seeds.
And after they returned home, surveyed their treasures, had a couple of treats before getting into bed, I set to work on making my treat.
Spread out on an oiled pan, and salted liberally, popped into the oven at 325 degrees to bake for about 25 minutes. And voila. But by this time the man had decided to hit the sack as well.
Too bad.
Now it's just me, my crunchy pumpkin seeds and the TV. Won't my Daddy be so proud of me?
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