Friday, May 22, 2009

Friday Fragments

Friday Fragments?

I haven't posted much this week, and I don't know if it's just an overall "meh" feeling I've been having lately. The weather has been just gorgeous, but I haven't felt much like going out or doing anything outside.

Well, with the exception of spending an hour scrubbing this:



Isn't that just beautiful? You know when they tell you that the composite deck that you're spending extra, extra money on so that you don't have to restain it every year; about the wonder of the material that is miraculously virtually maintenance-free?

They're LYING (and don't get up in arms, I know the manufacturers tell you they NEVER said it was maintenance free, but give me a royal break).

We got a new deck put in a couple of years ago, and went with the composite so that the kids wouldn't have to worry about splinters. So no splinters, but now it's so moldy that I don't want the kids dragging any lovelies from their feet into the house. A big deck that is totally grossing us out. The manufacturer sent me deck wash and mildew defender, but it never worked. We decided to try another off the shelf wash, which seems to make it better, but not gone.

Did I mention that I am so very NOT handy or outdoorsy? I should score major brownie points with hubs for this effort.

*****
I ran into a workout buddy at the mall the other day. We both had our 4 year old girls with us, running around as usual. She asked where I've been as it's been over 4 months since she's seen me, and she asked after my Dad. Last we spoke I told her Dad had cancer; she told me her Mom also had cancer. Dad left us January; her mom succumbed in March. Cancer sucks.

I'm going to try to meet her at the gym next week. Maybe that will make my blahs go away.


*****
I volunteered at the girlie's kindergarten class yesterday (my usual) and today, for a T-shirt Tie-dyeing event. The girl's teacher is a brave, brave woman. 20 plus 4 - 5 year olds with DYE?? Unbelievably, it went off without a hitch. The kids will wear their hippie numbers for their dance performance in a couple of weeks.

I also promised to contribute to the boy's bake sale at school. He asked that I make his favourite ... banana bread. Apparently they need three dozen slices for Monday. I'm using Jessica Seinfeld's recipe - it's got a secret healthy ingredient, but it remains the best banana bread I've ever tasted.

My husband is astounded at my domesticity.

*****


There's a woman who parks her car in front of my yard every day, waiting to pick up her daughter from the school bus which stops in front of my house. She's been there every day for the last three years at least.

Yesterday after she picked her daughter up, I got in the car with the girl as we had to do some last minute shopping before her brother came home. So I was behind the woman's car as she drove up the street ... and turned into her driveway about 10 houses up!!! What?!!

I know we're a driving obsessed community up here (and you do need a vehicle to get around as transit is not so frequently available). But seriously, her daughter can WALK about 3 minutes (run in about 50 seconds) and be at her front door step.

My mind is boggled.

*****

I grounded the girl this week. She threw a tantrum at her swimming lesson and refused to go in the water. She does this to me EVERY. FRICKIN'. LESSON. Usually I can cajole her to get in for the last 15 minutes. Then she does laps across the warm pool. So I gave her the option this time: finish the lesson and go on a playdate with her best gal pal for the rest of the afternoon as per usual, or spend the afternoon in the washroom at home, no TV, no treats for the rest of the day.

She chose the washroom.

And she did it (well, she sat for about an hour). When her father came home, she looked at me and asked if she was still grounded. I said "Yes". She turned to Dad proudly and said "I'm GROUNDED!"

I see some major, major headaches in my future.

*****

For more fantastic fragments, visit the home of
Mrs. 4444 when you get a chance.

10 comments:

Mrs4444 said...

Hm. That swimming lesson resistance is puzzling. Can you figure out why she resists? My son used to be freezing cold BLUE during lessons (even today, he doesn't have an ounce of body fat). After three years of trying the lessons, I finally just paid a high school kid to give him one-on-one lessons for $10 an hour. In four lessons, he had reached "Level Five!" Today, my son swims competitively for his h.s. Maybe you should consider private lessons?

We're replacing deck boards tomorrow; what a pain. That mold thing would tick me off, too.

Yes, cancer sucks. Sorry for the loss of your dad :(

Cheryl said...

Cancer sucks bug time, I lost my father in law 1.5 years ago to it, found it and 2 weeks later he ws gone. Insane...

I have that Seinfeld recipe book, you have triggered in my mind that I should dust the dust off and get on that!!! I will try out a recipe today.
4am, what the hell am I up for? Babies are awake in the belly, is this a sign of things to come?
Have a great weekend!

Karen MEG said...

@Mrs444: the swim thing is puzzling, there's always a different excuse, but once she's in the water with the instructor she's laughing, high-fiving, and swimming really well. She loves the water. It could be the time of day, which I won't do again until she's older, she's probably a bit tired. I just went a bit crazy yesterday because she does this every time, it resolves itself but she loses half a lesson. Maybe I should have locked myself into MY washroom!

@Cheryl: sorry about your FIL, that was even quicker than my Dad!
I haven't used the Seinfeld book much, but that particular recipe was a huge hit with the boy.

jmt said...

Hi there! I'm popping over from SITS roll call. And can I say I'm GLAD I did? I LOVE your style and I'll probably stalk/follow you now. :) The lady 10 houses down cracked me up. I am doing a post about blog hopping and featuring the ones I found especially interesting or funny, and I'm going to link back to this one, if you don't mind. I think your fragments are great. And I agree, cancer sucks. Have a wonderful Saturday!

Tara R. said...

10 houses? That's just plain lazy.

The grounded thing, yeah, you're in for it. good luck.

Hope you and yours have a great weekend.

Dorkys Ramos said...

Great fragments! I found you through Tooj's blog and I'm enjoying the visit :)

That lady ten houses away is bonkers and ridiculous. That's great that your daughter is getting swim lessons so young. I still don't know how to swim myself!

And I agree, cancer is the worst. I'm sorry about your dad.

Kamis Khlopchyk said...

Oh boy! She is going to be a handful that one :)

I bet if you can get back into working out, it will help with the meh's. The endorphins, you know?

:)

Kamis Khlopchyk said...

Oh and the 10 house thing? You just know that burns my boat. BIG TIME. And it's not even -40 there most of the time either.

Knatolee said...

I dunno about you, but I think that the Girl is going to be a bit different from the teenager YOU were!!! ;) (I thought we were all pretty well-behaved, and parentally-compliant.)

The driving thing DRIVES me crazy. lazylazylazylazylazy!

Knatolee said...

Oh and I always wondered about that composite deck material. Now I know to avoid it!!!!

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