Yeah. Been a while since I've updated, but anyone who knows me should also know that that's completely normal. I've thought, a lot of times, that I should write a blog entry, but never got around to it. Just lazy, I guess.
So, what all's been going on, you're wondering?
First of all, the month of May basically didn't exist for me, I was so busy. I was granted a conditional acceptance to the UofA and had to complete my Athabasca course and get my transcripts in by June 15th. So, with 4 units and 3 essays yet to write I worked my ass off. I averaged reading 8 hours a day, 5 days a week. Housework and laundry were neglected even more than usual, and James barely saw me except for at dinner.
In the middle of May I took off 4 precious days (except for reading on the plane) to go to Vegas with my husband to see Nine Inch Nails (NIN/JA tour). We had an amazing time, the concert was incredible, and are already making plans to go back in the new year.
When we got back home I threw together a birthday cake and a party for my now 2 year old, then got back to work, cranking out a unit and an essay per week.
I finished the unit and wrote my final exam on June 9th (got an A in the course!) and after a hell of a lot of stress and a 4 day exension (wasn't that generous of the UofA? /sarcasm) I was accepted into the UofA! Now we get to take out a home equity loan to pay for it. Yay. That was more sarcasm.
Whew!! What a crazy month.
On top of it all, since returning from Vegas my husband and I have re-commited to losing weight. With a reduced calorie diet (~1500 calories per day) and exercise 5 days a week, I have lost 13 lbs and 6 inches so far.
We considered very seriously for a while, selling our house and moving to Leduc, but the market here is not the greatest and we probably couldn't sell our house before the new school year. Not to mention, we'll better afford a new house once I'm out of school and working. So, we'll see how things go this year, with my driving to the city for school, and maybe we'll move next year. One thing's for sure, though - we are definitely moving.
The rest of the summer was supposed to be spent relaxing and enjoying the summer. However, the weather here has sucked and it refuses to stay warm for long. Not to mention my husband has surgery in a couple weeks, and my grandma is dying and I can't afford to go be with her.
I am eager for September.
About Me
About 3 years ago when I was in therapy (not that big of a surprize, is it?), my therapist advised me that if I write in a journal (or blog) I should concentrate on writing about the good things, so as not to surround myself with and dwell on the negative. So... here I go.
I spent the day yesterday in an absolutely miserable funk. After dinner was made I chose to do homework in my room by myself. If I hadn't left, James probably would have made me leave, it was that bad. So, I spent the next 4 or so hours reading about British North America in the 1740s-1840s, and answering questions, while I watched tv. Biggest Loser! Yay! If I had to chose one show to make me feel like a lazy fat ass, that'd be it.
Anyway, I thought that my funk during the day was a direct result of dissatisfaction with where I am, due to my sister just buying an awesome house and my jealousy related to that. I basically came to the conclusion that I don't want to spend the next 3 (or whatever) years in this town because it's so inconvenient and THE SUCK.
What I actually discovered, though, around 11:30pm, after I made the boy lunch, fed the dogs (which James forgot about) and cleaned the kitchen (which he didn't do), and bawled my eyes out under hot, steamy shower water is that I'm at my limit of being able to do things all on my own.
I have my children, my house, my dogs, my volunteer duties and my school work all to contend with. James bathes the kids once a week, and generally does the dishes/cleans the kitchen (mostly). I have had to battle with the school, with hockey, take the dog to the vet countless times and nurse him after surgery, plus feed/clothe and generally care for kids and home. After all of this, was it any surprize just how horribly behind my school work I am? I have 4 months to do about 8 months of school work. I just broke down. I'm at my limit.
I'm still feeling down today, like I'm clinging to sanity...could cry at any second. I was so pissed off last night of having to feed the dogs and clean the kitchen while James sat on his ass and played his guitar/computer and watched movies all night, while I studied for hours, that I went to bed without saying a word to him.
I need ot talk to him about it, I know I do. I'm not very good at it though.
Anyway, I have to go and start the day... Moms and Tots today and I have to get the room ready before everyone arrives.
I did pretty good about only talking about good things...it's like...80% good, right?
I spent the day yesterday in an absolutely miserable funk. After dinner was made I chose to do homework in my room by myself. If I hadn't left, James probably would have made me leave, it was that bad. So, I spent the next 4 or so hours reading about British North America in the 1740s-1840s, and answering questions, while I watched tv. Biggest Loser! Yay! If I had to chose one show to make me feel like a lazy fat ass, that'd be it.
Anyway, I thought that my funk during the day was a direct result of dissatisfaction with where I am, due to my sister just buying an awesome house and my jealousy related to that. I basically came to the conclusion that I don't want to spend the next 3 (or whatever) years in this town because it's so inconvenient and THE SUCK.
What I actually discovered, though, around 11:30pm, after I made the boy lunch, fed the dogs (which James forgot about) and cleaned the kitchen (which he didn't do), and bawled my eyes out under hot, steamy shower water is that I'm at my limit of being able to do things all on my own.
I have my children, my house, my dogs, my volunteer duties and my school work all to contend with. James bathes the kids once a week, and generally does the dishes/cleans the kitchen (mostly). I have had to battle with the school, with hockey, take the dog to the vet countless times and nurse him after surgery, plus feed/clothe and generally care for kids and home. After all of this, was it any surprize just how horribly behind my school work I am? I have 4 months to do about 8 months of school work. I just broke down. I'm at my limit.
I'm still feeling down today, like I'm clinging to sanity...could cry at any second. I was so pissed off last night of having to feed the dogs and clean the kitchen while James sat on his ass and played his guitar/computer and watched movies all night, while I studied for hours, that I went to bed without saying a word to him.
I need ot talk to him about it, I know I do. I'm not very good at it though.
Anyway, I have to go and start the day... Moms and Tots today and I have to get the room ready before everyone arrives.
I did pretty good about only talking about good things...it's like...80% good, right?
My son Quintin has been in minor hockey for two years, starting just a month before he turned 4. His first year of pre-novice we had to pay $100 for his registration, and we chose to pay $150 instead of working at the concession.
His second year of pre-novice cost us $200, plus 25 hours of concession work and mandatory volunteer work at the fundraiser. We also wrote a post dated cheque for $250 as a deposit against jerseys and incase we didn't volunteer. We got that cheque back, uncashed at the end of the year.
Now the executive has just chosen to charge parents all fees and deposits upfront, and if all obligations (concession and volunteer) are met, to be refunded at the end of the year. That means that when I register Quintin I will have to pay $675.
I don't have this kind of money just laying around. However, push having come to shove, I can get it. That's not so for a lot of parents. Many of the first year players I know will not be able to have their children continue with hockey. I'm sure that if Quintin was at a higher (and more expensive) level, that I would not be able to afford it. A friend has two children in hockey and will have to pay $1000. That I certainly wouldn't have.
I think it is completely unfair that families who don't have large amounts of money readily available aren't able to have their kids continue in hockey. What's even worse than all this, however, is that of the hundred or so families in Lamont who are involved in minor hockey, only 11 people came to the meeting, and it's the same 11 who always come. The executive and these 11 people are running the club and making all the decisions for the rest of us. I was shocked to hear that no one besides myself protested this fee change.
I wish that people weren't so complacent and eager to drift through life as if nothing involves them. Why is no one willing to fight for what is the right thing to do?
This rediculous decision penalizes children whose their parents live paycheque to paycheque and are forced to save for months for extra expenses. It's not fair that only the priveledged get to participate.
His second year of pre-novice cost us $200, plus 25 hours of concession work and mandatory volunteer work at the fundraiser. We also wrote a post dated cheque for $250 as a deposit against jerseys and incase we didn't volunteer. We got that cheque back, uncashed at the end of the year.
Now the executive has just chosen to charge parents all fees and deposits upfront, and if all obligations (concession and volunteer) are met, to be refunded at the end of the year. That means that when I register Quintin I will have to pay $675.
I don't have this kind of money just laying around. However, push having come to shove, I can get it. That's not so for a lot of parents. Many of the first year players I know will not be able to have their children continue with hockey. I'm sure that if Quintin was at a higher (and more expensive) level, that I would not be able to afford it. A friend has two children in hockey and will have to pay $1000. That I certainly wouldn't have.
I think it is completely unfair that families who don't have large amounts of money readily available aren't able to have their kids continue in hockey. What's even worse than all this, however, is that of the hundred or so families in Lamont who are involved in minor hockey, only 11 people came to the meeting, and it's the same 11 who always come. The executive and these 11 people are running the club and making all the decisions for the rest of us. I was shocked to hear that no one besides myself protested this fee change.
I wish that people weren't so complacent and eager to drift through life as if nothing involves them. Why is no one willing to fight for what is the right thing to do?
This rediculous decision penalizes children whose their parents live paycheque to paycheque and are forced to save for months for extra expenses. It's not fair that only the priveledged get to participate.
No offense or disrespect to anyone intended by my title...it's just funny.
So I'm back from my Easter holiday. Nothing much to say about it, really. It was a nice few days away, but besides having someone cook for me (which is Awesome! I wish it was that way every day!) I didn't really do anything vacationey. I didn't sleep in at all, though I did get one nap in, and James and I didn't go out to a movie. It was relaxing, all the same though...having someone else run around with my kids is a bonus.
The most memorable part of the weekend, aside from Cameron crying for an hour both there and back, would definitely have to be the amount of candy I ended up bringing home. My mom and I agreed that next year she'll buy toys and I'll buy the candy.
So today it's back to the grind, since James has to work. The kids and I went out and bought enough groceries to last until Friday, then we grabbed some lunch and came home, where I felt inspired enough by the warm sunshine (which has since vanished behind dark threatening clouds and weather channel promises of snow *shudder*), that I took down most of the Christmas lights. I left the ones that would have involved a ladder.
I was getting the gardening itch...gazing at my flower beds covered with leaves just begging to be raked out. Better wait and see if it does snow, after all, though. I'm really eager for everything to get all dried out so the yard to can get cleaned and livable again. The neighbors must think we're horrible white trash, considering the state of the yard at the moment. It's covered in garbage because of the dogs ripping garbage bags open, and then it snowing. Plus, it has piles of renovation trash, most notably the carpet and underlay, and all the soggy dog poop that needs to dry out before it can be raked and shoveled up. It won't take long to clean, but in the mean time it looks disgusting.
That's it for now.... next time I'll tell you about my NIN concert outfit that I'm currently awaiting delivery for. :)
So I'm back from my Easter holiday. Nothing much to say about it, really. It was a nice few days away, but besides having someone cook for me (which is Awesome! I wish it was that way every day!) I didn't really do anything vacationey. I didn't sleep in at all, though I did get one nap in, and James and I didn't go out to a movie. It was relaxing, all the same though...having someone else run around with my kids is a bonus.
The most memorable part of the weekend, aside from Cameron crying for an hour both there and back, would definitely have to be the amount of candy I ended up bringing home. My mom and I agreed that next year she'll buy toys and I'll buy the candy.
So today it's back to the grind, since James has to work. The kids and I went out and bought enough groceries to last until Friday, then we grabbed some lunch and came home, where I felt inspired enough by the warm sunshine (which has since vanished behind dark threatening clouds and weather channel promises of snow *shudder*), that I took down most of the Christmas lights. I left the ones that would have involved a ladder.
I was getting the gardening itch...gazing at my flower beds covered with leaves just begging to be raked out. Better wait and see if it does snow, after all, though. I'm really eager for everything to get all dried out so the yard to can get cleaned and livable again. The neighbors must think we're horrible white trash, considering the state of the yard at the moment. It's covered in garbage because of the dogs ripping garbage bags open, and then it snowing. Plus, it has piles of renovation trash, most notably the carpet and underlay, and all the soggy dog poop that needs to dry out before it can be raked and shoveled up. It won't take long to clean, but in the mean time it looks disgusting.
That's it for now.... next time I'll tell you about my NIN concert outfit that I'm currently awaiting delivery for. :)
I've been feeling in a bit of a funk lately. I've been down on my self, getting into the whole 'I suck at this that and the other thing'. Then I gave myself a little shake and realized that if I don't like something about myself, then I'm the only one who can fix it.
So, right after breakfast I got dressed and got to work. I spent the entire day being Suzy Homemaker. From 9:30am I cleaned..I started with Cameron's laundry, then did his room, then the bathroom, then my room and my laundry, then lunch. Then Quintin's room (OMG you wouldn't believe the mess!), and Quintin's laundry. Then the living room, James's laundry, then the kitchen. Then I made pizza, then finished with the kitchen. Then I vacuumed all the floors, and then had dinner. That was at 6:30pm.
*whew* I cleaned for 9 freakin' hours!! The sad part is that I still have to clean the kitchen floor, water my plants, fold one load and dry and fold another. Oh, and I have to pack for the weekend.
We're going to my parent's for Easter, leaving after breakfast tomorrow and staying for the weekend. James doesn't get the Monday off, so we have to come back on Sunday. I have to try really hard not to forget the kids Easter goodies here. I'm really looking forward to having someone else cook for me and watch my children. James and I even get to go out for a movie... he wants to see 'Observe and Report'. Looks funny enough, I guess.
Whoops, tangent.
Anyway, what I'm hoping is that at the beginning of every day, if I can get dressed and do what needs to be done (cleaning, laundry, whatever), then I'll have the rest of the day to do homework or just relax, and hopefully that'll help me prioritize and feel more in control of things. We'll see how it works after the weekend, cuz you can be sure I'm going to be doing a whole lot of ass sitting for the next few days.
Happy Chocolate Egg Day!!
So, right after breakfast I got dressed and got to work. I spent the entire day being Suzy Homemaker. From 9:30am I cleaned..I started with Cameron's laundry, then did his room, then the bathroom, then my room and my laundry, then lunch. Then Quintin's room (OMG you wouldn't believe the mess!), and Quintin's laundry. Then the living room, James's laundry, then the kitchen. Then I made pizza, then finished with the kitchen. Then I vacuumed all the floors, and then had dinner. That was at 6:30pm.
*whew* I cleaned for 9 freakin' hours!! The sad part is that I still have to clean the kitchen floor, water my plants, fold one load and dry and fold another. Oh, and I have to pack for the weekend.
We're going to my parent's for Easter, leaving after breakfast tomorrow and staying for the weekend. James doesn't get the Monday off, so we have to come back on Sunday. I have to try really hard not to forget the kids Easter goodies here. I'm really looking forward to having someone else cook for me and watch my children. James and I even get to go out for a movie... he wants to see 'Observe and Report'. Looks funny enough, I guess.
Whoops, tangent.
Anyway, what I'm hoping is that at the beginning of every day, if I can get dressed and do what needs to be done (cleaning, laundry, whatever), then I'll have the rest of the day to do homework or just relax, and hopefully that'll help me prioritize and feel more in control of things. We'll see how it works after the weekend, cuz you can be sure I'm going to be doing a whole lot of ass sitting for the next few days.
Happy Chocolate Egg Day!!
Spring break is over. I'm glad that my son likes kindergarten enough that he counted down the days to go back to school. However, I'm not happy to have to get up at 8 again and to add extra responsibilities to my schedule.
I've been having trouble lately, trying to prioritize. You see, I'm taking this history course through Athabasca University, and I need to finish it in order to be admitted to the B.Ed. program at UofA. It's a year long program, and I have until August 30 to finish the course. There's 6 units, and I'm only at the end of unit 2. What does this mean? It means that I'm sucking at this course. Part of the problem is that there is a ton of reading and I'm not making myself do it quick enough. Another part is that I'm finding the assignments (essays) really difficult. The bulk of it, though, is that I'm just not doing the work. I'm finding it difficult to decide what's really important...should I be doing the laundry or writing my essay? Cleaning the house or reading?
I'm actually really worried about not getting it done in time...but I'm still not doing it. I have this whole fear of failure thing..not to mention a fear of change. If I finish the course I find out if I get into the UofA. What if I don't get in? What if I do get in and I do horribly? I have absolutely no confidence in my abilities as a student or teacher. I don't feel smart enough. I honestly look at myself and think, there's no way I can do this...I don't know enough. The more I get into it the more nervous I get. I'm so scared of screwing up, that I'm screwing it up. Sigh.
So, I'll try to do more reading and writing today. I wish I could think of a way to make myself do it. Independent study is so hard to keep up on.
Besides school, laundry and housework that needs to be done, I have to take Ozy to the vet to see why he's limping. He's 12 years old, he has cancer (Mast Cell) and on Saturday he started favoring the back end. $50 to find out why.
I feel like I've bitten off more than I can chew.
I've been having trouble lately, trying to prioritize. You see, I'm taking this history course through Athabasca University, and I need to finish it in order to be admitted to the B.Ed. program at UofA. It's a year long program, and I have until August 30 to finish the course. There's 6 units, and I'm only at the end of unit 2. What does this mean? It means that I'm sucking at this course. Part of the problem is that there is a ton of reading and I'm not making myself do it quick enough. Another part is that I'm finding the assignments (essays) really difficult. The bulk of it, though, is that I'm just not doing the work. I'm finding it difficult to decide what's really important...should I be doing the laundry or writing my essay? Cleaning the house or reading?
I'm actually really worried about not getting it done in time...but I'm still not doing it. I have this whole fear of failure thing..not to mention a fear of change. If I finish the course I find out if I get into the UofA. What if I don't get in? What if I do get in and I do horribly? I have absolutely no confidence in my abilities as a student or teacher. I don't feel smart enough. I honestly look at myself and think, there's no way I can do this...I don't know enough. The more I get into it the more nervous I get. I'm so scared of screwing up, that I'm screwing it up. Sigh.
So, I'll try to do more reading and writing today. I wish I could think of a way to make myself do it. Independent study is so hard to keep up on.
Besides school, laundry and housework that needs to be done, I have to take Ozy to the vet to see why he's limping. He's 12 years old, he has cancer (Mast Cell) and on Saturday he started favoring the back end. $50 to find out why.
I feel like I've bitten off more than I can chew.
I'm going to let you in on one one of my deepest darkest secrets. Are you ready?
I'm not a good housewife.
*Gasp!*
Well, maybe it's not that big of a secret. If pressed my husband would admit that he knew it. Heck, he might even admit it if not pressed.
The truth is, I'm just not the kind of person who gets enjoyment out of the day-to-day monotony of cooking and cleaning, nor am I the kind of person who can easily grin and bear it. So, the chores that I do, I do because it's necessary and there' s no one else to do them.
There are many days when chores are left to fester simply because I don't see it as imperative that they be done, and all too often the house gets clean because someone is coming over and I couldn't bear to let them in on my 'dirty' secret.
The worst of all my chores to do, and the one that gets put off the most, until I'm left with no more alternatives but to actually do it, is laundry. I despise laundry. I typically end up doing laundry on average every 3 weeks. I know, I know. Disgusting. I wait until there is absolutely nothing to wear. Kids are re-wearing pajamas, hubby is re-wearing underwear and socks, we're all examining our shirts to avoid the most obviously dirty.
The problem is that laundry is a chore that has no end. Unlike cleaning the floor or the bathroom, which can stay clean up to an entire day or two, there is always laundry that needs to be cleaning, even when all is said and done... you still have the clothes on your back left to clean, and every day it gets worse and worse. Unless you're one of those manic laundry washers who do a load every day of the week. Clearly, I am not.
I am currently doing laundry. So far one load is done, (and folded even, but not put away), one is drying and one is washing. I have 3 loads to go. Most likely, they will not all get done, and at least the last load will be left in the dryer, perhaps even a load left in the washer to be re-washed at a later date.
But at least it's getting done. One thing is certain, when my house is clean and I've spent an entire day cleaning it, I get nasty about keeping it clean. I see one toy on the floor, or the blanket rumpled, I just might lose it and bite the head off of the person who dared to disturb the order of my clean house. Just for a few hours, at least, I'd like it to stay nice. That's not too much to ask, is it?
Maybe in a couple of days I can regale you with tales of cleaning my kids' bedrooms.
I'm not a good housewife.
*Gasp!*
Well, maybe it's not that big of a secret. If pressed my husband would admit that he knew it. Heck, he might even admit it if not pressed.
The truth is, I'm just not the kind of person who gets enjoyment out of the day-to-day monotony of cooking and cleaning, nor am I the kind of person who can easily grin and bear it. So, the chores that I do, I do because it's necessary and there' s no one else to do them.
There are many days when chores are left to fester simply because I don't see it as imperative that they be done, and all too often the house gets clean because someone is coming over and I couldn't bear to let them in on my 'dirty' secret.
The worst of all my chores to do, and the one that gets put off the most, until I'm left with no more alternatives but to actually do it, is laundry. I despise laundry. I typically end up doing laundry on average every 3 weeks. I know, I know. Disgusting. I wait until there is absolutely nothing to wear. Kids are re-wearing pajamas, hubby is re-wearing underwear and socks, we're all examining our shirts to avoid the most obviously dirty.
The problem is that laundry is a chore that has no end. Unlike cleaning the floor or the bathroom, which can stay clean up to an entire day or two, there is always laundry that needs to be cleaning, even when all is said and done... you still have the clothes on your back left to clean, and every day it gets worse and worse. Unless you're one of those manic laundry washers who do a load every day of the week. Clearly, I am not.
I am currently doing laundry. So far one load is done, (and folded even, but not put away), one is drying and one is washing. I have 3 loads to go. Most likely, they will not all get done, and at least the last load will be left in the dryer, perhaps even a load left in the washer to be re-washed at a later date.
But at least it's getting done. One thing is certain, when my house is clean and I've spent an entire day cleaning it, I get nasty about keeping it clean. I see one toy on the floor, or the blanket rumpled, I just might lose it and bite the head off of the person who dared to disturb the order of my clean house. Just for a few hours, at least, I'd like it to stay nice. That's not too much to ask, is it?
Maybe in a couple of days I can regale you with tales of cleaning my kids' bedrooms.
That'd be my house.... I can't imagine if someone looked at it under a microscope right now... I'm sure the air and surfaces would appear to shimmer with the germs crawling everywhere.
I've been sick for 9 days so far. I thought that the flu was bad enough and that it was getting better, however I still have a nasty cough and a lot of snot - which I believe has turned into a sinus infection. The left half of my face, down to my jaw is in serious pain. I went to the doctor and he decided it could be treated with out drugs, so I'm supposed to squirt water into my nose and sinuses twice a day. I don't think it's working, the pain is just getting worse.
Then there's Cameron, who I thought was suffering from the same thing I had. I thought he was getting better, until all of a sudden he got worse. A trip to the doctor and I'm told he has a severe ear infection, and he's been put on antibiotics. Luckily they've worked quickly and he's in a good mood today and is currently climbing into my lap.
Then there's Quintin who's been sniffing and coughing for a while....woke up at 3am with an ear ache. Only time will tell if that develops into an infection.
James isn't far behind. He's all snotty and hopefully it doesn't go beyond that.
All this and it's only Tuesday. Uhg. This is going to be a very long week.
I've been sick for 9 days so far. I thought that the flu was bad enough and that it was getting better, however I still have a nasty cough and a lot of snot - which I believe has turned into a sinus infection. The left half of my face, down to my jaw is in serious pain. I went to the doctor and he decided it could be treated with out drugs, so I'm supposed to squirt water into my nose and sinuses twice a day. I don't think it's working, the pain is just getting worse.
Then there's Cameron, who I thought was suffering from the same thing I had. I thought he was getting better, until all of a sudden he got worse. A trip to the doctor and I'm told he has a severe ear infection, and he's been put on antibiotics. Luckily they've worked quickly and he's in a good mood today and is currently climbing into my lap.
Then there's Quintin who's been sniffing and coughing for a while....woke up at 3am with an ear ache. Only time will tell if that develops into an infection.
James isn't far behind. He's all snotty and hopefully it doesn't go beyond that.
All this and it's only Tuesday. Uhg. This is going to be a very long week.
In anticipation of some moderate gambling in Vegas, James and I decided to take some rare kidless time, and actually see what a casino looks like. After our very yummy and soul fulfilling dinner of Sushi at Mikados, we drove to the Casino in North Edmonton, after a lengthy discussion about just how many casinos there are in the city, and why Canada doesn't have/need a 'Vegas'.
Anyway, so we walked into the Casino, and I admit that I felt very out of place and noobish. We walked around and got the lay of the land, checked our coats and blew $5 each on nickle slots. Then, not wanting to go home yet, we decided to each take $50 and play some blackjack. We chose a table with a couple of guys sitting at one end. Table minimum was $5, and as such I managed to lose $10 in about 5 minutes. After that it got better, though. For a little while, James and I were up a total of $80, however at the end of 2 hours I had managed to lose all my money except for $10, and James had lost all his profits and broken even.
We decided to quit at that point, and James wanted to try his hand at some Craps, where he promptly lost his money. While he did that, I took $5 and played nickle slots again, and managed to double my money. By then James was done, he had $7 remaining, and decided to play one more hand a blackjack to win back his spending money for the week - he walked out with $16.
It was a nice way to spend the evening, particularily because it was something different from the usual routine.
Anyway, so we walked into the Casino, and I admit that I felt very out of place and noobish. We walked around and got the lay of the land, checked our coats and blew $5 each on nickle slots. Then, not wanting to go home yet, we decided to each take $50 and play some blackjack. We chose a table with a couple of guys sitting at one end. Table minimum was $5, and as such I managed to lose $10 in about 5 minutes. After that it got better, though. For a little while, James and I were up a total of $80, however at the end of 2 hours I had managed to lose all my money except for $10, and James had lost all his profits and broken even.
We decided to quit at that point, and James wanted to try his hand at some Craps, where he promptly lost his money. While he did that, I took $5 and played nickle slots again, and managed to double my money. By then James was done, he had $7 remaining, and decided to play one more hand a blackjack to win back his spending money for the week - he walked out with $16.
It was a nice way to spend the evening, particularily because it was something different from the usual routine.
If I had a nickle for every time I've started or restarted a blog.... I'd have like... a whole 25 cents! And does anyone want to explain to me just why there isn't a cent character on the keyboard?
So, I'm here because.... I rediscovered the blog. Way back in 2005 when I first started with blogger, apparently my reasoning for it was because Xanga wasn't user friendly enough. A while ago I rediscovered my Xanga blog and made a few posts, then forgot it. Heh. I've been blogging on Facebook, but honestly, I don't think anyone knows it's there, and frankly it's ugly and boring. It served a purpose but got burried in the rest of the facebook mess. With the new facebook format, I'm not sure I could even find it again, anyway.
So, I'm here...wait, I already said that... umm... I should be making up my grocery list and preparing to go shopping but I'm procrastinating because I'm actually feeling good. For the last 5 days I've felt like I was going to die, I've been so sick. I'm sure I must have had the flu.... fever, chills, headache, sore throat, head and chest congestion, no energy. It was horrible...the sickest I've been in a very very long time. But today...well, I'm not going so far as to say I'm better, cuz I'm still congested, and my body temperature still can't make up it's mind as to what normal is, so I'm either hot or cold. But! I feel fine despite all that. That probably doesn't make much sense, but it's true. I'm in a good mood cuz despite being sick I feel good, in comparrison to how crappy I used to feel.
This weekend I get to go on a date with my sweetie, while my kids go on a sleep over with their Aunty. It'll be a nice little break, I'll get to eat sushi. Yum! And...I don't know what else I'll be doing, I've only planned the sushi. Maybe we'll go to the Casino. Hahaha! Hmm....now that I'm thinking about it, it' s not a horrible idea...gotta bone up our skills for our Vegas trip.
Yup, we're going to Vegas for May long! Yay! It's all because I'm a genius, you see. NIN is playing in Vegas and I convinced my husband that a few days in Vegas would be fun. I get to go to the concert and to the worlds biggest toy box. Okay, I made that up. I have no idea if it's the biggest or not. But that's still 7 weeks away. Boo!
Anyway, I've gotta start doing what needs doing before I lose my energy. Toodles!
So, I'm here because.... I rediscovered the blog. Way back in 2005 when I first started with blogger, apparently my reasoning for it was because Xanga wasn't user friendly enough. A while ago I rediscovered my Xanga blog and made a few posts, then forgot it. Heh. I've been blogging on Facebook, but honestly, I don't think anyone knows it's there, and frankly it's ugly and boring. It served a purpose but got burried in the rest of the facebook mess. With the new facebook format, I'm not sure I could even find it again, anyway.
So, I'm here...wait, I already said that... umm... I should be making up my grocery list and preparing to go shopping but I'm procrastinating because I'm actually feeling good. For the last 5 days I've felt like I was going to die, I've been so sick. I'm sure I must have had the flu.... fever, chills, headache, sore throat, head and chest congestion, no energy. It was horrible...the sickest I've been in a very very long time. But today...well, I'm not going so far as to say I'm better, cuz I'm still congested, and my body temperature still can't make up it's mind as to what normal is, so I'm either hot or cold. But! I feel fine despite all that. That probably doesn't make much sense, but it's true. I'm in a good mood cuz despite being sick I feel good, in comparrison to how crappy I used to feel.
This weekend I get to go on a date with my sweetie, while my kids go on a sleep over with their Aunty. It'll be a nice little break, I'll get to eat sushi. Yum! And...I don't know what else I'll be doing, I've only planned the sushi. Maybe we'll go to the Casino. Hahaha! Hmm....now that I'm thinking about it, it' s not a horrible idea...gotta bone up our skills for our Vegas trip.
Yup, we're going to Vegas for May long! Yay! It's all because I'm a genius, you see. NIN is playing in Vegas and I convinced my husband that a few days in Vegas would be fun. I get to go to the concert and to the worlds biggest toy box. Okay, I made that up. I have no idea if it's the biggest or not. But that's still 7 weeks away. Boo!
Anyway, I've gotta start doing what needs doing before I lose my energy. Toodles!
... I never updated after I got back from my trip.
Well, I'm back, safe and sound. It was a long trip back, and we were pretty tired, but everything's back to normal now. If anyone's interested in seeing any pictures, they're here: http://www.thefinn.net/gallery There's about 350 pictures...unfortunately our camera corrupted 170 pictures and they can't be opened. They were good pictures, too. If you look in the Vatican album, the last 5 pictures or so, that just looks like the top of a building...they're actually pictures of the Pope. He's in the open window, with the red flag underneath it. Yes, that's right... I was blessed by the Pope and didn't burst into flames or get struck by lightening... I must be doing something right. :) Unfortunately, as you can see, my camera doesn't have a zoom.
So life's been pretty normal since we got back. James brought back some European cold bugs and has managed to get the baby sick. So Quint has a really runny nose today...it's so bad that I can't keep up with it, so he's constantly covered in snot, or smearing it all over his face and hands... and the couch, and my clothes... There's nothing like getting a kiss from a kid with a runny nose. :) Poor guy woke up crying last night cuz he coudln't breath out of his nose.... I think his throat may have been sore too...oh, and he has molars coming in. So I gave him some motrin and he went back to sleep.
Anyway, yeah...like I said, not very interesting.
Well, I'm back, safe and sound. It was a long trip back, and we were pretty tired, but everything's back to normal now. If anyone's interested in seeing any pictures, they're here: http://www.thefinn.net/gallery There's about 350 pictures...unfortunately our camera corrupted 170 pictures and they can't be opened. They were good pictures, too. If you look in the Vatican album, the last 5 pictures or so, that just looks like the top of a building...they're actually pictures of the Pope. He's in the open window, with the red flag underneath it. Yes, that's right... I was blessed by the Pope and didn't burst into flames or get struck by lightening... I must be doing something right. :) Unfortunately, as you can see, my camera doesn't have a zoom.
So life's been pretty normal since we got back. James brought back some European cold bugs and has managed to get the baby sick. So Quint has a really runny nose today...it's so bad that I can't keep up with it, so he's constantly covered in snot, or smearing it all over his face and hands... and the couch, and my clothes... There's nothing like getting a kiss from a kid with a runny nose. :) Poor guy woke up crying last night cuz he coudln't breath out of his nose.... I think his throat may have been sore too...oh, and he has molars coming in. So I gave him some motrin and he went back to sleep.
Anyway, yeah...like I said, not very interesting.
So, we didn't get up in time to meet the tour group of the Vatican..it started at 930 and we didn't get up until 915. No problem though.... we got there around 1030 and walked past the HUGE line.... I mean, it must have been at least a km long....a couple of thousand people in it. This line was just for the museum, with the Sistine chappel and such. So we walked past it, relieved that the line for St. Peter's Basillica wasn't even close to that, and walked around the church.
Compared to the elegance of Notre Dame, St. Peter's has a grandur that's unmatched.... it was almost to the point of being guady. There were so many huge and intricate marble statues, and mosaics in gold tile, and paintings, and of course the famous Dome designed by Michelangelo.... it was immense. In Notre Dame, you could feel the intense emotional history the church had.... hundreds of years of devoted followers, worshiping and preying, joy, sorrow...it was all wrapped up in the church. St. Peter's, however, was sterile, conservative, awe inspiring, but there was no real emotion attached to it...except in the one little corner they had marked off for private prayer. It was an amazing site to see, regardless.
After touring the treasury at St. Peter's we had intended on going to the museum only to see that it closed at 130, with the last visiters being let in at 1240... it was 1230 when we left the treasury. So, we decided to go see Trevi Fountain instead. We hopped on the subway, and walked to the fountain....really big, quite an impressive sculpture.... and we threw our coins in, to ensure our return to Rome, and had our picture taken.
By now it was about 230 ish.... what to do with the rest of the day? We decided to take the subway back in the direction of our hotel and look at Circus Maximus.... now, a really big oval field that used to be a stadium that fit 300,000 people. From there we headed next door to Palentine Hill, where the city of Rome, according to legend, was founded by the twin brothers Romulus and Remis (you know the story....abandoned in a river as infants by their evil father, they washed ashore only to be raised by a she-wolf who had lost her pups).
Anyway, Palentine hill is now a site of massive excavations containing palaces of various Emperors, as well as the temple of Cyble and remins of a 9th centure BC Iron Age village. So we got there at 328, only to discover the last visitors were let in at 330, so we quickly got our tickets and wandered around the ruins for an hour. After that we had late lunch from a pizza vendor and head back to our hotel.
Thoughts provoked by this trip....
Everwhere we've gone we've been whitness to beggers in many different forms.... claiming to be refugees who don't speak the language, old women shuffling or kneeling on the floor holding a cup, and the most heart breaking, women holding babies. I don't mind giving charity, when it isnt asked for.... but Im uncomfortable with beggers, mostly because 9 times out of 10, its just a scam. I pointed this out to my husband, how the women with babies hurt my heart, being the mother I am.... he said that they're probably gypsies...infact all the beggars we've seen probably have been gypsies....its an interesting thought.
That's enough for now. Tomorrow we'll be seeing the vatican museum, then heading to the airport to try to pass time until our flight leaves early Monday morning. So this'll be the last time I post anything in my blog. I'll write again once I'm home.
Thanks for reading!
Compared to the elegance of Notre Dame, St. Peter's has a grandur that's unmatched.... it was almost to the point of being guady. There were so many huge and intricate marble statues, and mosaics in gold tile, and paintings, and of course the famous Dome designed by Michelangelo.... it was immense. In Notre Dame, you could feel the intense emotional history the church had.... hundreds of years of devoted followers, worshiping and preying, joy, sorrow...it was all wrapped up in the church. St. Peter's, however, was sterile, conservative, awe inspiring, but there was no real emotion attached to it...except in the one little corner they had marked off for private prayer. It was an amazing site to see, regardless.
After touring the treasury at St. Peter's we had intended on going to the museum only to see that it closed at 130, with the last visiters being let in at 1240... it was 1230 when we left the treasury. So, we decided to go see Trevi Fountain instead. We hopped on the subway, and walked to the fountain....really big, quite an impressive sculpture.... and we threw our coins in, to ensure our return to Rome, and had our picture taken.
By now it was about 230 ish.... what to do with the rest of the day? We decided to take the subway back in the direction of our hotel and look at Circus Maximus.... now, a really big oval field that used to be a stadium that fit 300,000 people. From there we headed next door to Palentine Hill, where the city of Rome, according to legend, was founded by the twin brothers Romulus and Remis (you know the story....abandoned in a river as infants by their evil father, they washed ashore only to be raised by a she-wolf who had lost her pups).
Anyway, Palentine hill is now a site of massive excavations containing palaces of various Emperors, as well as the temple of Cyble and remins of a 9th centure BC Iron Age village. So we got there at 328, only to discover the last visitors were let in at 330, so we quickly got our tickets and wandered around the ruins for an hour. After that we had late lunch from a pizza vendor and head back to our hotel.
Thoughts provoked by this trip....
Everwhere we've gone we've been whitness to beggers in many different forms.... claiming to be refugees who don't speak the language, old women shuffling or kneeling on the floor holding a cup, and the most heart breaking, women holding babies. I don't mind giving charity, when it isnt asked for.... but Im uncomfortable with beggers, mostly because 9 times out of 10, its just a scam. I pointed this out to my husband, how the women with babies hurt my heart, being the mother I am.... he said that they're probably gypsies...infact all the beggars we've seen probably have been gypsies....its an interesting thought.
That's enough for now. Tomorrow we'll be seeing the vatican museum, then heading to the airport to try to pass time until our flight leaves early Monday morning. So this'll be the last time I post anything in my blog. I'll write again once I'm home.
Thanks for reading!
Well, now that I have some time to sit down (and free internet usage in the hotel room), I can expand a little more on the trip.
Venice was very interesting. We arrived on my birthday (the 8th), which also happened to be the last day of Carivale so there were tons of people in elaborate costumes and masks, and tourists in funny hats, masks and with their faces painted. I took the first opportunity to have my face painted, and later on in the night, after a nap rubbed it off on my pillow, I bought myself a mask to wear. I couldnt convice James to do anything like that, though.... I even threatened to throw him in the canal and he still wouldnt.
St. Marks square was....well, squarey. hehe. It had hoards of people in it because of Carnival, and even more pidgeons. I bought some corn to feed them, despite James's objections that they ruin the art, so you shouldnt feed them. I have a classic picture of my arms covered with at least 10 birds. One even landed on my head, but theres no picture of that....James said it was disaster waiting to happen so he shooed it away..
The basillica was impressive...very elaborate mosaics but it paled in comparison to Notre Dame. We didnt bother going into the Doge's Palace. Walking around Venice was quite time consuming... we got lost a couple of times, and we walked for a really long time. The buildings are so close together there that you never feel the sun, it only touches the tops of the buildings.
So after Venice, we took a train to Rome. We missed the train we intended on taking, because James forgot his passport in the hotel room and he had to run back and get it. We only got in 1 hour later than we intended though. Our first view of Rome after leaving the train station was of the Collesium. Its really and impressive site. What I found most interesting, however, is that the reason its missing so much is because parts of it were plundered and used to build St. Pauls Cathedral. We learned about that on the tour we took today.
Last night, however, we had an amazing, although really expensive, meal. The waiter, Ricardo, was really friendly. He gave me a poster, with a drawing of the Collesium, and bought James and I a free glass of a dessert wine. He also gave me big hugs when he learned it was my birthday 2 days ago.
Today we took tours (as I mentioned) of the Collesium and the Forum, the ancient center of Rome. We hope to take a tour of the Vatican tomorrow, if we can get there in time... it starts at 930am.
I wish I had pictures to share right now, but for some reason we cant download them off of the camera. Thats starting to become a problem because we only have enough room on the card for about 100 more pictures. Weve already taken around 420 pictures! I imagine tomorrow well take at least 100 pictures at the Cathedral alone.
That's it for now,
Chao!
Venice was very interesting. We arrived on my birthday (the 8th), which also happened to be the last day of Carivale so there were tons of people in elaborate costumes and masks, and tourists in funny hats, masks and with their faces painted. I took the first opportunity to have my face painted, and later on in the night, after a nap rubbed it off on my pillow, I bought myself a mask to wear. I couldnt convice James to do anything like that, though.... I even threatened to throw him in the canal and he still wouldnt.
St. Marks square was....well, squarey. hehe. It had hoards of people in it because of Carnival, and even more pidgeons. I bought some corn to feed them, despite James's objections that they ruin the art, so you shouldnt feed them. I have a classic picture of my arms covered with at least 10 birds. One even landed on my head, but theres no picture of that....James said it was disaster waiting to happen so he shooed it away..
The basillica was impressive...very elaborate mosaics but it paled in comparison to Notre Dame. We didnt bother going into the Doge's Palace. Walking around Venice was quite time consuming... we got lost a couple of times, and we walked for a really long time. The buildings are so close together there that you never feel the sun, it only touches the tops of the buildings.
So after Venice, we took a train to Rome. We missed the train we intended on taking, because James forgot his passport in the hotel room and he had to run back and get it. We only got in 1 hour later than we intended though. Our first view of Rome after leaving the train station was of the Collesium. Its really and impressive site. What I found most interesting, however, is that the reason its missing so much is because parts of it were plundered and used to build St. Pauls Cathedral. We learned about that on the tour we took today.
Last night, however, we had an amazing, although really expensive, meal. The waiter, Ricardo, was really friendly. He gave me a poster, with a drawing of the Collesium, and bought James and I a free glass of a dessert wine. He also gave me big hugs when he learned it was my birthday 2 days ago.
Today we took tours (as I mentioned) of the Collesium and the Forum, the ancient center of Rome. We hope to take a tour of the Vatican tomorrow, if we can get there in time... it starts at 930am.
I wish I had pictures to share right now, but for some reason we cant download them off of the camera. Thats starting to become a problem because we only have enough room on the card for about 100 more pictures. Weve already taken around 420 pictures! I imagine tomorrow well take at least 100 pictures at the Cathedral alone.
That's it for now,
Chao!
Well, this is the first chance Ive had to get into an internet cafe....the last few days have been go go go, to try to get everything done on time. Oh, and Im currently in Venice using an Italian keyboard so if anything looks weird, thats why....its also why Im not using any apostrophies.... I cant find it.
So, anyway.... the trip got off to a bit of a rockey start. The plane leaving Calgary was 2 hours late, so we missed our connection to Amsterdam in Frankfurt. We had to wait 4 hours in Frankfurt for the next plane, so we didnt get into Amsterdam in time to do much.... we walked throught the redlight district, and then walked through the city a bit on our way to the train the next day, and took some pictures of the amazing architecture.
And then we were on to Paris. It truely was a wonderful place to visit.... I cant believe that it was never on my list of places to go. We tried to go to the Catacombs but they were closed (doh!). Notre Dame was...awe inspiring. It actually brought tears to my eyes. I lit a candle (for 2 euros) infront of this amazing Christ on the Cross) the whole church was just.... wow, thats all I can say. We took close to 100 pictures there...only to find that our camera was being screwy and it wont read half of the pictures we took. Hopefully we can get them with the computer.
After Notre Dame we went to the Eifel Tower. On the way there we had some really good crepes filled with ham and cheese from a street vendor, and then desert, a crepe with Nutella in it. The Eifel Tower is HUGE. Pictures just dont do any justice to its scale. It was dark by the time we got there and it was all lit up. We took the elevator up to the top and took some pictures, and called home.
The next day (yesterday) we spent about 4 hours walking around the Louvre. Amazing art! Just amazing! And then we went to the Arc de Triumph, and took the elevator up to the top and walked the 289 stairs back down. By that time our feet were so sore we were both limping.
We spent last night on our train to Venice, 12 hours so my feet dont hurt too bad, but my muscles are pretty sore.
Unfortunately I dont have time to write any more or post any pictures, cuz we only have enough change for 1/2 hour on the computer.
So I hope everyone at home and on MW is doing well, and Ill write again when I have the time.
Arrivederci!!
So, anyway.... the trip got off to a bit of a rockey start. The plane leaving Calgary was 2 hours late, so we missed our connection to Amsterdam in Frankfurt. We had to wait 4 hours in Frankfurt for the next plane, so we didnt get into Amsterdam in time to do much.... we walked throught the redlight district, and then walked through the city a bit on our way to the train the next day, and took some pictures of the amazing architecture.
And then we were on to Paris. It truely was a wonderful place to visit.... I cant believe that it was never on my list of places to go. We tried to go to the Catacombs but they were closed (doh!). Notre Dame was...awe inspiring. It actually brought tears to my eyes. I lit a candle (for 2 euros) infront of this amazing Christ on the Cross) the whole church was just.... wow, thats all I can say. We took close to 100 pictures there...only to find that our camera was being screwy and it wont read half of the pictures we took. Hopefully we can get them with the computer.
After Notre Dame we went to the Eifel Tower. On the way there we had some really good crepes filled with ham and cheese from a street vendor, and then desert, a crepe with Nutella in it. The Eifel Tower is HUGE. Pictures just dont do any justice to its scale. It was dark by the time we got there and it was all lit up. We took the elevator up to the top and took some pictures, and called home.
The next day (yesterday) we spent about 4 hours walking around the Louvre. Amazing art! Just amazing! And then we went to the Arc de Triumph, and took the elevator up to the top and walked the 289 stairs back down. By that time our feet were so sore we were both limping.
We spent last night on our train to Venice, 12 hours so my feet dont hurt too bad, but my muscles are pretty sore.
Unfortunately I dont have time to write any more or post any pictures, cuz we only have enough change for 1/2 hour on the computer.
So I hope everyone at home and on MW is doing well, and Ill write again when I have the time.
Arrivederci!!
Woo! How time flies! I hadn't realized how much time had gone by since my last post... I guess life just hasn't been interesting enough to post about.
To answer the question in my comments, no, no one here got the flu. I guess those flu shots really work. :)
Okay, so I'm just gonna skip over the last few months, cuz I don't really remember what's happened in all that time....
We've really just been planning for our vacation, which we leave for tomorrow night. Well, we're going to my parent's place tonight, cuz they're babysitting the baby, then tomorrow we get on the plane.
I know! 10 whole days with out my sweet heart!
He terrified me today. I came upstairs and closed the doors to all the rooms, but his bedroom, so he could play, then went to make his lunch. It got really quiet, and I was finished his lunch so I called him, heard nothing. Then I went to look for him and couldn't find him anywhere. I look under his bed, in closets, behind the couch. It was like he just up and disappeared. By this time I'm yelling for him, on the verge of panic and tears...images of strangers coming into my house and taking him flash through my mind... I check to make sure the front door is still locked, it is. Then I open the bathroom door and there he was. Playing with a bath toy. Happy. Somehow he managed to open the bathroom door, and close it behind him. I picked him up and held him tight and tried not to cry.... my heart was beating so fast.... meanwhile he's wiggling like he's saying, "moooommm....put me down....." It was such a horrible feeling.
I'm gonna miss him alot when we're gone.
So, what about your vacation, you ask? Well, we're taking 10 days to take a train through Europe, spending a few days at Amsterdam, Paris, Venice and Rome. I'm looking forward to Rome the most...the history there is just staggering. Our hotel is right behind the Coliseum...it'll be sooo cool.
Our plane leaves tomorrow night, and it'll take 9 hours to get there....landing in Frankfurt and changing planes before going on to Amsterdam.
So, keep reading my blog for updates... I hope to update for each city, and include some pictures as well.
Those of you reading from MW, a big "Hi" to you. :)
To answer the question in my comments, no, no one here got the flu. I guess those flu shots really work. :)
Okay, so I'm just gonna skip over the last few months, cuz I don't really remember what's happened in all that time....
We've really just been planning for our vacation, which we leave for tomorrow night. Well, we're going to my parent's place tonight, cuz they're babysitting the baby, then tomorrow we get on the plane.
I know! 10 whole days with out my sweet heart!
He terrified me today. I came upstairs and closed the doors to all the rooms, but his bedroom, so he could play, then went to make his lunch. It got really quiet, and I was finished his lunch so I called him, heard nothing. Then I went to look for him and couldn't find him anywhere. I look under his bed, in closets, behind the couch. It was like he just up and disappeared. By this time I'm yelling for him, on the verge of panic and tears...images of strangers coming into my house and taking him flash through my mind... I check to make sure the front door is still locked, it is. Then I open the bathroom door and there he was. Playing with a bath toy. Happy. Somehow he managed to open the bathroom door, and close it behind him. I picked him up and held him tight and tried not to cry.... my heart was beating so fast.... meanwhile he's wiggling like he's saying, "moooommm....put me down....." It was such a horrible feeling.
I'm gonna miss him alot when we're gone.
So, what about your vacation, you ask? Well, we're taking 10 days to take a train through Europe, spending a few days at Amsterdam, Paris, Venice and Rome. I'm looking forward to Rome the most...the history there is just staggering. Our hotel is right behind the Coliseum...it'll be sooo cool.
Our plane leaves tomorrow night, and it'll take 9 hours to get there....landing in Frankfurt and changing planes before going on to Amsterdam.
So, keep reading my blog for updates... I hope to update for each city, and include some pictures as well.
Those of you reading from MW, a big "Hi" to you. :)
The holiday season is over, and now we can all sit back and relax. The past week was more or less what I expected it to be, although it did start out with a resounding bang -- literally. While we were stopped at a light, just leaving Fort Saskatchewan, someone rear-ended us. It was completely unexpected, at least for me, but James said that he knew the guy was going to hit us eventually, cuz he was being an idiot. So, our bumper is bent, but that's it. Not too bad, but we'll need a new bumper before we sell the truck, whenever that happens. My neck also hurt for a couple days after that, but just like I'd strained a muscle, so nothing serious.
Beyond that, we arrived in Olds in good form, and ready to start the holidays. My parent's Christmas tree was huge and beautifully decorated. The mound of presents under it was rediculous, and that was before we added our three garbage bags full of gifts to it.
So the big question is, what did I get? The best presents would have to be from my husband... he got me some diamond and ruby earings, and sapphire and diamond ring. It was such a great gift simply because I knew it pained him to spend so much money on something that he considers to be useless. I was really touched because of it. :) And I so totally didn't expect it. Otherwise, I got movies (Finding Nemo and Ocean's 11), music (Queen of the Damned Soundtrack), books, (Gregory Maguires "Confessions of an Ugly Step Sister" and "Mirror Mirror". I got tons of clothes and new shoes, and a goosedown duvet for my king sized bed, from Santa. Oh, and the game Balderdash ....that's all I can remember getting at the moment, but there was more, I'm pretty sure.
All in all it was a really good holiday. My mom ended up with the flu, so now I have to hold my breath for a week and pray that no one here gets it.
Beyond that, we arrived in Olds in good form, and ready to start the holidays. My parent's Christmas tree was huge and beautifully decorated. The mound of presents under it was rediculous, and that was before we added our three garbage bags full of gifts to it.
So the big question is, what did I get? The best presents would have to be from my husband... he got me some diamond and ruby earings, and sapphire and diamond ring. It was such a great gift simply because I knew it pained him to spend so much money on something that he considers to be useless. I was really touched because of it. :) And I so totally didn't expect it. Otherwise, I got movies (Finding Nemo and Ocean's 11), music (Queen of the Damned Soundtrack), books, (Gregory Maguires "Confessions of an Ugly Step Sister" and "Mirror Mirror". I got tons of clothes and new shoes, and a goosedown duvet for my king sized bed, from Santa. Oh, and the game Balderdash ....that's all I can remember getting at the moment, but there was more, I'm pretty sure.
All in all it was a really good holiday. My mom ended up with the flu, so now I have to hold my breath for a week and pray that no one here gets it.
So, Christmas shopping is done. I went out to West Edmonton Mall a couple weeks ago with my mom and sister to do my Christmas shopping. I managed to get a couple things for my husband, and for my dad, but because I was shopping with my mom and sister, I couldn't get anything for them. I had rented a car that weekend, because our insurance on our SUV had expired. So, that Tuesday I tried to finish my shopping...didn't have much luck. I only managed to finally get the last two presents this Saturday. So we have lots of presents under our tree, and the house is decorated and lights are up. I'm all full of Christmas cheer.
However, on the way to the mall on Saturday, the heater in our truck blew up... or something. It had been acting up since we bought it. At first it was just this trickling sound, that we though should get fixed some day. Then a couple of weeks ago the heater started screaming.... so we thought that really should get fixed. Then, last weekend, we're just getting into Fort Saskatchewan when smoke starts coming out of the defrost vent...by the time my husband pulled over it was pouring out of the vent and we had to open the windows to air it out. And it smelled horrible. So, now we have to get it fixed.... although, apparently it seems to be working again.
And this morning I was given a heart attack. My husband drives to the city every day for work. It takes him about 1 hour to get there. He left late this morning, (cuz he can't get up before dawn, for some reason) so I knew he wouldn't be at work until about 9:30.
Well, at 9:15, just as I was about to give the baby breakfast, the phone rings. Knowing that James shouldn't be at work yet, I worry slightly that something's happened and he's calling me to call a tow truck for him or something (it wasn't a completely rational thought). So I answer the phone and a male voice asks if he's speaking with Mrs. Atkinson. I tell him yes, and he says he's so and so calling from the Edmonton Police Department......(my heart starts pounding, imagining my husband in a horrible accident, cuz it is snowing and the roads are icy)......and he's soliciting for a charity to help police widows.
And no, I didn't give the charity any money, because he said that only half the money raised would go to charity...the other half was to pay for the charity drive, and to pay solicitors like himself.
That's it until after Chrismas. :)
However, on the way to the mall on Saturday, the heater in our truck blew up... or something. It had been acting up since we bought it. At first it was just this trickling sound, that we though should get fixed some day. Then a couple of weeks ago the heater started screaming.... so we thought that really should get fixed. Then, last weekend, we're just getting into Fort Saskatchewan when smoke starts coming out of the defrost vent...by the time my husband pulled over it was pouring out of the vent and we had to open the windows to air it out. And it smelled horrible. So, now we have to get it fixed.... although, apparently it seems to be working again.
And this morning I was given a heart attack. My husband drives to the city every day for work. It takes him about 1 hour to get there. He left late this morning, (cuz he can't get up before dawn, for some reason) so I knew he wouldn't be at work until about 9:30.
Well, at 9:15, just as I was about to give the baby breakfast, the phone rings. Knowing that James shouldn't be at work yet, I worry slightly that something's happened and he's calling me to call a tow truck for him or something (it wasn't a completely rational thought). So I answer the phone and a male voice asks if he's speaking with Mrs. Atkinson. I tell him yes, and he says he's so and so calling from the Edmonton Police Department......(my heart starts pounding, imagining my husband in a horrible accident, cuz it is snowing and the roads are icy)......and he's soliciting for a charity to help police widows.
And no, I didn't give the charity any money, because he said that only half the money raised would go to charity...the other half was to pay for the charity drive, and to pay solicitors like himself.
That's it until after Chrismas. :)
So, my husband tells me that one of the keys to having people read your blog is posting in it every day. So...I'm going to try to do that. I don't promise anything, though.
This weekend was really tiring. After a week of looking after the baby all day, (and that can be exhausting...how many times can you say "no" without losing your mind?) I really look forward to two days where I don't have to do it alone. It's enough just knowing someone else is there and I can be alone if I want to. Well, once a month James has to work a Saturday, so I get screwed out of one day. This weekend, however, he also went out and played games all day Sunday. So I didn't get a weekend off this week. The only upside was I went shopping with my mom and sister and then had dinner and drinks on Saturday. James took the baby after he got off of work and I go to hang out and forget about being a mom for a little while. That was nice of him, I admit.
So I tried to get my Christmas shopping done on Saturday. I'll be taking back at least one present, I couldn't shop for my mom or sister, because they were right there, and I lost a present I got for my son. So basically it was almost a waste of time. Except Quint got to see Santa, so that was fun...waiting in line for 20 minutes holding a 22lbs wriggly weight in my arms....He didn't know what to think of Santa....he just stared at him. So, like I said, then we went out for dinner and drinks. Well, they drank. I had a white russian that might as well have been milk, it was so weak, but that was it, cuz I was driving. They were staying in the hotel across the street so they could drink all they wanted.
And today....today I'm doing nothing. It's -20C or some such idiotic cold temperature and it's preventing me from even walking the 10 feet to the garage to get the othe baby gate, so I can lock the baby out of the computer room so I can be on he computer while he plays. I tried just letting him play in here and now it's a complete and utter disaster. That happens to any room he goes into, really, so I shouldn't have been surprised by the mess.
Oh, the excitement.
This weekend was really tiring. After a week of looking after the baby all day, (and that can be exhausting...how many times can you say "no" without losing your mind?) I really look forward to two days where I don't have to do it alone. It's enough just knowing someone else is there and I can be alone if I want to. Well, once a month James has to work a Saturday, so I get screwed out of one day. This weekend, however, he also went out and played games all day Sunday. So I didn't get a weekend off this week. The only upside was I went shopping with my mom and sister and then had dinner and drinks on Saturday. James took the baby after he got off of work and I go to hang out and forget about being a mom for a little while. That was nice of him, I admit.
So I tried to get my Christmas shopping done on Saturday. I'll be taking back at least one present, I couldn't shop for my mom or sister, because they were right there, and I lost a present I got for my son. So basically it was almost a waste of time. Except Quint got to see Santa, so that was fun...waiting in line for 20 minutes holding a 22lbs wriggly weight in my arms....He didn't know what to think of Santa....he just stared at him. So, like I said, then we went out for dinner and drinks. Well, they drank. I had a white russian that might as well have been milk, it was so weak, but that was it, cuz I was driving. They were staying in the hotel across the street so they could drink all they wanted.
And today....today I'm doing nothing. It's -20C or some such idiotic cold temperature and it's preventing me from even walking the 10 feet to the garage to get the othe baby gate, so I can lock the baby out of the computer room so I can be on he computer while he plays. I tried just letting him play in here and now it's a complete and utter disaster. That happens to any room he goes into, really, so I shouldn't have been surprised by the mess.
Oh, the excitement.
So, I've been with my husband for 7 years and in all that time he has been a really picky eater. He refused to eat anything that doesn't look good or that he doesn't think will taste good, and there is a very long list of foods that he just doesn't like. Unfortunately I'm the exact opposite...there are only 2 foods that I refuse to eat. One of my most favorite foods just happens to be chilli....and one of the foods that he pronounced as gross, without ever trying it. So I have gone the last 7 years without ever making my own chilli, until Friday.
While we were in BC visiting my inlaws, my husband's dad, on hearing that he didn't like chilli, but had never tried it, got him to taste the chilli that he had made. My husband said it was "okay" and that he'd eat it if he had to. However, he opted for soup instead of chilli for lunch that day. So on Friday, I asked him if it was okay if I made chilli, seeing as how he tried it at his dads. He said it was okay if I did, but "it better not suck". Oh, great, I think.... I just hate it when he doesn't like the food I cook...it's like it's a comment on my abilities and ends up as a blow to my ego.
So we sit down to dinner and begin to eat, when he asks me, "if I tell you something, will you promise I won't hear about it for the rest of my life?" I tell him that he's not allowed to tell me anything that's going to hurt my feelings....fully expecting him to say that he didn't like the food. But he promised that he wouldn't hurt my feelings, so I said that I promised not to bug him about it.
So he says....
"This is really good!"
"Ha! Ha!" I exclaimed, "I told you so!"
It was a triumph, I'm telling you. It felt like I'd won a battle that had been raging for years. Victory was mine!
Now the only thing I have left for him to try is chicken pot pie and my spaghetti sauce.
While we were in BC visiting my inlaws, my husband's dad, on hearing that he didn't like chilli, but had never tried it, got him to taste the chilli that he had made. My husband said it was "okay" and that he'd eat it if he had to. However, he opted for soup instead of chilli for lunch that day. So on Friday, I asked him if it was okay if I made chilli, seeing as how he tried it at his dads. He said it was okay if I did, but "it better not suck". Oh, great, I think.... I just hate it when he doesn't like the food I cook...it's like it's a comment on my abilities and ends up as a blow to my ego.
So we sit down to dinner and begin to eat, when he asks me, "if I tell you something, will you promise I won't hear about it for the rest of my life?" I tell him that he's not allowed to tell me anything that's going to hurt my feelings....fully expecting him to say that he didn't like the food. But he promised that he wouldn't hurt my feelings, so I said that I promised not to bug him about it.
So he says....
"This is really good!"
"Ha! Ha!" I exclaimed, "I told you so!"
It was a triumph, I'm telling you. It felt like I'd won a battle that had been raging for years. Victory was mine!
Now the only thing I have left for him to try is chicken pot pie and my spaghetti sauce.
Okay, so this is my second attempt at a blog. The first one I tried, at xanga.com, I didn't really like because I had to create my own site and I know absolutely nothing about that. This one looks nice without my having to work at it, which is a good thing.
So there isn't really a whole lot for me to talk about in this first post....
Life is going pretty good at the moment. We've found a babysitter for my son, finally. She's a careworker at mom's and tots. And mom's and tots is going great...it's really good to have something to get me out of the house. I'm really going to miss it during the month that it's not going on, I'm sure Quintin will, too. I really hope we get a car soon so I can drive to it when it starts up again in January.
We just came back from a weekend in BC visiting the in-laws. Quintin's Aunt hadn't met him yet, so I'm really glad we got to go. Quint had a great time playing with his cousin, Cassidy. She's 4 years older than him and he loved her. I've never heard him laugh as he did when she played with him. It made me very sure that I want to have another kid...just so Quintin has that special friend, that no one but a sibling can be.
As for me.... my IBS (if, indeed, that's what it is...I'm still too chicken to go to a doctor about it), has been annoying lately...there hasn't been pain though, so I can deal with it, which is one of the reasons I haven't seen a doctor. My PPD has been quite manageable lately. This weekend, being about to relax and sleep in, really helped a lot. I've been really happy lately and I actually feel in control.
There's nothing to blame for being lazy though...I've gotta clean my house before the weekend and finish laundry...it'd probably be a good idea to get dressed today and maybe have a shower as well. Maybe I should write myself a to-do list every day and make sure it gets done... not sure if it would work though.
So yeah, that's it for now. My "not much to say" seemed to have turned into a novel....
So there isn't really a whole lot for me to talk about in this first post....
Life is going pretty good at the moment. We've found a babysitter for my son, finally. She's a careworker at mom's and tots. And mom's and tots is going great...it's really good to have something to get me out of the house. I'm really going to miss it during the month that it's not going on, I'm sure Quintin will, too. I really hope we get a car soon so I can drive to it when it starts up again in January.
We just came back from a weekend in BC visiting the in-laws. Quintin's Aunt hadn't met him yet, so I'm really glad we got to go. Quint had a great time playing with his cousin, Cassidy. She's 4 years older than him and he loved her. I've never heard him laugh as he did when she played with him. It made me very sure that I want to have another kid...just so Quintin has that special friend, that no one but a sibling can be.
As for me.... my IBS (if, indeed, that's what it is...I'm still too chicken to go to a doctor about it), has been annoying lately...there hasn't been pain though, so I can deal with it, which is one of the reasons I haven't seen a doctor. My PPD has been quite manageable lately. This weekend, being about to relax and sleep in, really helped a lot. I've been really happy lately and I actually feel in control.
There's nothing to blame for being lazy though...I've gotta clean my house before the weekend and finish laundry...it'd probably be a good idea to get dressed today and maybe have a shower as well. Maybe I should write myself a to-do list every day and make sure it gets done... not sure if it would work though.
So yeah, that's it for now. My "not much to say" seemed to have turned into a novel....
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