Okay, so I get it.

There are any number of close friends and family members who delight in pointing out that I am getting on in years.  I usually accredit that to jealousy or ignorance.  However, life does have a way of smacking you in the face with the fact that one is not as young as one once was!

When I truly take stock of myself, I find I am seriously wearing out.  I have one knee replaced and the other will have to be sooner or later.  I have arthritis in a variety of joints.  The twinges and muscle spasms and general aches and pains ping and pong throughout my body - somedays worse - somedays better - never gone. My blood pressure is high, and it has NOTHING to do with all the salt and animal fat that make up the base of my food pyramid. I can no longer remember a 7 digit phone number long enough to go from the phone book to dial it so that when I make a call I look like I am watching the final at Wimbledon - phone book - dial - phone book - dial - phone book - dial.  No wonder I am so annoyed with the person who answers the phone when I misdial - its a lot of work to redial!!! (Another sign of aging is referring to the number pad as a dial)

But, the worst insult of all is the failing eyesight.  A lot of it is working with computer so much.  I am squinting at it 7.5 hours a workday and when not at work I surf and blog way more than is healthy for me. But, my optometrist, a man who is annoying beyond measure - please see previous blog regarding getting new lenses in my glasses in downtown Regina - kindly pointed out that the ability to focus diminishes with aging.  Focus you buddy, I am not aging.

Alas, circumstance forces me to recognize the sorry truth.  The big element on my ceramic cooktop stove burned out.  I am big on solving my problems over the Internet so I googled "ceramic cooktop burner burned out" and literally hundreds of thousands of websites popped up to help me.  And each and every one of them required a Model Number or a Serial Number before they could help me.  I knew I was in trouble, but forged ahead anyway.  "Need help finding your model number" the red link asked.  I clicked on it to find a picture of a stove with a number of places where the model number may be located.  Was mine located inside the oven door, behind the stove near the top, or on the side of the stove?  No, sadly not.  Mine was located on the "lower left leg behind the utility drawer". 

With my knee replacement, crouching down is a strict no-no.  Kneeling on it is pretty painful.  Getting down onto the floor can be negotiated, but getting back up is so close to impossible I avoid getting down.  I overcame this, though, only to find once I was down there, the Model number blurred and swam before me.  I took my glasses off.  No help.  Was that a C or a G, that could be a B or maybe an 8? Could there really be that many numbers and letters in one Model?  I needed a magnifying glass.  I got up, I won't go into the details but it was far from pretty.  I hunted and searched and cursed and found the magnifying glass at last.  Now, I was so traumatized by getting up the first time, there was no way I could get down on the floor again.  So I bent over and put the glass to the Model number.  Yes, yes it did help.  However, now I had to bend my head at a 90 degree angle.  This made my eyes blur.  But, that was a B not an 8.  But, now I am getting kind of sick and dizzy from staring through this magnifying glass so long.  WTF, I would simply call an appliance repairman. 

So, I called an excellent repairman, highly recommended, who returned my call quickly.  He would be happy to fix it.  I just needed to give him the Model number.

/bye

A dress for Princess Kaida

Our little Kaida turned three in May, but she is 3 going on 13, or maybe even 33.  She comes from a family of very casual, sport sock, sweat pants, t-shirt people - on both sides.  Now we all have our moments of looking divine, but with Kaida, it is her mission in life.  She is a DIVA.  And, she needed a BEEEOUUTIFUL dress for Christmas.

Kaida's interpretation of beeouutiful is generally tempered by her Mother and Dad's common sense, but she only lets them go so far until she is stepping it up a notch in the glam department.  And there are some battles that are more worth fighting than others.  So, it was with this attitude that Holly, Kaida and I went in search of THE dress for Christmas.

Holly's first stop, without Kaida and I, was a complete bust.  Nothing at WalMart. Off to Zeller's then. To Kaida's credit her first choice was a really sweet little red velveteen dress, with sleeves and a collar.  None in her size.  She begged and pleaded and bargained with her Mom, but Holly had no choice but to drag Kaida away from that little dress because it was too small.

Next stop, the Cornwall centre.  The Children's Place.  The heat cranked to tropical, the aisles crammed with teetering piles of clothes and packed to the rafters with adults and kids all on the same mission as we were.  To find nice duds for Christmas.  We found a few prospects and a dressing room. But, alas, size was but one of the issues.  Too big, too small, not enough bling, had long sleeves, wasn't a dress, made out of material that didn't meet Kaida's standards, and on and on.  Remember, she's THREE.  However, if she didn't like it in the store, her mother was going to hate it more as it hung unworn in the closet.  She did find pink leggings with glitter in them, but Holly refused to buy them without getting the dress first.

Okay, so now we are tired and weak.  Across the mall from the Children's Place is BABY GAP.  We ventured over there.  There was enough tulle and sequins and glitter and feathers and spandex on hangers to rival the wardrobe of a Las Vegas Showgirl.  And the rest of the Lineup too.  Kaida was in heaven and raced to the racks of clothes to embrace every bit of sleaziness loveliness.  She picked a spaghetti strapped number, with a narrow satin bodice and rows and rows of tulle ruffles.  I found a satin dress with sleeves of the same style and colour, but no, it had sleeves.  Holly found one that had just a collar, still satin, but not the right colour.  Kaida LOVED this dress.  We begged and pleaded and bargained with her, but she was having none of it.  I promised to buy her a necklace if she bought the dress with cap sleeves and a collar.  Her mother pointed out that she would be cold with bare shoulders.  Kaida was unmoved by these and any number of other ploys we tried.  She LOVED this dress.  Her mother reluctantly dragged herself to the counter to pay for the dress.  Kaida insisted that she actually SEE the dress in the bag in her mother's hands as we left the store - obviously some kind of trust issues there.  Holly looked a bit pale and shaky and mumbled something about how she didn't like what went down here.  We went over to Michelle's where she dropped Kaida and I off and went shopping by herself. 

Personally, I suspect she went to a support group for parents of Divas.  Or a bar.

/bye

Owen and Declan updates

Michelle brought the boys down on Sat. for a sleepover.  I had plenty of Declan time - not nearly enough - but still it was a good visit.










Owen likes to hold him, for about 5 seconds.  He is really good around the little guy - very careful and gentle and patient.  Just wait until Declan starts getting into his stuff???

Check it out, HE'S SMILING.  He smiles mostly at Grampa, I think it is because they share a hairline.

He is trying to tell a story in this one - he will talk your ear off if you let him.













Such a little sweetheart.  Especially when it is his mom that has to get up at 11:30, and 3:00 and 5:00 and....

Hope you have a good sleep tonight little man.

/bye

Grammar is not a relative!

The correct usage of the English language does not seem to occupy much of the average high school student's time.  There are people with multiple degrees from accredited Universities that do not have a sniff about grammar, and don't give a Tinker's damn that they don't.  With the computer/cell phone age almost everyone is familiar with LOL and BTW and OMG and maybe even LDMDA (Lori Dawn Marie Deschene Allard - inside joke - don't even try).  So, I have decided to use my blog for good, not evil, and make a couple of points in favour of proper usage of the English Language.

Recently a document hit my desk, from a higher up in Regina (pick any person in Regina, they are higher up than me), which had this rather cryptic note on a post-it stuck on the front page.  "File in Fort QuAppelle".  File in Fort QuAppelle - what???  Where???  Why??? Into which of the roughly 40 file cabinets representing 10 different disciplines of health care and about 2 levels of administration would this document go?  And these are just loose pieces of paper clipped together, shouldn't they at least be given the dignity of a freakin' file folder???!!.  And then, slowly, one synapse after another, the brain cells began to ignite with realization.  File, in this case was not a VERB, but rather, it was a NOUN.  What this rather terse little note meant was that There is a file in Fort QuAppelle in which this document belongs.  Now I still had to question about 15 people before I located said file, and added the documents to it, but once I understood what the note meant, I was much further along in completing the task assigned.  Anyone who reads this blog knows that I am not succinct and no fan of brevity so there was no way this higher up could win with me, but really, just a little more information and I would have grasped the meaning so much sooner.  You don't just toss out a noun without a definite article or two to go with it!  A complete sentence would have been much better.

I think that there are a few people old enough to remember the days when TEXT was a noun.  It could be an adjective, as in Text book, for example, but for the most part, text was a noun pure and simple.  Now, of course, it is rarely used as a noun.  I will text you.  I am texting. In fact, I can think of no other time when the word text is used as a noun except when it refers to the result of the action of texting, as in did you get my text?   So this has become the widely accepted use of the word, and I am not starting a campaign to complain about it or anything like that.  But I do have a question, to which I would love an answer.  If one does this action in the past has one texted someone?  As LDMDA would say, "this can go on the pile of things that make you go hmmmm????"

/bye

The Grey Cup...

is why I love Curling!  How upsetting, how disappointing, how obscenity awful.   I would suspect those who know Football better would venture to say that the team was, shall we say, somewhat lackluster in the second half.  It was Calvillo's game today.  Really wish Fantuz hadn't been offside.  That was a momentum buster if ever there was one.  Okay, I am over it.  Football is behind us and Curling is not far off.  This year, I hope, will be Pat Simmons year.  He is really good, just needs "momentum". 

This weekend was a Ski Pre Course for Murray in Calgary, at Olympic Park.  I went with him, as his attendant.  Now, I do not want anyone to think I volunteered for this. Nope, no way.  This was my quiet weekend all by myself.  I even made Holly and Cory find a different babysitter for Friday.  I signed up for a Saturday water colour class with all of my card making friends, right here in town.  It was going to be wonderful.  Three whole days of the remote for the big screen in my absolute control. But, as luck would have it, the other ski person who was signed up to go couldn't make it at the last minute and I was pressed into service. 

I washed his clothes, arranged for the reduced attendant fare, packed clothes, found goggles and hat and boot bag and ski bag.  Ripped to Regina to have his skis tuned up.  Packed boots and skis in appropriate bags.  Arranged for a much needed oil change on the van.  Found the plug in for the block heater on said van, and an extension cord.   Printed out the e-tickets and presented them to the airline, with appropriate picture id for both of us, at the appointed hour.  Buckled him into his seat, gave him  my i-pod headset so he could watch TV.  And I think you are seeing a trend and I need not go on.  Do I want reward/recognition for any of this? (Damn right)  Do I want to be declared a hero with a hero's welcome with a brass band and streamers and confetti? (A small band would be nice)  Not really.  I just want to shop at the Market Mall in Calgary.  But...I was too damn chicken to drive!! I hate myself.  We had the go ahead from SaskSki to rent a car on their dime, but I was too nervous to drive!! I drive all the time.  I drive everywhere.  I drive and drive and drive.  But...didn't do it in Calgary.  It was raining when we arrived, and getting icy.  It was rush hour when we got there.  The guy driving the Shuttle Bus was a cursing wreck by the time we got to the Hotel.  I, sob, caved!!

So I sat at COP, listening to a book on my i-pod and crocheting.  Actually, it really wasn't that bad.  The group of CADS instructors are really very nice, friendly, fun people to hang out with.  And I know that come tomorrow morning at breakfast, I will miss Roezell (the best waitress EVER).

The truly bitter end to the weekend is this. When we went out for Supper at Nottingham's Pub on Saturday night, one of the people from the BC CADS group gave us a ride.  His wife had spent the day shopping.  She was really sorry we hadn't connected sooner, because she would have loved to have taken me along. 

Oh and, I am as big a sport about the States and their stupid Thanksgiving in November as anyone, but really TWO weeks without Desperate Housewives???!! 

/bye

Waxing Philosophical

Today is my last painting class and I have some homework to do.  We are doing a project involving shading.  Shading is very important, it is critical, it is the pivotal point of a painting.  And I suck at it.  I am working away at my painting, hating it more and more. The thought of ripping up and starting over becoming more and more appealing.  I decided to take a break, have a coffee, play a game of spider solitaire and let the mess dry a bit.  When I went back to look it over, I was amazed at how much it had improved since I left it 15 minutes ago.  Also, standing back from it, it looks a lot better than when I am close up and actually smearing paint on it.  The thought occurs to me that this is a lot of what life is all about.  The distance of time smooths out so many rough brushstrokes.  In the heat of the moment many things I have wanted to "rip up and start over".  Patience and persistence have generally made things work out. (Although this is also a lot like being too stupid to know when to quit!). 

Anyway, that is my great insight into life for today.  I will now patiently and persistently apply yet another coat to the areas that need to be shaded darker.  It is ironic that the colour I am using is named Payne's Grey.

/bye

Canadian customs

I am so glad that I live in this country, and in this part of the country.  There is no war, no hurricanes, no earthquakes.  And even on a day like today, when it is stormy and windy and cold, I can look out my window and see the town crew picking up my garbage.  In many countries people live IN the garbage we toss away - as it is the good stuff for them.  Canada is great.

One custom that is prevalent at this time of year, but I doubt is limited to Canadians only, is when driving down a road and the person in the passenger seat starts yelling "deer, Deer, DEER!!!" and the driver immediately stamps on the brake and cranks the steering wheel toward the opposite ditch cursing violently.  If you hit the deer, misery!  If you miss, then the rest of the trip is spent recounting various deer experiences no matter if the trip is one km or 1000. 

Murray has had a few deer experiences.  He has claimed that he doesn't hit them, they run into him.  Our most recent encounter has me believing him.  It was that twilight time of night, when it is too dark to see far, but too light for the headlights to be very bright.  The above mentioned custom occurred, and Murray did crank the wheel AWAY from the deer.  But the deer kept turning INTO the van.  The more he tried to turn away, the more the stupid deer turned toward us.  Eventually the van came to a halt and the deer sped away, we were lucky this time.  Which is good.  Our 2002 van has over 185,000 km on it, it has a few dents and scrapes, paint peels and rust is emerging in several places, the tires are bald, the shocks need replacing, and there is a rattle in the back which is likely a broken strut.  If we so much as break a headlight SGI will write it off.  They'd probably charge us to tow it away.  But it is worth a million dollars to us.  And, we still have it, relatively intact.  It gets me where I am going which all that I look for in transportation.

/bye

I'm baaack.

Due to the overwhelming support of my followers – all three of you – I am back again. Actually, I was never going to quit – you should all be so lucky – I just get kind of busy some days.

On Sunday we went to the Ituna Fall Supper with our friends, Bonnie and Wade. There is something very life affirming about the Ituna Fall Supper. I come away feeling that the world is a good place, and the people in it are very nice indeed. One of the things I like about them is that they use the word “not” as an expression of the positive. “Its a nice day, not?” Unlike the rest of the world which uses “NOT” to emphasize the negative. “I love wind and rain. NOT!” The people beyond the perogie belt are sensible, hardworking folk and they do know how to put on a spread.

It is quite an experience to go to the Ituna Fall Supper, especially the Greek Orthodox Fall Supper (The RC Fall Supper is usually the previous week – quite event also as I understand). The supper starts at 4:30, and we arrived around 5:10. We were just about the last ones in the hall. As we walked in, the lady at the front desk makes no bones about staring at us and wondering who the heck we are, as we pay our cash and get our dinner tickets.

Once past the desk, a man wraps his arm around my shoulder and steers me firmly into the centre of the hall, and points out that Mr. So and So-ski will seat us. Mr. So and So-ski races to my side and guides me to the end of the hall, my friends following behind like ducklings, and points to 4 chairs “You sit by that lady in the red sweater there” he instructs and races off. We stake out our chairs and spots at the table with jackets and ball caps and head back to the food line.

Before we can get too far we are stopped by two little guys about 10 years old. Do we want to buy Alter Server raffle tickets? Do we have a choice, when said alter servers are standing right there with their great big eyes? “I only have a loonie” I say. “Good, that’s just what they cost” the tall one says as the shorter one swipes the coin out of my hand and hands me a piece of paper to write my name on. You can win some great prizes at the Alter Server raffle. Like huge ceramic Cats, and salad spinners. We make our way to the buffet.

Long tables buckle under the weight of massive amounts of food. There are salads of every kind, Greek, Caesar, tossed, rice, macaroni, potato – and not a single jello was sacrificed to make any of them. Pickles dishes litter every spare spot with all variety of HOME MADE pickles. There are two kinds of cabbage rolls, fresh buns, roast beef, mashed potatoes and real gravy, carrots – the huge kind that come right from somebody's garden at the end of the season – and perogies with sour cream and onions swimming in butter to put over them. And none of this is “lite” or “low fat”. I can fairly hear my arteries thudding shut as we troop back to our table.

We have done a lot of traveling with Bonnie and Wade and the four of us know when it is time to visit and when it is time to shut up and eat. We tie into our platters of food.

I am sitting beside the lady in the red sweater and as she watches us closely, she leans over and asks “What happened to your husband's hand?” She can see his hook, and the sparks that fly as he digs into his food and forks it into his mouth. Between bites of Greek Salad I mumble “lost 'em in a farm accident”. “Oh jeesh” she says “there is so much of that. I think there was some guy from Lebret or somewhere that lost both of his”. “hmm, yeah this is him” I respond absently as I focus on getting gravy on all sides of my fork full of mashed potatoes. “This is HIM? Jeesh. Well that is just cruel. At least if he had one arm, you know...” Okay, so she wants a conversation I know it, but I have a mouth full of perogie that is soaked in thick sour cream and covered in butter and onions and I am in a near orgasmic state and all I can do is just nod my head. Please red sweater, just talk with your friends for a little while, until I am done eating.

 Bonnie is nothing if not intuitive and she says “oh yeah, Murray is the one and only. He does so well” and I use that opportunity to take another bite and drift into a epicurean euphoria. “That was a long time ago” red sweater says. But she just isn't saying so. She is asking. Please dear lady, there is a cabbage roll waiting for my undivided attention... but I croak out “1975” with my mouth full. “Oh my God, that is 35 years ago” she blurts out loudly. Uh huh, that’s what I figure anyway. “Oh that is a long time ago. I KNOW it” We are kind of aware also. “I was young then, and now I am OLD”. So, now I have to swallow and laugh. Now that she has my attention, she turns away to talk to her friends. She is done with me. I finish my meal in blissful silence. Shoot. Now I am too full to eat all of my wonderful fresh HOMEMADE bun. Damn.

/bye

Things can only get better, right?

This week has been a bad one.  Got to work on Monday, and my computer was still down.  Down since Tuesday the week before.  I do 7.5 hours of work on that computer every day I am there and Lori does the same.  What the obscenity, I said, not maintaining my cool at all.  I called IT, who are, for the most part, people younger than my cookie sheet.  I ripped off heads and spit down the holes and got some action.  Not immediate action - took them till 10:00 to get out from Regina with a new monitor and hook it up. But pretty close to immediate action.  And another happy spin off is that they are quite scared of me now.  The bad thing is that the whole office is now getting me to call IT as I get pretty close to immediate action.

The week wound up with two generations of dysfunction and MEN resulting in me missing my watercolor class.  I will not go into details, lets just say that is was the perfect cap to a perfect week!!

Okay, so you know how I hate Saturdays.  Today is Saturday.  I think I will blog a little later - when I am in a better mood.  This may be the last blog entry I ever write!  Hope you enjoyed it.

/bye

At last, the sun shines again

The sun has shone upon us again, and with it comes melting snow and lifting spirits.  We have survived the "weather bomb" of 2010, and frankly, it wasn't so bad for me.  I just had to stay home and be comfy.  Murray took his parents, both aged 85, to Regina to a doctors appointment during the peak of the "bomb".  He was able to sneak through, with the roads being closed right after him.  Coming home, Hwy 1 was closed at Peavy Mart, and the "north way" was closed at Pilot Butte.  He came home through Zehner on the back roads.  I am not sure how his parents felt about it all, but at least they got home safely.

Michelle got storm stayed at her mothers place in Balcarres.  She brought Declan by on Thursday, and went to do some errands/shopping in town.  I kept the little man, who screamed mightily the entire time except for a couple of 2 minute breaks when he cried himself to sleep.  When he starts to wake up, he is just too cute.  His little face gets all crooked, one eye and then the other opens, he has a few huge yawns, looks around, and decides to cry in protest for another 10 minutes.  He is only two weeks old, but already he reminds me so much of Murray and Brad.  Serves you right, Bradley. Anyway, hopefully he starts to get a little more accustomed to the universe and settles down a bit for his poor tired mother soon.

Murray was forced to take a couple of days off, but happily he is able to be back at doing stuff today.   He has friends and customers lined up like dominoes to give him a hand at each stop, one forgotten promise and the whole thing collapses down. 

I am working at the United Church Fall Supper tonight, instead of going to the Abernethy Fall supper with Bonnie and Wade, or attending the jewellry making class with Dianne.  I am confident that the good Lord knows my sacrifice and I will be rewarded accordingly.  

/bye

Mrs. Griswold has the sniffles.

On October 17, last Sunday, we went in to see the new baby and his family, and Holly and Cory and the girls were there too.  Michelle had optimistically purchased tickets for the Wiggles back in the summer, and now realized that she couldn't go - she couldn't leave the baby or sit that long.  So, with the extra ticket, Brad was elected to take Kaida and Owen to the Wiggles.

 We decided we would meet at Brad's at 5:00 and order supper in.  Murray took off in the tractor at 12:30 to do a couple of little jobs and would be back in 2 hours.  If you add 2 hours to 12:30 in Murray time, what time do you get?  Twenty to freaking five and he only stopped then because I went apoplectic on his butt!! Got him home, got him changed, got him in the car, got on the road and took several deep calming breaths. 

I took my blanket, and my camera, thinking I would take pics of Declan in his blanket, Owen holding Declan in his blanket, Kenzie and Kaida and Declan in his blanket...you get the drift.  Anyway,  I was soon dissuaded from the idea as I opened the door and three kids were pinging off the walls like deranged pinballs.

 Michelle's jaw was clenched in a tight little smile and her knuckles white, Holly was snorting fire.  I looked to Cory, who has been around the Griswold's long enough that he has built up some tolerance to the nonsense and  gave him the "whats up?"  look.  He smiled slightly and said "Brad's not here".  Apparently after the Wiggles Brad dropped the kids off and then headed out for some "alone time".   Holly was hunting him down on the cell phone when we got there, furiously texting insults like "MURRAY" and eventually Brad showed his sorry face back at the house.  He had had some work to do.  We ordered the food and while we waited we had some time to play with the kids, hold the baby and have a drink.  Things calmed down and we were able to enjoy a nice meal together. 


I was tired at work on Monday, but thought little of it.  When I got home I went straight to bed, woke up at 3:00 am with a sore throat and realized that I was sick.  I stayed home Tuesday and recovered pretty well so that I could go to work Weds.  Which was good as we had tickets to Johnny Reid.  However, I wasn't really recovered, work sucked, Johnny Reid is full of Blarney and talked more than he sang.  I was really sick.  Really Sick.  And I hated the opening act too.  (The Stellas).  Murray's day did not go nearly as well.  His super jock hockey player employee was startled by the sight of a shovel and galloped off the job site like a frightened doe.  Go Fort Knox.

Thursday I was really laid low, but had nothing to do but lay around and get better.  Which I did.  I am really very good at lying around and getting better given the chance.  As he hasn't found another employee I spent Friday morning helping Murray, and Friday afternoon recovering. 

Today is Saturday.  It sort of summarizes my week when I say that the best thing that has happened to me so far is my head congestion has "loosened". 

/bye

His name is Declan!!! The blanket is finished!!





Mom and baby are finally home and the name is Declan Andrew.  Like everything else around this wee guys arrival, it was a bit of a struggle for mom to settle on a name.  It was clinched when Owen got wind of it and started to call him Declan in the hospital.  I think it is a wonderful name for a wonderful baby.

And, TA DA, here is the aforementioned, and mentioned, and discussed some more, blanket.  Each stitch had wee Declan in mind, although he wasn't even around yet.  All the positive vibes I could muster are put in the blankets I create for little ones - and doubly so for my little grandson.  A little creepy maybe, but with much love and affection. 

Tonight we are off to the Edenwold Fowl Supper, because we are a fun couple and know how to have a blowout good time! 

/bye

He's here! He's here!

Happy Family

 My little man arrived Monday night around 7:30.  He weighed in at 8lb 4oz, so quite a big baby.  Michelle had a difficult delivery, and she will need some time to rest and recover, but otherwise everyone is healthy, happy and doing just fine.  These pictures are from Monday night, when he was just 2 hours old.

Gramma and her new grandson!!

Auntie Holly's turn

So sweet!!

I hope they are thinking about names.

I will definately keep you posted, you can be sure of that.  This will likely be a topic of discussion for some time to come - so be warned.  Right now I have to go finish that blanket!

/bye

No blanket - no baby.

Well I went off half cocked last night and decided to add edging to the baby blanket, which means I did not finish it.  And there is still no baby.  Perhaps there is a connection here? 

I am planning a Thanksgiving meal with Bev, Ashley and George, Brad, Michelle, Owen and maybe Holly and Cory will stop in after Momma Mia.  This ought to bring on a baby don't you think?  After she gets driven down our lovely, winding, tree lined pot holes the little one will certainly be shook up some.  Let it be known, that I am doing MY best (except for the blanket thingie) to help out an overdue Mom.

This edging is off the internet free pattern site, is pretty simple but is 7 rows to complete.  The blanket isn't huge but when you are doing all four sides it does take time.  Plus, my darling husband doesn't see the value in crochet.  He thinks it is something I should do once I have completed all of his little tasks, and have made sure he gets his bedtime snack and tucked in.  Between the hours of  midnight and 6:00 am for instance.  Anyway, I did get around once and it wasn't really tedious, so if I get a chance I will give it a go again this afternoon. 

I am going to bag up the lawn once more today - probably the last time this year. We don't have a lot of trees so there isn't a lot of leaves but just enough to be a nuisance.  I love mowing the grass.  You can see the entire task before you, where you have been, how much you need to do to finish.  The lawn mower is not conducive to people yelling "come give me a hand".  Can't answer the phone on the lawn mower.  Can't do dishes, vacuum, laundry or any of the other crap that goes with housework.  Can't buy groceries on the lawn mower.  I love the lawn mower.  I am actually entering a bit of a stage of grief now that I realize that this will likely be the last time this year I can be on the lawn mower. 

/bye

Craft-a-holic

I have added a blog to my list called the Enthusiastic Crochetaholic.  The aholic part really caught my eye in the first place, because that is how I feel about my crafts.  My paper crafting is devoted to an entire room and a half in my home.  My knitting/crocheting takes up residence beside my chair in the living room or in the bedroom where I watch good/fun TV while Murray alternates between gore and educational programming.  Did you see Gray's Anatomy last night - poor Little Grey - she can't catch a break can she.  Now how did I get on this topic???? Flight of thoughts is one of the things Mental Health Therapists watch for in their intake appointments - I know this from work.  Work is going fine.  I like to crochet with fine yarn.  Oh yeah, the enthusiastic crochetaholic also has recently had a knee replacement - so I feel that she is a soul sister of some sort.

I will miss my watercolor class today to attend Larry Barkway's funeral.  That family has had such a bad summer - it makes me ashamed to think of how lucky I am and yet I find things to complain about.  Although they are not children, his boys are still very young to be going through this. 

Holly and Bev are going with me, and in typical Griswald fashion, I have mucked up the travel arrangements.  Fortunately a phone call last night got it straightened out.  I think.  I won't really be sure until the car is on the road with the appropriate number of passengers. 

There is still no baby yet!!  Holly says if I finish that blanket perhaps the baby would come.  I have two more rows to go.  I will finish tonight, I swear.  I will then post a pic to my Enthusiastic Crochetaholic.  I am getting so good at this blogging.

/bye

Bookwork - bah!!

I have nothing fun planned today.  Kaida is in pre-k, Kenzie needs to recoup today, and there is no one stepping up to make my Thursdays educational or recreational to the point of requiring oxygen.  So, I have no option but to dig into this pile of paperwork which has collected on my desk.  Murray has lost a cheque he got from a customer, and he is blaming my desk.  I am offended and find it hurtful, and to be honest he might be right which is even worse.  Anyway, my special gift is to find something to fill in the time so that I don't have to actually get busy and do it, right away.  So...I will blog, followed by a walk maybe, maybe I will do a load of laundry (just to mix it up a bit), I could phone somebody...busy busy busy. 

My road trip with Kaida yesterday didn't turn out to be a stellar success.  I took her up to Barry and Kim's where Murray is working, however Murray had just left for Regina.  No Grampa.  The dog I knew she would love didn't go up to the job site yesterday.  The other dog I though she would like leaped at her and licked her face.  When you are only tall enough to be face to face with a crazy banshee of a dog licking and leaping, well, you just don't respond the same as when the dog is only up to your knee.  I carried a frightened and peeved little girl back to her car seat and moved on.  Well, we could go to the pet store instead.  Yaaaaay.  The pet store is closed on Wed.  We ended up coming back to my house, eating Popsicles in disgust and watching tree house.  Eventually got some quality time on the trampoline - WITHOUT KENZIE AND GRAMPA - to practise our high jumping and bum drops.  For lunch she asked for noodles (those compressed styrofoam things with the flavor packs - ichee ban??) and for variety would I also make spaghetti.  Of course I would.  She was tired after lunch so I found a cozy blanket and we went for a drive.  About 5 miles into the drive she remembered she needed a stuffed rabbit from my house, and was madder than blazes when I refused to turn back and get it.  She screamed and cried, but I persevered and she did fall asleep.  However, she woke up when I tried to get her out of the car seat and into her bed in her house.  Failing in my objective once again, I left in disgust, although Holly was completely sympathetic as she, too, has been there.

Holly is also my exercise police.  She forced me to go into aquacize after all.  (There was some mix up in which days were cancelled as the instructor is going to China, and I was to baby sit, and it is all very complicated...)  I am so glad, as it was wonderful.  I can kick a** in the pool, move much better than I do in my easy does it class.  I still manage to pant and gasp and wheeze my way through it all which, of course means, this must be good for me.

/bye

Indian Summer

I suppose that is politically incorrect and should be "First Nations" summer or something.  Anyway, I am referring to this wonderful weather we are enjoying.  Our miserable summer has made me truly appreciate the warmth, the dry, the glorious sunshine and beautiful colours of this season.  And knowing that my farmer friends will have something in the bins this fall is also good. 

I have reached the final stage of the baby blanket I am working on for Michelle and Brad's baby - if it ever gets here!! Two days overdue as of this morning.  I will likely finish tonight, if all goes as planned. (The blanket - I have nothing to do with the arrival of the actual baby).

The Easy Does It class has worked its magic on me again this week, and I can hardly move a muscle without being reminded that I attended.  Pat Lee is a wonderful trainer - and I am enjoying sweating like a hog while I plug away like a mule at her circuit stations.  However, my body knows that I am not 20 years younger and punishes me mercilessly for the next couple of days.  This has to be good for me.

I have been working on school lists this week again - speaking of circuit stations.  There are several families that have a Wynyard address, two kids in Raymore, two kids in Punnichy and one living with auntie in Fort QuAppelle.  They must attend school like it was a circuit station - a month here, move on, a month there, move on, back to the first one for a month...with a few weeks off in between to rest up for the next sprint.  Sad really, and aren't there laws???

Well, just had a call from Holly and Kaida and I are going on a little road trip to see Grampa at a job site. Better get on my horse and ride - this kid is not known for her patience.

/bye

Self Improvement

It would seem that without a plan or even a conscious thought I have embarked upon a regimen of self-improvement/self awareness.  It started out simply enough - I usually aquacize once the classes begin again in the fall, so I signed up.  Then, I had signed up months ago to attend a weekend Rubber Stamp Event (RSE).  What a wonderful concept - an entire 16 hours creating cards with a group of like minded individuals.  How could I say no?? 

In the meantime, an exercise class called "Easy Does It" came up.  It sounded fine - a stretching/strengthening/easing into exercise program for people who are just starting out or starting back into an exercise routine.  Yes, Easy Does It sounded just like what I needed.  It turns out that it is indeed exactly what I need, but tragically, it is seriously misnamed.  I realized that after the first "warm up" exercises when, gasping for air, I discovered that even my earlobes were sweaty.  I would have verbalized that to the instructor, but my vocal chords could not compete with the thunderous pounding of my heart.  And then, I signed up for water coloring classes.  I was more than ready for them, after watching two seasons of Painting Wild Places on PBS each Thursday. 

I had my first watercolor class today, having missed the first one for the RSE, and to my utter delight, I am not really awful!  I am just almost pretty good.  I was behind, and I caught up.  Of course we were just making brushstrokes, curved, arched, straight, fluid....but I made pretty good curved arched etc brushstrokes and was just so pleased not to need oxygen once I was done.  Exploring my artistic side is something that I have left undone for too many years, so finally getting around to it has to be good for me.  Good for my Mental Health.  And not a single sweaty earlobe the entire afternoon.  Hmm, food for thought, can something that enjoyable REALLY be good for me?? 

/bye

How bad can it get?

I should not be sitting here writing on my blog.  My housekeeper is coming today and my house is a mess.  I really need to break a trail for her, just so she can slog her way to the cleaning supplies and vacuum cleaner.  She is a very kind, patient, non-judgemental person, which makes it even worse.  If she would openly say "Obscenity, what a mess" then I would not feel guilty about it being so as I could reply "that is what I obscenity pay you for".  But no, she surveys the scene and asks "would you like me to wash those windows today too?" - what windows - or yeah, I guess those are windows when they are clean!  Anyway - I have procrastinated - which is my favorite thing to do when it comes to housework - but I really need to see if there is some way to remove the recycling stacked up at the door so she can get in the house when she gets here.  You see, for all that she is kind, patient, non-judgemental, she is doesn't have the dexterity or strength that my family has developed over the years, and just can't dodge around the mess and push it to the side to get around.  You may ask, you have a housekeeper come every other week, so how bad can it get?  Really Bad.  I'd better get at it. 

/bye

When the stars align...

Last night Holly pointed out to me that a greater power is seeing to it that my stars are in perfect alignment for me this weekend.

I'll start at the beginning.  I have strong "hermit" tendencies.  I enjoy social discourse TO A POINT, but once I reach my low threshold of tolerance, people bug me.  A lot.  I suspect that this is a genetic predisposition.  In any event, I love to be out and about and doing things - but when I am done return me to the sanctity and solitude of my home, preferably alone.

This is a big week for one with these characteristics.  On Monday I had Card Making group.  This is always a WONDERFUL experience and truly the most enjoyable evening.  I loved it.  Tuesday was my exercise class.  It's only 45 minutes and I love it.  Wednesday, I have aquacize.  It is in Regina, and she works us hard, and I have to drive home afterwards, but I really need to do this - so I go.  Thursday I have to get ready to go away for....ta da.... my Stamping Retreat in Maple Creek.  I leave Friday and return Sunday.  I am going with a friend and her cousin and her neighbour.  Along with I don't know how many other people we will be secluded in Maple Creek's church hall stamping our little hearts out from 6:00 PM Friday until 9:00 PM Saturday. 

Okay, so did you keep up with that?  Something almost EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK.  The chances of me being an emotionally drained homicidal wreck are
H U G E.  So where are these stars aligning? My friend and her neighbour are going on to Edmonton after the retreat and I will have to drive home alone.  Holly thinks that a 5 hours drive by myself will be just what I need.  She is so right.

/bye

Trials and Tribulations

Yesterday, I went to Regina to 1)pick up some items for my art class 2)buy a birthday present 3)get my glasses fixed.  Sounds simple, right?  W R O N G!! 

I left my house at 9:00, needed to get gas before I left town.  The cardlock was down.  Went to the Scenic to pay for my gas (with some of my precious and limited cash designated for Regina).  Person in front of me at the cash register was an idiot and couldn't pick out a chocolate bar and a Leader Post without holding up the line for 5 minutes.  (Yes both have gone up in price, yes that is a shame).

Hwy 10 out of town is blocked off.  Need to take the detour around.  Person in farm truck in front of me is an idiot and is going less that 20km/hr because he does not have his foot on the gas and has plenty of time.  I pass on the straight stretch, as do the 30 people behind me.  I stop and look both ways, which is stupid as Hwy 10 is blocked off and nobody can go past me. 30 people behind me blow horns and give obscene gestures.  I am off, finally, at 9:40 to get to my 10:30 appointment in downtown Regina.

I hit Broad and Vic at 10:30 exactly - so now if I can just find some place to park.  I twist and turn though a maze of 2 way streets that are blocked off for construction, and 1 way streets that are now 2-way and past city parking lots that you have to enter from the other side of the block, keeping to my stern rule of right turns only!  (It often takes hours, but I can get to anywhere I want to in the city without having to make a left turn.)  Anyway, reduced to obscenities and tears I finally find a parking lot that has an opening on the street that I am on, and I really don't know where I am anymore but park there anyway.  I pay $3.00 for 1 and a half hours of parking.  It is 10:50.  I boot it through puddles and back alleys to Avord Towers and head for the 17th floor in the SLOWEST ELEVATOR ON EARTH.  I expect to be seriously chastised for being 25 minutes late for my half hour appointment, and am prepared to be humble and apologetic.  And to find an optomitrist on the East end of the city.

However, all is hustle and bustle in the office, smiles and welcomes, no mention of seriously late for appointment.  I think, wow, that was sure some day.  Glad the worse part is over now.  Fool!!  I hand my glasses over to the young woman who made my appointment and realize things are not going to go as smoothly as hoped when she says "oh oh.  Just a minute.  I have to check on this".  My half hour appointment is now a full day appointment.  She assures me the glasses will be ready by 4:00.    Okay, so I do have my perscription sunglasses so I can still get around and do the rest of my stuff, and just get back here at 4:00.  Its all do-able.  /:)  I return to the van, having used up about 15 of the 90 minutes I paid for.  Obscenity.

I head back out to the east end.  I am hungry and I need to get stuff.  Yes, yes indeed I know it is a foolish waste of time and resources to go all the way back out to the east end instead of trekking around downtown Regina for food and the stuff I need to get.  But, I know that I will be able to find a place to park out there, and that far out weighs any global warming concerns I may have.  I pull into the Costco parking lot and have the same secure safe sense of that of a sailor pulling into home port after sailing through a hurricane.   There is a space.  There is a cart.  There are smiling consumers and Costco employees all around me.  I am home.  I have a hot dog and a drink for $1.99.  All is well.  I do notice some of my Costco family looking at me strangely, and I do wish that they would turn on more lights, when I realize that I am wearing my sunglasses.  Once removed, it is much brighter and people no longer stare, but I have to climb up onto the piles of items to get close enough read the special price tags.  Obscenity. I replace my sunglasses and decide to get my stuff done and out of there.  I find my birthday present.  I find some food items I need.  I head to the till and then, obscenity, I realize that my frozen waffles and shepherds pie and really good priced pork chops will have to sit in the van all afternoon.  Too late now.  I pay and I get out of there.

I head to Michaels.  Michaels the superior.  Michaels the "even though I work here I am far too superior to you and far too busy to help you find squat".  I love the stuff Michaels sells.  It is a Love/Hate relationship.  Today, primarily hate as most of the items on my extensive painting class list seem to be sold out.  Many of the items for the rubber stamping weekend getaway are not available.  I ask one clerk for one item and she shakes her head sadly and says she always buys hers when she is in Alberta.  I smile and think "obscenity you".  I pay for what I have found and just because I am having such a great day I make conversation with the checkout person, and ask if she knows where I might find Art supplies?  She gives me the name of a store on Winnipeg St.  Wow.  That is so helpful.  Thank you.

I go BACK into the downtown area, well almost, just as far as Winnipeg st., and start to look for the store called Colours.  I find it on the corner of Winnipeg and Eighth, but think that it must be closed.  It is a dump.  The faded "parking in back sign" is crooked and faded.  Oh, well, I have 3 hours to kill so I will go around back.  Yeah, there is a parking spot, yeah there is a door, but can this be the building of a business in operation?  It certainly is.  Anything that I would ever need in terms of Art Supplies is found within this falling down, deserted looking, cluttered, very likely in contrevention of every fire law, place.  It is a gloriously confused mess, but a friendly smiling knowledgeable clerk greets you as you walk in the door and guides you through the mess and confusion of items to fulfill your list, offer you a discount because you are taking a class, and never mentions Alberta even one time.  OMG.  OMG again.  I am done within minutes.  I have money left "of my precious and limited cash designated for Regina". 

I have 21/2 hours to kill.  I go to Sears bargain centre.  What a bunch of expensive crap there.  Keep my money, but buy a coffee.  That whole adventure killed 20 minutes.  I pick up a flyer on my way out of the building, and sit in the car sipping coffee and reading a flyer about a bunch of expensive crap.  Another 10 minutes has flown by.  Okay.  I will head back to the optomitrist.  I find the same parking lot.  I pay $3.00 for another hour and a half, as I am about that much early.  I slog my way back to the building, get in the elevator which fairly ZOOMS to the 17th floor.  And arrive at the office only to find that they are still really glad to see me.  And that my glasses are ready.  I return to the van, having used 10 minutes of the 90 that I paid for. 

I decide that 1) I will look into opening a parking lot in Regina and that 2) I will get the van washed.  I have 11/2 hours until my NEXT appointment (aquacize class) at 5:00.  Bet you didn't see that coming did you!

You never realize how stupid you really are until you are forced to speak with the pimply faced punk sitting behind the glass at a gas station/car wash.  "Ahhh, the best car was would be the Ultimate" he snears in a tone that would rival a clerk at Michaels.  "Its $13.95" he replies when asked, and is so clearly done with me and my stupid questions it fairly drips off him.  I just hand him the cash and go get a touchless car wash.  One should not have to feel humilated to get a clean van, in my humble opinion.

This is the first aquacize class of the year and my instructor has become sadistic and mean over the summer as she pushes us plump aging women further and further into muscle spasm and leg cramps.  But, when its over, it feels so good.  This just has to be good for you.  I will be back next week for more.

Now, you think, my day is coming to an end.  But, no.  I still have a library meeting to attend.  I sprint from the pool soaking wet at 5:55 and proceed to race to my meeting, which starts in Fort QuAppelle at 7:00.  I think I can make it.  I am wrong.  I am 10 minutes late for the meeting and have to POUND on the door to get someone to let me in.  I try to slink in quietly but various other board members say "oh its Janet" and "hi Janet" in loud whispers so everyone notices me.  They likely would have anyway, as my hair is soaking wet and I smell of chlorine. 

The meeting is long, as it is the first one since spring.  It finally winds to an end - and I have volunteered for only one job this time.  I head home for peace and quiet and supper at 8:30, almost 12 hours since I left in the morning. 

Has the crappiness of this day ended?  You guessed it, no it has not.  Jackie Evancho did NOT win America's Got Talent.  As one wise man has said "the Americans never get it right".

 /bye

Borrowed Pets

Yesterday was "Take your pet to Church" day.  The service was held outside on the lawn, and it was a glorious day to be outside, on lawn chairs, with your pet.

In typical Griswald fashion, a dog was borrowed for Kenzie.  Holly picked up Java about 10:00 from Jobe.  Somehow, walking the dog to church came up.  Kenzie was all over that bleeting that "he needed some fwesh air".  Kaida, in typical Kaida fashion, could see the dog yawning and thought all should ride to church (not into exercise so much, our Kaida).  Off to church they walked.

I met them with the van at the church, in plenty of time, and got us all set up in our lawn chairs with the girls, their mother and the dog.  There were no other pets there, but a real variety of dogs.  Some were very large, most were pretty small and one was a dog who had been blind all of his life but after some serious surgery, he could see. I don't think he was all that impressed with what there was to see, as he growled at everything that came near him.  But it was really a lovely thing, to be outside worshiping, praying and singing on one of the most beautiful days we have had in a long time.  The dog was well behaved.  The girls were too - and off they went to Sunday school. 

When it came time to bless the dogs, Holly thought, seeing as it wasn't even her dog, she would just sit this part out.  Java was having none of that and trotted off to receive the blessing to which he was entitled.  Holly stumbled along behind. 

All in all it was a wonderful thing to do on a Sunday morning.  Too bad it had to be followed by a crappy Riders loss.  Guess I should have included them in my prayers.

/bye

Weddings.

This is the card I made for Kayli and Jaymie's wedding.  Their colours were black and pink - very elegant.  The wedding was in Lebret, the ceremony by the lake. It was all very nice, followed by good food and then the dance.  We had a wonderful time visiting with family and friends that we hadn't seen for a long while, as well as visiting with people we should see way more often.  All this fun lasted waaaaay past 10:00 (10:30) and then we had to head home  - pretty lame, I know.

We were invited to two weddings this summer, and they were both on the same day.  We chose the one close to home incase Murray "had" to work.  Have I mentioned that he totally sucks at retiring?  He does.

Kenzie started kindergarten yesterday, and it was a huge deal.  Can't wait to hear about it when she comes today.

OMG September!

It is already September 3!  Wow.  Today looks like it could be a nice day, but a nice FALL day.  I really am not that concerned about the weather, but the days pass way faster than I ever remember them doing.  Maybe it is because I am slower than before?  I like fall, but it isn't my favourite time of year.  The colours are pretty, but I like the vibrant green of spring and the white of winter better.  Are those symbols of (re)birth and rest (death?).  What does that say about me?  Is it too early in the day for such introspection?  It certainly is.  But it is never too early for a rant!

I am amazed at the people who worry about the weather.  People who have nothing to do in the weather but get from their house to their car, and then into the office, and then back home again.  How bad can it get?  They fret and worry and carry on about "We didn't get any summer" or "I hate winter" or in the middle of the workday as they sit at their desks procrastinating they will exclaim in utter dismay "It is raining AGAIN".  Well sure it is, but so far your computer is working, so why don't you give that a try?

I refuse to worry about the weather, which is a direct result of loosing sleep over the weather for over 33 years.  When we farmed rain, drought, frost, heat, snow, wind - all of these things could twist me into a knot of worry.  We had several thermometers and were vigilant in checking them, listened to the weather as often as we could (those were the days before the weather channel).  Our children knew to stand away from the TV in reverent silence when the weatherman was on the screen. When we grew strawberries those cool nights of April and May would have me tossing and turning and leaping out of bed to check on the temperature all night long.  I know there was nothing I could do if it did freeze, and a sensible person would have gotten much needed sleep.  But I am just not wired that way. 

Now - I just don't care.  Rain - go ahead.  Drought - no probs.  Freeze - well I will pick off my tomatoes - if I feel like it.  Lots of snow - that is so pretty.  No snow cover - who cares?  Minus 50, plus 30 - its all good.  And there is nothing you can do about it anyway.  I have no vested interest in the weather and I just love it.

 /bye

There's one born every minute

Today is my son in law's birthday and I always struggle with what to get him.  This year, however, I was inspired almost a month in advance, when I went through the exhibits at the Regina Ex.  I found an 'all in one' type tool that, according to the advertising at the booth, would take the place of an ENTIRE toolkit.  It has a screwdriver component, with all the various screwdriver ends, a pliers, a wrench, a tape measure, a hammer, a level, a cherry pitter, nose hair trimmer and earwax excavator all beautifully illuminated with a clever LED display light. The sales guy thought SIL needed one.  As I examined the ads at the booth a little more, I found that this was T H E  T O O L that was on Dragon's Den.  I know most of my family and friends are saying "uh...what?" because we just don't do CBC as a rule, but this is a show where people make a presentation to a panel of rich people who want to invest in clever ideas/inventions.  On a really bad TV night I did manage to catch a rerun of this particular episode.  The inventor was so well received, and highly praised by the panel that they actually invested MORE money in his invention that he was asking for.  Could I just leave it at that?  No...I had to throw some of my money at him as well.  Anyway, how bad can it be with all those screwdriver ends?  Gotta be good for something, right?

Sweet Violet

Violet in Bloom(s)

Yes, that is indeed M Y violet, which has - ta da - BLOSSOMS!!  As a rule, violets enter my home in relatively healthy condition - check the place out for a couple of weeks - and sicken and die a horribly 'violet' death.  Brown leaves.  Dried up stems. Wilt. Rot. Drought. Despair.  But THIS violet is incredible.  I got it from my co-workers in March 2009.  Yes, that is not a typo, March 2009!  Wahoo!!  Check out the blossoms,  there is more than one!  And - it is as vibrant a violet colour as I have ever seen.  Look at those leaves - not a wilty brown one among them.  Well, I have recorded it for posterity - so whatever happens from here on in - I can bask in the knowledge that I have kept a violet alive long enough to bloom and after 17 months it is still healthy and alive.  Sweet sweet success.

A few first words

I am the only person I know who is not really crazy about Saturdays.  I find myself wondering what to do, should I do anything?  There is no focus or structure to the day.  The only end to Saturday is midnight, and I virtually NEVER wait around for midnight.  I mean, on weekdays, working days, the day is over after work.  Now you do whatever you need to do - make supper, load of laundry, knit/crochet in front of the evening TV shows - and then off to bed.  Sunday starts with family breakfast, then Sunday takes us wherever it goes - I don't have to have a plan or make a plan - I just ride along on Sunday - which is over at Supper time as everybody works on Monday so no big plans for a Sunday evening.  But Saturday drags on and on, nothing good on TV, no plans ever as I am married to a workaholic who is never around on Saturday.  Then its supper time, but Saturday is not over yet.  What will we do to fill the time between now and bedtime.  Evening TV sucks.  Who knits on a Saturday evening?  I do.  Cause I am old and I am not crazy about Saturdays.