back yard

the first day of summer

Yesterday we saw the sun.

Today, not so much. Sigh.

We reviewed our summertime schedule last night with the "kids". July is looking a little busy - jammed pack full of fun and activities but busy.


I associate summer with reading novels. I am making a list of some good books to read on our trip to Chaunigan. When I was younger I used to read all summer long. I would do my chores and then trek down to the library and pick out books and then haul them all back and find a cool, shady place to read.

I remember swimming lessons in the morning.

I remember picking cherries in the sweltering heat on a golf course. This was high pressure picking as if you knocked spurs off - these were easily seen on the golf green and you were duly informed.

I remember cycling out to the vineyard early so I could sit in the morning sunshine and write in my journal before starting my weeding.

I remember eating peaches over the sink.

june 16 - another very grey, wet day

OK.
Now that the floodwatch is over you are going to hear me complain LOUDLY and OFTEN about the complete LACK of sunshine.

Luke came home with a hockey bag full of damp clothes... and soap that was not opened. One can only hope he used the toiletries provided at camp. Regardless he is hitting the shower as soon as he wakes up.

This is the big recital weekend.
Hannah had two performances yesterday and she will have two today. Her aunts from Vancouver are driving in to take in the performance at 3pm with me; then I get to stand in line and save seats for the rest of the family for the 6pm performance.

I need to get me to the financial institution to pick up new night deposit bags because they are making a change and if I don't use the new bags they will refuse the deposit. Lovely.

I need to buy some basic necessities - we are out of cheese. Appalling.

oisseau has gone to new home

gone baby gone
love is gone
gone baby bone
love is gone
gone baby gone
love is gone away... gone away...gone away

- the violent femmes

Luke has gone to camp.

Luke left for camp on Monday.
Hannah is dancing every night. The recital is this weekend and we have bought our tickets. The aunts are driving out from the city.
Thomas has taught his last class. His annual is filled with comments "hoping that they have Mr. W" next year; how he made "English the best class ever!"

Now it is exam time.

We are approaching summer holidays.

My holidays are finally on the schedule. I have just over a month left.
We are going to Chaunigan Lake - we stay in the rustic cabins.... I can hardly wait.

the other film, not oceans 13

read this editorial by Warren Kinsella in the National Post

On my way home I was scanning through the radio stations and I heard the DJ review the movies that were opening tonight.

SHE said, if you want to go see a scary movie... go see Hostel. Or you can go see Oceans 13. That was all she said.

I really felt like going to my local cineplex with a video camera and standing outside the theatre and asking people why they chose this movie. What attracts them to such a film? I am horrified that more people are not horrified that this movie is accepted as mainstream entertainment.

We had a good dinner time conversation with our daughter about the film. I held nothing back and let her know what happens. She was astounded. We talked about the fact that being horrified and shocked is almost like a "high" you get used to it and you want more and better fixes... where do we draw the line? In our relativist society who is going to say - dude, you just crossed the line!

disheartened I am.

lunchkit mayhem and the canadian securities course

alas. the silent auction ended tonight. We are the proud owners of the above two lunchkits - much drama ensued and I did not get the Marc Chagall I really wanted... I lost it to a teacher... who raised the bid just a tad bit beyond reasonable since we wanted to walk away with two... so I picked the Picasso.. and then the Thomas meister decided he REALLY liked that one and would I trade for the one he bid on - which I did not like so we changed his bid to something that I liked better... but we only bid $1 more than the last bid because we were not reading the fine print.... so then we had to rush back at the last moment and up our bid by $4 so we would win.

********
career development update for those who care

After some serious discernment .... I have decided that the learning curve has not ended and I am going to take the Canadian Securities course... upon my return from holidays.

There are many more opportunities out there that are less micromanaged that my current position but they all require a mutual funds license....which I always said I would avoid like the plague.

I'll let you know how it goes....