Wha' Happened?

My children are gone again.

They decided to visit some friends in the city. I am glad for them but I am feeling a little out of sorts. I miss them lolly-gagging around. Soon, our lives will be scheduled and the pace will be faster. Organization is the key!

After two beautiful summer days the skies have gone grey - rain may or may not occur.

Work is much more sane. Maybe it is because I have been working on my own coping with stress mechanisms. Maybe it is because I have been sleeping more. Sleep is key. But, I am certain it has been less busy - whatever the reason, I am thankful.

So, as promised we visited Mark's Work Wear World to pick up a bunch of new white T-shirts for Thomas. He likes to keep the old one's around too long, so I have to quickly dispense with the old stretched out ones before he notices.

a boy phoned our house

Everyone is back - safe and sound. Apparently the food was the best part of camp - according to my son! My daughter said is was the community of people.

We are now in the midst unpacking for camp and organizing for school. It seems there are a kazillion things going on this last weekend. People are moving; friends are coming to visit; BBQ's and housewarmings, school supply shopping.

And a boy called our house looking to speak to our daughter. They met at camp. I shall have to find out about just who this young fellow is.... luckily our best friend is a director at camp and can give us the scoop.

anticpation

My children return home from camp tonight.
Mr. W will leave early to avoid traffic and bring them home. It is a sunny day; the summer weather has returned. I am working the late shift.
I am excited to hear all about camp.

silence

Our house is very quiet.

We drove into the city - that took an exceptionally long time. My good husband had to pick me up at work and then drive get back on the Freeway - it took us close to 2 hours. This was very stressful. We like to get to Bard on the Beach early and be close to the front of the queue. We like to have lots of options to choose our seats. We like to eat our Safeway Select Deli Sandwiches calmly; picnic style. We did none of this. We very very late. We were so far back from the front of the line we were closer to the end of the line. We had to stand on the concrete next the extremely full garbage can (the city workers are still on strike) and eat our sandwiches.

The gates opened quickly and we headed for the tent to watch Julius Caesar. We ended up with fairly good seats. I had Mr and Mrs Tall sit in front of me - so I could not see the stage as clearly as I would have liked. But, we were just glad to be sitting together!

The play was good; not great. A little disappointing. Overall the season was much weaker than previous years. Don't get me wrong - it was still a very enjoyable evening, the weather was spectacular and I enjoy seeing Shakespeare performed but I was not particularly wowed.

Tonight we will watch The Last King of Scotland. I have a friend who is teaching in Uganda now. I expect the movie will be difficult to watch.

The skies have gone grey. What shall we eat for dinner?

extreme quiet

The house is very quiet - it is a different quiet than everyone sleeping quiet. The house is empty. Mr. W is driving the young W's to the ferry. They are excited. I think we may go out for dinner tonight - then again maybe we won't - maybe we will just cook up a fabulous dinner ourselves and break open one of our new bottles of wine we picked up this summer.

I was very excited to read about this documentary God's Warriors until I remembered I cancelled our cable for the summer. I quite enjoy Christiane Amanpour's interviews. I am certain it will repeat.

Has anyone watched the first episode?

prepping for camp

My young'uns leave for camp Thursday AM.
We are packing tonight.
I have been procrastinating.
They are in charge of laundry today; if they want to take it - it has to be clean.
We shall see how that goes.

plans

We are going to the fair today.

It is the first day it is open.

The Pros:

It is not stinking hot.
I have discounted passes.
Great opportunity for people watching.

The Cons:

It may very well rain.
It will be very busy as they are not charging admission if you get there before noon; which means there will be a ton of other humans milling about.
The parking could be a challenge.

ode to the jordanos

We are about to eat dinner LATE.

Jordan Time.

The fast is over so we eating steak.

Caesar Salad.

Broiled zucchini with parmesan.

coffee and conversation

I had a friend visit for coffee at 7am this morning. It was a most lovely visit. I am thankful she made the effort to leave her home extra early to visit me on her way to work. I am thankful I work late today so that we could organize this visit.

I value her friendship. She is a delight. We laugh together easily. We used to work together - I witnessed her wedding.

I love these little moments carved out of busy lives.

I chatted with another friend who has just moved to Africa. I am off to create a little paper something to send in the post.

It is a good morning.

plans for the day

We are off to VV to look for some bargains and sixty inspired clothing.

We will take the camera.

The sun is back with us.

I am making pancakes for breakfast.

Friends visiting in the evening.

My Martha Stewart arrived so I look forward to some time in the garden persusing.

inconsistencies of life

People who know me, know that I am pretty darn casual.

I wear chuck taylors to work; sure I venture past the black and tan colours but I don't spend a lot of time on my clothes. Remember I work at a contact centre. But, every autumn I fight the urge to spend money on more stylish clothes - I do relent and purchase the September issues of some fashion magazines as fashion intrigues me. I carry the burdens of the world in my heart and I am acutely aware of the huge gap between the wealthy west and then the majority of the others who live on this planet of ours. It makes absolutely no sense to care so much about how and what we wear from a global awareness point of view; nor from the spiritual but, yet there is something there that pulls me in.

Perhaps this year it is stronger because I am considering leaving my current job and moving to a position where I will be in the public eye.

So, having full disclosed my interior struggle - here is cool canadian designer Pink Tartan

sink envy

Whilst visiting my sister's newly renovated home we had a discussion about concrete.

I found this on while perusing the internet.

I really hate going to the dentist

And I am going at 11am. Soon.
We have no coffee in the house - well not enough to make our Americanos.
We stopped for coffee after our evening visiting D and D but forgot to buy the beans. Sadness. I will pick it up after going to the dentist so that means that I am going to the dentist sans caffeine. How wise is that?

Today is my last day of holidays. The practical me booked my dentist appointment to just get it over with; but seriously spending your last day of holidays in a dentist chair is LAME.

I received a notice from the library that the book I am reading is due back in three days. I had stopped reading it because I needed to read Book 6 of HP so I could read Book 7 in a timely fashion so I could discuss it with my son who currently is banished from discussing the novel within my hearing distance. But, today I will go back to the library book. It is a cool day. We will make dinner indoors - rather than grill outside. Sort of feels like a last supper.

Being home these days has been very good for me and the family. But, it has not been without its challenges. I have totally thrown off Mr. W's schedule with H and L. So, now once I am gone they will have to re-adjust.

two more days of holidays

*we drove the parents to the airport EARLY this am - they are off to visit the other children and grandchildren
*we are going into the city to track down some new chuck taylors and visit the art gallery
*we will eat with my sister and see their renovated house - which is almost finished
*it was very warm here last night and I tossed and turned and wondered what the next few months will bring

big hair and jason bourne

My daughter went to see Hairspray with one of her friends. Since then she has been experimenting with BIG HAIR and has requested a shopping excursion to Value Village for some funky clothing.

We went to see The Bourne Ultimatum last night. I thought it fair; a little too much action in the car chase scene, but the fight scenes were amazingly choreographed - they used a hand held camera for some angles and the opted not to play background music.

I do say that after watching those movies that I am painfully aware of the fact that I need to get more physical exercise.

how do you this thing in your eye?

I have worn contacts since grade 10. That is a long time.
My son indicated he would like to give them a try. We visited the Dispenser of Contacts yesterday for a fitting. He could not get the lens onto the eyeball. He was very discouraged. We are going back today.

My son is not a quitter so for him to leave without success was very difficult.

We spent some time reviewing our separate techniques. The challenge is controlling the eyelid.

I am certain the neighbour's love this.....

our GE dryer decided to stop working.

so we are drying our clothes with solar power.

this just in

Job Interview out of the Blue.
Will require a second interview.
Has potential.
Pray that God's will be done.

tribute

We are fortunate that we enjoy the blessed company of good friends.

Yesterday, we spent the afternoon, evening and night eating and drinking and talking. Three of my favourite things with some of my favourite people.

Bard on the Beach 2007

We were delighted by the production of The Taming of the Shrew

We ate some fantastic sandwiches with some good Gehringer Bros Gewurtztraminer.
Starbucks and chocolate for desert.

They young W's stayed home and ate pizza and watched videos.
It was a good night.