The sun is shining. The skies are a pale blue. I am venturing out into the world of commerce. I wish I wasn't. I have managed to have the last 3 Saturdays off so this rotation back into a 5 day work week is challenging. I have things to do.
My front garden needs attending to again. Grass is growing where it shouldn't be.
The little vegetable garden is coming along quite nicely. Lettuce and spinach and green onions are quickly producing and can soon be harvested.
It is a short day. I will be home soon.
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Thursday, May 29, 2008
anniversary
Here are the gifts suggested for the 15th anniversary:
Traditional Anniversary Gift: Crystal
Modern Anniversary Gift: Glass/Watches
Travel Anniversary Gift Ideas: Switzerland, Austria
We are not traveling to Switzerland or Austria any time soon; in fact they are not even near the top of our list of places we want to go. Greece holds that spot.
We do not need watches.
Glass.
We could use some new drinking glasses. We seem to be in short supply of those.
Crystal.
Nah.
I think we will get ourselves a good bottle of wine and sit on our deck in the sunshine. The grandparents have offered to shuttle the ballerina and football player accordingly.
15 years is a long time. Isn't it?
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
terminology
Me: "Look, they are having a meeting on the field!"
My husband: "It is called a huddle. You need to brush up on the terminology before game day!"
My son gets his football gear tonight. He is quite excited.
My husband: "It is called a huddle. You need to brush up on the terminology before game day!"
My son gets his football gear tonight. He is quite excited.
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
technology-
We were very happy to receive our new free Blackberry Pearls.
We have been quite pleased with all the new features. But, alas phone no. 2 does not receive or send text messages. After an hour on the phone with the technical service department and removing the battery a couple of times and re-activating the phone - still nothing. Now, we must wait until a technician reviews the phone and calls us back.
Monday, May 26, 2008
monday morning
The weekend is officially over.
Mr. W has gone to work.
The youth are slowly rising.
The birds are chirping.
The fog is lifting.
Mr. W has gone to work.
The youth are slowly rising.
The birds are chirping.
The fog is lifting.
Saturday, May 24, 2008
grabbing hold of the day
I am a fortunate one. My schedule dictated that I have another 3 day weekend. And while I am thankful for the extra day I am burdened by the many things that require my time and attention. I sometimes feel that I will never see the surface.
*floors - all of them. The kitchen tiles especially but the hardwood too. There is dust everywhere. And footprints.
*bathrooms - I am also thinking I might want to change the paint colour in the main bathroom... just for fun - you know - in my spare time.
*laundry - This is always going to be on the list and I am starting to be OK with that. I am tutoring my daughter in the ways of the laundry. My son is now the official chief lawnmower. That is his job and it is an enormous responsibility and so the daughter gets the laundry. Anyway, she has a hard time staying on task so it takes forever. And apparently she requires more guidance on just how much liquid laundry detergent is required per load as the jug is empty... and it was supposed to last for 50 loads...and it irks me that she cannot match up the corners when she folds... why does that bother me so much?
*the youth's rooms need to be addressed. I am not cleaning them but they need some supervision and assistance. Dust issues here too.
*Review about 100 applications and reference letters for scholarships for my work - I am on the scholarship committe and my top 4 choices are due Tuesday at 9.30 am.
*church financials need to be finished up for the end of the year.
*groceries
*library - this is not really a chore and it is something I enjoy but due to work hours I have limited access to our local library and so it has to squeezed in on Saturday - so it goes on the list.
*work on my the next step for my writing assignment.
So, now that the list is completed...it doesn't seem too bad. My son has football practise today - it is the last day of the more casual approach to practise. The gear is signed out on Wednesday and then the actual tackling begins.
I need to quickly run to the store for more laundry soap. What shall we have for dinner? BBQ something or other... with vegetables. I have to eat more vegetables. Maybe salmon on cedar plank.
*floors - all of them. The kitchen tiles especially but the hardwood too. There is dust everywhere. And footprints.
*bathrooms - I am also thinking I might want to change the paint colour in the main bathroom... just for fun - you know - in my spare time.
*laundry - This is always going to be on the list and I am starting to be OK with that. I am tutoring my daughter in the ways of the laundry. My son is now the official chief lawnmower. That is his job and it is an enormous responsibility and so the daughter gets the laundry. Anyway, she has a hard time staying on task so it takes forever. And apparently she requires more guidance on just how much liquid laundry detergent is required per load as the jug is empty... and it was supposed to last for 50 loads...and it irks me that she cannot match up the corners when she folds... why does that bother me so much?
*the youth's rooms need to be addressed. I am not cleaning them but they need some supervision and assistance. Dust issues here too.
*Review about 100 applications and reference letters for scholarships for my work - I am on the scholarship committe and my top 4 choices are due Tuesday at 9.30 am.
*church financials need to be finished up for the end of the year.
*groceries
*library - this is not really a chore and it is something I enjoy but due to work hours I have limited access to our local library and so it has to squeezed in on Saturday - so it goes on the list.
*work on my the next step for my writing assignment.
So, now that the list is completed...it doesn't seem too bad. My son has football practise today - it is the last day of the more casual approach to practise. The gear is signed out on Wednesday and then the actual tackling begins.
I need to quickly run to the store for more laundry soap. What shall we have for dinner? BBQ something or other... with vegetables. I have to eat more vegetables. Maybe salmon on cedar plank.
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
a glorious few days and now the rain
Monday the rain came and it stayed all day. We enjoyed the last supper with my sister in law and my two nephews. We had some science homework drama. We watched a couple of episodes of Friday Night Lights. We crashed.
This morning I woke to crazy thunder and lightening. A tropical storm pushing through. I could use another day off.
Monday, May 19, 2008
something new
We have just discovered Friday Night Lights
It is a show about a Highschool football team in the States. My sister in law recommended it; and then I read a review in Chatelaine magazine so we started to watch the first season.
We will watch a couple more episodes tonight.
There are some good characters and there are plenty of "teaching opportunities" throughout the hour.
It is May Day and there was a parade. Unfortunately the good weather did not hold and it is at least 10 degrees cooler today than the previous days. And it is raining too. But, we sat under a tree canopy and managed to stay fairly dry.
Thursday, May 15, 2008
a quote from one of my favourite women
"The love of our neighbour in all its fullness simply means being able to say to him, "what are you going through?" --Simone Weil
looking forward
This is my husband's photo. I can't link to flickr for some strange reason but anyhoo... he gets the credit.
We woke to warmer temperatures but still a cloud cover. Bother. I wanted sunny blue skies to start the day.
This weekend is a long one. Monday is a holiday. There will be a parade. I am looking forward to sitting on my deck with some good friends and visiting on Sunday.
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
timing is everything
It is still raining. They say that the weather will change dramatically on Thursday and by Friday we will hit 25 degrees celcius.
We are having some internets troubles. We are going offline for a day or two and we are purchasing a new modem. We are preparing for our new computer purchase at the end of summer.
My children have both learned a rather harsh lesson - both of them had a missing assignment ... well they were not really missing but the grade hadn't been recorded... I don't really get it but the end result is that neither child gets to participate in the track and field tryouts.
We are having some internets troubles. We are going offline for a day or two and we are purchasing a new modem. We are preparing for our new computer purchase at the end of summer.
My children have both learned a rather harsh lesson - both of them had a missing assignment ... well they were not really missing but the grade hadn't been recorded... I don't really get it but the end result is that neither child gets to participate in the track and field tryouts.
Monday, May 12, 2008
the third day
It is a 3 day weekend for me.
It is laundry catch up day. When is it not?
My first Pilates class is today.
My sister in law arrived last night from Halifax with my two nephews. We will visit with them afterschool and eat some dinner.
Saturday, May 10, 2008
inspiration
It is Saturday morning. There is no sign that the sun is going to shine. The good news is that I am not working today. I am going to volunteer at a Silent Auction tonight - I didn't time that especially well but I will bring my good husband along with and he can walk the boardwalk or peruse the items and taste the wine - take some photos. My time required is only 2 hours from 6-8pm.
I am still looking for some good fiction. I think I may reread "A Wrinkle in Time" by Madeleine L'Engle for some inspiration.
We had a house full of kids sleep here last night - they have drifted out into the sun room and the laundry annex. I am happy to have them here. I am glad that my children feel comfortable in having their friends over to hang out and eat and laugh and watch movies.
Thursday, May 08, 2008
Monday, May 05, 2008
Saturday, May 03, 2008
all quiet except for ....
The dishwasher... because I ignored the dishes last night and didn't load and didn't nag anyone else to load...
The washing machine because you know that we have the neverending laundry cycle going on in our house. There is never a day when it is completely done. In fact we now have a laundry annex. The laundry is washed and dried and then dumped on the blue couch in the newly christened laundry annex - this is where our desktop computer resides - and this room also serves as a practise room for the dancing daughter.
No music this morning. And no talk radio. I don't want to listen to the home renovation show that is on my regular station and I don't want to tune the radio to a different station as it is a very particular radio and you have to spend alot of time to tune just right so there is minimal static and wierd background humm.
I am off to work soon. The household is still sleeping. It is a "short" day. I am off at 3.15. The plan is to take all the empty bottles back this afternoon. Then hit the nursary and perhaps buy plants to pot tomorrow. That is the plan. We will have a BBQ supper. It will be Mr. W's job to organize the food.
I am still looking for a green handbag. Minimal hardward. I am not into alot of buckles and zippers etc.
Off to work early as I need more caffiene and I don't want to take the last bit at home because that would be cruel. There is almost nothing worse than waking up and not having your morning coffee before you leave the premises.
The washing machine because you know that we have the neverending laundry cycle going on in our house. There is never a day when it is completely done. In fact we now have a laundry annex. The laundry is washed and dried and then dumped on the blue couch in the newly christened laundry annex - this is where our desktop computer resides - and this room also serves as a practise room for the dancing daughter.
No music this morning. And no talk radio. I don't want to listen to the home renovation show that is on my regular station and I don't want to tune the radio to a different station as it is a very particular radio and you have to spend alot of time to tune just right so there is minimal static and wierd background humm.
I am off to work soon. The household is still sleeping. It is a "short" day. I am off at 3.15. The plan is to take all the empty bottles back this afternoon. Then hit the nursary and perhaps buy plants to pot tomorrow. That is the plan. We will have a BBQ supper. It will be Mr. W's job to organize the food.
I am still looking for a green handbag. Minimal hardward. I am not into alot of buckles and zippers etc.
Off to work early as I need more caffiene and I don't want to take the last bit at home because that would be cruel. There is almost nothing worse than waking up and not having your morning coffee before you leave the premises.
Friday, May 02, 2008
all clear
Mammogram results are in. All clear.
I had a beer to celebrate. I have been drinking a fair bit o' beer since Pascha. I will give myself another week and then I will have to change back to wine because already I am feeling a little fuller around the waistline...
I heard today that I will be mentoring another person for the month of May. I spent three weeks in April mentoring. The good thing about mentoring another person is that I realized I actually know more than I thought. It is hard work to mentor another. You want to encourage and guide, allow them to make mistakes but to not stumble too hard and hope that they learn something along the way.
I had a beer to celebrate. I have been drinking a fair bit o' beer since Pascha. I will give myself another week and then I will have to change back to wine because already I am feeling a little fuller around the waistline...
I heard today that I will be mentoring another person for the month of May. I spent three weeks in April mentoring. The good thing about mentoring another person is that I realized I actually know more than I thought. It is hard work to mentor another. You want to encourage and guide, allow them to make mistakes but to not stumble too hard and hope that they learn something along the way.
Thursday, May 01, 2008
May 1st
So.
It is May 1st.
The saying is April showers bring May flowers. Really? Do not flowers need sunshine?
Because there is no sign of that today. Grumble grumble grumble.
My letter to the editor was published. That felt good.
Still thinking about food production. I heard yesterday that 20% of the food shortage can be attributed to the fact that we are producing biofuels. Crops are being grown to produce fuel for our vehicles. I don't know much about this topic. I will have to do some reading up on it.
We hear of some shops limiting the amount of rice you can purchase. We hear of people of arriving at the check out with bags of rice - stocking up as you will. Is the media escalating the problem by continually reporting about the food shortage?
And how can we possibly talk about a food shortage here in North America when we look and see how the majority of the world struggles. I understand the impact of the food shortage is felt in some ways here but TRULY - most north americans have no idea what it is like to be STARVING.
I am not saying that we don't have people who struggle and go hungry; there are homeless and street people here in our cities but if look globally we are still the richest people on the planet. I think it is important we do not lose sight of this fact.
It is May 1st.
The saying is April showers bring May flowers. Really? Do not flowers need sunshine?
Because there is no sign of that today. Grumble grumble grumble.
My letter to the editor was published. That felt good.
Still thinking about food production. I heard yesterday that 20% of the food shortage can be attributed to the fact that we are producing biofuels. Crops are being grown to produce fuel for our vehicles. I don't know much about this topic. I will have to do some reading up on it.
We hear of some shops limiting the amount of rice you can purchase. We hear of people of arriving at the check out with bags of rice - stocking up as you will. Is the media escalating the problem by continually reporting about the food shortage?
And how can we possibly talk about a food shortage here in North America when we look and see how the majority of the world struggles. I understand the impact of the food shortage is felt in some ways here but TRULY - most north americans have no idea what it is like to be STARVING.
I am not saying that we don't have people who struggle and go hungry; there are homeless and street people here in our cities but if look globally we are still the richest people on the planet. I think it is important we do not lose sight of this fact.
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