It's 2 days until Christmas 2009. This year has been particularly hard to get into the spirit of Christmas for a number of reasons.
The first is that your Dad took a job that requires him to live 3hrs away from me for 5 days a week - he only comes home on the weekends. That has left me quite sad and lonely, we have not been apart that much since the day we met.
Secondly, your Aunt H went back into the hospital on the 21st due to complications from her surgery she had in October. I may go down and visit her later today but I have to talk to my boss first.
And the last reason that it doesn't really feel like Christmas is because you are not here. Christmas is a time for children, it's magical. I can't wait to recreate the same magic for you that Grandma and Papa made for me when I was little. I have been trying to keep away from the displays of Christmas ornaments so that I don't linger over the Babies First Christmas ones.
I miss you terribly and I don't even know you yet. In fact, we haven't even started trying to conceive you yet. In my perfect world, you would be here by now... you would have cute little Christmas sleepers and your grandparents would spoil you to death in 2 days. But, the world is not perfect, and although my heart aches when I have to think about waiting for you any longer, it is the right thing to do.
Your Dad wants the world for you, and right now we can't give it to you. Your Dad has been very sick for the last couple of years and we have been working at getting him healthy enough that he can help look after you. There is also so much that he wants you to be able to do and experience in this world and for that reason, we are working on saving some money so that you can participate in anything you want to do. I am very hopeful that early in the new year we will be in a better position to start trying to make you.
In 2009 the world economy has been really bad and many, many people have lost their jobs, including your Grandpa, which is why your Dad had to work so far away. Everyone has high hopes that the recession is over and companies will start to hire new staff in the new year. Dad and I have our fingers and toes crossed that he can find a new job and come home.
We have decided that we will start to try and conceive you in February, hoping that he will find a job soon. Your Dad doesn't want to miss out on any part of your life, even if you are still inside me. He wants to be there for us through the morning sickness and weird food cravings. he wants to be able to run to the store for us at 3 am when I have a sudden craving ketchup chips or bubble-gum ice cream. It is with love in his heart that he is asking to wait and I am trying to oblige, but every month it gets harder and harder.
We both already love you so very much. Happy Christmas 2009 little one, hope to meet you in 2010.
Love,
Mom
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Friday, November 20, 2009
Taking the first steps
So far in trying to prepare my self for the ultimate physical challenge of growing another human inside me I have started exercising on the treadmill, taking prenatal vitamins, charting, and I've read "The Mother of All Pregnancy Books". I've also been doing online reading at various blogs and other health resources like iparenting and webmd.
The one thing that many of these reqources have told be was to book a 'preconception' appointment with my physician. Everyone who reccommended this appointment had also been sure to mention that until recently, any Dr. would have looked at you like you had 6 heads if you had requested this type of visit, but that now it was the norm. I was a little skeptical to call and request a 'preconception' appointment, so I wasglad that I was over due for my annual physical. I figured that during that visit I could mention that we are planning a family and if he had any concerns they would be brought up then.
So that is exactly what I did, on Wednesday I went to the Dr's for my annual physical and PAP (tmi?). Anyways, we went over mine and family's medical histories and current midications and finally he asked if there was anything new that was concerning me.
"Well, in the new year, my husband and I would like to start trying to have a baby."
"What do you want from me? To tell you how it's done?"
So aparently it's not so common for people to go to their Dr. with only plans to become pregnant! The only advice he had for me was to start taking prenatals, which I have already started. I did convince him to run a check on my vaccinations just in case, so I guess something was accomplished during the visit.
The one thing that many of these reqources have told be was to book a 'preconception' appointment with my physician. Everyone who reccommended this appointment had also been sure to mention that until recently, any Dr. would have looked at you like you had 6 heads if you had requested this type of visit, but that now it was the norm. I was a little skeptical to call and request a 'preconception' appointment, so I wasglad that I was over due for my annual physical. I figured that during that visit I could mention that we are planning a family and if he had any concerns they would be brought up then.
So that is exactly what I did, on Wednesday I went to the Dr's for my annual physical and PAP (tmi?). Anyways, we went over mine and family's medical histories and current midications and finally he asked if there was anything new that was concerning me.
"Well, in the new year, my husband and I would like to start trying to have a baby."
"What do you want from me? To tell you how it's done?"
So aparently it's not so common for people to go to their Dr. with only plans to become pregnant! The only advice he had for me was to start taking prenatals, which I have already started. I did convince him to run a check on my vaccinations just in case, so I guess something was accomplished during the visit.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
When I grow up
While planning my wedding I signed up for a multitude of different wedding planning websites, most of which were very helpful. I really liked one in particular because it was a Canadian site and it had a forum. Even though I didn't post much on the forum, see other people ask questions and the responses they were getting was really useful. The one problem I had with this site is that most of the active topics were about life after marriage, but now, I am following this forum even more than ever. When I am bored at work I find my self refreshing that page over and over and reading all of the wonderful experiences that other wives/mothers are going through. Most of the time, the topics hover around babies/toddlers/pregnancy, but every once in a while someone asks a question that really makes me stop and think. Today that question was "Do you really love what you do?"
D has been asking me quite a lot lately if I enjoy my work, because he feels guilty that his changing career paths has forced me to stay at this job for the health benefits and stability. I always answer him "I don't hate it, it will get me through until we have our family started". But today I find my self asking if that is enough.
Right now I have a job. Just a job. It is not a career. I am not challenged by it at all. There have been too many days where I only do about one hours worth of work and have to make up what I've done for the other 7 hours. For about one week out of the month I am busy for all 8 hrs, and I think there have only been a handful of days where my list of things to do has had to carry over to the next day. I enjoy working for this company, the people here are wonderful - a HUGE change from my last 2 jobs where my immediate supervisors had severe anger management issues. So in that sense, yes, I do enjoy my job.
But that question got me thinking... what DO I want to be when I grow up?
The long and short answer is... I have no freaking clue!
D has been asking me quite a lot lately if I enjoy my work, because he feels guilty that his changing career paths has forced me to stay at this job for the health benefits and stability. I always answer him "I don't hate it, it will get me through until we have our family started". But today I find my self asking if that is enough.
Right now I have a job. Just a job. It is not a career. I am not challenged by it at all. There have been too many days where I only do about one hours worth of work and have to make up what I've done for the other 7 hours. For about one week out of the month I am busy for all 8 hrs, and I think there have only been a handful of days where my list of things to do has had to carry over to the next day. I enjoy working for this company, the people here are wonderful - a HUGE change from my last 2 jobs where my immediate supervisors had severe anger management issues. So in that sense, yes, I do enjoy my job.
But that question got me thinking... what DO I want to be when I grow up?
The long and short answer is... I have no freaking clue!
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Multi-tasking to the n-th degree
It's 4:00, I'm at work and STARVING. The only think keeping me sane at the moment is knowing that while I'm working, I am also making dinner.
What? Didn't you hear? Someone invented a teleportation device so that I can transport back home, make dinner and still sit at my computer and appear to be working.
Don't believe me huh?
Actually, I am using my slow cooker for the first time today. Right now, at home, the crock pot is preparing a whole chicken with potatoes and carrots. It should be ready when I get home from work. I will let you know how it turns out.
For now, I will have to settle for snacking on saltines and PB.
What? Didn't you hear? Someone invented a teleportation device so that I can transport back home, make dinner and still sit at my computer and appear to be working.
Don't believe me huh?
Actually, I am using my slow cooker for the first time today. Right now, at home, the crock pot is preparing a whole chicken with potatoes and carrots. It should be ready when I get home from work. I will let you know how it turns out.
For now, I will have to settle for snacking on saltines and PB.
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Mass Exodus
Yesterday my sister was released from hospital! She is now at home and feeling much better every day. At home she is able to sleep through the night with a nurse in every few hours to take her vitals and her IV alarming at 4 am. The only downside is that the bed at home doesn't adjust which means that it's a little more difficult to sit up. Other than that, we are all happy that she is home.
Then this morning D was discharged from the hospital! While he hasn't been going every day for a while now, he has been going about every 5 days. This morning the nurses decided that they didn't need to see him at all any more. Excellent news! They sent him with some bandages that he can use change on his own. I hope that he won't have to keep a bandage on for long and that things can get back to normal.
Well, that's my good news for the weekend, hope yours is good too!
Then this morning D was discharged from the hospital! While he hasn't been going every day for a while now, he has been going about every 5 days. This morning the nurses decided that they didn't need to see him at all any more. Excellent news! They sent him with some bandages that he can use change on his own. I hope that he won't have to keep a bandage on for long and that things can get back to normal.
Well, that's my good news for the weekend, hope yours is good too!
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Like beer goggles... only different
For the last few days babies have been everywhere. Or am I seeking them out? I don't know, but they are torturing me. For example, right now I'm watching Criminal Minds and this episode is about a couple who lost a child and is kidnapping women and forcing them to bear children for them.
Don't get me wrong, it's horrible, but there they are.
This cycle I have started charting my BBT (Basal Body Temperature) to try and get to know my cycle so that when the time comes I know exactly when my fertility window is and hopefully we can get pregnant right away. We still don't know exactly when that will be. If it were up to me, today. D however, says early next year. I am working on him, trying to get him to commit sooner because I just don't know if I can take it any more.
I think that if I could feel like I had some goal to meet (one that I had some control over) before we start trying, the waiting would be more bearable, but right now the only thing we are waiting on is for D to have a full time job. Neither of us have any control over that goal. With today's economy, we can't even say for sure that he will get one in the next 6 months. Fortunately, he has been offered another contract at the Ministry for the next 4 months.
Until we are ready, the only thing that I can focus on is trying to get my body in some sort of shape. Not Round (yes, it's a shape...). On that note, I bought a treadmill today! I just finished assembling it. That, in of its self was a work out, so I haven't started using it yet. Tomorrow I will I promise.
Now I am off to bed because being well rested is part of being healthy right?
Don't get me wrong, it's horrible, but there they are.
This cycle I have started charting my BBT (Basal Body Temperature) to try and get to know my cycle so that when the time comes I know exactly when my fertility window is and hopefully we can get pregnant right away. We still don't know exactly when that will be. If it were up to me, today. D however, says early next year. I am working on him, trying to get him to commit sooner because I just don't know if I can take it any more.
I think that if I could feel like I had some goal to meet (one that I had some control over) before we start trying, the waiting would be more bearable, but right now the only thing we are waiting on is for D to have a full time job. Neither of us have any control over that goal. With today's economy, we can't even say for sure that he will get one in the next 6 months. Fortunately, he has been offered another contract at the Ministry for the next 4 months.
Until we are ready, the only thing that I can focus on is trying to get my body in some sort of shape. Not Round (yes, it's a shape...). On that note, I bought a treadmill today! I just finished assembling it. That, in of its self was a work out, so I haven't started using it yet. Tomorrow I will I promise.
Now I am off to bed because being well rested is part of being healthy right?
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Are you there blog? It's me, Erin...
Dear Blog,
I know you have been feeling a little neglected lately. I have been off in my own world working hard at my job and not giving you the attention you deserve. The truth is, I have been quite reclusive from everything and everyone since the wedding. However, there has been a lot going on that I should probably write about because I always feel better when I get it out there and it's not all bottled up inside (which is my usual m.o. for dealing with shit).
1. The Wedding.
Only one word can sum it up... awesome! I had an absolute blast! There were a few hiccups through out the day, but I think I handled them well and I hope I wasn't anything that resembled a Bridezilla.
2. D's Health.
I started a post a little while back but was afraid to put it out to the world in case I jinxed his wonderful improvement. That's right, I think I might just about have back the man I fell in love with. While he only ended up being about 80% better at the time of the wedding, he is at about 95% now! There are still things that he will never be able to eat again, like onions, but his appetite and energy are finally back! He has stopped losing weight, and even gained some. At his 2nd Remicade infusion, he weighed 0.5lbs more than the first one; at the 3rd, he weighed even more. He goes for his 4th in a month and I hope that he is back up to his normal weight.
3. My Sister's Health.
She is sick. Very. Sick. She had her colon removed on Friday as a last resort attempt to get her life back. Unfortunately that means a good 6 weeks of recovery from this surgery, 6 months of living with a stoma and colostomy bag, and finally a 2nd surgery to create an internal bag and remove the stoma.
On Friday I stayed at work as long as I could but I wanted to be at the hospital when the surgeon came to speak to my parents. The surgery was scheduled for 9:30am, H went in at about 10:15 (I think); the surgery was to last approx. 4 hrs. When I showed up at 3 we still had not heard anything. The Dr. finally came out at 5pm, some 8 hrs later, and told us that they had to make the incision a little bigger than they had wanted, but the surgery went well and she was in recovery.
According to H recovery was bad, and since my mom wasn't back there to help, it just made it worse. When she woke up she said that she could hear them talking about a bigger incision and she threw up and started crying. It took a couple minutes, but when one of the nurses heard her crying they came back and talked to her and calmed her down. It must have been so scary for her to be back there without her family.
As they brought her to her room, one of the nurses came and got us from the waiting room and we all went up together. She seemed to be in good spirits for just coming out of surgery. She even managed to crack a joke about Dr.'s taking her ass away. That night was relatively uneventful because she was still on the epidural and therefore numb and pain free.
The next day, Saturday, they got her up and out of bed and sitting in a chair for a bit. When she went back to bed, she must have hit the epidural line, because she started to feel pain. A. Lot. Of. Pain. Since they hadn't planned to stop the epidural, they hadn't yet given her any other pain meds yet. From there, it seems to have spiraled downward. She was nauseous, in pain had a distended belly; they were even concerned that they would have to go back in at one point. Instead, they put a tube into her stomach and pumped out the excess bile. That seems to have helped out with the distention. They gave her morphine for the pain and some anti-nausea medication because they don't want her to throw up (that could cause damage to the stitches). Needless to say Saturday night was bad. My dad was with her until 2 am, and her fiancee stayed the night.
I don't have a whole lot of information about what happened after that. All I know is that they had her walking about 30 or 40 feet. I haven't had an update since.
4. Baby Fever.
It's back and stronger than ever. I found a new (to me) blog yesterday called "Baby Rabies; when it's more than a fever". So true. D and I have talked about it a bit since the wedding and I totally understand where he is coming from; now is not a logical time to start to try to have a baby. But there is nothing logical about wanting a baby! I mean really, when you think about, what is logical about wanting to do that to your self??? Hey I know, lets do something that will make me sick 24/7 for at least 3 months!! and I won't even be able to take anything for it" Ya, that sounds logical! And then, I can get really fat and uncomfortable for 6 months after that with symptoms that range from sausage toes to night sweats, from cramps to contraction, and totally stretch and permanently disfigure my body. Totally "logical". And the cherry on the top of this oh-so-appetizing-sundae? You guessed it! The worst pain anyone can ever feel in their life as a baby literally rips you apart as it enters the world that lasts for hours upon hours. Logical?? My ASS!
So that has been my last month in a nut shell. How have you been?
All my love,
Erin
I know you have been feeling a little neglected lately. I have been off in my own world working hard at my job and not giving you the attention you deserve. The truth is, I have been quite reclusive from everything and everyone since the wedding. However, there has been a lot going on that I should probably write about because I always feel better when I get it out there and it's not all bottled up inside (which is my usual m.o. for dealing with shit).
1. The Wedding.
Only one word can sum it up... awesome! I had an absolute blast! There were a few hiccups through out the day, but I think I handled them well and I hope I wasn't anything that resembled a Bridezilla.
2. D's Health.
I started a post a little while back but was afraid to put it out to the world in case I jinxed his wonderful improvement. That's right, I think I might just about have back the man I fell in love with. While he only ended up being about 80% better at the time of the wedding, he is at about 95% now! There are still things that he will never be able to eat again, like onions, but his appetite and energy are finally back! He has stopped losing weight, and even gained some. At his 2nd Remicade infusion, he weighed 0.5lbs more than the first one; at the 3rd, he weighed even more. He goes for his 4th in a month and I hope that he is back up to his normal weight.
3. My Sister's Health.
She is sick. Very. Sick. She had her colon removed on Friday as a last resort attempt to get her life back. Unfortunately that means a good 6 weeks of recovery from this surgery, 6 months of living with a stoma and colostomy bag, and finally a 2nd surgery to create an internal bag and remove the stoma.
On Friday I stayed at work as long as I could but I wanted to be at the hospital when the surgeon came to speak to my parents. The surgery was scheduled for 9:30am, H went in at about 10:15 (I think); the surgery was to last approx. 4 hrs. When I showed up at 3 we still had not heard anything. The Dr. finally came out at 5pm, some 8 hrs later, and told us that they had to make the incision a little bigger than they had wanted, but the surgery went well and she was in recovery.
According to H recovery was bad, and since my mom wasn't back there to help, it just made it worse. When she woke up she said that she could hear them talking about a bigger incision and she threw up and started crying. It took a couple minutes, but when one of the nurses heard her crying they came back and talked to her and calmed her down. It must have been so scary for her to be back there without her family.
As they brought her to her room, one of the nurses came and got us from the waiting room and we all went up together. She seemed to be in good spirits for just coming out of surgery. She even managed to crack a joke about Dr.'s taking her ass away. That night was relatively uneventful because she was still on the epidural and therefore numb and pain free.
The next day, Saturday, they got her up and out of bed and sitting in a chair for a bit. When she went back to bed, she must have hit the epidural line, because she started to feel pain. A. Lot. Of. Pain. Since they hadn't planned to stop the epidural, they hadn't yet given her any other pain meds yet. From there, it seems to have spiraled downward. She was nauseous, in pain had a distended belly; they were even concerned that they would have to go back in at one point. Instead, they put a tube into her stomach and pumped out the excess bile. That seems to have helped out with the distention. They gave her morphine for the pain and some anti-nausea medication because they don't want her to throw up (that could cause damage to the stitches). Needless to say Saturday night was bad. My dad was with her until 2 am, and her fiancee stayed the night.
I don't have a whole lot of information about what happened after that. All I know is that they had her walking about 30 or 40 feet. I haven't had an update since.
4. Baby Fever.
It's back and stronger than ever. I found a new (to me) blog yesterday called "Baby Rabies; when it's more than a fever". So true. D and I have talked about it a bit since the wedding and I totally understand where he is coming from; now is not a logical time to start to try to have a baby. But there is nothing logical about wanting a baby! I mean really, when you think about, what is logical about wanting to do that to your self??? Hey I know, lets do something that will make me sick 24/7 for at least 3 months!! and I won't even be able to take anything for it" Ya, that sounds logical! And then, I can get really fat and uncomfortable for 6 months after that with symptoms that range from sausage toes to night sweats, from cramps to contraction, and totally stretch and permanently disfigure my body. Totally "logical". And the cherry on the top of this oh-so-appetizing-sundae? You guessed it! The worst pain anyone can ever feel in their life as a baby literally rips you apart as it enters the world that lasts for hours upon hours. Logical?? My ASS!
So that has been my last month in a nut shell. How have you been?
All my love,
Erin
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Please accept my apologies
I said it last month and I'll say it again, I haven't blogged in a long time and I'm sorry for it (Not that I have more than one reader any way ;)) As the wedding approached everything went haywire! 2 weeks before the wedding, D went for his second Remicade infusion. By then, the first one seemed to be taking some effect and as happy as I was, I was afraid to write about it in case I jinxed it in some way. Since the second shot, he has kept improving every day!
The week before the wedding I was practically holding my breath, hoping against hope that he would be somewhat healthy for our big day. And he almost was! While his side was noticeably inflamed due to the stress of the wedding, he made it through the day with a smile, albeit a forced smile, but he had a wonderful day none the less.
Overall, our day ran like clockwork and went off without a hitch. Well, almost no hitch. The first hitch was that the Rev. did not use the ceremony that I sent him and that D and I had been reading over. Which was really not something to worry about, the ceremony he read was fine, and I was glad that there was no religion in it, that was all I really wanted. The vows of the ceremony I sent the Rev were quite different and original, I found them on the internet somewhere. I wanted something a little more interesting than the standard 'sickness and health till death do you part' lines. Unfortunately, that's what we ended up with.
D managed to make it original though. Mind you, it was totally by accident. When the Rev. asked him to repeat the vows he was doing fine until he had to repeat 'I will be faithful to you alone'. Something must have distracted him (my beauty I like to think) or maybe he just cracked under the pressure, but his response was "Can you repeat that please?" Everyone, including my self, burst out laughing! At least people will remember our wedding!
The week before the wedding I was practically holding my breath, hoping against hope that he would be somewhat healthy for our big day. And he almost was! While his side was noticeably inflamed due to the stress of the wedding, he made it through the day with a smile, albeit a forced smile, but he had a wonderful day none the less.
Overall, our day ran like clockwork and went off without a hitch. Well, almost no hitch. The first hitch was that the Rev. did not use the ceremony that I sent him and that D and I had been reading over. Which was really not something to worry about, the ceremony he read was fine, and I was glad that there was no religion in it, that was all I really wanted. The vows of the ceremony I sent the Rev were quite different and original, I found them on the internet somewhere. I wanted something a little more interesting than the standard 'sickness and health till death do you part' lines. Unfortunately, that's what we ended up with.
D managed to make it original though. Mind you, it was totally by accident. When the Rev. asked him to repeat the vows he was doing fine until he had to repeat 'I will be faithful to you alone'. Something must have distracted him (my beauty I like to think) or maybe he just cracked under the pressure, but his response was "Can you repeat that please?" Everyone, including my self, burst out laughing! At least people will remember our wedding!
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Preparations
I have been absent from blogging this month, I hope you can forgive me, it's been a busy few weeks with all of the wedding preparations. It's mostly all done though! YAY!! This weekend, I am going to take some time for my self and take Jak to the cottage and relax on the beach. I can't wait.
The last two weekends, my sister has come to our house and helped out tremendously with all of the tasks still to be done. The Saturday before last, after the engagement photo session, we did a bunch of shopping. We bought pumpkins for the centerpieces, supplies for the boutineers, a frame for the seating chart, and a bunch of other supplies. Then we spent the afternoon scanning pictures for the slide show and assembling directional signs. On Sunday I went to Miton to pick up our Liquor Permit and then went on to D's parents house to pick up the pictures for his portion of the slide show. I ended up leaving them there for his dad to scan, which saved me a whole bunch of time.
This past weekend, I went down to G-town on Saturday to meet with the hair stylist to go over my hair for the wedding. I showed her a bunch of pictures of what I want it to be like and the hair pins I made for my hair. Then I went to Milton again, this time to pick up some battery-opperated tealights to use in the center pieces because the Museum doesn't allow open flames, with the exception of the fireplace. We also went to IKEA to get some big candles for the fireplace. When we returned to G-town, my sister and I continued working on the slideshow, cutting it down to an acceptable length, and finding accompaning music. We decided on "Picture Book" by The Kinks, and "Grow old with me" by Adam Sandler. Having picked out the music, attaching it to the slideshow was proving to be very difficult, so we gave up and I went home.
On Sunday, H came to our house again to help me get as much done as possible so that I would be able to go to the cottage this weekend. Without her help, and motivation, I probably wouldn't have got it all done. With her there, we managed to finish the aisle and altar arrangements, finish the seating chart and guest book frame, and complete the cards I printed that explain our photo-sharing website. There's not a whole lot that I still have to do now!
The last two weekends, my sister has come to our house and helped out tremendously with all of the tasks still to be done. The Saturday before last, after the engagement photo session, we did a bunch of shopping. We bought pumpkins for the centerpieces, supplies for the boutineers, a frame for the seating chart, and a bunch of other supplies. Then we spent the afternoon scanning pictures for the slide show and assembling directional signs. On Sunday I went to Miton to pick up our Liquor Permit and then went on to D's parents house to pick up the pictures for his portion of the slide show. I ended up leaving them there for his dad to scan, which saved me a whole bunch of time.
This past weekend, I went down to G-town on Saturday to meet with the hair stylist to go over my hair for the wedding. I showed her a bunch of pictures of what I want it to be like and the hair pins I made for my hair. Then I went to Milton again, this time to pick up some battery-opperated tealights to use in the center pieces because the Museum doesn't allow open flames, with the exception of the fireplace. We also went to IKEA to get some big candles for the fireplace. When we returned to G-town, my sister and I continued working on the slideshow, cutting it down to an acceptable length, and finding accompaning music. We decided on "Picture Book" by The Kinks, and "Grow old with me" by Adam Sandler. Having picked out the music, attaching it to the slideshow was proving to be very difficult, so we gave up and I went home.
On Sunday, H came to our house again to help me get as much done as possible so that I would be able to go to the cottage this weekend. Without her help, and motivation, I probably wouldn't have got it all done. With her there, we managed to finish the aisle and altar arrangements, finish the seating chart and guest book frame, and complete the cards I printed that explain our photo-sharing website. There's not a whole lot that I still have to do now!
Monday, August 24, 2009
Engagement Photos
Talk about leaving it to the last minute, last Saturday we had our engagement photos taken. I know that it is something you are supposed to do around the time you get engaged, hence the name Engagement photos... however, with D's health, we kept putting it off, and putting it off, hoping that at some point he would feel well enough for the shoot to not be torture for him. That day never came. We had to get them done soon so that we could have a few printed up in time for the wedding in 2 weeks later (OMG!!! 2 weeks!!!).
Saturday was a beautiful day, it seems like summer has finally arrived! The 3 of us headed down to Goldie Mill Park in Guelph. Yes, 3 of us… Jak came too! I wanted a few good shots with him since he is so hard to photograph normally.
Goldie Mill Park is a really nice setting for photos because it provides so many different backgrounds. First we started in a more traditional park setting on a park bench. Then we headed over to the ruins of the old Goldie Mill. Pictures were taken outside the mill in one of the windows, we then moved inside against the stone walls. At the park there is also a river and some bridges that also provide nice areas for pictures.
I was thankful for the river because I was a bad dog owner that day and we forgot Jak’s bag with his water and stoop-and-scoop bags… oops! at one point we had to go down to the river’s edge and let Jak have a drink and cool down. Black dog + hot sunny day = no fun for Jak.
On Sunday night I received an email from our photographers to let us know that a sampling of our photos is available to preview on their website! Already!! One of the photographers is going on vacation this week and wanted to get them done before she left, so we got lucky to get them so quick! They sent a CD with all of the edited shots from that to me in the mail.
This is my favourite shot of the whole bunch...
Saturday was a beautiful day, it seems like summer has finally arrived! The 3 of us headed down to Goldie Mill Park in Guelph. Yes, 3 of us… Jak came too! I wanted a few good shots with him since he is so hard to photograph normally.
Goldie Mill Park is a really nice setting for photos because it provides so many different backgrounds. First we started in a more traditional park setting on a park bench. Then we headed over to the ruins of the old Goldie Mill. Pictures were taken outside the mill in one of the windows, we then moved inside against the stone walls. At the park there is also a river and some bridges that also provide nice areas for pictures.
I was thankful for the river because I was a bad dog owner that day and we forgot Jak’s bag with his water and stoop-and-scoop bags… oops! at one point we had to go down to the river’s edge and let Jak have a drink and cool down. Black dog + hot sunny day = no fun for Jak.
On Sunday night I received an email from our photographers to let us know that a sampling of our photos is available to preview on their website! Already!! One of the photographers is going on vacation this week and wanted to get them done before she left, so we got lucky to get them so quick! They sent a CD with all of the edited shots from that to me in the mail.
This is my favourite shot of the whole bunch...
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He actually looks like he's happy. Happy, for the first time in months. And they were able to capture that on camera. Frozen in time. Even if doesn't happen again for a while, he was happy once, and I have proof.
Friday, July 31, 2009
Tripplicate
"They" say that things always happen in 3's. Who ever "they" are had better be right. Last Thursday as I approached my car after work I noticed a sticky note on the window. It had a name on the top and the words "The person who hit the red car" and under that "Please come in to the salon." Sure enough, there on the front driver's side wheel well was a dent.
And another one on the hood.
I went in to the salon to find out what happened. According to a couple ladies who saw it happen, there were 2 kids riding their bikes down the street. Kid #1 was riding up on one wheel and fell, right on to my car. The two of them then picked up their bikes and ran away. A patron of the salon recognized Kid # 2 and gave his name and his mother's name to the salon to pass on to me. When I got home I looked up Kid # 2 in the phonebook, and I was in luck, there was only one entry with that last name and the first initials matched his mothers.
I called to talk to his parents to get the name and number of Kid #1 so that I could get them to claim the damage on their insurance, not mine. Or they could just pay me for the damage. His mother was not home, so I talked to his father, told him what happened and that I wanted to get the name and contact information for his son's friend. He said "OK, hold on one sec while I get him." Not a 'sorry', or a 'that's terrible', no sense of remorse or responsibility at all from this guy. When his son got on the line, he said that his friends name is Jesse, but he didn't know his last name. Since when did kids stop using last names?? I knew all of my classmates last names. He also gave me a phone number.
I tried the phone number for Jesse, but all I got was "You have reached the voicemail box for 519-555-5555. Please leave a message after the tone. Beep." I left a message for his parents, but still have never heard anything back. Because I was unable to reach the parents, I figure I will likely have to put this damage on my insurance and to do so I needed to file an accident report. The OPP Constable came to look at the damage on Tuesday and as we approached the car he says to me "So, the dent we are looking at, it's the one on the rear passenger side?"
"What dent on the rear passenger side???!!!" hoping he was looking at the wrong car...
"That dent" he says and points at my car.
Sure enough, right there, next to the tail light is this:
It's that wonderful?? Some kid hits the front of my car and some car hits the back of my car! What else can happen?? You laugh now, but the story isn't over...
It's pretty standard for KIA to fill the tires of their new cars with Nitrogen. They claim that it helps the tires last longer and ride more smoothly and a bunch of other crap that I didn't really listen to after they said it was free. Anyway, to distinguish the tires that have Nitrogen from ones that have regular air, they put these nifty caps on the air nozzles for each tire that are chrome looking with a green 'N' on them. As I was filling my car with gas on the way home from work on Wednesday night I looked down and noticed that the cap was missing on the wheel directly under the gas tank. Then I looked at all of the other tires, they are all missing!!! Who steals air nozzle caps from tires???
That's 3. According to "them" I'm done right? Nothing else is going to happen to the car, right? Right??
As if I didn't have enough to deal with while trying to plan a wedding and fighting with our health insurance to cover D's new super expensive drugs! Sheesh!
It's like I try and do everything in one day...
On Saturday my mom, my sister and I met with the caterer at the museum and went through all of the details with him. They have a glass stand that I can use for the cupcakes (yes, we are having cupcakes! yummm!), so I don't have to worry about making one. He also is going to put lights and a swag at the head table at no charge. They are pretty much going to do all of the set up on the day of, we just have to drop everything off the day before or that morning. I also chose appetizers; sweet potato pancakes, bacon and cheese mini quiche, and firecracker shrimp. All 3 will be Crohn's and Colitis friendly so that my sister and D don't have to keep asking "what's in that?"
After that meeting, We met with the Photographers, and showed them around the museum. Then we went up to Georgetown to the Gallery and to the Park where we are having the photos done. After seeing all of the locations in one day, I think people will think that our wedding photos are staged! We have the Park, then on the way to the ceremony we are going to walk from the park to the gallery through downtown and take photo's on the way, then at the gallery, then at the museum... all such different backgrounds!
After meeting with the photographers we went to Waste Wise (a re-use center) and found some wide mouth mason jars that I can clean up and put some ribbon on and use for vases to hold our bouquets, and some picture frames that I am going to hinge together to make A-frame signs to direct people to the museum and gallery.
That night we all sat around going through old pictures for a picture display. 30 years of pictures... it was like I saw my life flash before my eyes!
Busy day. The weekend before last D and I went shopping for bands. His will be titanium, and mine will be white gold to match my ring.
I have another busy weekend planned this weekend. Hopefully shopping tomorrow with my aunt for the decorating stuff. And on the holiday Monday we are meeting with our bagpipe-playing officiant to go over the ceremony.
After that meeting, We met with the Photographers, and showed them around the museum. Then we went up to Georgetown to the Gallery and to the Park where we are having the photos done. After seeing all of the locations in one day, I think people will think that our wedding photos are staged! We have the Park, then on the way to the ceremony we are going to walk from the park to the gallery through downtown and take photo's on the way, then at the gallery, then at the museum... all such different backgrounds!
After meeting with the photographers we went to Waste Wise (a re-use center) and found some wide mouth mason jars that I can clean up and put some ribbon on and use for vases to hold our bouquets, and some picture frames that I am going to hinge together to make A-frame signs to direct people to the museum and gallery.
That night we all sat around going through old pictures for a picture display. 30 years of pictures... it was like I saw my life flash before my eyes!
Busy day. The weekend before last D and I went shopping for bands. His will be titanium, and mine will be white gold to match my ring.
I have another busy weekend planned this weekend. Hopefully shopping tomorrow with my aunt for the decorating stuff. And on the holiday Monday we are meeting with our bagpipe-playing officiant to go over the ceremony.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Unanswered
Why?
Why her?
Why him?
Why us?
Why now?
These are questions I ask my self daily. I suppose that this is where religion comes in for those who believe in God. Because it's a test, He has a plan for her, for him, for you, because He knows that you can handle it and come out on the other side a better stronger person because of it. It's times like this that I wish I wasn't so skeptical, that I could blindly accept a higher power, and believe that there was some method to this madness. But I can't. So I am left to wonder why, why her, why him, why us, why now?
Since January when my sister was released from hospital, she hasn't been getting any better and just maintaining the status quo. In the last 2 weeks however, she has gotten worse. She has had increased and bloody bathroom visits. Yesterday she saw her specialist, lets call her Dr. Poop. Dr. Poop has been her specialist since 2007 when she first went to McMaster. The last time she was in hospital, she wasn't responding to the prednisone, the salofalk, and now imuran and remicade. They have tried everything and are now out of options. The only thing left is surgery.
The good news is that surgery is the only known cure for Ulcerative Colitis (UC) and as such, we hope that this will be the cure she needs. The bad news is that it is major surgery which will remove her colon, a pretty useful organ. Yes people live without colons, and hopefully this will improve her quality of life, but there are major risk factors and still a lot of unknowns.
When diagnosed with UC, she was told that it was 'most likely' Colitis and not Crohn's Disease (CD). They couldn't be 100% sure because while the inflammation was restricted to her colon, indicative of UC, she also had other symptoms that are indicative of CD. So she was officially diagnosed with Crohn's Colitis. What does this mean? I don't know. I am worried that it means that she is at higher risk of having problems even after the surgery 'cure' like pouchitis, or that it will turn out to be CD and the inflammation will occur somewhere else.
A Colectomy is a two stage surgery. First, they remove the colon, and create a stoma on the abdomen where a colostomy bag will attach. She will have this bag for 3 months while her body adjusts and begins to heal. The second surgery will be to create an internal 'bag' or J-pouch so that she will not have to have the external colostomy bag for the rest of her life. This J-pouch is created out of her healthy small intestine. Pouchitis, as I mention earlier, is similar to UC except that it occurs in people who have had a colectomy, in their J-pouch. There is no cure for pouchitis.
I hope this is it. I hope this is the end.
It will still be a while before she can have the surgery, because she has to have a bunch of tests done and another scopy. Mom said it likely won't happen until after the wedding in September or October, then she will have a bag for 3 months before she can have the second surgery to create the J-pouch. That won't likely happen until the new year so that she is not in hospital or trying to recover from surgery over the holidays. This means that she will miss another 2 semesters of school as she will not be able to return until May of 2010, according to Dr. Poop.
I have no idea what this will do to her wedding plans. They set the date for August 2010 because they assumed that she would be done school at that point, now she won't be done until 2011. Also, if she is out of school, my parents don't know what do to about insurance since she will no longer be a student and therefore covered under my parents. crap. So again I ask...
Why?
Why her?
Why him?
Why us?
Why now?
Why her?
Why him?
Why us?
Why now?
These are questions I ask my self daily. I suppose that this is where religion comes in for those who believe in God. Because it's a test, He has a plan for her, for him, for you, because He knows that you can handle it and come out on the other side a better stronger person because of it. It's times like this that I wish I wasn't so skeptical, that I could blindly accept a higher power, and believe that there was some method to this madness. But I can't. So I am left to wonder why, why her, why him, why us, why now?
Since January when my sister was released from hospital, she hasn't been getting any better and just maintaining the status quo. In the last 2 weeks however, she has gotten worse. She has had increased and bloody bathroom visits. Yesterday she saw her specialist, lets call her Dr. Poop. Dr. Poop has been her specialist since 2007 when she first went to McMaster. The last time she was in hospital, she wasn't responding to the prednisone, the salofalk, and now imuran and remicade. They have tried everything and are now out of options. The only thing left is surgery.
The good news is that surgery is the only known cure for Ulcerative Colitis (UC) and as such, we hope that this will be the cure she needs. The bad news is that it is major surgery which will remove her colon, a pretty useful organ. Yes people live without colons, and hopefully this will improve her quality of life, but there are major risk factors and still a lot of unknowns.
When diagnosed with UC, she was told that it was 'most likely' Colitis and not Crohn's Disease (CD). They couldn't be 100% sure because while the inflammation was restricted to her colon, indicative of UC, she also had other symptoms that are indicative of CD. So she was officially diagnosed with Crohn's Colitis. What does this mean? I don't know. I am worried that it means that she is at higher risk of having problems even after the surgery 'cure' like pouchitis, or that it will turn out to be CD and the inflammation will occur somewhere else.
A Colectomy is a two stage surgery. First, they remove the colon, and create a stoma on the abdomen where a colostomy bag will attach. She will have this bag for 3 months while her body adjusts and begins to heal. The second surgery will be to create an internal 'bag' or J-pouch so that she will not have to have the external colostomy bag for the rest of her life. This J-pouch is created out of her healthy small intestine. Pouchitis, as I mention earlier, is similar to UC except that it occurs in people who have had a colectomy, in their J-pouch. There is no cure for pouchitis.
I hope this is it. I hope this is the end.
It will still be a while before she can have the surgery, because she has to have a bunch of tests done and another scopy. Mom said it likely won't happen until after the wedding in September or October, then she will have a bag for 3 months before she can have the second surgery to create the J-pouch. That won't likely happen until the new year so that she is not in hospital or trying to recover from surgery over the holidays. This means that she will miss another 2 semesters of school as she will not be able to return until May of 2010, according to Dr. Poop.
I have no idea what this will do to her wedding plans. They set the date for August 2010 because they assumed that she would be done school at that point, now she won't be done until 2011. Also, if she is out of school, my parents don't know what do to about insurance since she will no longer be a student and therefore covered under my parents. crap. So again I ask...
Why?
Why her?
Why him?
Why us?
Why now?
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Birthday-Harry-Potter-Wedding-Shower-Extravaganza!
Awesome Weekend. The best one I have had in a long long time. It started on Friday when I went to the movie theatre straight from work to get in line for Harry Potter. I knew it was going to be a packed theatre and I needed to get perfect seats. My Sister picked J up from the GO station and met me at the theatre after I was seated. In honour of J's birthday last week, I treated both of them to dinner and a movie. Dinner consisted of Hot Dogs and Berttie Botts Every Flavour Beans aka Jelly Belly's.
Harry Potter was an awesome show; the best one, in my opinion, other than the first one. I liked that although it dealt with some very heavy subjects, there was still a lot of humor. I had read some reviews that were knocking it because the audience was expected to know who all of the characters were and that the movie didn't do enough to bring in new fans. But really, if they had, it would have been a 5 hr movie! Be realistic people... with a book that big, things will have to be assumed and parts are going to be cut. There was really only one scene from the book that I really missed in the movie and that was Dumbledore's funeral. The end of this movie could have been a real tear jerker if there was some effort put into it.
The next morning J and I went for a walk with the dog down to a local hippie coffee shop, and then to the park to sip our cappuccino and eat muffins. It was a beautiful day, the sun was shining, and it wasn't too hot or too cold. The dog was behaving, even catching the Frisbee a few times AND BRINGING IT BACK occasionally. We made our way back to the house past the beautiful gardens and huge houses that surround our little townhouse complex, and I was reminded of how much I love our neighbourhood.
Soon we had to get going to my Aunts house for my final (finally) bridal shower. On our way I had to stop quickly at the mall to find a sweater to wear over my dress because I am always cold. Do you have any idea how difficult it was to find a white cardigan sweater in July?? We had to go to 4 stores and were 'fashionably' late to the shower. Oh well, the party doesn't really start until the bride gets there anyway right?
I have been looking forward to this shower most of all. The others were wonderful, but there is just something about sitting in a room surrounded by people who have known you your entire life. These people all remember 'little girl' me and are now getting to be a part of 'grown up' me. There was even a surprise guest; J's Nanny was able to come down! I have only seen her at funerals lately, and other than that and J's practice wedding, I haven't seen her since I was about 8. She still remembers me as the little girl who got chased by their golden retriever. That was so nice, I'm happy that she came.
I was also happy that my own grandmother was able to make it down. When I had talked to her last she wasn't sure she was going to make it. She doesn't like to sleep at either my mom's or my aunts house, so she was planning to drive down and back to her house, that's 2 hrs there and 2 hrs back. We were all impressed with how well she behaved. My Grandma likes to be the center of attention. I'm not sure if it's a form of dementia or the start of Alzheimer's or something, or if she has always been like this and I'm just becoming more aware of it as I grow up, but when the focus of conversation is not on her, or on a topic that she choose, she can't stand it. At one point near the end she did go and sit outside.
After the party, one of my other aunts went over to my moms house and us girls, my mom, my aunt, my sister and I, sat around and chatted for hours. We ordered Swiss Chalet for dinner and I didn't get home until 11pm. So tired.
Amazing day. Amazing weekend. Thank you.
Harry Potter was an awesome show; the best one, in my opinion, other than the first one. I liked that although it dealt with some very heavy subjects, there was still a lot of humor. I had read some reviews that were knocking it because the audience was expected to know who all of the characters were and that the movie didn't do enough to bring in new fans. But really, if they had, it would have been a 5 hr movie! Be realistic people... with a book that big, things will have to be assumed and parts are going to be cut. There was really only one scene from the book that I really missed in the movie and that was Dumbledore's funeral. The end of this movie could have been a real tear jerker if there was some effort put into it.
The next morning J and I went for a walk with the dog down to a local hippie coffee shop, and then to the park to sip our cappuccino and eat muffins. It was a beautiful day, the sun was shining, and it wasn't too hot or too cold. The dog was behaving, even catching the Frisbee a few times AND BRINGING IT BACK occasionally. We made our way back to the house past the beautiful gardens and huge houses that surround our little townhouse complex, and I was reminded of how much I love our neighbourhood.
Soon we had to get going to my Aunts house for my final (finally) bridal shower. On our way I had to stop quickly at the mall to find a sweater to wear over my dress because I am always cold. Do you have any idea how difficult it was to find a white cardigan sweater in July?? We had to go to 4 stores and were 'fashionably' late to the shower. Oh well, the party doesn't really start until the bride gets there anyway right?
I have been looking forward to this shower most of all. The others were wonderful, but there is just something about sitting in a room surrounded by people who have known you your entire life. These people all remember 'little girl' me and are now getting to be a part of 'grown up' me. There was even a surprise guest; J's Nanny was able to come down! I have only seen her at funerals lately, and other than that and J's practice wedding, I haven't seen her since I was about 8. She still remembers me as the little girl who got chased by their golden retriever. That was so nice, I'm happy that she came.
I was also happy that my own grandmother was able to make it down. When I had talked to her last she wasn't sure she was going to make it. She doesn't like to sleep at either my mom's or my aunts house, so she was planning to drive down and back to her house, that's 2 hrs there and 2 hrs back. We were all impressed with how well she behaved. My Grandma likes to be the center of attention. I'm not sure if it's a form of dementia or the start of Alzheimer's or something, or if she has always been like this and I'm just becoming more aware of it as I grow up, but when the focus of conversation is not on her, or on a topic that she choose, she can't stand it. At one point near the end she did go and sit outside.
After the party, one of my other aunts went over to my moms house and us girls, my mom, my aunt, my sister and I, sat around and chatted for hours. We ordered Swiss Chalet for dinner and I didn't get home until 11pm. So tired.
Amazing day. Amazing weekend. Thank you.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Better than Christmas!
Today marks the start of an incredible 3 day wonderful, fantastic time! First today. As I write this, someone is cleaning my house! Since D has got so sick it has been incredibly hard to keep up with the housekeeping. Whenever I tried to clean, he would get upset that I was doing all of the work. He would try and help only to have to stop after an hour of cleaning. He would want me to take a break with him so that he wouldn't feel guilty. So since our entire house takes more than an hour to clean, only parts of it were getting looked after. So my mom came to the rescue! She has sent us her cleaning lady for the summer to help us out. For which, I am eternally grateful. As if my mom doesn't do enough for everyone, just one more thing to add to the list of why my mom is the best in the world.
Then tomorrow! Harry Potter Day!!! My bestest friend, J, and my bestest sister, H, and by bestest fiancee, D, are all going to see Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. I have had this day mapped out for weeks. How J is getting our house, who is standing in line, I even bought the tickets last week. Tonight I am going out to buy special themed movie snacks, that's how excited I am for this movie. I am very happy that this has been something that has brought my sister and I closer together. HP is something we have bonded over. We have gone to see every movie together within the opening week, it has been great.
And After Harry Potter? How can it get any better?? Why another shower of course! This time it is with my family. I will know everyone, there will be some people there that I haven't seen in a long time. There will even be people there that I have seen recently, but only in unfortunate circumstances, it will be so nice to have a happy occasion to share with them. It is going to be so much fun, I can't wait!
Then tomorrow! Harry Potter Day!!! My bestest friend, J, and my bestest sister, H, and by bestest fiancee, D, are all going to see Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. I have had this day mapped out for weeks. How J is getting our house, who is standing in line, I even bought the tickets last week. Tonight I am going out to buy special themed movie snacks, that's how excited I am for this movie. I am very happy that this has been something that has brought my sister and I closer together. HP is something we have bonded over. We have gone to see every movie together within the opening week, it has been great.
And After Harry Potter? How can it get any better?? Why another shower of course! This time it is with my family. I will know everyone, there will be some people there that I haven't seen in a long time. There will even be people there that I have seen recently, but only in unfortunate circumstances, it will be so nice to have a happy occasion to share with them. It is going to be so much fun, I can't wait!
Monday, July 13, 2009
At a loss for words
My first job in my field came with a really amazing boss, Mr. Ken. We used to fly paper airplanes between our offices and giggle like school girls when the documents we were reading said erection when refering to erecting a tower. Since I quit, we have tried keeping in touch, emailing back and forth a few times a year to see how everyone's doing. The other day he found me on facebook and the first thing he says is Hey Ms. Erin, how is life treating you?
How exactly do I answer that? On one hand life is great. I am in love with an amazing guy, we bought a townhouse and are getting married in less than two monts. On the other hand, life sucks. The amazing guy I am in love with is incredibly sick and may be required to have surgery.
So when I answer, do I leave out the bad? Do people really want an honest answer then they ask how you are, or are they happier to hear that everyone is well? Lately I have answered honestly where ever possible. At my last shower, I made a point of telling people that the wedding plans were going so-so because D's health was touch and go. I wonder if they felt I was bringing the spirit of the occasion down. I feel bad for doing that, but also feel bad for denying my feelings if I pretend that everything is peachy keen.
How exactly do I answer that? On one hand life is great. I am in love with an amazing guy, we bought a townhouse and are getting married in less than two monts. On the other hand, life sucks. The amazing guy I am in love with is incredibly sick and may be required to have surgery.
So when I answer, do I leave out the bad? Do people really want an honest answer then they ask how you are, or are they happier to hear that everyone is well? Lately I have answered honestly where ever possible. At my last shower, I made a point of telling people that the wedding plans were going so-so because D's health was touch and go. I wonder if they felt I was bringing the spirit of the occasion down. I feel bad for doing that, but also feel bad for denying my feelings if I pretend that everything is peachy keen.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
It's all a blur...
Ever flown somewhere just for the day? I'm not talking about flying in the night before, having a day at your destination, and flying back. No. I mean fly in and out in the same day. Most sane people probably wouldn't attempt to do this, not unless your destination was somewhere like Timmons ON, where there would be a high likelihood that you could see most of it in one day. But what about someplace like New York City? Okay, so aparently my family is insane, because that is what we did this weekend. My parents, my sister and her finacee and I flew to NYC at 8 am and flew home at 8 pm (well 10 pm because the flight was delayed). Are we crazy??
Crazy or not, it was a lot of fun and extremely tiring. The day started very early. Up at 5 am to be out the door at 6:15 am to be at the airport to catch the flight at 8:30 am. We landed in NYC just before 10 and by the time we got off the plane, checked in for the flight home and made our way to Grand Central Terminal, it was nearly 11 am.
From there we split up, the boys went to the MET while the girls went shopping to find mom a dress to wear to my wedding in Sept. The shopping leg of our trip was a bust! First we went to Filene's basement, thinking they would have designer dresses on the cheap. However, they had NO dresses! None at all! That was a huge disappointment. From there we went to TJ Maxx which was just upstairs, and they didn't have much either. We decided to head up to Macy's. On the way there we stopped in at the Burlington Coat Factory. Mom tried on a few things, but nothing worked.
Then we saw a David's Bridal and thought we'd check that out. We did not expect to not be able to wander the store and just see what was around. You had to be escorted around by a consultant. So annoying! And since we are polite Canadians mom tried on a bunch of dresses even though she didn't like any of them. By this time it was getting close to lunch so we used that as an excuse to leave the store, finally! But we did not have enough time to still go to Macy's and meet the boys for lunch at the Empire State Building.
Lunch was at Sbarro's at the base of the Empire State Building. Basically, it is a pizza joint with a salad bar. We all had a slice of pizza that wasn't very good, in fact, it was only luke warm. So far the day wasn't turning out as we had hoped.
After lunch we took a cab down to Battery Park to catch the ferry to take us to Liberty isl and Ellis isl. The ferry was fun, we had a great spot to see everything, and even though dad lost his sunglasses overboard, it was probably the best part of the day.
Our first stop, Liberty Isl. On the island we each got an audio tour. The amout of American patriotic propaganda on the audio tour would have been funny if it weren't so annoying. It was like they were tryng ot make you weep with American pride or something, but if you aren't american, it does nothing. I ended up skipping most of it, and as a result, I skipped the only part that I would have found interesting... the architecture and engineering of her.
Just as we stepped back on the boat to head over to Ellis Isl. there was a sudden downpour. We were happy that we decided to stay inside near the door instead of out on the deck like we had on the way over. Because of the rain and becuase that audio tour took so long, we decided not to get off the ferry at Ellis Isl. Instead we just saw it from the boat.
When we got back to the main land we walked up to Ground Zero to have a look.
Then tried the NYC Subway system to get up to Times Square.
We spend a whole 10 min in Times Square before it was time to head back over to Grand Central Terminal to catch the bus back to the airport and head home.
Crazy or not, it was a lot of fun and extremely tiring. The day started very early. Up at 5 am to be out the door at 6:15 am to be at the airport to catch the flight at 8:30 am. We landed in NYC just before 10 and by the time we got off the plane, checked in for the flight home and made our way to Grand Central Terminal, it was nearly 11 am. From there we split up, the boys went to the MET while the girls went shopping to find mom a dress to wear to my wedding in Sept. The shopping leg of our trip was a bust! First we went to Filene's basement, thinking they would have designer dresses on the cheap. However, they had NO dresses! None at all! That was a huge disappointment. From there we went to TJ Maxx which was just upstairs, and they didn't have much either. We decided to head up to Macy's. On the way there we stopped in at the Burlington Coat Factory. Mom tried on a few things, but nothing worked.Then we saw a David's Bridal and thought we'd check that out. We did not expect to not be able to wander the store and just see what was around. You had to be escorted around by a consultant. So annoying! And since we are polite Canadians mom tried on a bunch of dresses even though she didn't like any of them. By this time it was getting close to lunch so we used that as an excuse to leave the store, finally! But we did not have enough time to still go to Macy's and meet the boys for lunch at the Empire State Building.
Lunch was at Sbarro's at the base of the Empire State Building. Basically, it is a pizza joint with a salad bar. We all had a slice of pizza that wasn't very good, in fact, it was only luke warm. So far the day wasn't turning out as we had hoped.After lunch we took a cab down to Battery Park to catch the ferry to take us to Liberty isl and Ellis isl. The ferry was fun, we had a great spot to see everything, and even though dad lost his sunglasses overboard, it was probably the best part of the day.
Dad with sunglasses.... and without!
Our first stop, Liberty Isl. On the island we each got an audio tour. The amout of American patriotic propaganda on the audio tour would have been funny if it weren't so annoying. It was like they were tryng ot make you weep with American pride or something, but if you aren't american, it does nothing. I ended up skipping most of it, and as a result, I skipped the only part that I would have found interesting... the architecture and engineering of her.Just as we stepped back on the boat to head over to Ellis Isl. there was a sudden downpour. We were happy that we decided to stay inside near the door instead of out on the deck like we had on the way over. Because of the rain and becuase that audio tour took so long, we decided not to get off the ferry at Ellis Isl. Instead we just saw it from the boat. When we got back to the main land we walked up to Ground Zero to have a look.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
High Tea
A couple of weeks ago, I had my first bridal shower. it was a wonderful tea party hosted by D's aunts complete with little finger sandwiches and big hats. I have been meaning to write this post for a while, but life has got in the way too many times.
For me, the shower was a weekend long event because my bestest friend J came to visit all weekend! The festivities started on Friday when I picked her up at the train station and we went shopping for our weekend project, a bird mobile. We headed over to Len's Mill Store and bought a bunch of retro cool fabrics to create our little birdies. Once home we ordered pizza, watched movies, and started sewing.
Saturday morning we went to the Farmers Market with my friend T and ate dumplings for breakfast and enjoyed the hustle and bustle and sunshine of a local Farmers Market. In addition to our bird mobile, we had another mission we had to complete before the shower. We needed a hat, because who has a hat fit for a fancy tea party hanging around any more??
Value Village was our first stop to try and find cheap big fancy hats. They had nothing. But they did have the Fisher Price Roller Skates that J and I used to have as kids, and believe it or not, I could still get my feet in them! It was, albeit, very tight and once my feet got too sore from skating around the store, we headed for Wal-Mart where I had previously seen hats for under $10. Sure enough, we found a couple of big floppy hats that were on budget - Mission accomplished! Back home to make more birds!
Sunday was the shower, it was so nice to be surrounded by the people closest to me and my new family and to be welcomed in so warmly. The food that one of the aunts prepared with her neighbour (a complete stranger to me) was fantastic! And there was sooo much of it with so may choices. I didn't get to try one of everything, but I'm sure all of it was just as wonderful as what I did try.
There were fun games and prizes, and the gifts that I received were wonderful. I have already put most of them to use, however, the lingerie will have to wait until after the wedding right??
When I got home from the shower, I pulled up to the house and called in for D to help me unload the car. No Answer. I could hear the TV on in the bedroom which meant that he was watching it from in bed instead of on the couch. Generally, that's an indication that he is not feeling well or is in pain. So, since the car was parked on the street, I unloaded it before going up to check on him. When I got upstairs, he was indeed in a lot of pain.
I have to say that the best gift of the day was not wrapped in paper, and it did not have a bow. It was a hand made card from D's cousin's daughter.
The true gift of that card was when I showed it to D, and through all of the pain, he smiled and said it made his day.
For me, the shower was a weekend long event because my bestest friend J came to visit all weekend! The festivities started on Friday when I picked her up at the train station and we went shopping for our weekend project, a bird mobile. We headed over to Len's Mill Store and bought a bunch of retro cool fabrics to create our little birdies. Once home we ordered pizza, watched movies, and started sewing.
Saturday morning we went to the Farmers Market with my friend T and ate dumplings for breakfast and enjoyed the hustle and bustle and sunshine of a local Farmers Market. In addition to our bird mobile, we had another mission we had to complete before the shower. We needed a hat, because who has a hat fit for a fancy tea party hanging around any more??
Value Village was our first stop to try and find cheap big fancy hats. They had nothing. But they did have the Fisher Price Roller Skates that J and I used to have as kids, and believe it or not, I could still get my feet in them! It was, albeit, very tight and once my feet got too sore from skating around the store, we headed for Wal-Mart where I had previously seen hats for under $10. Sure enough, we found a couple of big floppy hats that were on budget - Mission accomplished! Back home to make more birds!
Sunday was the shower, it was so nice to be surrounded by the people closest to me and my new family and to be welcomed in so warmly. The food that one of the aunts prepared with her neighbour (a complete stranger to me) was fantastic! And there was sooo much of it with so may choices. I didn't get to try one of everything, but I'm sure all of it was just as wonderful as what I did try.
There were fun games and prizes, and the gifts that I received were wonderful. I have already put most of them to use, however, the lingerie will have to wait until after the wedding right??
When I got home from the shower, I pulled up to the house and called in for D to help me unload the car. No Answer. I could hear the TV on in the bedroom which meant that he was watching it from in bed instead of on the couch. Generally, that's an indication that he is not feeling well or is in pain. So, since the car was parked on the street, I unloaded it before going up to check on him. When I got upstairs, he was indeed in a lot of pain.
I have to say that the best gift of the day was not wrapped in paper, and it did not have a bow. It was a hand made card from D's cousin's daughter.
Weddings are when a
princess falls in love with
a prince and gets married
Everybody is happy to
see you get married.
True loves forever.
Have a good wedding.
The true gift of that card was when I showed it to D, and through all of the pain, he smiled and said it made his day.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
45 Life Lessons
This was posted on the fridge at work today. I don't know who wrote it, or where it came from, so I apologize for any plagiarism.
1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short to wast time hating anyone.
4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
7. Cry with Someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.
13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be secret, you shouldn't be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.
16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will this matter?'
27. Always choose life.
28. Forgive everyone everything.
29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
33. Believe in Miracles.
34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.
35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.
37. Your children only get one childhood.
38. All that truly matters in the end is that you are loved.
39. Get outside every day.. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab our back.
41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
42. The best is yet to come.
43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
44. Yield.
45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.
While I may not necessarily agree with a few of these (if you know me, you know which ones) but there are many of them that I could take to heart.
1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short to wast time hating anyone.
4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
7. Cry with Someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.
13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be secret, you shouldn't be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.
16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will this matter?'
27. Always choose life.
28. Forgive everyone everything.
29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
33. Believe in Miracles.
34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.
35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.
37. Your children only get one childhood.
38. All that truly matters in the end is that you are loved.
39. Get outside every day.. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab our back.
41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
42. The best is yet to come.
43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
44. Yield.
45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.
While I may not necessarily agree with a few of these (if you know me, you know which ones) but there are many of them that I could take to heart.
Monday, June 8, 2009
Why children should write for Hallmark.
Weddings are when a
princess falls in love with
a prince and gets married
Everybody is happy to
see you get married.
True loves forever.
Have a good wedding.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Lazy Post.
I am going to ignore the fact that you are taking my picture. If I don't look at you, then you aren't really taking it.
Ok, ok, I'll indulge you... but don't expect me to look at you for long. I have things to do, butts to sniff, smelly things to roll in.
Who's there?? You didn't see that little photo shoot did you? I'm so embarrassed...
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Garden Updates
The hostas that D's mom gave me are doing wonderfully.
The varigated one is huge!
This unique yellow hosta was given to me by my friend and neighbour, T. Notice how the stems are red? It was not growing well in her full sun garden, but is flourishing in my shady one!
The astilbe that T also gave me is doing well. I've lost the tag she gave me with it, so I don't know when it will bloom, hopefully soon. The little purple flowers I bought at Wal-mart, but it wasn't until I got home that I realized that they were for full sun, we will see how they do in the shade, but I may have to give them to T next year.
The Daylilies from D's moms garden are just starting to bloom, I wonder what colour they are going to be? I can't remember what her looked like from last year, and I keep forgetting to ask her.
This is an Alpine Columbine that I bought from Wal-mart. I just love the unique shape of hte flower, but aparently it's hard to photograph with my camera...
This looks like I was down a hill trying to take this picture, but there is no hill there!
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
And... we're done
See? I knew that happy feeling wouldn't last long.
Three weeks ago (three weeks already!!) D went to see our GP about a red spot above his belly button that was very tender and hard, like a penny under his skin. She took one look at him and sent him right to emergency to be seen by the surgeon. It was an abscess/fistula that needed to be drained. The procedure of draining it was very traumatic. A little local anesthetic, and a slice. The Dr. didn't even give him any pain medication for after the anesthetic wore off. Luckily my sister had some percocet left over that my mom brought over to us.
That first weekend was rough. The surgeon didn't put a big enough bandage on the wound and the first night D bled all over him self and the bed. F#$&ing surgeon, can't properly dress a wound and wasn't concerned with his comfort at all! The next day we went to the hospital again, this time to the Community Care Access Center Ambulatory Clinic to have the dressing changed. The nurses there are very nice.
"Is that all they put on there?" Was her reaction to seeing the amount of gauze the surgeon put over the incision.
Every day D has to go back to the clinic to get the dressings changed. Inside the incision is a strip of gauze that they call a "wick", just like a candle. It is used to keep the incision from healing and to promote drainage of the fistula.
Over the last three weeks there have been some ups and downs, and last week we honestly thought things were starting to look up. He was off the antibiotics, it was draining less, the nurses were even talking about having him come in every other day instead of every day. However, this weekend D took a turn for the worse. He started having a lot of pain on his right side, where his inflammation is and the wound started draining A LOT.
Even the big pads the nurses put on haven't been able to contain it the last couple nights. Yesterday D called his specialist to see if he should be back on more antibiotics, but he wasn't in until today. This morning when he went to the clinic, the nurse thought that perhaps he should be on IV antibiotics. That would require him being admitted to the hospital. I really hope that it doesn't come to that, because he would be really upset if he had to miss a bunch of work. That would upset him more than actually being sick.
** Updated** D does not have to be on IV antiboitics. However, he will be back on pill form antibiotics for the next month.
Three weeks ago (three weeks already!!) D went to see our GP about a red spot above his belly button that was very tender and hard, like a penny under his skin. She took one look at him and sent him right to emergency to be seen by the surgeon. It was an abscess/fistula that needed to be drained. The procedure of draining it was very traumatic. A little local anesthetic, and a slice. The Dr. didn't even give him any pain medication for after the anesthetic wore off. Luckily my sister had some percocet left over that my mom brought over to us.
That first weekend was rough. The surgeon didn't put a big enough bandage on the wound and the first night D bled all over him self and the bed. F#$&ing surgeon, can't properly dress a wound and wasn't concerned with his comfort at all! The next day we went to the hospital again, this time to the Community Care Access Center Ambulatory Clinic to have the dressing changed. The nurses there are very nice.
"Is that all they put on there?" Was her reaction to seeing the amount of gauze the surgeon put over the incision.
Every day D has to go back to the clinic to get the dressings changed. Inside the incision is a strip of gauze that they call a "wick", just like a candle. It is used to keep the incision from healing and to promote drainage of the fistula.
Over the last three weeks there have been some ups and downs, and last week we honestly thought things were starting to look up. He was off the antibiotics, it was draining less, the nurses were even talking about having him come in every other day instead of every day. However, this weekend D took a turn for the worse. He started having a lot of pain on his right side, where his inflammation is and the wound started draining A LOT.
Even the big pads the nurses put on haven't been able to contain it the last couple nights. Yesterday D called his specialist to see if he should be back on more antibiotics, but he wasn't in until today. This morning when he went to the clinic, the nurse thought that perhaps he should be on IV antibiotics. That would require him being admitted to the hospital. I really hope that it doesn't come to that, because he would be really upset if he had to miss a bunch of work. That would upset him more than actually being sick.
** Updated** D does not have to be on IV antiboitics. However, he will be back on pill form antibiotics for the next month.
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Sunshine and Rainbows
I'm not exactly sure what has got into me the last few days; maybe it is the weather, maybe the long weekend, maybe it's the donuts that were brought into the office, I don't know. But whatever it is, it is fantastic! I am so happy. I noticed it yesterday at lunch. I went to Tim Hortons for some soup because I didn't have any left at work and as I was standing in line I couldn't help but smile. I was smiling at the little old men that probably go there every day for coffee, and at the way the sun hit the maple trees blowing in the wind. I was happy and content. I felt muscles in my face relax that I didn't even know were tense. It was wonderful.
I am well aware of how fleeting these moments of true happiness are, so I am savouring every second of it.
I am well aware of how fleeting these moments of true happiness are, so I am savouring every second of it.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Long Weekend Projects
Back to work after a lovely long weekend. It came early this year, which I don't like because of the higher probability of cold weather. Saturday ended up raining a bit so it was a good thing we tackled our first project that day and stayed indoors cleaning the house. D's mom and some of her girlfriends were passing through town and had not seen the house, so they were going to be stopping by. Our house has not been this sparkling since we moved in! And it stayed clean for about a whole 24 hrs.
Sunday we started our biggest project of the weekend, new lighting for the kitchen and bathrooms! We have been waiting for a tax refund to be able to buy the lights and that, after a year, finally came in last week so we went shopping! The first store we tried to go to was closed, and the second one was too expensive but we found all 5 light fixtures we needed at Canadian Tire of all places. A couple were even on sale! We managed to get the first one installed before my parents came over for dinner that night (we thought we'd take advantage of the clean house and have everyone in). We almost installed 2 more on Monday but realized that we need a ceiling hook to complete the light over the kitchen table, so that will have to wait. for now, it is hanging so low that it is almost hiting the back of the chair. I'm not sure when we will be able to get to the bathroom vanity lights. Hopefully soon.
The last project this weekend was kind of impromtu. I went to the garden center with my neighbour T, just to have a look, and found some wonderful purple and white flowers. I planted them in some urns in the front of our house.
Sunday we started our biggest project of the weekend, new lighting for the kitchen and bathrooms! We have been waiting for a tax refund to be able to buy the lights and that, after a year, finally came in last week so we went shopping! The first store we tried to go to was closed, and the second one was too expensive but we found all 5 light fixtures we needed at Canadian Tire of all places. A couple were even on sale! We managed to get the first one installed before my parents came over for dinner that night (we thought we'd take advantage of the clean house and have everyone in). We almost installed 2 more on Monday but realized that we need a ceiling hook to complete the light over the kitchen table, so that will have to wait. for now, it is hanging so low that it is almost hiting the back of the chair. I'm not sure when we will be able to get to the bathroom vanity lights. Hopefully soon.
The last project this weekend was kind of impromtu. I went to the garden center with my neighbour T, just to have a look, and found some wonderful purple and white flowers. I planted them in some urns in the front of our house.
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Our One Year Anniversary
May 1 2008 started out like any other day; we got up, and went to work like always. But when the phone rang at 3 o'clock that afternoon, everything changed. It was our lawyer calling to say that our massive amount of debt is official and we can come in and pick up the keys to our new home. I then left work early, went to his office and was handed a small brown envelope that held 2 keys on chains from his practice. From there, I drove back to our apartment to pick up D and Jak so we could all go to the new house together as a family. Together, we unlocked the door to our new home and life together.
Jak was very unsure about his new surroundings and tip-toed around for the first hour, not really leaving our side for fear that we would abandon him here. Jak is a rescue dog and we are his 3rd set of owners (not including the humane society where I got him from) so he is in constant fear of abandonment.
We had a few boxes that we brought over to store in the basement, but other than that, we were not moving any of our stuff in yet. When we gave our 2 months notice to the landlord at the apartment we were told that we would have to be out by noon on April 30 --- April 30?? but we don't have our new house until May 1, what are we supposed to do for the night?? To get a truck overnight and pay for a hotel was more than half the rent. We paid for another months rent.
That night we cleaned until almost 11pm and even though I was tempted to camp out in a sleepingbag ont he bedroom floor, we headed back to the apartment and left our house. Living at the apartment that month worked out really well because we were able to get in and clean and paint the entire house without having to live in the mess and worry about getting paint on the furniture.
With the help of our families, over the next few weeks the house slowly transformed from what used to be a student residence into our love nest.
We painted every wall and every piece of trim on the main and second floor - we dared not tackle the basement... too scary!
Jak was very unsure about his new surroundings and tip-toed around for the first hour, not really leaving our side for fear that we would abandon him here. Jak is a rescue dog and we are his 3rd set of owners (not including the humane society where I got him from) so he is in constant fear of abandonment.
We had a few boxes that we brought over to store in the basement, but other than that, we were not moving any of our stuff in yet. When we gave our 2 months notice to the landlord at the apartment we were told that we would have to be out by noon on April 30 --- April 30?? but we don't have our new house until May 1, what are we supposed to do for the night?? To get a truck overnight and pay for a hotel was more than half the rent. We paid for another months rent.
That night we cleaned until almost 11pm and even though I was tempted to camp out in a sleepingbag ont he bedroom floor, we headed back to the apartment and left our house. Living at the apartment that month worked out really well because we were able to get in and clean and paint the entire house without having to live in the mess and worry about getting paint on the furniture.
With the help of our families, over the next few weeks the house slowly transformed from what used to be a student residence into our love nest.
Bathroom Before* & After
We painted every wall and every piece of trim on the main and second floor - we dared not tackle the basement... too scary!
Scary Basement
We replaced the flooring in the downstairs, and I installed a dishwasher**!
Kitchen Before and After
Living Room Before and After
And we will live Happily Ever After!
*Yes, it really was that bright!
**Yep- that's right- all by my self! D handed me some tools and bits every now and then, but I did it!
Thursday, May 7, 2009
A Tip
Advice from Grandma's scrapbook for my friend who is having school group work troubles today...
Maybe, if you’d try, young fellow,
You could make the grade.
But you’ll never do it sitting
Idle and afraid.
Maybe, if that job you’d tackle
With your might and main,
You could do it. But to sit there
Dreading it, is vain.
Maybe, if you worked, young fellow,
You could reach the top.
But you’ll never get there while you
At each barrier stop.
If you’d only keep on going
You might climb the bluff,
But you’ll never do it grumbling
That the road is rough.
If you’d buckle in, young fellow,
You might win a prize.
But rewards are only given
To the youth who tries.
Sitting down and loudly sighing
At each sign of care
Will not, this is straight, young fellow,
Get you anywhere.
You could make the grade.
But you’ll never do it sitting
Idle and afraid.
Maybe, if that job you’d tackle
With your might and main,
You could do it. But to sit there
Dreading it, is vain.
Maybe, if you worked, young fellow,
You could reach the top.
But you’ll never get there while you
At each barrier stop.
If you’d only keep on going
You might climb the bluff,
But you’ll never do it grumbling
That the road is rough.
If you’d buckle in, young fellow,
You might win a prize.
But rewards are only given
To the youth who tries.
Sitting down and loudly sighing
At each sign of care
Will not, this is straight, young fellow,
Get you anywhere.
-Edgar A. Guest
Thinking
If you think you are beaten, you are.
If you think you dare not, you don’t.
If you’d like to win, but you think you can’t,
It’s almost a cinch that you won't.
If you think that you’ll lose, you’re lost,
For out of the world we find
Success begins with a fellow’s will,
It’s all in the state of mind.
If you think you’re outclassed, you are,
You’ve got to think high to rise.
You’ve got to be sure of yourself before
You can ever win a prize.
Life’s battle doesn’t always go
To the swifter or faster man,
But sooner or later the man who wins,
Is the man who thinks he can.
CONCERNED*
*I don't know who wrote this, but it was in Grandma's Scrapbook, if I am infringing on any copyright, I'm sorry.
If you think you dare not, you don’t.
If you’d like to win, but you think you can’t,
It’s almost a cinch that you won't.
If you think that you’ll lose, you’re lost,
For out of the world we find
Success begins with a fellow’s will,
It’s all in the state of mind.
If you think you’re outclassed, you are,
You’ve got to think high to rise.
You’ve got to be sure of yourself before
You can ever win a prize.
Life’s battle doesn’t always go
To the swifter or faster man,
But sooner or later the man who wins,
Is the man who thinks he can.
CONCERNED*
*I don't know who wrote this, but it was in Grandma's Scrapbook, if I am infringing on any copyright, I'm sorry.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
I think I'm in love
The company I work for has outgrown our current office and we are moving to the next town over to a new building that is currently under construction. Right now our offices are all spread out covering two floors and a second building. When we move in July we will finally all be under one roof and all on one level. The only drawback about this move is that we will no longer have a coffee shop within walking distance. So we are looking at alternatives. This week we are having a trial run of a coffee system from Van Hauten seen here:
Totally amazing right?! Each one of those packets is a different flavor of coffee! There are 4 kinds of tea, 3 kinds of hot chocolate, and a milk packet that you can add to coffee to make cappuccino or add to the hotchocolate to make it yummy creamy and delicious, or you can add it to the chai tea for a chai latte! Each cup is made individually so it's always perfect, which is good, because I can't make coffee to save my life.
Totally amazing right?! Each one of those packets is a different flavor of coffee! There are 4 kinds of tea, 3 kinds of hot chocolate, and a milk packet that you can add to coffee to make cappuccino or add to the hotchocolate to make it yummy creamy and delicious, or you can add it to the chai tea for a chai latte! Each cup is made individually so it's always perfect, which is good, because I can't make coffee to save my life.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
The Making of a Garden
Last year at this time, while we had possession of our house, we hadn't yet moved in. We were busy painting all the walls, installing a dishwasher, and replacing the floors. There was so much work going on inside, that we didn't bother to do anything with the yard. It did help that a month after moving in, I lost my job and we had no money to do anything outside either... but that's another story.
This year however, with the early warm weather, I got the itch to start a garden. I started with this:
This is hanging just outside the patio doors and it contains: Rosemary, Peppermint, and Oregano.
I have another hanging basket shown here:
It has two basil plants (love basil) and dill. I still have to find somewhere with a lot of sun to hang it. Next to that, is a HUGE chive plant that D's mom divided from her garden. That is going to be lovely in sour cream on potatoes from the bbq... mmmmmm. And in the big green metal pot is a hazel tree that D liked. That pot does not drain, so hopefully that tree can swim. Actually I think we may have to dig that tree out and create drainage in the bottom or at least put more plants in there to use up some of that water.
And finally the pièce de résistance, my little shade garden:
It contains hostas and daylilies from D's mom's garden, a couple hostas and an astilbe from my neighbour, T's, garden that didn't grow in hers because her yard is full sun. The rocks around the edge are ones that I dug up while making this garden (no wonder the grass wasn't growing), I hope to slowly replace those stones with ones from the cottage.
Speaking of the cottage, something I haven't done in a while, here is a clipping from my Grandma's Scrapbook:
This year however, with the early warm weather, I got the itch to start a garden. I started with this:
This is hanging just outside the patio doors and it contains: Rosemary, Peppermint, and Oregano.I have another hanging basket shown here:
It has two basil plants (love basil) and dill. I still have to find somewhere with a lot of sun to hang it. Next to that, is a HUGE chive plant that D's mom divided from her garden. That is going to be lovely in sour cream on potatoes from the bbq... mmmmmm. And in the big green metal pot is a hazel tree that D liked. That pot does not drain, so hopefully that tree can swim. Actually I think we may have to dig that tree out and create drainage in the bottom or at least put more plants in there to use up some of that water.And finally the pièce de résistance, my little shade garden:
It contains hostas and daylilies from D's mom's garden, a couple hostas and an astilbe from my neighbour, T's, garden that didn't grow in hers because her yard is full sun. The rocks around the edge are ones that I dug up while making this garden (no wonder the grass wasn't growing), I hope to slowly replace those stones with ones from the cottage.
Speaking of the cottage, something I haven't done in a while, here is a clipping from my Grandma's Scrapbook:
Results & Roses
Via Aunt Grace Keller
The man who wants a garden fair,
Or small, or very big.
With flowers growing here and there
Must bend his back, and dig.
The things are mighty few on earth
That wishes can attain
Whate’er we want of any worth
We’ve go to work, to gain.
It matters not what good you seek
It’s secret here reposes:
You’ve got to dig from week to week
To get results, – or roses.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Eat my words
My earliest recollection of the phrase "Eat Your Words" is from the movie Puff the Magic Dragon, when the scary pirate tells the little boy that he will make him eat is words. At the time, I had no idea what that meant, but it sounded like a monumental task, and pictured a giant block letter A with a bite out of it. I always wondered what, exactly, words tasted like... chicken perhaps? Everything tastes like chicken...
But now, I am forced to eat my words. They actually taste like paper. A while ago I posted that April showers do not bring May flowers. Then this happened:
What are these flowers doing out??? Don't they realize that it is still going to get cold and snow and it will kill them? I privately mourned the little flowers and their untimely suicide. At least the trees were smart, they were with me, they hadn't started blooming yet. The trees are like adults, cynical, not believing the warm weather, waiting patiently for the inevitable late April snow storm. While the flowers are like children; wearing shorts and riding bikes, out there soaking up all the early sunshine. It is not even May yet, and there will still be more showers to come, but on Tuesday morning I came out of my house to find my tree had betrayed me, and was playing in the sun with all the kids.
So I will take my cue from the trees and the children, and start my summertime fun by planting a garden in our yard. Stay tuned for more on that.
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