House/Cat Sitting Day 3 - July 1st Happy Canada Day!

Well, as the saying goes, "late to bed- late to rise"... that may not be how the saying goes but that's certainly how it goes. So why do I feel guilty sleeping in? I mean, it's not like I have any specific agenda. This is a holiday of sorts, isn't it?

That's not how the human spirit works, though. Take my son, Brent, for instance. Always acting up in church and at school. One day, on one of my many trips to the school at the beckoning of the principal, I arrived to find Brent in a room devoid of furniture, books, and, well, completely empty - except for my son who was quite busy as it turns out. He'd fashioned a toy out of fluff, an overlooked paper clip and some bits of paper. That's the human spirit - always looking for something to do, some way to create, something to say - "I've been here and I made my mark."

Well, I made my mark today, alright. Boy, wait until those two get home...lol! No, it's not that bad - the pantry and the spice/baking supplies cupboards look good...really.

The cats think I'm nuts, although I think Jade secretly wants to be me when she grows up. I saw her peeking around the corner as I danced wildly around the living room to some 70's music on a cable TV music station. When I looked at her, she found her paws to be rather interesting

Tigger - he just disappeared. He's no fool...lol!!

I thought Jade would follow him when I performed my 'Stomp" routine with an empty 18L water jug and an empty 4l beverage container. That was soooo much fun. I think I really might have some talent in that direction...just ask Jade!

I saved $ again today by making my own pizza instead of calling Pizza 73. I used some Costco pizza that I brought and added orange peppers, vidalia onion, Parmesan, cheddar and mozzarella cheeses. I even made some dipping sauce with mayo, BBQ sauce and a little honey...mmm

I won a game of Spider solitaire (2 suits) and gave my lungs a real workout singing along with Otis Redding on the dock of the bay, Aretha Franklin looking for a little respect and Jim Croce's old friend bad, bad Leroy Brown. ... guess it's a little late to see if I left any windows open...
...ooops...
...blush...
...hey, what's all that clapping out there...
...hold it down, I'll sign the recording contract tomorrow...
...lol!!!!!!!

Ok...off to bed. It's after midnight and "The Shunning" awaits!

House/Cat Sitting Day 2 - June 30th

Awake 7ish, we stayed in bed snoozing until the kids left for work, then up and at it.

Got to the Temple for 9:30. I love it there. I wish I could stay there forever - it's so peaceful and beautiful and free from worldly cares, but life cannot be avoided or circumvented so it was back out the doors and to Costco about noon.

We ate a quick lunch, did a bit of shopping - strawberries, blueberries, cherries and this very cool salad. It's called Ancient Grains and it's absolutely nummy. You can eat it as it is or add peppers, cucumber, red onion (or whatever) and serve it on top of lettuce or add it to a wrap....mmmmm.

Back to Crissy's where Bernard got his things together and left - first to go to a job site to check out measurements etc. and then he's back home to Linden.

The kids finished packing, making lunches and left around 4.

Hmmm...on my own...in a strange city...no around to watch...hmmmm what do you think was the first thing I did?

If you said "watch TV", you'd be right! All those channels, a PS3, DVDs, ... the mind was boggled!

I watched a DVD, then some TV. I found "The No.1 Ladies Detective Agency" and was in my glory. Precious Ramotswe is a wonderful detective and her Mr. JLB Maketoni is the wonderful owner of Speedy Motors. They live in Botswana, Africa and I'm going there to visit them one day!

Ok...I know they aren't real...sigh... but it is a great series of books and, now, a mini series as well.

I wanted Chinese food for supper but felt that will all the food in the fridge - I'd save my $ and eat in. I made a great wrap, had some of that amazing Ancient Grains salad and lots of cherries!

Remind me to never again...ever again...eeeewww...make and eat a bag of Act II sugar-free kettle corn popcorn!!!! Nasssty stuffsss that isss!

Off to bed...later than last night...1ish to read more of "The Shunning". I am noticing a trend in these novels by this author. There is always someone rebelling or wanting to rebel against the Old Order in the Amish community. They also seem to revolve around unplanned pregnancy, the death ( or supposed death) of the infant and a suspicious adoption of an infant. I don't mind reading predictable stories but if I sense this series is going to be a repeat of the previous one...well, I guess I'll have to go sit in the lobby and read a Movie magazine...lol!

House/Cat Sitting Day 1 - June 29th

Bernard and I arrived here around 11:30, stopped to get house keys from Cristen only to be told that Chris was at home getting the house ready. I didn't want to interrupt his groove so we just dropped off a few things and I had Bernard drop me off at Costco wheile he went to a business meeting.

Costco is a great place to wander around and get your 'steps' in, especially when you KNOW you aren't buying anything (until tomorrow when there'll be room in Crissy's fridge for your stuff). I really wanted to buy some books, though...but I didn't. Money is tight (when isn't it...lol!)and I do have a library card.

Bernard snuck up on me in Costco - I was in the process of calling him - he'd dropped me off an hour and a half previously - and 'poof' there he was at my side with his phone ringing! He was full of good news - the fellow he'd gone to see has work for him and while he was there another fellow he'd wanted to talk to called the first fellow and Bernard was able to get work from the second fellow, too! (Was that to many fellows to follow...? lol!)

Next, we decided to use a 'free' movie pass so we saw Night at the Museum - Battle of the Smithsonian. DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT was your valuable time and money. That is just under an hour that I will never get back. You heard right, just under an hour - because that's all I could stand before I elected to go to the lobby and read the Movie magazine. Bernard followed shortly after. You know what they say about sequels? Well, this one proved the stereotype. Seriously, only go if you want your intelligence to be insulted and you just can't wait to be bored to death.

Anyways, off to find a Walmart - a quick call to Chris who jumped on his Blackberry to find the nearest location - where I got a backpack to carry things in as I'm on foot this trip. We were in and out of the store in 10 minutes with ONLY the backpack - some pretty serious hunting, I'd say. Get in , get the goods, get out...yup.

We all went to Swiss Chalet for dinner - pecan pie is great...when it's warmed up...which it wasn't...but it was still good.

Stayed up late watching TV and talking and making Banana Bread Muffins...off to bed 11ish to read 'The Shunning" by Beverly Lewis.

ZZZZZZzzzzzzz......

I Have to Say it...

Bernard, you are one awesome guy.

I first met you 25 years ago in Sidney, BC at a corn roast at the Church. You and I shared many a laugh as you helped me wallpaper my newly rented home. After one of your many visits, I'd wake up Trish and we'd follow you a bit. You always went to the 7-11 to pick up a snack for the road home - we'd giggle and hurry home to our beds.

I waited and waited for you to 'pop' the question and in June of 1986 you finally did. I was both amazed and took in my stride the fact that you married me and became the father figure for my three children all on the same day.

Adjusting was hard - in fact, in some ways, we are all still adjusting but then, that's what families do as they grow. You brought a calm 'even-ness' to our family. I had tried to ride both horses at the same time and was mighty saddle sore by the time you came along. I was grateful to leave some decisions completely with you. Other ones we fought over. It seemed I was constantly choosing between you and the kids.

Because you didn't show your emotions like I did, the kids and I had a hard time 'reading' you and trying to figure things out. One time you explained - to Trish, I think - it may have been to Cristen - that although you weren't jumping up and down on the outside, you were jumping up and down on the inside.

I think once I figured that out, I supported you much better as a wife and as a mother. I knew the lives, well being and hearts of all of us were safe with you.

You have certainly gone the extra mile. You have fed us, sheltered us and clothed our mortal bodies. You have provided strength, love and encouragement to our spiritual bodies as you have held the priesthood of God with honor. You have worried with us, laughed with us and hugged us with your strong arms.

My heart swells with love each time you are called upon for advice from one of the kids and I look forward to raising the ones we lost to miscarriage in the life to come.

Happy Father's Day my 'handsome man!'

Sheesh!...(lol!)

Okay...okay...quit pushing will ya? Sheesh. A girl just can't get any rest around here, can she?

Just kidding... I'm glad there are a few of you who enjoy my blog enough to let me know I haven't been keeping up as well as you'd like me to be doing. And come to think of it, they do say that there is no rest for the wicked and as I really don't want to be seen as a wicked I guess I better start writing.

Actually it's more like speaking than writing. I have this new voice recognition software called Dragon Naturally Speaking that I'm using and it's really kind of neat. After you have the software set up all you really need to do is speak into the microphone and away it goes. It will type about 40, no sorry, it will type about 140 words a minute.

I'm using it to get my hands a rest. Some of you might know I have carpal tunnel in both wrists and am playing the doctor game until I can get surgery on them and get my life back to normal.

Anyway, the microphone on the headset that comes with the software decided it was going to work anymore. So I contacted the company through e-mail to find out what I should do about getting it replaced. If any of you dealt with tech support in any measure you will know what I've been through. They sent me a whole list of things to do including calling their helpline for my one and only free call. Before I went through any of their list of things to do, I did what I thought was smart and checked the software with another microphone I have. And lo and behold that microphone worked so that tells me that the microphone on the headset that came the software does not work.

I then went through the list of things they had sent me to do and, so I could say that I had performed all the tests, I performed all the tests. Guess what? The microphone became at the headset is dead.

I decided not to call the helpline and use my one and only free call because I'd already determined through the other tests that the microphone that came at the headset was indeed dead. I e-mailed customer support and reported that I had performed all the tasks and that the microphone was indeed dead. Let me say at this point that it was very interesting that at the end of the list, the very last of all the tests they wanted me to do was to try another microphone to see if it worked. Now why they didn't start with that test is beyond me.

Anyway, they e-mailed back suggesting I call tech support to verify that the microphone is not working. I e-mailed them back to say that I preferred to use my one and only free call on a matter that I could not resolve but, if they wanted, I would call tech support.

Their reply to me was that I have 90 days free support - so where did that come from? Does that mean every time I contact them warranty grows and grows and grows ? After all it's gone from one free phone call to 90 days free support in four e-mails.

Let's just say I'm glad I have that in an e-mail from them.

I am now off to call tech support... this should be fun... sort of like a rope burn I'm thinking.

Ah well, what else is a gal supposed to do on a hot summer day besides getting hotter under the collar?

I'll keep you informed.

Spring/Summer at last!

Last Monday, as we made our fifth trip from the rear shed to the newly remodeled front flower bed with one of many armfuls of perennials gleaned from a local garage sale, my husband stopped suddenly and I nearly ran into him. With a look of apprehension on his face he turned to me and said, "It feels so...strange today." He paused, looked slowly around and, with guarded wonder shining from his eyes, said"...it's warm out here!"

Isn't that the truth here in Alberta? When Spring finally comes, it's like summer follows so quickly on it's heels that it almost overuns it and we can scarce believe our good luck! No more parkas and mitts - it's time for flip-flops, t-shirts and all the cream bronzer we can slather on!

Why the cream bronzer you ask?

Well, on the prairies it's been known to snow in August so with that short of a summer facing us we need to get our tans in asap. Just make sure you put it on evenly. There is nothing nastier to look at than orange streaks on lily white arms and legs competing with blue sunblock on the noses that our Hollywood-style sunglasses sit on .

That is unless you count Uncle Leroy's ensemble. Plaid quilted shirt done up to the belly button, a two-hole-in-the-front-t-shirt from "I ate at May's Restaurant" underneath, with a cheap gold rope chain peeking out through a mound of salt and pepper chest hair. His grease stained khaki's are ripped off mid-calf and he wears those grey wool socks with the little red line around the top - one down around one skinny ankle and the other reaching just to the botton of a knobby knee barely covering up a bad case of exzema. Top that off with a pair of faded green alligator cowboy boots with last year's barnyard sludge still on them and a sweat stained, dust dyed Blue-Jays ball cap shoved on top of thin greasy grey hair tied in a 5 day-old ponytail and you have one sad looking camper, yes siree!

So get out there and get the sun while you can - don't worry about sunburn, the snow'll take care of that soon enough!

I'll be right back...after this station break...

Life has been it's usual mad gala social whirl...ahem. I will post again soon and I give thanks to those of you who continue to check this blog - I will post some neat things soon!