New "Toy"

Awhile back I got a 20 gallon aquarium from Nathalie. Once I figured out what was what and washed everything, scraping and scrubbing and rinsing..blah blah blah, it was readyish. Yesterday I set 'er up!!! Taaaahhh daaaaaahhhh!
This is quite fun you know. We have been looking at fishies and I have compiled a list. I hav two airstones for lotsa bubbles..I like bubbles. And the opening and closing treasure chest was annoying so now its been adjusted to stay open. We had to buy a new heater, the old one wasn't heating. Richard found the old pump too noisy so he demanded anew , more powerful but almost silent pump. Who am I to say no???! Especially since he was all"No aquarium" and now he's picking things out and testing Ph and wanting Angelfish. hahahahahahahaha Aquarium conquers hard ass..News at 11.
So this is what I turn to the right and look at 10 feet away, while sitting here at the computer. Don't you feel like you're here??

Sexy Beast

Regarde! The sexy red moster that now inhabits my kitchen and my heart!! The Kitchen Aid Tilt Head mixer..yeah baby. Its allllll mine. Look how it shines in all its empire red glory. Don't you just wanna touch it? Caress it? Lick it? Yeah, me too.

Boxing Day Sales

This is probably my favorite part of living here .... the kick ass sales!! Sigh...fabulous!
We had a gift card for the Eaton Center and it bought me a gorgeous leather shoulder bag (my poor purse was falling apart) and half the price of a half off lambskin car coat for Richard. Its soooo soft and looks great on him. And did I mention a full 50% off? Woohooo.
After that we were outside and decided to look for a stylish (well...for me anyways) jacket for me. Additionelle had 60% off and for 3 days a further 30% off the last sale price. So I got a powder blue quilted style nylon jacket for getting around in. Its sooo pretty.
Then we hit Indigo and each got a book...more discounts!.. Richard got a novel and I got Knitting For Peace, a book about charitable knitting. It has simple patterns for various charity donations too. Its awesome.
All in all a terrific togetherness kind of afternoon in which the poor credit card got a wee workout. Come ooooon payday.

Boxing Day

Well, Christmas morning was not the fiasco I was expecting at alll. In fact it was possibly the bestest ever! Except for being awakened at 4 am. That was NOT the bestest ever.
By 5ish we were downstairs:put the dog out, feed the cats, mix the christmas morning mimosas for the grown ups, juice for kids. The whole time the kids are bleating " Now? Now? Now?". Finally mommy and daddy's frantic scurrrying and "Just one sec" mantras were over and we settled in the living room to parcel out gifts. And it was great. Wonderful. Exactly the way a christmas morning should be. The boys were thrilled with those gifts and stocking gifts that they did recieve so there wasn't any unhappiness that they didn't get x or y or MORE. And I should have know better than to worry because we have always pushed the togetherness as opposed to gifts. I should have trusted their better natures.
What a great holiday.

Uh Oh

So...we just finished all the wrapping. Its is done. And Santa fucked up big time.
See..this is what happenes when two people shop. One thinks the other bought blah and the other thinks one did. We did go out and shopped until we thought we'd go blind...it seemed like we bought a lot. But then its all wrapped and its not all that much.
And we say "ooh that'd be great for christmas"..then don't buy it. Wait til next week we say.. Well guess what???
Its fucking christmas eve and the pickings are slim for the kids because mommy and daddy are IDIOTS!!!!!!

The 22nd

Depending on your calendar, Happy Day After Solstice or Happy Solstice! Ra! Ra! Ra! He's a Sun god! He's fun god! Ra! Ra! Ra!
Ok..thats done.
I finally made it out of my cozy womb that is my basement, to attend a stitch and bitch with the Montreal Knitters. It was so awesome to sit and sip and knit with like minded people. The gals that showed up were so nice and friendly and inspire me to new knitting heights. I finished Richard's earflap hat which I actually followed the pattern for, more or less. It turned out real good! I'm very proud.
Yesterady I had a couple of culinary disasters. One, exploding candy canes, and 2, fucked up cookie dough. The candy canes didn't actually explode but the may as well have for the mess that happened when I was crushing them for a recipe. Word of advice: Buy the really really tough zip lock bags for recipes that call for crushing, pounding, or whacking.
As for the cookie dough, this was so we could make sugar cookies but i somehow frigged up the ingredient and had to spend much times and effort and hair pulling in fixing the recipe. Grrr....

It never fails. I try to be motherly and it all goes to 773H Upside Down Street in a handbasket. At least I didn't lose an eye in the candy cane fiasco. Those fuckers are sharp.

So now its the 22nd and school is out for the holidays as of lunch time today. They go back on the 8th (I think) so no early alarm clock for me for several days. WooHoo!

Also, the turkey is frozen hard as rock. Should I take it out today to thaw in the fridge for brining on Sunday for cooking on Monday? Just wondering...........

There is a blog for everything

I present to you all..the fruitcake blog.. http://mondofruitcake.blogspot.com/
I accept your thanks and send them on to Sul-dog and Sween without whom, I'd not know this.

Yule-ishness

I keep trying to load up pictures but its not happening. grrrrr. I'm sure all are waiting with baited breath to see our tree etc. NOT....LOL
So, here we are...the Yule season! Solstice is Thursday...yay..longest night leading us to the return of the Light as the days commence to gettin' longer. Woohoo.
I have to miss Marla's Solstice party again this year since I'm hundreds of miles away. Her's was the first Solstice party I ever attended..think Christmas party without Jesus..thats a Solstice party. Great food, fun folk, happy kids hopped up on candy canes, a beautiful tree and many references to the Sun, Light, Winter, and Nature. siiiiiggghhhhh It was so awesome and a really pivotal moment when I was in a bit of a spiritual no man's land after turning away from christianity and exploring other ideas of what I believe and trust in.
What ya have to know about Marla (besides that everything is all about her..kidding...its our joke cuz we got in a fight one time about that) is that no event is a simple dull thing when she gets her organizy mitts on it. She made Ice lanterns...basically candle holders made of ice....for outdoors...had candles for lighting our way to her little pine grove where we had a simple ritual...had a fire outside in the fire pit for roasting hot dogs and adding its strength to the sun (spiritually..we are NOT idiots, just pagans), a solstice tree that is decorated with yellow paper suns on which we wrote what brings light into our lives.... I'm telling you..she could, and perhaps should write a book on how to throw a family friendly solstice party. Last year she was in Cuba/Florida on her sailboat and I was here in Quebec. This year she's home in Nova Scotia, planning the party and I am here. I think I will make an ice lantern or two so's I can light candles in them and bring me closer to her Thursday night as we welcome the sun's return.
Yesterday, I was at Melange for my MPRC shift. May I just say that I really like the new MPRC layout. I can watch the goings on in the store and am no longer hidden in a dark corner. I did some shopping after my shift. Robin was so helpful! She got me my twiggy pentagrams, a pentacle pendant for my kitten's collar (thats another story..) and was able to just be friendly and helpful and sooo Roo-ish. Her hair is growing in so good now from her Shave To Save experience where one raises funds for cancer research and then has their head shaved. Anyways, I got the most awesome hug from her when I left because I won't see the folk at Melange for two weeks or so due to holidays. Nathalie was sooooo busy with customers...go often and spend much because Melange Magique is a terrific resource for Pagans needing pagan stuffs and information. These a good kind people here. ... so we could only blow kisses briefly and poor Eri lost her great aunt to cancer this week so as I hugged her and wished her a happy Hanukah I also offered her comfort for her loss. She is such a sweet calm person.
OOOH! And the amazingest lady I know, Shirley (she just blows me away and warms my soul ) gave mE a gift! She crochetted and starched ornaments for the tree. I LOVE these things!!! I had a few already but just love them so much I may have to have a separate tree just for startched white crochet ornaments...maybe with red lights and candy canes....mmmmmm pretty,.. Oh wait..Shirley... ok so she gave me this bag and there they were and I was sooo touched. sigghhh.
Today as I waited for the bus to take my hoodlums to school, the lady across the street came out and came towards me as I stood in my driveway. I have rarely passed words with her because of the language barrier but we wave occassionally, smile, nodd..you know..not very personal. She's an amazing gardener though and I admire her tree often. Anyways, I figured "Oh shit..the cats have been crapping in her garden..I'm gonna get an earful.." but I smiled and said Bonjour as she approached. She spoke in French and I had no idea what she said so she switched to slightly broken English and apologised for not recognising me at a store one day and held our a small rectangular flat GIFT. What the???! She wanted me to open it..so I did, expecting it to be something for keeping my cats outta her garden..which I apologised for(they dig and pooh in mine too..I KNOW its grosss but thats what cats that go outside anytime for 10 seconds DO. Its like the frikkin' world is their litterbox and if it has pretty flowers? BONUS!) and she said not to worry about it..its what cats do..haha..but it was something to do with my cats she said. I got nervouser then....UNTIL I finished ripping paper and turned it over to see the gift properly. When my brain took it in, I almost burst into tears.
This lovely lady, Christine, had framed a photo of Miss Kitty and Freckles sitting together at her back steps where apparently they spent a lot of time socializing with Christine and her husband. She wanted to give us this photo to remember Freckles by and said how much she liked her and misses her. I got very choked and hugged Christine so tight..this amazing gift from a barely known neighbor!!! We spoke for a couple of minutes and then the bus came and she went to get warm and I tried to find my way to my front door through tears of...sadness, gratitude, joy, wonder....
Its stuff like this that special times are made of. I think this has to be just about the bestest holiday season ever. May blessings of peace, prosperity, and happiness come to all who pass through these waters. I wish that for you, whoever you may be. Pass it on.
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Saturday

My baby turned 8 yesterday. OY! The pain in my heart.
I remember parts of his birth like it was yesterday and will not bore you/ gross you out with details such as the fact that he got stuck on the way. No, lets us focus on the joys that is my Cammie-Bear.
When he was born I was amazed at both his size (9 pounds, 8 ounces) and his appetite(immediate and constant). Neither has changed. He is the polar opposite of his older brother (6, 13 and picky eater extraordinaire). In personality he is much like me, joking and cuddling but easily wounded and mouthy. He has brightened our lives now for 8 whole years and its so hard to believe we've lasted this long. Parenthood is not a simple thing but having great kids can make it survivable! Really!
Yesterday I kept the kids out of school for the afternoon so that we could join Daddy at his hotel for an afternoon of room service lunch, cartoons, and swimming in the hotel pool. The disapproval emanating from their teachers was palpable but unspoken..hee hee hee..I am sucky mother of the year!!!!
Then it was back home for grocery shopping, junk food and watching Avatar, volume 1 which was one of Cameron's gifts. Very awesome and tiring for all of us.
Today we will go see a movie (Happy Feet or Eragon) and have his cool Star Wars cake (from the grocery store since all agree my cakes are most unspectacular). Possibly supper at Chateau De La Lune (chinese buffet extraordinaire!) also..not sure.
8 years old...its all a blur...sigh.....Soon I will no longer be the love of his life and funniest bestest mother in the world. sigh..... :o)

Sisters

Sisters..sisters..never were there such devoted sisters......
This is me, and my sisters Jessie and Wanda. They are truly wonderful women and I am lucky to have such great sisters. The family holiday party was at Wanda's house this year and Teri-Lynn and Vicky snapped pictures like the mad family paparazzi that they are. Avid scrapbookers are like that I guess.

Its Official

Clown- ESFP 60% Extraversion, 46% Intuition, 33% Thinking, 33% Judging

Congratulations. You are the buffoon of society, the class clown, the general funny guy/gal. Your purpose on earth was to serve as entertainment for the rest of us sane ones. We're laughing with you and at you. Some people would kill to be as funny as you. Other would rather just kill you. You're spontaneous, fun-loving and optimistic. You're all in all an idiot. You wanna know why? It's because you would rather have fun than concentrate on your duties and obligations. You act before you think. You talk before you think. All in all, you don't think that much at all. You did terribly at school, didn't you? You were the class clown. Paid no respect to the teachers or to your fellow students. Paid no attention to your school work. And look where you are now... starting to regret your decisions? Get down to earth. Find a real job and start taking care of your responsibilities. Sure, people love you, but they don't love you because they like you. They love you because you make them laugh. They love you because they can always look at you and say "Well, at least I did better off than him or her!" ...but at least you’re funny, right? ***************** If you want to learn more about your personality type in a slightly less negative way, check'>http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=ESFP">check out this. ***************** The other personality types are as follows... Loner - Introverted Sensing Feeling Perceiving Pushover - Introverted Sensing Feeling Judging Criminal - Introverted Sensing Thinking Perceiving Borefest - Introverted Sensing Thinking Judging Almost'>http://www.okcupid.com/tests/describescore?testid=3076838567116464195&category=4">Almost Perfect - Introverted iNtuitive Feeling Perceiving Freak - Introverted iNtuitive Feeling Judging Loser - Introverted iNtuitive Thinking Perceiving Crackpot - Introverted iNtuitive Thinking Judging Sap - Extraverted Sensing Feeling Judging Commander - Extraverted Sensing Thinking Perceiving Do'>http://www.okcupid.com/tests/describescore?testid=3076838567116464195&category=11">Do Gooder - Extraverted Sensing Thinking Judging Scumbag - Extraverted iNtuitive Feeling Perceiving Busybody - Extraverted iNtuitive Feeling Judging Prick - Extraverted iNtuitive Thinking Perceiving Dictator - Extraverted iNtuitive Thinking Judging

My test tracked 4 variables How you compared to other people your age and gender: http://www.okcupid.com/"> alt="free online dating" src="http://is3.okcupid.com/graphics/0.gif" border=0> You scored higher than 99% on Extraversion http://www.okcupid.com/"> alt="free online dating" src="http://is3.okcupid.com/graphics/0.gif" border=0> You scored higher than 99% on Intuition http://www.okcupid.com/"> alt="free online dating" src="http://is3.okcupid.com/graphics/0.gif" border=0> You scored higher than 99% on Thinking http://www.okcupid.com/"> alt="free online dating" src="http://is3.okcupid.com/graphics/0.gif" border=0> You scored higher than 99% on Judging

Link: UltimateMaster on The Brutally Honest Personality Test written by OkCupid Free Online Dating, home of the The Dating Persona Test

Holiday Card blitz

Today was the day. The day I get writers cramp. The one day a year I buy lots and lots of stamps. Its Holiday card day. Of course everyone gets christmas cards, not too many Solstice cards on the market and in boxes at $5.99 for 20 (sorry folks..I'm a cheapo), but for those not of a christmas mind I picked unchristmassy pictures and wrote happy solstice. All the text inside's in french anyways so they'll all ignore that part. But I am DONE. The list changes from year to years due to marriages and/or deaths in my address book but pretty much everyone that I have had contact with in the last couple of years gets a card. Which brings me to etiquette:
If I knew you but haven't heard a word from you in X number of years, do I still have to send a card? I say NO. BuhBye BFF's of yesterdecade. You think I am put on this Earth to personally make sure Canada Post employees have jobs?

If you made me a lovely hand made card should I feel guilty about sending a cheap ass card? I say NO..the important thing is I got writers cramp addressing your envelope and so have suffered, if not artistically, over your christmas card. And possibly got a paper cut on my tongue from sealing the envelope. Therefore, perhaps you owe ME.

If you send me a card but I don't like you, do I still have to send you a card? I say YES, because I refuse to let you have the last word. Or card.

So, family and friends still in my address book, all 34 of you, I send out to all a happy holiday greeting card. I must now go soak my hand in an epsom salts bath fragranced with pine and vanilla. Fa la la la la la la la la.

Home Again

We arrrived home by nine pm last night, a full 3 hours ahead of our projected ETA. Divided highways rock! It seems that every trip back to Nova Scotia is faster than previously done. Well done highway building people. Well done.
Of course it was not nearly a long enough visit. It never seems to be. I need one where I am back soooo long that my family all gets on my nerves and I can't wait to get back to my own place. So far, no dice. I am glad to be back in my own basement slurping my coffee and listening to my kids tear the place apart without concern for someone else's sensibilities though. There really is no substitute for your own home.
So, we arrived in the greater HRM (Halifax Regional Municipality) around midnightish Thursday. Bleary eyed and exausted but also exhilerated to be back. Julie welcomed us back with open arms and prepared beds. She is so competant and thoughful!! We all crashed about 40 minutes later and sawed logs through her going to work next morning. We rose to find coffee in the pot and a day ahead of us. Also it was MY BIRTHDAY! Woo Hoo! We ran a couple of errands that turned into cruising the Sunnyside Mall. There is some serious coolness there.
Then it was rush to my visit with the fantastic Karen, surrogate mom/sister/friend and godmommy to my Cammie Bear. So goooooooood to be back in her welcoming home and arms. We went to a yarn shop and became delirious with color, texture, price tags and fiber blends. I was resentful of my spending limit because I was dazzled by the possibilities overflowing the bins. No Fleece Artist for me ....THIS TIME. I got a very soft soft soft 100% wool from England in 3 colors for Richard's earflap hat. 2 balls greyish blue, one ball off white, one ball baby blue. It will be great.
The coffee and pastry at Julien's Patisserie. YUMMY! I had something with apple that blew me away. Very much tasted like MORE. After that it was back to Julie's for supper. Excellent pot roast . Much sipping of wine(them) and vodka soda (me). Her paql Dawn came by with her sister Janice and we all sat around the table sipping and giggling and gabbing. Richard even enjoyed it even though he was the only adult male in attendence. After many "Where are my presents??" they finally gave me my pressies for birthday number 39. Fleece jammies from l'equipeur(Marks Work Wearhouse). Oh my gods they are to die for. Sarah MacLaughlin's WinterSong CD, and the 2007 Witches Spell A Day Almanac, which Julie got for me. I was super touched at her thoughfulness at giving me something like that.
It was an excellent birthday.
Then Saturday was errand and rushing and going to the family party at my siter's home and hour or so away. We were later than they expected us and my other sister was convinced we were dead in a ditch. Sorry!!! It was a wonderful blur of hugs and joy and chaos as kids openned gifts and we all tried to get caught up. After we left I cried and cried halfway back to Julie's. Sunday was a visit to Jessie's to spend some time with her and my mom and dad before my bro Kenny took them back to their home 1 1/2 hours drive away.
Many lovelies were given to me by Jessie both as birthday gift and her closet clear out so the car coming home was more full than the trip there!!!
I kept the boys home this morning to do homework, sleep in (they didn't), and get baths etc. They will go to school this afternoon. I took NO pictures while away BUT my nieces did so I will post some as soon as I have some.

The Yulefication Process

Or, getting ready for Christmas..you choose your term but they are synonymous pretty much. Tonight around ten we leave for our weekend in Nova Scotia. I still need to pack, after yesterday's laundry marathon. Also, yesterday I forgot my hair appointment!! ARGH. Nancy has me booked this afternoon, thank gods. My brain is too taken up with stuff needing to be done or at least not forgotten.
Decorating has not factored huge in my priorities just yet. The lights have been up outside almost two weeks. I hung some snowflakes from the dining room light fixture and filled an antique soup tureen with ornaments and pinecones(snagged them whilst out on a walk.....the pinecones that is). Looks nice. Oh and a red,white, and green striped vinyl tablecloth. Thats more because I am fearing for our table top's health with my messy eaters. Is more a protective measure than decorative .
I have finished 4 out of 5 neckwarmers. Still need to do a purple one for Holly. So, in my neice's gift bags we will see fuzzy neckwarmers, pretty sparkle gel pens, lip gloss compacts, and chocolate initials (A for Annika, P for Payton, etc etc). I think thats good. Last year it was feather boas and other girly stuffs. heh heh FUN!
Ok..so...thats it until I get back, I think. Fare well, my friends.

Grrrr Miss Kiiitttttyyyyyyy

So, its now winter here in the greater Montreal area. For real. WINTER. With snow and ice and cold. In Nova Scotia winter happens but waffles about it. It gets cold then it gets warm.....snow then rain, back and forth, too and fro. Mud and ice are the mainstays of NS winter with some snow that stays for awhile around February. Well more snow than that but the earlier and later snows don't stay.
Here, last week, it was about 15 degrees Celcius. Thats not very cold unless you have a strong wind. Lovely. Then friday was a major ass freezing rain and wind storm all day and night...what a mess!! There were power outages and folk fearing for another catastrphic ice storm like the Big One a few years ago. But it wasn't. Saturdayu was cold but fine and then Sunday...I awoke to snow. It snowed lightly and playfully and a small bit accumulatively all day. We had a few inches down. And...its...still...here... Whats the big deal? you may ask. Well, its not...exactly. But when you come from a place where the ground appears periodically throughout the winter, the prospect of being in a deep freeze for the next 5 months is unnerving. I'm feeling stir crazy already and its only day 3...well, stir crazi-ER. Oh my...5...more....months......

whimperwhimperwhimper
Oh yeah...My point of this post........
Now that its officially winter weather, Miss Kitty doesn't want to go outside. Thats fine with me! She's 10 now and slowing down. She always went out in NS but then again, see above statements on NS weather. When we got Monkey, I moved the unused litter box up to the main floor bathroom to make it more accessible for his Highness. That was a month ago. Miss Kittyy and Flash have seen where it is..have sniffed it...haven't used it, but thats ok.
But now its NOT OK because Miss Kitty, in her geriatric moments, has gotten befuddled about where the litter box is and crapped on the play room floor TWICE. Being pretty is not going to get you outta trouble this time Missy.

My Henna Tattoo

I'd wanted to try one for a long time and Saturday I did! It was a birthday gift to myself a week early. Richard was outraged that I considered this a "gift" from him because it won't last. But the spirit of a gift is something the person would enjoy, however ephemeral. I think..hey..why not try something new for your birthday? So there.
I like the lotus at the top and the swirliness. The fingers, not so much. Oh well.

YULE FAIR 2006

Fancy face........ Singing with Nathalie
I had Fun!!!!

Fun was had! Chatting took place. Cool stuffs were fondled, smelled, oohed over, and possibly bought(heh heh). The ritual was great!! Yan (Jan)and Maxim were fantastic kings and played their parts well. LONG LIVE THE KING!
Ellie The Fabulous took photo after photo after photo and some included moi. Nathalie and I crooned a couple of carols to pass the time and I had some groovy face painting so's I felt "dressed up" for the ritual. Hugs and kisses were the rule of the day rather than the exception.
In all, it was my kind o' day.

Recurrent dreams..Whats up with THAT?

I keep having dreams with recurrent themes in them. I have had three dreams about moving (unwillingly) into various abodes in the last month. Actually had two of them in a row which is wierd. #3 was about a week or so later. I am so not telling Richard about this one because he is getting a complex, since he is the one that instigates the moves to unsuitable homes ( a huge apartment/commune with 3 other families without consulting me about it, and a ultra modern huge duplex with pink plush carpet). This mornings/last nights dream was a bungalow..run down and badly decorated by the white trash former occupant. The children are playing in the large living room, devoid of furniture beyond a couple of bean bag chairs and a tv and many many toys and kid stuffs laying around in a huge mess. There are extra kids there so its neighbor children that have come to play and watch TV. Suddenly two dark haired and bearded men walk in to claim their children, but I'm not allowed to talk to them because I am a woman and their religion forbids me to speak to them. Richjard appears and warns me of this and does the talking. All is very genial. Suddenly I cannot get up from the floor. I am too weak and exausted and weeping. My sister arrives and and I weep uncontrollably in the relief that she is there. I cannot get out of the bed..as if in the throes of an energy sapping disease. Doctors are baffled. My sister proclaims that I am just being lazy and will snap out of it, but not in a mean way. As if I have the flu or something. I wake before I can pull myself out of that pit of despair and bad wall coverings. Very....very...wierd.
Also I have had dreams with Nathan Fillion appearing as a common theme, and I quite enjoy those so that a bonus. He's soooo pretty. Again, its strange but at least not disturbing as the "moving" dreams.
I discussed them with my sister, and said I'm pretty sure what they mean. In my bitterest moments when I hate living here, I blame it on my husband. If it wasn't for him I wouldn't have to live here. Thats totally NOT FAIR of course, and I realise that. My sister said she totally got it because she had similar feelings when her family moved for her husbands work. Maybe it will go away eventually. I mean, life here is very good. Much better than being broke and possibly homeless back in NS. Life here has been a blessing in both employment and great opportunities as a family to experience another part of our great country. We have a beautiful home. Spend more time together as a family. Obviously food is plentiful because I have gained 17 pounds by over eatting in the last 6 months (self medicating with inappropriate food). Its all good...until I go to sleep ....