More pictures

Here we have an obese Macaque on Gibralter getting a hand out from the cashier at the gift shop, me in my EuroCheese persona, and did you know Granada has a spot just for me? Neither did I! And whats worse? that I told him to "pick the stone monkey's/lion's nose!!" or that he did it?

Blah Blahhing....

I have no idea what my problem is but I have just not felt up to posting about the "European" vacation. There is just SO MUCH to tell. Stories and anecdotes abound and the very thought of committing it all into blah blah is exhausting!!!
Here is a way to get the info out. In the comments ASK ME A PERTINENT QUESTION and I will try and answer it to the best of my ability.
I will say this: Spain kinda blew my mind. The landscape is so unfamiliar to me and so Un-Eastern Canada. Its very austere, trees do NOT abound, and 'holy olive trees!' The hills (mountains actually...the Andalusians) are so pointy and sharp...that was my adjective a lot'Its all so...sharp!'. I am used to things being a little more rounded and vegetation covered rather than bare granite pointiness. Very cool and a wee bit scary/awe inspiring.
The trip consisted of stays in Gaucin and Granada with visits to Gibraltar, Paris, and Tangier, and other assorted Spanish towns like Tarifa, Ronda, Malaga, Estepona, Algatocin... The weather was not fabulous the whole trip. We had a fair share of rain and cloud but that was ok too.

Spain in snapshot form

The Macaque is actually not in Spain but on Gibraltar...just to be clear. :oD

One More Sleep!!!!

Don't hate me because this is where I will live for 9 nights...or is is 8...?
My sister, the wonderful, helpful, stupendous, Jessie!, arrived yesterday. Just waiting in the airport for her flight had me bursting into misty eys, threatening fukll blown tears,, from thexcitement and relief of seeing her again. Its been since January and I don't think I have ever gone so long without her in my entire life. Sure, we talk on the phone a couple times a week or more, but to have her in person....thats the stuff! When she was actually physically in my arms, I did break down. I admit it.
So, late night last night of gab and chinese food and TV and more gab.
Today its all about grocery store, drug store, packing and laundry for packing. "Why ?", you ask? BECAUSE! Its one more sleep until Hman and I leave for SPAIN!!! Spain, Spain, Spain, Spain, Spay-ayn! (You can't make friends with Sal-ad! song tune thanks to Kadi)

Of course when Jessie travelled here, she arrived bearing gifts! I have several new awesome blouses to takle away with me plus a nice melon colour pair of capris, a skort thats NOT short short short because with my thighs? Oh so scary. I will not be embarrassingly dressed while away. Thank you!!
Also, I will be listening to music on my very own, cost me nada, IPOD NANO!!! How you like THAT! Hman was at a conference at work and he won it...and gave it to ME!! He has an MP3 but I think mine's nicer...heh heh. So exciting!
Ok...so play nice and love one another while I'm away. Ciao!

Sunday evening

Its been a quiet weekend, chez nous. Friday night I went out to Effiloche with Nathalie and we made it home before midnight. My car is fixed (picked it up before heading into Montreal) and works great so far. Turns out the problem was an air intake thingamabobble that wasn't working right so the fuel couldn't combust. Now we gots all kinds o'combustinatin'!!! Its awesome. The best part? It totally did not cost 2000 dollars. Yay!
I cleaned the refrigerator today and it was a scary experience. So much waste! So much dried on crud! Nasty nasty nasty. Much emptying of jars for the recycling(fondue sauces are now BANNED I swear). Must remember to do this chore more often. Looks awfully nice (and very very empty).
Later today Hman headed to a fancy schmancy hotel for a conference the company is hosting. The boys and I went with in order to partake of the mini bar, the pool facilities, and have supper that we didn't have to cook or clean up after. Ben had his usual naked pasta with cheese but Cameron impressed me with his selection of a chicken and sweet red pepper salad to start, followed by fancy chicken strips and fries. MY KID ATE SALAD!!! I almost cried.
I skipped the first appetiser of the table d'hote (just wasn't intrigued by the soup or the salad). My second appetiser selection was an interesting wild mushroom melange in a rich brown sauce, with puff pastry. My main course was unexpectedly hearty: Brome duck breast in a berry enhanced gravy with side veggies. This duck was unlike any I had before. we actually had to double check with the waiter that he gave me the right order because I swear to goodness that duck tasted and had the texture of lean beef. Weird, non? Maybe its because whenever I'd had duck before it wasn't the breast. Delicious but not the flavour I was expecting.
After dessert the boys and I headed for home in the dark and rain. The moon came out as we travelled and that was nicer but all the road construction crap everywhere helped me miss my exit to the 640 Est. Grrrrr. The guys fell asleep after that. Once home the went straight to their beds and passed out. Aaaawwwww.

For Every Season.....

Its changing out there. This morning there was a light frost on the grass and we could see our breath. Cam insisted he was not cold and went off to school in a tshirt. Ben at least wore sleeve. Brrrrr.

I love autumn. It has been my favourite time of yaer since childhood. The chill. The colours. The sense of the Earth getting ready to hunker down and have a rest. In Ns the Autumn lingers but here its a much quicker transition from heat to snow that I was ever used to. Gotta be quick to appreciate it here in the Qc.

The Election blah blah continues. May has now been included in the televised debate and its a great lesson in how public outcry can make a difference. Folk of all parties protested vociferously to the media, their MPs, and the leaders email inboxes had to have been overflowing! LOL Yesterday morning the news was sopund biting Harper as saying the discussion was closed. Last night the news was filled with the reports that Harper and Layton has backed down. Oh how we laughed.

So far my riding only has 2 candidates, a Bloc and a Conservative, neither of which I would vote for. I wait for an alternative to appear. The parties have until the 22nd I believe to fill the positions. There was a 20 something at Walmart last week with a petition in order to seek the Liberal candidacy. He required a now forgotten number of signatures of support in order to throw his hat into the ring. I signed and wished him luck regardless of his youth and inexperience.

Last night was knit night in Laval and we had and lovely time! I got to hold possibly the happiest baby I have ever met. What a delightful armful wee Albert (en francais s'il vous plait)is. I know some people think thumb sucking is to be discouraged but he's only very small and it was so precious. He was enjoying that tiny thumb and his wide eyes took in the world around him with aplomb. He was easy to coax into smiling and just looking into his eyes cooing to him was enjoyable. He didn't fuss all evening! I think we all fell in love with him. It was him mommy's first time to join us now that her schedule is less hectic and she was so much fun! Not shy and silent at all but immediately fit right in with the rest of us. Before we knew it the evening had flown by and it was 10 pm. I got all the gusset decreases on the 2nd Belle Maman done. I want the pair finished and soaked before Wednesday.

The car gets its examination today. Gods only know how much this is going to cost. >:oP

David Suzuki has a new book out! D. S.'s Green Guide. Oooohhhh. I love D.S. When I was a kid I thought he was very unattractive and borning. As an adult I find him very very attractive and a fascinating person for the strength of his convictions and incredible knowledge. Must check this book out!

Isn't it Fascinating?

Not anymore! This post has been EDITTED TO REMOVE ANGRY CONTENT!

Yesterday, Thing One was home sick for the morning. His tummy has been not good for a couple of days now and we have a doctor's appointment for tomorrow afternoon. He felt inclined to go to school in the afternoon though so he can't be that sick. Poor monkey. He has actually GROWN though. I had to dispose of several pair of jeans which meant, yay, shopping, and YAY my littlest sized picky eater kid has advanced in size!! I hit Children's Place (love love love) and got him 3 pairs of pants and two new shirts. I also got Thing Two a new pair of jeans and two shirts. Then I wandered into Old Navy...it was more like being pulled in by its gravitational pull... and checked out the liquidation racks. I got the cutest nighty for Spain and a pair of blue capris. I love Old Navy liquidation racks.

On my way home from the mall, my car started to act up. On the highway, in the center lane, during rush hour..I stalled out! Yes that was ME! Oh my Gods it was horrifying being THAT car. Feeling the hate and exasperation radiating from all the other drivers. I will never be so cruel in my thoughts towards the breakdowns again because, unlike some, my car is maintained with regular oil changes etc. Its not neglected! Yet, it still died in traffic.

Luckily, I got it to start again (thank you deities of cars)and limped onward with my poor sputtering vehicle to the nearest exit, got off the highway and into the closest parking lot where it totally conked out. And it stayed pretty much like that! I was close enough to home that I could easily walk but I was worried because the guys were due home from school and the house was locked up! Oh the angst and stress! Poor baby car is off to a garage today, via tow truck, and Audrey, lovely Audrey, is going to drive Nathalie and I to knit night. For Ben's doctor appointment Hman will have to get home early and take us rather than meet us there as planned.

Now, if this wasn't enough silliness my phone has gone all weird! I tried calling Momma today and she could not hear me at all. Same thing with Jessie but Jess has caller ID so she called back and the phone worked fine. It would appear that my outgoing long distance calls are behaing strangely. Incoming and local calls are fine. Whats up with that? Hman swears he paid the bill. LOL

So there are two things...where's the third?

I am not political

I don't get politics really. Yes, if I wanted to I could bone up on issues etc beyond my own opinions but seriously, listen to most opionators and youi will see rather one sided arguments.
This is not about that however. Its about integrity and democracy in a free country. Apparently Stephen Harper has neither integrity nor maturity. He refuses to appear in televised debates if Green leader Elizabeth May is invited, which she has every right to attend if invited by the Nazi..I mean...media consortium that is "hosting' said televised debate. But since the Prime Moron won't attend if she does and then the other "cool' kids said that if PM isn't going then they won't...the consortium has omitted a leader who has candidates from her party nation wide, unlike the Bloc Quebecois who is ONLY REPRESENTED IN ONE PROVINCE!!!!! The consortium says "Its a journalistic exercise" which is complete and total bullshit. Do you really think that the PM would not show if the debate went on without him? That Layton and Duceppe wouldn't back down and change their minds if Dion and May were to carry on the televised debate..the only televised candidates debate in the country? Bullshit.
Ok...again I ask you where is the maturity and dignity here? The Conservative party had a website portraying Stephan Dion of the Liberals as "not a leader" and an animated puffin would fly by and shit on him. FOR REAL!!!! It was on Canada AM this morning!
Yes...we are governed by middle schoolers! The cool kid won't come to the debate/ party and has his minions denegrate his top oppositional target into looking like a complete dink. The entire Conservative platform has been "I'm a nice guy" and "Stepahne Dion is a poopy head dum dum". The website "not a leader" has been all over the news and now..NOW.. Harper has said, oh thats not nice, and the website images are no longer as they were. Just like a bully getting caught tormenting someone with his buddies. He had it stopped because of the out cry but seriously, the damage has been done.
I DO think Harper is a dictator and bully. He made a law about when elections can be called and then BROKE his own law. When Stronach left the Conservatives he threw a fit and said she should have to run in a by election to retain a seat, yet when someone came over to the Conservative side it was all hugs and kisses and smiles. Double standarding asshole. Why can't Chatelaine magazine get an interview with his wife? Huh? I hear its Because she has been told to keep her mouth shut. Controlling prick.
Yup..Election time in Canada! Completely junior high and I don't blame May if she came without a "You guys are so immature!!!" and Dion went in to the science lab to construct some sort of device to prove once and for all what I have always claimed. Stephen Harper is an alien android. What other explanation is there and his inability to grasp our Earthing ways like...uumm..being human??!
To me, E M and S D are the cool kids.

Monday Morning..

It is 11 days to take off. My shrug cannot be ready for the trip because my knitting speed and skillz are officially stymied at the moment. I would cry but hey, I'm still going to Spain so......woohoo!
Hman had a buyer for the boat Saturday after only putting it on the market last week. Then he met with the buyers again yesterday, they all went for a sail so the buyers could get to know Lunasea. Hman wanted to be helpful and nice by doing that for them. They did the paper work and all was well until Hman was driving home and the buyers called saying they changed their minds. Apparently, while the sail was thrilling and fun for the husband, the wife was scared spitless (maybe when out there she realised she didn't want to sail with her inexperienced thrill seeking husband?).
So he had to go ALL the way back to give them back their cheque and get the paperwork etc. What a pain in the ass. He practically spent the weekend with these twits and took a thousand dollar drop in price, and then they call and say "We changed our mind!" AFTER the deal was DONE! As Kadi would say "F^cktards!". Seriously..how stupid is that?? Do you buy a house and an hour after the paperwork and all is DONE say you changed your mind and want your money back? Do you buy a car and pull that shit? The dealership would laugh at you! It cost them $400 to be so stupid, because Hman was somewhat annoyed.
Anyways, he called the person who had wanted to view the boat on Sunday (and he'd told them it was sold and cancelled the sunday viewing ), so now they are going to see the boat tomorrow. Hman asked them to be sure they knew the brand of boat and be sure that this is what they are looking for . In other words, please don't waste our time.
I went out knitting with Audrey yesterday. We went down into the old part of town here, and my goodness I love that part of our town. There are many cafes and bistros and an Irish pub and restaurants not to mention gift shops and boutiques. Audrey and I went to Brulerie Des Moulins, a cafe that roasts their own coffees. It was my first time to this cafe and I LOVED it!!!! Due to a chilly wind we moved in off the terrasse to the upstairs seating area and its bright and airy and in winter their is a fire place. I begged Audrey that we come back in winter and knit near the fireplace. How cozy! How quaint! They had awesome chocolate mousse cake and chocolate chip cookies and my iced tea and italian soda were yummy and refreshing.
We didn't go to the Irish pub ' Bar St. Patrick' because it doesn't open until 3 pm but we need to go there together sometime, with or without our significant others, for a beer. They serve Newcastle Brown! Yay!
So far thats it for today. Oh, and the late summer heat wave (can we call it that? maybe its a heat ripple?) is over. Yay! And Boo Hoo!

Did you ever...?

...enter a phase of your life and look at all the dots getting connected and say "Wow. This is excellent. My life is so flupping great!" ? This is how I feel lately.
First of all my European adventure is in 15 days. I got new sandals for the excursion and am wearing them everywhere to get them broken in. I'm very excited about this trip because until 2006 I'd never really BEEN anywhere. Then BAM I was in Hawaii, this year it was Virginia, now Europe! Wowsers.
Second,I have an awesome part time job this Fall at a yarn shop. How frakking awesome is that?? It starts in October and I am so excited. I will be with people I like alot, surrounded by yarn...its all good!
Rhinebeck is coming up and I am still stoked. Lots of knit pals are going, some staying at the same motel, and FUN WILL BE HAD. Knitterly, possibly alcohol infused, fun.
Hman pondered out loud the possibility of heading to NS for Christmas. Like, actual christmas, not just a weekend before christmas. Yes even though I am Pagan oriented, we still do Christmas (I call it Yule in my head). Why? Well I am not my whole family, and they like it. I do too and its not unreasonable to keep it since it coresponds with a Pagan festivity (the Winter Solstice/Yule). So, maybe going home for a holiday! Cool. Its not written in stone yet so I have NOT mentioned it to my Mom. It depends on some things and stuffs etc etc. The plan as it stands in all its unconfirmedness is that we would rent a house in the area of my parents home and host the christmas gathering of my family and also have Nanny and Grandpa for Christmas day for the first time ever. I warned Hman that we would need to make decission very soon and arrangements as well in order to start the ball rolling on the family gathering (gotta synchronise calendars etc). Like I said, there are some outside circumstances and what they may bring that influence the possibility so I'm hoping we have a yes or no by October sometime.
I have a project that Hman and I are going to start this Autumn. When its ready I will give details. Its a silly little bit of fun for me that he's going to A) finance and B) help me with. He's the best. You know, he even recorded the season Premier of BONES for me last night. How awesome is that?! Yup. The best. Today.
Anyways, said project which few people know about because its better that way, could be great or it could totally suck rancid billy goats balls, but I could never have entertained the idea before now so its another great point in my life right now and something to look forward too even with its steep learning curve.
Anyways, my point in all this is that right now, life just seems to be lining up really well and though experience teaches that this can be derailed at any point at Fate's whimsy, right now its pretty grand.

Secret Pal Loot

I mentioned the Secret Pal Swap that I am taking part in. My parcel was sent out and recieved last week by the person I was to spoil. I was so impatient for her to get the package and to find out whether or not I totally flubbed it. She was very pleased with her parcel and I was thrilled.
Today, it was MY turn to recieve! My Secret Spoiler had let me know that the parcel was sent and I figured it would arrive tomorrow or later. Not so! Canada Post was on the ball and rang my doorbell late this afternoon. SQUEEE!!!
It was such a mystery! Who had sent it? Inside was a letter explaining two avenues for me to explore...follow the clues 1 through 8 and try to figure it out or go straight to the package marked as holding the answer. Well of course I wanted to draw it out and guess and read clues! So fun!!!!! I wish i had thought of such a great way to "expose" myself.
Clue 5 proved to be the key. The clue mentioned conferences and medical supply folk that pass on swag. the wee package was the swag! A highlighter, a pad of 'testosterone gel' sticky notes, and a Post It pen. Coool!!! Very handy for colour work. I pondered a second or ten and the light went on. "Sharon??!" I guessed. I had 3 more clues to go and then the answer revealed that I was infact correct!
Sharon is a most awesome knitter (an secret pal) and is originally from New Zealand. She will be returning to her homeland when her job here is done and we will miss her very much at knit nights. She's very smart, very fit, very stylish,very funny, and her output knittingwise is astounding. She gifted me with gorgeous Mission Falls superwash in a lovely lovely green (mmmm greeen), some black alpaca blend from her stash, a handmade knitting notes book complete with Flight of The Conchords (New Zealands 4th most popular folk parody duo) and some patterns!!!She knit a cover for the front ...umm...cover...and personalised the flyleaf.
A tin was cunningly decorated decoupage style with a pic of my favorite needles and my initials. Inside were wee loops of yarn for use as stitch markers (just to illustrate the clue though). This is how Sharon more or less marks her places while the rest of us buy or make knitting bling. She's very refined and old school. :oD
NEEDLES! Squee! Harmony DPNS. So...love..them.. I forsee some casting on of socks. I will need them (more later).
Skittles because she had no idea what the sweets I'd mentioned in the questionnaire were. ROFL. I'd listed SKOR bars, Toffeefay, and something else like this as my favourite candy. Skittles are kind of the anti-caramel, toffee/nut chocolate sweets. Its hilarious and the kids are very covetous of my candy.
Oh my...it was a lovely lovely parcel and I feel like its my birthday!

PS: Socks: I got a pair of Birkenstocks today for all the walking I forsee in Spain. They need to be broken in but on the whole are great. I will of course be very crunchy granola and wear wool socks with my sandals come cool weather. Oh yes. I am that hippy chick, earth mama. Don't look away. I am not ashamed. LOL
Now with new needles for sock knitting, I should cast on a pair!

Enterprise

But not of the starship variety. No, my enterprise is much smaller but slightly lucrative just the same.
I sold 70 stitch markers to a yarn shop. Oh yes I did! I got paid in actual cashy money. I swear I got ever so giddy. And yes said shop will buy more. Xmas is coming you know and all knitters need their knit bling. The next batch must include smaller ones more friendly to lace knitting which involves small needles and wee wee wee small yarns so having something to clunky is awkward. Will head to bead shop tomorrow for inspiration. :oD
Today the boys were at a birthday party so Hman and I took advantage and left the premises sans enfants. Oooh it was a heady time I tell you! We went to the Marche 440 in Laval and went gormet foodie browsing and shopping. I saw the coolest olive oil from France. I wanted it because of the funky stoneware bottle it came in but managed to retrain myself.
In the farm market area outside were fruits and veghetables locally grown and beautiful to behold. I really should have taken a camera with me but when we left home it was destination Chapters...the market only came to mind while we were on the road.
We spent over two hours shopping and browsing the shops and stalls oohing and aaahhing over the local and imported delicacies (August strawberries! Who knew? And oh man they were better than the June ones)with noone bitching that they were bored/tired/thirsty/hungry/bored.
All in all a lovely day.

6 random factoids

I was tagged. I refuse to tag anyone else because its annoying but my niece Teri just keeps tagging me. Unless she meant another Alison and then I just look like a dumb ass...more so than usual.

ONE! I can make fun of my self until the cows come home but when someone else makes a critical comment it hurts me very very much. I'm very sensitive with low self estee. Deal with it.

TWO! I have an incredibly short attention sp... Ooh shiny! (runs after shiny...)

Three! I'm more of an ideas person than a doings person. Doings is just usually too much work because I generally don't have the skillset to match my many brilliant and wonderful Ideas. Is there some way i could get pay for this because I have MANY ideas as day.

4thly! My dog has very bad farting issues today and is seriously gassing me out of the room.

5th! I love my kids desperatly but sometimes hate them almost as much. Like 30 minutes ago. Its a testament to my self control that I don't scream this at them (like I could have 30 minutes ago). Love them love them love them but lord tunderin' Jaysus they are annoying creatures.

6. I always wanted a little sister to dress up and be bestest friends with.

Don't you feel informed now? Don't you feel closer to me now? Huh? Huh?

Clarity

I finally had a reply to my shrug issue queries and it turns out that what I am doing is just fine and what was intended by the pattern. WHEW! I feel so much better. Clarity is GOOD.
Hman had a meet with the vp of the boys school with regards to the situation on the last day of school. it turns out the bully isn't really a bully so much as a problem child with issues like Ben's and the two of them just fed off one another. As long as we can keep them separate I think it will be good. His parents apparently have very similar problems to ours regarding impulse control, temper, balancing medication etc with their boy. Now that we've been able to get some light shed on the whole situation and can work together as a team these guys should do much better at school socially and academically as well.
See? Its all about communication. :oD

Good and not so very....

Lets begin with the not so very good.....that way we can end with good and its more happy that way.
I sent my Secret Pal package out on Monday. I am waiting impatiently to hear its been recieved and its driving me crazy. I am never doing this again...its too excruciating. There has be no chatter on the discussion thread for a couple days or so and I feel like noone is still participating (THOUGH I KNOW THEY ARE!! just clarifying). I am way to impatient for this kind of thing it would appear and its making me very cranky.
The Mystery Shrug Knit Along is pissing me off. I am having issues with the second clue and not getting any clarification on the instructions from the hostess/designer and am feeling annoyed. I thought this would be a fun project and actually encouraged friends to join but now I am feeling like an unpaid test knitter finding obscurities in a pattern that at first glance seemed pretty clear and concise, and not getting the feedback I need to continue with the project. Another knitter also had issues with clue two and took steps that she felt appropriate to her. I don't feel comfortable with that. I want my shrug as I more or less saw it (I know I'm a semi cheater that its not SO mysterious for me) and just want the instructions/my issues resolved. If i must rip AGAIN, so be it but I don't feel comfortable continuing until I hear back.
Also, the 3rd clue has been delayed 2 weeks in a row. This for me is not a big deal (hello! Still grappling with clue two!) BUT as a host/designer, you have people hanging and waiting and to me that is unprofessional and not cool. Yes, we all know how life gets in the way. That is why you should have your ducks in a row before you start something. Suck it up, be a grown up, and deliver on your commitments.
Hmmm....ok...anything else in this category of "Not so good"? Nope I think not.
On to the Good!
School is into Day 3 and so far so great. Everyone is happy and cheery and positive. The bully is not in the same class AND went out of his way to apologise to Ben on the first day. Lets hope this positive beginning is carried through the year more so than in years past.
Both boys have their best school chums in their classes and Cammie even gets to sit with his. He reports that his teacher has even complimented he and his pal on what great students they are. :oD he promises that they are not goofing around and talking, but actually performed their work with very little chat.
The theme this year is Health both of self and the planet. This is a subject near and dear to me, as most know. Ben and Cameron found out from a schoolmate about deposit returnables (bottles and cans) as income. Back in NS one had to return bottles and cans to a recycling Depot. Here most grocery stores have these groovy machine/receptacles that you place your bottles and cans into, recieve a reciept and take that to the cashier for your cash. The guys are so excited about this idea (which somehow they never really considered before) that they are picking up any and all beverage cans and bottles they find on the way home from school. yesterday they eachj had found one, took it into the store and got their nickel each and an obbsession was born. Now Mommy and Daddy are donating all returnables to this money making / Earth saving cause (we were just recycling them NOT sorting out for returns except for beer bottles) to reinforce the whole idea with our support. If we have beverages in returnables while not together (aka at work or out with the knitters etc) the containers are brought home for the boys and I have suggested that Hman mention the kid's project at the office and maybe recieve bottles others may have thrown out in the trash. All proceeds are divided equally between the two kids.
Ideas explored in this exercise: Kids can generate their own cash if they try (beyond an allowance and chores), that picking up litter is good for the Earth and a responsible thing to do, that recycling is also a good way to care for the Earth, AND that even KIDS CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE, and that slowly but surely can build up to something (delayed gratification). Did I miss anything there? Best part, they came home with the idea and that makes it so much more exciting for them. I'm so proud and so touched and tickled by the whole thing, especially the excitement and cooperation and just the plain ol' cuteness of my guys. Nope no motherly pride and glowing here, eh??! LOL
I had a really nice evening with Tara last night as we were knitting in Laval (only attendees). I must say I have seen her "Sizzle" and its the shizzle!! Great coral red colour and really well done. Looks fantastic on her too. BooYah! And she's knitting the ver so lovely Nutkin socks in a fabu Autumnal colourway. Nice.
I am still on a stitch marker jag. The technique with tigertail beading wire and crimp beads (see Sticks and Strings podcast website for tutorial)is so much easier than wrestling with head pins etc to make a non adjustable loop. The tigertail is much more versatile with regard to what needle size you can use the markers with.
I like the stitchmarkers so much that I am making some earrings to match....LOL Purty!!!!

Interesting

Jemaine Clement of the 4th most popular folk parody group in New Zealand, Flight Of The Conchords, is the bomb. I adore him. Would it be wrong to admit he sometimes appear to me in dreams? Nothing nasty, per se......
Go here NOW! http://ronaldchevalier.com/ This is the "web sanctum" of his latest film character Dr Ronald Chevalier, a sci fi author. He has a video on "The Art Of Relaxating" to soothe your stress. heh heh
I cannot wait for this flick OR the second season of FOTC.

New favourite quote

I was over on the Yarn Harlot (link on sidebar) getting caught up in all things Harlotty and I came across a phrase I am smitten with.
If you don't know of the Yarn Harlot, she is Stephanie Pearl-MacPhee, knitter and writer. The woman is some serious funny and talented. Her blog is crazy popular and has been known to log comments in the hundreds and I believe even got into the thousands one time. SERIOUSLY!!!
Anyways, what with being a busy writer etc she has had to spend a fair amount of time away from her family and was making up for it this week. She returned to the computer to find her inbox had become...
"..a place crazier than a kindergarten yard growing candy trees... "
The imagery....the humour....I love it. You KNOW I will use it too don't you? snicker snicker snicker


Editted to add: Tara, I scored the coupon card in Canadian Living and Chatelaine magazines a couple weeks back.

Oh boy its back!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WhwbxEfy7fg&feature=related
D*ck In a Box. My day is complete!

Day before....

Tomorrow the boys are back to school. So wierd to go back in August. I don't think I will ever get used to it.
Anyways, this morning Ben and I tackled some room cleaning in an effort to find a missing toy. We half filled a garbage bag with assorted broken ceap toys and crap that was taking up box and shelf space and organised some stuff, but no Bakugan to be found. the plus to all of this? His desk is cleared and ready for homework. We even emptied and vacuumed his desk drawer! there is still a bunch of stuff/crap to sort on the shelves of his desk but he now can find all of his books and has two fully functional if empty piggy banks again. That corner looks pretty damn good and I will give Hman the heads up to pay Ben a compliment for his hard work and ability to part with so much clutter.
I must take Cam out to shop for "indoor" sneakers for school. I got Ben's at the evil Walmart but they were a pretty nice and comfy shoe for an amazing price. I want Cam's to be the same (and while there I need to get some yellow glass beads) but in the other available colour. Then my back to school shopping is truly done until I go to get some new clothes for them but thats not until next week or so. I have two 20% off coupons for The Children's Place and will get the guys some new jeans and sweat shirts etc for the cool weather to replace out grown or ruined garments.
Last night we had some heat lightning with no audible thunder. Just plenty of distant flashes. That was enough for Blossom the idiot dog (who has gone fairly deaf so don't say she could hear thunder that we couldn't because she hardly hears anything now) to freak out when put outside for the bedtime pee session, break out of the backyard SOMEHOW!!? and take off runnin'. Hman came up to the bedroom storming about "your G$%#$%%ed dog is gone again" and how if she's gone thats it he is not paying to get her back from a shelter after the over 100 dollars spent when she pulled the same kind of thing last year. He ranted and raved and I got in the car and went dog trolling. I figured she would be pretty near since she didn't have much of a head start on me. After about 20 minutes or so I spotted her a couple of streets away near the park. Whew.
Stupid mutt.

REmember?

I said Ben was so happy with his day camp and loved it? 'Member that? I really thought he was...he claimed to have fun and talked of a kid that he'd met last year who was there again, talked of his driving the ball far and sounded really happy.
Well, he is home with me today, the last day, because he didn't want to go. It would appear that the other kids in the group have been calling him names and punching him in the arm over and over. His asking the coach/counselor to stop them didn't produce any results worth discussing and the name calling etc continued.
He says he never threw any tantrums or anything to bring any of this on. With a kid like Ben you have to ask these things (What did you do to start all of this? Tantrums? Losing your temper with someone? Whining? Teasing?) but he says he never had one tantrum and didn't lose his temper with anyone before this started. They call him things like dirty little pig, dirty rat, a girl's name, and punch him in the arm repeatedly. The coach tells them to stop, they don't. No other action taken.
Am I pissed. Yes. Am I upset? Yes. Am I frustrated that my kid seems to attract bullies? Hell yes. The frustration is there more than anything because i wasn't there to witness anything and, my kid being the aggravating little guy he is, I must take his claims with a dose of salt. Even if he is aggravating does he deserve getting picked at all day? The coach should be enforcing his own authority over the group and making it (the name calling and arm punching) stop. For the price we paid for 5 days of golf instruction and fun, I expected better. We are not talking a cheap ass, run by unpaid teenage kids program here (like I worked at back in the day at the local Y).
I told Richard that if Ben was staying home with me all day, then HE must call the club and lodge a complaint. No "oh I forgot" etc until nothing can be done about it either.

How did it get to be Thursday already???

The kids go back to school on Tuesday so this is officially the last week of summer vacation andnits almost OVER. Waaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!
I don't have much of anything to write about. Went knitting last night, screwed up my cable band and had to rip it out. Made stitch markers...lot n lots of stitch markers. I just hope Ginette likes them enough for the shop. They are very pretty.
Made a yummy beef slow cooker meal yesterday (Ropa Viejo? I think...Its Cuban in origin) and guess what? There are leftovers.
I spent the military budget of a small country on school supplies (including some texts). Two fully loaded backpacks await Tuesday Morning.
Going out to Effiloche tomorrow night for knitting.
Daycamp update: This has been a great week for Cameron. It started off iffy...he didn't so much want to go, but today he got to try Epee instead of just doing Fleuret and he said " I really liked it...". HE REALLY LIKED IT!! Yay!! Cam has a sport! He really has a sport!! Fencing courses will continue this Autumn and after this week of mildly intensive practice and instruction he will be ready.
Ben's golf is still his favourite. He loves going to day camp at Quatre Domaines. I think this is his 3rd time out of the 4 summers we've lived here. Or maybe just the second and he went to a different one the summer before last....
Anyways, thats it from Chez Nous. Totally dull, non?

Sunday

The weather is very nice today! I had hoped to hop in the pool yesterday but the water has cooled to a nasty 22 celcius which, unless I am super overly warm, just will not do. I wish we had a heater even though its frivolous and energy wasteful...
Yesterday saw me in the veggie patch, still in my nightgown, and trying to pick tomatoes. I have Matt's Wild Cherry heirlooms this year and lets just say I will NOT plant them again. The two plants took over the garden area like something from a B movie ("It Came From the Garden"? "The VINE!"? "insert title of choice here") making harvest difficult (partially my fault for not trellising and pruning enough but holy shi& they went nuts!). The fruits are so small and delicate that red ones break on plucking forcing one to harvest at yellow stage to avoid mini explosions of seeds in one's night dress held like and apron. Even the weight of the other tiny 'maters was enough to make some crack open. They are a tad sweet for my tastes since I was hoping fopr a more intense flavour. I went back out after harvesting equipped with kitchen shears since I have misplace my secateurs, and started lopping vines regardless of their status (fruiting or non) just to make the area traversable.
Note to self: next year try bush or determinate plants.
We weeded the front jungle/flower garden too and Hman cut the lawn then went to hit some balls, leaving me with the kiddos who swiftly got on my PMSing nerves. I'm sorry but my boys are whiney cry babies that may never toughen up. Tiniest boo boos are not shrugged off like many kids do but are sources of hysteria. This at the ages of 9 and 11 with the 11 yr old being worst thanks to his immaturity (THANKS ALOT A.D.D.!!!). Anyways, with their bitchy sniping and squabbling they brought out the worst in my yesterday and last evening. They were permitted to have a friend over night though so I am not a total evil harpy. I just feel like one and sometimes behave like one. sigh.
I have no idea whats instore today. Maybe going out on the boat? I wouldn't mind a nap, I'll tell you.
Oh! Speaking of "In store"...thats what I will be, starting in October. My Tuesdays will be taken up with being a maintainence/stocking flunky at Effiloche. I'm very stoked. Come November, I am scheduled to be there on weekends as well to wind yarn for customers since the Xmas rush will be on. The pluses for me are numerous starting with being in proximity to yarny goodness for hours at a time, and also the situation FORCES my practicing and improving my Francais. Did I mention I'm stoked? I totally am. Thanks G!!!!!!
Ok...off to cook rice for little laryngitis boy.

Vacation.....

Vacationing

Everyone Looooves Marineland

Fun and Excitement and then ZZZZZZZZZZZ

This was our trip to Niagara. My feet are still complaining and we could have used a couple more days just to chill out BUT quick and dirty has its merits (the kids don't have time to get bored and overly bitchy).
Summary:
Niagara Falls during the day : WOW! OH MY GOD! How much???!
Marineland: WOW! Holy moley! Whee! Hahahahahahaha!! OH MY GOD!
Niagara By The Lake: Ooooh pretty. Mmm fudge...Ooooh pretty.
Niagara Falls at night: WOW! OH MY GOD! OOOOOH! PRETTY! Yay fireworks!
Clifton Hill Tourist area: Holy F#$! How much???! Holy S#&% look at that!!!!

Its August

I feel like the summer is practically over. We have a few days in Niagara, then the guys have a 5 day stint of day camp and then BLAM! The 26th is here. This thoroughly sucks in the summer vacation books, going to school before Labour Day. I don't think I'll ever get used to it.
We have had a lot of rain too so my gardens look like jungles, the grass is crazy, and there have been no great hikes or bike rides etc etc. On the plus side, the whole area is lush and green in a way almost unheard of in August, when dried out patchy grasses and dusty looking trees are the norm. Everything is thriving.
I have been out of commision thanks to our computer being hit with a virus. It took days and days for Hman to fix and things are not the way they were so I am still getting used to having things in different places.
Today I am cranky as can be with vacation preparations. I thought I had plenty of clean clothes for the boys thanks to my marathon laundry duties this week but Cam managed to dirty up enough to screw up the packing so here I am on a Saturday night, doing laundry so I can finish up the suitcase. I now hate getting ready for camping trips. The whole chore of finding the gear that gets put away willy nilly and checking through stuffs to find whats missing...the whole idea of MEALS while camping with the picky eater of the family just makes me want to cry actually. I managed to stream line things a little this go around. Hman thinks one should be making eggs and bacon etc while I am dead set against it because of the dishes involved ...in the morning...after a crappy nights sleep. I think he has seen the sense. Its cereal or a bagel for breakie for the next few days.
I'll just be glad when we get there.
Secret Pal Swap: I am pretty much finished with putting together my package. Ideally I'd like to make a few stitch markers and add some special candy or something.
I ripped out the cabled band I was making for the Mystery Shrug project. I'd made many mistakes. Its going better now but I am way behind since the second clue is now out and I am only fractionally through clue one. I don't think I am cut out for knit alongs.

ALSO

Twist Collective!!!! Check it out!
www.twistcollective.com

Itchy...

I spent the bulk of the afternoon out by the pool in the SUN which, for some one like me is not a wise move but how can something that is SO WRONG feel so right??? Now, I am itchy from the sun exposure and mildly radiating heat. I am my own nuclear reactor...
The kids however were VERY hard to pry out of the house. They went in the pool, got pissy with one another and then wen't back into the basement. No way was I going in. we ahve had quite a bit of rain and unsettled weather this summer so my usual indoorsy person has been wanting some sunlight. I lay back on a lounger type chair thingy with no arms...you know what I mean. they are adjustable to lay flat or gradually upright... Anyways, i mostly stayed upright working on the Mitred Mittens I am making For Ginette's shop.
Yesterday I abandoned my family to sit and knit at Effiloche. It was awesome. Dana and Ginette and I just hung out and chatted and knit. I got help with my provisional cast on and tried to start clue #1 for the Mystery shrug but was too distracted to follow the chart. I switched over to my mitred mitten in Paton's Classic Wool and G liked it so now I am knitting one in Berocco Jasper, and may I say Yowza! Thats some cushy, sexy feeling yarn. My complaint is that the skeins are quite small and pricey but the yarn feels soooo goood. The colour graduations are fairly subtle with the occassional loud colour to perk it up (in this colourway anyways). Oooh and G got in some yrn containing Bison fiber. Its from PEI ( I think) and there is this green that has this sheen and almost irridescence...like taffeta. From the silk content. Its Holy F#$%^ expensive but if you are a person who loves to knit crazy expensive lacy things, this is something for you to check out. You gotta see that green! LOL
So, yeah...not much has been done around here while I sunbathe, swim, and get my knit on. Oh, and had a couple of pina coladas. ( Those are sweeter than I remember. No more of them.)
Anyways, The house is starting to get shabby again and what does Hman spring on me? His brother is coming tomorrow. His brother who stated that since I don't go out to work that cleaning the house is my job. (TRUE kinda, but still....). Nice. When I threatened to tear Hman a new one for not tellinmg me earlier because I would have tidied and cleaned, he swore he'd do it tomorrow. Which I think is vaguely fair. After all I didn't see him cleaning out the garbage bin outside EVER!! which was my big gross chore of the day. Lotsa bleach and hosing... ugh...still gagging...
Its getting late so I'll take my big itchy self to bed and slap on some oatmeal moisturiser in an effort to soothe my sun ravaged hide.

Been awhile

I have been a tad busy and thought I had nothing to write.
But I was WRONG!!
Busy-ness breeds stuffs to blah blah about here on the blah-g so blah blah I shall. Cuz its my blah-g.


Starting in no particular order:
There was a water spout touch down in Montreal which is a kind of Holy F$ck kinda thingy. See video here> http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20080723/montreal_waterspout_080723/20080723?hub=TopStories .
That night, after the water spout that I had no knowledge of at the time, I was on a dinner cruise of the port. Yes, my husband took me into teeny tornado territory which again proves that he is trying to kill me ( I have a list of foiled "attempts"!!). I'm kidding. OR AMM I???
The dinner cruise was way more fun than I expected of a business function because A) there were more people than I expected and B) there was alcohol. I lost my voice too. Too much chatter over large noise. Wore my high wedge sandals too and had sore feet next day. Was much much fun.
THURSDAY: My friend J and C came over to knit eat and swim. We ate and talked. No knitting ensued because we were too busy noshing of yummies the gals prepared and no swimming happened because of crappy weather. But it was fun and we SHALL do it again as often as the chickies want. HINT HINT!
Friday: I went to Effilochee for some much needed chillin' with yarn fumes. J and C met up with me there and it was fun to sit and knit with Baby Ginette and Daniel and talk about everything under the sun. janet was our DJ for the evening after being shown how to work the store's Mac. Many '80's and obscure music requests. Fun and funny.
Weekend: I painted my front door with Ben while Hman and Cam were at the Rodgers Cup. Finished and dyed Xmas Instant Mittens pair #3. I "heart" instant mittens.
Monday: I painted my door again and tried real hard not to kill people.
Tuesday was fabulous weather and the kids were awesome and I was muuuuuch nicer to everyone. I cast on my first ever Mitered Mitten and cracked the code on the defunct baby booty that I kept screwing up over and over again due to my own stupidity. Yay me!
Today: Its HOT! I have vacuumed the pool already since Hman didn't have time this AM, due to leaving for Qc City at 6 AM. "Thats no excuse." he was informed last night. And then we laughed as if I was joking....better than divorce non?
Today' agenda is laying by the pool and in the pool and maybe clearing up the kitchen and knitting by the pool. The kids are donning swim gear as we speak so I guess its time to go.....

A Mommying OOPS!

The kids have been at Tennis day camp all week which on the first day was hard on me but now I wish they'd just stay there.
Cameron has a problem with some kid. He says the kid mocks him..say the kids says he smells (Mommy I Took A Shower Last night!!! said Cameron mightily offended), barges in on C when he's getting changed to try and embarrass him, etc etc. I said that this kid obviously had issues and was just trying to get him going and not to let it get to him too much because jackasses abound in this mortal coil. So far Cameron says he has not retaliated. I said maybe he should. Sometimes irritating people can benefit from a good ol dose of sarcastic rejoinder no? To which I introduced the Jimmy Buffet song " Were You Born An Asshole?"
Mistake. Because when I came up with this brilliant response to his antagonist, I didn't edit it for juniors. We have since changed the song to "Were You Born A Butthead?" but really, the damage has been done.
Yet again, I strike out as a Good Mommy. As a slightly mischievous and malevolent Mommy I'm pretty great I think...but as a GOOD Mommy? I suck. And now I have Jimmy Buffett singing in my head ALL DAY LONG!!!

I think its an apt punishment for my crime, don't you?

boredborredboredboredbored.........

Boredboredboredbored whats that smell? boredboredbored.......

Irritation.........

I signed on for my first ever knit along (KAL)which is also my first ever Mystery knit. The sweeties at Sweet Paprika Designs, Deborah in particular, are "hosting" this project. Deb designed a shrug and doles out the pattern "clues" one at a time until you end up with a finished object and go "Oh wow! So thats what I have been knitting!". All we know is that its a shrug, nothing else. (except i have seen the shrug and love it).
Friday I got my first "clue" and it was for working out how much DK weight yarn I will need to knit for my size. I did all the measuring and followed Deborah's brilliant formula and came up with a (large) number of how many yards of DK yarn I need.
The problem is that I am on a yarn fast and don't want to BUY yarn. I have made it a mission to knit FROM STASH ONLY until Rhinebeck..well Spain actually and then Rhinebeck. I thought that this KAL would be a great way to use up more stash!!
WRONG!!!! If I was (much)thinner it would be great but as it stands right now the only yarn that I have enough yardage of is an Aran weight that is much heavier and not at all complimentary to the project. Am I pissed off? Why yes I am thank you!!
Because of my shoddy yarn shopping skills ( a skein here, a skein there...) I can't knit this project from stash and will have to buy the yarn. ARGH!! I am so mad at myself!!!!!!!
I hereby vow that I will buy delicious yarns in larger more useable quantities from now on. I so vow!!!! No more "ooh its so pretty but pricey so I'll only buy one or two...enough for a hat maybe...". I won't get caught so short handed again.

Hair

I don't know WHAT possessed me and made me highlight my hair but the situation has been rectified. Brown I am and brown I'll stay...for now.
I got a hair cut at a place I have never been. My Nancy was too booked up and my alternative stylist as well. This meant someone new....sigh.
Its only hair and it grows back.

Friday

Wednesday night I went out knitting and scored a wicked cool green combination yarn. Thanks Josiane!!!!!!! Now if you could maybe remember what it is...? I could do a flame test I suppose, to check for wool fibers etc but i hate to waste an inch of such great yarn. I also cast on my second pair of xmas mittens and am almost done the second now. LOVING instant mittens. Very productive knitting.
This week has been pretty tame. I took the kids to Center de Nature in Laval on Tuesday and we had a really fun time exploring.
Tonight I took myself to the movies alone and saw Get Smart. Love Steve Carell. He's the best. The Rock was very funny in his role as Agent 23. LOVED the tech nerds Bruce and LLoyd...there is a dvd out of them and now I must rent it. A sequel with be sweet because Himie was introduced right at the end (Patrick Warburton...yum!).
Before going out I highlighted my hair. It looks ....okay.. I think.
I have done worse. Tomorrow I am getting a trim so that may help things and ease the bushyness from the damaged ends. I jusrt wanted a bit of a sun kissed look and I think its alright. We'll see if I get openly mocked when friend see it.

Dreams

You know yours are really good when you wake up your sleeping partner with your "sleep laughing".
And no, this is not the first time this has happened. I'm just lucky that way I guess. :oD
Unfortunately for Hman.......heh heh heh.

Oh they did have SOME fun.....

DETAILS: So....it was a beeeeeyooootiful Saturday afternoon. Seriously gorgeous with LOW humidity but HOT. We spent it in the pool goofing around and I also sat in the shade working on mitten #2 of red instant mitts. Then around 4 we decided to head for the boat and see what the wind was like.
It was good! Not too little a wind but we could have used a pinch more. Lac Deux Montagnes gets VERY choppy in big wind and its not a fun leisure sail. We had some chop both natural and asshole...I mean powerboat..sourced. Again thanks to over zealous large powerboats speeding by our wee sail boat I almost fell in. Grrr...
The breeze was heavenly on our hot selves and the sun was bright in the western sky when we started out. The moon had risen and appeared to be made of the same cirrus type high clouds that we were finding shapes in (rooster on an island, beautiful lady, laughing worm...). MANY boats on the water both sail and motor and big power boats. Lots of traffic.
I saw two huge pike jump. I am serious, these bastards were enormous for lake fish (to my eyes). At least the length of my arm for the smaller of the two and when they jumped it was clear out of the water, into the air, and back down sideways like when whales breach. Very cool but made me mildly nervous for the safety of our toes hanging over the bow to get splashed by waves. Pike are toothy bitey fishies.
The sun was going down when we turned back. I think we docked around 8 pm or so. Once we were back in our "parking spot" at the club we headed homeward, stopping at the Mike's on St Martin, Laval for supper because I had a massive craving for spaghetti and meatballs caused by repeatedly singing "On Top Of Spaghetti" with Cameron and Ben on the way back to shore. Mmmmspaghetti and meatballs....
Today, being Sunday, it is rainy and hot. Fitting non?

Sailing Sailing....Who Enjoys It More?

Friday recap

I had the bestest day. I really did. At 4 pm my fabulous babysitter arrived and I hit the road to St Hubert street. Plaza St Hubert is closed to traffic for a BIG sidewalk sale and boy was it a party! Music, sales, food, people...! It was fab. I bought high wedge heeled strappy sandals. Aerosoles so they are actually fairly comfortable.
But I had a mission...I was to meet Janet, Caroline, and Anna at Chaton Beads( http://www.chatonbeads.com/store/contactus.php )to pick out Swarovski crystal beads from their fantastic array of colours. Then we moseyed to C and M Textiles for some heavy silk fabric for Janet to line an lovely crochet bag.
THEN we sauntered south on St Hubert, back to the closed off portion (Plaza) and arrived at Effiloche. Ginette had one of the knit lounge sofas out on the sidewalk with some chairs and a table for snacks and drinks so knit night was a fresh air wonderful experience! Janet made my crystal pendant for me since I am all thumbs and will supply me with a pattern to make more. I LOVE it. So sparkly. Daniel sacrificed some heavy silver embroidery thread for me to wear it right away. Ginette was full of hugs and looked FABULOUS. She's been working out at the gym and running and good googly moogly ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=liAQCXeTl-s) its paying off in spades and abs!!! I am way jealous and proud of her.
THEN I left and met Hman at the theater for a movie. You know the one...the one with my boyfriend AND my girlfriend. Oh to be the center of a sexy sandwich with James MmmMmmmMmmMcAvoy and Angelina Jolie. They were HOT and it was a very actiony movie (Wanted) with never a dull minute.
Altogether a fantastic and fun filled Friday!!!!

In which we are meellltiiinng

Its very humid Chez Nous. We had rain through the night that cooled the air imperceptibly but the humidity is stil high and makes for a very drippy me. Yesterdays hotness was very much improved by staying in the pool as much as my day allowed.
Blossom was beautified beyond recognition at the groomers yesterday. I really need to keep her shaved I think. She's so sleek and stink free and when you pet her you don't come away thinking you now need a shower to get all the dog hair and dogginess off. Now we can't stop petting her and she's in heaven. 45$ well spent. I asked the groomer to use the Natural Concepts oatmeal bodywash I brought for bathing Blossom. Its the only thing I have found that doesn't make her flaky doggy skin worse, including some pricy oatmeal dog shampoos. Its a buck a bottle at the Dollarama and is great (for people AND dogs!!!) and the groomer liked it too. Pictures will come when I get around to it.
Tonight is Laval Knits night and I am so looking forward to it. My night OFF!!! WooHooo. I'm going to cast on another pair of Instant Mittens, now for Christmas girly gifts so maybe there will be clown coloured mohair...or sparkly yarn....

Monday mania

Photo from Club Scott website.
It is the Monday after a weekend away and we all know what that means. LAUNDRY! Lots'n'lots of laundry. (I have NO clean shorts. >:o( )
And pool vacuuming. And house de-griming because it was mildly neglected during the pre weekend preparations. I did however strip off the couch and wash all the covers. Mmmmmmm fresh and clean.
Today I took Blossom, our shaggy deaf dog, to the groomers. Unfortunately her appointment is for tomorrow.
Why yes I am an idiot thank you very much. She remains shaggy for another day and counts herself lucky.
The fishing trip was lovely if not packed with fish. We came home with two wee trout that would have been better left in the lakes. Nice expensive trouts. We also saw beavers. I got a souvenir ball cap with the outfitter's logo on it as a momento of our first family fishing trip.
The weeds in the garden decided to go into growth overdrive over those two days but it is VERY hot today in my yard so I may wait until evening for pulling them. That and until I find my gloves because I keep getting a dermatitis from some of the weeds sap.
I did accomplish one thing while away. I finished a pair of Instant Mittens. Then I gave them away. Thus I have no proof so you just have to take my word for it. I am very pleased with myself. A whole functional pair of mittens. I will use the pattern again but it makes fairly small mittens so I need to up the cast on numbers by at least 4 OR increase by 4 after the wrist ribbing. The pattern designer must have slim hands.
Anyways,I am tired, hot, and hungry. Typical Monday afternoon, non?

Wednesday's Thoughts

I want...with a basket.

Discovered that mystery bug in house is a variety of assassin bug. Am now afraid for my life. Also afraid of bugs and so doubly afraid.
Does my fondness for funny/witty/profound bumper stickers make me tacky?
Mojitos are good.
Will I ever complete a pair of fully functional mittens?


Deep huh? Thats me. Deep waters run still. Because ,you see, to run actively makes me sore and sweaty.
Todays plans: take bike to repair shop because I can't get the bike I want SO BAD!!! Also buy more rum and some limes (see above Mojito comment). Tonight is knitting in NDG so I will get out of the house for awhile to chat with other humans of the non-male persuasion that actually sometimes find me and interesting conversationalist. And never do I have to order them to put on some friggin' pants.

HAPPY CANADA DAY

I am out by the pool in the low humidity sunshine, slathered with SPF 50. Possibly with something mildly alcoholic near by.
Hope your day is just a terriffic!!!!

Chores For Pay

In the world of parenting you eventually get to the point/ages where the rug rats are fully capable of doing things on tehir own. At this point, with some preparation and encouragement, chore charts were introduced to my family. They worked for a little while but then novelty wore off and I became forgetful about pay and replacing full charts. Now that school is out and the childrens are currently unemployed, per se, I have come up with a new system of Chores For Pay designed to keep bored and broke children busy and less work for me. Genius non?.
Listed on a fairly short list are things like Wiping Down The Bathroom. I love Lysol disinfecting wipes....very UNgreen of me I know but they are fast, easy, and kill germs. Wiping down the bathroom includes wiping out the sink, the counters, the taps and the toilet area. Since they are the ones who miss I think they should take responsibility for it. This job, which I hate, is worth 50 cents.
Putting Away Laundry is worth 50 cents a basket.
Cleaning the Yard (which is code for cleaning up dog poo) is worth a whole buck.
Vacuuming an entire level of the house is worth 25 cents because lets face it, the vacuum cleaner does all the work on this one but having fewer things stick to my bare feet is valuable to me. Plus with the pet hair issues in this house it is a job that needs doing frequently.
Cleaning Up Bedroom including making beds and vacuuming is worth 50 cents because they rarely do it.
Garbage Duty 25 cents. Recycling also 25 cents. The theory is that maybe they will notice when trashes need emptying instead of just piling more in until it over flows.
I think its a pretty good plan so far though the kids have only done a few of the chores despite frequent reminders like "Gee...wonder what chores on the list need doing TODAY?" However I did mention the addition of Yard Cleaning for a dollar and Cameron jumped at it. And he's the LAZY one!!!!! Swweeeet.
If you tried this method of getting kids to do work around the home, what would you have on the list? Dishes don't work here as a chore because we mostly use the dishwasher and the kids can't reach some of the cupboards and I dislike broken dishes.

Saturday

After Cameron telling me all week that daddy was taking him to the Rodger's Cup today I finally thought to ask Hman about it. "What time are you two leaving tomorrow?" I asked last night. He had no idea what I was referring to. I filled him in. Turns out the Rodger's Cup is later in July. This is why 9 year olds are not reliable sources of information or agenda keeping.
Its a good thing that they weren't sitting out watching major tennis matches because its been raining pretty much the whole day. Holy humidity, Batman! There are parts of the house that are getting decidely funky smelling from the heavy doses of moisture we've been having lately : ie the living room has a distinct dog like aroma thanks to, of course, the DOG. The basement has been a bone of contention since we moved in. While not a disgustingly damp icky place, it is damper than I'd like. Just right for mild cases of mildew. This is not a plus in a family room area where we tend to spend a lot of time. For 3 years I have been saying 'Need a Dehumidifier..." to be answered with the "Yeah yeah...." of the over burdened man of the house (snicker). Today I got my way!!!!!!!!!!!
There was no tantrumming....there was no pushing....there was no threatening of dire mildewy consequences.. I just said that it would be a good day to head to Sears and he said "OK!!!" GASP!
~~Digression: While there I totally got some new summer tshirts which were a point of wardrobe desperation at this point. The old ones were all either stained or too tight/short. It was becoming difficult to dress myself to leave the house. ~~
We are the proud operators of a Kenmore digital dehumidifier (with Energy Star sticker) now and I foresee the family room becomming a much less sticky/smelly place to hang out. Relative humidity is already down by 10%!!! Sweet. I thinks I'm in luuuuuv.

Heh heh but true 2

Heh heh but true

more cat pictures

Also,

I had a great idea this morning after much coffee and 3 hands of Uno with Ben.
Ben loves Uno. He gets me to play as often as I can tolerate but as games go, its one I enjoy. Now that its summer and days are lazy without lots of structure, the Uno will be played even more and thus the seed of a plan was planted.
The Family Summer Uno Championship! I will make up a chart for us to put in our points for the whole summer from every game we play this summer and at the end of the summer, the highest tally determines the Uno champion.
Yes it is mildly unfair for Cameron and Hman because they so rarely want to play but oh well sucks to be them. I think I will even invest in a trophy and do this each summer until it stops.
Heh heh...victory WILL be mine...heh heh heh

Fishin'

"Plz 'member the bug spray if you take me out in nature,'k?"

I only fished once in my childhood and that was when a friend and her family took me along to their cottage in the New Germany area of Nova Scotia. It was down a dirt road on a lake...no idea which one. This was my first time fishing and I couldn't get enough.
Later in my early teens my sister and her husband took myself and my nephew on a few fishing outtings in Spring. That was when I got my first very own fishing rod and it was a pale blue metallic Shakespeare which was very pretty and I loved it so. That rod was lost when I went fishing with a friend's boyfriend for my first fishing from a canoe. The rod got left in his trunk and I ne'er saw it again. It had a lot of sentimental value for me so I was VERY BITTER. You know how attached I get to my presciousses especially if they are A) shiny or B) yarny.
My next fishing excursions were with my country girlfriend Edith. I would wait anxiously for Hman to get home from work, foist the small kids into his hands and say "SEE YA!" throwing my limited gear into the back of her truck and ruunning away from my frustrations. We would suck on gobstoppers, talk and come home with junk fish ( bullnose, yellow perch) to put in the gardens (under roses or tomato plants. Excellent fertiliser). Sometimes I ACTUALLY crawled out of bed in the very early to fish in the lake behind the house. Saw a beaver one time! mackeral fishing off the docks of Mahone Bay and Indian Point were wicked good fun too. I actually caught things then.
Then the kids got older and E got busier, divorcing etc,and we had our business, and the fishing didn't happen so much. I missed it desperately. Then we moved here.
Quebec has AWESOME fishing and I have not been once. In the 3 years I have been here not once. We went ice fishing on vacation BEFORE the boys and I moved here but that its and may I say HELL YES I did enjoy the ice fishing. I hooked them and then pretended to be tired and passed the rod to a kid to discover he had a bite and reel it in. this is how they get addicted see? So when they are older I will have fishing buddies to suck Gobstoppers and chat with. I digress.
So while my life has not been FILLED with fishing I do enjoy it quite a bit. I like the peace that comes with the boredom of not catching anything, taking the time to admire nature and let my mind wander. I also love paddling for its quiet and reflective qualities and if Hman fulfills his promise of a kayak ( we had a canoe but we find them uncomfortable and tippy)I will be very happy. Can you fish from a kayak I wonder?? Yes I was never a huge catcher of fish BUT when I do catch them I am so happy and excited it makes it all worth while. Hman has never loved fishing like me because as I may have mentioned he NEVER catches anything and has been known to jinx a whole excursion groups prospects (In Hawaii). this weeekend seems to have broken his curse and now he is willing to book us a weekend at a fishing camp. SWEET!!!! http://www.clubscott.com/english/inedx2.htm This is the place he wants to go to because we can take Blossom with us. He doesn't know of any places where you can just go and fish from shore etc to kill a couple hours and whiolewe can fish Lac Deux Montagne from our sail boat, the sailing part makes it tricky. "I wanna fish!" "No we are sailing!!" See what I mean? Anyways, my bitching that we never do the things I want to do (paddling, hiking, fishing) has paid off big time. Now...if only they have a weekend free for us. Hoping....hoping.....