Dear Pharmasave (local pharmacy),

The following is a list, in no particular order, as to why I will no longer be filling prescriptions, utilizing your Canada Post outlet and Sears Catalogue outlet despite the fact that your store is the nearest to my house:

1) The employees barely make eye contact let alone smile when serving me. And apparently speaking to the customer is really not encouraged or maybe it's just to me.

2) On more than one occasion, my husband has been told that “paying customers” must be served before Sears Catalogue pick up/drop offs

3) The postal staff do not speak to the me at all while posting parcels. (Except when I arrived today with a prepaid bill of lading, then clerk did speak but only to mutter to herself that she hated those things.) And finally the only way to infer the transaction is complete is when the employee walks away with nary a glace in my direction.

And yes, you may have heard me comment to my almost 4 year old son as we walked out that the staff sure are friendly here and today would be the last time I set foot in the store.

Just thought you might like to know the impression your staff leaves on customers.

Sincerely,

I'm Ready

Today I completed a mission that I have been on for the last 3 summers: to find the perfect beach chair. Today as I stood at the check out at Linens 'N Things I saw it.

Low to the ground - check
Adjustable back - check
Folds up for easy transport - check
Beach weather - um, well, only if you want to freeze your tooshie off.

Can't have everything now can we?

Look at the cute kid who came with the chair, what a steal for $35.

Bonus, he's got the cheese ball smile, he'll fit right in around here.

Summer? I am ready when you are.

Whew and Yay

I survived the weekend. It was long and it was exhausting. I can’t even imagine facilitating the 3 days that is required for a course like this. I was just there mostly observing and I am beat.

But the good news is that I did present. I wasn’t going to. Even after two days of it, and the facilitator asking me over and over if I wanted to present this or that, I kept saying no. But I came home Saturday night and realized that I was never going to have this opportunity again. I was working with a guy that I respect, admire as a facilitator and get along with really well. I know he has my back and would never judge me harshly.

So I did it.

And I didn’t die.

That is exactly what I said to myself after I was done. I am done and I didn’t die. Isn’t that something!

Everything happened that I am always so fearful of. I lost my train of thought mid-sentence. I didn’t know the answer to a student question. I didn’t cover something important (cue facilitator jumping in to cover my butt!).

But despite all that, I didn’t die. I didn’t even get injured.

It was WAY out of my comfort zone but you know what? I wasn’t nervous. I didn’t shake. My voice didn’t crack and the students could actually hear me.

People, this is a small miracle.

Will I ever do one on my own?

I have no idea. Right now I am so tired I could fall asleep on my desk beside this laptop. Imagine how tired I would be had I actually talked for 3 days straight.

The point is that I pushed myself outside my comfort zone and I am glad I did. The next time I am required to speak in front of a group of people I will be much more confident in myself. And that my friends, makes it all worthwhile.

And today I had the honour of meeting BeachMama in the flesh. She’s much taller than I thought which is the first thing I exclaimed when we hugged. Yes, I am ALL class. But she is lovely, just as I thought she was and I thoroughly enjoyed hanging out with her and her cute kids along with her sister and Anna . We had mini-mini-BlogHer right here in my hometown. The location was somewhat sketchy though. We had planned to meet at an indoor play palace but apparently they think Mondays are holidays so Burger King was the next best thing. Maybe that was a good thing because I dumped my full diet coke all over the floor. Again with my class.

At least I didn't spill it on myself.

HELP!

Internets (and outernets) I need your fashion expertise. Mine is contained in my pinky toenail. I have been trying to expand it but I think I may have fashion dyslexia.

This weekend I am attending the classroom portion of the on-line courses I teach. That means that my normal yoga pants and a sweatshirt to sit in front of my laptop are NOT appropriate attire. I have never taught the face to face portion because public speaking is a phobia in my books. But the opportunity arose for me to attend one and see what it’s all about this weekend. I am even going to talk….gulp…I think. I go from being all okay, I know this stuff, I CAN do this…. To what in the name of sweet Fanny Adams have I gotten myself into?

But let’s get back to fashion shall we, my inner fears are not that intriguing.


First I had to set up the tripod and figure out the timer on my new camera. Here's Kamden and I trying it out.



Okay enough goofing around, this fashion stuff is serious business!

This outfit? Jay and I stumbled across it this weekend and once I put it on I had to have it.


Don't you love Kamden's pose? EEK! Perhaps he hangs around with his mom too much?

Here's where you come in.

Does it qualify as business casual?





And what kind of shoes work best? Ballet flats (obviously NOT the black and white ones I have on in the picture - even my pinky toenail knows that!) or the wedges?

Please send help before the fashion police arrest me!

Playing with fire

Saturday nights are supposed to exciting right? Well, we had us some excitement that we would have happily done without this past Saturday night.

It was a long weekend here, today is Queen Victoria's birthday, I think, it's called Victoria Day so maybe it's not her birthday, maybe it's just her day. I have no idea, what a good member of the British Empire I am. Wait, is it even still called the British Empire?

Where was I going with that?

Right, it's a long weekend. We spent the weekend at my parents house since we didn't make it up for Mother's Day we celebrated it this weekend. Saturday night found us all (minus my Dad who is at his brother's farm helping out with the seeding) hanging out. My bro and his family were there and we were trying to settle the kids down for the night. All four of them in one room to sleep equals much laughter, squealing and then the obligatory "BE QUIET!" from the adults.

Mom, with her superior olfactory senses had been smelling smoke for awhile. Dad is on the volunteer fire dept for their rural area but since he was out of town, no word came in.

Then a neighbor called. Mom stepped outside to see a huge plume of smoke to the west (maybe, I am so good with directions it could have been east – when I was standing in front of their house it was to the right of the house, does that help?).

There was indeed a fire. Trevor (my illustrious brother) and Mom went for a quick drive to check it out. The fire? On the back 40 of an acreage three down from ours. This is the red glow that could be seen from the riding ring adjacent to the house:

Photo courtesy of Jay

We deemed it close enough that we should leave the house, just in case.

Want to see some kids shake? Tell them there is a fire close to Grams and Pop’s house. We discovered that works quite nicely.

We loaded everyone up including Kricket the dog and Jessie the cat and headed to wait at the Fire Hall for word it was under control.

We got home around 11:30 and put the kids down. In the meantime both Jay and Trevor headed out to see if they could yeild some shovels and help out.

By the time they both were home it was 2 am.

Good times, good times.

Thankfully the only harm done was to some of the beautiful natural bush out back of the house on that acreage. Who knows how it started but the idea of human help is very likely since it's spring and not really ideal natural fire conditions.

Here are some pictures of the scene the next morning. It was still smoldering in many spots though it is hard to make it out in the pictures. And the stench? Let me tell you, not pleasant.

On the walk over to the scene, these dainty, tiny little flowers were growing on the path. The Prairie fauna is delicate and hardy. It's breathtaking if you take the time to appreciate it.

Hopefully I can use this as a nice reminder to my children that fire in any form is never to be underestimated.

The Facts (or lack thereof)

I have awards to give out and meme’s to do but alas, I am not in the right mood for that. To those of you who have been sweet enough to pass on awards and tag me, I have not forgotten and I promise to get to them when I can.

The weather has been fabulous the last couple of days and we have been spending as much time out and about as possible which translates into far less time on the old laptop. A good thing, no?

But first I must go down a controversial path. Plastic. BPA.

You’ve heard about it.

We all have. You may have even gone through your plastics and turfed a bunch that “they” are claiming are bad.

I may have even started to do that.

But then I stopped and thought for a minute.

It’s all a bit ludicrous.

Now don’t get angry. Hear me out for a second.

I know there are risks to ingesting BPA. It’s a bloody hormone for goodness sake. That can’t be a good thing to be messing around with. I mean have you been around me when my hormones are out of whack? Let’s not go adding to the madness people that would be adding fuel to the fire.

But the part that I don’t get? Why can’t anyone say for certain WHAT BPA can do to you if in fact you do ingest it?

There are many things that it “may”, “could” and “might” do to you. But they can’t even give us a probably or most likely.

And as for the ingesting part, no one can say with any reasonable level of probability if in fact plastic that contains BPA does leach into our food or drink. Again with the “may”, “could” and “mights”.

And to add more uncertainty to all of this, no one can say which plastics even have the BPA in them.

Are you confused?

I am.

And I also think that maybe, just maybe, this is all a big ploy by the very people who make the plastics that may or may not contain BPA (the jury is still out on that) to have us all throw out all our plastics.

That way they can make even more money by selling us new and improved BPA FREE plastics.

Doesn’t that sound even remotely plausible?

Well okay, it sounds a bit like the theory that the whole lunar landing was faked. I’ll give you that.

But let’s get back to the risks of ingesting BPA. I read somewhere that one of the risks was homosexuality and gender confusion.

Um dude, list that as a risk to ANYTHING and you have lost all credibility with me.

To me, that’s a bit like saying that on sunny days, it’s more likely that I’ll take dump.

You might be able to make some kind of statistical link between the two but that by no means makes the sun cause my regularity. Trust me, I have been regular my whole life… and gee, the sun has been shining my whole life too.. DAMN maybe there is a connection…

I want facts people, cold, hard, scientifically proven facts before I go adding to the the plastic blob .

Remember when cell phones and microwaves caused cancer?

Me too.

I am just not yet convinced that I need to turf everything with a triangle surrounding a 3, 6 or 7. Or is that 1, 3, 6 and 7? One article I read said those where “bad” while 2, 4 and 5 were “better”.

*scratching head while drinking hot tea out of a #7 plastic mug*

(I mean this is jest and fun. If you do not use plastics or did just recently convert I am not dissing you. Not at all. I am just confused and mildly balking because I am at my heart a bit stubborn)

Little o this

You know sometimes when you have a million post ideas and then sometimes, not so much? You may have guessed that I am in the not so much rut. Thank goodness for Jay taking over the blog on Sunday or there would have been nothing on here.*

I do feel that I should clarify one thing from the last post.

First. I do not, nor have I ever actually thrown either of my kids into a snowbank. I do however tease them and pick them up and pretend that I will throw them into a snowbank. Or the ocean when we were in the Bahamas. Somehow that one was much more fun.

Because it illicits gleeful screeching and giggling from both of them I am forced to continue this practice.

It's a tough life people, tough.

Had to clear that up just in case Social Services is reading this.

And also? Has anyone noticed that I look exactly the same in both pictures here , as if I am a frozen with that smile on my face? It creeps me out just a little I have to say. Just a little.

And because that's all I've got, here are some pictures.

* I have seen a few blogging pet peeves going around in blogland - apparently it's really annoying to explain why you haven't or aren't posting. See me sticking my tongue out at that one? I am outside that box baby. OUTSIDE.

Happy Mother's Day

A post for my lovely wife and the boys Favorite mom.
Jay

In honour of Mother's day I sat the boys down and asked them a few questions. The following are their responses:

Reasons why we love mom, by Jack and Kamden

- Because she is all loveable
- Because she loves us and all of us
- She watches TV with me and she stays for a little bit and then she goes
- She plays the frog game and balloon lagoon
- Because she lifts me up and gives me a hug and puts me down
- Because she loves us


What is mom’s favorite thing to do?

Jack: Play around on the internet
Kamden: Play games

Why does Mommy love us?
Because we love her

What is Mom’s favorite thing to do to you?
Throw me in a snowbank.

Then of course they need to pose with their lovely Mother.




And 3 song excerpts that say why I love you!

First our wedding song

You make me smile.
Even the times I'm trying to be serious.
You are possessing the quality mysterious.
A special style You, you, you, you make me smile

Jennifer Love Hewitt (yes she sings too)


For tonight I'll ask, the stars above,"How did I ever win your love?"
What did I do?
What did I say,to turn your angel eyes my way?
Don't anyone wake me, if it's just a dream'
Cause she's the best thing, ever happened to me

Jeff Healey

Everything I'll ever need, Is standing right here in front of me
You've given more than i'll ever ask for
Now all I can do Is give forever to you.
Cuz now, now it seems I'm wide awake in this dream
Cuz now, now it seems I'm wide awake in this dream
And I'll do, I'll do anything To stay here forever
And if this is a dream I'm not going to wake up
But if I'm awake I won't close my eyes again

Kalan Porter

To the best mommy ever. We love you!

Nine Years of Wedded Bliss

Nine years ago…

I said I do forever
And I still do forever

Because nine years later I love you more than I ever thought possible.
You are my heart, my soul….

My life.


I am still dreaming of nine times nine more glorious years with you by my side

Happy Anniversary Jay

It's My Party

Today, I got another year older. Remember when you were a kid and 34 seemed like ancient. Well that's me. The lady whose kids say "Oh Mommy they probably didn't even have that when you were a kid, W-A-Y back then."

Sheesh. To hear them talk I've already got one foot in the grave.

Naturally I like to remind them that Grandma and Pop and Grammy and Granddaddy are MUCH older than I am. I am sweet like that.

Kamden and I were on our own for most of the day since it was a regular old day for Jay and Jack. I mean, c'mon, isn't my birthday a national holiday?

No?

Right, 'cause I am not famous and dead.

That sounds like a good thing actually.

We needed a few things from the store - find me a day when we don't need something from the store - so that's what Kamden and I were going to do this afternoon. Well around 10 am I had a better idea. Why not see if Anna and her kidlets wanted to come for coffee. That sounds so much better than a date with the produce section of Superstore, don't ya think?

She came not only bearing Starbuck's but also this:

And these:

She's a sweetheart that one!

We had a lovely visit in the sunshiney backyard. I am still pinching myself that it was actually nice out. I got a bit of a sunburn yesterday. It may have been a dream but I haven't pinched myself yet. Why would I wake myself from spring?

Then the oldest boys came home and we headed off to the new Chili’s . It was really good. I ordered a Bacon Ranch burger that was bemamath. I cut the sucker in half and barely finished that. Mmm, bacon and ranch dressing on an all beef patty....it was good. Sorry to those of you who may not do beef, I am still working on not loving meat.

Then we had cake. It's not a birthday without cake. Kamden really wanted the cake to be a big surprise so I had to stay in the van while they went in to pick it out and I wasn't allowed to peek. He was so cute when he came back to the van and said, "Mommy, it's okay, you can look. It's in a box!". The boys may have been more excited about my birthday than me.



It was a GREAT day.

Oh Dear, Oh Dear

Dear people who try to take pictures at Stars on Ice,

Congratulations! You just paid $65 to spend 2 hours missing an amazing show to take really bad pictures.

See that guy down at the end with the telephoto lens as long as your forearm? See your point and shoot?

Do I need to draw you a picture?

I have one word for you if you want spectacular shots of the stars.

GOOGLE

Sincerely,
The person sitting behind you

*********************************************************************************

Dear Van (aka expensive piece of junk),

Thank you ever so much for serenading me all the way to and from Stars on Ice with your exceptionally loud dinging.

Oh and the varied beeping when I was stopped vs. when I accelerated?

Awesome.

Sincerely,

SO trading you in for less expensive and more fuel efficient junk

There's a BUZZ around here

My little boy has a good buddy. “Mommy, Logan is my BEST friend,” is what he tells me.

Together, they plan on protecting the universe, "Evil never wins!" You see, when they grow up they are going to be Buzz Lightyear and Dark Matter of Toy Story/Buzz Lightyear Star Command fame.

Logan: “But Kamden, we can’t change our names. I will be Logan Buzz and you will be Kamden Matter.”

Kamden: “Yeah, I’ll be Kamden Matter and you’ll be Logan Buzz.”

I couldn’t make this up if I tried. Just try not to laugh out loud as you hear these conversations unfold. Actually I am too busy trying to commit them to memory so I can write about them later.

"Not today ZURG!"


Here they are refueling after a grueling trip to INFINITY AND BEYOND!

Could they be ANY cuter?

Fighting evil really takes a lot out of a guy though, dude is tired!