I have been fighting a head cold for the last few days. Luckily the night time cold stuff works and I have been able to sleep. The daytime stuff clears my sinuses but it does a number on my mental faculties.
I was trying to pack the lunches and I needed more bread - there were some extra loaves in the freezer downstairs.
Down I go - oh, while I'm down here, I also need some toothpicks for a craft at Guides tomorrow night. Painters tape - I could use that too.
I get upstairs with the toothpicks and tape, but no bread. Fuck.
Back down stairs but as I head over to the freezer, I see that The Boy has dropped his laundry basket in the middle of the walkway between piles of junk. As I walk over to move it I see that the box of gift bags I have been hoarding has fallen over so I pick all them up which reminds me that D is off to the hospital and I should take the baby gift with me to work so I can stop by on my way home.
I go upstairs and get the baby stuff together. Fuck - I still need the bread.
Back downstairs. Now I know why I procrastinate. At least it is easier to stay on the one task I am doing if I ignore the destruction around me.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Monday, September 29, 2008
At the Park
The Girl's dad was supposed to pick her up for the weekend and while she was waiting she went to the park to play with some friends.
Her dad called when he was on his way and I told him to swing by the park first...
"Is she still at the park?"
"Yes, her bike should be there."
"What color is her bike?"
"Red and yellow - you bought it for her!"
"OK, I see it, but I don't see her. Wait, there she is, she just fell out of a tree."
Ummm. Something about the apple not falling far from the tree...
Her dad called when he was on his way and I told him to swing by the park first...
"Is she still at the park?"
"Yes, her bike should be there."
"What color is her bike?"
"Red and yellow - you bought it for her!"
"OK, I see it, but I don't see her. Wait, there she is, she just fell out of a tree."
Ummm. Something about the apple not falling far from the tree...
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Out of my Funk
I have been complained the last two weeks that I just can’t seem to settle down and get anything done.
I open my file, stare at it until it’s time for coffee. Then stare some more until lunch. Soon after that it’s tea time then before I know it I can go home. Day after day I have been closing the file with nothing done to it.
I was heading that was again today but when I got back form my desk after tea (so, almost the end of the day) a co-worked asked if we could talk. Seems she just got reprimanded for not progressing in her schedule enough. Holy shit – that could have been me, and I still might be next.
Ok – I get the message, I have actually accomplished more in the last hour than the last 2 weeks. Hopefully I will still feel the impending doom after my three day weekend and that will keep me from slipping back into my funk.
I open my file, stare at it until it’s time for coffee. Then stare some more until lunch. Soon after that it’s tea time then before I know it I can go home. Day after day I have been closing the file with nothing done to it.
I was heading that was again today but when I got back form my desk after tea (so, almost the end of the day) a co-worked asked if we could talk. Seems she just got reprimanded for not progressing in her schedule enough. Holy shit – that could have been me, and I still might be next.
Ok – I get the message, I have actually accomplished more in the last hour than the last 2 weeks. Hopefully I will still feel the impending doom after my three day weekend and that will keep me from slipping back into my funk.
Omen
I was waling down the hallway and my Program Manger was walking in front of me. He was playing with a green yo-yo.
What they hell?
Is this the newest form of stress release?
I know our program is in a rough spot, but this is not confidence inspiring leadership.
What they hell?
Is this the newest form of stress release?
I know our program is in a rough spot, but this is not confidence inspiring leadership.
Bathrooms
Public washrooms are gross and disgusting at the best of times. Workplace bathrooms are ugly on a whole other level. Not only do they fall under the public washroom category, but you ‘know’ the people who are using them.
How do you chat with someone by the photocopier after knowing they just desecrated the bathroom. What do you do when someone holds a door open for you when you know that they don’t wash their hands? How do you look a manager in the eye after hearing the guys talk about how he corners them for meetings when they are standing at the urinal. What do people think after sitting in the stall next to you?
I hate using the washrooms at work.
I try to space it out and go at ‘off’ times. Or stop at a random bathroom when I need to walk to another building.
Right now, the bathrooms on our floor are under construction. So the one on the floor above us is seeing double traffic. To make things worse this morning, the one above us was being cleaned, so I had to go up an additional floor – triple duty! Now that is just gross.
How do you chat with someone by the photocopier after knowing they just desecrated the bathroom. What do you do when someone holds a door open for you when you know that they don’t wash their hands? How do you look a manager in the eye after hearing the guys talk about how he corners them for meetings when they are standing at the urinal. What do people think after sitting in the stall next to you?
I hate using the washrooms at work.
I try to space it out and go at ‘off’ times. Or stop at a random bathroom when I need to walk to another building.
Right now, the bathrooms on our floor are under construction. So the one on the floor above us is seeing double traffic. To make things worse this morning, the one above us was being cleaned, so I had to go up an additional floor – triple duty! Now that is just gross.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Trashy Girls
I am back working with the Girl Guides again. I missed it the year we were in Texas.
Last night we were cleaning up the park. The girls were paired up with a garbage bag and they all had pink non-latex gloves. They were more interested in playing with the gloves than picking up garbage.
I told them the team with the most garbage would win the choice of a game or a song.
Boom! They were off and running.
"Can we go over there?"
"Yes, as long as we can still see you."
"What about over there?"
"Yes, but you can't take any garbage out of the garbage cans."
"Rats."
I'm not sure if they are getting the correct lesson out of tonight's meeting.
Last night we were cleaning up the park. The girls were paired up with a garbage bag and they all had pink non-latex gloves. They were more interested in playing with the gloves than picking up garbage.
I told them the team with the most garbage would win the choice of a game or a song.
Boom! They were off and running.
"Can we go over there?"
"Yes, as long as we can still see you."
"What about over there?"
"Yes, but you can't take any garbage out of the garbage cans."
"Rats."
I'm not sure if they are getting the correct lesson out of tonight's meeting.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
I’m so lonely
D’s blood pressure got too high so she has to stay at home until baby comes.
I just spent a year in Texas with no one to hang out with, now I have to go another year while she is off on maternity leave. This sucks.
I guess I am going to have to play nice and make some new friends.
I just spent a year in Texas with no one to hang out with, now I have to go another year while she is off on maternity leave. This sucks.
I guess I am going to have to play nice and make some new friends.
Egress Training
I am on the standyby list for helicopter egress training. If a spot comes free on the course I may get to go.
The cool part – the course is going to be run in New York and Hubby will come down and we will turn it into a bit of a trip.
The not so cool part – I get strapped into a helicopter cockpit and dumped into a deep pool to see if I can get out alive.
I really should start thinking these things through before I open my mouth.
The cool part – the course is going to be run in New York and Hubby will come down and we will turn it into a bit of a trip.
The not so cool part – I get strapped into a helicopter cockpit and dumped into a deep pool to see if I can get out alive.
I really should start thinking these things through before I open my mouth.
I don’t remember you…
When I got back from Texas a woman a work said she remembered meeting me before I left, I didn’t remember her, but I’m not great at people so I didn’t think much of it.
Toady she walked into my cubical and announced that she finally figured out who I was… I did good to remember meeting her again when I got back from Texas.
Turns out we were on the same course at CFB Borden back in 92-93. Not only did she remember me, she remembered that I was there early to teach the prep course, where I was posted and that I got married and left the military.
I still don’t remember who she is or even find her vaguely familiar.
I guess she could just be one of those people that is really good at remembering faces, but I can’t help feeling that I did something to stand out, in a bad way, and that is why she remember so much about me. Not only that, but people would have been talking about me after the course for her to know about me getting married and leaving the military. I’m not sure I like that. I have always been one to fade into the background. I am most comfortable there.
Toady she walked into my cubical and announced that she finally figured out who I was… I did good to remember meeting her again when I got back from Texas.
Turns out we were on the same course at CFB Borden back in 92-93. Not only did she remember me, she remembered that I was there early to teach the prep course, where I was posted and that I got married and left the military.
I still don’t remember who she is or even find her vaguely familiar.
I guess she could just be one of those people that is really good at remembering faces, but I can’t help feeling that I did something to stand out, in a bad way, and that is why she remember so much about me. Not only that, but people would have been talking about me after the course for her to know about me getting married and leaving the military. I’m not sure I like that. I have always been one to fade into the background. I am most comfortable there.
I'm a Loser Because
I am wearing cricket pants today – they are making a chirping noise when I walk.
Conversations with The Girl
I am glad I am not a boy.
Um, Ok. Why?
Because when they have to use a public washroom and another boy comes in, they can see your balls.
Um, Ok. Why?
Because when they have to use a public washroom and another boy comes in, they can see your balls.
Blocked
My e-mail to my sister gets blocked because her company doesn’t like the work ass. It won’t even accept a$$. Fuckheads. There, how do you like that word!
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
WTF?
The washroom renovation is continuing. They are going to shut down ours any day now and then we are going to have to go upstairs. Our floor is the only one in the building that has the men and women’s’ washrooms reversed compared to the rest of the floors. I know I am going to fuck it up.
At least I won’t be the only one.
I went into the washroom and someone was in a stall desecrating the place. I quickly did my business and the other woman had finished and was at the sink when I came out of my stall.
Thoughts:
Bad ponytail
OMG, she’s tall.
OMG she really looks like a dude.
Then ‘she’ looks at me and screams “Oh my God! I’m in the wrong washroom!” and he bolted past me and out the door.
At least I won’t be the only one.
I went into the washroom and someone was in a stall desecrating the place. I quickly did my business and the other woman had finished and was at the sink when I came out of my stall.
Thoughts:
Bad ponytail
OMG, she’s tall.
OMG she really looks like a dude.
Then ‘she’ looks at me and screams “Oh my God! I’m in the wrong washroom!” and he bolted past me and out the door.
The Dump
The neighbors needed to borrow our utility trailer so I finally had the incentive to pull it out of the trees, hitch it up and take it to the dump to get rid of all the branches we cut down 2 months ago.
I like the dump. Not the smelly dump where the garbage is rotting, but the treasure side of the dump. My dad took me to the dump all the time when I was a kid. We didn’t have Wal-Mart when I was a kid. The dump was better than a toy tore. While Dad was throwing all the garbage bags onto the burning piles (garbage fires were cool, If you could get past the smell) I got to crawl through the scrap metal piles and I was allowed to bring home bike parts, mostly wheels for the go-cart that never got built. On a good day, there was a newer style fridge with magnetic doors that I could cut open and get the long strips of magnets out. If we were really lucky we got to go at night and watch the bears come out and root though the garbage.
The closest cool garbage memory my kids have is watching the garbage truck at the end of our drive way ‘eat’ the old couch we put out.
Now that I am older, I can’t imagine taking the kids to a field trip to the dump. Of course, my kids have never rode down the highway in the back of a pick-up truck, taken off on a snowmobile on their own, rode a mini-bike wearing shorts and t-shirts or hitchhiked. Some days I am amazed I survived my childhood, other days I am sad that my kids might be missing out on theirs.
I like the dump. Not the smelly dump where the garbage is rotting, but the treasure side of the dump. My dad took me to the dump all the time when I was a kid. We didn’t have Wal-Mart when I was a kid. The dump was better than a toy tore. While Dad was throwing all the garbage bags onto the burning piles (garbage fires were cool, If you could get past the smell) I got to crawl through the scrap metal piles and I was allowed to bring home bike parts, mostly wheels for the go-cart that never got built. On a good day, there was a newer style fridge with magnetic doors that I could cut open and get the long strips of magnets out. If we were really lucky we got to go at night and watch the bears come out and root though the garbage.
The closest cool garbage memory my kids have is watching the garbage truck at the end of our drive way ‘eat’ the old couch we put out.
Now that I am older, I can’t imagine taking the kids to a field trip to the dump. Of course, my kids have never rode down the highway in the back of a pick-up truck, taken off on a snowmobile on their own, rode a mini-bike wearing shorts and t-shirts or hitchhiked. Some days I am amazed I survived my childhood, other days I am sad that my kids might be missing out on theirs.
Happiness is
Remembering to throw my banana peel in the kitchen garbage so it doesn’t ferment for a week in my cubicle garbage.
It’s the little things.
It’s the little things.
I'm a Loser Because
I was the last one to present today and we ran out of time so I have to continue my presentation tomorrow. I only had two outfits so what the hell am I going to wear tomorrow? Shit.
WTF?
High tech company and to print on 11x17 paper, we have to stand by the printer and feed in one sheet at a time or it will jam. It has been like this for 3 years.
I'm a Loser Because
My eye is swollen again and it turns out I do have to present in the meeting today.
Stupid Meeting
So, boss says I’m not presenting after all. I can come to the introductions and then leave.
Fine. D was told the same thing.
We head down and take a place at the conference table. Boss starts the meeting and skips the introduction and heads right into the action time review. D and I look at each other ‘what the fuck do we do now. We were told to leave after the introduction so the customer could meet us, but he skipped it. Do we just stand up and walk out?
We decided we had better stay until there was a break, luckily one of the customers stopped bossman and asked for an introduction.
We did out thing they stood up and walked out. We grumbled all the way back to our desks that we felt like we were dismissed.
No sooner do we make it to our desks and an e-mail pops up form the chief telling us he wants us in attendance for the entire first day.
What? Not only did we get up and leave a meeting that had just started, but now we have to walk back into it?
Fuck.
Fine – we walked in and took seats in the very back of the room and sat there for the rest of the day. At one point D asked if I had heard what someone had said. Honestly, no. thoughts going through my head:
- Buddy in front of me has a massive head.
- Dude over there has a scar on the side of his head
- Big head whistles when he talks
- I don’t think she is wearing a bra.
- Cookies, cookies, cookies start with C
- Scar head has demonic looking eyebrows
- Minute taker is typing with one finger
Fine. D was told the same thing.
We head down and take a place at the conference table. Boss starts the meeting and skips the introduction and heads right into the action time review. D and I look at each other ‘what the fuck do we do now. We were told to leave after the introduction so the customer could meet us, but he skipped it. Do we just stand up and walk out?
We decided we had better stay until there was a break, luckily one of the customers stopped bossman and asked for an introduction.
We did out thing they stood up and walked out. We grumbled all the way back to our desks that we felt like we were dismissed.
No sooner do we make it to our desks and an e-mail pops up form the chief telling us he wants us in attendance for the entire first day.
What? Not only did we get up and leave a meeting that had just started, but now we have to walk back into it?
Fuck.
Fine – we walked in and took seats in the very back of the room and sat there for the rest of the day. At one point D asked if I had heard what someone had said. Honestly, no. thoughts going through my head:
- Buddy in front of me has a massive head.
- Dude over there has a scar on the side of his head
- Big head whistles when he talks
- I don’t think she is wearing a bra.
- Cookies, cookies, cookies start with C
- Scar head has demonic looking eyebrows
- Minute taker is typing with one finger
I Love my Boys
Hubby and The Boy voted on which outfit I should wear for the big meeting. The Boy though I should go with his pick due to his great fashion sense. It’s hard to take a kid seriously when he is wearing lime green plaid shorts.
Porn is bad for your health.
Since I worked offsite for year, I offered to use my account to run our programs remotely in the conference room.
It meant that I had to give my passwords over to the guy running the computer for the meeting.
I was ok with it since they were due to be changed anyway.
We headed to the conference room to make sure everything was working…
“You sure you don’t’ mind me knowing your passwords?”
“No, I will just change them after the meeting”
“It means I will have access to all your files”
“It’s ok, every since the company started blocking the porn sites, there really isn’t anything to go looking at any more”
The guy in front of us walked into the door. Then he tried to deny he was listening in on our conversation.
Yeah, right.
It meant that I had to give my passwords over to the guy running the computer for the meeting.
I was ok with it since they were due to be changed anyway.
We headed to the conference room to make sure everything was working…
“You sure you don’t’ mind me knowing your passwords?”
“No, I will just change them after the meeting”
“It means I will have access to all your files”
“It’s ok, every since the company started blocking the porn sites, there really isn’t anything to go looking at any more”
The guy in front of us walked into the door. Then he tried to deny he was listening in on our conversation.
Yeah, right.
Credibility
“I would like you to present in the meeting tomorrow, it will help build your credibility with the customer.”
Fuck. That means I have to wear a dress.
Fuck. That means I have to wear a dress.
Monday, September 8, 2008
WTF?
They have started renovation the men’s washrooms on our floor. Getting through the last hour of the day is hard enough without the concert of power tools.
WTF?
So our washroom wasn’t actually being cleaned for 2 hour s- you just forgot to move the sign off the door. Fuckhead.
I'm a Loser Because
I took some sort of reaction to the eyebrow waxing. Everything is red and puffy and one eye is swollen half shut.
Why did it have to wait until Monday morning to puff up?
Captain of the D Team
The Boy was Captain of the Defense team for the game this weekend- the big game against the bad scary team.
Our guys won! Last week the D team held the opposition at 10 yards for eight straight plays! He is awesome!
Our guys won! Last week the D team held the opposition at 10 yards for eight straight plays! He is awesome!
Glad I don’t play hockey?
I figured skating was a life lesson ad something that every Canadian should be able to do, so I didn’t mind putting The Boy in lessons. Hockey is a huge deal in Canada, so I though he should be able to play that as well, so he was enrolled in that when he was old enough. He had all the equipment and good skates.
I figured, just because we had a girl, it wouldn’t matter, we would pass down the skates and equipment to her.
The Girl, age 3: I’m not going to play hockey.
Me: what do you mean?
The Girl: I want to dance on the ice.
Fuck. Figure skating? Cutesy outfits? The parents? Competitions? Ugh.
I got her the skates and put her Can Skate. She was 3. halfway through the year, a coach asked if she could train her. Great.
She started at 4, I would only let her go once a week. At 7 she went to her first competition, she placed third against kids who had been skating a lot longer and at least 3 times a week. I gave in and let her start training. The next year she was first.
7 years after I gave up on her playing hockey:
Got the skates, winter coat, warm blanket and a book for the afternoon skating lessons.
Got The Girl all set up and timed it so we came out of the dressing room just as the Zamboni was finishing.
The Girl was just about to step on the ice and the fire alarm went off. Fuck.
She put her skate guards on and we headed out to the parking lot.
There was a Girls hockey game going on at the rink next to us. They don’t wear skate guards. The parents had to carry their kids out.
To top it off, it was raining. I grabbed the umbrellas from the car and The Girl and I huddled underneath one and lent the other to another skater. The Hockey girls were being piggy backed by their parents, a few were sitting on the wet sidewalk with parents holding the umbrellas over them.
The Girl: Aren’t you glad I don’t play hockey.
Me, truthfully: Yes, I am.
I figured, just because we had a girl, it wouldn’t matter, we would pass down the skates and equipment to her.
The Girl, age 3: I’m not going to play hockey.
Me: what do you mean?
The Girl: I want to dance on the ice.
Fuck. Figure skating? Cutesy outfits? The parents? Competitions? Ugh.
I got her the skates and put her Can Skate. She was 3. halfway through the year, a coach asked if she could train her. Great.
She started at 4, I would only let her go once a week. At 7 she went to her first competition, she placed third against kids who had been skating a lot longer and at least 3 times a week. I gave in and let her start training. The next year she was first.
7 years after I gave up on her playing hockey:
Got the skates, winter coat, warm blanket and a book for the afternoon skating lessons.
Got The Girl all set up and timed it so we came out of the dressing room just as the Zamboni was finishing.
The Girl was just about to step on the ice and the fire alarm went off. Fuck.
She put her skate guards on and we headed out to the parking lot.
There was a Girls hockey game going on at the rink next to us. They don’t wear skate guards. The parents had to carry their kids out.
To top it off, it was raining. I grabbed the umbrellas from the car and The Girl and I huddled underneath one and lent the other to another skater. The Hockey girls were being piggy backed by their parents, a few were sitting on the wet sidewalk with parents holding the umbrellas over them.
The Girl: Aren’t you glad I don’t play hockey.
Me, truthfully: Yes, I am.
TGIF
I get to meet a friend at the spa to get pedicures and remove my uni-brow. Two hours of kicking back and catching up. $70
As soon as I get home, I get to go out with a different friend for supper and catch up on the last year. $30
I get to come home to my awesome husband. Priceless.
As soon as I get home, I get to go out with a different friend for supper and catch up on the last year. $30
I get to come home to my awesome husband. Priceless.
I'm a Loser Because
I was too lazy to stop fro gas after skating last night. Then I drove to work on empty because I didn’t want to stop on the way to work. I filled up at lunch, and the gauge was so low that it didn’t move when I turned the truck on and I drove around the block to the gas station with the air conditioner off to save on fuel – and it was 30 C outside!
I'm a Loser Because
I have thrown two banana peels in my cub garbage and it isn’t going to picked up for a week. Do I pick them out or let them ferment?
Thursday, September 4, 2008
One of those days…
Co-Irker: have you ever had one of those days when you feel like you’re just banging your head against a brick wall.
Me: A Day? Hell , that’s my whole life.
Me: A Day? Hell , that’s my whole life.
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Sisterly Love
I shoved my cell phone in my pocket without turning off the display and somehow the right combination of screen touches managed to call my sister’s cell.
I heard her voice mail message and ended the call. I thought about sending her an e-mail to let her know that the call was a mistake, but decided not to since she never returns calls anyway.
Sure enough, I got into work this morning and there was a message from my sister returning my call.
Dingbat.
I heard her voice mail message and ended the call. I thought about sending her an e-mail to let her know that the call was a mistake, but decided not to since she never returns calls anyway.
Sure enough, I got into work this morning and there was a message from my sister returning my call.
Dingbat.
Pretty in Pink
The Boy decided to take the plunge and beat his buddy to being the first one to wear the pink shirt.Happy Birthday
The Boy’s buddies descended on the house after school. The hung out in the basement and rocked out to Rock band and tried out some demo games The Boy had downloaded.
The pigged out on pizza, chips and ice cream cake and went for a swim.
Hopefully it was a good start to the Teen Years and the school year.
The pigged out on pizza, chips and ice cream cake and went for a swim.
Hopefully it was a good start to the Teen Years and the school year.
1st Day of School
I left this morning before the kids got up, but Hubby got a few shots for me. The Boy took off as soon as possible to head out for his bus, he is so excited to get back to school. Hubby and The Girl walked down to her stop and almost missed the bus – the website had the wrong time up and I even confirmed it with the school last week! Luckily, the bus heads towards our house after her stop so the driver picked her up.
One Kid’s Menu
The Boy picked Red Lobster for his birthday meal. We went a day early so he could have his buddies over for pizza on his actual birthday which happened to be their first day of school.
The hostess looked at us and said ‘One kid’s menu’. The Boy beamed. Finally, he was not asked if he wanted a kid or adult menu.
He’s all grown up.
The hostess looked at us and said ‘One kid’s menu’. The Boy beamed. Finally, he was not asked if he wanted a kid or adult menu.
He’s all grown up.
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Conversations with The Girl
Picking up our lunch order at Tim’s and passing it to The Girl:
Me: Here is my coffee. Here is Mike’s coffee. Here are your donuts.
The Girl: I know, I can’t have it until I finish my lunch.
Me: Yup, and here is the chili.
The Girl: I’m not eating that.
Me: I know, it’s for me and Mike, you can have a sandwich when we get home.
The Girl: It’s gross.
Me: It’s in a bag, you can just place it on the floor.
The Girl: I’m not sleeping with you guys tonight.
Me: That’s why we are eating it!
Me: Here is my coffee. Here is Mike’s coffee. Here are your donuts.
The Girl: I know, I can’t have it until I finish my lunch.
Me: Yup, and here is the chili.
The Girl: I’m not eating that.
Me: I know, it’s for me and Mike, you can have a sandwich when we get home.
The Girl: It’s gross.
Me: It’s in a bag, you can just place it on the floor.
The Girl: I’m not sleeping with you guys tonight.
Me: That’s why we are eating it!
Skates
With back to school goes extracurricular activates. Otherwise know as – parental hell. Figure Skating starts right away and I suck so I had to go buy skates at the last minute.
We prepared our skate shopping survival kit – food, drinks, electronics and headed off.
Not a bad start – only 15 minutes until our number got called. Then began the 45 minutes of the skate fitting. They them on – walk laps around the store. Try different insoles, have the ankles punches out.
Wait for the fitting inspection so the transaction can be completed.
Then get in line to have the guards cut and fitted.
Then get in line to have them sharpened. It is suck a sickening feeling as you are sitting there having your fitting done and you watch one person after another coming in and getting their skates sharpened. Some have more than one pair. Each pair being dropped off means another 10 minutes we will have to wait for ours.
While we are waiting for the sharpening, the old skates get put on consignment, then it’s to the fitting room to try on outfits, then figure out which set of tights are the ones we need – footed, non-footed, stirrup, boot, shiny, semi-shiny, matte. Kill me know.
Pay for everything with a second mortgage.
Still a 30 min wait for the skates.
If I ever get three wishes from a Genie – I will use all three o ensure that I never had to buy another pair of skates ever again.
We prepared our skate shopping survival kit – food, drinks, electronics and headed off.
Not a bad start – only 15 minutes until our number got called. Then began the 45 minutes of the skate fitting. They them on – walk laps around the store. Try different insoles, have the ankles punches out.
Wait for the fitting inspection so the transaction can be completed.
Then get in line to have the guards cut and fitted.
Then get in line to have them sharpened. It is suck a sickening feeling as you are sitting there having your fitting done and you watch one person after another coming in and getting their skates sharpened. Some have more than one pair. Each pair being dropped off means another 10 minutes we will have to wait for ours.
While we are waiting for the sharpening, the old skates get put on consignment, then it’s to the fitting room to try on outfits, then figure out which set of tights are the ones we need – footed, non-footed, stirrup, boot, shiny, semi-shiny, matte. Kill me know.
Pay for everything with a second mortgage.
Still a 30 min wait for the skates.
If I ever get three wishes from a Genie – I will use all three o ensure that I never had to buy another pair of skates ever again.
Sorting through the School Supplies
The Girl and I headed out to pick up a few more things, including her back pack. When we got home we dumped out all the supplies and sorted through everything, labeled them and packed them up.
The Girl spent all afternoon ‘playing’ with her supplies. There is something about going through all the new supplies – it just gives a warm fuzzy feeling. The excitement of starting a new year, seeing all your old friends, how will be in your class, who is your teacher.
Then I realized I had to pack lunches into the nice clean new lunch boxes and that killed all the joy instantly.
The Girl spent all afternoon ‘playing’ with her supplies. There is something about going through all the new supplies – it just gives a warm fuzzy feeling. The excitement of starting a new year, seeing all your old friends, how will be in your class, who is your teacher.
Then I realized I had to pack lunches into the nice clean new lunch boxes and that killed all the joy instantly.
Detained at the Border
The Boy got an offer to go the US to do keep his buddy company while they did some back to school clothes shopping. He wanted a few polo shirts so it was ok. After the $41 with The Girl, I spoke with the other mom and gave detailed instructions of what he was allowed to buy and how much he was allowed to spend.
We do a lot of international travel, so The Boy has his passport and I gave them a letter as well. No problem going in, but coming back into Canada they got stopped because The Boy is a US citizen. It was never an issue travelling with me, but the officer was convinced they were abducting him. He couldn’t wrap his closed mind around the fact that The Boy was born in the US to military parents who moved back to Canada. They were pulled out of line and questioned and eventually let through, but it was crap. The Boy was old enough to speak for himself and the asshole had all mine and his father’s numbers to call if he needed them.
He came back with 2 polo shirts – one of them was pink. PINK. Everything else in his wardrobe is black and has skulls on it. I just shook my head. It turns out both the boys bought the pink shirts, now they can’t decide who is going to wear it to school first.
We think that wearing it first would be best, because if you go second you would look like you were copying. Can’t wait to see how this one turns out.
We do a lot of international travel, so The Boy has his passport and I gave them a letter as well. No problem going in, but coming back into Canada they got stopped because The Boy is a US citizen. It was never an issue travelling with me, but the officer was convinced they were abducting him. He couldn’t wrap his closed mind around the fact that The Boy was born in the US to military parents who moved back to Canada. They were pulled out of line and questioned and eventually let through, but it was crap. The Boy was old enough to speak for himself and the asshole had all mine and his father’s numbers to call if he needed them.
He came back with 2 polo shirts – one of them was pink. PINK. Everything else in his wardrobe is black and has skulls on it. I just shook my head. It turns out both the boys bought the pink shirts, now they can’t decide who is going to wear it to school first.
We think that wearing it first would be best, because if you go second you would look like you were copying. Can’t wait to see how this one turns out.
Start of a 4 Day Weekend
How do you start a 4 Day weekend, the last weekend of summer – go to Staples and do all the back to school shopping in one go.
It’s like ripping off a bandaid – it stings, but only for a minute. Ok, it was 20 minutes of trying to find the right color binders and folders and routing through picked over supplies looking for a ruler, but it is over.
It’s like ripping off a bandaid – it stings, but only for a minute. Ok, it was 20 minutes of trying to find the right color binders and folders and routing through picked over supplies looking for a ruler, but it is over.
Where’s my $41?
The Girl went shopping with a friend a few weeks ago and I gave her $20. She spent it at the Bulk Barn – on candy! I was pissed and told her that she had to share the candy.
Her friend was getting dropped off at our house and when her mom walked in she asked: Where’s my $41?
Me: What $41?
Other Mom: The Girl bought some stuff at the toy store, she said you would give me the money.
Ok, you let The Girl spend $20 on candy and then gave her another $40 for toys? WTF? Because a 10 year old told you it was ok?
The Girl got a stern lecture on money – yes, she did have enough allowance to cover it, but she can’t just buy whatever. She had been dropped off at her father’s after the shopping spree so this was the first I had heard of it.
The other mom talked to me later and apologized, she admitted she just wasn’t thinking. She believed that The Girl was good for the money (she was) and she had bought Webkins which she thought was an acceptable purchase and something I would have let her buy (yes).
Lessons learned all around. But I don’t need the shock factor, thank you very much.
Her friend was getting dropped off at our house and when her mom walked in she asked: Where’s my $41?
Me: What $41?
Other Mom: The Girl bought some stuff at the toy store, she said you would give me the money.
Ok, you let The Girl spend $20 on candy and then gave her another $40 for toys? WTF? Because a 10 year old told you it was ok?
The Girl got a stern lecture on money – yes, she did have enough allowance to cover it, but she can’t just buy whatever. She had been dropped off at her father’s after the shopping spree so this was the first I had heard of it.
The other mom talked to me later and apologized, she admitted she just wasn’t thinking. She believed that The Girl was good for the money (she was) and she had bought Webkins which she thought was an acceptable purchase and something I would have let her buy (yes).
Lessons learned all around. But I don’t need the shock factor, thank you very much.
Woman's Creed
Live your life in such a way that when your feet hit the floor in the morning,
Satan shudders & says...'Oh shit...she's awake!!'
Satan shudders & says...'Oh shit...she's awake!!'
New Plates Part 3
Ok – the manager has confirmed the fax has arrived.
The website says that only 2005 and older needs a safety so my 2007 should be ok.
Them: You need a safety.
Me: No I don’t,
Them: Who told you that?
Me: You did. I stood here when you called and verified that I don’t need one because I was out of the country for less than a year.
Them: Oh – that must be the other one I was helping
Ok – everything is good, the plates will be valid for 14 months, or do you want to extend it so you don’t have to come back next year?
Me: Hell YES. I don’t want to come back for a VERY long time.
The website says that only 2005 and older needs a safety so my 2007 should be ok.
Them: You need a safety.
Me: No I don’t,
Them: Who told you that?
Me: You did. I stood here when you called and verified that I don’t need one because I was out of the country for less than a year.
Them: Oh – that must be the other one I was helping
Ok – everything is good, the plates will be valid for 14 months, or do you want to extend it so you don’t have to come back next year?
Me: Hell YES. I don’t want to come back for a VERY long time.
I'm a Loser Because
I was so pissed of and the price of gas and having to make my 3rd attempt to get plates for the car that I forgot to close my gas cap. That’s ok, the guys at work were nice enough to point it for me. Shit.
Faux Friday
I am finally getting my first compressed Friday off since returning from Texas. It happens to fall before a long weekend so I get a 4 day weekend!
The best part – I was on course for 2 days and didn’t even realize it was my last day for this week!
The best part – I was on course for 2 days and didn’t even realize it was my last day for this week!
I'm a Loser Because
I didn’t take 5 min to gas up at $1.19 last night and now gas is up to $1.26 this morning.
Email from D
Why do you have to be in training today?
The day that I really need a tea.
You suck!
You can’t buy friends like that.
The day that I really need a tea.
You suck!
You can’t buy friends like that.
I control the Canadian Air Force
Our First Aid instructor is fascinated with fighters and had all sorts of questions of what it was like to fly in a F-18.
Instructer: If I go to the Military and tell them that I know you, can I get a flight in an F-18?
J: No, probably not.
Instructer: If I go to the Military and tell them that I know you, can I get a flight in an F-18?
J: No, probably not.
First Aid
Two days on a First Aid course.
Only one other woman, D, and she had to leave for half of the first day – just when we had to start practicing on each other:
Instructor: M, do you have cooties?
M: No.
Instructor: Okay J, you can work with him now, can’t you?
Day 2:
Instructor: OK, one partner get on the floor.
D: Do we have to Touch each other?
J: Yes.
D: Did you have to do this yesterday?
J: Yes.
D: Di you have to actually touch ‘them’ yesterday.
J: Yes.
D: oh, I am sooo sorry.
J: Yup, you owe me big.
Snippets:
Jones’ Law: Murphy was an optimist.
If my mother in law is chocking, do I have to do the Heimlich on her?
New things I learned:
You cannot re-start a heart by CPR alone – it needs to be shocked.
You don’t shock a flat line – all the TV shows are wrong!
Compressions are more important than the breathing – you can skip the breathing all together – too many people refused to do CPR because of the mouth-to-mouth.
Only one other woman, D, and she had to leave for half of the first day – just when we had to start practicing on each other:
Instructor: M, do you have cooties?
M: No.
Instructor: Okay J, you can work with him now, can’t you?
Day 2:
Instructor: OK, one partner get on the floor.
D: Do we have to Touch each other?
J: Yes.
D: Did you have to do this yesterday?
J: Yes.
D: Di you have to actually touch ‘them’ yesterday.
J: Yes.
D: oh, I am sooo sorry.
J: Yup, you owe me big.
Snippets:
Jones’ Law: Murphy was an optimist.
If my mother in law is chocking, do I have to do the Heimlich on her?
New things I learned:
You cannot re-start a heart by CPR alone – it needs to be shocked.
You don’t shock a flat line – all the TV shows are wrong!
Compressions are more important than the breathing – you can skip the breathing all together – too many people refused to do CPR because of the mouth-to-mouth.
The Mom vs The Wasps
The shed came up on the list of things to do this weekend. It would have been cleaned out sooner, but some wasps had moved in while we were away.
They had begun to nest inside a garbage bag full of styrofoam hanging in the corner. Doesn’t everyone have a garbage bag full of styrofoam hanging in their shed? I’m not even sure why it is there, but it has been there for 6 or more years.
The nest has finally gotten big enough to start poking out of the bag. I got up early and suited up.
Work gloves.
Motorcross pants
Workboots
Gortex jacket – with hood
Ski googles.
Two cans of wasp spray.
I went in fast and quiet and hit them while they were still sleeping. I got enough of them that I was able to remove the bag and then de-suit and start breathing. The rest of the morning I worked on cleaning out the shed and killing the stragglers with a fly swatter.
Things found in the shed:
- blow up dinghy and oars
- 5 rolls of burlap
- 4 bags of cement
- Various Christmas lights
- More Styrofoam
- Garden statues
- Tomato plant stands
- Scrap of wood from every project done in the last 11 years.
They had begun to nest inside a garbage bag full of styrofoam hanging in the corner. Doesn’t everyone have a garbage bag full of styrofoam hanging in their shed? I’m not even sure why it is there, but it has been there for 6 or more years.
The nest has finally gotten big enough to start poking out of the bag. I got up early and suited up.
Work gloves.
Motorcross pants
Workboots
Gortex jacket – with hood
Ski googles.
Two cans of wasp spray.
I went in fast and quiet and hit them while they were still sleeping. I got enough of them that I was able to remove the bag and then de-suit and start breathing. The rest of the morning I worked on cleaning out the shed and killing the stragglers with a fly swatter.
Things found in the shed:
- blow up dinghy and oars
- 5 rolls of burlap
- 4 bags of cement
- Various Christmas lights
- More Styrofoam
- Garden statues
- Tomato plant stands
- Scrap of wood from every project done in the last 11 years.
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