Just in case I don't get around to it

2008, it's been a slice.

Thanks for the memories. Both the bad, and the good.

And happy birthday big boy!

P.S. That top photo is a cake designed by CU-2 Pizza Birthday Cake, complete with: minty "olives", hot-lipped peppers, Starburst "ham", albino Tootsie "cheese", cola "mushrooms", Swedish fish "green peppers", and marshmellow strawberry "pepperoni". Poor boy got a sugar rush before he could finish what he'd served himself. Bon effort!

Routine is good

Ah, it's good to be back. To routine that is.

It's nice to have all the children home. I prefer when we are not all house bound as a result of freezing rain.

The time off was pleasant, in general. Not a lot of rush. Not too much fussing. The down time was down for us all. A chance to get closer, close enough to argue and fight like regular families.

We had/have a few extra special visitors. We collected the school principal's bird for the duration of Christmas break, and a friends dog as she conducted her familial duty. We also collected a child-friend from down the street and added him to the fray. Our magic house expanded and enveloped everyone and everything (kind of like The Blob, but in a good way).

Gifts were modest this year (where pajamas are equally appreciated as some of the more fun gifts).

All were heart felt. Our friends who are not present in our lives physically, are certainly present with their influence. (Thanks Alison for the Lego Table addition!)

Packages from away were explored, opened and enjoyed. And even the house hold "bosses" were considered.
Ah, life is good. In so many, many ways.




There was something for every one, including at the Christmas feast!

Now I do look forward to 2009 and all the challenges and changes it brings. (And with potty training, it's going to be such a year of changes!)

And before I close, Happy Birthday to the the birthday people! The Boy over at Nat's and Grandma "C"/Tim. We're thinking of you and rooting for you today most of all!

Oh, and The Huz ... you'll get your just desserts tomorrow!

<<<< Consider that a preview.

The night after the morning after

As I'm picking up, from some blog posts, there's a nasty thing going around. I've got it. It's either that, or symptoms of a heart attack. (The later I rule out because I'm mostly being a hypochondriac, and have just gone through a full check-up with my MD in November.)

Regrettably, or maybe lucky for him, The Huz is out all day. I've had a series of kids stream through the house, which is good, as I'm house bound trying to toilet train a toddler (though I don't think he can be called a toddler any more, marathon runner? That's more like him.)

At this moment, he's barricading himself and his sister in their shared room so that they can try to get an extra 15 minutes of play out of the day.

I've chased the other kids off to bed. It's been one of those days where I've really had just about everything I could/would want to take on. Then I picked up an email from the children's father. Oh that so was a big mistake. I'm trying to talk myself off the edge of that one. As a coping mechanism I've written myself a long email of stuff to do from work, on my lunch hour, when I return Monday morning. In one more week, everything will just be compounded as I return to French training for the month. When it rains, it pours.

I'm trying to live the serenity prayer. I'm trying to believe that all this strife makes me a better, more patient person.

Oh, this too shall pass.

Hey, PC, I'm reflecting on your new course of action on your blog. You've got a good idea there.

Whew

Made it through the rip-fest.

Connected, in one way or another, with those I need to connect with.

Even got a nap in.

Here's an attempt at my very second haiku:

Christmas is over.
For another year. Fewfuf.
Just wait for next year!

Considering that I don't have _any_ Christmas spirit this year (and I really mean none - even with all the baking I've done, which was most enjoyable), I'm actually looking more to some accomplishments that I hope take place in 2009. The WHOLE YEAR makes it feel like Christmas!

Randomness

Ok. Lots of little stuff is rolling about in my head. Most of it is pretty fun/funny.

There was the call to Santa today. (Thanks Nat.)

CU-2, the 10 year old, wanted to talk to him. I only got her half of the conversation. From what I can tell, it was Santa light. No yelling. No telling her she's got to get to bed. I think I was looking for the bad Santa ;-)

For the older child and the third child, the Portable North Pole has worked really well. They were sucked in AND felt pretty darned special. The grinning and shouting was worth it. I'm sure the deafness is only temporary.

There's also the health scare. Maybe that is over disasterizing things. CU-1 is on some pretty strong meds, and since the death of an artist-acquaintance's husband last week, I've been thinking about health a fair bit. Didn't help that the kid was complaining of gut pains again yesterday morning. So off to the MD we went, just to be sure. (Gawd I love Canada for trips like this.)

While there, I helped CU-1 adjust his clothes that were looking pretty gappy (NOT The Gap-py).( He lives in his head most of the time, and clothes seem to be a significant afterthought.) So, as I'm adjusting his trousers, I notice his underwear elastic looks like it's shot. You know, when the elastic looks ripply? For some reason, I decided to look at the label, possibly to try and identify the brand. There was the size tab. XXL. The kid is a boys small. He wasn't wearing his underwear. Eww. ;-)

Because of the emergency nature of getting the boy into the doctor, I had to reschedule a bunch of things. Like the drop-in French class commitment I'd made, and my employee performance review. Luckily the performance review could be slated for later in the day. I missed my open time for French tutoring. I *did* pick-up a telephone message on my return from the school director. When I called him back, explaining what was happening, I suggested I was planning on attending next weeks tutoring time, all things being considered (extreme cold, bus strike). At first, he suggested that it was a "nice walk" from my building to theirs (about 20 minutes). When I pointed out that'd I'd have already walked 40 minutes from home, he offered to pick me up. [Pregnant pause here.] Um, yah. Right.

Then there is the booty call. We've been having troubles getting CU-4 to sleep. (Doesn't help the addition of a dogglet for a few days, and the school bird decides to serenade us all.) Tonight seems to be a night of exceptional behavior. As I passed the stairs that runs through the centre of our house, there he was in all his blond and naked glory. The kid's learned to do zippers. Ahhh, isn't that cute.

Earlier that night, just as supper was winding down, and the children were dissipating, CU-4 crawled up into his chair for some last-minute noshing. Something smelled rotten, and we're not in Denmark.

As CU-1 cleared the table, I asked him to carry a message to The Huz who was in the kitchen monkeying about. This is what I heard "CU-4 has a present for you, and Mom says it's not going to wait for Christmas." Some days having a mocking bird for a kid is a good thing.

Seeing that we're going into training mode as of the 26. No more diapers except for naps and nights, I'm trying to come up with a few more witticisms to convey the message. Currently I've used up "ah, I'm still working. You've started your vacation." I'm holding back on the "But it's one of the last diapers you may ever change again!"

Oh Santa baby, all I want for Christmas is a good night sleep! ;)

And finally, to my friends who read about my goofy life, and to those who don't even know about it, may you find peace as this year draws to a close.

The great Christmas debate

1. Christmas Eve or Christmas morning? When ever the jolly fellow in red has completed his visit, which children are home, and how tired they are. (When the older kids are at their fathers', we skip to the following morning.)

2. Donner or Donder? Donner. No question. I never even thought there was an option.

3. Turkey or ham? Always an debate. Usually it's a beef roast. This year The Huz relented and we're having lamb. We might have ham too, just because I can't remember the last time I've had lamb in the house and the kids might not have tried it before.

4. Gifts opened all at once, or one at a time? With a family of six, this is a royal pain. But, we pretty much do one at a time, though those who are impatient have pre-cut/ripped their items.

5. Christmas tree: live or artificial? Alas, I lost the war on that one. The Huz went out for a real one last year and came back with a plastic, already hardwired (LED) one. Saves $40 a year I guess. (Did I mention that he payed a hundred dollars for it?)

6. Cards: boxed cards, family photo cards, or e-cards? E-cards? Heavens no. Thanks to VistaPrint, I make up family photo cards now. Makes me feel rich.

7. Christmas lights: incandescent or LED? See number 5.

8. Re-gift or not? Maybe. I learned this one the hard way. My bio-father gave me a old-lady watch when I was 13 years old. I took it back to Consumers Distributor (before they went bankrupt). He got wind of it and got really pissed. My mother said he was never really great for picking out gifts in the first place.

9. Gift wrap or gift bags? I prefer gift wrap, though have been know to put a few things in brown paper bags. In past years I've done brown paper on all the packages and wrapped them up with string, because, of course, they are a few of my favorite things.

10. Best Christmas song? Hard one there. The entire Messiah by Handel? And in particular the line that goes "And we like sheep" which causes me to smirk and laugh.) That's only because I can remember the song title. I like Santa Baby which is very popular these days. Love love love the songs from Peanuts (Christmas Time is Here).

11. Best Christmas movie? A Charlie Brown Christmas

12. Favorite family tradition? I had some. Divorce. Twice. Once when I was 12. The second when I was 32. Kind of changes things a bit. Though, since moving to this neighborhood about six years ago, I've taken up to doing some Christmas baking that goes to the local tavern's Christmas dinner.

And one more just for show:
13. Evening mass, midnight mass, no mass? Evening because two of four are in the pageant. This year CU-1 was tapped as Joseph and bowed out at the rehearsal. CU-2 has been gunning for lead angel (Gabriel) role. That passed her by this year. Maybe next year (usually goes to a girl in grade six.

And, for the first time I can remember, they've got a boy angel. Now that's cool AND progressive.

Thanks Jen, that was fun.

Cakes for Jesus

This morning I packed up CUs 1, 2 and 3 and we headed to the basement of our local church to make cakes for Jesus.

Though this parish is dying a slow, and rather painful death (as a result of a dying population and a lot of low attendance except for the Cs and Es [Christmas and Easter attenders]. They have been trying to minster to the youth who come (unlike the English church I was attending, that's a lot closer to home.) It became a very adult-oriented parish). To this end, a couple of dedicated parishioners run a children's program during the mass, and, at Christmas, run a cake and craft decoration program which my children seem to enjoy.

Thankfully the morning went by quickly and child wrangling was held to a minimum.

Both The Huz and are are experiencing various levels of burn out. Me, I'm looking forward to having a couple of days AT work. He's looking for a couple of days OFF work.

IF the storm hits us, as is expected, and the dig out is nasty and falls into Monday, he's going to call in a work-from-home-day because he's car pooling with a buddy from New Edinburg. Me, I've told him to haul out my ski poles as I'm trudging in. It'll probably be easier for me as a side walk will have been cleared along my path. I really want to be there, rather then here.

You don't know Santa

Child Unit 3 has been having troubles sleeping lately. She wouldn't be coaxed to bed with the idea that she got to wear street clothes to work, or that she was going to Child Unit 4's care provider next week as a treat. So, we've done the next best thing and leveraged the seasonal spectator that is widely available, Santa.

The conversation kind of fell out like this:

Me: CU-3 if you don't go to bed, you won't be ready tomorrow and you'll be too tired to have fun with CU-4.

CU-3 continues to do distracting activities to keep herself from going to bed, like lamenting about the state of the economy.

Me: CU-3, do I have to call Santa to say not to stop by this year?

CU-3: You don't know Santa's number.

Well, to me, them's fighting words, and I respond in kind:

Me: You don't think so?!

So I go into the kitchen and ask The Huz for the hot line to 1-800-GRANDMA, dial it and have this conversation:

Me: Hi Mrs. Santa, this is Me. I have a little girl who doesn't want to go to bed. Would Santa be available to talk to her?

Mrs. Santa: Not going to bed is she. Sure. I'll see if he can come to the phone.

Santa comes to the phone and starts ho ho hoing. I have to pause him to get CU-3 on the phone, who's almost lost her air of cockiness. They have a chat where she puts in her order. I ask her to pass the phone to The Huz when she's done. And off to bed she tottles.

Mission accomplished.

Are you feeling it?

For those of you who are not feeling the Christmas spirit, here's some for you courtesy of a home in my neighborhood.

Christmas Parties - virtually

Hey, kind of late (but then I did just stumble on it while making my rounds), then again, there's always time for a party - I found a virtual Christmas party going on at Please pick up your socks.

They've got a butler and everything.

Day six and all is not well

It's day six of being held hostage in a tiff between Mayor Lex and the Bus Union.

The Union's point of sticking has been scheduling and they say to Mr. Mayor "take it off, and we'll be back at work".

Our esteemed municipal leader is basically doing a "nanner nanner" at them while he drives around in his Lexus, and down into his warm, underground garage, while postering all the more.

It's become a game of Chicken, or Blink. Which ever you prefer to play.

With no end in site, let me just say "I am not amused."

I've been very lucky to date, begging rides home from a work colleague. Mornings have been manageable as The Huz has a lift in and back (except when he has an audit, like this morning, or an interview, or has to go to Montréal). Then other arrangements are made, with me mostly in the fall-back position.

So far, I think I've racked up four sources for generic offers for rides. (All very helpful. Thank you all for your support. I'm not going to put any one out until I've excausted other options - mainly me!)

I just have a few more days to do the old push-pull, then The Huz is on Christmas shut-down. Better for him. No commute for 10 days. Me, I'll manage.

This post is mostly just a major gripe about the head-butting morons who are screwing around with not just my life, but a couple of aquantances who are going to loose their jobs because THEY CAN'T GET TO THEM.

If this was only summer, so many options would be available.

And, to add insult in injury, we will probably experience a rate hike before we see 2010.

P.S. Happy 45th anniversary Grandma and Grandpa C!

My first haiku, ever

CU-1 was tasked with writing a haiku. He gave the teacher too much grief so it was sent home as an assignment. I learned first, then taught him.

Here's my first haiku I've ever written.

Jacques, mon chien est beau.
Henry, mon frère est peuant.
Je prefère mon chien.

Day 2 - oh what fun it is to ride ...

NOT.

Day 2 of the bus strike.

The children were SOOOOOO not helpful. Gawd, ignorance must be bliss, 'cause I'm loosing my mind.

And then there are the drivers ... this was my street as I started off this morning. What you don't see is the two other cars jammed in the street. and yes, that car in the front of the picture, it's parked on the wrong side of the street. (Note to driver, this is not Europe.)

I left at 7:20ish this morning. I got into work after only 40 minutes of trudging.




Guess I could have used some help.








Thank goodness for mostly cleared sidewalks. Well, mostly cleared.


There seems to be a fractious relationship between street snow plower drivers and side walk snow plow drivers. What one does well, the other has to undo.
At least there were some routes that were well cleared. THAT helps those relegated to walking a whole lot.

Now, has any one heard if there were scheduled talks between the city and the union???

Or is this likely to go on for three freaking weeks? (Like the last one.)

today

Snow storm fall out, bus strike. One hell of a commute.

Today's quote

From CU-3

"Mom stop giving me weggies or I'm going to stop loving you."

That CU-3. She's always good for a quote.

Need I say

more?

No. I don't think so.

The silent "Q"

So, CU-2 is back for the week, early, because tomorrow is another PD day.

She asked to play Scrabble tonight. I agreed. I'd never played Scrabble with her, and at 10, thought she could be a reasonable opponent.

She suggested it be a bilingual version, so that both our vocabulary proficiencies could be covered.

As she was putting letters on the board, I checked the sheet. She and I were an equal match. I had to do something to throw her off her game. As she lay down her tiles (P-I-N-E) I told her that the spelling was wrong. It was missing the silent "Q". She looked at me, not sure what to make of me and tried to challenge my authoritative spelling.

"Mais non, Maman. C'est PINE en français!"

I responded: "Nope. My teacher corrected me on that one too. There is a silent Q in the middle. You can't put down the letters without the Q. Just ask The Huz!"

That's when my cover got blown.

So I followed it up with "Hey, did you know if you say gullible fast enough it sounds like CHOCOLATE?"

Therapy. That's what this girl's going to need. Maybe I can get that her some for Christmas!