Same old same old

The start to the week started off pretty awful.

• CU1 had broken his glasses in two (irrepairable damage).
  
• The washing machine expired (not good when CU3s on cotton diapers).
  
• I forgot my wallet at home.
  
• CU3 is having unexplainable mouth pains for which I have to schedule an emergency dental appointment to fill in the black-hole of information that's left there from "co-parenting".
  
• There's a Federal election.
  
• Did I mention we have no washing machine and there are FIVE people in the house?
• A zillion complications at work which have to be cancelled and rescheduled because of dental emergencies.

Midweek though, it's improving.

• CU1's glasses are under warranty and have been replaced in record time.
• Thank small gods for credit cards - we've purchased a washer which will be delivered by the end of the week.
• I found/collected my wallet and it's with me again, allowing me access to all of 16 cents I currently have available to me.
• I met with the dentist who filled me in on what's been going on in CUs mouth for the last two months and what can be done to help him not have mouth pains.
• The Federal election happened, and it's a minority government. See you at the polls in 2008!
• Did I mention we got a new washer coming in by weeks end? (So it looks like I might not be having a dirty weekend after all.)
• I've rescheduled some of the zillion and one things ... February's looking to be a pretty hairy month.

Weeee.

Happy

The first two years of a child's life are so filled with wonder. They are such sponges. Language is the most interesting acquisition. Amongst the assorted words that CU3 has learned, shoes, all done, up, pomme, paper is the happy. What a word to learn. Happy. Heureux. A simple word. To be one of the first ten words is such an accomplishment.

For better or for worse

It's been a hell of a week.

CU3 is such a generous child that she decided to share her cold with me. Eight days later, we both are sharing a lot of quality time together, coughing, wheezing and hucking a few clams, usually between the hours of 1 and 4 in the morning.

My DH has been a dream through it all. Every morning he reports on the "running of the stairs" and how he's tended to the sick and unhappy, tirelessly and for little reward.

It looks like some of that might actually be rubbing off on CU1 as, exhausted, I decided to take advantage of CU3s nap-time and catch a few zzz while CU1 and 2 were off playing relatively quietly. CU3 was under. Snowplows shaking the house as they passed didn't wake her. I was lying near by. CU1 quietly made his way into the room. I peered conspiratorially beneath my covers, as the sandman began to overtake me. CU1 was rummaging through his sister's toys. Trying to muster strength for an intervention, I saw him take out ... a duck.

A duck?

He tucks the duck in with the sleeping baby. Then makes his way around to me and tucks a lovey in with me. My tender boy. You make me so proud.

Voting in Canada

Dear friends and readers, as we lead up to another Federal election in less then a week, it reminds me of a t-shirt that I saw my uncle wear, oh so many years ago:

Friends don't let friends vote Republican.

Mind you, with the nutty weather we have been having (I'm suspecting the locuses are on their way), I wouldn't be surprised if hell begins to freeze and life becomes miserable for four years on Monday.

Sour grapes

In my opinion, one of the top five peevish things that bugs me are adults who act horribly, especially like two years old, when they don't get their way.

Some one's grandma named it correctly: sour grapes. As parents of children, we are frequently bombarded with messages about how to raise our children. This particular message seems to have fallen on deaf ears with a particular "parent" I know.

Look buster, life isn't equal. There may be some rough justice in this world. If so, it's not been doled out in my time yet, that doesn't mean it ain't comin'. So, in the mean time, when some one climbs in YOUR box, cowboy up, act your age, and be a better roll model for your children.

Family lore

Subtitled: "My kids will be in therapy for years".

Oh yah. My poor, poor children. Not only do they have to deal multiple households, multiple rules, multiple father figures, they have to deal with ME, and well DH! WE the "original" parents.

DH has a quirky side that really to know is to love. He's the kind of guy I wish I had as a dad. On the face of it, he seems a bit gruff, a bit scary to little things - kind of like Santa, or clowns. He's kind of round, and loyal, loyal, loyal ... like a Labradoodle. He's quiet, for the most part, and has a sly sense of humor that sneaks out and grabs you, usually at the most unexpected times. He's a fantastic storyteller. When he's on a roll, get as many free breaths in as you can 'cause you'll be asking for oxygen there after. He'll have you on the floor with your legs in the air bicycling for breath.

Which brings me to why there's an advert for Catmilk on this site.

One morning, CU2 was acting a little cross, crotchety, ornery, so DH thought this was the perfect opportunity to give her the gears.

DH: CU2, can you please feed the animals (bad cats and bad dog)? Oh, and while you're at it, milk the cats.
CU: What?
DH: Can you please feed the animals and when you're done, before school, milk the cats.
CU: What? You can't milk cats.
DH: Sure you can. Where do you think milk comes from?
CU: Cows?
DH to me as I walk into the kitchen, rubbing sleep from my eyes: What do you say?
Me: Huh?
DH to me: Where does milk come from?
Me: Depends on the animal.
DH to CU: See. So, please milk the cats before you go to school.
CU: They're boy cats!
DH: Oh, that may take a little longer. Maybe you can do it after school.

...

A couple of days later at breakfast time ...

CU2: Can I have some milk?
DH: I dunno can you?
CU2: Can I please have some milk?
DH: What kind? [BC1 (bad cat 1) walks through the kitchen)] Catmilk?
CU2: What?
DH: Do you want some catmilk?
CU2: No.

So the whole catmilk thing went away until just over the Christmas holidays when CUs 1 and 2 were away and DH had more time on his hands then ways he could entertain himself. He decided it would be a good idea that we packed up the rest of the family and went out to the local mall to see what was going on on Boxing Day. I'm always up for an adventure in odd things, and seeing that I've never done any of the crazy shopping on Boxing Day I said I was game. We went, we saw nothing out of the ordinary, but we were able to pick-up some Catmilk for CU2 and her breakfast cereal ... proving that yes Virginia there is a Santa Clause ... and there is such a thing as catmilk.

Original parenting

Today, while speaking with an aquantance, we were discussing parenting problem solving ideas. At the end of the conversation, this person turned to me and said "My you and your DH are original parents."

Um ....

What the hell??

I think it was meant to be a complement and a bit of recognition to our, er, ahem, unique style and approach to parenting.

I think the description is growing on me ... I think I like it.

CU gets Lucky

Thursday's are usually a rough day around our household. We're either preparing for an influx or an outflow of CUs. I have to say I always prefer the influx preparations. For me, it's like Christmas every other week as "my presents" come home.

This week, though is an outbound week. After two weeks of normalcy and ordinariness as a family unit, CUs 1 and 2 are preparing to say their goodbyes for a week and re-enter the stupid, rotating world not of their making. (Excuse me while I go brush my teeth for writing the S-word. It's a newer house rule that I came up with because CU3 was using it a bit too often and in a manner not becoming. So, I've fallen into my own trap!)

...

Ok. So, gentle readers, to satisfy any outstanding curiosity, I recommend Baby's Own over any liquid anti-bacterial hand soap. Much much cleaner taste and fewer residues!

But I digress further from the main story, which is the chaos that frequents this house. For the most part Thursdays are like any other day, except punishment is a lot lighter. In this case though, CU1 looses out for something CU3 - the latest edition to the family unit - did. CU3 was left to reckless abandon tonight while I directed CU1 and 2 through their paces (math and language tests Friday morning). I had paused to do some redirect with CU2 when CU1 starts screaming "bad baby" over and over and over again. As this is a semi-regular occurrence within these four walls, I have kind of learned to ignore it, unless accompanied by the smell of singed hair or some other odoriferous calamity.

In this case, curiosity got the better of me - "bad baby" had got Lucky. Lucky Charms that is. Mr. Charms had spread his wealth of magic deliciousness across the kitchen floor and was being carefully picked over by both "bad baby" (BB) and "bad dog". It didn't help that BC 1 and 2 (bad cats 1 and 2) were making matters worse by batting petrified, space-ready pink hearts, green clovers, stars, horse shoes, and whatever nonsense they now stuff in the box across the floor.

Hey baby! Would you like your milk with that?

bad hair days and dresses stuck in tights

I've been walking around, for a couple of weeks now, maybe longer, feeling angry, grouchy, brittle. Wintertime is a period of me usually of hibernation, contemplation and a lot of self-work. And small gawds know (any any one who has seen me recently) knows that I could an Extreme Makeover!

The New Year ended and started with a "poof" - kind of like something one would see on Bugs Bunny after one of Wiley E. Coyote's failed stunts. I keep telling myself that that's ok, but the reality is that I'm not ok with it. I want 2006 to be different, more joyful, more joy filled. Maybe it's my realizing that this year, this winter is a bit different, as I start to sever long-term relationships and close the door on life changing events that initiated a historic chain of actions that lead me to the path I'm walking today.

January 2000 was a very troubling, actually horrible time in my life, one that I shall never, ever repeat. By the first of April, I was starting a new life that was more thrust upon me, though a welcome relief at that point, as I tried to battle something that was bigger than me, that was out side of me, that really was and wasn't about me.

The impact and outcome has been far far ranging resulting in groups and regrouping of entities into what now are more solid units. (CUs, I'm so sorry this happened.)

I think I'm having troubles realizing that there is an end to this part of my journey.

I'm feeling lost, a drift. The only way to provide a sufficient comparison to some one who hasn't experienced it is that it's like when you loose your job. Part of you gets left behind, willingly or less willingly.

So much of one's identity is attached to a job, a place, or a relationship that to shift it, unexpectedly is to jar something loose. And there it rattles around until it something snags it.

As this piece gets fitted in, maybe the Universe is saying that now is the time to take the steps to the rest of my life and further identify myself: a mother, a sister, a daughter, a creative problem solver, a friend, a schooled person, a reader, a fat chick, an accidental gardener, a Jill-of-all-trades, a wannabe photographer... what's next?

January 2006

Oh, this year is not getting off to a good start, from the writing perspective. Part of it is that there are just so many thank yous to write, as so many people have been so generous this Holiday season, part of it has just been a feeling of burnout. Perhpas it's the after season burnout or let down. Perhaps it's a winter light issue. My creativity has taken a wee bit of a hit - showed up in the things I didn't do with the CUs during their week off. All that said and done, everyone begins the regular grind tomorrow. All CUs return to their perspective schools, and all parental units, if they've not been working through, get the joy of returning to the chaos they left behind.

On the home front, I've got more pictures up in the photogallery - I'm hoping to do a more simple grouping to follow this year - by month. Newer pictures first. I'm hoping a few pictures will hold you until their stories can be told.

2006 resolutions

It's the 'twix and 'tween time as the end of the year draws to a close. I am one of the incredibly fortunate to have the day off from my regular duties of paid labour. I'm home with CU3 this week. CU1 and 2 will be joining us next week for another week of R&R.

The house is currently quiet. CU3 struggling to stay awake in case I do something more exciting then vacuum up the Cherrio/dog/cat food breakfast concoction she created for this morning's snack.

We have a smattering of presents still under the tree as they wait for our New Years Eve party when we're all back together. As DH's birthday has also been saved for the end of the year, we're going to make it an enormous birthday party where every one gets presents.

I took a walk this morning with CU3. It was pleasant, a bit nippy, but that is to be expected at this time of year, and for the next few months. I took my little digital camera with me as I used to kick myself about not capturing a feeling, a picture, a this or that when I was using only regular film stock. The digital medium allows me to take more chances and make more mistakes all for the cost of a couple of batteries. Not a bad deal I would say.

The walk allowed me time alone with my thoughts, as CU3 is not a talkative child. I've been walking backwards through 2005. It's been like walking through an antique store of memories, picking up this curio and that memory. Nothing I'd want to buy or take home with me, but nice to know that they're there.

One sub-theme that's present is my unmistakable approach to life. I've been told it's like no other and I'm just starting to believe that this may be the case. This December I've had close friends, acquaintances and family give me a two-minute roast, recounting something that I've done that has given them some laugh or relieved some level of grief. There's the story of me at 13 bullying the Mothership to our small town's best (read only) hotel in the middle of a nasty winter to sit in their hot tub for a couple of hours. Then there's a story from a relative who told his postmaster how I would mail packages in summer with Christmas packing tape, just to zing the postal system! I do these things without thinking. Maybe that's my problem. I don't take a conscious approach to my creativity. I know that I certainly have a problem with sustaining a long-term project, preferring to attempt something that has almost instantaneous results.

This brings me to one of the Christmas presents I received this year: Letters to a Young Artist: Building a Life in Art by Julia Cameron. Ms. Cameron is widely renown as a bestselling author of The Artist's Way a well-thumbed manual on doing art and making time for everything else. I must confess I haven't read her other work(s), though I know of them and often direct my disillusioned, creatively stuck friends. I'm wondering if 2006 is a year that I am to heed the call for closer examination??

'Twas in the moon of wintertime

'Twas in the moon of wintertime, when all the birds had fled,
The mighty Creator of all sent spirit-choirs instea;
Before their light the stars grew dim,
And wandering hunters heard the hymn;
Jesus High Chief is born, Jesus is born, in excelsis gloria.

Within a lodge of sturdy bark the tender Babe was found;
A simple robe of rabbit skins enwrapped his beauty round,
For as the hunting men drew near,
the Spirit's drums rang loud and clear!
Jesus High Chief is born, Jesus is born, in excelsis gloria.

The earliest moon of wintertime is not so round and fair
As was the ring of glory on the helpless infant there.
Great chiefs from far before him knelt
With gifts of fox and beaver-pelt.
Jesus High Chief is born, Jesus is born, in excelsis gloria.

O children of the forest free, who dwell beneath the sun,
The holy Child of earth and sky has come to make you one.
Come kneel before the radiant boy,
Who brings you beauty, peace and joy.
Jesus High Chief is born, Jesus is born, in excelsis gloria.

Happy winter solstice.

Crumbs

With all the precautions in place, it seems that things are just tanking this week.

My toothbrushes going the way of the dark side. CU3 is home sick. My shoulder is frozen, twisted from sleeping funny. I'm doped up on cold medication to keep whatever is going around from coming to get me as I'm on course again this week. And I had marathon baking scheduled for the community Christmas supper on Sunday. Now I've just found out that my bread maker just breathed its last. I'm hoping it doesn't cost a lot of dough to replace.

Blue Christmas

We light this candle to remember those we have loved and lost. We pause to remember their names, their faces, their voices, the memories that bind them to us in this season.

We light this second candle to redeem the pain of loss: the loss of relationships, the loss of jobs, the loss of health. We pause to gather up the pain of the past and offer it to God, asking that from God's hands we receive the gift of peace.

We light this third candle to remember these past weeks and months: the disbelief, the anger, the down times, the joy and sorrow of memories, the hugs and handshakes of family and friends who care for us. We give thanks for the support we have known.

We light this fourth candle to remember our faith and the gift of hope that the Christmas story offers us. We give thanks for all the support we have known.

AWOL

Tooth brush. Purple. About 5 inches long. Last seen before Hurricane Isabelle got up.

Sigh.

Snow daze

Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens;
Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens;
Brown paper packages tied up with strings;
These are a few of my favorite things.

I love snow days.

I love storms.

I love the light of winter.

Snow is the Canadian version of Jamacian sand.

Bring it on.

It's a week before Christmas

It's a week before Christmas and I'm bagged.

We just got a foot of snow, all CUs are home, and I'm still getting Christmas boxes prepared to mail out. All I can say is Santa, can I get a little help this year?

On the home front, a lot of fun things have happened. I got a picture I submitted to our local community paper published, and our house won the Creative the lights display for Domestic residents.

CU2 is going to be in a church pagent, as well as the school chorus.

I got my advanced certificate in Business Analysis from CDI/McMasters University.

I finished up a distance education course with Malaspina University-College and Papa Ours is writing his ergonomics exam today.

Most of the holiday baking that I prepared for the Christmas dinner has been chipped away at which means that I'll have to start all over.

What can I say, but life is good.

Oh come all ye faithful!

While outside on my porch this evening for an adult version of time out, I watched a car drive up and what to me looked like try and park in front of the house. This type of activity is relatively normal in our residential neighborhood. What got me to head scratching was watching it slowly drive forward, then back, then forward again.

Seeing that I had a run in with a guy a few weeks ago and was intimidated by how he and his companion sat and stared at me while I was entering the house, I grew a bit concerned.

As I watched the peculiar event unfolded, a window rolled down. "Is this 2631 Pinard Street?" the passenger asked.

Ya, I responded, not sure what was up.

"Do you have a manger?"

"Yah! Around the corner" I responded.

"We're from the church. Bulletin organizers."

"Oh, that explains everything."

Two week ago there was a notice in the church bulletin asking for a display of crèches throughout the community. I thought it was quiet doable and set out to work with some of the found mongo: two parts of IKEA shoe shelves, a wooden toy dish rack, and a bail of hay started things off. Some wrecked wood was salvageable and the forms of Mary and Joseph were cut out. The mothership offered to paint Mary and Joseph. Baby Jesus'll be a two-by-four that will arrive before Christmas.

This last Sunday there was a new note in the church bulletin saying that they've asked for a dialog about the visibility of crèches and everything's been quiet. I sent a response, via the collection basket stating "we hear, and we responded!"

Now our address will be published in the next church bulletin for people to come and see.

Oh come all ye faithful!

Huh?

With 20 days to celebration time, I'm already brain dead. I think I've been walking around this way for a couple of weeks and can't shake it. I've talked to many people about this phenomina and have several hypothesis, grey days of winter setting in being the most popular suggestion.

It is true, we've had a few snow days, mostly everything has melted within a week though. I sincerely wished it would snow more because it might help me get in the mood for the season (though now that we have the tree up, the cats are getting into the season, trying to help us rearrange the decorations).

Very slowly I've started on the massive Christmas baking activities. I'm trying some of Grandma C's fudge (my first fudge ever). CU-2 has helped with the Rum Balls and the Lace Cookies. I've got to get a move on if the CARE packages are going to get out before Christmas.

Phew!

It's not like nothing to write about has been happening!

A visit from my brother and his family, a trip to close out the family cottage, a first snow storm with snow that has stuck (for now. They're forcasting rain for Tuesday) and a short week with CUs 1 and 2 rolled up the week.

There was also the commando baking that I did for the church bazzar and a day trip with a girl friend.

It's been a good week full of stories that need to be digested and spit out.

While you wait, here's something you may wish to consider: http://www.geist.com/contest.php only five more days to go! (And yes, I'm hoping to enter a story into this one if I can get motivated to get it out of my head.)