Pink House Key

Woman-ual Mode

2012-01-30T21:56:00.000-06:00

Last week I got a phone callfrom John. He was having a hardtime getting the lock open on his front door. He wanted me to come over, go in through the garage then lethim in. I made my way there, gotinto the house, let John in and watched him make his way up the stairs. It’s a good thing that he’s got astrong upper body because those legs are doing less and less for him every day.In the end he rewarded me with a Wint-o-green Lifesaver that he’d picked up atthe Fawcett Autobody. I felt likea hero.

Karla and I took aphotography workshop last week and I am making it my mission to practice takingpictures using the manual mode. It’s going to take a lot of work but I’m sure it’ll pay off in abouttwenty or so years. This is LegoCity, population 1.

Next year Mexichristmas?

2012-01-08T22:37:00.001-06:00

I hate to be negative but this year’s winter break gets abig raspberry from this girl. Everybody seemed to get sick, Christmas was nice but different, then Igot sick-then better and then we all became far too familiar with St. BonifaceHospital (I can tell you the best places to park and nearest washrooms to theICU). I have never texted so muchin my life. It’s been a lot ofback rubbing, hand holding, hugging, coffee drinking, serious talks withprofessionals having and for-the-best-ing. I hate for-the-best-ing. It’s so different from what-I’d-prefer-ing. My grandma had some pretty sudden andbad health complications and we had to let her go. Not what anyone would prefer.

The past few days have been all arrangements, taking care ofthings and sorting through dusty old closets. Being in her house without her wrings us all dry. I think we need a break from our break.

Lots of birthday action around here as well. Kerry made Nicholas the cutest cake-factory on fire and fire truck. She is amazing.

Sincerely

2011-12-27T00:03:00.002-06:00

The other night, as a Christmas surprise, I took Wendy toher first Jets game. I baited herinto the evening by asking if she would look after Nicholas while Jeff and Iattended the game and when I presented the ticket to her she was shocked in a“fo’ real?” way. At some pointduring the evening Wendy mentioned that a journalist we admire from the FreePress was seated directly behind us and I was all “fo’ real?” about this.

The last time we’d encountered this writer was shortlybefore our trip to the Grand Canyon. I’d asked him for tips on canyon hiking and, after asking us if we were“fo’ real” planning to do this in the heat of the summer, he’d given us plentyof reverse-mountain climbing advice.

Between the second and third periods of the hockey game Iturned around and chatted with him about our crazy canyon adventures from ayear and a half ago even showing him pictures on my phone.

I told him that we’d met a guy by the Bright Angel Creekwhose Camelbak punctured, became dehydrated, delirious, hallucinated and yetmanaged to have the park rangers save him at nightfall by blinking hisflashlight on and off not far from the bridge at the bottom of the South KaibabTrail. Not only was this guy acircus performing fire eater but he’d worked as one of the only straight dragqueens in the Northwest USA. Hewas walking across America and felt that it would be all right to tote hislaptop and cowboy boots through the Grand Canyon in plus forty degree heat. Fo’ real.

I spared the journalist most of the details about the crazyhiker as I figured he would think I was playing him.

If I’ve learned anything from 2011 it’s that truth isstranger than fiction. I may noteat fire or wear four inch heels but my year has had no shortage of “fo’ real?”moments. It is for this reasonthat I am going to hold close all shreds of possibility and focus my energy on blowingon embers of greatness. Better to eatfire rather than light farts aflame. Fo’ real.

Get well soon dance

2011-11-27T14:33:00.001-06:00

Poor Nicholas is TKO’d on the couch for the second time today. Turns out his back and forth crankinessyesterday was legit illness.

At Nicholas’ dance class yesterday afternoon Susie and Iwere wondering whether or not one of us would be able to take his spot if hewere ill and unable to attend. Probably not. The boys arelooking sharper every week. I amamazed that the instructors have the patience to keep Nicholas on track as hewavers between “Stay on track like mom told me to” and “Shimmy for my ownamusement. That mirror does notlie! I am amazing!!” Thankfullyduring the freestyle component of this week’s class Nicholas refrained fromwalking along the wall of mirrors nodding at himself and spanking his own buttto the beat of the music. Sigh.

Maybe get-well-soon butt spanks are in order. I’m sure we can even arrange a contest aroundit.

Schedule trip to dentist

2011-11-21T21:02:00.001-06:00

Easy going

2011-11-05T11:30:00.005-05:00

We are learning tocompromise here. It seems to bethe toughest lesson for me, not so much for the male set around here. They can “whatever” and “sure” prettymuch anything. I love that theyhave heart.

Decision to be weighed byCopper:

Should I go swimming in theriver at the dog park?

Downside: I will be wet andcold. There will be thousands ofburrs on the riverbank that will tangle in my paws. Also, Shannon will not go with me and it is my dream to bewithin three meters of her at all times.

Upside: I will swim!!! Dumb dog Ruby will join me!!!

Swimming prevails.

Decision to be weighed byNicholas:

Should I fall asleep or layin bed practicing my new found skill of finger snapping?

Downside: None.

Upside: Things might evenout in my abilities and I might strengthen my left hand snap. I can share joyous noise with people!

Snaps for snaps.

Decision to be weighed byJeff:

Should I try to sneak in onemore trip to Canadian Tire this week.

Downside: I recognizeemployees and have the floor plan memorized.

Upside: One more trip willmake it an even dozen and I can add more Canadian Tire money to the junkhammock between the front seats of the van.

To the Can Tire!

I’m getting better at trustingmy swim in the river/finger snap practicing/go to the Can Tire instincts. Less small stuff sweating and more bigpicture thinking. Right now ourbig picture includes a clean sweep of the basement. Ugh. Riverswimming anyone?

Posted this photo on theface-type-book earlier this week. Oh Mario.

Get the message

2011-10-22T21:52:00.001-05:00

After dinner tonight Nicholasasked me to stop taping notes to the side of his lunch kit because it embarrasseshim. He said that everyone atschool wants to know who writes the notes and why they are there.

Future Nicholas: don’tcompromise on these matters! Imight have stopped leaving you any messages but Present You agreed that itwould be okay for me to continue leaving them on the bottom of your lunch kit. Present You is so cute like that.

Don’t worry, Present Grandpais also a recipient of my pearly wisdom. I left this message at his house the other day when Deeane was out oftown.

Aside: Nicholas can say thathe was part of history the other night. He was the only sleeping spectator in section 116 of MTS Centre as theJets had their first win of the season. Go, Jets, Go!

Baby's first NHL game

2011-10-17T22:04:00.001-05:00

Holy sheet

2011-10-13T21:37:00.000-05:00

Nicholas just told me that he’d like to become a policeofficer when he grows up. Irestrained myself for a good four seconds before a strangled “noooooooooooo”squeaked out of my clamped mouth. Nicholas couldn’t understand why I thought this was a bad idea and Iexplained that it was so much more dangerous than general contractor, mayor orprofessional beatboxer. He told methat he’d already circled it on the sheet. Sheet? Whatgrade one sheet determines the fate of our babies? To wrap our conversation up I let Nicholas know that he hadyears to change his mind. He respondedto this by stating that he could always enter a much less dangerous field…likefirefighting. Eeeeeeeeeeeep.

*I saw this sign in Florida and thought of youse guys.

What would Jeff do?

2011-10-08T21:39:00.000-05:00

If Jeff were home it wouldn’thave taken so long for Nicholas to get dressed for hockey practice thismorning. Jeff wouldn’t have evenheard the ridiculous locker room talk put forward by an eight year old whoboasted that he’d “tripped a kid at school yesterday” and matter-of-factlystated that his “mom and dad were probably at home fighting as usual”. Jeff wouldn’t have forgotten Nicholas’stick at home thereby saving himself the trip back to the house to retrieve onewhile his twin sister, wearing ballet flats, scuttled with shy Nicholas ontothe ice. Another strength of Jeff’sis his ability to tell the coaches (who wear black jackets, pants, helmets andskates) apart. Jeff doesn’t haveto ask every man in skates if they are “Coach Mike”.

Jeff would have rolled hiseyes at my horrified reaction to the “It’s Manitoba time” brochure where I readthat people can swim, snorkel and kayak with beluga whales. How scary would that be? No thanks Manitoba. I have no time for that.

At the hip hop studio thisafternoon Jeff might have swelled up with some pride when the lady next to mepointed out Nicholas and asked if he was my son then told me that he was veryentertaining. I let her know thatNicholas is his own biggest fan and will forgo any instruction to gaze athimself in the mirrors and try on new expressions. Jeff would have stopped listening to this banter as he wouldhave been mesmerized by the boys in the studio who were teaching each other tomake farting sounds with their armpits.

It’s Shannitoba time to goand wash my brain out regarding snorkeling with belugas. I’m going to have nightmares about thatone. Where is sensible, scoffing Jeffwhen you need him! He would havenone of this beluga nonsense.

We have the same eyebrows

2011-10-07T06:32:00.000-05:00

There have been a few occasions in which people have asked me if Nicholas was my son then proceeded to tell me that he and I look "nothing alike". Rather than kick them in the shins I would tell them that they needed to hang out with him for awhile because he is everything like me. If you are friends with my cousin Annie on the face-type book then you might have already seen this photo. Thank for the great picture Annie!!!

*Sometimes I still feel like shin-kicking the comment people.

Good brief

2011-10-04T21:44:00.000-05:00

On our way into Nicholas’school this morning one of the voters exiting the building noticed Nicholas haddropped something and mentioned it to us. We looked back to see a pair of Nicholas’ underwear on the curb. Underwear. How does this happen? When does a random pair of underwear leap from one's clothes and curl upon public concrete? I immediately mom-edNicholas by prying his pants from his body and peering inside to see if he wascommando. He wasn’t. Double weird. Maybe they were the voter’s XXS skivvies and he wasn’twilling to own up to littering them. Hmmm. I hope our refreshedprovincial government is looking into this kind of thing.

Time is on my side

2011-09-26T19:00:00.001-05:00

Friday night:

Wendy and her team- Same-old, same-old night before SwampDonkey jitters, planning, registration and equipment shuttling.

Me- Wine drinking and foot putting upping.

Saturday, early morn:

Wendy and her team- Ass-crack-waking, scurrying and slog,slog, slogging.

Me- Zzzzzzzzzzzzz.

Saturday, ten-ish:

Wendy and her team- Slog, slog, slog.

Me- Extreme coffee making and magazine reading.

Saturday, ten-thirty-ish:

Wendy and her team- You know.

Me- Host of dumb dog university down at dock. Lesson one: Frisbee extraction fromdock cribs. Lesson two: Peacetreaty regarding Frisbee.

Saturday, eleven-ish:

Wendy and her team: Somewheres near me.

Me- First spotting of Swamp Donkey canoe teams paddlingacross Fiery Birth! Move all coffeeand magazines to dock. Sit withbinoculars and watch for peeps.

Saturday, noon-ish:

Wendy and her team: Slog across water in sight of High Rock!

Me- Stand on dock. Blow whistle and wave red pajama pants in encouragement.

Dumb dogs: Wrestle for Frisbee rights.

Saturday, maybe one-thirty-ish?:

Wendy and her team: Slog to bikes at McDoug’s Landing.

Me- Saunter about McDoug’s taking pictures.

Later…

Wendy and team slog on while I drink Caesars then nap. I wake from nap to silent cottage thenlook for dumb dogs and find them pacing the dock. After some sleuthing I find the Frisbee locked again in themighty jaws of the dock cribs. Dumb dogs rejoice.

Finally…

I pull up to race headquarters in time to scrapeslogger-Wendy up, feed her some nice Fort Garry dark ale and put her tobed. All are triumphant includingFrisbee chewing dogs. Success.

The skinny

2011-09-22T22:14:00.000-05:00

This summer I have risked all of my knee skin and put mybones in jeopardy by taking doughhead Copper rollerblading as often as Icould. It has been so muchfun. On occasion I have eveninvited Ruby along. Juggling boththeir leashes and keeping them in line is a massive self esteem boost. Especially when we return to the housewith pristine knee skin.

Tips for rollerblading with your dog:

-Know how to roller skate.

-Ensure that your meathead dog knows that you’re the boss.

-Know when to drop the leash and save yourself.

-Watch traffic and ensure that traffic watches you.

-Let your dog visit briefly with other dogs on leash then bethe boss and keep going!

-Be wary of dogs off leash and the squirrel/rabbitpopulation.

-Think: knee skin.

I saw a girl the other day rollerblading and wearingearphones. Good thing winter isalmost here because it’s going to take months for her knee skin torealign. Poor chicken. Nicholas starts hockey thisweekend. I am 100% against playinghockey and walking your dog at the same time. Danger bay.

There and back again

2011-09-18T21:49:00.000-05:00

Nicholas can't wait to wear a shirt and tie to school. I told him he had to wait until after Sarah's wedding. The time has come. Bam! He's going to look smokin' awesome.*You'll notice that the white shirt didn't make the reception. Slurpee accident. Tja.

Shall we?

2011-09-11T22:10:00.002-05:00

There will be no spectators for the first few months of Nicholas’ dance class. I had to take these photos when he wasn’t looking because he was already so pleased to be a) viewed by an adoring crowd and b) in front of a panorama of mirrors. The knowledge that he was being photographed would have made his head explode. All fatheadedness aside I think he will fit in at the studio very well.

Bus runner

2011-09-02T21:27:00.002-05:00

Tonight Jeff sent me literally running ahead to hold a bus he thought we needed to get on. Wearing my bright coral dress I sprinted to our stop only to find out that it was the wrong bus. My fellow bus waiters gave my run an A for effort.

We watched the fireworks in the Magic Kingdom tonight after having a swanky dinner at a nearby resort. They were amazing. Also amazing are the throngs of people in the parks. It is mind boggling how many people are here which is why it is absolutely ridiculous that we have run into the same New Brunswick couple three times in the past week. They are like old friends now.

While waiting at the bus stop to return to our resort the people who’d applauded my après dinner efforts happened to be waiting to return as well. They demanded a repeat performance and while I am the mother of the next Indiana Jones (Nicholas: “He’s not real y’know…but he’s gonna be!!!”) I was not going to pony-show for the likes of hundreds of bus waiters. That would not be magical.

My 24 hour internet runs out tomorrow morning! No more news until our return…unless you’re John. Dad: I am sending you pictures of everything we’ve eaten. You’re welcome. If you’re Karla: look forward to hearing my ideas about a DWorld bingo card!

Professor Jones

2011-09-02T15:12:00.003-05:00

A few great things that have happened so far:
-Nicholas and I got let in to see Lightening McQueen and Mater in the character pavilion even though the dude told me that he was sorry and it was closed for the night.
-Nicholas got his picture taken with Indiana Jones and Marion after we saw their show.
-Jeff smiled at an attendant on our way into the car stunt show and she invited us (out of hundreds of people) to watch from a VIP seating area.
Not so great thing:
-My point and shoot camera disappeared on Wednesday losing my Indiana Jones pictures.
Amazing comeback thing:
-We went back to see the Indiana show a second time for new pictures and Indy gave Nicholas his (sweaty) hat. Eeeeeeeee!
Win my heart again Indiana.

2011-08-25T10:10:00.006-05:00

As today is the official last day of my lazy summer holidays I feel it necessary to spend the morning coffee drinking, web browsing and blog drafting. 2011 has admittedly been a slow blog year but I am not apologetic about it. I was really blue last winter and with a lot of help I’m finally feeling better again. While I am a quirky kid and can easily be given the “character” label part of this is because I’m really just a quirky character and part of it is because of my mood disorder. In my efforts not to be defined by my mental health I’ve become pretty closeted about it. You’d think that after almost twenty years I’d find a comfortable place between the closet and the soap box but it’s still tricky.

A summer full of relaxation and pace finding has been excellent medicine. There are other smile worthy details that help. I took John suit shopping and he is impressed at how handsome he still is. Jeff bought matching Jets shirts for himself and Nicholas so that they can start the hockey season off right. We signed Nicholas up for hip hop class. Susie has been able to visit with us a few times over the summer and is looking forward to a trip to Paris next month. Nicholas has a gaggle of new friends on the street. I have mastered the art of rollerblading with Secretariat. Kristi, Meghan and Mattea came home and we got to have a massive party for Clay and Carrie’s wedding anniversary. Deeane is aflutter about our family plans to travel out east for a wedding next month. Wendy and Ruby are chest-bumping camp and coming home to roost.

All this and Mickey Mouse too. We’re headed to Florida. Come by and water my plants jokers.

Well Wendy, if you had a stronger core...

2011-08-18T12:37:00.005-05:00

Despite my letter to the education minister about keeping school age kids at home to enjoy the unusually perfect weather we’ve been having, it appears that school will commence at the usual time. Drat. Went to school to prep my room yesterday and ran into my favourite blunt custodian. I should mention that he is also one of the people on our staff that I converse with most often as my classroom has no neighbours. I also break lots of stuff that he ends up fixing. He is forthright in that he has a blockheadish nature and is not always gentle with his remarks. Rather than take anything personally and becoming hostile, I consider him “the entertainment” and have developed a soft side for him. He’s a good guy.

Stuff that is funny about him:
-He is his own megaphone and interrupts things often without meaning to.
-I hurt my back often and he always says that it is because I need more exercise (!)
-He has noticed every new haircut I’ve had for the past five years and yet he still stumbles on my name (he was the night custodian here when Wendy was around and I gave him grief about calling me Wendy a few years back)
-Even though he thinks I am a wing nut, he gives me advice about things like life insurance, window washing, large purchases and international travel

It’s important to have these people on your side yo.

This photo was taken last week. Check out the size of Secretariat! He is a beast!

Reasons to consider living in Neepawa

2011-08-10T06:00:00.002-05:00

No reservation necessary to cruise the Red

2011-08-07T10:08:00.003-05:00

The truth about the Red River: I am a fan. If the Red River had a like button, I would press it. I’m sure all of the fisherpeople out there would agree with me and I know that the rowing kids who gave our boat the finger the other night would also, begrudgingly, agree. Sure it is one of those look-don’t-touch waterways that fails to give most Winnipeggers the warm and fuzzies and yes, it is encased by silty muck that refuses to wash off my shins and crocs but man alive we have had some fun on it this summer. It is cruise night every night on the Red.

I have been learning the ins and outs of Disney life in my attempts to organize for our week there later in the month. Reserving restaurant tables weeks in advance does not seem like a vacation to me. Scanning the bazillion internet pages about things like fastpass, extra magic hours and strollers for your thirteen year old has taken its toll on this princess. I am off to the internet-free lake to geocache through poison ivy in peace.

Some luck

2011-08-04T08:49:00.002-05:00

A few days ago I was sitting on the beach at the lake with dirty hair, grubby feet and tanned/burnt skin. My back was to the lake and I was so engrossed in my book that maybe in some small way I was Katniss and I just might be in love with Peeta. I could hear lifejacket clad Nicholas somewhere behind me, a small speck far out in the bay. He’s a super joiner and will “room-for-one-more” any of our beach friends’ swimming jaunts. He is a lucky dude because he seems to exude an aura that commands: Be the village that raises this child! I am a lucky dude because I get to read The Hunger Games with few interruptions.

Also lucky is our dog Secretariat (Copper). I am a sucker for him. Often when I attempt to lead him from the paddock (lake) to the stable (cottage) he will rise from his sleeping position on the dock like a new colt. I cannot believe that he is still eating puppy food.

Nothing gets us out of lucky Jeff’s hair faster than a nice geocache outing. I managed to find a number of them this past week. Nicholas and I made our own set of play caches for around the cottage from some finds in my basement. Swing by the lake and we’ll set it up for youse guys.

Camp Boss

2011-07-20T23:28:00.004-05:00

Nicholas would like to be on the payroll at camp. He doesn’t really understand why he can’t just be a counselor tomorrow. If you’ve never been to camp you have to imagine a large open and inviting space with main buildings set up at the base of a hill that houses about ten cabins. They are all perched in a manner that allows everyone to feel like they are a part of each others’ business at most hours of the day. Upon driving up the lane to camp on Sunday night Nicholas instantly became part of “the collective”. Twenty minutes after arriving Nicholas hung his body out the door of Wendy’s cabin asking if anyone (of the seventy odd people hanging out by the dining hall) had left their T-shirt outside of “his” house.

I loved being at camp these past few days too. There is something magical about camp life and the camp that Wendy is at is truly enchanted. They just seem to have the perfect recipe for getting it right year after year. The best part of our stay was watching as Wendy pushed lifejacket clad Nicholas into the mouth of the fast moving creek, seeing him disappear around a bend and listening to his screeches of pleasure as the current sucked him into the beyond*.

And while I was continuously mistaken for Wendy it really wasn’t so bad. Her staff seems to like and respect her well enough. Before leaving today I huddled them up in her cabin and gave them an Oprah-style surprise pay raise. In addition, I stopped by the office and put Nicholas on the pay roll for good measure. That “Wendy” sure is somethin’.

*He later bossed the campers on the correct ways to float and screech down the creek.

Meconnect

2011-07-14T10:28:00.004-05:00

Nicholas has just come home from his first forays into the world of camp. At five years old he was the youngest kid at teen camp. He and Deeane were visiting acting camp director Wendy in Clear Lake. He connected with teens he knows from Wendy’s school, romanced a new girlfriend, scammed the lego collection from the manager’s basement, roasted hot dogs over a fire, swam and rang the camp bell. All this in just three days. Poor Deeane was tapped out. I am scheduled to head out there for a visit next week. Nicholas already has his bag packed.

We slid into vacation mode last week without missing a beat. Jeff took vacation time and ferried me around while I tested the comfort levels in all the seats of our new boat. This is a photo of baby’s first tube. He loved it.

Now that we are back in town my goal is to spend as much time as possible sitting on our back deck. Please come by. I’ve been off the internet grid lately as I haven’t been taking many pictures. Hopefully I’ll frame some interesting things in July. If it wasn’t for John reading facebook aloud from his Blackberry I wouldn’t know what was up with my/our friends. Time for a reconnect.

Lost and found my marbles

2011-06-29T22:35:00.001-05:00

Over twenty-five years ago I lost one of my favourite marbles in a game with our neighbour Mark. It is hard to play for keepsies and I should have known better than to play that marble because I was furious when I lost the game. I was even more furious when Mark decided that he really liked it too and refused a rematch.

Well time has told. Mom and Dad’s neighbours of almost thirty years have moved out east. In the midst of moving Mark’s mom Joan found the container full of marbles and gifted them to young Nicholas. Deeane just dropped them by the house and I searched through them like a madwoman trying remember which one was special to me.

I’m pretty sure that it is the plain-jane yellow one that looks like a shiny gumball. There is no real evidence of specialness, in fact it seems pretty average. You could say the same thing of the house that neighbours my parents place. It is tidy and well maintained. From the street you might never know how special it is and has been to the lovely people who’ve lived there.

I guess nothing in life is truly for keepsies. For now I plan on save-sies-ing my fancy yellow marble and praying that chiropractor Mark doesn’t start calling. Eep.

Let's make music together Mattea

2011-06-21T20:47:00.002-05:00

Librariotype

2011-06-16T22:10:00.003-05:00

More blog posts with no pictures:

Nicholas and I were at the library tonight. I picked up a cute, cartoony book about puberty, sex and sexuality because I am currently teaching family life at school (gah). I also picked up my on-hold audiobook book Keith Richard’s “Life" and an interesting book about creating arts and crafts through silhouette images. I seated Nicholas next to a computer and handed him my books so that I could search a book I’d seen in the new releases a month ago. Nicholas immediately turned to the cartoon book about family life and flipped through. I shrugged and continued my computer search. Note to the world: the human body, male or female, is normal. The dusty old librarian walking past us paused long enough to realize Nicholas’ viewing and audibly squeaked.

Squeak this librarian.

Please know that Nicholas will not be privy to a syllable of Keith Richards' world. Very little about Keith Richards is natural. Maybe I will allow Nicholas to view him through silhouette art, face only, cigarette and all.

On my f-toes

2011-06-15T06:23:00.001-05:00

On our way out of the cabin just now Nicholas explained to me that his fumb-toes were hurting. In times such as these, when new language is created, I will stop everything I’m doing to nurture its development. After hoisting Nicholas up and peeling his socks off we inspected his thumb toes and found nothing unusual.

When I hear him say something truly perfect I make it my mission to get him to repeat the phrase/label that he has created. Which part of you hurts? Tell me where again? What are these parts of your feet called?

We are on the home stretch to summer and I couldn’t be more excited. Nicholas, Jeff and I did some hiking on McGillvray trail last night and we saw dozens of lady slippers. Nicholas is such a good hiker. He is super motivated to climb, jump and weave around the trails.

The weekend was made twice as sweet because we got to share part of it with Kristi and Mattea and three times as wonderful because I am finished practicing, directing and producing our school play. Phew. Time to give my thumb toes a rest. End scene.

Walk for Rick

2011-06-06T21:34:00.003-05:00

We did it. We tackled the five kilometers like champs and finished in time to realize our door prize of a basket filled with sugar cookies. The dogs got to be celebrities. Ruby snuck in a quick swim and Nicholas discovered a garden where children grow.

Maybe next year John will feel up to joining us as his new hardware might be in place. Here's hoping! Ricky is probably proud of all of us for our amazing walk but probably most proud of John's tough initial walk into Dr. Doctor's office.

More of the same

2011-06-01T22:29:00.002-05:00

Things are wild around here. Rehearsals for the school play are up and running, puppy Copper is weighing in at 79 lbs, Jeff is in negotiations for NHL season tickets and Nicholas is getting a taste for Harley Davidsons.
When will the madness end?

Quirky character

2011-05-25T21:49:00.004-05:00

If you ask Nicholas about conversations that he’s had he'll give you word for word play back. He can mimic the vocal expression of many people including his kindergarten teacher, the daycare ladies and yours truly. He doesn’t mean any disrespect, in fact it seems that he feels he is doing greater justice to the retell by slipping into character.

This is a picture of him after he’d eaten a popsicle this evening. If you'd like the full effect you can Skype me and I'll do my impression of him. It's dazzling.

Cache filled weekend

2011-05-15T23:17:00.003-05:00

Geocaching adventures found us picking up treasures out of a beaver dam and an abandoned gold mine today. Last night Nicholas was the first to spot one on the cliffs that look out over the West Hawk campground. Exhausted, so will let pictures speak louder than words.

Like it is...was

2011-05-10T23:24:00.004-05:00

This is Fiona. She loves seeing pictures of herself. We could have spent hours taking photos of her, turning the camera around and watching her marvel at her own image in the LCD screen. Fiona helped buoy our Ontario weekend.

There were so many other buoyant parts. Seeing family and friends from across the country all in the same place is a pretty amazing thing. I love cutting through Christmas card pleasantries and really knowing the people who make up our unique strands in the world. I like watching Mom in her element connecting with relatives like the celebrities that they are. Wendy was her effervescent self. Dad did alright too. He was really pleased to see everyone.

In other buoyancy, the weather was notably incredible. Mom, Dad and I looked for a geocache in a park in Mariatown where, after fifteen minutes of Mom and I searching the rocky shore of the St. Lawrence Seaway, Dad pointed from his perch and indicated the exact place where it was. In future tough geocaching situations I will remember John’s master location technique of sitting still for a long time, becoming impatient, checking his Blackberry for email and sunning himself then bossing people in the “obvious” direction of the cache.

Being in Mariatown and Morrisburg was interesting because none of our family lives there anymore but a good portion of our history is anchored there. I loved seeing the house where Grandma grew up. Being in Montreal gave us a quick minute to pass the house where Dad grew up and some time to check in at the cemetery in Mount Royal where Mom and Dad’s first child Jeff is buried. Maybe not so buoyant but definitely important.

If we didn’t have these buoyant and important things I think the weekend could have sunk us fast. What’s harder that dealing with the loss of someone who’s really loved and still very needed? Best continue being gentle with ourselves.

In the meantime Fiona is a vivacious distraction. I hope her eyes stay Mc-family blue (she has Ricky eyes in this picture). I was on my best behaviour and refrained from stripping her down to her diaper. What’s better than a generously thighed baby with elastic band wrists? That will be my next visit to Ontario.

Pinch me

2011-05-06T06:40:00.003-05:00

So much has been going on this past week. I will blog again soon.

The other day on our usual Superstore rounds we came across these massive crabs. Delicious.

Not so cruel librarians

2011-04-26T23:08:00.004-05:00

This morning Nicholas pouted about taking his unread, overdue library book back to school. I told him that the librarians would be delighted to renew his book but this did not appease him. I tried to script it out for him and unveiled the story of how the encounter with the librarians would go.
1) Nicholas asks to renew book.
2) Librarians cluck and fawn over favourite student and bend over backwards to renew book.
3) Nicholas offers them smooches of thanks.
4) Librarians refuse smooches as too generous.
5) Nicholas offers dance of thanks, namely the shakey-shakey bum dance (self spanks included), while singing the tune to the Vengaboys “We like to Party”.
6) Librarians revel in double clucking and triple fawning.
7) Vengaboys “We like to Party” sounds over the school PA system and all students in the library drop their books to partake in the shakey-shakey bum dance like a well choreographed Hindi movie.
8) Blackout.
After a lot of hmph-ing, Nicholas put the book into his backpack, ordered me into the car and bossed me into singing along with the lyrics of Elvis’ “Don’t be Cruel” so that he could man the “bop” parts on his own. Tja.

Posted is a picture that you’d find around our school today. Copper posed as a model for a dog treat making campaign that our students are doing for the Humane Society. He is every dog to everyone. On our walk this morning he stopped and sat for a moment with a lady who was walking past us. She explained to me that she had just put down her fourteen year old golden a week and a half ago. Copper was super gentle with her and she cried a little. I am convinced that he is destined to be a therapy dog.

This weekend will be a time for us all to be a little gentler with each other as Wendy and I head out East with John and Deeane to remember our amazing Uncle Rick. When times are tougher we will have to look at pictures of Copper and take turns singing the lyrics or the bop parts of “Don’t be Cruel”. Best leave the shakey-shakey bum dance in Manitoba.

Ciao Kristi!

2011-04-19T22:49:00.003-05:00

Dear Kristi,

To celebrate your birthday we let Susie treat us to sushi. Mom went to her pottery class where she splattered most of her clothes with clay. Dad replaced a door in the basement. Susie watched Indiana Jo-ens with me. Grandma came over and tried on my moustache. Wendy had to go to parent teacher night. Copper moved all of our shoes to different parts of the house.

Things are samers.
Hope your birthday was beesy-kneesy.
Love,
Mario

Peep, peep

2011-04-17T22:19:00.003-05:00

Here is a sample of what our weekend looked like. I like the helmet.

This week I am not giving any speeches or making any presentations about my school's art program. While I will be hosting and directing school play practices, I will not be going to meetings to talk about my drama program or our school's drama productions. I've decided to take the week off of attending science fairs in which fifty of my students are involved and I don't even want to think about assessing fifty science fair projects. I will be grateful that the evaluation of my lovely student teacher is finished as I will not be making room for that again in the coming days.

Last week was enough to curl my hair. Good thing I have understanding peeps.

Welcome size five

2011-04-11T22:36:00.004-05:00

I just retired most of the size four shirts in Nicholas’ closet. There won’t be a retirement party so don’t feel pressured to come up with short witty speeches honouring the lives of his button downs and osh koshes. I hope that they’ve planned out their retirement better than their friends in the sock community. Nothing but postcards from the Brady Landfill from those guys.

This is a photo of Nicholas and Copper on the cusp of adulthood. They are so big. It’s a good thing Trina’s new baby Ruby arrived recently to remind us how small we all start out.

Not so small was one of Wendy’s tall students who stopped me today at Superstore to let me know that his sole purpose for shopping was to pick up a piece of exotic fruit (a durian) to leave on her desk. This student knows that Wendy hates the smell of durians and that the contents of such a prank would become neighbors with our old socks at Brady Landfill yet he perseveres. Wendy’s students make my students seem so straight and narrow.

I promise not to serve durians at the retirement of Ruby’s size four clothing.

Indy: Complete

2011-04-08T18:29:00.000-05:00

I like how passionate this one is.
Favorites anyone?

Indy: Part Six

2011-04-07T18:22:00.000-05:00

Indy: Part Five

2011-04-06T18:18:00.001-05:00

Indy: Part Four

2011-04-05T18:10:00.000-05:00

Indy: Part Three

2011-04-04T17:49:00.002-05:00

Indy: Part Two

2011-04-03T17:44:00.000-05:00

Indy: Part One

2011-04-02T17:35:00.002-05:00

At a pottery course that I’ve been taking I accidentally glazed the pot of a twenty-something in our class whose name is also Shannon. I felt really terrible and scrubbed away at it like hand-washing Lady Macbeth. After apologizing profusely for not being able to get every fleck off, I let her know that I would take full responsibility for it turning out wonky. She shrugged her shoulders and said that we never knew, maybe my glaze flecks would make it turn out “super awesome”. I would like to be more wise like twenty-something Shannon.

In the meantime I am still thirty-something me. I’ve been taking my cues from the government sign that one of the cottage neighbors wedged into the side of the twisty driveway at the lake as a practical joke. Nicholas and I were in the Whiteshell visiting the other day and decided to drive to West Hawk and see how much snow is keeping us from weekending in that direction. We won’t be there for another while.

Between now and then we will be enjoying our newly carpeted basement. Young Indiana Jones was practicing his whip there this afternoon. Nicholas knows that Indiana Jones isn’t really real but he will also be the first to tell you that there will be a real Indiana Jones one day: him!

I will post different pictures of Nicholas as Indiana every day this week. Watch for your favorite.

Hey!! Isn’t it the end of the month? Off to Discount to ensure that the carpet has been vacuumed!

Spanks

2011-03-13T21:23:00.002-05:00

Things that make Nicholas smile:
-Ticky fights
-Threats of a bum spank contest
-Saturdays
-Going to the doughnut store
-Watching the latest Indiana Jones movie
-Playing Lego Indiana Jones on Wii with his dad
-Sundays

Things that make Jeff smile:
-Having taxes filed
-Threats of bum spank contests
-Watching the curling

Things that make Shannon smile:
-Mostly threats of bum spank contests. That’s good stuff.

Last class of skating this afternoon. Nicholas was skate-tastic.

Status Quiznos

2011-02-28T21:01:00.003-06:00

This is a photo that I took of John on Saturday afternoon. I stopped by his office equipped with a shopvac and bag of cleaning supplies then staged a sit in determined to free the dust bunnies from his tight new office. I thought a nice Quiznos sandwich would grease the wheels of my efforts but it just seemed to strengthen John’s resolve to cage the bunnies and maintain status quo. He kept trying to change the subject by asking me about Copper and Nicholas but I stood firm. When he asked me about my plans for the afternoon I let him know that hanging out at his office was my plan. John was not impressed. In the end I walked out at closing time on the condition that he would vacuum the next morning. Deeane and I spoke the next day and she let me know that all of the morning coffee friends got in on the action of locating on switches and pushing the vacuum around. This seems a nice month end bonding ritual for these guys. I like it.

On the Copper front, he is almost six months wonderful. My advice for choosing the perfect puppy is this: bypass the chipper, alert pups and zero in on the fat, sleeping puppies with eyelashes so long they seem to tangle. Poke one of these in the sides. If it continues to lay motionless, select it. Copper is almost full grown now. He is calm, gentle and wags his tail around the neighborhood like he’s in a beauty pageant.

GPS=AWSME

2011-02-21T22:17:00.001-06:00

We have had the nicest weekend. If I wasn’t touring the art gallery with Karla then I was geocaching with Sandra or movie watching with Jeffy. Geocaching is ridiculously fun. I tried to find a cache outside of our McDonald’s this afternoon only to have one of the coffee drinking seniors come out to see what I was nosing about for. He and his buddies thought I might have a “stash” there that I was hiding from the heat. I told him that that sounded way more exciting than what I was actually doing. These pictures are from our trip to Labarrier park where we practiced walking like feathers only to plunge hip deep in snowbanks.

Nicholas can’t believe that both of his aunts have the nerve to be out of town at the same time. Wendy comes back from Fernie tonight and we get Susie back from China on Wednesday. What are your coordinates ladies?!

I wish they did dishes while we were gone

2011-02-16T21:41:00.001-06:00

As we left the house this morning Nicholas called to Copper and let him know that when were gone and his toys came alive they would boss him around. Wow. I am excited that Nicholas still believes that the toys have minds of their own. For reals.

This is a photo from our skate tonight.

Honeymoon Sweet

2011-02-14T10:46:00.002-06:00

Yesterday Nicholas and I visited Grandma’s house to check in and see how things were shaping up with her new washing machine. The three of us swiveled down the narrow staircase and marveled at the chunk of door frame that Mom had cut out of the laundry room so they could get the new machine in. We oooo’d and ahhhh’d over the washer and pondered how many telephone books Grandma will need to step on to reach the clothes at the bottom of the deep bin. Grandma showed Nicholas the “Honeymoon Suite” basement bedroom where Uncle Bill and Auntie Marianne stay from time to time and where John lived in 1982 before bringing all us girls out from wine country (Beamsville, Ontario). We pawed through drawers and found treasures. Items of note included a wedding veil, travel Manitoba brochures advertising hotel rooms for less than ten dollars a night and an old dry cleaning bag of John’s showing that he’d had two shirts and a blazer cleaned for seven dollars and forty-four cents. Back in the laundry room I wore Grandma’s seal skin coat around and she showed me Mom’s child-size fencing jacket and judo outfit (belated congrats on your yellow belt Deeane).

I knew that I had to leave after bookmarking that Grandma has a jar of concentrated malathion circa 1970 on her odds and ends shelf and a chocolate brown rayon nightgown with a pattern of sad clowns on it in her wardrobe. Ridiculous. It just doesn’t get better than that.

It is quite possible that 2011 may be the year in which I only post pictures of Nicholas and Copper snuggling together. They are uber suss.

Tuck and Roll

2011-02-06T18:43:00.003-06:00

-Sweet talk Nicholas into van.
-Drive across highway and pick John and Deeane up.
-Comments from John about my poor driving.
-Circle Sears parking lot looking for decent spot (try to summon it using “The Secret” method. No dice).
-John opens door of moving vehicle as we pass entrance of store so that he may “tuck and roll” out thereby avoiding having to walk from parking space.
-I tell him he will walk like everyone else.
-John sulks.
-Find “Secret” spot and hustle inside.
-Debate about which side of store “up” escalator is stationed in.
-Find escalator. Wonder who will need more assistance on moving stairs: Nicholas or John? Stand ready to catch both.

Me: Walk with purpose to large appliance section.
Deeane: Walk hesitantly to large appliance section wary of jerk salespeople.
John: Walk as though he is completing the last fifty meters of a marathon toward appliance section.
Nicholas: Walk while scanning for anything resembling a toy sale.

Later…
-Exit building having secured a new washer for Grandma and snuggle around to delivery pick up for Deeane’s new dishwasher.
-John sits in van and drains my ginger ale while I am at pickup counter inside. He must have worked up quite a thirst sneaking* away with Nicholas to watch movies in the television sales area while D and I made adult decisions about home improvement.
-Thwart John’s plan of going directly home by slyly pulling up to a men’s clothing store where he can replace his winter windbreaker for a real parka.
-Feel bad for him regardless of ginger ale theft. Slow at store entrance and allow him to walk rather than tuck and roll out.
-Consider leaving him there.
-Reconsider.

*By “sneaking” I mean his usual walk just with shiftier eyes and a touch more hustle.

Later…
-Drive home.
-John mentions that it was too bad we didn’t stop at the pet store for a look.
-Remind John of his priorities.
-John lets me know that I haven’t been doing much of “this” lately and crudely mimes typing on a keyboard.
-I let him know that this shopping trip should unclog my writer’s block quite nicely.

Yo

2011-02-03T21:20:00.005-06:00

Dear John,

I will post again soon. Things have been busier than usual around here. In the meantime here are some pictures of your grandson and puppy Copper. Not only are they both button-cute they wear the same sized hoodie.

Shannon

Hola 2011

2011-01-05T13:34:00.002-06:00

Did you know that you can buy rhinoceros print boys underwear in the lobby of the hotel we stayed at this past week? Susie did. Nicholas didn’t need them she just thought they were funny. He didn’t. The comedy was nonstop on our vacation getaway.

I am happy to report that after seven days at palm tree camp I have returned to Winnipeg cornrow free. Threats were made that anyone napping on the beach could very well wake to find their hair in mid-braid.

We have returned from the ongoing classic car convention of Cuba in fine form to pursue the New Year.

Jeff, Jeff, Jeff

2010-12-22T06:53:00.004-06:00

This ad campaign ran for a few months this fall. There were billboards everywhere promoting people to be intelligent "like Jeff".

Shredful thinking

2010-12-21T06:53:00.003-06:00

John sent me this picture from his phone. Sadly, I don't think the truck was there to service D'count. Rats.
*Notice the stray "important" paperwork sitting in the right bottom hand corner of the photo.

1st Concert-Check

2010-12-16T21:37:00.003-06:00

That’s right. They’re crocodiles. The theme seemed to be “A Very Australian Holiday”. Nicholas’ class sang the “Kookaburra” song and “Never smile at a crocodile”. Susie and I drove him to the school early so that he could g’day his fellow crocs, the rest of his fan club assembled in the audience a short while later. When the gym lights went down I crouched beside the stage where Nicholas could see me. He waved and smiled. I took a zillion pictures and the kids belted out their tunes to the dark gymnasium. When they were done the principal ushered them off the stage and I heard Nicholas loudly tell her that his dad didn’t come to the concert. Gah. Poor doll. I used my teacher voice to call to him and assure him that Jeff was at the back of the gym. All’s well that ends well.

Trust issues

2010-12-10T22:07:00.002-06:00

Moments ago, as I lay beside young Nicholas watching him pick his nose and eat it in his sleep, I could hear our puppy Copper chomping on something outside the bedroom door. I waited awhile in the darkness thinking of all of the things he could be getting into. My imagination runs amok when I hear him chewing and I always think the worst. The really terrible part is that I have yet to actually catch him chewing on anything other than the toys that he is suppose to be chewing on! Even now as I write this I have watched him reverse-slinky up the stairs and disappear down the hallway. Part of me thinks I should follow that dog and catch him in the act of some kind of mischief but the rational part of me knows that he is probably nestled in the dirty laundry at the bottom of my closet, dreaming puppy dreams, picking his nose and eating it.

Jeff's debut

2010-12-06T19:52:00.001-06:00

By crook

2010-11-29T21:37:00.003-06:00

We are practicing being gentle in this house. Nicholas is trying to enjoy our new pup Copper without falling victim to the needle sharp teeth that accompany Copper’s play nipping. I’ve tried to show Nicholas how to wrench Copper’s mini jaw apart when it is clamped onto things but he just can’t get comfortable reaching into the puppy’s mouth. I think he’s twice shy since last week when his ear was scratched by either Copper’s teeth or my engagement ring resulting in a fair sized rip and enough blood to make me queasy. Copper was trying to engage Nicholas in play and I’d reached between the two of them to break it up. Thankfully, Nicholas’ ear has already mended nicely.

Jeff is trying to be gentle with the casings that he’s air nailing around new doors that he has installed in our bedrooms and bathroom. Installing new and shiny things always seems to result in mishaps elsewhere like the fair sized dent in Nicholas’ closet where a door fell into it, the gash in the bathroom paint job or the ding in the frame where Jeff’s hammer left a mark because it was “windy”.

I am trying to be gentle with myself. I am allowing myself to carry Copper around like a purse dog and I let myself baby talk as much as I want to him. It is obnoxious and wonderful.

If you have an arm crook then I have a dog who would like to sleep in it. Come by and get your puppy on.

Snack leader?

2010-11-19T06:47:00.003-06:00

How can something so soft on the outside be so sharp on the inside?

Wendy scheduled the Dog Whisper to come to Winnipeg last weekend so that he could give us hot tips on how to be good pack leaders. He told us that the first 180 days of a puppy's life are the most important time in your relationship. 174 to go!

Puppymoon

2010-11-13T18:34:00.002-06:00

He must have been raised by cats because he has slept all day. Meow. Welcome home new guy.

Can can...can

2010-11-09T17:28:00.003-06:00

I can’t believe what a cranky baba I’ve turned into. Not only did I elbow my way into the line up of blue-hairs over at my new favorite bakery on Saturday last night I sat at the kitchen table drumming my fingers waiting for my canning to finish processing. The last of my beets have been harvested, peeled, chopped and stewed into three jars of pickles. Three. It is astounding how much effort has gone into these three jars. What’s worse is that the back of the pickling mix makes canning look like a pictorial breeze. It’s not until you open the box and find the triathlon of detailed instructions that you realize the people at the Bernardin company have had the last laugh. Har-har indeed preserving jerks (insert fist shake here). Best console myself with some nice walnut rye bread from bakery.

Belated firefighter pictures. What a dreamboat.

Man in tights?

2010-11-03T21:04:00.002-05:00

Jeff did yoga tonight. Seriously. Part of Jeff’s walking clinic involves educating the clients in different aspects of healthy living. Like downward dog. I wonder if the instructor took pictures.

Note to self: Lululemon gift card for him this Christmas.

Scoop

2010-11-01T21:59:00.000-05:00

Book reading biker

2010-10-18T20:49:00.002-05:00

Nicholas’ favorite subject at school is library. Swoon!

If you are looking for new books for your snot-nosed kid you should take a wonder at Anthony Browne’s Voices in the Park. It is one story told from four different perspectives and the art astounds me. I can always find something new in the beautiful images of the park that surround the main character gorillas.

Other than books, my snot-nosed kid likes aviator glasses and wrenches. We took the training wheels off of his bike this past weekend and practiced gliding around. He will be all pro this spring.

Chef at home

2010-10-16T12:49:00.001-05:00

I’m taking a break from my “Take back the Kitchen” campaign. My kitchen renovation was complete over a year and a half ago and I am still cooking meals out of the frozen food aisle of Costco. My fancy green curry shrimp, like my hair colour, comes straight out of a bottle. It is time for a smack down.

Aside: Nicholas just walked into my disaster-kitchen and told me that it was “lookin’ sharp”. That’s what his new teacher Trish says when something looks good. Awesome. When asked his opinion on something the other day he proclaimed that it was “smokin’ hot”. What a champ.

In pulling the contents out of all our cupboards I’ve come across oodles and oodles of candy stashes. Random Pez dispensers, old Easter chocolates, stuff like that. I’ve thrown away half of it and am using the rest as fuel to get me through this boring task. Moments ago I discovered an unmarked bag of white powder. Has a second self of mine been dabbling in narcotics?! That would explain a lot.

Note to John: After reading the paper this morning I have decided that this is the year you may influence my mayoral vote. I have no take on this civic election. Your guy is my guy. Consider it an early Christmas gift.

A perfect ten run

2010-10-12T21:45:00.002-05:00

Susie came by to tell us all about her Chicago marathon tonight. She ran for hours on Sunday morning in thirty degree heat. I love hearing the details of such events like where and what she ate, funny stories about people she met or saw, logistics of keeping track of her peeps, stumbling blocks, etc. Who would have thought that what she would most long for along the way would be a new coat of sunscreen?! Crazy.

Where to hang the well hung drawing...

2010-10-06T20:47:00.001-05:00

Wendy took Nicholas out and about tonight. They scootered over to Randy and Sandra’s for dinner. When they arrived at the house Kiss-me-Cait showcased a picture she’d drawn of Nicholas. An anatomically correct diagram. Most of the body was comprised of simple sticks stemming off a large circle but apparently there was a lot of detail in the groin region. This means one thing: Cait is ready to enroll in a post secondary fine arts program at the tender age of almost-four! She’s obviously an artistic genius. All the big names in art study nudes. One day, when she is hosting an episode of TEDtalks I will be able to say I told you so.

Can you blame her for her choice of muse? What a handsome devil!

Beets

2010-10-04T06:50:00.001-05:00

Post Script

2010-10-01T17:38:00.001-05:00

Dear Deeane,

It is evident that I am being punished for being cheeky and ungrateful. Late in the morning I was told by a colleague that my underwears were clearly showing above my pant waistline. Bright blue underwears for all of my students to see. All morning. Later in the afternoon I was the last person to be photographed for school pictures. I scampered around brushing my hair and putting on lipstick which will probably result in a “let’s go lady, I have a smoke with my name on it” photo. Lastly, I fumbled my words during a phone call with a student’s parent and wished the dad “a very nice…time….this weekend.” Awkward seeing as I’d just let him know that his kid needed to be tuned up. Enjoy your weekend after laying into your child about being respectful at school. Gah.

In speaking with you this evening I have been privy to the information that the doughnuts are from Auntie Sue and not you after all. Double gah.

The doughnuts have been a huge hit in our house and Nicholas has consumed half the bag. I also loved to love them. Lesson? Stop John-ing food items into categories and publicly parading falsehoods. Learned.

Yours in blue undergarments,
Shannon

Thank you Auntie Sue for the doughnuts! If there are a couple left over I will freeze them and you can pelt them at me the next time we cross paths!!

Woman of note

2010-09-30T21:12:00.001-05:00

Deeane,

First you leave us in the lurch for a week with no one to contact for random requests or wishes and now this? Whole wheat doughnuts left on my countertop upon your return? This is abominable. Making doughnuts healthy takes away everything that makes doughnuts good!

Well, thank you for thinking of us I guess. And I’m glad you’re back safe and sound, perky in the renewal of your “Great Aunt” title- Congratulations Annie and Ashleigh on the arrival of your new Fiona!!!

Hope you had a nice time.

Shannon
P.S. Maybe I told Nicholas’ Kindergarten teacher that you would join them on a field trip next week if she was short volunteers next week. We’ll be in touch

Swamp Creatures

2010-09-27T08:23:00.001-05:00

Camp

2010-09-26T22:26:00.004-05:00

When I was sixteen years old I was a lifeguard, swimming and canoeing instructor at a camp in the Whiteshell and it gave me wings. I loved everything about camp. I have the topography memorized and, when I can't sleep, in my mind's eye I pretend that I'm doing a site inspection like I did a million times as camp director in the summer of 2000. The responsibility of managing the camp has become a burden to the committee of volunteers who runs it and they decided not to operate this year. I stopped by this afternoon to check in on things and see how the site is fairing. It is still beautiful there. My boots still know the way around all of the rocks on the paths. The trails are a bit overgrown and some of the buildings are in tough shape but it remains an incredible place to explore.

Wendy's Swamp Donkey team finished in fine form yesterday. After many hours of canoeing, orienteering and biking they were exhausted and elated. I didn't take donkey bets as previously anticipated because I was busy drinking expensive wine out of a slurpee cup and chitchatting with Karla on the other side of the lake. I am classy like that.

Odds are Susie works pretty hard

2010-09-23T22:10:00.001-05:00

It’s go time again for Wendy’s Swamp Donkey team. I would like nothing more than to link together with a gaggle of volunteers and bushwack into the middle of nowhere to volunteer at some backwoods checkstop but I have forty-two pounds of Kindergartener weighing me down. Last year we sat around for two hours at the finish line waiting for teams to arrive and it was bor-ing. This year I have a plan. Gambling. Nicholas and I are going to take bets in dozens of competitive fields. Who will win? Who will come dead last? Who will injure themselves first? Who will dump their canoe? Who will cry? Whose bike will break down? It is going to be so good. I just need a list of the team names and we’re golden. Must find green, clear plastic visors tomorrow.

I showed this picture of Susie to Jeff. He marveled at how busy and hard at work everyone was. Everyone but Susie. Hmmmm.

Schooled

2010-09-21T19:50:00.004-05:00

We’ve been receiving snippet reports from Kindergarten. Nicholas has many friends. They have names, he just doesn’t know them all yet. He sings in music class and morphs into frogs and racecars during playtime in gym. This coming Monday I am taking him to be assessed for his learning style and a getting-to-know-you interview with his teachers at the school’s Strong Beginnings program.

It seems to be a trend that teachers are somewhat sensitive about teaching other teachers’ children. To ease us through this I plan on lying to all of Nicholas’ teachers about my profession. Monday, during this my first travel to Nicholas’ school, I will cover my blond moustache (the one that the eyebrow wax girls always suggest I get rid of and I repeatedly refuse because I prefer a warm lip) with a large brown twisty moustache. I will wear clunky boots and a suit jacket and pawn myself off as Jeff. Should any staff members ask what Nicholas’ mother and I do professionally I will explain that I like to think of myself as a bigwig at Hydro while my wife works as a taxidermist. Everyone will be comfortable and Nicholas will be educated happily ever after.

These are pictures of my Grandma who schooled me this weekend on nosey old lady etiquette. I am going to be a champion senior citizen one day. I love that she still puts her hair in curlers and wears headscarves. She had a surgery last month and seems to be on the mend. I wonder if she ever planned costumes and fake lives to shield her children from judgment.

Sheeeeeeeeee's heeeeeeeeere!!!

2010-09-19T17:18:00.004-05:00

Mattea is here and she's drop dead gorgeous.
Believe it.
I have a plan in place to kidnap Meghan, drag her to Winnipeg and force them to live here against their will.
Curse you Ontario for stealing our finest peeps!!!

Wii're easy

2010-09-14T22:19:00.002-05:00

The other day Michael noticed how excited Nicholas was to find a penny on the living room floor. He proceeded to spread a fistful of pennies around Nicholas’ room. So sweet. I eat this kind of stuff up. It has been so nice to be in the company of such a great guy. We hosted Michael’s German teachers for dinner this evening and I delighted in the schadenfreude of their English blunder stories. One of the teachers explained to us that when asked how she feels about things she has been telling people that she “is easy”. Only yesterday did someone let her know that she should lengthen this statement to “easy going”. Excellent.

We’ve been teasing Nicholas by telling him that Michael should take the Wii home to Germany with him. Nicholas thinks this is a bad idea. Last night we went through the Air Canada baggage regulations to find out what Michael can take home with him. Michael asked how much the Wii weighed and a big storm cloud descended over Nicholas. We assured him that Michael was just kidding.

After dinner this evening a couple of Michael’s friends joined us for a Just Dance showdown. Because there is more room in the basement, Michael unplugged the Wii from our upstairs TV and started taking the equipment downstairs. Thinking his beloved game was Europe-bound Nicholas was horrified and immediately burst into tears. Poor guy. After everything was cleared up he out danced us all. Predictable.

Believe it

2010-09-12T17:45:00.004-05:00

Friday night, while visiting Mary Kuchma, I tried to explain to Nicholas that her teeth weren’t real. He didn’t believe me. She insisted that it was true and together we told Nicholas about how careful you have to be with your teeth. He rolled his eyes and told us to quit teasing him. Then she took her bottom teeth out and he was speechless. Better yet was when he immediately reached into his own mouth and tried to dislodge his teeth.

It’s been a good week. We’ve delighted in the company of young German Michael. School has started. My sinus cold is history. John has almost moved out of his old office and into his new one. Susie is gearing up for a new Hydro position (working up North for three weeks on, one week off, two years starting in October) and the Chicago marathon. Wendy is buffing up for her adventure race later in the month. Jeff just finished a week long course on “building character” (he could instruct the one about “being a character”).

Went zip lining in Manitou with Michael and crew yesterday. I pulled some Cirque de Soleil moves on the last couple runs because I was feeling pretty all pro. Decided not to open my mouth in case my teeth really weren’t attached to my head and plummeted to the ground.

First day of school, first day of school!

2010-09-08T22:29:00.002-05:00

We are spoiled with exchange parent bliss. Our exchange student Michael is a polite, respectful and charming young man. This proves my theory that Jeff and I are exceptional parents.

In other news Nicholas is an official Kindergartener. We sent him to school this morning where his only new supply was a box of Kleenex. Deeane walked him there and back from his daycare post. I set up this delivery and pick up so that I could get an inside scoop on the Kindergarten down low. All reports are good. Nicholas told me that his teacher talked about being kind to others. Sounds like a sparkly start to me.

Was ist los?

2010-09-05T22:55:00.002-05:00

I used a sit-in technique at Dr. Doctor’s office to wedge myself into an appointment last Thursday morning. Dr. Doctor cannot fathom my ineptitude with biology (I demanded new sinuses, he explained that sinuses are hollow spaces and that you can’t replace nothing with nothing) or my requests for specific pharmaceuticals (Me: I could really use some of those power pills you gave me the last time I felt this way. Dr. D: Power pills??).

The weekend has been good to me as not only have I regained my health I have also gained a son in the form of Michael, our German exchange student. We get to keep him for two whole weeks. The weekend has been a Canada boot camp for him. Yesterday we biked the Trans Canada Trail and paddled the canoe through the tunnels in Caddy Lake. This evening he was our date at Gayle’s wedding. He even danced with John, Deeane, Susie, Wendy and I to the YMCA. Poor dude, he must be exhausted.

Bitterpants

2010-09-01T08:48:00.003-05:00

C’mon summer? Does it have to end this way? With four days of leaky nose and fatter-than-usual head?

We’ve been through a lot summer. I’ve respected you. Loved you. Filled my two months with ample amounts of excellentness only to find the rug pulled out from underneath me at the critical moment. Where will I find the energy to do more than pull thousands of Kleenexs out of boxes, honk, wheeze and cough? Who will organize my creative classroom space and take care of my tie-dye-clad-haircut-needing-son?

Aside: Seriously, who will take care of the boy? Note for prosperity: Yesterday was the first day that I have ever lost Nicholas. Details: End of shop at the Superstore, Nicholas nowhere to be seen for at least ten minutes, me panicky, all employees alerted to missing child via intercom code, finally find Nicholas wandering frozen food carrying tray of fresh sushi from far corner of store, tears (mine). End scene.

Second aside: What is up with my realizations and life moments at the Superstore? Do I spend that much time grocery shopping? Really? Gah.

Fine summer. Have it your way. I will Tylenol my way through this time and rise triumphantly. If the acetaminophen doesn’t work I will self medicate with my friend Smirnoff who will assist me in locating not only one Nicholas but two or three at any given time.

Off to gather spent Kleenexs and wits. I should be off to drink more vodka if it meant gathering Airmiles and bringing Mattea here faster for a nice visit. Where are you chicken!? Be good to your mamas!!!

*This picture is a throwback to better times. I love the profiles of KMC and Nicholas smooshed together like this. Sweet.

Yesterday's thoughts from the veranda

2010-08-28T11:57:00.002-05:00

I woke up this morning with the inability to move. It is clear that my summertime physical fitness has fallen to a new low. Since aggressive wheeling of brie toward my mouth doesn’t count as being active I shouldn’t be surprised that two days touristing alone around the Whiteshell with Nicholas has left me achy and painy. We’ve been mini golfing, coffeeing with our local friends, hiking, horseback riding and, last night, canoeing to the main beach. That alone was an adventure. As I swatted black flies and kneeled in the dirt still left over from Wendy’s last adventure race, we were caught in a cross breeze that wanted to drag us to the middle of the lake. Nicholas was unphased and lily dipped until his arm got sore (5.3 minutes off dock).

He has been a champ this past week. It never ceases to amaze me how easily he can fall into play with his cars. He lines them up on roads and develops plot lines for their stories. It is impressive that at such a tender age Nicholas already has experience in casting, production and direction. Genius! I hope that he can say the “th” sound before he organizes to begin filming blockbuster hits. Kindergarten is going to be a snap.

Kolach kisser

2010-08-25T23:42:00.001-05:00

Cabbage Roller

2010-08-24T23:29:00.000-05:00

Perogie Pincher

2010-08-23T23:25:00.000-05:00

Garden party

2010-08-22T22:07:00.006-05:00

I’ve been trying to sneak up on the inhabitants of my garden. The monarchs will tolerate me standing at a distance of about four feet but the hummingbirds won’t have anything to do with my fat camera. This year I planted a zillion zinnias and massive, bushy dahlias along the border of the garden.

Trina’s garden is growing bucketfuls of beautiful girls and handsome, snoozy boys. Nicholas, Karla and I wandered out to visit Trina and her peeps this afternoon and float around in her pool. While the pool is quite awesome, young Talia prefers her water filled five gallon pail. No lifejacket required.

Nicholas and I are off to the lake for a few days this week. Deeane: I am setting up delay post pictures of Nicholas in his Ukrainian dancing costume for your viewing pleasure. Keep an eye out!

Goodnight Karla

2010-08-18T22:07:00.003-05:00

In the evenings, after we’ve read books and turned off the light, Nicholas wishes Karla goodnight. We usually rattle off the names of reams of friends and family and wish everyone pleasant dreams but for the past while Karla has been the number one pick by Nicholas. Maybe her creative nature inspires the best dreams. I wouldn’t doubt it.

I dropped by Discount this morning to check in on John and his plans to transition to an office across the street from his current location. He was busy hosting a crew of coffee peeps, one of whom owns the building that he will be moving into. John’s new landlord took me on a tour of the space. The office will be cozy but there will be an ample lot for his cars. Maybe Jeff can build a deck on the side of the building as a meeting space for entertaining and social affairs.

Nicholas has been back to daycare a couple times this week and you’d think that he has been gone for eons if you saw the welcome he gets by his peers. This morning a crowd of kids rushed him screaming his name. The staff is happy to see him too.

My guess is that one day Nicholas will have an office/coffee club full of newsy visitors. I bet Karla will be a regular.

This photo was taken this weekend when KMC and her family joined us for a visit at the
lake. Too bad the water temperature was warmer than the air temperature. Still managed to have loads of adventures!

Chewed out

2010-08-17T22:08:00.003-05:00

The other day I went to take the second shift of Nicholas’ teeth brushing only to be warned by him that I shouldn’t brush the bagel that he was still chewing. Confused? So was I. How purpose defeating.

In this photograph I am artfully origami-ed into my blue paisley dress. Swell.

Retirement venture?

2010-08-17T11:41:00.003-05:00

Found this jpeg this morning. I think it's from our travels in Nebraska. Welcome back to Winnipeg Dr. John.

Postcard 5

2010-08-12T22:42:00.000-05:00

This photo was taken before we left on our big hike.

Postcard 4

2010-08-11T22:28:00.000-05:00

Postcard 3

2010-08-10T22:18:00.000-05:00

Postcard 2

2010-08-09T22:12:00.000-05:00

Anticipate a few jpegs of moments past.
Chopped the blooms off my zinnias as per Lois Hole directions for more numerous flowers.

Postcard from the dock

2010-08-08T22:08:00.002-05:00

I woke up at the cottage the other morning to what I thought was an empty house. It was late, nine-thirty, and I figured that Jeff and Nicholas were on the town without me. I made coffee, watched the end of a movie and read my book. An hour had passed with no sign of my boyfriends so I walked through the cottage to peek out the window and see which vehicle was gone. Who should I find bundled in the back bedroom and sawing logs but my Nicholas. More proof that he is my son.

It is sweet to be among summer people at the cottage. We’ve had visits with many of our favourite lake people and we were spoiled rotten at the Falcon Fun Fest where we got the VIP treatment by the owners of the midway rides (a family business of one of my students.) We’ve hiked, biked, beached, paddled, docked and campfired. It is nice to wedge ourselves into something so familiar.

Pretty woman

2010-08-01T23:15:00.001-05:00

I didn’t buy one novelty outfit from a kiosk in Las Vegas. I bought three. I was so impressed by the rich colours and silky swish of the fabric swoosh dresses that the con artist of a sales artist winched around my body that I knew only one thing: my life would not be complete unless I owned a paisley curtain with long ties.

Now I’m in Winnipeg and while I probably should feel more tame and modest about my real world surroundings I can’t help but envy what Las Vegas Shannon was thinking when she bought the jazzy blue and yellow twist dress. In an attempt to bring back the sensation that I had when I purchased this outfit I vow to wear it as much as possible in the month of August. Watch for me.

Today I wore it as a mere skirt to the Costcos. It’s a start.
Don’t smirk Sandra! One of the three is for youse!!!

This picture is of Nicholas in the daisy field that we discovered on the cliff at the cottage. I will have to venture there in my gypsy dress tomorrow as we embark on the second half of Jeffcation.

2010-07-30T11:45:00.001-05:00

Things are winding down.
Noteworthy:
-Lousy Jeff will honk the horn when you are trying to pee beside the van.
-Nicholas has discovered that after wondering aloud if people will comment on your new cool shoes a surprising amount of strangers will comment on your new cool shoes.
-There is a dog in Utah that rides on the roof of his owners’ truck. We know because we saw it.
More later.

Ascent

2010-07-28T01:02:00.006-05:00

Had I known that we would encounter not one but two snakes on the trail hiking up I wouldn’t have slept on the ground like I did. The temperature at the bottom of the canyon was 42 degrees Celsius in the shade. Bright Angel Campground was good to us as our site was right on the creek and its “cold tub” set up lent itself to meeting new people and hearing their fascinating stories. Wendy treated me to stew dinner at the Phantom Ranch and we checked out the presentation being given at the small amphitheatre before dousing ourselves with water and falling asleep under the stars.

It was still hot in the canyon when we woke up just after two o’clock for the hike out but the temperature was significantly cooler. We fumbled our gear together (no scorpions, phew!), soaked our clothes and trekked out on the Bright Angel Trail with a full moon and headlamps for light. Almost an hour in I spotted a red, black and white ringed snake sharing the trail a foot from my boot. We used a guidebook at the Indian Garden guest station to identify it as a harmless long nosed snake. Close to the top one of the day hikers pointed out a rattlesnake lurking beside the path. I’m going to have to brush up on my parcel tongue if we make it back to these parts.

I was thrilled to see Jeff and Nicholas waiting for us at the rim. They made sure that we were fed and put down for naps. We spent the rest of the day recuperating and listening to Nicholas chatter (new nickname: La bouche or just plain Bouche).

Packed up and headed out of Grand Canyon Village this morning just in time to miss the security and craziness surrounding a visit from Joe Biden and his family. Jeff wanted to see a different kind of Grand, one more along the lines of MGM. Nicholas was thrilled to get some Route 66 action after which we drove across the Hoover dam and arrived in Las Vegas in time to hit the pool and a delicious buffet. My bouche was satisfied. Who knows where we’ll turn up next?!

Descent

2010-07-27T18:47:00.004-05:00

Wendy and I started our descent into the canyon just before dawn on Sunday morning and watched the sunrise while we hiked down the steep paths of the South Kaibab trail. With plenty of rest stops to drink the four liters of water we were each carrying with us we made it to the campground by 9:30 in the morning where we’d been instructed to “sit in the creek all day eating and drinking”. As I am a sage at these things I made short work of lounging and hosting small gatherings creekside. I felt like the Bright Angel of Bright Angel Creek.

Grand? Let's hope so.

2010-07-24T23:27:00.002-05:00

Arrived at back country offices this morning to the sound of crickets chirping and hollow wind blowing through place. Walked up to counter and asked if it would be difficult to obtain a permit. Rangers looked at each other and smirked. They let us know that at this time of year we could go anywhere we wanted. When I explained that I wanted to go to the bottom the ranger let me know that it wouldn't be problem though he felt he should warn me that there had been a death there just last week. I scoffed and said that the person who died had to be ancient and unsure of his limits. He told me that the dude was 34 years old. "I'm 34 years old," I whispered. He smiled and wished me luck.
Off tomorrow at 4 am.
Eep.