Hello!?!

Oh hello little blog. How I have missed you.

I do actually miss blogging when I am not doing it. But sometime it starts to feel like just another thing on my list to and I get this urge to shut the whole thing down. I am always glad that I don't listen to that urge, as when I do come back, I feel the excitement one feels when reconnecting with a long lost friend. So here I am.

And here is the skinny on what's been going on...

1. Not me. Skinny that is. But I did manage to dust off my treadmill and actually clock a few miles on it. And I managed to do it without a chocolate bar in hand. So I am two for two.

2. We celebrated Sam's first birthday. It was an awesome day that deserves it's own post, which is coming once I can download the pictures.

3. I got a new camera to capture all the fabulous poses of my little Sam. Unfortunately I have no idea how to download pictures from it, and haven't had time to dig out the manual.

4. We have been getting pretty busy around here, and so I have decided to block off Thursdays as my home day. Mommy and Sammy day. Pajama Day. Good times. Maybe it will also become my posting day?!

5. I have lots to talk about, but everything feels like an idea for a separate post. So I guess this will just be a little shout out to see if anyone is still out there.

I think I am going to go dig out that camera manual now. Can't wait to show you the pics of the birthday boy eating his chocolate cake. Good times.

Hmmmm

More posts, less point.

Apparently I am all talk.

Sigh.

Randomly Lowering my Expectations

I was trying to figure out why it is such a struggle for me to keep up with this blog. Clearly I am able to post every day when I am actually committed to doing it. My reasoning is, that when one writes every day there is a certain amount of randomness expected. I mean let's face it, my life isn't that interesting. There is a certain amount of idle chit chat and filler that is acceptable in the context of every day forced writing. When I am not doing something like NaBloPoMo, I have much higher expectations on myself to come up with something "noteworthy". Thus the lack of writing. There is a fair amount of fuzz head that I am dealing with these days. It is a combination of lack of sleep and baby on the brain. Not a lot of noteworthiness going around in my head as of late. So I have decided to take it down a notch. Lower my expectations. More regular posting, less...um...point to my posts. How does that sound?

So here is what's floating around my head today...

~ I was watching Cityline the other morning. Apparently "Deer Decor" is really in this year. Wicker deer, sparkly deer, or country deer. Deer with lights, deer without lights, and so on and so forth. You name it. If it is deer related, then you are with it. Shortly after, I saw a family of four deer leaping across my front lawn. I love it. I am so up with the times.

~I cannot believe how much Harv and I love our new church. I am still trying to figure out a way to actually post some of my thoughts on this without offending those readers from my former church.

~ The two rooms in my house that are causing me the most annoyance on a daily basis are my kitchen and my office. I cannot seem to get a handle on either. It does not seem to matter how much I work on them, they are always messy. My mom is coming over tomorrow. I am hoping she can help me with this. Or at least entertain Sam so that I can deal with this.

~ I am also hoping that she can wash my floors. I hate washing floors. Then maybe I won't have to roll Sam off with the lint brush every time he slides around the floor collecting dust. He is like a mini swiffer.

~ I should return some phone calls tonight. I have so many people I need to call. It is a wonder I have any friends at all.

~ Sigh

~ That is a self-loathing, guilt-swimming sigh from the phone call comment.

~ I wonder if I could convince Amy to come for a visit. Even though it is most definitely "my turn to come down". (Please?!?!?)

~ Sigh

~ I should really be cleaning my office instead of writing on my blog.

~ I wonder how long my readers will keep coming back if I just post my random thinking every day?

Hey.

Hey all. Computer is back up and running. The good news? Only a virus...totally fixable. Not the carnage that I was dreading. So that is very good.

In other news...I am snug as a bug in a rug. Spending my days out and about and my evenings at home, cuddled under a blanket while the tree lights twinkle and the pyrotechnic blaze of my obsessive Christmas candles threatens to ignite our house on fire, but still warms me from the outside in. Ahhh good days. I love Christmas. I love these first days of winter when I still love winter, and haven't started to hate it yet.

Off to bed. Just thought some might be missing me as I have been missing you.

Smiles

There are not too many perks to having a house full of sickies. Does 2 sick members actually count as a house full? Anyway, not alot of laughter and good times around here...but there are a few things that have been silver linings around black clouds. And so for tonight's post, here is what has been making me smile...

~ After church, one of the ladies called and asked if I needed anything. I felt very touched by her concern. I hung up and told Harv that what I really would have liked was for her to bring us supper, because as far as a housewife/cook goes, I am just not keeping it together. I was too shy to ask. 10 minutes later my good friend Julie called and said that she was bringing us supper tomorrow night, because she just knows. I love my church. They make me smile.

~ Having a sick husband means having a husband at home. It has been a loooong time since we have shared a Sunday evening at home. Tonight we caught up on TV shows and I strung popcorn for the tree. I love cleaning out my PVR. And I love LOVE stringing popcorn. Two smiles.

~ Sam and I have been having lots (and I mean LOTS) of cuddle time. Sweet smile.

~ I have been playing this game on Facebook - Island Paradise. It is perfect for killing time in the middle of the night when you are popping in and out of baby's room every ten minutes trying to get the little hacker back to sleep. Tired smile.

~Sam woke up from a little nap this afternoon and Harv actually got a giggle out of him. After nothing but crying for almost 7 days, that was the most beautiful sound to my ears!! BIG smile.

~And the fact that yet another post is done (squeaked out just before the stroke of midnight), and I have almost made it through the month brings a big smile. Shock and awe smile.

Random Thoughts from a Tired Mind

OK. Here is a little bit of randomness, because that is the kind of day it has been.

~I think Sam may have turned a corner. We even managed to get a little smile out of him today. He went from that unmoving, pathetic little stare to…well…a tad on the grumpy side. The hacking cough, runny nose, and basic slobbery wetness is still there but his fever is a little lower. He didn’t want me to put him down all day. Just Mommy. No Daddy. Just me. Oh, and he wouldn’t nap. SO…you can imagine what kind of day it has been over here.

~Harv is now sick too. Do you know what is worse than a sick baby? A sick baby and a sick baby…er…husband. Actually he has been pretty good. But only because when he told me that he was getting sick I stared at him with this tired, tortured, deer-in-the-headlights sort of gaze and told him that I could only handle sick Sam. Not sick Sam and sick Harv. Feel free to nominate me for any wife of the year awards you come across. Sigh.

~I have been known to cope with stress and tiredness with chocolate. And when there is no chocolate in the house (to avoid the pitfalls of said coping mechanisms) I turn into a bit of a loon.

~I didn’t enjoy Grey’s Anatomy tonight. Not that it wasn’t good. I love that show more than I care to admit. But the whole time I was focused on the dawning reality that an episode that expands from Thanksgiving until after the New Year means only this…no new Grey’s until after the New Year. Hmm. Me not likey.

~I am ACHING to decorate for Christmas. But so far all I have is a bunch of boxes moved from my garage to my entrance. They call to me, and I cannot answer. They taunt me.

~I actually like this daily blogging thing. I am finding it surprisingly enjoyable. I may actually run out of days before I run out of topics. Who knew I would have so much to say? Who knew?

Frazzled

What a day.

I had a meeting tonight. Before I left, I raced around, threw on a clean, spit-up free shirt, kissed Sam and passed him over to Daddy in one big frazzly whirlwind. It wasn’t until I was half way into town that it dawned on me that I hadn’t even looked to see what condition my hair was in, much less straightened it, fluffed it, or de-frazzled it. Sigh.

Frazzly. That pretty much describes my day. And now, here it is, 11:07 and I still have to post. I am feeling so frazzled today. It was the kind of day where the phone doesn’t stop ringing and my thoughts don’t stop whirling. The laundry is still spinning – like my head.

I just want to hide under the covers. But the sheets are still in the dryer. Sigh.

My Life in Pictures

It's been a busy summer with little posting. I still haven't gotten the knack of typing with one hand and caring, feeding, snuggling, changing, amusing, rescuing and loving little Sam with the other. Here are a few things that have been keeping us busy...

Harv's Grandpa came out in August for Sam's baby dedication and spent a few days with us. The oldest and youngest members of the Janzen family hit it off immediately. Sam's middle name (Peter) is taken from my dad and also Harv's grandpa. Grandpa called Sam "Peter" all weekend, and I had to break it to him that his name was actually Samuel, but that he could call him whatever he wanted. Which he did...Peter. SO FUNNY.


Big purchase in our family last week. The neighbor felt sorry for Harv and his two hour expeditions with the push mower. He offered to sell us his riding mower and we jumped at the chance. I've never seen such a happy man on a mower as Harv. Serious permagrin going on there as he has cut down his mowing time by more than half.

Sam and Abby have finally entered into each others worlds after 6 months of the cat snubbing the baby. Here they are attempting high five's before I distracted Sam with the camera. They may actually become friends yet. But truthfully, if she doesn't get off my table she may not live to see that friendship blossom.

Sam learned to sit up on his own this week!!! I find that this has opened up a whole new world for him. Put him on the floor surrounded by toys and he is one happy little baby. Happy Baby = Happy Mommy.


OK...just another one of this 'cause it's my blog and I think he is just so stinkin' adorable...


Sam had his six month birthday this month. I can't even begin to tell you how I feel about my little baby being six months already. We thought a present was in order for reaching this important milestone.


Aaaaannnd in the mouth it goes. Along with anything and everything else that he can get his little hands on.

Good times...

Happy six months my little love!!

So, there you have it. My life in pictures. Good times. Feeling pretty blessed around here.

What's Happening...or rather, Happened.

I had wanted to post of picture of our For Sale sign by the house, and regale you with tales of the woes of home showings. You know what I mean – the continual need for the house to be spotless and show-worthy at any given time (Which incidentally, does not work all that well when you are not a naturally neat sort of person.) I had wanted to amuse you all with my tales. But the house sold in 4 days.

Then I wanted to post about house shopping and decision making and how I cannot even buy a toothbrush without thinking about it, and how did I expect to buy a house in one afternoon? But then we went and bought a house. Signed all the final papers on Wednesday.

I had wanted to write about the on goings of this pregnancy and all the things that I have been discovering and, well…enduring during this time. Then all of a sudden I woke up and am already in my third trimester.

I feel like I am missing out on some good blogging opportunities here! Why does it seem like the more that is going on in my life, and the more I have to write about, the less I actually write? Maybe I am just better at idle chit chat than actual journalism. Seems about right.

So in light of that, here is what’s happening, or rather happened…

1. We sold our house.

2. We bought another one

(*note: Those seem like fairly simple statements considering all the stress and tears and angst that came with those events. I'll leave it up to your imagination, and your particular knowledge of my stress tolerance to imagine what it must have been like in our household during that time.)

3. I mourned the loss of one house and resented having to change to another but am now getting quite excited about settling in.

4. I had a birthday on Wednesday. 36 seems a lot closer to 40 than to 30. sigh

5. I have been sick for 4 days with what I think is the flu, but the emerg. Dr. says it is heartburn. This doesn’t feel like heartburn. I know heartburn. This is not heartburn.

6. The people of the church have waited until Harv’s last week and are now trying to ALL book us for suppers/lunches/coffee's etc.

7. We are into packing, but have not done nearly as much as I wish. Harv keeps his eagle eye on me, so I won’t lift anything too heavy.

8. I officially entered my third trimester. I am on the home stretch, and feel like an absolute house. We went into a very full and breakable store last night. I have a whole new understanding of "bull in a china shop". Baby is kicking away, which I LOVE to feel. NO, we have NOT found out the gender of the baby...and really people, I wouldn't tell you even if we did. sigh. (is NO question of limits in pregnancy? I have had some doosies...)

9. I bought a little sleeper so that our baby doesn’t have to come home from the hospital naked. Other than that, we are shamefully behind in our baby shopping. My dad is of the opinion that all I need is diapers and bottles, and that’s it. Hmmm…and he’s usually so wise too. I didn’t want to break it to him that they wouldn’t even let us take the baby home from the hospital without a proper car seat.

10. We are starting to do “lasts” here in Yorkton. “Last time picking this up” or “last time preparing for a Sunday morning”. “Last time going to Wings for Chinese”, and “last time driving to see all the new houses that are popping up like flies.” I am starting to get excited about “firsts” in Gimli/Winnipeg. I already have a date to meet my sister at the spa once we move. SO excited.

11. And the other thing that is happen-ing, and I wish would have happen-ed, is all the packing. Must go plug away some more.

The Angst of Awareness - Politically Speaking

I used to be so blissfully unaware. There I was, happily going about my daily life, not giving politics a second thought. And then I married Harv, and got all educated. It sucks really. Now I find myself yelling at the TV, stressing about why people are so stupid in their thinking, and wondering what I could possibly do to get the world to vote my way. Sigh. It’s sad really. I fear this election may just send me right into early labor, and we really don’t want that. I even tried using the baby as a bargaining chip. I told Harv to tell his parents that if they continued to vote liberal we would be forced to restrict grandparent visitation privileges. He didn’t really go for that idea. In fact I think I may have received a “what kind of mother are you” sort of look…but that could have been my imagination.

So in a couple of hours I will head to the voting stations and cast my vote. And it will be Conservative. And not just because Stephen looks so great in a sweater vest. I will vote this way because he has proven himself to keep his promises. And frankly, I like him. And I like not paying that 1% of GST. And I like the fact that he is going to send me money every month to help pay for this baby of ours. What a nice guy. Way to go Stephen. I could also go into great detail as to why I am voting this way, and NOT voting for the others, but Harv has forbid me from getting into any more political arguments. Apparently my angst is not good for the baby.

So off you go everyone…do your duty…vote your hearts out. Unless you are not voting my way, then feel free to stay home. Heh heh. Just kidding. Sort of. And in the meantime, for the rest of the day, I will be here, thinking calming thoughts and breathing deep cleansing breath for the sake of my unborn child who is happily as I once was…blissfully unaware. Oh if only I could go back.

With the Thoughts I'd be Thinking I Could be Another Lincoln...

Is it a bad sign that I had to think twice to remember my password for getting on this blog? It is a bad sign. It's either a sign of early dementia, or the sad truth that this blog has been shamefully neglected. Either option is frighteningly on the verge of truth and completely unacceptable.

BUT...that's summer. And life is a great mixture of busy and lazy. And my mind is full. Too full to be writing these days. And then when I want to write, the pull of other things draw me away.

So here are a few inconsequential things that are floating through my head on a day like today...

* I got a book from the library called "Grilling for Dummies". I had high hopes that this would be the summer of the BBQ. So far it's been hot dogs and the occasional hamburger. I think I should turn in my library card.

* We just got back from a week of holidays. We had a little R&R in a fairly unknown little Garden of Eden. It was so quiet that I have a whole new appreciation for the chirping of crickets and the lowing of cattle. And I found that I really like saying "lowing" when it comes to cattle.

* Tomorrow is my 8 year anniversary. We made it through the 7 year itch. And it really didn't feel too itchy. Feels pretty good truth be told. 8 years...this deserves a post all it's own, but seeing as how the last post was a little on the mush and gush side, I guess I'll refrain. Maybe...

* So Brad and Angelina had the twins. Ya. Good for them. Whatever. So they have 6 kids now. My hope that he will reunite with his good wife Jennifer is sadly fading. Sigh. How will he feel tomorrow knowing that he could have had 8 years of marriage under his belt as well? (YES...we share an anniversary with Brad and Jen. And Prince Charles and Diana. Harv and I are doing markedly better than they...)

* I had the best blizzard of my entire life this afternoon. There is this DQ in Neepawa that serves chocolate ice cream. This is a surprisingly rare occurrence in a world full of vanilla soft serve. I had a Scor blizzard with chocolate ice cream. Yes...it seems like no big deal. But truthfully, I'm still thinking about it. It was that good.

* I pulled a muscle in my back. Or threw it out...or something. All I know is that for 3 days Harv had to help me out of bed and assist me in the rolling over process. After hours of ice packs and whining I think I am starting to feel a little better. A little. I still can't bend over. But I don't know if that is just fear of it happening all over again. I'm not taking any chances.

* My house is an absolute DISASTER. I wish I could say that I was exaggerating, but sadly I am not. I have never let it get this bad. We arrived home with some sort of strange smell to greet us. And we are getting company on Wednesday. And there is the bending over issue. So...unless some fairy godmother comes to help me (and as far as I know my mother is not planning to be in town tomorrow) we will have have a house that is clean only from the waist up.

Well, that's about all for tonight. Or as Lloyd Robertson would say..."And that's the kind of day it's been..."

Hmmmm... inconsequential thinking can fill an entire post. Who would have thunk?

Goodbye Sweet Nectar of the Vines

It’s not a good day. It finally happened - the dreaded event that I have been hoping to avoid.

I’m out of salsa.

No…you don’t get it. This is indeed a BIG DEAL. This is not just ANY salsa. This is my very own - tweaked over the years, practiced to perfection, studied for the ultimate combination of sweet and sassy - salsa. Using veggies grown lovingly by my very own hands in my very own garden.

It’s miracle salsa.

And now it’s gone.

And the new vines are not even in the ground yet. How did this happen? Something went dreadfully wrong with my carefully laid “don’t let the salsa run out before the harvest” plan.

And now, all I have left is commoner salsa. The fruit of the masses. The Superstore salsa that lacks all punch and power. Sigh. Suddenly I am not feeling so sassy. I am mellowing to a milder version of my true self.

And I don’t think I’ll be back until canning season.

Counting Sheep, or Adding to my TO DO List?

Yawn. A little tired here. It’s after 7, and I still have not slept. It’s been quite a night.

I couldn’t fall asleep last night. I hate that. I’m pretty sure it’s because I had a nap yesterday. I rarely nap. I don’t do it, because I KNOW it will lead me to a lack of sleep. But I did it anyways. Against my better judgment I did it. I was just so tired…I couldn’t help myself. And so there I was, in the middle of the night, staring at the ceiling, cursing my lack of judgment and counting how many times I hit the stipple when I painted the walls red. There are many times. I am not a good painter. I need to fix that.

I decided to read. I did that for a while, and thought it was putting me to sleep, but when the light went out I stared at the ceiling thinking about my book, wondering where she was going with the plot, predicting what was going to happen, and envisioning myself as the fair maiden who has caught the eye of the hard hearted warrier.

I got up and decided to watch TV. I don’t think that was such a good idea. There was this true story movie on about the daughter of Mr. Eaton (of Eaton’s shopping centers) who was killed by this long time family friend. He was a really troubled teen, and a complete nut, but no one did anything until it was too late. Now of coarse he is in the looney bin forever…but too little too late. Why did I watch that? I have a love/hate relationship with true to life movies. They are interesting, because they actually happened…but at that same time, they freak me out because they are true, and I hate watching things that could actually happen to me. So I crawled back into bed, turned out the light and stared at the ceiling thinking about all the troubled teens I know, and where I should hide the butcher knife.

After a while I flung an arm over Harv, looking for some company. Giving him my most pathetic “I can’t sleep” whine. I barely got a sigh out of him. No middle of the night talking there. I stared at the ceiling and thought of the things that we could talk about if he was awake to talk about them.

Man, I was getting hot. I opened the window. I threw off the covers. I switched places with Harv so I could be closer to the window. I stared at the ceiling listening to the birds chirp and watching the sky lighten thinking about how much I didn’t like this side of the bed, and no wonder we sleep on the sides we sleep on.

I got up. It was 5:30. I have been working in my office ever since. I have this bizarre energy. I am getting all sorts of things done. I am typing faster than ever. My brain is spinning. I have this feeling that if someone were actually up to talk to me, I would be talking really fast, with this sort of psycho, glazed over, crazy expression. Like someone who has had way too much coffee and is about to crash. Or maybe just someone who has been up all night and is about to crash.

I can’t even think of a clever way to end this. Maybe something will come to me if I go back and continue to stare at my ceiling. Yes. That is what I will do. But first I need to get some white paint, touch up the ceiling messes, finish my book, say a prayer for all the messed up teens I know, apologize to Harv for keeping him up all night, reclaim my rightful side of the bed and talk to him about all the things that I thought of that we should be talking about. It is amazing how a little ceiling staring can add to your list of things to do. Boy, I’m tired just thinking about it.

Stick a Fork in Me...I'm DONE

They are calling for approximately 6 inches of snow to fall in Yorkton. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!? Will winter NEVER end?

That's it. I'm OUTTA HERE. Literally. I'm outta here. I've had it. I'm DONE.

The flight is booked. I am heading West to warmer places. Going to Victoria. Taking hubby with me.

I'm leaving on a jet plane. I'll be back when spring has sprung.

Springing into a Communication Meltdown

It is 4:40 and I really want to be talking to my sister. It is not uncommon that we would be communicating at a time such as this. But that was before. And this is now. Now everything is different. Now everything has changed.

And I don’t like change.

Oh blasted Daylight Savings Time, why do you wreak such havoc on our lives? Why do you step in and mess up carefully laid out schedules and all the comforts of normalcy? I realize that this is not uncommon. We deal with this twice a year. You would think that I would be used to it by now. But every time it is an uncomfortable blow of confusion.

You may be scratching your head and thinking… "I thought Saskatchewan didn’t adhere to the time change? What is she getting all worked up about?” And yes, you would be right…we are the one province in this blessed land of ours that refuses to spring forward or back with our neighbors. I should not be affected. But I am. This is what happens when you live in one province, and the rest of your family lives in another.

Now everything is different. My regularly scheduled convo’s with my dear sister are all thrown out of whack. When I am free, she is having lunch with her hubby. And by the time her hubby is back at work, mine has just arrived home. Then the kids are coming home from school, just as I am getting ready to sit on the couch and have a heart to heart. Right now my supper is in the oven and I am free for a chat. But she is feeding her family and won’t be done until…well…until it’s about time to feed mine. Then of coarse it’s evening plans, and by the time we get home after 9, it will be after 10 for her, and there are rules about calling after 10 (don’t do it).

Sigh. This does not even account for my other sister, who is in Ontario, and even further ahead…or behind. Truth be told, I don’t even know what time it is over there!! Sigh. At this rate, I won’t get to talk to my family until fall.

I think I might have to go out and buy some stamps.

Because I Just Don't Feel Like It...

Well I would like to tell you that I am incredibly busy, or that I am blocked or some other reason for my lack of posting. But the bare butt truth of it all is that I just don't feel like it. That's it. No other reason. Yep...just thought I would let you know.

If I DID feel like it, I could tell you tales of my week of bliss with my dearest friend Tia. Or I could tell you how I gave the cat a bath tonight, and she came out literally half the size she went in. I wish I could take a shower and come out half my size. Sigh.

I could also tell you about my girls weekend coming up with two of my Bible School friends. Or about the fab Bridal shower that Becky and I threw for Heather last night. Or how we cleaned the fish tank tonight, and I scrubbed the algae off the plants with a toothbrush. It now looks amazing.

But I don't feel like it. I just don't. So I wont. Not today. Maybe tomorrow.

If I feel like it...

Where Were YOU When the Lights Went Out?

I’ve had this old Reba McEntire song “The Night the Lights went out in Georgia” in my head since it happened. Except in my case, I am singing “The Night the Lights went out in Wal-Mart.” That is after all where I was when it happened. One minute I was looking at fabric, and the next I was surrounded by almost total darkness. What a weird feeling.

Last night Yorkton and surrounding area experienced a blackout that lasted about 3 hours. I have never been in a public place during a power outage before. I was bracing myself for pandemonium, confusion and anarchy. Frankly, it was a little disappointing. Other than a few gasps, people walked out pretty calmly. No chaos, no clamor, not even a hint of a ruckus. Not the Armageddon that the movies so often hint at. No one even stopped my attempts at looting. Just kidding…the tills are apparently on batteries, or back-up or something, so…no freebies. Sigh

But it was a fun night, and so I compiled the following list to remember my night of non-bedlam:

THINGS I LIKE BEST ABOUT A BLACK-OUT

1. Candlelight Dinners – Harv and I have not had dinner by candlelight in an embarrassing length of time. What is more romantic than cold turkey sandwiches and carrot sticks over the warm glow of a flickering candle?

2. The confirmation that my husband WILL INDEED come find me in a dark Wal-Mart, rather than using the opportunity to escape in the commotion. I’ve been a little grumpy lately, so it was nice to know that he didn’t hesitate to head my way. I can still see his silhouette coming towards me, the glowing light of his cell phone leading the way.

3. The realization that contrary to my cemented views of the evils of Superstore, they do pull through in a pinch. While other stores were sending their customers out into the cold darkness, Superstore didn’t even blink. We walked right in, got all our groceries, and even had the added bonus of mood lighting. Superstore seemed a lot less irritating to me under the calming glow of the back up emergency light system.

4. Bonus drumsticks - I have a little tradition. Or, maybe a little addiction would be a more appropriate term. Every Thursday night I treat myself to what has become one of the great joys of my week...a Nestle drumstick. Seriously, you don’t even know what you are missing if you haven’t tried these melt-in your-mouth-little-piece-of-heaven-right-here-on-earth delicacies. Aaahh yes, a drumstick and Grey’s Anatomy…it’s my own little Thursday night Shangri-La. ANYWAY…yesterday with the darkness looming and the freezer – not freezing, we felt it was in our best interest to “save the drumsticks” by…well…eating them. We had to do it people! Take one for the team, so to speak. THEY WERE MELTING!!!! Sorry…I’m a little defensive. But VERY satisfied!

5. Candle Utopia – my living room was a beautiful blaze of flickering glory. What a sight. My pyro tendencies make my hubby a little nervous, but he puts up with it, because the only thing that glows brighter than the conglomeration of candles is my joy-filled face at the sight of it.

So it was a good night; a quiet night, that I would welcome on any occasion. And the best thing of all…it lasted only long enough for us to appreciate it, and short enough that the power was on, and the candles were out, just when the boredom was starting to flicker.

Reflections from an Insomniac...

It’s the middle of the night. In the 3's to be exact. All good folk are sleeping (because after all, my pastor from Winnipeg once told me that nothing good happens after midnight). But here I sit. After staring at the ceiling for 3 hours, I have decided to get up and try a fresh tactic. I think I am being punished. After all…it was just yesterday that Becky and I were discussing insomnia, and I made bold claims of never struggling with it. And here I am - VERY tired, and unable to sleep. This is most frustrating.

A small comfort in my slumbersome and somnolent state (even in sheer exhaustion, I can still find my way around the thesaurus) is that my mother, who is a frequent visitor of Insomniaville, is probably up at this very minute feeling the same way. And let me take this moment of shared mother-daughter vigil to wish you a very happy birthday. Love you Mom. I had a great picture of you I wanted to post – it was with you on the inner tube last summer, behind Mike’s boat. It is one of my most treasure pictures – but I knew you would not appreciate being displayed on the Internet in your bathing suit, so my birthday present to you is my restraint in posting it. It’s a great memory though.

Speaking of memories, it is amazing the memories and thoughts that can go through your mind when you are trying desperately to sleep. Things that I haven’t thought of in ages are suddenly right in the forefront of my mind. And I guess it’s not just memories, my mind is all a-flutter with a whirlwind of thoughts…the past, the present, and let’s not forget the future. I was thinking about the time I played soccer in my first year of Millar. I was thinking that I should clean out the fridge tomorrow because there is some spinach that is going bad. I was thinking about the church, and how we can overcome some little “issues” that have been cropping up lately. Then I was thinking about my friend Tia and the time we stayed at that retreat centre and had to haul all our card making supplies up four stories to the top of the tallest house that I have ever stayed in. Then I was thinking about the time my cousin Barry and I “helped” my aunt and uncle cook at a church family camp week and in a moment of youthful recklessness, somehow the dirty dishrag ended up in the freshly made pail of juice. I never was great at catching things. Oh…that one still makes me laugh. heh heh (Sorry Carol).

One memory leads into another, one thought brings on a second…no wonder I can’t get to sleep. But I am going to go try again. Sorry…no real point to this, and no real clarity – I just thought that if I was up anyway, I might as well have company. It is amazing what you can come up with in the clutches of sleep deprivation. I may not even remember writing this in the morning. I think I am starting to forget already. Yawn. Oh sheesh am I ever tired. Wish me luck!

When the Get-Up-And-Go Actually Gets Up...

I was up with the birds this morning, so I thought that I should give an update. I have been overcome with a strange burst of energy as of late, and the results are a lot of productivity which I am somewhat unaccustomed to. I’m not sure what it is…maybe the weather, or hitting the first days of summer, but I like it. It is a good thing, as I am getting things done that have been on my “list” for some time now. It has been a busy week. I have visited people that I have been meaning to visit, and I have been working on projects that I have been meaning to work on. It feels good. It feels good to get things done. This is what my sister must feel like…so accomplished. And my mother must feel this way too. And all my aunts. Well lets face it, this is what most of the normal world must feel like.

I still haven’t gotten around to cleaning my office/craft room. I get too distracted by my computer, which is actually somewhat of a benefit to you at this very minute. But I have a clean house, and weed-free flowerbeds (for the moment). Oh, and I did finally start painting the trim in my kitchen after almost 2 years of being annoyed with it. Once that is done I am thinking it is time to pick paint for the basement. I should get on that beast of a project before this new-fangled energy train parks back at the station.

I’m sure I could get done a lot more things and ride this get-up-and-go for all it’s worth if I was more organized, but I am afraid that if I actually sit down to make a proper list I may never get up again, and that just will not do. Maybe that is the key to my success…no more lists and more spontaneity. Maybe I am not actually riding the energy train so much as the spontaneous train. Whipping out that paint for the trim was definitely spontaneous, and once you start, you have to finish it right? Well, speaking of…I need to do one last coat before worship practice this morning. And while I’m at it, that bathroom of ours could use a paint job…and maybe a new floor…I’m sure I have a crowbar around here somewhere…

New Appeal to an Old Curb

Oh it's a happy time here in this little household. The painters finished last night and we are VERY pleased. I keep going back and forth from extreme delight and self satisfaction to absolute relief. The house feels warm and inviting, and Harv and I have decided that we now have the nicest house on the block! Add all this color pizazz to the new roof (put on this month) and the new flower bed that my Dad helped us build, and we finally have that much coveted curb appeal. I really didn't think that much about curb appeal, that is until someone graciously pointed out that I had none. So to go from zero to complete beauty in a short month...well...it's a little much to take. But I am pleased. Here are some before and after shots.

BEFORE

(that's me at our garage sale last week...

which is another story, for another time...)

AFTER

Doesn't it just make you want to come over for a BBQ?! Well, what are you waiting for?