Busy living life!

I can hardly believe its mid-march.  The days seem to meld together and before I know it another week has passed and I have yet to even think about making a blog entry.

I'd like to say that this upsets me, but in reality, when I don't get to blogging, it means life is busy, and busy is good.

The past couple of months we've just been enjoying our hectic schedules of raising two boys. Nothing too overly exciting but we've gotten out and about with the kids, and now that spring like weather is almost here, I imagine we'll be spending out free time outdoors as much as possible.

This winter, we did a little sleigh riding, and although we skipped our annual canal outing, we did hit Snowflake Kingdom during Winterlude which did not disappoint any of us. The canal is closed for another year, and although it would have been nice to get out for a family skate, I know there will be many other years to enjoy this feature of the nation's capital!

 Last weekend, E wrapped up another season of CanSkate. He is moving and shaking so well on both skates now. I have a feeling he'll be a great asset to any hockey team next season! H is about the only member of this family that wants to keep on shoveling. He is obsessed with his shovel and throws a royal fit if you rush him the house at the end of the day without a few minutes to 'chovel'! As much as I don't want to spend another second out in the cold at the days end, it is a pretty cute phase that I know won't last long.

Being the curling fan that I am, this time of year I am almost always half-glued to the tv. The Scotties was in Kingston this year and we managed to get there in person on closing weekend, just in time to see Team Homan from Ontario, in top play-off form.  The Brier followed a week later, and the excitement was high in this household when the boys from the Soo, Northern Ontario, Team Jacobs took home the Brier Tankard! Now, it's going to be an exciting few weeks of World Curling viewing!

I can't promise that blogging posts will be any more consistent, but I do hope that you are enjoying life as much as I am these days!

Bring on Easter! I could use some chocolate!

Bits and Pieces!

I've have a hard time blogging the last little while... I just find that in my days busier and my evenings shorter. It must be all the nice weather we've had lately (*insert fake 'ya right' laugh here*).

I really don't have a good excuse, except that life happens... and since we got home from Florida over a month ago now... it seems to be one thing after another.

Let's see... PC had double knee surgery almost a month ago, so we've been dealing with his recovery, which has included 3 weeks of being off work (not to mention, 3 weeks of interuption to my daily routine)!  On top of the knee surgery he caught a nasty virus which was deemed 'highly contagious' by the doctor, so the boys and I had to steer clear of him for another week.  He finally just got back to work yesterday, and although not 100 percent, he's doing much better and thankfully back to his routine, which means I can get back to mine.

In addtion to that, it was time for E's annual kidney check up at CHEO... which includes an ultrasound and a visit with his neuphrologist. We did the ultrasound at the end of April (and E was EXCELLENT during the procedure) and the visit with neuphrology last week. I am happy to report that things are going well, the mutli-cycstic kidney continues to shrink, while his functioning kidney is doubling in size, and doing better than fine.  His blood pressure is still controlled, and he is a growing boy, doing very good.  It's exactly the report I expected to get, but it is also a relief at the same time to see that things are going as planned. Hopefully by the time he is five, we can reduce the annual appointment to every two years (fingers crossed).

This past week, my parents were down for a visit, as they had a wedding to attend in the area.  We had a good visit with them, and even though they just saw the boys in Florida, they have both changed quite a bit in the last month.  E is talking so much, full sentences, while Hudson is gaining weight, and a lot more vocal as well. 

We also are in the process of buying a new vehicle which has been a time consuming process.  Thankfully my parents were here to stay with the kids while PC and I ventured out to test drive a variety of vehicles, talk pricing, and narrowing down the options to make a final decision. Hopefully by early June we'll have a roomier vehicle to transport the family!

This weekend coming up is the long weekend, and we hope to hit the tulip festival if the weather cooperates. If not, we will just be sticking close to home and appreciating some healthy down time... which might include some time for blogging too!

Happy New Year ... 2009: A Year in Review

Happy New Year!

What's that you say? It's a little late for that.
Thanks Tips - I know, but better late than never!

It's taken me a little while to kick off the New Year here at From the Desk of Sara because I was just not ready.

2009 ended on a pretty sad note for our family. PC's lost his two grandmothers in a span of two weeks. It was very bittersweet, in that its been forever since we've seen both sides of his extended family - which was so nice to catch up with everyone, but at the same time we had to say goodbye to two wonderful women. It kinda puts a damper on 2009 when you have to close it out with two visits to the funeral home, but aside for that, 2009 was relatively a good year.

Since the history of this blog began, I have always done a year in review... this year I feel as though the blog has slipped a little LOT. As I have said in the past, I always have good intentions of blogging but life as a working Mom doesn't really allow me the time to put in the effort I want for my blog. I have spoken with other bloggers who told me to ride out the storm, and I will get back to it, so that is exactly what I am going to do. After all I blog for myself, first and foremost, as I want to have a record of my thoughts and experiences, so that one day my children and my grandchildren, will have a little insight into who I was/am as a person in my 20's and 30's and 40's, etc.

So... this year in review, might seem a little dull, but nonetheless its tradition and I love traditions!

To me 2009 was a lot of fun. I spent a good portion of being a new Mom, and learning and experiencing all the ups and downs of parenthood - happy times, scary times, tired times. PC and I were able to spend much of the summer together, as he took some time off to spend with E and I. We shared so many laughs together, just over the everyday things E would do, his expressions and smiles are the highlight of every day. We went to Florida on our first family vacation... and then in the fall, I took a ME trip to Texas, which I never got to blog about ... :-( ... because when I got home, it was E's first birthday party, and then *BAM* I was back to work! The real world came knocking in the form of H1N1 madness, and from that... came the holiday rush, two funerals, and hello 2010.

It was an exciting year... no matter how you slice it. So here it is in blog posts...

2009 A Year in Review!

January
-3 Months and on a roll!
-Forever 29
-Bloggy Makeover

February
-4 Months ...
-25 Random Things About Me
-Has anyone seen the milk man?

March
-5 Months ... already!
-This and That
-Do I mumble or is he hard of hearing?
-Taking off the socks - Pee-wey!

April
-Back in time .... rewind, fast-forward!
-6 months ... cuts like a knife tooth!
-It won't be like this for long!
-A day at the beach!

May
-7 months has arrived - slow down calendar!
-Nothing solid about solids!
-Good news, bad news!

June
-8 Months Already!
-The Kidney Update
-Rights and Wrongs

July
-9 Months = BIG CHANGES!
-I'm Alive... but on the go!

August
-10 Months and Personality!
-Don't touch, stop, NO!
-We went out last night...!
-A change in tone!

September
-11 Months... and a Busy Boy!
-10 Years for 130-O!
-Now Approaching: Back to Work

October
-Happy Birthday Sweet Baby Boy
-Working Mom of 1
-No time to blog!

November
-First Hair Cut

December
-Life is too short
-Merry Christmas to YOU!

Now... onto 2010! I hope 2010 proves to be a prosperous year for all of us!
Cheers!

Back from va-cay!

I'm back.

Back from vacation (yes even those on maternity leave take vacation contrary to the belief that maternity leave is a year of vacation!)... and back to reality.

I have been trying to figure out what to bl0g about... the first post back should be a good one, but every time I think about blogging, I just feel like I have nothing to say.

Yes... we had a good couple of weeks on the road. We did a lot and yet we did nothing too, which was why it was so good. I think we were glad to get home after being gone a few days shy of a month... I have pictures out the ying-yang of E and all of things he did... but I am not inspired to write about those things right now - maybe because I feel like I have to cover three weeks of our busy lives into a single blog post (I will get to posting the pics, but not today!).

There are a gi-zillion things on my mind right now... most notably returning to work, the transition to daycare for E, my work wardrobe (!!!), my eating habits, how PC and I will adjust to me returning to work full-time, the cost of daycare, our extra-circular activities, the state of my house... this list goes on, and on, and on.

To update on a few things:

• Daycare: we found a wonderful lady who is going to watch E, she lives not to far from us, and just seems like a great person. She only watches one other little boy, so E will have a playmate, but yet will still be well-cared for which puts my mind at ease.
  

• The cost of daycare is such an opener... isn't it? I know that I do want to work, and that working vs. staying at home is much more profitable for our family, but nonetheless to think what we could do with the money we will be spending on daycare is such a scary thought - and more reason not to have another baby in the short term!

• Returning to work... a scary thought, but its going to happen. Here's the kicker... my return to work date is October 5th... a Monday which is nice, but E's FIRST birthday. I was like: are you kidding me? I feel very lucky to have been able to be off his entire first year, but that's a little harsh isn't it - sending me back on my first child's first birthday. I am going to see if I can work out a deal with my boss to maybe go in a day the week before and get set up and then be off with E on his special day - I will keep you posted.

• Speaking of going back to work... I feel like I will be starting a new job with my return. I think I can count on one hand the number of people that are still there from last fall. A lot and I mean A LOT of people have since taken other jobs in different departments. I know when I show up 90% of the staff will be like 'whose the new girl?', and I am sure that will piss me off cause I won't be in the loop, I will have to earn my way into the loop! The bright side is... its a new job that I *should* know how to do, so hopefully it won't be that bad - and I am looking forward to feeling like an expert on something other than E's daily schedule!

• I am slowly learning that 'keeping house' with a baby on the move is virtually impossible. How can someone so small make such a mess! On top of that, since the majority of the time I spend picking up after E, I don't have the energy to file the mail, put my own stuff away, or organize my way out of a wet paper bag. I seriously need to get a handle on this, or else I will never allow any visitors in my house again!

• My work wardrobe is such a task. I haven't wore dress clothes in over a year. I think I may have put on a pair of dress pants for Christmas Eve mass, but aside from that - nothing. I hate trying on clothes from a year ago while having to cross my fingers that I can still get the button done up on the waist. I did this last night, and surprisingly there were only two pairs of my 'skinny' pants that just don't fit - unless of course I don't plan on sitting down the entire time I am wearing them. PC and I did some shopping in the states while we were away and I purchased a couple of things for work ... but beyond that I am left wondering if I am going to look like a 'Mom' when I return to the office, instead of the young, hip, cool team member I was before I went on mat. leave (*laughs*) - this one is to be continued, I guess!

Alright, E is napping, while I am posting this (which is why I don't get anything done around the house)... so I had better get something to eat before he wakes up or else those skinny pants will be fitting in no time.

Hoping to get back on regular blogging now (no promises though), so check back again this week and maybe I will have some pics up from our vacation!

Cheers, and thanks for coming back.

Cloud of Doom and Gloom

Lately, it seems like every time I pick up the phone or talk to someone it is evidently some form of bad news.

So and so is in the hospital
So and so has been diagnosed with X
So and so's mother/father/grandparent passed away
So and so are splitting up
So and so lost their job
So and so was in a bad accident

It's not a good start to the month of February, that's for sure - thank god its a short month. Hopefully this cloud of doom and gloom that is hanging over us will move out long before the month's end.... but nonetheless, right now is seems be delivering quite the storm.

Anyone else feel the same way?

Fragment Fridays

So... I've fallen off the mark a bit with my blogging as of late. Tid-Bits Thursday hasn't made a presence lately... so let me now introduce you to Fragment Friday.... much like Tid-Bits Thursday... here a few fragments of actual posts that I haven't had time to sit down and flush out!

• Spring... a concept I have yet to see fully develop. How depressing... we are officially in the season of spring and there is still A LOT of snow on the ground, and we are still being forced to bundled up in the below zero temperatures. I do have to say that it is s l o w l y getting warmer.... but it's not happening as fast as I would like it. I wish I had some secret powers to just make the snow disappear.
• Pot holes... honest to gawd, you can lose half your car in some of them. I particularly love the mornings where you are cruising down the 417 at lighting speed... eating your breakfast and all of sudden you hit a pot hot the size of Australia, and you think you need be rushed to the hospital because you're pretty sure you just bite off your own tongue. I hope the province has budgeted a lot of cash for road repairs this coming year... cause we are going to need it.
• Rrrrrrrrrrrooooll Up the Rim to Win (RUTRTW) season has been in operation for almost a month now. I don't frequent Timmy's like I use to ... but why would I these days? My luck has still not changed on this STUPID game! You may recall the extreme losing streak I was on last year around this time.... it appears I am destine to be a loser forever when it comes to RUTRTW, as I have yet to win a thing... nothing, nada, nil!
• Speaking of coffee.... have you tried the Honey Latte at Starbucks? I would highly recommend it... such a yummy treat in the middle of the afternoon, it may have infact just topped my regular Vanilla Latte!
• 4 day week/weekends.... now there is a concept I could get use to. I think these last two weeks have been the best work weeks I have had in a very long time. I mean... seriously, talk about work-life balance, I could definitively achieve that in 4 day increments... 4 days on, 4 days off, 4 days on! I think the Liberals should put a platform together for the next election that includes 4 day work weeks every week... and I am pretty sure they would win a majority government faster than you can spell 'hallelujah'!
• PC and I, PC BBQ'd for the first time this week... steak! It was such a good treat... he froze out in the garage while doing it, but it was well worth it! I think I want spring/summer to arrive just for BBQ season, meals are so much simpler during BBQ season... they take less thought, and there is much less clean up... I long for BBQ season to fully begin!
• Well... that's it that's all for today! I realized that I have totally slacked off on blogging this month... and I do have a few valid excuses for it, which I will hopefully get to on Monday... the last day of the month, and the last day of the fiscal year! Yee-haw folks.... bon weekend!

I am a bad person.

Yesterday driving home, I was thinking how content I am with my life - I am really in a good spot these days, a far cry from this time last year, when I was borderline suicidal over my french training. But that low period in my life seems to be behind me and I am truly feeling good about my life.... that was, up until I opened yesterday's mail last night, only to discover an envelope from the Office of the Attorney General. I wondered to myself:

Shit... what the hell is this?

The thoughts that immediately came to mind were:

Some dumb camera caught me running that red light at Riverside and Hunt Club last week... or maybe worse I'm being charge with possession of stolen property for some 'deal' PC got us - GOOD LORD.

As I ripped open the envelope, it reads:

As a Canadian citizen, it is your civic duty to respond to a jury summons and, if chosen, to serve as a juror. You are not "going to court", and you are not being punished. This summons is for the jury duty selection process only.

It would only be fitting that I actually thought to myself on the same day 'life is good', only to find out life might not be so good if I have to perform my 'civic duty', as the letter so gently puts it, and actually participate in our justice system.

Attached to the letter was the selection questionnaire. I was thinking to myself, perhaps there is something that will disqualify me from the ideal candidate pool, but no such luck: Canadian citizen: check, bilingual: check, employed: check, over 18: check. Every single question there is makes me look like a 'good candidate' - DAMN IT.

I think this is the only time in my life I wish I had been 'previously convicted of an indictable offence for which I have not been granted a pardon', but again, no such luck... its just little old me, the good law-abiding citizen that I am.

And of course, there is no comment section of the bottom of the form where I can discredit my own character by adding 'I drive like a maniac when I am late for work in the mornings. I repeatedly roll through stop signs on the back roads in Embrun. And... in the self-serve check-out line at Loblaws, I register the expensive red peppers as green peppers just save a dollar.'

Nope... they basically only take into account your yes and no answers, and for what I can tell, unless they want a foreign, unemployed, unilinigual, previous criminal on their jury, I am a shoe-in for the job.

This is the point in time where I decided to make a post on the blog, in hopes that someone at the Office of the Attorney General will Google my name, see my blog and this post, and immediately disqualify me from the process for publicly talking about jury selection.

So you if happen to be here on behalf of the Attorney General, let me take this opportunity to formally welcome you... please do, take a moment to browse around and check out previous posts, especially the ones with photos: like the fishing ones from the cottage this summer - I did not have a valid fishing license for that, OR, the photos from our trip to Boston, we didn't claim half the stuff we bought in U.S! I don't think it should take you long to see that I am not a good person - sometimes I don't know how I live with myself, I lack moral reasoning most of the of time... I am a bad person - really. really. bad.

Taking vacation

Why is taking vacation so hectic all the time?

I mean really, a vacation, is suppose to be relaxin', worry-free, and easy; however, in my life, going on vacation means nothing but pure stress until the moment you get to your destination.

Going to the family cottage is always a good time... once you get there, but getting ready to get there creates nothing but pure chaos in our household.

There is a million and one things to do before leaving for the cottage including: laundry, yard-work, paying the bills, packing, etc.

It all has to be done before I can feel confident that I will actually relax on my vacation, and it stresses me out beyond belief.

This Thursday evening we are heading to the cottage, but my schedule is jammed up with engagements right up until Thursday at 5, which leaves, literally, no time for any of the above mentioned activities. Of course, I don't do the yard work, that's PC's department, and much to our delight, we have a neighbour who kindly looks after our place while we are away, so if PC doesn't get around to cutting the grass, it will probably get done anyways, while we are away.

However, I don't seem to have a person who does my jobs while I am away, such as pay the bills, balance the cheque book, do the laundry, and dust the place, etc. - THIS IS A PROBLEM!

All of this discontent leads me to believe I should have some staff of my own - perhaps just one Executive Assistant who will look after all the details in life for me. Perhaps she could even prepare meals, a small entertainment agenda for us, and if she's feeling good.... come up with some suggestions for decorating our home, organizing my closet, and what not. Of course, I don't exactly have the funds to pay this person, but I am putting an official call out to anyone who has a good heart, who likes to be taken advantage of, and who thoroughly enjoys working for free with little to no rewards. Yes.... if this is you, please make yourself known in the comment section, and I will gladly get in touch with you (even while I'm on vacation!).

Any takers?

Sunshine & Summertime

I would like to take this opportunity to officially welcome the SUMMER of 2007 to my life. As of yesterday, the summer season arrived, and let me tell you, no one was happier about this seasonal change than me (minus the fact that today feels more like a cold fall afternoon, as opposed to the +30 days we've had for the last 2 weeks).

I love summer for the fact that it is usually the time of year I can look forward to some vacation, which means rest and relaxation (hopefully). I also enjoy the summer months for the fact that it means outdoor activities, BBQ's with friends, and believe it or not... a lot less laundry!

This summer seems busy, yet again .... less weddings than in the past few years, but still we have almost every weekend booked with plans.

I like to complain that the summer goes by so fast, and that we never really have time to enjoy it, but I think that's why it goes by so quick... because we are doing fun things (the majority of the time), and we don't notice the weeks dragging by because of it.

This weekend I am heading back towards T.O. for a wedding shower. It sounds like a drag, because most showers are (unless of course its your own), but it will be with my 130-O girls, so even though the drive will be sucky, I know we will be in for some good laughs.

As well, next week, I have the Tim McGraw & Faith Hill concert lined up, so that will be a highlight for sure. Their concert is supposed to be one of the best in country music, and I am pumped up! I have all the tunes downloaded, so I will be ready to belt out every word next Wednesday evening - can't wait!

Then, next Friday, we are taking off to the cottage for 10 days.... TEN WHOLE DAYS, of R&R - I can hardly contain myself. I've got some good books lined up, my ipod fully loaded, and my day planner will be conveniently left at the office Thursday afternoon.

I feel like I am getting off a bit easy this year on the vacation side of things, because since I've started my new job, things haven't have time to build into the same level of frustration that I was more familiar with at my old job. Vacation is usually more about destressing, but this year, it will actually just be a nice treat in the middle of a rather enjoyable first month on the new job - I love it!

This post is just a few ramblings slapped together for your reading pleasure... so I hoped you have throughally enjoyed it, on the second official day of summer.

I would also like to send a shout out to my MIL, Mom C, as she celebrates her birthday today. She's been at the cottage all week (what a great way to ring in your b-day), so I am not sure if I will see her today, but I would like send out some special birthday wishes to her!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM C

and

HAPPY SUMMER TOUT LE MONDE!

The Workplace Bathroom Situation

This post has been brewing for a while, but after seeing this over at Chez Roz, and having the topic come up with my girls on stag n' doe weekend, I thought it was about time I formalize my concerns on the blog.

As the title indicates, workplace bathrooms create a stinky (no pun intended) situation. In any offices I have been in, there are usually three or four stalls in one main bathroom. Normally, this isn't a problem, if your heading through the doors for a quick pee. You're in and out in under a minute (unless of course you've drank 2 coffee and a bottle of water without making a trip to the lou, creating a power pee situation... but that's a whole other blog!).

Anyways, if you going pee, there is clearly no problem (minus the air farts - that's right I said air farts, you know what I am talking about, so blush, and continue reading)... peeing is not the issue here, it's those unforeseen circumstances when you eat some spicy Thai food for lunch, which brings on the number 2 situation in under 30 minutes. Your cramps make you power walk to the washroom, but when you get in there, 3 out of the 4 stalls are full, and you know if you step in the one that's free, you are going to be embarrassed in no time, so somehow, you hold it together, exit the premises, and return 5 minutes later hoping the place is cleared out. If you happen to be lucky, the coast is clear, you do your business as quickly as possible, and try to get back to your desk without being noticed BY ANYONE.

Now, if your a man reading this, you probably can't relate, because for some reason, most men don't have the same privacy issues as women when it comes to making a number 2. In fact, I know a few men who leave their desk, and say out loud 'shit, I forgot the paper', and walk back to get it. Then, they give the nod and wink to the other men in the hallway, while they proudly place the paper under their arm, as they enter the facilities -urrrrrrrrrrgh, disgusting in a woman's world, but to the rest of the male posse, they are non-verbally high-fiving one another with their eyes, after the deed has been done. GROSS.

However, back to the female issues. In my experience, when you're in the restroom taking a pee, and you don't hear any noise in the stall beside you, but you see feet, you know somebody is trying to wait. you. out. It's embarrassing for all parties involved, because you know what the woman is doing, but at the same time, the evil side of you wants to push the limits to see how long the guilty party is willing to wait you out - while at the same time mentally noting the shoe style and colour (and in my case trying to match them up later in the day with the other woman in the building - evil I know).

I know.... you were thinking I was a nice catholic girl, raised in a small town, with good family values, yet I am talking about people's poo patterns - but seriously, if you're a woman, one or all of these thoughts has crossed your mind at somepoint in a public washroom.

This weekend my girls raised these very concerns... and it was suggested that large offices, have one or two private bathrooms, where a woman can go and use the facilities without the fear of being interrupted mid-process. I would add to that suggestion, that there should be one hell of an exhaust fan in each of those private stalls, and for good measure a truck load of air freshening spray (or stinky bum spray as we use to call it at 130-O), because you just never how nasty the end result will be.

The private stalls are definitely one solution to the workplace bathroom situation, but perhaps you have others solutions? That is, if your not embarrassed to leave a comment, with your name beside it!

What do you think... any ideas on how can we make the workplace poopie situation more bearable for the average working woman?

Gimme back my hour.

We are only 4 days into the time change, and already I can firmly say that I want need my hour back.

I know the clock tells me that its 8:38 am right now, but my head and my body are telling me its still only 7:38 am. The alarm went off at 6:10 am, and my body was physically paralyzed, committed to not moving an inch, as my internal clock said its only 5:10 am.

It's been a constant battle lately. The fact that its pitch black outside when the alarm sounds is not helping either. Since Sunday I have had to stumble from the bed to the bathroom in the dark, nearly taking my own life a few times, because PC has decided to drop his pants & belt in my direct route. Since my eyes won't open, I end up tripping over them... barely getting my hand up in the time to stop myself from crashing through the wall (its quite the scene)... imagine starting your day with a near-death experience every morning, it sets a great tone for the rest of the day!

Since I am half asleep all the time, it doesn't give me the best reputation at work either. Yesterday morning the elevator doors opened with me in the process of a huge yawn, mouth wide open (too tired to use my hand to cover it), and three senior managers starring me right in the face - OOOOPS!

The other problem with the time change is that not only is it dark in the morning, its way too light out later in the evening, thus making me think I can stay up later because there is still some daylight. Don't get me wrong, I love the extra light later in the evenings, but this week, its screwing with my mind.

Damn you time-change, damn you. First you short-change me an hour on the clock, then you force me to stay up later, losing another hour... now I am down 2 hours, and I haven't done anything to deserve this.

All week we have been eating dinner at 7:30 or 8, because neither PC or I are hungry when the clock says 6. As a general rule, I usually don't like to eat after 8, but this week I keep telling myself: don't worry about it, it's really only 7.

How long will this go on?

It will be August, and I will be telling myself: your not late for work, its really only 8:30, not 9:30 am - wonder how management will handle that argument?

Is anyone else struggling with the new time system?

CLOSED FOR BUSINESS

God dang it… another season of skating on the Rideau Canal has come and gone, and yet again, I failed miserably at dragging me and my so-called husband out for some hot chocolate and a beavertail on the world’s longest skating rink.

The NCC announced the closure of the canal last night, due to the arrival of the mild temperatures. I knew it was coming (and trust me, I am welcoming the warm weather), but I just thought I would have one more chance to get out on the canal before it actually closed.

Every year skating on the canal is something I want to do, and every year it is something that never happens. I think the last year I was actually on the canal was back in 2003. PC and I went for our first skate together that year (back in the day when we were young and in love), and since then I thought it was something we would do every year. However, it’s been 5 long years, and everything including washing the baseboards and organizing screwdrivers goes ahead of skating on the ol’ priority list.

This year, I had it all planned out - on Valentine’s Day we would go skating and then for a nice dinner. I even had the plan implemented as far as having PC verbally commit to it, and then WRITE it in his day planner (major step). But V-Day turned out to be a wicked cold, stormy day, and to hinder the final phase of implementation, some no-mind person assigned PC a hockey game making all plans shot to HELL (but don’t worry, I am over it, just like I am over the other 4 years my V-Day was ruined by hockey)!

Anyways… not to belabour the point, but every time I have a plan to go skating something comes up… like two weekends ago when the Chuck Brown Golf store decided to go out of business and have its CLOSING sale on the Saturday. It was a nice day and would have been a prime opportunity to hit the canal, except that PC couldn’t miss the sale because everything was 75% OFF. The place opened at 9, PC left the house at 8, returned home at 4, BUT got unbelievable deals – making an afternoon skate near impossible.

This weekend would have been a good time to go too, but the CRA decided to have a small system glitch, which cut into my leisure time, so a final opportunity for some skating was missed.

Needless say, the whole skating season has been a big disappointment to me because we didn’t go. I guess there isn’t much that can be done, except to prepare better for next year and VOW to get out there first thing next winter, even if it is minus 61 with the wind chill!

Winds of Change

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

There its out. Its done. Its over.

I can breathe again.

The drive into Ottawa was actually not too bad... SLOW, but I got to school in plenty of time to have some light conversation with my teacher and a classmate. We ended up talking about how unnatural is to talk at the government C level. To pass the interview they want you to have well-structured responses for simple conversations. My example this morning went something like this:

In order to cross the street successfully, its necessary that you look both ways before approaching an intersection. Given that traffic is heavy in downtown Ottawa, I would suggest keeping in mind three main things during this process. First, you need to verify that the crossing light says walk. Then, you should assure yourself that all cars have come to a complete stop before crossing. Finally, in order to complete this process, you must be cautious of other pestridans who may also be crossing at the same intersection. Therefore, the reason for which we cross the street is to get to the other side.

I know, it sounds extra stupid in english... but it is bascially what they want to hear in a French interview. Of course the questions are more about your work, but simply undestanding the question and giving a response is not enough, it must be complex, and well-structured or you might as well not even show up.

Of course, this complex sentence structure was on my mind all night... and so this morning I was a little tense at school, but the teacher seemed to get me speaking and feeling more comfortable with my second langauge by about 10 AM.

At 10:30, I wrapped it up and headed over to the examination centre. I was suprisingly calm during the wait period... and then out of nowhere, some super tall skinney French dude calls my name in a very deep voice: Sa-ra-Cole-man.

It was judgement time.... but surprisingly the guy was easy to understand and he gave the odd smile of encouragement. When I entered his office, everything was purple, so I cracked a little joke saying: votre bureau est violet, c'est rare! To which he immediately laughed and told me its wasn't his first choice.

Okay... so we were off to a good start. However, its hard to really feel good about the interview, because I know at times I must have screwed up, but gerenally speaking, I never felt blind-sided by any of the questions, and I was able to use a lot of the key words and sentence structures my teacher and I have been practising.

Its definitely up in the air... it could go either way. If I didn't get my C level, I definitely got a strong B, which will further add to the argument that with a just a few more weeks of training, I could be at my final goal (if your listening management)!

When I arrived home this afternoon I was so exhausted.... the feeling of having finished 14 months of training was a little overwhelming. But one thing is for sure, I will not miss the sleepless nights, the bitchiness, the moodiness, the crying episodes, and the days of feeling sorry for myself... hopefully these things are over too. I am pretty sure the next month with be the final leg of the emotional rollercoaster - back to work, back to reality, and dealing with the highs and lows of searching for a fresh start.

I know I am happy to be making these changes, and I can guarantee that PC is doing his own little happy dance too... but we will see who laughs last by the end of the week because I've been too busy to notice the crumbs he has been leaving on the coffee table, the shoes he doesn't put in the closest, and the coats he's been hanging on the banister.

Oh yes... life in Embrun is about to change too.
Should be interesting.... stay tuned!

The post with no name!

No sure what is going on with blogger these days, it doesn't want to cooperate for posting, so you will have to bear with me.

I am gearing up for the big French oral interview this Friday, so I don't have time to fight with it.

I will once again have to ask for your patience as I prepare to nail this French interview to the wall.

The bad news is a cold is brewing... PC is pretty much down and out with it, and I have the dry, sore, throat right now. While we will attempt to sleep in seperate beds to avoid harming one another, the damage may already have been done.

While the lack of posting may annoy you, I invite you to visit some links on the right hand side, under the heading BLOGS I READ. You will find some really amusing blogger friends of mine that may fill the void while I am off stressing out over this interview... but don't forget about me!!!

Hopefully I will get a short update in later in the week!
Until then, pray for me!

A pinch of salt!

Who ordered the salt on the streets of the Ottawa, and why must it ruin every decent pair of pants I have?

Lately it seems like I am doing a load of laundry every. single. day.

Between PC & I, I have enough laundry for a decent sized load every night.... and I am attributing all this work to the salted streets of our nation's national capital region.

It seems these days I can't step foot outside without ruining the back of my pant legs. After a short three minute walk my pant legs are covered with this white residue just waiting to get themselves inside to a warm building so they can crust up and go hard for the rest of the day.

In the summer (oh how I long for you), I can go a week to two weeks without needing to do laundry... but in the winter, it seems there is more laundry, more frequently.

I think part of the problem may be that I have this phobia of not having my favourite jeans clean and accessible in my closet. If I wear them one day and they become salt stained, I immediately rush them downstairs to the washing machine... to ensure that if I wanted them the next day or night, they would be ready and waiting for me. This tends to create more of an urgency then some of you might be experiencing, but for me its become a real chore to keep my favourite items clean.

Furthermore, keeping a coat sparkling in these winter months is also somewhat of a problem. Every time I get in or out of my car, I am doomed. And on the days when my car has actually had a wash it seems that every other car I park beside is filthy... so there I am again cleaning another piece of clothing at the end of the day.

Mitts, also seem to be a problem for me... as I can't shield them from the filth (my dear mitt-maker Debbie isn't going to like this one). I love my mitts but try navigating your way down a busy street with a hot coffee every morning, while avoiding the salt puddles at all costs and minimizing the spillage factor on the mitts. This is something I have yet to master, so there again, more laundry, more frequently.

It was said that the ol' Ground Hog didn't see his shadow this year... so let's get a move on and bring on the summer heat... I want to get back to enjoying my evenings, without worrying about the damn laundry!

Now you see it, now you don't!

Today is a good day. I say this, as I do every second Wednesday, as its the day that Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC) releases the paychecks of federal employees into their bank accounts.

Every second Wednesday, like clock work, I wake up and check my online banking to ensure that the funds have indeed been placed into the account.

Not once has my government ever let me down (on this issue). However, its seems that the government can't work fast enough... as soon as they release the money into my bank account, there is a line up of starving, money hungry vulchers, just waiting to swoop down and take as much as they can, as fast as they can, before I can get my little paws on some free spending money.

It's a really a case of, if you blink, you'll miss it... and that's exactly what's happening as we speak.

No sooner has the government done their part and paid PC and I both our earnings... when the accounts payable people are line up out of the cyberspace door ready to collect what rightfully belongs to them.

I hate it. Its a vicious cycle... just when you think you are getting ahead at 7am every second Wednesday, you are flat broke by noon the same day.

Why... for one payday, can't these accounts payable vulchers take a vacation... give me some peace, let me look at my earnings for more than 15 minutes, and actually invision a life of wealth and fame... is this too much to ask?

To spread or not to spread?

So... as you know I had the stomach virus this weekend... that one that comes out of you both ends (hope your not eating), and doesn't let you get an ounce of peaceful rest for about 30 hours.

I thought I was on the road to recovery yesterday, but somehow in the middle of the night I was re-attacked twice... and was a pretty pitiful white looking ghost this morning at 6 am. However, I am up now and feeling a little better (obviously I'm blogging) ... but I am not convinced that this stupid bug is gone. And frankly, I am little scared to leave my bathroom for an enitre 20 minute isolated ride in a car that doesn't happen to be equipped with a porte-a-potie.

I have mixed emotions about being sick and spreading sickness.

I absolutely hate those people who come to work with a cold, cough all over everyone and spread their germs, so that in 2 weeks, I become the person doing all the coughing and disgusting everyone I know.

I think I encountered this stomach bug from my French school (I always knew the French would get me one way or another!), so I am a little leary of bringing the bug back to the classroom if its not infact out of me, as I do have some concern for my fellow prisonners.

However, the more I stay chained to the bed/bathroom, the more likely I am to contain the germs within my house, and next thing we know PC will probably have it.

Ahhhh... what to do?

To spread the germs to other unknowing candidates or to contain the deadly (okay not deadly) virus to my own family members....?

Tough... I will think on it over a cup a tea, and perhaps try to make my way into the capital for an afternoon of Franglais... or, I could take one more full day here, really try to get it out of my system and then be back at it tomorrow... (hopefully).

God... I hate decisions... especially ones that involve moral obligations & public duty... grrr!

In the dark!

It seems to be increasingly harder to get out of bed in the morning.

This morning when the alarm went off, I had to go to two different rooms to check the clocks because I didn't believe it was 6:30AM ... it was pitch black outside. I even peeked out the window to see if the neighbours we up and at 'em already, and much to my misfortune... they we're.

Honestly... how can we as human beings be expected to function if we are asked to do everything in the dark?

I really hate this time of the year... you go to work in the dark and you come home in the dark. Since there are hardly any windows where I am, I don't see much daylight between 9 & 5... and its depressing.

I am not sure who I should be talking to about this, but if that person is listening right now, I am presenting a motion to shorten working hours during the (so-called) winter months. The less time I have to spend dragging my butt out of bed in the dark, the more happy I will be at the office/school, which inturn means more production for you upper management. (I believe some guy named Elton Mayo came up with this theory many years ago... but its a keeper)!

Its a win-win situation for everyone involved! Of course I will still need to be paid 37.5 hours a week, but I am willing to bet I can do more between 10 & 3:30, then I would ever do between 8:30 & 4:30! Perhaps I should give it a try, and if its a success for me, we could implement it nation wide!

No worries higher management... really... I don't mind being test bunny on this one - I'll take one for the team, no problem!

Good night Irene: soooo long 2006!

Here we are... finally the last day of 2006, and let me tell you, I am looking forward to putting this year to bed.

Honestly... 2005 was the best year of my life, so I should have known that 2006 would never be able to top 2005, but I thought it could have at least came close... or at least tried to come close.

The entire French nightmare really put a damper on the year... I wasn't looking forward to 2006 in the first place, and I didn't get any pleasant surprises along the way either. French was draining, it consumed and continues to consume my life... leaving me miserable at the end of each day, but the end is near!

Along with French came the demise of my curling team, another reason to kiss 2006 goodbye and turn over a new leaf for 2007.

I guess there were no real highs this year... but at the end of another year I can still be thankful for PC, our families, our friends, our health, and most all our happiness.

Although 2006 was a downer... I am looking forward to 2007... my one resolution is starting talking nicer to PC... which will mean not using the frequent phrases of 2006, such as: shut your mouth, you shut up, yeah right loser, I doubt it, and other phrases that include my mother's favourite word: F&#@!!!

So... goodnight 2006, and here is looking forward to 2007 and all it has to offer us!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR FAITHFUL READERS!