I get to make a boat today!

You are probably thinking “huh? A boat?” but rest assured it is not a real boat. For the first time in a really, really long time, we have a Sunday with no plans! No rehearsal, no joanne to visit, nothing! The last time we had nothing on a Sunday, it was August 2011

I love being snuggled under blankets!  In the living room, I have a chaise which is my “nest” most of the time, but it is only wide enough for one person.  Often I have tried to convince Phillip to come in my nest, too.  He declines the offer every time!

I have also had the brilliant idea that if we drag the chaise and the armchair up to the loveseat, we could make an Über-chaise and Phillip and I could have the space we need, but the snuggle feel of the chaise/nest experience.

It would be like a little boat.  Hence the nearly daily requests to built a boat!!  Finally, he said YES! It will be snugly and filled with blankets and toys! We will watch a movie, and have cuppies of love. Hurrah for boat day!

So today, I am going to make pancakes, do my walk/run (which will be addressed in a subsequent blog), tidy,possibly outside again, and then MAKE MY BOAT!!

I love that Phillip will play my silly games! As our 20th anniversary approaches, I am reminded everyday  how perfect we are together!

Boat Day!

A cozy night!

Is there anything better than a quiet night?

Well, yeah there are lots of wonderful things, but right now this is really what I need.

I am in my chaise,blanket over me, dog on my lap.  My sweetie is making me tea, and has brought me two double stuff Oreo cookies. The wind is howling outside and I am in a safe, cozy spot.

I know I could be cleaning , I could be marking schoolwork, I could be doing so many things, but being cozy is enough right now!

March Break update!

Well, it happened–the march break is over and I am wondering where all the time went????

I did clean nana’s apartment, phillip and I went on a secret road trip just the two of us (Jeremy and Mother in law–visiting family in Picton).  We saw my cousin in (greater) Alliston area, had friends over, and today are going to Orillia for a Rock Band party, and then mom is coming over to stay overnight.  Dad will come over for dinner and then take her home tomorrow night.  We tried a great new Indian restaurant near our house and it was so good, we ate there the next night too!!!!!  With jeremy away, Megan and I also got better at Mario Kart Race game for the Wii!!  Go Yoshi!

On the boring list, we got through most of laundry mountain.  My family (not just me) has too many clothes.  The reason we always have at least 2 loads dirty in the laundry room, is so we have room for everything.  The undies are filling all the drawers, no more room for t-shirts or anything AND there is still 4 more loads to go!!!!!  Nine bags to the Goodwill, moved the old red chair, the broken dishwasher, and the not working stereo all to the curb and they were all nabbed by “sidewalk shoppers” very quickly.  Yesterday, cleaned out the car port–gross there were mice making nests in there– 10 bags of garbage to the dump!!!!  (But not the cool dump like up north where the bears are, just the boring Pickering dump–smell yes, bears no).  I cleaned the gallery/guest room out, and moved the furniture around for easter.  No seating plan, and the photos still need to be put away, but jobs well done!

So, I didn’t get to go to Mexico, or anything “thrilling”, but we got lots of jobs done and I spent a lot of time with my sweetie– laughing, having adventures, and being quiet.  Its nice just being us, a very different feeling: not always worried about what other people needed or wanted.  (we still had the dog, but he’s cute)

So, Monday is back to work…….. I am not ready, but I feel good.  I hope everyone comes back in a good frame of mind, ready to get working!

Why do I have so much crap?????

Well, I know the answer already– I love crap.

I’m trying to clean out my room.  Boy are we messy!!!  Not dirty– there was no mold or other slime, but bobby pins everywhere, books under the bed, behind the bed, old tags from clothes, pennies and receipts everywhere!!!   That stuff is really easy to deal with, for me its the other crap.  I have lots of clothes (even though I look frumpy and garbage most of the time), and I can’t give up things easily.  The week after I send something to goodwill, I think  “My purple sweater will look great today” and I have not worn it in 2 years. 

Besides  clothes, I have junk–old letters, pictures that Jeremy has drawn, photos out the wazoo, trays, necklaces, bowls, disney crap.  And I can’t get rid of it.  Either its pretty and I like it, or it means something to me.  So I make a half hearted attempt to clean up. 

Someday, I will get it together!!!

My summer, so far

Two weeks without a post–I know I am sorry.  I have already been put in my place by my #1 Fan. So to her, and to you all–I apologize.

What have I been doing???  I will tell you some highlights.  I have gone to a BlueJays game,  Note that this is #19 –the Shortstop–MarcoScutaro    Jeremy went to driving school and I helped Megan buy a new camera before her 3 week trip to Ireland.   On Canada Day we went to mom and dad’s–’cause its what we do.  Phillip and I took Nan to the hospital.  Phillip files his EI claim, we went to the Beaches for a day and had pie in this cut little cafe, cute until we realized that all the pies have a layer of almonds (phillip is allergic), but all was well.  We did gardening outside. Since EQAO marking was out by the airport, I stayed with mom and dad for almost a week.  Meals were cooked for me and we watched “SPACE”.  My aunt was featured in the Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition, so we went to Nathan Phillips Square to see her.  We wanted to steal two tiny Shi-tzu puppies in the stor, but we didn’t.  The next nan visit I was at, was the fastest EVER!!  Our lawn mower broke and the only place that will fix black and decker is in Toronto,  at this tiny, little repair shop like you’d see in the movies or in a Stephen King novel–so cool.  We visited the CN Tower with my cousin Gabe and his girlfriend Katie–both visiting from Florida.  I love my cousin of course, but Katie was great–and we share common interests like photographing  graffiti, and checking out the fixtures in all bathrooms.   Phillip and I spend hours talking to a NEW DISNEY CONVERT, a former co-worker who will be a current co-worker soon, just came back from a disney trip with her daughter and LOVED it.  She said to me “I get it, I know why you go back”.  Woo hoo, got another one.

That is all the photos to share (although there are more), and there have been many wonderful things not mentioned–dinners at the Tin Mill, and the Keg, visits with friends from St James, from high school, watching movies outside with best friends, baseball games in the park (just watching, not playing).  Visiting friends, adn seeing where they will be getting married (and where I am taking photos)

Now I have to get ready for a busy few days before our trip to Florida.  I promise to share more with you.

 

ITS ALL OVER!!!!!!!!!!!

Summer!

Oh yeah, can you feel it??!!??

I am already starting to plan my days away, and then in late August, I wonder where the free time went. 

This year I am photographing my summer vacation.  (Which I usually do), but this time with a difference.  Usually I take photos of exceptional things (WDW, birthdays etc).  This year I am keeping a photolog of even the normal things.  If today’s plan is being lazy on the couch, then I will take a photo of it, just to have a record.

Now, I will not be photographing every moment (or each trip top the bathroom), but each visit with someone, or choice to see a movie, go to an event or just relax will be documented.  I have tried keeping a diary before–didn’t last two days.  But I’m thinking this might give a great record and I will remember a lot of little “gems” that happened this summer.  It will be fun to look back through the photos and have at least one photo from each day.  There will be photos of my garden, Phillip, Jeremy, baseball games, around the house, taking nan to the hospital, staying over at mom and dad’s, seeing friends, going to restaurants and shops.  It will be great!!!

Woo hoo, summer time!!!!

For a final week, it’s going to be busy!!!

I was hoping for a quiet end to the school year.  No such luck.  Starting in a few hours, I go really hard until Mon. June 29th.  This was an initial date, but now I’m thinking to July 4th, until I really have NO plans. Perhaps writing it all out will help me to remember it all.  (This is not unlike my use of shopping lists–Whenever I write a grocery list, it never makes it into the store, but remains on the kitchen table or in the car.  But, the act of writing it out helps me to centre and focus.  I find I don’t NEED the list, because I wrote it)

So, Saturday: Grocery shop, house clean, get dressed up, Jeremy’s formal piano recital, drop J off at Brad’s house, go to staff party

Sunday: GARDENING–we have 6 bags of mulch waiting for the rose garden to get weeded.  And the magic fairies let me down again.  SO we will have to do it.

Monday:  School mass, no one has talked about it (because there is so much going on at school), and despite the fact that choir is finished for this year, we still get to sing.  Hmmmm  I think “Its a small world” is an appropriate Processional song. hee hee  (I won’t do that–I’ll pick nice songs).  Monday evening is Grade 8 Graduation.  Woooo  (Said with just as much enthusiasm and energy as you’d expect) woooooo blaah

Tuesday: Outdoor play day for all the primary students.  I am watching stations 5 and6 (what ever that means) but its always a fun day.  Tuesday night is Jeremy Jujitsu in Bowmanville. 

Wednesday: my class has been invitied to SK graduation, because they are our reading buddies.  So we will have to find a time to make them cards or something.  But we are going morning and afternoon.

Thursday: clean out the classroom, send everything home, hand out report cards.  I like this day.

Friday: Pioneer Play Day with the Gr threes, we do bobbing for apples, sack races and three legged races, egg and spoon race. Its like the church picnic in “Anne of Green Gables” only with out the singing or the ice cream. Students (finally) go home.   Friday night–Ju jitsu in Bowmanville

Saturday: Clean up because Jeremy is having a birthday party.  (Poor summer baby, never has people over, only get to go to WDW on his birthday and see Mickey Mouse–poor Jeremy).  Teenagers, food, drinks, movies, guitar hero, yikes.  Jeremy’s driving school

Sunday:  TEAM W is coming over!!!!!  Woo hooo ( or we are going there, not sure on the plans, but its us and them!!!!!!)  Jeremy’s driving school—******See I have just found a slight glitch in my busy week–Must confirm times of driving class and confer with Violaine– no prob, just needs to be checked!!

Monday:  STAFF MEETING 9AM, how horrible.   Plus side–Neil says its only and hour, Minus– a lot of our staff will not be joining us, Plus- I get to see the new staff that I’m looking   forward to having with us.  Plus or minus (not sure yet)  Get to meet the REST of the new staff.  Jeremy’s driving school Monday night, hoping to go to the Blue Jays game (we are not bad luck–this time they wont lose when we go)

Tuesday: Jeremy’s Driving school

Wednesday July 1: Canada Day.  Track (undecided yet), BBQ at mom and dad’s (yes a go)

Thursday:  Taking Nan to the hospital

Friday July 3rd; Jeremy going bye bye for 2 weeks–need to get him packed and organized.

Saturday and Sunday–NO PLANS!!!!

Boy I’m glad school is fininshed!!!  My job really gets in the way of my life sometimes!!!

On a nice day …..

Hmmm  well today,

• I pulled out all of my photos that are printed/framed for the ARTFEST (Still need Megan to tell me what to bring)
• I cleaned the van (still not vacuumed, but hey)
• did a ton of gardening (with Jeremy’s help) –weeds pulled, grass cut front and back
• went to Walmart– $80 for damn printer ink
• printed a couple  more photos for a “Portrait” album
• hung a load of laundry up
• defrosted shrimp
• showered

Now I have to make dinner before we go and see a play tonight!  All in all a good day!!!!

ODE TO A MESSY HOUSE

 How does this happen? 

One day, not long ago everything was neat and tidy, in the right place.

and everything was happy.

 

Now, there are popcans, dishes, costumes, papers, earrings, old socks, homework, bags, dog toys and fluff from dog toys Everywhere!

 There is mess on top of the mess, and I don’t know where to start. 

 

Alone, I begin to pick through the piles, like an archaeologist looking through the sands of time.

Finding treasure buried in my own house……

But mostly finding dirt.

 

Soon, it will be clean again, and THIS TIME, (really), (seriously) it will never get like this again………..

i hope……….

A BUSY Life

I am just thinking about this weekend. Its going to be busy– running here, and running there, and I was feeling tired by it all, dreading it and looking for ways to get out of some of the commitments that I have made. 

Now, I am thinking, that I am lucky to be busy.  I have family and friends who want to share my time, have common interests and who I love.  Rather than feeling weighed down by the responsiblities, I want to be uplifted by them.  Too many people, by circumstance or choice, miss out on so much living.  They sit home, alone or lonely, and then complain that life is passing them by. 

I will not be one of them.  I will enjoy my stressful, busy life.  (whether I want to or not!!!)