Watching him grow up…..

Jeremy is turning out to be quite a nice young man.

I know, I shouldn’t sound surprised, but really I am…….

He can be such a doorknob sometimes…… and the person who is guiding him in this world is me….so really, the odds were stacked against him from the beginning.  :)

Jeremy wants to pursue a career in Education.  I think this would be really good for him.  He loves to “explain”, to “be correct” about information and facts.  He can be quite entertaining when he is excited about a topic.

He applied to York University, Faculty of Ed– and had an interview on Saturday. Jeremy worked hard on his responses, and even had a mock interview to prepare, and he feels it went well.  ***FINGERS CROSSED

For the rest of the school year he is doing an unofficial “placement” with me at my school.  I am grateful to my friends, who are welcoming him into their classes, and I hope he understands how lucky he is to have the opportunity to try out ideas and lessons with a real class.  I wish him well, and hope he discovers that this is a career path he wants to follow.  Let him take direction and criticism with the love and support it is offered.  I know he will be wonderful!

A quiet thought

I don’t have a thought for today’s blog.

That doesn’t mean I’m not thinking about things, but I don’t have a witty remark or topic for today.  Is there anything that you, dear readers, would like to know?????  I’ve told you all about my driving problems, and issues with food, you know about Jeremy and Phillip.  Give me some topics to blog about, or you will have to read more idiotic posts about how my desk is messy, I have a weight problem, and school is dumb!!!  Seriously people, I need help!!!

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!

The March Break

Ahhhh a week off work……..  all the time in the world……….rest..relax….get stuff done………….

I don’t go away at March break mostly ’cause I don’t have the money.  but also the hassle of driving or the airport hardly seems like a rest.  But, like the summer, it seems I have limitless time and energy to do things……but that will come crashing down when I realize there is a Hell’s Kitchen marathon on the food network and spend an entire day eating chips and watching a show I’ve already seen!!!!!!!!!

Each day I’m trying to do SOMETHING– a job that needs to be done.  I have the family over for Easter dinner, and it needs to be clean (so I can be proud of my crappy little house), but we don’t have a lot of room–so every place is going to be needed for entertaining.

So far, we set up a new bed in Jeremy’s room (a queen).  We moved the double/twin bunk upstairs into the “Guest” room.  Now if you stay over, you can make a “cave” or a “tent” to sleep in just like Jeremy used to every night.  (Me- Jeremy, why do you have to make a tent to sleep in? J- because its too bright out! Me- Jeremy, you live in the BASEMENT!!!)

Today is Laundry Mountain (seriously people, you could have the Olympics here!!!!) and putting up new smoke detectors upstairs and downstairs.  The Accura is filled in the trunk with crap we are taking to the Goodwill.  (My dream is to get rid of 1/3 of the crap in the house– I know this will never happen unless someone else throws the crap away when I am not looking– I like that plate, stuffed animal, nail polish etc)  I have good intentions, but very little follow through.  (See my blogs about diet and excercise).

Tomorrow I will be cleaning Nan’s while Phillip takes her to the hospital. I also want to reorganize the downstairs kitchen, wash the walls upstairs, get photos ready for my art display in May, put photos in the albums, clean out the closet in the guest room, plan the seating for Easter, and eat chips while laying on the couch!!!  Lots to do!!!!

Hello…..Hello…..

I haven’t been blogging……

As a reader of this blog, you know this…

I can’t explain why not…its not the time…. its not other work to do…(although I do have tons of things to do, still)

I just haven’t felt like me……weird…. then who have I been????

I’m going to write some more–even if its just to hear my own voice.  I read back through my old blogs, laughing and crying, and I think I lost touch with who I am.

I become the things that need to get done, rather than a person doing those things.  And I need to reclaim myself.

Is it because the temperature is above freezing? and the sun is out?  Maybe I hibernated….. but I can’t ever let 6 months go without being ME!!!!!

Updates: School is good–new friends on staff (well old friends, new to this staff–things are working out great), still not working out–getting fatter by the day, Wearing more dresses to school (new staff/friends are fashionistas–feel the need to keep up), Jeremy and Phillip are good.  (And still causing me laughter and grief to be explored in subsequent blogs)

Its good to be back!!!!

2 weeks without Jeremy

Today Jeremy leaves for 2 weeks.  He’s not joining the army or going to the moon.  He’s staying with family south of Picton.  I think this will be really, really good for him.  He’s never had a part time job so the only person that ever “nags” him is me (and his father and grandmother), but still they are the people you live with.  We ALL treat the people we live with differently than people we visit or people we work for.  (Sometimes better sometimes worse, but always different).  He will be working hard, but spoiled by other people, it will be good.  (And he’s been all “teenager-y” lately so we could use a break from him, too)

But the most important impact will be on MY life.  (since its my blog–I can make it all about me)

Seriously, I have only been away from him for more than 2 days, when  he was 10 months old.  Never as long as he can remember have Jeremy or I ever stayed anywhere more than 2 nights without the other one.  (Now I’m not thinking he’s as mushy about that as I am).  No matter how (freakishly) big your baby gets, he is still your baby.

However, I am going to miss alot of tasks Jeremy does around the house.  When I am thirsty I just yell out “Oh drink fairy where are you???” and like a vision from heaven, drinks show up to me.  Blankets get wrapped around me on the couch, spiders caught and released outside (that is not my instruction-I say kill the thing), but dishes, dog walking and recycling all seem to get done with only a minimum effort on my part.  Most important, when I want to wandolier, I just call out “Jeremy, make the Wii go!!!! and the stuff all gets hooked up and turned on.  I will miss him.

Seriously, again.  He will have a wonderful time and grow up quite a bit, even in just two weeks.  I’m glad he’s not going to epcot or university yet.  I don’t think I’m ready!!!

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!!!

How do you let go in a crazy world???

Jeremy’s prom is next week.  He has his (very expensive) suit and has a group that he is going to ride in the limo with ($$$) and sit and eat with ($$$$).  The topic of after parties is just coming up.  I know he is almost 18, and he will be out in the world (and possibly Epcot Centre) next year.  I also acknowledge that we baby him, and some of his immaturity comes from the choices that I have made.  (not all, but some). That doesn’t stop a mother from being worried. 

The news right now is filled with updates on the hunt for the body of Tori.  It would be the worst thing in the world to have a child missing or killed. I can’t imagine how that would feel, nor do I ever want to.  We lost Jeremy for 15 minutes at the Brighton Apple Festival, when he was about 13 years old and it was the scariest moment of my life.  I was almost physically ill.  Do we call the police? Who took him? Is he hurt?  Luckily, he had wandered ahead and was just as upset when we found him.

But its not just little kids who are missing.  Between the news last night, and this morning the police are looking for 2 boys, both in their teens.  One of them is an Army Reservist, who probably could take care of himself.  But still, his family is absolutely frozen with fear and worry.

As a parent, how do you find the balance between keeping them safe and letting them grow up and have experiences.  God knows, we all have done things and had experiences that our parents don’t know about.  Some of them even dangerous, stupid or frightening.  I certainly don’t want him to NEVER have silly fun, and be out with friends, but I don’t want him to get hurt, or lost. 

I guess its one of those Parental Mysteries!!!!!!!!

Why I am a space cat……

Actually, there is no answer to why I am a space cat, that’s just what I am!!

I tend to make up crazy things and silly names for myself and mostly for Jeremy.  He has been my “baby bird” and we play a game (he plays it reluctantly) where I ask him “Qui et tu?”  Which means (in my world) What are you?  and he has to tell me a long list of features he has which conclusively prove that he is a baby bird–and he has to give all his answers in french.  This makes me laugh.  He has to say:

• I have a beak
• I have little wings (as he flaps)
• I have little feet.  (The actual answer that I say in english is Scratchy-little-chicken-feet  but that doesn’t translate well apparently)
• I sleep in a nest and I hatched from an egg.
• I eat worms and bugs.

This makes me laugh a lot.  (You will have to ask Jeremy for the translation– ’cause it sounds so funny in french) I also make him tell me random words and phrases in french.  (Pamplemousse is a funny word!!!!–sorry french language)

I also call him a puppy, kitty, monster with a variety of features that match.  One of the best school-made Mother’s Day cards I have from Jeremy was in grade 2 (or so) and on the front it says: “Mom, I have something to tell you…” and inside it says “I am a little monster with claws and fangs”  And it had a drawing of Jeremy with his claws and fangs.  I love that card so much and I have it on the downstairs fridge right now.

But, this is not only about Jeremy, it is also about me.  On any given day, I am a fairy, a puppy, a kitty, or a variety of other creatures (sometimes I have wings–but I can’t show you them, because I’m shy). 

SOME PEOPLE claim that I am an alligator, THIS ITS FALSE!!!  I am just more adept at spotting alligators when the swoop in out of no where and bite husbands on the arm.  Not my fault if he missed the alligator running away.  Gotta be quicker!!!

Mostly, I am a space cat.  I enjoy being a space cat because of the super powers.  Space cat super powers include super stealthy pouncing abilities (your prey will never see you coming) and super cuteness:  No matter what you do to annoy your prey (including pouncing, biting, or playing “ANGRY/SURPRISE”) they can’t possibly be mad at you, because you are soooooo adorable.

Being a space cat is the way to go!!!! You should try it!!!