Nov 27

Things that have been making me feel good lately:

  • Some lovely quotes…

To laugh often, to win the affection of children, to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of fast friends, to appreciate beauty, to find the best in others, to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch…to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded. -Emerson

“When it comes to understanding others,” I said, “we rarely tax our imaginations.” - Lawrence Hill (in The Book of Negroes)

  • Tim Minchin…

  • Homemade caramel corn from Buns In My Oven which is possibly the best thing to happen to me since…well, it’s possibly the best thing to happen to me ever. (Sorry, the hubby.)
  • The fact that our public library system is about to get rid of late fees on children’s books ENTIRELY. Suckers! Ah-hem…I mean…I will definitely continue to conscientiously return our books on time.
May 24

Another bullet post because I am nothing if not repetitive concise:

  • The Aporkalypse (or Hamthrax as I hear some of my Canadian friends are calling it) has hit our school district. One child in our school district has a confirmed case of H1N1 and although everyone is putting on a calm and sensible demeanor, I have this feeling that there is PANIC lurking behind the facade.  The four phone calls we’ve received from the superintendent of our district seems to be evidence of the barely concealed alarm. Each one was nearly exactly the same: ”There is no reason to be concerned. We are following the directions of the state health board in regards to dealing with this tiny little problem that’s really not even a problem. Also, if your child has a fever they must be kept out of a school for seven days, regardless of whether they test positive or negative for Hamthrax. But really! We’re not panicking!  If more cases show up in our district – although we’re positive they won’t – but IF they did, we will follow state directives on whether or not our schools need to be closed.  Please do not worry! Everything is under control!!!! PS- If your child shows symptoms like fever, runny nose, coughing, purple spots, melting flesh, or barking like a dog, please see your family physician. Thank you.”
     
  • I am becoming a true Bostonian. You can tell because when I drive I now honk at the slightest hesitation at a green light or at people who cut me off or people who drives cars I don’t like. Pretty much anything. Call it cultural acclimation.
     
  • After almost three long years I no longer have to isolate my son from peanut products! I have two children without peanut allergies! Huzzah! We celebrated by eating a chocolate-chip-peanut-m&m cookie. Peanuts and peanut butter are found in all the most fattening delicious foods. However, my days of eating all of Kieran’s peanut-laden Halloween candy are finished. Sigh. All silver linings have a cloud.
     
  • Another reason I now feel like a Bostonian: tourists are driving me crazy! We have spent so much time in Boston, going all through the fall and winter. But now that tourist season is here I am so annoyed with all the tourists invading MY space. Wait, that’s not entirely true. I’m annoyed with tourists who dawdle and who are completely unaware of what’s going on around them. People who are walking along at a good pace and then just stop in the middle of the sidewalk, right in my path. I was raised to be aware of people around me and to step out of the way if I need to stop. So this rude behaviour is frustrating to me. 
     
  • I believe my washing machine has some kind of vendetta against my children’s clothes. We have now lost five shirts to the washer because they came out with black/brown streaks on them that I couldn’t get out. All signs (ok google) point to ball bearings wearing out which may or may not be covered under the warranty. It’s not technically our responsibility as our landlord owns our appliances. But I don’t want to be afraid to wash clothes! How to appease the washing machine gods???
Dec 20

I finally remembered the last bullet that I had forgotten from my last post. Here it is:

  • If you want to make parents of young children go completely psycho with the pitchforks waving and burning people at the stake, just tell their innocent young babes that there is no Santa. The music teacher at my daughter’s school burst a grade one kid’s bubble the other day and OMG the DRAMA. I agree that it was not the teacher’s place to say such a thing however mostly I was just laughing a bit at the righteous indignation and the parents going postal as they gossiped about it with each other. 
Dec 17

Aaaand the busy Christmas season strikes again. We’re back to bullet points folks:

  • So it turns out that a state of emergency was declared in several counties in my state this past weekend including my county due to an ice storm. People were without power for days in some places. Except the weekend here in my neck of the woods was sunny and mild, if a little windy. So you can imagine our surprise when we got several calls from friends and family in Canada asking if we were safe an ok. Because apparently Bush declaring a state of emergency is bigger news in Canada than it is here in the middle of the apparent emergency. 
  • The much celebrated Santa picture made it’s way home yesterday. And yes, Avery’s teacher was IN the picture, strategically placed between Avery and Santa. I’m guessing to protect her from the lasers that ostensibly shoot from Kris Kringle’s eyes. Avery has this wide, half-terrified grin on her face and she’s clinging to her teacher’s hand like it’s her only hope for . It may be my favourite Christmas picture of her ever.
  • Apparently every kid’s size 11 and 12 winter boot in every shoe store within driving distance of my house has been sold out. Because I can’t find a pair of snow boots to save my kid’s life. How is this possible?
  • There was something else important I wanted to say and I can’t remember it. No matter how long I put off publishing this post it’s not coming back to me, so I guess we’re done here!