Stranger...

It has been a while since I darkened the door(?) of this interweb blogville kinda place we sometimes try to hang out at.

I've been working lots; which will make up for the two weeks off in July we have as the doctor is on holidays.

I've been working a few shifts here and there at a jewellry store as well so that I can help build up our nest egg to get a down payment on a house and...the owner of the store is a friend of mine who I love to help out by giving her a day off once in a blue moon.

I was working on a powerpoint....in the middle of fever-induced craziness... yet, it turned out very lovely.  There was some stress there that I really, really tried to not get stressed out over but...one of the parties was a little tardy (ahem - grin) in the providing of pictures for me to work with.  I would love to tell you I didn't stress but I did.  I must be transparent with you...{grin}  It all worked out though. Woo HOOOOO!!!

We had a graduation and an awards night. Jellybean got awards for most improved student, highest average and best attendance. Bug got an award for best attendance. Pictures to follow but I must get them onto the picassa site first.

Saturday we will be going to the town B.D. grew up near  and celebrating his little granny on her 90th birthday!  Yay... will be lots of fun I am sure - hearing old stories as family members reminicse (why can't I spell that word tonight!? Argh!)

Anywhoodles, off to slumberland...just a hop skip and a jump away from blogville...

When the husband is away

No, no, no...the wife doesn't play. Not this wife! But what happens around here when the husband is away is, the wife gets sick, the kids get sick, someone sideswipes the car, the car breaks down, the keys fall off the keyring in the car and the family is locked out of the car...

Yes, this is just an example of some of the things that have happened when B.D. is gone with his job. He usually travels one week and is home the next.  This time of year he is gone all of one week, part of the next on and off... schools are getting ready to shut down for the summer and they are in need of network administration/computer repair/whatever other computer needs arise (you know like the school being broken into and the entire IT dept being trashed).

Heading off now to make some chicken noodle soup for little Miss Jellybean; the school called me at 9:30 this morning... B.D. had been on the road for an hour and a half. Ha ha ha.

More Fires

What a year this has been!

Spring is always bad around here for fires... we had the fire that destroyed a town a province over, a fire near us that raged for quite a few days and now, a northern community has been evacuated due to fires that have been maliciously and strategically set by someone all around the community.  People have been airlifted out, evacuated to safety but the fate of this community is left in the hands of time, the wind and brave fire fighters...

Unfulfilled Potential

With this little owie of a sickness I had this last week, I have done a lot of laying down.  With that lot of laying down comes lots of opportunity to look at how my stomach looks the same as it did when I was 5-6 months pregnant (maybe I am exaggerating but people, it is not pretty).

Since Christmas, and I feel so ashamed to say this, I have had Jillian Michaels' 30 Day Shred inside my house.  2 months ago I decided I should at least take the plastic wrapping off of it...that is the extent of attention it has gotten.  So...I think it is time to get off my wideload sticker, start exercising again, get myself back in shape, drink more water/less soda (which I had been until I needed to IV gingerale - you are welcome for the imagery), eat more carrots and less chocolate...

...Um, does it count if I dip the carrots in chocolate?

No? Didn't think so... here goes nothing but at the same time...here goes everything.  Can we get Bob and Jillian to do a program called For the Under Enthused?

Where I've Been

I've been sick. Real sick. Well...as far as petty little sicknesses  like viral infections and colds/flus are concerned not as in something way more serious than that. 

But it had zapped all my energy, especially since B.D. has been gone.  There were still kids who needed fed and reminded to do homework and laundry and baths and...well, you have all been there. I needn't ramble on.

I was feeling well enough to, inspite of not being well enough to go to work, bring my laptop up to my room and get a very good start on the wedding powerpoint for J2s' wedding on June 18. That helped me to feel somewhat productive and feel a little better over the fact that the wedding is 16 days away and I had nothing started! "Almost done" feels way better than "what do I do first"...just sayin'.

Just do

Re-structuring our basement...it looked like the garbage dump had thrown up...I only wish I were kidding. I did NOT take any "before" pictures as I am certain my camera would have broken. Again, wish I were kidding. 

We moved in here fast which means we packed and unpacked even faster.  Things have run amuck and these places are small...the basement just had things crammed into it...piled precariously with hopes nothing would fall...

Well, I have thought about it and thought about it...ran ideas through my head, himmed and hahed about what I could/should do... Today I began to just do. I have thrown out a couple boxes of stuff, a big black garbage bag and have one more of those to go in the trash right now.  I moved a few things around and I am on the way to having an area where the kids can bring their few toys (namely Bug can as Jellybean doesn't play toys too often...she is "10 and a half you know".. There is a spot where they can sit and read if they want to or at least bring the book up to their room without having shelves of books in their teeny little rooms. 

I will put after pictures up once it is complete...this may be awhile as we need to buy shelving units to safely pile our rubbermade bins of stuff...

I only wish I were kidding about how bad this is...but it will get better...each item I throw out helps...right...right...?

A community destroyed

by wild fires. This town has been leveled by raging fires - destroying countless homes, businesses, dreams...
I have spent most of today on facebook with a friend of mine who lives in Alberta, the province this is happening, organizing a clothing drive to send donations with her mom to help as much as we can, at this time.

I have lost my home in a fire...I know how that feels.  I have never lost my enitre town to one... I can not imagine how much greater the loss and devestation must seem to them right now.

I ask that you will join with me in sending positive thoughts for Slave Lake residents and the despair and clean up they face.n Help is coming from all across Canada.  If you are wanting to help, please contact your local Red Cross, Salvation Army... there are numerous donation drop-off spots across Alberta, just click here to find one near you (if you are from Alberta).

I hope that their hope is renewed and strengthened by the generosity of Canada, by a nation rallying around them...