Monday Monday... doo doo... doo doo doo doo...

Well, what a weekend it's been, and what a Monday.

My hair was cut and coloured on Friday and I bought a cute headband. The dress store next door to the hairdressers let me take home a cute dress - without paying for it!!! (gotta love small towns) - and Ray declared it THE dress to wear on Saturday night. So I did.

We went to dance class on Saturday, and as it was picture day, we ended up on the stage in the theatre for practice. This did not go over well for Ray. During the first run-through, I held her and she watched from the wings. The second run-through, I sat in the audience and she stood on the stage. If there had been time for a third run-through, she may have actually danced. One of the other mothers kept Greta busy and happy. Then, at picture time, Ray joined in the group no problem, but wouldn't do the individual. I ended up joking around with her, and they put me in the photo too.

I tried talking to the owner's mother about how a little warning about the theatre would have been nice, and she walked away from me!! AS I was talking. RUDE!! Anyway, it's probably a good thing Ray doesn't want to dance again next season. It'll be interesting if Greta wants to in a couple years.

So Saturday night I went to the club with my friend and there was about 50 people or so by the height of things. Not bad I suppose. There were 4 entries into the contest: T, B, a duet, and me. We ended up starting late because one of the judges arrived late. When I said the rules (only military who pay mess dues at our mess could enter), it pissed a few people off, but hey - them's the rules. And the girl who arrived nearly half-way through the first round who wanted to join in got told NO! She wasn't too impressed, but we DID start an hour late, so she had plenty of time to arrive on time if she really wanted to. I'm sure a 'real' club would not have allowed it either.

At any rate, I sang first, and opened with Long Train Runnin'. Then T went up and did something (can't remember) that wasn't as good as what he'd done previously during the fun sing. Then the duet ruined Hotel California. Then B went up and kicked serious butt singing Love Somebody Like You by Keith Urban. I was scared!! I wanted to change my next song!!

Then there was a 30-45 minute break in between while one of the judges went to the can and we had other people sing.

We started up again, and I sang Some Kind of Wonderful. T ended up singing with some other guys, because by this time, he was hammered. The duet, also hammered, had three more people joining them. B went up and did Take Your Sweater, but it was in the wrong key for him and it just didn't sound as good as his first one.

I won. Very cool. I'll be talking to the band this week about singing with them. I'm kind of excited. It was a bit of a hollow victory though, because the evening degenirated into a drunk-fest, and it wasn't taken seriously. With such an important prize, I was hoping there'd be some realistic competition, and people who were serious about competing.

At any rate, I bought a round, handed out some swag, and generally had a good time. Got home late late late, and may or may not have a sitter for Friday night for a vocal workshop in town. Hopefully I will.

This morning I went to the base hospital for the hacking cough I've been keeping alive for three weeks or so. Turns out it is bronchitis. The doc gave me some antibiotics for it and said the earache I've had since Saturday night was probably related to the infection.

I've made an agreement with Ray about her dance. If she dances on Saturday, no matter if it's in the theatre or the studio, then I'll take her and Greta for lunch on Sunday to her favourite Lunch Trunk (Ray-speak for restaurant). Her Aunt L and Gramma will join us there. If she doesn't dance, then no Lunch Trunk.

Greta is singing "Happy Birthday" on a regular basis now, especially when she sees a candle. Sailor isn't going to recognize her when he comes home - she's talking up a storm! She starts preschool with Ray on Friday. SO exciting. Sad leaving her daycare though.

I start my Intro Marketing course this week. I'm hoping to finish it within 10-12 weeks. So far it doesn't look too interesting, but with any luck I'll find the spark for the course and do well to keep my GPA up.

Sailor was going to call last night, but he was tired after watch and went to bed. I have a feeling they're in River City again (no communications) because I haven't received an email from him today, and we usually get at least one a day.

He liked my hair cut pictures. I'm sure by the time he comes home, it'll be a bit longer.

This week's flex:
Tues - work. LOTS to do. Preschool and daycare.
Wed - work. Still lots to do. Preschool and daycare. Grab some extras from the grocery store after work.
Thurs - more of the same. Greta's last day at daycare!! If we have the money (and time to pick them up), we'll pick up some hockey playoff tickets for a thankyou gift, otherwise, we'll have to mail them or drop them off once we get some money.
Fri - Preschool for the girls. Work til noon, then chiro, dance shop, and Sears photo to pick up the portraits from the start of the month. Hopefully will have a sitter so I can attend the vocal workshop, and my bronchitis will be under control enough that I can sing without hacking up a lung.

Hope we hear from Sailor soon.

Effin' Pirates

I was warned yesterday that Sailor might not be coming home in May. And here it is, officially official:

FW: ! HMCS WINNIPEG Mission change !

Families and friends of WINNIPEG,

1. As I mentioned to some of you during the last Sunday Session, due to the critical role NATO is playing in combating piracy of the coast of Somalia, there was a chance that WINNIPEG's mission could change to have our counter-piracy operation extended. This has indeed occurred. Today, NATO has announced that SNMG1, of which WINNIPEG is a part, will cancel planned port visits in Singapore and Australia and instead return to the Gulf of Aden to continue the counter-piracy operation.

2. What does this mean for WINNIPEG? Well, it will impact the ship's company and the families and friends in a number of ways. Specifically:

-Short-term schedule: WINNIPEG will no longer proceed to Singapore or Perth for the planned port visits. Instead the ship will return to the Gulf of Aden to work alongside the other ships of the NATO squadron and the other coalition forces in the area to continue to combat piracy.

-Long-term schedule: NATO has announced that the counter-piracy operation will be extended until 28 June 09. At this moment, we do not know if WINNIPEG will participate in the counter-piracy operation for this entire time, or whether we will depart at an earlier date. We will let you know as soon as we do. When this decision is made, we will also be able to tell you our future anticipated ports and dates. For instance, we may still visit Perth, but it would be at a later date.

3. Some questions you may have:

Return Date: While our mission has changed, there is no indication that this change will effect our return date to Esquimalt, which is still planned for 21 August.

HLTA: Unfortunately, due to the cancellation of our port visits to Singapore and Perth, all HLTA that had been previously arranged for those ports will have to be cancelled. While this will be a dis-satisfier for some, please understand that this is an operational requirement. HLTA will be refunded for those individuals that have made plans. Depending upon the length of our operation, there will still be some opportunity for members of the ship's company to take HLTA.

Benefits: WINNIPEG will continue to receive high levels of Hardship and Risk allowances, and will remain on tax free status, for the duration of our participation in the counter-piracy operation.

As always, I know that I can count on all of you to support your loved ones as we embark upon this next phase of our mission. Rest assured that I will keep you informed of any further developments in our mission, and will advise as soon as possible when we know more about the length of the counter-piracy operation, new port visit dates, etc.

Once again, I ask that if you have any questions at all regarding our deployment, please contact the MFRC who will then forward the questions onto WINNIPEG.

Thank you,

Craig Baines
Commander
Commanding Officer

Yeah, thanks for that. How the hell do I explain to a 4 year-old that Daddy's not coming home now, but we get extra money for it?

We're all bummed out, but should snap out of it soon.

On a happier note, I got my hair coloured (redish!), trimmed, and bought a snazzy head band. I LOVE it.

Tomorrow night is the Fleet Idol karaoke contest. I'm entering. So's the Vice. I haven't met him yet. I'm hoping there'll be a HUGE crowd, because I'm sick and tired of listening to the day staff moan and drip and say, "It'll never work" when I know it will. After all, I've been there for a week (technically three days) and I already have more people on the committee, and guys from the Shop (can't say where) have come to measure stuff so they can make covers for us. Bah... when there's a big crowd, that'll learn 'em. I hope.

I invited a friend of mine to come with me. She's a new friend, and I'm really looking forward to spending more time with her. She's fun. And she sings too!

So, well, I guess I have to re-arrange some things and find a sitter for Greta during Ray's rehearsals. I think their Godparents will do it, but I should have a back-up just in case.

*sigh* Miss ya, Sailor. We all do.

Two Days of My Life I'm Never Getting Back

I spent the last two days on a SCAN seminar. It's basically a series of talks to inform you of the benefits and things you need to do once you retire from the military. Most of the presenters were pretty good. Except for the one just before lunch yesterday. Everything that you learn NOT to do in a presentation class... she did. I felt so bad for her - she cleared the room out in less than 8 minutes - but as a team leader, she needs to get some workshops under her belt before doing that again.

I think I have found a couple people for the Mess Committee. I'm going to finalize (I hope) things tomorrow and see. Now I just need two more and I'll be set.

So, tomorrow will be my first day of really digging into the job.

The girls are doing well. Greta's getting excited to join her sister next Friday at preschool. Ray fell on some pavement yesterday and did her knee in. She gets her grace from me - I'm so proud.

She's tired though, and will be going to bed 30 minutes early in about 6 minutes.

Found out how much the Foreign Service Premiums are. Nice chunk o' change. I received my payback for my last Uni course, and I'll be able to register for the next course by Friday when the payment goes through on the credit card.

I'm still nervous about the job, and I have this cough still. I should be able to sing on Saturday night as long as I stop yelling at the kids. I'm going to really get this Karaoke Contest going. I don't think the bar manager had any idea what he was doing when he put it on for only one night. We may need to extend it if there's as many people signing up as I think there is. It's all so exciting.

I tossed and turned all night, so I'm going to try to get some sleep tonight so I'm in fighting form tomorrow. I think a wee bowl of ice cream will help with the insomnia.

Good Things Come In Threes... Right?

For a Monday, it started out as craptacular as usual; as I was walking out of FMF for what was probably my last (or close to it) time, some unknown P2 yelled at me to get rid of my gum. He needs a hobby.

Then I got to spend 2-ish hours trailing my Chief around the mess with the bar manager, pointing out all the things that need to be done to the building, should be done to the building, and why they're not being done to the building. Although my enthusiasm was appreciated (his words), I apparently know nothing and will never get anything accomplished. Yeah... whatever. Let me do my thing, wouldja? Maybe I'll surprise you. After all, I know a hell of a lot of people on the base, so maybe, just MAYBE I can get something done in the two years I have here.

I had a great chat with the mess manager and we've worked out a system (all totally legal, no worries) for my monthly babysitting costs. I'm very happy with that. I found out that I get a staff discount (50%!!) on my meals. If I'm to keep my new-found shape, I'll have to forget that tidbit, and keep brown-bagging my lunches.

I sold some Mary Kay to one of my co-workers. Huzzah! She also wants to have some friends over for a facial class. We're working on timings.

I managed to get a lot accomplished today and felt really good about my first day, even though I was really nervous leading up to it. I think I can do some good there - a lot of my ideas were met with positive vibes, and I got some more great ideas in exchange.

Then, during supper, we received a phone call from Sailor. He was just off watch, and sounded much more alert than he did the other day. He laughed when I told him about Ray and her comments in the bathroom, and Greta managed to talk a little to her Dad, which I know made him feel really good. He also told me that he'll either have money with him when he comes home in 3-ish weeks, or it'll be directly deposited upon his return when he leaves. YAY!

So the girls got scrubbed and sang to and cuddled and smooched. Then I checked my email. My accountant told me how much the refund we're both getting will be.

If you heard a 'clonk!' around 8pm PST, that was me falling into a dead faint on the floor. It's not enough to clear our debt, but it's enough, along with Sailor's extra money, to pay back accounts that we've been borrowing from, clear one or two things, AND still have a little left over for the overdraft.

All in all, Mondays are pretty good to me.

Tuesdays on the other hand... usually suck.

End Of An Era

Today was my last day at BLog. I received my out-routine sheet, and the 'in' signatures were from '02! LONG time at the same place. Granted, I'd had two kids, and therefore two years of maternity leave, but nevertheless...

I also had my interview with my new boss. Who, in the chain of command, isn't my direct boss, and that's probably a good thing. We're both very passionate about what we believe in, and we're both knowledgeable about our strengths. However he's a tough audience, and I think he's run on logic. Which is fine - my dad was a Taurus. I had to write a 3 page logical argument about why I should be allowed to go to a movie one time. I have had lots of practice convincing people to see things my way.

Which is to say... I was essentially told to go stuff it in regards to asking for reimbursement for babysitting services while my husband's on deployment. So. I'll keep working at it.

Maybe the MFRC has a fund for this, I dunno. They have respite babysitting services, as well as free once a week daycare, however the times they have set up don't really help me out. The daycare is set up for weekdays (I work and the girls are in care already), and the respite care is for 3 hours on a Saturday morning. In order to use it, I'd need to burn gas there, tool around Victoria to do whatever, and then drive back. I'll think about it, but it's really not worth my money, especially if I'm spending a tank of gas and babysitting costs at least once a month for the mess without reimbursement.

I'm sure I'm the first one to ask for this. Doesn't mean it can't be done, but it does need to be accomplished in an above board manner. I don't think I'm asking for the moon, but I'll talk to the mess manager on Monday and see if something can be arranged.

The section I just left is going to have a going-away lunch for me in May. It was originally at a pub, but I find this specific pub really over-priced for what you get. So we've moved it to a less expensive Chinese Buffet place that real Chinese afficianados don't like. Oh well, it's close and the food is edible at least.

We played Bouncy Ball dogeball for PT this morning. Things were going well (only two nails broken), when near the end, I fended off the ball and gave my thumb a slight sprain. Not enough to swell up and bruise, just enough to be annoying whenever used for driving or typing or washing the kids or doing the dishes...

We're going up to see my Step Mom tomorrow. It was her birthday over the week, so we're bringing some of Ray's paintings and taking her for lunch. Sunday is a birthday party for two of Ray's classmates. In between all this driving and visiting, I have to go grocery shopping and do our laundry.

So at 0830 on Monday I meet up with the Chief and we go over to the mess to start my new job. I'm nervous. I'm excited. I'm resigned to fighting.

I'm really looking forward to it.

The Choco-Fest is OVER!

Four day weekends are great - if you're without kids. With kids, it's almost half a day too long sometimes. Especially if chocolate is involved. The girls now have enough chocolate to last them til Hallowe'en. Until Sailor comes home. Then it might last til he's due to go back.

At any rate, they had a blast getting chocolate and books and clothes from Aunty, Cousin, and Grandma. Dinner was spectacular for two reasons: I didn't make it, and my Mother-In-Law is a great cook. Greta sat on Aunty's knee and gobbled down a plate of food, and Ray devoured half a turkey. The triptophan (?) didn't work on them though, and they ran around the apartment for 30 minutes, bothering the downstairs neighbour. She came upstairs with a bottle of something-something just as we were leaving. Smart neighbour.

And now we're back to the grind: Ray in preschool and Greta at daycare, just til month's end. I start my new position on Monday and so with only three days left to get my affairs in order, I've been loaded onto a conference/course for two of those days. Nice. On Friday I'm seeing my new boss with my huge list of questions, not the least of which is, "If I have to work an official event at night, will the mess pay me $50 for babysitting costs?" Let's see how well that goes over.

Sailor's going to try to call us again this week, but I hope he calls his mum first. She'd like that.

He'll be home in 20-some days. YAY! We're all looking forward to that. We miss him a lot. The phone calls were great, but it really confused Greta that he wasn't on the phone when I was talking to other people. She would take her pretend phone and talk to her Dad while playing. So cute.

I need to take the car into a detail shop before Sailor comes home. There's bunny crackers all over the back and various empty bags of snacks... pretty bad.

This week is PMS week. Thank goodness there's lots of chocolate in the house.

Ahoy From Sea

Got a phone call from Sailor tonight! First time we've heard his voice in over a month! Of course, the girls were running around like little animals, screaming and letting off steam, and supper was being made. Perfect timing.

I put him on speaker phone and we had a nice conversation over supper. Nearly like he was here... only I didn't have to clean up afterward. Just kidding. Mostly.

Anyway we had a nice talk about this and that and it was really nice. Greta managed to say good night and good bye to her dad a couple Ray did too... and then ran off all excited. She's more excited about seeing the video of dolphins Sailor told us about last week than about seeing her dad, I think.

Ray is hesitant about dancing the whole routine. I was pretty much told today, that if she didn't dance the whole routine (and it's only 5 minutes or less), then she wouldn't be in the show. I can understand their point of view, but honestly... I've paid my money too, just like every other parent, and my kid should be up on stage doing whatever the hell she wants just like every other kid. She's 4... not 14. And as I've said before, arguing with her is like trying to reason with a drunk. We'll see if she'll dance or not, but it won't be until the rehearsal that we'll know if she's to go on stage or not.

She's spent the afternoon in underwear and socks, as she waited too long to go pee and wet her clothes. I brought her a change, but she's decided she's good in nothing solid.

Greta's had a good day too. Every day she amazes me with more words.

Next weekend is a no-dance weekend, so we're going to see my step-mum for a few hours. We'll see how well that goes.

Tomorrow is dinner with my mother-in-law. We'll see how well THAT goes.

Screaming over Spilled Milk

Every night for dinner, the girls want "choc-moc" to drink. Chocolate milk. Because Ray is older, she wants to stir her milk, then put the lid on and the straw in. Because Greta wants to do everything her sister does, she stirs, uses the spoon to spil... er... drink some of the milk, and then asks me to help her with the lid and straw.

However, this usually entails at least one cup being spilled. One night it'll be Greta's, the next night it'll be Ray's. I'm running out of paper towel, milk, and patience.

Tonight I tried something different. While the food was plated and cooling down, I poured the milk into the cups, added the 'chocolate spices', and stirred. Then put lids and straws on, and THEN called the girls to the table.

It worked. This time. I hope it lasts. I'm really getting tired of freaking out over spills. I know there'll be extra work involved in raising kids - and hours of cleaning up messes. I just want to keep the extra curricular clean-ups to a minimum.

Tomorrow Greta gets hotdogs and french fries at daycare. She's going to love it! She loves hotdogs. She also loves ketchup. Which she puts on nearly everything. Just like her dad and grandpa.

Her favourite song: Folsom Prison Blues because the first line is, "I hear the train a comin', she's rollin' round the bend..." It's about a train - she likes it. The other night, I sang her Folsom Prison, My Baby Thinks He's a Train, Long Train Runnin'... and Folsom Prison again. Tonight it was two rounds of "Choo choo train comin' " for her.

Grandpa would be proud.

Here Comes Peter Cottontail...

What a week it's been! On Thursday I found out that Greta will be able to attend preschool with her sister starting May 1st. No nanny yet, but this means ONE drop off and pick up for me, so YAY! Now I'm not in a rush for a nanny as Greta's staying there until at least the end of June.

Sailor told me his leave dates in May. It's two days shorter than I thought, but I guess they take into account travel time too. He'll be able to take Ray to her first rehearsal before he leaves.

I promised Ray that if she dances all three performances, I'd take her and Greta swimming three times. She seems to be all for it.

Turns out that Greta's favourite new song is "Folsom Prison" because it mentions the train coming! She says, "choo choo train comin'" and then I start singing it for her. She loves it. Even Ray asks for the song once in a while. My dad would have been so proud and happy. It makes me sad that he's not here for me to share that with. I could tell his brother or my step-mum, but they wouldn't 'get it' like he would.

We had pictures done at Sears today. I could NOT get them to pose together no matter what I tried. Ray would sit and Greta would blow up, or Greta would sit and Ray would dance around and act silly. So we ended up with photos of them seperately, as well as Ray in her dance costume. They're taking pictures of the kids in costume in three weeks at the studio. Turns out that's the day of a regatta at the college where the studio is, so we have to park outside of the grounds and walk in. Should prove to be interesting. I'll take the stroller.

Speaking of the stroller, we had great weather this weekend, so yesterday the girls wanted to go outside for a walk. We went outside and Greta ran to the basement calling, "stroller!", so HER idea of a walk was for her to sit in the stroller, with her sister sitting in front, and ME push them... hence the walking part. She did walk the last bit home though, so she got a bit of a walk in. I guess it tuckered her out playing yesterday afternoon because she slept in til 20 after 8 today!

Ray, on the other hand, waltzed into my room at 6:30 Saturday morning (after I'd been to the bar all night on Friday and didn't get to bed til 1:30), and at 6:53 this morning.

Tomorrow's going to be hell waking them up at 6. It always is.

So this week's flex is:
Monday - nothing. Gotta find some matzah meal.
Tuesday - grief support group, J babysits. Greta has her appointment with the ENT that morning to see if there's something wrong with her hearing.
Wednesday - nothing.
Thursday - daycare closes early, so I pick up Greta and will make the leg of lamb and some popovers and a dessert for the church's Seder Supper that night.
Friday - cleaners come in the morning, so we put everything off the counters and floors and we'll aim for a park if the weather's nice. If not, we'll go grocery shopping.
Saturday - dance class! Maybe supper at friends.
Sunday - EASTER!! Church, egg hunt at home and church, supper at Gramma's.
Monday - maybe supper at friend's.

Time to put Ray to bed. I won't be far behind.

Arguing With A 4 Year-Old is Like Arguing With A Drunk

Ray is great. She's helpful, she's funny, and she's four. Which means she's going to do things her own way. Take for example, right now.

Right now, she's watching the last bit of her Treehouse show before going to bed. With her pj pants and PullUps down around her ankles, hanging off the coffee table... er... make that climbing ONTO the coffee table on her knees, putting her fingers in her butt making sure she wiped herself clean, and glued to the show.

She has stuff all over the coffee table, things that I keep putting away and she keeps bringing back onto the table.

Now, if I ask her four or five times to pull up her pj's, I'll get no response, other than, "I KNOW". She's actually pulling up her pants, and saying, "I was lookin' at my bum!" She's turned off the TV, and is putting the home-made play-do back into the container. I'm amazed.

The rest of her night will be this: we go upstairs with some water and she gets one story read to her. She will pick the longest story in the book. Then she'll climb into bed and remember to pick out clothes for tomorrow. After she does, THEN she'll climb back into bed and want me to cuddle with her while I sing three songs to her: hushabye, daisy a day, and bicycle built for two. Then when I try to leave, she'll freak out and cry, then use her magna doodle until 9.

Tomorrow morning when I wake her up, she'll not want to get up as she'll have gone to bed too late. When I've tried to explain the cause and effect to her, it doesn't sink in. She's too young to get it.

But really, I don't argue with her any more. It's really an exercise in futility.

The funny part? Yesterday they went on a nature hunt at Preschool. I asked her what she found. She replied, "I found LOTS of nature!"

Love that kid.