On Thursday, at work, an email awaited me. Asking if I'd like to go to Merritt to wave the flag for the Navy. The exact-ish wording was, "for the Merritt Mountain Music Festival scheduled for 9-12 Jul. Minimum of two Navy personnel are required. Optimally it would be two personnel with a country music interest and who are comfortable in public. Individuals should be confident and well spoken. They will be required to interact with the public throughout the day and will be on stage periodically during the national anthem, raising of the flag and during airing of the CF "Fight with Us" videos."
It took me but minutes to cry that I couldn't go because of a lack of sitter for the girls. At the end of the day I was driving home and decided to call my friend A, who lives on the mainland and is also a big Merritt person and have her commiserate with me. She then volunteered to come over and stay with the girls while I go!!
I called my friend back (who had sent me the original email) and said, "Sign me up!!" I then tried to get a hold of my VPMC because he'd be PERFECT for it too! Couldn't find his home number... did later, but that has no bearing really.
At any rate, Sailor kinda gave me the hinky eye when I told him that A would come over (either with or without her daughter who is Greta's age!) and watch the girls while I go to the Fest, but he agrees it's a great opportunity for me, both professionally and musically.
Upon talking to the girl sending out the email on Friday (at a super successful Boss's Afternoon! YAY), I told her that the VPMC was cleared to go too. Then she told me of another girl has put her name forward. I know T, and she's a great person, so I said that either person would do great. With my luck, those two will go (VPMC and T) and I'd end up staying behind.
Anyway, until I'm actually on the road to Merritt, with TD $$ in hand and an RV (we hope) to stay in... I'm not counting on anything. But once I'm there... hooo BOY I'm gonna have fun! I love my job, so that'll be the fun and easy part. Then I'm bringing my guitar and a song book and gonna hit a few sing-alongs I hope!
The rest of the week went pretty much as planned - Sailor put up the swing set/play thingy, and did a great job. He's fixed the front hose and planned the front patio/garden area. He is gone, and has told me of his craptastic flight back to Oz (two delays, one hard port/hard starboard landing, and one bouncy landing). They're now at sea, on their way easterly.
This week's flex is:
Mon: pick up stuff from Canadian Rona Depot Mart for us (my money), the mess and a mess member (club money). Mary Kay product launch night so the babysitter will be called in for a while.
Tues: taking the truck into town to pick up some second hand glass panels for the deck after the chiro. Then coming home, switching the car seats into the car and getting the girls.
Wed: HAPPY CANADA DAY!! It's going to be a busy one - I have to make some more spaghetti sauce and jar it.
Thurs: Normal work day.
Fri: Working, then Mary Kay awards night at the Club. Again, the future richest 12 year-old in the area will be watching the girls and having supper here with them.
Sat: Groceries, then we see the Lippizzanner horses right on the floor!
Sun: Church and then our friend's annual country party for the afternoon.
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Monday, June 22, 2009
And Now , The Seven SHORTEST Days Ever
Sailor is home on Home Leave Travel Assistance... HLT-YAY! However, he arrived at 9am on Thursday and is leaving at 9pm this Thursday. 7 days, 12 hours. Yuck-o.
We've been hanging out, having dinner in nice places, getting stuff for the girls, hanging with the girls together... it's lovely. Absence really DOES make the heart grow fonder. It's nice to reconnect again too. It was getting to the point where one of us HAD to go back to sea.
The money has come in handy, I must say. The girls are getting a new play set (I'll be putting up the old slide/climber thingy for sale) and the old rickety swing set is going to be a thing of the past. As is their play house. It's served its purpose, but it's time to put something safer in its place.
The bills that needed paying off are paid off, and there'll be enough left over to finish the deck (which is tax credit-able!) with a coating of something and some rails.
He's doing all that today, and his mum, sister and mum's boyfriend are up visiting and staying for supper. I'm at work, then gonna get the girls. BBQ for supper tonight!
This week's flex is:
Mon: work - Sailor picks up swing set and gets back yard ready for construction
Tue: work: luncheon then Greta has an ENT appointment at 4:30. Sailor starts on swing set construction.
Wed: work - Sailor finishes his 'honey do' list with special emphasis on the front hose *sigh*
Thurs: work: off early to take girls to the dentist. Sailor puts Greta to bed, then we leave for airport while babysitter watches the girls.
Fri: work: Boss's Afternoon at the club.
Sat: pay house insurance off, groceries, and Formation Family Fun Day in town (pony rides!!!!)
Sun: Church and then church picnic.
Our summer is heating up (har har) with things to do. I'm hoping that if we keep busy enough, the next 8 weeks will FLY by and we won't notice the time. At least it's 2 months, not 4 1/2 this time around.
We've been hanging out, having dinner in nice places, getting stuff for the girls, hanging with the girls together... it's lovely. Absence really DOES make the heart grow fonder. It's nice to reconnect again too. It was getting to the point where one of us HAD to go back to sea.
The money has come in handy, I must say. The girls are getting a new play set (I'll be putting up the old slide/climber thingy for sale) and the old rickety swing set is going to be a thing of the past. As is their play house. It's served its purpose, but it's time to put something safer in its place.
The bills that needed paying off are paid off, and there'll be enough left over to finish the deck (which is tax credit-able!) with a coating of something and some rails.
He's doing all that today, and his mum, sister and mum's boyfriend are up visiting and staying for supper. I'm at work, then gonna get the girls. BBQ for supper tonight!
This week's flex is:
Mon: work - Sailor picks up swing set and gets back yard ready for construction
Tue: work: luncheon then Greta has an ENT appointment at 4:30. Sailor starts on swing set construction.
Wed: work - Sailor finishes his 'honey do' list with special emphasis on the front hose *sigh*
Thurs: work: off early to take girls to the dentist. Sailor puts Greta to bed, then we leave for airport while babysitter watches the girls.
Fri: work: Boss's Afternoon at the club.
Sat: pay house insurance off, groceries, and Formation Family Fun Day in town (pony rides!!!!)
Sun: Church and then church picnic.
Our summer is heating up (har har) with things to do. I'm hoping that if we keep busy enough, the next 8 weeks will FLY by and we won't notice the time. At least it's 2 months, not 4 1/2 this time around.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
The Four Longest Days EVER
I hate it when payday's on a Monday. Being broke bites. Mind you, it means we need to be more creative when it comes to doing stuff. So yesterday after groceries, I packed our pic-i-nic basket up and a diaper bag, and we took off around the lake to the provincial park. I'd never been there, but we'll go again for sure.
The path down to the water is nice and wide (next time, stroller) and there's a large grassy meadow once you come out of the woods. We chose a shaded spot under a huge maple tree and set up our blanket and stuff. We stripped down to our suits, Greta got into her swim suit and top, and off we went. Ray wore her sandals, I wore mine, and because I forgot Greta's, she was carried. The lake was cold, but eventually it got warm and it was really nice. It's quite rocky where we were, so Ray held my hand. She nearly toppled over, but had a great time splashing. I was swinging Greta through the water.
Ray took a step back from me (so she was in water about waist high on her) and lost her balance. Then she couldn't stand up. Her eyes were wide, she went under three times, and then grasped my hand. She quickly regained her balance... and took off for the towels. She's now scarred apparently. Refuses to go into the lake any more. Pools - yes. Ocean even (?), but not the lake. Next time, I'll take Sailor and we can deal with this properly - one child per parent.
Greta, on the other hand, didn't want to leave the water, but we did. And warmed up in a towel, we ate our chicken cheese buns and water wa-wa-men (melon). With Bear Paws for dessert... it was splendid. We watched the motor boats, water skiiers and the sea-do go back and forth to.
Less than an hour after arriving, we left and got home in time for Greta to get changed and a decent nap! There were two other groups of two/three just arriving as we left. Perfect timing.
We had church today, and one of our friends and her son from the preschool came for a visit and supper, along with Gramma and SIL. We had a feast of baked spaghetti, corn on the cob, and ciabbatta buns. With carrot cake for dessert. It was nice to have a full table again.
Greta has come down with a cold - hoarse voice, bit of a sniffle, feeling warm. Still happy and all, but more clingy than usual. At least her appetite hasn't diminished at all. Ray's sniffly, but I think she wants the Motrin just like her sister so she's playing it up a little.
This is the exciting week! The flex reads:
Mon: payday - bills, etc. Mary Kay product night - babysitter gets rich.
Tues: insure the truck for tomorrow.
Wed: OFF - car goes to detailer, hand in recycling, clean out the truck (and put gas in it), wash all the linens and sofa cover, along with emptying compost bucket, and maybe getting brows waxed. Bachman/Cummings concert - babysitter gets richer.
Thurs: OFF - Pick up Sailor at the airport. He lands at about 9:30, so we're going to have breakfast at the airport as a treat before he arrives.
Fri: Back to work.
Sat: MFRC thing at a local Park/Campground in the afternoon. We'll see how Sailor feels about going to it.
Sun: Church then my club's St-Jean-Baptiste party for families. We're going. There'll be poutine.
Four more sleeps, then Sailor's home for a visit. We can do the 8 weeks after that easily.
I'm going to call it HLT-YAY!
The path down to the water is nice and wide (next time, stroller) and there's a large grassy meadow once you come out of the woods. We chose a shaded spot under a huge maple tree and set up our blanket and stuff. We stripped down to our suits, Greta got into her swim suit and top, and off we went. Ray wore her sandals, I wore mine, and because I forgot Greta's, she was carried. The lake was cold, but eventually it got warm and it was really nice. It's quite rocky where we were, so Ray held my hand. She nearly toppled over, but had a great time splashing. I was swinging Greta through the water.
Ray took a step back from me (so she was in water about waist high on her) and lost her balance. Then she couldn't stand up. Her eyes were wide, she went under three times, and then grasped my hand. She quickly regained her balance... and took off for the towels. She's now scarred apparently. Refuses to go into the lake any more. Pools - yes. Ocean even (?), but not the lake. Next time, I'll take Sailor and we can deal with this properly - one child per parent.
Greta, on the other hand, didn't want to leave the water, but we did. And warmed up in a towel, we ate our chicken cheese buns and water wa-wa-men (melon). With Bear Paws for dessert... it was splendid. We watched the motor boats, water skiiers and the sea-do go back and forth to.
Less than an hour after arriving, we left and got home in time for Greta to get changed and a decent nap! There were two other groups of two/three just arriving as we left. Perfect timing.
We had church today, and one of our friends and her son from the preschool came for a visit and supper, along with Gramma and SIL. We had a feast of baked spaghetti, corn on the cob, and ciabbatta buns. With carrot cake for dessert. It was nice to have a full table again.
Greta has come down with a cold - hoarse voice, bit of a sniffle, feeling warm. Still happy and all, but more clingy than usual. At least her appetite hasn't diminished at all. Ray's sniffly, but I think she wants the Motrin just like her sister so she's playing it up a little.
This is the exciting week! The flex reads:
Mon: payday - bills, etc. Mary Kay product night - babysitter gets rich.
Tues: insure the truck for tomorrow.
Wed: OFF - car goes to detailer, hand in recycling, clean out the truck (and put gas in it), wash all the linens and sofa cover, along with emptying compost bucket, and maybe getting brows waxed. Bachman/Cummings concert - babysitter gets richer.
Thurs: OFF - Pick up Sailor at the airport. He lands at about 9:30, so we're going to have breakfast at the airport as a treat before he arrives.
Fri: Back to work.
Sat: MFRC thing at a local Park/Campground in the afternoon. We'll see how Sailor feels about going to it.
Sun: Church then my club's St-Jean-Baptiste party for families. We're going. There'll be poutine.
Four more sleeps, then Sailor's home for a visit. We can do the 8 weeks after that easily.
I'm going to call it HLT-YAY!
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Wild, Wild Life
Well, Sailor's out of the 'box' today. Which, on the plus side, means that they're not officially chasing pirates anymore. On the minus side, that's the end to the extra pay incentives (over $2K a month). Oh well, the money we do get will help us finish the deck in style (glass panels!), get a new swingset for the girls, and pay our house taxes off easily.
All week we had a mini heat wave - temps hovering around 30+ from Monday til Thursday. The house was sweltering in the bedrooms - even with the fans going, the girls' rooms were 30 degrees at their coolest. I finally managed to get our air conditioner working in our bedroom and it was heaven... while it was going. Made for LOUD tv at night, so I'd turn it off. And then the heat would creep up again. Even with the shades drawn to avoid the afternoon sun, it was so very hot in our rooms.
Of course, now that the weekend is here, it's overcast ,windy and down to 18. So much for a picnic on the beach.
I managed, finally, to pick up three floor tickets "Golden Circle" to the Lipizzaner Stallions coming to the big city in July. It's coming to the small city the week prior, but it's a 7:30 show on a Tuesday night, so instead, we'll catch the weekend matinee. I can hardly wait! Last time, Ray was enthralled and spent the whole show with big eyes and a big grin.
On Sunday night, our cat showed his devotion to his new family by bringing home dinner - a mouse he caught and killed outside. It was about 10pm and just as I was dozing off, I heard him yowling a little and thumping on the floor. Turns out he was playing with his food. I grabbed tongs and a paper towel and put it out on the deck and then washed the blood spots off the floor. 15 minutes later, he was at it again. This time, I took it outside and closed the cat door after him. He was very happy to come in the house the next morning.
Monday afternoon, as I was taking the diapers off the drying rack on the deck, our neighbour from across the way came over asking if I'd seen the bear! I had heard quite a rustling in the back 40 but it never dawned on me that it was a bear back there!! Apparently an adolescent (no mama following, thankfully) had traveled from one side of the subdivision to our side, heading for more bush (towards the private school on the other side of the complex). Neighbour was worried that we were outside in the back yard with the girls.
Now, I don't usually let them hang out without me in eye-shot - we have tons of stinging nettles and rocks, and now...bears too.
This week's flex:
Today: groceries and playdate in afternoon
Sun: church, laundry
Mon - Fri: work. nothing exciting on the agenda
Just killin' time til Sailor comes home for his visit. I've arranged it with the cleaners to come clean again the day he arrives so he'll have a nice clean house to come home to. I just need to remember to write the cheque this time!
All week we had a mini heat wave - temps hovering around 30+ from Monday til Thursday. The house was sweltering in the bedrooms - even with the fans going, the girls' rooms were 30 degrees at their coolest. I finally managed to get our air conditioner working in our bedroom and it was heaven... while it was going. Made for LOUD tv at night, so I'd turn it off. And then the heat would creep up again. Even with the shades drawn to avoid the afternoon sun, it was so very hot in our rooms.
Of course, now that the weekend is here, it's overcast ,windy and down to 18. So much for a picnic on the beach.
I managed, finally, to pick up three floor tickets "Golden Circle" to the Lipizzaner Stallions coming to the big city in July. It's coming to the small city the week prior, but it's a 7:30 show on a Tuesday night, so instead, we'll catch the weekend matinee. I can hardly wait! Last time, Ray was enthralled and spent the whole show with big eyes and a big grin.
On Sunday night, our cat showed his devotion to his new family by bringing home dinner - a mouse he caught and killed outside. It was about 10pm and just as I was dozing off, I heard him yowling a little and thumping on the floor. Turns out he was playing with his food. I grabbed tongs and a paper towel and put it out on the deck and then washed the blood spots off the floor. 15 minutes later, he was at it again. This time, I took it outside and closed the cat door after him. He was very happy to come in the house the next morning.
Monday afternoon, as I was taking the diapers off the drying rack on the deck, our neighbour from across the way came over asking if I'd seen the bear! I had heard quite a rustling in the back 40 but it never dawned on me that it was a bear back there!! Apparently an adolescent (no mama following, thankfully) had traveled from one side of the subdivision to our side, heading for more bush (towards the private school on the other side of the complex). Neighbour was worried that we were outside in the back yard with the girls.
Now, I don't usually let them hang out without me in eye-shot - we have tons of stinging nettles and rocks, and now...bears too.
This week's flex:
Today: groceries and playdate in afternoon
Sun: church, laundry
Mon - Fri: work. nothing exciting on the agenda
Just killin' time til Sailor comes home for his visit. I've arranged it with the cleaners to come clean again the day he arrives so he'll have a nice clean house to come home to. I just need to remember to write the cheque this time!
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