I have been without kids for the majority of two days now; it's really weird to wake up at 9:30 to a very quiet house. We could eat whenever we wanted, go and do whatever we wanted, play music and movies as loud as we want without worrying about waking up the kids. It was weird.
After dropping them off at my Mom's house on Tuesday, we went to cheap movie night at a cheap theatre ($4 for the two of us) to see "the Forgotten". Interesting. Made me miss my kids already. Yesterday we did a workout and swim, we went to Crossfield to buy fireworks then off to the Cactus Club Cafe for dinner. After that we rented two movies, "Anchorman" and "Dracula 3000". Anchorman was funny. Somewhat quotable. Dracula 3000 however was a complete waste of time. I had seen Dracula 2000 a few times, not too bad. 3000 was the absolute
worst movie I have ever seen. Terrible acting, terrible character development, poor plot, and a very stupid ending. Just bad all around. DON'T RENT IT!!!
Christmas is over, and I am now eyeing the tree as being some sort of nuisance that must be taken down. This will horrify all of my friends and family though, so it will come down tomorrow instead. HA.
Had a relatively relaxed weekend so far ... dinner at Crystal and Dave's on the eve, quiet morning with the kids yesterday opening gifts n stuff. Clint spoiled me with a digital (a real one this time) camera with all the fixins. Now I can email pics of my new paintings to everyone! Yay. I feel a creative bug creeping in. Speaking of creative, Joy sent me the most perfect book: "A Year of Creativity - a seasonal guide to new awareness". Perfect!!! Thankyou so much!!! And another perfect book arrived in the mail for our crazy 'circus troupe'. "Camping with Kids" came from Darren ... we must have made an impression on you. Can't wait to try out its suggestions!!! THANKS!!! My Mom contributed to my habit of tanning my hide, which I am very excited about. Loads of chocolate (usually with a hint of mint) everywhere. The kids are pretty much tripping over 'my little ponies' - they are everywhere. But no problem 'cause they actually play with those. I just hate it when I give the kids something and they never touch it again. Clint, at the moment, is viewing the 5th season of the Simpsons. I thanked him for not being a Homer.
My family came over in the afternoon - well some of my family. Mom, Fred and Kris made an appearance. Kevin was with his Dad's family, and "Old Cobi" (as Clint is so fond of calling her, aka Grandma) went to my Aunt's house 'cause she could take her sick dog with her. Otherwise she would have stayed home. I made turkey dinner for them for the first time. My Mom has always done it in the past but finally our house is bigger than theirs, so we hosted it. I was very proud of being able to do that. As usual, there was way too much food, desserts and treats. We didn't even break out the pie! Crazy. I managed to keep myself from eating too much, but no matter, got sick this morning anyway. I slept on the couch all day while Clint 'whipped' the kids into folding laundry. You know what is so sweet? Having someone take care of me when I'm sick. Usually Clint's at work, so if I'm sick too bad for me.
Tomorrow we will take the kids swimming. They are getting cabin fever I think. On Wednesday evening my Mom is taking the girls overnight and Clint will be taking me out for our anniversary. Not sure what he has planned. Probably dinner at the Cactus Club Cafe (my favourite), maybe a movie, maybe 'out'. We'll see.
Merry Christmas everyone!!!
I wish you all the best during the holidays and many blessings during the new year.
Today is Roots Day. It is also our 8th Anniversary. I have the "cornbread anniversary" song stuck in my head today. If ya want it, email me. It's ... different.
Baking today. I have quite a list, and it will take me all day. No doubt the kids will want to help and make a mess. Sometimes it drives me
CRAZY. But how are they ever going to bake stuff and cook me dinner if I don't teach them?!
National date-nut bread day. I was going to make some fruit and nut bread ... does that count?
I'm sitting here in the middle of the day (the kids will be bugging me for lunch any minute now ...) in my jammies. There is so much I should be doing right now. But I'm just sitting here drinking juice, surfing the net, being totally lazy. Yay, holidays! The girls are watching CBCKids and playing with their little ponies.
I dreamt last night that I was at some sort of NovAtel meeting, typing up a report of sorts. I had to quit after a while because my computer didn't have a mouse and I really needed one. I was writing the report down with a pencil that had soft lead and it was getting everywhere. I was at the end of a long table. Halfway down the table on the left were the Chinese guys that Clint has visited in China several times. They were actually in Canada this week. Anyway, one of them was slurping his food very loudly. I remembered Clint telling me that in China if you don't slurp you insult the cook. Well that particular cook should have been swelling with pride! Someone came and asked me if that was my computer on the floor. I thought 'what the heck are they talking about?' My computer was on the table where I was using it! But no! There was my computer on the floor on it's screen. Broken. Glass everywhere. I didn't do it! Why didn't I hear it fall? I cleaned up the glass, all the while thinking that these people were never going to let me in the building again.
I had a truly terrifying dream last night.
I was driving down a country road with someone, in a car with little substance (as they usually do in my dreams). Coming towards me was a hag (really, hag is the only word to describe her appearance). She was on a bike that had a wide seat. Beside her was a dog, on her lap was a cat. She had a very blank facial expression - very steady, never changing. All that all by itself is nothing scary. It was they eyes. The woman had red eyes. The dog had honey-dew coloured eyes. The cat had cantaloupe coloured eyes. None of them blinked and they were wide open, staring into mine. I passed the woman and commented to the person with me "did you see that?" The person said "no, what?" I turned around and the trio was right behind me with that awful stare, coming around to the side of me to stare into my eyes. I couldn't look away. Fear started building, and I started breathing funny. It woke Clint up, who woke me up. As I opened my eyes, I could still see the woman's face, and she turned into a vampire and hissed at me, baring her long fangs. I didn't go back to sleep. I felt dirty and violated, like the woman had touched right into my soul. UGH! Definitely a spiritual encounter there. I have since faced that 'demon' and conquered it, and life will go on as normal.
We went out for Kirsten's birthday on Saturday. It was a lot of fun - I enjoyed myself thoroughly. Somehow Clint ended up consuming tequila (I think Eveline and/or Kirsten bought him shooters) and he was a total wreck. He slept in the car until Kirsten and I came out and dragged him to a cab. At home he slept in the bath tub to avoid puking in the bed. The kids thought that was hilarious. "Mommy, Daddy's sleeping in the bath tub!" In the morning his eyes were swollen, as if he was having an allergic reaction to something. He said the last time he was fed tequila (in China) his eyes swelled up. No more tequila. It's awful horrible nasty stuff anyway. The only thing that will give Clint a hangover.
Last night was the Christmas party at Crystal's. She made a very cool chess table for me. It's black and red with red glass 'stones' glued on here and there. The chess and backgammon boards are glass. Very nice. I guess I should learn how to play chess. Clint has tried to teach me a few times, but I have never had an interest in it. I love playing backgammon.
Just started my second 'lesson' on bellydancing. I'm still a far cry from professional, but after trying it in front of other people and they didn't laugh at me, I feel confident that I am making progress. Just a few years ago I couldn't dance at all. Very cool. Now I just need to work on singing ...
Today is
national lemon cupcake day. They're trying to make us fat, you know. So far this month there's been a rich chocolate cake day, ice cream day,
bouillabaisse day, and now lemon cupcakes! Fortunately I haven't eaten any of these. Just some hershey kisses and After 8's. Can't resist the After 8's. I do have to bake some goodies for Laura's preschool christmas party tomorrow ... perhaps lemon cupcakes is a good idea for that.
Clint went on another caffeine binge yesterday. He was buzzing like a bee while I was making supper. I thought he learned his lesson last time he did that. Nope. I see now where my kids get it from; people always say "they'll only do it once", but not my kids - they have to try it two or three times before they figure out it's a bad idea. I hear Clint imitating his mom:
"They're your kids, Clint". I think the man needs a hobby (a real one). I suggested flying lessons to him this morning. If he's looking for excitement, little pink pills are not going to do it. Perhaps I should enroll him in ballroom dancing lessons!! "You're right! He'll *love* it!" Suggestions everyone. What should Clint's new hobby be?
Ice cream and violins day. Mmm ice cream. I collect violins. I don't have a real one yet though, just a few Christmas decoration-sized ones and a 5" one that sits on my bookshelf. I used to have a 7" violin. Someone took it. How rude. I should learn how to play one ... I'll add that to my list of things to do before I die.
Tried absinthe this weekend. Foul stuff but not as foul as moutai. No fancy buzz either. Rather disappointing.
All the parties went well. No drunken jackassery, no bickering, everyone showed up and had a good time. The kids had a lot of fun at theirs too. I got to play on a pinball machine for the first time.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY DARREN!!!!!
How special! Today is "Festival for the Souls of Dead Whales". I don't even know what to say.
Tomorrow evening is the Waller Christmas Party. No alcohol though, the kids will be kicking around. Just friends, games, C'mas music and food. (Save the alcohol for the new years eve party.) Sunday will find us at the NovAtel kids party. The girls have been looking forward to that for about three weeks now: "Mom, when's our Christmas party?" "I can't wait until our Christmas party." "How long until our Christmas party?" "Christmas party" "Christmas party" "Christmas party"!!! Next week we will be attending concerts and skating parties, then the kids are out of school for the holidays.
I hear tonight Kirsten is doing her karioke version of "oops I did it again" for her company party. The prize for the most entertaining performance is $1000. She's going to don a good old britney spears-style short pleated skirt and pigtails. There had better be pictures!
Clint's home from Australia. The weasel looks like he's spent a week on the beach in Jamaica! It's very
very good to have him home ... no details. His poor skin was in shock as we left the airport - going from 42 to -17. HAHA! He wonders why the hell we live here and that we should hurry up and move to BC. Hear that
Darren?!!! With any luck,
I'll be camping next Christmas!!! Or kayaking. I think I'll take a course. Never hurts to be prepared.
Today is sacher torte day. I had no idea what it was,
so I looked it up. Looks pretty good to me ... anything with rum in it ought to be good.
Last night was girls' night out. We did dinner and a movie ... dinner at the food court at the mall (chinese food for me - yum), and Princess Diaries 2. Good lord I hate girlie movies!!!!!!!! Oh sure it made me laugh now and then but geez! I'd rather see a gory horror film than a girlie movie any day. I still have to go see the Forgotten and the Grudge. But no one will go with me. I might just have to go by myself! Just me and my blankie.
Bizarre Holidays in December
December is . . . . Hi Neighbor Month, National Stress Free Family Holiday Month, Bingo's Birthday Month, and Read A New Book Month
December 1 is National Pie Day and Eat A Red Apple Day
December 2 is National Fritters Day
December 3 is National Roof-Over-Your-Head Day
December 4 is Wear Brown Shoes Day
December 5 is National Sacher Torte Day
December 6 is National Gazpacho Day and Mitten Tree Day
December 7 is National Cotton Candy Day
December 8 is Take It In The Ear Day
December 9 is National Pastry Day
December 10 is Festival For The Souls Of Dead Whales
December 11 is National Noodle Ring Day
December 12 is National Ding-A-Ling Day
December 13 is Ice Cream and Violins Day
December 14 is National Bouillabaisse Day
December 15 is National Lemon Cupcake Day
December 16 is National Chocolate Covered Anything Day
December 17 is Underdog Day and National Maple Syrup Day
December 18 is National Roast Suckling Pig Day
December 19 is Oatmeal Muffin Day
December 20 is Games Day
December 21 is Look At The Bright Side Day, National Flashlight Day, National French Fried Shrimp Day, and Hamburger Day
December 22 is National Date-Nut Bread Day
December 23 is Roots Day
December 24 is National Egg Nog Day
December 25 is National Pumpkin Pie Day
December 26 is National Whiners Day
December 27 is National Fruitcake Day
December 28 is Card Playing Day and National Chocolate Day
December 29 is Pepper Pot Day
December 30 is Festival Of Enormous Changes At The Last Minute and National Bicarbonate Of Soda Day
December 31 is Unlucky Day
Lots of chocolate this month!
