The End of an Era

I have set up a new blog - Valerie-in-Midlife 2.0. Click here or on the bar on the side to access it.

2011 marked a turning point in my life and in the lives of the people I love and write about.  I wanted to acknowledge that change.

I published 149 valerie-in-midlife posts starting in January 2008.  Blogger (the blog publisher) keeps track of audience stats and has counted over 10,000 pageviews of this site.  In addition to my Canadian "fans", it identified readers from the U.S., South Korea, China, Germany, Qatar, Denmark, Slovenia, France and Australia.

I have loved using this site as the tool for keeping close family and friends up-to-date on the goings-on of our wacky and wonderful life.  It has also been a therapeutic and creative outlet for me.  The 2.0 version will continue to do just that. I'm going to be playing around with the format of the new blog (and probably the title), but I don't have plans to change the content or publish any more regularly.

One thing that hasn't changed - I am consistently inconsistent!

Thank you for support, comments and patience.

It's beginning to look a bit like Christmas

We managed to string some lights in our tree outside. It looks great from all sides - except for the front.  If it ever stops raining, I will add one more string to the bare spot.  

We are slowly unpacking our ornaments and decorations.  And trying to figure out where to put a tree in our little place.  I have a 7' artificial tree packed away in the basement, that will probably stay put. We might head out this weekend for a real tree.  A real small tree. 

In the meantime, the girls are getting into the spirit of Christmas listening to the new Glee and Justin Bieber Christmas CD's and decorating cookies.

Hockey and events in between

September 14 - Celebrating our journey (as the last place team) to the Playoff Finals. Hard to believe that this was taken after losing best of three in two games straight.

  

September 23, 24, 25 - Oshawa Tournament
Leah scores the first goal of the tournament. The girls make it to the finals - Silver medalists.

September 30 Baseball Banquet - You've heard this before: "Do we ever clean up good!"

With one of my besties - Marilyn Hook

October 1 - Family get-together 

October 7 - United Way Charity Campaign Launch at work. 80 colleagues enjoy home-made waffles. I'm the one slouching against the wall, sipping a coffee, on the far right.

Ah, Julie! My ever so wonderful colleague (and waffle maker extraordinaire) 

October 6, 7, 8 - Oakville Tournament 

Silver medal again.

October 9 & 10

From the arena we head to Joyce and Larry's. Time stands still.

Leah is the only kid but manages to have fun. Aunt Marilee teaches her how to play poker, we play washers and try our hand at beach badminton.  And visit with some goats and chickens

October 16 - The day after an unfortunate accident between my car and a tree. No other physical damage except someone's ego.

Calm descends once again. The dinner that was started Saturday afternoon (and packed away after the turmoil), finally gets cooked and is enjoyed Sunday afternoon.  The girls settle into browsing the web and doing homework...

But first - we gather on the porch for a portrait (driving Andrew crazy in the process).
All is good with the world.

Forwarding address

Effective immediately:
You will now find me in a hockey arena 4 times a week from now until March.

In the rare chance that you will see me during that time, be prepared to hear pleas for sponsorships, requests to purchase everything from meat to bracelets and the occasional begging to fill in as driver/cook/cleaner or psychiatrist.

See you in the spring!

More NYC

As I mentioned - the best part of the trip was watching the interplay between mom and Carson.  Neither one had been to NYC before and I was thrilled to be able to show them around and discover new areas with them.  More than once, I felt like the personal tour guide to two long-lost bff's, eager to explore the big city.

My favourite memories are of the two of them giggling uncontrollably in the bathroom as Carson shaped mom's eyebrows and applied eye makeup.

Mom was such a good sport - the first night we dragged her out at 9:00 p.m. to go for dinner. There were no attempts at Seniors Early-bird specials a la Florida for us.  When in New York, we dine as New Yorkers.  Here we are at Tony's Di Napoli in Times Square, feasting on pasta at 9:40 p.m.

Carson made quite an impression on the fellow pedestrians in Times Square that night.  As mom and I took pictures of her taking in the lights and sights of that vibrant part of the city, many people stopped and stared and tried to figure out if she was a celebrity.

The three of us never managed to coordinate our dress codes.  The nights Carson and I dressed up, mom wanted nothing more to wear whatever went with her comfy sneakers.  For some strange reason, the night we headed to the Empire State Building, mom decided that she would dress up and wear her good sandals.  That was because I assured her that we wouldn't be doing a lot of walking.  

Me bad.

We didn't walk a lot, but we sure did wait in line for a long time.  Thankfully that was the night out when Carson and I chose to wear flat comfy shoes.  By the time we hit the obligatory gift shop at the end of the tour, mom had to get out of her shoes.  So there we were, just outside the gift shop, all switching shoes.  I put on mom's GRANNY SHOES, Carson donned my red flats, and mom ever-so-thankfully, slipped on Carson's flip-flops.  Giggling the whole time.

Dining out is fun, but after a while, even the best meals leave something to be desired.  Carson and I were out for a late dinner the second night at Serafina, not far from our hotel.  We decided that a salad was our best bet and enjoyed it and the ambiance.  However, I have to say that the salad I made tonight was just as good.

 

Of course, it is the company that makes the meal, makes the trip, makes a life.

Every trip I have taken to NYC has been with some wonderful women.  My fourth visit to NYC was the best yet. 

Big fun in the Big Apple

This trip exceeded all my expectations. Four days in New York City with mom and Carson was a whirlwind of fun, adventure and just plain silliness. Watching the camaraderie between mom and Carson was the best part of the trip. 


Checking out the 3D games in the Nintendo Store

Taking in the splendor of St. Patrick's Cathedral

Eagerly anticipating a sample of store-made mozzarella and proscuitto

 Calculating tips

Taking time for breakfast before trekking to Hoboken, NJ

Fitting in with the locals at the train station

Practicing toasts while waiting for drinks

Prepping "G'ma" for a night out on the town

Taking in the view from the Empire State Building

Thanks New York.  We will be back

Birthday Girl

20 years of (mostly) joy

Aged to perfection

Happy Birthday Carson!