Cottage fun!

The kids have been having a great time at the cottage this summer - the rain doesn't seem to bother them as much as it does me. And when I'm not happy, Rob isn't happy. Thankfully, the kids manage to enjoy themselves despite me.
A few pix until I can figure out how to install Flickr on my site.

Work is fun when you have a TRACTOR!

A few more people on this earth learned to drive Rob's tractor - and got lots of work done at the same time. This weekend, we moved yards (cords?) of split wood from the front of the property to the middle of the property. About halfway done. Hope we can get the 3 grammas to come back and finish the job. (That's Yvonne Drektraan in the middle pix)

Everyone was put to work - here's Liam doing his favourite job - using my log-splitter - a Christmas present. (OK it was Rob's present too!)



Lots of drivers on the other favourite cottage vehicle too:

Happy Pride

Two Sunday's ago was part of a long weekend for most folks. Rob and the two youngest headed to the cottage on Friday night and stayed til Tuesday evening. Carson and I stayed home that weekend. I had to work on the Monday, as did Carson.

I calculated that it was my first Canada Day weekend in 23 years not spent at the cottage.

I had a great time catching up with my "Hamilton Cousins" on Saturday - played my first 2 games of poker - and won the first one (with lots of coaching). Back home to catch a movie with Carson.

The next day we set out to Toronto after lunch. We were on our way to watch the Gay Pride parade. I had seen a bit of one in NYC when I was there with some girlfriends last summer. But that was just as we were walking to and from the Museum of Modern Art.
This time, I wanted to experience the whole thing. We met up with a friend from work, and a friend of hers joined up with us soon after. I had warned Carson to be prepared for lots of nudity and some weird sights. For almost 2 hours we cheered and laughed (and raised our eyebrows and diverted our gazes). There were politicians, church groups, protest groups, social support groups, businesses, special purpose clubs, bikers (motorized and not)and of course, the firefighters. People from every walk of life were there - I'd say the only group missing were the professional athletes. Hmm - I guess there aren't any pro athletes who are gay ...

Breasts and penises made appearances throughout. There was a group of men carrying a flag that simply read "Bears". By the look of the men marching under that banner, membership in the Bears group simply required one to be(male)over 40, at least 250 pounds and sporting a hairy chest!

My girlfriend and I drooled over the chiseled bodies sponsored by TD bank - only a buff, gay guy can pull off wearing a green speedo.

We were greeted with "Happy Pride" by all who passed us. We returned the greeting - "Happy Pride".

The crowd favourites were the fewer than a dozen military officers marching in uniform, and (I am getting choked up thinking about this), the parents that walked with their (adult) kids bearing signs that expressed their pride and support for their gay children.

There were some groups that made me a little uncomfortable - but I would have found those S&M and other intense displays of affection awkward to watch with heterosexual couples. But the parade, as I understand it, is many things to many people - a form of entertainment, a rite of passage, a political statement, and, a way to spend a fun time with family and friends.

The only thing I didn't get, was why the drag queens felt they had to walk the entire parade in heels. Honey, I only wear my heels for where I need to be - not to get me from points A to B. Get out the runners next year.

All in all, a memorable way to spend a Sunday afternoon. I might be back in another 23 years - maybe I'll see a hockey, baseball or football player then.

Birthday story

The party at mom's was great. Uncle Wayne was there - he's in town for a week helping Uncle Leigh at the shop. Cousin Janice and hubby Larry dropped by - they said it was to say Happy Birthday - BUT I KNOW THAT IT WAS TO SEE BABY AVRY!
That baby is so good. So was so tired, but not a peep of discontent our of her. Adam and Yvonne are great parents. And of course, Avry is blessed with a wonderful extended family.

But I digress. Carson shared a story with us about a conversation with her teacher the day before my birthday. It went something like this:
C: "I'm so excited for my mom's birthday - I got her the best gift"
Teacher: "That's great. What did you get her?"
C: "I got knocked up!"
T: raised eyebrows
C: "I mean, I got her knocked up!"
T: jaw opening
C: "The movie! I got her the movie Knocked Up!"

Haven't even watched the movie yet, but am loving the enthusiasm that came with it.

Thanks everyone for a great birthday weekend.

Sitting here with Michelle

Wrote this to show my wonderful sister-in-law how easy it is to enter a post.

Go Michelle go! You have so many great stories to tell.

(Michelle is the mother of Brandon - a character whose antics alone would fill several pages every day)

Birthday weekend

A cornucopia of birthday celebrations this weekend.

Leah was off to a party Friday evening. Ev & I spent the time shoe shopping - yes AGAIN! But this time we were successful.

Friday night I had to get all my - and Leah's - stuff organized as we were both going to sleep-overs on Saturday night. So I wrapped more birthday presents, packed our bags, wrote a note, recharged all my electrical gadgets and fell asleep @ 12:30.

I left the house at 6:30 and made my way through some of the most beautiful countryside I have ever known - and arrived at a golf course in Owen Sound @ 9:15. I spent the day working at the 6th Annual Alex and Laura Vaughan Memorial Golf Tournament. The rain and thunderstorms that had been promised for that day held off, and we had a fantastic day. More about the event, the cause and the people to follow in a later blog.

Back home, Leah went next door to her 2nd birthday party of the weekend. Two thirds of the way into the party, Leah had to leave to go to her next party (yes, a very popular little girl - or do people just like the gifts we give?). Our little girl was heading to Niagara Falls for the evening, with her good friend Adam. And his mom, dad and sister. Today she reported that she had a great time.

Hmm - I thought that I could finish writing my story tonight, but I can't keep my eyes open. Off to bed, back tomorrow.

Draining the Pool

This summer's cottage project is simple. In preparing the building area for blasting this fall, we have to scrape the rock clean.

We began this weekend, by draining the water that had accumulated this spring.

Here's a pix before we borrowed the neighbours submersible pump:



And after:



(Oh, we also moved 2 big boulders, cut up and cleared a 30' cedar that fell just in front of our tent platform, moved rocks, brush and logs, built 1 washer box, partially installed a winch on the tractor, played rummi-Q and some other things I'm sure)

Another relaxing weekend at the cottage (to-be).

Another busy weekend

Pix from:



Avry Christening party - another opportunity for her uncle's to fight over Gramma's buttertarts.

My face healing (2 weeks post-surgery)

Leah inspecting the hole Rob dug in preparation for installing the spiral staircase.

Other events included:
Spending the weekend with our bestest pal Carol Smith
Leah to a special screening of Kung Foo Panda
Baseball game (we won 21 - 6 )
Ev to birthday pool party
Housecleaning and prepping for 2 parties
Baseball party (1)at Marilyn & Larry's(where Rob was volunteered to coach the team on Tuesday)
Christening service for Avry
Christening party (2) for Avry
Laundry, laundry, laundry, laundry
Gardening with Grandma

Wish I had time to:
Meet my sister Sharon in Toronto on Saturday night
Meet my girlfriends Shirley and Violet for a drink on Saturday night
Visit Aunt Joyce and Uncle Larry while they are in town
Iron

But I have found time to blog - as boring as this is....
But now, it is time for bed.

Kodak moments (when time to blog is short)

I'm playing baseball again with GALS - the local ladies slo-pitch league. Lots of fun, lots of hugs, lots of social time after each game. I'm not hitting very well, but am catching most things thrown my way to first base.

We have been up to the cottage twice and in between those weekends we:

Performed in the school play (Ev & Leah)











Had a "spot" removed from my face




Bought some summer outfits at the Superstore


and...

Took possesion of a
BRAND
NEW
TRACTOR



Life is good!

SHOWTIME

The youngest girls performed in the school musical yesterday and today. They have been rehearsing for 5 months.
Leah learned music and dance steps for 9 songs! Some of the songs were Broadway standards - "America" from West Side Story, and "Oklahoma". We watched clips - on YouTube - of West Side Story. It was great to see the girls' interest in all things musical (theatre).
Ev was a character in the play. It went from dramatic to musical scene and back again throughout the performance. I was amazed at the voices of some of the young girls.
Leah sounded great in the shower tonight as she went through every song from the show. I think that from now on, every time she hears "Respect", "Poison Ivy" and "Jailhouse Rock", she will have fond memories of hard work paying off in spades.
I was very proud of all the kids, teachers and parents - what a huge effort.

We're all together again!

The snowbirds have returned! Hooray!
Mom and Dad got back on April 1st (and were over making dinner for us and Adam and Yvonne the next night).
Irma and Leo landed yesterday.The little girls were late for school 7 days over the 8 weeks that Omi and Opa were away. And we ate out at least that number of times.
We definitely regressed while they were gone.

Hockey Tournament

Lots of fun on Friday and Saturday in Hamilton. 3 hockey games, swimming, movies, and a party for the kids and parents. And our Hockey Girl played well. Here she is after making the first goal of the tournament.

No I didn't get the math right!

Oh for pete's sake
I meant 12,500 pennies
Little wonder that the kids stopped asking me for math help when they hit Grade 1

Au Naturel and Oh Mastercard

I have a love/hate relationship with my hair.



But today "I feel pretty!" and wish I had somewhere to go.
Only Hairdresser Sue can tame this mane.
And it is worth every penny - 1,250,00 of them, not including tip (did I do the math right?)

Adorable

Eldest and youngest cousins. Wasn't it just yesterday when we were gazing adoringly at Eldest?

Spa Girl

Ahh. What a sweet life!
The things my girls do when they are chased from the TV room and left to entertain themselves.

10:14 p.m.

Time for bed.

Rob is at hockey. Eldest is at a restaurant celebrating a friend's birthday - to be followed by a sleepover (exams are over). The younger sisters had a spa night and are sleeping in eldest sister's room.

I just completed an online survey for GO Transit (I cut and paste my whine to Rob that is posted below, into the survey comment section).

One question asked how long I had been using the system. That would be 22 years and 8 months - give or take a few maternity leaves!

Only 12 years and 6 months to go.

10:20 Good night.

Little Known Facts

Directions! Now, Here Is What You Are Supposed To Do...And Please Do Not Spoil The Fun! Hit Forward, Delete My Answers And Type In Your Answers. Then Send This To A Whole Bunch Of People That You Know...And Send It Back To Me So I Can See Your Answers, The Theory Is That You Will Learn A Lot Of Little Known Facts About Those You Know. Remember To Send It Back Please!

1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE?
Yes - Middle Name: Anne
After my mom's step-mom Annie Mar(r?) My scottish grandmother who came over from England to marry my grandfather

2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED?
I cry at the drop of a hat so I was surprised that it took a while to remember...last weekend, at the end of the movie Juno. Hot, bittersweet tears...

3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING
Only when I use a fat pen. Using a fine point pen or marker emphasizes all my inconsistencies.

4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT?
Kielbasa loaf

5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS?
3 girls - not enough

6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU?
If I were a very patient person

7. DO YOU USE SARCASM A Lot?
Oh Puhlease!

8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS
no

9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP?
Nope - can't stand being upside down

10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL?
Cream of Wheat

11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF?
Usually (especially when the kids are around)

12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG?
I'm more of a flight than fight gal, but after 47 years, yes - emotionally and physically

13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM?
Maple crunch

14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE?
Gotta think about that one

15. RED OR PINK?
RED

16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVOURITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF?
My gummy smile, speaking volume and tendency to act like an eager-to-please puppy

17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST?
I miss my brother - he lived with us after he and his wife split up and I loved getting to know him all over again. I know he is happy with his new partner, but I wish that we could find a way to see each other more often.

18. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE?
Ribeye steak, roasted potatoes, okra, green beans, caesar salad and lots of red wine. Yummmmmm

19. WHAT ARE YOU listening to RIGHT NOW?
Eldest daughter playing a game on her computer 2 feet beside me.

20. IF YOU WHERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE?
Green comes to mind but I don't know why...

21. FAVORITE SMELLS?
Babies, pine-sol cleaned house (rare), fried onions, laundry from the clothesline. Aahh!

22. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE?
Rob - checking on what kind of wine I needed to pick up from the liquor store.

23. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU?
Yup. Wish we could see each other more often. Most likely next year when our daughters are playing hockey together,

24. HAIR COLOUR?
At least every 3 months. Right now, dark blond with lots of grey and ash at the roots. And it's only been 8 weeks...

25. EYE COLOuR?
Grey blue. They change with my moods (AND I have my moods!)
A bit bloodshot right now, cause I slept with my contacts in last night. I'm having a hard time taking out my contacts with these new fake nails.

26. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS?
Since eldest was 3 months old. Couldn't take her ripping my glasses off my face any more.

27. FAVOURITE FOOD?
Fresh bread, old cheese and a good glass of wine.

28. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS?
Happy, happy, happy.

29. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED?
Juno. A mother-daughter night (5 moms + 1 adult friend and 6 13-year-olds)

30. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING?
Black tank top - sweatshirt tossed aside during last hot flash.

31. SUMMER OR WINTER?
HELLO???? I wasn't born on the summer solstice for nuthin!

32. HUGS OR KISSES?
Depends...

33. FAVORITE DESSERT?
Creme Brulee

34. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW?
Oh crap - I promised the girls we would go to the library today! Instead we picked up prescriptions at Shoppers, groceries at No Frills (or was that Basics?), and Webkins & earrings at Hopedale.

35. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD?
Oh crap - forgot to take it out of my briefcase. Using a stack of papers and forms that need to be put away/filled out.

36. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON TV LAST NIGHT?
What the hell did we do last night????

37. FAVOURITE SOUND?
A cork being pulled out of a wine bottle.

38. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES?
BEATLES!

39. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME?
Greece. In Grade 11. The only time I've been to Europe. Never thought that would be it.

40. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT?
Not yet. I would loooove to sing - or at least have a singing voice that people would like to listen to.

41. WHERE WERE YOU BORN?
Hamilton, ON

You had better not laugh young man

The Kremer nephews were over a few weekends ago. I remember visiting my cousins - lots of fun and lots of noise. I don't have much recollection of aunts and uncles during those visits. I'm sure I held them in much more awe and respect than my nephews seem to do with me.

The youngest in particular must think that I am the stupidest person around. I made the mistake of not being able to start the Nintendo Wii game on his last overnight visit. I guess that's why he invaded his eldest cousin's room early Saturday morning, demanding that she start the game for him. I poked my head into the room and told him that I would put it on as soon as I had a quick shower. "BUT YOU DON'T KNOW HOW TO WORK IT!" he cried in despair.

Ah yes, Aunt Valerie the doofus.

I must have convinced him that I was up to the task because as soon as I got out of the shower he barged into the bathroom asking me to go downstairs and start the game. "Brandon!" I exclaimed in surprise as I grabbed for a towel.

To my horror he gave me the once-over, looked me right in the eye and solemly declared, "Don't worry - I won't laugh."

I finally did.

Blue Dishes going back

I was disappointed, but not too surprised to find that 3 of the 4 plates in each carton were discoloured or streaked with a not complementary rusty pigment. So back they go.
The good news is that I picked up my replacement Palm Pilot this afternoon. It's all synched and ready to go. No more missed hockey games, birthdays and medical appointments. And, with a bit of discipline and a good seat on the GO Train, I might be able to practice some writing. (This sweet prose doesn't come naturally you know.) Of course, I have to be strong and avoid getting sucked into the "9.95 Solitare Games" that I have loaded onto this device.
Wish me luck.

Hooray - Back to Work Tomorrow!

8:30 Sunday night.

Can't even remember what we did Friday night, but won't forget about getting to the rink Saturday morning and finding no one else from the team there. I had the time and the rink correct, just the wrong day. (These little problems will be remedied soon when I get my palm pilot fixed/replaced. But not soon enough)

So back home with a very disappointed Hockey Girl in the back seat. Her sleeping sister (D2) was up (woken by our phone call home to get her to check the hockey schedule). Eldest was at her first in-class driving lesson. Lucky her, she missed 4 hours of house cleaning. D2 and Rob vacummed and dusted both floors, and I spent the whole time in the kitchen cleaning counters, appliances, cupboards. Geez - that seems like a long time to spend on so little, but it was a lot of cleaning.

Hockey Girl got to take off with Omi and Opa to visit her cousins. D2 and I ran some errands (including 1 hour at the bank straightening out RESP and allowance deductions) then I was ready for a nap. We scrambled together a quick pasta dinner, watched a bit of a movie and I was upstairs and into bed by 10:00.

I may have been the first into bed, but somehow ended up the last to sleep. Rob and D2 made enough noise to wake me up when they came upstairs @ 11:00, as did Eldest when she pounded on the door and rang the doorbell @ 11:30.
She: "WHY do you do this to me?"
Me: "WHY don't you have your keys?"

And so ended Saturday.

Up and out the door the next morning at 8:45 for hockey. Hooray, we weren't the last ones on the ice. Hockey girl played a great game - she really hustles. No goals though, so Opa keeps his toonies for another week.

We stopped at Home Depot on the way home to pick up a carpet cleaner. 4 hour rental. No probs. Rob and the girls moved almost all the furniture out of each bedroom, spot cleaned the many offending blotches and coaxed the machine over all the carpets. Hockey Girl's room was the biggest improvement.

Meanwhile, I started doing the laundry, dropped off Hockey Girl at a friends, and kept tabs on what was going on upstairs. The big girls kept disappearing - to do homework we were told. Eldest was on her cell phone most of the time. About 3 1/2 hours in, she made us some grilled cheese sandwiches.

Rob finished up and raced to return the machine in time. The girls cleaned up the kitchen, I kept the washing machine and dryer well-fed, then we headed out to the local fabric store. The eldest has one last sewing project for this term.

So far she has made pyjama pants and a housecoat. This last project (I find out later) was supposed to be the most difficult. That I learned, AFTER forking out $32 for material to make placemats. Eldest says she has a way to make them more complicated. (And since she is my daughter, that shouldn't be too hard)

Back in the car and over to Future Shop. My priceless and irreplaceable Palm Pilot is unfixable so I get a store credit. The only problem is that Future Shop isn't stocking them anymore. AAAAAGH!

Finally, to the mall to return Christmas presents.

While the girls zipped through the mall to spend their gift cards, I stayed put in The Bay's housewares section.

I've been looking for some dishes to compliment our 20 year old, still complete, all white corning ware set. I imagine that most families would have had to replace their dishes by now right? Not us. Corning ware really is indestructable. I think that we have only had 2 dishes break in all this time. And while I am glad that they still look like new, I really would like to add some colour to the mix.

I found a beautiful 16 pc set for $21. Having the kind of family that takes a proprietary interest in everything that goes on, and comes into this household, I knew that I was taking a big risk in making the unilateral decision to buy them without any family consultation. But, I rationalized, I had my store credit from the returned Christmas gifts and I felt they were as nice as I had seen to date, and that $21 couldn't be beat. So I bought 2 sets and waited for the girls to make their way back to me to carry the boxes to the car.

Of course, Eldest hates them ("Blue!?! They're like gramma dishes!") Sorry Gramma.

I've only taken one plate out so far and so far, they aren't doing anything for Rob. But now that it is late Sunday evening and finally "me time", I am going to take out a full set and see how they stack up.

Then I will hop in the shower, get my clothes ready for tomorrow, try to do some stretches and get some sleep. Hockey Girl has 6:00 a.m. practice (Rob is taking her) and I'll be getting Eldest to 6:55 a.m. practice.

And before you know it, I'll be back at my paying job, finally feeling organized, in control and not so pressured.

TTIM

Like I have time for this

2nd Daughter is putting the youngest to bed. They are singing "The Wheels on the Bus". The eldest is at cheer practice and hubby is in Miami at a Code Meeting.

I only made it onto this site as I had to sign in to Blogworld or whatever this google sight is called, in order to be able to comment on cousin Kyran's blog.yesterday. Today I had to confirm my e-mail address. Somehow I ended up making my own blog - in the dark, on the couch, waiting for the 2 extra strength muscle relaxants to kick in.

That's pretty much how my day ends. Here is how it started, as told to hubby in Miami (and copying baby brother, girlfriend and Auntie) Poor me.


-----Original Message-----
Sent: January 10, 2008
To: Rob
Cc: Adam ; Auntie Joyce; Carol
Subject: Commuting Fun (aka Poor me!)

I buggered up my back in my race for the GO train this morn.

A morning from hell I might add:

The 7:28 was cancelled, so the 7:38 was packed by the time it hit Bronte. I would say that less than half the ppl on the platform made it on the train. Not a happy group of commuters...

I drove over to the Oakville stn to try and catch the 7:53. Parked illegally and hoofed it up to the platform. Thirty feet away from the door, the train took off. *#!!%&&*$#!!!

By then I had muscle spasms from when I jerked the entrance doors open and similtaneously bent down to catch my bracelet that fell from the force of that motion.

I hobbled back to my car and drove back to Bronte to catch the 8:25. It took all me strength not to cry. I keep telling myself that this is a trifle of misfortune compared to what most people in the world are facing every day.

I know I should have stayed put, but I didn't want to get in at 9:30. But I did anyway.( As I grabbed a coffee at the stn at 8:20, I heard the GO staff swap horror stories about the ticked off communters they had to deal with that morning. It was probably just as well that I stayed away - I was so ticked I may have helped to start a riot)

Hope that you are having a better day in Florida!

V

Rob Replies

From: Rob
Sent: Thu 10/01/2008
To: Valerie
Cc: Adam; Carol; Auntie Joyce
Subject: Re: Commuting Fun (aka Poor me!)


I got up at 8, dressed and prepped by 8:10 took the elevator from my 6th floor room to the 2nd floor, walked past the deli & grabbed a muffin and OJ to attend my 8:30 meeting - this lack of physical exercise is killing me.
ola from Miami.
Rob