Day 293 - 72 Days to Go

The beginning of a very busy week.
Managed to get a couple loads of laundry done this morning. Then headed off to the Hamptons school to work for a couple of hour. Made a pit stop at Michaels for more tape to finish some pictures for school.
Rest!
Off to soccer. It was the son's first (and unfortunately) last game of the school soccer play offs. The other team won 1-0. The ref'ng was not great, but I don't think it cost us the game. We had ample of chanced to score, but just missed the next by, well a pole!!! The entire family was there to watch - Me, the daughter and Bill.
After soccer we went to Mom Wee's grave to pay our respects. Took some beautiful flowers Visits to the cemetery are not uncommon for us. We usually go two or three times a year to pay our respects to family members who has passed. This was the hardest trip to make. I thought I would be ok, but just seeing the picture of Mom made me very sad! The daughter apologized to Grandma for getting a tatoo and then the son said "Guess what Grandma - I have a Chinese girlfriend - you'd like her!" That's when the tears came!!!!! Miss you Mom - lots.

Then we headed out for supper. Went to noodle place across from the son's school. It was good, hit the spot. Good thing I've been practicing my dancing since we got home - cause I'm full.

Got an email from the teacher in my preschool. Seems the little boy "whom I was domineering over" has withdrawn from the progam. I realize there is only one month left of school, but I hope they at least let him go somewhere else for that last month. He really needs some social time to learn his social skills. Sounds like Dad could use some too (did I actually type that).

I can see from Facebook, that Karen has made the pregnancy anoucement herself, so I don't have to be sooo secretive anymore. Did I mention I'm going to be an Aunt again!!!!

BODY: 10,000 steps and counting (back to practicing the line dancing)

MIND: "Never let a win get to your head, or a loss to your heart. "
-Chuck D, from song by Public Enemy He Got Game

Good night
Stacey

Day 292 - 73 Days to Go

I really have to stop staying up too late. It just gives me such a slower start in the morning.
Laundry - picture - line dance practicing - dinner preparation. That pretty much covers I spent most of the day doing. In between chores, I would practice another dance. I really should have stayed on top of the dances during the break.
The daughter was a lifesaver today. Nana really needed to go for groceries, so the daughter dropped her brother off at soccer then went to pick up Nana. I offered to do her poop box chores this week to thank her. Nana probably enjoyed having her granddaughter take her shopping anyways.
The roast BBQ pork and salmon turned out just fine for supper. The sparkly wine Bill bought me for mother's day was opened and enjoyed as well. Well some of us didn't get a chance to enjoy the wine. Someone needed to stay away from the alcohol. Someone can't have any alcohold until after November. That's right, there is a new little Wee expected in the family. If votes could count, and the mom to be didn't get a vote, "a boy" is what the wish list wants. Congratulations to Ben and Karen. We are all excited about the new addition - and can't wait to take this journey with you guys!!!

Anything else seems pretty boring compared to that news. Everyone left by 10:00ish and it's going to be a very quiet rest of the evening. The daughter has gone to a show; the son has taken the phone and headed to his room; Bill's watching TV and I'm ready for bed. Not going to stay up late tonight!!!

BODY: Just over 10,000 steps. Practicing my line dance helped bring that over.

MIND: "To be pregnant is to be vitally alive,thoroughly woman, and undoubtedly inhabited."
~ Anne Buchanan & Debra Klingsporn

Good night
Stacey

Day 291 - 74 Days to Go

Thank you De for your lovely comment! It would have been a little more convincing if you hadn't have had to ask the question afterwards. It reminds of my wedding. Bill stood up to give the toast to the bride. He said something to the effect "Stacey said this is where I stand up and I'm supposed to say something nice about the bride!" All the same, Thanks De for your comforing reassurance!!!!
Woke up to another foot of snow on the ground. Yes that white stuff. Snow is starting to become a bad four letter word. Speaking of four letter words. The other day at preschool, during snack time, one of the little boys called me to the table - he said "Mrs. Wee I know what the "F" word is. Just out of the blue. Now the "kid" in me wanted to ask what it was. But the responsible person said "I know too - it's Friend" No he said that's not it. Then I said it must be Frog! Nope he says "It's &$^#&^ and he just mouthed a bunch of movements. I couldn't wait to share the story with him mom (she's got a great sense of humour) She was so embarrased. I can only imagine the stuff my kids told at school (the domineering mother)
I can't remember if I've already told that story - if I have, I apologize, and no doubt will tell it again sometime in the future.

The daughter was gone all day and the son did his chores and headed over to a friends. So that left Bill and I to.............................go grocery shopping.
I also got my office cleaned out (went through boxes - threw out stuff - bagged other stuff for donations) It doesn't look any different, but I know all those containers are a little less full.
Hopefully tomorrow will bring some nicer weather

BODY: 10,000 steps

MIND: Kids Say the Darndest things "THE BLESSING My wife invited some people to dinner. At the table, sheturned to our six-year-old daughter and said, “Would you like to say theblessing?” “I wouldn’t know what to say,” she replied. “Just say what youhear >>> Mommy say,” my wife said.
Our daughter bowed her head and said, “Dear Lord, why on earth did I inviteall these people to dinner?”

Good night
Stacey

Dy 290 - 75 Days to Go

Hmmm - I must admit I'm a little disappointed. My ego was sure that there would be at least one comment in my Blog messages saying "Oh Stacey - you are so not domineering!" I may have to re-evalute my persona!!!!!



May 28, 8:30 am and the ground is covered in white snow (as opposed to tree fuzz) 6:11 pm and the snow is still on the ground, but apparently only in the Hamptons.



Teacher daughter took me for my driving lessons today. Ever since Bill informed me that I need to help drive on our trip to Seattle (the new car - and of course like the rest of Bill's vehicles, it is a standard - and black) I am not fond of driving a standard, but I guess on the high way I can probably handle it. Even now my brain hurts trying to remember what needs to be done; clutch and brake; back to first; no clutch when braking a little - I mean how can you not just enjoy brake, gas, brake, gas. The soccer dome parking lot is a great place to practise.



For those of you who like garage sales, the Scenic Acres Retirement Residence is having a free pancake breakfast and garage sale on Saturday June 26th. They are in the process of renovating the entire building and I believe they have furniture, fixtures, art work and plants available.

The rest of the day was pretty much quiet. We had a family movie tonight (Ice Age - the latest one I think) Well it was actually a family minus one. The daughter was working - braiding horses for a horse show tomorrow. And here I thought we had got away from the barn. The only thing about her working with horses again - it's Bill's truck that is going to smell and not my car. Well my car smells, but it's more of a stinky soccer smell. One day.......

Got some laundry done and more pictures for the preschool. I also decided to move around a few things in my office so of course with moving comes cleaning. I have enough dust bunnies to start my own pet store!

BODY: 10,100 steps - had to push for that

MIND: By maguijo

You need to follow just a few simple rules and your dust bunnies will probably outlive you.
Never take your dust bunnies for a ride in a convertible.
Never vacuum under or near the couch or bed where they live
Never handle your dust bunnies right after putting on hand lotion
Always keep your dust bunnies hidden when you have visitors
Don’t feed your dust bunnies anything that smells bad when it decomposes

Good night

Stacey

Day 289 - 76 Days to Go

domineering [ˌdɒmɪˈnɪərɪŋ]
adj
acting with or showing arrogance or tyranny;



Yes that is the word of the day! According to a father of a young man in our class, that is what I am! At first I was in shock: (because I just finished telling the teacher that the dad really did seem sincere and loves his son) Then I found it humorus; (because I've tried to convince my own kids that I can be very mean and domineering, but they say I not very good at it) Then I was hurt and doubtful (maybe I said something to this boy that was hurtful) Then I was angry (because I played over in my head the events of the day, and realised this "Dad" expects no responsibility from his son.)



First the back ground:

1st: Dad doesn't usually drop off or pick up son; Grandpa does.

2nd: Mom and Dad are going through an ugly custody battle and Mom gets kids on the weekend

3rd: Since I have worked there in November, there has never been a parent/grandparent volunteer in the class

4th: Student sometimes comes to class with no snack or the empty bag from last class.



As I recollect the events, here what plays out.

The class had started this morning and during playtime one of the young boys asked me to take him to the washroom; Most of the kids are independant in the washroom and this boy was one of them; so I usually stand outside the bathroom door; in the boys bathroom there is a toilet stall and a urinal. The child I brought to the bathroom wanted to go into the stall and the "child" in discussion was already in the urinal stall. The door to the stall was locked; I asked the "child" if he had been in there and locked it (it's a type of behaviour he's capable of) He said no, he was using the urinal; at the same time, he said he didn't have to pee. I wasn't sure if he did or didn't but dad was at the end of the hall so I wasn't going to quetion whether he did or not. I did ask him if he knew how to unlock the stall. He said yes and I asked him if he would. So he climbed under the stall, unlocked it and opened the door. I thanked him and as he started to walk out of the bathroom, I asked him to wash his hands - and he did. He ran down the hall, Dad scooped him up (a very tall Dad), gave him a big kiss on the cheek and walked out of the building without a look or acknowledgement whatsoever.
The second possible incident happened when the Dad returned to pick up his son. The grandfather phoned and said the Dad was late; stuck in traffic. So the young boy didn't want to read any more books, so the teacher told him he could play with a toy, but had to promise to pick the toy up when Dad got there. (he's not a big cleaner upper) So I sat with the boy while he played with the beads (dumped all on the table) Pretty soon he hears his Dad come down the hall; he runs to greet him, but the teacher reminds him of his promise. So I'm sitting there and I ask if he would like some help putting the beads away. He doesn't answer; so I ask again and he nods; I try and get him to use his words and he does. He puts away half of the beads and starts to leave; I call him back and say we're not finished - Dad calls him to the door. The teacher follows them out and that is when the comment was made.
Having typed this entire scenario out; I have to ask myself - could I have done anything different? Probably lots - let him not wash his hands; maybe not assume he had locked the door (I still think he might have done that); not offered my help to clean up the beads; not made him use his words; maybe to have even let him just run out the door when he wanted to: Hmmm - I'll have to take awhile to think on that one. He really is a good kid, but needs direction and some positive attention (to offset all the negative he gets elsewhere) I would love to sit down with the Dad and find out his rational, but I think he's probably coming from some negative place and no matter what I would have said or done, would have been wrong. All I can hope is that little boy doesn't lose out on what he needs. When he starts kindergarden next year, he is either going to end up being bullied or being the bully!!!!!

I guess I've used up quite a bit of space. Won't go into the Carlton job today; or the fact that there is a snow warning here on the 27th of May.

BODY: 10,400 steps

MIND: "And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us some email." -- 4 year old girl, misquoting the Lord's Prayer

Good Night
Stacey

Day 288 - 77 Days to Go

I've had my first disappointment in Dr. Oz. I thought it was only Google that I needed to be wary off. Dr. Oz had a gentleman on his show a couple of weeks ago. He made three different meals using oats. Well I printed off the recipes; bought the ingredients yesterday and tried the breakfast dish this morning. I have one questions - What the heck am I going to do with all this oatmeal?????????? It was terrible. I threw the entire thing in the garbage. It really did sound mouth watering; oatmeal; egg whites; apple slices; cinnamon - and cook like a pancake!!!
Then there was my second disappointment in Dr. Oz. I tried the oatmeal recipe for the salmon pancakes. One tasted not bad; more than that and it was too rich; add the cold sauce to put on top; yeah - no. I'm not going to even attempt the chicken recipe. Guess I'll be making some oatmeal cookies.

Woke up nice and early this morning. (to enjoy my fancy breakfast) Had cereal with my paper instead.

Met my supervisor at 10:00ish. Worked for a couple of hours doing cards (or getting retrained) Despite not having all the paper work in place, I am officially starting. Came home and got the disastorous supper started. While that was cooking, I got my cookie dough ready for chocolate chip cookies. I'll try and get those cooked up for tomorrow.

The son was home early so we watched the last of Lost. Now I have to wait until August until the last season comes out on DVD. Yeah for Juliette and getting the bomb to blow! I had tears when Sawyer lost her hand. Did I mention he's sooo cute.

The son had a school soccer game way, way out in the south. They won 2 to 0 against EP Scarlett. Now the finals will be starting. Then it was back to the North for tech training. Needless to say I did not get too much accomplished this evening.

I am seriously going to be talking to Bill about getting the son his own computer. I spent 20 minutes rebooting mine. Then I had to deal with the grass under the desk (from sitting down after soccer and removing his socks. Then there was sticky tape on my desk from where his leg was wrapped. I WANT MY OWN SPACE!!!!!!

BODY: 8000 steps. Didn't wear my pedometer to work - must remember to make that a normal routine.

MIND: Louise Hay "I am safe wherever I turn."

Good night
Stacey

Day 287 - 78 Days to Go

It is the start of a short week. Work was a little busy today; probably because the kids were away for a long weekend. It was one of the boys birthday. His mom brought in jello and homemade egg tarts. They are the best egg tarts I have ever tasted. I just had to get the recipe and of course I made them tonight.
Got a lot accomplished today; supper premade- dandelion patrol-maya walk and of course - soccer. Actually the daughter was a great help. She drove her brother to soccer and I only had to go and pick him up. Then I dropped him off at home and ran to Co-op for a few groceries.
Got caught up on all my newspapers. Was very surprised to hear the story about the young man who went over the falls at Lundbreck and died. The surprise part was that he went over the falls. Apparently extreme kayakers do it all the time. Those are the same falls that Janice and I go camping to every year. This year will be our fourth annual.
Got a call from the Carlton manager. He has now offered my two stores - the safeways and the chapters. I meet with him tomorrow. I am soo stoked (is that still a verb)
Got the get the rest of the groceries put away so the son and I can watch some Lost. Then I need to read some of my book. Bought the next Twight version - Eclipse. I am really enjoying the series. Maybe will try and watch the movies soon - or at least next winter.

BODY: 11,700 steps and a nice walk with Maya tonight

MIND: Louise Hay "The ocean of life is lavish with its abundance."

Good night
Stacey