Need Sleep...or lots of caffeine....

I would so pay someone a thousand dollars to bring me a Tim's double double right now...I will throw in another hundred if you also bring me a Swiss Chalet quarter chicken meal with white meat...

Doug decided to start redoing our bathroom the other night...he must have been still high of the laundry room reno and wanted to start the bathroom straight away...little did he know he would be going away for a week on Saturday...so we have our main bathroom torn apart and he is leaving me in 2 days...I'm not entirely thrilled about the situation...so he was up until 2am trying to get the walls finished...

Yesterday we also realized that the inspection in our car runs out tomorrow and so does the registration of our truck...I would like to know who the hell planned that fckery...Doug can't go away and leave me with illegal vehicles to drive...I live on a road that is constantly patrolled by the cops because people can't drive within the posted speed limit and a few years ago a kid got hit by a car..twice... so now they are always randomly doing radar and sticker checks...so now we need to figure out what to do...its not like I really drive anywhere anyways...but I know...sure as shit if I took the car to run out to the store for 5 minutes I would get caught...mind you...I would totally talk my way out of it...I learned from the best...my mom has been pulled over for speeding at least 5 times...she gets out of it every time...I was with her on one of these occasions...we were driving in the states of all places...

Behold the master at work...

We pass the cop...he pulls a u turn..lights come on...we pull over...

State trooper "license and registration please...blah, blah....do you realize you were not obeying the speed limit?"
Mom " yeah I know...I am lost and I only sped up to see the sign better"
State trooper hands back her registration and stuff "ok...well don't speed in Connecticut anymore please...have a nice day"

*jawdrop*

I can't make this shit up...seriously...true story bro....

We are not going out for supper tonight...my brother and aunt are coming over for cake and then the kids want to send off balloons with handmade letters attached to them...also..please don't send me an email stating that letting balloons go into the sky harms the environment...kills birds and could possibly take out a power grid...I know and I don't care...the kids want to send something to grandad in heaven...

With that...I am also thinking of making my blog private...just to people I know or those that read the blog and don't snark about it...I'm not sure how it works...I think I have to invite you myself...so if you click on my profile on the sidebar there will be a contact link...if you want to continue viewing this mess...contact me...thing is I don't know if I need your email addresses or what...maybe the site picks up your IP...I also don't know if you need to put in some sort of access code every time you want to view the page...which I know would be a total pain in the ass...I will figure something out...

Before I go...

Happy Birthday Daddy...I love you....I hope you like the balloons...

Move over Jenny Craig...

So...I've had more than one person ask me how I lost all that weight...they anticipate my answer...its as if I am going to tell them where to find the Holy Grail...

So I says...have a parent die and live on nothing but cigarettes and coffee for 4 months...throw in chasing after 2 children under the age of 4 and its a sure thing...voila...there goes 70lbs...see ya later fattie...

I know that's not the answer they wanted to hear...but its the truth...and its a little odd because I have always been an emotional eater...if I was sad I ate...angry I ate..happy I ate...but I remember the day my dad told me he only had a few months to live..I literally could not bring a fork to my mouth..I wasn't even hungry...I eat now obvioulsy...but I'm just not shovelling it in like I was before..I'm sure the pounds will begin to add up...whenever I watch tv I need to munch on something..so for the last few nights I've been noshing on popcorn, chips and ice cream at like 9pm...there will be consequences no doubt...

Which leads me to my next topic...

When my dad passed away...all I heard and read is that it gets easier...I didn't believe it at the time...but its true...I mean...the ache of losing and missing my dad is still there everyday...but somehow its different...life goes on...it has to go on...his death no longer consumes my life...we had to find a new normal...yes, I realize that grieving is an individual process...no two people grieve in the same way...I am open with my grief...my brother tends to keep his private...not that I can speak for him..but I think it may be harder on him...he is getting married next month..my dad won't be there...his future children will never meet their grandfather...that must be difficult...its a small comfort to me that my dad did get to walk me down the aisle and he got to hold, love and play with all of my children...tomorrow my dad would have turned 61..if he was here..we would have went out to eat, have cake and teased him for getting old...well, I plan to do the exact same thing tomorrow...I know he will be there..he is with me all the time...

I had to move our dinner with friends to Sunday...but Doug let me know this morning that he may have to fly to Newfoundland for a week and will have to leave Saturday morning...its hard to make plans when he could be sent away with a few days notice...in the last 5 years or so we have only spent 2 nights apart..I don't know how I am going to react...I might enjoy it or it might be a week of hell...and if I am miserable you all will know it...


My mac and cheese was so good last night...it really is a comfort food to me..

Its the simplest thing to make...my issue is grating the cheese...I have arthritis in my hands and its hard to get a good grip on anything for longer than a minute...just ask Doug...then I remembered I purchased a shredder attachment for my Kitchen Aid mixer..so I hooked it up and it works like a dream...when I was looking for my shredder I found my pasta making attachment..when I bought my mixer I went a little nuts and bought every accessory to go with it...so I think I will make homemade pasta in the next few days...should be interesting...

Somebody pat me on the back will ya...

I am a domestic goddess...

Last night supper was divine *cue angels singing*

All of us had 2 servings...and that is a rare thing in my house...

It was pot roast perfection...I have to share the recipe...if you have a slow cooker dust that bad boy off and use it...if you don't...get thee to a store and buy one...you will thank me...

Its so easy...this is all you need...

2 cans of cream of mushroom soup *I used golden mushroom instead because we like the taste better*
1 package of onion soup mix or about 1oz of soup mix
Approx 2 cups of beef broth
1 roast

Put the roast in the slow cooker...I seared mine first in a pan just to seal the juices...but you don't have to

Dump the soup mixture in...take some beef broth and pour over it and add enough until it is almost covered...

Cook on low for 8 hours...

I served it with mashed herb potatoes and buttered carrots and peas...you can use the leftover soupy stuff in the crock pot as gravy...if its not thick enough just add a little flour until you get the consistency you want...


I just have to say...I've been watching too much TV...there seems to be just so many good shows on right now...last night I caught some of Dancing with the Stars...I was curious to see Chaz Bono dance...I think he did great...Doug told me that it wasn't hard to tell he used to be a woman...all he did was complain lol..we also caught the premieres of Revenge, Pan Am and The Playboy Club..they seem to be worth watching...I think this season of Survivor will be interesting...I've had a crush on Ozzy since his first time on the show...

I've been putting more thought into what I am gonna be for Halloween..since I will have to pack my costume I need something minimal..I finally decided on going as a 1950s housewife..I'm sure I can find a vintage dress somewhere and add an apron..hair done in pin curls covered with a scarf...I wonder if I am missing anything..I will have to confer with my nanny...she will know...I bet she rocked the 50s housewife look...she probably looked something like this...

It is more fallish today...think I will make homemade mac and cheese for supper...the family better appreciate these meals made from scratch...tomorrow it could be fish sticks and tator tots...

It seemed like a great idea...

I missed 2 days of blogging because I was trapped in the laundry room...

When I first mentioned redoing the laundry room why didn't someone try to stop me...

The original plan was to stack the washer and dryer...and maybe paint the walls...that wasn't enough work for Doug..oh no...he says..."why don't we replace the floor"?

I will admit the old cushion floor had seen better days..it was 27 years old..and our neighbors gave us some new cushion floor they had leftover a few months ago from when they put new floor down...so I guess it made sense...we had new floor...why not?

So bright and early Saturday morning...we are moving out the appliances and tearing up the old floor...kids were okay with that..they loved that they could go in and beat the hell out of the floor and help daddy pull it up...but when it was time to paint...that set the kids off into a real frenzy...

I put some old clothes on them and Doug agreed that they could help paint...he would do the trim and they could go at the walls with just a paint brush...I put a little paint in a smaller container for them..they would put the whole brush in...and their hands..it was everywhere...no biggie...they were having fun...painting themselves, Doug and each other...until the little buggers decided they didn't want to paint the laundry room walls anymore so they abandoned the job with bigger aspirations in mind...they tracked paint all down the hallway and into the kitchen...they hand painted the hardwood floor in the kitchen...Doug and I were bickering over shelf placement when they escaped...I knew they left the room and they did leave the paint brushes behind so I didn't think anything of it...what I failed to remember is that they had paint on their hands and feet...holy canolli what a mess...luckily the paint wiped right up...Doug waited until they were in bed and he put a second coat on the walls..

Sunday we put the floor down...we then realized that because of hose and vent placements we wouldn't be able to stack the washer and dryer so they are back where they were and I still have no extra space..honestly I just wanted more room to hide my piles of laundry...with my current system..I take the clothes out of the dryer and pile them on my bed to fold at some point...this never usually happen and I end up putting the clothes back in the dryer..well because we like to sleep in our bed without laundry...but the funny thing is...Doug gets worked up and complains when the clothes are on the bed when he wants to go to sleep...really...it would take him less time to actually fold and put the clothes away than it does for him to bitch and moan about it...regardless...the room needed a makeover and I'm glad its done...

Doug wants to do the bathroom next...


The weather had been crazy here the last few days...it was hot yesterday...I had taken a pot roast out to cook for Sunday supper but the heat was unbearable...its in the slow cooker right now..its still a warm day but I have to cook it today...its supposed to be fall weather...I am getting anxious to cook stews and chili...it doesn't feel right when it feels like summer...

No big plans this week....we are having friends over for supper on Thursday so I am trying to figure out what to cook...I made Doug text buddy to see what he and his girlfriend like to eat or if they had any food restrictions...or if they ate food in general...its hard to cook for other people in this age of food fads...there is always someone with a food issue...when Doug and I were planning a party for his graduation and inviting his class and their significant others..I had a few of these...

"I'm vegan"
"I can't eat gluten" *yes, I am aware that is a medical issue*
"I'm vegetarian...but I only eat chicken or fish"
"I don't eat dairy"
"My girlfriend doesn't eat carbs"
"I only eat fair trade chocolate"


Well fine...how about I serve air and water...

Seriously y'all....there are starving countries in this world and you are worried that the egg you are about to eat may or may not have popped out of a free range hen that was only hand fed with green grains or some shit...first world problems *shakes my head*

Part of me wants to have one of these meat haters over and serve them something I tell them is meat free..but its really not..then after they gobble it all down in satisfaction..I will be like ha..I just PUNK'D yo vegan ass...

I hate vegans...I was once in the drugstore browsing makeup and a lady asked the sales person if they carried vegan makeup and nail polish...WTF...does she eat her makeup? I seriously wanted to punch her in the face...maybe that was harsh...I don't hate vegans and I applaud anyone that can change their eating habits in a way that has minimal impact on the environment and animals...I went through that phase once...but some people just take it too damn far...its the crunchy hippy patchouli loving ones that think we are all capital murderers because we eat meat...HELLO...you wouldn't be here today if our caveman ancestors didn't go out and hunt and kill...imagine those cavemen sitting around a fire...grunting or whatever...and one says "I think I will become a vegan" another caveman turns to the others and says "you hold him down and I will beat him with this club"

 I thank those goons...and the woolly mammoths...I bet they were tasty!

I love bacon and steak...and I'm not ashamed to admit it...those that don't like it can go suck on a sewer pipe..and my roast that's cooking now smells so delicious....meat meat meat...glorious meat!



Wow..how did I get from discussing the laundry room to meat...

Fat-less Friday...

I never thought in a million years I would ever type these words...

I am too skinny...

I went through some of my more fancier summer clothes last night...trying to find some things I can wear in Jamaica...my usual wardrobe choice of sweats and graphic tees ain't gonna fly down there...I found a few dresses and skirts...they don't fit...they are too big..I bought a lot in the beginning of summer...I've lost about 25lbs since then..this is only depressing because I do not have the extra money to buy new clothes for a vacation and probably won't be worn until next summer and Christ knows how much I will weigh then...so my only options are to gain some weight (I just shed a tear) or bite the bullet and buy some new ones...decisions decisions...

This trip is stressing me out more and more...I'm not sure its worth it...

Yesterday I decided to google the resort just to see exactly where the hell I am going...I read in some reviews that there are no locals on the beach offering their services...like massages and hair braiding...in Dominican Republic...they have local women wander up and down the beach asking if you want a massage or hair braided...that might seem ghetto to some but I really don't care who I get a massage from...so I probably won't be able to have my hair braided*sad face*

I can get a massage on the beach organized through the resort spa but they charge $130US dollars per hour..no thanks...I was also reading that the beach does not allow topless sun bathing...well, I guess you can do it but if you are bothering somebody the staff may ask you to cover up...I went topless in the Dominican Republic...it wasn't big deal...lots of women did it...so now I am worried about exposing myself and getting in trouble...its an adults only resort so I'm not sure what the fuss is about...my guess is that it ain't the men complaining...and its not like I'm gonna run up and down the shoreline a la Baywatch with my chest bouncing up and down...I'm talking laying in my own little beach hut on my stomach...and if I sit up or reach for my drink and my breasts are exposed in the process..oh well...

I just want to clarify about my post yesterday...I didn't mean to imply I flirt or intentionally check out other men...its not like that...Doug and I have a rule...we can look at the menu all we want but we can never order...

I'm hoping to clean out my laundry room this weekend and have Doug stack our washer and dryer...I don't have much space in there now and would like to be able to use some of the room for storage..maybe I can throw a coat of paint on the wall also...that's my weekend project...

Its rainy and gross here today...we won't be going outside...not due to the weather....but because a satellite the size of a school bus is supposed to hit earth today...I'm not taking any chances....I wonder if Doug could sue NASA if a piece of the satellite landed on my head?

Have a great Friday and keep your eye on the sky....

History had hotness too...

I go cuckoo for history...I'm partial to Medieval history..as that's my speciality...but I love other history too...Civil War...The Great Depression...poor Doug...bless his heart...I made that boy follow me around England and France...we visited Stonehenge...Tower of London...Versialles...Vimy Ridge..I was in my glory...he was in misery...I also force him to watch old timey movies...I think he only shows interest because he knows when I put "one of those" movies on...he gets to have a nap...

I need some time to kill so I browse the interwebs for any new exciting history websites...I came across a real gem...a site that posts pictures of hot dead men...not as in hot men that are dead..but as in hot men that are dead now but not when the picture was taken...ya follow?

I picked a few favorites....

Hot Damn!

I was also messing about with some other websites and found this one...his name is Georg Ganswein....he is the assistant to pope whatever his name is...Benedict *insert roman numerals here*...

I look at his pic and see hotness....Doug looks at his pic and sees child molester...

I know he is a holy man and all....but I would really like to do bad things to him...

Now that I am 33...I am finding older men more attractive...makes sense I guess...but Lindsay and I were out driving a few weeks ago and there were some young guys in the car beside us and they were acting all flirty..likely not directed towards me..but whatever..they were cute I guess but like 25...I just wasn't feeling it...this is what I don't get the whole "cougar" concept...I see no appeal in hooking up with a younger guy...I would want a man that is experienced...not someone I have to teach a few tricks to...Doug never has to worry about me trading him in for a newer model....

I'm getting anxious about going to Jamaica....I really hate the thought of leaving the kids for a week...and thinking about getting everything organized and packed is stressing me out...Doug and I are sad that we will be missing Halloween with the kids...we always dress up as a family and we will miss that this year...

I have 2 things I want to do in Jamaica...

1. Have my hair braided
2. Get a massage on the beach

I had my hair braided when I was in the Dominican Republic...I have a lot of hair...it took 4 hours and cost a fortune...but I loved it...it was nice not to have to worry about styling my hair..I have naturally wavy frizzy hair...the humidity kills it and it takes me 45 minutes to flat iron it..yep, having it braided will be the first thing I do on the island...

Hallie and I need to go shopping for our horse riding lessons...we need helmets, boots and pants...I'm so excited...it will be nice for her and I to get away and do something together once a week...it will be our thing...I hope she is not too afraid of the horses and relaxes and enjoys herself...she is shy and timid...I'm hoping these lessons will get her out of her shell more..

Its a beautiful fall day here...the kids and I are gonna head outside and see if we can find some cool leaves and fill up the bird feeders...

TTFN!

..

Exhausted...

I have not been sleeping the best in the last few nights...after a few nights of getting to sleep at 1am and getting up at 6am...I am knackered...my brain is moving at the pace of a snail....

So no earth shattering post tonight...I spent the last few hours trying to give my blog a makeover...I'm bored of the layout and want my page to reflect my personality more...I need a change...I hate computers...I hate HTML...I am ready to take a hammer to this piece of shit...the settings won't set...the background won't save...the cat won't stop jumping on the keyboard...

I've had enough...I'm going to watch Survivor

I'm hoping to crawl into my nest by 10pm...fingers crossed that James will not wake up through the night..

So tired...can't...type...anymore....zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Sweet dreams!

Death is not an option...

So I've spent the last 2 days reading the employment ads....not much for " creative writers"

The few that I have found remotely interesting have requirements...like.."must have journalism background" or " have experience in communications" Feck...I have none of that...

On the other hand...I do see lots of retail opportunities...I've done retail before...and if I had a choice between retail and death...I would pick death.

I could wait tables...I've done it before and hated it, it was backbreaking work...but now that I have three kids the job might be a cake walk... folks screaming for their food...leaving the table in a state of nuclear disaster...hell, that's every mealtime at home....

Maybe I should just go teach....hide your kids....I could be on my way to a school near you....

Regardless...I'm not committing to anything until I get back from Jamaica....the nerve of some people starting a new job then taking a week off for a vacation...*cough-Doug-cough*

I did make meatloaf last night...and it was yummy...the kids ate it all up...my kids will eat anything with cheese in it....cheese and bacon...they never met a cheese and bacon meal they didn't like...tonight I think I will make tuna melts...with cheese...I figure the more cheese I give my kids the less chance I will be cleaning up poopy diapers...I'm gonna back them up real good...I will wait a few days then give them a sippy full of prune juice...see..no harm done..I'm kidding...I don't intentionally try to constipate my kids...

I think fall has finally hit Nova Scotia...the mornings are a bit chilly and I love going out in the evening to sniff the air...love that crispy fall smell...bonus is that it is also getting dark earlier and my kids are freaking geniuses...they know that when it gets dark out its time for bed...not much convincing there...I love the fact that I can take the kids outside without sweating...me sweating that is...I hate the heat...now we can go out on nature walks and feed the birds without mommy turning into a bitch...I'm hoping to actually do some "fall" activities this year...go apple picking...hit up a corn maze...we plan every year and it never seems to work out...

My other goal is to hit 100 posts for 2011...I think I hit 80 something for 2009 and a lot less for 2010...so this is why I am in a posting frenzy...I will do it dammit! To make it easier on myself I think I will do themes...like Foto Friday...when I just post pics...or Wednesday Whine...where I just bitch about everything...which I do in every post now...but it has a certain ring to it..so if you don't want to be offended...don't visit on Wednesday..

Stay tuned...

Walk the plank...

Ahoy mateys...today be pirate day...arrrr...

I'm so gonna talk like a pirate all day...my kids will be all wtf?

Doug is off to his new job...I'm lonely...at his old job we texted all day...its already 11am and I've not gotten one text from him...I give him a few days before he breaks the rules...he is probably going through some serious texting withdrawal...I am...my thumbs are bored...

I'm gonna play good housewife today and have supper waiting for him when he walks through the door...that is after I meet him at the door..take his bag and fetch him his slippers...give him a peck on the cheek and ask him how his day was...in pirate speak of course...

It will be nice to have him back on a routine...in the last few weeks he was getting off work early...maybe 2pm...or 3pm...it was messing with my schedule....

A few recent pics...

James loves riding with daddy to mow the lawn....please ignore the jungle in the background and the rogue lawnmower...I really don't know whats going on there...

James also loves riding on the quad bike...in this pic he is just getting ready to take it for a spin...if he is in a generous mood he will allow Leah to accompany him...after 10 minutes he gets bored so he parks it...climbs off...we high five him and offer him a beer....

I gotta go evict the laundry that has taken up residence in my washing machine...after I wash it...again...then figure out supper...I have some ground cow to use up so I'm thinking meatloaf..

Toodles....

Getting down to business...

Okay...serious blog post...

I mentioned a few weeks I ago I was looking for a job...and since my desire to dominate the world is not gonna happen or become a supermodel... I need something else...

I am trained/educated as a secondary school teacher...I am qualified to teach history/social studies...

So why am I not teaching?

I want to wait until my youngest goes to school before I start my actual career...

But in the meantime...

I feel like I need something to do....

When I was in university my professors used to tell me to be an author...they would hang on to my papers to show them to other professors and students...I remember sitting in class one day and one of my profs whipped out one of my papers and read it to the whole class...telling everyone they should be writing that good....I was mortified...I practically slid under my desk...I don't mean to toot my own horn...but I *think* I am a good writer..my grammar however is another matter...I've won poetry and short story contests over the years...I don't take it seriously though...until now...

Six months ago I started writing a novel...I'm kinda embarrassed to admit this..but I'm pretty much creating a historical romance novel (yes, go ahead and laugh..haters to the left...)..I began it with the intention of it just being a hobby...something to do in my spare time...but now I am really thinking..I could make money off this so called hobby...if my novel doesn't suck and I can get a publisher..it just might sell...I could be the next Johanna Lindsey WOOT!

But until that happens...I am wondering if I can do something else in the meantime...like be a freelance writer...so I have begun looking for work in that field...just anything really...I'm sure there is tons of opportunities out there...even just helping students with their term papers...

Moving along...

Tomorrow Doug begins his new job...I really don't know what exactly it is that he will be doing...it involves screw drivers and wire cutters...he will be doing maintenance on airplane parts at the airport...yeah, something like that...

The spawns are doing great...Hallie is getting settled into grade 4...she really hates school with a passion...I predict a lot of her high school days will be spent "skipping off"

Its going to be a busy October...I am hosting a shower...James will have his 2nd birthday and then its off to Jamaica at the end of the month...since we will be in Jamaica for Halloween we all decided to dress up at the resort...I can't decide what to be...slutty fairy...slutty pirate..slutty chef...the possibilities are unlimited...I do know for sure one thing I will be on Halloween...drunk...

Have a happy Sunday!

I tried....

I promised my next post would be G rated....I would try to write something without being vulgar...

I've been thinking about what to write....

And well.....

I got nothing....

Parenting....

Oh shit....Doug and I have been doing it all wrong....

Welcome to the weekend...no big plans...Doug starts his new job on Monday...Hallie and I start our horse riding lessons next week...yes, I will be riding a horse....its about damn time I had a real stallion between my legs...

*ba-dum-bum-ching*

Sorry...I couldn't resist....

Seriously....I promise my next post will not include the following: sex, nudity, potty language, buildings being blown up..etc....

It will kill me...

The moral police have been stalking my blog again...such a buzz kill...

Here is what I say to her...

Sorry...I have no filter...

Peace!

Seems like yesterday...

September 14 2001

Doug and I got married...

I could turn this post into an overpriced greeting card...you know the sappy ones that go something like this...

"I married my best friend...the love of my life...my soul mate..." blah blah *barf* blah blah

If I gave Doug a card....it would be like this...

If Doug gave me a card it would be like this...

I wish I could put a wedding pic online...but since we got married in a more simpler time...our photographer didn't have a digital camera...there probably is a way to get my negatives onto a CD or whatever..I tried scanning a pic once but the quality wasn't that great...

So...what is the secret to staying married for 10 years...how have Doug and I managed to stay married for ten years when a majority of marriages today barely make 5 years...I'm just making that up...I really don't know the statistic...

Well..I will tell ya what works for us....

WARNING! *Mom if your reading this you might want to exit the screen now* WARNING!

Sex...lots of it...in fact..and you might want to hold onto something while you read this but...after 10 years of marriage and 3 kids...the sex is better than ever and its happening at least twice a week and in some unusual places(and by places I mean locations)...yes...I still look at my man and think..."damn girl...you got yourself one fine ass husband"

Doug has the whole package...he is an amazing father...I look at him with our kids and I just love him even more...and he just gets better with age...he is completely fine with me being a crappy housewife...he doesn't complain when he comes home from work and the house is messy and he is friggin grateful if I take the time and make him a sandwich...he loves me just the way I am..he has never once commented that I am overweight..he loves my stretchmarks and thinks me having a few grey hairs is an indicator that he is with a "real woman"

Okay, its true...

10 years ago I did marry my soul mate...my best friend..my partner in crime...my shoulder to cry on...I can only hope the next 10 years are as great as the first 10...and I know without a doubt we will grow old together...

Like these two...

We are celebrating with friends tonight over supper...these friends are getting married next April...we won't scare them too much...

Fingers crossed...

I think I finally got the bachelorette party pics problem fixed...oy...thats a lot of P words...

This is how I looked..I mean...I'm not drop dead gorgeous but I don't look like I got hit in the face with a shovel either...but its amazing what a little makeup can do....

A fancy shamcy limo picked me up at 4:30 and took me to meet the rest of the girls who were waiting at a hotel...

Then we went to the restaurant...Hamachi Steak House...it was on the Halifax waterfront...it was a beautiful evening and the scenery was lovely...the restaurant does teppanyaki style food...a chef cooks on a huge griddle in front of us...

Lindsay...the bride to be...she is the 6ft tall one wearing white...

A bunch of us enjoying miso soup....the whole meal was amazing..and really it was highly entertaining...the chef was really talented and made us lol....

After the meal...the limo picked us up and took us to Yuk Yuks comedy club...it was pretty funny...and I don't usually find stand up comedians funny...but the 4 cocktails I consumed on premises may have helped...

I'm the second from the right...blue shoes...I just noticed the girl next to me..I have no idea where she came from...but it looks like she peed...the pavement beneath her is all wet...Lindsay changed from her white dress halfway through...she is now in a pink one...

After the comedy club we went back to the hotel...where we partook of jello shooters and penis cake...

Lindsay enjoying her piece of penis....c'mon...deep throat it girl...

It was then time to hit the club....Taboo...Halifax's ultra exclusive club...we had our own lounge area and bartender....I was well drunk by then so I don't remember much...I only stayed for a few hours...my feet were killing me and I was super tired...

s...

It was a great night...

Doug went to my brother's stag night on Saturday...they took a limo all the way to Moncton...I know they went to a casino and strip bar...I don't know if Doug took any pics and if he did I probably don't want to see them anyways...

The eyes of a child...

I'm not one for going all political and religious...I don't subscribe to one political party or religion..and if I did...I would not likely broadcast my beliefs on a public medium such as this blog..

But once again I find myself stuck on the events of 9/11...at first I was appreciative of all the attention and media frenzy about the anniversary of the event..but now I'm getting sick of it.. because as always...they need to drag politics and religion into the fold...get over it...its not going to bring those people back...focus instead on how NYC picked itself back up...how regular people became heroes that day and how we need to educate about 9/11 so that we will never "forget"... just like we should not forget what happened at Auschwitz or Hiroshima...Hallie has been asking me about 9/11...she was born only months after it happened...but she sees footage on TV and asks me questions...why did the planes fly into those buildings? I try my best to explain...she asks why anyone would want to do such a terrible thing...I tell her some people didn't like America because...because...why? I didn't know...how could I explain this to a 9 year old...she doesn't know anything about Islam and Muslims...she doesn't know about Jihads and Al-Qaeda..she has no idea about hate...we taught her to love and respect everyone..regardless of skin color, religion...physical appearance or disability...but I had a hard time trying to explain that some humans carry so much hatred for another country that they wanted to take thousands of innocent people and blow them to kingdom come...its hard to have such a discussion without trying to scare her...telling her that those responsible for that day were insane and majority of the world doesn't participate in such behavior...I don't want her to grow up fearing Muslims because some wackos decided to commit terror in the name of their religion...but the more she witnessed...the pictures and footage...she began telling me that she wasn't going to go into any tall buildings anymore or want to take a trip by airplane..I told her not to be scared...that is what the bad guys want...if we are all scared...they win...if we are brave..they lose...

RIP to all those who perished...may you be in the arms of Angels....

One year older...

Today is my 33rd Birthday....and I feel every bit of those 33 years...its a day of mixed emotions...I'm not exactly where I pictured myself to be at 33...I didn't plan on having kids..well maybe one by my 30s...but not 3...guess I should have kept my legs closed...I also thought I would have a great career...its not all piss and vinegar...I have 3 healthy kids...a wonderful husband and beautiful home...not really much to complain about...as for a career...I will get there...I made a promise to my dad and I am not going to let him down...

Finally getting back into the routine...get up same time...get Hallie off to school...kids breakfast...dressed...sit down and read the headlines of the day...I really need to stop following the news so much...tired of reading about parents decapitating their kids...tired of reading about SHOCKING shark attacks...I mean really...surfer swims into known shark infested water...gets eaten..let me know when a shark attacks someone in a grocery store...that would be shocking...

I'm having issues uploading the bachelorette pics....I keep getting a file error...but really...the party did happen...

In other news....the kitten we ordered for Hallie was born on the 31st of August....

Mama cat had 3 kittens...2 boys and 1 girl...we reserved the female and she will be ready to come home sometime in December...if your wondering...the breed is Savannah...the breed is illegal in some states and cost as much as a car...yeah, we are full of the crazy....

Here is just a smorgasbord of some of the questions and comments we get...

• will the cat eat you...your kids or the dog?
• will you need to feed it raw meat?
• will you need to take it to an African safari vet if it gets sick?

Click the link above and get a clue people....

No big birthday plans for me...I'm making supper..inviting my brother and his fiancee over then my mom is bringing by a cake and I'm sure my in laws will be joining us...

9/11...ten years later...

Like most people...I remember exactly what I was doing on the morning of 9/11/01...I was just getting out of bed when my mom called me and told me a plane went into the WTC in NYC...I was just like whatever...what a horrible accident...being Canadian..I didn't know much about the twin towers...we hung up the phone...I went and put CNN on the TV just in time to see the 2nd plane hit the south tower...thinking back...I think I went into some sort of denial...I tried to process it all...ok...planes hit the buildings...but the people on the planes would still be alive...not realizing that the planes exploded on impact...not fully understanding that hundreds of office workers would have been killed instantly...ok...well then they will get the people out of the buildings...fix 'em up and they will be as good as new...etc...and then as I watched the twins fall I was just numb...also thinking well obviously all the people were evacuated...it was just easier for me to think that way then the alternative...all those people that were killed in the towers and those killed when they fell...

Although I did not know anyone lost in the attacks...that day impacted me...I was getting married on the 14th...days later...one of my bridesmaids lived overseas...she wasn't able to fly over...also other guests were not able to fly in as well...planes were grounded....my flowers were also due to be flown in from South America...florist said they most likely would not arrive in time...the tuxes were also being flown in from Toronto...not likely gonna happen...I was pissed...I was 8 months pregnant being told my wedding plans were falling apart...I don't think it even dawned on me that my problems were nothing....3000 families somewhere were dealing with losing their loved ones and all I could think of was how dare those terrorists inconvenience my wedding day....

This guilt is eating at me this week....I am not sure why? Is it because I am now a parent and can't imagine losing my son or daughter in that manner...or because I'm being bombarded with 9/11 images this week and being 10 years older its a different process...I now know what really happened that day...the horror of the pictures...the documentaries on TV...its bothering me now....I couldn't get to sleep last night thinking about those images of bodies falling from the 101st+ floors...the despair they must have felt...regardless if they jumped, fell or were pushed out...I just can't imagine....or that couple on the 2nd plane...they were travelling with their 2 year old daughter...to know you are in a plane on a course for a building...what the hell do you do? Pray? Hug? Cry? I hope I never ever get put in that situation...least they all went together...I've always said I hope that when my time is up I don't have a few minutes to think about it....

Sept 11 has always been just another day for me...a day between my birthday and wedding anniversary...not this year...I plan to light a candle and say a few comforting words for those lost souls...I need to apologize for not caring about them 10 years ago...

September...

I think Frank Sinatra sang it best...

"Oh, it's a long, long while from May to December
But the days grow short when you reach September
When the autumn weather turns the leaves to flame"

Welcome September....I *heart* you!

The weather finally gets that cool crisp in the air...all the little brats head back to school...

And best of all....the bugs start to go away...all summer long my house is a bug den of activity...kids leave windows and doors open..pets bring them in...I'm not afraid of much...I have a pet snake for Christ sake...but bugs...they give me the heebie jeebies...

September always feels like the start of a new year...I get nostalgic about school supplies...there is something I just love about new school supplies....I don't know...new pencils...books...that plasticky smell of a new school bag...hell, I want to go buy new crap and I don't even go to school...sigh...I am taking Hallie up to Staples today to pick her school stuff out...I will secretly wish it was me I was buying for....

So I lost a filling out of my tooth last night...I freaked for a moment because I really thought part of my tooth broke off...I've not lost a filling before and I am far too poor to go to the dentist...I wonder if Doug can fill it with some putty or something he has out in the garage...I kid...its not bothering me yet but I hope I can go at least a few weeks before I need to rob someone to get it fixed...I just won't eat until then...

If your wondering why I have not posted about the big fat stag night party...I just got the pics emailed to me last night...so I need to go through them and when I get them uploaded I will just do one huge post about it then....I will tell you this...penis cake is hella good....

Nothing else is really going on....Doug has been applying for jobs all over the country so I may be rid of his ass for a few months...I love my husband dearly... but some days it goes a little something like this:

I can manage the long distance marriage thing...its taking care of a house I am worried about..like what happens if I go to bath the kids and there is no hot water? Or the car makes a funny noise...no Doug to the rescue? My brother lives just 2 min away but the only way he would likely to come to my assistance would be if it involved getting a free meal....he don't do anything for nothing and since I don't give away supper either....you gotta earn your meals around here...just ask the kids....

I joke....

Peace!