Sunday, November 26, 2006
Oish
Life is strange these days. I think I'm ever so slightly depressed. I'm moving into another stage in my life and I can't make myself be happy about it. In fact I'm having a hard time feeling anything better than dread. And that's not good. There are times when trying to "think positively" just doesn't seem to work.
I did just order tickets for Lord of the Dance, to which I will take my little girl who is a huge fan of same. She's excited as all get-out, and I think it will be a lot of fun. Unfortunately I've blown the entire Christmas budget on this one present for one child. Looks like it's gonna be a dollar store Christmas! Sorry, second and third children!
Life is strange these days. I think I'm ever so slightly depressed. I'm moving into another stage in my life and I can't make myself be happy about it. In fact I'm having a hard time feeling anything better than dread. And that's not good. There are times when trying to "think positively" just doesn't seem to work.
I did just order tickets for Lord of the Dance, to which I will take my little girl who is a huge fan of same. She's excited as all get-out, and I think it will be a lot of fun. Unfortunately I've blown the entire Christmas budget on this one present for one child. Looks like it's gonna be a dollar store Christmas! Sorry, second and third children!
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
The evening shift
As I mentioned in an earlier post, my hubby has been working evenings since September, and all in all the experience has sucked the big one. The 2 older kids barely get to see him at all, and have suffered a bit because of that, especially my eldest. She has cried a few times, missing him and feeling that things just aren't right in our family since he started this unfriendly shift.
It's hard for D. too, of course. He never gets more than 6 hours of uninterrupted sleep (to which mothers of small children might say "well boo hoo!", but it's not fun, no matter what the reason) and he misses the kids as much as they miss him.
But today we had the rare occasion to take advantage of the evening shift situation and went to the MSO's open rehearsal, with rockstar conductor Kent Nagano. His stage presence is undeniable, even when he's sitting down with his back to the audience, listening while the violin soloist leads the orchestra in Vivaldi's Spring and Summer. The man himself conducted a new piece by a Quebec composer, inspired by Terry Fox. When Nagano waved to the audience at the end of the rehearsal, the (very large) audience went crazy. These were mostly kids from about 9 to 16 years of age, which says a lot about Nagano's appeal and what it might do for the future of the MSO.
So: beautiful music, interesting insight into the workings of a professional orchestra, a glimpse of Nagano at work and a fabulous lunch of Lebanese food downtown, and we were at our friend's house to pick up our littlest one by 12:30! Now that's a good morning.
As I mentioned in an earlier post, my hubby has been working evenings since September, and all in all the experience has sucked the big one. The 2 older kids barely get to see him at all, and have suffered a bit because of that, especially my eldest. She has cried a few times, missing him and feeling that things just aren't right in our family since he started this unfriendly shift.
It's hard for D. too, of course. He never gets more than 6 hours of uninterrupted sleep (to which mothers of small children might say "well boo hoo!", but it's not fun, no matter what the reason) and he misses the kids as much as they miss him.
But today we had the rare occasion to take advantage of the evening shift situation and went to the MSO's open rehearsal, with rockstar conductor Kent Nagano. His stage presence is undeniable, even when he's sitting down with his back to the audience, listening while the violin soloist leads the orchestra in Vivaldi's Spring and Summer. The man himself conducted a new piece by a Quebec composer, inspired by Terry Fox. When Nagano waved to the audience at the end of the rehearsal, the (very large) audience went crazy. These were mostly kids from about 9 to 16 years of age, which says a lot about Nagano's appeal and what it might do for the future of the MSO.
So: beautiful music, interesting insight into the workings of a professional orchestra, a glimpse of Nagano at work and a fabulous lunch of Lebanese food downtown, and we were at our friend's house to pick up our littlest one by 12:30! Now that's a good morning.
Thursday, November 16, 2006
Trends
I like fashion. I like to watch what's happening in the world of high and low fashion and to try to predict what's going to become the next thing everyone will want to have in their wardrobe. Because I don't have money I never actually buy anything that isn't a) in the good will or salvation army store, b) on the last-season liquidation rack in a store that was cheap to begin with, or c) from a garage sale. So I'm an armchair fashionista. My own style is not really a style, just a desperate attempt to find something that looks halfway decent in my ancient wardrobe (I wear a 20-year-old cardigan just about every day, and my 15-year-old black velvet blazer stinks because I can't bear to part with it long enough to get it cleaned.
I do dressy much better than casual. Being a dressy person means that I have trouble looking right as a stay-at-home mother. I'm usually way overdressed or looking like I'm trying too hard to look like I don't care. When I worked in my last job I dressed pretty nicely every day (still from my half-assed wardrobe) and remembered how much I enjoy putting together outfits and trying new combinations. I think that if I had money I'd be stylin' hard, but that's not gonna happen.
I don't like to jump on fashion trends, but every now and then some new trend just makes me go "yes. that works." For instance, I like peasant skirts (don't have one though). Generally speaking, I just say "psshh. what fool would wear that?" This is the case with skinny jeans. I frankly don't think they look good. Leggings I can get on board with, but really, aren't these styles only flattering to skinny 12-year-old girls (like the ones they use in fashion advertising?)
I do try out some of the trends on my daughter, who has a funky and fun sense of style. She loves the second-hand stores as much as I do, and we like talking about fashion.
What would I never wear? Well, sweat pants (except for working out, but yoga pants are so much better), velour track suit (even though I like them on other people), a doo-rag. Apart from that, I could probably be brought 'round to trying just about anything. Hell, if I lost 30 pounds, even skinny jeans might make the cut, 20 years after the trend.
I like fashion. I like to watch what's happening in the world of high and low fashion and to try to predict what's going to become the next thing everyone will want to have in their wardrobe. Because I don't have money I never actually buy anything that isn't a) in the good will or salvation army store, b) on the last-season liquidation rack in a store that was cheap to begin with, or c) from a garage sale. So I'm an armchair fashionista. My own style is not really a style, just a desperate attempt to find something that looks halfway decent in my ancient wardrobe (I wear a 20-year-old cardigan just about every day, and my 15-year-old black velvet blazer stinks because I can't bear to part with it long enough to get it cleaned.
I do dressy much better than casual. Being a dressy person means that I have trouble looking right as a stay-at-home mother. I'm usually way overdressed or looking like I'm trying too hard to look like I don't care. When I worked in my last job I dressed pretty nicely every day (still from my half-assed wardrobe) and remembered how much I enjoy putting together outfits and trying new combinations. I think that if I had money I'd be stylin' hard, but that's not gonna happen.
I don't like to jump on fashion trends, but every now and then some new trend just makes me go "yes. that works." For instance, I like peasant skirts (don't have one though). Generally speaking, I just say "psshh. what fool would wear that?" This is the case with skinny jeans. I frankly don't think they look good. Leggings I can get on board with, but really, aren't these styles only flattering to skinny 12-year-old girls (like the ones they use in fashion advertising?)
I do try out some of the trends on my daughter, who has a funky and fun sense of style. She loves the second-hand stores as much as I do, and we like talking about fashion.
What would I never wear? Well, sweat pants (except for working out, but yoga pants are so much better), velour track suit (even though I like them on other people), a doo-rag. Apart from that, I could probably be brought 'round to trying just about anything. Hell, if I lost 30 pounds, even skinny jeans might make the cut, 20 years after the trend.
Monday, November 13, 2006
Update on a Big Guhw
It's been a while since I wrote about Fi-fi, so here's a wee update:
She's quite tall now. She's just gone through a growth spurt that turned all of her pants into floods and all of her long sleeves into 3/4-length sleeves. We've started going to story-time at our local children's library, as well as to a play group in the neighbourhood. I'm doing this much later with her than with the others, for a couple of reasons: She naps early in the day, so she was either asleep or dangerously grumpy at the time when most toddler activities tend to take place. Also, I guess I didn't need to join a play group as badly as I did with the first two, because I'm working more and I also have a little more of a network of friends with children, so having coffee and talking about parenting took place in our homes rather than in a church basement or (as with my present play group) park chalet.
F. loves, loves, loves doing these things with other children. She plays well, shares well (better than pretty much everyone else; why don't more parents teach their kids to share?), interacts well, etc. Best of all she just likes to be around other kids and babies and isn't afraid to walk into a new situation. I'm still her favourite, of course, but I think she'll have an easy time making new friends when she gets a bit older.
She talks constantly, giving a running narration all day long, even if I'm not in the same room. Yesterday we were playing with 2 blocks, pretending they were "friends" doing things together like sliding and riding in a wagon and jumping up and down, when I told her that I needed to get dressed and I'd be back to play some more when I was done. "Okay mommy!" So I went upstairs and brushed my teeth and washed my face and when I came out of the bathroom she called upstairs "Are you ready to come back and play now?" To which I replied that I had washed up but still had my clothes to put on. She replied, "Okay, mommy. I'm being reeeeeaaaall patient." Oh, the cuteness of it all. Sometimes I think I'm going to dissolve in an ecstasy of cuteness. It's so cliché to say it, but it's a good thing there's so much sweetness in raising children; it makes the hard times so worth it.
It's been a while since I wrote about Fi-fi, so here's a wee update:
She's quite tall now. She's just gone through a growth spurt that turned all of her pants into floods and all of her long sleeves into 3/4-length sleeves. We've started going to story-time at our local children's library, as well as to a play group in the neighbourhood. I'm doing this much later with her than with the others, for a couple of reasons: She naps early in the day, so she was either asleep or dangerously grumpy at the time when most toddler activities tend to take place. Also, I guess I didn't need to join a play group as badly as I did with the first two, because I'm working more and I also have a little more of a network of friends with children, so having coffee and talking about parenting took place in our homes rather than in a church basement or (as with my present play group) park chalet.
F. loves, loves, loves doing these things with other children. She plays well, shares well (better than pretty much everyone else; why don't more parents teach their kids to share?), interacts well, etc. Best of all she just likes to be around other kids and babies and isn't afraid to walk into a new situation. I'm still her favourite, of course, but I think she'll have an easy time making new friends when she gets a bit older.
She talks constantly, giving a running narration all day long, even if I'm not in the same room. Yesterday we were playing with 2 blocks, pretending they were "friends" doing things together like sliding and riding in a wagon and jumping up and down, when I told her that I needed to get dressed and I'd be back to play some more when I was done. "Okay mommy!" So I went upstairs and brushed my teeth and washed my face and when I came out of the bathroom she called upstairs "Are you ready to come back and play now?" To which I replied that I had washed up but still had my clothes to put on. She replied, "Okay, mommy. I'm being reeeeeaaaall patient." Oh, the cuteness of it all. Sometimes I think I'm going to dissolve in an ecstasy of cuteness. It's so cliché to say it, but it's a good thing there's so much sweetness in raising children; it makes the hard times so worth it.
Wednesday, November 08, 2006
The analog world
I'm applying for a job at a place where they don't accept e-mailed applications, so I have to print, sign, and mail my cover letter and C.V.
I'd forgotten what a pain in the ass looking for a job used to be. Until today. Have I mentioned the fact that I don't own a printer?
I'm applying for a job at a place where they don't accept e-mailed applications, so I have to print, sign, and mail my cover letter and C.V.
I'd forgotten what a pain in the ass looking for a job used to be. Until today. Have I mentioned the fact that I don't own a printer?
Tuesday, November 07, 2006
Hmmm...
I wonder if Saddam Hussein's execution will be televised in the U.S.?
I wonder if Saddam Hussein's execution will be televised in the U.S.?
Monday, November 06, 2006
Wa wa wi wa!
Went to see Borat on Saturday night. (Babysitters! cinema! A pre-movie drink! like real people!) We were in a huge theatre, packed to the doors, and it was really fun. The film itself is quite shocking in many respects. Very funny in many many places. I was surprised that he didn't tone the character down at all for a big-budget film. I'd say that he actually went further with the satire, with really borderline scenes, even for me and I'm a fan and think that I "get" what he's trying to do. I'm glad to see him doing this; I think we haven't seen as courageous a comedian since Andy Kaufman, and he's much better and what he's doing is more important, IMHO. I'm even more pleased to see that loads of people are going to see the movie. I hope it gets people talking and thinking.
Went to see Borat on Saturday night. (Babysitters! cinema! A pre-movie drink! like real people!) We were in a huge theatre, packed to the doors, and it was really fun. The film itself is quite shocking in many respects. Very funny in many many places. I was surprised that he didn't tone the character down at all for a big-budget film. I'd say that he actually went further with the satire, with really borderline scenes, even for me and I'm a fan and think that I "get" what he's trying to do. I'm glad to see him doing this; I think we haven't seen as courageous a comedian since Andy Kaufman, and he's much better and what he's doing is more important, IMHO. I'm even more pleased to see that loads of people are going to see the movie. I hope it gets people talking and thinking.
Friday, November 03, 2006
Strange
D. and I went through a slightly bizarre experience this morning. A nurse came over to take our blood and urine, in order to have them tested by our (potentially possible) life insurance company. The co. wants to know a lit-tle bit more about us than the application/brochure asked us, so they send a rather testy, very businesslike lady to bustle into our home and stick us with needles and order us to the bathroom to fill bottles. Despite the intrinsic scariness of the whole surreal thing I refused to be intimidated and took the attitude that I have nothing to hide and they'd be lucky to insure such a healthy, fit person as myself. I told the truth on her extensive questionnaire because hey, she's got my blood and urine, so why lie? So I may not be accepted, but whatever. Then I'd just be no worse off than I am today. I hate the idea of paying these people for the rest of my life anyway.
Halloween was fun. The kids were too cute, our immediate neighbourhood had a great many houses decorated and handing out candy, and the little one got to actually go to the doors and say "trick or treat!" with her big sister and brother, which was very fun. She did a great job; all that practice paid off! They were nice and polite and said Thank you each time (a surprisingly rare thing among the kids I see trick-or-treating). We didn't get tons of candy, but that's a good thing because we never eat more than a third of it anyway. I say "we" for obvious reasons; I'm a good mother, throwing myself in front of my children's cavity-free teeth and taking the chocolate hit as much as I can, for the good of the children, y'know?
D. and I went through a slightly bizarre experience this morning. A nurse came over to take our blood and urine, in order to have them tested by our (potentially possible) life insurance company. The co. wants to know a lit-tle bit more about us than the application/brochure asked us, so they send a rather testy, very businesslike lady to bustle into our home and stick us with needles and order us to the bathroom to fill bottles. Despite the intrinsic scariness of the whole surreal thing I refused to be intimidated and took the attitude that I have nothing to hide and they'd be lucky to insure such a healthy, fit person as myself. I told the truth on her extensive questionnaire because hey, she's got my blood and urine, so why lie? So I may not be accepted, but whatever. Then I'd just be no worse off than I am today. I hate the idea of paying these people for the rest of my life anyway.
Halloween was fun. The kids were too cute, our immediate neighbourhood had a great many houses decorated and handing out candy, and the little one got to actually go to the doors and say "trick or treat!" with her big sister and brother, which was very fun. She did a great job; all that practice paid off! They were nice and polite and said Thank you each time (a surprisingly rare thing among the kids I see trick-or-treating). We didn't get tons of candy, but that's a good thing because we never eat more than a third of it anyway. I say "we" for obvious reasons; I'm a good mother, throwing myself in front of my children's cavity-free teeth and taking the chocolate hit as much as I can, for the good of the children, y'know?
