Friday, March 30, 2007
Awesome!
One of my more modest dreams is about to come true this weekend. I'm going to the Opera! My friend, who knows that I long to go to an opera, scored some free tickets (her in-laws have a subscription) and her husband couldn't go, so yours truly gets to pinch hit! Woohoo!
One of my more modest dreams is about to come true this weekend. I'm going to the Opera! My friend, who knows that I long to go to an opera, scored some free tickets (her in-laws have a subscription) and her husband couldn't go, so yours truly gets to pinch hit! Woohoo!
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Notes
1.
I hate when people correct other people's grammar, but I can't help myself. I must become what I hate and say it here for all (all 3 of you, anyway) to hear: The possessive form of the word "it" is "its", not "it's". No apostrophe; just i t s. I'm not thinking of anyone specific here. It's just that this error is so common, and so common on blogs -- even writers' blogs -- that I had to post this li'l ol' public service announcement as part of my ongoing effort to make the world a better place.
2.
Sometimes when I'm walking with my 2-year-old we sing "Mr. Golden Sun" and whenever we do, as soon as we finish the song she asks me to be Mr. Golden Sun, so I talk in a low, Big Guy sort of voice and tell her how much I like her and her sister and brother and how I enjoy shining down on them etc. and she asks me questions and it goes on for quite a while until I have to say "okay, I'm mama again now" and try to distract her so that it doesn't go on forever.
She does this with a lot of our games now, carries them on way past the point of my own ability to enjoy myself. The worst "game" is Batman and Robin, where she announces that she's Batman and I'm Robin, and I say things like "holy heart failure Batman! You've got to get rid of that bomb!" and "To the Batmobile Batman!" and she -- and this is the rather trying part of this game -- she doesn't really do anything much. Oh sometimes she closes her eyes and pretends to sleep, or makes little mousy noises and looks around as if to say "Who's talking to me?" but she never really plays along. I'm not sure what she gets out of it, but I know that I don't know what's going on. The problem is that it's a little harder to distract her from this game because she's really into being Batman, even if Batman doesn't do a whole lot. I think she just likes me being her side-kick, or ward, or whatever Robin is. Maybe it makes her feel powerful and hey, I'm all for that. Even if she does make Robin make all the decisions, speak all the dialogue, drive the Batmobile and save her from, er, sleep? Basically being Robin is just like being Mama, but with sillier alliterative expressions. I'll do it all if it makes her happy, even as I silently long for the day when she moves on to another obsession. I'll even wear an antimacassar as a cape occasionally, but I draw the line at wearing beige tights. Not even for my baby.
1.
I hate when people correct other people's grammar, but I can't help myself. I must become what I hate and say it here for all (all 3 of you, anyway) to hear: The possessive form of the word "it" is "its", not "it's". No apostrophe; just i t s. I'm not thinking of anyone specific here. It's just that this error is so common, and so common on blogs -- even writers' blogs -- that I had to post this li'l ol' public service announcement as part of my ongoing effort to make the world a better place.
2.
Sometimes when I'm walking with my 2-year-old we sing "Mr. Golden Sun" and whenever we do, as soon as we finish the song she asks me to be Mr. Golden Sun, so I talk in a low, Big Guy sort of voice and tell her how much I like her and her sister and brother and how I enjoy shining down on them etc. and she asks me questions and it goes on for quite a while until I have to say "okay, I'm mama again now" and try to distract her so that it doesn't go on forever.
She does this with a lot of our games now, carries them on way past the point of my own ability to enjoy myself. The worst "game" is Batman and Robin, where she announces that she's Batman and I'm Robin, and I say things like "holy heart failure Batman! You've got to get rid of that bomb!" and "To the Batmobile Batman!" and she -- and this is the rather trying part of this game -- she doesn't really do anything much. Oh sometimes she closes her eyes and pretends to sleep, or makes little mousy noises and looks around as if to say "Who's talking to me?" but she never really plays along. I'm not sure what she gets out of it, but I know that I don't know what's going on. The problem is that it's a little harder to distract her from this game because she's really into being Batman, even if Batman doesn't do a whole lot. I think she just likes me being her side-kick, or ward, or whatever Robin is. Maybe it makes her feel powerful and hey, I'm all for that. Even if she does make Robin make all the decisions, speak all the dialogue, drive the Batmobile and save her from, er, sleep? Basically being Robin is just like being Mama, but with sillier alliterative expressions. I'll do it all if it makes her happy, even as I silently long for the day when she moves on to another obsession. I'll even wear an antimacassar as a cape occasionally, but I draw the line at wearing beige tights. Not even for my baby.
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Semi-mandatory weekend post
The weekend was a good one, rather busy but just right. I went over to my friend's house on Friday evening and just got to talk with her without children interrupting us every 3 seconds. She's a very cool person and it was good to just relax with her (and a couple of Kilkennys). The family and I went to our old neighbour's new home for supper on Sunday and had a good time. She's so funny; She's 92 and uses a walker so we pitch in and help her out when we go there. She says that she loves that, but she stands behind or beside you the whole time you're doing, say, the dishes, and tells you in minute detail just how you should be doing it. It's quite amusing...in small doses. D is so funny with her, always teasing her and making jokes about her and "old people these days". She has a good sense of humour and is quite deaf, so it all just kind of slides by.
My oldest child slept over at a friend's Sunday night (no school Monday due to the election) and we sure did miss her. She called me at about 9:30 Sunday evening and she was so adorable on the phone that I wanted to run over there and give her a big squeeze before bed. I thought about her all the time, and the younger kids missed her a lot. I hope she doesn't hate me when she's a teenager; I think it would break my heart.
I'm at work today, and just about to start the things on my "to do" list. Hmm, let's see... blog post -- check!
The weekend was a good one, rather busy but just right. I went over to my friend's house on Friday evening and just got to talk with her without children interrupting us every 3 seconds. She's a very cool person and it was good to just relax with her (and a couple of Kilkennys). The family and I went to our old neighbour's new home for supper on Sunday and had a good time. She's so funny; She's 92 and uses a walker so we pitch in and help her out when we go there. She says that she loves that, but she stands behind or beside you the whole time you're doing, say, the dishes, and tells you in minute detail just how you should be doing it. It's quite amusing...in small doses. D is so funny with her, always teasing her and making jokes about her and "old people these days". She has a good sense of humour and is quite deaf, so it all just kind of slides by.
My oldest child slept over at a friend's Sunday night (no school Monday due to the election) and we sure did miss her. She called me at about 9:30 Sunday evening and she was so adorable on the phone that I wanted to run over there and give her a big squeeze before bed. I thought about her all the time, and the younger kids missed her a lot. I hope she doesn't hate me when she's a teenager; I think it would break my heart.
I'm at work today, and just about to start the things on my "to do" list. Hmm, let's see... blog post -- check!
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
Some funny
Have a look at this (via Dooce).
Someone wise once said (and I paraphrase): We don't see the world as it is; we see the world as we are. Maybe not relevant, but I like to whip that out as often as possible...
And have a look at this too, in honour of the first day of Spring.
Have a look at this (via Dooce).
Someone wise once said (and I paraphrase): We don't see the world as it is; we see the world as we are. Maybe not relevant, but I like to whip that out as often as possible...
And have a look at this too, in honour of the first day of Spring.
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Udder Crap
There was nothing on TV last night (well, unless you think Dancing with the Stars is something) so I watched part of the second Bridget Jones movie on CBC. Why was this on? More importantly, why does this movie exist? I spent so much time tutting and sighing while watching it I'm surprised I have any saliva left.
I've never been able to understand the Bridget Jones thing, really, but I could tolerate the first movie because the Darcy character is compelling (thanks to Jane Austen, not whatsherface). In this one the central plaguing question is always before us: Why oh why would anyone -- never mind someone smart and rich and gorgeous like Mr. Darcy -- give that horrible woman the time of day, never mind love her with all their heart and soul? Being clumsy and awkward is only cute if you're cute to begin with. On Bridget Jones it just makes you wonder why nobody ever taught her to do anything properly. The book/movie would seem to hang on her likeability, but I don't see that there is any likeability there, so it all falls apart for me.
Once again I'm dissing something about 10 years after its popularity has waned. Blame the CBC and their crap TV programming.
And have a nice day!
There was nothing on TV last night (well, unless you think Dancing with the Stars is something) so I watched part of the second Bridget Jones movie on CBC. Why was this on? More importantly, why does this movie exist? I spent so much time tutting and sighing while watching it I'm surprised I have any saliva left.
I've never been able to understand the Bridget Jones thing, really, but I could tolerate the first movie because the Darcy character is compelling (thanks to Jane Austen, not whatsherface). In this one the central plaguing question is always before us: Why oh why would anyone -- never mind someone smart and rich and gorgeous like Mr. Darcy -- give that horrible woman the time of day, never mind love her with all their heart and soul? Being clumsy and awkward is only cute if you're cute to begin with. On Bridget Jones it just makes you wonder why nobody ever taught her to do anything properly. The book/movie would seem to hang on her likeability, but I don't see that there is any likeability there, so it all falls apart for me.
Once again I'm dissing something about 10 years after its popularity has waned. Blame the CBC and their crap TV programming.
And have a nice day!
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
Whelmed
Sorry, dear readers, for not having posted in a long time. I get very little time to write on the blog, and lately every time I've tried to, Blogger has wanted me to jump through a couple of hoops to switch over to its new version, and I haven't had the time for hoop-jumping.
Yes, I have been that busy. Both of my jobs have demanded a lot of time lately, or should I say all three of my jobs, because I am still really a full-time mother-at-home despite the fact that I also work as a writer and (for a few months) producer. So yeah, boohoo hoo, I'm so busy and tired blah blah blah. When I feel sorry for myself I remind myself of a woman I saw last week at the bowling alley. She was a waitress for many years at 2 of our favourite local restaurants and now works at the casse-croute in the bowling alley. Anyway, we were catching up with her and learned that she has raised 4 children on her waitress salary, working all the long, exhausting hours that that job entails, for the really crap money that that entails. I can hardly imagine. I'm lucky that my education and a whole lot of good luck has landed me in a pretty sweet place, picking my own work and making decent money doing interesting (if stressful) work. So it's fine. Busy is fine. I'm lucky.
The kids' "spring" break was very nice. I worked from home in order to be with them and we did some really fun things, covering most of the items on their "Spring Break Wish Lists" -- Briefly: we went toboganning, to the Planetarium, bowling with friends, to the mountain to walk in the woods, they slept over at their grandma's and went to a movie, breakfast and a museum, we went walking around Sherbrooke street and visited an old friend and went out for lunch. I think that's most of what we did. Oh yeah, and my daughter broke her arm playing on a snow (well, ice) hill at the park. It wouldn't be a holiday without an injury, would it?
Whew!
Sorry, dear readers, for not having posted in a long time. I get very little time to write on the blog, and lately every time I've tried to, Blogger has wanted me to jump through a couple of hoops to switch over to its new version, and I haven't had the time for hoop-jumping.
Yes, I have been that busy. Both of my jobs have demanded a lot of time lately, or should I say all three of my jobs, because I am still really a full-time mother-at-home despite the fact that I also work as a writer and (for a few months) producer. So yeah, boohoo hoo, I'm so busy and tired blah blah blah. When I feel sorry for myself I remind myself of a woman I saw last week at the bowling alley. She was a waitress for many years at 2 of our favourite local restaurants and now works at the casse-croute in the bowling alley. Anyway, we were catching up with her and learned that she has raised 4 children on her waitress salary, working all the long, exhausting hours that that job entails, for the really crap money that that entails. I can hardly imagine. I'm lucky that my education and a whole lot of good luck has landed me in a pretty sweet place, picking my own work and making decent money doing interesting (if stressful) work. So it's fine. Busy is fine. I'm lucky.
The kids' "spring" break was very nice. I worked from home in order to be with them and we did some really fun things, covering most of the items on their "Spring Break Wish Lists" -- Briefly: we went toboganning, to the Planetarium, bowling with friends, to the mountain to walk in the woods, they slept over at their grandma's and went to a movie, breakfast and a museum, we went walking around Sherbrooke street and visited an old friend and went out for lunch. I think that's most of what we did. Oh yeah, and my daughter broke her arm playing on a snow (well, ice) hill at the park. It wouldn't be a holiday without an injury, would it?
Whew!
