Bas-e-boru!

My BIL's mom always cracked me up around baseball season - little Polish knitter,eating cheese and drinking tea, making her afghans and boxy sweaters out of cheap-ass Red Heart crap yarn all the while watching her Yankees. Her beloved, wonderful 'Yin-kiss'. I have to admit that I've always enjoyed the sound of wood on leather too, as a small white projectile is launched into outer space (or at least the parking lot).

My work buddy, R and I talk baseball a lot and he thinks it's funny that I know so much (or anything, for that matter) about the game. Obviously, he's never sat with a little old lady from Krakow and a ball of yarn, as she critqued coaches and players alike. He's not the history buff that I am, either - just finished a great bio about Sandy Kofax - such a mensch!. I was really happy when he (R, not Kofax) invited me to play on his team this summer. they play twice a month and the best part is the locale - Yes - Lynx effin' stadium (or whatever they call it now. A real field with other guys (yeah there's only me and another person with boobs...well, except for the occasional man-boob, I suppose but I digress) who love the game.

The sad fact is I realized how much older I was than R when we talked about our all time baseball hero and I blurted out "the one, the only, Bill freaking Lee!". R (who's Cantonese) asked 'is he Chinese?' Man, I laughed so hard the IT freaks I work with popped their heads out over the tops of their cubicles like some giant game of whack a Mole. Where's my mallet, boys, where's my mallet?

AWOL

Guilty - yup, it's my middle name but hey, I've been bbbbbuuuuuussssyyyyyy
I took a (lucrative) contract with(UFD 0unnamed federal dept)and haven't a moment to think since January. Then, I got a nice little gig with some small business people (which has led to 2 more - on top of the UFD gig). Don't even get me started about the time I spend dodging my weird neighbor who claims that she's my soul mate - yeah, about that - NO! That's a quote straight from her mouth BTW - who says that about somebody they've known for 2 months????? Someone needs a hobby...

I've also knit a pair of socks a week since the start of the year and have discovered the guilty pleasure of self-striping yarn - no counting rows at all!!!!!

In all of this, we've had a winter that is so close to where I grew up that I can honestly say that this is the first winter since I left home that I do not feel homesick. Snow banks too high to see over and slippery, alpine roads. This week held its own surprises, though. I looked out of my office window this week and right in the middle of the field that doubles as the local snow dump, a large, deep puddle has grown. AND right in the middle of this large, deep puddle - a pair of mallards!!!! Yes, honest to goodness ducks!!!! As in Quack, Quack, Quack (or Coin, Coin, Coin, pour les Francos) And to think that my business partner has been taunting me with claims that winter will last for 6 more weeks. I say nuts to that, there's ducks in them there puddles!

We're here for a good time, not a long time...

I was so good to myself - didn't touch my laptop all weekend...stayed away from the temptations of the web for 48 short hours...only to wake up to a full plate of work (Must do! Must do!) and some terrible, terrible news.

Our much beloved Wille P has shed this mortal coil. The inspiration for Blackie and the Rodeo Kings, the singer-songwriter that melted many a February chill with his soul-wrenching lyrics and hard rock mandolin stylings is gone. His recent heart trouble was just a blip, we knew - he'd be back on the road as soon as his doctor okayed him for travel. H'd be loading in and out, just like old times. he wasn't going to leave us, ever.

He had the best smile in the world and a huge heart. I was fortunate to have had a conversation with him at the last show I attended and was overwhelmed by his modesty and shyness. "I'm glad that you liked it', he had replied to my babble, "I liked it , too'.

He could light up a stage, a room or a heart. He was like a dear friend to many of us and we will miss his presence in our lives. He leaves behind a rich musical legacy that we fans will be forever grateful for and I have a suspicion that he will be in the side lights of all Fred shows from now on, replacing strings and smiling that little boy grin,listening to Fred's tall tales and laughing along with us, just a step away from our hearts.

Nashville says "what's the big deal with all this Blog stuff, any ways????"


Sharing time

I’m going to be delivering a session on building a business blog and was wondering – do you have a favorite (business) blog (or even a non-business one that is so extraordinary that you can’t help but get excited every time that you read it)? It’s time to share it! Send me the link to the blog and a short paragraph about the content, the author(s) and why you think it rocks. I’ll put you name in a draw for something cool (maybe tote bag-related!?!). There will be prizes!

Ta very much!

Shang-a-wha????????

So, I’m sitting here trying to run off a report…but you know, my mind does wander…. And I ended up singing along to Shangalang by the Bay City Rollers – yeah, just cuz my mind wanders doesn’t mean that it goes any place that you’d be seen dead in.
It all started innocently enough with an episode of Little Britain and a sketch with this couple with a sick child in hospital – David Soul comes in and meets the family, leaves in a huff; David Essex is apparently waiting outside to be next in for a visit. Slip forward a few more sketches and we’re back in the hospital room with Les McKeon sitting there singing the tune. K the elder was amazed that a) I knew the ‘guy’ and the song and b) that I actually remembered something (my memory is still struggling some days but apparently it’s getting better).

OMFG to think that I actually can say that I know about the BCFreakin’R?!? I blame my dear roommate at school, Tina (whose last name I also remember now in some freak rush of “Ohmylordwhatarethesefactsdatesandnamesdoinginmyotherwiseemptyhead?’. She was a huge BCR fan when we were in 6th grade and played her records over and over again. I wasn’t too keen but a good roommate is hard to find. She was also the only girl in school who was taller than I was/am - she had to be at least 6'1" (remember, this was 6th grade. We were what? 11 or 12?)

Unfortunately, I have an excellent musical memory (even after slapping my noggin around in 3 vehicle accidents – yeah, 3…). I can still play Lightfoot tunes from memory and I learned them when I was 6 or 7…Thank God my memory’s coming back but why the BCR ??? Couldn’t it be memories of seeing Joey Ramone squiggle (he didn’t really walk, it was more of squiggle) away from a club one night when I was far too young and impressionable? 1234Ever, my dear friends, 1234Ever.

In homage to my all-time heroes, Joe, Mick, Topper (best drummer of his era) and ever-talented Mr. Simonon - here's something that has cracked me up for some time

Just had some bad (?) news about my favorite event... but it looks as if there maybe a light at the end of the tunnel (Get it? Fred Eaglesmith? Tunnel? Ahhh fergit it). North Bay may just be the new home of the festival which is really weird because last week, K the elder & I were saying "wouldn't it be nice if it was in North Bay - it's so much closer than Cobalt". Don't get me wrong, I adore my little corner of heaven up on Loon Lake but the drive takes up almost half the weekend...
and in homage to the man, here's possibly the best picture that I took this summer



Now, it begs the question - WTF are people doing with that much clam juice? Egads!

Looking for a quiet port to hang out in, I pulled out a classic Dr Thompson work and have bunkered down for a good mind meld (my my my haven't I become polite in my advanced years?!?). *Sigh* I do miss that man... Is there any joy deeper than a well-written treatise?

In knitting news, the past week has been very productive (knitting between calls and meetings - it's like having a full scuba tank in very deep water - breathe breathe breathe ahhhhhh! Fight off another shark, skim over a manta ray breathe breathe breathe)
I've pulled off an item that's been on my knit list for years, Tubey (gotta get a photo of it)
I keep knitting stuff and gifting it before I take photos, then I forget that I made it (bless this head injury and all who sail in her) so then I forget that I've got knitting to post...it's a vicious cycle. All I can say is that there are a hell of a lot of socks and sweaters out there, just waiting for someone with a decent camera to take a picture of them

Anyone else going through this?

so, this is.... funny?

Get this - for the past year, I've been getting emails addressed to someone with a similar name to mine (it seems she must have transposed some letters in the address that she gives to people). It was one thing to get her Chapters emails and stuff but last week, her nephew emailed me, to wish his aunt a 'happy holidays'-type greeting. I did like I always do and replied that this was not her email and perhaps he should contact her to get the real one. A few quick back and forths and somehow this innocent bit of helpfulness has turned into this nephew wanting to meet me...and this is the funny part (and I quote) "maybe we are supposed to meet and solve all the worlds problems". I mean, WTF?!? I can't find my way out of my own backyard, dude! Gandhi I ain't. Whatever happened to good old fashioned cynicism and surliness, eh?

Had a interesting client meeting yesterday, watching a lovely storm build up throughout the afternoon and trying to stay focused. I decided that it wouldn't be worth the drive back home in traffic and instead, had some chai with Super-P, the Son of Wonder. I saw him bobbing down the street, his blond Brian Jones haircut standing out in a sea of toques and frowns. I felt my soul light up when I saw his smile.

I know all of us moms say this but he's is a remarkable man... even if I did give birth to him. How I got so lucky to have a kid (or 2) whom I actually enjoy talking to, I'll never know. His tour is looking good for spring 2008 so I can see a few road trips for Pa and me- Halifax, Boston and maybe Baltimore, if I can swing it - up ahead. A chapter in Punk Ottawa history will be ending soon with the closure of the much-loved Argyle House, scene of many an FC show and mucho debauchery. Seamus, Pat C and the ever-elusive Kyle Kyle Super Goth made appearances throughout our conversation and I was reminded of when these tall men were little punks, ditching their bikes in my flower bed so that they could hit their first shows at the Legion. Yup, back then Adam and Brock were playing ska and old school punk, not the mellow folk stuff flying off of their strings these days. Where does the time go, eh? As for myself, I'm old as dirt and half as smart

Much love!

Hey...you - yeah, you!

Hey, who's that dude in the red suit?


Holy Mother of Pearl - how long has it been?!? probably too long for some , not long enough for others.

I felt compelled to retreat for a while (esp. after a very odd person accused me of using my blog to try to communicate with them....yup, you just might consider lining your hat in tinfoil (not so) young person LOL I'm a little bit more direct than that - I would have tried my paper cup and string telephone first. Some people's children, I tell ya! Trouvez une vie. Nah, working for yourself is a tough gig, especially time wise. I've been putting in some long weeks but the payoff is amazing. It just doesn't leave a lot of free time for blogging.

My blog has been a nice little journal where I get to share a few things, here and there. Like how my cat never shuts up and seems to know when I'm on a conference call, on speaker-freakin' phone, no less. What a marroon! Or how K the elder dressed up in a red suit and beard and surprised 35 parishioners at our friend's church. Don't believe me? Check it outHere he is at Nancy's lovely little bit of winter wonderland - gotta love those square log houses!
For all you local yokels, yes that is Wayne singing away. Check out the little one in pink, staring up at Santa - isn't she priceless.
There were 3 new babies in church that day and K got to hold all of them, as they came up for their gifts. Our friend turned to me and said, I hope K knows that he's got a lifetime contract for this gig!". I figured that he would, judging by the laughter in the pews every time 'Santa' asked one of the kids what they wanted from him. He even got some of the adults up there. What a card. Of course he knows how to talk to kids - he sat at the children's table for family dinners until he was 28!

I got the chance to wish a dear friend "happy trails" as she headed off to her next adventure - and I got to hang out with some of dearest, old friends from Serv. Can. I tell ya, nobody parties the way these guys do. I had a blast, got a lot of love and got to give a lot of love back to some very special folks.

Then there was Halloween and my mighty, mighty spider's web

It was so scary that a unicorn/princess/mother didn't want to walk under it so her mother had to put the trick or treat bag near us for treats.

Nash wasn't too put out by all of this - life is good when you're a dog in the country

Another day, another carload

I originally wrote this post in the middle of August - for some unknown reason, Blogger decided to hide it on me - CWAP!!!!!

En tout cas - here she be!

It's been a challenge to keep healthy, do a little business and get the car loaded on a daily basis - got so much to move, darnit! I'll take another load up this morning and try to get my office set up a little bit.

Our weekend yard sale was an amazing success - considering we selling things for 25 cents, we made over $175. Not bad, eh? I finally got the courage to sell my North Carolina coffee table - it was sad to say 'good bye' to piece of my history but in the end, the $25 (yeah, I know - for a $300 table...) that we got was well-spent at IKEA yesterday. The great thing is all of my paint and a few new things for the house were all covered by selling crap, uh I mean, "stuff that I had no emotional attachment to and was just taking up my precious space and energy" (K the elder says to add "stuff that I do not need to throw into the moving van" - kudos on that brilliant observation, dude)

Update - August 30th

The new house is almost settled. I have three rooms to finish up but that can be done over the course of a few weeks, a little at a time. My hands are ripped, my limbs are bruised but we're smiling so all is good. My darling Number One Son played a kick-ass show at the Mouton Noir on Saturday night. It was a real treat to see how our years of investment have paid off. Get this!!!! He is really, really good!!! The band was awesome. I'd even go to hear them if he wasn't involved. That's an endorsement, if ever there was one. The management at the club made the boys change their name for the event - I won't burden you with the band's real name. Suffice it to say that I pretend that I can't remember what it is when older relatives ask about it LOL. They released a great 45 and CD, too. "Cat Pants" might not become a big hit but "one" is a good listen. Watching P on stage, in his element reminded me of his favorite game of "Def Leppard" when he was 2 or 3. Dress up, grab the fireplace tools stand for a mic and his little Ukulele and awaaaaaay we go. Def Leppard he became and entertained us for hours and hours. We loved it and after last Saturday, we still do. My baby...all grown up. When did that happen????

so much to do...

Which in itself is not a bad thing but I just wish that there was more time in a week. I've got to continue working on an online course that I'm (trying) to build and call up some clients for follow-up but then there's the house. There will be pictures...one day. Just not today. I keep meaning to bring the camera up when I take things up there but then, I forget. Being a simpleton, I also forget that my mobile phone has a camera, too - yup, just that 'clever' LOL.

Much applause to Sara, who correctly guessed the locale of our new abode *clap, clap, clap*. Sara, what's your favorite color?

For those of you beyond the boundaries of our little county, we're moving to its namesake village of Lanark! Much quieter than rowdy old Mississippi Mills and we're looking forward to quiet evenings spent on our wrap-around porch, butts planted in a pair of wicker chairs and knitting needles in hand (well, for me, at least). Add a glass of wine (or 8) and we'll be back to our standard. I've got to move a ton of plants (AGAIN!) but it's all good - I do love to plan a garden. Just can't wait to move all of my wild roses :)

I want some of your bright ideas for window treatments and wall colors. A friend of mine who's an interior designer is coming up later this week to give me some advice,too. I'm thinking about doing a lot of roman blinds, like I did for this house. They're energy efficient and cover windows well without hiding old woodwork. This time, I think I'll use lighter-weight fabrics in prints (not solids, like in this house). The big question(s?) are the 2 sets of French doors in our family room - drapes? Long blinds? What to, what to do???

The big move should be in 2 weeks so we've got lots of time to pack, plan and think out everything. The best part is my new office is huge! I'm assuming the former parlour, right at the front of the house so that clients don't have to walk through the entire house to get 'there'. It's a sunny room, facing onto the front porch with lots of natural light. The whole house, apart from the dining room is light-filled and it has great energy.

I'd better keep packing ;)

Hello?

OMIGWAD!
Has it really been over a month since I posted last? Holy Moley Cow - how did that happen???? Oh, wait a minute...I remember

My stomach is getting better and I've only had 2 bouts of severe pain in the past 2 weeks. That beats the twice a day episodes. Lots of minor (healing) pain but that, I can live with. I think that if you remove some of your stressors, life just has to get better. The best part is that has.

Business is rolling along and it's great to finally get going, full tilt. I almost forgot how much I loved my class-time and how rewarding it is to get people to think. I've been very productive in my curriculum development so there are lots and lots of products to get 'out there'.

I received a gorgeous apron from my swap-mate, Kathy and love it. How did she know how much I love Geisha images?!? Just perfect and get this!!!! It matches my new kitchen, perfectly. What's that? You haven't heard about my new kitchen?

We've found a new (and smaller) house in the country - remember that restored Victorian with the wrap-around porch that's perfect for wicker chairs and for small people to ride tricycles on, that I've wanted since we moved to Ontario? I've got it! Not that I have any small people who ride tricycles *yet* but ya never know. Our official move date is in 2 weeks but we get the keys on Monday or Tuesday, depending on when we can drive out to the house. I've already got the yard landscaped in my mind - once a master gardener-in-training, always a master gardener-in-training.

So where is this house? Isn't it more fun if you guess? Sure it is!
Read carefully and if you can guess correctly, drop me a comment - there will be prizes

1)Here's a visual clue
2)It's located on a river with a historic Scottish name
Isn't it pretty?

3)It is also named after another Historic Scottish place

4)No "Hillbilly Highway" jokes, please! (oh, just grow up, won't ya?!?)

5)It's long distance to call our current home

6)To quote Brock, it's where "the sheep are scared"

7)It's home to an amazing festival every July (one that brought Fred to town a few years ago - *sigh*)

8)It's home to the world famous (ok, maybe just 'locally famous'), Munchin' Junction and its yummy yummy poutine

C'mon, get your guesses in and see if you can name my new "home town". I'll reward you with a little something nice :)

I will be taking a little time off from the blogging world, taking care of some gastro-intestinal 'repair' work (and the emotional strain that comes with it). I may share a lot but some things are far too personal and this is one of them. I've waiting for the proverbial other shoe to drop for some time so this is just another 'thing' in the pile. I've known it was time weeks ago but I try to keep the really bad news to myself... I feel like Captain BringDown these days and that makes me feel even more guilty than I have been feeling already.

When I was a teenager, a psychic told me that I would live to be 52 but I didn’t believe her. Aren’t they all liars and charlatans? I underestimated her. The stomach pain, the bleeding, the vomiting, the 'other' gastric problems are all reminders of that underestimation, I am learning. If I'm lucky, that gives me just under 9 years but since losing my lucky rabbit's foot on KittyHawk all those years ago, my luck isn't what they call in the betting world a 'good hand'(And since I’m being so candid, wanna see photos of my small intestine? No? Didn’t think so…). If you ate today (and kept it in your body), be happy. I've been like a walking milkshake machine in the past couple of weeks - whrrr and pour...yeah, graphic... I know. Sorry.

The upside (if it can be called that) is that it is giving me a chance to take stock and to re-build what time I have into something that is authentic and mine. No more 'have tos' or typical female guilt, just a more solid (if shorter) life. Enough!
Leben ist kurz so wir muß anfertigen es weit, mein Zeyde erklärte mir. Er war zutreffend. He usually was. I don't have time to waste. I only want positive, loving people who want to be with me in my life. It may be short but it'll be all mine.

I enjoy chatting to this little virtual group and it has kept me going when "the hills were steeps and the weather rough". I love reading your blogs and hearing about your lives, you good hearted people. I hope to come back one day, healthier. The good thing is that I can better understand why my body has been letting me down over past couple of years. It's not stress or 'in my head'. It's been a little like opening your closet door as a kid, seeing the fur and the glowing eyes and declaring 'see, there really was a monster there!', to your parents amazement. To my tiny little circle of friends, the people who sound happy to hear from me - all I can say is 'I love you'. I don't say it a lot but I only say it to people who matter to me so, "I love you".

I am dropping a number of gifts and swappy stuff of in the Post (well, actually K the younger is. I need to sit still) so keep your eyes peeled, Kathy, Taz & Antigone. They're on their way :) I've got K working on the Etsy end so those shipments went out this morning.

I'm so tired, I wish I could sleep forever :)

Thank you

I want to thank you for the love and kindness that you have all sent our way during this horrible time. Our house is missing a brother, a son... I often called him the 'canine love of my life'. He was my Dude, my sweetheart, my dog.

My heart is heavy and I am trying to keep busy so that I won't feel his absence. I want to see him come around the corner so that I can ask him if he wants a hug. I want to stroke his long, silky muzzle and make his ears stand up. I want to see him laugh when I sprayed him with the garden hose. I want to apoligize for giving up.

I hope that he finds peace after this turbulent life. I will always regret that I couldn't find a way to make him whole. I broke my promise to him, to make it all go away, to make him a happy dog.

We are starting a foundation to continue our efforts to punish animal abusers. If Jack's first year had been safe, he would have stood a better chance to living a whole life. In the past, I have lobbied, called Members' of Parliament and Senators' offices, marched on the Hill and made noise to draw attention to this unacceptable problem. Now, I will find a way to put money behind this cause and make the lawmakers pay attention.

Please - do not stand by when an animal abuser can get live a 'normal' life but get to punish a dog like Jack every day, for the rest of his life. Even though that man was not in his life for 6 1/2 years, Jack lived in terror that the abuse would start again, that someone would attack him, that every noise would signal the start of the next barrage. Let's change our animal protection laws worldwide, together. Jack would be proud of all of us if we can do it. I owe it to him.

Done

"it" has been done. I do not feel peace. I am not proud of myself. I miss my dude, my constant companion, my agility champ. I promised him that I would heal him. I could not.

I hope that there is a heaven, where he will find peace and loving hands. I wish him a light heart and kind words in his ears. I wish him that dock to sleep on, watching the water that I had promised him so long ago. I wish him peace.

I fear that I have betrayed his trust in me

Sometimes a girl just needs the open road

So after dropping K the elder off at work this morning (and stopping to shop for new patio chairs), I took to the road. Heading up to Pakenham, through countryside, farms and bush always makes me feel alive so off I turned. My foot found the accelerator and dropped….and lifted, looking quickly for the brake. Without any warning, a car filled to brim with Opas and Omas (ok, only 2 of each actually but you know what I mean) cut in front of me – no signals, no warning. Now, the old me would’ve found a way around them, waving my fist high as I passed – probably imploring them to get a clue. Um, yeah…about that – this is why being a Type A country girl DOES NOT WORK. Reconfigure if you move, like I did, to HeeHaw County. Reconsider your attitude before you pack that moving truck. The ‘new’ me just changed velocity to match and kept on going, right behind them. The driver was so out of touch that he failed to see the rollers approach a toute vitesse and he didn’t pull over the way the rest of us in line did to let the Popo pass. Yup, this must have been the first time he’d been behind the wheel in years – and I knew how he felt

With so much work on my plate and Jack’s new found craziness, I haven’t been able to leave the house except when I absolutely need to – like yesterday, for a major waste of time, uh I mean basic (yes, you heard me correctly – basic!!! WTF!!!) First Aid training, for a bunch of freakin’ first responders! At least update our skills with the standard training or even take it up a notch further so that we can actually do more when disaster strikes. I sat through story after story about the facilitator and tried to pay attention. When it came time to move bodies and put people in the recovery position, I had asked to be left out. I mean, I know my stuff from years of patrol skiing and 1st response training so… I tried to explain that if I damage my arms (which aren’t working too well right now anyways, in this ‘season of flare-ups, as I affectionately call our hot sticky summers), I won’t be able to drive or work. Give me a friggin’ break already. So who do you think was first called upon to move a body? Or to be the body? Yeah… I know – stupid knows no boundaries. Like I need someone dragging me by my freakin’ “I will be screaming as I tear your face off because you’ve hurt my arms and I will feel no remorse as I do it” arms. Have you never dealt with physically-challenged clients, you mentally-slow-a-tortoise teacher?!? My body may not work too well but keep it up and I may risk the pain to boot your sorry butt around the parking lot.

Where was I??? Oh yeah, getting out of the house. I cut myself a little slack and drove up to Upper Dwyer Hill and turned around to head back, blasting Frank Black and Kim Deal (ok, Joey Santiago was probably there, and that Dave dude but Kim Deal! Frank Black!). I sang along to all of my favorites and let my energy out. P, if you felt your ears burning, it was me serenading you all of a 4 day drive away, taking liberty with “havalina” to sing out “Pav-a-lina”. Hey, it was out of missing you so it can’t be all bad, eh? I gave myself permission not to worry about how Jack was destroying his kennel or breaking his teeth trying to escape. I needed an ‘out’. On Friday with the approaching storm, I ended up medicating him pretty heavily – 2 valiums (yes, you have read this correctly – 2) and he still exploded around the house, trying to scratch through walls, doors and anything else that got in (what he perceived to be) his way.

We’ve have really woken up to this new reality – he will never be whole. I feel like I haven’t done enough but my Vet reassures me every time I speak with the office that she’s never known any other family to do so much to help a sick dog out. Most people get ‘rid’ (huh??? Can someone explain this concept cuz I’m at a loss) of dogs that aren’t even as damaged. She commends us with every reassurance but it just adds to my feelings of loss and of guilt. If 2 valium don’t do the trick, we’re toast. I’ve tried every behaviour modification in the book (and tapped into a lot of ‘dog-people’ knowledge, begging for a clue in how to fix this).I’ve dragged him to every type of training session, changing my own behaviours to suit the message of the session. Now the chemical modification that I resisted for so long (almost 7 years), the one thing that we could keep as a last resort has failed. We looked at each other today and decided that at the moment, with the way things stand it is only a matter of when. Our Vet is the most humane person I have ever had the pleasure of knowing and when she told us of our options, it was the first one out onto the table. I was in disbelief because I always thought I could repair him. Now, I am without that beacon of light. Repair is out of the question. We’ve modified everything in our lives and in his – to watch the 2 boys, it’s hard to believe that they live in the same universe. Nash is Capitaine Décontracté, with his Zen outlook of calm and Jack is Manic Man, flailing around and tearing at the fence to get to the walkers who like to stroll down our hill. BECAUSE OLD PEOPLE ARE SOOOO THREATENING. My 2 dogs are a study in contrasts. I know that I tend to go at length about Jack and his ‘issues’ but where else can I discuss this openly. Right now, I can assure you that there probably even readers out there thinking that I haven’t done enough. No one has given up more for a dog – no visits from people who might frighten him, only people whom he already knows and doesn’t mind too much. No long stays away from him so that he doesn’t break out and go looking for me like he when I was stationed on the other side of the country for weeks at a time. No parties at the house. K the younger’s friends have had to stay away as much as possible, except for the calmer ones like Silent B (what a good kid). No nothing. I am a dog person. I have built a dog-loving family. We would go without anything for their well-being. K the younger will even forgo sleeping in if I need to go out on the weekend, during the day so that Jack has someone with him. He has broken out through a 6” cat door – how he fit, I have no clue. He has thrown himself through closed windows and shattered glass all over my dining room. We were so lucky not to have had him cut himself too badly that day. He has eaten doors and clawed through an 8” oak door, all in attempts to free himself. The sad thing is that he has no clue why he does this and once he escapes, we find him quivering on the side steps, trying to get back in again. He is lost.

I can accept but I do not like my new reality.

My middle name must be 'horseshoe'

Cuz I'm just THAT lucky!

The unabbreviated version of "mofo" seems to be the word de jour with the construction freakazoids today. My office is filled with the dulcet tones of "Mofo-o-rama". It's 'mofo this' and 'mofo that' - 'move that mofo-ing ladder before I crack you on your mofo-ing head, you dumb ass mofo" - you get the drift. Intellectual banter always raises my spirits and to be surrounded with such virility....oooooohh *swoon* How lucky am I! I know...you envy me for getting to live this exciting life ha ha ha
Deluding myself is just one of my many charms!

I have a friend (for argument's sake, I call him "Keith"...oh wait a minute ...better come up with a name that's not actually his...oh crap...WTF, "Keith" it will be - sorry dude)
Keith liked to call me "mofo"; despite my protests, whenever things got silly, out would come this unfortunate expression. Finally, I asked him why he kept calling me this - he said 'cuz yer silly'. Whhhhaaaa?!? Well, I never! Has the sun seeped through your giant bald, "Sam the Eagle from the Muppet Show" head to cook your brain?!? Has an earwig descended into your ear canal and chewed out the common-sense receptors? Would a knee to the groin help with these thought processes?

Think of the color of his face when I finally asked him if he knew what it meant. Nope. Not a clue. No freakin' clue. Dufus was calling me this but had never questioned what it stood for. After I removed my knee from his testicles, ummm, I mean "corrected him", he apologized for years of this unknowing verbal abuse.
Men - can't live with 'em; can't murder them in their sleep....cuz ain't no one worth doin' time for.

Oh for the tranquility of my wild back garden!

Free Time? Yeah right!

Holey moly cow - has it been a week already!?! Jeezum crow - I haven't stopped since last Saturday afternoon. I wrapped up some emergency response training on Saturday morning and headed home to K-Man. He's still being called "Limpy MacWhiny" but he's less high. Not so much (ok, a lot of) codeine and lots of sleep have taken a lot of the edge away and he's almost back to his own unique form of normal. Pat & Val came home for a quick visit and some loving - Pat's tat was glowing under his sleeve so I decided to snap a shot - Yes, you are reading correctly... why, you ask? So that he 'remembers to brush his teeth'. Yup, that's my kid. A friend of mine told me that she suspects that he's a lot like me. What should I make of that???

I have been doing a lot of this thing called "working for a living" and secured a nice little contract this week - good stuff to keep me working for the next month or so. It's small potatoes for a lot of people in my field but it's just the right size to keep me busy (and in the black). I love being productive. I even managed to complete a pair of Hedera socks in a soft blue baby yarn. Shhh can you hear that? It's my lovely socks blocking in the other room.
Hmm...what else??? Someone I care about but haven't spoken to in a while called up to ask me to help coordinate another project. Turns out that they were just diagnosed with MS. I didn't know how to express my regrets about this. This is very vibrant person who exudes energy and life force. Not someone to be slowed down by an uncooperative body, that's for certain. Another friend went AWOL and turned up last night in Edmonton - huh? But she called so all is good (All I do is nag you, kiddo). And - BIG *AND* I made my first Etsy sale (Thanks, R!!!! Did I say 'ty' yet - just one million times, eh? Okay, I'll quit now).
I keep meaning to post pictures of my loot from Angelique so here ya go


Isn't the coolest thing EVER!?! I use the coasters every day in my office and they always make me so happy - thanks, Girl!
Taz is next in line for this wonderful experience. I just hope that I can live up to the great things that have gone before. I'll work on it ;)

(OK I had to edit this post - I mean "they was.."???? Now do you believe that English is not my native language???? Jeeeeez!)

100 Posts? Already???

I cannot believe that I’ve wracked up 100 posts already…how on God’s green earth did I manage that? It’s been a strange year, with lots of dips, doodles and bumps in the road. I’ve knit.I’ve drunk.I’ve been good. I’ve been bad.

Over the course of 8 months, I’ve opened 2 businesses, attended to sick partners and pets, fought bad guys and bullies, hugged good people and small people, sometimes wrapped in one package. I’ve gardened in the dead of winter, tried to guide my boys and to remedy a mentally-ill dog. I’ve played tug-of-war with a strong Lab puppy and had him play ‘keep away” with my possessions. I’ve built flower beds and fences, cried tears of frustration and happiness, cleaned up after cats, dogs & peoples of all sorts and sizes. I’ve wiped ‘varnish’ off of my clothes after getting licked by Nash (yummm, Lab spit!); I’ve even ‘done work’ and generally tried to keep my poop in a group. Life moves on and so do blogs. When I started posting, knitting and the occasional (shut up, MC) glass of vino capped a good part of my days. Not so much right now – research, writing and spending countless hours on the phone are no match for a nice Pinot Noir and some squishy merino. The drone of my ‘colleague’ (she who never shuts up, or “swnsu”) is no match for the clack of my bamboos as I slip off another row of my sock. Life moves on.

I know that everyone says this but what I find fascinating about our brave new electronic world (as Huxley spins in his grave – sorry, dude), is the camaraderie that forms when we read someone’s post and immediately identify with the sentiment. Whether in Zambia, Scotland, Mumbai, Delaware or the frigid wilds of Co. Lanark, we are all more alike than we are different. If you’re worried that this is going to slide into the mush of girl-speak and virtual love, you’d better leave now. Ha ha too late! Sucka!

I started this little journal as a means to get some things off of my chest, to converse with myself throughout a painful experience that eventually has become just another learning experience. I never thought that I would have conversations with so many people, whether through their blog or through mine. I never thought that I’d receive and send parcels all over the world or that I would be delighted to share silly details and inane conversations that roll through my pea-sized brain. I was especially ignorant of how many smiles I could garner from an errant hour (or 8) on the inter-web.

There are more good people around us than not-so-good, more love than hate, more understanding than dissent. Seeing this reality is a gift.

Speaking of monkeys, so far the choices for my ‘name my fete-abration’ are:

7. My Kick Ass, Knock your Grandma Down 3rd annual 40th Birthday Bash 5 votes

13. The Cops Ain’t Bin to my House since Grandma was Arrested, so let’s give them a reason to visit-fest 3 votes

14. Y’all Get Real Drunk, Y’hear-fest 2 votes

9. One Tequila, Two Tequila, Three Tequila, Floor-fest (a dear friend recommended changing this to 1 tequila, 2 tequila, 3 tequila, “whore-fest”. Remarkably, he is still alive. For now)” 2 votes

1. Leave Your Beer & Wine (now SCRAM)-o-rama 1 vote

8. Bothering the Neighbours Since 1964; why destroy an ancient tradition-fest 1 vote

10. Sharkey & Muffin’s White Trash Bash (“it won’t start when I shut it off so she has to get the beer. She slips it on the front seat and she quietly says to me….” Sing along if you know it)1 vote

No one voted for RootBeer-fest 2007. Not one single person. No one wanted to keep my neighbors awake but several of you had no objection to knocking Grandma down. What does that say about you lot (insert wagging finger here)

Sorry, Taz – Tea with the Queen-abration is out of the question. K refuses to slip into a Beefeater suit, not even for the privilege of wearing that kooky hat. It's always hard to keep him clothed at parties.

Keep the votes coming; I'll have the results in a week or two

From what I gather, our much loved Willie is on the mend. We send him love and thanks for many years of fine music and smiles. Here’s to many, many more. Maybe this rest will allow for some more song writing and a new a new album. To tide you over, here’s a little video (personally, I think that he does a better job of this tune live but I’m a fan).

I love noise (no, really)

Freakin' loser electrician next door decided to test my window glass strength, uh...I mean blast us with an industrial-sized radio yesterday. Now, I love "classic rock" as much as the next aging, sagging bellied-loser electrician, uh..I mean "the next guy" but this is too much. K the elder approached the work crew and politely asked them to turn it down. Loser-boy was off-site and one of the other crew members nicely obliged. Loser-boy came back 45 minutes later and blasted the snot out of...sorry, I meant "turned it up again". WTF! K (once again) approached the freak and asked (politely AGAIN) 'if (he) could turn it down'. The answer, without a soupcon of irony was 'no'. "You mean that you won't turn it down?". "No". K climbed into the work site and asked him once again if he wouldn't consider it and once again, the fat fuck...uh sorry (can't stop slipping into the local vernacular) "the electrician" said 'no'. Approached the self-proclaimed 'site director', who said that it wasn't his responsibility. Fine, matters like this are best left for a vindictive, malevolent force of nature...uh,"me". One call to his boss, a client of K the elder's and bum-licker (oh sweet mother of pearl, I'm slipping AGAIN), I meant to say "numb nuts"...no nonononononono I meant to say 'the guy' (pheeee-yew!) turned it down. I'm just waiting for today's antics. I have already spoken with the by-law office and our local constabulary - all it will take is one more indiscretion, one more step over the line between inconvenience and outright attack and the boom will come down. My patience has now run out. Deep breath. Deep breath. Freakin' hillbillies!

On a much happier note, Taz is our new "IT" grrl, running off with the next PIF; Girlfriend, I still need your addie to start the ball rolling. Drop me a line when you get the chance. As revenge...ooops, I mean as a 'thank you for tagging me', she tagged me back. I guess it's time to use my handy-dandy "get out of memes free" card. I'm not a TV watcher so I didn't make the connection with Drew Carey's Mimi, until I looked at the title of the photo. Meh, she looked pissed off and that suits my mood EXACTLY LOL. If I could just get my hands on some pale blue eyeshadow.... and some dead spiders to use as eyelashes.

I love little boys

HAPPY - c'est moi!

Many, many thanks to Angelique for including me in the PIF project. I was thrilled to get a lovely little envelope in the mail this morning (how did she know how much I love cool stamps!?!). It sort of clanked when I shook it so I was worried on the walk home - was it broken? Oh no! Maybe it was filled with so much love that it cracked apart? Thankfully nothing was broken - it was 2 (yes, not 1 but 2!!) lovely coasters featuring the most amazing flower pictures, taken by the lady herself! They've already taken up residence in my office, distracting me from any real work as I admire them over & over again. And she sent a beautiful card featuring another gorgeous photo (which will find its way into a frame, along with the ones sent to me by Sara - -just beautiful!) I am most humbly impressed. The highlight of my morning is to have been able to hold the "for good peoples" card. There's a lot of good energy in that card - I'll post photos as soon as I can.

Instead of reinventing the wheel, I'll share how Angelique has put it: “The idea is basically to pass on a little something 'nice' to someone. This wonderful idea started with Mary Contrary and has now traveled to Allyson Hill, Beebee Mod, Barking Biscuit and now me". Oooh, and me, I s'pose! It's a really cool story but distilled to its finest, it's a story about how being kind is never an action wasted. The chance to share a little of this kind energy with others (esp. those in the blogosphere who keep us company, entertain us and make us smile even on the darkest days)is a pretty cool concept, too.

This of course leads me to an important juncture - the next person in the PIF line. Want to play? Of course you do! Be the first person to leave a comment on this post and you'll be the next 'it'. I'll send you an email to confirm that you've been tagged. Join the chain and keep the good energy flowing - you'll get to forward it along, too. Isn't that the coolest thing EVER!?!

I collected the last of the mittens on Friday and got to visit among the LAND OF THE LITTLE FOLKS (or, elementary schools as most normal people call them). Waiting for one of the school's admins to finish a phone call, I observed something odd; all of the children now visit the washrooms in pairs! Isn't that smart?!? The buddy system is a great way to keep track of kids, especially with the amount of anxiety (and the reasons for that anxiety, 'out there'). The little girls giggled together, holding hands as they went into the WC; the little boys however, were a different breed of animal all together. Two boys, probably about 7 headed past me in the hallway, silently moving towards their goal (WC). As they finished up and were washing their hands, I heard Boy 1 ask Boy 2 if he had a girlfriend. Boy 2 mumbled a response and Boy 1 replied, "yeah some girls you'll just never understand". How's that for back country logic! Little dude's got us all sussed out, ladies. I suspect he'll be a force to be reckoned with when he's old enough to date.

I'm still working on knitting enough mittens to fill a few more bags for next winter; in a rural area, mittens are highly prized. This is especially true when we get hit by our famous freezing rain and bitter winds. I grew up with snowy winters and heavy snowfall warnings. I assumed that we were moving into a more stable, warmer climate when we packed our bags ten years ago. Was I ever wrong! The weather here changes constantly - one minute you're in scorching heat, unable to breathe, the next you're trying to keep the dirt out of your eyes as a dust storm flies through, or hoping that your roof doesn't blow off in a heavy windstorm. Our winters seem mild... until you head outside on a sunny February morning and feel the skin on your face turn white with frostbite. Eeeks! A few pairs of mittens really make a difference. One school admin told me that she keeps mitts, socks and hats available for anyone who needs them. If they don't need them anymore, the kids know to hang wet things to dry or to replace the item in the storage cabinet.No questions. No embarrassment. No scolding. Isn't that great! I was really happy when this school returned an empty mitten bag - they used up all of the mittens! Happy doesn't even begin to cover how I felt. If you're a mitten-knitter, drop by my other blog and check us out. Make up a few pairs and keep a few more little hands warm next winter :)