I have been blessed this year

I got spoiled rotten this year. I am a very blessed and loved. My mom got me a really nice red 3 pcs pijama set. Cléo got me a basket full of sweet smelling bath stuff. Dad sent some money that I put towards my new coat.

My tree held a few surprises under it this year. I was pleasantly pleased by the few things that my sweety remembered in passing. I constantly complained about my mouse cord on the laptop. He got me a small cordless mouse YAY!

I also got an electronic french/english dictionary..for those who know and LOVE me, also know I am somewhat challenged when it comes to spelling . OK, OK, so I am NOT perfect...who knew.

I was also treated to a gorgeous watch....we actually saw it together in a watch store and he was determined to get me something more, besides the forementioned surprises already under the tree, that he was sure I would like . This was before xmas, but once we saw it and both loved it, he bought it for me. We had it gift wrapped because I had no intentions of wearing it before christmas. It is a beautiful Calvin Klein watch with a swiss movement. I will also add that its the most expensive watch I have ever owned. I almost choked when I saw its price , looked up at Chris with an incredulous look on my face like...YOUR NOT SERIOUSLY THINKING OF BUYING IT?? He in his calm, charming, loving manner says "Do you like it? " ..."Yes but"......" No buts, I love you and I can buy this for you " ......What can a girl say to that I ask you ?

can you tell I am a happy camper?

isn't this the coolest watch u ever saw? lol

I was lucky to have found a gorgeous coat just before christmas aswell, I love it and its the nicest coat I have ever owned. It wasn't an official xmas present but I did good by getting it for 75% off the regular price....some of my friends wanted to see it ..hense the pic lol...

I have to now tell u of another special gift I got. This gift took months of preparation and thoughtful caring for a best friend. Shannon could not have better shown her generous and loving nature with the time and care she took in putting this together for me. I love her to bits.

Let me preface this by saying that years ago I had showed her a bunch of postcards from europe. These were from when my sister spent a few months there.
All the postcards were of beautiful doors, of all colours. I had the plan to frame then and put them as a collection on a wall in my house . Just never got around to it. ...Shannon always remembered this. Last summer when Shan was here, she and my bf Chris drove around taking pics of nice doors in our neighbourhood and when we went to Quebec city she got some there aswell. Over the next months, she had printed, matted and framed 9 photos of doors. Each pic has a word that all together read "THE ROAD TO A FRIENDS HOUSE IS NEVER LONG" my own door photo has the word FRIENDS on it and Shan made it so that my door is also in the very middle of all 9 photos. My friend did an awesome job and really floored me with this present. Words can not describe how much I appreciate the loving time she took in putting this all together for me. I love my friend Shannon.

How cool is that I ask you? I have yet to decide exactly where this 9 picture display will hang but when I do , I will be sure to take a pic of it.
So as I was saying, I have been blessed this year. The new year to come can only hold promise and happiness. I feel so fortunate and humbled by the people in my life , near and far. I could only hope for the same to be true for everyone else.

I just wanted to wish all of my friends, family and readers a great Christmas. From our family to yours.......LOVE, LAUGH, AND BE MERRY.
Wether you will party hardy with loads of family or having a quiet christmas like we are with only a few , appreciate those u are able to share it all with and think happy thoughts for those that can't. HUGS 0X0X0X

Thought I would share this pic of my sister . She is the one with the big camera lol. This was in Sudan Africa a few weeks ago.She was traveling with the Prime Ministers office to take part in the Frankaphone Countries Summit. She told me it was quite an experience. 

Dear Santa

Here is the deal. I have this online wishlist but when I actually tryed to order one or two things these stores didn't want my money. Something about it not being green , wtf?? So anyway I was wondering if your not to busy on the eve of Christmas if you could swoop down and pick me up a few things on your way back home? It's on your way since I live in the great white &%?!@* North too. .........Promise to put some warm brandy in our Coacoa if you want...hugs 0x0x

Dogs can send Christmas letters too

As of this week in December, it has been one year since we adopted our little dog from the SPCA. We love this dog to bits. Hard to imagine life without her now. So a few months ago I had this cute idea. I figured that with all the adoptions they handle , there are certainly a few of the animals they say good-bye to that they would love to hear back from. Like are they ok, is the family good to them? I would bet not many call back to say "All is well, our animal is adapting well to us."So ....

We printed off a pic of our cute pouch Shinoo, using half a page then bottom half was a letter from Shinoo herself ...yes I do realize that dog speak is difficult to comprehend but I am gifted that way, why else would some affectionately call me bitch?

So Shinoo (with my help) writes that since xmas coincides with her one year anniversary in her new home, she wanted to send them a greeting and update. She couldn't be happier with her new family and as evident in the photo she is also able to follow the latest trends in hair care and styling as per her own instructions to her *mommy. She feels very loved and gets lots of affection and could not imagine being with anyone else. She also thanked the SPCA for the great care they gave her before this family adopted her. Had they not been there for her then, she would not be living the life she is now........ then signed her paw..

She then got abit mushy and I will respect her privacy by not going into that. So we then put her letter with pic in a nice card that the family all signed and voila. I hope they appreciate some good news from one of the animals they cared for. They had told us last year that she had been there for some time and many of them had become attached to her. Had I been one of them I think I would have liked to know how she was doing . I also think the SPCA don't get enough thanks for the good work they are doing. I hope our small gesture made someone smile the day they got it.

Xmas Letter

I am not referring to my xmas letter but the one my sister Nicole wrote this year. Her writting style is a small yet good glimse into her head. You will undoubtedly discover what I have known for years. My sis is smart, witty and very funny. Unlike our other globe trotting photographer sister(Brigitte), this one is a stay at home mom of 2 children but she has her own business doing AutoCad. Before that she made extra income by sewing/making all kinds of nifty crafts or towel sets for babies and selling them to boutiques. In other words Nicole has always been very creative and resoursefull. Many cool projects I have done in the past come from her insperations or her countless discoveries. She has always been the brainiac of the 3 of us. You know the kind. Those who breezed through school with straight A's without cracking open a book. What always comes to mind though as you get to know her is how she can make you laugh without even trying or how generous she is of herself with those she loves. She would so want to groan at everything I just wrote hehe but what can I say, I have always been extremely proud of her and felt lucky to have her as a sister the cool perk is also being a friend to this terrific woman.

Now to intro her letter. I will start by just mentioning that last years letter was a funny account of her dying appliances. Either by old age or straight out applianside...it was halarious to say the least. I can not begin to count the number of unsightly nonbeings. Suffice it to say it weren't purdy. Now this will explain a few references to that affect in the following letter. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Nicole's Christmas Chronicle 2004

Did I hear someone say, “I wonder how Nicole’s appliances are
doing.”? I didn’t think so……….
Yes, gentle reader, it’s once again time for me to hold you all captive as I enthrall, titillate and otherwise mesmerize you with my tales of intrigue, international espionage, and steamy romance. No wait…..that’s not my life, that’s a James Bond movie. That kind of sucks for you because a Bond movie would be WAY more interesting. Anyway, here goes….
The past year has been a full one for us, not because of anything big, just all the never ending little stuff. The kids are now five and twelve. Tess is in seventh grade and hates all the homework she’s getting this year. She still plays percussion and keyboard in band and joined the school’s jazz band this year . She’s also still taking piano and has gotten to a level where she actually likes to practice. Woohoo! She still whines about doing the theory but hey, a mother can’t have everything. This past summer she wrote and passed her first level of theory at the Royal Conservatory. After she’s completed a couple more levels it’ll actually count as credits in high school. It’s not terribly motivating for her as it’s a payoff that is literally years away. She’s so short-sighted! The paper route is still a thorn in her side, but her bank account is really growing. At this rate she’ll be able to pay for some post-secondary education. However, at the rate university tuition is rising, she’ll only be able to afford to pay for about 15 minutes worth! That’s not even enough time to find all your classes…………..
Hayden started kindergarten this fall-good times! He got off to a rocky start but he soon figured out that school was fun and the first teary days became a distant memory. He claims that he ‘doesn’t want to grow up’ so we just avoid that topic and try never to use phrases like, “You’re getting to be such a big boy.” or “Eat your broccoli, it’ll make you grow big and strong.” It’s counterproductive.
As for my work, the air balancer I started working for just over a year ago has been busy and I’m doing all of his drafting as well as my Dad’s. So, I’m very busy these days between work, kindergarten shuttle service, classroom volunteering, and everything else that is my life. This time of year is always a little hectic and with me working a lot more, Christmas preparations are behind. I can contribute much more by way of funding at Christmas now, but I can’t find time to get to the stores and actually buy the stuff! It’s such a conundrum. Speaking of conundrums, Wade is fine and busy as always. The herd this year is still 24 hooves strong (he told me to say that-it sounds bigger) and for the first time the guys will be taking a couple of live cows to the butcher. Usually the ‘deed’ has already been done before they get delivered there. The butcher we used to use is no longer in the business so we’ve had to look elsewhere for the service. In a week’s time the two full grown cows need to be ear-tagged and coaxed into the horse trailer (for the first time in their lives) without the use of the usual equipment like a cattle squeeze and/or a shoot. It should prove to be an interesting and very long day for the cowboys and whatever gets locked in that trailer-man or beast- goes to the butcher, so they’d better be careful. I’d try to document every agonizing detail on video if I didn’t think I’d be shaking so hard from laughter that I’d spoil the footage. I’ll let you know how it turns out. In the meantime, I’ll keep looking over my shoulder because Wade is determined to practice on something or someone with his new ear-tagging gun. My ears are ALREADY pierced, thank you very much, and NO I do not want a nose ring!
Brigitte and Glen are doing fine. Brigitte is really enjoying her job with the Prime Minister’s Office. She’s traveled to Russia, France, Chile and Africa, just to name a few places. We’ve been the recipients of some lovely souvenirs and appreciate her thinking of us. In February she and Glen came to Calgary for a big tattoo convention (Glen’s a very talented artist) so we were able to have a nice visit with them. Brigitte and I went to Canmore for an overnight stay to enjoy some girl time and the boys had to watch the fort and keep the home fires burning. Brigitte and I got stinking drunk and partied like animals. Wait…that’s another movie. In reality, except for the Puerto Rican stripper named Julio and the unfortunate incident with a police cruiser that lead to the need for bail money, we behaved like proper married women. We shopped and shopped, then got facials and manicures. It was heavenly.
Mom and Ben are also well. Ben had some health issues this past summer and had surgery to remove his gall bladder, which was causing him all kinds of trouble. After some surgery related complications, he fortunately has bounced back and is his usual active self.
Monette, Chris and Cleo are faring well also. They’ve gone through some job/work changes, causing some upheaval but ultimately working out for the best for both of them on many levels. I’m sure they’re relieved to be through it now and are settling into the new routine. We hope they can make it out west for a visit next summer.
Now you, fair reader, have been unaware as you read that while I’ve been writing this letter, I have fought with valiant effort, an internal battle. The inner war I waged was to keep myself from mentioning anything about household appliances, other than my opening sentence which was meant to make you laugh and to frighten you all at the same time. Having fought the good fight I am faced with the harsh reality that my inner ‘troops’ are weary and I’m out of ‘ammo’. I am waving the white flag and surrender to my driving need to inform you that we finally got a new fridge. For this I must largely thank the air balancer I work for in Calgary. No, he didn’t buy me a fridge, but his Christmas gift last year put us in the right place at the right time. He gave us tickets to a magic show and we (by some unexplained miracle that I hope to repeat sometime in the next decade) got there quite early. We went into the nearby SEARS store to kill time and the fridge we’d been lusting after for some time was on sale and there was a ‘no GST’ event ending that day. We took this as an omen, threw caution to the wind (Old, still-chugging, ugly almond top mount refrigerator be damned!) and bought a new one. Fear not all you environmentally conscious loved ones, ‘Old Faithful’ is happily chugging on in one of our rental properties living out the rest of its dubious life with useful purpose. We’ve since added a cupboard above the new fridge where there wasn’t one before because Wade has learned that the way to my heart is through added kitchen cabinetry (refer to Cowie Chronicle-2002). I am currently on a covert mission, planting the seeds of ‘stove replacement’ in my dear husband’s subconscious. I’ll let you know how the cassette tapes I play while he sleeps, and the subliminal messages in oil on the bathroom mirror (visible only when it’s steamed up) are working. I’d settle for a new love seat in the front room, but that’s not an appliance, it’s furniture. You don’t want to get me started on furniture…………..

All kidding aside, this is a Christmas letter after all and we send our good wishes to all our friends and family during this holiday season. May you be blessed with health, happiness, people who love you, and most importantly, decent appliances.
Merry Christmas!

Xmas Cards Done!!!

I savour that feeling of bliss that over takes my being when I have placed the last stamp and put the last xmas card in the mail slot. I have a personal relationship with each card I prepare. This year I mailed out 45 cards. This is a norm for me. As much as I enjoy it I also make it such a chore. I am anal retentive when it comes to my xmas cards. I actually start this process after xmas every year. I like to buy nice cards but the nice ones are quite pricey and given the number I send out, I hit the stores for the after xmas sales. I usually find them at half price and even then when buying 2 or 3 boxes it doesn't make it cheap. I love the hunt for nice ones nonetheless. Then they are tucked away for a quiet year till its that special time.

I begin by writting my xmas letter. Many of the card recipients are people like aunts, uncles, cousins or long lost school friends from all over the country or abroad. No news is exchanged all year untill we send out xmas cards hense the xmas letter. I try to digest the years events or share tidbits of this and that. Then I add a cute graphic or two and print them all to fold and stick inside the card. I realize some may find it cold to send a form letter out but atleast they get all the news and even if I wanted to hand write it all out in each card there wouldn't be enough room anyway. I do try however to write a little something in each and every card. I have been told in the past that my letter is well recieved and most look forward to it now.

I also do each and every address on the envelope in calighraphy with a wide fountain pen. It makes for an old style look, very classy and I hope also appreciated when recieved in the mailbox. I feel like the small extra attention I pay to each card is all part of the Christmas spirit and the time I have taken to addressing each one is time spent thinking good thoughts about the person it's going too. I then seal the back with a pretty sticker. I used to actually melt a special letter wax that was red or gold then pressed with a stamp that had a fancy M on it. I broke it a couple years ago and have looked for one since or one with just a fancy design but everytime I see what I am looking for they never have a design I like. I no longer need an M but a combined M/C intertwined would be awesome. Untill I find one I like I will stick to pretty stickers. I did warn you that I was anally retentive when it comes to my cards , stop rolling your eyes at me lol.

I will actually post my xmas letter on here in a week or so . My reason being that some of my readers are also going to get a card so I don't want to have them reading it twice. Besides most of the news on there has been written about in my blog through the months as well. Just their luck to have to read about it over and over again. My life is quite mundane so the few interesting things that happen I make sure to write about.

As for the rest of you out there, I wish for you all to have a great Christmas and Holiday Season. For those of you who do not celebrate this time or do it differently then myself, I hope you enjoy the time off or the spirit surrounding our good thoughts for loved ones. As we say here in french JOYEUX NOËL ET BONNE ANNÉE..

Testing BlogJet

I have installed an interesting application - BlogJet. It's a cool Windows client for my blog tool (as well as for other tools). Get your copy here: http://blogjet.com

I am curious to see how this actually works hmmm the colour thing works as annoying as  this may seem, I was also able to choose a font I like and make it stickhow , ha I actually tryed the white font I am such a goober lol  this thing apparently makes it easy to put a pic in with your text aswell.                                       

 awe how cool is that, less of a hassle then the other program I was using to put pics in my blog.

I think I will have to continue playing with this to get a better grip on it lol at my age its harder to learn new computer stuff when u learn by trial and error lol..bare with me lol

 

CRANIUMPROCTOLITIS?

Some days I really have to rack my brains as to what to write about. This is one of the reasons I really don't blog everyday. My life leaves little fodder for my musings. I share what I can but frankly my life is quite boring , although it is a happy one. I read other blogs written by friends hoping to enjoy small thrills vicariously through their experiences.
I have also been reading many others through the blog surf in Blog Explosion. Some are great and grab you emediately. Others are just add pages and then others are so bad that the 30 second minimun seems like a lifetime. I certainly don't think my blog is all that and a bag of chips. I have a few faithfull friends and blog aquantances that regularly visit my page as do I theirs.
The surf is just that though, visiting new and different blogs. A quick checking out to see if any given blog peaks your interest one way or the other. If not you move on and so on. It can be very interesting to read about people from all over. I see it as an adventure or sorts. I also love finding new things or different designs and ideas as I surf the blogs.
I was doing just that when I came across one such blogger who just wrote about all the things she hated about other blogs. Hmm I thought, ok. She went on to gripe about what people put on their pages, such as a few adds, sites, tags, blinkies, maps etc etc etc . So I am thinking ,SO WHAT!!! This person must have issues with the world for god sakes. I realize we are intitled to an opinion but geez. Why not try telling everyone how to dress, eat, live, have sex, and what pet to buy. I mean if this person was *bothered by all that and then some, chances are she isn't a happy camper. I have to feel sorry for someone like that. How miserable they must be to nitpick and insult every thing.
I am the first to admit I have my moments. I have even blogged a few of them. It weren't purdy. I do believe though, that, more often then not, my vents have been of legitimate cause or subject. I hope I am correct in thinking that I am a logical thinker and try to be level headed about most things. I am guilty of having passionate feeling about certain things, and I do get very impatient with ignorance and stupidity. I do not suffer fools. I do however have a big heart and I am generous to a fault if I have it to give.
I also have a tendency to stray off the track of the point I want to make in any given subject. As I was saying....
.......I guess I just wanted to say , I hope this woman decides to desist her blog surfing in order to aswage her persistant nausium pertaining to everyone elses blog. Her lack of adventure and acceptance of what others deam fun or cute or just anything they want to add to their blog , may be an indicater of a deeper, underlying problem. Such as , for example a symdrome called....Craniumproctolitis....in laymans terms...the best way to translate this without any subterfuge is...she suffers from having her head up her ass.


With that I hope you all enjoy my silly blinkies, maps, weather girl, moonphases, and whatever else I decide to stick on MY page. If you don't, thats ok too, move on and have a great day.

HERE I AM

So I haven't been attending my blog much lately. It has been a bitch here for the last few days. Luc has a dire need for medication adjustments. Poor guy is not a happy camper so he yells for no reason or hits his head with his hands. I couldn't tell you if he suffers from headaches but thats what I would do if I was unable to talk to explain it. He is also full of shit...LITERALLY...so that makes for a pent up personality if you ask me. I don't think this guy could have more fiber then I put in all his meals already. Let's not forget all his food is put in a blender. I don't want to invest in a fricken wood chipper for god sakes...or start pealing the bark off my back yard trees so he gets another form of fiber added to his diet.

Other then that well, I had to go to my daughters school thurs night for her report card and meet with a few of her teachers. Let me just say that some of her marks have more then enough room for improvements. Nuff said.

Yesterday afternoon we got a more then needed repreave. Chris and I were actually able to get out for the afternoon , TOGETHER! Although our time was spent mostly getting stuff done, shopping and paying bills it was all fun doing it together. Usually it is either him or me going out to do and/or get what ever because someone always has to be here for Luc. Anyway, we had the luxury of having one of those huge bovarian hotdogs and shared a large poutine between us for lunch,,,,YUMMM ...I know it isn't the best food for me but like we say, all things in moderation. We were able to get a few xmas gifts at cosco and I treated myself to a really nice stationary set that was in a really nice leather chest box. I felt guilty about it not being xmas yet but Chris insisted and had to bend my rubber arm to get it lol. We also went to Pier 1 Imports, I love that store. Lots of cool things in there to look at. I found some perfect xmas balls as gifts for ladies in the little salon I go to once every 2 months with my friend. One does my nails, one is a foot nurse (not a pedicurist) and the other is an estitician for facials or whatever else we decide to get done on that one day we go. All 3 are really nice women. What is cool about these lovely glass balls is that they are all hand painted with beautifull scenes on them (FROM THE INSIDE!!) imagine that eh. Each ball has its own velvet box with a tiny clasp closing it. They were all on sale so they came to just over 11$ each. I thought they were perfect and not to high priced and each of the 3 ladies gets the same thing but each ball has a different scene on them. I so love to go on and on and on about silly things lol. I just loved my afternoon out with Chris yesterday. Just browsing and stealing kisses here and there behind the fake bamboo tree or the xmas decoraton display.

We goofed around and browsed and bought till our feet were killing us and we were happy to be on our way back to remove our shoes and appreciate HOME. It was so nice to just get out. Our sitter was a trooper. Luc gave her a hard time the whole time we were gone but handled it without calling our cell so we could enjoy our afternoon.

I have a docs appointment next tues afternoon so we have already scheduled her coming back then and she will remain till after supper so we can go out for supper aswell. I am looking forward to it. It actually kinda feels like dating now that we can't get out together much anymore lol.

Well thats it for today. Hope all are doing well. Continue to bare with me , I post when I can. Good thing I am done for today, I have a blind naked guy stalking me. Arg , I hate that he purposely removes his clothing to piss me off it would seem. GOTTA GO

Your Hippie Chick Name is: Fiona

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Can you tell by now that my cerebrial cortex is on the blink so I am just using these amusing fillers to entertain myself and hopefully some of you.

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AQUA You enjoy life, humor, and being exuberant. Wherever you go you usually find yourself stealing the spotlight without even trying. You love to let go and have fun. Find out your color at Quiz Me!

This is kinda cool

In 1963 (the year you were born)

Lyndon B. Johnson becomes president of the US The atomic powered submarine, Thresher, sinks in the North Atlantic killing 129 A civil rights rally held by 200,000 blacks and whites, features Dr. Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" speech President John F. Kennedy is assassinated as he rides in a motorcade through downtown Dallas Betty Friedan publishes The Feminine Mystique, launching a middle-class feminist movement Michael Jordan, Quentin Tarantino, Conan O'Brien, Johnny Depp, and Brad Pitt are born Los Angeles Dodgers win the World Series Chicago Bears win the NFL championship Toronto Maple Leafs win the Stanley Cup The Beatles receive their first #1 hit single, when "Please Please Me" tops the charts in the UK Astroboy (known as Mighty Atom in Japanese) Japan's first ever anime was launched NBC expands its evening network news program to 30 minutes The television remote control is authorized by the FCC

What Happened the Year You Were Born?

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Does anyone here speak Dog?

How does one coherently tell a dog that they are confined to one month of bedrest? Seriously, one month of rest is perscribed by the vet. My right lobe understands what she means my left one just laughed at the notion. I sat the dog down and explained as clearly as I could.

She must refrain from using an upwardly perpetual motion to atain the hight of the divan , nor move in an excellerated speed in the yard and ofcourse desist from following the flow of gravity downwards during furniture disinbarkment. I fear she was perplexed at she cocked her head to the side and looked at me with her big black eyes as if to say .....wtf are you on?......Were my instructions not concise?

Let me add that all this was said in french. My dog does not understand english. It would seem though that since she is also on pain killers/anti_inflamitories her ability to heed my instructions has been compromized. I am hoping that if I find someone who speaks in dog* this will be rectifyed inthat it should facilitate comprehension regardless of her altered state. I am however baffled by her cognative recognition in hearing the pill bottle being handled in preparation of administration. Her excitement is overwhelming.

I surmise that I shall have to come to terms with the fact that my dog likes to be stoned and being with this family has turned her into a drug addict. I can't say I blame her all that much. I realize the underlying cause is living with a bunch of nutbars (all of us included with our borders) resulting in irresponsible use in her everyday dog skills, hense back problems. Although assured of her recovery, I now realize this to be a superficial cover up and doesn't begin to scratch the surface.

What is more troubling is my ability to foresee the future. I so dread when she runs out of her meds and starts selling her food to the underground squirrels or other verman to support a dirtier habit to get a fix. Just imagining her free basing in the dark corner of the deck is too much to handle. God forbid she starts to sell herself to the dogs from the other side of the street. Her youthfull beauty fading quickly in this dog eat dog world.

I pray we can prevent the degeneration from occuring. I will need the help and encouragement from friends and family to get us through this. Thank you all so much for listening to my inner crys of help and dire need of support in regard to my still sweet little dog Shinoo.

Pouting for our Pooch

Our canine companion is in the hospital tonight. OK you can all say AWWEEE. Poor thing hasn't been feeling well for the last couple of days and we couldn't figure out what was wrong. She wimpered when we picked her up or she was hesitant to jump down off the chair. No matter how we tryed to figure out where she was hurt we could not pin point it. Job for the profesionals. We have a great vet. She is sweet and gentle with our dog and really takes the time to expain everything.
Apparently it is common for small dogs with longish bodies to have back problems. It would seem that our Shinooo may have a herniated disc. She is staying overnight in hospital for some xrays then cortizone shot and anti-inflamitory meds then tomorrow another xray to see if all is better. She is pretty sure that it will be ok with lots of rest in the next few days and that was basically what she was doing. Keeping quiet and laying still so she wasn't in pain.
The hardest part for me is having to leave her there. I know how pet owners are , they make others want to roll their eyes and say for god sakes , it's a dog sheesh! Well so be it. They really do become a part of the family.
We adopted Shinoo at the SPCA last dec. She was already 2 yrs old. She had been left there by a family who had small children who may have been bitten by her. Sometimes these pure breds are less patient or just her personality made for her being less tolerant of small hands pulling at her. They were adamant that if we had small children it wouldn't be a great idea to adopt her. Luckily my daughter is 14 and the clients here don't really interact with animals. We have not regretted adopting her one bit ever since. She is cuddly and smart and we love her to bits. Besides how many dogs do you know that let someone dye her pony tail and tail red? When we take her out with us she gets all the attention and loves it lol. We plan to send a card with a photo of her to the SPCA for xmas this year with a letter as if written by Shinoo herself to say hi to all and how her first year with her new family has been great. They had all become attached to her there because she was there for quite a few months before she was adopted by us. The xmas card will be a cute way to say thankyou for taking good care of her untill she had a permenant home with us.
Last august we took her into the vets office because she was constantly scratching . To find out that she was alergic to the late summer/fall pollen. I thought it was funny and so did Chris because he is alergic aswell. With todays visit Chris laughed when she told him about the herniated disc, only because Chris himself had a back operation years ago for the same problem. The vet went on to ask Chris if he had any other conditions the dog should know about lol. Chris came home to tell me that he thinks the poor dog will have gout next.
I miss our pooch and I hope she doesn't think we just left her there.......arg I gotta stop being a baby thinking about her. She will be right as rain tomorrow. I am posting a few pics we took this summer so you will all have the chance to say AWWWE.

I wuv sleeping here 

what a cutey 

Taking in some sunshine on the bench 

Here she is , our Shinoo 

HEHE

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I get the best comments

I really have to say I love the comments I get. One thing is evident, I know a bunch of nutbars lol. The new visiters to my blog who commented seem to fit right in aswell.

Meg I feel your pain hun. I quit smoking almost 7 months ago. I was a pack and a half smoker a day. I also gained weight. It is actually what put my body over the edge and declared itself diabetic. It would have happened eventually anyway. I am so glad I quite smoking , no more coughing and less out of breath but mostly , just not being slave to a filthy habit. Meg it gets better I promise and keep up the good work. As for moving in , well I have a huge back yard you can all camp in but I strongly suggest you wait till summer time. Winters here tend to freeze a mans balls into tiny peas and womens nipples can ingrave diamonds. But it is entirely your call lol.

For those wondering about the deck chair comment from Shannon....well ....when I lost 1 lb at the very beginning of this new eating plan, my mom was thrilled for me. She didn't want me to look at it as a small thing so her example of a bad way of looking at it was .......Don't think of it as loosing a deck chair off the Queen Mary...........so now all the lbs I loose we call deck chairs. O h and Shannon, I intend to loose them all plus a few life rafts, life boats, a couch, desk, firstmate and oh yeah the STEAM ENGINE!!! HEHE

Jenn omg Chris and I laughed so hard with your new favorite t-shirt line (grow your own dope plant a (G.W.)Bush. I love ya gf.

Anna I always appreciate your encouragements and hugs....and if my crappy horrors day made you laugh, thats why I wrote it. Was also my way to look at it with humour then remember it with a desperate plee for a gas mask.

Squirrels hun I am still alive and kicking. I guess we have never been online at the same time. I really miss you and all the gang. We are really going to have to make an appointment to all meet in a room and chat like we used to. I go into some rooms briefly now and it's just not the same. I have been keeping up with blogs though and I think your bathroom renovations look awesome. Great work you guys. I hope to chat with you soon. Hugs my friend.

Amanda hun, your butt is as cute as it has always been ya goober, I know for a fact that my 6.5 deck chairs have picked up residence on a small scooner in the south pacific. I know this because I got a lovely postcard the other day. They said "Having a blast...send the others as soon as possible.....and no offense but we aren't coming back, front, sideways or upside down."

Sev dude, thanks for the comment lol, if you weren't 5000 thats ok, like you said, close enough. Thanks for stopping by.

I have to send a shout out to all of you who took the time to pin my map. Wow it's really awesome to see the pins acumulate on there. Thanks for stopping by and participating. Each small pin and message makes my day...and the world alot smaller.

As for my meeting concerning the famous respite pay. I got a few bucks. I had hoped for more but as it is totally apart from my contract and considered an extra only reserved for a sellect few clients , I guess I can live with it. I didn't really get to negotiate, he basically arrived with papers in hand ready to sign with amount already put in the blank. He could sell ice to the inuit for god sakes but I can atleast say it was a fair offer. I had a brief talk in the bedroom with Chris before signing it . We both agreed it was more then nothing but fair . It would also pay for abit of respite each month without it coming out of my pocket or we could use it all at once for inhome care in the event we want to take vacation time away. All in all, I am pleased. Had I not been informed and asked about that special annex to be added to my contract I wouldn't have received squat. Let us also safely assume that *they* would not have enlightened me about it either lol.

Well thats it for today. All have a great day...........0x0x0x

A Few Mentions

Just wanted to say a few different things today. First of all I need to thank all the great friends and readers I have for leaving me comments. I get so much pleasure from the comments I recieve whether for laughs, advice or just acknowledgment , they are all appreciated.

I also added a guest map, I saw it on another blog and loved the idea of seeing all the pins on a map from people who visit my a blog. Please plant your flower on my map, someday I hope to have a map full of flowers from all over. This does not mean you can bury dead relatives or hide your homicide victims or use this as a pet cemetary. I realize for some this was not needed information but for others, one has to be clear and precise.

I noticed that I passed the 5000 counter mark, I wish I had posted for the 5000th person leave a comment or just say hi. I can't tell you why or what difference it would have made honestly. I guess I just think its cool that I have had over 5000 hits . So call me, silly. Just don't call me late for lunch.

Having said that, let me just announce that I went to see my dietician yesterday for follow up from the month before, 26 days from last appointment actually. I am happy to say that with good eating, no starving and using moderation with my favorite things . I have lost 6.5 lbs in the last 25 days. I was surprised to say the least. I knew I was slowly losing so I expected maybe a 3 lbs loss. I have to admit I was thrilled. I can only get better and feel better one day at a time. Wooo hooooo. Good for me and good for Chris, he has lost a few lbs aswell so fits better in his few pants that had gotten tight lately. It's all in the team work.

Last little update. I got a call from the paper pushing boss yesterday. He is coming to my home tomorrow morning with the other paper pushing pion that is basically useless. Anyway. they are coming to offer me a figure concerning my letter asking for respite pay. I have no idea what they are going to pitch. I hope it is worthy of my time and not a blatant insult to my intelligence. I have hopefully made it clear that I am awear of what some others are recieving for the same thing so lets hope we don't beat around the bush to much.

Speaking of Bush. Hmmm I better not go there. My opinions are very strong ones and I fear if I let them rip I risk alienating some readers. Besides being canadian, my thoughts are a mute point. I will say though that although I am from another country, many of us are interested and informed on a regular basis on the political forum in the US. The opposite is true for the reverse lol................All I want to say now is.......GOOD LUCK!

Wish me luck for tomorrows discussion and untill next post, all have a great day or week. Never know when I will post next. Hugs.........0x0x0x

DAY OF CRAPPY HORRORS!!!

Let me start by saying you are about to enter into the realm of truelly gut renching horror. It is a true story lived by yours truelly. I warn you now of the explicit nature of this tale. Those who are squeemish leave now.

This is not a tail of haunted houses or dark country roads. This is the tale of one of my daily rituals gone horrifically wrong. As I yet again share my experiences about my job with all, I have to state that this day was by far the worse.

I will preface this by informing you all that Luc my new border has a severe constipation problem. With all the fiber that is added to his 3 meals that are then put in a blender and fed to him, this problem is a persistant one. It stands to reason that once every 3rd or 4th day we reep the benefits of said efforts BIG TIME!!

One of my jobs is to also help curb bad behaviour and/or habits he has fostered over time. One of these bad habits is putting his feet up on the toilet seat while sitting on it. Yes he is an adult but he is small of statue and very lean in build. This however does not discount his strength as I will soon atest.

I have been removing him from the t-seat as soon as he puts his feet up. Hoping to teach him that it will not be tolerated and he is just punishing himself from sitting on his favorite (throne) this kind of behaviour in usually derived by being institutionalized. Anyway , sometimes when he goes to the bathroom I stand and wait till he does it again . For those wondering, the door is always open because this person is blind so please don't think I am infringing on his privacy. Walking into doors hurts like a bitch.

As I watch luc this time I am pleased he hasn't put his feet up yet. Just as I was about to praise him he starts to lift them. Isay "NO LUC!" but this time he doesn't stop like he usually does. This time he ignores me. Now I have to remove him from the toilet. I lift him from under his armpit on one side to get him off. Usually he follows and pulls up his pants routinely, he knows the drill. He isn't following the drill, he is using all his weight to stay sitting. I start to pull on his arm and have his butt off the seat while he is counter pulling just as hard to stay there with both feet planted firmly infront of him. At this point I know I can NOT loose the battle . At the same moment I realize this with his ass in the air just above the seat, he craps on the seat! OMG!! Now I just want to throw up! Now I CAN'T let him sit back down or let go cause he will get shit all over himself. He is still pulling and I am still holding on while choking back dry heaves from the stink. As I get more leverage and pull him a few inches closer to me he lets another bomb land SPLAT on the bathroom floor. OH LORD GET ME THROUGH THIS CALAMITY!! I am thinking now he must be done , I just have to get him out of here. I knew he was strong but damn, could just be the extra perpetual power eminating from the back end that's giving him more steam* then usual. I am using all my mite and dry heaving like there is no tomorrow all while trying to focus threw now watery eyes as I watch in amazement, like it was in slow motion, another bomb attack make its way throw the space time continuum falling towards ceramic tile and bathroom rug , bigger then the 2 before it!!!OMG DUCK! I lose some footing to see with horror , Luc steps in the last fresh deposit. His shoe slides forward but in that split second I use that momentum to pull him out of the bathroom. I grab a baby wipe to clean his bum but now he wants his pants up so with one hand I am trying to keep his pants down and bend him over at the same time he is pulling his pants in the opposite direction all while tracking shit all over the hallway outside the bathroom. I finally get his bumb clean, take his shoe off and get him in his room to turn back towards the horror that is my bathroom and hallway. First priority is his shoe. He hates not having it on so I have to be quick to give it back before he starts trapsing back in here . I have the hot water tap in the tub running on the underside of the shoe but it's no use. I need to grab an old toothbrush from under the sink to get the crap out of the running show grooves ewwwww so for now I leave shoe sitting in alittle water to loosen up. I grap a big bag to start picking up the piles of shit on the floor, rince off the rug in the tub to throw in the washer with bleach and boiling water, get the mop and the disinfectant all while coming close to loosing my cookies still dry heaving. The stench is unbeleivable. Adult pooop is not like baby poooop let me assure you. I have to do all this while making sure Luc who is hovering close by wanting his shoe cause he is holding one foot in the air, doesn't come back in till it is all clean. At one point as I am trying to thouroughly clean the grooves in the shoe with the toothbrush , he got too close and stepped in the quickly wiped floor with his sock. I had to remove the sock and the other shoe and sock and sit him down in his room. He didn't much like that but it bought me some time. I was finally able to disinfect everything. Clean the tub. Clean the toilet. Clean the shoe. Rug is washing in washer. Bag of shit is outside. And finally the smell is starting to disappear.

I finally sit down to take a deep breath that it's all over. Phone rings , it's my honey Chris calling from work. I tell him what had just transpired as he and I both laugh, he says " It is the first time in all the 1 1/2 yrs I have lived there that I am glad I wasn't home" ....I said "BITE ME!!!"

Moral of this story.........if you really want a bag of shit to play a prank on Halloween, there are alot EASIER WAYS TO GET IT THAN THIS!!!!

PAPER PUSHING PIONS ........continued

OMG You're just gonna love this. It would seem that the lovely caseworker that offered to care for my client those 2 days I was in Ottawa got total shit about having done it. I was floored. I was also not supposed to know that but because she and I clicked so well she told me. Apparently the morning after when she got to work she was SUMMONED! to the boss's office. He proceeded to rip her a new one starting with ...what you did was a conflict of interest, against all protocol, for your own profit, obvioiusly against all known rules and that she hadn't seeked council or informed anyone bla bla bla...he went on to say that there was nothing wrong with it after she retires next june etc but not now bla bla......

Luckily from the week before she actually did sit for me she had mentioned what she was going to do to her emmediate supervizer, her co-worker, the famous social worker I love so much from last post ( and it was right infront of me when she told him her intentions) All for the exact reason of making sure all was ok. Not one person told her otherwize . No one had a problem with her taking one of her acumulated off days that they have harped on her to take and no one among the whole lot said anything about it not being against protocol to do what she did on her free time.

So she tells him that obviously this in NOT known rule hense no one saying a word against it . That she did Not keep it a secret for this very reason. That transparency is a must and always has been. That it was not a conflict of interest because it was to help the foster family out given the 2 day excursion had been planed 2 months earlier and she wanted to ensure the client had the appropriate care. Also it was her free time and since she had ideas of offering her services to people like me after her retirement it would be a great gage to see if she enjoyed it. Then there is the obvious reason......he the boss himself told her and the social worker that I was to get all the help I needed with this client because he is difficult case. He didn't want to have to start all over again with another placement of him. So she was sent to me for as long as I needed, hense that first weekend we spent together when she showed me the appropriet ways to wash and feed and care for him etc.

It would stand to reason we spent alot of time getting to know eachother and my telling her about my daughters day in parliament etc. She was kind enough to offer to sit for those 2 days on her free time and had I hired someone else (although there was no one I knew qualified enough) I would have payed them the same rate.

She didn't go one to tell him all that but some of the latter of it anyway. He finally capitulated and reasoned that it was NOT infact a conflict of interest. WOW how big of him. He did say that she was not to do it again however. Apparently not even when I have a DIRE need to have someone here for such things as doctors appointment with my OTHER CLIENT or for myself . That makes so much sense....NOT....so much for meeting my needs with this client. All other responsabilities I have fly out the window. OH did I forget to mention that this client can not be driven anywhere unless there is another qualified person to accompany me with him. He is highly agitated in a vehicle. So any idea to just bring him along is a no no .

This governmental organization is not even equiped with a list of babysitters or should I say qualified care givers for the kind of clients we take in. I spent hours on the phone yesterday phoning clinics and such to see if they had a list of adult care givers that would be interested in doing this for a few hours once in awhile etc. No answers yet , left alot of messages . I know it's for not because I am not the first who has tried. Others doing the same job as myself are having a hell of a time aswell so when they do find a friend or other to sit for them they hord them for themselves and don't really share. I so don't blame them.

I am sorry to those who may find all this boring but it is my one forum to vent and try to let go of the frustrations of the political side of my job. I say political because thats exactly what it is. Even in my line of work caring for mentally and physically handicapped people in my own home there is the agencies in the background pushing papers and prosiding over all that at times becomes rediculous. I realize that there are many good reasons for certain things like making sure the clients are well taken care of and that all the guidelines are followed and respected. I am all for making sure that mistakes from the past history of mistreated people as vulnerable as these never re-occur. I have also seen on another scale though, the ass kissing peons that find themselves with 10 clients who just hire welfare recipients to work for them for next to nothing wages under the table while they go to the bank laughing. This as the organizations tells us in meetings that they have had the politic for years to not want more then 4 clients in one home to ensure enough one on one care for each client.

In the 10 years I have done this job, I have never wanted more then 2 clients. It is enough for me and just enough to pay my morgage and needs. I also know I am giving them optimum care. I learned many years ago how to play the game. Yes it can all be a game. Unfortunately it mostly has nothing to do with how well you do your job but how smart you are in dealing with these self important paper pushing pions that couldn't do our job for a full 24 hours before calling their mommys to save their own lives.

I realize they wouldn't choose to do this job like I do but there inlies the conflict when they are so apt at pissing us around and be it what ever lable they tout, tell us how to do our job. Social worker, educator, caseworker, there are afew different titles and I am trying to translate them from french to english lol so it they aren't all acurate. Nevertheless some of the lame brain ideas they come up with for dealing with any given behavior or personality problems are laughable. I smile and play the game till they finally figure out that their idea didn't work. DUHHHH

OK, this vent ........oops post is done for today. I assure you that I have had some more enjoyable posts with funny experiences but I am currently dealing with this so I am writing about it.
Bare, bear, bair with me lol

A DAY OFF?? HUH?

If you have been reading my blog you know I have a new client/border living here. When he first came I knew that clients like him were very high maintenance thus with said client there is a budget for respite that comes with them. I mentioned this budget to the social worker assigned to his case. He said he didn't know about that. I reasured him that I did but wasn't sure of the details because I had never had a client of this level of handicap. I asked him to get imformed on the subject. After all it is his job and I shouldn't even have been the person to light a bulb about the subject to him in the first place.

Now I will admit that this guy is new on the job and has lots of details to learn along the way but to drag his ass about finding things out is no excuse. I told him to get the details about this on the 12 of oct. He also knew I was hiring someone for the following weekend to go to Ottawa because it was a trip arranged months before.

Now to explain why I am pissed. Yesterday I had a meeting here with another social worker who works in another branch . She was here to have me sign the new contract about this client. When I mentioned that I wanted to see the annex 7.1 about respite pay she informs me that I have to write a letter to the boss (higher up paper pusher) asking to negotiate respite pay and justify how many hours a week I will need in time off.

OK, so let me get this straight. I have to ask for and justify that I need a break for a few hours a week. I know I have chosen this job but I don't care who the fek you are but even if you love your job, everyone needs a break. I work at home doing this so it's not like I can decide to punch out and go home and leave my job behind. I can't even go downstairs to sew in my sewing room, or take a nap or even take a shower unless there is someone else here that can watch over him. Again I reiterate, I chose this job I realize that. I just find it maddening that I have to actually *justify * needing to leave the house once in awhile to just go shopping or even eat out with my partner not to mention the fact that I have another client that I have to take to the doctors office and other meetings with other social workers to work on his behavior and /or social skills. This client doesn't have the same level of severe handicap as the one I am speaking of.

So let me go back abit. When she mentions the so called letter. I realize that had I known about having to write the letter in the first place it would have been written 15 days BEFORE when I asked about it in the first place. These letters are retroactive. So the close to 200$ we paid for a sitter during our Ottawa trip by rights won't be reinbursed!!! WHY? Because the social worker didn't tell me that on the 12th or the 13th or the 14th or the 15th ect ect . God only knows when he would have told me because frankly it is the other social worker that informed me. When I called him to verify he says ,"oh yea , that is what you have to do" WELL DUH!!!!

I had no problems letting him know that I would have appreciated learning that alot earlier and that I would appreciate him informing the *boss of his lack to inform me in the first week. I would like to be credited for his mistake regardless and recieve what was due to me for the dates mentioned bla bla bla. I was polite because unfortunatly I have to continue working with him so to alienate the dork now would just make things more difficult for me in the future.

So I have vented here instead. I mean geez, we all have jobs to do. We can all make some errors. I certainly can't permit myself to sluff off with my clients it would affect their health and care. I have to submit on demand fully balanced budget sheets with all their expenses and bank accounts. I have to make sure everything is written down, the i's dotted and the t's crossed. It is part of my job. I do it. So what in heck is his excuss? Especially when it affects someone else for god sakes!! Oh and it is also his job to pay me the money that the other foster family owes me . We get a certain amount paid to us for the month ahead. In other words, given that I recieved my client on the 8th, they owe me for the other 24 days of the month that they already got paid. This transaction usually takes place the same day as moving day or day after. When one of my former clients moved I had that money ready to go to other family imediately. Now I am still waiting for that money 19 days later. ARGGGGGGGGGG

It isn't a huge amount it is only a few hundred but I have had to buy basic needs for the client who arrived with no soap, shampoo, battery toothbrush (does better job because I have to brush his teeth aswell) Not to mention they suggested I get an ear thermometer and baby monitor etc. I have made quit afew buys for the client thinking there would be money quickly. I wasn't able to get the monitor yet , we ran out of money. We have a budget and thinking I would get some reimburement sooner I wasn't worried. Now I am just really mad. Any one know a constuction site close to me? I swear I am spitting nails right now , could be usefull. OH wait, I need to justify my need to leave the house for a few hours, scatch that idea.

If you do a job do it right!! If your learning atleast make a good effort . FOR GOD SAKES GET YOUR HEAD OUTTA YOUR ASS AND QUITE PISSIN AROUND!!!

New Traffic

I have joined a new site called BlogExplosion. It enables you to surf blogs from all over not just this blogspot group. I have been having fun surfing all kinds of blogs. Some are awesome and some are just there lol but thats ok it has helped pass some time. BlogExplosion is just an addition for access to more interesting blogs. I have already got a few blogs in my favorites list that have been regular reads for months. Funny how we become attached to perfect strangers after a time of reading about their lives and thoughts. You know who you are out there. It is so fun to exchange comments or hear an insight from these people. I ofcourse have a list of friends blogs , that goes without saying. I feel like my day is missing something when I haven't caught up on my daily reads be it friends or new friends* blogs. If you want to know more about BlogExplosion just click on the tag I put on the side bar. I am looking forward to discovering different and interesting blogs.

Frankly chat isn't what it used to be. It could be me or it could be a general thing but I find it so mundane and disappointing lately. Same thing day in, day out. God forbid you try to actually have a decent conversation or introduce an actual subject about anything other then sex . I can flirt and be goofy like the next guy but it sure gets old when thats all there is. I could go on but thats a post for another day.

Have a gander at BlogExplosion if interested. Click on the tag on the side.

Some People are gonna hate me for this

I know I am losing weight but I don't dare buy a scale because I would be stepping on the damn thing every 15 minutes. I have to give most of the credit to Chris my partner. He has taken it apon himself to make sure I eat properly according to what the dietician told us. He loves to cook and I love to let him.

I did the whole (big meal on the table at precisely 5pm when the male got home) thing, for 14 years. It was never appreciated and the few times I can count on one hand he made a meal we had to thank the gods and genuflect for his supreme goodness of heart for doing it ..........can you tell that was in a former relationship?

I know I am now a very blessed woman these days . The cherry on top is that my man is french hehe. Everything he cooks is sublime.

To get back to what I was saying . We got some basic guidelines to follow for this new diet. It takes some getting used to but only because us, like most have bad eating habits to curb. I would not eat all day and then eat to much later. Not good for any body let alone a diabetic one. Oddly enough I have come to the conclusion that my new found diabetis has been the thing I needed to take better care of myself. Granted I have alot of help from my partner. He is actually better able to tell me what we should eat then I am on any given day lol, but then he is the one working out the daily menus. I am still not eating everything I am supposed to ironically. Proof again that good eating is what gets the engine and matabulism working rather then stuffing yourself with crap all the time.

I won't lie and say I never eat some of the junk food out there. While in Ottawa we had pizza and I have had a burger and fries on occasion. You all know that saying "With Moderation" heck it isn't that hard to do. With help I am making better choices and I am feeling better because of it. Hell, I finally woke up when I found out I was diabetic. I know it would probably have taken me a while longer to make changes had that not happened to forse the issue.

What this post is really all about is that after learning more and more about diabetis and how horrible it can be to a persons body, I am what some would call FLABBERGASTED. Why ? you may ask. Well the majority of people I know personally who are diabetic either type 1 or 2 are the worst eaters I know. I am talking horrible here. Some who eat worse then I ever did when I was eating anything. Some who declared after I told them I was diagnosed that they had been diabetics for years. I thought to myself , um ok, so you eat crap constantly knowing your diabetic, why???

I didn't ask some of these friends for advise for that simple reason. It was frustrating because I had to get all my advise from a hired dietician. I would have gone to see her regardless to start anyway but I will continue to see her for updates. What makes me sad is knowing a few of my close friends are slowly killing themselves . I was to ignorant about diabetis to know that before. I am learning more now. The fact that I couldn't go to them for help or exchange encouraging lessons learned from their experience is a mute point, this isn't about me. It is about some dear friends who rely on all the meds to keep them alive without taking more care of themselves. My first thoughts about getting my meds was what do I have to do to not have to take these anymore. I am working towards that. I wish to god that others would try to do the same. But that is just me.

What a CAPITAL Day!!!!!!

Here it is. The update some have been waiting for. Let me just say that Cléo's day was totally awesome. My sister really made sure that her niece had a day to remember and it just so happens that my sister was taken by surprise herself.

The day started by getting Cléo's official picture ID pass that gave her access to everywhere. She looked so professional that many even thought she had been hired to be Brigitte's assistant and not her 14 year old niece. They spent a few hours in the offices doing work on photos my sister took the week before while she was in Paris, Moscow and Budapest with the Prime Minister and press core. After the office work, sis and a colleague took Cléo to a very swanky resturant in Chateau Laurier. They were all impressed by the old world ambiance but as posh as it was the lunch menu wasn't all that lol.

After lunch it had been planned for Cléo to actually take pics of Mr. Prime Minister when he would be infront of the press core for question period. As they were walking up the stairs to where it was to take place, my sister was paying more attention to her electronic Black Berry then what was ahead when she suddeningly heard a gasp.

It was Cléo as they rounded the corner and she saw all the people in the press core. Brigitte hadn't realized how impressive it could be, she knows them all and is used to seeing them all the time. At that moment she realized her initial idea of placing her next to all of them was to much to ask of Cléo who seemed by this time, to be getting redder in the face with shyness as they approuched. Brigitte said hi to all, and explained that she had her niece with her for the day. All were very nice and I think Cléo was gratefull she wasn't obliged to add anything to the conversation because Brigitte revised her plan and they continued up another floor away from the pack.

She decided it would be alot easier for Cléo to take her pics where it was quieter and in the hall right infront of the PM's office instead. So Brigitte explained to Cléo that as soon as the big door opened and he started to walk past her , she was to start clicking and not stop till he was out of her site. That is how it's done. So when the time came. Cléo was ready with camera poised and pointed at the PM as he came out of his office except he wasn't walking past her he was walking towards her and said...

."Hello Cléo , how are you? "......Cléo was standing there not knowing what to do and kinda just mumbled hello with mouth hanging open lol...the PM said " Cléo give that camera to your aunt so she can take a picture of us instead" the PM's assistant then told him that Cléo only speaks french so he repeated to her what he said in french...during this time my sister is totally floored because she hadn't expected him to do that either lol.. the assistant to the PM was the one who had imformed the PM in his office that Brigitte has her niece with her for a career day and thats why he came out of the office and took the time say hello to my daughter and take a few pics. How cool is that!!!!

Shortly after that my daughter was present in the Prime Ministers office as he greeted different people and watched as her aunt did her job taking pics etc...he was totally layed back and told Cléo to go sit at his desk . She was so impressed by the fact that he was so nice . Not in a polite way but in a relaxed make yourself at home way.

I guess you could say I am thrilled about my daughters day in parliament. So is she. I swear trying to get my daughter to smile naturally on a photo is like pulling teeth but as you will see, she looks great on the pics I have posted. Another cool thing about the pic with Mr. Paul Martin is that later when they had printed it off, they brought is back to his office and he personally signed it to Cléo. ..........Yes it is already framed lol.

When my sister had a moment with the PM she thanked him for what he did for her niece and he told her it was a pleasure and that she was so cute .

After all this happened sis phones me on the cell phone, Chris and I were shopping in Ottawa while this was all going on. She hands the phone to Cléo so she can tell me about it, and sis tells me the rest. I was so excited and just OMGing that Chris was sure I was going to pop out of my bra because my chest was so puffed out and growing from being so proud. Needless to say my mother had the same reaction lol. Sis has made sure that our parents receive their own copies of the pics in the mail this week directly from the PM's office lol.

Well to close , I have to say how thankful Cléo is and how much she loved her day. I am as happy as any parent would be and still enjoying the glow that any mother would under same circumstances. Not just the pics but of the whole experience my daughter had in seeing alittle bit of how my sister works as a photographer and parliament action and the people in it. Not many get the cool opportunity that she did . I hope it makes her think about different career choices herself.........after all that is what this was all about.

This is a pic taken with a neat lens my sister was playing with...this is a small peek at the parliament building. 

Cléo sitting at the PM's desk. She looks pretty comfy ...hmmm a mom can dream . 

Yes it's the big guy himself ..Prime Minister Paul Martin with yes thats her...MY DAUGHTER Cléo ...how cool is that!?!? 

OTTAWA HERE WE COME

Tomorrow we leave for Ottawa..our nations capital. Wooo Hoooo and 2 days off for me lol. I must say I will appreciate it far more now then I would have a week ago. This week has been a busy one for sure . Luckily the case worker I had giving me a hand in the first 2 days with Luc offered to come babysit for us Sunday and Monday so I could go to Ottawa with my daughter and Chris . I had already resigned myself to the idea I wouldn't be able to go after getting the new client, so it was a really nice surprise to infact be able to go. Granted it costs us money but hey it is worth every penny spent.

Not only are we going for my daughter's career day with my sister in parliament , we haven't seen her house either. Brigitte and her husband Glen bought a house last year on an acre of land . We haven't had the opportunity to see it yet so it will be great to walk around yard. They built a new deck and she had a huge garden this year. Although its automn and the end of gardening , I can maybe still pilfer some of her perenials for my yard hehe.

I am looking forward to seeing them both. Monday while my daughter and sister are off working and Glen is off working that gives Chris and I some precious time to ourselves. We can do what ever we want .......let your imaginations go wild hehe. Hmmm I think I wanna go shopping......not going to tell you where though . wink wink

So when we get back Monday night late, hopefully we will have pics with us. If so I will post some here . I already have my fingers crossed for my daughters special day. Will be sure to share some of the details . Till then....have a great weekend...we leave early tomorrow and today I have loads of stuff to do before sitter gets here in the morning. .......

Bump In the Night

Well I have been busy to say the least. Since the new arrival of the new client/border it has been a whole new experience. Let us call him Luc. He arrived friday with all his own furniture. One bed, bureau, table and chair. A few things to put on the wall. All very nice things that happen to go very well in the room already painted blue.

As the 2 social workers and my partner Chris moved and placed and unpacked everything I stayed with Luc. His happy place is in a bathroom. If he is sitting on the thrown he is happy. This is probably one of the habits he developed younger while in an institution. At any rate, I felt it was very important for me to establish a bond during all the stress of moving and people in the house. I stood next to him as he sat. I stroked his head and talked to him so he would get used to my touch , scent and sound of my voice. As severely handicapped as he is I had to smile when he would take my hand away from his head then put it back to continue or to redirect it to where he wanted me to stroke or scratch, like the back of his neck or the top of his head or his back .

He is also quite headstrong. Does not like to be told he can't go to the bathroom if for instance someone is in there. He can be quite strong and push you away if not happy. I had to learn real quick that firmness is a must or I have already lost the battle. I was lucky to have the case worker here for most of the 2 days following his arrival. She gave me pointers and suggestions on many things. I learned how to bath him, shave him, brush his teeth. All things we take for granted until we have to provide those tasks to another adult. He loves the bath, so much so that while sitting on the toilet he sometimes strips naked. We then have to painstakingly help him redress himself all while using a firm tone. The 3rd morning I was just getting up when I heard the bath running. I ran to find him all ready in the bath naked turning faucets on and off. I had to stiffle a smile and be firm in getting him out of there. He has to learn that I decide when and not the other way around. He could have also burned himself with the hot water. Gotta admire his tenacity though lol.

Someone asked me the other day what age he is mentally. It is really hard to say. I think a one year old baby has more on him on many levels but on others he could be about 2. He is unable to speak and as already mentioned he is blind. I have not yet witnessed his epileptic seizures yet but he will probably have one soon. He has a constant motor running though. What I mean is he is almost always moaning . Like a plane that is circling the airspace above is the best way to describe it. I don't mind it so much and it becomes part of the background after awhile . We did however put the radio in his room on the classical station and it seems to make him stop the engine for longer periods of time. Not sure if it's the music that helped or just his getting more accustomed to the new things around him.

He can now pretty much get to the bathroom from his room. The way back is hard still. Will take more time to really get his bearings. I have to also use a blender on all his food. He has a special dish with hi sides , with a spoon he can actually feed himself for the most part. I help some if he can't find the food but other then that he does pretty well. I find it endearing that he also wipes his mouth with the spoon if there was too much. He doesn't like food on his face . It makes me smile everytime I see him do that. Or lick his lips when he likes what he is eating.

I have had to follow a strict routine. I have it almost down pat now after the whole weekend. I must say though that he is getting me in shape for sure. It is exactly what I needed in my life right now. I was so tired Saturday I actually went to bed a 9:30pm !!! ME the night owl. I hardly slept Thursday . Kinda apprehensive about client arriving. Then Friday I didn't sleep at all . I was so afraid he would either have a seizure and fall out of bed or get up to go pee and bump himself all over cause he didn't know where he was going. So by Saturday I could barely function. The case worker stayed till his bed time around 8 pm so I had to wait for Chris to get home before I could go to bed just incase he got up in first few hours after bedtime.

Last night around 3am he did get up after peeing his bed, was already sitting on the toilet naked when I got there. I changed everything and got him back into clean pj's and he then slept ok. I sleep downstairs so it was my daughter who woke me to tell me. I have been going to bed so tired I sleep deeper then before. I had a meeting today with 2 case workers so I suggested buying a baby monitor so I can hear him better if he gets up. They thought it was a great idea and it won't even cost me. They will reimburse me for that.

I let them know already that I have decided to keep Luc as a client. They had made sure to give me time to decide with the option of not taking him permanently if I chose. I told them today that they don't have to keep looking , he was remaining here. I think he will be happy here or atleast close to it depending on the emotions he can feel. He has certainly already wormed his way into my heart and got me moving more for my health so I already appreciate him for that. Time will tell me what else I can learn from him and him from me. Foreword we go.............

New Challenge

Well tomorrow will be a whole new challenge for me in terms of my job. Some already know that I am a foster care family for the mentally handicapped. My clients/borders live in my home full time. I have had one client for almost 10 years now and I had another for 5 years untill last April. Since then I have had an empty room for another client.

I got a call this week about a placement. The difference though is that he isn't at all what I am used to working with. My strengths have always been working with high functioning clients that need structure and firmness..usually clients that need a strong person to deal with their behavior problems, bad attitude , head strong or stubbornness etc.

This client however is not high functioning. His needs are out of the realm of what I am used to. He is blind, and can not speak. He mumbles with a few minor words in his vocabulary. I will have to bath him, shave him, and sometimes feed him, although he can use a spoon I have to use a blender on all his food. He is almost 40 yrs old. One similarity he has with my other client is that they are both epileptic. Apparently this new client only has his seizures at night in bed but they make him often fall out of bed. We may have an issue with wearing a diaper at night, he has not accepted it in the past with ease. His seizures are more frequent now so let's hope he is willing. Fingers crossed.

The only thing that seems to make him happy is playing with his few blocks at the kitchen table. His sweet deserts and hearing voices he knows. I have my work cut out for me. I am fortunate because I have a care worker that knows him well coming to spend a few days with me till it's his bed time. She will give me some of the tips . I need learn the proper way to wash him and shave him etc. To some it may be simple enough but having never washed an adult, it's hard to know the methods they use in hospitals to clean the nether regions in an apropriete way and help make the client comfortable. I also want to make sure he feels secure here so if I learn how to do things the way he is used to, it can only help him adjust during the next few days of transition. They are certain to be the hardest for sure. Untill he gets his barings from bedroom, bathroom and kitchen chair we will all be on tenderhooks hoping to coushin the bumbs along the way.

I have to admit to some aprehension but I am also looking forward to this new challenge. I have been so focused on me and my health lately that it will be nice to think of something else for a change. I also believe that there is a reason for everything. He will need a strick routine and that is exactly what I need in terms of meals now aswell. Funny how things work. This new client will help me alot for many different reasons. ..........

And I bet you thought he was coming here so I could help him.......I think it will be mutual lol.

Gotta love MoM

I went to the doc's yesterday for follow up...checked out test results that just re-confirmed what we already know. Had my annual pap test..ladies don't forget yours. The one possitive foot note to the day was having realized that after she weighed me I had lost one whole lb. since last weigh in 2 weeks ago, wooo hooo . I wasn't really trying since I was told to make subtle changes for now etc.

I was talking to my mom lastnight and happen to tell her . She was all happy for me and went on to say "That's great honey, keep it up. One lb is one lb and a good start. Please don't look at 1lb in a negative way like some would. It's all in the mind set." I say I know , not to worry . She goes on to give me an example by saying......

"You must not look at it like losing a deck chair on the Queen Mary"............omg I almost pissed myself lmao.

Gotta love mom.

SAY CHEESE

My daughter comes home from school about a month ago and says one of her classes wants them to do a career day with someone. She goes on to say that she really isn't into spending that day in her dads career, although a fine one as a carpenter , it's not an interest for her.

A shy smile appears on her face as she tells me she already has another idea. I assume she may want to spend the day in the lab with my partner Chris who is a chemist but before I voice my thought she adds..."Do you think aunt Brigitte would let me spend the day with her?"...I thought OMG what a great idea!!! Let me call my sister!!!

Anyone who knows me even just a little has heard me talk and/or brag about my sister. I am proud of her, what can I say. She has a pretty cool job. The one before this was right up there aswell, she was a freelance photographer for the Ottawa Citizen , National Post, Globe n Mail papers among others I can't remember. NOW though, my sister is one of 2 official photographers for the office of the PRIME MINISTER OF CANADA..(for the Americans out there it is the equivalent to your PRESIDENT)............ in other words, she and another are Paul Martins photographers so she gets to travel all over Canada and the world with him at any given time or just be anywhere he is including the parliament buildings. Let me just add that she didn't even apply for this job. She was called by the senior photogragher who had worked with her before , and asked by him if she was interested in doing the job. She will admit to having to think about it though, freelance is higher paying then a steady commitment but the experience and people of this job was something attractive indeed. A perfect example of a once in a lifetime meeting came this year when the Dalai-Lama came to Canada. Brigitte and another photographer were lucky enough to each shoot the other while shaking his holynesses hand. She sent us all a copy of the photo, herself with the Dalai_Lama. Pretty cool if you ask me.

So , I call my sister and tell her of my daughters school project. She is all for it, thinks it's a terrific idea. She has to ask permission ofcourse and get a security clearance for my daughter etc. Oh and did I mention my sister barely speakes french and my daughter doesn't speak english? My sister and daughter have met ofcourse but sis is from out west with the rest of my family. I transplanted myself to Quebec 20 years ago so I am perfectly bilingual now. My ex never spoke a word of english. Although both parents can speak french and had us speaking a somewhat baby french as toddlers. Being in english Canada and our parents divorsing, we stopped speaking french in the home after that. By the time I left home I pretty much forgot all the french I knew untill I had to relearn it in Quebec.

To get back to my sister, she isn't overly concerned about the language barrier. Everyone she works with is bilingual and she and Cléo are also pretty good at using hand signals and the few words they do know to be understood ..........hopefully.

We have a date. It has the all clear so my daughter Cléo gets to go for sure now. My sister chose a day that had some action in parliment . My daughter will be able to actually take her own picture of the PRIME MINISTER in parliment as he goes into the QUESTION PERIOD , she will be right next to the Press Core.. who are basically the media that normally covers all those things. That in itself will be pretty cool. It has already been arranged for my daughter to have her own official parlimentary pass with photo clipped to her like my sister has. Brigitte also chose oct because parliment reopens sessions so there will be ministers all over . She really hopes to show my daughter as much as she can and also give her lots of chances to take her own photos with a spare camera she has. I think my sister is as excited about it as Cléo is not to mention me lol. I am so thankful that my daughter has this opertunity all because her aunt has this cool job.

Cléo has to look like a professional on this day so we had to go shopping. We were very lucky to find a rather nice tailored suit at Walmart no less. Looks fab on her , black with fine satin black pinstripe in it. A black pair of leather loafers with a short heel that looks great with pants. She already had a nice crisp white blouse so all cost aproximately 100$ not bad considering. She also agreed to wearing the suit to school on the day of her career day presentation. When we got home and tryed the whole kit on I couldn't believe how grown up she looked. I think all moms get those OMG THATS MY LITTLE GIRL?(or BOY) flashes , those overwhelming feelings of pride combined with a fist to the abdomin kinda way? ....

The big day is in 2 weeks, OCT 18th. We have a 3 hr drive to my sister and her hubby's house on the sunday before . Cléo's first briefing of the next days scedule will be summarized that afternoon by the official translater (that would be me hehe) to be followed by a leizurely visit with Brigitte and Glen . Next morning early will be a rebriefing and hair consultation with hairdresser (that would be me again) then final inspection before heading out to her government appointed career day begins .......during which time I will biting all my nails off lol

I know it will be a great day for her and my sister. Regardless of the language barrier those 2 are so alike it's not funny. I will be giving you all an update when its all done and maybe have a few pics to share from that day aswell..........it will be called SAY CHEESE UPDATE..simple enough lol

ONE DAY AT A TIME

I haven't posted in awhile as you may have noticed. I guess the best way to explain why is just simply...nothing to say. I have been in a kinda blue funk. Part is obviously due to the loss of my aunt. Another part is the pure frustration due to my diabetes. I can not repeat enough how aware I am that things could be a lot worse. I also understand that many people are diagnosed with illnesses that can not be helped. I am thankful I have a way of getting better.

Having said that , it is still difficult to come to terms with the little things. I am still quite weak and that leads again to fatigue. I know it will take time for the iron pills to give me more strength , the anemia can't be rectified over night. It is also my yoyo sugar levels that affect me in a same yoyo pattern. Be it with the shakes or over heating, dizziness or just wanting to sleep, it becomes somewhat overwhelming along with the stomach aches, nausea, the runs , not wanting to eat when I should and being so hungry I could eat a horse when I shouldn't.

I freely admit to not being the most patient of persons . I am sure some will agree to that , far to quickly I might add . So , if it can't be fixed NOW , I become impatient, especially when it's about me. All this is the perfect example for that. I have to learn the old adage of one day at a time. Make small improvements . Deal with it slowly.

On a very positive note. I met with the dietician. I was expecting a radical diet change with a horde of other changes. I was pleasantly pleased that it wasn't the case. I really liked her way of thinking and her method of explaining the basic mechanics of diabetes . One thing she said though, struck me. I had always falsely assumed that someone with type 2 diabetes could *cure* or *heal* themselves of the decease if they got to that magic point where all drugs were eliminated and weight was healthy , diet control enabled the proper functioning of the pancreas.
Thus making that person diabetes *free* if you know what I mean. She was adamant about saying that once diabetic ALWAYS diabetic. I think I knew that deep down but didn't want to admit it. I had a warning 14 years before by having gestational diabetes , so I knew I was subject to getting it later on in life...and in so doing I held on to those false beliefs concerning this type of diabetes.

To continue in a positive vain though, I was surprised when the dietician told me to go back to what I was used to eating. I have to say that the day my doctor told me the bad news to the 6 days till seeing the dietician , I barely ate anything. I was almost afraid to eat. Ok so it's not entirely a bad thing given my weight but still. I didn't know how to start. You are told that sugar is bad and all carbs. So what's left???? Your first thought is NOTHING!!!...

As I mentioned, she told me to go back to the way I ate before. I have to admit to feeling relief and trepidation all at once. What she went on to say made so much sense and really helped me to release some pent up tension. She told me that for the next week, I was to write everything I ate, down. Also include all my blood levels . To notice the numbers. We would then go through it all together . She would show me portion sizes , sugar intake, separate the different elements all with my own menu choices. Also point out different ideas for substitutes and just slowly tweak it from there. No radical life changes over night, only building awareness and learning new tricks. As she explained, all diets work FOR A TIME then most people give up and go back to the same bad habits. I couldn't agree more as I already stated my opinion on DIETS in an earlier post. They just make people fat and fatter.

I felt oddly bouncy when I left her office with Chris. She was encouraging and I felt that her method of doing this was a very smart one. I certainly didn't get to this weight by having self control so a slow gradual change is a perfect way to get me through this. Making long term changes that will stick makes so much more sense to me. I have also started walking on the treadmill 10 minutes a day , increasing it when I can. Since hurting my back last year it takes little to feel the pain return. It terrifies me to push to hard. Having spent a month not being able to walk was horrible. I know to take it easy and not push ....one day at a time again.

All in all I am happy that I am learning new things and have started doing others. I am so fortunate to have a very supportive partner. He is my champion, my hero, my rocket man, my savior, my best friend, my Einstein, my lover and best of all he is this uniquely special human that loves me with all his heart as I love him.