The show was great - and he started with "I can feel your heartbeat". I was keeping my fingers crossed he would do my favorite "Point me in the Direction of Albuquerque" and he did - third song! It was awesome! He did Cherish, a few others, some Eric Clapton and John Lennon, and finished with "I think I love You". Needless to say, when the mass of middle aged women rushed down to the stage/dance floor, we were part of the pack! We had an awesome night! Great concert, even if he's a tad botoxed and balding.........
Sunday, June 8, 2008
David Cassidy
The show was great - and he started with "I can feel your heartbeat". I was keeping my fingers crossed he would do my favorite "Point me in the Direction of Albuquerque" and he did - third song! It was awesome! He did Cherish, a few others, some Eric Clapton and John Lennon, and finished with "I think I love You". Needless to say, when the mass of middle aged women rushed down to the stage/dance floor, we were part of the pack! We had an awesome night! Great concert, even if he's a tad botoxed and balding.........
Friday, June 6, 2008
Checkin In!
Monday, September 24, 2007
Busy Busy Busy
Tuesday, August 7, 2007
Alive and Well
I will post the pictures soon!
Sunday, July 15, 2007
A Great Weekend!
J and I ran some errands on Saturday while R, Cousin B, and Doc continued to work on the siding. J was eventually dropped off at at a friend's birthday party at a local children's video game arcade. And, while he was "birthday partying", one of my work friends/golfing buddy (DL pictured in previous blog-post) stopped by to see our house construction as he was in the neighborhood - so we had a nice visit with him! R and my parents finally got to meet DL - they've heard me talk about him as I've become good friends with him since I began working in my current position (beginning in 2000).
After church today, J's friend T came for a playdate - we went exploring on the dikes with the dogs - and the boys had a great time together. Then, my good friend SM and her husband (SM too) came out to see our house and have dinner at my parents' home. My sister K and her boyfriend A were also there - and my mom made her famous mouth-watering cheese enchiladas for us! K's boyfriend A also made some homemade guacamole and salsa (which were also out of this world) - and I am now serously going to have to start a jogging regime before my high school reunion next month! Anyway, we had a great time and S and S gave us a very unique housewarming gift - a "mobile home" birdhouse!!! Too funny!!!! It's going to look great on our new porch! Anyway, I just love it - S always finds the most interesting things for people!!! I guess she doesn't want us ever to forget our trailer trash livin' when we get into our new house! Anyway, we had a great time visiting together tonight - we don't get to see them enough with our busy lives - and she just lost her dear dad this April.
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Grade 2 Camping Trip!
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
The HEAT is on!
J was picked up from school by my sister (and her daughter) and they headed straight for the swimming pool at my parents' home. The kids played in the pool for several hours until I came and picked up J. We went home and had dinner - which was a nice cold chef's salad. J had plans to see a movie with my dear friend Joanne and her husband Gord - they were taking him to see Ratatouille! Anyway, he really enjoyed himself at the movie - and I was able to run some errands while he was out (should I mention that a young clerk gave me the "Senior's Discount"?). It's nice to save 30%, but gee, I hoped I didn't really look 65! Anyway, after the movie, Joanne and Gord had a quick tour of the new house - as I had to go to bed early in the over-heated trailer. I'm obviously in dire need of some beauty rest - especially if this heat has succeeding in cooking me into a wrinkled old lady!
Sunday, July 8, 2007
Separation Anxiety
Having said that, I was still a little anxious about him while he was gone. Paranoid mother, I guess. I kept thinking about the old, decrepid wooden roller coaster which was built in 1958. That thing always seemed like it was ready to fall apart when I was out seeking thrills on it myself as a teen! Today, it's almost 50 years old and I know it still reaches speeds of over 45 MPH! No, I could not stop thinking about all the train derailments I've heard about on the news over the years - most recently the one near Lytton. And these were trains chugging along on level terrain! With real engineers! Who maintains these rides? City staff? I know all about government cut-backs! I was also afraid that J would be pressured (or feel pressure) to go on rides he wasn't really comfortable with - because he would want to be a big kid too. Or, what if he got separated from the group???? Every possible scenario was entering my paranoid mind. Finally I broke down and called JM's mother on her cell phone. Once she assured me that my son was having a great time and was getting along fine with the other boys, I relaxed. He came back in one piece! He'd had a fantastic time! He was well-mannered and well-behaved! He didn't go on any rides (ie: the Zipper) that he didn't want to go on! But, he did choose to ride the famous rickety old wooden roller coaster after all - in the very back car!!!!!!!!!!!
Saturday, July 7, 2007
A "New" Old Car
When we returned, J had a call from T who wanted him to come over for a playdate. They have been in the same class for 2 years but, after being on the same soccer team and in the same daycare together (just one day a week), they've actually started playing more together this school year. So they spent a few hours together - which was a fun thing after a day of errands with mom!
Friday, July 6, 2007
Let's FACE it.....
It started off innocently enough. I was invited by several friends (which I ignored, thinking "it's not my thing", and "who has the time to bother with that?"). Then, about 3 weeks ago, curiousity finally got the best of me - I wanted to see the profile and pictures of my friend "Campellicious" and her daughter so I created my own account (you have to have an account to view somebody). Several of my friends who were already "hooked" soon appeared as my "Friends". They began writing on my wall. I have now been found by (or found) my primary school neighbors, my high school buddies, a bridesmaid, and on it goes. Now, less than a month later, I have over 130 friends! Yippee! I feel loved! By friendly FACES who will "poke" me, write on my wall, send me gifts or cute messages to my in-box. Very interactive (translated into time-consuming) - so much more than my blog has ever been (does anyone even read it, I often ask). But, I need to FACE the fact that I do need to curb this new addiction, so I will be back to blog more regularly again soon. I promise! Gotta run (can you guess where?)
Monday, July 2, 2007
Fun in the Sun!
J and I ran a few errands this morning and then went to see Mr. M in the hospital - unfortunately he wasn't feeling too well so we had to keep the visit fairly short. He sure looks great but he has a nasty cough and a sore throat.
This afternoon we had several friends pop by for a swim next door at Nona and Doc's. A and his sister M (with their dad S who is plumbing our new house) arrived first -- then T and his baby sister arrived with their mom K. The boys (J, A, and T) are all in the same class at school - they attend school through the month of July so they're still all together. Anyway, the kids just had a fantastic time in the pool, up in the tree fort, eating juice bars, fruit, chips and salsa, exploring in the fields, and picking rasperries! At last we've had a real summer weekend!
Sunday, July 1, 2007
Happy Canada Day
J (who was fully decked in his Canada Day attire) had a playdate with his buddy JE at the barn today. The kids later came back for a swim in Nona and Doc's pool. I've actually known JE's mom C for over 30 years - so we had a nice visit while the kids swam. They are getting very excited about moving to acreage out in Whonnock this summer! We will miss having them so close to us at the barn on our street (where C boards her horses) though!
Saturday, June 30, 2007
Grandma and Pa come for a visit!
Grandma & Pa are down from 100 Mile to help R finish the workshop wiring. It's sunny so it inspired us to barbecue two coho salmon outside at my parents' house (Pa had caught these beauties up at the lake!). All of us thoroughly enjoyed the meal and dessert (strawberries and ice cream cake in celebration of Canada Day tomorrow ) and J loved having dinner with both sets of grandparents!
Friday, June 29, 2007
Grade 2 Field Trip
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Happy Birthday Mom!!!!
Happy Birthday Nona!
My beautiful mom had a Milestone birthday today!!!! The family took her out for dinner at the Bedford House in Fort Langley - it was really nice (despite the fact that J was a little restless after the very long road trip home from the Okanagan today....). The food was just great too - it had been years since any of us had been there. We actually couldn't believe the portion sizes - especially the schnitzel!. Our gift was announced as well - my sisters and I are taking Mom to Seattle for a weekend this summer - it will be so much fun!!!! Naturally, mom spoils us all back - she gave us all generous gifts on her birthday as well!
J and Nona on the Albion ferry.
Monday, June 25, 2007
Ogopogo
Sunday, June 24, 2007
Small Fry Golfers
Friday, June 22, 2007
Blogging Break
Thursday, June 21, 2007
The Longest Day of the Year
J and I celebrated by going out for nachos on the the patio of a local authentic Mexican restaurant - the food is good (fresh salsa bar) and the place is kind of quaint and cute, only the vroom vroom of the highway during rush hour took away from our tropical beachside ambiance!
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
The Amnesiac & The Enabler
Fast forward to my arrival at his daycare that afternoon for pickup..... Yes, he has a stack of forms and notices - treat day announcements from back in February, school newsletters dated March. But no Permission Slip! Because I am now skating (or trying to skate) with his teacher, I decided to mention this to her - even though I purposely do not talk about school or my son at these practices. At any rate, the next morning SHE reminds J that he needs to bring me the form so this is how I finally got it.
Anyway, late tonight (after swimming with BP), his mother asks me if I knew it was our turn to bring baking to school for treat day tomorrow. It is now 9:40 p.m. and she is working away in her kitchen making fresh rice krispie squares because her son just happened to tell her that he needed to bring treats tomorrow - and this was just before I picked him up for swimming and just before she and her husband were leaving for their baseball game. But at least he told her!
Needless to say, at 10:10 this evening (which is also a school night), J and I can be found up at the grocery store buying chocolate chip cookies (that actually look pretty darn homemade). But he never did tell me about my baking obligation tonight!
I do realize that my "covering" or "rescuing" him out of these predicaments is just enabling his forgetfulness and is really not helping him any - so why is it that I just don't feel right about having him show up at school empty handed or missing out on things?....
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
A Flash (from the Past)
Anyway, I'm looking forward to seeing the old gang again - and I'm wholeheartedly trying to pass the info about our reunion on! Even if it doesn't seem like it could really be 30 whole years.....
Monday, June 18, 2007
My Sick Child : (
Anyway, J is rested and was feeling much better this afternoon - which is great! Back to school and work tomorrow! P.S. I think being a stay-at-home mom is far more exhausting - especially with a whining kid!!!
Sunday, June 17, 2007
Happy Father's Day!
Doc, J and R - Basketball practice
My husband R is a great dad to our son and he has always spent a lot of quality time with J. Together they do many special "father and son" things. While this past year has been tough (with respect to "time" due to the house building project), R still makes sure he is available to do things with J at every opportunity. Every Friday night they would go skating, usually just the two of them, and R never missed any of J's recreational hockey Wednedsay night sessions. Even when R is dead tired from working (and he is an incredibly hard worker), he still takes the time to play games with J at night, or read him a story, or make special ice cream concoctions, or just cuddle with J and watch an entire kid's movie. R is very patient with our son, and gives him "big kid" jobs around the construction site whenever he can. If R is in town, he is always out cheering J on at his basketball or baseball games - and before he leaves town, he always gives J the big "father and son" chat and reminds J that he has to take care of me, and be the man of the house while he's away. And, even in his longer out-of-town stints, R is sure to call home daily and ask J how his day has been. J just adores his dad - and naturally wants to do all the things his father does. I remember one of my friends asking J who his favorite hockey player was, and J said, "my DAD!". We just laughed - and it was not long after that when J decided he wanted to be a hockey player too!
R also grew up with a great father, and like J, he wanted to do the things his father did as well. From an early age, R would help his dad on his big construction projects, go on fishing and hunting (camping) trips with him, watch and play sports. R's dad coached him in hockey - and for a while, they even played on the same hockey team. R is still very close to his dad - he consults him about our building project - and his dad (and mom) are happy to come down to help us whenever they can.
Well Dad, you’ve hit this milestone,
A special day it is,
You’re celebrating 75,
Although no one would know it!
With three daughters you stood by
We knew you’d be always be there
You watched our sports, and coached our teams
There’s no doubt that you cared!
As we grew, you stayed involved
You shared in our successes
You helped us out - and guided us
Through all those teenage messes!
For many years I worked with you
you had a unique style!
I saw how patients worshiped you
Some travelling for miles.
Almost daily, I still hear
“ Your dad, he was the best “
Requests are plenty from them all
to start a backyard practice!
And though retired – you’re still so busy
with projects on the go
With all these women in your life
You never could say no!
You directed us to take the “high road”
And helped to pave our ways
Without your guidance and support
We’d not be here today.
The biggest thing that you had taught
Was how to treat all others
You’ve lived your life consistently,
showing kindness was what mattered.
The past few years have been just great
To watch you with our kids
You are a special granddad Doc
They treasure every minute.
So happy birthday dear ole Dad
We’re thrilled that we are here
To share with you this special day
and to many more great years!
Thank you Dad, we love you!
Here's to a very Happy Father's Day to all the great dads out there. I'd also like to honor and remember all of the wonderful dads who have passed away -- but still live so vividly in our great memories!
Nona & Doc (my parents)
Grandma & Pa (R's parents)
Saturday, June 16, 2007
Crazy Day!
mmmmmm
Friday, June 15, 2007
Fanatical Focus on Father's Day
But alas, today I have actually seen the "final production" - and his father is going to absolutely love it, I know! He even made a membership card for unlimited hugs / no expiry date (and he delegated the task of laminating it to me at work). It is all very amazing (we'd best keep it for "good" though - I'm worried that this beautiful treasure could become completely ruined at his dad's work). So what do you think of it?
Thursday, June 14, 2007
Last Game - Regular Season League Play
Doc (my co-season ticket holder) & J
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Hockey Mom?
Naturally, I should have seen the writing on the wall. Aside from the fact I am related to a famous person on "Hockey Night in Canada" (Ron MacLean is my second cousin), I am not really from a die-hard "hockey" family. My dad certainly enjoyed watching hockey - if it wasn't conflicting with a basketball or baseball game on t.v., that is. And, as a teen, I loved going to both the WHL (remember the WHA Vancouver Blazers?) and my friends' games. Then I married R - who is from a real die-hard hockey family. R played hockey, his dad played hockey, his sister played hockey, his mom was on the minor hockey board, and on it goes. R has taken only a temporary break from hockey due to work and the house, but up until a year ago, he still played on a fairly regular basis. And, his dad also played regularly while they were still living in the lower mainland. They are NHL fanatics - growing up in a house where the game was always on. And, when I started dating R, he and his roommates had built BLEACHERS in their living room for hockey viewing purposes! You see, my husband LOVES hockey - and J, his "mini-me" was bound to follow suit...
So, over this past year it has become more apparent that J has definitely become more and more interested in the sport. By October he really wanted to play hockey - and we registered him for a fun hockey program on Wednesday nights all season (minor hockey registration was closed). And yes he was keen - much keener that he was on the soccer field dripping with rain. To top this off, his teacher's son plays for the Memorial Cup winning Vancouver Giants - so we went fairly often to see those exciting games. You see, I like hockey a lot too - I just haven't been particularly warm and fuzzy over some of the parents I've witnessed in the stands.
For the 3 years I have been a "Soccer Mom", I have never experienced (or seen) any cat fights out on the Soccer sidelines! Registration for soccer includes a parental contract - where we sign a form promising to keep the game friendly and fun for the kids - but I didn't see any such animal (ie parental form) during hockey registration. Heck, we were drinking coffee with (and clapping for) our opponents in soccer. The same goes for baseball. We know the other team's kids and we cheer each other on! That makes it fun! It is my observation that Minor hockey just seems so much more competitive, confrontational (and rough!). I know that I personally will have no comfort in a sea of aggressive fans who take the game far too seriously - yelling obscenities at the refs, coaches, team-mates, opponents, and their OWN kids. This is speaking from experience, I worked within several municipal arenas for over 20 years and I witnessed this almost every time I worked there. I remember rolling my eyes and telling my co-workers "did you hear that? I will never let any kid of mine play this sport!". It wasn't necessarily the game, it was the mentality of these parents living vicariously through their kids - envisioning them to be the next great NHL legend and fighting their kids' perceived obstacles all the way!
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Society Girl
So, tonight we elected our new board - President, Vice President, Treasurer and Secretary. Naturally, I'm breaking into a cold sweat and thinking to myself that I can't possibly take one more thing on without cracking up completely. So, I was extremely relieved when four people volunteered almost immediately. We will have several fund-raising events throughout the year - the first being a garage sale this Saturday. This society girl (member at large only) has donated a few items and hopes to help out - if it works out with our baseball tournament and wrap-up.
Monday, June 11, 2007
Pedal to the Metal
Sunday, June 10, 2007
Patience is a Virtue (I'm workin on)
- When driving to Coquitlam to pick up my sick son I was behind a convoy of several slow moving farm vehicles on the back roads (I prefer not to pass unless they move over - and, in this case I was a dozen or so vehicles behind them anyway). Then I hit a minor bottle-neck at the Pitt River bridge (a very long two-light wait) - and of course almost every red light from thereon in.
- I also got a major flat tire (totally my fault). I pulled up just a tad too close to the gas-bar island at the filling station and it turns out that I'd ripped the little nozzle doohicky right off at the base. I was thinking on the bright side that I was less that 30 feet away from the "free air", only to discover after driving that distance on my rim (don't tell my husband), that although I could pump that baby right back up with all that free compressed air, it was just pfffsssssssssssssssssssssssssssttt again and completely flat in just mere seconds!
- I registered my son for minor hockey - a nearly 'two hour' process of standing in an extremely long line-up after consuming 3 cups of coffee (and having to pee really badly but holding both it - and my spot - in the ridiculous line-up).
So, lots of little glitches and unexpected waits. But, believe it or not, this time I did not get mad or frustrated at all - I just tried to make the best of each situation and counted my blessings that I was not really going to be horribly late for anything (and that I did not get the flat tire on a road trip out of town)! The farmer did turn off the road and into his driveway fairly quickly anyway (and had I arrived earlier at the pool for my son, he would have still been in the changeroom getting sick all over P), my dad came up and helped me with the flat tire short notice (and Kal-Tire did not charge me a cent to repair it!), and I have the satisfaction knowing that my son is finally registered for the sport he has been dying to play for the past year (and my bladder did not, in fact, actually burst).
P.S. Today is the 10 year anniversary of my friend Chariss Acosta's passing. In some ways I cannot believe it has been that long - and I can still hear her voice, her laughter. We miss you Chariss!
Saturday, June 9, 2007
Not Meant to Be
Anyway, long before I could head to my bedroom sanctuary with a good book, P (J's friend B's mom) called me to tell me that J had just been sick. Sick in the pool, sick on the pool deck, (and by the time I got there, sick in the change room, sick on his friend's mom and dad, and then sick in the lobby). They had offered to bring him home but I said I'd come right down and get him. The poor kid. Unfortunately, I had decided earlier that we should really attempt to eat some of the (yuck) canned food I'd bought by the caseload in preparation for the "flood" that was no longer a concern. Obviously this was not such a good idea for a child who is later going to be queasy and frolicking around in a wave pool. At any rate, he was happy to be back at home and tucked in his mom's bed! And I was happy to have my sweet little guy there too - even if my "night alone" was very short-lived!
Friday, June 8, 2007
Narcolepsy
Aw, so sorry. My head kinda landed on the keyboard. And I've definitely had better pillows...
I am REALLY REALLY pooped out tonight -- and I have been all day. At one point, I even thought I might need to use one of these great excuses if I was actually caught nodding off at work:
- "They forewarned me at the blood bank that this could happen."
- "Oh, I was just trying to pick up my contact lens without these greasy hands."
- "I was meditating on the mission statement and developing our new corporate vision!"
- "Amen"
- "I was attempting the 15 minute power-nap like they raved about in the last time management course you sent me to."
- "Whew! Guess I left the top off the liquid paper a little too long"
- "I was doing a highly specific Yoga exercise to relieve work related stress."
- "This is actually one of the seven habits of highly effective people!"
- "Boy, that darn allergy medicine I took last night just won't wear off!"
- "Darn! Why did you interrupt me? I had almost developed the solution to our biggest staffing problem."
So what I'm thinking is, if Britney Spears can "take a little cat nap" in the middle of Caesar's Palace's Pure nightclub in Las Vegas on New Years Eve - it's probably perfectly acceptable for me to catch a few measly winks at my desk after lunch. What the hay? They wouldn't even need to haul me out by my ankles...... (I'm quite capable of drowsily stumbling around in my own mindless fog).
At any rate, I am acknowledging severe sleep deprivation over this past week of "high anxiety" with respect to potential flooding. So, now that our fears have been alleviated for the most part, I am hoping that this little family can finally get caught up on some serious shut-eye this weekend! No big plans to speak of either - just one baseball practice and our minor hockey registration for fall. Sayonara! Time for a hot bath some Bee-auty sleep!