30 days

Christmas Eve is one month to day.

I am officially in a teensy bit of a panic.  Just sayin’.

Could I get my box of time and money early please?

5 Things To Be Thankful For This Year

Yes, I realize that Canada had our thanksgiving quite some time ago, but it’s NaBloPoMo and I’m stuck, and to honour my American friends who celebrate this week, here are 5 things I am thankful for this year:

1. That I found some work. Enough work, in fact, to qualify for employment insurance again when that work comes to an end.  I am very thankful for that.  And I truly like where I am currently working, despite the tediousness of the task, and am really thankful for the learning opportunities it has provided, and the people that I have met there.
2. That my family, friends and self are healthy and safe. That is huge.
3. That my kids are good kids… and I don’t mean little angels who get along all the time and tidy their rooms without asking (I don’t know those kids).  They are the kind of kids who care about other people, have conscience, and try to do the right thing.  I am so very grateful for that.
4. That my life has laughter. I can’t imagine existence without it.
5. For the people in my life that support me through difficult times. I have had my share of struggles, and I am always blown away by those that reach out and support me… family, friends, and even readers I have never met have continued to touch me with their kindness, supportive words, prayers & good wishes.  I have felt that I matter, and that you care, and that has meant the world to me.

A thankful list could go on for eons, of course.  I haven’t even touched upon how thankful I am for things like chocolate, and coffee, and cartoons, and childhood enthusiasm, and that spray stuff for cleaning your glasses.  I could go on for days.

What 5 things are you thankful for this last year?

4 Things

4 things that never got done today (but should have)…

1. Housework of any kind (other than laundry, laundry and more laundry).
2. Christmas shopping (or Christmas thinking).
3. Writing (other than this post).
4. Reading anything of substance.

4 things that did get done today (in spite of myself)…

1. Learned to play cat’s cradle.
2. Highlighted daughter’s hair.
3. Oversaw child bake muffins.
4. Nursed a headache.

There was a cake emergency

You may recall that Wednesday was my birthday.  You may also recall that I have a part-time weekend job.  Well, this part-time weekend job has been pretty good for remembering my birthday with a cake every year since I started so I left for work today with a skip in my step because how bad can a day be when it will likely involve cake, right?

It was a day fraught with technical difficulties.  I think every piece of technology I came in contact with failed at some point in the day.  And then a colleague suggested pizza for lunch.  That worked for me, as it would be the perfect starter for my cake.  I peeked on the Front Store Manager’s desk and there was indeed a cake box there.

“I bet there is cake,” I told my co-workers delightedly.  You see, while I don’t do birthdays per se, I still do cake.

The pizza arrived and I strolled into the back room and peeked in the cake box.  Chocolate.   So far so good.  I pulled back the cover.  “Happy Birthday Jackie” it said.  Ummm… I’m not Jackie.  But apparently she has a birthday soon too.

So I went back to my computer.  “There will be no cake.” I announced.  I attempted to sound very matter of fact and not the least bit disappointed.  The subject dropped.

At least for them.  But my feelings were hurt that I was forgotten.  Because I’m eight apparently.  So I made silly comments throughout the day… jokes about writing head office, the cake emergency, etc. , all in jest, of course.  It was not like I was going to faint way or anything.

And then, an hour before my shift was over, the driver came in with this, arranged by my co-workers:

And it could not have been more delicious. Or colourful apparently. And it was much more lovely than Jackie’s plain old chocolate cake.

So to my co-workers, thank you, thank you, thank you.  You made me feel special and made my day.

(And I really do hope Jackie has a lovely birthday as well. )

Mom Code

Can the Moms Who Rock award go to a mom who doesn’t blog?

Dolittle and her friends were up in her room getting ready for a youth dance.  These events are apparently extremely important, judging from the care and time put into achieving just the right look.

I was down in the kitchen making spaghetti for dinner when the phone rang and a woman’s voice asked if I was Dolittle’s mom.  Then she asked if her daughter was here.

Friend’s mom explained that her daughter had been expelled from school that day for not turning in her assignments, that her daughter was grounded, that her daughter clearly didn’t know that meant she couldn’t go to the dance, and that her daughter had made her bed to look like she was in it then gone to our house as obviously I knew nothing of any of this.

“She is not a bad kid,” the mother said.  And I reassured her that I knew that.  I fully understand that sometimes good people make bad choices.  Especially when that good person is 13 years old, and figuring out who they are.

Then the mother said, “if you’re not comfortable telling her she is grounded and can’t go, I understand.”  Maybe she said that for levity.  Because if it was my daughter I know I sure wouldn’t appreciate someone driving her where I hadn’t allowed her to go.  What’s more I completely understand the importance in following through with what one says.  Alto2’s earlier post this week on that matter was fresh in my mind. “I think there’s a Mom Code,” I reassured Friend’s Mom.

So, after dinner I called Friend aside privately and told her that I had spoken to her mother, that I knew she was grounded, and that I would be driving her home rather than the dance.  There were phone calls.  There were tears.  And hopefully there were lessons learned.

And, I would like to add here that I am extremely grateful to bloggers like Alto2 who share their parenting experiences so freely, as I realized tonight I continually draw on experience beyond my own.  That is such a gift as both a parent and a person.  Thank you.

Not much (or too much) today

Today was just a whirlwind of rushing here, rushing there, and me nagging shepherding the girls to keep on track.  Some days I just feel like my life is a constant string of: “did you do this?” — “did you do that?”–  “could you go a little faster?”

And in all that flurry of activity not a single thing blogworthy occurs — or if it does it isn’t noticed — because one is just so focussed on getting it all done to look around, observe and consider.

Maybe tomorrow will be better.

Another Birthday

Today is my birthday.  And, while I’m not much of a celebrator of these things any more, I will say that the last year was not necessarily among my finest.  There were many lovely moments, of course, but I’m a little relieved to have a fresh page before me.

The day may have started with me being the meanest mommy in the whole world (yes, again), but by the time it is coming to a close included a lovely lunch, flowers, cake, and singing.  I think that’s a pretty good sign, don’t you?

Not the makeover I intended

Well my taekwondo class was tonight and I get supper prepared, putter around a bit, and finally decide it is time to dress for class.  And of course I can not find my uniform anywhere.  It’s usual spot was moved to put the Christmas tree up, so I search and search and search.  Nothing.  Zero.

Now, you may recall that my uniform was a hand-me-down from one of the black belts, and a gift I treasure very much.  It was also a bit too big for me.  So my makeover splurge money was spent on a piece of clothing that I will wear to sweat in.  Not the makeover look I was going for… But it is blindingy white and oooo so crip in its newness…  And it fits me.

I am now fighting the urge to cut my own hair.  Because a part of me knows that the element of my current look that most needs an overhaul is at the top of my head.

I wonder if a sharpie marker would work for a root touch up….

Modest Makeover

I was sitting at work yesterday and glanced down at my shoes.  There was a large, noticable scuff mark on the toe of one black pump.  The other showed wear around the foot.  I was reminded of all the job interview tips I had read that warned of being sure to wear clean polished footwear as attire was so important to first impressions.  If someone were to interview me based on my footwear today they would either think “dang, that girl needs a job!” or “ewww, with scuff marks like those she is obviously somewhat sketchy!”   I picked up my black sharpie marker and coloured in the scuffs.  While there are no interviews currently pending, it is probably better safe than sorry.

I am currently feeling the serious need for a makeover, but acknowledge that even if I had the resources this is not the time of year I am likely to indulge on myself.   But soooo much needs upgrading… hair, makeup, clothes… head to foot.

So my question is this… if you could treat yourself to one makeover indulgence – like a hair cut, manicure, new shirt, new shoes, new black sharpie (ha!) etc – what one modest treat would bring you the maximum psychological lift?

This is why I have a fake Christmas tree

…because it’s sort of up already….

…or it would be if I didn’t run out of lights…

…and I’m not even joking…

(Rainbow has been asking since Halloween.)

And oddly enough, my tree has been handled roughly enough through the years that now needles fall off, so technically is almost like a real one except without the requirement to water and without the lovely Christmassy scent.

I don’t even thing the trees are up in the mall yet.