The Carribian Sea.
Monday, April 24, 2006
Some Quizzes.
| You Are 36% Abnormal |
 You are at medium risk for being a psychopath. It is somewhat likely that you have no soul. You are at medium risk for having a borderline personality. It is somewhat likely that you are a chaotic mess. You are at low risk for having a narcissistic personality. It is unlikely that you are in love with your own reflection. You are at high risk for having a social phobia. It is very likely that you feel most comfortable in your mom's basement. You are at low risk for obsessive compulsive disorder. It is unlikely that you are addicted to hand sanitizer. |
| You Belong in Paris |
 You enjoy all that life has to offer, and you can appreciate the fine tastes and sites of Paris. You're the perfect person to wander the streets of Paris aimlessly, enjoying architecture and a crepe. |
Which of the Seven Deadly Sins consumes you?
Envy- the desire for others' traits, status, abilities, or situation.Symbolism-Color: GreenAnimal: DogReason: Everyone is better than you.Punishment: Being put in freezing water.
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Saturday, April 22, 2006
Home Sweet Home
I made it! I'm back in good old Edmonton, and surprisingly, I'm quite pleased to be here. The drive went well, Mary was relatively well behaved, and only cried a little bit. I'm surprised that I am so happy to be home, even though the house smells like cats, and is a bit of a disaster area. Not to mention that the cats had barfed on both my bed, and on the couch. Sigh.
I still miss Puerto Rico terribly, and Moustapha even more. I really wish that I hadn't left him behind, and to be honest, I am a little jealous that he is still there, and I am here. So, with that in mind, I've decided to make lists about my trip.
Things I liked about P.R.
1. The weather, of course.
2. The beach.
3. The incredibly cheap beer.
4. The wonderfully friendly people.
5. The upbeat, tropical, Spanish music.
6. The fun of trying to make myself understood when speaking to the friendly people who speak no English.
7. Iguanas! Sunning on the side of the road.
8. The rainforest.
9. The sound of the birds singing in the palm trees.
10. Mornings relaxing in the sun, by the pool, with a book.
11. My husband.
12. People selling birds at the side of the road. How neat is that?
Things I didn't like
1. The obnoxious tourists (not all American, I imagine, but that New York accent grates on me like you wouldn't believe)
2. The bugs that I never saw but have left horribly itchy little welts all over my arms and legs.
3. The never ending noise.
4. The fact that I don't speak Spanish got a little frustrating, in spite of the good-naturedness of the people there.
5. It's freaky expensive there.
6. It's filthy. Seriously. There is rotting garbage everywhere.
7. Dead Iguanas! Squished at the side of the road!
8. Scrawny stray cats and dogs everywhere.
9. Puerto Ricans seem to have no qualms about slapping their children in public. I try not to judge other parents, but honestly...when your 2 year old is having a melt down in the restaurant, winding up and slapping her on the mouth is not going to get her to stop crying any time soon, am I right?
10. The traffic is insane. Everyone drives everywhere, and they drive like maniacs. To cross the street is to take your life in your hands.
11. There are Policia everywhere, but there is also crime and drug deals going on out in the open, often right in front of the cops. What's up with that?
12. It's scary. The government is corrupt, it's full of crime, in some parts of the island it is a third world country, but generally only where the tourists don't go. The people there are chafing under U.S. rule, there is graffiti everywhere about freeing Puerto Rico from the American terrorists and such. I wouldn't want to own property there, I would be afraid that something might happen. To be honest, a lot of the Americans who do own property there are selling it so they can get out of the country in a hurry.
So there you have it. My impressions of Puerto Rico, abbreviated and off the top of my head. I have some pictures that I will get around to posting in the next couple of days.
For now, I am just so happy to be home, to see my nasty, shedding, vomiting, poorly behaved cats, and to be with my miserable, whiney, screaming, bratty, beautiful, loving, perfect little girl in my messy, smelly, falling apart little home. After seeing the way that people live on that island, I have a new appreciation for what I have here.
I still miss Puerto Rico terribly, and Moustapha even more. I really wish that I hadn't left him behind, and to be honest, I am a little jealous that he is still there, and I am here. So, with that in mind, I've decided to make lists about my trip.
Things I liked about P.R.
1. The weather, of course.
2. The beach.
3. The incredibly cheap beer.
4. The wonderfully friendly people.
5. The upbeat, tropical, Spanish music.
6. The fun of trying to make myself understood when speaking to the friendly people who speak no English.
7. Iguanas! Sunning on the side of the road.
8. The rainforest.
9. The sound of the birds singing in the palm trees.
10. Mornings relaxing in the sun, by the pool, with a book.
11. My husband.
12. People selling birds at the side of the road. How neat is that?
Things I didn't like
1. The obnoxious tourists (not all American, I imagine, but that New York accent grates on me like you wouldn't believe)
2. The bugs that I never saw but have left horribly itchy little welts all over my arms and legs.
3. The never ending noise.
4. The fact that I don't speak Spanish got a little frustrating, in spite of the good-naturedness of the people there.
5. It's freaky expensive there.
6. It's filthy. Seriously. There is rotting garbage everywhere.
7. Dead Iguanas! Squished at the side of the road!
8. Scrawny stray cats and dogs everywhere.
9. Puerto Ricans seem to have no qualms about slapping their children in public. I try not to judge other parents, but honestly...when your 2 year old is having a melt down in the restaurant, winding up and slapping her on the mouth is not going to get her to stop crying any time soon, am I right?
10. The traffic is insane. Everyone drives everywhere, and they drive like maniacs. To cross the street is to take your life in your hands.
11. There are Policia everywhere, but there is also crime and drug deals going on out in the open, often right in front of the cops. What's up with that?
12. It's scary. The government is corrupt, it's full of crime, in some parts of the island it is a third world country, but generally only where the tourists don't go. The people there are chafing under U.S. rule, there is graffiti everywhere about freeing Puerto Rico from the American terrorists and such. I wouldn't want to own property there, I would be afraid that something might happen. To be honest, a lot of the Americans who do own property there are selling it so they can get out of the country in a hurry.
So there you have it. My impressions of Puerto Rico, abbreviated and off the top of my head. I have some pictures that I will get around to posting in the next couple of days.
For now, I am just so happy to be home, to see my nasty, shedding, vomiting, poorly behaved cats, and to be with my miserable, whiney, screaming, bratty, beautiful, loving, perfect little girl in my messy, smelly, falling apart little home. After seeing the way that people live on that island, I have a new appreciation for what I have here.
Friday, April 21, 2006
Lets all hope not...
Yay! I'm home! Well, not really. I'm in Regina, but I am back in Canada. I will be driving back to Edmonton tomorrow, with a short stop in Toon Town to visit some friends.
My trip home was interesting. After bidding a tearfull farewell to my sweet baboo, I made my way through security at the San Jaun airport, where they made me walk through this machine that puffed at me (anyone know what on earth that is? cause I don't). When I was boarding the plane, in the little tunnel thingy that you take to get on the plane, there were four men in uniforms with guns (yikes). One of them asked me what nationality I was, and when I said Canadian he said "Oh Canada, let's hope that it becomes the 51st state of the Union real soon!" If he hadn't had a big gun and the power to throw me into a scary American detention centre, I would have totally gone off on him. As it was, I could feel myself turn a brilliant shade of red. It must have been obvious that I was livid, because one of the other guys actually apologized to me. You know, I know a lot of Americans and for the most part, I like them. There were friendly people from the US (I don't consider Puerto Ricans Americans, and I don't think many of them do either) where we were staying, and I know a few from my journeys online. Unfortunately, there are loudmouths like that guy in positions where they come in contact with a whole lot of foreigners, and they give every single american a bad name. Sigh.
I was so happy to see Mary when I got here. She was fast asleep in her crib when I got here, and I didn't wake her up, but I did touch her head, and stare at her with tears in my eyes for a long time. I really feel quite guilty that I had so much fun without her while I was away. This morning when she woke up she played quietly in her crib for a while, and I lay there and watched her for a while. When I got out of bed, she stared in amazement at me, and when I picked her up, she clung to me like a little monkey saying "Mum! Mum! Mumumumum!" It made me cry a little. Next time I go away, she's coming with me.
My trip home was interesting. After bidding a tearfull farewell to my sweet baboo, I made my way through security at the San Jaun airport, where they made me walk through this machine that puffed at me (anyone know what on earth that is? cause I don't). When I was boarding the plane, in the little tunnel thingy that you take to get on the plane, there were four men in uniforms with guns (yikes). One of them asked me what nationality I was, and when I said Canadian he said "Oh Canada, let's hope that it becomes the 51st state of the Union real soon!" If he hadn't had a big gun and the power to throw me into a scary American detention centre, I would have totally gone off on him. As it was, I could feel myself turn a brilliant shade of red. It must have been obvious that I was livid, because one of the other guys actually apologized to me. You know, I know a lot of Americans and for the most part, I like them. There were friendly people from the US (I don't consider Puerto Ricans Americans, and I don't think many of them do either) where we were staying, and I know a few from my journeys online. Unfortunately, there are loudmouths like that guy in positions where they come in contact with a whole lot of foreigners, and they give every single american a bad name. Sigh.
I was so happy to see Mary when I got here. She was fast asleep in her crib when I got here, and I didn't wake her up, but I did touch her head, and stare at her with tears in my eyes for a long time. I really feel quite guilty that I had so much fun without her while I was away. This morning when she woke up she played quietly in her crib for a while, and I lay there and watched her for a while. When I got out of bed, she stared in amazement at me, and when I picked her up, she clung to me like a little monkey saying "Mum! Mum! Mumumumum!" It made me cry a little. Next time I go away, she's coming with me.
Friday, April 14, 2006
Mofongo
Hello again, and Happy Easter to all of you!
Things are going well here in P.R. and I am still enjoying myself. Today it rained for a few minutes, and it was so humid afterwards that every time the wind blew on me, my glasses fogged up. Yikes. I managed to get a sunburn on my armpit the other day, did I tell you about that?
Moustapha has been religated to working night shifts now. They are putting the roof on the building, and it is so hot that some of his co-workers ended up barfing over the edge today. I'm a little disapointed, and worried about him, but in the end, I think that I will be seing more of him for the rest of my visit here. Tomorrow morning we are going to go to the beach and splash around, Sunday I'm going to church with the lady who owns the appartement we are staying in. Tuesday I plan on taking a bus into Old San Jaun and exploring.
Tonight we went out for supper, and I had Mofongo again. It is a Puerto Rican food made from Plantains, and it is absolutely yummy, I could eat it all day long.
Talk to you later!
Things are going well here in P.R. and I am still enjoying myself. Today it rained for a few minutes, and it was so humid afterwards that every time the wind blew on me, my glasses fogged up. Yikes. I managed to get a sunburn on my armpit the other day, did I tell you about that?
Moustapha has been religated to working night shifts now. They are putting the roof on the building, and it is so hot that some of his co-workers ended up barfing over the edge today. I'm a little disapointed, and worried about him, but in the end, I think that I will be seing more of him for the rest of my visit here. Tomorrow morning we are going to go to the beach and splash around, Sunday I'm going to church with the lady who owns the appartement we are staying in. Tuesday I plan on taking a bus into Old San Jaun and exploring.
Tonight we went out for supper, and I had Mofongo again. It is a Puerto Rican food made from Plantains, and it is absolutely yummy, I could eat it all day long.
Talk to you later!
Monday, April 10, 2006
Sun and Sand
Hola!
Just wanted to pop in and say hello again. It was a wonderful weekend, and we kept extremely busy. On Saturday Moustapha and I drove all the way around the island, which was an adventure and a half. The roads are crazy here, and people drive like maniacs. We went up into the mountains, and the roads there are narrow and incredibly curvy. Sunday we went for a walk in the rainforest, dipped our feet in a mountain waterfall, and went to the beach (where Moustapha unfortunately forgot to take the keys to the appartement out of his pocket...they were washed to sea). I managed to get a bit of a sunburn. Today Moustapha is back to work, so it's just me.
As for the concern about beach sex...I agree with Goody, and I have no desire for sand up my patchikaka. So no beach sex for us. Did I mention that our balcony looks out over the beach and ocean, and is incredibly private?
Just wanted to pop in and say hello again. It was a wonderful weekend, and we kept extremely busy. On Saturday Moustapha and I drove all the way around the island, which was an adventure and a half. The roads are crazy here, and people drive like maniacs. We went up into the mountains, and the roads there are narrow and incredibly curvy. Sunday we went for a walk in the rainforest, dipped our feet in a mountain waterfall, and went to the beach (where Moustapha unfortunately forgot to take the keys to the appartement out of his pocket...they were washed to sea). I managed to get a bit of a sunburn. Today Moustapha is back to work, so it's just me.
As for the concern about beach sex...I agree with Goody, and I have no desire for sand up my patchikaka. So no beach sex for us. Did I mention that our balcony looks out over the beach and ocean, and is incredibly private?
Friday, April 07, 2006
Greetings from San Juan
Hello!
Just thought I would drop you all a line to let you know that I made it in to Puerto Rico alive. Though, by time I got here my scratchy throat had turned into a full blown sinus cold. ugh.
Puerto Rico is busy, and crazy, and no one speaks english. They drive like maniacs, and Ian and I nearly got hit by several cars trying to cross the street to get to this internet cafe. He is staying in a three bedroom appartament, which i can only describe as part of a compound. There is a swimming pool, a lovely park with picnic tables and bbq pits, and a beautiful beach. The balcony looks over the ocean, and it's a stunning view.
Anyways, my time here is limited, so I should sign off. Talk to you soon!
Just thought I would drop you all a line to let you know that I made it in to Puerto Rico alive. Though, by time I got here my scratchy throat had turned into a full blown sinus cold. ugh.
Puerto Rico is busy, and crazy, and no one speaks english. They drive like maniacs, and Ian and I nearly got hit by several cars trying to cross the street to get to this internet cafe. He is staying in a three bedroom appartament, which i can only describe as part of a compound. There is a swimming pool, a lovely park with picnic tables and bbq pits, and a beautiful beach. The balcony looks over the ocean, and it's a stunning view.
Anyways, my time here is limited, so I should sign off. Talk to you soon!
Tuesday, April 04, 2006
So kiss me, and smile for me. Tell me that you'll wait for me...
Dearest Internet,
I'm off! Leaving on a jet plane and all that. Today is my last day in Edmonton for a while (though if I don't get my act together and pack, I may end up spending much of my time in Puerto Rico naked)(hmm...which I suspect would make Moustapha quite happy...). Anyways. Where was I? Oh yes, Mary and I are leaving for Regina tomorrow morning some time, and to be honest, I'm a little worried about being trapped in the car with a screaming, teething, tantrum throwing monkey for 8 hours. Im sure it'll be all good though.
I still have so much to do, damn it...but I'm so frazzled and scatterbrained all I can do is sit around staring at the computer and trying not to freak out. Eek! In two days, I'll be on a plane. Whee! Gah. So much to do. So excited. So stressed. I got a little weather thingy on my side bar now showing the weather in Edmonton, and the weather in Puerto Rico, so everyone can see how warm and lovely it is where I am and be jealous.
Well, that's as much as you're going to get from me today, internet. I could go on for paragraphs just burbling my excitement, but I suspect that'd get old for you pretty fast. I'm going to try to blog from time to time while I'm away, but don't count on anything, my internet connection will be spotty at best. I'll miss you! I'll be back, some time before the end of April (can't miss Purgatory), and I will have lots of pictures to show!
I'm off! Leaving on a jet plane and all that. Today is my last day in Edmonton for a while (though if I don't get my act together and pack, I may end up spending much of my time in Puerto Rico naked)(hmm...which I suspect would make Moustapha quite happy...). Anyways. Where was I? Oh yes, Mary and I are leaving for Regina tomorrow morning some time, and to be honest, I'm a little worried about being trapped in the car with a screaming, teething, tantrum throwing monkey for 8 hours. Im sure it'll be all good though.
I still have so much to do, damn it...but I'm so frazzled and scatterbrained all I can do is sit around staring at the computer and trying not to freak out. Eek! In two days, I'll be on a plane. Whee! Gah. So much to do. So excited. So stressed. I got a little weather thingy on my side bar now showing the weather in Edmonton, and the weather in Puerto Rico, so everyone can see how warm and lovely it is where I am and be jealous.
Well, that's as much as you're going to get from me today, internet. I could go on for paragraphs just burbling my excitement, but I suspect that'd get old for you pretty fast. I'm going to try to blog from time to time while I'm away, but don't count on anything, my internet connection will be spotty at best. I'll miss you! I'll be back, some time before the end of April (can't miss Purgatory), and I will have lots of pictures to show!
Sunday, April 02, 2006
I am me.
Well. After two nights of pretending to be someone else, I think that I am ready to pretend that I am me for a while now. Purgatory was on Friday night, and it was fantastic, as expected. Last night was Paradise Lost, also pretty freaking great. I have discovered though, that two nights in a row of intense roleplaying is a little too much for my psychie. I have fun, but by time I got home last night, I was emotionally and mentally drained. So anyways, no more pretending to be someone else, at least not till Tuesday night D&D.
The clocks changed last night. An occurrence that has always upset and confused me. I hate it. I was raised in Saskatchewan where they have no need to "save time," as it were, so when I moved to Alberta, this was one of the biggest upsets. Along with having to pay for health care, and my car insurance doubling. I eventually got over the other two, but the changing of the clocks still makes me feel incredibly betrayed twice a year. In spite of everyone reminding me, I did indeed forget to change my clocks, and was puzzled when it took me an hour to get from my bedroom to the computer. Then I realized that the computer changes it's clock automatically, and I have to change the clock in the bedroom. Sigh. I hate changing the clocks.
Mary and I slept in today, which wouldn't have been an issue, except for the clock changing (see above). We didn't get out of bed till 11am. I'm not sure what time Mary actually woke up, she's pretty good at keeping herself entertained in her crib until starvation makes her get up and start yelling. Anyways, our day is thrown right off. She just went down for her nap, and normally she would be getting up from it around now. I just hope that she doesn't stay up too late tonight. I have a whole lot that I need to do before heading off on Wednesday, and I find that it is easiest done after she goes to bed in the evening. Also, Grey's Anatomy is on tonight, and it's hard to watch when she is howling and climbing all over me.
The clocks changed last night. An occurrence that has always upset and confused me. I hate it. I was raised in Saskatchewan where they have no need to "save time," as it were, so when I moved to Alberta, this was one of the biggest upsets. Along with having to pay for health care, and my car insurance doubling. I eventually got over the other two, but the changing of the clocks still makes me feel incredibly betrayed twice a year. In spite of everyone reminding me, I did indeed forget to change my clocks, and was puzzled when it took me an hour to get from my bedroom to the computer. Then I realized that the computer changes it's clock automatically, and I have to change the clock in the bedroom. Sigh. I hate changing the clocks.
Mary and I slept in today, which wouldn't have been an issue, except for the clock changing (see above). We didn't get out of bed till 11am. I'm not sure what time Mary actually woke up, she's pretty good at keeping herself entertained in her crib until starvation makes her get up and start yelling. Anyways, our day is thrown right off. She just went down for her nap, and normally she would be getting up from it around now. I just hope that she doesn't stay up too late tonight. I have a whole lot that I need to do before heading off on Wednesday, and I find that it is easiest done after she goes to bed in the evening. Also, Grey's Anatomy is on tonight, and it's hard to watch when she is howling and climbing all over me.
Saturday, April 01, 2006
Dreams
Well, the first Purgatory game was last night, and wow. It was incredibly fantastic, the costumes were all wonderful, and I am eagerly awaiting the next one already.
Another Jenn, over at breed 'em and weep has a discussion going about dream cheating (sleeping with someone other than your chosen mate in your dreams) and how although it is not against the rules, she just can't do it. I, apparently, can. Last night, I dreamed of the game, naturally, but at one point, my dream became incredibly...ah...graphic, and centred on the husband of a friend of mine. Yikes! Not only am I sleeping around in my dreams, but I'm a dreaming homewrecker too! I hardly even know the fellow in question, which makes me even more of a hussy, doesn't it? Thank goodness I'm going to be seeing Moustapha in a few days, apparently I need it.
Today I have a great deal of cleaning around the house to get done, as well as a litter box change. I really need to start getting organized for my trip. Unfortunately I completely forgot to ask Raven to borrow a suitcase while I was over there, so I'll need to track one down. I suspect V and I have one that I can borrow, don't really know what I would do without those people.
Another Jenn, over at breed 'em and weep has a discussion going about dream cheating (sleeping with someone other than your chosen mate in your dreams) and how although it is not against the rules, she just can't do it. I, apparently, can. Last night, I dreamed of the game, naturally, but at one point, my dream became incredibly...ah...graphic, and centred on the husband of a friend of mine. Yikes! Not only am I sleeping around in my dreams, but I'm a dreaming homewrecker too! I hardly even know the fellow in question, which makes me even more of a hussy, doesn't it? Thank goodness I'm going to be seeing Moustapha in a few days, apparently I need it.
Today I have a great deal of cleaning around the house to get done, as well as a litter box change. I really need to start getting organized for my trip. Unfortunately I completely forgot to ask Raven to borrow a suitcase while I was over there, so I'll need to track one down. I suspect V and I have one that I can borrow, don't really know what I would do without those people.
Friday, March 31, 2006
Friday Baby Blogging
Here she is, helping me with the laundry. Sometimes she's so cute that I completely forget how crazy she makes me! Oh, and yes, as soon as I took this picture I moved the laundry basket to the floor, just in case my clumsy youngling decided to take a header out of the basket.
What do I really need?
So, I heard about this fun game from Heather, over at Hamster Boy. Basically, you go to Google, type in your name followed by "needs" or "wants" or whatever else, and then take the first responses. I just had to try it out, and this is what I found out about myself.
Needs
Jennifer needs...a cold shower (no kidding, my husband is in Puerto Rico and I'm here)
Jennifer needs...a smack daddy (um. I don't think so. I've already got Moustapha)
Jennifer needs...hope (doesn't everyone?)
Jennifer needs...to let go and get a life (I'm trying, give me a chance, already!)
Jennifer needs...some friends (hey, this is getting a little personal, don't you think?)
Jennifer needs...to do some charity work and stop being soo self-absorbed (ouch)
Wants
Jennifer wants...to have my baby (unless this is Moustapha speaking...then no.)
Jennifer wants...a couple of children (yes, at least a couple)
Jennifer wants...us to build a doghouse (indeed! of course, we have no dog, so perhaps our energies could go to something a wee bit more practical, hunny)
Jennifer wants...to access her images anywhere, at any time! (truer words have never been spoken)
Jennifer wants...to shed her sexy image (I have a sexy image??)
Jennifer wants...you to know that she's no victim (it's true, I've done everything to myself)
Jennifer wants...to share the Word and encourage others in the faith. (uh huh.)
Can
Jennifer can...bring in that box office revenue (it's so true! won't someone hire me?)
Jennifer can...energize and motivate Brad Pitt (purr. I'd like to motivate Brad some time...oh yeah baby. Er...never mind)
Jennifer can...not stand to loose! (Hey! who told you that? I can stand it, I just prefer not too)
Jennifer can...not resist Jack any longer (Thank goodness he's dead...she's much better with Frankie, don't you think?)
Jennifer can...be very poisonous if injected intravenously (remember that, y'all)
Should
Jennifer should....get the BOOT! (ouch. So we're back to this nastiness, are we?)
Jennifer should...not blame herself. (easy for you to say, you're not getting the BOOT)
Jennifer should...be maintained with care (that's better)
Jennifer should...go back to dry humping Vince (hey! again with the nastiness!)
Jennifer should...stop second guessing herself (well, if you'd quit being so mean to me, it would be a whole lot easier!)
Jennifer should...be released immediately and unconditionally (yes. set me free!)
Has
Jennifer has...been on the cover of numerous magazines (which is why I can pull in that box office revenue)
Jennifer has...two daddies (not true...unless my Mother is keeping secrets from me...)
Jennifer has...made memorable appearances on some of television's best series (again with the box office revenue...I'm telling you, I rock)
Jennifer has...has also been charged with aiding, abetting, and facilitating escape (hush. maybe that's why I cant seem to get an acting gig)
Jennifer has...been a professional poker player for over ten years (Bet you didn't know that, eh?)
Jennifer has...has a mainly positive attitude to life (which is hard, with all the abuse I've taken)
Needs
Jennifer needs...a cold shower (no kidding, my husband is in Puerto Rico and I'm here)
Jennifer needs...a smack daddy (um. I don't think so. I've already got Moustapha)
Jennifer needs...hope (doesn't everyone?)
Jennifer needs...to let go and get a life (I'm trying, give me a chance, already!)
Jennifer needs...some friends (hey, this is getting a little personal, don't you think?)
Jennifer needs...to do some charity work and stop being soo self-absorbed (ouch)
Wants
Jennifer wants...to have my baby (unless this is Moustapha speaking...then no.)
Jennifer wants...a couple of children (yes, at least a couple)
Jennifer wants...us to build a doghouse (indeed! of course, we have no dog, so perhaps our energies could go to something a wee bit more practical, hunny)
Jennifer wants...to access her images anywhere, at any time! (truer words have never been spoken)
Jennifer wants...to shed her sexy image (I have a sexy image??)
Jennifer wants...you to know that she's no victim (it's true, I've done everything to myself)
Jennifer wants...to share the Word and encourage others in the faith. (uh huh.)
Can
Jennifer can...bring in that box office revenue (it's so true! won't someone hire me?)
Jennifer can...energize and motivate Brad Pitt (purr. I'd like to motivate Brad some time...oh yeah baby. Er...never mind)
Jennifer can...not stand to loose! (Hey! who told you that? I can stand it, I just prefer not too)
Jennifer can...not resist Jack any longer (Thank goodness he's dead...she's much better with Frankie, don't you think?)
Jennifer can...be very poisonous if injected intravenously (remember that, y'all)
Should
Jennifer should....get the BOOT! (ouch. So we're back to this nastiness, are we?)
Jennifer should...not blame herself. (easy for you to say, you're not getting the BOOT)
Jennifer should...be maintained with care (that's better)
Jennifer should...go back to dry humping Vince (hey! again with the nastiness!)
Jennifer should...stop second guessing herself (well, if you'd quit being so mean to me, it would be a whole lot easier!)
Jennifer should...be released immediately and unconditionally (yes. set me free!)
Has
Jennifer has...been on the cover of numerous magazines (which is why I can pull in that box office revenue)
Jennifer has...two daddies (not true...unless my Mother is keeping secrets from me...)
Jennifer has...made memorable appearances on some of television's best series (again with the box office revenue...I'm telling you, I rock)
Jennifer has...has also been charged with aiding, abetting, and facilitating escape (hush. maybe that's why I cant seem to get an acting gig)
Jennifer has...been a professional poker player for over ten years (Bet you didn't know that, eh?)
Jennifer has...has a mainly positive attitude to life (which is hard, with all the abuse I've taken)
Wednesday, March 29, 2006
Death Warmed Over
Better now than next week, right? I woke up this morning, my ears so plugged up that it feels like I'm in a tunnel, my nose was running, my throat ached, and my chest was a tad congested. Ugh. I blame Anne R. Key. I'm fairly certain that I'll be feeling better by next week, which is a good thing. Even if I'm not feeling better on Friday, nothing will keep me from Purgatory (in spite of the fact that I got my background last, and am feeling a tad bit unloved...) Mary seems to be feeling fine so far, aside from the usual teething misery, and I am really hoping that she will stay that way, at least till next Thursday. Tee hee.
My costume for Friday is essentially finished, and I hate to admit, but I did very little of the work. My neighbours were just so fantastic and they saw that Mary was not allowing me to do much of anything, so they just did it for me. Today Mary and I went to the mall so I could buy white tights. So, I'm pretty much finished. I also spent far too much money at the mall. I bought a portable booster seat for Mary, some books for the time I intend to spend on the beach, and a book for Mary. Yikes. It looks like I'll be eating frozen waffles and cheerio's for the rest of the week.
My costume for Friday is essentially finished, and I hate to admit, but I did very little of the work. My neighbours were just so fantastic and they saw that Mary was not allowing me to do much of anything, so they just did it for me. Today Mary and I went to the mall so I could buy white tights. So, I'm pretty much finished. I also spent far too much money at the mall. I bought a portable booster seat for Mary, some books for the time I intend to spend on the beach, and a book for Mary. Yikes. It looks like I'll be eating frozen waffles and cheerio's for the rest of the week.
Tuesday, March 28, 2006
The Countdown
So, just over a week till I go to the Carribian. Things are getting organized, plans are being made in Regina for the takeover of my Dad's house by a noisy, busy toddler. I think that he and his wife are quite excited, but it's been a long time since either of them took care of a wee one, so I suspect that by time I get back they will both have a few more grey hairs, and big bags under their eyes.
As for me, preparations are going slowly. Moustapha has the only suitcase we own, which is most unfortunate. I have a duffle bag here, which I will fill up with Mary's stuff, but I have no where to pack my own stuff, so I suspect I will be asking around to borrow a suitcase from someone.
Hey! Purgatory is only 3 sleeps away! It looks like I will actually have a costume, thanks to I & V down the street, which is fabulous. Mary and I went over there today and I sewed like a crazy person for an hour, until Mary got so incredibly crabby that we had to leave. The bodice and sleves of my dress is finished, the skirt is coming together, and just needs to be attached now. After that, all that I need to do is to finish up the apron, and put in the zipper, oh, and hem it. But that's nothing, really! I also have to go to Zellers and find myself a pair of white tights, and stitch my veil to a headband. Hmm. I had better get my act together...
As for me, preparations are going slowly. Moustapha has the only suitcase we own, which is most unfortunate. I have a duffle bag here, which I will fill up with Mary's stuff, but I have no where to pack my own stuff, so I suspect I will be asking around to borrow a suitcase from someone.
Hey! Purgatory is only 3 sleeps away! It looks like I will actually have a costume, thanks to I & V down the street, which is fabulous. Mary and I went over there today and I sewed like a crazy person for an hour, until Mary got so incredibly crabby that we had to leave. The bodice and sleves of my dress is finished, the skirt is coming together, and just needs to be attached now. After that, all that I need to do is to finish up the apron, and put in the zipper, oh, and hem it. But that's nothing, really! I also have to go to Zellers and find myself a pair of white tights, and stitch my veil to a headband. Hmm. I had better get my act together...
Monday, March 27, 2006
I'm so excited, and I just can't hide it!
Okay, it's all good! The tickets for my trip are booked, and my passport will be ready to pick up in a week. Whee!
Today I went down to the passport office, prepared for a long wait. Ian had to wait almost 4 hours to apply for his passport, so I was expecting much the same thing. I got there at around 10:30, and got into the line up for pre-screening. The way it works is that you wait to get pre-screened, usually about 45 minutes in that line up, and then you go sit down and wait for an indeterminate amount of time to actually see a passport agent. I however skipped much of the wait when I explained to the pre-screener that I needed a rush on my passport as I would be leaving the country next week. He hummed and hawed, and mumbled something about needing proof that I was leaving, but in the end he gave me an express number, and told me to go sit down. I sat down, and my number popped up. yay! no waiting at all! So, I went and spoke to the actual agent who was friendly and kind, he had no problem giving me express treatment, he had no problem with my pictures, and my passport will be ready on Tuesday next week. I felt a little bad, I was in and out of there in less than an hour, and I suspect that the people who were directly in front of me in the line are still waiting.
The woman from Moustapha's employer called me this morning, and booked my flights as we were on the phone! Yay! It's officially official! I'm really really going to Puerto Rico! Whee!
Oh! So, on the way home from the passport office, I was at a red light, and you know how sometimes you just know that someone is staring at you? So I looked to the car beside me, which happened to be a chochy sports-car, with an even chochier guy driving it. Yup, he was staring at me all right. When I looked over, he made eye contact, smiled, and winked! Um. Hello. I've not partaken in behavior like that since I used to cruise up and down Albert Street in Regina when I was a teenager! I was stunned...I mean, I'm not the skinny, make up wearing, poofy haired chickie that I used to be. Did my dirty grey fleece make me look easy, or was it the messy ponytail? Maybe it was the piles of stuffed animals in the back window, or the little shades in the passenger windows that make it clear that I've got a child back there. Yeesh. Anyways, I stared back with a stunned expression in my face for a second, before quickly finding something to keep myself busy until the light turned green.
Mary's vocabulary is suddenly blooming. She's amazing. Today she said ball "ba!" shoe (which sounds suspiciously like juice, but she was pointing at her shoe when she said it), bottle (also "ba" but with a slightly different inflection) and foot "uht." Those are in addition to the words she already knows, juice, cookie, cat, up, Mummy, Daddy. She is becoming more communicative of her needs as well, when she wants juice, instead of pitching a fit, she comes up to me and shouts "joo" at me until I get it for her. Yay! Communication! Clear communication! She also really understands what I say..so much of what I say that it frightens me. If I ask her to bring me something, more often than not she will go get the right thing. The other day she brought me one of my slippers, and I told her to go get me the other one, and she actually did! She also will point to her nose, mouth, head, belly, and foot, as well as pointing to ducks, cats, dogs, and lambs in her picture book. And today when I asked her where her shoe goes, she pointed to her shoe, and then to her foot! Amazing!
Today I went down to the passport office, prepared for a long wait. Ian had to wait almost 4 hours to apply for his passport, so I was expecting much the same thing. I got there at around 10:30, and got into the line up for pre-screening. The way it works is that you wait to get pre-screened, usually about 45 minutes in that line up, and then you go sit down and wait for an indeterminate amount of time to actually see a passport agent. I however skipped much of the wait when I explained to the pre-screener that I needed a rush on my passport as I would be leaving the country next week. He hummed and hawed, and mumbled something about needing proof that I was leaving, but in the end he gave me an express number, and told me to go sit down. I sat down, and my number popped up. yay! no waiting at all! So, I went and spoke to the actual agent who was friendly and kind, he had no problem giving me express treatment, he had no problem with my pictures, and my passport will be ready on Tuesday next week. I felt a little bad, I was in and out of there in less than an hour, and I suspect that the people who were directly in front of me in the line are still waiting.
The woman from Moustapha's employer called me this morning, and booked my flights as we were on the phone! Yay! It's officially official! I'm really really going to Puerto Rico! Whee!
Oh! So, on the way home from the passport office, I was at a red light, and you know how sometimes you just know that someone is staring at you? So I looked to the car beside me, which happened to be a chochy sports-car, with an even chochier guy driving it. Yup, he was staring at me all right. When I looked over, he made eye contact, smiled, and winked! Um. Hello. I've not partaken in behavior like that since I used to cruise up and down Albert Street in Regina when I was a teenager! I was stunned...I mean, I'm not the skinny, make up wearing, poofy haired chickie that I used to be. Did my dirty grey fleece make me look easy, or was it the messy ponytail? Maybe it was the piles of stuffed animals in the back window, or the little shades in the passenger windows that make it clear that I've got a child back there. Yeesh. Anyways, I stared back with a stunned expression in my face for a second, before quickly finding something to keep myself busy until the light turned green.
Mary's vocabulary is suddenly blooming. She's amazing. Today she said ball "ba!" shoe (which sounds suspiciously like juice, but she was pointing at her shoe when she said it), bottle (also "ba" but with a slightly different inflection) and foot "uht." Those are in addition to the words she already knows, juice, cookie, cat, up, Mummy, Daddy. She is becoming more communicative of her needs as well, when she wants juice, instead of pitching a fit, she comes up to me and shouts "joo" at me until I get it for her. Yay! Communication! Clear communication! She also really understands what I say..so much of what I say that it frightens me. If I ask her to bring me something, more often than not she will go get the right thing. The other day she brought me one of my slippers, and I told her to go get me the other one, and she actually did! She also will point to her nose, mouth, head, belly, and foot, as well as pointing to ducks, cats, dogs, and lambs in her picture book. And today when I asked her where her shoe goes, she pointed to her shoe, and then to her foot! Amazing!
Saturday, March 25, 2006
Every day is something new...
So. I have to scratch another source of fibre off of Mary's "Will Eat" list. She used to eat bread. She loved it, she'd chow down happily on a slice of 12 grain or flax seed bread. Not anymore. Now, she looks at it, takes it from me, and flings it across the room like it's poison. Sigh.
She also is refusing to nap. As I type this she is in her bed, chatting with herself. She's been doing that since I put her down at her usual nap time 90 minutes ago. She was tired, rubbing her eyes and whining. This morning she was up 2.5 hours earlier than usual at 6:30. Why won't she sleeeeeeeep???
In spite of being annoying, she's been awfully cute this morning. She was giving me great big sloppy kisses on the couch. All she does is open her mouth as wide as she can to allow for maximum drool flow, and then press her wide open, slobbery mouth against various parts of my body, usually my cheek. It melts my heart.
Puerto Rico seems to be coming together okay, I think. I still have not gotten my passport papers signed, but that will be done tomorrow. It looks like I will be leaving April 6th from Regina, and although I've not actually spoken to anyone at Moustapha's place of work there have been messages left back and forth. Last night I was worried that it might fall through, but things are looking up today. Yay!
She also is refusing to nap. As I type this she is in her bed, chatting with herself. She's been doing that since I put her down at her usual nap time 90 minutes ago. She was tired, rubbing her eyes and whining. This morning she was up 2.5 hours earlier than usual at 6:30. Why won't she sleeeeeeeep???
In spite of being annoying, she's been awfully cute this morning. She was giving me great big sloppy kisses on the couch. All she does is open her mouth as wide as she can to allow for maximum drool flow, and then press her wide open, slobbery mouth against various parts of my body, usually my cheek. It melts my heart.
Puerto Rico seems to be coming together okay, I think. I still have not gotten my passport papers signed, but that will be done tomorrow. It looks like I will be leaving April 6th from Regina, and although I've not actually spoken to anyone at Moustapha's place of work there have been messages left back and forth. Last night I was worried that it might fall through, but things are looking up today. Yay!
Friday, March 24, 2006
Friday Baby Bloggin
This picture was taken last Saturday, shortly after the coming of "Snowpocalypse 2006," and shortly before we had to take Moustapha off to the airport. You can see our kind neighbour in the background who drove us all to the airport because I was afraid to drive in the snow.
Passport Woes
Eek! I'm having a hell of a time getting a passport, damn it! I have to get a special person to sign my passport, someone who has known me at least two years, and is some sort of professional type. If I was in Regina, I'd have no problem, but here...well, I'm just freaking out a little. I know a couple of law students but it seems they cannot help just yet. I know a couple of Engineers, but neither of them are P. Eng (whatever that distinction means) so no go there. My Doctor is out of the country, My Vet friend is unavailable. Gah! So, this weekend, I'll get Moustapha's cousin who is an accountant to sign for me, and I'll get the paperwork in to the passport office Monday morning. If I pay extra, and the people at the passport office feel nice, I can get my passport in 1 - 2 days, but that's only if they decide my reason is good enough. Is a free vacation in Puerto Rico enough reason for a rushed passport? I don't know. I really hope so.
Also! I still have not heard from Ian's employers, so I don't even know when I'm going! I need to know! ACK! I have to figure out what to do with Mary, and I have to let T & N know so they can arrange care for Jonah. I am highly strung at the best of times, and this is FREAKING ME OUT!! I've been trying to call them all morning, but no luck there, no one is in the office! Am I even going to get to Puerto Rico at all?? Are my hopes going to be dashed like an egg on the kitchen floor (which happened just the other night as I was cooking supper, was it a sign?)?
Okay, I've got to go bang my head repeatedly against the wall while I hit the redial button on my phone over and over and over and over......
Also! I still have not heard from Ian's employers, so I don't even know when I'm going! I need to know! ACK! I have to figure out what to do with Mary, and I have to let T & N know so they can arrange care for Jonah. I am highly strung at the best of times, and this is FREAKING ME OUT!! I've been trying to call them all morning, but no luck there, no one is in the office! Am I even going to get to Puerto Rico at all?? Are my hopes going to be dashed like an egg on the kitchen floor (which happened just the other night as I was cooking supper, was it a sign?)?
Okay, I've got to go bang my head repeatedly against the wall while I hit the redial button on my phone over and over and over and over......
Tuesday, March 21, 2006
Giddy
Hey! Did I tell you that I'm going to Puerto (or is it Porto) Rico? I did? oh. Well, let me tell you again, I'm going to Puerto Rico! Yay.
Anyways, I had a terrible time sleeping last night, my mind was racing and I am terribly excited. I've not heard from the head office yet today, and it's driving me a little crazy, but oh well, I suspect I'm being a tad bit impatient. Tonight I'll go get passport pictures taken, and I still have to figure out who to get to sign my application.
Last night was fun, my nameless friends came over and we made new characters for our Tuesday night D&D campaign. It's going to be very different from the Epic level campaign that we just finished, and I'm playing a character that couldn't be more different from my crazy barbarian. I decided to play a Halfling Bard (I'm sure those of you who know the game will understand why that'll drive my sweet baboo mad) named Dewberry Tealeaf. It's going to be a blast!
One problem with going away is that I suspect that I'll miss the first Purgatory game. I've been so pumped up about the game that it's a bit of a let down to miss it, but oh well. I guess I'll have some more time to work on my costume!
Anyways...I've not really got much to type, I'm a little too hyper to get any real thoughts down, so I'll try again tomorrow.
Anyways, I had a terrible time sleeping last night, my mind was racing and I am terribly excited. I've not heard from the head office yet today, and it's driving me a little crazy, but oh well, I suspect I'm being a tad bit impatient. Tonight I'll go get passport pictures taken, and I still have to figure out who to get to sign my application.
Last night was fun, my nameless friends came over and we made new characters for our Tuesday night D&D campaign. It's going to be very different from the Epic level campaign that we just finished, and I'm playing a character that couldn't be more different from my crazy barbarian. I decided to play a Halfling Bard (I'm sure those of you who know the game will understand why that'll drive my sweet baboo mad) named Dewberry Tealeaf. It's going to be a blast!
One problem with going away is that I suspect that I'll miss the first Purgatory game. I've been so pumped up about the game that it's a bit of a let down to miss it, but oh well. I guess I'll have some more time to work on my costume!
Anyways...I've not really got much to type, I'm a little too hyper to get any real thoughts down, so I'll try again tomorrow.
Monday, March 20, 2006
AAAAAAGGGHHHHHH!
So. Ian called tonight. From Porto Rico. It's beautiful there. He's living in a 3 bedroom appartment with a balcony that overlooks the ocean. The beach is across the street. They're right on the main tourist drag. It's sunny. It's warm. His boss is paying for me to fly there to spend two weeks.
I have so much to do, I could puke. I've got to get a passport, get Hep A vaccine, figure out what I'm going to do with Miss Mary while I'm gone (I try not to think that 2 weeks in Porto Rico = 2 weeks away from my angel), figure out what i'm going to do with the cats, clean up the house, find a suitcase, find shorts and see if they fit, find a bathing suit, pack, talk to Trevor and Nadine so they can figure out a babysitter while I'm gone....Squeee!
Did I mention that I'm going to Porto Rico for TWO WEEKS?! Gah! Squee! Aaagh!
I have so much to do, I could puke. I've got to get a passport, get Hep A vaccine, figure out what I'm going to do with Miss Mary while I'm gone (I try not to think that 2 weeks in Porto Rico = 2 weeks away from my angel), figure out what i'm going to do with the cats, clean up the house, find a suitcase, find shorts and see if they fit, find a bathing suit, pack, talk to Trevor and Nadine so they can figure out a babysitter while I'm gone....Squeee!
Did I mention that I'm going to Porto Rico for TWO WEEKS?! Gah! Squee! Aaagh!
Sunday, March 19, 2006
The Amazing Disappearing Husband
Was he ever here at all?
Well, as you probably know, Moustapha left for Porto Rico yesterday afternoon. Le Sigh. I have to admit that although it was nice...wonderful in fact...to have him home, by yesterday I was starting to go a little crazy. You see, he was gone for five weeks, and five weeks is more than enough time to establish routines and such. Then he came home, threw a monkey wrench into the routine, started to do things differently (wrong) and just threw me off the ball. Eventually I'm sure I would have gotten used to him doing things differently (wrong), but after one week, I was a wee bit crazy. That being said, I already miss him to death, and I want him home now now now.
The week went pretty well. He got home Saturday and we...ah...anyways, on Sunday we...um...oh! We went to Wal Mart for a little while (so much for my budding social conscience, eh?). Then Monday we left Mary with a sitter, and went to the Big Mall, before...ah...anyways. Tuesday was a day of rest, so we hung out around the house, played with Mary, had a rousing game of D & D in which mine and another's characters went off to become the big bad of that world. Yay! Evil wins again. Wednesday, I really can't remember what we did. hmm. Thursday Mary was sick. Friday Mary was sick, and so was I. I wanted to die. Saturday both Mary and I felt better, but the sky had opened up and dumped what seemed like 3 feet of snow on us. We ended up getting our neighbours to drive us to the airport in the minivan, because I was afraid to drive.
Last night I got over my fear of driving. The new Arthurian game was starting up last night, and I really wanted to go, but unfortunately, I couldn't find a sitter, in spite of desperately trying. So instead I went over to Anne R. Key's place for a cribbage tournament, which was great fun. My friend who prefers to remain nameless and I were a fantastic team, and we were very gracious loosers too. Mary was a good girl and slept in her playpen all night long, which amazed me, she hates that thing. When it was time to go we had some excitement, because to park I had basically just plowed into a snowbank and hoped for the best, so we needed some pushing to get out and back on the road. When I got home, I discovered that someone had taken the spot on the street that Moustapha had shoveled out for us, so I suspect that I'm going to be stuck today when I try to go grocery shopping.
That's really all I've got for now, but I should be posting a wee bit more regularly now that I'm all alone again.
Well, as you probably know, Moustapha left for Porto Rico yesterday afternoon. Le Sigh. I have to admit that although it was nice...wonderful in fact...to have him home, by yesterday I was starting to go a little crazy. You see, he was gone for five weeks, and five weeks is more than enough time to establish routines and such. Then he came home, threw a monkey wrench into the routine, started to do things differently (wrong) and just threw me off the ball. Eventually I'm sure I would have gotten used to him doing things differently (wrong), but after one week, I was a wee bit crazy. That being said, I already miss him to death, and I want him home now now now.
The week went pretty well. He got home Saturday and we...ah...anyways, on Sunday we...um...oh! We went to Wal Mart for a little while (so much for my budding social conscience, eh?). Then Monday we left Mary with a sitter, and went to the Big Mall, before...ah...anyways. Tuesday was a day of rest, so we hung out around the house, played with Mary, had a rousing game of D & D in which mine and another's characters went off to become the big bad of that world. Yay! Evil wins again. Wednesday, I really can't remember what we did. hmm. Thursday Mary was sick. Friday Mary was sick, and so was I. I wanted to die. Saturday both Mary and I felt better, but the sky had opened up and dumped what seemed like 3 feet of snow on us. We ended up getting our neighbours to drive us to the airport in the minivan, because I was afraid to drive.
Last night I got over my fear of driving. The new Arthurian game was starting up last night, and I really wanted to go, but unfortunately, I couldn't find a sitter, in spite of desperately trying. So instead I went over to Anne R. Key's place for a cribbage tournament, which was great fun. My friend who prefers to remain nameless and I were a fantastic team, and we were very gracious loosers too. Mary was a good girl and slept in her playpen all night long, which amazed me, she hates that thing. When it was time to go we had some excitement, because to park I had basically just plowed into a snowbank and hoped for the best, so we needed some pushing to get out and back on the road. When I got home, I discovered that someone had taken the spot on the street that Moustapha had shoveled out for us, so I suspect that I'm going to be stuck today when I try to go grocery shopping.
That's really all I've got for now, but I should be posting a wee bit more regularly now that I'm all alone again.
Thursday, March 16, 2006
I'm still alive!
Hello, dear internet!
I just wanted to pop in and say yes, I am alive. Moustapha has been home since Saturday night, and we are cramming (tee hee) in as much quality time as we can, before he leaves again this Saturday afternoon.
Aside from spending time with my sweetie, I've not been up too much. After a few seconds of shyness, Mary has been quite happy to see her daddy again, and she loves spending time with him. It's going to be much harder to say goodbye this time, I think.
Mary's sick today, lots of puke. This morning when we got her up she and her bed were covered in smelly vomit, and her diaper was full of the opposite of constipation. Sigh. I really hope she's feeling better soon.
Anyways, I must go now, I'll be back Sunday or Monday.
I just wanted to pop in and say yes, I am alive. Moustapha has been home since Saturday night, and we are cramming (tee hee) in as much quality time as we can, before he leaves again this Saturday afternoon.
Aside from spending time with my sweetie, I've not been up too much. After a few seconds of shyness, Mary has been quite happy to see her daddy again, and she loves spending time with him. It's going to be much harder to say goodbye this time, I think.
Mary's sick today, lots of puke. This morning when we got her up she and her bed were covered in smelly vomit, and her diaper was full of the opposite of constipation. Sigh. I really hope she's feeling better soon.
Anyways, I must go now, I'll be back Sunday or Monday.
Saturday, March 11, 2006
Belated Friday Baby-blogging
Do you think it's possible that her habit of eating books could be part of the poo problem?
No Poo
Mary, much like her Mummy, has never, ever been a good pooper. Ever since she was a wee thing, she's had bouts of constipation, and there seems to be nothing we can do about it. From time to time we have given her something called Lactulose, which is a stool softener, but it doesn't really help much. I don't really understand why it gets so bad, sometimes she will poo with alarming regularity, every nap time for a week or two, and then, she stops, and I look forward to the inevitable with growing dread.
You see, she has been straining all week, since her last significant poo on Tuesday. She gets red in the face, she grunts, she struggles, and eventually, she screams her rage to the world, and carries on with life, nothing to show for the drama. I think the biggest problem that we have is that she just hates to poo (again, just like her Mummy), and I suspect that in the beginning, these epic struggles she is having are not her straining to poo, but her struggling not too.
The last time she went this long without pooing I called a public health nurse. Big mistake on my part. I was berated, made to feel stupid and generally a bad mother. I was told that I needed to understand that being a parent meant I needed to make sacrifices (really? Cause Moustapha and I haven't sacrificed a thing for this child!) and I was a bad mother for not giving Mary fresh fruits and veggies. I tried to explain to the nurse that the lack of fresh produce was not due to a lack of trying on my part, Mary just refused to eat them. The nurse then told me "Well, you need to give her fresh fruits and vegetables." Duh. Here is a list of the fresh produce I have tried to offer Mary, only to get spit at, shrieked at, or laughed at:
- Apples, cut up various ways
- Bananas, whole and mashed
- Grapes
- Honeydew Melon
- cantaloupe
- Pears
- Strawberries
- Blueberries
- Those Asian apple/pear thingies that cost $1.99 each
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Sweet potato
- avocado
Now, don't think that I have tried these things once and then given up. Oh no. I have tried to cut them differently, made sauces, snuck them into her yoghurt, mashed them, baked them, ignored her, pleaded with her...it makes absolutely no difference what I do. She just spits the first taste out, and then clamps her lips shut. She will even spit out the wee chunks of strawberries in her yoghurt.
So, I am getting a little freaked out (about the pooping, not the eating. The eating I have come to terms with. For now.). I don't want to deal with the inevitable screaming in agony as she is no longer able to hold it in. She bleeds, she screams, and I can't do anything to help other than rub her belly and murmur soothing words.
In happier (and less icky) news, Moustapha gets home today at 5:30. I have to drive out to the airport to pick him up, after 12 cm of snow last night, and highway closures. But I will. I want him home and so does Mary. The house is of course a disaster area, and although I'm trying to get a little work done, I suspect the best I can hope for is to get the litter boxes changed, clean sheets on the bed, and maybe all the dishes done. I'm feeling a little too giddy and frazzled to get much else organized around here. Anyways, he's only home for a week, so forgive me if I don't blog much between now and next Saturday or so. I'll not abandon my blog altogether, but I can't promise much.
You see, she has been straining all week, since her last significant poo on Tuesday. She gets red in the face, she grunts, she struggles, and eventually, she screams her rage to the world, and carries on with life, nothing to show for the drama. I think the biggest problem that we have is that she just hates to poo (again, just like her Mummy), and I suspect that in the beginning, these epic struggles she is having are not her straining to poo, but her struggling not too.
The last time she went this long without pooing I called a public health nurse. Big mistake on my part. I was berated, made to feel stupid and generally a bad mother. I was told that I needed to understand that being a parent meant I needed to make sacrifices (really? Cause Moustapha and I haven't sacrificed a thing for this child!) and I was a bad mother for not giving Mary fresh fruits and veggies. I tried to explain to the nurse that the lack of fresh produce was not due to a lack of trying on my part, Mary just refused to eat them. The nurse then told me "Well, you need to give her fresh fruits and vegetables." Duh. Here is a list of the fresh produce I have tried to offer Mary, only to get spit at, shrieked at, or laughed at:
- Apples, cut up various ways
- Bananas, whole and mashed
- Grapes
- Honeydew Melon
- cantaloupe
- Pears
- Strawberries
- Blueberries
- Those Asian apple/pear thingies that cost $1.99 each
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Sweet potato
- avocado
Now, don't think that I have tried these things once and then given up. Oh no. I have tried to cut them differently, made sauces, snuck them into her yoghurt, mashed them, baked them, ignored her, pleaded with her...it makes absolutely no difference what I do. She just spits the first taste out, and then clamps her lips shut. She will even spit out the wee chunks of strawberries in her yoghurt.
So, I am getting a little freaked out (about the pooping, not the eating. The eating I have come to terms with. For now.). I don't want to deal with the inevitable screaming in agony as she is no longer able to hold it in. She bleeds, she screams, and I can't do anything to help other than rub her belly and murmur soothing words.
In happier (and less icky) news, Moustapha gets home today at 5:30. I have to drive out to the airport to pick him up, after 12 cm of snow last night, and highway closures. But I will. I want him home and so does Mary. The house is of course a disaster area, and although I'm trying to get a little work done, I suspect the best I can hope for is to get the litter boxes changed, clean sheets on the bed, and maybe all the dishes done. I'm feeling a little too giddy and frazzled to get much else organized around here. Anyways, he's only home for a week, so forgive me if I don't blog much between now and next Saturday or so. I'll not abandon my blog altogether, but I can't promise much.
Thursday, March 09, 2006
New Word of the Day
Blogtard. There are a whole lot of them out there. It's possible that there are people out there who I feel are blogtarded (like that fellow who occasionally comments on your blog, Anne) that you do not. Fortunately for me, I have had little to no issues with blogtards on my blog.
Rebecca Eckler (you may remember her, she's the columnist in the Globe and Mail, Toronto's National Newspaper), however is having problems with them. It seems that people don't approve of, well, just about everything that she has to say, think or do. They don't like that she gets paid to write about her life in a national newspaper. They don't like that she's not actually married to the father of her child, although they are engaged. They don't like that she's wealthy. They don't like that she has a job at all. They don't like that she has a nanny. And above all, they don't like her spelling. Now, I'm not going to get too much into this except to say...Honestly, people. Get a life! There's a good post here all about polite blogging, and it's quite entertaining. I couldn't have said it better myself.
But seriously, why on earth do people have to judge other people so harshly for making different choices in their lives? I know that Rebecca is a public figure, and bound to draw some ire for the things she says, but seriously, if you hate someone so much, is it really worth your time and energy to read her blog, and then leave nasty comments about how offensive you find her blog? Wouldn't it be easier to just not read it in the first place? I can honestly say that I do feel a twinge of jealousy when I read about her life...flying business class to wherever she chooses to vacation, a nanny, Prada bags...but in the end, she's just another Mum, and I really believe that she is just doing what she feels is best for both her and her baby. That she has different tools to do it with than I do, oh well.
It all brings to mind a song that I shall sing for you now.
"People are people, so why should it be, that you and I should get along so awfully?"
p.s. Does anyone else think that it's a strange thing that the spellcheck for Blogger does not recognize the word Blog?
Rebecca Eckler (you may remember her, she's the columnist in the Globe and Mail, Toronto's National Newspaper), however is having problems with them. It seems that people don't approve of, well, just about everything that she has to say, think or do. They don't like that she gets paid to write about her life in a national newspaper. They don't like that she's not actually married to the father of her child, although they are engaged. They don't like that she's wealthy. They don't like that she has a job at all. They don't like that she has a nanny. And above all, they don't like her spelling. Now, I'm not going to get too much into this except to say...Honestly, people. Get a life! There's a good post here all about polite blogging, and it's quite entertaining. I couldn't have said it better myself.
But seriously, why on earth do people have to judge other people so harshly for making different choices in their lives? I know that Rebecca is a public figure, and bound to draw some ire for the things she says, but seriously, if you hate someone so much, is it really worth your time and energy to read her blog, and then leave nasty comments about how offensive you find her blog? Wouldn't it be easier to just not read it in the first place? I can honestly say that I do feel a twinge of jealousy when I read about her life...flying business class to wherever she chooses to vacation, a nanny, Prada bags...but in the end, she's just another Mum, and I really believe that she is just doing what she feels is best for both her and her baby. That she has different tools to do it with than I do, oh well.
It all brings to mind a song that I shall sing for you now.
"People are people, so why should it be, that you and I should get along so awfully?"
p.s. Does anyone else think that it's a strange thing that the spellcheck for Blogger does not recognize the word Blog?
Wednesday, March 08, 2006
Some people have too much money.
Okay, so, go check this out. Seriously, go and look. Now, who on earth spends $47,000 on a childs bed? That's more than my car. That's more than I'd ever spend on a car! And anyways, why would I spend all that money on that bed, when I could get this one, which I think is much prettier, for just over $10,000 with all the linens and pillows?
Monday, March 06, 2006
Less Pink
Well, I've had this blog going for a year now, and I decided to move away from the pink. What do you think? If I were at all computer savvy I would make a template all by myself, but it took me over an hour just to select this, and enter in a few links.
And for some reason this morning, I still want another one...
Yesterday was a day. A bad day. Actually, that's a lie, yesterday morning was just fine. Mary was happy, cute, chatty (in her own language of course) and fun. So happy, in fact, that I called up some friends, and we all got together for lunch at Albert's, a local breakfast restaurant. Mary was lovely for the most part for the entire time at the restaurant, in spite of it being nap time. When she started to get crabby and cry, I quickly packed her up, and took her home for a nap. All seemed well. It was a beautiful day, and while she was snoozing, I decided that it would be fun to go outside and march up and down the sidewalk in front of the house, one of her favourite pastimes. She woke up after 2 hours, and although she was a little crabby, I decided to stick to plan and take her outside. I bundled her up, took her out and plunked her down on the sidewalk. She started marching and shouting at the trees, the cars, the houses, the person walking their dog across the street...and then she decided she wanted to march right up to one of the neighbours front door. I prevented her. The screams of rage echoed through the neighbourhood. I tried to distract her, and she flung herself into a snowbank. More echoes. I finally picked her up, and hauled her back to the house as she howled, arching her back and kicking me in the ribs.
That could be the end of the story, but it isn't. She screamed all afternoon. I tried to feed her, she screamed. I tried to cuddle her, she screamed. I put her down, she screamed, I picked her up, she screamed. I put her in her crib because I couldn't handle it anymore, and she screamed until I went back in to get her, and then she screamed some more. I changed her diaper, I changed her clothes, I gave her a cookie, I gave her some juice, I read her a book. She screamed. When she wasn't screaming, she was sobbing. For 3 and a half hours, she screamed and cried. What the hell? Nothing I could do was right. I finally got her a bottle, and put her to bed, where she cried for about an hour (no screaming, just sobbing pathetically) before she fell asleep.
I don't know what got into her, but this morning she seems to be back to her cheerfull self, chasing the cats around with their toys and laughing crazily. I like her a whole lot more when she is like this. The worst thing about yesterday was that I just felt so incredibly helpless. I knew she was upset (obviously) but I had no idea why, or what I could do about it. I am looking forward to the day she speaks the same language as I do.
Hey! Less than a week left till Moustapha gets home! Yay! Even though he'll only be home for a week, I am so looking forward to it. I miss him terribly.
That could be the end of the story, but it isn't. She screamed all afternoon. I tried to feed her, she screamed. I tried to cuddle her, she screamed. I put her down, she screamed, I picked her up, she screamed. I put her in her crib because I couldn't handle it anymore, and she screamed until I went back in to get her, and then she screamed some more. I changed her diaper, I changed her clothes, I gave her a cookie, I gave her some juice, I read her a book. She screamed. When she wasn't screaming, she was sobbing. For 3 and a half hours, she screamed and cried. What the hell? Nothing I could do was right. I finally got her a bottle, and put her to bed, where she cried for about an hour (no screaming, just sobbing pathetically) before she fell asleep.
I don't know what got into her, but this morning she seems to be back to her cheerfull self, chasing the cats around with their toys and laughing crazily. I like her a whole lot more when she is like this. The worst thing about yesterday was that I just felt so incredibly helpless. I knew she was upset (obviously) but I had no idea why, or what I could do about it. I am looking forward to the day she speaks the same language as I do.
Hey! Less than a week left till Moustapha gets home! Yay! Even though he'll only be home for a week, I am so looking forward to it. I miss him terribly.
Sunday, March 05, 2006
Thinking
So, I have this story in my head. I tell various versions of it to Miss Mary from time to time, when she is tired enough to be content just sitting in my lap and listening to me talk. I've been thinking a lot lately about putting it down on paper, but I'm not sure there's much point. You see, I am terrified of criticism, even the constructive type, and I'm not at all confident in my writing (or creative, for that matter) skills. I don't know if putting the effort into writing it down will be worth it, as I doubt that anyone other than myself will ever see it.
I got out of the house last night! For hours! Without the baby! I had a most excellent time, with lots of hugs from other adults and conversation that had absolutely nothing (well, very little) to do about constipation, screaming, teething, or the fact that my child will only eat yoghurt with any regularity. We were at Dervish's beautiful loft once again, and I went home full of envy for his beautiful place which is bigger than my house. The game itself (was there for a Fallen Angels Game, Paradise Lost) was fantastic as always, and my character vacillated between smugness and severe, soul wrenching angst all night. To top it off, I had gone to the game expecting to be horribly punished, perhaps even killed for some poorly thought out actions I had taken in the downtime, and that did not happen! The only person who questioned me was completely ignored by everyone else!
Did I mention that the only food Mary will eat is yoghurt? I should mention it again, cause it's driving me bonkers. Oh, she'll eat other things, when the mood strikes her, but there is no telling. She flat out refuses all fresh fruits and veggies still, no matter how much I try to tempt her. I have even bought expensive Asian Pears for her, but no luck. She likes her graham wafers, and she will occasionally eat off my plate. She won't feed herself unless the food is the right texture. Nothing too wet, too cold, too sticky, too dry, too shriveled. To be honest, I have come to the conclusion that in most cases it isn't the actual flavour of the food, but the texture. So. What do I do? I'm running out of ideas, and I'm not going to talk to the nazi public health nurses about it again, because they just make me feel like a horrible mother, and I end up bawling.
Oh, and there is a new little life form in the Simian Farmer's household. Yay! One thing I learned from his tale is that with my next child...when they send me home from the hospital for a couple of hours, don't go if I want to preserve the state of my mattress and the towels we were given as a wedding gift!
I got out of the house last night! For hours! Without the baby! I had a most excellent time, with lots of hugs from other adults and conversation that had absolutely nothing (well, very little) to do about constipation, screaming, teething, or the fact that my child will only eat yoghurt with any regularity. We were at Dervish's beautiful loft once again, and I went home full of envy for his beautiful place which is bigger than my house. The game itself (was there for a Fallen Angels Game, Paradise Lost) was fantastic as always, and my character vacillated between smugness and severe, soul wrenching angst all night. To top it off, I had gone to the game expecting to be horribly punished, perhaps even killed for some poorly thought out actions I had taken in the downtime, and that did not happen! The only person who questioned me was completely ignored by everyone else!
Did I mention that the only food Mary will eat is yoghurt? I should mention it again, cause it's driving me bonkers. Oh, she'll eat other things, when the mood strikes her, but there is no telling. She flat out refuses all fresh fruits and veggies still, no matter how much I try to tempt her. I have even bought expensive Asian Pears for her, but no luck. She likes her graham wafers, and she will occasionally eat off my plate. She won't feed herself unless the food is the right texture. Nothing too wet, too cold, too sticky, too dry, too shriveled. To be honest, I have come to the conclusion that in most cases it isn't the actual flavour of the food, but the texture. So. What do I do? I'm running out of ideas, and I'm not going to talk to the nazi public health nurses about it again, because they just make me feel like a horrible mother, and I end up bawling.
Oh, and there is a new little life form in the Simian Farmer's household. Yay! One thing I learned from his tale is that with my next child...when they send me home from the hospital for a couple of hours, don't go if I want to preserve the state of my mattress and the towels we were given as a wedding gift!
Saturday, March 04, 2006
The Big Times
Holy Smokes! I'm in the Globe and Mail!
Well, not really, but a columnist named Rebecca Eckler actually mentioned me, and printed an excerpt from my blog in her column. Now, it wasn't an excerpt from one of my happier days, but hey! neat! You can read the article here.
Oh. I feel queasy now...the pressure's on...must blog more often....and be funnier (and happier for crying out loud). Oh, and the template! The template for this thing must be fixed.
Bah. I'll do it all later. Procrastination is my favourite pastime.
Well, not really, but a columnist named Rebecca Eckler actually mentioned me, and printed an excerpt from my blog in her column. Now, it wasn't an excerpt from one of my happier days, but hey! neat! You can read the article here.
Oh. I feel queasy now...the pressure's on...must blog more often....and be funnier (and happier for crying out loud). Oh, and the template! The template for this thing must be fixed.
Bah. I'll do it all later. Procrastination is my favourite pastime.
Friday, March 03, 2006
Christmas in March
Sorry, I've been a bit of a lollyblogger these days...not really much to talk about to be honest. Life has fallen into a bit of a routine. Wake up, spend the morning with Mary, put her to bed for her nap, do dishes, laundry, and desperately try to straighten up the livingroom, wake Mary up, fight with her to get her to eat all afternoon. Give Mary a bath, bottle, and put her to bed. Repeat tomorrow.
On Tuesday we had the first appreciable snow fall all winter. We had about 13 cm tuesday night, another couple on Wednesday, and it seems that we should be expecting more on the weekend. In fact, when I look out my window, it's snowing now. The roads were a bit of a disaster tuesday, and I havent driven anywhere since, hopefully they will be better today, and everyone will have remembered how to drive in the winter. I love the snow, it's so nice and clean looking, especially after a winter of browns and greys.
I took Mary out to help me shovel the walk on wednesday afternoon, and after her initial horror, she really seemed to enjoy it. She marched up and down the block shouting at people, trees, cars, houses...whatever she saw, really. She did fall down once or twice and face plant in a snowbank, but she dealt surprisingly well with it, no tears at all. We were outside for about 45 minutes, and we went back in because I was cold, she would likely have been happy out there for another hour!
So there you have it. I've been doing a lot of reading online about one of my favorite subjects - Christianity, particularly very early Christianity. It really fascinates me to see where our faith today came from, and how different things could have been. Anyways, I'll not blather on about it, though I could, and one day I might.
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