With the beginning of a New Year here, it is of course time to think about resolutions or goals to achieve in the coming months. I am horrible at making and keeping resolutions. They are always the same anyway, lose weight, get organized, blahblahblah. I never make any action plans to go with these resolutions so of course I never keep them.

This year will be different.

First off, I would like to get fit. In the past I would say lose weight and I hope I do lose weight in my goal to become fit but that will not be my first priority. I have been walking regularly (semi-regularly these past two weeks though) with my neighbour and we cover 2-3 miles each night, depending on the weather. I can now walk up the huge hill from the school without feeling like I am going to die (have altered our course though and haven't walked the hill in a few weeks though since a rapist moved into a house along that route). Stephen and I have joined a fitness club (he says he will not go - his membership was free because it is a benefit from his work and I joined via his membership so I did not have to pay initiation dues) and I hope to work out at least twice each week. That is not often, I know, but until Cars is in preschool, it will have to do. Plus they have like 5 pools there so I hope to take the kids swimming at least once/week.

I need to eat better. I think I went a whole week recently without consuming a piece of fresh fruit or fresh vegetable. That is disgusting. I started looking at the sodium content in canned veggies and the corn syrup added to canned fruit and it gross. They are fine in moderation but my whole diet was processed food and it was not good. I am considering joining WW but my experience with them last time makes me a little hesitant to go back. They were readily encouraging people to consume artificial sweeteners such as aspartame and equal which I just cannot believe are good for you. Also, SOY SOY SOY was heralded as a fine substitution for other proteins. Never mind that SOY SOY SOY is very bad bad bad for people with thyroid problems which, no doubt, many of the WW members have (more info here if you are interested).

The cancer scare that I had at the end of the summer really scared the shit out of me. I know I am not doing all I can do to live my best life (ok, perhaps I am watching too much Oprah?) so I know I need to work harder at living and enjoying life. One big step was admitting that I no longer needed to go to counselling because I saw my ppd as an excuse not to move on. I figured as long as I had ppd then I could not do other things. One thing at a time blah blah blah. I knew I was better so I just had to cut the cord and move on.

So, besides getting fit and eating better, I have a few other small goals that I would like to achieve:
1) take a class (probably a beading class)
2) complete a big knitted project (perhaps a sweater or baby blanket)
3) roll over my 401k to an IRA (I have put this off for 6.5 years and for some reason this worries me)
4) have two parties in my home in 2006 (this is in addition to our annual July 4th bbq and Christmas dinner)
5) take a ferry ride (this terrifies me!)

So there they are...my goals for 2006.

Day O'Fun

Today I went shopping with Ash and Nosey Neighbour (I guess I could call her Glo). It was Ash's birthday and we all had gift cards to spend at the Mall. So, Glo and I drove together and met Ash at Macy's where I returned 4 gifts for Stephen (knives, crystal bar glasses, a shirt and some cologne - I sure struck out this year). Then we shopped for a few hours, had lunch at Cheesecake Factory then more shopping. It was more window shopping for me because I could not find anything I liked except for the turquoise leather jacket (it was gorgeous but definitely not in my $50 gift card budget!).

When I arrived home, Stephen was still out with the kids (he took them to the new Children's museum, the driving range and then to Applebee's for dinner) so I had a couple of hours to myself. I watched over an hour of TV without anyone asking to put on Spongebob or Danny Phantom or Dora or Diego!

At 8:30pm, Ash, Glo and Jan called from the bar at the plaza asking me to join them (they had dinner there with their families to celebrate Ash and Jan's birthdays). So I went (no walking with neighbour due to pissing rain). I had such a blast. It is so nice to have girlfriends to go and hangout with (sans children). That is something that I have really been missing in my life.

Another one of my Christmas gifts:


PEZ MP3 Player

Christmas Day was a blast. The kids loved everything they received. Many of the gifts I bought for Stephen are going back (I struck out big-time this year). I received some nice things including a lovely string of pearls that still need the clasp put on it so we are taking it back to the jewelery store tomorrow. They are so pretty!

Dinner was awesome. Stephen cooked prime rib with gravy, asparagus, mashed potatoes, mashed turnip (don't say EW!) and broccoli. I made the best every Yorkshire pudding ever! Not sure what was so different about it this year but it was delicious (I made individual pieces in muffin tins). Ash, her dh and kids as well as her MIL and SIL came for dinner. We all had a great time eating, drinking and being merry.

We were hoping to take the kids tubing this week but it has been so mild. We set a record high on Christmas Eve - 62 degrees. It has been raining and raining too so much of the snow in the pass has been ruined and lots of areas are under flood watches. Hopefully, it will get cooler by the end of the week so we can go then.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to all!

Stephen wanted to wrap presents with the kids tonight. He gathered up the box of Christmas paper, ribbons, bows and tags and banished me up to our room, which was ok because I was able to work on a hat I am knitting.

After a few moments, Stephen came bursting into our room, demanding to know where the Santa paper was (I use plain red paper for Santa's gifts). I reminded him that he had put it in the box with the other paper but don't worry, it was in a plastic bag and he could just sneak it out. Too late! Jax had found it. Stephen was livid because he thought this was it and Jax would know there was no Santa. I was mad at him getting pissed with me when it was his fault. And nevermind that I don't think Santa should even wrap gifts (we have this discussion every year!). Santa never wrapped presents in our house but he did in Stephen's.

My mom once told me that she never wrapped Santa gifts because when she was a child, she noticed some paper that her mother had purchased but when Christmas morning arrived, the gifts from Santa was wrapped in that paper. That is when she knew there was no Santa. She never wanted this to happen to her kids so no Santa gifts were wrapped.

Fortunately, Jax did not notice that that paper was Santa's paper (I bought 3 huge rolls of it 3 years ago). But just to be sure, I went out tonight and bought two large rolls of plain paper that we will use for Santa gifts (btw, in my house Santa only brought one gift but not in Stephen's...hey! why does he get to keep all of his traditions?!) then hide in the garage rafters until next year, and not with the rest of the paper!

But now I am curious, does Santa wrap gifts at your house? Please let me know!

Ok, we have the Christmas menu set:

Roast Beef
Mashed potatoes
Mashed turnip (rutabaga)
Asparagus
Corn
Steaned broccoli
Yorkshire pudding
Gravy
Horse radish
Buns (not necessary but Stephen insists on it)

Ash is bringing a peppermint ice cream chocolate cake.

Yummy!

Random photos today...


Our shiny new faucet installed in our chipped and stained sink. Notice too that we have an extra hole now...

Jax's paperdoll that he created for his "Heritage" project. It is a voyageur

Pink Necklace

Felted bag that I knit for my SIL for Christmas

Danger, Will Robinson!

Emergency! Leaking kitchen faucet. Actually, I should write GUSHING kitchen faucet. Last night, Stephen noticed a lot of water under the sink. Turns out the kitchen faucet is GUSHING when you turn it on. YIKES! He then said he noticed some water under the sink last week. WTF?! So how much water damage do we have there. I mean it is GUSHING when you turn the water on.

I called Handy Man (who is now licenced Contractor as his paperwork has finally gone through) to see if he could come by and replace it because Stephen says he doesn't think he can do it (I think it will be easier than it looks). And he add$, while we are at it we might a$ well replace the kitchen $ink. Oh and maybe the countertop on the i$land where the $ink is $hould be replaced and let'$ think about rebuilding the i$land to $omething that more $uit$ our need$$$$$$ (hence the Handy Man, excuse me, Contractor, who is not available until after the holidays).

Contractor says the instructions for replace faucets are very detailed and straightforward so we should be able to do it ourselves. He will come by in the New Year to give us an estimate on the sink, countertop and rebuilding the island). In the meantime, I am off to Lowe's to buy a new faucet.

I was up at the crack of dawn this morning (actually, before the crack of dawn since it is close to the shortest day of the year) for a 7:30am hair appointment. Of course I have known for weeks that I needed a haircut but, as usual, left it until the next-to-last minute to call and voila - a 7:30am appointment was all that was left for today. And of course I could not wait a moment longer like say, Monday, to get an appointment at a normal time.

One benefit of arriving at the mall at Saturday morning at 7:25am is snagging just about the best parking spot at the mall.

We went to Stephen's work Christmas party at his manager's house. We had a hard time getting a sitter because Nanny is full-time Nanny to his manager's kids so she was watching them. We finally were able to get the teenager across the street to babysit after her basketball game (which meant we were going late).

She showed up at 7:30 and was in a pissy mood. She was pulled out of the game because she got kicked in the head by another player and the trainer thought she might have a concussion (great!). Her dad told her she could not go back in the game even though she insisted she was ok so she was livid with him.

Stephen went to talk to her mom to make sure she was ok to babysit if she had a concussion. Her mom said yes but they would come over and check on her a couple of times while we were gone.

We arrived home 4 hours after leaving and we found out that her mom had come over to babysit while her dad took her to the emergency room to check out her head! She was ok and came back here but yikes! I am sorry that I asked her to sit. Not because she does not do a good job but the fact that her mother had to sit my kids! I wish they had just called us to come home.

Now my concern is...should I have paid the mom? ;)

After constant dropped connections for the past week, I finally called the money sucking company that is Comcast and they sent a guy out to replace my 5 year old modem. So far I have maintained a constant connection for a whole seven and a half hours without one single disconnect. What is amazing too is that the guy showed up 2 hours before he was due to arrive. It's a Christmas miracle!

Speaking of Christmas, I braved the post office today and mailed off the last of the gifts that needed to be sent to Canada. I missed the guaranteed delivery by Christmas date (it was yesterday) but I am sure it will arrive on time anyway.

Tomorrow is Jax's class luncheon where everyone brings in foods from the country on which they did their presentation. We made Maple Shortbread Cookies, aka Canadian Shortbread 'Eh'. They are yummy!

Our drive to Vancouver and back was completed in 12 hours. We stopped and shopped for an hour and we stopped for lunch and dinner. We spent a couple of hours at Jean-Paul and Marilyn's too. Anyway, the drive was fine (it was a nice day) and the border crossing was quick and uneventful except when some guy with a suitcase approached the US checkpoint and 5 border guards came running up to him. That border crossing is unique because you can walk across the border there but the guy obviously did not see the signs that directed pedestrians to enter on the other side of the building.

Today I taught art class in Jax's class. We studied The Gleaners by Jean Millet. Then the kids drew pictures of themselves doing a chore or some work. It was fun to see what they came up with. The power was out at the school (and our house) so it was cold and dark in the classroom.

Just as I arrived Jax was just about to present his poster on Canada. He spent two weeks doing this project which took hours to do. He had to chose a country from his heritage and it was painful to get it done. I honestly thought it was too much work and too much to expect from Grade 2 students. Anyway, Jax talked about Canada and described his poster as his teacher lit it up with a flashlight (remember, no power). He was so cute and it was fun to see him remember to add some detail after reading what he had written. At the end, one kid pouted "You talked about all the things I was going to talk about!" (His parents are from Canada too).

After the art class, school ended so I went to pick up Dex and his teacher says "Dex, tomorrow you will be a better listener, won't you?". Oh shit, I thought but then she assured me it was the whole class and it was mostly due to the fact that the power was out except for the last 15 minutes of class.

Jax is finally over the stomach bug but mine is still bad. Cars got it sick on Saturday while we were in Vancouver. He kept saying "Mommy, tummy hurts! Doctor!" over and over again while clutching his stomach. We were down to our last diaper and luckily he was fine the last hour or so. I really did not think we would need more than 8 in 12 hours (plus I ripped the tabs off one). Dex and Stephen so far have been fine.

Tomorrow is Art Start in Dex's class so I spent much of today cutting out pieces for the kids to make this to carry home their snowman pot that they made last month. I had to get the supplies together for the morning class too - punching out over 600 circles for the mouth, eyes and flower for hatband. Yikes.

I also finished the necklace that I was commissioned to make. Re-finish I should say. I made it first last wee but the wire was too soft (I accidentally use .999 fine silver instead of .925 sterling silver.

This post is rambling so I will end it here... And I promise to update it more often.

It has been a very long week. Jax was home for three days with a stomach virus. I also have had it and it has not been fun. I think we are both on the upswing now and since we are driving to Vancouver tomorrow for the day, I hope no one else gets it! Oh, and Dex was pissy those three days that Jax stayed home because he figured Jax would be having more fun than him so he wished he were sick too.

I have my SIL in the Christmas draw so we are taking her gift to her as well as dropping off somethings that JP ordered on Amazon to be delivered here. Also, a suitcase/dufflebag that we borrowed from my mom when we were in Toronto in August. JP and Marilyn are flying to Toronto for Christmas next week so they can take the suitcase with them. We hope to buy a few gifts at the outlet store along the way so they can also take presents to Toronto for us (and my mom can wrap 'em!).

I wish I were more organized so we would not have to make this trip. Next year I am going to start my shopping in June!

We bought our tree this evening. It is about 8' tall and looks great. We'll have to wait until Sunday to decorate it.

Ok, off to bed and to Canada in the morning. How exciting and decadent to be going to a different country for the day! ;)

Today, I decided it was going to be my last visit to my crazy doctor. This week marks the second anniversary of my visits to her.

I cannot believe how far I have come in the last two years. Looking back, the feelings of despair and hopelessness that I had now seem so foreign to me. The frightening thoughts that my children would be better off dead (see post 50 things about me) or that if I stopped driving my car one day that I would never be able to drive again. Wondering how I would get through the next day or next hour, or next 5 minutes. I can remember the feelings of being afraid, scared, alone, insane, but I cannot feel those feelings like I did at the time.

Anyway, I walked into her office today and pronounced myself cured. I am so proud of myself for getting through this. Not unscathed of course. I think my marriage was severely impacted by it but we are working on it. I think too that some of the problems that Jax is experiencing at school are cries for attention that he has not received at home.

So, there it is. Upwards and onwards.

Stephen took Jax to a Seattle Sonics game today and apparently it was an ORDEAL. First off, Jax had it set in his mind that he was going to get a FOAM FINGER because in a tv show he watched, the main character went to a basketball game and wanted to buy a FOAM FINGER. So, all week as we were talking up the game, he just kept saying "I hope I get a FOAM FINGER". So, the minute the walk through the door into the arena, he makes a bee line to the souvenir counter too look for the FOAM FINGER. Fortunately for Stephen, they have them. But of course he decides he needs to buy three of them or else Dex and Cars will be devastated when they get home and only Jax has a FOAM FINGER.

They proceed down to their seats which are in the second row above the floor. Best seats Stephen says he has ever had to a sporting event (his manager won the tickets in a charity auction but then she went out of town so she gave them to Stephen). Only 4 rows of seats separate them from the players (the floor seats and the row in front of them). Jax, however, decides it is too darn loud. He spent the first half of the game with his fingers in his ears. He did not even get to wear his FOAM FINGER because he could not wear it and plug his ears.

At half-time, Stephen bought Jax a pizza so Jax can no longer plug ears. He finally gets used to the noise and proudly wears his FOAM FINGER until he decides he would rather root for the Pacers instead of the Sonics. He insists that he needs a pen so he can cross out the name SONICS on his FOAM FINGER and write PACERS. Stephen talks him out of it. But, Jax starts BOO-ING the Sonics whenever they score and cheering loudly when the Pacers do. Stephen said the whole arena is nearly silent whenever the Pacers scored except for Jax shouting "GO PACERS!".

ALl in all Jax had a great time - he got some alone time with Dad, he got a FOAM FINGER and he got to do something that Dex did not (I think that was the biggest thrill). Dex and Cars are happy with their FOAM FINGERS but Dex has already decided that he and Stephen will be going to a Sonics' game one day soon.

The snow arrived a few days late...













The boys had a grand time playing at the park after school. Of course I did not know it was going to snow so Jax and Dex were not exactly dressed appropriately to play in the snow. But I did bring them some gloves. Cars spent much of the time eating snow (no yellow snow!).

I am sure most of it will be gone by the morning.

50 Things About Me

Here is the list of 50 Things About Me (this is a repeat for anyone who may read HER TIME on Delphiforums):

1. I am 40 years old but still feel 18 sometimes (not youthful, just immature)
2. I have three boys
3. I always thought I would have a girl
4. I met my dh at university
5. We were in almost all of the same psychology classes together that year
6. He asked me to marry him twice
7. I said no the first time
8. I am a chronic worrier
9. I probably should be on anti-anxiety medication
10. But that worries me more than the anxiety
11. I had (have) post-partum depression after my third child
12. I am still going to counselling for it two years later but go once every three weeks now
13. I love being creative
14. I make beaded jewerly, I knit (simple items), and I paint
15. I would love to go back to school for graphic design
16. But I worry about the cost, if I am good enough, etc
17. I wish I had more friends IRL
18. I would rather stick hot pokers in my eyes than speak in public
19. I get tongue-tied when I am nervous and end up sounding like a fool
20. I miss Toronto and hope to move back there one day
21. I haven't lived there in 12 years
22. I hate cold winters though so I will probably stay here with the cool, wet winters
23. I think all.the.time about losing weight
24. Especially when I am sitting around eating chocolate
25. I don't like my sister
26. Although really I think I don't like her because I feel rejected by her
27. She will not speak to anyone in the family except for my mom because "we are all strangers to her"
28. We are strangers because she will not speak to us
29. I am sometimes embarrassed when people ask me about her and I cannot tell them more than what I have heard from my mom
30. I pray for her a lot
31. I pray for my husband too
32. I wish he would attend Church with us
33. I worry about Jackson being exposed to peanuts, especially peanut butter because it is so insidious and gets everywhere
34. When I was in the deep depths of ppd, I used to think it might be better if he died so I didn't have to worry about him and peanut butter anymore
35. That is when I sought help
36. I have never told anyone that before and wonder if I am brave enough not to edit it
37. I feel guilty about those thoughts everyday
38. I want to let my hair grow grey
39. I wish I could afford to go to a salon every 4 weeks to colour it
40. I am lazy
41. I am too cheap to go to Starbucks
42. I get jealous watching Oprah's "Favorite Things" episodes
43. I never thought I would be a stay-at-home mom
44. I cannot imagine going back to work in an office
45. My favourite board game is Scrabble but I don't have anyone to play with because Stephen gets annihilated everytime and will not play with me anymore
46. I have wished for world peace every Christmas since I was 10
47. I think Karl Rove is an evil man
48. Organized Christmas trees (by colour or theme) are not for me
49. I love decorating my Christmas tree with all the hodgepodge decoartions
50. I hope to catch "Love Actually" on TV this holiday season

I started Christmas shopping for Stephen today. I ordered some spices for him from Penzeys. Stephen loves the tellicherry peppercorns. I have no idea what else to buy him. He has three things on his list - pepper, Mad Magazine subscription renewal (insert eyeroll here) and a travel mug for his morning coffee. OH.MY.GOD. Could it get any more boring?! Oh and this list is for me, the kids, my brother and my mother to chose from.

Our Home Owner's Association sent a letter around today asking for a vote on getting locked mailboxes. I think it is a good idea but I wonder how much it would cost. I read once that per capita, our city has one of the highest rates of identity theft in the country. Just last week, someone rifled through the mailboxes around the corner.

My next-door neighbour is pregnant with twins and she found out yesterday that the twins are identical girls. So that will give them four girls in total. The older two (ages 5 and 3) have bright red hair so they are dying to know if the twins will be redheads too.

Remember the Wednesday when I forgot that it was an early dismissal day and I forgot to get Dex out to the bus 45 minutes early? And I was just glad that I did not forget to pick the kids UP early? Ok, well that did not happen to me today but my friend forgot and I had to take her kids home with me (with permission from the school because I am on their emergency contact list). She was out leisurely shopping at Target and had forgotten her cell phone at home so I could not get a hold of her.

I wrote a "50 Things About Me" in Her Time and #41 was "I am too cheap to go to Starbucks". Today I decided that I could afford it so I splurged and drove through the drive-through for a Peppermint Hot Cocoa. OMG it was so good!! I keep thinking about it and wondering if my frugal self (ok, cheapo self) can afford another $3.17 tomorrow...

Peanuts Peanuts Everywhere...

There has been tons of news coverage about peanut allergies (and all food allergies) since a 15 year old girl died after kissing her boyfriend who had just eaten a peanut butter sandwich (Girl dies from peanut butter kiss). I am glad that people are paying attention to how serious food allergies can be.

I think the time is coming when we will find out that Frankenfood is a big culprit in the increase of food allergies.

From The Seattle Times
Pea repels pests while triggering allergies?
Scientists who created a genetically engineered green pea have bitten off more than they can chew, it seems, by inadvertently creating a food that tends to trigger allergic reactions. The research should serve as a warning flag for others making bioengineered foods, the scientists report in the Nov. 16 issue of the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.

Having identified a gene in the common bean plant that helps protect them against beetle damage, Simon Hogan of Australian National University in Canberra and colleagues transferred copies of that gene into pea plants that do not normally enjoy those protections.

The gene carries molecular instructions that allow bean plants — and the newly modified pea plants — to make a pest-repelling protein called alpha-amylase inhibitor-1. Studies had shown that the bean protein does not cause allergies in people or mice.

But when tests suggested that the protein was subtly different in the gene-altered peas than in its native bean, the researchers fed the peas to mice and subjected them to various tests. Surprisingly, the engineered food caused allergic reactions on rodents' skin and in the gut — even when the peas were cooked.

Further tests showed that although the protein itself is identical in both plants, enzymes inside pea-plant cells had "decorated" that protein with simple sugars and other molecules in a way that increased the likelihood of an allergic reaction.

The peas never made it to market. But food safety activists, saying U.S. testing standards could have missed the problem, said federal regulatory agencies need to require more specific allergenicity tests for engineered foods.

Stephen is taking Jax to a Seattle Super Sonics game next week so we have to call the arena and see what kind of food is served. We are most concerned with shelled peanuts. Jax has never been to a professional sporting event because of his allergy so we want to ensure this outing wlll be successful for him.

It snowed last night (started about 10pm) but it has all melted by the time we awoke in the morning. Whew! No school snow days are good days!

Thought I had better update my blog before the power goes out. We have had terrific winds all day today and a storm is heading this way with SNOW! The wind storms often knock the power out - for hours and once for a day and a half!.

The forecast says:

Snow, heavy at times. Accumulations of 4-12" likely. Snow level 500-1,000'. Highs 26-30. Mountain Pass winds initially easterly 10-25 mph, becoming westerly 5-20 mph.

We are at 500'. :(

It was freaking COLD out today. The puddles were ice. I am such a baby complaining about this weather when Heidi lives in Alaska, Kimmer and Snapper live in Michigan and Ramona lives in Canada (ok, just Toronto but Canada sounds colder!). But this is cold for here! It usually does not get so cold until January. I need to fish out some winter gear for the kids for tomorrow in case they still have school.

I hope the school is not closed tomorrow!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas! Stephen put up the Christmas lights today with help from Jax and Dex. I finished my SAHP swap ornaments today and hope to get them mailed sometime in the coming week.

I have written a dozen Christmas cards and I tried desperately to get a nice photo of the boys for Christmas since last year's Sears photos sucked. I thought I might save some time and money and do them myself. Well, here is a sample of the 60 pictures I took:











As you can see, none of the three kids are looking at the camera at the same time unless one (or more) of them are moving.

Looks like we might need to go to Sears after all...

We took the kids bowling today. They had a blast. Except for Cars who was not allowed to bowl because he is not yet 4 (although I know for a fact that we took Dex bowling at the same place when he was 2.5!). I have no strength in my wrist and it HURT to throw the ball. Guess there is no career in my future as a professional bowler. That reminds me of when I was a child the only thing on tv on the weekend afternoons was bowling! (we did not have cable).

I have done no shopping this weekend. Can you believe it? I just don't know what to buy anyone for Christmas. I need to sit down and figure out what to get everyone and get busy.

Ok, I do know that Jax wants a turtle for a pet for Christmas and Stephen is entertaining the idea of getting him one. ugh! I don't want one. They creep me out - as does most other animals except cats but Jax and I are both allergic to them.

Happy Black Friday. Shop 'til you drop...or until noon when the big sales end. Stephen was up and out at arrived at Toys'r'Us at 5:55am only to find out that they had opened at 5am and the item we wanted (a half-price Star Wars Lego) was sold out because two guys came in earlier and bought up every.single.one. *sigh* Then he went to Target and the Star Wars Lego that was on sale there was also sold out but he talked the manager into giving him another one for 1/2 price. That is when he realized that he had lost the $100 Best Buy gift card that we received when we bought our surround-sound stereo system. *sigh*

He is very careful with spending money but honestly he has lost more money and other things by having them fall out of his pocket when he pulls out kleenex or other things. I am not going to dwell on it because he will be mad enough for both of us about this.

We went to Erik and Terry's for Thanksgiving dinner and it was nice. Dinner was good and the kids had fun.

I attended Jax's and Dex's parent/teacher conferences today. They were both pleasantly surprising and a little disappointing. Dex has a hard time working independently because he wants to be where the action is and be close to his friends. The teacher says he usually does ok in circle time but when his table has to work independently he is always in the thick of it and is talking too much in class at those times. Academically he is right where he needs to be so that was the good news.

Jax is doing well academically too. The teachers are going to start sending home extra math homework for him because he is doing really well in that area. His issues fall in the "Life Skills" area. He doesn't like being told his answers are not complete or that he needs to add addition things. He isn't rude to the teachers but he debates with them and tells them he doesn't want to add more or doesn't think it needs it! YIKES! Then there is the whole issue we had with an imaginary friend that popped up last month after his friend from his class last year stopped playing with him at recess because he would rather play Yu-Gi-Oh than play with Jax. Jax was devastated and up popped Zack Zukes (his imaginary friend). It got so bad with Zack Zukes that I had to tell him he was not allowed to go to school with Jax and Jax was terribly upset with me for a few days. He has not made any friends in his class this year (there are only 6 boys in the class). The teachers say he is well-liked and he likes others but he just doesn't seem to know how to approach them to play with them. Then they suggested that he take some "Friendship" lessons with the guidance counselor and other kids in the same situation with him where they role play and learn how to approach others and to be friends. Stephen's back went up and he told me afterwards that he thought that was the fastest way to the short bus for Jax. Man, I was mad at him for that. We agreed to try to roll play with him ourselves and if that does not seem to work then we will have him go to those classes.

Anyway, I guess things could have been worse. Ash was told by Gav's teacher that she thought he had ADHD and suggested they have him tested! Ash feels Gav's behaviour is because he is gifted and is not challenged or is bored.

And on top of all that, it was a half-day today and Stephen is working late so now I need some chocolate...

Here are two pictures of Jax. The first one was taken just before Halloween and the second was taken yesterday. See how much she cut off?! He is still so upset about it.

My poor son. He had been growing his hair long because he thinks it makes him look like a teenager (whatever). I have indulged him because it is one little bit of control his has in his life. Anyway, his hair had gotten a little shaggy (as had Dex's and Cars' hair) so I took them to KidsCuts for a trim. I explained to the hair stylists that they just needed trims to make their hair a little neater. I think there was a language barrier because the lady cutting Jax's hair asked if she could use the trimmers and I said no, just a trim. So she started to cut and she is cutting and cutting and cutting and 15 minutes later Dex's hair is done by his stylist and Jax's stylist is still cutting and cutting and cutting and his hair looks like shit at the back. Five minutes later, Cars' stylist finished and still Jax's stylist is still hacking away at his hair. Finally I went to her and said she could use the trimmers on a big number (anyone with boys will know what that means) so she gives me a "THANK GOD" look and gets out the trimmers. I specifically said "Leave it long in the front and on top". Just then Stephen came back into the shop (he had run across the parking lot to Home Depot) so we started chatting. I look up again and Jax's hair is BUZZED and he is in tears.

O.M.G.! I didn't know what to do. The lady finished up and we left. Jax was crying because his hair was not long anymore. My poor boy. I am mad at myself for paying for that hair cut (it looks good but it is definitely NOT what he wanted).
I am afraid now that he is traumatized and will never cooperate to get his hair cut again. He said he will only go to school on Monday if he is wearing a hat! (I wonder if I can get the hat that I am knitting finished by then!). I feel so badly for him because he was soooo upset. I remember a similar thing happened to my brother back when he was about 9 or 10 and for the next 20 years he refused to cut his hair (just kidding JP but remember I have that picture of you with the Bon Jovi hair).

I will try to post a before and after picture of Jax tomorrow if he will pose for me. Oh, I feel so badly for him because he was so distraught. Poor boy!

What a week. I am still in vacation mode and have a hard time getting back to normal. Plus Stephen has been late everynight this week so the days seem so long.

Tonight was book club. We discussed Jennifer Weiner's "Goodnight Nobody". Funny, we all identified with the main character yet no one would admit to being like the supermoms in the book although everyone has some of that in them. heh

The kids got their report cards today. They were good but not great. Not sure why I expect my kids to be Einsteins AND behave like angels in class. Dex received two "NOT AT STANDARDS" for behaviour issues (working independently and working in a group). :\ It will be interesting to see what the teachers say about him when we meet with them next week. Jax did pretty well too but there was a comment about his messy handwriting. It has greatly improved since September but apparently it is still bad enough to comment on.

Tomorrow I MUST buy some food for the house. Jax asked why we were eating so much junk food these days. I keep meaing to go in the evenings when Stephen gets home but it just gets too late and I am too tired. Tomorrow when Nanny is here...

Did you catch the wedding online? It was a beautiful ceremony and only 6 minutes long! Ramona was a beautiful bride! She looks stunning and her dress was so gorgeous! Greg looked pretty handsome too.

The night before she introduced me to everyone as the "Princess of Honour". How embarrassing! I became addicted to WHEEL! OF! FORTUNE! slot machines and let's just say it was a good thing that Stephen won enough to cover my losses. ;)

I enjoyed meeting the other guests at the wedding and seeing old friends and acquaintances.

I am ashamed to admit that I barely took any photos! So I hope that Ramona's friend, Christine (the official photographer) has some nice ones.

Anyway, here are some photos:
This is the night before the wedding. Me, Ramona and Alicia in Nefertiti's Lounge.

The Bride and Groom

Sharon, Me, Alicia


Watch Ramona's blog for more picturse and details. She'll be back from her honeymoon at the end of the week. Oh, and the details of the ceremony are still there if you still want to see it. :)

Oh, and one more thing about Las Vegas. We were standing outside of the Bellagio where the taxis and limos drop off and Paris Hilton popped out of one of the limos with a scruffy guy. Apparently it is her new beau and boy did he cause trouble in Las Vegas while they were there.

We are off tomorrow to Vegas for Ramona's wedding. I am so happy for her.

The wedding is on Friday at 4:30pm Las Vegas time. She has posted details in her blog if you wish to watch her wedding (details here. She'll be the one in white. ;)

Now I am off to finish whipping this house into shape for company and to pack for the trip.

The doctor spoke to my sister today and told her that he got it all and her cancer had not spread. What great news for her!

My sister's hysterectomy went well according to my mom. They were able to do it vaginally so no abdominal surgery was required so she should recover quickly.

Not sure what is next for her - if they are sure that the cancer has not spread to other parts of her body. I hope not.

I fell off the roof last night and I feel like crap today. Cramps, achy and totally craving chocolate (but I must lose at least 2 pounds so I won't be FATTER THAN KIRSTIE ALLY!).

Stephen took the van in today for repairs so I had to drive Jax to school in the sedan. What a PITA getting the kids in and out. Thank goodness for the van (and please do not let it cost an arm and a leg to repair).

I have so much to do before we go away and I am too busy being crampy to do much about it. I should just gulp down some ibuprofen and get on with it but then I would not have anything to complain about. ;)

Wow - Kirstie Alley is on Oprah today and she said that her fattest was 219 the day she weighed in at the beginning of her gig with Jenny Craig. She says she has lost 55 pounds now. That puts her at 2 pounds less than me. AM I THAT FAT?! OMG OMG OMG

I had to help Jax with his homework today. I had to tell him about a family member or a friend who was/is in the military so he can write a letter to thank them. I was thinking and I don't know any living family member or close friend who was or is in the military. I guess that is the difference between Canada and the USA, the USA has been involved in many more conflicts and wars and more people join the military for careers than in Canada. I knew two guys in high school who signed up and lived in Germany for a while but other than that, no one. So I told him about my grandfather who lied about his age so he could fight in WWI and then joined up again during WWII but he was too old to fight (he was in his late 30's and early 40's) so he ended up being a guard in Northern Ontario to German POW's who were taken there when they were captured. Anyway, Jacx will probably be the only one in his class writing to a dead relative (my grandpa died in 1984).

And OMG I AM FATTER than KIRSTIE ALLEY!

Today, I tried on the outfit I will wear to Ramona's wedding with my new shoes (Thank you very much, Nordstrom's sale). I bought these shoes but they were on sale for $25 at the store. Not sure why they are not on sale online. Anyway, I walked downstairs to show Stephen and to ask him what he thought. As I walked into the kitchen, Cars stared at me then said "Mommy PRINCESS!" How sweet is that?!

Booga Bag

Well look at me! Two completed knitting projects in just over a week!

I started knitting a Booga Bag last week and it knit up so quickly! I used Noro Kureyon self-striping wool. I had to learn two new techniques to knit it. Picking up stitches and knitting an I-cord.

Here is the bag after I had completed knitting it. I did make the I-cord about 7 feet long rather than the 5-6 mentioned in the pattern.


To felt it, I had to run it through the washing machine *6* times (with HOT water - my poor gas bill!). I have a front-loading washer and apparently it just not agitate the clothes enough to do a proper felting in 2-3 washes.

After felting, I blocked the bag using a shoe box (boys size 13):


And here is the completed project:


I really enjoyed making this bag - it was so simple! Next time, I would make the I-cord even long than 7 feet because I think they are a little short. I would also like to make this bag a little deeper and wider too. I had enough yarn leftover that I definitely could have made it much deeper. Also, the top rolls out a bit. For stability, I have a double layer of black plastic cross-stitch canvas in the bottom of the bag.

My next project is a black hat for Jax, I guess...

Today was a good day. I got all of the kids to and from school on time.

I knew it was bound to happen one of these Wednesdays. But I always figured it would be a pick-up and not time to go to school.

We are on an altered schedule on Wednesdays and the kids get out 1.5 hours early. Because of that, afternoon kindergarten starts 45 minutes earlier. So today, we are eating our lunch and enjoying our time together, la-dee-da. Dex gets his shoes and coat on and then I sent him out to the car for his backpack (I had packed it earlier in the car because we left at 7am this morning to have the car serviced and I was't sure how long it would take but they were out of the part so we were out and home by 10 after a stop at Fred Meyer - whew!).

Ok so we are standing around waiting for the bus and I see that my neighbour's car is gone so I figured that she was running an errand and would just drive her dd to school. Wait. Wait. Wait. Now it is three minutes past bus pick up time (he is very prompt) and I see a van drive by, stop, turn around and it pulls up next to me. "Hi!" perky lady says as I recognize her as the mom one of Dex's schoolmates. "I'm B's mom and I guess you forgot that it is Wednesday!". Oops, the bus went by nearly 50 minutes ago. I thanked her and rushed the kids into the car and to the school. Now I am all screwed up and I have to pick the kids up in one hour.

Ugh, I hate Wednesdays.

Boo!

Happy Halloween!

What a night! It rained most of the day and it has been pissing rain since 5pm. Stephen took the kids out and they got drenched. Cars gave up after four houses. The other two wanted to come home after hitting about 10 homes. It was just too wet. We only had about 30 kids total tonight so the few trick'r'treaters who came after 7:30pm got handfuls of candy from us.

We decided to skip the Microsoft Halloween gig because I did not want to ge stuck in traffic for an hour getting home, especially in the rain. I was able to get Cars to wear a costume once he realized he would get CANDY if he wore one. I could see the lightbulb go on so he agreed to put on the Yoda costume, but he would wear the mask only on top of his head rather than over his face. But it worked out. I hemmed Dex's Yoda costume (Halloween '03) so Cars would not trip over it and then my Star Wars troop set out:



And here is Jax's pumpkin (can you see the face, complete with eyebrows(!) and the word BOO!! on the bottom? - actually, you cannot see the B in BOO):



The best part about tonight is that the kids agreed to keep only 10 pieces of candy and the rest they are trading for "Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith" which Stephen will buy tomorrow. Stephen will take the rest of the candy to work tomorrow. Especially the peanut stuff.

The scariest part of the night was when I went to take the jack'o'lanterns into the garage (so we don't have them smashed on our car in the morning) and there was a big, FAT, THICK, DISGUSTING slug on one of them. And I accidentally touched it. ~swoon~ They make me sick to look at sometimes. They are about as thick and as long as my fingers. I wish I had some salt to pour on it but I used all of the salt in the house making that damn play-doh last night.

Geez my arms are tired. Why oh why did I say I would make play-doh for Jax's "Harvest Party". Actually, I tried to volunteer for the sugar cookies but some other mom was baking them. So the Room Mom told me to make play-doh. I have never made it in my life. I have never had the URGE to make it in my life. I could not find more than one recipe that was the same as another. I finally found one that looked like it would make a lot. A lot! My KitchenAid had problems handling it. Then it was too dry so I had to break it down into smaller batches, add a little water and knead it and add a little water and knead it and add a little water and knead it and add a little water and knead it. Then I coloured the batches and kneaded and kneaded and kneaded. And now my arms hurt. And the play-doh sucks! But my arms hurt too much to keep kneading. :( Never again!

Today I took Dex to a birthday party to the indoor soccer arena. He had a good time but got a little weepy when no one would pass him the ball. I have a feeling he is on the verge of getting sick because he has beeen so weepy the past three days. Or maybe being 5.5 years old is just hard. :(

Cars has been a little pip these days. He screams for fun, won't eat dinner, smacks Dex every chance he gets. Welcome, Terrible Twos.

edited to add that I found a blouse on overstock.com that is similar to the one I bought for Ramona's wedding. It is like this one except the blouse I bought is sleeveless. I am wearing it with a long black satin skirt.

I had my hair cut today. First time in 3 months! Anyway, the stylist did a lovely job and I wish I could have her style my hair everyday. Here's a picture because it will never look this nice again:



We carved pumpkins with the kids today too. Jax decided he wanted to do it all himself. I thought for sure he was going to cut off his finger! He made a jack'o'lantern face and then carved out the word "BOO!!". I am so proud of him although it looks like, well, like a seven year old did it. I forgot to take a picture of his pumpkin. I should make sure I take a picture of it with the candle glowing inside.


Ramona's wedding is less than two weeks away! I am so excited! She is going to be the most beautiful bride.

DVR

Ok, the DVR is installed and I am recording the first programme - "Go, Diego, go!". Cars will be in seventh heaven. I will also be recording "Drake and Josh" for Jax and Dex and of course "Survivor" for me tonight since I am taking a well-deserved night out with Nosey Neighbour and her next-door neighbour. Ash was supposed to go too but her dh had to go out of town.

I am thoroughly enjoying "Goodnight Nobody". I swear that it was written about my city and I am the narrator. Although it seems she is a little more together and I am.

I was reading on one of my forums a post that asked "What is your style and where do you shop?". Are clothes from the Fred Meyer clearance racks even considered a style?

Well off to do some laundry and maybe sneak a piece of halloween candy. I have lost 2.5 pounds so I think it is time to celebrate with some chocolate. :)

I actually finished a knitting project today. I knit a hat for Jax but he didn't like it so I gave it to Dex. I made it with Noro Kureyon wool (color 116 which is grey/black) - similar to the one I made for him last year but that fit Cars instead. Jax wants a solid black one. *sigh*

We had a wicked windstorm here earlier this evening and the power went off for a very short time. Of course it happened while Dex was in the shower and he screamed like Janet Leigh in "Psycho". The power came back on before I was able to find a flashlight and stumble up the stairs.

I finally ordered DVR from Comcast and it will be installed on Thursday. Fortuntately I did NOT have the annoying radio announcer guy when I called this time. I've also canceled HBO so Stephen will have to suffer without "The Sopranos" when the new season starts in the spring.

Just another manic Monday. Back to the crazy doctor today. I have been going every three weeks and it is about right. I did not need to go every other week anymore. Maybe by Christmas I can cut it out completely. That will also mark two years that I have been going to see her. It seems like a lifetime ago when I realized I was crazy and overwhelmed and completely stressed out. And I scoff when I remember telling people that going from two to three kids was a breeze. And it was for the first three months but then...

I have been thinking of giving up Nanny too - although maybe I will wait until spring or maybe never.

I was so productive this weekend. Tons'o'laundry, baked cookies, made a burrito pie (one for us for the freezer and one for the baby shower I went to yesterday), I sewed some burp cloths and repaired a pair of Jax's pants. Today I have already planned out dinner and have made a cole slaw. What has gotten into me?!

We are getting closer to arranging the babysitting for the boys while we go off for our weekend in Las Vegas for Ramona's wedding. Whew! Now I can eliminate that stress from my life.

I have decided to get the new tires for my car from Costco because I will get a dividend back (executive membership) and the price was the same as at the discount tire place. Of course the tires I need are not in stock (who knew that my minivan was considered a "sport" model and needed high performance tires?!) but they should arrive in 5-7 days.

After not getting tires on my car yesterday, I did shop at Costco and it was a good time to be there (lunchtime!) so all of the sample ladies were out. They were handing out sushi so I had three rolls (had to try each type!) and it was so yummy! Then I tried a little salad and a pastry "blossom" for dessert. Nice, free lunch!

I desperately need to get my hair cut. It has been nearly 3 months! I don't think I have gone this long without a cut since high school! Even when we were at our poorest when we were first married, I would go the beauty school up the street for my $7 haircuts every 6-7 weeks. It is not cost right now that is keeping me away, just finding the time to go.

And speaking of time, it's time to make some halloween cookies for my boos.

Citizen Dex

I received a letter on Saturday stating that Dex had won an award at school and it was to be presented at the school during an assembly at 9AM this morning. Problem is, Dex goes to PM kindergarten. Oh, and the award was a secret so I could not tell him. I dragged him to the school this morning when all he really wanted to do was make Halloween decorations. We watched all of the classes file in and I told him when he was in 1st grade he would sit in the 1st grade section.

He was so bored and complained that he did not want to be there. We sat through the awards for Academic Achievement and Life Skills (2-4 kids per class x 30 classes = a lot of names to be read!). Then the principal said it was time to award the "Citizenship Award" which was the most "prestigious" award in the school. One child per class receives it. She started with the 6th graders and worked there way down to the PM kindergarten class. When she called his name, Dex jumped up worked his way through the throngs to the front of the gymnasium. While he was doing this, I noticed a commotion at the front and the OTHER Dex in one of the full-day kindergarten classes had walked up to the front to receive the award. The principal looked confused and the other Dex's teacher was trying to guide him back to where he sits but he said "My name was called!". Poor kid!

Anyway, by this time Dex had made his way to the front. He received his award and climbed on the bleachers with the other winners. Afterwards, while they took individual pictures of the Citizenship Award winners, the principal told me it was so confusing for that other boy and she was going to say that Dex was such an uncommon name that it was easy for kindergarteners to get confused but she decided not to make a comment about the name (I think she was worried that we might be offended).

So Dex will have his picture posted with the other winners outside of the office for the whole school year (they will add additional winners three more times throughout the year).

And on top of all of this, Dex has no idea why he won this award. I mentioned all of the things that make a good citizen but he says that is not really him. LOL


Citizen Dex

I taught Art in Dex's class today. I cannot believe how nervous I get speaking to grade-school kids! It was fun making the art project (white crayon on a huge coffee filter then dyed with food dye - similar to the Yoruda Adire Cloths. Anyway, I played Nigerian music in the background (thank you Olu <--my Nigerian friend, not Olu as in God). Olu gave me a Nigerian Drum CD for my birthday one year while we were living in Minnesota. The kids had a great time drawing on the coffee filters, creating patterns then seeing their patterns come alive after they used eyedroppers to drip food dye on them. Tomorrow I plan to go back to the school and hang them up in the cubbie-area for the kindergarten classes.

I have been trying to get Cars to go to sleep in his own bed each night rather than fall asleep downstairs with us (well mostly wtih Stephen while I am out walking from 9=10). I had a couple of successful evneings but tonight was a disaster. He cried hysterically for 45 minutes. Even foregoing his pacified to which he he is still very much attached. Finally I had to give up and take him into our bedroom and he fell asleep on my bed. I am such a suck when it comes to my children crying. :(

Ghostly Trick'r'Treater directions can be found here.

I had to bring my trick'r'treater in the house because he kept keeling over. He is a little tippy and the slightest gust of wind topples him right over. :( I guess he will just scare us until Halloween night and I will put him outside again then. Cars is terrified of it though and cries whenever he walks near the front door where the trick'r'treater is now stationed.

The article I wrote is here for those who are interested.

Busy Bee

We still haven't resolved the IE problem. I backed up the computer last night as I believe we may be looking at a new install of XP. It is amazing what one can accomplish when one's computer is acting up.

I have been busy doing stuff that I normally would not do if the computer was working properly. I finished off another book and am getting ready to start the next one for book club. I completed one Halloween craft and am working on another. This is the one I finished:

(Jax insisted on the "evil" eyes...the eyes were going to just be ovals).
And this is the one I am working on:

It is a mummy hand. I made it because I was determined to make at least one thing from the book I borrowed from the library without buying any supplies since my house rivals Michaels with all the crafting items I have that I buy but never use. Anyway, once the fabric stiffener is completely dry I just need to wrap more fabric and glue it in place.

The kids are so excited about Halloween. They have a party to go to on Friday and I think we will be going to the Evil Empire for the huge Halloween party they always have. Traffic is always a mess coming home so I will have to leave the candy out for early trick'r'treaters so the mummy hand and my ghost will have to guard the (non-chocolate) candy (kids complain at our house because I do not give out chocolates since they are not safe for Jax).

I wrote an article for the PTSA newsletter about food allergies. It is supposed to be accompanied by an article by the (useless)school nurse. We'll see what happens. I was late getting it in because Stephen kept telling the things I was writing were inflammatory and I needed to tone it down. We ended up (re)writing mostly together and he allowed me the use of "life-threatening allergy" in place of "severe allergy" a few times.

My next project is to pick up my knitting again. I never did finish the sweater for Denise's baby (who was born three weeks ago). I want to knit a hat for Jax and maybe one for Dex since the one I knit him last year was too small and fit Cars. I have swap ornaments to make and I want to make a tree skirt for our Christmas tree.

Wow - that is a lot of things. Perhaps I should not be in any hurry to fix this computer.

Tonight was book club and I was happy to know that I wasn't the only one who hated "The Red Tent".

We had such a great time tonight talking and eating. Laurie prepared tons'o'food and it was delicious. I made some chocolate chip meringues and they were yummy too. Laurie is allergic to wheat so I always try to provide something that she can eat. I love this bunch of women and we always have a great time and a good laugh.

Tomorrow is the first day back to getting supplies for Dex's Sunday school. I was not going to volunteer this year but I thought it would help buy me points towards getting Cars into the new presschool at our church (I will have to enroll him in January or February). Then grocery shopping because I haven't been in ages and even the kids are complaining.

Oh, I had two margaritas tonight so I think I need to head to bed.

I taught my first art class today and I was so excited. The kids seemed to enjoy it and Jax wasn't too embarrassed to see his mom in class. We studied "I and the Village" by Marc Chagall and the kids did a watercolour wash then drew on the paper after the paints dried. Next week I am teaching Dex's class. I haven't reviewed the curriculum yet for his class to see what I will be teaching.

Stephen deleted and then reinstalled IE to the computer today but we are still experiencing the same problem. It is completely driving me mad!

I am on the upswing and Stephen is on antibiotics for a sinus infection. What a day to start off the rainy season.

Since I had been sick and did not much of anything but sit around, this was the week of the guilty pleasure movies! I watched Dirty Dancing tonight - "Nobody puts Baby in the corner!". This past weekend, Grease was on too and the boys and I watched a bit of it. I especially love the dance competition part (and Dex loved where the guys mooned the tv cameras of course!). Last week I watched Footloose!

Some of the other movies that I love to watch over and over again (they are not all dancing or musical movies!) are:

Love Actually <- this movie is funny, touching and the soundtrack is great!
The Cutting Edge Two words - "Toe pick!"
Serendipity How can a movie about a happy accident be anything but a pleasure?!

Ugh - still sick. Stephen and I have been sucking on zinc lozenges all day trying to help get better quicker. I guess we'll find out tomorrow if they work.

We still haven't been able to figure out why I can only open one IE window at a time. It is driving me crazy and makes being on the computer so tedious (too much copy/pasting URL's into Wordpad. Time to back up the machine and try reinstalling a bunch of things, I guess. It is so maddening!

Ian passed away yesterday. He was the youngest son of one of one my mom's good friends (and the youngest brother of my grade 12 boyfriend!). He had systemic scleroderma which he was diagnosed with when he was 7 years old. His parents were told that he would not live past age 12. He was 34 when he died and ironically, he died from cancer and not from the disease that ravaged his body all these years.

I finally finished "The Red Tent" and let me tell you I am glad to be done with it. Although I did pull out my bible to read a little Genesis to see how much detail is given in the bible vs the book. Anyway, I am looking forward to Book Club on Thursday only for the food because I really have no desire to discuss the book. Not interested.

I have been sick for a couple of days. Just a bad cold I guess but I feel miserable. My whole body ached yesterday and I was oh so tired. I went to bed at 8:15 last night and did not get up until 9 this morning. I can hear Stephen sniffling this evening so no doubt he has come down with the same thing. Oh, and Cars also has a cold and I think I got it from him. I fell off the roof on top of it all and have just about the worst cramps that I have ever had!

Ok, off for a quick walk (I haven't walked in days and days!) then bedtime.

I have a problem with my pc and it will let me only open one IE window at a time. This is driving me nuts! I just ran virus scan and it is not a virus (at least not a known virus). Aaargh!

I called the cable company today to ask about DVR and the idiot on the telephone was using his "radio personality voice" (his words). Then he asked if it were annoying. I said slightly. He proceded to continue to talk to me like he was a cheesy radio announcer and it pissed me off so much I told him I would rather speak to The Disk Network people than deal with people like him at Comcast. Asshole!

I haven't walked in two days and it is making me grumpy and fat.

And I am going to fall off the roof any day now. Joy to be me.

My calves are killing me! All of this walking for "Walk to School Week" is killing me. Actually, it is the walk home, pushing the stroller up the gigantic hill is what's killing me. Ouch. :(

The kids are really enjoying the walking though. They think it is a big treat so hey, I will keep it up for now. Besides, I don't remember the last time I had this much exercise. Yesterday I walked *7* miles. Four miles were to school and back, to school and back, then the three mile walk with my neighbour at night.

I took Dex back to the doctor today to start his third round of antibiotics because he *still* has a sinus infection. I asked her for Flonase as well (the allergist suggested I ask for it if his infection was not cleared up. Allergist did not prescribe it because Dex is not officially her patient) and the ped also told us to put him back on Zyrtec. If it is not cleared up in a week we need to go back. This might hurry up our plan to actually have him tested for allergies. I cannot even remember how many sinus infections he has had. Poor kid has his father's sinus problems and I hope he never needs the surgery that Stephen had a few years ago.

I booked my flight and hotel to go to Ramona's wedding next month. Wow - only 5 more weeks! We still do not have the child-care situation worked out for sure but I won't worry about that for now.

I walked 4 miles so far today (may walk another 3 miles tonight on our nightly walk if my calves stop burning). Walking up that hill by the school is killer, especially when I push the stroller. This week is "Walk To School Week". Yesterday it started pouring rain 10 miunutes into our walk (20 minute walk, then 20 mins home). Today was cold but lovely! It was still sunny at pick-up time so I walked to pick the kids up. Poor Dex is getting such a work out because he gets to walk Jax to school then come home (he later takes the bus to school).

I *finally* coloured my hair for the first time in 10 weeks. I chose Andie-MacDowell brown (aka Medium Golden Brown). It is so dark! I am so used to the highlights in my hair that just plain all over colour seems so weird. ANyway, I am sure it will fade in the next few days so my resemblence to Andie MacDowell will disappear. One thing to note - the grey coverage is GREAT!

I just had a cute argument with Cars. I asked him how his bath was and he said "wash butt" and I said "OH, you washed your bum?" and he said "NO! BUTT!" and I said "Bum?". "NO, BUTT!" he shouted, shaking his little fist at me like he does when he is mad.

I just cannot get into "The Red Tent". I find it too slow or something and now I am panicking that I will not get through it before next Thursday (Bookclub!).

I am watching "Breaking Bonaduce" and I am stunned and shocked. I cannot believe first that his life is like that and that he let it air!! OMG! I feel so sorry for him, really.

Tomorrow is my first Crazy Doctor appointment in three weeks. I had decided I did not need to go every two weeks so we are trying for three but I am not sure how it is working out...

The Saab dealership had a free diagnostics clinic today (included a free oil change too) so we took advantage of it and limped in with our decade-old car. They said it would take about 45 mins but it took much longer. The list of things "wrong" with the car is astronomical. If we added up everything they said we needed to do the cost would be about $6200 plus tax! I checked KBB and the car is worth about $4,125 (probably less because of all of the problems with it!). Stephen did get new tires on the car today (which was listed as a problem but not part of the $6200 estimate). They did say we needed a new battery but the tire place said we did not (I think there is an electrical problem rather than a battery problem). The fixes that we will get done is a burnt-out brake light and replace the cracking belts. Otherwise, Stephen is just going to keep driving that car until it dies.

I think I mentioned before that we got the car (used) from a leasing company that was purchased by the leasing company that FIL worked for. They had a fleet of 25 to get rid of (all mgrs in the acquired leasing company drove Saabs for company cars - nice eh?). We got it for about $7k off retail price for a 1 year old used Saab but it has been a complete lemon. Less than a year after we had it we had to have the transmission replaced (it was still under warranty) while on vacation in Toronto. Of course it took one week for the part to come up from the States. We have had several engine problems with misfiring spark plugs (or something). One problem took 1 month to diagnose and fix so we had a lender car (a newer Saab!) for that whole month. Once the car went out of warranty though the perks of the Saabs as lenders went bye-bye.

Anyway, time to start saving our pennies to buy a new car in a year or so. I hope our car lasts that long!

Bookmarks

I have been thinking about the Bookmarks blog entry from Kross-Eyed Kitty. I love the idea that songs are the bookmarks in our lives because it is true. I have been thinking about it for a few days, trying to decide which bookmarks mean the most to me from the years. There really are too many to mention but I thought I might highlight a few:

1) Little Woman by Bobby Sherman. The seven year old boy down the street played this 45 over and over again while my mom and I were visiting for coffee. I asked my mom to buy it for me the next day (she did not).
2) Delta Dawn by Tanya Tucker. Belting it out in the backyard with Sandra R., standing on the stage (picnic table) and using lilac bunches as microphones.
3) Longfellow Serenade by Neil Diamond. Actually, many of the songs of this era by Neil Diamond. We used to spend Saturdays over at my aunt's house and she and my mom and Mrs. Argue The Drunk used to spend the afternoons drinking while we hung out (at the pool in the summer or in the basement in the winter). We would walk over to my aunt's house (about 5 kilometers) and my dad would come for dinner (always late) and drive us home.
4) Dedication by the Bay City Rollers. It was one of the first albums that I bought and I played it over and over and over again.
5) I have two of the same ones as Kross-Eyed Kitty for the same reasons too. Born to Be Alive by Patrick Hernandez and I Will Survive by Gloria Gaynor. Leah Ann loved BTBA and played it over and over again at her house (this was on the same recorder player that Neil Diamond records would spin). IWS reminds me of hours spent playing rummy in the stifling summer heat. And of course my sister making fun of Kross-Eyed Kitty mouthing the words to the song like she was Gloria Gaynor herself! ;)
6) The Tide Is High by Blondie. Two words - Cam F. Ok, I have to add more. This was always the song they played at roller skating when it was time for a backwards skate. I loved to watch Cam skate around backwards - he was the best roller skater in the whole arena and he knew it. Wow, I feel 14 again just thinking about it.
7) Should I Stay Or Should I Go? by The Clash. Sitting in the cafeteria at school during my brief "Mod" period. Wearing an army surplus jacket and carrying a canvass haversack.
8) Straight From The Heart by Bryan Adams. When I hear this song I will always think of Gord S. And I will always wonder why I ever let someone treat me so poorly. ( )
9) Alana Loves Me by Kim Mitchell. Of course with a few lyric changes. Instead of "Be Brave, Alana Loves Me", I always sing "Pea Brain, Stephen Loves Me!" (we briefly considered the name Alana when we were expecting Jax a decade later).
10) Nothing Compares 2 U by Sinead O'Connor. Break-up song. "Nuff said.
11) More Than Words by Extreme. Get back together song.
12) Into the Mystic by Van Morrison. Wedding dance song.
13) Mr. Jones by The Counting Crows. This song just reminds me so much of the time when I moved to the States and living in our tiny little newlywed apartment in Minneapolis.
14) All I Wanna Do by Sheryl Crow. I had finally received a work permit and got a job at IBM with a bunch of new college graduates. This song was our department's "theme" song although I felt way too old to be bopping around with them
15) Livin' La Vida Loca by Ricky Martin. This song was at the top of the charts when we moved to the Seattle-area. Jax would shake his little bootie to it (he was 14 months old) and shake his head all around and laugh the biggest belly laugh.

What are some of yours?

This evening I let the kids watch tv because Stephen is working late. We saw a commercial for the Make-A-Wish Foundation where a little girl gets a playhouse that she has always wanted. My kids watched with rapt attention. The show came back and at the next commercial break Jax said he wanted to enter the contest for the Make-A-Wish so he could get what he wanted too. It was sad and sweet at the same time. I don't think I have ever seen his eyes get so big as I explained to him how it worked.

My other two children have been little pips lately too. From refilling the syrup bottle with soya sauce (ok, the large bottles of soy and syrup are similarly shaped but the syrup bottle is about 3 times larger!), to crying for "Ash-ee!" and not me when he is upset (how embarrassing is that at the park?!).

I am now safely driving my family around in my van. Well, half safely. I still haven't purchased new tires but at least my car can now stop when I apply the brakes.

I have volunteered to do Art classes in both Jax's and Dex's classes this year. We follow an art curriculum called "Art Start" and meet just once a month. There is another mom who wants to do it too in Jax's class so we will alternate months. Wish me luck!

My friend DeniSe had a baby yesterday! A girl named Chloe Riis (pronounced Reese - it is a family name). I am so happy for her, especially since she was able to have a v-bac! Yeah!

The garage sale was a success. I got rid of tons'o'crap and I made a little money to boot. Stephen is taking the leftovers to Goodwill right now and I only kept a few things that did not sell like a breast pump, fabric scraps (maybe I *will* make a quilt one day) and a throw pillow of Terry's that did not sell.

I spent the day cleaning out all of the vents to get ready to turn the heat on since it is getting cold at night. I also rearranged the living room and dining room furniture. That also includes the two tables that the kids use for Lego and two Iris rolling drawers (three if you count my craft one). So with that, and getting rid of all that junk, the house seems a little larger now.

4 Sale

Garage sale weekend. Today was really busy and I sold *all* of my babystuff. ~sniff~

Someone stole some decorations of Terry's from the garage sale. Imagine!

Jax wants to sell lemonade tomorrow to help the hurricane victims. I was going to let him until he decided that he would just donate 25 cents of what he makes then keep the rest. Cheapo! So he is not allowed to sell lemonade and I will make him donate $1 from his piggy bank for being greedy.

Nothing better than getting up at the crack of dawn to go to the dentist before the kids head to school. The hygenist scolded me for not flossing often enough and then she trying to sell me replacement fillings (the porcelain ones that cost as much as a crown!). I have some cold sensitivity in one tooth from recession (because I clench my teeth in my sleep which lead to another lecture about not wearing my night guard).

Aargh!

What else am I doing wrong?

I do not clean my house often enough. My windows are filthy. The boys' bathroom needs a good scrubbing.

I cannot cook and have burnt more meals than you can shake a stick at. I even managed to transform a pot of chili to a pile of black ash (yes, I said ASH!) a few weeks ago.

I do not water our lawn so the dead grass does not need mowing but the very green patches of clover and dandilions are out of control.

My house needs a couple of coats of paint (outside) and a few windows need replacing.

I am overweight by 25 pounds and I do not exercise enough to keep my heart healthy. I am in desperate need of a dye job because the two inches of grey hair at my roots screams "COLOUR ME!" everytime I look in the mirror.

I do not read to my children *every* day and I do not have them in after-school activities.

What else? I am sure I have forgotten something.

My first home is for sale

The very first home that we owned (or at least had a mortgage for) is for sale. Not sure what made me look it up tonight but I did and lo and behold. The guy (I am assuming one owner since we bought it) renovated the kitchen and replaced the closet doors at the front door but other than that it looks the same.

I finally ordered a Darth Maul costume for Jax from Costume City. Stephen doesn't care how much we spend on costumes because the kids always play with them (and they do). I have been outbid this evening on ebay, bidding on two Darth Maul Lightsabers. I will not spend a small fortune on them so looks like we will be making one out of paper towel rolls painted silver and red. :)

I Never Learn

I am gathering things for the garage sale next weekend. Will I ever learn? This is not fun. It is stressful. I worry I have too much junk. I worry I don't have enough stuff. This is my last garage sale!

Stephen is off to a golf tournament tomorrow morning and he will be gone all day. And into the evening no doubt. The golf tournament is the Evil Empire's golf club's annual fundraiser. They are raising money for the Washington Chapter of the Asthma and Allergy Foundation. He told Jax he had to go to show his support for food allergies. :)

Of course I haven't anything planned for the day tomorrow and I bet it will be a loooooong day. I think I will go surf the net to come up with an idea for a good, time-consuming craft.

A Really Fine Parenting Moment

Oh I had a huge post ready to go about my less-than-stellar parenting moment this week (labeling the behaviour and not the child is still interpretted the wrong way by 7 year olds).

I am just glad this week is over and hopefully next week will not be a repeat of this week.

And to top it all off the last lovely few days, I took the van in to have the brakes checked. The front brakes need to be replaces (ka-ching!) and on top of that we need four new tires (ka-ching-ching-ching-ching!).

These early dismissal Wednesdays are going to kill me. We get home 1.5 hours earlier than usual so that is an extra 1.5 hours to argue with Jax about homework and with Dex about why he cannot play gameboy. Oh, and an extra 1.5 hours of Cars trying to do what the big boys do. I really need to get my ass in gear and plan some activities for these days. So many parents signed their kids up for the Wednesday afternoon Mad Science class. I think they were onto something.

The one good thing about the early dismissal today was that it was a lovely warm early afternoon so I walked to pick up the kids. I just about died walking up the hill though because the stroller was so hard to push. Usually I take the double jogger but it is folded up in the garage ready to be sold so I just used the regular stroller. It is lightweight but because the wheels are smaller it is much harder to push up that nasty hill. The backs of my thighs and calves are killing me now.

No walking tonight with my neighbours because Stephen worked late. Instead I stayed home pushing buttons on the forums.

Lost In Translation

My neighbours and I go walking most nights from 9-10pm. I have really enjoyed the walking and the company. One of the women, who lives two doors down, is Japanese but has lived in the States about 10 years. Her English is very good but often does not understand idiom, puns and some slang. For instance, she asked me a couple of weeks ago what uptight meant because her husband had called her uptight and she could tell from his tone of voice that it was not a compliment.

Last night, I told her about the dressing-up-for-Halloween-as-a-bum thing. My neighbour did not know that bum was another name for tramp/hobo nor did she know that bum was another name for butt! I spent about 5 minutes explaining it so by then it was not at all funny, but she still laughed politely.

Tonight, I told her this joke (sent to me by Shelly:

Q: What is George W. Bush's position on Roe vs. Wade?
A: He really doesn't care how people get out of New Orleans.

My neighbour did not laugh. She did not groan. She just looked at me perplexed. I had to explain to her (she did know that Roe v Wade was), Roe/Row and what wade meant. By this time, I was not expecting any kind of mirth so I was surprised when she roared with laughter. She told me that she would not be able to tell her husband that joke because he is a huge Republican and apparently they do not have a sense of humour (just joking, my Republican friends!) but she definitely thought it was funny (she must be a Democrat at heart).

I am glad that one was not lost in translation...er, explanation.

Laugh long and hard

Jax is DYING because we bought Dex's Halloween costume two weeks ago at Costco and Jax does not yet have one. It is apparently so not fair. Never mind that Stephen has taken the kids to every party supply store within a 15 mile radius trying to find a costume for Jax (he wants to be Qui-Gon Jinn) but to no avail. Qui-Gon was killed during Episode 1: The Phantom Menace so of course he isn't a popular character six years after the movie came out. And nevermind that Halloween is still seven weeks away. It is SUPER-URGENT that we get a costume this week. Now, however, Jax has changed his mind and he wants to be Darth Maul. And he spent the afternoon colouring a wrapping paper tube to resemble a double-bladed lightsaber (ok, sorry for the non-Star Wars fans). I just know that he will be crushed if we cannot find him a Darth Maul costume (again, he too was killed during Episode 1: The Phantom Menace - after slaying Qui-Gon Jinn).

So, Halloween talk abounds here and during dinner this evening, Jax and Dex wanted to know what Stephen and I dressed up as when we were kids. My standard was a gypsy. Stephen said he went as a hockey player often (usually after practice!), a baseball player and a couple of times as a bum (as in tramp or hobo). Well, imagine what a five year old and a seven year old thought of when they heard bum. They thought their dad would dress up as a huge derriere. The peals of laughter were so loud and long and were so contagious that for a good five minutes the five of us were laughing up a storm.

Cars of course did not understand but joined in the laughter and figured as long as we were laughing he should tell a joke. KNOCK-KNOCK MOM! he shouts (because apparently that is all he is capable of doing these days). KNOCK-KNOCK MOM! KNOCK-KNOCK MOM! until I say "Who's there?". BAN-NA! BAN-NA! "Banana who?" BAN-NA HAHAHAHAHA! And then we repeat it a couple of more times until:

KNOCK-KNOCK MOM!
"Who's there?"
ORGE UH-UH-UH BAN-NA! HAHHAHAHAHAHA!

Ok, I know he doesn't get the joke and I don't know who taught it to him (it was either Dex or the babysitter) but it is pretty funny that he knows the joke.

Geez, my kids are great!

I just watched a few minutes of Shelter from the Storm: A concert for the Gulf Coast and was really struck by this song by Neil Young:

WHEN GOD MADE ME

Was he thinking about my country,
or the colour of my skin?
Was he thinking about my religion,
and the way I worshipped him?
Did he create just me in his image,
or every living thing?

When God made me.
When God made me.

Was he planning only for believers,
or for those who just had faith?
Did he envision all wars
that were fought in his name?
Did he say there was only one way
to be close to him?

When God made me.
When God made me.

Did he give me the gift of love
to say who I could choose?

When God made me.
When God made me.
When God made me.

Did he give me the gift of voice
so some could silence me?
Did he give me the gift of vision
not knowing what I might see?
Did he give me the gift of compassion
to help my fellow man?

When God made me.
When God made me.
When God made me.

Benign!

Good news - benign! The calcifications are fibrous tissue from cystic change. I need to go back in 6 months for a follow-up mammogram to create a new baseline then yearly after that again.

A huge sigh of relief. Thanks to all for their thoughts and prayers and good vibes!

Peanuts be gone

The buck stops at the teachers and they have both expressed their desire for a peanut-free room so it is so. Now why did we have so many days of mixed messages going back and forth?

Now I am just trying to decide at when I call the breast center tomorrow if I haven't hear from them by a certain time ...

Bonus Time

Stephen bought a surround sound system for his huge tv. I must admit that it is pretty nice except we have these huge speakers and wires everywhere. The kids are watching Star Wars: Attack of the Clones and it sounds like we are in the theatre.

I took the steri-strip off my incision last night and it re-opened in the night. I put another one on but I am afraid I have done damage and will have a huge gaping scar now. :\

Ok, I know I posted this last year but here it is again...


September 4, 1993

I cannot turn off the tv. At least the scenes are much better than they were yesterday and the days before. At least it is keeping my mind off my worries.

Stephen took the kids out for most of the day to give me time to rest but I was bored so I went through all of the kids clothes and 6 bins of clothes and now I have three large garbage bags full of clothes to donate to Goodwill. I wished we lived closer to the Gulf coast and I could donate directly to people there. Maybe if I check the newspaper tomorrow I can find out places that might be taking clothing donations. Lots of baby clothes and if I can find a place to take them for the hurricane victims I will add the baby blankets too.

Killjoy has been nagging me to call my sister. I finally told her that I just did not think I could handle rejection at the moment so she got all pissy with me. Look, I know my sister has cancer. I know she is having a hysterectomy. I know she is probably scared and worried and does not know when her surgery will be (asswipe doc told her that she would get a call two weeks before the surgery but could not tell her when that will be!). I know she has had a hard life but after years of rejection, I just don't think I have it in my at this particular moment to try to make her feel better. Although I will admit I have called her twice in the last 4 days (left a message then spoke to my nephew today).

Tuesday we are meeting with the appropriate school people to discuss the peanut issue. I think what I am most pissed off about is the lack of communication. The nurse told me that they can only ask that people not send in peanut products but cannot make it "peanut-free". Yet, a note went home on Friday stating that the classroom is peanut-free. But the nurse said that if kids bring in peanut products they cannot tell them they cannot eat them. Well that is not a peanut-free environment then, is it? I feel like pulling out my hair in frustration! I hope this gets resolved at the meeting.

My boobie hurts

I had the biopsy today so now the waiting game starts. I should hear by Wednesday. I have some pain now but there was none during the procedure because they used Novacain.

Did anyone see Kanye West speaking on the concert for Hurricane Relief? You can see it here. Mike Myers looks like he does not know what to do.

Disaster Relief

I know lots of people want to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina but lots of people have a bad taste in their mouth about the American Red Cross after what happened with the 9/11 donations. So, if you want to give please consider other great organizations who can help such as The Salvation Army. Or give American Red Cross another chance. They said the 9/11 fiasco will not happen again.

First Day o'School

First Day o'School

Today arrived bright and early (thanks to Stephen's alarm clock then he did not even get up until nearly 7am!).

Jax was up, fed and dressed before I got out of bed. Dex was a little slower to rise but quickly caught up.

We drove to the park and walked down to Jax's classroom (I carried the massive school supply bag). He went up to greet his best friend from his class last year who asked him if he were Jax because he did not recognize him without his two front teeth. I could not tell if he were joking or not but then realized he was not and felt sad for the kid because clearly he needs glasses or perhaps he "learns differently" and we just didn't realize it.

Dex, Cars and I came home and we kept busy until it was time to catch the bus to school for PM kindergarten. Stephen surprised Dex and came home just to watch him get on the bus (I am so glad he did that for Dex). Bus Driver Norm showed up late and apparently we are no longer the first stop on the route but that's ok. Dex and Ding Dong Girl got on the bus together and they were off. Cars and I drove to the school to meet the bus because the massive school supply bag for Dex was too huge to take on the bus.

After school I met Dex then we went to Jax's class so I could teach his teachers how to use the epi-pen. The teachers informed me that the school nurse had decided that the classroom would not be peanut-free after all since one kid will only eat pb. So, that started a two-hour tirade by me including a 20 minute conversation with the principal. Stephen and I are adamant that Jax will be in a peanut-free class because he is not old enough yet to take full responsibility for his allergies (they will not allow him to carry the epi-pen because he is too young so therefore he is too young to be exposed PURPOSEFULLY to peanuts, thankyouverymuch.

But I do not want to rant on about this so I won't...

Cars was so sad that Dex got on the bus but he was not allowed to. He kept yelling "BUS! ME! BUS! ME!" and he had the biggest pouty lips when I said sorry. Ding Dong girl's 2.5 year old brother had the same look on his face. It funny to see them both so pouty.

And one last thing about Cars. I took down his crib today and assembled his new toddler bed. He was delighted with it and climbed in and out and in and out and in and out and in and out and finally refused to get back in it. I held him downstairs then until he fell asleep, then put him to bed. He looks both so big and so tiny lying in the bed.

Summer o'Fun Last Day of Summer

Summer o'Fun Last Day of Summer

Today was the last day of summer vacation. It is bittersweet. I am happy that my kids are going back to school. Dex starts kindergarten and Jax is so excited to start Grade 2. We have the school supplies packed and school clothes waiting out for them in the morning.

Dex is so excited to go and is super thrilled about the bus. I know I will cry when he boards the bus.

For the last day of summer fun, we met Stephen at Red Robin for lunch then we went to Family Fun Center for some family fun! The place is like a huge Chuck E. Cheese but they also have go-karts, bumper boats, mini-putt, etc. The kids had a blast. Cars was running around with the tokens for the games saying "Muh-nee! Muh-nee!". Jax was most concerned with getting tickets for prizes and Dex just wanted to play every.single.game. The go-karts were so fun (the kids were too small to go on them alone). I felt like Mario Andretti! Vroom!

Want the good news or the bad news? Ok, let's do the good news first:

Today was the "Meet'n'Greet" at school for the boys. Both Jax and Dex have two teachers this year. The school district is big on job sharing (good way to retain teachers, I guess) and they both happen to be in the classes in their grades that have job sharing teachers. I guess it is a good idea (but it means double the teachers' gifts at Christmas and end-of-the-year, right?!). Anyway, they are both excited to start class on Wednesday. The first Wednesday is a regular day but beginning the following Wed and throughout the year, they have early dismissal and get out at 1:30.

The bad news? I went for a follow-up mammogram today. Then I had to have a follow-up follow-up. Then a meeting with the radiologist who showed me, with the help of a magnifying glass, tiny calcifications in my breast. She called them "suspicious" and recommended a biopsy. Of course they have an opening tomorrow but I swore off having any procedures done on Tuesdays again because the results always come out on Friday so if I miss their call I have to wait all weekend long to find out. Anyway, I am going in on Friday afternoon for a stereotactic breast biopsy (it is x-ray guided and less invasive than regular biopsy).

I have been saying prayers of thanks all day that I went for a mammogram last week. Honestly, these things are so tiny and they would *never* be felt with a breast self-exam.

Now I have a migraine for being so uptight and crying. What a wimp! And I cannot take any imitrex or aspirin or ibuprofen from now until two days after the biopsy so I will just have to go to bed and hope it is gone by tomorrow morning.