A Spot of T

Happy Halloween

Seems weird to miss a day writing in my blog.  Which means I guess this entry will be extra long.

I know some people go all out for Halloween, but I'm not one of them.  If I had my way, I'd skip Halloween altogether and go straight to Christmas.  THE only thing I like about Halloween is the little tiny kids and seeing them in their costumes.  Unbelieveably cute!

This year is pretty different in the T house.  One child off to College, one in Grade 11 and one in Grade 10.  No dressing up, no going out trick or treating.  Old traditions that we'll still do are, carving the pumpkins when the kids get home from school and then mom making her (actually Martha Stewarts) famous pumpkin seeds.  Michael and Samantha are really looking forward to seeing the little ones come to the door this year and the two of them will take turns handing out candy.

Because I pushed Halloween to the back of my brain I had to scamper out yesterday and get some Halloween candy.  Good old Costco to the rescue.

 

I was out anyway yesterday so I decided to get a ton of errands done and appointments out of the way.  That way I can stay at home for the rest of the week....cept today....more running around today.  I got everything done yesterday and managed to pick my daughter up on time from school.  HooYA!

Let's see, a smidge of what the day entailed.......

Appointment to see the accountant again.

Appointment to see the doctor, iron is coming up but still lower than she would like.  A constant frustrating battle.

A friend told me she made an appointment for me to get a colon cleanse with 'her gal'.  Apparently I'm retarded because I didn't have a clue what a colon cleanse/hydrotherapy was and she just told me to 'go with it and don't ask any questions'.  I get to the place.....took a peek at a brochure that was sitting out.......then went into the room......and talked to the 'doctor'......and she told me I had a great friend for giving this gift to me......and then proceeded to tell me what colon hydrotherapy entailed.  Ummm......no.  Note to self:  Go over and SMACK 'C' upside the head.

Stopped at Shopper's Drug Mart.  Why is it I can spend an hour in Shopper's Drug Mart?  Is there something wrong with me?  I stand at their magazine section for 15-20 minutes, I look at their hair and make-up products, I wander around in their health section, I see what they have in their knick knack section, and because I mail a lot of stuff, I mosey on over to their post office and see what they have there for new stamps or bulk envelopes.

Some purchases at Shopper's were........Olay moisturizer because it's the best out there in my books, hair gloss to control the frizzies and make the ol grey shine, toothpicks that rock because they're a toothpick and floss in one, Listerine cinnamon breath fresheners because I hate bad breath and Oscillococcinum because it is THE best stuff out there for colds and flus.  Little beads of goodness you let dissolve under your tongue and the effects are absolutely incredible.  We plan on getting the flu shot when it comes out this year, but these are sometimes hard to get so I stock up when I find them.

I can't remember where I was, but I saw this Paula Deen magazine and had to have it.  It's excellent and chalked full of goodies.

I ran into Canadian Tire because a friend told me they had great beds for dogs in there.  Mushu destroyed his last bed so I thought since I was out, I'd take a couple minutes and go in and see what they had.  It was a toss-up between two.  One was slightly bigger, but this one was prettier and would fit more into our decor.  No, decor doesn't matter to Mushu.....it matters to me.  I thought  the bed seemed a bit small, but decided to get it anyway and if it was too small I could always bring it back.

It's too small.  Problem is, Mushu won't get out of it.  I had it in the mudroom up on the bench so I could take it back, and he jumped up onto the bench and layed in it on there.  When I kicked him out of it and put it up, he sat and whined and stared at it for 15 minutes until I couldn't take it anymore.  I brought it down, took the tags off and put it in his favorite spot in the house.  This is him in it.  He hasn't left it since I've been home.  Looks comfy doesn't it?

Sunday Fun

It looks like the Mother-of-the-Year Award is up for grabs by someone else again this year because, I didn't yell, but I definitely let my daughter know what I thought about her going out on the roads in the condition they were in last night....when she called at 11:30pm.....to ask me to come and get her......because she had hit the ditch.

For those of you who live far away, we had quite a snowfall the last couple of days and there were roadbans everywhere.  We gave #1 daughter an AMA membership when she first got her car and when she called AMA after hitting the ditch last night, the operator came on and told her not only were there roadbans on, but the police were banning all tow truck operators as well....but they would send her a cab if she wanted.  Huh??

Ah to be young and foolish.  I remember it all too well, and it's probably why I didn't have a come apart on her when I saw her, plus she started crying when she saw me which gets me everytime.  I did however say the king of swears.....a lot......when I gently pulled over to the side of the road to get her and just about slid into the ditch myself.  I'll admit it right here and now.....I don't do well under pressure.  Some things yes....others....not so much.  It was a good chance to test out the 4x4 in the new Sequoia though and it passed with more than flying colors.  I LOVE MY SEQUOIA!

So this morning Mr. Cutey Patootey Nathan from Highway 28 Towing.....who I would HIGHLY recommend because we use them all the time and they are the BEST!!!........came and towed Kelsey's poor little 78 Nova home.  I wanted to take pictures of it in the ditch but she got mad and said something like "do you have to document EVERY aspect of our lives??!"  Umm....YA!  Turns out I was in such a rush when Nathan called and told us to meet him at the car, I forgot the camera at home.....but it would have made a helluva scrapbook layout.

Here's a picture of the Nova when it's NOT in the ditch.  This is when Gregg first brought it home for Kelsey and she was looking it over.  78 Nova.....a fine fine automobile....and mine when Kelsey's done driving it.

So all in all a fun evening and morning in the T house, but one that could have been so much worse.  Someone up above continuously looks out for the T family and I couldn't be more grateful to them.

Oh and on another note......I found that lost ear plug I was missing.  Phew!  I swore I had eaten the damn thing in my sleep!

I'm off to go try a new recipe for pumpkin cookies.  If they turn out I'll share the recipe with you.

Before & After Garage

I definitely can't be called a pack rat, as a matter of fact I probably throw out/give to charity too much stuff.  My husband on the other keeps everything.  What's that saying?  Opposites attract?

I came across the below pictures while cleaning up some files on the computer and can't believe our garage used to look like this.  Embarrassing to say the least. 

                                          

Looking at the pictures had me thinking back to the reason why the garage is now clean and organized.  First.....I simply couldn't stand it anymore.  And second......we had mice.  Gives me the ibby jibbies just thinking about it.  We live out in the country so I'm well aware there are mice around, but I try not to live with them at all costs.

It all started one night when Gregg came into the house all happy and excited and said "I caught ANOTHER mouse yahooo!"  I looked at him with a bit of shock on my face and said "What do you mean you caught 'another' mouse?  How bad is the mice situation out there?"  To which he replied "I don't know, I have all of them in an old can out there.......I can go and count them."

!!!

When I heard 'all' I flipped out a bit.  I had been begging him for YEARS to get the garage cleaned up, and now there were who knows how many mice making our garage their home.  It was only a matter of time before they got into the house and if that happened, I told Gregg, we would simply have to move.

I told him he had one week to clean up the garage and get rid of the mice or I was taking over the garage situation.  He set more traps and didn't take me seriously.

Two weeks later I went to work, with the help of our son and his friends and cleaned the garage out.  I painted it the color I wanted and I called in Garage Gadgets and worked out a plan on what I wanted the garage to look like.  Garage Gadgets rocks by the way.  Incredibly fast service.  While I was at it I thought it would be nice to be able to get into a nice warm vehicle in the winter months, so I called a Plumbing & Heating company and they came in and put in overhead heating.

Two weeks after the initial consult with Garage Gadgets and the Plumbing & Heating company, we had what looked like a brand new garage.  Very little on the floors so no room for mice to move in and bury themselves behind things.  We haven't seen a mouse since.

                                       

Oh and what did Gregg say?  Well he wasn't happy, but he realized it could have been a lot worse.  I didn't paint it some funky green color and I didn't put up any flower pictures.  He didn't have to lift a finger and it was all done while he was out of town.  Even he had to admit it was a pretty good deal.  He loves it now of course.  He putters out in the garage more than ever and when the guys come over for a beer, he pulls out the chairs in the garage and they all stay out there and visit.

He did want to know what I threw out or gave away though.  I told him anything he could name that was missing, I would be more than happy to replace it.  It's been over a year now and he has yet to be able to name a thing 'he thinks' I threw out.

NaBloPoMo

Sounds a bit like some foreign disease doesn't it?  By the looks of the picture it could be a disease, but it's not a disease.  NaBloPoMo stands for National Blog Posting Month.  I came across it here and thought since I'm pretty good about blogging every day I may as well join in.

I know it's not November yet, but since my attention span is nil I thought I'd post it now while it's still fresh in my mind.  Plus maybe some of you will want to join in.

The concept is to get people who have blogs to write in their blogs every single day in the month of November.  It's on the same concept as NaNoWriMo which stands for National Novel Writing Month.  Very cool indeed.

So NaBloPoMo to you and here's to a great month of blogging!

Little Ear Plug Dilemma

Ummm

I had THE weirdest dream last night.  I dreamt I was eating popcorn and when I bit into one of the popcorns it was all spongy.  I swallowed it anyhow.

I woke up, but promptly went back to sleep.

The problem is........

I've searched all morning and now I can't find one of my earplugs I usually sleep with at night.

Remember To Fall Back

That time of year again!

 

How Old Would You Be....

Just when you think you have nothing to write about, you get sent an email with the following question:

"How old would you be if you didn't know how old you are?  Why?"

Deep question.

I'm 42 and I would be......40......if I didn't know how old I was.  Freaky right?

But it's true.  When I turned 40 it's like a light bulb went off and I finally got it.

I managed to watch an Oprah Winfrey show not too long ago and I think she had Janet Jackson on.  I really don't remember what the show was about, but I do remember Oprah talking about turning 40 and how life changing it was.  I stood in my kitchen and said "Yes!  Someone else gets it.  40 is magical!"

Oprah said, and I agree, "You just don't care what anyone says."  Exactly!!

You care about people of course, but you just don't care if they agree or disagree or whatever.  YOU - JUST - DON'T - CARE.

I'm only two years into my 40's but I wouldn't go back for all the money in the world.  No sir-ee!  I get it, and I'm usually the last to get anything.

I hope this question comes up again when I'm 50.  I'd be very curious to see how I answer then.

Craft Shows

I was reading the local newspapers as well as the Edmonton Journal and I'm excited to see all the craft sales being advertised.  I LOVE craft sales!

I make a point of being there first thing in the morning to beat the rush and have found some great items along the way.

This year I am on the look out for those knitted slippers.  You know the ones I mean right?  Get on a freshly polished floor and you can barely stand up because the slippers slide so much.  Don't bother with those non-stick pads for me thanks.  I like to slip and slide around :o)

All pictures borrowed from net

I'm also looking for a swag.  I bought a Christmas swag two years ago, put it up over the mirror in the dining room and it's been there ever since.  No one says a word but I know they're thinking "Why in the world does she have a Christmas swag up for Easter?"

The mirror is too small for the wall so with the swag up there, it doesn't look too bad.  That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

 

What else, oh ya FOOD!  Don't you just love going to craft sales and checking out what the latest greatest in dips and sauces are??  I'm not one of those people who stand there and taste everything, unless I'm the first one to the booth.  Sorry, but this germ phobic gal gets nauseous looking at all those people sticking their hands all over the samples.  Oh man, and one time I saw a lady double-dip!  It was all I could do from double-decking her right then and there.

 

This year I am after the cider.  I want to find a really good cider for the winter months.  Normally it's hot chocolate after snowmobiling but I think some cider would be great too.  That is.....if we get any snow this winter.

People are Amazing Creatures

I admit it, I was pouting a bit.  You probably didn't get that from my last entry...... :o) .......but  I was.  If I was two years old I would have been stomping my feet, crossing my arms and holding my breath because someone had hurt my feelings.  It just plain sucks when someone hurts your feelings!

But I got back on the horse....or blog....this morning and see a wonderful comment from Debbie to my post yesterday.

Just when you think there is no hope :o)

We don't know each other Debbie, but you definitely made my DAY!!

'Was' a Good Day

I was having such a fantastic day.....and then I sat down and opened my emails.

I won't get into it except to say....my gut instincts were right on a person who is oh so syrupy nice on the outside, but once you get to know her, can be a real nasty person.

I had a run in with her before and chose to shut things down toot sweet with her.  Yep, I'm a scaredy cat.  Pushed into a corner I'll take a stand, but meanness I'll try and avoid at all costs.  I haven't dealt with her since I took a stand with her and don't ever plan on dealing with her again.

The problem is though, we both know some of the same people.  If it weren't for those people I would have been gone long ago, but I really like them and a lot of them have become dear and wonderful friends.

So I better just suck-it-up buttercup, keep the chin up and just go about my business like nothing is bothering me.

I just realized blogs are great for this.  If I had written to the woman and told her what she did was a real slap in the face to me, she would have gotten all nasty and a real jerk about it.  This way I can rant a teeny tiny bit and no one cares....because no one has a clue what I'm talking about because I'm kind of talking in code because it would be just my luck it'll be the one time she reads my blog and then a WHOLE can or worms would be opened up and.........

Well I was having a good day.