**Lots of emails saying you couldn't comment. Yet again I find myself apologizing for Typepad. They did give notice they were doing maintenance so I guess in fairness to them I won't go balistic all over them. I think I lost two of the comments that were on this post but let's see if this works.**
No I haven't died. No accidents on the way back from Lake Okanagan. You people are going to crack this hard shell I have worked years to build around me with all your caring. Geeez! But thanks. It really does mean the world to me. We were back late thursday night but friday I barely left my bedroom. Three months after surgery and my body still lets me know when I overdo things. It's saturday and I finally feel normal enough to sit and write something. So I thought I'd answer some questions that have come in on some emails over the last little bit.
Why do you answer questions in a post? Why not just email the person back?
I do answer the person back in an email. Sometimes I will get the same question five or six times though so it's easier in one post. Plus I've read a few blogs where people answer questions and I thought it was pretty cool so I started doing it too. Copy cat that I am.
I see you've been married for 20 years. Do you think you'll still be married in 20 more years?
I have absolutely no idea. I know right? Probably not the answer I should give. I should be sitting here gushing and swooning and saying "Oh yes, Gregg is my Prince Charming and I'm his Princess and the two of us will be together for ever and ever." Not. Truthfully, I simply don't know. And I say this because with Gregg working out of town the way he has for so many years now, we have seen many a couple divorce. Some after 30 years of marriage. We have seen so many couples where either the man or woman has been blind-sided with divorce papers, that I would never sit and be arrogant enough to say "It could never happen to us." Because it definitely could happen to me....or Gregg. The cold hard facts are, people grow apart, grow in different directions, meet other people, make each other so miserable it has to end, or whatever other reason people are getting divorces. Never say never is our philosophy. Right now things are good and I often look back and am thankful we worked through some of the really ugly stressful years. Because MAN were they rough!! It's much easier to walk away than to stay and make it work and even though I was married in a Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church and didn't have a clue what was being said....I still take my vows very seriously. And so does Gregg. But I also believe in being happy too so if this gal isn't happy 99% of the time? I'm outta here. Seriously. And Gregg and I have talked and he is the same way. Life is way too short to be in a marriage that is nothing but unhappy all the time. Gotta be happy.
I took it by one of your posts, you're moving? Where are you moving too? Is that why you went to Lake Okanagan, to check out places there?
IF Gregg and I were to move, it wouldn't be right now. Our youngest just finished Grade 10 so we won't be going anywhere until she has graduated in two years. But yes, we have definitely been talking about different options. First option is to dump a whole whack of money into this place to get the house to the way we want it and the yard so it's almost maintenace free. We know a ton of people with beautifully landscaped yards and they all say the same thing....once it's set up it's very easy to maintain, it's just taking the time and money to get it set up. But do we want to dump a lot of money into this home and yard, or do we want to find something that has everything we want already there? Which takes us to the next option. Find something that is already done and just move in. We certainly have the time to look so that isn't a problem. As far as moving away. Yes, we have definitely thought of that. Friends of ours just bought a home in Armstrong, BC so our trip to Lake Okanagan was to take a look around, visit with them and see the home they will be moving into. Armstrong is a nice little town to raise your family and the kind of place where you walk down the street and everyone says 'hi' to you. Very cool and I think our friends will love raising their little girl there. Not for us though. We definitely loved it in Lake Okanagan and some of the homes on the lake were absolutely stunning. Do we want to move there though? I don't think so. Vacation there sometimes? Ok. But we can move anywhere. Vancouver, Calgary, Grande Prairie, or even around here. I've always loved it around the Stony Plain area so who knows, something out there might come up when Samantha's done graduating. The main thing is, Gregg and I both agree 'something' needs to be done and it's very rare we both agree on anything so you know how serious we are on this. So for right now, I plan on getting ideas together for the place we live now. Expansion and reno's to the home, a shop for Gregg and landscaping ideas for the yard. Once we get prices together, it will be the deciding factor to see if we stay here or move on. Either way is fine with us.
You strike me as a party animal. Are you?
BWAHAHAHAHA. No. I am absolutely not a party animal. I have no idea what I've written to give you that idea, but I am definitely not a party animal. Although maybe our definition of party animal is different? I think of a party animal as someone who is loud and drinks a ton and is up on the tables dancing and having a great old time. I just have the great old time and none of the other stuff. I like to have fun for sure, and if there's only a couple of people I am ok and will laugh and talk and life is good. Anymore than a couple of people though and I'm the one sitting back and watching and listening. I don't say an awful lot and I'm sure it makes some people uncomfortable. But whatever. I am what I am. Now. It could be because Gregg says enough for the two us when other people are around.....oh yes the man LOVES to talk...but I think I just find it a bit overwhelming. I'd rather be the person sitting back taking pictures of the people having a great time dancing on the tables.
Do you get dressed-up when you go shopping? Get your nails done, hair done on a regular basis? You strike me as having a simple wardrobe, basic make-up, but all very nice things. Simple but expensive?
Well. What a slightly odd question. I definitely get dressed when I go shopping. Otherwise that would just be ugly. Let's see here. Gregg can be working in the yard all day and then run into the grocery store for a few things. I definitely can't do that. I need to be showered, hair done, I'm not a big make-up person but I do have the basics I like to wear when I'm out. I have the sort of luck that if I do take a chance and run in quickly to get a Slurpee at the 7-11 with my old sweats and torn T, I will run into 3 people I know. Then stand there embarrassed and mortified and after, not remember anything that was said because I was too embarrassed and mortified to pay attention to the conversation. As for simple but expensive taste? Probably. I don't have a closet over-flowing with clothes and I don't have a ton of make-up in my bathroom drawer. I buy clothes strictly when I need them but when I do, I do like them to be of good quality so they last. I have a 34" leg, no waist and the longest arms you've ever seen. Oh. And I'm a big girl. Big or small, having this body is hard to find clothes for. I like my Jones New York because they fit me so well and I'll pay to have something that is comfortable and fits over this chubby body of mine. I love good quality purses as well as shoes. Nine West is the best store ever for both. Make-up. I have very sensitive skin so I can only use certain things. I'm not big on all the wrinkle creams out there because to me wrinkles are in the genes and there's nothing you can do about that. I've been an Olay girl since I was 17 and will probably be one til the day I die. I use other things as well, but my skin loves Olay. And I also love bareMinerals. Nice and light and looks like you aren't even wearing make-up. Love it. I stopped dying my hair so I keep it short and it's very grey. I like my gel nails and my pedicures because there's nothing worse then my gross finger nails and toe nails. But that's just me. On other people I could care less. I worry about myself not other people. So ya. I look after myself I think. Except the weight thing. But get off my back already. Cause I'm working on it.
I bet you have a really great relationship with your kids? How did you do that being practically a single parent?
Yes, I feel, I have really great relationships with my kids. They can be boneheads sometimes but so can I so it all even's out I guess. As for how I did it? I have absolutely no idea. You just do it. I'm kind of surprised my kids even talk to me now that they're older because I've had to say 'no' to them more times than I care to remember. I've always had to be the bad guy AND the good guy and I always thought they were going to grow up remembering only the bad guy. I'm not going to lie. It's been tough. I've always said I'm a fair and reasonable person and they always know they can come and talk to me if they feel I'm not being fair about something. Because let's face it. Kids grow up faster than us parents sometimes like to admit. My kids are responsible young adults now and I treat them as such. Step out of line and I'll come down on your ass so hard it's not even funny. But it's rare I have to do that. And then just when you think you've got it down pat. One child moves out, works hard and pays their own way in the world. So different rules again. Ya. There are none. And I'll tell you, a parent learns real fast to bite their tongue and let the child find out on their own the goings-on of the world. Because what do we know anyway right?
Ok that's all. I'm off to dinner and a movie with Gregg and two of the punks.
