Literary loss!

Sidney Sheldon has passed away. He was written so many great books, I could always count on one of his tales to get me out of a reading slump. I have a tendency to find an author I like and then proceed to read all their works before going on to a new-to-me writer.

On to another topic...relatives...didn't Joe run across a cousin's adult son in the company lobby! Seems he had been working in a camp but for 1 reason or another, decided to move on. Joe introduced himself, because the family resemblance was so striking....they chatted...the young man was surprised to when Joe guessed who he'd be working for next in GP...his old company and work mate! Joe knows just about everyone.

With the world closing in, I expect us to see Kevin Bacon next, because isn't he related to everyone through the 6 or 7 degrees of separation!

Lucky for you Joe!

Everyone knows that I would NEVER say that, although it would have been a great 'out'! Thanks to my cousin Dave for sending me that!

Company is coming!

Two people who have never been to our home will visit next week.

First we will welcome a family relative who is coming out west to try his luck in the oilpatch. Joe tried to tell me the relationship...it sort of starts at Henry & April's wedding...Cliff's better half's sister's child who is also related by marriage to Paul Melvin...my head still hurts thinking about it.

Anyways, he's coming out next week, and Joe will pick him up at the airport and bring him here for the night. the next morning both will head back into the city...Joe to work...Jeremy to the company bus for the middle of no-where bus!

Then we have the pleasure of Jonathan's first visit to Nannie & Papa's! I'm hoping Jonathan packs heavy...cuz I don't have a playpen or crib...but I do have a baby gate and monitor...if I remember new batteries!!!! I heard Joe say something about prime rib dinner...not that AGAIN!!! Lucky us!

Have a good one!

OK...who squealed on me????

I joined an e- gardening group shortly after we got the greenhouse built. I thought with having so much to learn who better to ask than those who have one. You can only get so much from a book!

Well, I trekked into town yesterday to buy cat food, paper stuff and the usual array of household products. I swing around by the seasonal stuff and lo & behold...didn't I find the soil-less seed starter mix I need. So I bought a bag.

This morning, what was awaiting in my email box but an article entitled 10 things to do when it's too early to start seeds! Nothing quite like getting shot down electronically! So I may or may not get started....shhhhh....don't tell anyone, it'll be our little secret!


In the meantime I may review my plans for building a potting bench and those copper trellis's I liked!

It's Official!

Joe is once again a biker dude! He was running late last night, so was Joanne...she's storing the bike until we get the shed thing worked out this spring. I got to help wheel the Suzuki up the driveway and into the garage....mmmmm leather....new bike smell....I got the keys!!!!! Joe will have to wait until the weekend to go over and wipe it down and play with all the do-dads and start her up. Now to find a blanket worthy of the bike.

Back to being a biker dude...Joe got his ear pierced as a drunken dare with my ex-boss Dale. If Joe got his done, Dale would too! Well I asked that the ear ring be worn again! No one at this company has seen Joe wear one except at a social function...but today it went to work! I wonder if anyone will notice this bald guy with a full beard sporting a shiny stud?! Looking good Joe!

BTW - Dale got his bike a few summer's ago...his is purple!

Seeds & AJHL hockey!

What a winning combo! We went to Spruce Grove and watched Sherwood Park get defeated in one of the most entertaining games I've seen this season. Both sides worked hard.

Since our wally world is being renovated...it's only ~ 3yrs old...we left for the game early so I could check out their store for gardening stuff. I went crazy...got almost all my seeds, but no soil-less mix...so planting will wait another day.

Speaking of another day ...looks like I will have lots of days to fuss with the garden! I called and officially turned down the job offer. I still had a gut feeling that not everyone was on board with me in the position and that would only add more undue pressure and expectations. Also, my personal relationship with the boss would be dynamically altered...probably for the worse. I love the way things are now...why mess with a good thing!

Saturday night fighting

We weren't exactly fighting, just having an all out game of Scrabble! You have to understand that I've always loved Scrabble, played it with my Dad. and he used to take a loooong time to find a great word and get the bonus points for using all his tiles. I then introduced Joe to Scrabble, his spelling wasn't very good. Now...OMG...I lose to Joe about 3 out of 5 games!

Last night's was close...we were tied and Joe had 1 last chance to lay down his last tile before It got deducted, which would make me the winner. Didn't I go and show him a spot where he could make 2 new words. Joe said he seen it on his own...bit I so want to be the woman behind a successful man even if it means my un-doing! Great game Joe!

Still warm!

The wind was howling last night. I took one last look out the back to make sure everything was OK before heading to bed...something just didn't quite right at the greenhouse. I quickly dressed and went out to find a roof hatch was open. I tied it down as a precaution and will look at it in the daylight. Hopefully it simply came unhooked.

Out the front, the snow had blown into the front walkway and the bottom 3 steps to the porch were totally covered with hard pack. There isn't much accumulation on the driveway, just where it drifted...both sides! No snow in the middle! That's polished ice now!

I cleared the steps and walkway after I put out the trash for pickup. The driveway can wait until daylight in about an hour or so.

In the meantime....Happy Birthday Lynn! My baby sister is 46 today. Her boys Gary & Brian are cooking her supper! Enjoy yourself...hope you don't get stuck with the dishes!

Could have been worse!

I must admit that Lesley & Aaron are very diligent about picking up after the boys and making sure they don't leave anything behind. (Although Nannie Sample always said if something was left behind, you would get a return visit!)

Our Sunday was going pretty smoothly - Lesley was doing a quick load of laundry, Aaron pre-packed the van with most of the big stuff- no, not the Barbie bus! The boys were playing V Smile. Then Joe got the call about the warehouse problem. So Lesley folded the bow dry clothes, they all got dressed and were off.

Well just before Joe & I left, I noticed 2 of Joseph's GI Joe men stuck in the FP playground. Then we opened the drawer to grab the truck keys...and there was Lesley's wad of keys! A quick call to let her know we had them and would post them first thing Monday. It wasn't until after I did just that, that I realized her mail box keys were also on the key ring!!! Good thing Canada Post issues 2 sets of keys! She should get everything - including the kids' Monster Inc video sometime today! I still want a return visit!

Manic Monday for someone!

It seems our lovely weekend with Lesley, Aaron & the boys quickly ended when Joe had to go into work to trouble shoot a warehouse problem. The Calgary gang left and I decided to change into some 'work type clothes' and go along for the ride with Joe.

We ended up picking and sorting orders for 2 camps...someone made a boo-boo! I enjoyed being back in my element, I really don't mind doing this type of manual labour that also requires some brain cells! Don't pack equipment unless you KNOW it works...that sort of thing. After 3 hours, the orders were picked, packed and loaded into the van for early morning delivery today. They should be arriving at the camps as I write this. So by 8 am when the work day should just be beginning, things could be heating upt...but I'm glad I'm not anywhere around the warehouse today...The Donald may be in the building, and heads may roll!

But this gives me a better understanding of why Joe comes home from work utterly exhausted - poor guy...I bet he'll feel better once spring comes and he can ride his bike from work, the long way if needed! He used to do that in Kingston...even though we only lived about 5 kms from work, sometimes Joe would ride around for an hour before getting home! Oh well...better than taking 'happy pills'!

The Morinville Midgets wannabees!

Saturday was bright with a biting north wind, but the boys wanted to show us their skating skills. We went over to one of the 2 outdoor rinks and started to get the skates on. Surprise surprise when Lesley discovered that Alex has outgrown his skates!!!! He's only worn them 4 times!

So Alex went with his boots and helmet on.
Joseph had Papa helping him lace up...he proudly showed us his helmet with stickers!
Joseph practicing his stick handling...does he shoot right or left...we still don't know!
Alex giving the stick a quick workout! The kids didn't stay out too long, their cheeks were bright red by the time they had their skates off...I hope they have less energy this afternoon! One can always hope!

Nannie...where are you???

I was in the basement, last night, working on a couple of 'Jonathan projects' when I heard little voices yelling for me! Guess what, Joseph & Alex were in the front entry yelling for their Nannie. Well we quickly got things put away and it was game on...TV, DVD movie...which the kids picked out themselves, up and down the stairs a few times and then finally...snacks!

It's going to be a busy weekend - aren't I lucky?

31 candles!

Happy Birthday Heather!

ps - what were the odds that Lesley would use the photo I was going to use???! Great minds, I guess. Anyways, this is a headshot of Heather in the back seat on our return trip last August. I guess her next big road trip will have Jonathan in the back seat! Rumour has it they will be coming our way! Lucky us!

Ahhhh...Is it spring yet?

I am so wanting it to be late February not early January! Please excuse that poor example of proper grammar! How am I ever going to survive not playing in the dirt with my seeds?

I'm trying to keep busy with those unfinished projects around the house so I can concentrate on planting when the time comes.

I have come to a huge - for me - decision...One I haven't talked over with Joe or even breathed a hint to Heather & Lesley. I want to get rid of the girls' Barbie bus so I can have my closet back for something more useful like a permanent place for my vacuum and carpet cleaner to live! There, maybe they won't be able to read this!!!!

All kidding aside, it's huge, they both have boys...And this is covered in ~years of dirt, grime and the odd insect carcass! They got it while in Kingston the first time around. They were 6 & 4 when we left for AB. Granted they enjoyed hours of entertainment with their Barbie 'Stuff" but I think it's time to let some things go.

Lesley is coming up tomorrow and Heather mid January, so both will have an opportunity to throw it into the back of their vehicles on the return trip. I won't stop them! Don't be upset with me, I think we did well keeping it all these years & moves!

Do you make lists?

I have a parent child relationship with my lists. Sometimes they work great and keep me focused, there times I take great pleasure in totally and completely ignoring the list! Take that you stupid piece of paper! How mature is that!

I recently came across a fresh point of view regarding lists...Make a list of things NOT to do. So I did!

1. Don't continue reading a so-so book. There are better ones out there, don't waste the time.
2. Don't put leftovers into the frig if I know I'm not going to eat them! Who am I fooling besides myself?
   
3. Don't say I will do something when I don't want to! No more doing projects for others unless there is something in it for me! Yes Jonathan will get more change table slip covers. Yes Alex will get his quilt...Not sure when, my sewing machine has to go in for repairs and the guy was very vague about a time line! Now looking into another repair shop.
4. Don't tell everyone my big plans to drop a ton of weight and then fail! I will do this in my own time, my way, step by step.
   
5. Don't keep eating junk food after having just a schneckin! I won't beat myself up, I will jump back in where I am.
   
6. Don't pretend that everything is all roses when I'm upset. Let me be upset, I deserve that once in a while.
7. Don't think I will wait forever to get a project done. I know where the tools are and I'm not afraid to use them! Company though will be always helpful.
8. Don't wear uncomfortable shoes!
   
9. Don't do the same things over & over and expect a different result! Take a new approach.
   
10. Don't whine.
    

What was I thinking?

With the new year, I thought I should change my passwords ...duh!!!! I'm having a hard enough time just remembering the old ones. It took me 3 tries to get into Blogger...it wasn't pretty.

I think the problem was I read a couple of articles on picking secure passwords and got myself all stressed out. All these years and I was doing it wrong...mix up letters with numbers, throw in some upper case and a _ or 2!!!!!

End result...I have a massive headache...enough of this foolishness. I'll risk being unsecure for another day or 2.

Quiet morning

I went for my walk and ended up counting broken beer bottles along the way. This is a sad reflection of how the arrival of a new year seems to be a license to forget your head. After 7, I turned around and came home. I did spot the sharp deep divets from a pair of high heeled boots/shoes. Just for fun, I tried to walk where they went. Anyone looking out their front window would have sworn I was just going home from partying all night myself!

Hope everyone had a fun and safe evening!

PS - it would appear I have a technical problem with my walking ticker...I hope this isn't a sign of some sort!