Happy Canada Day!

Really, I thought I had written something here more recently than April.  Ah well, it's a new day.

School finished in a blur, and I managed to stay out of the emergency room this June which was very nice.  I know Chris was relieved as well.  I finished up the school year in what seemed to be a rush.  I always feel like I'm running out of time in June.  We fit in learning right until the end.  No movies or wasted days in my room.  I think what helped keep out Summer Fever was the fact the weather was so crap.  We did not have any really nice days until the last week so it didn't even feel like summer. 
Now the meetings are done, the classrooms cleaned and the unpaid school closure is here! 
This weekend was wonderful!  The weather was good and we met up with friends in between our relaxing.  Already we have had two new adventures.   We visited friends camping in between Hudson's Hope and FSJ at a place called Bear Flats.  Basically, a field with trailers and tents in it.  It was hot and the bugs were obnoxious.  Today, we went to the parade and then went to the park afterwards.  Usually, we just walk home after the parade, but today we went down to see what was going on.  We got to the park had a $5 hot dog and pop and then walked around Cowboy Town.  This was a kitchy old west set up with games for the kids and a little crafty market in the middle.  It was hot.  Really hot.  We'd heard that the museum was selling pie by the slice, so we went there too.  It's good to support the local places!  We had our pie (which was delicious) and then decided that it was time to head home.  We got home around 3, and retreated to the basement.  After all the walking and too much sun, I felt a nap was in order.  Man I love holidays!  We made it out to the fire works as well, also a first for us up here.  After the storm that blew through we weren't sure that it would happen, but it did.   There was us, the mosquitos and a few hundred people hanging out in a park behind the highschool.  We managed to stay in a little clearing for the fireworks, but all around us the sky was dark and lit up with lightening.   It was a pretty cool light show.  I think our first real day of summer vacation was a success!

When it rains, it snows?

At least that's what happened this week.  We were supposed to get some showers, but it decided to snow yet once again.  We have had some sunshine though which makes things a little better. 
For me though, it seems that the hits just keep on coming!
In December I had some fillings replaced on the left side of my mouth.  I didn't really need to get them done, but the dentist made it sound like a good idea.  So trusting this professional, I went ahead and had only two out of four done.  I have been in pain everyday since.  That was December 17.  Some days the pain was better than others, but still there.  I have been for 3 follow up visits, hopeful that this would get resolved, but no.  The last visit, the kindly dentist decided that something else was going on and after quizzing me about stress in my life decided that was the problem.  I don't deny that the last couple of months have been extremely stressful and what he was saying made sense, but this week has been the worst.  I left work yesterday to see the doctor, trying to get some answers.  I was promptly handed a couple of test sheets and sent to the hospital, one for blood and one for x-ray.  He told me it could be 3 things.  One a migraine (I ruled that one out), it could be a pinched cervical nerve, or some kind of arthritis close to my eye that could make be blind!  Great choices aren't they?
Meanwhile, I am hoping that all my teeth don't fall out on that side.  Chewing would be very difficult.  So I am home today, hoping to get in to see the dentist on a cancellation (I have another appointment on Tuesday) and trying to relax.  I like his theory about the pinched nerve.  I have a chiropractor appointment today, so maybe that will bring relief.  I have to say though that this could be a form of torture, I'm ready to confess anything at this point!

Happy Holidays

It's finally here, Spring Break!  I can tell you that this year I was counting down for this two week break.  As I was saying to my mom the other day, it's only the 3rd month of this new year, and it's already been really hard.  The last month has gone by in a bit of a blur, but order and routine are restored.  Things are better.  It's been more than 7 days and instead of looking back, I am looking forward. 

Mom has been here for 3 weeks, and I believe she will be happy to get home to warmer climates.  The first 2 weeks she was here, the weather was very Spring-like.  I knew that Winter was far from gone, but she was hopeful that the warm weather was here to stay.  This week, we were hit with snow almost every day and the temperatures fell.  She was most unimpressed.  I hear they are supposed to get some of the white stuff down South in the next couple of days.  :)

We have decided to have a stay-cation for the next 2 weeks.  We are worn out and need to do nothing for a bit so that we can power through the next 3 months.  Of course, we also have to think about the money angle, as we are hoping to go on a trip this summer. I am looking forward to hanging out, reading and generally doing what ever I feel like doing.  It's a long haul until June, it's time to rest up and get ready.

To all the Grumpy Non-Apple People

This post is dedicated to all the grumpy non-Apple people (my husband).  Apple is awesome.  It's no fuss, no muss and it looks great without trying so hard.  The iPhone is a perfect example.  The size is perfect for a regular person's hand, you are able to reach all the functions without having to take your other hand out of your pocket.  The screen switches from portrait to landscape faster and the auto-correct is better.  We have better apps and there so much more variety than what you are used to.  It's always sad when a non-Apple person realizes that they are shut out again from an awesome app that would make their lives easier and more interesting.  Unfortunately, you will always be playing catchup.  I'm sorry that you feel left out, especially when we can iChat and Facetime, and you are left out of the conversation.

We know that you are secretly jealous that you don't have an iPhone and can't say anything now, but we like you anyway.

7 Days

Lately, I have been thinking a lot about time.  For the last 3 months, I have been measuring time in days.  Getting to one day and then the next.  More recently, I started to think in weeks.  Time is a funny thing.  I know that I have been thinking for a while that as I get older, time seems to move more quickly.  Over the last few months I have been very aware of time.  How slowly it can pass, especially when you are sick and scared.  How quickly it can pass when you are sharing good news with friends.  This week I found out that 7 days can pass by in the blink of any eye, especially when you are coping with tragedy.  7 days.  168 hours.  10 080 minutes.  It seems like so much and so little all at the same time.  Now I am wondering what the next 7 days will bring.  I know that it will be better than the last 7 days, it's just getting there.  I will be glad to be able to look back and have it behind me, rather than having it to look forward to.

Project Life; Tired of it. (warning: a vent)

I know that it is really popular, and many people do it, but I am sick of seeing it everywhere.  I'm talking about Project Life.  When I first heard about it a few years ago, I thought it was a great idea for people who were busy or for people just getting into scrapbooking.  Since then, and especially this year, it's all I hear about!  I can appreciate a good system, and the projects are cute, but so many companies and designers have jumped onto the band wagon, that I almost gag when I come across yet another product or post about it.  What happened to layouts and mini-books?  There are so few out there and it's frustrating.  I subscribe to a lot of blogs, and I find myself flipping quickly past the ones about PL. 
And the gushing!  People that like the system REALLY like it and I think that's great, but the gushing about it is nauseating.  I like to listen to a wonderful podcast called Paper Clipping Roundtable, but when I see that it's going to be about PL, I skip that week.  I have tried, but the gushing and how they won't go back, it's so easy blah blah, just gets me every time.  I realize that I am fortunate and have spare time I can devote to the hobby, but I also like the creativity that comes with putting together layouts and mini's.  I have some favourite designers both paper and digital that I started following because of their style, but have started skipping their posts as well. 
PL is for people that want to just get the memory down for future generations or so that they can be "caught up"  and it's just not my style.  I like the looking for products, the kit clubs, the different papers and embellishments, all the "stuff" that goes into a good layout.  PL is divided page protectors, journaling cards and most of it in 3X4 sizes.  Everything cut up and stuffed into a pocket.  I know it works for some people, and I've heard the argument that people who didn't scrap before can document their memories etc.  Yay for them!  I'd still like to see some more traditional layouts and mini books about individual topics.  I can't be the only one, can I?

Happy New Year!

Another year has begun, 2013!  Yikes!  I'm just wondering where the time went.  I feel like as you get older, time goes faster.  I wonder why that is?
After a wonderful holiday break, I'm feeling rested and ready to go back to work.  Don't get me wrong, I'd love to be on a permanent vacation, but my numbers didn't come in on the lottery!  I'm not quite as ready as others out there to start getting into work mode, but I'm getting there. 
I don't usually do resolutions for the new year.  I feel like there's no one perfect time to start working on something that you want to improve or be more aware of.  I have chosen a word for the year.  This started for me a couple of years ago when I read about it here. My first word was story and I enjoyed that word a lot.  My word from last year was Me- I know it sounds egocentric, but it worked.  This year it's Believe.  I am already finding ways this word will help me through the year both physically and mentally.  It will be a journey for sure.