Healthy Choices?

Some observations from the grocery store:

1. I bought "light BUTTER" microwave popcorn the other day. That's how they market it. The BUTTER is in this huge eye-catching font, and the "light" is almost invisible. It's like we ought to be ashamed of buying light.

Then, yesterday, I went to pop a bag, and the instructions on the inner bag were given in no fewer than ELEVEN languages. I would list them if I knew what they all were. Can you believe it - 11?!

2. I also bought "fat-free creamer". Thought I'd give it a try. In its favour, it is an actual dairy product - not one of those fat-free edible oil products (Figure that one out - how can "fat-free" and "oil" co-exist?). However - the second ingredient (after skim milk) is glucose. A tablespoon of fat-free creamer is only 5 calories less than the half 'n' half Main Man uses. Worth it? I'm not so sure.

3. I bought some deli meats too. I was surprised to find that fat-free ham has fewer calories than barbecue chicken or smoked turkey - with the brands I bought anyway.

4. Be careful with whole wheat pasta too. It's marketed to be so much healthier for you, but I checked and, with the brands I compared, the whole wheat had more calories and less fibre that the regular pasta. Whodathunkit?

Shopping has become a veritable scavenger hunt since I started trying to lose weight in January. Some of the so-called "healthy choices" aren't always as healthy as you would think.

Book Review: Two for the Dough

I wrote in my last review that Sophie Kinsella was one of the few authors who could still make me laugh out loud.

Janet Evanovich has joined the ranks.

Two for the Dough is the second in Evanovich's "Stephanie Plum" series, following One for the Money.

I think I enjoyed this even more.

I won't give too many details about the plot this time. Three teasers I will give you are:

... the chemistry between Stephanie and Joe Morelli continues to heat up. (The reader is beginning to wonder just when and where the lightning will strike.)

... Grandma Mazur becomes Stephanie's "sidekick" and is at her most entertaining. (She continues to be my favourite character, I think.)

... Stephanie's job as a bounty hunter expands to include Private Investigator (on the lookout for a truckload of stolen caskets) and Personal Bodyguard (for the slimy manager* of the funeral home).

Stephanie Plum has fast become one of my favourite main characters. If you enjoy books filled with "whodunit and why" that don't take themselves too seriously, you should love her too.

*Note: Not all funeral home managers are slimy. This one definitely is. (Just didn't want to offend any funeral home managers out there....)

What Interesting Things Have YOU Done in Your Life?

I found this in my Crazy/Hip Blogger Mama travels, and - I'm sorry - I don't even remember specifically where.

Anyway, I have bolded all of the things on the list that I have done. I would love you to take up the challenge and show us all the interesting things on the list you have done. Try it; you'll like it!

01. Bought everyone in the bar a drink
02. Swam with wild dolphins
03. Climbed a mountain
04. Taken a Ferrari for a test drive
05. Been inside the Great Pyramid
06. Held a tarantula
07. Taken a candlelit bath with someone
08. Said 'I love you' and meant it
09. Hugged a tree
10. Bungee jumped
11. Visited Paris
12. Watched a lightning storm at sea
13. Stayed up all night long and saw the sun rise
14. Seen the Northern Lights
15. Gone to a huge sports game
16. Walked the stairs to the top of the leaning Tower of Pisa (ed. note: I've been to the Leaning Tower, but it was under construction (!?) at the time)
17. Grown and eaten your own vegetables
18. Touched an iceberg
19. Slept under the stars
20. Changed a baby's diaper (ed. note: Hah! Maybe a few hundred thousand, give or take!)
21. Taken a trip in a hot air balloon
22. Watched a meteor shower
23. Gotten drunk on champagne
24. Given more than you can afford to charity
25. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope
26. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment
27. Had a food fight
28. Bet on a winning horse
29. Asked out a stranger
30. Had a snowball fight
31. Screamed as loudly as you possibly can
32. Held a lamb
33. Seen a total eclipse
34. Ridden a roller coaster
35. Hit a home run
36. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking
37. Adopted an accent for an entire day
38. Actually felt happy about your life, even for just a moment
39. Had two hard drives for your computer
40. Visited all 10 provinces
41. Taken care of someone who was drunk
42. Had amazing friends
43. Danced with a stranger in a foreign country
44. Watched wild whales
45. Stolen a sign
46. Backpacked in Europe
47. Taken a road-trip
48. Gone rock climbing
49. Midnight walk on the beach
50. Gone sky diving
51. Visited Ireland
52. Been heartbroken longer then you were actually in love
53. In a restaurant, sat at a stranger's table and had a meal with them
54. Visited Japan
55. Milked a cow
56. Alphabetized your cds
57. Pretended to be a superhero (ed. note: In my family, this is a prerequisite to membership.)
58. Sung karaoke
59. Lounged around in bed all day
60. Posed nude in front of strangers
61. Gone scuba diving
62. Kissed in the rain
63. Played in the mud
64. Played in the rain
65. Gone to a drive-in theater
66. Visited the Great Wall of China
67. Started a business
68. Fallen in love and not had your heart broken (ed. note: Just once.)
69. Toured ancient sites
70. Taken a martial arts class
71. Played D&D for more than 6 hours straight
72. Gotten married
73. Been in a movie
74. Crashed a party
75. Gotten divorced
76. Gone without food for 5 days
77. Made cookies from scratch
78. Won first prize in a costume contest
79. Ridden a gondola in Venice
80. Gotten a tattoo
81. Rafted the Snake River
82. Been on television news programs as an "expert"
83. Got flowers for no reason (ed. note: interestingly enough, not from my husband.... )
84. Performed on stage
85. Been to Las Vegas
86. Recorded music
87. Eaten shark
88. Had a one-night stand
89. Gone to Thailand
90. Bought a house
91. Been in a combat zone
92. Buried one of your parents
93. Been on a cruise ship
94. Spoken more than one language fluently
95. Performed in Rocky Horror.
96. Raised children.
97. Followed your favorite band/singer on tour
98. Created and named your own constellation of stars
99. Taken an exotic bicycle tour in a foreign country
100. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over
101. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge
102. Sang loudly in the car, and didn't stop when you knew someone was looking
103. Had plastic surgery
104. Survived an illness that you shouldn't have survived
105. Wrote articles for a large publication
106. Lost over 100 pounds
107. Held someone while they were having a flashback
108. Piloted an airplane (ed. note: I got to "co-pilot" once. Basically I got to sit in the co-pilot's seat of the small plane owned by my uncle's business.)
109. Petted a stingray
110. Broken someone's heart
111. Helped an animal give birth
112. Won money on a T.V. game show
113. Broken a bone
114. Gone on an African photo safari
115. Had a body part of yours below the neck pierced
116. Fired a rifle, shotgun, or pistol
117. Eaten mushrooms that were gathered in the wild
118. Ridden a horse
119. Had major surgery
120. Had a snake as a pet
121. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
122. Slept for more than 30 hours over the course of 48 hours
123. Visited more foreign countries than U.S. states
124. Visited all 7 continents
125. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days
126. Eaten kangaroo meat
127. Eaten sushi
128. Had your picture in the newspaper
129. Changed someone's mind about something you care deeply about
130. Gone back to school
131. Parasailed
132. Petted a cockroach
133. Eaten fried green tomatoes
134. Read The Iliad - and the Odyssey
135. Selected one "important" author who you missed in school, and read
136. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
137. Skipped all your school reunions
138. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language
139. Been elected to public office (ed. note: I was elected to our daycare Board of Directors, but I don't think that's public office.)
140. Written your own computer language
141. Thought to yourself that you're living your dream
142. Had to put someone you love into hospice care
143. Built your own PC from parts
144. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn't know you
145. Had a booth at a street fair
146: Dyed your hair
147: Been a DJ
148: Shaved your head
149: Caused a car accident
150: Saved someone's life (see A Summer Bug of a Different - More Dangerous - Type)

Funny - now that I've done this, I feel like there is so much more I need to do with my life!

Thankful Thursday

This week, I am thankful for...

... my sister and my niece, who were in town this week. I hadn't seen either of them since Christmas, and we had a wonderful visit.

... payday. Need I say more?

... our neighbourhood swimming pool, where the shallow end is at my ankles, so it is safe enough for #3. Also, they have free swims every night after supper. It's the perfect way to wind down from a hot day.

... our weather this summer. I know that some places, especially in the southern states, have been experiencing heat wave conditions, so I hesitate to "brag", but we have had the perfect summer.

It's been another great week with a lot to be thankful for.

Book Review: The Undomestic Goddess

I love Sophie Kinsella (or Madeleine Wickham - her real name)!

I've read everything she has had published ( I think), and she is one of the few authors who can still make me laugh out loud.

I admit I do have to suspend disbelief just a bit. I mean - really - how can anyone really demonstrate the supreme level of poor judgement that her main characters do. But I still find it humourous, all the same.

In The Undomestic Goddess, 29-year-old Samantha Sweeting is a workaholic attorney in one of the most prestigious law firms in London. She is on the fast track to becoming a partner. She has no social life, no family life, and no food in her refrigerator.

Samantha is not the most organized person in the world, but she is a tremendously competent lawyer.

Until she makes THE ERROR.

I won't go into detail about Samantha's error. Suffice it to say that it is an error of such magnitude that the poor girl basically goes into shock, walks out of the firm's building, and, after wandering aimlessly, somehow finds herself on a train headed for she-knows-not-where.

One thing leads to another, until finally Samantha finds herself wandering the streets of a country village, wrestling a massive migraine. Seeing no shops open (it is by now evening), she decides to ring a doorbell, where she will ask for a drink of water, an aspirin, and directions to a hotel.

Unfortunately for Samantha (but rather fortunately for readers, as this is where the real adventure begins), the woman answering the door is eagerly anticipating an applicant for their housekeeper/cook position. Of course she mistakes Samantha - who can not boil water without burning it - for the applicant.

The book allows us to join Samantha on a journey of self discovery, and, in a light, reader-friendly manner, it asks both the main character and the reader to question, "Just what is feminism, anyway?" Is it having a hugely successful career in which you become famous and wealthy, or is it having the ability to choose what you want out of life?

This is the perfect book for summer beach reading. And you may just pick up some domestic tips. I know I did!

Book Review: The Lincoln Lawyer

I've always enjoyed stories about the law profession. I've read most of John Grisham's books. Main Man says I've seen so many reruns of Law and Order that I can tell you the entire plot of an episode simply by seeing the first 30 seconds. I still have nostalgic feelings for those Thursday evenings long ago when our household would stand still for the weekly L.A. Law hour.

I'm ashamed to admit that I had never read anything by Michael Connelly before I picked up The Lincoln Lawyer. The law angle grabbed me, and since I've read it, I've learned about several other Connelly books that also look intriguing.

The Lincoln Lawyer gets its title from the main character, Mickey Haller, a criminal defence attorney who uses his Lincoln as both a vehicle and an office. At first, I didn't find Haller a very likeable character. He is indiscriminate in his choice of client and is clearly not one of those idealistic young legal eagles Grisham tends to romanticize about. Haller is in the game for the take.

Slowly, though, I developed an appreciation for the character. It was gripping to see the view from the defense side of the courtroom. And I almost began to agree with Haller's assertion that everyone, no matter how guilty, deserves the most powerful defence possible.

That is, until Haller himself begins to doubt it.

When you become acquainted with Haller, it's a challenging thought that he could possibly get in over his head - with anything. But he does manage it, and that is the essence of the story.

This is a story of a seasoned defence attorney who encounters a client - and a case - that makes him question most of what has motivated him throughout his career. And therefore, begins to question his profession.

If you decide to read this book, I don't think you'll question your decision.

Reading Roulette

I must admit that I haven't personally chosen most of my reading material this summer. I've been like a reading robot, getting book lists, checking those books out of the library and reading them.

Still, even though I haven't been personally discerning, I've read some great stuff.

I have been reading children's and young adult literature from the list of Willow Award nominees. These are Canadian books nominated by children's librarians and other interested parties in our province. Students across the province vote for their favourite book in their age category. Then, next spring, the votes will be tabulated and the winners announced.

My goal is to get every student in our school to vote for their favourite. And I thought if I read each of the books, I would have a better idea how to motivate the students to get reading, once the fall arrives.

For more grown-up reading material, I've been using the Globe and Mail fiction bestseller lists, both hardcover and paperback. I'm trying to read them all, whether I think I'll like them or not. Discipline, you know. I have to admit - I haven't loved them all - but I'm proud of myself, slogging through each and every one.

And you know, some of the books I never would have picked up otherwise, have been some of my favourites.

Just goes to show, you can't judge a book by its cover...

Our Lovely Friday Supper

The quality of the picture may not be great; it's just a camera-phone shot. But the quality of the meal was top-notch!

I May Never Need to Cook Again!

The boys decided to make supper for us last night.

The idea grew and GREW and GREW.

#2 was especially excited, planning gourmet touches.

They started working as I left to pick up Main Man from work, and I had orders to pick up buns at the grocery store on the way home. And to call before we arrived home.

We followed directions, and when we arrived, we were welcomed by:

1. generous helpings of macaroni and cheese on our good dishes, complete with parsley garnish.

2. tiny finger sandwiches with a variety of fillings including bologna and cheese slices, rolled and held together with toothpicks .

3. an assortment of raw veggies and dip.

4. a wine carafe filled with cherry Kool-Aid, and a wine glass at each place setting.

It was so wonderful! Truly a meal fit for royalty. Thanks guys.

How did they know?

You Are Likely A Fourth Born

At your darkest moments, you feel angry. At work and school, you do best when your analyzing. When you love someone, you tend to be very giving. In friendship, you don't take the initiative in reaching out. Your ideal jobs are: factory jobs, comedy, and dentistry. You will leave your mark on the world with your own personal philosophy.

The Birth Order Predictor
http://www.blogthings.com/birthorderpredictorquiz/

Guess I better start working on that comedy routine...

Thankful Thursday

Oops! I was so pre-occupied this morning with thoughts of what a terrible mother I was to have a five year old with potty mouth that I forgot it was Thursday.

Oh well - I'm making up for it now.

This week, I am thankful for...

...wonderful neighbours who still have raspberries in their freezer from last year, and wonder if we could "help them out" by picking their raspberries for them.

...having responsible older boys (especially #1) who will hold the fort down while Main Man and I go out on the town once in a while.

...our nephew who lent the boys his Xbox to enjoy on their sleepover on Saturday night.

...my friend C who is touring Europe right now and emails faithfully, so I can live vicariously.

...the book Pirateology, because it is the first book #2 has ever begged me to buy for him. (Maybe he's finally developing an appreciation for reading!)

The F-Bomb

#3 got into big trouble yesterday.

When I picked him up at the city's rec program that he attends, he greeted me with the words, "I said a bad word today."

Turns out, it wasn't a bad word; it was the bad word.

Before we left, I made him formally apologise to the girl leading the group. Then, we had a lo-o-ong talk in the van.

I won't speculate on where he heard the word. I know it wasn't from me, but - let's face it - he has two older brothers who have lots of friends hanging around. Could've been from there.

Oops! Guess that was me speculating, wasn't it?

Oh dear.....

Any ideas how I should deal with this?

Motorcycle Mama?

Scene: Very hot day.

Library Mama and the three boys are in the mini-van, stopped at a red light.

Motorcyclist motors by, dressed in leather from neck to toes.

Library Mama: Boy, does that guy look hot!

#3: Ewwww, Mom - you're already married!

Learning and Earning

Summertime - the sky is blue, the temperature is hot, the livin' is easy, and the kids are drivin' me nuts!

That's not really fair. I'm sure I'm driving them as crazy as they are driving me.

We have a system to keep the brain juices flowing through the summer. We call it the learning points system, and the purpose is to prevent television rot from setting in.

Like most kids, ours could very easily spend the whole summer smack-dab in front of the tv set or the computer screen. Main Man and I came up with this system to prevent that and, at the same time, promote literacy, thinking skills, and excitement for the coming school year.

One learning point is earned by any one of the following:
1. reading (5 chapters by #1, who is an avid reader, or 2 chapters by #2, not quite as avid)
2. completing one page in the "workbook" I purchased for each of them, in which they do activities designed for their year coming up in school
3. playing a game of chess, Pente, or Mastermind (winner gets an extra point)
4. completing a level on All the Right Type, a computer program to practice typing

They each get one half hour (free) of television and computer time each day, and they can "spend" their learning points as follows:
1 point for an extra half hour of tv or computer time
10 points each for me to pay for them to go to a movie
5 points each for me to rent them a movie
10 points for a sleepover
15 points each to rent a game system

Both the earning list and the spending list is expandable. The whole system is a work in progress.

One wonderful side effect is that it has cut down a bit on the bickering. They are allowed to watch each other's half hour of tv, but he who pays the piper calls the tune, so there's no fighting over what to watch.

And even #2, who would rather fly to the moon than read a book, will occasionally retreat to his room to read in order to earn a point. (It is my hope that, through this extrinsic benefit, he will slowly begin to absorb the intrinsic benefits of reading.)

Even #3, who goes into kindergarten in the fall, has his own workbook, and loves to sit down at the kitchen table and do his "homework".

Just had a thought though - thank goodness they don't make me pay for my computer time.

Downtown

I've been driving Main Man to work in the mornings in order to avoid paying downtown parking charges.

We live in a very small city by most people's standards, so traffic jams and downtown pollution aren't factors. Also, we live close enough to the downtown area that the return commute is no longer than a half hour.

I really enjoy the drive. I love watching the hustle and bustle of everyone in the mornings: the young sleek business people with their cell phones and Starbucks cups, the double parked Fed Ex workers rushing around with big brown envelopes, the slackers on their way to work in the comic book store down the street from Main Man's office.

I also love the downtown "characters"; there's an older man with long grey hair and a matching beard, slightly reminiscent of a shopping mall Santa Claus. No matter what the temperature, he wears an ugly long-sleeved green work shirt with matching pants and a dirty peaked cap. He is often carrying a full green garbage bag. I don't like to imagine what could be contained therein.

I also enjoy the short time I have alone with Main Man - 10 or 15 minutes of uninterrupted adult conversation - no distracting televisions or computer screens in sight.

Pet Peeve: Pedestrians who constantly move around while they are waiting to cross at a corner. When I want to make a right turn around that corner, I can never tell if they are going to step right out in front of my vehicle. Stand still. Then I have a better idea what you're thinking.

You Awake?

Wake-over at our house last night. I've stopped calling them sleepovers.

#2 had a friend stay over. #1, #2, and the friend slept (and I use the term loosely) in the basement, surrounded by a tv, an X-box, a 12-pack of caffeine-free (wouldn't want to keep them awake)Coke, and enough junk food to last a week.

Main Man wanted to sleep down there with them. I vetoed that.

Book Review: One for the Money

Two weeks ago, I noticed that Janet Evanovich had two books on the Globe and Mail best seller list. Both of them are still there. Eleven on Top is #9 on the paperback fiction list, and Twelve Sharp is #5 on the hardcover fiction list.

Upon further investigation, I found that they are part of the Stephanie Plum series. Being a series purist, I felt compelled to start at the beginning, so I checked the first book of the series out of the library. I finished it in two days.

One for the Money is the story of Stephanie Plum. Through Stephanie, readers learn early on that you can take the girl out of Jersey, but you can't take Jersey out of the girl. Stephanie has lost her job as a lingerie buyer for a small department store. On one of her pilgrimages home for a home-cooked meal, her father convinces her to ask her cousin Vinnie for a filing job. When Stephanie arrives at Vincent Plum Bail Bonding Company, the receptionist informs her that the filing job has been filled, but that the real money is in "skip tracing". And one of Vinnie's skip tracers just happens to have been admitted to hospital with a ruptured appendix.

Stephanie Plum, bounty hunter. Has a bit of a ring to it, don't you think?

The rest of the book details Stephanie's first assignment: bringing in Joe Morelli, formerly from the neighbourhood, now a vice cop charged with murder.... and on the run.

This book is filled with likable and interesting characters. Stephanie, of course, is foremost. The book is written in the first person and reveals Stephanie's spirit, fortitude, and sense of humour in an appealing manner. I also liked Stephanie's grandmother, a peripheral character with a comical sense of panache. Even the lowlifes Stephanie encounters through her new employment, although decidedly not likable, capture the reader's attention. I got the feeling that, had this been on the big screen, I would not have been able to take my eyes off of them.

One note: I often review young adult or children's literature on The Books Nook. This is definitely not that kind of reading. This book is for you to read on the beach this summer, not your ten-year-old.

Happy bounty hunting!

Never a Bridesmaid....

I have never been a bridesmaid.

Well, I guess I was a junior bridesmaid for my sister when I was eight years old, but that doesn't really count.

I figure now that I'm forty years old, chances are slim that I ever will be a bridesmaid.

I'm not sure I really want to be a bridesmaid. But, for reasons I don't really understand, I've been thinking about it lately.

Thinking about what this means, deep down. That I've never been a closey-close girlfriend. I have lots of friends, but not since the eighth or ninth grade have I had a whispery tell-all relationship with another female.

Is that abnormal?

A niece of mine was married last summer and, because I read a passage at the ceremony, I was part of the rehearsal/pre-wedding day festivities. I observed her bridesmaids and felt quite jealous of the camaraderie among the group. Actually, I'm not sure jealous is the right word. Maybe regretful.

I watch shows like Sex and the City, and, although there are a multitude of things I find annoying about the characters, I wish I had close female friendships like that. I know, I know - it's TV; it's not real. Still, deep down below the surface, I feel as if I'm missing out on something, ya know?

Thankful Thursday

I've stolen this idea from BlondeMom. It's a great concept. Feel free to pick up on it yourself if the gratitude bug catches you.

1. I'm thankful for wonderful friends who drop in for quick visits and plan "coffee dates". I'm grateful that I now have something to put on the calendar for tomorrow that has nothing to do with anyone in my family under the age of 13. (Thanks, Information Goddess.)

2. I'm thankful that Main Man is completely recuperated from his waspy weekend encounter.

3. I'm thankful for our city's recreational program for children. The two older boys have opted out this year (they're too "cool"for that stuff now!), but #3 is loving hanging out, learning new games, and making new friends.

4. I'm thankful that Main Man and I have patched up our differences from earlier in the week. Pretty much...

5. I'm thankful for all my blogfriends. I love getting comments and email. Keep 'em coming, folks!

FLYing Through the Summer

I would like you to meet a friend of mine.

Flylady

Every summer, I become a devoted follower, and, by the end of August, my house looks pretty good. (I wish I could say great, but I'm basically a pretty honest person.)

Of course, once I get caught up in the school year, things begin to fall apart again, but it's nice to know I can get my act together when I have to.

Trouble in Paradise

It'll have to be short entries for a while, folks.

I'm not getting projects done fast enough for Main Man's liking during my holidays. He indirectly voiced his disapproval last night.

How dare the kids and I spend so much time on things that we enjoy when the projects he feels need to be done are not yet accomplished!


Yup! Trouble in paradise....

(Don't worry - nothing we haven't handled before on this seventeen year old roller-coaster we call marriage.)

Book Review: Rink of Dreams

Rink of Dreams by Nancy L. M. Russell is the consummate Canadian book for young adults.

How can any Canadian youth not enjoy a book about a boy who dreams of being in the NHL?

Still, the reasons I enjoyed it went far beyond this obvious theme.

Gary MacDonald has been skating since he was two years old, and he practices hockey every winter on the rink his father builds him in the backyard.

The winter of Gary's fourteenth year, however, is fraught with changes and uncertainty. His parents are divorcing, and he must cope with the challenges of maintaining his position on an extremely competitive AAA Bantam hockey team. As a young, physically slight player, he is finding it difficult to get used to the physical contact on the ice and the emotional intimidation off the ice.

Helping Gary through the winter is the arrival of an NHL farm team to his community of Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. The excitement permeates the entire city, as players they had previously only seen on television are suddenly living in their midst.

Gary's father's law firm participates in an "Adopt a Player" program, where a player is helped to assimilate into the community. The MacDonald family becomes very close with Dmitri Rushkov, an 18-year-old Russian player. This friendship leads to some intriguing and potentially dangerous situations for all involved.

This book appeals to both male and female readers, for the hockey situations seem realistic, and I think young hockey players would enjoy and respect the way Russell portrays them. Also explored, though, is Gary's confusion regarding his parents' divorce and all of the changes he's encountering, and I think girls would find this aspect of the book appealing.

I find it interesting that the short bio on Russell found on the back of the book indicates that she is a journalist with CBC Radio and Television. As I read this book, there were times I could easily envision this as a CBC made-for-TV movie.

A Summer Bug of a Different - More Dangerous - Type

How many of you have ever had to call 911?

I would think it's not a common occurrence for most people. I'm not sure I've ever done it before - before yesterday, that is. I think I would remember.

Main Man was in the back yard gardening yesterday afternoon. At one point, he came in and headed down the hallway toward the bathroom. I thought nothing of it.

Moments later, though, a weak-sounding voice called from the bedroom, "I need help!"

I ran to him and found him lieing on the bed, perspiring and in obvious distress.

He had been stung by a wasp.

Now, he's been bitten before without nearly this degree of effect. This was really frightening.

My knowledge of anaphylaxis is actually quite good; we have numerous students at my school who are fatally allergic to peanuts, and each year, we teachers are briefed on how to deal with such emergencies.

I ran to get him an antihistamine. The only thing we had was one of those 24-hour allergy relief pills, so I had him take that.

He had no visible hives yet, but he felt he had to go to the hospital, so I went to the back yard to gather #3 for the trip.

By the time I re-entered the house, Main Man was calling to me to phone 911.

I did.

The next 5 minutes were some of the most frightening of my life.

I spoke with the dispatcher, and she was absolutely fantastic in calming me down. She had the ambulance on its way as she coached me through everything.

I sent #3 to sit on the front step to let the ambulance attendants know they had the right house.

Main Man never lost consciousness, and, although he was obviously having trouble, he never fully stopped breathing. Those two points kept me going through this all.

I don't know how I would have reacted if he had lost consciousness.

At one point, I said aloud, "What's taking them so long?"

Even in all of his distress, still the voice of reason, he gasped, "It's okay - it just seems like a long time."

They did finally arrive, and gave him a thorough going over. He already seemed a little better than he had been. They felt he should go to the hospital, though, and asked if he would be able to walk to the ambulance.

He stood up, and said to them, "Wow, I couldn't have done that 5 minutes ago!"

By the time he was seen by a doctor in the ER, he was just fine. In fact, he was revved to get back to his gardening.

Me - not so much!

I was ready to go home, though. If I had to sit through him proudly telling one more pretty nurse that he quit smoking three months ago, I was going to gag!

Two final points, by the way. Turns out, it wasn't really anaphylaxis he was experiencing, but almost the opposite: his body had produced too much adrenaline to fight the effects of the sting. This resulted in heart palpitations and feelings of utter panic.

Also, he was told on at least two occasions by two different health professionals that this could have concluded in a much less favourable result if he had not taken that allergy pill right away.

How long do you think I can play the "I saved your life, Dear" ticket?

Yard Sale Fever

Everything is right as rain today. No more flu symptoms or listlessness. Sorry to disappoint those who were already out buying little pink sleepers for the new little girl in our family. Doesn't look like that's the case!

Big excitement here this morning.

The older boys have rounded up a bunch of their old toys and have joined in with some friends down the block to have a yard sale. I'm happy they're excited.

Though, personally, I am reminded of all the reasons I hate having yard sales - and have essentially stopped having them.

I think the boys are spending all their profits on buying their friends' toys. Why bother with the money, I am wondering. Why don't they just trade toys for a year, they trade back next summer?

Summer Bug

I'm draggy today. But not as bad as I was yesterday.

I was hit by a mysterious summer bug yesterday. I had a productive morning, but just before lunch, I suddenly felt headachey and a little nauseous.

#1 made and served lunch for his brothers while I lay down on the couch. I slept a bit.

After that, I felt well enough for a little salad, but I went right back to the couch when I was finished.

#1 went to a movie with a friend, and I pretty much slept the afternoon away on the couch, with #2 and #3 watching TV right there with me.

I had no energy. I couldn't move from the couch. I don't think the little boys minded, because it's very unusual for me to let them watch TV all afternoon. I think they thought it was a party.

Main Man came home and made supper. I ate a bit, then went to bed. Slept for 12 more hours. I can't believe how much I slept in a 24 hour period!

I'm up and at it now. And earlier in the week, I promised the kids I would take them for a picnic today. They've been looking forward to it all week, so there's no way I'll get out of this one! Probably a good thing - something to get me off my butt.

Cell-ebration or Complication

I have a new cell phone.

It has capabilities I'm sure I will never figure out.

Main Man felt that it was time that #1 had a cell phone. I did not agree, but that's another story, perhaps to be told sometime in the future.

Anyway, on the family plan to which we subscribe, Main Man purchased a new phone for me, and #1 gets my old phone. He has already discovered features on that old phone that I never knew it was capable of.

To many of you, I'm sure, this new phone will seem old news, but to me, it means a large learning curve. It can take photos and video, it has mp3 capabilities, it has a multitude of ringtone capabilities - oh - and I can send and receive phone calls.

Do I need all of this? No. But Main Man thought I would enjoy it, so I have to give him points for thoughtfulness.

I think I need to take a summer course on how to use this new contraption, though.

Summer School! What Genius Though That Up?

Summer School! What Genius Thought That Up? is the eighth book in the Hank Zipzer series written be Henry Winkler and Lin Oliver. Yes - that Henry Winkler, AKA The Fonz.

I must admit that the reason I bought this book was that I was curious what kind of junior novel Henry Winkler thought he could write. The book sat on my shelf for quite a while, untouched. Then, a teaching colleague whose son HATES to read saw it on my shelf and asked to borrow it. Evidently, her son had discovered the series, and had caught fire with it (I love when that happens!). He hadn't read the eighth book yet.

When I got it back from them, I decided to dive in. And I can see why this young (previous) non-reader had fallen in love with this series.

Hank Zipzer is in Grade Four and has reading problems. In this installment in the series, Hank must attend summer school while his best friends get to attend "Junior Explorers", an exciting day-camp also held at the school. You can just imagine how Hank feels about the situation.

Fortunately, Hank's summer school teacher is the coolest teacher in school. He manages to talk Hank into doing a research project on Albert Einstein. At first, Hank has no idea who Einstein is, but Hank's grandpa takes him to the library (there's that wonderful word again! :), and, together, they do a bit of searching.

Once he sees a picture of Einstein, Hank is instantly drawn to his wild hair. Upon digging a little deeper, though, Hank realizes just why Mr. Rock suggested Einstein as a topic; Einstein, recognized as one of the world's most intelligent people ever, had almost the same reading disability that Hank has.

The book holds many interesting sub-plots, including a younger sister with a pet iguana, a bully and his annoying girlfriend, a Hawaiian luau and a talent show, and, together with Einstein, they serve to give the book a subtle message of the importance of believing in yourself.

My only beef about the book is a minor one. Although the characters are meant to be in Grade Four, they seem older to me. Their motivations don't seem to resonate with the way Fourth Graders would see the world. Still, most readers, especially younger ones, wouldn't notice this or care.

Fonz, ya did a great job! Aaaaaaaaaaayh!

Our Books Nook

It's time I lived up to my name and wrote about the library.

I LOVE our public library. And my kids love the public library. Yesterday we were there for just a few minutes, as #2's library card had expired and he needed some things renewed. I hadn't planned to stay long, as we are going back today, but I could tell all three boys were disappointed that we were leaving so soon.

We have 19 different library events written on the month of July on our calendar. There are storytimes, puppet shows, craft days, magicians, musicians, a Lord of the Rings movie marathon, and much more. Although the organized events taper off a bit as the boys get older, #1 and #2 like to browse the shelves and read while I take #3 to things like storytimes and puppet shows.

The older boys are especially pumped about the Lord of the Rings movie marathon. They've already seen all three movies, but the marathon aspect is what makes it exciting, I think. Our main downtown branch of the library has a movie theatre, so they will be comfy. And they do stop between movies for an hour or so, so I will take lunch and supper to them.

They almost had a huge disappointment. When they read the poster for this event, they were bouncing-off-the-wall excited. Unfortunately, they did not read the fine print. The Lord of the Rings is rated 14A. The library is not going to admit anyone under 14 without an accompanying adult. Have you ever watched an empty pop can being crushed? That's what those boys looked like.

However, in rode our knight in shining armour - Main Man. He looked at his schedule, saw no pressing deadlines around that time, and decided to take the day off work to accompany the boys. Thank you, kind sir.

Today, I will take #3 to the puppet show Puss in Boots, while the older boys search the shelves for their tastes, which vary greatly from one another. #1 loves graphic novels and mysteries. He's one of those people who can read three or four books at the same time. Right now he's reading The DaVinci Code, Chasing Vermeer, and at least one graphic novel.

#2, on the other hand, is my non-fiction boy. It is conceivable that he doesn't even know where the fiction section of the library is! Right now, he's reading a fairly advanced re-telling of the Greek myths.

Then there's #3, who tends to be quite discriminating. He knows exactly what he doesn't like, and sometimes I think he purposely chooses books at the library based on how heavy they are to carry home!

At the risk of sounding like a public service announcement, have you visited your public library lately?

Well, His Nickname in College was Wrong-Way

We were manoeuvring through the quicksand of thick traffic on our way home from the fireworks on Canada Day. Main Man asked my advice on which way to turn in order to avoid the worst of it.

I really had no idea, so I replied, "You're the boss behind the wheel. Wherever you think is best, is best."

Heard from the back seat (#3 I think, but no one has admitted to it yet): "Oh great! Now we're going to get lost!"

O Canada!

To those Canadians out there who read these little musings that materialize from my keyboard, I wish you a fine day.

To any who are not Canadian who stop by here to read - and sometimes share a thought or two with me - I wish you a fine day as well.

Canada Day has alway been my second favourite holiday of the year. Christmas has always been my favourite, for obvious reasons, but I love Canada Day as well, because it has none of the annoying little burdens and duties which Christmas must carry.

Christmas is the ultimate busy holiday. Canada Day is the ultimate restful holiday.

Today, all of us will sleep in. It is now almost 9:00 and I am the only one up. Even I've been up for less than an hour, and I'm the morning glory of this household.

How many families with three kids and a husband get to sleep in on Christmas morning?

We have no commitments today. Main Man will mow the lawn sometime, and when he's finished we will amble down to the central park in town, where crowds will gather to celebrate. When we've had enough of the sunshine and crowds, we will amble back home to lounge about.

How many Christmas days are spent ambling in the sunshine?

I'm not sure what we'll have for supper tonight. I bought some lean ground beef yesterday, so maybe I'll make my personal recipe for salsa burgers my kids love so much. Mmmmm....that sounds good.

How many Christmas mornings are spent musing about what to serve for supper?

I know you probably get the point, so I will stop beating you over the head with it. Sorry.

I suppose I should be writing about what a wonderful country we have here - and we definitely do. I often think we really don't appreciate it nearly enough.

Last night, Main Man and I were talking about all the crackerjack characteristics of Canada, and we had a pretty long list.

Then, he got talking about this survey he read about a couple of weeks ago which indicated that Canadians had more sex than either Americans or Brits. I wanted more information about that article - maybe even a link for this post, so all of you could read about it, but then, we got distracted ................... so - sorry - no link. (*giggles*)

Happy Canada Day, everybody!