The Books Nook

All is Fine

2008-01-14T22:54:00.000-06:00

All is fine in our lives.

Christmas was wonderful. It was chaotic...but wonderful. There's this unbearable lightness of being one feels watching children open their stockings.

"He knew! He knew! How did he know?!" exclaimed #3 as he tore through his stocking items. And I concur. Just how did Santa know exactly what little things #3 wanted? He really must have spies.

Routine has set in once again. Life is busy at school. My debate team is hosting a tournament on Thursday, and performance nights for the musical I'm helping direct will be mid-February.

#1 did not make the basketball team at his school, but has stepped up to offer to help the coach as team manager. He's eager to be in the loop, even if he can't make it in the hoop.

#2 will be eleven years old on Wednesday. Time flies so fast once you have kids. Is it the zombieism from lack of sleep or is it that time's effects show so much more on kids? Just why does the very act of giving birth seem to put the entire rest of your life on fast forward?

Main Man is brutally busy at work. He goes back to the office just about every evening after supper to work on his current project. Huge deadline toward the end of the month. Then hopefully he can catch up on his life.

Nothing much more to add. We keep putting one foot in front of the other. It seems to keep us heading in the right direction.

STRESS with a Capital S

2007-11-23T21:12:00.000-06:00

Today was report card day. It's a really stressful time for me. Three times a year I get to experience mind-numbing stress and debilitate my family with my vile temper.

I like to think that I would be diligent with my responsibilities in any case, but I teach in an interesting community. It's a suburban community in which most of the population is composed of urban professionals with college educations and expectations of the same for their children. Many of them tend to hold the teacher responsible if any of their little darlings get a mark which doesn't please them. It is very important for me to have documentation up the wazoo in order to justify every mark on every report card.

Next week - Tuesday and Wednesday evenings to be exact - parent-teacher interviews will be held. Those are the height of stress. Christmas can begin in our household and in my heart when those are over with.

The kicker of it all is that last night we received an email from my mother-in-law informing us that my sister-in-law (Main Man's sister) is experiencing a very stressful time. I believe the quote was "STRESS with a capital S". Her stressful time is that she is in the process of preparing to move her family into her dream house (with the financial help of my mother-in-law; it's a long story - for another time, perhaps). She (my sister-in-law), incidentally, is a stay-at-home-mom (something I've dreamed of being all my life but, alas, I don't have the nerve to ask others to pay my bills; if I sound bitter, I am).

My mother-in-law will be staying at our house overnight tonight. If my sister-in-law's STRESS becomes a topic of conversation, I may pull someone's tongue out.

Christmas Mysteries

2007-11-12T22:46:00.000-06:00

The Christmas commercials have begun.

I'm excited about Christmas. It's my favourite time of year. I love it for many of the reasons that other people hate it. I love the buzz, the excitement, the gift-buying, the card-writing, the concerts, the parties, the getting together with family and friends, and the heart-bursting happiness of it all.

If this season makes me so happy, why do the commercials have the effect on me that they do? They can make me cry at the drop of a hat.

What's up with that?

Thankful Thursday

2007-11-08T19:28:00.000-06:00

This week I am grateful...

...that it hasn't permanently snowed yet. Autumn has seemed longer than usual this year. I'm pleased.

...that seven-year-olds actually sleep during sleepovers.

...for slow cookers.

...that I got a raise on my last pay-cheque.

...for long weekends.

...for the excitement of election time, especially when the big picture ends up pretty much the way I want it to end up. (Too bad the little picture didn't.)

...for my church community.

...that Halloween is over.

...that Christmas is just around the corner.

...for those brave men and women who serve their country in the military.

Have a great week, all!

Mother Guilt

2007-11-05T07:10:00.000-06:00

I'm encountering heavy doses of "mother guilt" these days. It's no one's fault. No one is intentionally doing it to me. It's just me, wishing I could do a better job.

#3 had a terrible cough in the night. He should probably sleep in this morning and stay home from school. But no, I can't let him do that. I'm already taking a day off later this week, so I can't just out-of-the-blue call in and say I won't be at school today.

#2 is performing a reading at his school's Remembrance Day ceremony later this week. Of course, I am unable to attend.

#1 has a volleyball game after school tomorrow, but, because of musical rehearsal, I can't go to that, either. (Side note: I've only missed one other game so far, and Main Man hasn't been to any of them. I suppose this time it may be his turn.)

I just wish I could be everywhere. We're constantly told at work about how expectations are high, and accountability is very important, but that leaves no room sometimes for expectations and accountability at home.

Why am I a Food Fool?

2007-11-04T21:34:00.000-06:00

I wish I could stop eating. I keep sneaking items from the boys' Halloween candy stashes. The worst part is I don't even care what I grab. I scarf down the first thing I touch as I reach blindly into the pillow slip.

Also, for some reason I can't convince my family to eat leftovers. I open the fridge and I see these great leftovers that I don't want to see go to waste, so I fill a little bowl and toss it in the microwave. "Mmmmm," I think, "that sure tastes good. Maybe just a little more..."

I think I've eaten several meals worth of hamburger soup and spaghetti over the last few days - only it's been between meals.

Why can't I stop eating???

Rambles...

2007-11-03T20:24:00.000-06:00

We're having a sleepover at our house tonight. #3 is having a little friend sleep over. Come to think of it, it's the first time he's had an overnight friend. I think the bigger boys were almost as excited as #3, as they like this little friend, as well.

Right now the four of them - and my biggest boy, as well, of course - are in the livingroom watching Spiderman 3 while I'm relegated to the kitchen. I'm doing just fine, though. I've got Gone with the Wind on Turner Classic Movies, blogger, and a glass of red wine. Frankly, I think we all feel that we have the best of the deal. Isn't that the way it should be?

Life has gotten the best of me once again, and it has been much too long since I've written. We are in election season here in our province. Main Man is usually quite the political animal, but that hasn't really been the case this time. We don't even have a sign on our lawn. Scandalous!

My biggest interest election-wise is that my niece's husband is running for office. Unfortunately, I'll not have the opportunity to vote for him as he is not running in our city, but I've been sending victory vibes his way constantly, so I hope everything goes well for him. I know that both of them have been working very hard, so, regardless of the outcome, they will be very happy that it will be over soon.

"You should be kissed - often - and by someone who knows how." I love Gone With the Wind!

Life continues to be busy at school. We have begun rehearsals for this year's musical - The Pirates of Penzance. It is always a highlight of the school year, and, although I enjoy the rehearsals, the time commitment is a little overwhelming: every noon hour and an hour every day after school until our performance dates in February. I feel like much of the rest of my life takes a backseat during musical season.

"I don't know nothin' 'bout birthin' babies!"

Well, they've decided to take a break from Spiderman, so I've been challenged to a game of Operation. I'm off to remove a funny bone.

Hope this rambling note finds all of you well and happy. Cheers!

How is it...

2007-10-14T21:31:00.000-06:00

... that, after being up seven or eight times with a six-year-old with a fever and the stomach flu, I feel like I spent the night running a marathon and he (aforementioned six-year-old) wakes up with energy to burn?

Tell me - how can that be?

Power, Anyone?

2007-10-09T22:29:00.000-06:00

On the way home from work today, I ran into a stretch of road where they were doing some construction. They had a policewoman in the middle of the intersection directing traffic. She was doing a fantastic job. She had the required air of authority, and all of the rush hour traffic was courteously following her directions.

As I awaited my turn to proceed, my mind travelled through an interesting maze of thought.

My first thought was, "Oh, sure, send the little woman out to direct traffic while the men do the important jobs!"

My second thought was, "Wow, she's good - and look at the power she has. Look at how all of these people are obeying her, even during rush hour when they're all stressed and in a hurry to get home."

My third thought was, "I would be terrified being her. I never want that much power!"

Happy Thanksgiving

2007-10-07T23:09:00.000-06:00

I hope everyone has had a wonderful day.

Today our family celebrated Canadian Thanksgiving. Tomorrow is the holiday off work, but we generally have our big celebration on the Sunday evening.

I hosted Main Man's mom, his brother and sister-in-law, their two sons, and our sister-in-law's mom. It wasn't really a houseful, but it was as big a houseful as we're accustomed to.

I served turkey (of course!), stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, yams with orange juice, tarragon carrots, a corn dish I make with sweet peppers, maple squash, home-baked bread and corn muffins, and spring salad mix with red and green onions and peppers and a raspberry vinaigrette. My sister-in-law and her mom brought dessert - pumpkin pie and cherry tarts. The whole meal was a roaring success. We have leftovers galore, so it looks like my diet is not going to start again for at least a few more days.

Much of the clean-up is now finished, although I must admit that I'm hitting the hay with still a few dirty wine glasses on the counter beside the sink and a couple of stubborn pots and pans soaking in the sink.

Main Man and I worked as quite the team today. We really do have massive amounts of abundance to be thankful for.

I'm Ba-a-a-a-a-ack!

2007-09-29T07:08:00.001-06:00

Well, I was finding the whole blogging thing a little overwhelming, daunting, even - dare I say it - a little boring, so I decided to take some time off.

Actually, the word "decided" may give me too much credit. It wasn't really a conscious decision, and, in fact, after a week or so of not posting, I wasn't even sure I would ever come back.

It's been over a month now, though, and I've made it through the whole back-to-school time, and I feel refreshed. Indeed, I feel as if I have a new attitude toward my little Nook.

I will not beat myself up if I don't post every day. In fact, I will plan to post once a week-ish. That way, I will be happy with myself if I manage to post more often than that.

I have so missed my blogging friends, and I hope all is well with all of you. I will be by soon to visit and "catch up". I'm not putting any timelines on that, either, though, so please don't take it personally if it takes me a little while.

Laid back. That is going to be Library Mama. Indeed, that's the only way this blog thing can work for me.

There are way too many other things in my life that are true duties. I can't afford to let a hobby become the duty at the top of the pile.

Hi again, everyone.

I thought...

2007-08-22T21:59:00.000-06:00

...that seeing Back to School items in the stores as early as July 20th was a little over the top, but this next one takes the cake.

This evening - August 22 - we received our Sears Christmas Wish Book!
(By the way, this isn't a picture of the one we received. I just loved the nostalgia of the picture on this cover. This little girl looks a lot like I used to look.)

Canoe Handle It?

2007-08-20T23:26:00.001-06:00

Tomorrow morning #1 is off on a wilderness canoe trip with a group of youth from our church.

I'm sure he'll have a phenomenal time, but, as is a mother's prerogative, I'm worried for him. I'm worried it will rain and he'll be cold and wet. I'm worried he'll drop his backpack in the river and ruin all his stuff. I'm worried he'll run out of toilet paper. I'm worried he'll miss me. (Yeah right - as if that last one will ever happen!)

I've packed his backpack for him, including waterproofing everything as well as I could. I managed to roll up his sleeping bag with his pillow, air mattress and pump all in one roll. I've done everything I possibly can to make his trip safe, comfortable and enjoyable. I guess the rest is up to him.

He has no doubt that he'll have a great time, but he hasn't had the life experience I've had that allows me to look at the situation in a much more realistic (or is that pessimistic?) manner.

Happy Anniversary

2007-08-19T23:02:00.000-06:00

Just a quick note to wish my beloved Main Man a happy anniversary.

As of 3:30 this afternoon, we have enjoyed 18 years of wedded bliss.

Well, I suppose not all of it has been bliss, but it has definitely all been worth it.

Thanks for everything, Main Man (AKA Mentok). Here's to the next 50 years!

Next Top Model

2007-08-18T21:28:00.000-06:00

Alright, I admit, I have a new guilty little pleasure.

Over the summer I have become addicted to the variety of "Next Top Model" shows.

I've been watching episodes from Britain, Canada, and America.

It's difficult to describe exactly what attracts me, but I think I see them as a type of travel show. I mean, watching them is like learning about a culture very different from my own, from a country very different from my own.

Nice place to visit, but I wouldn't want to live there.

High School Musical 2

2007-08-17T22:40:00.000-06:00

Aren't they just too cute for words?

We've already watched it twice today.

Of course, the second time we had to sit through Main Man heckling it, but that's the price we have to pay in this household.

Hello Again

2007-08-16T20:10:00.000-06:00

I think this may be the longest blogger-break I have taken since I first started.

If any of you were at all worried, everything is fine. The days just seem to flow by and, before I know it, it's bedtime. Main Man is usually on the computer in the evening, and, as he is the one working all day, I figure he deserves a little computer recreation in the evening. I haven't the heart to kick him off just so I can blog.

Besides, I could be doing my blog entries sometime during the day when he's at work. I guess I just haven't had the motivation. Something has snuffed out the spark of blogging for me.

I start back to work in a week.

And you know, because it has been such a great summer, I feel okay about that.

The weather has been GORGEOUS this summer! And we've had a couple of great little holidays - our fantasy trip to the Okanagan Valley, of course, and this past weekend, we took a little excursion to my home town for their agricultural fair. I was able to see all of my siblings and my dad and his wife and a few old friends from high school. Also, the boys were able to enter some things in the fair - academic work, crafts, and such - so it was exciting to see how they did. #2 in particular was very successful, earning about $30 in prize money. He's deservedly very proud.

Well, it's almost time for storytime for the boys, so I guess I'll sign off. I hope everyone out there is doing well

Surprise, Surprise!

2007-08-03T19:23:00.000-06:00

At the end of the work day I went to Main Man's office to surprise him by inviting him for after work drinks.

At least I tried to.

As I was on my way, my cell phone rang. I frantically searched through my purse to retrieve my cell phone, but I missed the call. Luckily, it rang again right after I found it.

It was Main Man.

He had come home early to surprise me!

Picnic in the Park and More

2007-08-03T07:54:00.000-06:00

Yesterday the boys and I took a picnic down to the park near Main Man's office and treated him to lunch.

The lunch itself was nothing special - Black Forest ham on fresh home-baked bread, raw veggies, melon, cookies and soft drinks - but the time together was wonderful.

I hope Main Man found it as much of a boost to his afternoon as I did.

When we arrived home, the little boys continued work on their BIG PROJECT. They are in the midst of going through the massive amount of toys, books, action figures, and Hot Wheels cars in their room and playing "Love it or Shove it". They're doing a fantabulous job! I'm very proud of them. They're being far more ruthless than I would be. It's probably best that I leave them on their own to do it, or they wouldn't be nearly as efficient. ("Oh, but Sweetie, your Auntie Heather bought you this for your third birthday! You can't possibly throw that out!" There's no stronger sentimentality than that of a mother.)

In the evening, Main Man did something he hasn't done in a very long time - he went for a bike ride. #1 got a new bike this summer, so Main Man asked to borrow it. I sent him off the the grocery store for a few things. #3, who is a bicycle maniac this summer, begged to accompany him. So off they went - my oldest (so to speak) and my youngest - on an excursion farther than #3 had ever ridden away from home before. When they returned - well after dusk, I might add - both of them were pumped beyond words. They had had a ball together out on their quest, and they had even managed to remember to get the groceries I had asked for!

Thankful Thursday

2007-07-26T22:25:00.000-06:00

This week I am thankful for the kindness of others, especially for the following situations:

- for my very good friend from work who lent #1 her copy of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows after she finished reading it.

- for my amazing brother-in-law who was able to completely fix my dryer. It's been making funny noises since January, but it completely died on Monday. We asked him to come over and assess the situation. It turned out to need a couple of parts and a knowledgeable hand, and now it runs very well, and - I might add - very quietly.

- for another very good friend from work who had all of the "girls" in for drinks this afternoon. She had had her kitchen renovated and was eager to show it off to all of us. I'm so happy for her and her husband. She has spoken for years of looking for a new house; today she seemed very happy right where she is.

- for my sister-in-law who has invited me over tomorrow to pick cherries from her tree. She has promised me a couple of recipes to put them in, and I look forward to baking pies and muffins.

- for the lady who walked #3's bike home for him after he had a bit of an accident just down the street. She had been driving by when she saw him fall and hurt himself, so she stopped and walked him home, bringing his bike for him. I had never seen her before. People can be so kind!

Time now for me to call it a night. I hope all of you are well and happy.

Harry Has Left the Building

2007-07-21T20:01:00.000-06:00

Last night we took the boys to the largest bookstore in town to attend the Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows launch party. It was a festive evening filled with costumes, treats and excitement.

The Science Centre mentioned in my last entry had people there hosting "Potions Classes" and showing off animals that wizards may have such as snakes, mice, and lizards. There was a craft table set up with colouring sheets and paper neckties and spectacles you could colour and decorate. A magician performed late in the evening. At one second past midnight, when the book was finally released, there was a reading of the first chapter by the fireplace.

The anticipation was palpable as children ran among the stacks. Teenagers hung out in packs attempting to look indifferent. I heard one young twenty-something say to another, "Let's head next door for a beer and come back later." People began lining up at the cash desk hours ahead of time waiting to buy their copy, and there was a line-up in a different area of the store for those who had pre-paid. People of all ages awaited their chance to know the fate of the most famous boy wizard ever.

Although we had no plans to stay until midnight, #1 ran into some friends and wanted to stick around. Main Man and I took the little ones home around 11:00 and he returned to retrieve #1 later.

We haven't bought the book yet. I did put it on hold at the library, but we are 157th in line, so I expect we will end up buying it sooner rather than later. #1 desperately wants to read it before someone spills the beans to him about what the ending will bring.

I expect it will be the first title on the first purchase order I write for my library in the fall, as well.

Thankful Thursday

2007-07-19T13:54:00.000-06:00

This week I am thankful ...

... for my very own bed after being away on vacation for ten days. As Dorothy so eloquently put it, "There's no place like home!"

... that I still have three quarters of my summer holiday remaining.

... for the summer children's programs offered by our public library. Today we saw a performance called George and the Jester, a one-man show where the guy acted like a court jester and taught about medieval life. He was an interesting guy, a member of the Society for Creative Anachronism, and he had handbuilt a lot of his props including a rare Irish harp, a lute, and a cross-bow. #2, especially, found it very interesting.

... to have Ruffy back. He didn't come on our vacation with us, and we missed him very much. He had fun too, though, as he stayed with the lady who gave him to us two years ago. She and her husband love him very much, and their grandchildren enjoyed playing with Ruff when they visited.

... for good friends and neighbours who kept the home fires burning while we were away, like Ruffy's loving guardians, and our neighbours on either side who took in our mail and watered Main Man's garden. There were several break-ins in our neighbourhood while we were away, but, thanks to our diligent neighbours, our humble little home suffered no intrusions.

... for the beauty of summer gardens.

... for the energy to complete my new summer fitness routine. I've been determined to walk Ruffy every morning before anyone else wakes up (except when we were on vacation and he wasn't with us), and I've done well with that. This week I kicked it up an notch, though, and I've begun a walk / run routine in which I walk 100 steps, then jog 100 steps. It's gotten my heart rate up just that much faster, but it's achievable. I know that running the entire distance would be beyond me for sure.

... for our Science Centre. We have a family membership, and it's probably one of the best investments we've ever made. We spent part of the afternoon there yesterday, and it's amazing how they have such a wide variety of activities, something for everyone of any age.

... for good clean water to drink on a hot day.

... for family swim time at our local public pool. From 6:45 to 8:00 every evening, families swim for free. Yesterday was a hot, drippingly humid day, and a quick dip after supper was just what the doctor ordered.

I hope everybody has a fantastic week.

Thankful Thursday

2007-07-12T21:51:00.000-06:00

This week, I am thankful ...

... for vacations. This week we are in sunny Westbank, British Columbia, in a Bed and Breakfast with an unbelievable view of lovely Lake Okanagan. We have our own private deck on which we can sit and have breakfast in the morning and dinner in the evening, and after dinner, we can sit in the hot tub on the deck and watch the lights across the lake twinkle to the stars above.

... for days with temperatures of 35 degrees (Celsius, that is, for my American friends), and beautiful beaches on which to spend those days.

... for Main Man taking the boys to see The Transformers Movie on Tuesday evening, so I could spend an evening all by myself enjoying the view off the deck (and I don't need to tell you how peaceful that view was when I was all by myself!).

... for Noxzema, for sunburns.

... for the patience to deal with Main Man's ideas, like when he decided to take us on a drive around the lake and we ended up with an overheated engine on an abandoned logging road. Hey, the scenery was spectacular! (Positive thoughts, positive thoughts, positive thoughts... ;-)

... for the deliciously intoxicating flavour of Lake Okanagan wine. How amazing to encounter a dozen or so tiny vinyards on just a short little drive.

... for the wonderful feeling at the end of a holiday that I am ready to go home, no matter how wonderful the holiday has been.

Hope everyone is having a great week. Thanks so much for your comments and your visits. I'll be checking in much more regularly once we hit home.

The Language Police Are On the Job

2007-07-04T08:56:00.000-06:00

#3 and I went to the first puppet show of the summer season at the library yesterday. We were treated to a very entertaining rendition of Walter the Farting Dog.

You can vividly imagine, I'm sure, the hoots of laughter emanating from the crowd, chiefly consisting of children ranging from three to eight years old, every time the puppeteers gasped the word "fart" or sounded the whoopie cushion (every thirty seconds or so).

#3 was no exception. He enjoyed almost every second of the performance. I say "almost", because there was one moment when his giggles gave way to a frown of perplexity and discomfort.

In one scene two burglars invade Walter's home in the night. Not wishing to wake anyone, one of the intruders tells the other to "Shut up!"

A shadow instantly crossed #3's face and he scooted over to the side where I was seated to inform me, "There are little kids here. They shouldn't say, 'Shut up'!"

Yes, it's nice to know that he's on the job!

Eye Candy Analysis

2007-07-02T19:29:00.000-06:00

Okay, so we're at the beach yesterday for Canada Day, and I came to a disappointing realization.

It's much easier for a man to enjoy eye candy at the beach than a woman.

Here's my logic:

It takes absolutely no work for a seventeen-year-old girl to look good in a bikini. Heck - I looked fantastic in a bikini from the age of sixteen to the age of twenty-five or so. And that was through absolutely no effort on my part - no dieting, no organised exercise. The hardest part was buying the bikini.

Young men, however, must put some effort into looking good in a bathing suit. Skinny doesn't cut it. They have to work out in order to have biceps and abs that I'm interested in looking at. Sorry, guys, that's just the way it is.

And I really am sorry. Believe me! Because yesterday, Main Man's eyes just about fell out of their sockets several time as he ogled the bikinis, while I was doomed to view skinny eighteen-year-olds and paunchy forty-year-olds.

This could be a painful summer.