Monday morning...and I'm sitting in a hotel room, while Del and the boys are off to do a tour of a tractor plant. Yes, we took a weekend away from the regular routine, drove a few hours down the road, and shopped, ate out, and slept-or at least some of us did! Some much needed clothes shopping for the boys as they have grown inches in height! And some not needed, but wanted items, just for fun! Ate at some wonderful restaurants....could get used to eating food someone else has cooked! As much fun as it is to go away for a break, I do like going home to make something to eat that is simple and real.... Back home today to join the real world once again.

My brother, Roger, is coming along in his recovery. Slowly, but improvement is happening. He is awake most of the day, with naps in between. His ability to converse is interesting, with his attention span and memory wavering at times....but improving, so patience and time. Physio is spending some time with him, and hopefully soon, he will be able to be up more, as his stability is off right now. An accident of that magnitude certainly brings about great repercussions!! Hopefully we will get to spend some time with him on our way home tonight!

Had a wonderful time at supper last night! By coincidence, friends of ours from home ended up where we were this weekend, and we had supper together! Good time catching up-fellowshipping, as another good friend calls it!!! Which reminds me of a shift at work last week..I work with some awesome people!!! It was supper time and patients had their trays. Meds were given and we were finishing up end of shift stuff, when a couple girls announced they had brought supper for everyone...what a treat!!! Truly beautiful hearts in these people, sharing themselves and what they have!!! Had a very special time, eating together, chatting, and enjoying each others company!! its like someone said there....its the people that make coming to work worth it!

Del & I are back at work tomorrow, and the boys will be back at school. Hockey started this last weekend, with the boys missing their first 2 games. Think their next game is Friday night.

Have a lovely week all!

life changing....

Mid october already!! Where is the time going???

Wish i could say its been a boring month since i posted last. But, unfortunately its been busy, with multiple things. I've logged onto my site a few times, and once I actually attempted to load pictures, but it didn't work. And the other times, I think I didn't know what to write, so I just logged off.

But in the big picture, some things become rather immaterial. My youngest brother, (who is still older than i am!), was in an accident 10 days ago. And life changing its been. He and a friend were on the top of a 40ft antenna tower, when the tower crumbled, and they rode the top down to the ground. Fortunately there was someone else on scene at this home, and they were able to call 911 and keep them still. A 'red' ambulance ride to the local hospital to receive life saving measures, and then airlifted to the city hospital emergency room and an icu stay. He has since been moved from icu to a stepdown unit. He has suffered a serious head injury and has had some difficulties waking up. Every day is bringing a positive change, which has been extremely encouraging!! Today Rog was in surgery to repair some facial fractures. He has a vertebral fracture that is stable and hopefully will be no problem. He has short periods of wakefulness, couple with alot of sleeping. His level of conciousness varies at times, with each day bringing a more awake state, with occasional words being whispered and eyes opening for short periods. His wife and children are extremely brave and courageous during this difficult time!! As close family and friends spend time together, we often get impatient and want him to wake up and be the same as he was 2 weeks ago. Somehow thats not reality, and we are greatly relieved and excited with the major positive changes that are happening; and realistically in a neuro world they are spectacular!!

So now you see how life changing something can be. From work schedules, school assignments, work issues, to regular home routines....they all become trivial when an emergency happens!!
Nathan, Roger's youngest son has been staying with us during the week, so he can go to school, and visit rog when we go in. Our boys and Nathan are close and its so sweet to watch them interact...when its fun times, and especially now when its been difficult. Never too young to be there for each other!!

Fieldwork is winding down, with some deeptilling left, but everything else is wrapped up. Maybe some ditching days left....
Jayde & Kyle are busy with school volleyball schedules. And apparently hockey starts next week. Life carries on...

Back to school and such

Time to blog now, but what to say?? Every day life stuff?? Just came back home from a birthday party for my dad. His actual birthday was on the 5th, and we got together as a family then, but today we did cake and ice cream with some church friends, and then had supper as a family. Good time together for those that made it. It seems more difficult as the years go by, for the family to all be there!! Dad celebrated 75 years old! Wow! Time flies when having fun..... Laureen made some awesome meatballs and mashed potatoes for supper!! Mmmmm!

Harvest is coming along....in spurts. Winter wheat was done, and then was a break till canola and oats. Then waited for more oats. And now we have a combine breakdown, so we wait for parts. Then hopefully we can finish up the oats and move onto the soybeans. Fall fieldwork is progressing well with Del sharing tractor duty with Jayde, and yesterday Kyle got a turn!! So exciting for the boys to grow up and take responsibility!

School is in full swing for the boys, with volleyball taking front seat to all other activities! Jaydes team was in a tournament on Saturday, and will be busy with volleyball the next 5 weekends! Have not seen a schedule yet for Kyles volleyball.

Jayde has bought himself a used half-ton- a bright yellow one! Perfect for him! He is enjoying the extra freedom of driving himself around in his own vehicle. Kyle benefits with not as many early mornings on the bus, and home earlier after school.

Work is busy as always. People are always in need of medical assistance, and we aim to please. :)

Del's been busy between working full-time, and farming full-time. This seems to pass the days fairly quickly!

So you see, theres not much new happening at our house, just regular stuff.

Upcoming in the near future, I anticipate hockey starting up for the boys, along with the volleyball. Hopefully finish up the harvest. Eagerly await winter-not! Prepare for surgery for the pinched nerve in the arm-not sure when. Deal with everyday running of household and farm duties. Take dad to specialist appts....... the list carries on......

All in a good days work!

Summer so far!

Yes!! I've finally managed to post some pictures. The following are an assortment of activities and people that have made our summer what it is.
Fathers Day-we spent on the golf course. Del & the boys walked on a squishy wet course, while I enjoyed the scenery and took pictures.

Kyle's birthday usually is spent outdoors(actually the last few years were inside, so this year was a treat to be outside!) His actual birthday day, we were not home, so the families were invited to come spend time with us a week following his special day.

Mid July we went camping, and one of Del's brothers, his wife, and 2 boys, joined us. Had a wonderful time playing games, biking, and visiting!

Hecla is always great for a water shot!

Grandma Loewen celebrated her 80th birthday! I actually found someone to work for me so we could go!! These are 3 of Dels brothers enjoying an afternoon chat in the awesome sunshine!

This is grandma with Noreen and Amber....2 of my special sisters(in-law), Bruce & Don's wives.

Once again, camping with Warren, Terri, & boys...bike ride break!

My most favorite work partner!!! Wonder why!!! Its very special to be able to work together with a niece!!! I love her so much!! And she's very good at what she does!! Bonus is she poses well for photo opportunities!

Roxy & Ricki-the latest canine additions to our family.

August long weekend camping trip. Del & Kyle made the ladder ball game on our trip, after numerous stops at every hardware store we could find. Eventually we found enough supplies and we could play!!

Jayde at work. I brought Del & Jayde lunch one day. Its such a challenge to get this boy on a picture!! So they end up looking like odd poses because he is always ducking out of the lens viewfinder!

Del....working.

Ricki....he doesn't pose either. The dogs rarely sit still!!

On of the feline additions to our family...i can't remember its name. We now have 2 dogs, 3 kittens, and apparently a stray adult cat that is hanging out in the back of the farm. It's a revolving door at our farm!

This has been an awesome summer for weather. We are so grateful for the beautiful sunshine and heat! Compared to the last 4 summers, we are enjoying dry cracks in the yard. From this springs excess moisture... to this summers dry conditions......who would have imagined this!!

And we survived another July without catastrophe. One evening a phone call came thru for a sick nephew, and 8 hrs later he was released from ER....rather stressful!! Not superstitious, but really, everyone is on edge during July.

Dad is still carrying on with his regular routine.....Thrift shop, camping, driving around. Dr. appts sprinkled in between. Getting a little closer to figuring out whats going on with the pituitary issues....waiting for next specialist appt.

Kyle is still sprinkling the lawn and holding down the fort at home. Jayde is still working weekdays, and sleeping in on weekends. Del did take 1 week of holidays, and we loved having him at home for a few days, farmed, and went camping. And, I have had 1 week of vacation, and worked regular and overtime hours so others could have there time off. We did manage to combine our winter wheat field!! Was wonderful to combine and haul grain off a dry field!!

Thats our summer so far.......keep it safe....bring on harvest!

Remembering

July is about remembering. Today is 3 years since Katelyn was taken from us so suddenly-she is missed so much! Last week marked the 6 year anniversary of Jayde's accident-thankfully the miracles from that day continue-he has healed so well! So many birthdays this month....in my Friesen family, we counted 7 in a 12 day span! 3 years since the last Friesen get together, where many memorable pictures were taken! Kyle's birthday on Friday, and that will be 15 years!!! amazing!! feels like the other day!

Friday Del & I celebrated 22 years of happily wedded bliss!! Lol!! Okay not all days were as happy as others, but here we are!!! 22 years!!! That feels like just the other day too!!! How many times do we catch ourselves in conversation talking about something 'just the other day', and realize maybe its been more than a couple of years! Time truly does go by too fast!! Especially when you're having fun! :) To my husband of 22 years...I love you!

This summer has been wonderful weatherwise! After 3 summers of rain and cool temps, we have experience a month of warm temps and awesome sunshine!!! Blue skies are such a blessing!! Crops that were seeded in poor conditions are growing and looking better than expected....hopefully they end well, in the bin!!

The pet story on this farm continues to make me smile. The last 2 dogs are still calling this home. We added 2 kittens a couple of weeks ago, and yes, they finally starting eating, and are now running and playing happily. Then last week, Jayde phoned from Taylors house, asking if he could bring home a kitten someone had found in town and couldn't find a home for. So, now our kittens are 3! Hard to keep track at our house!! Ricky, Roxy, Ralphie, and 2 yet un-named cats.

We spent a short 2 day weekend camping, and had a relaxing time with one of Dels brothers and his family! So nice to spend time outside, campfires, eat fire cooked food, bike, relax, visit, play games.......love it!! Hopefully this weekend coming up will be another wonderful camping weekend!

Jayde has been going to work with Del; works out well with driving. I am working most of the summer, with 1 week of vacation coming this weekend. Kyle has been keeping the home/yard going, including running a sprinkler for 16 hrs a day on the front yard....what a time to have actually seeded grass! Kyle has faithfully been moving that sprinkler every 30-45 min, every day, since July 1! He was very grateful last week when it rained!!!

Thats our summer in a nutshell.

Drive safe, be careful, and enjoy your time spent with family and friends!!

Jokes on me!

Well...this has been an interesting morning!!! Joke is on me!! I was all relaxed and enjoying a good read, when I heard knocking on the door. I called come in and went to see who it was. I fully expected it to be my dad, because he sometimes stops by in the morning to say hello, and I knew he needed his pill box filled. Well, it certainly wasn't my dad!!! Our accountant!!! C**p!! I forgot that he called last week and was coming by this morning!!! In all the years of the accountant coming by, I have never forgotten about him! Till today!! Those of you who know me know that I was not dressed for an accountant visit either. So I invited him in, and put on appropriate day wear...and got out the appropriate paperwork he needed. And made coffee!!! Ha ha ha to me!!! Teaches me to wonder what I'm going to do on a relaxing Monday morning!! Was such a wonderful weekend! Had girlfriends over on Friday evening, while both boys went to friends houses and Del had to work late. Saturday was spent going back and forth to fields, while Del got half the fields sprayed. jayde worked and Kyle helped me at home. Del,Kyle, & I even went for a ride on Saturday evening to check fields and get ice cream!! Sunday, was very exciting for me!!! Del dug me a ditch for my dry river bed, worked our yard which eventually will have grass seeded, and then we all relaxed. Boys went golfing and Del & I went for a picnic!! Yeah you read that right!! Was a wonderful relaxing evening!! So relaxing I forgot to check my schedule for today!!! Lol!!

Anyway back to the dry river bed comment. yes, i've been thinking for years what to do with the front yard. We have a large front lawn area which has been nice for the boys to play on, but with all the monsoon rains we've had the last few years, it has turned into a lake/swamp area. When it dried a bit 2 years ago, we worked it over, thinking we would landscape a bit and seed it back into grass with some ditches in place. Well, some culverts were put in by the RM but they were done inadequately until last year, so the whole project was delayed. And of course we've been blessed with tremendous amounts of precipitation since!!! But Del got my main ditch in place for this river bed. Now I need to get plastic together, and then we can start hauling rocks!!! I'm excited. Don't think my family is as excited tho for the work ahead. Hopefully it will be beautiful someday soon and not a disaster. And hopefully the rain predicted for this week will stay away and not fill those ditches before i can make it into a dry river bed-wet river bed??? Its in my mind and now to put it into action!!!

Last week of school for the boys. Jayde has 2 exams and Kyle has 5. Weird how some teachers get the kids to do projects instead of exams, and others don't. Hopefully all will go well with them! I know I'm way more worried than the boys are about exams!!! Is it cuz they're boys, or is it a teenager thing????

Got a tiny bit of seeds into the garden. Spinach and lettuce are up. Beans and snow peas are up. Potatoes aren't up yet. Maybe too wet/cold?? Who knows. My tomatoes are on the deck. Bought one big plant for regular tomatoes and one plant for baby tomatoes!!! Think maybe it will work better than planting plants in my swampy garden. Hoping to get some dirt into the garden. hauled in dirt about 7 years ago, and I don't know where that dirt went!!! Down!!! Even bought some flowers and did up some pots. The greenhouses were so beautiful-filled with all those gorgeous flowering plants!! Had to bring some of that cheer home!! Now if I could only keep them alive and flourishing!! The green thumb of my mother doesn't seem to have been passed down into my genetic field!!

Today is another cloudy, drippy, inside day. But I'm home and thats cause for celebration!!! Gonna make a real meal for supper-meatballs I think!!! maybe bake something!!! Love it!!

Have a wonderful summer day!

spring

The sun is shining and even tho its not as warm as desired, I should be outside doing stuff. But, my one day off has other plans for me. When you least have time, the stomach flu hits. Yeah, I did say stomach flu!!! Ugh!! I hate vomiting!!!! Hopefullly its the very short variety and will pass ASAP! So, the chores and daily jobs and grocery shopping will wait for another day!

Anyway, I've written on here so many times in my head this last month, but its a little harder to put on keyboard when its not available at the right moment, or time doesn't allow. Let me try and recap what the last month has held. Had a wonderful week off of work.....farm auctions, meeting family, working on the field, all regular and routine things, but fantastic with the right people and awesome weather we had! Del and I attended 2 farm auctions and those are the ideal places to watch people. Also mixed feelings cuz it makes me think about why people are having an auction. Whether a forced or chosen sale, family must always feel some reluctance and sadness. Our possessions we've worked hard for are always worth the most to us. Our possessions have sentimental value, for the most mundane reasons sometimes.

My dad has followed up with his regular doc, and after a head CT, have found something going on that we are waiting for further results on. Dad is doing as well as is expected....tires easily, but still going strong with what he wishes to do. He has planted potatoes and is helping out at the Thrift Shop. He rotates between my brothers and our house, and visits and tries to help out as best as he can. His comment to my calling him stubborn, is, "I'm steadfast"!

Seeding has commenced. Trying something a little different this year. As its still too wet to seed traditionally, we have been spreading on seed and working it in that way. Time is awasting and we need those precious days of warmth and sunshine so the frost doesn't get it in the end...and thats why the seed needs to gets in ASAP. Jayde & Kyle have stepped up and are putting in more farm time.

Something that has been on my mind lately......facebook. More so, the bullying that occurs on facebook. yes, its in the news and we're all on the look out for it. We know it occurs in everyday life, and its not acceptable inevery day, so why do we find it acceptable when its online. Some comments are blantantly pathetic, while other comments are subtle, and they chip at a persons psyche. Its interesting to me, how one simple sentence can be perceived in many different ways. When we speak to someone face to face, the words said are only a small part of whats actually occuring in the conversation. So when we type a sentence, we may think we are typing something funny or sad or sarcastic. But,,,,,,, there are no facial expressions, hand gestures, or voice tone, to help the other person decipher what is actually being said. So I as a parent and a medical professional, get concerned when i see certain things. Many hurting kids and adults, trying to cope through life. Sometimes its easier for people to write their feelings than to speak them. Maybe thats why people write publicly. I don't know. Makes me wonder.

American Idol tonight. Last week for this years show. Wonder how people will vote.

So much more I can say or want to say (write), but my stomach is churning. Ugh!!! Stay healthy!

live each moment.....

i titled this post before I wrote...cuz thats what has been going on in our life for the last while. I'd post the whole quote if i knew it properly, but its not my forte-I love those wonderful quotes, but am terrible at quoting them-thats Alyssas forte!! Anyway, its not everyday, or just anyone that gets the opportunity to have a second chance, or even a wake up call to realize that life is short and lets make the best of it!! Here's our families story...

Last Thursday evening, at 1120 pm, our phone rings and its Anita asking what she should do with my dad. He was having severe chest pain, and looked rather unwell. Sounded like classic heart attack symptoms to me, and suggested he needed to go to hospital. Quick discussion ensued and conclusion was they would take and we'd go from there. I hang up the phone and my mind is running amok with all these thoughts!!! My dad had spoken to my sister by phone that day, and he had visited Rol's house, my house, and had gone to Rogers for night. That along with Beth being home for the weekend, gave me one of those spine tingling shivers that is indicative of something not aligning positively. Del very quickly and wonderfully knew that I would not relax and wait at home and we left to join Rog, Anita and dad at the hospital. By the time we arrived, they had dad hooked up to the appropriate machines...(the wonderful fellow staffers i work with!!) After tests and assessments, a phone call to the city by our doc had dad in an ambulance and transferred to the city. We went home to 'sleep' and prepare for the day ahead. To make a long story a little shorter.......from one hospital to another following a CT, a diagnosis of a dissected aorta it was! Consultation with appropriate specialists and surgery was ruled out as an option....... from ER to ICU to regular room, to home tonight. To rogers house tonight. And rotated through our homes for the next few days. The plan is to treat this by keeping the blood pressure on the low side. This for a man who had not been required to take medication till now. Ahhh my stubborn wonderful father. This will be a challenge for everyone.. us not to smother him, and him to give up some of his independence! Yes, he has been given the gift to see another day, but there is no guarantee of how many or how long. Quick note of explanation-dissected aorta...tear in the lining of the aorta, the main blood vessel leading away from the heart-dad has 2 tears in his aorta.
So he is tiring easy, has dizzy spells when moving about, and is having some memory issues. Hopefully time and plenty of rest and T'LC will help with these issues.

And that is what we've been 'doing' the last week. Amazing how lifes priorities change with one phone call! Life keeps going around you, and you blink and try to catch up!

So, tomorrow my dad is hanging out at our house......I guess its time for me to play chess or checkers...will be interesting!

Love spring!!

What to watch on a saturday at home??? By myself??? Lol!!! Well, actually its me, Kyle and 3 of his buddies. and of course they are playing video games, and I get the remote to myself. There's nothing to watch!!!! 5 minutes at each show!!! Lol!! Now I'm onto 'dance your a** off.' Hve never seen this one before, but I'm slightly intrigued. Del & Jayde are at a weekend away-Jayde's last weekend of hockey. Kyle has retired his equipment for the season. This next week I will throw Jaydes stuff into the washer! Yes!! My vacation time has come and gone, and I'm back into regular hours at work. feels like i never left!!! Worked a 12 hr day today, first of 4 shifts in a row. Only 3 to go!!! Spring is on us....the thaw is on. Water levels are rising in the ditches, snow levels are going down. Bring on the sunshine!! Boys are registered once again for soccer, against what I had thought we would do. I vowed last spring that we were not attempting that again...but they have come up with some valid points of why they should.....so we will go for it! Some things to think about, that have crossed my mind this last month. -how much does it take to awake that mama bear inside you, and come out growling??? I found out my inner mama bear is alive and well!!! Lol!!! Even tho they don't need me to fight their battles/issues, mama still gets worked up and wants to help them thru whatever comes their way-and yes, it takes alot of willpower to parent for their future-be a guide, supporter, and not a control freak. Yes they have to make decisions and live with consequences. -how to trust people around you and believe in that???? People, whether family or friends, will always let you down. no one is made perfect, and we all have to give and take. Just sometimes theres a little more of one and less of the other! And we still love each other thru 'thick and thin'. -politics is over -rated!! Like seriously-do we need to spend millions on another election???? I'm tired of the constant 'bickering' among parties, jockeying about who has screwed up more?? Peace and love!!! Come on!! lol! -music-loved watching American Country Music Awards!!! Some great performers!!! Wasn't that emotional to see the piece by Darius Rucker and the special needs adults???? What a wonderful experience for them!!! Definite tear jerker!!! And Carrie Underwood!!! Wow!! Yeah, I'm a music fanatic!!! Almost as good as the 80's, eh Michelle??? :-) -relationships require work. Hard work. effort and energy required. yeah, I'm back to people..... -oh, yeah..... made me realize what i love to do at work.. Yes, i actually like my job somedays. or what i get to do somedays. Somedays i actually get to make a difference in peoples lives!!! Somedays I actually leave work feeling like a made enough a difference in someones life that I know it was meant to be!!! No rush like that rush!!! And yes, somedays i feel like I haven't done enough to make a difference.....and therein lies the challenge to do better next time!!! -alot of hurting people out there......yes, we all know people that are needing some extra TLC. Some people won't admit it, but will absorb love/attention like a sponge. And maybe that little extra we give will be the difference between life and death for them. Yes, it could be. Thats enough deep. I watched about 7 min of that dance show. the end of it. hmmmm, don't know if i'd watch it again. Good intentions of that show, but you gotta be awfully strong emotionally to be there. So, my TV is back to a music show! thats my kind of entertainment!! Good beat, great sound, awesome vocals...love it!!

spring is in the air

Spring is coming!!! Definitely! Time change, the sun has come out, and apparently temps are going to warm up this week...please....please.....bring on the thaw!!!

Update on our lives......hockey. Yes, it will start slowing down now. Kyle has been playing on both Bantam and Midget teams this year, and the last 2 weeks both teams have completed their league playoffs-which they both lost their rounds- and both teams have gone to Provincials weekends. A week ago, the Bantam team came home with a Bronze medal, and yesterday, the Midget team won the Gold medal in their home rink! Very exciting for teams!!! A long winter of hours of ice team culminating in a rewarding weekend! For the parents, this signifies rewards in the form of kids smiles, and knowing a few less hours on the road. The Midgets had their Provincials at home, and hosting this event means a few hours of volunteer time at the rink. Fortunately for me this year, I didn't have any responsibility role!!! Yay for me!!! I just had to show up and work!! Lol!!! And canteen duty is done!!! The fries, burgers, perogies, chicken fingers, kolbassa, and cinnamon buns that went through the canteen...Wow!! And, I will say, I was truly impressed with the effort put out by people to make this happen-skating club parents, board members, and community supporters-they pitched in to make this all happen!! Its these people that make an event like this successful!!

Jayde's team finished their playoff run last Thursday....close but not close enough to carry on to the next round. Someone has to win and someone gets to lose. This winters experience with driving all those miles with Jayde has provided for many hours of great conversation, silence, naps, developed friendships.......great experience!

one of the moms on Jaydes team, and I, decided to finish off the year with a pedicure before the last game; what an awesome experience!!! Its not only the on ice memories, but the off ice moments that will be remembered for a life time!!

So, Jayde is now preparing for a weekend of Junior A camp hockey in April, and Kyle has 1 weekend of tournament play left. And then its time to once again wash the hockey equipment and put it away till next season. All good things come to an end.

I am catching up at home, on a week of vacation. This next weekend I am planning to attend an inservice for work. The inservice is supposed to be very good, as good as it can be when the subject material is Palliative Care. Yes, very heavy material, but very important. And its definitely one of the things that are very dear to my heart. So, thats my plan. I has registered to do this inservice 2 years ago, but that was the weekend mom deteriorated and passed away; so I'm going to try again.

Anyone watched the footage from the earthquake/tsunami in Japan???? How incredible and incredibly sad!!! Amazing video!!! its almost too crazy to be real!! So hard to imagine what that nation is going thru. Amazing in that the instant something this horrible happens, its on digital format and the whole world can watch it happen!!!

Thats it for today....I've got the BBQ warming up....T-bone coming up...

feb 28

February has certainly flown by! Between the boys at rinks every day, and actually taking vacation time to spend at the rink and clean the house, this month is gone!

This last weekend we were invited to spend in Vegas. What a wonderful weekend; spending time with friends from home, and getting to know new friends!! Shows, shopping, good food, walking, checking out the Hoover Dam, and checking out what else Vegas had to offer. Packed the weekend with many activities-had to make the short time count!! I'm so grateful for meeting Dale & Rhonda-what an awesome couple!! Hours of visiting/acquainting! And Heather and Doug-well what can I say??? It's not every day you get to spend time with a close co-worker/friend, in Vegas! Awesome time! The weather was a little temperamental, as it actually threw us a few snowflakes-Im sure to remind us of why we love to live where we live!!! Right. Anyone wondering whether to check out the Love-Beattles show by Cirque de Soleil-well, its truly amazing!! incredible talent!! Definitely an amazing choreography of music, dancing, gymanstics, .......hard to believe some of those feats are humanly possible!!! Just a few hours spent practicing.... ! Even the flights were good-i think I'm getting better at this flying thing. The 'boss' steward on the flight home was a hoot-a comedian/singer tucked into a Bette Middler face! Great way to get away from a cold winter and rejuvenate!
Back to reality now....to the rink. Jayde's team won their first round of playoffs, so they move onto play next round. First game on Thursday. Kyle's Bantam team lost game 1 of their series on Saturday, and game 2 is tonight. Kyle's midget team won game 1 so they play game 2 tomorrow. Hmmm, think Wednesday evening might actually be at home. Kyle's Bantam team is playing provincial this weekend, so that means hitting the road first thing friday morning!
Laundry is washing/drying, food is going to be on the table soon, leaving the suitcases out for next weekend...and time to prepare mentally for work tomorrow. yes, all good things come to an end.....back to work tomorrow!! Ugh!! Hard to go back after a few weeks off. Oh well, it will be like a holiday from home!!
Bring on spring temps!!! I'm ready!!! March here we come!

musing...

Here I am....watching the Super Bowl. Well, it's on, and I've watched the best parts-the singing of the national anthem, the half-time show, and now I'm waiting for the post-game show. Del is right beside me just wishing he could write here for me! :-) We have been away this weekend, as Jayde had 2 games in the city, so we stayed with family overnight. Enjoyed some wonderful food and visitation!! Kyle had a weekend off of hockey, but I'm sure he will make up for it this coming week! His bantam team had a bye last week, so this week will be their turn to play for the privilege to go play at provincials.

I was rushing through Superstore yesterday, and i had this crazy thought that I wished I could blog right then!! I am a people watcher, and thats an awesome place to go and see people. The things I could have described for you! Do you ever wonder what people think when they leave their homes to go grocery shopping???? Do you think they think no one will be in the store to see their hair that obviously hasn't been combed/brushed/washed......for who knows how long??? Or the clothes combinations??? Because its Saturday, people think its a day off of looking like they care about themselves??? One couple I saw...I laughed.....and this will sound downright mean,,,,, but it was funny!!! Both of them appearred to be in their mid fifties... with still brownish colored hair. Both were wearing glasses. Both were carrying a shopping basket. His hair was totally stuck to the side of his head, while the other side was standing straight up. Her hair was just below shoulder length and was greasy, straggly and going in totally opposite directions!! Like they totally belonged together. She in a plaid jacket, he in a grey parka. Clean. And maybe I should stop my description......you are thinking I'm being stupid!! But doesn't it make you wonder what they do for jobs???? I seriously think they were both professionals, that were taking a day off of looking good for the public!!! maybe celebrities.... :-)
Different priorities. I love imagining what people are thinking, what they do for a living, and who they hang out with. I could spend hours watching people at stores/restaurants/rinks/parking lots...... so much to learn!

1 quarter to go in the game......till one team wins and the other team is 2nd place. Sucks to be 2nd, hard to remember that 2nd place is still better than the other teams in the league.

have a wonderful winter week ahead!

Hockey road trip

This internet speed is sucking!!!!!......can barely load this page.......maybe the satellite air waves are frozen due to wind chills!

Another wonderful relaxing evening at home-makes for nails done up for tomorrow-to match hair and uniform.

We had an interesting weekend!! Kyle stayed home with his wonderful cousin, Michelle, to chauffeur him about, while Del & i went along with Jaydes hockey team for his weekend road trip. And an adventure it turned out to be.....left at 745 on friday am, to meet the bus at 945. Bus showed up at 10 amidst a snow storm! Yes we quickly loaded hockey equipment, luggage, drinks, food, players and parents, and off we were!!!! No joke, but 10 miles down the road the bus hit the ditch!!! Yes, you read right! at probably 5 miles an hour!!! I guess visibility was a problem, especially for the 'well-experienced' driver! He calls dispatch for a tow truck and we sit and wait.....about 5-7 minutes later......the emergency rescue vehicles start pouring in!!! No kidding!!! So, I pulled out my camera and started taking pictures-too bad i can't post any due to that 'fast' high speed I'm experiencing!! Anyway, someone had called 911 and reported a bus on its side in the ditch, with multiple passengers! Multiple amblances, cop cars, and then the large EMS ambulance/rescue bus!!! And 1 tow truck. After quick discussions between the EMS guy in charge, and our team manager, it was decided that all people would be relocated to the EMS bus for assessment and triage, while the tow truck did his thing!! So off we went to the EMS bus, and the paramedics started doing their thing. Very efficient with their electonic entry system!! All 37 passengers/patients were entered into their system and then each parent/passenger signed off to refuse treatment, as all were fine. Then we waited in the bus while the tow truck pulled out the team bus. Alas....the EMS windows were covered up and I could not take pictures of this process. Anyway, evetually we were given the go ahead to head back to the original bus, once again on the road. We were informed we would be transferring to another bus, while the powers that be would decide whether our trip would continue or not. So, our 'Old' bus carried on down the road a couple miles and pulled into the city into a mall parking lot. Here we moved over into the new 'older' bus, with a different driver, uhmmmm, younger driver. -) And off we went down the road-between 60-70 ms/hr, until we made it to our destination at 3 am. The bus trip turned into a 15 hr ride!!! from 7 hrs...... I tell you that felt like a long time. The kids were supposed to be up at 6 am for breakfast and a game, which the manager informed the other team at 3 am, would not be happening. So, a 3 game weekend, turned into a 2 game weekend. Sunday's ride home went very well!!!! Only cold and sunshine-perfect for travelling!!! Certainly memorable!!!

That is my little story of the week-back to work tomorrow. And then vacation time off. yay!!! Hopefully will get this house cleaning up to par, and keep on top of end of season and play off hockey!!!

Shift work advantages

Good morning! A relaxing few minutes this morning, as Jayde was planning to go to school later as he is driving himself today, and his classes don't start till just before lunch....and the rest of us forgot to set an alarm! :-) So, now Kyle gets to go to school later too! Del is off to work, and I'm here looking at hair pictures, trying to decide what it is I should get done to my hair today. Love going to my hairdresser-and not just for the hair do...its for the massage, the great hair wash, the wonderful smells, and for the wonderful visit we get it!! Then off to Jaydes game tonight. It has felt so weird this week! Jayde drove Kyle to practise on Monday, and last night he drove himself to his ride in town. That freed us up to do whatever. I have not had 2 evenings like that in a long time!!! Bookwork, cleaning, patching up clothes, laundry, reading, and even gave myself a mini pedicure last night! wow!

I had a thought yesterday that i should blog about the advantages of working shiftwork! Often we talk about the frustrating parts-but, I'm gonna try and spin it otherwise.
Shift work lets you-become accustomed to the oddest sleeping hours.
-sleep in the weirdest positions.
-be on the road when others are not, and thereby reduce road rage.
-do business in hours others are stuck at work, on your whole day off.
-eat meals in the middle of the night, thereby screwing your body into thinking, yes!!! i want to slow down my metabolism, but no! not really!
-go to work early and come home late-after 12 hrs, and if you do this enough days in a row.....in this part of the country....you don't get to see sunshine for days, and save your sunglasses to use some other time of the year!
-save on clothes expenses-cuz you go to work in a uniform, come home and collapse, and do it again. and when you are off of work, you just stay home in a bathrobe cuz you're so happy you're home, you're not leaving again till you have to go to work. Oh, maybe thats just me!! :-) Yes, I love my bathrobe!
-you get to have the most awesome friends in the world, cuz when you work night shift with someone, you can spill your innermost guts at 5 am and they have to love you forever and hold those secrets in forever!
-get a second family due to holiday and special moments spent away from your first family-that bonding does work!
-get to take phone calls while you're asleep during the day, and never remember agreeing to those canteen shifts you've accepted while in another world.
-have to wonder whether its am or pm when you wake up and the clock says its 9:00. And madly scramble around the house deciding whether you're late for work or why the kids are still home and not at school!
-an odd 8 hr shift feels like a holiday when you leave, cuz normally 12 -13 is acceptable-and you feel guilty for leaving your partner behind cuz they are there for the normal marathon shift.
-oh, ya, the $$$ you make for getting night shift premium!! ha ha ha.....

Seriously, there are advantages to working weird hours, along with all those disadvantages! All sarcasm aside-you get time with friends and family that regular hour working people don't get. And you make those moments count!! And, when it comes down it....there's always another job out there if this one doesn't cut it.

Don't know if any of the above made sense, except to the person who does work the shift work! Thats my thought for the day! oh, one more0-shift work helps for versatility! Thats a definite advantage!! Got to be able to go with the flow......

Have a wonderful winter day!

its a cold one out there-stay warm!

Yay!!! I'm enjoying a day at home... with my 16 yr. old. Even that is enjoyable. I'd like to say he missed school because he just missed me and wanted to spend time with me, but alas..... he has been fighting the flu all week, and this morning, he was too beat to go to school. My gain!! i even had lunch with him already. He doesn't know it yet, but he will be doing some little 'chores' this afternoon. This house has been neglected too long and he is going to help me whip it into some semblance of a home again, and not just a teenage gym!

It has been an exciting month for Jayde. He was selected by his coaches to play in his leagues all-star game, on Jan 8. And he went for his drivers road test on Wednesday....and passed with flying colors!!! Lucky for him! He thinks now that hes allowed to drive legally he can just go wherever he likes, but his parents seem to disagree with him a bit on that. We will figure it out and make this work too.

His drivers day was interesting for me. I had this feeling/fear he would not make it cuz of overconfidence. And he did us proud. Jayde & I went to the insurance office to get his paperwork done before I dropped him off at school, and they closed for an hour just as we went in. So, I dropped him at school and was thinking ahead of how we would accomplish this the next morning among everyones schedule. I was driving along on the road out of town-and I was not speeding or texting-when I felt the tires start pulling on the soft edge of the road. I guess I had wandered off the edge of the highway on to the shoulder and it was so soft there, the wheels could not grab to get back on the road! So, I hit the ditch for the first time on the day my oldest got his drivers!! :-) My first thought was "Jayde is going to love this!" Reminded me of the time about 6 weeks ago when Jayde was driving on a gravel road and pulling aside to meet a semi, and I semi-freaked on him telling him to stay out of the ditch and get on the road before the wheels got sucked in! I could feel it then that it was too soft on the side! And here it happened to me! I could only be embarrassed and laugh at myself! Thank you to my kind friends who willing dropped everything to pull me out-yes, you, Chad!!!- and then subsequently didn't have to because the town tractor happened by and took care of me!!! There are definite advantages to small towns!!

Kyle-is busy playing hockey, going to school everyday, and trying to sleep in between. His 2 team winter has become a bit of a circus in keeping schedules straight, and rides happening. The midget team he plays on has been so good for him and his confidence! He loves playing with them, and has looked forward to those games! Fortunately there are some generous parents on both his teams who have helped get him to and home from games.

I figured out that my rotation at work takes up 14 days of 28, and this same rotation happens every 28 days. And with the 12 hr shifts, that means all 14 shifts, my evening is gone. That means if Del is unable to transport the boys at the appropriate time, and I'm at work, that we are dependent on someone else to drive our children. Talk about being dependent and grateful!!

A note on my dad-he seems to be doing so well! I'm so proud of him for managing the way he is! He knows he needs to keep busy, and has immersed himself in volunteering at the local Thrift Shop. He puts on average 2-3 days/week there, and seems to enjoy it! He has helped us out with some child transport, and does not turn away an offer to eat a meal! He also rotates thru the restaurants in town for coffee and soup. He stopped by work the other day looking for lunch, as he was in town with a group of volunteers to pick up stuff for the self help store-and they had all brought bag lunches-I guess he knew he could come to work and we'd look after him. (mich and I were working together) So, fortunately the kitchen was still open and Mich quickly went to pick up lunch for him! It was so 'cute' to watch him sit and eat lunch, read the paper, and relax, and then go on his merry way-yes, its like his second home....everyone at work is so good to him when he stops by to check up on us....coffee, cookies, or whatever else we have around to give him!

Enjoy this fine -30 winter day! Stay warm!