Happy Canada Day!

Wow - the City of Richmond knows how to put on a Canada Day party.  There are a couple of stages with performances, lots of activities, a 90 minute parade, men in kilts :) and line ups... phew - hour long line ups!  All good.  Happy Canada Day!

Fire man Kyle

Circus monkey Kyle

CN Rail bridge fire

There was a good deal of smoke leaving Boston Bar today, so we pulled over to look and then decided to drive a little further down the highway - then we climbed up on an edge on got these shots of the bridge fire - this was about 4pm this afternoon.

Hey, what's that? Looks like a Michael fish in the lake :)

Yep - we had fun today!

crack-o-lacking rant!

Today was the last day of school. I wish that I was having a summer vacation for two months - this much I know.  Rather than being excited about the weeks ahead I'm now looking at a report card that I just have to rant about.

First - I appreciate that all teachers are SOOOOO not the same and that we are dealing with a special situation - I actually watched other teachers give our teacher shit during assembly today because she couldn't be bothered to give out awards in every category... frustrating and sad!

In any case - here I go...

What is the point of a report card if it is received on the last day of school?  When there are comments about things that are issues doesn't that warrant a phone call home, or a note home, or a freakin' text?

I'll preface this by saying that I've had a complete and total shit day and this has just been stacked right on the steaming top of it all... so I'm mad and a freakin' anxious wreck!  But seriously... if something needs work - then let's work together - let's be a team in education - I'm not an asshole (to everyone) - I am understanding (mostly) and I want the best for my kids - the absolutely best - but when I can blatantly see that there was definitely a class favorite and that 12 other students got nothing - I just have to shake my head and write these kinds of rants because talking to this teacher has done nothing.  We specifically said we were open to talking and hoped to hear more about education and opportunities for us to engage - we want to be part of this and we get NOTHING!  Has the education system changed that much in 20 years that my education and the time and love given by my teachers and principals is gone?

And now I'm going to finish cooking dinner, drink some wine and cry.  I've wanted to breakdown all day and it is now time to get on with the falling apart.

xxoo

ps. I heart good smart fun teachers - where are they all hiding? Please let our grade four teacher be that... please

driving

Ok - I'm going to complain... here it comes...

First, stupid summer time drivers who aren't paying attention - PAY ATTENTION - today while I had a beautiful pregnant lady in my passenger side seat you nearly and I mean really really nearly hit the passenger - I can't even believe how close it was.  LOOK before you start backing up into traffic.

Second, I think it is time to put the ban on smoking in cars.  This has nothing to do with health considerations - NOTHING - this is about paying attention to the road.  If you can't have a hand on your cell phone and talk how can you light a smoke, and smoke, and butt out while you drive - WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE! I don't see one.  Oh wait - I do... you can't get taxes from a cell phone - the government can't tax the crap out of the use of cell phones, but cigarettes - hell's yes - tax the ever-loving crap out of it.  And that is where safety trumps the bottom line - and our public safety loses next to something that is killing the people that use it and the people stand in the way of the people that use it - bull shit, all the way around.

End vent!

Wait - if you flick one more of the GD'n death sticks at my freakin' car I'm going to hit your car because - seriously - what the hell is wrong with you! STUPID!

can't sleep

That's all... 

I know - how boring... 

point of interest - a small tornado ripped through downtown two days ago - I watched it run through a parking lot and then turn over in the safeway parking lot and tear all of the garbage out of the back of a truck and throw it all over the lot and at people - and then keep running towards the river.  It was taller than the buildings and then dissipated as it run to the edge of the downtown and over the bank to the river.

Weird.

 

garage sale

This weekend we are clearing out the house and getting rid of stuff - this is long overdue - we wanted to last summer but never got to it... so this summer - it is on...

what else...

Well I still have the blahs...  and frankly, nothing fantastic to share - except a few photos

Lily of the Valley - yep, my favorite

Grandpa and the boys puddle hunting!

This photo is a few months old - 

Kyle was writing out Star Wars characters... good old Hungg Solo :)

nose bleeds, life and summer vacation

At this point I wish I had booked significantly more time off at the start of summer.  I need a vacation.  That said - the boys are heading on vacation.  I'm taking them to Vancouver next Thursday and then we are hitting the Canada Day events in Richmond and then I'm driving home on Saturday.  The boys are staying with Ni ni and Ye ye and living it up for a few days.  Then Andy and I are heading to Van the following Thursday to pick them up and spend a day in Vancouver and head home.  I think we'll probably take some more time off in August and go out again... we'll see - if (when) the house sells then I'll feel a lot better about travelling.  (Please send your positive energy towards this cause - I need that house to sell - need it - need it!)

Nose bleeds - I had a whopper tonight - I'm tired lately - and just not feeling great - lost my get up and go... seems like I've just been off since the "race" in May... I went for a bike ride this weekend - did 10 km - and couldn't believe how bad is screwed up my knee - three days of it being swollen - awful!

And now I'm going to call it an early night for me and try to get some extra sleep... xxoo - love to you!

Things I like on Etsy

West Virginia Glass Co.
Aqua Blue with Gold Band
$24.99 USD

Custom Wedding Anniversary Necklace Brass and Copper Plated
This could really be for anything or anyone - doesn't have to be wedding
Made in Raleigh NC, USA - and she has a great little blog/website, www.riskybeads.com
(plus I thought this was funny... I mean really - s & m since 2010 - love it - lol)

POW signs, Colorado Springs
I was thinking I could use for all the times I need to do some ass-kicking - I could simply walk into a meeting with this tacked on and everyone would know that I meant business :)

a rant

Ok - since our province - if not our nation - has seen the power of social media and that it is very apparent that people shouldn't do bad things I would like to ask a question - why can't this translate to the every day?

Why am I pissed?

Well tonight two little shits walked by our driveway and lit all the cottonwood fluff on fire - I ripped my deck door open and yelled at them - and then chased after them down the street - trying to get their photo to report to the police.

One girl - white skirt - 16-18 years old 5'6 - black top, male - same age, height - white shirt, black shorts with red stripe!  I didn't get a clear photo of them - and proceeded to call the non-emergency hotline and got freakin' voice mail and that I could leave a freakin' message - WHAT!  I'm not going to call 911 over this kind of shit - but what it says to me - is there is a large group of the population that just doesn't give a shit about anything and it doesn't matter that they were seen at the riot because they'd do it again because in one of their friends eyes they are a "hero".  It is ridiculous!

Let's start a movement to stop this ridiculous behavior!  What can we do?  I'm tired of my lawn getting set on fire - one day it will catch and run right to the house or my car and cause all kinds of damage - two years ago it nearly lit a field on fire - it was awful!  Poor behavior in general needs to be stopped!  If I see them pass by the house again - and I know they will - they walk by all the time - I'm going to take their photo with my big lens - then I'm going to post it online - is that the only way to stop people - if it even does stop people...

FRUSTRATED!!!!!!!


Sigh*

Ok - on top of that my sinus is completely plugged from all the stupid cotton fluff and I'm just not feeling great! BLAH

FRUSTRATED


Ok - I'll go away for a while - looking forward to hearing your thoughts.

What do you think of me posting photos on facebook of all the drug dealers that frequent the back house - that traffic is doubling - it is TERRIBLE too!  TIRED, MAD, ROAR!

email

Why do I let email bug me sooo much? ROAR!
Just got another super annoying email from one of my "favorite" people and just have to shake my head... I deleted it just so I don't have to look at it because the continual review of it is awful and doesn't help anything...

Why do things bug me ages.. I can pinpoint things that bug me and are red button that are many many years old... why pack around the luggage - maybe if I learn how to let things go more positive things will come my way...

Anyone have any pointers or books they'd suggest on the plague of packing around old mind junk?

xxoo - love you!

Max

And so tonight we made the decision that Max needed a new home soon and final.  It has been so tough - while we've had a tough time with him and there have been huge issues we kept putting up with it and have adjusted our lives to try and make his better... but it isn't working... tonight he bit Kyle because Kyle was picking up a toy - on top of that - he chewed through our screen door, destroyed the garbage again, and on and on and on - so we are trying to find him a new home.  Michael is sad, but I know this is the best decision for all of us - Max needs a family with time.. it is awful... but it is better than lying about it and telling the kids that he died or ran away... or anything else...

sigh

So if you know anyone - seriously - we hope to find him a new home by the weekend - I'm willing to travel with him - and drop him off in Vancouver if anyone down there can offer him a great home - I'm going to 100 Mile this weekend and Vancouver at the end of the month...

puddles

Tonight on my walk with Max I had to gear up with my cute rain coat from Old Navy - I love it - but hardly wear it - it is pouring outside though - so I (at 10:45pm) head outside for our walk with an umbrella - I know - it really really was raining and I get to our first spot for wandering by Max and up comes a car - now are street is a dead end and no one usually goes past our house - certainly not at 10:45 at night - and it is the cops - he slowly comes up to me - like I was going to join on the hood or something and says...

"are you walking your dog?"

um... actually this is my pet bear, I know, he looks really small - but really he is a bear - he is also a trash compactor and a destroyer of valuables....

I kind of laugh and say - yes - and off he goes.

Turns out the new quiet neighbours aren't really that quiet - two nights ago they had a battle royale in the back of the house which I heard parts of while I gardened - and now - two cop cars are in their drive way... wicked!

The action never ends around here.

loves... I totally love the "extreme makeover weight loss edition"  - FANTASTIC - I can watch a whole season of biggest loser in one night - and feel some kind of positive motivation at the end of it for healthier living - great job, ABC. :)

And now off to bed... LOVE falling asleep to the sound of rain! LOVE LOVE LOVE it!

Likes - oh wait - and some dislikes...

I upgraded my cell phone last week and found out what it was like to go through re-loading and dealing with terrible email problems... and now it works and tonight I found something on it that makes my day... you see I was having to re-enter my calendar from my office to my online calendar to my phone.. and then there was duplication and issues... and now - fancy that - I can sync my phone... hooray!

And... Patrick Swayze in Too Wong Foo - he made a beautiful woman and I miss him!

I hate the drug house! HATE - HATE - HATE!!!!!

what's going on

I know - I haven't written in the month of June - terrible!

Well I've been swamped and attended a conference and on and on...  long days.

The boys are well - getting taller by the day, it seems.
Our summer Saturdays are back to what they usually are - this means that we hit a bunch of garage sales we see what kind of stuff we can find - we are having our own garage sale in two weekends - woohoo!  Today we found some great storage units, which we needed for the basement and a GT snow racer for this winter. Then we have lunch out and then play and have fun in the afternoon.

Our house is going up with a realtor on Monday - hooray - so we are doing a yard clean up tomorrow morning (bought some hanging baskets and plants to freshen up the yard) and then heading out to my parents for dinner.  I got the "we'll be there on Friday night" and never show up - I'm smart enough (now) to realize that this means they won't show up and not to build plans around them...

Vent - when you work at a restaurant and you serve food/make food - wash your hands! While it is fine for you to "wash" (run them under water quickly) between different orders or different exchanges in your job - it is not ok that your hands look like you've been working in the garden in the morning, started to work on the truck and then remembered that you needed to be at work and just up and went to work - throwing on your clothes and then preparing food... yuck!

a few photos to celebrate spring

when I said burnt...

So my ear is so burnt that is it purple, blistered and painful... awesome!

that is all - today is gardening and clean up day - AMEN to a day off where I'm not super sick and can just do stuff... :)

hope everyone else is having a great day off - xxoo

relay

Survived - burnt (both feet and then everything else that wasn't covered up - it was supposed to rain all day... not in my leg... the sun was out and it took my arms, face, neck and chest to task.

Made it in just under 2 hours... amazing...

Definitely some challenging parts to it and some uplifting parts - so happy that Andy and the boys were with me for it!  Photos tomorrow.

love to all of you!

the race

Well I'm heading to bed in a few minutes - off to run in the Barkerville Rush Relay tomorrow.  I'm having troubles with my feet - specifically my left foot keeps causing me troubles - but I'm hoping to make it through tomorrow - 12.5km - hoping for under 2 hours - I was planning on a 1:40 but I'm still sick and I'm just not doing well right now.  I feel like I've got something stuck in my throat all the time - that feeling when you want to cough something out, but nothing will come out... blah - I know - sorry for the disgusting details...

Anyways - that is how my long weekend is going to unfold... and then rest and relaxation and sleep on Monday... and planting a few bulbs - lily of the valley, iris and lilies :)

xxoo - love ya!

freakin' max

Tonight we went on a Cariboo Safari - we saw more than 10 bears, 2 moose, rabbits, crows, a coyote and a  cat and possibly a bob cat.. didn't get a clear view of it.  We were gone for a few hours - three total.

We get home and find Max has ripped apart Kyle's backpack.  Today Kyle got a large chocolate rabbit for each case of chocolates he sold for his school - he got four... Max decided he wanted one and ate an entire box - awesome.  So the ultra intelligent dog didn't really do much and then I put the guys to bed and come out to work on a project and there it is.. or there is the beginning of it - he has thrown up all over the couch, then all over the floor, then another part of floor, and downstairs and on and on and on... I've given him a spot in the basement to continue this activity - he isn't dying... he has stopped with the throw up and is now pissed at me for not letting him back upstairs - but honestly, cleaning up his throw up made me gaggy and I just can't keep doing it - especially off my furniture!  ROAR!

So there you go... another fun night at our house... 

blah

So I'm still sick - I'm on the mend - not in running condition though.  I tried to run briefly today and couldn't believe how winded I am - sucks.  The relay is this weekend - or rather - it is supposed to be this weekend, they may call it off tomorrow as the road conditions are risky due to flood concerns and we keep getting buckets of rain and then it is supposed to warm up.

Anyways - that is all - hope you are all well.
xxoo

weather

The rain rain rain came down down down
In rushing, rising riv'lets,
'Til the river crept out of it's bed
And crept right into Piglet's!
Poor Piglet, he was frightened,
With quite a rightful fright.
And so, in desperation
A message he did write.
He placed it in a bottle
And it floated out of sight.

And the rain rain rain came down down down
So Piglet started bailing.
He was unaware, atop his chair,
While bailing he was sailing!

And the rain rain rain came down down down
And the flood rose up up upper.
Pooh, too, was caught and so he thought,
"I must rescue my supper!"
Ten honey pots he rescued,
Enough to see him through,
But as he sopped up his supper,
The river sopped up Pooh!
And the water twirled and tossed him
In a honey pot canoe!
The rain rain rain came down down down...

From Disney's Winnie the Pooh, and the Blustery Day 


Important note for my Quesnel readers - there is a trailer taking supplies to Slave Lake families on Thursday - drop off items at Design Flooring - they are hoping to take basic necessities, toiletries, diapers, clothing, dog food, bottled water, etc. - two trailers are heading to the Athabasca Multiplex - thank you for helping out!

wow

And just because having a spirit breaking cold isn't enough - let's toss in side of hives again...!!!!!
This is the third time ... and the third time I was out in the sun and got them... please don't say that my sister is allergic to the cold and now I'm allergic to the sun... this can not be!

ps - weather man was right - we did finally get the sun... managed to clean the deck - mostly - and get my second hummingbird feeder cleaned up and ready for install tonight - and we sold the kids train table on facebook and now I'm looking at the rest of the garage sale pile and starting to think that is the way to go rather than a giant garage sale for stuff...

off to by benadryl

weather

So it is supposed to be over 20 degrees today - right now it is a 6 and foggy and yucky... will it clear... could the weather people be right....   

It's Sunday

(post secret day... fyi... there are some very sad and disturbing ones this week)

a cold

Yesterday I started getting sick - hurts to swallow, then came on ear and jaw pain and tonight I'm full on into sinus issues - my race is in 7 days - today was supposed to be my big prep run and there was no way - I'm completely bagged.  I've been trying to convince myself that I can go tomorrow (sunday) but I'm so tired and sick that I can't seem to even kind of get it in my head.  My eyes hurt, body aches, coughs, sneezing, a little bit of nausea - sheesh... train wreck...

And there you go - some classic complaining from me

On the good - I drug myself and the boys to the Nazko Annual Dinner and Auction - the boys and my parents put all their raffle tickets into two things and won them both - the first thing was a group of fishing rods (4) and a tackle box and then Michael made it clear that he wanted a motorbike helmet - a giant one - and he totally won it - it is very cool - too big for him, but super cool - apparently we can take it in for a smaller one.  I also got an outdoor fireplace for half price and a laminator... my parents picked up a pass to barkerville and two dragon flies that are handmade by the blacksmith in barkerville...

So the dinner and auction ended at 9:50pm and then we drove home - about 35 minutes out of town there was minimal visibility as the fog had rolled in - thick, terrible fog - did I mention I'm sick and now.. tired... so it was a long night - to say the least - plus trying to watch for animals who like to stand along the edge of the highway at night - I saw 4 deer and a bunny - and who knows how many more I didn't see... and now... why am I still up - well I just don't feel good and sleep isn't coming as quickly as I thought it would - I feel like I could blow my nose for a 100 years, but it is only the feeling - as absolutely nothing is coming out now - damned sinus!

Alright - good night my lovelies - hope you are all 100% better than me! xxoo

happy mother's day

First - Happy Mother's Day to those who are celebrating...

And a story...

I'm sleeping... trying to sleep - haven't been sleeping well lately and last night I didn't get to bed until after 2am (SNL was on and funny and then I just couldn't sleep)

6:57am I roll over and look at my alarm and then a commercial comes to mind - you know the one where they are performing brain surgery on a woman and she says "I can smell burnt toast, doctor" - this is how they tell if you are going to have an epileptic seizure - so I can smell burnt toast at this time in the morning and before panic sets in I hear this... mom.. mom - happy mother's day - and there is kyle standing beside the bed rushing back with some yogurt - awesome - first time I've had breakfast delivered to bed - well except for when I was in the hospital - but that doesn't really count.

And so now I'm going to bed to try and get a few winks

(What else... ok - well since I'm here... I've got hives right where my t-shirt was exposed to the elements today - I got them yesterday too - same spot - it is itchy - it sucks - I took a claritin because I don't have benedryl - hoping that they'll go away over night... sigh)

a series of Kyle's photos - love them, like I do :)

ape of the jungle's house of fundraising is open for business

I'm participating in Relay for Life - our team took a year off last year, but we are back at it this year - I've been slow to start my fundraising this year and I'm hoping you'll help out.  I know a bunch of my readers are on teams or participate in other fundraising throughout the year, so I know - it feels like we are sponsoring/donating all the time - I'm supporting this event because I've seen the positive impact the Canadian Cancer Society has had on friends and family members and know that if we band together to conquer something we can do anything.  (If you click through the link, you'll see my story - or rather - brief narration on why I participate.)  Thank you.


Follow This Link to visit my personal web page and help me in my efforts to support Canadian Cancer Society - BC and Yukon Division

harper

The political junky in me came out to play tonight.  I didn't really get to watch the play by play as I needed to fit in a good run tonight - so I've been catching up online.  I did watch, with a laugh, the faces of the announcers and when they could see that both the Bloc and Liberals had sunk - they could hardly contain themselves as they watched not one, but two leaders lose.

I am surprised that there is a majority government.
I am not at all surprised by the gains of the NDP.
I continue to be less than impressed at voter turn.

I took Kyle and Michael to vote with me tonight.  Kyle wanted to mark my ballot for me, but I was worried  that even if I directed him to make the X I might get in trouble for letting him... in any case, he was pretty interested in the process and the why's - it is a great learning and experience and something my parents neither taught, nor encouraged.  We had very brief political discussions and voting was treated like a taboo topic - I was not supposed to ask how someone voted, I was given no insights as to how or why my parents voted.   (Carmen - would I have been kicked out of the country for letting Kyle mark my ballot?)

I hope that all my readers enacted their right to vote and that they participated in an activity that ensures that we have the freedoms and lives that we have in our country.

wow

I'm sure you've heard about this already but here is story from the Globe and Mail on the Osama Bin Liden
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/americas/reports-say-osama-bin-laden-dead/article2006299/

It is quite amazing to watch the people celebrating in the street.  CNN is continuing to note that they have increased security at federal buildings.   (Enhanced potential...)

This should shut Trump up and secure Obama with a second term of office - if he wants it.

I wonder if they will make May 1 a national holiday.

(And yes, we made it home from a week away - my conference was - well it was a conference - wish I'd had more time to do stuff with family but I'm sure there will be time on our next trip)

on the road again

Well we hit the coast for some family time with Andy's family from Taiwan and now I'm at a conference in Chilliwack.  I know - it isn't Halifax or Columbus or Quebec City... what the heck!  I'm here for a business improvement area conference and then we head home on Sunday.  The boys are going to Victoria tomorrow - they don't know it though - it is a surprise trip on the ferry... sooo wish I was going and just taking the week off... oh well - we will have a longer vacation soon enough... a quick trip to Vancouver will have to be enough to get us through to the summer.

made it

So we are in Vancouver - I'm attending a conference and the guys are hanging with family.
I'm in no mood to write anything tonight - just wanted to convey that we had arrived.

Migraine - only it feels worse - I've had all the drugs I can take without going to the hospital.
blah

Hopefully sleep will take away the pain.

what are we doing?

First, look here -   http://lightbox.time.com/2011/04/20/terribly-beautiful-industrial-pollution-seen-from-above/?iid=lb-late1#6&hpt=C2

If you are busy or don't feel like looking the link leads you to aerial photography of polluted sites - noted "terribly beautiful".  What will it take for our societies to stop and look at what we are doing to the earth?  I am not a bleeding heart - I get that our cultures (industrial world) need industries to survive now - you stop production on something and people stop working, people stop buying, enter sad music - but when I look at these photos I can't help but wonder why we aren't trying to control ourselves - even a bit.

What can be done? How can we make positive steps forward to create change?  Is no one watching Japan right now - while nature wiped out communities - the mess left by a tsunami can be cleaned up - but the mess we create as humanity in the form of nuclear waste lasts many lifetimes.  Sure, we create these things to be more efficient, we don't create anything expecting this kind of dramatic failure, but we know what happened in Chernobyl - we know what happens when nuclear power goes wrong - and yet... here we are... I guess we can't have the scientific amazement and change without failure - it just makes me sad that one day we might not have water because we used it all up in the name of progress and the ability to live our lives quicker and "better" - *sigh*

33 days

On May long weekend I'll be back out running.  I've been training for a short run as part of the Barkerville Rush Relay.  We have a team of 11 people who will be busting out 100 km's together - each of us gets a leg with the longest leg at 12.5km and shortest at 8km - then there is a team dinner in Wells.

The team is excited and getting ready for the race.  My training has been tough lately because I've been sick and just not into it. Tonight I ran 2 miles and had a stitch so bad in my side that I just gave up - well I actually tried to walk it off and then ran and then couldn't get rid of it and bailed... we head to the coast this weekend and I'm hoping that I'll be able to clock some quality km's for a few days.

I'm starting to think about other races later this year - set another goal or reason to stay in running.  I was so disappointed that I stopped over the winter - I love the activity and how it clears stress - but I totally need a goal.  I heard about a race in Vegas in december - 1/2 marathon... not sure about Vegas but I'm thinking of something between 10 and a 1/2 marathon - I've taken the 12.5 for this upcoming race and feel pretty good about that... hopefully I can continue to feel better this week.

Hope everyone is doing well - hugs to you!

xxoo

ahhhh halifax - you are also pretty great

wedding

Congratulations to Paula & Dean! Today marks their one year anniversary!

And to celebrate... a few photos from the beautiful wedding.

Ahhhhh, love! Fantastic!  The most beautiful and fabulous wedding ever!

seriously

the debate - BLAH

I like politics and I can't even get into this one.  I mean really - four old looking guys fighting about the same old shit.  What I like - I like that all the parties are thinking about agriculture and the important role it plays in our society and our cultures.  Tonight the leaders looked down, old and they are all missing passion - make us believe - I want to believe in Canada - I want to be excited about our future and our direction and right now... 'meh' is the only thing that comes to mind.

one year ago today

Me and beautiful Paula

Gotta say that I miss being in Hawaii so much it hurts. It is the best place and I can't wait to go back and share that with my family and, with any luck, return with Paula, Dean and their new little bundle of joy...

4:41am

Yesterday (amere four hours ago) was a terrible food day for me.  I missed meals because of meetings and then ate a pasta salad at 9:30 at night... what I failed to do was really know what I was eating.  Stupid jalapeno dressing - I mean I got that it was spicy but sheesh... so I'm waiting on my tums to kick in so I can go back to bed for a couple hours.

I know - whining and complaining - but writing here seemed to be a better option than watching tv... and now the heat is kicking on because it is minus 4 outside... mother nature has forgotten to press the spring button to on - it appears to be in a half on/half off position.  I heard that Fort McMurray was getting minus 18 as their daytime high for today - madness!

And since I'm on here and it is now April 12 - Happy Birthday to Andrew and Jen!

And now back to bed.

the guard

Three weeks with a guard, three whole weeks - it made quite the impact on me - my jaw stopped cracking/popping/grinding - while I couldn't eat anything tough or crunchy, or well there were lots of things that just weren't working - I had considerably less pain and then...

"So April, we are just going to take the guard away today and give it back to you with alterations on Wednesday."

PARDON!!!!!

And so I've been guard less today - well since 1:30pm and I can't believe how useful it was.  My jaw has already started popping again and I've had headache after headache since I took it out.  It is disturbing that I need this crutch that causes me other problems... I guess the discomfort and loss of foods is worth it compared to this battle of pain and hurt.  So I get the guard back with alterations - which means they are making it easier (maybe) to eat... and then I don't know what follows - they've mentioned braces but it seems that the next guard is going to last for a while.  Never thought I'd say it but I can't wait to have my guard back.  I'm kind of scared to go to sleep tonight because I know that I've been grinding and clenching my jaw... sigh.... here's to tonight...

good night my lovelies!

xxoo

Hop

The good old Carib Theatre was running Hop at the matinee today and so I sucked it up and took the guys.  Over the years I've given up on seeing movies in the theatre - why - well I usually get nausea from the movie, or I feel like I've really, really wasted money and I'd rather sit at home and waste money than sit in a theatre.

Hop is a kids movie and is probably the best ones I've had to sit through in recent memory.  We sat through Alpha and Omega and I would have to say that was a new low.  The animation was fine, but the story, characters, - issues everywhere.. but Hop had an ok story line - something a little different and throw backs - like 'the Hoff' (Hasslehoff) participating in the film - a kin to the use of him in Spongebob Squarepants - but for a longer period of time.  As an adult there are significant issues with the film, but the guys enjoyed and Michael was asking if we could watch it again tonight - so it is a hit.

And that is about it - I'm still sick - I get the coughs at bedtime and when I get up - today wasn't great either, just not feeling great.  Oh well - still have to train - have a race in 6 weeks - ran a 10km yesterday and should be doing a short run tonight, but I'm bailing and opting for a lame night in front of the tv.

xxoo