Happy New Year!!!

You Know You're In a Small Town When....

On the way up to our cottage in the Caribou lies a small quaint little village called Lone Butte. Not a roaring metropolis by any stretch of the imagination. There's a gas station, a little general store, an arts and crafts place (connected to a tire place) and a pub. The pub is wonderful, it's like a big lodge with snowshoes and canoes hooked up to the ceiling and big screen TV's and great chicken burgers.

We often stop in at the pub on the way home for a good meal to hit the road. This last visit we met our friend Esther there for lunch. At the end of our meal I got up to use the washroom and noticed 2 other women were heading the same direction. No problem I thought, there are 3 stalls. I've used this facility before. I'm "in the know".

I opened the door to the washroom and noticed that all 3 stall doors weren't shut. Hmm, I thought, I'm sure those 2 women were headed this way, they couldn't have gone anywhere else. I pushed one door to open it (the doors swing in) and it was promptly slammed in my face with an "I'm sorry". There was someone inside but she hadn't closed the door! I went to the next stall (the big one) and this lady was too far away from the door and just sat on the toilet and looked at me and said "I'm sorry"! By this time I was afraid to even try the 3rd one!

So I washed my hands as if that's all I came in there to do.

Life's just so different in the city.

2 Weeks From Now...........

Diamond Head

Counting the Days

A Giving Heart

Let us remember that the Christmas heart is a giving heart, a wide open heart that thinks of others first. The birth of the baby Jesus stands as the most significant event in all history, because it has meant the pouring into a sick world of the healing medicine of love which has transformed all manner of hearts for almost two thousand years... Underneath all the bulging bundles is this beating Christmas heart. -- George Matthew Adams

Home Again

We're home safe and sound from spending Christmas in 100 Mile House. The roads were bare and dry all the way up and a little slushy on the way home. It was a good trip. We took a drive out to our cottage and saw the progress being made on our kitchen. All of the old cupboards have been torn down and it's getting prepped for beautiful shiny new ones to take their place all made by Chris' dad Jim. We visited with our realtor friend Esther over lunch at the pub in Lone Butte. It's nice when a business relationship turns into friendship. Nothing like good grub at the pub.

Tomorrow we're heading out to Abbotsford to spend some time with Paul and Betty.

Christmas is all about spending time with friends and family and this year we've done lots of that. It's been a good one.

Christmas

Christmas is not a time nor a season, but a state of mind. To cherish peace and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas. -- Calvin Coolidge

We're off bright and early tomorrow morning for 100 Mile House. Pray for good travelling weather and safety on the roads.

It's been busy around here celebrating with each other and with friends. Last night we dropped off the boys and had a wonderful Christmas celebration with our good friends. Tonight we drop off Maggie and celebrate with another friend.

I'm truly blessed with many good friends. They come from all different walks of life, some I've met through work, some through church, some through other people and it's amazing to me how God brings people in our lives for reasons.

Years ago I went to Bible College in Hawaii and made lots of friends. Over the years I've lost touch with people as we've moved and not exchanged new addresses and I'm really down to a handful of people that I still correspond with. One of them still lives in Hawaii and I've seen her many times over the years as I've visited. I've invited Becky several times to come to Vancouver and let me show her some Canadian hospitality but she hardly ever leaves the island.

Just last week Chris and I were talking about going on vacation in the Spring. Her boss had told her they were putting on a freeze on vacation time in Feb and March so she asked if she could have days off in January. He said Jan 10 - 22.

Chris came home and starting punching in dates for different places. We talked about Cuba, Mexico, Dominican Republic, Hawaii. Do we go all inclusive, do we go somewhere neither one of us has ever been before? She played around with different web sites looking at hotels and airfares. All of a sudden I heard her say, "wow Hawaii is really cheap for airfare only". The dates were perfect, Jan 11 - 21, it fit right in the days she has off. The deal was too good to pass up and we had to book it the next morning.

I contacted my friend Becky in Hawaii and told her we were coming. Well, guess what? The person who hardly ever leaves 'the rock' is going on vacation to CA almost the exact dates we're going to be there and offered us her place! How cool is that!

It always amazes me how God works out the details for us so effortlessly.

I'm abundantly blessed.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas 2006!!!

This is officially my first Christmas Blog so welcome! We have come so far in this technology of ours. I’m so old I can remember learning to type on a manual typewriter.

Year in Review:

We started off the year on a sad note having to put down Chris’s beloved cat Bryce. She had been his mom for 9 years and it’s always so hard to lose a pet. He had a lot of personality and won me over to ‘cat world’.



Last Christmas my mom asked me if I’d like to go to Hawaii with her this year and we went in February. Unfortunately the weather was the worst I’ve ever experienced in the tropics and for the first time ever I came home without a sun tan. Much to my dismay. However, we did have some good Mother and Daughter bonding time and spent some quality time doing what we do best, shopping and eating. It was a fun week away.

In April John’s kids and my mom and I got together in White Rock to remember John and spend some time together at the beach. It was great to see them again and to see what fine young people they’ve become. Derek wasn’t able to make it but I caught up with him a week later in Vancouver at the café where he was working. Josh is busy at the Ad Co. he works for while freelancing as well. His wife Gina had 2 hip replacements this year and both have been successful. Hopefully she’ll stay healthy now. They’ve sure had their share of trials but have come through amazingly well and strong. Niki is finishing her degree in Tourism and Hospitality and is a great mom to 2 year old Alaia.

My step-father Paul had a stroke at Easter time which left him with a sore shoulder and lots of aches and pains. He’s no longer driving so he’s had a few adjustments to make in his daily routine.

We spent a lot of time at our cottage this summer because of some unexpected time off for both Chris and I. Chris had some medical issues this summer and was on leave for a few months. She’s back to good health now and we’re thankful for that.

I fell down the stairs after finishing my Handy Dart shift the end of July and what started out as a sprained ankle turned into a bad bone chip which took months to heal. Because of that I wore an air cast for 2 months, had 4 weeks of Physiotherapy and another 6 weeks of strengthening and exercising at the Rehab Program. I finally returned to work Nov 12 and happy to be back driving around town. I’ve decided not to go back to the group home for the time being anyways.

In July my mom celebrated her 80th Birthday at a restaurant joined by Paul and his kids, Ralph & Lalani from Kamloops, Niki & Alaia, , Chris and Me. It was a great time and we all enjoyed ourselves. We later enjoyed a train trip to Whistler for the day.

In September we came home with 2 baby boy kittens! What a lot of fun and energy they have. They’re absolutely charming and Maggie has welcomed her little brothers Benson and Bailey with a lot of grace.

I’d like to remember my brother John who passed away December 15, 2004 and my dad on December 12, 1989. I miss them both very much and as December rolls around it’s always a bittersweet time. The years help to heal the hole left behind and I know they’re both with the Lord which is far better.

Who knows what a year will bring except the Lord and I’m glad He’s the One in charge, I sure couldn’t do it. I’m very blessed with good friends and a loving home I share with Chris, Maggie and our bundles of energy Benson and Bailey.


Merry Christmas and God’s richest blessings on you and yours in 2007!

VW John

It's been 2 years since my brother John passed away. He was asleep on his couch and never woke up. He had been ill for years and we always knew he wouldn't live to be old. We're thankful that he was able to live his life to the fullest right to the end.

John was a guy who walked at a different pace from the rest of the world. He always stood out in a crowd. He was tall and blonde and always tanned. He lived his life with passion. He loved God above all else and served Him with devotion.

He loved his family and although his wife left him years ago he never broke his wedding vows and loved her until the end. He was the best dad 3 kids could have. He became a Grandpa 11 months before he died when his daughter Niki had a baby girl named Alaia. He was passionate about his VW’s and was well known in the VW community as VW John. He lived and breathed VW’s. You never knew what he'd be driving next. Over the years he lost count as to just how many he owned.

John and I were never very close as children and in our early adult hood never saw each other very much at all. Sometimes we would go 2 or 3 years not seeing each other although we didn’t live very far apart.
That changed about 10 years ago when out of the blue John called me up and wanted to go out for lunch. That was the beginning of a different relationship for us and one that was very close in the end. We got to know each other as adults and put away the past. He was always there when I needed something, he changed the oil in my car, he did household stuff, he called me lots just to chat and we enjoyed just hanging out.

In 1999 John and I took a vacation together to Hawaii. My mom made it possible for John to go and we had an awesome time. We stayed with my long time friend Meredith at her home. It was John’s one and only trip to Hawaii and he made the most of it even carrying a VW tool kit home in his carry-on luggage.

In 2004 our cousins from Holland planned a cousin get together. Again, my mom made it possible for John to go and this time it was the 4 of us that went. John, Mom, Chris and me. Good times with the cousins. They got to meet John for the first time and we all enjoyed ourselves. Chris and John and I enjoyed a day in Amsterdam shopping and riding the canals on a barge. What a blast.


John left behind his 3 kids: Derek, Josh (Gina) and Niki and his granddaughter Alaia. They’ve grown up to be really nice adults and a pleasure to be around. We got together to remember John’s birthday and share some “John stories”.

I miss John and his loud boisterous voice shouting “hello”. I miss the sound of a VW roaring in my driveway and hearing the door slam as he shouted “Hey, got anything cooking for dinner?” I miss John’s quiet spiritual side as he shared his heart with me. I really miss my phone ringing at 10 pm, that’s when he’d always call to chat.

Here’s to you John. I miss you and I’m glad you were my brother.

Guess Where We're Going in January???

December 12, 2006

17 years ago I was working by myself in a Church office when the phone rang. Since I was the one who primarily answered the phone I naturally picked it up. It was the call nobody ever wants to hear. It was my mom’s Pastor calling to tell me that “there had been an accident, your mom is ok but your dad is dead.” Just like that. I was stunned to say the least. I asked him to repeat it and he said exactly the same words exactly the same way. I will never forget that day or the way that Pastor relayed the news.

The next few hours and days were a blur of people coming over, staying at my mom’s, making funeral arrangements, dealing with unfamiliar things and people, taking care of so many details.

My dad wasn’t in an accident, but he did die while driving his car. He had enough sense to know something was happening and pulled his car over to the side of the road. He put the car in park and he was gone, that quickly. “Changed in the twinkling of an eye” the Bible says. Later on they told us he had suffered a massive heart attack.

My dad was a quiet unassuming man but he went out with a bang. He was on the main street of small town USA and they shut down the street and re-routed traffic. He would’ve gotten a chuckle out of that.

I miss my dad. My mom tells me I’m the most like him out of the 3 of us. He didn’t judge people, he would do anything for anyone, and he loved me more than life itself. I was blessed to have a dad who loved God, who treated his wife with respect, who loved his children and never hesitated to tell us how much.

My dad’s last words to me were “I love you Sweetheart, you’re my only girl”. Such a good reminder to tell the ones we love how much we love them and how much they mean to us.

My dad was 65 years old and had plans to live a lot longer. God had different plans for him and as painful as it was losing him, I’m thankful that he never suffered from a lingering illness like so many others around him. It was his wish that when it was his time to go that God would just take him and God granted him that wish.

I miss you Dad.

From your one and only girl.

Carol Ship Cruise

This last week we went on a Carol Ship Cruise in Vancouver. It was a beautiful night, clear and bright. It was fabulous to see the city skyline and all the lights. We live in such a beautiful place and often don't take advantage of it. We had been talking about going on a cruise for awhile and finally did it.

This cruise was fantastic, in that it was well organized when you got on board, the food was wonderful, first class.


There was carollers on board to help get the singing starting and that was fun. 3 of them walked around singing and we all joined in. Well, not all of us. About half of the crowd didn't speak English. Let's just say Little Drummer Boy was a hit with that crowd because they pulled out all their chopsticks! Too funny.

There was one man who really enjoyed singing and he had a big booming voice especially when it came to any Spanish. Feliz Navidad was a bit hit with him.

When it came time to sing The 12 Days of Christmas somehow we were "8 maids a milking". Not sure how that happened!


It was a wonderful night and a good time was had by all.

And So the Holiday Season Begins

Three men died on Christmas Eve and were met by Saint Peter at the pearly gates.

"In honor of this holy season" Saint Peter said, "You must each possess something that symbolizes Christmas to get into heaven."

The first man fumbled through his pockets and pulled out a lighter. He flicked it on. "It represents a candle", he said.

"You may pass through the pearly gates" Saint Peter said.

The second man reached into his pocket and pulled out a set of keys. He shook them and said, "They're bells."

Saint Peter said "You may pass through the pearly gates".

The third man started searching desperately through his pockets and finally pulled out a pair of women's panties.

St. Peter looked at the man with a raised eyebrow and asked,"And just what do those symbolize?

The man replied," "These are Carols."

And So The Holiday Season Begins....

HOW TO STAY YOUNG

1. Throw out nonessential numbers. This includes age, weight and height. Let the doctors worry about them. That is why you pay "them!"

2. Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down.

3. Keep learning. Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, whatever. Never let the brain idle. "An idle mind is the devil's workshop." And the devil's name is Alzheimer's.

4. Enjoy the simple things.

5. Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath.

6. The tears happen. Endure, grieve, and move on. The only person, who is with us our entire life, is ourselves. Be ALIVE while you are alive.

7. Surround yourself with what you love, whether it's family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, h obbies, whatever. Your home is your refuge.

8. Cherish your health: If it is good, preserve it. If it is unstable, improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.

9 Don't take guilt trips. Take a trip to the mall, even to the next county; to a foreign country but NOT to where the guilt is.

10. Tell the people you love that you love them, at every opportunity.
AND ALWAYS REMEMBER:

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

Man of the Year

Stuff that Canadians find funny

Vancouver (Reuters)

Day 2 - Vancouver Blizzard 2006 - Revenge of the Commuters

Chilled Vancouver commuters faced their second day of winter hell today, as an additional ¼ centimetre of the peculiar white stuff fell, bringing the lower mainland to its knees and causing millions of dollars worth of damage to the marijuana crops. Scientists suspect that the substance is some form of frozen water particles and experts from Saskatchewan are being flown in. With temperatures dipping to the almost but not quite near zero mark, Vancouverites were warned to double insulate their lattes before venturing out.

Vancouver police recommended that people stay inside except for emergencies, such as running out of espresso or biscotti to see them through Vancouver's most terrible storm to date. The local Canadian Tire reported that they had completely sold out of fur-lined sandals.

Drivers were cautioned to put their convertible tops up, and several have been shocked to learn that their SUV's actually have four wheel drive, although most have no idea how to use it.

Weary commuters faced soggy sushi, and the threat of frozen breast implants. Although Dr. John Blatherwick, of the Coastal Health Authority reassured everyone that most breast implants were perfectly safe to 25 below, down-filled bras are flying off the shelves at Mountain Equipment Co-op.

"The government has to do something," snarled an angry Trevor Warburton. "I didn't pay $540,000 for my one bedroom condo so I could sit around and be treated like someone from Toronto."

Is It Cold Enough For You???

Well, I've had enough of this weather. Geesh! Enough already! I have never in my life worn long johns under my jeans to go to work. It's been essential services all week so I haven't worked much and when I have been on shift I haven't worked much then either, just got paid for sitting around!
I'm dreaming of a green Christmas........sure could use some R & R in the tropics about now. However the last time I was in Hawaii the weather was so lousy I never did sit by the pool. What's this world coming to anyways....
Maybe I'll sing my Hawaiian Christmas song and it will cheer me up...follow along if you don't know the words. Here goes:


Mele Kalikimaka is the thing to say
On a bright Hawaiian Christmas Day
That's the island greeting that we send to you
From the land where palm trees sway.

Hopin' that your Christmas will be green and bright
The sun to shine by day and all the stars at night.
Mele Kalikimaka is Hawaii's way
To say Merry Christmas,
A very Merry Christmas,
A very very Merry Christmas to you!!!!

Now, that doesn't that make you feel better?

"Some people are like slinkies, they are really
good for nothing but they bring a smile to your face when you push them down the stairs"

I was called into work for an Essential Services run. How hard could that be I thought.

I had a total of 4 clients. 2 of them cancelled. So that meant I worked a total of 4 hours and only had to take 2 clients home. I put 20k on the bus. On a normal shift I usually put at least 100k.

And I was 'buddy'd' up which meant I didn;t have to work alone.

Life is good.

Let it snow.

It's Snowing!!!

Personally, I'd rather be on a warm tropical beach somewhere sipping on a Mai Tai, but that's just me. Chris and Diana just left to go to Seattle to watch a football game. Call me crazy but I'm staying home in my warm house with the fireplace, 2 kittens and a dog. I may just stay in my pj's all day. Yup, sounds good to me.

fun name game...play along!

1. Rockstar name (your first pet's name + current street name)
Snoopy 68

2. Gangsta name (fav. ice cream + fav. cookie)
Jamocha choco chip

3. "Fly girl" name (first initial of first name + first 3 letters of last name)
J-Van (it's actually B but I like J better and it's my blog)

4. Detective name (favorite color + favorite animal)
Yellow Dog

5. Soap Opera name (middle name + city where you were born)
Joan Burnaby

6. Star Wars Name (First 3 letters of your last name + first 2 letters of first name)
Vanba

7. superhero name ("the" + second favorite color + favorite drink)
The Grey Margarita

8. Nascar Name (first names of your grandfathers)
Derk Jan Roelof (doesn’t work quite as well when you’re Dutch)

9. Stripper name (favorite perfume + favorite candy)
Tommy Chocolate

10. Witness Protection name (parents middle names)
Bertha Dirk (my parents don't have middle names)

You Can't Plan These Things

Guess who decided that sleeping on my bed with my teddy bear looked like fun? hmmm....it's like she was thinking, well if that cat can do it so can I. Kids, gotta love them.

How Sweet is This

Found Bailey tucked in behind the pillows on my bed with my teddy bear this morning...can we all say awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww

It seems that I just can't get pictures to post these days...argghhh, very frustrating.

I worked all day in the blustery winds, the traffic light outages and power disruptions around the city. It took me 1 hour to drive 4 city blocks at one point.

But...after all was said and done I pulled into the bus garage at exactly the time I was supposed to and wasn't even a minute late!

I'm thankful to be back working and driving people around. I really enjoy this job and the rewards in meeting the challenges sometimes I face.

Chris is freezing her hiney off at the cottage. They didn't have any power when I spoke to her tonight and were deciding on whether they should drive into town and stay at her parents new house which has heat. An easy decision for me. Heat. Heat is good.

Back to work tomorrow and waking up with 2 crazy kittens who don't think I have a right to sleep in.

I'm Baaaaccckkk!!!

I've been back to work since Saturday and things have been going well. It felt a little strange at first and I felt "out of the loop" but I quickly caught onto things and was soon wheeling my bus around town like I hadn't been away at all.

I've worked the weekend and now am working a lot this week. I've climbed my way up the seniority ladder and seem to have a plethora of shifts to choose from for which I am very thankful.

Chris is away until Saturday so I'm holding down the fort until she gets home. This means having a dog sleeping/snotting by my side and sharing the bed with not 1 but 2 ever growing kittens who seem to enjoy teasing me. They're a lot of fun and I love them.

My mom called tonight to say that my step-father's sister had passed away. Although it was no surprise, she has been in the hospice for 2 weeks and they were expecting it anytime it still is the end of someone's life.

Life goes on....I'm thankful and blessed by so many in my life.

15 Reasons Why a Dog is Better Than a Man

See the little man on the left? That was my Opa. The lady on the right was my Oma and guess who's in the middle? Little ole me! My Opa was very small, he measured about 4'6". They called him the "klein man" meaning "little man" in his town. My dad was about 5'7". He was the tallest in his family but the smallest in ours.
My brother Ralph stands about 6'3", my brother John was 6'2", I'm 5'11". hmmmm....
This photo was taken when I was 2 years old and spent some time in Holland with my mom.

Lest We Forget

When I see the news about war sometimes I can feel so complacent because I don't know anybody who died in a war. I grew up with parents who had lived through the horrors of WWII and heard stories of the Nazis and Dutch Jews going to prison camps. But until it's someone you know, somehow it doesn't seem real. But it doesn't lessen the hardships others have faced because of war. For that I want to say I'm humbled. I don't know the hardships, I only know the stories.

My Friend Kit

Kit Mitchell
June 30, 1953 - November 10, 2003

I’ve often mentioned Kit on my blog before so today I thought I’d share a Kit story. After he died someone said I should sit down and write some of his stories when they were still fresh but I didn’t do it and now I wish I had.

Kit was a client of mine who became a friend. I was his Keyworker for 2 years and spent lots of time with Kit. He lived in the same group home for 27 years and he “ran the home”. He stole my heart the first time I met him. I thought of him more as a brother and in a way, his death prepared me for my own brother’s a year later.

Kit loved God with all of his heart. Because he couldn’t talk he made gestures and grunt like sounds. When you got to know him you could hear the different between happy grunts and mad frustrated grunts. When Kit prayed it was as if he commanded God to listen to him. He lifted his arms up to the air and looked into the heavens and almost shouted “Hey God what are you doing up there? I’m needing some help here”

The summer before he died Kit decided he wanted to get baptized. It had been mentioned at church and Kit took it upon himself to go and talk to the Pastor about being baptized. He pointed to the bulletin announcement and then to himself and then upwards to God, crossed his heart and hugged the Pastor. The Pastor got the message.

Kit’s Pastor came out to see him on an official Pastoral visit to make very sure that Kit knew what he was doing. After sharing a coffee with him he was certain Kit knew exactly what he was doing. The only thing was Kit was deathly afraid of water and didn’t like the idea of “full immersion”. So…we improvised.

Sunday arrived and Kit was excited. He was jumping up and down with joy. I gave him a ceramic cross with the Lord’s Prayer inscribed on it as a keepsake. He held that close to his heart and put it on his shelf.

My mom and brother came for the service and that was a blessing both to Kit and myself.

Kit sat on pins and needles the whole service and then the Pastor announced that all those getting baptized were going down to the river after the service.

(Church was held outside in the summer at a park as it normally met in a school.) Then the Pastor called Kit and myself up front.

He introduced us and asked me to give a little of Kit’s testimony. I shared how Kit gave the plan of salvation every time we drove past the little graveyard close to the group home where he lived. With his gestures and grunts Kit made it plain just how easy it was to accept Jesus in your heart. After I shared Kit took the Pastor’s Bible and opened it to a passage and grunted his way through it.

After that they put a towel across Kit’s shoulders and got a bowl full of water. The Pastor cupped his hands and scooped some water and let it flow over Kit’s hat (he wouldn’t remove it). The congregation clapped and Kit rejoiced. He hugged everyone and laughed. He’d done it.


The verse that I gave Kit when I became his key worker was: James 5:16 “the effectual prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”

Six months later when Kit went to be with the Lord we used that verse on his Memorial bulletin.

Kit taught me to be who you are, don’t be defeated by what others think of you, reach out and care about people even if you get hurt and above all, love others as Christ loved us. So often our society lessens what people with disabilities can give us. I thank God for the opportunity of knowing Kit and seeing what a great big heart a little guy could have.

This Was My Day

Catchin' Up

This is my last full week of going to the gym for 4 hours a day. It's good that it's mandatory, it'd be so easy to roll over in the morning and say "nah, I don't think so" and go back to sleep.

I'm going back to work this weekend so I can do a weekend shift which is usually a little lighter and more familiar. Since I've been off for almost 4 months I'm craving the familiar faces and addresses. I'll have Monday off since it's a stat.

For the next 2 weeks I'll still go for Physio 2x a week with some exercising at the Gym to "ease back into work" so that will be good.

Chris is heading up to 100 Mile House on Friday for a week so it will be quiet around here. Although with 3 animals it's sometimes a little crazy. They're a little more work but a whole lot more fun.

That's how my week has been going. How about yours?

Thankfulness

Thankfulness is not something God gives us, it is not a spiritual gift and it is not a spiritual fruit. We can receive God’s peace, joy and love, but thankfulness is something that we give to God and to others.
It is a choice that we make.

A Newfy Poem: New Edition

(Who said Newfies aren't romantic?)

Of course I love's ya darlin'
Yur a bloody top-notch bird
And when I say's yur gorgeous
I mean's every single word

So ya bum is on da big side
(I don't mind a bit of flab)
It means dat when I'm ready
Dere's sometin' there ta grab

So yur belly isn't flat no more
I tell ya, I don't care
So long as when I cuddle ya
I can get my arms round dere.

No woman who is your age
Has nice round perky breasts
They just gave in ta gravity
But I know ya did da best.

So I'm tellin ya da trute,
(Ya know I never tells ya lies)
I think it's very sexy
Ya got dimples on yur thighs

I swear on me grannies grave now
Da moment dat we met
I tot ya was as good a girl
as I was ever gonna get.

No matter wot ya look like
I'll always love ya dear
Now shut up while da hockey's on
And fetch anoder beer.

It's Raining

Dead End

My friend Barb and I used to collect Road Signs. Of course it was funnier if you could hear us reading out the signs out loud. Much funnier I promise you. Here's one that doesn't need reading out loud. It used to amuse me that on the way to the group home I used to work at there was a little graveyard just on the side of the road and a mailbox in front of it. I've always wanted to take a photo of that. In the meantime you can enjoy this one.

These Boots Are Made For Walkin'

Yesterday when Chris got up she immediately went to the computer to research where to buy new winter boots. This is the difference between us. I would go to a mall and wander around, maybe sip a cool drink, if I didn't find what I wanted I'd go home probably with something else. No, not Chris. We must find these boots. They must be tested to a temperature of at least -40. She searched the Net and called around and located the best of the best.

We found boots. We had to go to North Vancouver. For Surrey girls, that's a long ways. But they're beautiful. They have thermal inserts that will keep us warm and cozy in the cold harsh winters if we get stuck in the snow between here and the cottage. Last year I went to the cottage in the winter one time. This year I have boots so hopefully it will be more than once. Stay tuned to this blog to hear of the glove buying adventure. Riveting newsbreaking story. You won't want to miss it.

Last night we went out for dinner at a fave restaurant and saw the movie about the Dixie Chicks. Interesting movie and good to see. I think seeing it in Canada would be different than seeing it in the south. I can't imagine the audience breaking out into applause in some small town in the deep south but they sure did here. Good for us. We know what's right. Go girls!

Here's a Good Reason For Moms to Wear Glasses on the Back of Their Heads

When I was a kid my mother always told me she had eyes in the back of her head. I think it's something moms learn at "Mom School". You know, that place where they learn all the phrases like "quit yer cryin' or I'll give you something to cry about" or "when I was a kid we had to walk X amount of miles in the snow, (insert bad road conditions here)", those sorts of things.

One year for Mother's Day we wrapped up a pair of glasses and gave them to my mom and said, "well now that you're wearing glasses on the front of your head, you'll be needing them in the back too". My mom wore them all day.

A Tip From Maxine

Chris and I have come up with a plan in an effort to keep our house looking like company would be welcome instead of shooed away at the door because it would be horrible if they saw what slobs we can be. We're not always that bad but lately it's been a battle to keep it clean. So now we're alternating upstairs/downstairs. This week it's my turn to clean downstairs. For inspiration I went to the source of all wisdom, my friend Maxine. I know where to get good advice. She never lets me down.


Always keep several get well cards on the mantel.....so if unexpected guests arrive, they will think you've been sick and unable to clean.

I Was Challenged

to answer the following....

1. What is your occupation? Handy Dart driver/Group Home worker (both currently on hold)

2. What color is your underwear? gotta look...black

3. What are you listening to right now? Judge Judy givin' somebody the works

4. What was the last thing you ate? turkey and ham on a bun

5. Do you wish on stars? no

6. If you were a crayon, what color would you be? yellow

7. How is the weather right now? cloudy

8. Last person you spoke to on the phone? the vet's office

9. Do you like the person who sent this to you? most definitely!

10. How old are you today? 48

11. Favorite drink? depends on time of day...definitely coffee in the a.m.

12. Favorite sport to watch? home improvement

13. Have you ever dyed your hair? for years

14. Do you wear contacts or glasses? glasses

15. Favorite food? Mexican.

16. What was the last movie you watched? The Guardian

17. Favorite day of the year? my birthday

18. What do you do to vent anger? throw pillows

19. What was your favorite toy as a child? an easter bunny my dad gave me one year that had big feet and no matter how you threw it , it landed on its feet.

20. Hugs or kisses? Depends on the hugger and depends on the kisser

Mickey's Had An Accident

I was sitting in the office reading blogs, emails, you know the usual computer stuff when I heard a giant crash across the hall. I went into the master bedroom to find the kittens (innocent looking as always) staring up at me as if to say "he did it". A vase had knocked over Mickey and Mickey hit the CD player. Poor Mickey. He's going to have to get a new career now that he doesn't have ears. Maybe a Michael Jackson impersonator?

Happy Hallowe'en

As a kid Hallowe'en was very exciting...we got to go around the neighborhood screaming "trick or treat" and got pillow cases full of candy. I grew up not eating any kind of junk food or candy so for me it was a really big deal. Boy did it make me hyper. One day a year I o'd on candy and it was fun! I was bouncing off the walls and had a hard time sleeping until all of the candy was gone.

Here's to happy trick or treating everywhere. Stay safe.

Moral: Women are tough. Don’t mess with them.

FBI Job Opening

The FBI had an opening for an assassin. After all the background checks, interviews and testing were done, there were 3 finalists. Two men and a woman. For the final test, the FBI agents took one of the men to a large metal door and handed him a gun. “We must know that you will follow your instructions no matter what the circumstances. Inside the room you will find your wife sitting in a chair.. Kill Her!”

The man said, “You can’t be serious. I could never shoot my wife.” The agent said, “Then you’re not the right man for this job. Take your wife and go home.”

The second man was given the same instructions. He took the gun and went into the room. All was quiet for about 5 minutes. The man came out with tears in his eyes, ” I tried, but I can’t kill my wife.” The agent said, “You don’t have what it takes. Take your wife and go home.”

Finally, it was the woman’s turn. She was given the same instruction, to kill her husband. She took the gun and went into the room. Shots were heard, one after another. They heard screaming, crashing, banging on the walls. After a few minutes, all was quiet. The door opened slowly and there stood the woman, wiping the sweat from her brow. “The gun is loaded with blanks,” she said, “I had to beat him to death with the chair.”

Moral: Women are tough. Don’t mess with them.

I'm Baaaaccckkk!!!

We had a great weekend away from it all.........Maggie enjoyed her stay with Moses and Christine, behaved herself and was happy to see us. The boys loved their 'other home' so much they could have cared less if we came to pick them up...awww...but once they were home they looked around and said, 'oh ya, we remember this place, hey there's our stuff!' and curled up by the fire and went to sleep.
So, back to us. We left on Friday afternoon and after being grilled at the border about the truck (is it yours, who pimped your ride, where'd you get such a sweet truck, can I have a truck like yours, wow, you've got a sweet ride) ok, those weren't all accurate but we knew the guy liked the truck just by the way he asked for the keys and checked it out.
Then we headed for Tulalip. It's beautiful. Stunning. We didn't spend a dime. Nope, not us. We just went up to the Guest Services and asked for our hotel coupon. First we had to fill out a VIP Rewards app so we could get a card and free keychain and then we got our Fun book. Once we got our book we were out of there and headed for our hotel.
After we checked in we asked if there was a good Mexican restaurant close by. We were given directions and guess what? It was the same one we had eaten in last year heading back from Oregon. Good food, worth going back for.
We spent the evening surveying the bargoons at Wally's world. Got me some new Levi's and other stuff, good prices.
The hotel had a pool and hot tub so we enjoyed an hour or so just relaxing there before heading to our room.
Saturday we headed south to check out new boots for the boot lady. We found her a pair of beauts in Redmond at a good price so she's happy. New boots always makes her smile.
We went to the Outlet Mall after that and spent some quality time at a few of our fave stores.
We ate at the same restaurant again and enjoyed watching what seemed to be a fashion show for a junior formal, based on the number of pimply faced boys and shy giggly girls all dressed in clothes they didn't look too comfortable in. That was fun.
We spent some more time in the pool and hot tub and watched a special on the Dixie Chicks before falling asleep.
Great breakfast this morning at the place where they do breakfast best in my opinion, yum, can you say grand slam omelette, oh ya, it was good.
No problems crossing the border, picked up the kids, picked up some dinner and here we are, ready to start another week. It was nice to get away and always nice to get home.

Just came home from dropping off all 'the kids' so we can go away for the weekend. I feel like an empty nester with no 4 legged children around. Back on Sunday night. Have a good weekend everybody.

The Whole Kitten'kaboodle

Aren't these the most angelic little things you've ever seen? Don't be fooled people. Beneath those cherubic little bundles of fur lies the hearts of tigers and lions waiting to attack their humans in the night. Trust me, I'm one of them. I was attacked in the early morning hours. It was still dark outside yet these two somehow thought it was high noon and time for a brawl. On top of my blankets. Ouch.
Maggie just looked up at me as if to say "well you brought them home" and rolled her eyes.
The kittens are going for their first overnight visit this weekend. Hopefully they'll behave themselves and we won't find them sitting on the doorstep waiting for a ride home when we go to pick them up on Sunday night.

If I Got a Tattoo

this is what I'd want. not sure where it would go, i'm saving the ankle for my palm tree i'm going to get whenever my friend barb and i get around to it.