Wednesday, at supper time, the kids turned the tv on and I heard ”Mom, Arthur is green.” I went into the living room to check and discovered that all the colour on the tv had become psychedelic. Fluorescent green, blue, red, yellow. I checked the colour settings, everything was correct, checked with a dvd to make sure it wasn’t the cable, still funky colours. I mentioned to a friend of mine about the tv and they asked me jokingly if I was stoned when I was looking at the tv, it’d be easier if I was, because then i’d at least know the colours would go back to normal after, lol. Unfortunately, I’d say my 13 year old tv has finally bit the dust. I hate it when things like this break because it’s always a chunk of money you didn’t expect to have to dish out for something.

Also if I was stoned (note, to those who take things too seriously, I am not, have not been stoned, lol), maybe I’d believe Bush wasn’t in power. I was tipped from a friend that yesterday was the Day of Mass Resistance to drive out the Bush Regime. I would have blogged about it before to let people know, but I was out of town all day yesterday and wasn’t able to blog. From the report on the website, it looks like they had good turnouts in many places. I’d be curious though over how much of a difference that will make to someone to influence their vote for the next election. 

On another note, Alec came in 40th this week at cross country and was thrilled that he did better than last week. He has one more race next week and his goal is to place in the 30’s. And this race, he ran the whole time without walking at all, which was a first. He’s been so proud of his accomplishments. I’d say he’s been learning some valuable lessons through this process. 

Finally, my brother who lives in Thailand is getting married in a few months. Unfortunately, I won’t be able to attend the wedding, but I am going through old photo albums and I’ll be emailing him photos for a video presentation they’ll be doing on his life. His fiance Ae seems very nice (we’ve chatted via MSN). If it wasn’t for the internet and all the innovations, I’d rarely be talking to my brother. But with msn, skype, email, etc. we’re able to keep in touch regularly:)

It’s that time of year again. Thanksgiving is often a time of reflection for me. I think of the reasons why I am thankful, yet at the same time, I struggle with wistfulness at times too. For me, thanksgiving has always meant a time to get together with family, the turkey dinner, conversation with family and all that entails. But since Kevin and I have been separated, the kids go with Kevin to his parents for a Thanksgiving dinner. The kids and I will still do something as they will come home on Monday, but it’s much lower key with just the 3 of us, than the Aunts, Uncles, Nana, Grandad and everyone that they will have at their grandparents. I’m glad they will have those memories as I know for me growing up, they were a big part of Thanksgiving memories. So I guess essentially, Thanksgiving for me, has become more of a time for me to reflect on my life, to give thanks for;

Alec and Bram, that words alone can not express how much I love them.

My family - my sister and her family, my brother and Dad. Alec and Bram’s wonderful grandparents.

The many wonderful people that have come and gone in my life. New friends, Dear old friends. For friends I may not talk to regularly, whether fleeting or deep friendships, you are in my thoughts.

That my life is getting better every year. We are healthy and happy.

I lost my grandpapa this year. But my brother became engaged this year. And so the circle of life goes on.

“In everyone’s life, at some time, our inner fire goes out. It is then burst into flame by an encounter with another human being. We should all be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner spirit.” Albert Schweitzer

“For each new morning with its light,
For rest and shelter of the night,
For health and food, for love and friends,
For everything Thy goodness sends.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson

I hope all of you and your families have a wonderful Thanksgiving this year.

Warning:

Major whining ahead. I’ve learned from the best, my kids;)

I’m tired. Not just a little tired. Really, really tired. I’m running on about 7 hours of sleep since Friday morning. I’m cranky, hmm, possibly because of the lack of sleep;) I just want to curl up in a ball and sleep and cry because I’m just so damned over tired. I want someone to just take over and do my stuff for me, so I don’t have to worry about a thing and can just sleep and rest.  You know, that feeling when we were kids, when our Mom or Dad could make everything better. I want that. I want to get tucked in bed, while someone else worries about my dirty dishes, my work, all of it. The kids were great this weekend and understood that their Mom was completely fried.

Ok, that’s it, done my selfish, emotional whining. I’m sure after some sleep tonight, I’ll feel human again tomorrow.

The xmas festivities are starting and I’m still somewhat in denial that it is December. Both Bram and Alec have xmas concerts/parties on Friday. Then there’s something every week right up until xmas. We’ve got our tree decorated, built a gingerbread train (pictures coming), that we are taking to my uncle in York Manor. I’ve got about half the xmas shopping completed. But I don’t feel it yet. I just don’t feel like it’s xmas time. I think it’s because I’ve been so busy working and I haven’t got out much (there’s an understatement, lol).

The really good news though is that Kevin (my ex for new readers) offered to have me keep the kids all xmas day. Typically he takes them for xmas eve, brings them back at bedtime. They stay with me till about 1:00 pm on xmas day till they go with Kevin to his parent’s house for xmas dinner. But this year the kids will stay with me all day and go to Kevin on boxing day. I’m excited about it as it means more time to relax and watch the kids play with their toys.

And yes, I confess, it wasn’t overly appealing to think about spending the rest of xmas by myself. I’ve thought about that a lot this xmas. Because up until the change of plans, I’d been feeling a bit bummed out about it. It also made me think about all the other people who spend xmas alone. Those like myself that have family scattered too far & wide to visit and those who don’t have a significant other or children to spend the day with them. Christmas is a time of joy in many ways, but I know an awful lot of people that it brings up painful memories at times. However, for me, Christmas is seeing it through the eyes of Alec & Bram and I’m grateful to be spending the day with them:)

My brother Dave in Thailand finally tied the knot today. The stories I could tell about his slew of girlfriends over the years could fill a blog or two;) Don’t worry Dave, your secrets are safe with me…. for now;)

In Thailand they have the custom where they take wedding pictures before the wedding. They try on numerous outfits, both traditional and modern gowns/suits for the pictures. I’ve yet to hear back which one they actually wore for the wedding today. This video is a pre-wedding video they had prepared that was being shown at the reception today.

Welcome to our family Ae. I hope that someday I will have the opportunity to meet you. I wish I could have been there today to watch the both of you take this new path together.

Note: It’s a long video 10 min. And yes for those who wade through, that’s me with him in some of the little kid pictures.