Bread Crumbs In The Butter

Bullety, Edition 49; I have to catch you up

•   On Thursday I sat in a pew at our church and watched the first of my four children graduate from Grade 8 with top honours.  I handled it like a seasoned pro, very humble about my child's achievements. Which is to say I cried like mad when they showed her baby picture and did a huge first pump in the air when they called her name. 

• We are at just over a month until my little sister, Kelly and her family move in with us. They're crossing the country and expected to arrive beginning of August. I'm still wondering how I'll feel to have another beer loving fitness buff living right next door. Okay, who am I kidding? Its going to rock hard so spare me the irony of us both being beer loving fitness buffs.  Why do you think we run that much? To drink beer!

• I know I've told you I have a huge crush on my Blackberry. I love that thing. So, it won't surprise you to know that yesterday when a bottle of nailpolish came crashing out of the cupboard and fell onto it, cracking the screen, I cried even harder than when I saw Kristyn's baby picture on the big screen Thursday night. All is well though! Thanks to my friend Christina's tech savvy spouse, Dave, I ordered a new screen cover on Ebay and in 7-10 days I will be able to effectively read all of my BBMs! I challenge you to find anything Ebay can't do!

• School ends on Wednesday here (also my thirty-fifth birthday, thankyouverymuch!) and I'm so looking forward to the summer.  My kids get along so well lately and we have all sorts of free time? Do you believe me? I'm sure not.  Every single minute of every day is booked up and my kids go at each other like rabid hyenas hungry for the last wing of a pigeon. It's not pretty around here. It makes me yell and I hate to yell. (Don't believe that either. Yelling makes me feel bossy and I love being bossy.)

• Speaking of my birthday. I got a text last week that said just this "Eclipse. June 30 @10pm. I got us tix. Happy MotherEffing Birthday!"  If you don't have friends like that, I weep for you.

Bullety, Edition 48; Seven

• Last week, Alex turned seven.  I get to tell people that my youngest child is seven. My youngest is seven.  A few years ago, having four kids didn't seem to get the same reaction it does now. Either I look really young, or having four kids, the youngest of whom is seven, really shocks people.  I'll go for looking really young. You will too, okay?

• Another change in work schedule has me here in the morning when the kids get ready for school rather than here when they get off the bus in the afternoon.  I can't tell you how much they (and me!) would rather me not here.  Already I've interrupted this post to yell "Erin you look beautiful now move it!" and "Alex if you don't put down that stapler and put your snowpants on I will staple your ear to the floor."  Turns out I'm more chipper at work at 8am than I am in this house.

• Also on the "making me feel old, even though I look young" topic, next week John and I are attending the high school parent information night at our local secondary school.  Last night, Kristyn chose her courses and levels. Given that I clearly remember doing this exact same thing with my friend Lianne just a few years ago, this just doesn't feel right.  Okay, it was 21 years ago - shut up.

• Have you seen this?  It's a list of Canadian women writers that pulls no punches with it's awesomeness.  What are you still doing here? Go read it.

Bullety Edition 47; Hit the town

• Our house is still for sale.  That said, soon our house will no longer be for sale. I think we're about ready to take it off the market for a bit.  I am sort of breathing a sigh of relief right now. The showings were insane and while no one had anything bad to say, not one family seemed ready to take on the responsibility that comes with a property like this.  Not to mention the idea of downsizing a ninety-five acre farm that has housed the same family for a couple generations is a bit daunting!

• Tonight, John and I and two other couples are headed out on the town. The best part?  All three of us have our kids out elsewhere with grandparents for the night.  We are gonna hit the town, eat like kings, dance like queens and come home to have loud sex that no one can hear.  Old person translation?  We're gonna eat like kings all right, but we're gonna have bad gas and food coma afterward, feel fat and old next to all the hot skinny chicks in the bar and fall asleep before midnight.

• I have a whole post swirling about Alex and how much he is excelling in first grade.  He's reading voraciously,  passing spelling tests like crazy and explaining his sisters math to them! It really speaks to my own previous stigma that trouble speaking equals trouble learning. I could not be more wrong and I feel ashamed.

• It took this familyl only 14 days to eat all the Halloween candy we got.  And I mean all of it.  Little bits of crap and all. We even ate the rockets and gummies that look like they've been in someone's garage since they were old enough to trick or treat!  Way to go Huberts! I'm quite proud.

Bullety Edition 46; Short and Sweet

• One of my daughters talks so fast and loud it can be tiring. She's always exhilarated and ecstatic when she does it, but it can drive me wild listening to it for thirty minutes straight when she gets home from school. 

• Our house has not sold yet. Yes, I expected it to take a while to sell. Yes, we are in it for the long haul (we might pull it down over the winter).  Still, I'm getting antsy.  I'm not a patient person. I want this part to be over with.  Will you buy it?

• The most exciting thing to happen to me of late?  I got a Blackberry. I shit you not, this has been the highlight of my fall.  I know how sad that it. I also know that I have no real need for one besides wanting one.  But for csrissake,  I don't eat a lot of junk food, I don't smoke or have any real vices to speak of.  Let me have my constant need for social networking, okay?

• I know I haven't had much to say lately. Remember when I used to write constantly?  Remember when I used to write well?  Posts like The Welfare House,  Stop Compaining, He Doesn't Just Drink His Milk, He Dives Right In and Toilet Hostage?  I think my mojo is gone. Have you seen it?

Bullety Edition 45; Wait. What?

• I got stung by a wasp this weekend.  I haven't been stung by a wasp since I was a teenager. These things were everywhere and one of them managed to make it's way up my shirt.  Which, really? The boobs? They're just not as nice as they were the last time I got stung.  Let me tell you though, getting stung, under your shirt, it's hurts like a sonofabitch!  Not only that, but I got woozy!  And I was coaching a soccer game!  It's not inspiring to the parents to see the coach almost keeled over on the other side of the field. They take that personally.

• Last week, my benefits kicked in at work.  This means, of course, that my family can feel free to get as sick as it wants now.  John is excited that we don't have to ask for the generic brand anymore!  Only the best for our maladies!  Getting benefits reminds me of a funny story I have to remember to tell you at some point. Let's just say I use the word "mange" in a conversation with someone I barely know.  And yes, I was alluding to the fact that I hope to get mange in this conversation.  True story. Ask Lianne.

• Please comment to me if you're watching Big Brother 11? Please tell me you agree that Jeff is the hottest reality TV contestant ever.  Do you remember the first show? Where he left his Catholic paraphernalia at home so as not to come off judgmental and preachy? If that's not the epitome of hot, I don't know what is.  Boy smokes and I don't even care! You have to be insanely fine for me to excuse smoking.

• When do your kids start back to school?  We're not headed back until September 8th here.  If you're starting earlier, don't get too green - my kids will be in classes til next July!

Bullety, Edition 44; Working For The Crown

• Almost two years slogging away as a casual employee of one of this country's most famous Crown Corporations and I am now officially a permanent part time employee.  I get vacation and bonuses and benefits. Not a whole lot of those things, but I get them.  Not to mention that now that I'm in, they can't get rid of me. I should be running the place by 2015, right?

• Speaking of this new position.  Six months ago I booked this week off. Starting today - Monday, July 13.  With no pay, cause that's how casuals roll.  Well, the permanent position was offered to me with a start date of, you guessed it, Monday, July 13.  So, yesterday was my first official day as a permanent employee and I'm on vacation - paid vacation.  I love our government!

• On that same subject - the time I first realized I was bored?  Last night at 4pm. That didn't take long, eh? Know what fixed it? More beer.

• Today, a dear (and blunt!) friend pointed out that I haven't blogged enough for her liking lately.  It's true. I've been sparce. I've only posted nine time since March!  She told me to blog about not being able to blog.  So there it is. I don't have much left in me.  After talking to many of you pretty folk at work all day, I don't really know what else to say. Is there anything you want me to say? Comment on? Pressing questions your just dying to ask? Help me out here.

Bullety, Edition 44; Things That Don't Suck Edition

Cause tomorrow promises a post that will tell you all about something that sucks. Big time.

• My first post is up at the Canada Moms Blog! I'm not sure which of the awesome ladies behind this idea thought it a good idea to have me rant for them, but I'm thrilled. Go there to read more about my awful night at Ikea (and to check out some of the fabulous company I am in!).

• My kids. We went to their school Open House tonight and I have to say, they're doing so well. They're work is so well done, so thought out and <gasp> neat. They have bright ideas and happy pictures. I guess all of the stressing I've been doing hasn't affected them that much?

• The front of my house look awesome. I mean it. It's a nice house to begin, so I didn't have to work too hard, but this is the most flowers I've had by the door. I picked them out, all big girl like and actually spent a decent amount of money to make it look like folks with money should live here. I'll share some pics soon!  

I'm gonna leave it there for now. Cause tomorrow will knock your socks off! (Unless you've read about it on Facebook or Twitter, in which case, it will just explain things a bit more.)

Bullety, Edition 43; Beep

• Are you ready for some serious adorableness? My incredibly well brought up six year old son absolutely loves the song "Gives You Hell" by the All-American Rejects.  He sings it constantly. But (big but) he thinks "hell" is a bad word so he just says "Hope it gives you *beep*!" instead. Insanely cute, right?

• Unless you live under a rock, or don't actually know me, or don't read Facebook or Twitter, we are selling our house. I had a long drawn out posted about it, but in the end, we just can't afford this house anymore.  The mortgage, the maintenace, the heat! It's a big house.  A perfect bed and breakfast or a house for some strange Canadian version of The Duggars. (Or, even the actual Duggars! Hey, Jim-Bob, call me!)

• Have you heard of Glasvegas? Find them now. I swear, I love them. I would follow them around Scotland and become a very annoying groupie. And it's not just because of the way he pronounces "Geraldine" in the song. (Well, maybe a little.)

• Oh and hey! Big news! Guess where I'll be writing with some AMAZING Canadian Moms? The newest sister site of the Silicon Valley Moms Blog - Canada Moms Blog. I'm pretty sure I'll be helping out with the Ottawa area moms beat and that will be soon. Like, as soon as I get the bio and headshot done. I promise it will be soon and not next year!

Songs that keep me sane, make me think, keep me going

I freaking love lists. Have you noticed this?

Any sort of "top" lists get me a little hot. I adore hearing what's popular, historic or just plain awesome in list form. I think it's the ADD. I want it concise, pointed out and clear.

I've decided to put together a few of my own little lists. It's pretty common to hear me yell out "Oh my God, Matt Damon is so number two on my list!" or "This song is number forty-three, right after forty two, which is Rebel Yell, but only cause it reminds me of this time at camp..."

I thought I would start with my top ten favourite songs of all time. Why start with music? Cause, duh, it's good. Music beats my boredom. It's always in the background of my life. I know you're the same way, so why not share yours with me, kay?

10. It's Tricky - Run DMC - I am instantly 12 years old when I hear this song or any song from Raising Hell. My stepfather had a son who was a few years older than me and he had this on vinyl. He left it at our house when he came to visit and I think I wore it out. How badass was this white girl in 1987, eh?

9. Make Me Sweat - Basement Jaxx - A staple on any runner's iPod, no? It's right there in the title.

8. Zombie - The Cranberries - Reminds me of my first (and only) year away in university.

7. Crazy For You - Madonna - I'm 33 years old and spent a good deal of my formative years in the 1980s. Do I need to say more?

6. One Headlight - The Wallflowers - When Kristyn was just a wee nursling, this song was on Muchmusic constantly (when they still played videos). Not only do I love the song, it reminds me of a time when it felt like she and I were the only two people awake in the world.

5. Freedom '90 - George Michael - No, it's not the models in the video, I just love this song. I can dance to it for hours.

4. Enemy - Days Of The New - Travis Meeks' voice. 'Nuff said.

3. Get It Together - Beastie Boys - I know you thought a BB song would be #1 and I do hear you, but while the boys are for sure my number one favourite group of all time, this song and Brass Monkey only don't reach number one for sentimental reasons. You'll see.

2.  I'll Stand By You - The Pretenders -  I can't listen to this song without crying. The entire song is about the value in being yourself around those you love. They not only want it, they expect it.

1. Count On Me - Default - Sentimental. See? Told you.

Honourable mentions to Phenomenon by LL Cool J, Big Girl Don't Cry by Fergie, Dancing In The Dark by The Boss, You've Got A Friend by James Taylor and Solsbury Hill by Peter Gabriel.  Oh, and Under Pressure by Queen!

Bullety, Edition 42; Can Con

• While I love Canadian music (I'm seeing Sloan March 6!), I've never been a huge fan of Canadian TV. So, don't ask me why I have become hopelessly addicted to Wild Roses. What can I say?  It's like Dallas mixed with a little dose of The Beachcombers!

• We are now at the point where we have more trucks with cracked windshields than we do trucks without cracked windshields. And we only have three trucks, so the math is not on my side!

• I am still working at the Post Office. More on that later, but worry not, I'm totally okay with it. For now.

• More TV stuff. John and I are insanely in love with Hell's Kitchen.  It's got all the elements of awesome television; Reality, food and a hot guy with an accent who swears uncontrollably. Oh, and berating!  He called one woman a stupid cow last week!