JM's Spot

I am busy....

2009-11-09T10:41:00.001-08:00

I am busy. I have a ten day work schedule between my private care home that I work for and with VIHA. Ten days mean 80 hours between both places. My next day off is next Monday. (I am on day four of my ten day working spree!) After my only day off it is seminar on top of seminar at different hospitals in and around Victoria (more like orientations) regarding work safety and Senior health issues. Yup, I am busy. But it is a good busy. I am happy.

Also, I would like to announce that my house hold has decided to become smoke free. Because of health issues regarding a very good and dear friend, my house hold has decided that in support of this very good friend we are going to kick the nicotine habit. Today is day one of really tring not to smoke. I just about caved in to the nicotine monster a couple of times so far today, but I held my ground.

Wish us luck in becoming smoke free.

And I was about to give up.

2009-10-20T10:46:00.000-07:00

Today is a mixed bag of emotions for me with relations to work. And it has to do with the fact that I have never, ever been in this sort of situation before. Now this should be a good thing. I should be excited. I should be celebrating. But How do you tell your first employer - how just offered to take you on full time (40 hours a week with 100% coverage for medical and dental for the whole family) that your dream employer with the better career options just hired you.....today?

I have been talking to Viha (the dream employer) ever since my I started my first job in my profession. I sent out the resumes at the same time and I took the first job offered to me. But behind the backs of my first employer, that I like working for.... I have been talking to Viha. Talks stopped. Talks resumed. An interview happened. References been checked. And when I think that things have come to a stand still once more with VIHA, my first employer offered me a full time "Night" shift. With all the trimmings. Like one big turkey dinner with all the trimmings. Here is the funny part. When my first employer told my about the opening behind the DOC's back, The "DOC" (director of care) told me that I could not have the position because no one had responded to the offer. I didn't know about the position because the week it was posted, I was unable to work. So protocol needed to followed. The Nursing home had to hire out side of the Causal list and if that person who has been interviewed says "NO" to the job, then the job was mine. Sooooo I did not think to much about the full time postion. It was just a happy thought that one of directors had put the offer out there to me, personally, not knowing that there had already been an interview sit up with an out side person. It was just nice to know that as an employee, I was valued and thought of to be asked if I wanted the position.

Yesterday, I got word that the "out side person" declined the job. Work called and said the job was mine and I could start my new position next Monday. I was soooo excited. it was all I could do not to talk about it so much last night with my family.

Then VIHA called. This Morning. I am Hired says the voice on the other end of the phone. I jumped for joy, I was in all the since of the word "idiot" on the phone when I was asked if there was any reason why I should not have the job. I said and I quote: "I am a....very, very, good person and I am good for the job!"

So here I am at a cross roads with employers. What a scary wonderful feeling. I like where I work know. But with Viha..... A whole bunch of doors just opened. New opportunities. New learning of new skill sets. I get to practice my trade to its full scope. As where I am now. I don't. I am truly excited.

Was It Becuase of the Full Moon?

2009-10-05T11:41:00.000-07:00

This entry is dedicated to work. I will not mention names of the residents and fellow co-workers do privacy issues. The Nurse will be called "Nurse", Residents will be called "So and So" (more then one residents are "So's and So's" and the other RCA is "Partner."

Last night started as any shift would. The difference is that this is not the shift that I normally work. This shift was the evening shift. 2:30 - 10:30. I walked to the nurses station, meet up with the day staff and received report. So and So did this, So and So did that and So's and So's are to be showered. So and so had received Adavan do to more then normal combative behavior. But what was really interesting about report that there were a lot of So's and So's that were unusually aggressive. So and So had hit So and So. So and So and another So and So had argued and needed to separated during lunch. A combination for a very interesting shift - and it was.

I found my partner. We agreed on the our sections. She got down stares and I got upstairs. I asked for tips and advice on who I should start first and who should I end with. And off we went. As the hours came and went nothing out of the norm happened. It was all straight for word work. It was after supper that things started to go nuts.

I had my 1/2 hour break and went back to my section. As soon as my foot entered my section I heard the nurse calling. "JM, JM I need your help. You will not believe what So and So just did. She flooded her room!" I run to the room and sure enough there was 3" of water on the floor. the room was flooded. So and So sat on her bed with a smile and said "I was wet." 'No kidding' I thought to my self. 50 towels later the room was dry. The Nurse and I just looked at each other and smiled. Our work was not done with So and So. So and So was wet and needed to be changed. This particular So and So does not liked to be touched. I have a formidable bruise on my arm after the ordeal

After the great flood things went to hell in a hand bag. One So and so refused to do anything. One So and So was in a very playful mood (and this was very strange for this So and So). We played catch with her pillow and danced in the hallway. As I went about my rounds and I found some of my So's and So's in various stages of undress (yes I did get them dressed for the night) And the call bell for my section went off not in ones, but in two's and threes.

It was not long before I had realized that the shift was almost over and I needed my last break. I went out side for fresh air and then I looked up in the night sky. It was a full moon! I smiled to my self and remembered what one of my teachers had said about the full Moon. "If a Full Moon can move our oceans and seas - just think about what the Moon can do to us as were are made of up mostly of water. Think about it, and if you were mentally declining....?" Point taken!!!

After my 15 minutes of quietness - I went back to work. I met my partner and she looked at me and smiled. When you were gone 3 calls went off at the same time in your section. We both smiled. What could we do.

My Interview went very well!!

2009-10-03T09:35:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I had an interview with VIHA. (Vancouver Island Health Authority) and it went well. All have to do is hand in my last reference and I can start my orientation. YUPPIE!!!!!!

There is short story about how I got this interview and it only took six short weeks to get it. Two months ago I handed out 5 resumes. That's right, only 5. 3 resumes I e-mailed out and the other 2 I faxed. I got 3 invites for interviews. My very first interview as a Health care Assistant (We are no longer referred to as Resident Care Aide's) I was hired. My 2nd interview invite I turned down for personal reasons, but my 3rd interview invite I really, really, wanted. It was VIHA.

The Hiring Director and my self played phone tag for a week. And then she just stopped calling and so did I. I did not get my hopes up for working with VIHA, O.K, maybe just a little bit. O.K, maybe a lot. after all it is VIHA.

To make a short story even shorter, I eventually forgot about VIHA. And then out of the blue 2 weeks ago I got a message from the Hiring Director with VIHA. I was so excited. I dropped everything that I was doing. I Gave my kids chocolate to keep them quite so I could sit on the phone and go through one phone directory after another trying to locate this very, very important lady. After 10 minutes I found her. Oh she was so apologetic about not being able to meet with me and that it took so long for her to return my message. And then she said that she had to go and would call me back next week. Oh, my heart fell on the floor. I was stunned. I really didn't think that she would call me back. After all it had happened before. But she did call me back this time and we did sit up the interview and the interview did happen. And it went very well.

I am a little nervous about having two jobs. I will not be able to start work with VIHA until the end of October. My first job has booked me solid for the next 3 weeks. I don't mind, it is good for my wallet and I am getting the hours. But VIHA would be sooooooo much better for the my wallet. I would be making 6 dollars more then what I am getting now.

October is here....and so is fall

2009-10-02T09:32:00.001-07:00

It has been pretty well one month since my last post and I am not sure were to start. For the past month I have been busy being a mom, not just any kind of mom, but a working mom. And I stress the working mom because being a working mom is very new to me. And looking back in the short years of being just a mom it had dawned on me how I had took for granted the luxury of being at home and not working.

Now that I am working and looking after my family...All I can say is that I am happy. I am starting to get my own income. It will never be as much as my other half, but it is my own. I think what I am feeling here is "liberation."

My daughter is in daycare for four days a week. Being that I am on call at the long term care facility 24 hour day, 365 days a year and that is including all holidays, I have decided that Monday will be my only day off in during the week.

Back to my daughter. She is loving daycare. She is so excited about it that she refers to daycare as school. She has her own little back sack that she call "rescue pack" (To much Dora the Explorer and Diego) and she is full of stories about her day. My son who is now in grade 5 is and doing good. He loves taking the school bus. Mostly because that is were he gets his Mp3 time. And he is already starting to get his own music interests. Linken Park seems to be his favorite.

Today, I am a little excited because I have a job interview with the Vancouver Island Health Authority. Being that I am on call atone job site, I will have times that I will go with out work for 5 - 6 days (I am on the bottom of the seniority ladder) Another job being on call would be nice. And to have my foot in the door with the Island's largest health authority for future advancement would make my new career worth wild.

Back to School

2009-09-08T10:57:00.001-07:00

My Birthday

2009-09-01T11:42:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was my birthday and like it or not I am another year older. I don't mind. Really. I don't. Being that my Birthday fell on a Monday I didn't celebrate it. Instead I worked on Monday Morning from 0001 to 0630 and came home slept until the early afternoon. I had 5 hours and 1/2 sleep and kept my self awake until 2130. So as you can see my Birthday was a drawn out affair. I was tired and cranky and demanding from my family that all I want for my birthday was that 5 and 1/5 hours of sleep so I can recoup from a night shift and get my days back to normal. And it worked. Today I am not so cranky and not so tired and I got up a decent hour in the early morning. Yahoo. (Just to be called into work too work another night shift tonight. Tonight I work by my self and get a full 8 hours!)

But my family was sweet about my Birthday. My husband gave me 24 Red Roses and bragged about having to drive out his way to Costco to buy them. My son gave me the 5 and 1/2 hours sleep so he was off the hook for making me a card. My daughter and the babysitter baked me a Black Barry pie (all the Barries hand piked with loving care and turned into a master piece) I haven't tried it yet, but I am sure it is good.

Now, as for my other family members out there and you know who you are. I got 3 bottles of home made wine - yummy. (I can't wait to have a bottle Friday night) I got tealite holder's (perfect for the many power outages that are destand to happen this winter) An inflatable Tolit as a Joke for a post I did awhile ago regarding the city of Victoria "potty problem." All and all it was a good Birthday.

Maybe this Friday I will get a babysitter and bring the "potty" with me to local watering hole and use it as a chair for laughs - that would be fun)

I heard of places like this.......

2009-08-26T09:29:00.000-07:00

Last night was my first night being paid as a RCA (Resident Care Aid). However, I can see some problems with this job. My Pay. The average pay of a Certified RCA should fall in the 19.00 - 21.00 catogory. I have heard of some places where the RCA's make more then LPN's wich is over 25.00 an hour. I have also heard of places where RCA's make much less. I found a care home that pays well below the average.

But thier are some pro's and con's here. The more money you make, the more skill sets you need to perform. The less money you make certian skill sets are left to the nurses. At this care home I don't perform bowel care and I don't perform urinery care. I provide just provide the basic care that, really anyone can do.

So do I see my self at this place for long peroid of time. No. But I will use this place as a stepping stone to build my resume. I can see my self being here for four months. So yes I will be sending out an other batch of resume's soon. Maybe next week.

This is just crazy....

2009-08-24T15:39:00.000-07:00

I have already found a job. I am not sure if it will be part time or casual. I just got a phone call to come in for an interview at another care home.

The crazy thing is I only sent out 5 resume's Two weeks ago! I have had 3 invites for interviews. One landed me a job, the other I turned down because the hospital was to far out of my driving range. And this invite just happened not even 5 minutes ago and it is with one of the care homes that I have done a praticum with.

Crazy.

As promissed

2009-08-24T14:39:00.001-07:00

It is done. I have a job and I start tomorrow. I don't know how much I will be making and I don't know for sure if I have the part time position that is open. I am hoping for at least 19.00 - 21.00 an hour, heck, I don't know what union I will be under. After I finish my orientation I will find out all of the above. All I know is that this job is important because I am right know building up my resume.

Soooooo Orientation is like this. 2 evening shifts. 2 day shifts. And night shift. After all care is 24/7, 365 days a year. Being that I am a newbie in this line of work. I am sure I will inherit the worst shifts. So that is that. Now all I have do is work out day care that I am hoping will start next week. (Yes....I am now scrambleing day care for this week - yikes!)

It is going to be an interesting week.

10/4

(I work night shift on MY be day b-day - yuck)

Last week of Summer.

2009-08-21T08:40:00.001-07:00

Summer is slowly coming to an end. The days are shorter, the ambiance of the sun no longer feels like a summer sun, but more of an autumn sun and some of the trees are trying change colour. My Shasta daisy’s are done flowering and have already dropped their seeds and my Snow peas are no longer eatable because they are now producing seeds of their own. But I am happy to say that my Petunia’s are still going strong and the same with my other perennials that I still have not identified - they came with the lot that we rent.

Walmart, Costco and other department stores are overflowing with back to school necessities marking that anticipated time of the year is coming soon when the children go back to school. It is time to dig deep in my wallet and pull out a hundred in school supplies and dig even deeper for an additional hundred and fifty for school bus transportation. It is hard to believe that last year this service was for only Sixty dollars and this year the cost of a seat on the school bus has gone up so much. Yikes.

I remember when I was a child I secretly learned to hate my birthday - End of August - because it meant summer was over and it was back to school. And now I don’t like my birthday because it means that I am another year older. I am glad that retirement is no longer mandatory in Canada.

It is time to think about gathering firewood for the wood stove, to think about storing our summer paraphernalia and dig out the warm slippers and decorate my sofas with my warm synthetic blankets. Time to get back to my family post summer schedule; can’t wait.

Today is Interview Day.......

2009-08-19T08:09:00.001-07:00

Here I am. My house is quiet because the kids are still sleeping. Makes me wonder why I had started sleeping in with them. I forgot how peaceful it is to have a shower with out someone needing something. It is so nice.

Anyways, I am slowly getting ready for my interview today at 11.00 a.m. with a cute little Care Home downtown Victoria. I have all the documents that I need all lined up. They are my TB test results (Tuberculosis), My Criminal Record Check, My Basic First Aid Certificate. My Graduate Reference letter from my last teacher, the only thing missing is my actual RCA Certificate. The College won’t give it up until they see the rest of my tuition. This is really quite fair because I was told that this would happen at the very beginning of the course 11 months ago when I decided not to take a student loan and go with a payment plan with the college. The tuition would have been paid in full by now if it wasn’t for the dame recession.

On a bright note, I have been invited for an interview VIHA, (The Island Health Authority). All I have to do is arrange the time…………

*****************

I just got back from the interview and I think it went well. This was not the typical interview where you sit in front of someone’s desk and you converse back and forth. This interview was rather fun. It was a group interview between 7 hopefuls and 3 heads of staff. (Head RCA, Head Dietitian and the Director of the Care Home.) The interview lasted 30 minutes. We all were asked 12 questions by Director and after the questions were given, we were then asked one by one at random order our individual response to the questions. One question - What is the first thing you do in the morning to start your day. Another question was to follow instructions in drawing a small diagram and then tell what you see. And then there were the more serious questions regarding confect resolution and how you would deal with it.

At the end of the interview it was explained to us as a group the reason for doing the interview this way was to see how we interacted with each other. To see who would lend an extra pen out, who was more vocal, extra, extra, and extra. I liked it.

I will find out if I get a job next week. They have one more group coming in at 2:00 to day.

See we will see.

I almost got excited.

2009-08-18T12:33:00.000-07:00

Just I was about to type this post, Blogger announced that this post would be my 100. Would this be a mile stone with my Blogging past time, I would like to think so. I tallied up the numbers and something didn’t compute. I went through my post organizer and found that Blogger had counted the Drafts that I made over the months as entries. So really I only have 92 posts all together. Darn. I almost got excited. I so close to number 100.

But it got me thinking about why started this Blog. It started because I was bored. I had this idea in my head that my Blog would be out of this world. I would have photo’s of the things that I found neat and exciting. I would have a funky template that would be exciting and loved by all. I would have a million visitors. My visitors would love my quick wit and humor. I have been some what delusional. In reality, I have a hard time finding the time to make an entry. I just picked the simplest blog template available out the choices that we Blogger’s have. Plugging a camera in to the computer is really beyond my capabilities. I need my 9 year son to help me. And usually after I am done spending 45 minutes or so collecting my thoughts and typing, revising my thoughts, spell check and then posting. My house is up side down and the children are fighting. (This is going on as I type right now. I have my 3 year old yelling/crying in my ear about yogurt and her brother is saying…..what ever)

I don’t regret starting my Blog. It keeps me connected to family. I do somewhat get excited when I see someone from Washington or somewhere else visiting my Blog.

My children are unusually quite. Got to go.

OMG!!!!! I have a job interview!!!!!

2009-08-14T09:41:00.001-07:00

With what little résumé’s I had faxed out and e-mailed last week and the one only this week, I have a job interview. Well, I still need to call back and arrange a time to go in for the interview – nevertheless, I have a job interview.

I am I nervous about this. Oh god yah. This will be my first “real” interview in 7 – 8 years for a career that I want and worked hard to earn in college. I have butterflies in my tummy. I am worried about what I am going to wear. I know sometimes when I am nervous my tongue forgets to work. Other words I stutter. I am excited about pulling out my old scrubs and more importantly talking my husband into letting me buy new ones. (There are some very cute scrubs out there. Some of them remind me of Christmas wrapping paper. Go into any hospital and just take a look at what the Nurses have on for work clothes. You will see what I mean!)

Well, I should go and have another cup of coffee and get my nerve up and arrange that interview!

Hummmm I wonder if Blogger still has the count down Widjet?

******************

Found my nerve, interview arranged for next Wed. @ 11.00.

Meteor Shower

2009-08-13T13:13:00.000-07:00

WOW! What a show Tuesday night.

Tuesday night was just what the doctor ordered. For those of you who didn’t know, just like I didn’t know, was the peak of the Perseid Meteor Shower. This particular Meteor Shower is an annual shower that takes place every August around this time.

I was outside having my last cigarette for the night before getting ready to go to bed when I looked up in the sky and seen a Meteor. It was so bright that when it fell behind the tree line, it illuminated the trees. Thinking to my self, “Wow, a person does not see that very often,” another Meteor appeared in the sky. I decided that there must be something to this (not very often you see two Meteors in a row). So I logged onto the internet and sure enough…………..

I quickly went to my son’s room, forget my other family members, woke him up and told him that we are going to watch a Meteor Shower. He looked at me and said “What’s that?” He got dressed and we went out onto the patio together. He just kind of stared out into the darkness and said “I don’t see a Meteor Shower.” I just looked at him and laughed. I told him that it was not like a rain shower and that he needed to look up into the stars and just wait, a meteor will appear. Sure enough he seen one go by. He didn’t look all that impressed and said “I just seen a shooting star and I made my wish, I am going to bed.” With a smile on my face, I told him that was a meteor and he was going to see more. His face had the biggest smile and we got our blankets and we stayed out side for almost two hours watching the show. I figure that we had seen at least one meteor every 10 to 5 minutes

***************
We had one of my sons friends have a sleep over/ Meteor shower party last night. After I got my little one to bed, I took the boy’s out to a quiet area and watch the meteors. They had lots fun with the flash lights and being side in the dark at midnight. We had seen lots of meteors but as not spectacular as the night before. Still we had lots fun.

Communication....what a powerful thing

2009-08-10T11:39:00.000-07:00

This entry is more for me then anything else. Last week was a horrible week. Things had happened to people that are to private to talk about. So those things I won't talk about. But what I will talk about is the powerful thing we call Communication. What is Communication? How communication was explained to me from a learning point of view is this. There is a A Sender, A Reciever and A Message. There is a Context and then the Environment of where communication took place. The Context referes to the situation at the time of the communication taking place and the Environment refers to where the the communication was taking place. One other thing to take into consideration is the feedback from the Recivier to the Sender of the communication. Now the message can be anything from from two people talking about the good time they had other day over beers going over the highlights of the day. Or the communication can be in the form of Gossiping or Slander - a part of Defamation: any statement about another person that is untrue and that causes or is designed to cause an injury to the persons good name. Libel/Slander fall under Defamation. Libel is the printed form of communication by means of print, writing or pictures. Slander is the cummunication spoken by word.

Now for typing the above, there is a quote from Martin Luther King that comes to mind.

"People don't get along because they fear each other. People fear each other because they don't know each other. They Don't know each other because they have not properly communicatied with each other."

Is he saying the the lack of communication is the problem? I think so.

Know it would be hard to beleave that communication has prisciples. But it does and they are very simple.

1. It is truley impossible not to comunicate. 10% of our communication is only spoken. The other 90% is our body language and tone of vioce.

2. It is meant to happen or totally unexpected. Sometimes our words are spoken with care and other times we had lost our tempers and said words that came out wrong or wished you never said.

3. It is irreversible. No matter what had happen with our communcation we can never take back the words or the deeds that have been done.

4. It is unrepeatable. The "Same" words and "Behavior" are different each time. No communication can be repeated the same way twice. Our body langage, our tone of vioce, the context and the envornment and the message are a very uniqe thing.

Communication is a very powerful thing. We can do a lot harm or we can do a lot of good with it. There are Two more elements to communication and they are the Barriers or Communicaiton Blockers and Perseptions. But I will not get into those.

Like I said, this entry is more for me then anyone else. At the end of the day it is a matter of "owning our communication and every thing that came with it."

Know I feel better.

Going Camping...Again....

2009-07-30T11:35:00.001-07:00

WE ARE GOING CAMPING FOR THE LONG WEEK END. LEAVING TODAY/BE BACK MONDAY.
FOR MY FAMILY MEMBERS. GONE TO PORT RENFREW. DESTINATION: LIZARD LAKE, IF THAT IS FULL - FAIRY LAKE. IF THAT IS FULL - ON THE NATIVE RESERVE CAMPSITE BY THE OCEAN. IF THAT IS FULL......WELL LETS HOPE NOT. (THERE ARE TWO OTHER CAMP SITES, BUT UNSURE OF THE NAMES. SO WE MAY BE THERE IF ALL OTHER SITES ARE FULL)

MOM. I DIDN'T FORGET THE CAMERA!

HAVE A SAFE LONG WEEK END.

P.S: DON'T DRINK AND DRIVE, MAKES SURE YOU HAVE LOTS SUNSCREEN ON YOUR LEFT ARM (YOU ALL WILL LOOK FUNNY IF YOU HAVE ONE TANNED ARM AND THE OTHER ONE WHITE; HE HE HE, MY FRIEND DROVE ALL DAY WITH THE LEFT ARM DANGLING OUT THE WINDOW AND NOW SHE HAS TO EVEN UP THE OTHER ARM.)

What a Crazy Couple of Weeks.........

2009-07-28T10:53:00.000-07:00

My woes started two weeks ago and there seems to be no relief in sight any time soon. It all started with my car leaking Coolant. Yes. Coolant. That sweet smelling stuff that animals used to like so long ago before animal protesters demanded that the formula be "animal friendly." The fact that no animals died around my house is sweet testament that the manufactures did change the formula. However alot of dead Shrews but I think that cats had much to do with that.

I was home bound until a couple of days ago. But, on top of my car, I lost my wallet. On top of my wallet my vacuum is no more Bad timing for this letdown because my animals decided to become flea friendly! Aw - man, I will never curse my enemies with fleas. We have spent close to $100.00 on anti-flea sprays and drops and there is no end in sight with this problem. No Vacuum is a major set back with my flea battle. On top of all the above I am sick with a cold that is more or less related to our A.C. running non-stop due to this very hot and sticky weather that we are having right now.

There are few highlights I need to point out just so I can say that the past 14 days have not been all that bad. Lets see. Because of no car, my children's books are over due. Because of no wallet means no driver licence - so I get to be with the other 60% of the Sooke population that is currently driving with out one. JOY. And Daycare, I found daycare.....for September. And I did take a couple days off from my run of bad luck to go camping. That was fun. And yes, I got photo's this time. I will up load some photo's later. Right now I need to scratch my flea bites and blow my nose.

Low Blow to Health Care....OverNight!

2009-07-15T15:11:00.000-07:00

After graduating my course almost 3 weeks ago and waiting for my child to be more or less potty trained and have daycare found before I start my job hunt; I was very much shocked to read the paper today to find out that VIHA (Victoria Island Health Authority) is cutting jobs. For those of you who don't know what VIHA is - they are Vancouver Island largest hearth care provider. They run every thing from Day cares for children to Resident care for senors, not to mention our hospitals and clinics. They are no doubt the largest employer in heath care.

http://www.timescolonist.com/Vancouver+Island+Health+Authority+jobs+sell+assets+hike+fees+balance+budget/1793378/story.html

It almost seems like yesterday when our premier Gordon Campbell had promised that 5000 beds will be made to accommodate our aging population and with that promise there was a cry from our government for people to apply for jobs in heath care. Will I heard that cry, finished my course...........and what now? How many other people heard that cry, finished their courses and are where I am now.

After reading the article (above) I should also point out that it is not just Vancouver island that is being affected it is, more or less, the Provence of British Columbia.

Today is a sad for our health care system as we now it.

We are bored to tears.....

2009-07-13T18:39:00.000-07:00

I had heard somewhere that television rots the mind. And for the most part, I can truly the see the logic in it. My son came home from school not to long ago before the start of Summer Vacation with a Contract that he was going to be out side for 2 or more hours a day and have one day out of the week that was to be a no T.V. day. Just a day to read books, do puzzles, open up the dusty toy box and play with some of the old toys that he hasn't touched in so long. But when that contract was signed, it was done so with the knowledge that we will have T.V., it was done so with knowledge that there will be other children to play with. It was done so with the knowledge that mom will have wheels to transport him to and from the swimming pool and where else a 9 1/2 needs to go.

Well we are into the third week of Summer Vacation and we have lost the T.V. (I refuse to pay for cable!) All of the friends have gone on holidays or gone to dad's or back to their mom's house. And worst of all I have no means of transportation. (My car decided to leek coolant everywhere I go and that is bad for the environment.) Just has he was getting used to mom (me) having my own car again - it falls apart and is out of commission until next week-end.

We are bored to tears. You never know what you had until it is gone. We are missing the T.V., We are missing the car and we are missing the friends. It is going to be a very, very, very long week.

DayCare........

2009-07-10T11:00:00.004-07:00

Well it is official. Day Care is very hard to find. I knew it would be a long drawn out battle. But I never thought it would be this bad. The last time I had Daycare was with my son when he was four. That was 5 1/2 years ago, and all I had to do was walk in to any Daycare and register him up. That was it, it was done. But this time round, a different story. I was on the phone with a Daycare located in Langford and she would of been perfect. But there were a few of problems:

1. I would need to put my little one in Preschool on top of Daycare ($700.00 a month maybe more on my part. My daughter's Daycare would of paid for her child's Preschool!)

2. It was her doing the interview to see if my daughter was a good fit, not me doing the interview. (However, she was very happy to hear that I am from the Health and Human Service Industry. The second strongest industry here on the island other then Government that has not really been affected by this rescission.)

3. Her doors didn't open until 7:30 a.m. I need 6:00 am.

I have talked to many different daycare'a and it all seems the same. They are in the position to pick and choose what child they want. And if their are no spaces available, you are on a waiting list.

I will try again next week, but if I can't find anything out there, not even partime.... I would really, really need to rethink my gameplan.

As you can see, I am becoming frustaited with Daycare.

The Hunt Continued

2009-07-08T16:05:00.000-07:00

O.K.

My head is swimming with phone numbers that I have called out to, numbers that someone has answered and numbers where I was greeted with an answering machine. I have piles and piles of paper with Daycare information scattered about my house. I am trying to keep my little system as neat and organized as possible. Meanwhile, my little devil has coloured on my wall, got into her brother's room and made a mess. Looking at the time it is 4:30 and I NEED TO MAKE SUPPER!!! Thank god tomorrow is Friday. Can't wait. Maybe Friday I will have some luck and find someone to interview in regards to my Daycare situation. (I heard somewhere that Fridays are the days that good things happen with hard work.)

[ OMG - Tomorrow is not Friday!! It is only Thurday!]

The Hunt Is On.,,,

2009-07-08T11:59:00.000-07:00

I have started the hunt for Daycare. This is going to be a long and tedious hunt. But I am bound and determined to find reliable daycare before I start my other hunt for a job. Now that my little girl is somewhat able to put deposits into the "potty" I have just knocked down my daycare cost by $100.00.

I have a list of daycare provider's, and believe it or not, according to the resource centre where I got my list from; I am to expect most of them to be full and that I will be putting her on waiting lists. How right they are! I talked to 25 providers and they are full. I am expanding my hunt to Downtown Victoria. (45 min drive from where I live. But then that is where I will most likely be working.)

My graduation letter from the college has just come in from the post and my formal ceremony has been scheduled for early November. From what I understand this is a cap and gown event. What Fun!

Well, back to my Hunt. Please, wish me luck. I need it.

Week one of potty training

2009-07-06T11:34:00.000-07:00

One week has already come and gone and so far so good with putting number 1 and number 2 where it belongs. So far we have established that it gross to put number 1 and number 2 in the pull up. We have established that doing number 1 one and number 2 on my grass is yukky. And we have discovered that the washroom's in Walmart, Costco and any other washroom other then our own and are big and scary places. Week 2 should be good with this new task for my daughter. Maybe week 3 we will start to wear big girl underwear. I can't wait. I am already seeing dollar signs with all the money that we will save for not having to buy diapers.$$$$$$$$$$$$.....

Lazy Summer Days.....

2009-07-03T11:17:00.001-07:00

Even Though I am not much for the idea of Sun worshiping, I do love watching the children play and frolic in the Sun rays, all lathered up in sunscreen, playing hide and go seek in the trees behind my house. I hear the odd cry of "That's cheating," and a snicker under my living room window from the outside "She will never find us here." And when they all stop playing their game, all Rosy faced and tired. I know that this is the time of the day when the sun is at its hottest too take the posy of boys and a girl down to the river. It never fails to amaze me that when other children looking from the inside of their own houses looking out their windows to see a person with a big bag of towels heading toward the river trail; how fast they come and join my little posy. It never fails. Never. I Had 7 children in tow by the time I reached the beginning of the trail that leads to our little private beach.

I like watching them play their water games and rock games. I try to join in but when I do, I get strange looks from the children - A reminder that I am an adult, a person of authority and have no place in the games of children. So I sit on the rocks and watch them play. One the the games that the children like to play, a game that is more to torment the younger children; a game that I dub the "Mommy - Daddy" game. In this rock game the older children will find rocks of different sizes. A big one being "Daddy." a medium one being "Mommy" and a small one being "Baby." The child collecting those rocks would chant a little diddy saying to the younger children. "Here is Daddy. Here is Mommy. Here is Baby." He would then the throw the Rocks and say. "Here goes Daddy. Here goes Mommy. THERE GOES BABY!!!" The younger children would react by putting their hands over their faces in mock shock that the family of rocks are gone. How dare you hurt the family of Rocks! They would run off and try to save the lost family rocks that had been thrown.

Yes....These are lazy summer days, Days at the river, Days in the trees. A time for parents to create the magic of Summer. Hotdogs and Watermelon. Sunscreen and Sand.
Lazy Summer days.

Potty Trainning Blues.......

2009-06-30T13:32:00.000-07:00

Now that I have all of this Free Time on my hands I have decided once again to teach my daughter the importance of Peeing in the potty. Today is day two of this challenge, and this time round things are going good. Better now that she has the idea of what to do.

The last time I started to train it didn't work out. I had time against me. It was Spring Break and as soon as I got to day five in my intense potty boot camp (with great results), it was made clear to me that when I was in school and at practicum she would be in the dreaded diaper. I lost all hope. If I was the only one doing the enforcing on the home front and then there was no point in training. I was very afraid of the mixed messages that this would give her.

I have lost friends over my choice to wait until after my course is done. Yes, you read right. I have lost friends. I was shunned and my daughter teased by adults - calling her a baby because she was still in a diaper. (Even after I explained why the training hasn't occurred.) I had my daycare lady tell me that her house was a diaper free house (because she had started to train her child) and had demanded that I do the same with my child. Needless to say my daughter returned to her with diapers. I stood my ground. I was not ready to train. I had no time to work with my daughter. And with great relief, I was so happy that my husband had lost his job for the last four weeks of my practicum.

But it is all over and I have what seems to be all the time in world to teach her how to use the potty. I can now lock my self up in the house for the next couple of weeks and work with my daughter. It really feels like a breath of fresh air has come over me. I am not sure what this feeling is, it just feels like relief from an uncomfortable situation.

It Truely is Monday today

2009-06-29T15:01:00.000-07:00

I woke up this morning with the car gone and a cell phone left behind. I remember My other half saying something about needing the car first thing in the morning and being back before I had to leave to go pick up my letter of recommendation and my certificate from my last instructor for the course that I have just finished. The time 1500 hrs and still no sign of my car and to my dismay, I had to call my instructor on her cell stating that I cannot make it into town to meet with her to get my paperwork needed for future employment. I will now have to settle pacing in front of the mail box for the next 5 days or so until I have my paperwork in my hot little hands.

This disappearance of my car can mean one of two things: He got a job and starting working on the spot or he got into another car accident and is avoiding coming home. I am hoping for my first assumption and if that is the case then I am going to have to make him something good for supper. (if it happens to be my last assumption then that will be a different story all together!)

As for my course, I am proud to announce that it is all over. My last day was Friday, June 26. I am now a Certified RCA or as some of us in our class like to say " A Certified Professional Bum cleaner." There is nothing glamorous about what I will doing for next little while with my life and from my personal point of view with my profession is that the work is honourable. I have worked hard to make it this far. My Journey into health care is not over, now that I have this certificate more doors have just open to me. This is truely going to be a grand adventure. { added: My other half did get a job today and was not my last assumption. Thank my lucky stars.}

A death in the family

2009-06-21T17:12:00.000-07:00

I know that my last post was still under construction.......I had a lot of pics and videos that I wanted to share with everyone so you all have a better concept of what I will be doing with my life. But there has been a death in the family on my husband's side, not a parent but an older brother. Our phone is turned off, so please don't be offended if we don't pick up our phone , just in case you wanted to congratulate me for my first college deploma...just for the next 42 hours or so.

thanx...JM

I am sore all over!

2009-06-20T11:58:00.000-07:00

I am glad that today is a week-end. I am glad that I can give my body a brake and heel my self of my many aches and pains. I am glad that I can give my brain some down time, to slowly digest all the new skills that I have learnt and some time to create my battle plan for next for my next lot of residents.

For my last practicum, the college has me working at a long term care hospital. This is a different set up from where I was for my last two practicum's which were actual nursing homes. The major difference between the two are pretty obvious. The hospital looks like a hospital inside and out. It has Long corridors and and nursing stations in the middle of every section. (Even has that hospital smell!) The residents are in ward rooms, just like in a regular hospital. The big difference that I have found is that my residetns that I have are not old in old sence of the word old. My yongest is 30-40 years old. I beleave that she was acutally 6 years older then I am.

(I will be back - still working on this post)

6 Days and Counting..........

2009-06-18T18:08:00.000-07:00

After reading my last post, I have come to the conclusion that the City of Victoria should of invested tax payers money for the portable toilets. When I was in visiting family in Russia 3 years ago, the city where my in-laws lived had the same problem. It was solved with portable restrooms. You could go to a popular park or an unclosed area behind a shopping mall or something or an other and for 10 rubles you could use the restroom. You would find a person in front of the restroom who was happy to take your money with smile, give you a handful of toilet paper and let you in. And from what I have noticed these little restroom areas were open 24 hours. When I was South Korea I had no problem finding public restrooms - but then I was a tourist. And was only in the country for 4 days.

On to other things here.....

For my family members out there......I have 6 days until my course is done. *Smiley face* I receive my Cirtifacate with my registration info for my new found profession on Monday. Next week I am working evening shifts at a long term hospital
in downtown, and this will be the last of my clinical hours. Last week of June I start to look for work and from the looks of things there id oodles of work out there for me........

Of all the things that I could do....Here I am.

2009-06-07T13:53:00.000-07:00

Today is Sunday, and a lazy one at that. I almost have the whole house to my self. One kid gone with a friend to a lake for boating and tubing. My real big kid (my husband) is off playing with wood, nails and hammers building a deck and my younger one is happily watching a Sponge Bob on t.v. and eating hot dogs (that is where she will be for the next 45 minutes or so.) So it seems that I have some semi-alone time. And of all the things that I could be doing with my semi-alone time - lets say I could be having a bath, or I could be a good wife/mother and clean house or out side poking at my plants; here I am typing about pretty well about nothing. Oh wait, can't say that because I do have something to Blog about.

"PORTABLE URINALS"

In my younger years I loved to go out to the clubs. I would dance and drink and after the bars would close I would go to the closest food joint and have something to eat and then find a cab to take me home. But between the club and that fast food joint, I would need to pee. And after eating and before looking for that cab, I would need to pee. So why didn't I use the bathroom in the bar and at the food place? You see, I did, but one must understand that what goes in must come out. And if you drink allot and then allot is going to come out, and to be honest with you, when there is an urge, you must heed nature's calling. I would find closest semi - private alleyway and go behind a dumpster and well, do my thing. But it seems that I was not alone in the duck and pee mission, their a lot more others doing the same thing. And when the sun rose the next day, the city of Victoria was smelling like an urinal. Yes, the city had a pee-pee problem.

I no longer live in the proximity of Victoria, so I don't go to the clubs anymore (I take my chances here in Sooke and go to the closest tree. We have lots of those and I am sure the trees don't mind.) So when I heard about the city heavily considering Portable Urinals that would be put out during the night, well I was pretty happy. Then it hit me, and hit me hard. What are us women going to use as we stagger on the streets while looking for that bite to eat or that cab home. We pee as much as men do, don't we? So why is just urinals and why not the hole damn toilet? And who was going to flip the bill for the urinals. Why should a female tax payer pay for something that we would not be able to use? Right? I am so peeved.

I have just read in the paper that the "PORTABLE URINALS" are working and the city is know thinking about permanent structures in the downtown core. The city no longer smells like a Porta-Potty the next dayandthe cost per "man" peeing in the urinal works out the same cost as buying a drink. Or so the city claims. But we still have a problem of the lady's in their tiny black dresses ducking and peeing in the alleyway behind the dumpster. What is the city going to do for you? Well Girls....Pee long and pee hard. Go in two's and three's, hell why not, go in groups of ten or more. Squat and and do your thing. We deserve something to pee in to, don't we?

There you have it, my thoughts on the portable urnials for Victoria. What a Crock.

A Crazy Idea........

2009-06-05T15:09:00.000-07:00

Times are hard. Period. Work is scarce if you are a construction worker. Food stuff is going up in price, and our dollar is almost at parody with the American dollar. So yes, these are hard times and in one way or another we are feeling effects of this rescission. So I guess it seems how we make it out at the end is what counts. Some of us will loose our homes, some of us will take advantage our extremely low interest rates and buy homes and others (a few) will never know that we were ever in a rescission. (Is that what we are still calling it?)

But we all have to make money one way or another. Today, My other half came up with a crazy idea. And it may just put a few bucks in our pockets. HE IS GOING TO PLAY THE KEYBOARD ON THE STREETS OF VICTORIA ON MARKET DAYS ON THE WATER FRONT. You read right! He is going to buy a permit and put all of that musical training and talent to use and make some money with it. So it will be interesting to see what happens with this little crazy idea........It won't bring much money but it will help.

(And just to think I was all doom and gloom this morning,duh)

Would we have to move?

2009-06-05T09:28:00.000-07:00

When I was a small child I remember moving across the country, twice. From British Columbia to Ontario and then Back again. Once back in British Columbia it was moving to 3 different small towns in a period of 3 years (if my memory is correct). But before I was born I had heard talk through my older siblings that my parents where always moving, never ones to stay in the same spot for very long.

Could this be because they were looking for the work hot spots? Could it be that they became bored and needed change? Could it be because of Recessions? What other factors were involved? I really can't say, but I do believe the huge moves were Recession related. I don't really remember the 80's and the 90's - to busy being a kid, but here I am thinking about the realization that my family may have to move. We just had bad news today that is work related with my husband - the company that he was working for had just lost a huge contract. If that contract came through it would of meant that he would of been working again. But now as it seems, more good people will now be laid off.

This will be a month of uncertainty for us. I know that after I am done my course in 3 weeks I to will have to look for work, I know I will find a job in no time because my new skills are in high demand, but I would be starting casual and I would have to work my way up the ladder before I am in the door with permanent days and hours with what ever company that will take me. But would that be enough? I am really not sure not so sure anymore. It is almost like I had took my course one year to late.

I don't mean to put a damper on anyones day by bringing up the horrible "R" word. But this is where my thoughts are at the moment. Maybe I am in a small state of panic and things are only looking bleak right now in this moment. Maybe at the end of the day this thought of mine will disappear and go to the place where all bad thoughts go - never to be thought of again. (That would be nice.)

Bye - Bye Horrible thought!!!!

Is Summer Here Yet?

2009-06-02T18:07:00.001-07:00

O.K - Summer is here, I get it...

I am not one for the hot weather but here it is "weather" I like it or not.
The down fall of hot weather is as follow's:

1. I have to shave

I would rather keep my winter coat

2. I now have a womenly abligation to have a suntan or burn, whatever comes first

Can't blind peope with my very white legs

3. Must spend money that I don't have for electricity to keep my fans going

Thank-you B.C Hydro for your new system

4. The kids are going to want to go to the river or water park

I am toooooo tired on the weekdays to make thier water dreams come true

5. I now must go shopping for freezies and suntan lotion (and sunburn remendies)

More money to spend

6. Muggy nights

Makes me a cranky person

I'm to hot to think of anything else.

Yup, Summer is here

The Celestail Discharge.....My first one.....

2009-06-01T19:54:00.001-07:00

I hope I got the spelling right...with "Celestial." But what I am saying is that today I had a resident die. A good death, A long life, a happy ending. Last week she was put on palliative care and was estimated that she would live for a week. That was last Wednesday. She had past on an hour before my shift started and I am sorry that I never got the chance to meet or care for her. From what I was told, she was very funny. But life must go on. I have many thoughts right now, but as a student in this field - this is an emotional hazard that I must over come. That is all I have to say right now.........

My 3rd week of Clinical.......Hummmm

2009-05-28T11:41:00.000-07:00

I have just finished my 3rd week of Clinical in my 2nd Practicum (as an RCA) and all I have to say so far about this new experience of mine is that every day so far has not been dull. The residents that I am working with are total care (I do every thing for them) and they all are in the middle to late middle stages of Dementia of various types. So far I have been kicked, pinched, hit, had my scrubs yanked at, been told that I am hated while performing A.M Care (and I don't blame them when they say they hate me, I would hate it to if I was being turned this way and that!) I am counting my lucky stars that I haven't had shoe thrown at me, yet, and I haven't been spit at...so far. As a rule of thumb as I am learning is to always have two sets of work cloths on my person at all times while working.

But aside from the physical and some verbal abuse that I am enduring dealing with this people in Dementia, there is a lighter, even funny side to it all and these are things that I like to bring home with me at the end of the day and in a weird way it is what makes it all worth while.

Remembering back to my first Practicum I was working with an elderly lady. She was in the late first stage of her Dementia and was quite aware that something was not quite right in her world. She was charming and loved to tell stories about her childhood and as it turned out her and I had things in common. On my second week at this facility, I was running late and I did not have a chance to my first coffee in the morning. I was tired and couldn't wait for my coffee break. As I was counting down the minutes, I decided to sit with my elderly lady while she counted down the minutes for her lunch. We got talking and as we were talking, she stopped and looked at me and declared that I looked tired. I said I was and I looked over at her neighbour who was sleeping soundly in her wheel chair, I decided to tell her that I wish that I was able to take a nap. My elderly lady grabbed my hand, looked at me very seriously and told me that was not a good idea because that is when things go missing! (From the memory banks.) That really did put a smile on my face.

She was my first resident and I don't think that I will ever forget that moment.

A little rain is nice....

2009-05-18T16:03:00.000-07:00

After a really hot day yesterday it is nice to have some rain today. Yesterday was a prelude of what is yet to come. We sat outside on the front lawn, we had the sand box converted as a wading pool for the little one and we stayed out the whole afternoon and sipped cooler and cider - just enjoying life.

Today I am really enjoying the rain. Not raining to hard, not raining to soft - but just right. And the Temperature is just right to, not to hot and not to cold. Perfect for sitting outside on the deck listening to rain on the roof and watching my flowers grow. However, no coolers and ciders today - we have a 4:30 a.m. start tomorrow.

On the mend.....

2009-05-15T12:58:00.000-07:00

It has been a long couple of weeks with my friend the Cold Virus and a bothersome Bacteria that decided to squat in my ears. I visited my doctor and was given an eviction notice for the Bacteria and with great excitement the Bacteria has moved on. So now it is just me and my friend the Cold Virus. I will most likely be sick for the next couple of weeks, but I have great hopes that my friend will find an other host to visit - soon.

I have just finished my first week of my second clinical placement working with complex care residents. And "Oh Boy" I see why care facilities have a hard time finding good care workers to look after these poor souls. Some of them are very Demented. It really takes a spacial person to do this job. I have been given my first two residents to look after so my work load is light. Next week I am to look after two residents and find my third to do. At the end of week five my goal is to have five complex care residents.

And Super Turtle if your out there I am no longer an Enema virgin.....I gave my first Enema yesterday with great results!!! Not that the world really needed to know that.

Anyways CHEERS and have a GREAT LONG WEEKEND.

Happy Mothers Day...

2009-05-10T13:49:00.000-07:00

Wow, It's Mothers Day

Happy Mother's Day Mom....
I will call you in a couple of days when my hearing is better. (ear infection in both ears)

Friday - last day of classes......

2009-05-05T10:09:00.001-07:00

Classes must be coming to an end when teachers are wanting to get photo's of their classes. This particular teacher said that this class photo was special because we were her first 3 term class. Kinda makes me feel fuzzy inside. Yesterday was my skill check test - and yes I past, no classes until Friday (Exam Day). After that it is all Clinical. If you look close, I am the one wearing the purple gown with the leg bag on. Don't ask.

Open Season for Campers and Drivers on the way to Sooke Pot Holes....

2009-05-01T09:08:00.000-07:00

Yup, it be that time of year again where I will see an influx of camper's, teen drivers and roll overs on my way to and from work, school and personal shopping on my road that I live on. With the weather warming up and Softball season opening and not to mention our biggest attraction that we have at the end of the road: The Sooke Pot Holes. A very popular place for teens and other weather fanatics and not to mention camper's. It is also a place where the R.C.M.P love to conduct Roadblocks for Drinking and Driving, Seatbuilt checks and Safety checks.

So Drivers beware. Make sure you have your papers handy and no forgotten Drivers licences - happened to me and other's that I know (and I live here!)....just driving to the corner store for cigarettes - why bring the wallet, right?

This blog entree is for people who are googling The Sooke Pot Holes and have come across my Blog. The PotHoles are somewhat over populated on the week-ends. But a very nice place to visit.

So here is some Road Block tips.

Nice weather - expect a Road Block and a delay of 20-30 minutes!! Yes it is that busy on our small road in the summer. Arrive early and if you are going to drink, please don't drive and have no open beers in the car (THEY LOVE THAT). Have everything ready to hand over to the R.C.M.P to make the flow faster for us all.

I have seen alot of accidents (a bad one not less then 100m from where I live not to long ago) on this road; alot of very sharp corners and the road gets very narrow towards the end when you start to get close the Pot Holes - Slowdown and watch out for people crossing the road. Have a good time.

My Course Is At An End; So Sad

2009-04-30T11:24:00.000-07:00

Here I am sitting at the computer thinking about the fact that I only have one week of college left and the remainder of my course is all Clinical as Practicum’s are called my line of schooling – 7 weeks of Clinical to do and I graduate with my first college certificate. I’m I patting my self on the Back, you bet I am!

Thinking about the past seven months it is hard to believe that I am at the end of my course; thinking about all the new knowledge that I have swimming in my head. And wondering how much of it that I will be using once I am out in the work force. For those of you how don’t know me, I am studying the art of resident care both in the home and in the facilities. I am a HSRCA: Home Support Resident Care Attendant. I am not a nurse, but a Nurses Aid. Some of you will think of me as a nurse if you didn’t know better. But I am not; but I will maintain my own practice just as a Nurse would. My knowledge base is not as complex as a LPN or an RN: but enough understanding to provide good care with empathy regardless what someone’s condition would be - I am the laborer in the Health Care setting – when it comes to care.

Someone had once told me that Nurses and doctor’s have a twisted sense of humor and you know what, it’s true. You have to be somewhat twisted to poke people with needles, to examine feces and look at urine. Clean bums and so on and so forth. I didn’t realize just how twisted conversations with my friends are to the person looking in from the out side until yesterday when a bunch of us were talking about a new laser therapy for Fungus Removal; and then the conversation goes into the types of fungus we have seen so far in our previous clinical. You know the conversations are quite bad if you can make other people leave tables with their food left behind. Needless to say, I am not allowed to talk about School at home at the dinner table.

So far to date I have a seminar on Palliative Care I must attend in two weeks because what I have learned has already been changed (I must maintain my practice – things change so fast in heath care) and in June the college is hosting a heath care job fair. I have to take my Med’s Course in July or August. This is going to be a never ending practice for me and I am very happy. I am strongly considering doing my LPN in the next year and a half. And who knows maybe when I am 40, I will do my degree in Nursing. Who knows what the future will bring for me.

[ I already had my fist job offer and I don't have my certifacate yet! P.S. family members, I will be making just as much as my husband]

Strawberries! Where are my Berries - Please?

2009-04-28T13:02:00.000-07:00

It's that time of year again when all the people with Green - Thumbs jump up and down with glee and run to there sheds and gather all the tools they need to jump start the growing season. However, for the rest of us, who were not blessed with the green thumb, will take the time to find a fence, stand in front of it and bang our heads against it and mutter "Here we go again!"

I am the person in front of the fence - not banging my head - but shaking it with my hands and screaming at it with all I have - demanding Why my Strawberries are NOT growing for the third year in a row. What am I doing wrong?

I bought Everberring Strawberries from Walmart three years ago in a box with 20 plants. On the box were instructions that only said put the plants in water for a couple of hours and then plant. How easy was that! I planted them in my back yard and more of less forgot about them. (New baby in the house.) The following spring I discovered that 7 plants survived the winter. I planted them and placed them in planters in front of my house and let the "Runners" run loose. (I thought that they looked kind of neat like that.) However, this year I wouldn't mind some Strawberries from them. I am planning on putting them in front of the house in the ground, clip the runners and make the plants produce Strawberries. But it was not less then two weeks ago that I was talking to one of my neighbors about my strawberries when he told me that my plants should of been making Strawberries regardless of where they where located and the runner's running loose. "It's a weed - it grows anywhere and everywhere. Are you sure you bought the eatable kind?" I am very sure I bought the Everberring verity.

So mom if your out there or anyone else - I need help with my Strawberries!!!! What can I do to make them produce a berry or should I give up.

Yesterday Was Earth Day

2009-04-23T13:13:00.001-07:00

Yesterday was Earth Day, so they say on the television. One day out of 365 days a year dedicated to think about the Earth and all the harm we have done it. A day to listen to our experts on ways that we can reduce, reuse,and recycle to prevent waste in the landfill - ways to bring down our carbon footprint. A day to go shopping and get a free reusable bag from the store. A reminder that composting is good and dumbing old refrigerators in the forest is bad.

But because it was Earth Day yesterday and I didn't celebrate it with everyone else, I am going to today. So, here is my 2 cents on the subject. "Stop buying crap at the store people." Think about it, we live in a society that depends on meals in a can. We have forgotten how to cook. If we make our own soup from scratch that is one less soup can in the dump. Support your local farmer!! Don't by your veggies from a store that buys its veggies from an other province or Country - think of all the fuel that was needed to bring them to a store near you. Stop buying coffee in a paper cup - supply your own mug for a cup of Joe. Bike, walk, Run - whatever- get your butt out of the car seat and walk to your mailbox. I am sure your your planet would thank you for it.

There you have it, my 2 cents on Earthday.

Can today be any longer!

2009-04-20T10:46:00.001-07:00

There is nothing worse then a sick child. There is nothing worse then a sick child and having to work a Practicum in the evening! There is nothing worse then a sick child, working a Practicum and being sleep deprived!!

My Day started very early in the morning around 1:30 AM with a very sick child. She had a fever hovering at the 39.0 mark on the thermometer. Stayed up with her for a couple of hours - don't remember falling asleep. I woke up to the wonderful, ear piercing sound of my husband voice stating coffee is made. I beg for an extra half hour sleep, I must of got my extra half hour because the alarm went off at 6:30 A.M. Felt my Daughter's forehead, still feverish. I have been up ever since (and same with my doughtier) negotiating my practicum hours from mornings to evenings with the college and the group home. What a head ache. My day won't end until 11:00 pm. So I can say to you: Can this Day get any Longer!!

Hummm.. Free things to do...

2009-04-15T09:03:00.000-07:00

So far this economy is really getting to me. DM has gone through 2 jobs after Christmas and with each new job a pay decrease. Work is hard to find if you are in the Construction zone. We have many friends who were layed off work last year and have not been able find work this year. Needless to say, EI's are running out for most of them. These are tough times. And I really can't help but notice that prices on food and other things are going up. My course will not be finish until the end of June and through out the Summer, I will be working on an on call bases until I can get my foot in the door in the health care sector. So as one can see my summer with my children will not be a good one. All the things that we like do....Camping is a big one....the swimming pool.....Big Juicy Steaks on the B.B.Q......out the door, anything that is going to cost money - gone.

But I am a trooper, And I am now on the look out for FREE things to do with my children (Or under $20.00 for a family of four) that will be fun for the whole family. And for this task, School News Letters are a blessing. Full of wonderful tips and idea's. And one idea has really stuck out.

"LAW DAY" at the Victoria Court House "Free Event." What a wonderful place to spend a lazy Saturday. But they promise, Sheriff's tours, a Scavenger hunt of the Courthouse,A Fairytale Trail (not a clue what that is), and best for last...A Demonstration by the Victoria Police and their Dogs!!! and much more. And did I say "FREE."

Some Clips for school about Animal Therapy

2009-04-13T18:45:00.000-07:00

It is incredible that our animals can do so much for us. They make us laugh and they can heal us. They make us feel loved no matter who and what we are. We can be poor and sick and we can be rich and healthy and an animal wouldn't care. They give us their unconditional love. But we must love the people who share their animals with those who need their love the most.

Here are some clips that I have found. Enjoy

Has it been that long?

2009-04-13T18:30:00.000-07:00

Time really does fly when you have fun.

It seems like yesterday since I made a post and I am quite surprised to see that BLOGGER hasn't eleminated my little Corner in Cyber Space. I was actually expecting to create a whole new profile for my self. But it looks like all I have to do is some spring cleaning and I am good to go in Blogger land!!

Birthday

2008-11-27T16:25:00.000-08:00

Well today has been a day of trials and tribulations full of uncertainty for what may lay for the future. Driving home from class last night watching at the gas prices fall from municipality to the next, just dumb founded at how fast things are starting to become with our economy. I have always been the optimistic telling my self that this will never affect me and my family. Today this optimistic point of view may have just caught up with me. And it never ceases to amaze me that these hard times always fall on my children’s birthday. My daughter 2nd birthday was one to remember, that was day we lost our Hydro for 8 days because food was more important the heat. Today it my son’s 9th Birthday and layoffs were just announced were there father works. Today maybe the last day that he will work with this company.

Not that I am complaining about this, it has been a good run and this announcement was to be expected, but more towards Christmas. So now it is just a waiting game until I hear more news about this. But in the mean time…….

My son is having a great Birthday. He has been very excited about the idea that he has no school today, in his mind this best present ever. He did have the stress of parent/teacher interview and was told that he had to present for this one. He was nervous about this and so was I. Being the boy that he is, he has a hard time sitting still, he somewhat out spoken and he really loves his friends and as a result, he has had a lot of reminders about his performance. We thought that this was way he instructed to attend this conference. But as it may be – all the kids we told to come with their parents. Talk about relief. After the conference, his Birthday had just gotten better. The little guy got one C plus, five B’s and one A in math. There was letter grade missing and he feels that he is going to get an A in that class (Gym)….

His day is still not over, there is more to come….

So family member’s out place stay tuned.

I Have a Cat and His Name Will be Wisers

2008-11-25T12:08:00.000-08:00

Well I should be doing homework and I should be doing house work, but I think I have had too much coffee so far today….I need talk about my newest addition to my family. After long conversations for the past couple of years over this one topic with my family members, I have gotten a cat. A very cute, stinky, keep me up in the middle of the night, cat. And we have decided that his name should be Wisers, yes that is right, named after Canadian Whisky. This name suits him because even thou he is a long domestic longhair Tabby, the colour of the Brown in him looks like the colour of whisky. So there you have it.

Wisers was found as a stray by my friends’ mother-in-law who works at our CASA building here in the village (downtown Sooke), this building is where Family Services is located and other wonderful organization to help families grow. She has noticed that the cat was hanging around for a couple of weeks and my friend (the daughter-in-law) had fallen in love with him. So she took him home. However, she as already has 5 other cats. She knew that I had wanted one and asked if we wanted him. So know I have a cat.

I took the cat to the vet and found out this cat is around 5-6 years old. He has been given a clean bill of health. As a precaution the cat has been vaccinated for the feline HIV and other stuff, but he still needs to have the Rabbeis and Dysfunction? (I believe it is called.) He was already neutered so that’s a bonus. I had the kids with me this morning before taking the older one to school and the vet decided to give the cat a Birthday for the children, so the cats B-day is March 1, 2002.

Also a little other tid bit about the name, my friends son has named the cat BudWeiser after his dad’s favorite Beer. I liked the name before I met the cat, but as soon as I have seen him….Wisers was the perfect name.

He Lives!!!!!!

2008-11-20T08:45:00.000-08:00

I am really happy to announce that the 70 year old man LIVES!!!!!!!!

It was not a body bag that I have seen go into the back of the ambulance, (Thank God) it was a very bundled up poor soul who was in such a state of shock that he could not feel his broken Tibia and Fibula (the leg bones below the knee). Because he could not feel the broken bones the ambulance personal did not feel that it was necessary to go with lights and sirens. That is why they had took so long leaving the scene.

However, we do have a case of Hit and Run. My class mate who is a Paramedic who works out here in Sooke has told me that emotions are running high on this one. R.C.M.P figures that whoever hit this man lives on this road. From what I understand it was a car and there is significant damage to the front of it. I have a feeling that who ever owns this car will not be using it anytime soon. Sooke is such a small community that somebody will notice the damage. I just hope that this person turns him self in and count his/her lucky stars that they did not kill the pour soul.

The Fog Was Thick Last Night......

2008-11-18T10:23:00.000-08:00

Before I can continue my Activities of Daily Living, cleaning up everyone’s used epidermis’s (dust) and fingerprints off of my T.V. and fish tank I really need to get a few things of my chest. Last night was one of those nights where I wish I went go to school. But however, because of my daughter not being 100% health wise I ended up spending two hours in the walk in clinic in Langford (a ½ hour drive from Sooke) for a prescription for her ailment. It is amazing what children pick up!

Deciding to go shopping well I was in town for a few odds and ends, I didn’t realize just how foggy it became as our afternoon turned into evening. After paying for my stuff, I walked out of the store and it was hard to see the parking lot. The street lights looked ghostly in the fog and the cars driving under the streetlights looked like shadows. I almost needed a butter knife to cut through the fog just to find my car. Under these conditions heading back into Sooke would be a long and careful drive. Because of the fog and it almost seems to be the rule of thumb in my area that the fog will spell disaster and some poor family will suffer a tragedy. And sure enough tragedy did strike - five minutes before my house.

Carefully driving along the last road to my house, I was greeted with an R.C.M.P cruiser with lights flashing. A half of kilometer after that cruiser was an ambulance, more cruisers and rescue personal scattered all over the road. (The lights flashing in the night with the dense Fog reminded me of a night club blasting its fog machine) However, oddly enough there was no Fire Trucks. This told me that this was involved a pedestrian. I was the third car from the scene. I was greeted with an officer who explained to me that they would be letting cars go through in about five minutes. Unfortunately those five minutes turned into 45 minutes. The ambulance was in no rush to go anywhere and after a while of waiting I decided to turn off the car and go out side for a cigarette; I ended up watching the rescue personal put what looked like a body bag into the back of the ambulance, and sadly enough the rescue truck that holds the huge Halogen Flood lights came and was set up so the light could shine down on the scene and officers could get the tape to measure the skid marks on the road. From what I understand this is done after a death. What a tragedy! I really do hope with all of my heart that it wasn't a bodybag that I have seen going into the back of the ambulance. I really, really hope that it wasn't.

I had learned well I was waiting from another person (who had a good sorce within the R.C.M.P) who was also waiting to go through the chaos that it was a 70 year old man and it was a hit and run. There are several old men that live where I live and I wonder which one it was. My heart goes out to the family.

For me, this is a grave reminder to all who walk the roads in rural areas to wear the proper reflective clothing so drivers can see you out there. I had a long to talk with my son about this this morning when I drove him school. I just hope that he would remember my words. Of course I would remind him and buy what he needs to be safe, I just hope my words will sink home!

The School Gods Were Smiling!

2008-11-15T13:38:00.000-08:00

I would never would of believed it if some one would walk up to me two years ago and tell me that I would have a favorite wall. I am not talking about the wall that I use as a shrine for my childrens art work, but the kind of wall that would make me feel nervous, scared, laugh and releived all at the same time. This wall has the name of the "The grade Wall." And this wall is the most popular wall in the Continuing Care Building. It is amazing how this wall will turn the most rounded person into a bowl of jelly. All who view this Great Wall will either hang thier heads down in shame or their backs against the wall with the look of asperation and thinking to them selves, thank God that is over and done with, NEXT!"

In order to get to my class room, I have to walk past this Wall. There is no avoiding this Wall. I don't want to walk past it and I do wish that the classroom is on the other side of the building or even on the first flour. This would make me so happy. But no, my class room is located infront of 'the wall.' I walk out of the classroom the wall greats me every single time.

Last night I walked past the Wall. I kept my head down avoiding eye contact with the wall. I did not want to see my student number on the wall. Because there will be the most dreaded number in the world marked beside my student number. I walked into the class room and I look at my class mates. Do theylook Happy? Do they look disappoined?

Has the marks been posted? I am sure I will find out. The teacher walks in the greating us with her famous Nurse smile. She has a peace of paper in her hands. Oh God, the marks!

"I have done marking your exams, would you like to know the range of the marks before I put them up on the wall? Of course we all want to know the Range!!! 19 to 30. I thnk to my self that 19 is mine. I know I needed to get 21 to pass. Dread fills up in in side. We all follow her with our eyes as she goes to the wall and hangs the paper with a thumbtack. We all watch her walk back into the class room. She gives us a look and smiles at us all and says quite happley "Do you want to know how you all did?" We all jump out of our chairs and make our way to the wall. We are all shoving and pushing each other like small school children to found our most secreat number. I find mine, I close my eyes and then open them. My back is aganst the wall. and I think to my self "Thank God, I am glad that is over and done with. NEXT!" I past my test with flying colours.

6th Foot Found on Beach!!!!

2008-11-14T10:08:00.001-08:00

I really don’t get to read the paper that much anymore since I started my course, but when I do, I get a kick out of some of the stuff that I read. I found out last night that someone has found another shoe with the foot still in side it washed up on a beach. Wow, 6 feet all together, in what a year? A year and a half? Strange! This is a mystery indeed.

One of the things that I get a kick out when reading stories such as this, is the comments section and for this one there was lots; just to let you know I read my paper online. It is amazing how people like to speculate what had happened to these pour souls who have lost their feet. My favorite theory is about a boat that had sunk somewhere and a bunch of illegal immigrants were on board. This accident was never reported because the boat was never to be in our waters to begin with. Anyways, read the article and read the comments. Some of them are interesting. Some of them are down right stupid, but I must worn you, there is a lot police bashing.

http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/story.html?id=3d3ff931-97ab-4dda-8d54-278d56f55b1b

Part 2 - Being a Tad Stressed!!

2008-11-13T13:52:00.000-08:00

So here is the continuation to my car key Saga. Yesterday was a brand new day and to my relief everything was open. I was able to make up 4 keys for the car. One I have, one I gave to a friend for safe keeping and the other key is located with the truck keys. And get this. I have already misplaced the 4th one. My daughter had a mild temper tantrum in the parking lot of the Nissan Dealer ship and that key went flying somewhere, could be in the car, I just don’t know. But that is all right. At least I have the other 3 keys and the key code to the car for when (and it is a matter of when) those keys go missing.

My car did not get towed and to a great deal of relief, the only horrible thing that happened as a result was I got a 20.00 ticket from the parking company in charge of the parking lot for failing to produce. Get this…. I was issued the ticket 15 minutes before I arrived to pick up the car. Could that be a higher power telling me something?

As a joke, I was given a key rope for the only key that I have for the car. If I was to be somewhat offended by this friendly joke, (construction worker mentality) I don’t know, but I was more then grateful for the gift, because it is a wonderful idea. And yes, yesterday I did wear my keys around my neck and this made me feel very reassured to the fact that I could fell them on my body. After going through what I did…I am sure you would to.

But as a result from all the stress (being yelled at) that came with losing my keys and the horrible sleep I got the night before (children not wanting to sleep until 2 a.m.). It would be somewhat of a miracle if I barely passed my exam yesterday for module 155. It was a very strange feeling to look at the questions and know that I know the answer but can’t quite formulate my thought process to think of the best way to answer it because I was to damn tired to concentrate.

So let this be a HUGE Lesson for me.

If I do poorly on this exam, I now that I better work real hard for the next one to keep my marks up.

Can You Say, Just a Tad Stressed!

2008-11-11T13:20:00.000-08:00

When people are stressed out they do some dumb things such as, lets see here, forget important dates such as anniversaries, unable to sleep; I am sure you get the idea. When I get stressed out, I loose things, not just any type of thing, just only one thing and that thing just happens to be my keys. I have been doing this since for as long as I have been on my own, fresh from the home nest. Over the years I have learnt the importants of having spar keys of every kind. I have even learnt that the best for me is have a separate key ring for the house and a separate key ring for the car, this way I don’t loose both at the same time. But what happens when you loose the last set of keys that you have for the car. While I just found out.

As I was doing the 5 minute dash from parking lot to classroom I had dropped my car keys somewhere along the way. I didn’t realize until I got to the classroom that my keys were gone. During my first class, I was unable set still. I went through my pockets and my school bag. Looked in the women’s washroom countless of times. Heck, I even done the gross, I dug through garbage bins looking for my keys in the women’s washroom. (Big washroom - 7 stalls, 5 garbage bins) I have talked with campus security, campus general services and the library. No keys. Second class, I realized that my keys are gone; gone where all lost keys go to live out the rest of their key lives, never to be seen again.

It is after my second class (my last class for the night) things get interesting. After calling home and finding out the Nissan dealer ship phone number for my area (they have someone in the office after hours for road side assistance) I was told that I would have to wait until tomorrow and someone from parts would call back in the morning. Perfect I thought, Deal with everything then. Get a good night sleep and everything will work out. So with some peace of mind, I locate a bus schedule and slowly make my way back to Sooke – 3 bus transfers and 2 hours later.

Well today is tomorrow and today just happens to be a holiday. Everything is closed. No phone call from the dealer ship. Can’t get a hold of the parking lot company to let them know why the car is still there. The only thing that I can do today is talk with Nissan international and find out how I can get keys made with out a set available to me or parts. I was told I need to speak with the original dealership - located in Calgary and ask for the Key code.

And from there the Saga continues………….

D Day Tomorrow

2008-11-06T14:49:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow is test day – After cramming Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of basic human needs and studying each need in-depth through human development physically, socially, emotionally, cognitively and spiritually and taking a close look of the Continuity Theory for understanding aging in all aspects of one self and, Good God, can’t forget the importance of Asepsis in the work/home environment, my head feels like it is going to explode. After saying this sentence out load, I am out of breath.

But to let you know I feel good about this test. I will most likely not get a 100% in this test but I know I will get at least a high 80% or low 90% and I really need to remind my self that this test is only 20% out of my module 151 course. So it is not that bad. It is the other two tests that I need to worry about the most. There both at 30% for the over all mark. There are some assignments but the mark criteria are small.

I know my family can’t wait until after Friday, I am sure they want the house back to its normal state and I discovered that T.V is the best babysitter for my daughter. I know some of you will think differently about but when you have to hit the books and it’s is just the two of you. You do what you got to do.

Well back to the books I go for my last day of studying.

Pre Test Jitters

2008-11-04T09:17:00.000-08:00

I have my first big test out of a hundred big tests coming up this Friday, and am I nervous about it, you bet I am. It is not the actual test that bothers me, it's the anxiety leading up to the test that is stressful. In order to pass this test I need a B or higher. As with the whole course, I need a B or higher to graduate and obtain my certificate or it's money poorly spent.

Living out in Sooke has it draw backs with this whole college thing. Tonight there is a study group downtown Victoria and I can’t go because of my family obligations. And I also hate driving in the torrential rain that seems to be the worse in between Sooke and Langford, so I am just going to have to make due with me, my self and I. I am sure we will do fine; it is just the pre-test jitters.

Well back to the books I go.

October is gone....

2008-11-01T12:59:00.001-07:00

October is gone and so is Halloween and that is fine by me. At least there will be another Halloween next year and the year after that, and the year after that and so on and so forth. I missed out on Trick or Treating, but I got to hear fantastic stories about the festivities. I was told that the Haunted House at the Sooke fire Hall was spectacular. The staff there had out done themselves as usual. I heard about a man hanging in a tree beside his house trying to scare everyone. From what I understand the individual was hanging for two hours. What people do for the fun of Halloween?

I my self didn’t see any thing eye catching, just people walking down town in the everyday clothing. Oh wait, I lied, I seen a very tall tin man walking down the road I live on. That was neat.

My drive home was uneventful. I was expecting to at least pass through 3 road blocks on my home from school, and I didn’t even see one police car. So ether we had a very quite Halloween and every one was good (likely not) or I was just in the wrong spots and the wrong times. I didn’t even see a fire cracker….Strange….

What ever the case may be, I survived last night.

It is Halloween!!!!!!!!!

2008-10-31T10:48:00.000-07:00

“Trick or Treat, give me something sweet to eat
Not to big, not to small
Just the size of Montreal”

I love Halloween; I have been Trick or Treating as far as long as I can remember. I don’t even think I have missed a year of trick or treating for as long as I have been old enough to go out on my own. I have been fairies, garbage bags, dressed up as man quite a few times. Come to think of it, I have been a pillow once or maybe twice. I have been that 15 year old that showed up on the door step saying “My sister is sick; I am Trick-or Treating for her.” Got a lot of looks for that one and a couple of “You are so sweet for doing that for you sister, here, have some candy for you too!” And then my friends started having babies – my lowest point ever with this chocolate crazy event, yes, I have borrowed other people’s children for my own greed. And then I had my own children…….Life is sweet as chocolate.

This Halloween will be the first Halloween that I can ever remember missing and yes this makes me very sad. I don’t eat chocolate that much any more, but I love watching the children go door to door, and I have been that person who gives out the candy a couple of times and to tell you right now I do make them sing and dance for the sugary treat. I am passing the torch on the father of my children for this one and only time. To make sure the kids are worn out and gobble up as much candy as they can before going to bed. Yes he would also need to enforce the five minute scrub of the teeth. And he would need to follow my number one rule of Trick or Treating, “Always check the candy before giving the candy to the kids”. It is a good thing that my friend is going with him for he would most likely be needed to be reminded about that rule. After all Halloween has and will always be my department. Russians don’t do Halloween.

It has been a while scince Halloween has fallen on Friday, so their are going to be a lot of drunk people out there goofing off and being idiots (as my brother likes to say) and a lot of them will be behind the wheel. I will be driving two hours tonight and I don’t drink and drive, I am totally against this. So for all of you out their celebrating the night we get to dress up and be somebody or something else – please, for the safety of our children and the safety for the rest of us who can’t celebrate because of classes and other obligations. Don’t Drink and Drive!!! It would mean a lot to rest of us that we all be safe on the roads tonight.

Have a safe Halloween.

College Student Now........

2008-10-29T10:28:00.000-07:00

Wow!!!!

I almost forgot what my Blog looked liked. After being away from it for two and half weeks and just coming back to it now, I love my pumpkins more then ever. It is too bad that I am going to have to find a new skin somewhere to replace them in the next couple of days. (I guess I am going to have to fight with the kids for computer time)

I would like to say sorry for not posting an entry but my weeks have been very busy with School, family and other obligations that I have and it is just now that I my self and my family have found a good routine regarding the new changes around the house. The big change is that I am now a part time student at Camuson College. 3 nights a week I am at school. My classes start 3:30 in the afternoon and do not end until 9:30 at night. It takes me about 45 minutes to commute both ways from home to school.

My son is starting to get used to being by him self after school for an hour after gets off the school bus and my daughter getting used to the baby sitter, and my husband is getting a ride to work and back from one of his bosses. Small “D” my son, is still finding weird that when he comes home from school on the days that I don’t go, I am doing homework. So as you can see some big changes in my house.

Just to remind people what I am taking at college; I am doing the H/RCA course and will not be done with that until June of next year. Other words, I am going to be a Nurses Aid. After I am done my course, I am strongly considering doing the bridge course from H/RCA to LPN, but before I can do the jump from one course to another, I need to log 850 hours as a RCA or HCA.

OH!!!!! An interesting tid-bit that I have learnt from school, the age classification of what a young adult is in the health field has changed to 19 – 35 years of age. (Middle age is 35 – 65 years of age, the golden years is 65 and up) So you see I am still a young adult and therefore forgiven for being a late bloomer when it comes to postsecondary education. (A big smiley face here!!!!!!)

NO MORE OF NO POWER BC HYDRO

2008-10-14T10:18:00.000-07:00

I had a wonderful Thanksgiving week-end. Turkey Dinner at friend’s place where I got to meet some wonderfully funny people, having beers around a bond fire on a cold, crisp autumn night – should I mention most of those beers were birthday beers. Happy Birthday to two wonderful people – You know who you are. Cheers. A side from being sick with a hacking cough and a fever yesterday and today, my long weekend was a good..... **sniff - sniff**

The only problem that I have had so far with my long weekend was the power outages. BC Hydro all I have to say to you is @#$#$!! &^%%&!! And @#$#!! I have had 5 power outages in the last 9 days. It wouldn’t be so bad if I was out of power for an hour or less, but I am talking about outages that last for four to five hours at the most. And what gets me is none of the outages are storm related. My house hold woke up 5:30 this morning with no power. Made the call to BC Hydro and they were not aware of us having no power. Needless to say after waking up with no power, I fell a sleep on the couch and missed waking up my son to get him ready for the school bus. He missed the bus and I am sure he is thanking BC Hydro for NO POWER as I write this entry. Saturday over 300,000 people went with out power during their turkey dinner and countless other times before the long weekend with NO POWER! I am tired of NO POWER. I had an enough of NO POWER. I am up to eyes with NO POWER. I am tired of buying candles and tealites and more candles and tealites. No more of NO POWER!!!
**sniff** **cough**sniff**sniff***

I have vented and now I feel better. I am going back to my couch and have my tea with cough medicine and countless of other cold remedies to make my self feel better and count how many days it will be before the next power outage. I put my money in four days for the next one. What would you think? **sniff - sniff**

[Sorry Folks, I mean Sunday over 200,000. with out power while eating turkey dinner]

***sniff***cough**sniff**cough**cough**sniff**

Should I also say I am tired of being sick.

To Cute! I Had To Share...

2008-10-10T15:30:00.001-07:00

Secret Knowledge of Grown-ups

The Rule: don't leave your choths lying around.

The Adult reason for the rule: They will never get washed.

The Truth: The creature hiding in your bed will eat your cloths! You see, he gets hungry lying there, so some day he'll come when your sleeping! That's not snoring that you hear by your mom or dad! It's the creature eating your sock! Infact human's don't snore at all!

Written by a student at my son's school. This won a spot on the biweekly news letter sent home today. LOL - had to share.

A Man's Heart

2008-10-10T09:15:00.000-07:00

There is a saying: “A way to a man's heart is through his stomach,” and I couldn’t agree more. One of the interesting aspects of my relationship with my partner is that we are what you would call an inter-racial mix. I am Canadian and he is Russian. And believe it or not our two cultures are very different from one another; everything from Religion to food. Every now and again he and I have to improvise with one another to make our relationship work and blend our two cultures. So as a result we celebrate two Christmases, New years and a couple of holidays. And as for food, I do go way out of my way to give him a taste of home. Yesterday was one of those days.

I prepared a dish called “Perminee.” It is like a Perogee, but with out Potatoes. This dish has a meat mix inside. Perminee is a very tasty dish to eat, but very time consuming to make. I made 130 Perminee and it took me 4 hours to do it. Plus I had to walk to the nearest store to pick up milk, so add an extra hour.

When I came home from the store, I noticed that he had called twice on his lunch hour. I called him back and he asked what I was doing, (he was bored) I told him that I was getting the kitchen ready to make some Perminee’s. He said “Ya-right, you are now.” Kind of like I need to see it to believe it. Any ways time moves on and I have flour every where in the kitchen, all over me and my daughter had destroyed my house. My son came home from school, he help make a couple Perminee and before I knew it, it was Supper time and I had just finished up with the last of the Perminee.

The phone rings. It’s the Russian. “What are doing?” he asks. I tell him that I am getting ready to eat Perminee. “You made Perminee!” I tell him that I had told him earlier that I was going to make some. “You made Perminee!” he asks again and the next thing I heard was “I love you!” So you see, it is true, the best way to a man's heart is through his stomach.

Happy Friday!

Baby Formula

2008-10-09T08:32:00.000-07:00

5 days a week I wake up before my son, put his cloths for the day into the dryer to warm them up for him, make him a warm breakfast, make a warm lunch and send him off to school on the school bus. After he is gone, I make my self an extra strong Americano and enjoy my first cigarette of the day. (I know, nasty habit) After that I sit down on the couch, pick up my laptop and read my news on the Time’s Colonist web site. After I read the news I make another Americano and reflect about what I have read.

For the Past month and a little bit I have been keeping my eye on the milk products recall in China, waiting for the recall to effect Canada. And sure enough a recall took place yesterday. And all I can do is shake my head in wonder that anything like this could ever happened. For all of you who don’t know what has happened, China’s baby formula makers have been adding Melamine, a harmful substance that had killed 5 babies, and made thousands of other children sick with kidney ailments. And from what I understand this has been going on for a very long time until somebody noticed that it was the baby’s formula that was making them sick. As the Chinese officials investigated further into the matter, they found Melamine was added into chocolate products and imported around the world.

Two years ago my family had traveled to Far East Russia to visit family who lives a half hour away from the Chinese Border. My Son at the time was going into grade two and my daughter was 4 ½ months old. Because I made the choice on not breast feeding for the trip; my daughter was depended on formula. One of the things that we looked into was bringing our own formula or buying formula for her in Russia. If we bought formula in Russia we would have a lot of room in our luggage for other personal belongings. We made the phone call to Russia and asked about the Baby formula and were told that to bring our own. We did. Later we had learned that the babies in Far East Russia were becoming sick and the local people were looking at China. There was a rumor that there was counterfeit formula being imported into Russia from China. So as you can see this story hits home to me, because my daughter could have consumed Melamine in Russia if we never bothered to call Russia. The sad thing is this had taken more then two years for this come into the open. Our family members and friends who live in Far East Russia were right. It was the Baby formula.

To learn more about the latest recall www.http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/story.html?id=8a952bd5-01cd-4819-86de-275421f24f3e

Food and Books....

2008-10-07T18:19:00.000-07:00

Is it my imagination or has food prices actually gone up again? As I was doing my normal biweekly food shopping (for a family of four), I could not help but notice that the cost of food has gone up again. I was quite surprised to see that NN brand concentrate juice (a family pack of nine) had gone from being $ 6.48 to $6.99 to $7.39. There were a few other brands of juice that has gone up as well; Soy Milk has gone up as well, from $3.49 to $4.49 – or close to, but that happened awhile ago. There are a few other things that I have notice that changed price again; I just can’t remember what those items are at the moment. But has anyone noticed? Noticed at all?

Well today was a good day. My other half didn’t go to work again, so I had the car to myself. I scrambled enough money together to buy one Module for my course thinking that it was going to cost $150.00. Before I hopped in the car to drive into down town Victoria, I thought best that maybe it was a good idea to call ahead to the college book store to make sure that the book was available and as it turns out it was. All three books were available and I bought all three together for the price of $59.99. Curse that typo on course info that said the books were a $150.00 each. So I am set for Modules for this term. Couldn’t be happier then a kid in a candy store right now.

Still Waiting For The Wood Guy

2008-10-04T14:53:00.000-07:00

Look at me two postings in one day....

I am still waiting for the wood guy to come and give us wood and take our money. So needless to say I am quite bored at the moment. So to occupy my spare time, I decided that I am going to play with my blog and look what I discovered I could do. I found a bunch of free templates on the Internet. I came across some Halloween backgrounds that I wouldn't mind trying out. So don't be sirprised if my blog changes quite abit in the next 3 1/2 weeks.

see ya

Ya Hoo! No Power

2008-10-04T09:31:00.000-07:00

As I wait for the fire wood guy to come and collect his money for 2 cords of wood, I minus well share with you my Friday night (yesterday). Every Friday in my house is what we call “Happy Friday” Happy it is. Friday is the day we let loose from all the stress of the other unhappy days and be thankful that they have come and gone. Friday is the day that I like to drink 1.5L of wine, anything over 1.5L is a waste of alcohol. My other half drinks what ever he wants. And we have a good time. We let the kids run loose and stay up late because it is their “Happy Friday” too.

Yesterday was a good night with a twist, we had company come over with their two kids and the power went out. Power outages in my nick of the woods are common like the common cold. We have so many trees around us that BC Hydro can’t keep up with the trimming of the branches to keep them off the power lines. We also live on a high crash road, especially when it is raining; having a car miss a turn and run into power poll is common, but more like the flu virus.

Our power outage last night was caused by an accident (I hope no one was hurt badly). But let me say this, the kids had a blast, running around with flash lights from one dark room the next. We sat around the fire place watching the fire, I had tealite’s going through out the house, and we had my other half play the piano to entertain us. Last night was truly a "Happy Friday" and will be remembered.

“Happy Friday”

Note: 11 days until school starts and next Friday will be my last "Happy Friday". I guess I should change it to "Happy Saturday"?

12 Days To Go....

2008-10-03T10:14:00.000-07:00

Today is exactly 12 days before my academic life starts. October 15 is my first day of college. And I am happy to announce that I almost have all my ducks in a row with payments schedules, class schedules and what not. Of course their a few loose ends that need to be tied up, but that would happen with time, I am sure. The only thing left that I really need to do is make my way to the college book store and buy the 3 modules that I need for this term. After making inquiries I found out that each module: HSRC 151 Heath and Healing, HSRC 155 Work Role, and HSRC 180 Lifestyle and Choices, are going to cost $150.00 each. Ouch!! But that is the price one must make for a higher education and a fatter pay cheque.

So for the next 12 days, I am just going kick back and relax at home and enjoy life before school starts. And take it day by day.

I Am We.....

2008-10-02T14:16:00.000-07:00

Being that the rainy season here on the Island has officially started today; I decided that it was a good day to tackle the forever growing pile of paper that lives beside my phone and other little piles that mushroomed up though out my house. Some of it important stuff that has to do with my school, bills that have been paid but never made there way to the shredder machine; but the majority of the paper is from my son’s school. I can always tell by the pretty colors that they use, pink, blue, light yellow, and for some reason mustard yellow has been the favorite choice so far.

As I systematically weeded through the pile papers, putting each topic in to its designated new pile, I came across sheets of paper that belongs to my son. I decided that I was going to take a small rest and see just what he had put on the paper. Most of it was drawings, mock spelling test that he and I have done together, but there was one that really caught my eye. It was folded up into quarters and well wrinkled. On the front it said “Circle yes or no if you like it” in my sons writing. Just to let you know right now that the yes was circled and in some other kids writing was the word “funny.” Being very interested in what was so funny I decided to open the paper. This was what was inside.

Say:
I Am We Todd It.
Sofa King We Todd It.

It took me a couple tries to figure it out - call me slow, and then it hit me like a bag of bricks! His father pulled the same joke on me awhile ago and my son must have been around to hear me say those words out load.

I am not up-set with my son for that; trust me it could have been much worse. But it just goes to show just how much children learn from the home.

The Bug Zoo

2008-10-01T08:22:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was a good day for a day trip into down town Victoria with my 2 ½ old daughter. The sky was blue with clouds here and there, with a high of 25, most likely one of the last days of summer like weather before the onset of fall/winter weather – Rain.

Every once and while I like to walk to the nearest bus stop (35 minute walk from my house) and ride all the way to Victoria (55 minutes). Just to see what the city dwellers are doing. I walk around and sight see, have a Star Bucks coffee, buy a few nick knacks that I really don’t need and meet up with my better half for a ride home. My son loves it when I do one of my little day trips because he gets the whole house to him self for an hour after school; uninterrupted cartoon viewing.

But yesterday was somewhat special for my 2 ½ old because this day started off for her 2 weeks ago with my last day trip to the city. As we waited for the bus to Victoria, there were a couple other people waiting with us, a man and a woman. The man and the women were in heavy conversation but every now and then the man would look and my daughter and smile. Of course my daughter, the socialite, would smile and wave back. As the man got ready to leave the bus stop, he looked at us and walked over. He told me that I have a very beautiful daughter and I should be proud of her. He put his hand into his pocket and pulled out $20.00. He explained that his daughters are all grown up and would give anything to have the baby years back. My daughter reminded him of his girls. He instructed me to take her out and have fun. I was caught off guard with his kind gesture and didn’t want to offend him by saying no, so I took the money. And for two weeks this $20.00 bill has been in my wallet.

As I was walking around Victoria yesterday I found my self out side the Victoria Bug Zoo, and thought what a wonderful way to spend the $20.00 that was given to my daughter. She has been fascinated about bugs lately and I thought this would be something that she would enjoy. Oh man, did she love it. We spent a good 35 minutes looking at bugs. She was most impressed with the Ants. She got to pet a Millipede (the thing was 4 inches long!) and a Giant Walking Stick Bug. She ran from one display to another just looking at all the different bugs. After looking at the bugs we went to the gift store and she picked out an orange stuffed spider as a bug zoo souvenir. She named her spider “Spider.”

So to the stranger with the kind gesture, as to my promise to you on how to spend the $20.00, my daughter had a blast. Thank – you were ever you may be.

Micheal Moore......

2008-09-30T08:28:00.000-07:00

Last night was one of those nights were we found our selves with out our satellite T.V. It is not because we don't pay our bills, it is more sinister then that, but for the sake of trying to explain why didn't have any T.V last night, we didn't pay our bill. As we waited for the "payment to go through," we decided that it was a good time to watch a DVD from our 'need to be watched pile' and next on up on the pile was Michael Moore's - Fahrenheit 9/11. I am sure you can see where I am going this.

You are most likely asking your self why we didn't watch it when it first came out, well that question is simple - we never been much into politics. But what a weird time to watch that documentary with the elections going on and the economic crisis taking place within the United States. All I can say is this - after watching Fahrenheit 9/11 I feel very enlightened and being Canadian, well I never been more proud of my nationality.

I decided that I was going to find out more about Micheal Moore and see if he has any websites or blogs and to my delite, he does. So it really saves me from ranting and raving about what I have watched last night.

To find out more about Micheal Moore go to http://www.michaelmoore.com/

He even has a little section for us Canadians.

After going through his website, it looks like he is in the process of creating an other documentary and it could about health care in the US of A v.s. our Canadian heath care or Katrina. When it does come out, I will be watching it.

It's Monday...

2008-09-29T13:04:00.001-07:00

It's Monday, Do I need to say more?

The Lessons We Teach Our Children....

2008-09-27T12:32:00.001-07:00

Every morning and every afternoon, my son needs to catch a school bus to and from school. For him to use the school bus cost us $60.00 a year. $60.00 is not that bad of price to pay for him to get ride. However, there have been a quiet a few times in the past were he had missed the bus. But back then it was never really an issue if he had missed the bus because at that time we were a two car family. But now we are down to one car and my son missing the bus is now a problem, and yesterday was a good day to teach him a valuable lesson in regards to the importance of being on time for the bus.

I got the phone call from school and knew what had happen before I even answered the phone. He missed the bus. The conversation went like this.

Me: Hello
School: Hi this so and so from l’ecole Poirier, DM has missed the bus and is asking for a ride home.
Me: I have no way to pick him up, my husband has the car. I don’t even have my wallet to pay for a cab.
School: oh!
Me: Here’s the scoop, I am going to teach him a lesson about missing the bus; he can walk home.
School: hold on
Muffled voices: DM your mom said for you to walk home!
DM in the background: WHAT! That would take me hours to get home.
I can hear him start to cry.
Me: Can I speak to him.
DM: I have to walk home! Can your friend pick me up?
Me: No
DM: Can Pa-pa’s friend pick me up?
Me: No, Pa-pa’s friend is at work.
Me: You want to miss the bus, you can walk home. I will see you soon.
DM: crying now, **sniff** **sniff** O.K **sniff**
The phone hangs up.

OMG! I felt so bad for doing that, and to be truthful about it all I was worried about him. After all he is only 8 years old, but an old 8 year old, he will be turning 9 in a couple of months. It took him an hour and ten minutes to walk home. What I thought was going to be good lesson for him, ended up being a big discovery about himself. He really liked walking home and had asked if he could do it again. I was very surprised about that request. He said that he had fun looking around. He saw cows, horses, llamas. He ate black berries along the way. He ran a little bit and walked a little bit. Then he told me that was longest he had ever had to walk. What was I to say to him, “Glad you had fun?”
So know I have to ask my-self this question, did he learn a lesson here? I will never know. But I am glad that he had fun, but I will never tell him that, after all it was to be his punishment. And maybe, just maybe if the weather is nice I will let him walk home again.

It Was So Hot In My House.....

2008-09-25T21:45:00.000-07:00

Every morning my husband wakes up at 5:30 a.m. and is out the door by 6:10 a.m. for work, and this morning was no different with his morning routine; however, there was one small difference, it was raining out side and cold in our house. So being the good man that he is, he had decided that he was going make a fire and decided that this fire should be a very hot fire so that when the children and my self wake up, we would be nice and warm.

I got out of bed to start my morning off with a nice cup of Joe (I like to try to get up before the kids do to have some quite time to my self) and when I walked into my kitchen, I almost died. Our house was so HOT. I looked at the thermostat and it was showing 81 degrees. That man had that stoked the fire so hot that all you could see from the wood stove was bright orange. It remined me of, and don't ask me why, 'Night Mare on Elm Street.' Needless to say, I spent my quite time out on my porch to drink my coffee and I dreaded going back in side to wake up my son to get him ready for school.

Anyways, to make a long blog short, My husband had called me from work on his lunch hour and asked me if it was warm enough in the house for me and the kids. I could hear him laughing on the other end of the phone.

I will be posting photo's of our new wood stove here pretty quick. I need to wait for my son to get out school tomorrow because he likes to take the photo's and up load them onto the blog. He decided that that's his job. Cute I know. (Wishing I could

make a smiley face here.)

Up Yours Evil Hydro Man!!

2008-09-24T14:02:00.000-07:00

I would like to take this time to say that my blog will not always be about ‘he said this’ or ‘she did that’ when comes to the people who live in my neighborhood. Hay, when you live in the middle of nowhere with 24 other families, it is sure bond to happen. But I must say it sure felt good venting about it! Just a small up-date with that situation, nothing changed.

Anyways, I have some good things going on with my life that I am very happy about and would love share. First off, I am no longer working at the grocery store in Langford. Yup, I am now unemployed. Second of all, I start school in two weeks! Thirdly, I have one month to come up with my tuition costs. And last but not least, I have friend, who has a friend, who works in a group home working with the mentally challenged, who can get me a job on an on call bases until my course is done. How exiting is that. But this is not what I want to talk about, all of that is for another time.

What I'am really, really excited about is that my house hold had said Up-yours to the Evil BC Hydro Man. Now we are not going to stop paying our hydro bill because it is way too high - we did so much better then that. We installed a wood burning stove! Yup that’s right, a nice beautiful money saving, heat generating, wood burning machine. The Hydro Mans worst enemy!

What lead up to this wood burning craziness one might ask? First off , I would like to thank the BC provincial government who 10 years ago had the wonderful idea of freezing hydro cost. Let’s forget about the possibility that our population in this province will grow in the next decade and let’s forget that our hydro infrastructure will age in the years to come. And all it took was a massive black out in the great city of Vancouver (our provinces largest city) that took our government out of its sleepy loll and woke it up to the fact that all is not good and look what happened, a serous black out caused by ageing wires that could have, should have been replaced by BC Hydro, but didn’t because there was no money to be had.

So now to fix our ageing hydro infrastructure BC hydro had introduced a new 2 tier billing system starting October 1, of this year. Now I am not sure how it will work, all I know is this - If you live in an apartment building your are safe from the Money Hungry Hydro Company and if you live in a stand alone house, no matter how old it will be, your wallet in your pocket is open to the Evil Hydro Man, who really, desperately wants your money. So up-yours BC Hydro – come and try to take my money! Say hello to my wood burning stove!!!!

A Whole New Low......

2008-09-16T19:45:00.000-07:00

My neighbor and his wife had hit an all time low with concerns to our dispute regarding our pets. I would have never figure them of all people would be the kind of people who would go out of there way to steal an animal to prove a point. Well in this case, I should say they tried to take an animal. They tried to take my dog!

I was on the phone with my friend when I just happened to look out my living room window when I noticed my neighbor’s wife holding a make-shift leash. She was standing in front of my house, across the small lane that we all share to get in and out of the park, and she was looking into my yard at my dog. She was holding the make-shift leash in the way that a person would before they would put the leash on a dog. If my dog was not tied up and if she didn’t notice me watching her, she would of called him over out of my yard to her and take him. I know that she had seen me watching her because she looked right at me and scurried back to her place. She had a few words with her husband who was out side chopping wood at the time, and then went back in side her house.

I told all of this to my husband and we agreed that the next time they try to do that, I am to talk to them about this with the RCMP present and start a file. He feels that our neighbors may not know that our dog is registered, not only because it is the law, but because of his pedigree. We paid a lot of money for him. It would cost a lot of money to replace him.

I am not the kind of person who would go out of my way to steal an animal or hurt it in any way because it is bothering me or damaging my property. I am not that low. For the time being, I need to patient and wait for their cat to scratch my post and get the photo that I need to take them to small claims court and fix my post. Cat owners need to responsible for their animals too.

A cat has to scratch; a dog has to @#$%!

2008-09-16T11:41:00.000-07:00

Wow, my first Blog entry in what? Two weeks? I was having some problems with my computer and the host for my Blog. I couldn’t sign in at all. But it looks like the problem is fixed, until next time.

So as you can imagine, I have lots to say. So here I go.

I am currently in a dispute with one of my neighbors and it is regarding our animals. It is about my dog and their cat. It all started during the week-end when DM, my husband was working out side in our yard cutting tiles for the hearth for our new wood stove.
Because he was in and out of the house all morning, it was not a surprise that our dog got out. Sometime during this time period our dog had made a “surprise” on our neighbor’s yard. It was not until the next morning our neighbor had notice the “gift” and decided that he was going to talk to my husband about it. The conversation had gone far and well beyond scoop of the problem. I am surprised that my husband had sat trough the verbal abuse.

Our neighbor had proclaim that the next time he finds a “gift”, (and he will be looking for them) he will leave the “gift” on our front porch. Fair enough. But then he stated: “it is easy to blame the dog but then take a look at the owner.” Ouch! And then he went on about responsibility. After that conversation took place, I found my neighbors wife and reminded her about the property damage that their cat has caused and still causing to my fence in the front of my yard. I had talked to her about it some time ago and she proclaimed that they have no money to fix my post that her fuzzy hairball has been using for its personal scratching delights. The difference here is that they found “Poo” and preached animal responsibility to us; their cat is causing actual property damage and they have not taken any responsibility to remedy the situation. Later that same day I had asked him to take a look and my fence. He told me that cat’s scratch, that’s what they do. So other words they will not take responsibility for their animal.

The moral of story is “a cats got to scratch; a dog has to @#$%! So know they won’t talk to us and I really don’t feel bad about it. But when the time comes to replace my post (because it is looking really bad with cat scratches) and possibly of one panel of cedar fencing, they will replace the cost. After all it was their animal that caused the damage.

September

2008-09-03T10:00:00.000-07:00

I would like to let every one who passes by my blog to know that September is a bitter - sweet moment in my life. Every time this year, I have to except the reality that my son is growing up – one year older academically. This year he starts grade 4. Next will be grade 5 and then after grade 5; a brand new school and the cycle begins again. A cycle that I hope will continue well after grade 12.

All the preparations that I have taken to make September work with ease have so far paid off. I have bought every thing that my little-big boy needs for this school year. All of his school supplies, new school cloths. (One must look great for the first day of school), A brand name back-pack - this year we went with Roots, new lunch box – Columbia, and indoor shoes – Skechers. Did you know Skechers is the only brand name here in my part of Vancouver Island that does not go on sale? So in case you haven’t guest it yet, the cost of all of this is the bitter part of September, watching my boy walk on the School bus is the sweet part. It is too bad for him that he will be eating peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for the next month, but at the end it is worth it.

I know some of you are wondering why the brand names. They were bought not to make him look good, I want him to look good, but more so for the fact that good quality brands last much longer then the cheap counter parts. I remember in grade one, I went through 3 pairs of running shoes, two back-packs, the list goes on. So at the end I have ended up spending the same amount of money from having to replace every thing. It just made more sence to spend my money on better quality. I know my pocket book will thank me latter.

My Garden

2008-08-25T14:05:00.001-07:00

Yesterday was a wonderful day, the clouds were out, and the rain was falling. Fog flouting on the tree tops and in all the gloom of different shads of gray, high in the trees you can see hints of yellow, orange, red and brown. Summer is saying good-bye and autumn is saying hello.

Yesterday was wonderful not because of the weather, but because I looked at my little garden laying there in the rain, soaking up all the water that it can handle, looking more beautiful then ever before. My garden that had started its life as a bet with my husband had survived the wrath of my black thumb, and now that autumn is poking its little head around the corner, my garden is starting to die of natural causes and I am feeling pretty good about that

My garden is a sweet testament that I, JM, can plant a flower and not kill it.

So here are some photo’s

Summer Vacation? Over!

2008-08-22T18:25:00.000-07:00

Wow, it is hard to believe that it is Friday today. This week had gone by soooooo fast. And I just realized that there is only one more week left of Summer Vacation. I cannot believe that summer is gone. This is it, gone forever. And When I look back at when summer vacation started. I was thinking to my self, that these 8 weeks are going to go by so slow because my house hold is down to one car and I live in the middle of nowhere. And now that I look back at it all, I SURVIVED summer. I cannot believe. Please, don’t mind me…I am in a state of Shock. I think I need to lie down. I will Blog another day

collections

2008-08-19T15:31:00.000-07:00

Does this makes since?

I just got off the phone with a collection agency that I have been dealing with for about 4 months now and they just informed me that their client is now claiming that I owe them more money then what was agreed to when I started making payments to the collection agency. My dept with this agency was $361.60 and I have sent them postdated checks and they have been cashing them like all good agencies should. But according to their client and they claim that they have just been informed today, that my dept is $600.00 and something.

Now of course this collection agency would say, yes I agree with my client (and they did), A contract is a contract and you should contact them. But then I started thinking, the company that I have dealt with took my account to collections saying that I owe them the $300.00 and after a month frustrating mail from this collection agency that they had hired, I make contact and agree to make payments on what was told to me was my dept. And now they want more after an agreement was reached.

So after thinking about this, I got on the internet and I found the collection agency web site and I have down loaded their brochure and I was a little shocked at what I found. According to them, in 8 steps the can resolve an issue for their clients. It was the first step that took me for a surprise.

Step 1: Account is Assigned
An account can be submitted by fax, mail or email at any time of the day. Once we receive the account you will be sent a client acknowledgment form to verify all information is correct.

So this is saying that this company, who had hired them to go after me, was sent a verification form and I am sure that it was filled out with the amount of 361.60. So here is my problem. Do I pay the extra 300.00 that is claiming is owed or do I say look, We agreed on the first amount, this is what you told the collection agency was the amount owing, I have made all the steps on my part to deal with it, it is kind of to late to ask for more money?

What would you do?

Look Mom....No Hands!

2008-08-18T13:46:00.000-07:00

Look Mom....No Hands!

Today is the day that I break the bottle habbit.

So far so good, she is very happy about drinking her milk from a "Big Persons" cup. Plastic of course.

I would like to take a moment to thank my 8 year old son for showing me how to down load the camera into the computer and sitting with me while I figure out how to up load the photos into this Blog. If it wasn’t for him, I don’t think I would ever have a photo of my self in the “profile” area and this cute photo to share with everyone of my 2 year old mastering the art of “hand-free bottle holding.”

Husband approved

2008-08-14T11:13:00.000-07:00

I have great news regarding my career choice. My husband approved; however with one condition – must take the course AS SOON AS POSABLE!!!!

At his work site (commercial renovation/construction) he is estimating that he has about 6 months guaranteed work left before the work is completed, then after that there is the possibility of going back to the previous employer for less money. So if I want this course then I need to act now.

Now to clarify on what I would be doing is exactly this, I am planning to become a Resident Care Attendant. I am planning on taking the course part-time for 8 months. (Full time would be 6 months – not much difference time wise, same with tuition cost)
After getting the HS/RCA certificate and getting into the workplace, I would have more options open to me within the heath sector.

The course starts in October 2008 and ends June 2009, Before October, however, I need to get my Food Safe Level One Certificate, Current Standard First Aid and Level B and C CPR, so right now I am scrambling to find these courses. But good news from the college, for $150.00 plus the one time registration fee I would get my seat.

OMG!!!!

2008-08-13T12:54:00.000-07:00

Holy Smokes…

As it turns out this course is going to cost $2100.00…..OMG!!!!! The $525.00 was for out side costs such as Course Modules – $125.00, Nurse Uniform and shoes - $200.00, Nurse Watch with second hand - $50.00; the list goes on…..

And Student Society Fee and Levies……Outrageous!!!! Out of this $2100.00, $320.00 of it will go to the Student Society. So all-and-all with everything in total; this course is going to cost $2265.00. ($2100.00 plus the $525.00) I wonder? Would I have to pay PST and GST on top of it all?

I will talk to the husband and see what he would have to say about this………..

Have I found a Career? Maybe..........

2008-08-13T10:57:00.000-07:00

As I was driving home from work last night thinking about my job at the grocery store stocking shelves with light bulbs and toys, when it really hit me that this is what I would be doing for the rest of my adult life; needless to say that this made me feel…what is a good word here…..

For a few months now, one of my neighbors here at home has been on my case that I should do something with my self. And that I should look into providing health care. [I guess now is the time I should inform everyone that my neighbor is an RN (Registered Nurse) so I guess that you can say he is a recruiter of sorts.] He has informed me to the highest degree that there is a shortage here on Vancouver Island and that I should strongly consider doing looking into it. Anyways to make a long story short, he feels that I have a good disposition to provide this kind of work. So for some time I have been ‘kind of mulling’ this over.

So it would seem maybe by chance that the same time I have been thinking about how crappy my stupid part time job is and just thinking THAT maybe I should kind of look into what my wonderful neighbor has been telling me, when out of the blue on the car radio an add for Registered Home Care/Long Term Care Providers urgently needed… “For more info go to such and such a place brought to you from the government of British Columbia.” Isn’t that a coincidence or what?

I put the pedal to the metal and I did just that, I looked it up and I just found out that the course that my neighbor has been kind of pushing me towards is right in my price range. $525.00 for 28 weeks!!!! I was shocked!!!! I couldn’t believe it!!!! I was always under the impression that I would have to pay and least a couple of thousand for this kind of course. And to make things even better about this, the part-time hours at one of collages in Victoria fit my schedule – How about that!!!! I have scholarship that I have earned 4 ½ years ago that would pay for the majority of this course.

So I guess the only thing that I have to do now is to talk to the husband and children about this and convince them that MOMMY cannot be a “Stay at Home Mom” forever, and ever, and ever, and ever….. And that it is high time that MOMMY found a career.

BLOGS

2008-08-12T15:26:00.000-07:00

Last night after the husband and the children went to bed, I found some good MOMMY time alone to do some surfing on the Web. And I have come to the conclusion that I may be becoming addicted to BLOGS. Yup, you heard me, I am a BLOG ADDICT. For the past week or so, I have been searching the web for BLOGS to read. And I have come across a few that I like. So I am going to case them out before I add them to my BLOG ROLL just make sure that this stranger has the same interest as I do.

So what am I looking for in a BLOG?

A) Must have children to talk about (The four legged kind will do to)
B) Must have something interesting write about
C) I don’t what to read anything regarding other people peeing, puking or crapping themselves on a night out. I am just way too old for that now.
D) I am not into nudity, racial slurs or anything in this nature.

Is this to much ask for? I don’t think so. So the other thing that I was wondering about is this. What are the appropriate steps of adding one to ones own BLOG ROLL? Do I give them a comment that I am going to do so and ask them to look at my BLOG to make sure that we are a match? OMG!!! What if they don’t like me!!!!

Sooke Pot Holes - Camping

2008-08-11T12:28:00.000-07:00

We made it back safe and sound and another camping trip under our belts. We went to the Sooke Potholes camp ground for the week-end and our experience there was not what I thought it would be. The major complaint that I have with this campground was that people were camping on top of each other. The camp sites, I kid you not, were less then 3 feet apart. So if you want privacy here, you can forget it. The campground did have some good stuff about it to, such as cell phones don’t work, no reception what so ever. I thought my husband would go into with droll, but he survived. The other good point with this camp ground is the rules are strict; you cannot pass the campground gate if you are not camping. You must put friends on the guest list if you want visitors and quiet time is enforced with off duty RCMP officers and firefighters’ volunteers. How about that!

We were lucky that our camping neighbors were not that bad. They tried hard to ignore us and we did the same. The other site next to us was a no show, most likely because of the rain and did it ever rain. (Rain is our camping curse; it rains when ever we camp) But more about our camping neighbors. We were so close to them that we could not help but notice that the insurance decal on their license plate had expired almost a year ago on their camper, October 28, 2007, to be exact. There was some small talk with them, such as they are from Langford, their kids’ age, stuff like that. However, we were not too happy with how close they were to us. So when Sunday came around, my husband and I decided that we were going to pay for an extra night so we can stay in the campground longer to burn the rest of the fire wood that we had bought and let the kids run loose. We went to A&W for breakfast, went home for a shower and then went back to the campground. We were a little disappointed with our camping neighbor; he was still there. Now the one thing that Sooke is good for is Road Blocks. We have them every Friday and almost every Sunday on Sooke River road, the road that one must take to get to the potholes. They start from about 2:00 in the afternoon and end about 6:00 in the evening. My husband and I are Sooke natives and we know this but our camping neighbors don’t. So when our camping neighbor made an appearance, I walked up to him and told him that they should be careful when they leave and pointed to the plates. The guy looked at me and said “I noticed that to, I have the papers in my glove compartment; just forgot to put the decal on!” I just looked at him said “Sooke has two Road Blocks, one on Friday and the other on Sunday – just for the Potholes.” His face went white, he herded up his children and wife, got into his camper and peeled out of there so fast, he made dust clouds, and he didn’t even let the camper warm up!! It was funny. My husband looked at me and asked what I said to him. I looked at my husband and just said “Road Blocks.” We just started laughing.

But you know what, after our neighbor had left, we were the only ones left in the campground and it was just pure heaven.

Again, I forgot my camera!

My Long Weekend

2008-08-05T13:59:00.000-07:00

I just finished looking at the long term weather forecast for the Sooke aria, and all I can say that it is going to be HOT. Yesterday was 26, today is 28 and tomorrow it is going to be a whopping 30!!!! I am going to melt…….

I am going camping this weekend, and all of my hopes for a campfire are slowly slipping away. It looks like we are going to bring our ‘not so little’ butane heater for artificial fire and some warmth. Darn!!!

Now that the weather is out of the way and my droning about my foreseen lackage of campfire is over and done with, let’s continue on with my long weekend.

I had a good long weekend. My children and I got to spend 2 days in row with their father. Now why am I making a big deal about this, because this hardly ever happens! He is a work-a-holic. His favorite saying is “If I am working, I am not spending money” And this true with him – the man loves to shop!!! So we spend our two days doing repairs around the house and spent our afternoons at the river with the kids. And I have almost forgotten what a big kid my husband is. It was great. I am just sorry that these two days had gone by so fast.

Death of a DVD

2008-08-02T14:04:00.000-07:00

Today is sad day. My “Finding Nemo” DVD has gone to DVD heaven. It is scratched and smudged beyond recognition, and my only regret is that I never made a back-up copy for this unforeseeable tragedy. My daughter is horrified that her beloved Orange Fishy is broken and my son is jumping with joy with the knowledge that he will never have to watch “Finding Nemo” again. I have never seen him so happy to see the fish dead. What am I to do!!!

Don’t get me wrong here, the “Finding Nemo” DVD, had a long and fruitful life in my house hold. I bought the DVD in 2003 when it first came out and it was a great investment. For 6 years Finding Nemo had always found it self in my DVD player entertaining my children. First with my son when he was small, he played it over and over and over again. Other people’s children, long car rides with our travel DVD player. And now for my 2 year old, who doesn’t understand that she may never see “Finding Nemo” again. Other DVD’s came and went but “Finding Nemo” had always came back. It will be missed.

Rain, Rain, Rain...stay for awhile.

2008-07-31T16:00:00.000-07:00

It is raining out side and I love it. You never know how much you miss something until it has been gone for awhile. All the side walk chalk is being washed away, making space for more artwork to be created. I love the sound of raindrops hitting the window and I feel worm and snug under my couch throw. I could not ask for a better day. Yup, this makes up for the day I had yesterday. It is raining and I love it.

Mmmmm, I need more tea.

Baby Blues

2008-07-30T14:18:00.000-07:00

What a day today….

I woke up with a sore, stuff nick and I have a constant headache as a result. And boy, I feel like that I could use a few more hours of sleep. The sun is out and I am missing out on a spectacular day.

My husband had put our 2 year old to bed in only her diaper and during the night the poor thing had caught a chill. I wrapped her up in one of her favorite blankets’ and we watched some T.V. together. (I Love Lucy) When I thought she was ready, I put her back to bed; in pajama’s of course, and not even 10 minutes later she was up screaming. This continued until 4 o’clock in the morning. By this time, she found her way into my bedroom, commandeering my side of the bed and leaving me to sleep on our old lumpy couch. The things mothers do for their children.

I am truly, hoping that my little bundle of joy is going to show signs of wanting to have a nap some time soon, before I bite the bullet and have an energy drink.
Yawn.

Camping, Camping, Camping

2008-07-28T13:58:00.000-07:00

We just came back yesterday from our first camping trip this summer, and my family had a blast!!! With careful planning we did not forget that much stuff, however, I did forget knives, my daughter’s running shoes, and extra t-shirts for my son. (I didn’t expect him to jump into the ocean.) Other then those few things, we were on top of our camping list.

We went to a campground a 25 minutes North from Sooke called French Beach. At French Beach it was only $15.00 a night. Not to bad for camping rates. Some places around here a person can pay up to $25.00 a night. This site was large, so we had more then enough room for our gear and lots of space for the 4 of us. And the best part was we were lucky to have a fire. Most of the Island is on a fire ban. The fire was the best part of this camping trip. So we took advantage this and ate lots of wieners and marshmallows.

There is a walking trail to the ocean that we took advantage of too. The walk was only 10 minutes, but it took you to a beach were dogs were aloud to be off the leash, a playground for the kids and open fields to play Soccer, and enough bushes to have a game of Hide-and-Go Seek. It was a great couple of days. I only wish I didn’t forget my camera.

We are going camping again on our next payday and we are going to the Sooke Potholes, a 5 minute drive from our house. We made our reservations a month ago, and were told the camping there is supposed to really good. I will find out. This time I will remember the camera. I can’t wait.

Summer Invasion; GOT TO LOVE IT:-)

2008-07-24T13:51:00.000-07:00

It has been almost a week since I made an entry, (not that anyone has been reading), but I have been somewhat busy these past few days. One of the things that summer brings along here in our sleepy little park is the influx of part time children belonging to part time fathers. 3 boys and 1 girl in my sons’ age group (8 – 12 years of age), so as one can imagine, this makes my children very happy and keeps me on my toes.

The one thing that a person needs to keep in mind about my nick of the wood is that my park is in the woods. And for the sake of the children we are on constant Cougar, and Bear watch. We do have a local Bear that we have nick named the Trail Bear, because he lives in somewhere within The Galloping Goose Trail. (Vancouver Island Regional Trail System for Recreation, our back yard!), the children are very mindful that he is around. It is the Cougar’s that we have to keep constant watch over. We had a sighting a two weeks ago at our local watering hole. But from the looks of things this big cat didn’t hang around. A good thing!

So we parents take turns with the kids. For example, the group of kids would have sleepover at one persons’ house, have breakfast at another house, the other house hold would take the kids the river for a swim. And we all take turns. If we parents are very lucky one the older kids will take our little swarm to the river and give us parents a break. However this is once in a blue moon and money is sometimes involved.

It is quite now; all the part time kids have gone home with promises of coming back. I can have nice quite break and prepare for the next invasion part-time kids. With this in mind, My family has decided that we are going to camping.

I just hope that sometime soon I can find time to complete my profile, and add some photo's to my Blog.

Canadian Poop

2008-07-17T17:07:00.001-07:00

I was driving to work a couple days ago, when I heard interesting news broadcasted on our local rodeo channel. It was regarding Canadian Poop washing up on American beaches. I was so interested with what the news had to say about this that I had turn up the volume so I could drown out outside noises to hear better.

As it turns out some guy in the San Juan County, Washington, is running for mayor in some town and one of his promises to the people is to clean up the beaches in his area. His plan, if elected, is to press on Victoria, British Columbia, to stop pumping raw sewage into the ocean. This person had claimed to have a photo of Canadian Poop on an American beach.

Now my question is…How does he know that this washed up poop is Canadian? Did it have a Made in Canada stamp imprinted on it? Did come with a note From Canada to America with love? Why in gods name would anyone to take a photo of Poop to begin with!

But for the most part, it is true; Canadians are dirty people as a whole. We do pump raw sewage into the ocean. And we Canadians are slowly trying to stop that. Here in Sooke, we are building, I believe, Vancouver Islands’ first raw sewage treatment plant. It should be up and running in a couple of years. And the good news is to all of you fed up American’s is that there are talks of more treatment plants to come here in the Victoria area. So clap your hands and celebrate. It least I am. It is about time.

I went for a cyber space stroll.....

2008-07-15T11:52:00.000-07:00

I decided that I was going to take a stroll through Cyber Space and visit other Bloggers with in my realm, to see what other people are doing with their Blogs. And I must say there are a lot of interesting Blogs to visit. I found Blogs about cooking, travel and believe it or not, people blogging about work. But what I was really looking for was decorating ideas and what could be done with Blogger.com.

I guess you can say I was looking for inspiration, and yes, motivation with what I could possibly do with my little space on the Great Wide Web. I did come across some neat ideas, but way out of my computer capabilities. But what really caught my eye was the dedication people were putting into their Blogs. Making a point of making an entry every day regardless of how small it was, and the time and effort they put into making their Internet Home welcoming. WOW!

I know that I would not be able to make an entry every day. And I know that it will take me awhile to make my space interesting for other people to visit. After all I must confess that I need my 8 year old son to show me how to up load photo’s onto the family computer. Yes, I put my head down in shame. I think this will be a great learning experience.

2008-07-12T19:28:00.000-07:00

Hello there……

I guess you can call me new to the blog scene. Even though I have tried to start one a few years ago, I never really got into it. So here I go again.

Why am I doing this again, well to put it simply, I am bored and I really, really, really need something to do, so why not. Share my thoughts with the rest of the world

I started thinking about what kind of things I am going to write about, such as short stories, share recipes and stuff like that, but who am I kidding that kind of stuff is boring. So, I am going to write about me.

So the question is….Who is me. Me is kind of complicated. I live in a very, very small town that is spread out called Sooke. Sooke is located on Vancouver Island, British Columbia. To live in Sooke you need a form of transportation called a vehicle. I Kid you not. This is something that I lack at the present moment. (we have one, but my husband has it for work) What about a Bike, you say! I have one, but it does not cut it, at least here in Sooke.

I am Thirty something and I have a couple children, a husband, a dog and some fish. My children are cute and adorable. My Husband can be an ASS at times, but I love him anyways. The family Dog loves new people and there socks, (don’t ask) and my fish are the best pets ever, they don’t make noise.

Yep, I do have a job. I work in a grocery store in Langford; 25 minute drive from Sooke.

I live in a Mobile home, in a Mobile home park, that I share with 24 other families. Some of my neighbors I like, other neighbors not so much and the rest I simply ignore. Life in this park as whole can be very interesting. My neighbors at times can be very interesting people in there own right.

The best thing about this Park is that we have our own peace of paradise on the Sooke River, our own private beach. The children love to swim there. We also have the galloping Goose trail behind our home, another cool feature about were I live.

Anyways got to go, the children are hungry. And the husband is on his way home.