Another wonderful morning

Last night my neighbours had an open house and it was a ball. Scott and Elliott came late and left early because of hockey last night and early this morning. They are still out. The Bell Capital Cup is a big deal around here right now. Anyway, Henry, Audrey and I stayed out until midnight and Audrey is still sleeping at 11:00. So it's just me and my Henry hanging out. I've got the Smiths moaning on in the background (thanks Chris), the sun is brightly shining and my belly is full of egg nog and cinnamon roll. Perfect.

Henry is now bugging me incessantly about playing on miniclip and my bathroom is starting to smell like one in a European bus station so I'm making this a short one. Having only one goal a day is a pretty good way to accomplish everything you need to do. I swear, I can't wait to retire. This is the life...

kxx


Currently listening:The Very Best of the SmithsBy The SmithsRelease date: 07 June, 2001

This is a test

And the only question is: Does Scott ever read my blogs? Because if he does, this one will start an argument.

Scott is one of my biggest boosters. My loudest cheerleader. He's the one who encouraged me to start writing in the first place. Thing is, he's often bored by things he reads. Unless he's doing research for realistic plastic airplane models or reading true-life stories about WWII flying aces, he's just not that interested. And reading the blog of a marginally interesting suburban wife that he speaks to every single day and sleeps with every single night is way beyond his scope. Even I'm, in fact, surprised that I actually have 13 subscribers (welcome to the family, Cherise!). So, let's face it, people. Call a spade a spade (pun intended) I'm no Erma Bombeck. Even I can admit, though, that I may have the occasional moment of bloggy brilliance but that expression about the 10,000 monkeys and 10,000 typewriters comes to mind. Which brings me back to my original question. Does my biggest fan, the love of my life, my inspiration read this blog? The next sentence will expose him.

I have my own bank account. Nothing big, in fact it never has more than $200 in it. But it's my money to do with as I please. I never buy things for the house with it. I never buy things for the kids with it, I never even buy things for Scott with it. For all those things I use our joint account. This is for the occasional cute top, Payless shoe or sparkly handbag. Fun, useless things that I'd feel embarrassed to admit to Scott.

Now, don't get me wrong. Scott has never, ever denied me anything. He has never once told me I couldn't buy something I wanted. Except for the occasional eye-roll, he's never made a comment on even one of my impulse buys. Even when I wasn't working and we were scraping, he's been totally cool with the way I spend. It's just that if I see an orange purse or funky lipstick I want to buy them without having to explain why. Not that I have to but I feel like I do. Clear as mud, right? I'm not the Enron guy or anything. Geez. Oh, and how do I collect this money you ask? When Scott comes home, he empties his change into a container. I later sift through said container and commandeer all the loonies and toonies. You guys should try this. You sure can save a lot in a few months. Take it from someone who knows.

Now to await the fallout. To be honest I don't think there will be any because the man doesn't read my blog. I'll let you know what happens. And please, for the love of God, don't tell him about either this blog or the account. I'd really prefer to out myself on this one. Thanks, all!

kxx

Happy Birthday Henry!

What can I say? It's my baby Henry's 7th birthday today. He's the kid that's the most funny, expressive and dramatic of them all. Every single day this kid cracks me up. I'll refer you to the "Captain Underpants" photo I previously posted. That's him all over.

Out of all the kids he most looks like me (a dimple!), and his out-there personality is most like mine. Am I a horrible mother to admit that he's my fave? I know I'm not supposed to have one and of course I love them all in different ways but how can someone as self involved as I am not be completely enamoured of someone who reminds me so completely of myself?

Anyway, this is his special day and it's tough keeping it special because it's so close to Christmas. We're actually having the party today but in the evening in case parents have to work. I'm all partied out so we're having a "playdate" party so I don't have to obsess about themes and games. The kids will just come over and play for a couple of hours. It's from 5-7 so we're ordering pizza for dinner. Perfect.

Oh, I haven't told you about the birthday tree. Yesterday I took all the "Christmas-y" decorations off the tree and stuck birthday things in it. Balloons, streamers, party hats, and a birthday banner. Looks cool. And for the lootbags, they're in little holiday boxes. Hopefully it'll be a painless party. Wish me luck! You know how kids' birthday parties can get...

kxx

Ahhhh Boxing Day

I feel truly sorry for those who don't get to experience the joy that is Boxing Day. Here in Canada the only people working are those in the retail industry. And even then, only giant greedy stores are open. Every single other type of establishment is legally shut down for another day.

The history of Boxing Day? I have no clue. And apparently there are lots of people who disagree about it. Thay can argue all they want. All I know is I get yet another day off with the family.
I've been a busy little beaver, though. I've baked Henry's birthday cake (but have yet to decorate it), decorated the famous birthday tree and the room for the party tomorrow afternoon. Soon we'll be heading out to visit Scott's aunt Audrey (yes, we named our girl after her) and when that's done, I'll wrap presents and prepare the loot bags for the festivities tomorrow. It's a pretty full day so I'd better get on with it. Have a great one yourselves and I hope you aren't actually working on Boxing Day.

kxx

Happy Monday!

Hope everyone has a terrific Monday morning and isn't working too hard.

What's that kids? It's not a normal Monday? Eh? Christmas? Cool! I'm going back to bed.

And if what the children are saying is in fact true, Have yourselves a merry little Christmas. Looks like I have a turkey to cook...

kxx

Brains are cool

Scott and I were driving by the local multiplex the other day and I looked up at the marquis. I saw the movie Happy Feet and made that quiet laugh through the nose. You know the one. It sounds like a sharp exhale.

So Scott says "What?" and I'm forced to admit the little chain of events that my brain took me on between seeing the words Happy Feet and the laugh. I love when the brain does this. in the space of... well snap your fingers. I'll wait (I love that you did that just because I asked you to). In the space of that sound, your mind goes through a ton of thoughts. Very cool.

So here was my chain of thought:
1) I looked up and saw the movie title
2) I remembered telling Audrey we'd see it in the theatre over the Xmas holiday
3) I thought that since we're not travelling to see family this year, that maybe after the chaos that is Xmas morning, that we could go to the movie that day
4) Seeing a movie on Xmas Day (something I've never done) reminds me of the SNL short film "Christmastime for the Jews"
5) Here is where I made the laughy sound
6) I remembered that I set the vcr to tape David Letterman tonight because Darlene Love, the singer of the tune has Scott absolutely enthralled with her voice and I thought it would be a nice treat to see her perform in less Claymation form

Isn't the brain a neat thing? All that in the space of about a second. So nice to see that Alzheimer's hasn't set in yet. I only wish my brain would engage like that when I'm standing at the checkout counter talking to someone who knows me and my family intimately and I'm frantically trying to remember her name and where I know her from. Grrr.

kxx

I'm finally finished!

My Xmas shopping is finally done thanks to a final Mall run with my good friend and shopping buddy Lisa. This sounds bad but I honestly think this is the earliest I've ever been done. Now if I can get the wrapping finished before the horrible wrapping train wreck that is Xmas Eve...

For some reason I always hear the song Carol Of the Bells when my shopping is done. Usually the traditional version. Yesterday a friend posted a version by chickens that made me laugh out loud. It also made me think of the Burger King version that made me giggle last Christmas. Then I started wandering around YouTube. Always trouble.

Anyway, I hope you hear Carol Of the Bells soon yourself, if you haven't already. There's only 3 shopping days left. Hop to it...

kxx

What a bad sister I am

The 3rd of December was my baby brother's birthday and I let it go by without immortalising him. How terrible is that? I did call him, though so at least I'm not the worst sister in the world.
So today is all about Mikey. Well, actually Errol Jr., but he'll always be Mikey to me. Let it be known that he's my favourite brother. No matter that he's my only brother. He's my fave. He is so cool and so fun and so funny... I think the sun rises and shines out of his big black butt.
My parents told me that when they brought him home from the hospital I was so jealous that I poured a glass of water on him in his crib. I think that was the last time I felt that way about him. He's always been there for me. When we were teens we'd talk about moving out of our parents' house together to a cool apartment in Old Montréal. It didn't happen but I often wish it had.

When Mike got drunk for the first time it was with me and my friends. We have lots of great drunk stories but there's no way I'm sharing them today. Suffice it to say that he passed out. Often. Oh, and then there was the time he was actually the soberest person who could drive. So this high school kid drove a car full of drunken college kids home with only his learners permit in hand. Did we ever thank you for that one Mikey?

Fast forward to my wedding. When looking for my maid-of-honour I couldn't think of anyone I wanted to stand beside me more than my brother. So by cleverly changing the title to MAN-of-honour, I managed to manoever him into the role. He wasn't too happy about having to hold my bouquet during the ceremony but it was too late. Sucker.

So now he lives with his love, the beautiful new nurse Lisa, and her son just outside Montréal. But soon they're moving closer to Québec City. Which means farther away from me. I know they'll be happy there but since the world revolves around me, I'm broken-hearted about the whole thing. I only see him a couple of times a year as it is. And now it'll be practically impossible to get together. At least there's email, phone and this here blog.

So Happy (belated) Birthday, baby brother. Hope everything goes well in your life and I pray to see you at least once more before you go. You'll be at daddy's for Christmas, right? You better be or I'll tell him all about the time you...

kxx

Punchbuggy!

After the excitement that was this weekend, I'm all tapped out for blog ideas. So I'm going to ramble on for a bit.

On the drive home today I noticed a vw beetle on the road. I promptly hauled off and punched Scott in the shoulder gleefully shouting "PUNCHBUGGY GREY, NO PUNCHBACKS!" It made me wonder where this punching thing started. Who was the first person that did it? Why? Did they get punched back? Is that why there's the codicil? What's the original punchbuggy anyway? An actual buggy? Why don't other cars make people abuse each other? Who is responsibile for the carrying-on that goes on in my car on long car trips (besides me who taught it to them and encourages the blows)?

Questions for the ages. I'm going to google it right now. There's nothing like a bit of purposeful internet searching rather than the aimless wandering I tend to do on a daily basis. If I come up with anything interesting, I'll post it here. See you later and keep your eyes peeled for volksies. Because I come out swinging. Hard.

kxx

PS: Just found this website with the rules of punchbuggy! Too funny.

What an eye-opening weekend

It started with Scott getting so blotto at his work Christmas party on Friday night that he could barely stand up straight. It's quite the eye-opener to have to undress your soulmate and put him to bed like a toddler. Yup. That's the word. Eye-opening. I'm grateful he didn't pee himself or vomit, anyway. He just mentioned that he loves me. Many many times.

Needless to say that the next morning he was in no condition to take Elliott to his 6:30 hockey game. That's AM, people. When the alarm rang at 5:15 he was still drunk and muttering to himself. So I broke my cardinal rule of never ever sitting in a cold arena before 8am and took my son to his game.

Another eye-opening moment for me. I managed to make sure my boy was dressed all the way from his cup and neck protector (who knew?) in that stinky mildewy, boy-sweaty room. Then I sat at the freezing rink and did what I do best... chit chat with anyone within range and scream my lungs out the 2 times my boy got shots on goal. His team won that morning 6-4. It was actually fun. I may do it again minus the crack-of-dawn thing and the pungent locker room thing. After attending about 3 games in Elliott's entire hockey career, that sure is another eye-opener.

Sunday (after Scott had properly recovered) we took the kids to see Santa. My third eye-opening experience of the weekend. I should have known that it would take almost 2 hours. As usual I made friends with everyone in line while waiting. I feel really sorry for shy people. How do they make the time go by quickly in boring situations? Anyway, we waited patiently and snacked on pop, lifesavers and Bugles to keep our strength up. When we finally saw the big guy I was a bit disappointed that it wasn't the guy with the real beard but he made up for it by having a British accent (it forgives most sins with me and I guess that makes him Father Christmas) and chatting with the kids almost 10 minutes. No wonder the line was so bloody long.

All in all it was an interesting (eye-opening?) weekend. But to be honest, I can do with my weekends being a little less interesting. I like a bit of couch surfing and inappropriate pyjama donning. Just call me a lazy girl. Unfortunately we won't have a weekend like that for the next few weeks. But hey, it's the holidays. I'll slob out properly in 2007.

kxx

Clay Aiken is my new boyfriend

Okay, not really but apparently that's what my traitorous brain decided the night before last. I dreamt that Clay and I were smitten with each other. Quite a feat since I'm happily married and he's quite obviously gay. I think he's the only one who doesn't know it yet. To coin a phrase, "not that there's anything wrong with that".

Before the other night, Clay never once crossed my mind other than as a pop culture footnote. I didn't watch his season of American Idol, I'm not interested in his kind of music and always thought he looked like a squinty rodent. Maybe some variety of vole. I swear I never ever gave him a second thought. He's never even occupied more than a stray thought in my mind other than how much I hate his hair. But nevertheless, last night he was my boyfriend. Brains are weird.

I was walking through an arena where he was setting up for a concert and saw him standing nearby. Don't ask why I was there, it was a dream, dammit. As a pop culture vulture, I went over, tapped him on the shoulder and told him I just wanted to say hi. This is the only thing in the dream I actually would have done in real life. Except for being at Clay's concert venue in the first place but we've been over that.

Anyway, as soon as we saw each other we clasped hands and walked around together, talking, laughing and gazing into each others' eyes. Those tiny, rodentine eyes. BRRRR...

At one point I jumped on his back and he gave me a piggyback ride through the arena. That's when I spied my neighbour Norah dozing sitting up in a chair, wearing her trademark blue coat and earflap hat. Why she's wearing winter wear indoors is a question only Freud could answer. I wake her up and introduce her to my new boyfriend and she's shocked but trying not to show it. The 3 of us walk around together, Norah all the while making wild gestures to me behind Clay's back trying to figure out what the eff is going on. Damned if I knew, sleeping or awake.

I finally woke up all confused. Where did all that come from? Why gay Clay? Why the piggyback? Why Norah? In clothes that we haven't even had to wear outside yet due to the mild winter we're having? And did you notice we never kissed. If we did I think it would have been classified as a nightmare.

At least it was an interesting dream. Much more so than running around looking for my keys like I usually dream. I really need analysis.

kxx(Oh, and Chris, I have a gorgeous little mp3 on the other side of that Future Shop receipt. An mp3 that can't be used with the Windows2000 OS I have on my computer. But that's a whole 'nother blog full of bitterness and bile. I'll wait until I'm PMSing for that one)

Poof

That was the sound of my computer hard drive going south this morning. Scott finally managed to get it fixed but it's too late to blog properly. I actually had a good one about a dream I had last night. I woke up and wrote it down immediately on the back of a Future Shop sales slip so you'll have to read all about it tomorrow. Here's a 2 word hint for you to keep you wanting more: Clay Aiken.

kxx (Oh, and thanks to the 24 people that still logged on to see if I'd written something new. Love ya!)

I can't believe I forgot this!

A couple of days ago I listed my favourite Christmas tunes. How could I have forgotten Bob and Doug Mackenzie's 12 Days of Christmas? A hilarious Canadian Christmas classic. Moving on...

Tonight is shopping day 2. I went out yesterday and did about one third of my list. This is the night I go with my friend Lisa. She and I met many moons ago in Montreal, did drama together and now live in Ottawa together. Well not together. You know what I mean. This is our yearly shopping jaunt and I can't wait. I hope to get the second third of my list done. The third third (I love what I'm doing here) I have to do all over town at the stores that aren't in Malls like the Workdude supply store and Toys R Us. Then I'll be mercifully all done.

I only wish I could get the wrapping done as efficiently. I tend to save it all until Christmas Eve and regretting it every second. I run out of tape, tags and wrapping paper and end up wrapping Scott's gifts with a glue stick, a Sharpie and a copy of the Sunday paper. Humbug. And of course I'm even more cranky because it's now 3:30am, the kids will be awake in mere moments and I haven't slept a wink unless you count crashing in front of Miracle on 34th Street. Ah yes, another glorious holiday tradition...

kxx

FINALLY. She's written a blog with no links

This is Henry. He is easily the most bizarre child I know.

kxx

White Christmas, anyone?

No, I'm not talking about the weather, I'm talking movies. The Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye classic. What a movie. It's not Christmas without it. What movies do you like during the holiday? What tv shows are you really looking forward to watching? As an avid tv/movie watcher, this one plays to my strengths. I only hope I can keep this list shorter than my arm.

Scrooged. I know I could list the Alastair Sim version (and my traditional fave) but Bill Murray kills me in this one. And the Solid Gold Dancers? How can you not enjoy a Christmas special with guests the Solid Gold Dancers and Mary Lou Retton? Bobcat Goldthwait's magnum opus. Hilarious.

It's a Wonderful Life ("Don'cha know me Mary?")

How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (D'uh)

A Charlie Brown Christmas (When Linus does the speech I get goosebumps)

The Sound Of Music (I'm not too sure why they play it at holiday time but they've made it a Christmas classic. It's one of my favourite things. People, I had to do it.)

A Christmas Story. A recent discovery for me. I first saw it about 3 years ago. How did it escape me for so long? Love when the father gets his "major award" and he reads the box: "Fra-GEE-lay. Must be Italian." His long suffering wife says "I think it says fragile, dear". Hee.

Elf. "Son-of-a-nutcracker!". Saw it only once but to me it became an instant classic. How funny is Will Ferrell? The sheer unself-consciousness of the man is absolutely charming. The whole movie is a delight. Awesome family stuff.

The Year Without A Santa Claus. My favourite of all the Rankin/Bass productions. It helps that it's not overplayed. Watch for my favourite part: when the Heat and Snow Misers sing their songs. Love it!

Father Christmas. "Happy bloomin' Christmas." You may have seen this British production on CBC and it's lovely and funny and grumpy. Santa is portrayed as a grouchy, politically incorrect curmudgeon. He has a great summer holiday but has to come home and work for the Christmas season. You also learn that he prefers booze to milk and cookies (just to let you know).

There are tons more but I can't think of them right now. Disagree with any of my choices? Reply and let me know. But remember it's my blog and I can do whatever I want. Within reason, of course. On second thought, if you disagree with me, get your own damn blog and complain about me in it. Oh, and Happy Holidays.

kxx

Things that make me happy

I'm off today!
Have I ever mentioned how much I love my job? It's the first time in my life that I felt comfortable saying the following sentence: "Morning boss, the kids have a PD Day on Friday so I won't be coming in." No panic, no night sweats, no fear of being fired. I love this job. And I as sit here with a batch of cookies in the oven after baking with my kids, I'm actually wondering what they're doing over there. I love this job.

So onto more bloggy things... On a board I love, we were talking about our favourite Christmas songs. As I read the lists of the other women I was surprised by the number who loved really traditional tunes. Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, some Steamroller band... I found it interesting. Not that I don't love that stuff myself, mind you. If I don't hear the Sinatra Christmas Album as we open presents on Christmas morning, I'm cancelling it. I promise. And Harry Belafonte singing "Mary's Boy Child"? Gorgeous.

But I want to push for the more modern stuff. I also want an all-Christmas-all-the-time radio station in my neck of the woods but again the CTRC is showing me no love. Anyway, I digress. Let's hear some more modern Christmas songs. It's okay to embrace them. I'm sure Dino will forgive us.

So here's a list of some of the "newer" ones I love. I've conveniently linked you to YouTube for videos of these tunes. How much do I love YouTube?

Little Drummer Boy/Peace On Earth by David Bowie and Bing Crosby
Do They Know It's Christmas by BandAid
Santa Baby by Madonna
All I Want For Christmas Is You by Mariah Carey
The Power Of Love by Frankie Goes To Hollywood (not really a Xmas song but the video sure is)
2000 Miles by The Pretenders
Fairytale of New York by The Pogues
Christmas in Hollis by Run DMC

Have a great weekend, all!

kxx

Things that make me celebrate

My Christmas list!

Scott just asked for it so I thought I'd share it with you all as well. There is still lots of time to get my gift in the mail if you're so inclined. If not, It'd be a great gift you you just kept reading my blog. Oh, and maybe if you told a friend to read it too. You know the friend I mean. The one who is a book publisher who's looking for a marginally amusing suburban Canadian mum to make rich and famous. That one.

Anyway, while I wait for my phone to ring, here's my list. I hope Santa is as generous as he is exceedingly handsome. You didn't know that Santa's a sucker for flattery did you? With 3 amazingly well behaved children, I have it in solid with the big guy.

Here's the list:
-Smart Car (black or navy blue)
-KitchenAid Artisan mixer
-Christian Louboutin shoes (black and sky-high)
-washer (front loader)/dryer
-oven
-Elliptical machine
-Tummy tuck
-TiVo

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

Okay, seriously here's the list I expect to get stuff from:
-Battery socks
-Bayshore gift certificate
-Spa gift certificate
-Now, Voyager, The Notebook, Notting Hill dvds
-Justin Timberlake FutureSex/LoveSounds, Essential Michael Jackson, best of bowie 2 disc set, (make sure tvc15 is on it), Run Lola Run Soundtrack cd

Have fun shopping!
kx

Things that make me sigh

Okay, it's actually one thing right now. I'm in love. I'm obsessed. I can't sleep without dreaming of them. I can't get dressed without coveting them. So it looks like I'm going to hell for breaking the 10th commandment. I want these so much I can taste them. Christian Louboutin shoes.
I've seen them on eBay for nearly $1000. I know that's a ridiculous amount of money. I'm not a moron. I know there are starving children in Africa. I'm not totally insensitive. Only a little bit. Everyone has something in life they want like mad but will never have. A million dollars, the cute blonde in the next cubicle, an Xbox 360. For me it's these sexy shoes. Something about the black leather ones with the signature red sole that just makes me crazy.

With most designer shoes you have to take them off to know how much you spent on them. You have to see the signature inside. With my Louboutins you'll just have to check me out as I walk away. Now that's a visible signature. Not that it's a huge endorsement but Oprah wears them. And Sunday night I was watching Studio 60 and one of the characters was at her doctor's office. As she put on the attractive paper gown, another character took her clothes away. Wait. What was that flash? Her boots. Her beautiful black suede boots had red soles. Louboutins. The rest of the show was a blur.

So keep your Jimmy Choos, Carrie Bradshaw. I'll take my Louboutins. And if I have to have them while my kids wear Value Village clothing and we're eating ramen/ground beef casserole, I'm okay with that. But I will have these shoes before I die. Believe it.

kxx

Things that make me roll my eyes

-Political debates
-When the kids ask to help me in the kitchen
-"Girls" by the Beastie Boys
-Soaps (but don't get me wrong, I still watch them. But ironically.)
-People that make me repeat myself
-Yes, you heard me, repeat myself
-Christmas cards from people I haven't heard from all year. You know what? I don't want your card or intolerable family update letter.
-Know-it-alls
-People that complain when it's hot outside. Shut up. It's gorgeous. You know this is Canada right? The country with winter 7 months a year...
-Modern art

kxx

Things that make me giggle

Shoes on power lines
Lighted signs with burned out letters
Archie Comics
men giggling
babies cooingThe Office
Watching people fall down or get hit in the privates (thank you AFV)
voices sped up on tape recorders
vcr pause when someone's talking (especially with slack mouths or half shut eyes)

kx (hee)

I am absolutely not blogging today

NaBloPoMo is officially over and I'm blogging to tell you that I'm not blogging on weekends anymore. My family kinda likes to have my undivided my attention. Having my eyes wander over to the computer while trying to console my crying child seemed wrong, somehow. My blog went wholly unnoticed by TPTB (the powers that be), anyway but hopefully I'll be in the pool for a prize or two. After all, I qualified. I actually blogged every day for the entire month of November. And it was sooo easy. Yup. Easy.

I do hope I win a t-shirt of some kind. I do love a commemorative t-shirt. I was the one who bought one at every single concert I went to in the 80s and if I couldn't afford one, I bought a counterfeit one outside. Yes it was illegal but I love me some shirts.

Why did I do this blogging thing? For the glamorous prizes? (Ummm a hat or mug? No. T-shirt? Maybe.) The recognition of my fellow bloggers/writers? (Ya riiiight). When I figure out myself why I undertook this assignment, I'll let you know. I guess I like a challenge. I suppose.
Anyway, I haven't said this for a while so it's a happy pleasure to tell you to have a wonderful weekend and see you back here Monday. I'm going to use my downtime for baking and coming up with hysterical and highly amusing blogs for your perusal next week. See ya!

kxx

My mum said hi to me

I'm a big believer in messages and winks from the "great beyond" especially since my mum joined the choir invisible in 1993. Yesterday I got a message from my mother.

I was at work and slowly going through the piles and piles of bags. There are so many bags of clothes in this one little room it really goes beyond all description. There are 4 of us taking turns going through them and when I grabbed the bag it was the one teetering at the top of the pile. Just before a "bag-alanche" as we call them.

I started going through the clothes inside. Nothing too interesting and I accepted about 1/3 of the items inside which is pretty normal. At the bottom of the bag I see a piece of paper. I pull it out and read it. It's a french wedding invitation. Even though most of Ottawa is bilingual, finding an all french wedding ceremony here isn't too common. I read down to the bottom and saw that the wedding took place in October. In Montreal. At the very same church in St. Hubert where my mum is buried. What are the odds?

Anyone could have pulled that bag. Most girls there can't read french so they would have glanced at the paper and tossed it. Ottawa is 2 hours away from Montreal. Not too far but that particular church? Weird. And the invite with the church's name being in a bag of children's clothes to be donated? At a job I just started? Bizarre. So you know what I say to all that? Hi mummy! I love you too! Picture me smiling big and waving madly at the sky like a moron.

Missing you more than anything,
Your daughter,
Karen