Hi everyone!

Can I say that now that I've decided to blog less, I feel more free and happy? I thought I'd be obsessed with it but I barely give it a second thought. Of course I feel a bit guilty when I haven't written in a while so here I am today. Hi!

So today is Halloween and I've spent enough blog space talking about my feelings on it. In a word (or a sound) meh. I still have kids to deal with but they're old enough to go out with their friends and leave Scott and me here to dole out candy to the greedy neighbourhood kids. Works for me.



Now, that doesn't mean to say that I didn't thoroughly enjoy The Rocky Horror Picture Show performance Saturday night. When I first heard of the 11:45pm start time I completely baulked, to be honest. I actually looked for an earlier show, knowing that 11:45 on Saturday night ordinarily is 15 minutes before falling-asleep-in-front-of-Saturday-Night-Live time. Thankfully, I was publicly named and shamed on Facebook by my buddy Nancy (hi Nancy!) into sticking to the original plan.



After the movie (and please see this awful flick in the theatre and not on dvd, for the love of God... it's all about the atmosphere) which is more of a cross between a play, Broadway musical and a good old fashioned food fight, we went straight home to bed. At 3:30am. I felt like a teenager. A teenager who soberly went to a midnight movie and came straight home. A boring, friendless, boring teenager.

We slept in until 10am Sunday morning. How embarrassing. But you know what? I love my bragging rights that we did this in the first place and I'm so looking forward to doing it again next year. But it begs the question: When did we get so flipping old?


kxx

I am so smart S-M-R-T!

I'm not particularly crafty or creative so I'm super proud of what I did. Please don't burst my bubble and tell me this is a popular practice and instructions can easily be found online just yet. I'm revelling in my moment.

So I've had issues with earbuds. They irritate me to no end and it feels like my life's work to find the perfect pair that'll stay in my pin-like ear canal. Well, I've found the solution. Earplugs.

I bought a packet at the pharmacy and they're so squishy it's like stuffing your ears full of warm marshmallow. And no, I don't suggest you try that. I took the little cover off my favourite set of buds, eyeballed the size of the plugs and cut them (about in half). Then I took a paper clip and opened it up. I heated one end and pushed it through the bud, widening the opening until I could fit the noisy end of the bud into the plug. And voilà, perfect fitting earbuds. I know they won't last for long but there are 10 in a pack and they take 5 minutes to make. I'm delighted with them. I don't know how many times I've tossed earbuds just because they don't fit. Now even the cheapest pair will be perfect. I'm delighted.

So there you go. I feel so creative and smart and what was that? I can't hear you. I can't hear a thing with these earbuds in. And look at me... I'm running with them in, too!

kxx

Ready Player One

Holy mackerel is this book ever good!

It was recommended to me by a friend (thanks Marc!) and it's so full of gleeful 80s references to video games, tv shows and music that I'm making a fool of myself snorting, squealing and giggling on the bus. Oh, I have to mention that I only do audiobooks since sitting down and relaxing with a book is impossible. The dishes won't wash themselves. Plus I have a particularly stabby commute in the morning and it keeps my homocidal tendencies in check. The amazing "meta" thing about this audiobook is that it's narrated by Wil Wheaton and the number of Star Trek references and mentions of Wheaton himself makes me make the goofiest noises in public.

The book is about a grim future where the population escapes their difficult lives by immersing themselves in an incredibly realistic video game. The trouble starts when the inventor of the game dies and in his will, tasks the populace to find 3 hidden Easter Eggs in order to inherit his vast fortune.

Right now I'm at a part where the main character is playing Pac-Man. He needs to play a perfect game to get the reward (eating all the dots, ghosts and power-ups without losing a life for every single one of the 256 levels). If you knew how many hours I spent at our local arcade playing that game (and Joust which also features in the book), I'd lose all credibility as the cool suburban mum you all know and love. Heh. He talks about the movie Ladyhawke which I loved, Duran Duran, an all-time fave, and so much more. They even mention Family Ties and Cap'n Crunch commercials. Fantastic!

Anyway, the book is called Ready Player One by Ernest Cline. I don't think I've enjoyed a book more in a really long time. But that's not saying much coming from someone who mostly reads fluffy romances and chick lit so please read it for yourself.

kxx

More fun on the bus and random work shit

85 "Fun"

-I paid my fair as usual and waited for a transfer as usual. And waited. Nothing came out. Not really a problem but if the inspector came on the bus I'd have to pay a $150 fine. I told the driver to take note of me in case that happens. Then I sat down and watched as person after person got and she told them not to deposit their ticket as now rides were free until she could get the machine fixed. Aw, man! I was the last person to pay before the machine pegged out. No fair. At least I didn't have to pay a fine.

-I saw a baby in a stroller blowing up a latex glove like a balloon. When it fell on the dirty bus floor, the mum picked it up and gave it back. Not even I could make this stuff up, folks.

Random work shit

-At circle time my co-worker Alison pulled out a few shoelaces to tie together for a demonstration of concept. One of the children piped up and interrupted her:
 "Aglet. That plastic is an aglet. A-G-L-E-T." 
Holy crap, I only learned that word a few years ago after working on crosswords. I'm so impressed that this kid knew it. At 4. I'm just saying.

-I'm off today and tomorrow for Simchat Torah. It's when you come to the end of the reading of the Torah and you start again. This month there were 4 Jewish holidays plus Thanksgiving and a PD day. Alison called this week "The High Holiday Home Stretch". I love her.

-I'm enjoying this blog-writing whenever I feel there's something worth writing. It saves you (and me) from enduring a blog full of questionnaire answers, nonsensical ramblings and silly links.

See you soon...

kxx

The 85 Chronicles

I figure if I'm taking the bus I may as well use it for it's valuable, valuable fodder. And boy, is there ever a lot on this route. For instance, I saw a really cool mum get on today. She was with a kid around 3 and was pierced and dressed really funky-like. I thought in passing that it would be really cool to look like that, then I realized two things:

1. She was young. Super young. She could only get away with that outfit if she had that baby at like 14 and that was her look in the first place
2. If I was to dress like that I'd seriously look like I was having a psychotic break

Then there was the scary goateed dad wearing a salt-stained ball cap and carrying an extra large Timmy's. He was tucking a pink blanket around a baby in the stroller he'd wrestled onto the bus. Then he bent down and sweetly wiped the face of a little blond girl. With his licked thumb. Her cheeks were covered in chocolate from the giant cookie she was holding. At 7:30 in the morning. I don't even know where to go with that tableau. Cute yet creepy with just a soupçon of yikes. Love the 85. Stay tuned for more crazy.

kxx

His pants are on fire. Again.

We're having another issue with Elliott. I won't get into too much detail but he got caught in a lie AGAIN. The thing is, the things he's choosing to fib about aren't a big deal. He could tell the truth just as easily and not get into half as much trouble as he's in now. So why make the choice to lie, get into tons of shit for no reason, piss us off all night, subject himself to hours of lecturing, have privileges removed and make it so I can't stand to be in the same room with him? What is wrong with this kid? I feel like we're doing a really shitty parental job.

Oh and I just posted this photo to his Facebook wall with no comment. Maybe he'll get that I'm fed up. But to be honest I really don't think he will...

kxx

Happy Thanksgiving!

Some people eat the big dinner on Sunday, and some today. Due to other commitments, we're having ours today sandwiched between a hockey game and a cadet band practice. A gal's gotta do what a gal's gotta do.

So the menu for today is turkey, stuffing, roasted potatoes, Caesar salad, macaroni and cheese (an anomaly, I know) and apple pie for dessert. I know, right? Watch me go all traditional on Thanksgiving's ass. We're not having that gross sweet potato pie with the marshmallows on top. Can I get a yuck on that? We all agree on the vileness that is cranberry sauce and really, anything green (besides salad), is just asking for table whining and idle threats. "Eat that broccoli or else", "Just one more bite and you can leave the table". UGH. Why not just feed them what they like and give thanks for a pleasant dinner? Am I right?

Have a good one!

kxx

Things I forgot about working in Preschool

Little kids are funny: Like today in the washroom when I was told that "last night I had corn on the cob and now my poo looks like brown corn on the cob."

Little kids are curious: Like the time I was asked "are you brown everywhere?"

Little kids are easily amused: Like today when I had 6 three year olds completely enraptured for 20 minutes by covering 4 toys with a cloth and lifting it up after I took one away. They were delighted trying to guess what was missing.

Little kids get easily frustrated: Like when we had to deal with a full on tantrum because he couldn't get his backpack open.

Little kids say the cutest things: Like at snacktime when I got called "mummy"

All in all I'm having a great time there. Never let anyone say it's just playing all day or babysitting. I develop programmes to enrich the development of preschoolers. I have to pick the exact right words to say to ensure a positive learning atmosphere and... oh heck, who am I kidding? It's fun. Work, mind you, but fun.

kxx

My happy place

So I was thinking the other day about places that make me happy. I haven't been to many places in the world so pretty much it would be London since besides Ottawa I'm most comfortable there. But really, when I think about it, my happy place is a lot closer than that. In fact, I'm there right now. My living room.

Think about this. I've got the tv remote control within arm's reach. I'm not on the couch right now but I can be in less than a second. In fact, I think I can jump it from here. Let's see... I can. From the computer desk I'm... hold on I'm going to count... 8 steps from the fridge and wait a sec... 12 steps from the toilet. On tv, arguably Buffy's best episode "Once More With Feeling". In the oven, two home-made pizzas for dinner. Seriously, I'm in heaven. My feet are a little cold but yup, heaven.

Who is rich? One who is satisfied with what one has. Looks like I'm loaded, baby!

kxx