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July 2, 2007--Another Road Trip--Successful
Took a road trip the other day to the zoo and guess what? We got there and back without any vehicular mishaps.

There was a little kid pit stop on a small side road...and, well, a bit of a mishap there. You really don't want the details though...trust me.

We're heading out to my grandma's cottage in a few days. I love the cottage. Not just because if you get hot, you run off the dock and into the water...ahhhh...refreshed! But the best part? Sharing the cooking. Whenever I come home from a stay at the cottage, I'm like, 'What? I have to cook EVERY night? I'm responsible for EVERY meal? EVERY grocery shop?' UGH. That's the nice thing about having several families all together in one place. You can share the mundane, everyday burdens. Although, this trip there will be no other little people to distract my little person. Two weeks of just mom for entertainment. I almost want to bring her portable DVD player...almost. It is nice to go TV free. Although, I am bringing my computer... Does that count? Especially since dad now has high speed Internet at the cottage. And Grandma is putting in a shower. I guess no more ready excuses for not washing your hair very often or not checking your e-mail. Shucks. Whatever am I going to do?

July 3, 2007--Twilight Zone, Serendipity and what's that other word...
To bring the eight pound laptop or not...<sigh>...I probably will since I am hoping to hear from some agents. Anyway...

On Facebook, I just found two more people from high school. And they remember me. I always figure people won't remember me or that they won't want to get in touch. Not that I was awful or anything...just a minor complex, I suppose. I did find another cousin on there today too. It's been a big day on Facebook. I've taken all my photos and personal info off (or at least the stuff I actually put on there). I think it makes it hard for people to know if they have the real 'me' though.

I wonder how big Facebook is growing. I mean, per day. Those would be interesting figures. I mean, I haven't been on there for that long and people I looked up a few weeks ago are now on. I have a friend who is being pressured to join up and another who actually had some friends create a fan club for him where his friends post pictures and stories about him, trying to get him to sign up. I assume someone must be showing him the club. So far, he is holding out. I guess he just isn't that cool. Or our peer pressure just isn't measuring up.

Cool, cool, cool. My hubby just came home from a class and his prof showed him graphs on Facebook's growth. Apparently there are 8.9 or 89 million (he can't recall which) people blogging. That is 18 million more than a couple of months ago. Anyway, that is a bit freaky, since I was blogging about Facebook and its growth and he comes home and talks about that first thing. [Insert twilight zone music here.]

July 5, 2007--"The skeeters may eat us, but they'll never beat us..."
So, yes, we have some mosquitoes out here at the cottage. Went on a quest to find little kid mosquito repellant. Evidently, out here, not many little kids worry about skeeters. Or at least their parents don't seem to buy them the reduced Deet stuff around here. The third place had some. In my wisdom, I left some here last year, enough to get me through the first few days before I would have to go out and stock up again. But, alas, my plan has been foiled by someone, somewhere...possibly a little short person who was fearful of being taken away by the bugs.

The ducks seem to remember us from last year and are hounding the dock, begging us to give them more cracked corn. Maybe it is just plain old 'crack' corn and we've gotten them addicted. Problem is that they are pooping on the dock and where we swim. Evidently their poop doubles the water's ecoli content, plus will give you some nice swimmers itch. (Like shaving your bathing suit line wasn't enough trouble...)

I think I took my screwed up email and really screwed it up. <sigh> Sometimes I know just enough to really mess things up.

In this cottage, you can hear everything. EVERYTHING. Dear lord. Farts. Little kids whining and wailing themselves to sleep (hopefully). I feel so self-conscious clicking away on my computer. Like I've broken an unwritten code. But, really it's not like I brought a TV in here. (Never been a TV here). Although, dad says that he has about ten movies on his drive...does that count?

July 9, 2007--The Resounding Theme in my Life
I think that if there is a resounding theme in my life, it seems to be that if there is a vehicle or other some sort of motorized contraption used for transportation, I can kill it. (Also automatic cameras and computers.) I mean that I seem to have some sort of touch that allows the contraptions to let go of the final thread that their ability to run properly is dangling from, not that I go out with the intention of snipping the poor little threads. I just do.

I drove my dad's van down to visit a cousin yesterday. It was a four hour drive one way and I was thinking, 'oh, no. Don't break down. I have my AMA card, but how am I going to get back to point A if I blow the tranny?' For some reason, I worried about the tranny. I suppose because those vans are known for blowing them and it has gone over 250,000km and evidently occasionally has troubles going into reverse. So, basically, I figured that I was going to do in the van. But I didn't. Thank God!

So then today, Dad was giving me a lesson on how to drive the boat. (A wooden gorgeous, '73 Grevette.) Getting it out of the slip, I seemed to have a bit of trouble getting it into reverse, but we chalked it up to me just being a beginner and not being 'positive' enough in my movements with the stick. (Up is neutral, forward are various speeds of forward and backwards on the stick is, reverse.) Anyway, we get to the ice cream place and I am working on docking it. Dad jumps onto the dock to catch the boat and tells me to put it in neutral, having had it in reverse to slow us and pretty much docking the puppy. I put the stick up into neutral. But, hang on. I seem to be moving away from the dock. That is strange.

Nope, broke the stick. Moves freely up, down, all over the place and here I am going backwards all over the place and my dad, almighty teacher and fixer is on the dock.

Let me tell you, those wooden boats are not light. Especially not when you are paddling them against the current, or even with it for that fact.

Then, of course, we get the call that Grandma's tire is in (finally) for her car. So, great. We are forever away (by car), in a boat that is stuck in reverse. (Did I mention that I had also worried about taking out the boat? Yeah, really wasn't so keen on it. It's like I could feel it coming.)

So, we went for ice cream.

And dad managed to jimmy the stick into working. Or at least, getting us to go forwards to get home.

But, let me tell you. I learned a thing about momentum and physics when we parked back in the slip in the boathouse. When you don't have reverse, it is really hard to stop the boat before it hits the end of the slip. Trust me. I tried. Thank god the boat looks better than the wooden slip (and that I wasn't the one driving. Although, my dad probably would have been strong enough to stop the boat, whereas me...well...not so much).

So, maybe my vehicle curse will wane again for a little longer. (Oh, please!)

July 10, 2007--The Curse Moves On
Went sailing in dad's new sailboat today. You can sleep on it and everything, yet it is still small enough to have a tiller and not a steering wheel. I got to do a lot of the steering which was kinda cool and naturally, a bit terrifying. There is nothing like having the boat roll right over onto its rail and you thinking, "Oh god. Is this okay? What do I do? Which way do I push this thing to make it all right again? And is that my daughter rolling around down below?"

And then there is that nightmare I used to have as a kid when I would get really sick. Once I figured it out, I stopped having it, but still. It was waves crashing up to me while I was: laying on shore? taking my last breath? dying? Don't know, but it scared me. And naturally, my imagination has rolled this dream around, pulling ideas and flavours from it until deciding that, 'hmmm...this must have been the way I died in my past life, or possibly a flash ahead to how this one will end.' Great. But what is weird is that it is only sailing that bothers me. Not speed boats, windsurfing, any of that. I'm not sure why. I suppose because I feel out of control in a sailboat. And the idea of being in the tiny thing and getting trapped--I suck at holding my breath--and that being the end of me.

Anyway, the sailing was good. And the boat still runs and everything! And I even touched the motor. In fact, I did pretty good, I think. When we were racing into the river to return since a thunder storm was coming. (We are essentially hanging out on a lightning rod.) I was running the motor while sailing as dad took down the jib and mail sail and my daughter was sitting beside me. So, I was keeping the motor and rudder from hitting, steering the boat which was still under sail, watching my daughter, releasing a sail line so it wouldn't get tangled, watching traffic, watching the changing wind, watching that dad didn't get knocked in the water and trying to act like I had everything under control.

We got back just fine and just as we were tying up the clouds released their load. What a downpour! Amazing. Warm and wonderful. Only thing is that my towel will officially never dry now (I wrung it out not once, but twice I got it so wet). Not like Alberta here. Things just never seem to dry here.

Anyway, the boat is fine as is the van--I drove it to drop off the garbage and recycling. So, has the curse moved on? Has it been lifted from vehicles and their relations?

Now, as for my computer...well, in the spirit of yesterday's blog and my ability to curse myself...I've only managed to seize it up two times this evening.

July 12, 2007--Not Much Doing: Ain't it Great?
I can't believe I'm going to be home in a week. I hope my cat is still alive. Ooo...that did not sound good. (Do have a cat sitter, by the way.) It's just that said cat has kidney issues.

I'm tired. I suppose it was a busy day and it is late. Last night, I don't even recall laying here much before falling asleep--especially since I woke up all groggy at only 11:30 when my daughter, who is sleeping on the floor beside my bed, started moaning and groaning--what is with that? She's four! And she grinds her teeth too! Needless to say, I pulled the moaning little kicker into bed with me--what is a night's sleep without blankets or rest? Anyway, today my daughter and I cut down trees, played, swam twice, put the last coat of paint on the screen for the cottage's upstairs window, put it back together after cutting out a new screen, painted a table, vacuumed the cottage (and the vacuum cleaner still works--I think I outgrew my destructive kill vacuum cleaner stage), swept and blew off the veranda (darn trees keep dropping stuff all over the place) and helped make supper for company. Plus all the usual everyday running around and all that crazy running up and down the hill from the boathouse a few times--killer on the legs--especially with a four-year-old on your back.

Anyway, not a lot new in my life at the moment. Although I hope when I am in my 90s I am as strong and smart and able-bodied as a lady I met tonight. Rock on!

Oh yeah, and another stranger tried to befriend me on Facebook. That's two this week. Maybe I should put my picture on there so strangers know that they don't know me. Nah...

July 20, 2007--And We're Back...
Well, we're back home again. No vehicular mishaps or otherwise. Well, other than a lightning storm that prevented the ground crew from putting on bags on the plane on time. So, a one hour delay. But we had one of those planes with the cool TV sets in the back of the seat in front of you. So, we had TV and movies and music. It was great! I loved it. I got to watch some episodes of 'How I Met Your Mother' and 'The Class' that I hadn't seen before. I really like those two shows.

July 23, 2007--Everybody Knows
You know, everyone has advice about everything. And everyone thinks that their advice is the best and that you should follow theirs because it is the key. It is The Way.

But really, nobody knows anything.

With the Internet, you could spend years and years learning everyone's idea about well...everything or even one little topic and then never actually get out there and 'do' whatever it is that you are learning about.

Trial and error. Trial and error. Research, research, research. Some days it is just too much, isn't it?

July 25, 2007--Waiting Game...
I'm waiting to win the new Subaru Forrester from the Sport Check contest I entered. The winner should be announced shortly. I never win anything, yet I have such hope.

My copy of 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows' has been shipped. YAY! About friggin' time. I only pre-ordered it MONTHS ago. I know people who have gotten the same discount just walking into the store and have already read their copy. And I'm okay with that. But I want to read it. I don't want the ending spoiled for me. But I am waiting...

And I'm waiting for a refund to be applied to my online Chapters account so I can reorder a belly dance instruction video. That seems to be taking forever too.

And I'm waiting for my hubby to be done his on campus classes so he can finally hang out with us.

And I'm waiting for us to get enough money to finish our half-finished basement. And build a garage. And I'm waiting for myself to get back off my butt and finish mudding and taping the basement bathroom and to build a wind break for the deck and to plant some Hops to grow up the wind break...and...

I'm probably waiting for other stuff too, I just can't think of it at the moment. But I feel like there is so much to do, yet so little motivation and so many distractions.

July 27, 2007--Bits of Life
How the heck did I get a 14-year-old in the body of a 4-year-old? It is amazing really. I thought it would take years to perfect the tone of frustration and angst that one can inject into the word, 'fine'. Apparently I have an over-achiever or is she just amazingly gifted? Dunno.

Pretty sure I didn't win the Forrester.

Got my Harry P. It sure is dark. I'm only 80 pages in so far, but wow. Not really a kid's book. Brilliant, though.

I missed the Farmer's Market today. That is disappointing. At 8 I was ready. By 9 (when it started) I had already forgotten about it until 2 (ended an hour previous). DANG! No fresh green beans for me. You know, if I were incredibly rich (I'd have to be to justify the expense), I would have my own cook. I wouldn't have to cook or grocery shop every again.

And I wouldn't miss it.

And they could make me a coffee with chocolate and whipped cream--everyday!

And I would have acne for the rest of my wealthy little life.

See, coffee, it seems, gives me acne. Not really, fair, is it? I finally get a hankering for it, and it gives me zits. Okay, okay, not really a hankering for coffee per se, more like all the sugar and fat I put in it. Oh yes, yummy, yummy. Offer me a little coffee wit some chocolate in it and a little shipped cream and I'm like, "Let's see...wonderful, warm, cozy drink that is sweet and yummy and delectable or...give me that damn drink already!"

I got a 'gift' card with my Harry P since I ordered it from Chapters. You can win $5-$1000 if you spend more than 50 bucks in store in August. I am such a sucker for contests lately. I even almost entered a contest for Coke. (That icoke thingy, and then I realized that more than likely, I would have to give out personal info that I am really not that interested in sharing and I wouldn't win anyway.) But back to Chapters. I am a sucker for books. SUCKER! But, I hate to spend so much on them. But that card is so tantalizing. What if I won $1000! Could you imagine all the books I could buy! Oh my god! It would be heaven! I spent over $800 in Chapters in two hours one day. Okay, it was for work. But it was SO much fun!

Anyway, if I won that, I would buy all of Meg Cabot's books (or at least the adult ones). I'd even buy hardcover. I love Meg's blog. I'm not much of a blog reader, but I read hers. I'd love to meet her. She's got a crazy cat, Gem, that she has dubbed, 'Slutty McSlut A lot'. That is just too funny. That is something that we would do. I mean, we do have a cat named 'M'. Not from James Bond, either. As in 'LMNOP'. Yup, and they let us name a PERSON!

July 28, 2007--Keep it Simple!
Feeling a bit grumpy. Haven't been geocaching in awhile and so put some in the GPS the other day when going into the city. But then I had a call that barely allowed us to get to our appointment on time, so no cache on the way in. And then ran out of time and motivation to find one on the way out of town. So, no geocaching.

So today, went to the fabulous Farmer's Market. It was great. I got eight games (board games like Trouble!) for five dollars! Plus lots of veggies, of course. Anyway, on the way out we figured, hey let's get a geocache. There was a puzzle one that I had loaded into the GPS, so I figured hey, it doesn't make sense on the website, but I've done this person's geocaches before, so I'm sure it will make sense when we get there and get all the clues. Well, we got the clues okay. But some people just don't make their instructions clear. I suppose it is clear if I am YOU and understand the way YOU think...

So anyway, there were three different ways to interpret the instructions on what to do with the clue. And do you really want me to do algebra, or am I over thinking this? So, figured it out both ways and no, none of the scenarios were helpful. So, no cache. That just made me grumpy!

July 31, 2007--Interesting News Stories and Harry Potter 7
Went to the movie store with dandelion's in my hair. Forgot about it until I was in the car on the way home and caught a flash of yellow in the rear view mirror while navigating their poorly planned out parking lot.

I've heard some interesting things on the news lately--and I'm not a news junkie. I pretty much avoid listening to the news when I can, but here are two weird things I've come across in the last twenty-four hours:

A Man in the States drove 5000 miles to go burn another guy's house down after the guy called him 'stupid' or some such thing over the Internet. So, anyway...never heard of turn the other cheek...

Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) are taking Facebook to task. Evidently some users of Facebook are encouraging/promoting drinking and driving. According to the RCMP, encouraging someone to commit a crime, is well, bad. And you can get in trouble for that. So, sounds like MADD is going to contact Facebook so those users can be warned. It should be interesting to hear what happens...unless of course I don't bother to follow up on the story...which is likely. It gets into the whole Freedom of Speech and all that...so it sounds tricky and interesting.

On a totally different, yet similar note...

I've finished reading 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows'. And can I just say this, this is not a kids book. It pains me to say it, but it isn't. It is a SCARY book. It is FABULOUS too. Made me laugh and cry and all that. I guess what I am saying, is that there is some imagery in the book that is well...disturbing. It is incredibly well-written and everything ties in beautifully. I must say that JK Rowling's brain must be very good at details. Yet...if they make this book straight into a movie, it would not get a 'general' rating, it might get a 'PG' rating, but if they took all the spooky stuff and fight scenes and deaths galore, it could come out more like an adventure/horror and therefore be 'R'? I don't know...but any kid with a great, visual imagination...well, this book could definitely scare their pants off. At the same time, it is aimed at 10-12 year old boys who LOVE having their pants scared off.

As a parent, would I restrict my daughter from reading this book? Possibly. It depends on how much she takes to heart and imagination from books once she is near an age that she would enjoy this story. This book is definitely worth reading and is valuable in that it draws parallels to things like racism and the holocaust. So, I suppose my answer is, that when my daughter is 'ready' maybe I'll read it with her and we'll talk through the story. Or maybe she won't be interested in it.

Now as for elementary school librarians...this is going to be hard for them. It is a kids book. And a very popular author and series. But what do you do? Do you stock it? Do you restrict it to certain grades? Do they need parental permission to sign it out? It's tough, because you don't want to restrict the freedoms of others...yet, you also have a job to 'protect' kids. As a former librarian, my heart goes out to those librarians wrestling with this decision right now. There are no right answers and definitely no answers that fit like an umbrella over all circumstances.

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