Welcome to Our Newest Little Library Baby!!

Theo Lyle

Born at 10:01 April 4, 2018

Weighing 9lbs, 12 oz

Mom, Dad and Big Brothers are all thrilled to pieces!!!

Pictures to follow........

Canada Day means new beginnings....

Well, I have discovered one more thing that occupies my time on the computer..Pinterest!  Anything you would like to see has been documented on this site...and I love it!!

The new begining has to do with a post called "can you stay for dinner?" by Andie Mitchell.  This is a young woman who lost 135 lbs and has documented her new life on her blog.  You have to love someone that puts their life out there for everyone to see...and I guess the apple doesn't fall far from the tree...Andie's Mom has been put on a diet by Andie and I am hoping to follow along!

Mom has just finished her first week...so I'm happy to follow her by a week and see if I can duplicate her stellar results.
Week One:  Mom lost 8.5 lbs

It remains to be seen what my weight loss will be...stay tuned...I'll say Wen

Graduation Day...Finally!

November 19, 2012...a day that I thought would never arrive has now come and gone..and so quickly!

The graduation actually turned out even better than I thought it would. The downside was that Ethan, and of course my Mom and Dad, weren't there also, but Rick, Amy, Val and Sherri more than made up for the absence with cheers, congratulations, flowers and good wishes!

Val and Sherri also treated me to a new "do" for the event along with taking me out for a celebratory drink at the end of the night!  All in all it was a very memorable occasion ...and to think I almost didn't go!

It was a great opportunity to meet Dolores Harms Penner who has been head of the program since I started the courses..(that in itself is a miracle since I've been going for so long) and some of the classmates that up to now have been only names on a computer screen!  It was interesting to put a face to the names, albeit a little overwhelming trying to remember who was who!
My challenge now is to find a way to make my diploma and all my hard work pay off for me!!
Stay tuned...till then...I'll say Wen..

Twice as nice...

I happened to be sitting in my sunroom reading and looked up and saw this beautiful double rainbow!  My phone pic doesn't do it justice and although I could see the arc the rest of the rainbow was blocked by my neighbours house.
It glowed, and I'm sure was the reason it caught my eye.  Hope someone got the pot of gold!

A Friday in November...

No I haven't gotten my dates mixed up...I have finally decided that it's about time I read Stieg Larsson's Millennium Trilogy.

Yes, I know that is seems almost unforgivable for some who works in a library to have overlooked this series for so long, but it couldn't be helped.

I refuse to be bullied into a series just because everyone else is "into" it.  But also, unless I buy the books, the request lists are so long that it seemed prudent to wait for an opportunity to sit down and start it with a clear mindset.  Most of the excitement has worn down to a dull roar and I can form my own opinion without the thoughts of others reverberating in my brain.

Still, how sad is it that a promising author doesn't live to reap the sense of accomplishment that this series has certainly garnered?  At least he didn't live to see his family fighting his lover over the millions that these book and movie deals have made, and will continue to make.

If nothing else this should tell us to take care of the details while we can, because they certainly will be taken care of, though not always in the way we might have wished for.

R.I.P.

Stieg Larsson

1954 - 2004

NHL playoffs on once again without my Buds..

Can't believe I'm watching the Ottawa Ranger game and I'm actually hoping the Sens score. Let me be perfectly clear, I'm not cheering for them...just hoping they will score. Hate both the Rangers and the Sens...although I usually can't be bothered with the Rangers...I mean...who cares? Well, my brother in law does...but he wouldn't expect me to cheer for the Rangers anyway...in fact I imagine he'd rather I didn't. It's more fun that way:)
Right now the Rangers are leading by a goal and being especially obnoxious. In fact I think a couple Rangers seem to have a bit of a bromance going on with Neill...at least it appears that way by watching the kissy face looks they're giving him. Where there's a kissy face, there is likely a kissy somewhere:)
Mostly what I'm hoping for is that they will tie up the game and literally beat the crap out of each other for the remainder of the series. Bingo!!!! From my lips...tie game! Lets hope they can hold on and take this game to overtime. Still haven't decided who I am cheering for this year anyway. It's a bit like survivor..I like to wait till the teams have killed off a few competitors before I find a team that I hate less than the others.. Now is only Healy would shut up!
Well, it will be what it will be...according to Doris..so I'm not going to waste any more blog space on this particular game...stay tuned...till then...I'll say Wen

Happy 2012!

Well Happy New Year! I can't believe how fast this year has gone! I know we say that every year, but this year I truly mean it. Maybe it was because I spent so much of it doing school work...I bet that's it. Hopefully that will be over with in the very near future.
This year promises to be a busy one already! One more semester of school, along with two work placements, albeit short ones (hopefully), our cousin Nancy's son Ryan's wedding in July, my nephew Anthony got engaged, and my friends Jan and Wayne becoming grandparents in July(yep Val...good news eh?) and last but not least, hopefully my graduation.
This is also the time also to put our resolutions on paper..er...in print, and let the world know our good intentions for the upcoming year. Well I'm not falling for that one. Every year I have these great intentions..not good..great..and where do they get me? Nowhere. I really just feel like I'm setting myself up for the big letdown. And quite frankly, I just don't put that much stock in them anymore. It has more to do with my willpower than any heartfelt promise anyway. One thing I am going to promise...not resolve to do...but promise myself, is to try and not let others influence the way I feel about myself. I have spent the last two years basically on a collision course with myself. Building myself up in my own mind in order to defend my position at work...only to be knocked down and told that I basically think too much of myself and what I do..or don't do at work. I became obsessed with it. This year will certainly be a different one for me, as I will either have to move up at work, move out and find another job...or lastly...get a second job..again. I really have myself to blame for the whole situation as I should have gotten all the variables down on paper when I became full time...lesson for self...don't trust people to do the right thing..because more often than not, the ones you take on trust will disappoint you. I know that sounds pessimistic, but it is more of a safe guard then a condemnation of all mankind. If you don't expect a lot of people then you're not so disappointment if they don't come through...but when they do...fabulous!
It doesn't mean that I have to be jaded...I'm not saying I won't come through for people, I can still help people...just not expect that help to be reciprocated..or appreciated. As for work...I will wait through January..as that was the vague given timetable..and if things don't change I will try my best to not take a bad attitude when I stop doing the extra curricular things that I normally would have done without thinking. It's time to take a stand and use the time that I would have been helping at work into finding a new job...whatever the scenario.
We'll see, till then...I'll say Wen...

Merry Christmas Val!

The Breakfast of Champions!!

This is the way to start Christmas morning:) Thanks for the cookies Val...I purposely waited to enjoy them with a fresh cup of coffee this morning...and they were worth the wait!

Since you are my one faithful subscriber, I devote this post to you..my sister, the person who has known me longer..and better...than anyone else on this earth! Lucky you!

I have so many wonderful memories of Christmas and all of the traditions that we had...especially on Park Rd. It's funny that you don't really think while you're living in the moment, how much these experiences will help form the person you become. Do you think Dad

ever actually knew what we were getting for Christmas? LOL! I bet he was always more surprised than we were. I still remember standing with anticipation on the stairs with you and Dad while Mom light the tree and took a picture before we got at the presents:) Then watching out the window waiting for Aunt Bert, Uncle John and Nancy to pull into the driveway so that Christmas could be complete. They didn't always make it, but Christmas was always more special when they did. Mom always had a delicious turkey and pies galore. I miss those times so much...even some of the dubious memories hold a place in my heart...we are who we are for a reason, and we wouldn't be who we are today without those experiences...and I'm good with that.

My biggest regret is that we lost our parents way too soon and all the memories our kids are missing out on. If they could see our kids now...and how they have all turned out they would be so proud!

Enough nostalgia... On with the merriment!

Merry Christmas Val...I love you.

Till then...I'll say Wen

DIY

Just a little glimpse of my new headboard. It's a little rustic, but I like it very much. I think I'll live with it for a little while and see if I want to make any changes to it. For now..I like it very much!
Thanks Ethan for making me the french cleats...they worked great!
So many ideas...so little money:( Till then...I'll say Wen

Happy Thanksgiving Weekend!

Well, hopefully everyone is getting the opportunity to get together with family and friends and....be thankful:)

Unfortunately my oldest son and his girlfriend are in Ottawa at her Mom's (Unfortunate for me...fortunate for them:) so my youngest and I spent a great day having an easy peasy lunch, and getting a few things done around my house. I value his opinion...and his help and guidance to get me through renos. Today he took out my air conditioner and moved it done to the basement, which is a big load off my mind, and he also cut the door I purchased at Restore to make my new headboard:) Big plans...I jus have to pull it off.

School is going well, but I have to admit that I'm not going to be too sad to see the end of it! Not sure what life has in store for me, but after having been sick for the last month...and now having to battle more of a bulge, the struggle will be in not feeling too sorry for myself. I remain optimistic:)

Till then...I'll say Wen....

Lets try this again...

Again I'm trying to start writing more often in my blog. With work and school taking up so much of my time I don't seem to have too many opportunities to actually even think about what I would like to write.

I'll try not to put too much pressure on myself this time so that I can maybe live up to my own expectations.

Stay tuned..I'll say Wen

All the things I missed...

I can't believe how fast the time is going. On January 12th Ethan turned 29! Hard to believe...at least for me anyway. Look at that face..look at that chair! What kind of a mother am I? Both my boys are cuties...they take after...somebody else obviously:) I'm not sure I'm ready for a full week of work after having a snow day this past week. It sure helped me get some of my homework caught up! It's Super Bowl Sunday and I haven't even had the TV on. That sure is a change for me. Finally feeling like I've got things under control...at least for the time being. I hope to try and do a little bit everyday, but by the time I get home at night it's so hard to get into homework...and on top of that I get myself so confusing about which assignment and for what course I'm working on ! Old age will do that to you. I just hope I get the opportunity to use this diploma:) Loving the Subject Analysis and Classification course. Hopefully I will get an opportunity to use it sometime in the future. That is a conversation I hope to have with the boss when I have my work evaluation. Should be interesting to say the least. Till then...I'll say Wen..

Yes, I'm still here...barely:)

Well, it's been awhile since I've blogged, what with Christmas, New Year's and now school, it's been a busy winter. If I'm not doing homework, I'm thinking about doing homework!
Little Carly has gone to a new home, and we're gonna miss her! I'm sure she'll be happy as now she will be able to get the much deserved attention she needs, and E won't feel so guilty every time he gets called out for work in the middle of the night! She sure was a sweetheart though. Hopefully Aunt Sherri will email me the pictures she took at Christmas and I'll share them.
A well timed snow day this past week help0ed me get some assignments done, but I certainly can't depend on that!
More later for sure...but right now, back to work...
Till then....I'll say Wen..

Am I going to have a Granddogger?

I'm starting to get a little excited...over a dog! And it won't even be my dog! But almost as good, it will be Ethan's dog. While I have been mulling over the idea of having a dog, Ethan has been taking action. He's always wanted an English Bulldog and it looks like he will be getting one. I don't know whose more excited. I guess it is like having grandchildren...you get all the good stuff but then they go home:) This appears to be the closest I'm going to get to grandchildren for a while...but that's okay...really. I'm essentially a self absorbed person, so who am I to decide that my kids should have kids on my timetable? I can't believe how much I've been blessed with my boys...and Amy of course, who I would say by now I can call my daughter. I love them so much! I can't believe that it's only two weeks till Christmas...I don't even have anything ready..my tree isn't even decorated yet. So much for getting an early start. I don't even have a plan for my Open House yet. It seems that it is pretty difficult to even try to concentrate on what I'm going to do, or have for the party. It's only two weeks away and I don't know what I'm going to have. We'll see...won't we?
Till then...I'll say Wen...

|Happy Halloween Everyone...boooo

While I thought it would be a great idea to sit in my sun porch and wait for the trick or treater to arrive...I lit my two lanterns (glass, not jack-o) and sat myself down with my notebook...I might as well as held a flashlight under my chin! Not only could I not see anyone coming up the walk, I had lit myself up like a beacon in the process. And just when I got my eyes adjusted and got myself settled in the least conspicuous spot...my living room light on the timer popped on! |I guess I have it set for 7pm;) Most of the kids coming to my door seem to be older. I think I have had even more than last year already which is a bit of a surprise. Usually my numbers have been going steadily down each year I have been here. The first year or two were the only years I wasn't home to give out treats as I had to work at Wal-mart, but every year since then...which would now be three, I have been home. It's always so disappointing to me to see people turn off their lights and close their doors. I know for some it is a religious reason, and that's fine, because those people aren't taking their own kids out to other people's houses to get treats. It is the ones who reap, but never sow that bug me! And for me that's something, because I always got someone else to give out the candy when I was on Bartlett. When the kids were little I took them out, and when they were older they even gave out the treats...I have just always hated answering the door at home...still do! I guess it's a phobia, along with all my others, but the point is...I do it! Just for that I give myself a pat on the back:) While I was out last night looking friday night looking for costume ideas for E I saw the stores putting out all of their Christmas stuff....I'm just sayin....Till next time...I'll say Wen....

Happy Birthday Baby...

Yes sir, that's my baby... I can't believe that my baby is now 35 years old!! I'm sure he can't believe it either. Happy Birthday also to my nephew Manley, friend Wayne and Patty's son-in-law Dave. It appears that the 15th of October was a great day for some pretty lucky Moms:) I was pretty young when I had Rick, and I couldn't have asked for a better baby. I kind of feel we grew up together. I was lucky enough to have a very supportive family, and since he was the first grandson, there was a lot of love to go around. My youngest sister Mandy was only six when Rick was born and they ended up actually going to school together! The same school that all the kids in our family went to, and that Ethan ended up being the last one to graduate from Grand Avenue School. The school which is celebrating its 50th Anniversary this year! We've certainly seen some changes over the years in our old Alma Mater! Hopefully I'll get to share some memories with my kids, siblings and old friends at the anniversary celebration on November 21st. Till then...I'll say Wen

Strike one...but am I out?

Well, another Thanksgiving has come and gone, another turkey bites the dust..speaking of which, my turkey did not taste the best this year. No matter that I cooked this turkey way longer than recommended, but it still didn't seem to help. My family said it tasted good, but I'm still not convinced. I'm thinking I may switch it up and not have a turkey for Christmas. But what to have? I know I will have a ham...that's a given in our family, but what could I have for another main course? I'm thinking that maybe I'll have a pasta dish, maybe manicotti? I know the kids do like that, so maybe that's the way to go...I still have some time to think about it, but I think that maybe that's the way to go. Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving as we look forward to a hopefully long fall and short winter season:)
Till then...I'll say Wen

I have a dream...

I know it maybe doesn't look like a dream house...but from where I'm sitting it surely does!! My little cottage...in my mind that is. I wish I could talk my kids into going in on a cottage with me. That would be a dream for me especially because I don't think they're into cottaging, and then that would leave that hard work to me and my family and friends:) That being said, we could rent it for part of the year and make some money that way. It's a reasonable price...and even though I have never seen it, I'd love to. Maybe this Thanksgiving when the guys are over I'll spring it on them....I know they have lots on their plates already, but I think it would be a great investment....in their Mom's happiness that is:) Happy Mom...Less Grief....best I can come up with on short notice! Even though I tell myself I won't look at cottages anymore...here I am at midnight looking at cottages:) This one is a keeper...I know you would have to take a drive up and have a look at it, and there are also some other details that we would have to look into....but look at it!! Believe me, I know what my chance are better than most....but you have to keep the dream alive...Till next time...I'll say Wen....

Me and my Buds...

It's fall...so that means Hockey Time! I've loved hockey forever...and the Leafs in particular. Every year I think things might be a little different...and every year my heart breaks a little more. Wendel Clark has been my modern day favourite ever since he was drafted #1 for the Leafs. He brought so much to the city and Leafs Nation in particular. In 93 we made a real run for the cup and came so close. The city was rockin! It was so hard to lose to LA and be so close to being in the final. New kid on the block this year is Naseem Kadra. He's a cocky kid from TO and he's been one of the best players on every team he's played on...till now. At the rate he's going it will be the AHL for him at the start of the season. I don't necessarily think that's a bad thing, my biggest worry is that Wilson is trying to be such a badass instead of a motivated that he might break his spirit. You do have to nurture young talent...not just berate them all the time.
I'm not saying that you have to baby them....but work toward them making the team...not being humiliated down to the minors. You can still send them down...but with a positive message...not cutting them down in the press constantly, and in Toronto that's not hard to do. It would be nice to have a player like Tucker, who just hung them up this past week, being a part of the Toronto team. He weighed like 170 and most of that was bad attitude and heart. You always knew where you stood...and where he stood. Best of luck to Darcy in retirement.

Ross Pennie has a new book! Good for him!

Here is the newest offering from Ancaster Author Ross Pennie. From the reviews on Chapters it has been very well received, and I'm looking forward to reading it as soon as possible. By the sound of the note from the Publisher it is a non-fiction book :

From the Publisher

On arrival in a remote South Pacific island, Dr. Ross Pennie encounters tribal magic and the ire of Sister Pirmina, the abrasive nun who rules the hospital. Soon the good "Dokta" is battling crisis after crisis.


It appears Ross gave a reading at the Pelham Public Library but I haven't actually read anything about his appearance, but since I am actually going to the Pelham library on on the 12th of October I will be able to ask them myself.

Hey V...figured out the reason for the wrong date stamp:) Wrong timezone was checked out. Till next time...I'll say Wen..