Valentine's Day 2008

Lunch from H E double hockey sticks!
Boston Pizza. Heart shaped pizzas. Me and the boys. No school.
All was going well - aside from the fact that Sterling had a Social Studies re-test because he failed and it just happened to land on Valentine's Day. BUT, besides that the day was going well, aside from the fact that a father in law who shall remain nameless woke me up out of the best sleep I had had in a week. BUT, besides that, it was all going well...
UNTIL (dadadahhh)
we got to BP's. We get settled with everything and our server is great. We order some pizza bread for an appetizer as we are all starving. She brings our drinks, brings our apps and all is well. Not too long after, our delicious pizzas arrived. Kaedo asked for a refill, no problem. That is until the refilled glass fell out of her hand and sprayed both boys with ice cold root beer. The server was so shocked she didn't know what to do. She sort of just stood there willing it to not be happening. I got the boys up and into the aisle and brushed off the ice and tried to squeegee off the really wet parts. I took them to the bathroom to get them cleaned up then came back to a clean up in process. The boys sat down again and I worked on getting their coats dried off. Did I mention that they were sitting on their coats when all this occured. Ya, they were sitting on their coats when all this occured. Did I mention that Kaedo had a white t-shirt on? Ya, white. So we sit down to enjoy our pizza and all is going well until I bite into someone else's hair. I can use protein just like the next person but I draw the line at that. I asked the server to remove the pizza and I am sure she avoided our section for a good 5 minutes in the hope that her tip wasn't totally blown to bits.
Here's where it gets good.. Can it get any better, you may ask?
The manager came along and was concerned there were some problems - ya think? - she re-ordered another pizza for us to take with us and assured me she would "help us out with our bill". Let's re-cap - two soaking kids, 2 sets of sticky clothes, one ruined t-shirt, two popsicle ski jackets and human dental floss caught in my molars.
At the end of it all, she graciously informed me that they were taking 20% off my bill. "That should take care of it", she said.
Ya think?

grab a cup of coffee...

I'm baacckk! What a week. 6 days in Anaheim in a beautiful hotel, in beautiful weather with a very nice group of people, workin' my stinkin' ass off. The only thing missing was my family, a trip to Disneyland and the snow. Ok - maybe not the snow.
The show went well. Got the opportunity to see a lot of new faces and catch up with some "regulars". It is always nice to see people I have met at previous shows. This lets me know that they are still doing well and that their stores are keeping their heads above water. My projects were well received and I talked to 150 people a day sitting doing the projects.
I walked the show as well and came up with lots of ideas of things we could try doing and plan to spend the next few weeks getting my ideas on to paper, organizing them and getting them into the right hands.
Last year mom and dad met me at the show and we were able to stay together at a roach motel just down the way from Disneyland and had a wonderful time. This year wasn't the same. No mom and dad, no roach motel, no afternoon at Disney. Boo. In saying that, I got to know my co-workers a little better and got to TAR-JAY. Kaedo requested baggy pants so I was forced to go and look around. For 1.5 hous. It was a sacrifice, but what you won't do for your kids.
Tuesday night 10 of us went to dinner with a company we are licensing called Rouge do Garance. Their products are spectacular and I can't wait to get my hands on them. Beautiful. I will be madly creating the moment the paper falls in my hands. Anyway - two of the four spoke quite good english but the other 2 , not so much. I was lucky enough to sit with one of the designers who spoke very little english. She practiced her english on me and I got to practice my french on her. It was awesome. I love to speak french. I loved it! I don't think I embarassed myself too much.
Tuesday afternoon I was walking the show floor and stopped at a booth to see what was going on. As I was standing there, the woman sitting at the demostrator's table was signing her books. She looked up, saw my badge and said, "I love Sandylion, want a copy of my book?". She proceeded to autograph it and present me with her very own Bobblehead Doll. I kid you not. Totally hilarious. I brought it home so I could put it in my office. It actually looks like her only her boobs are bigger in real life. She was so sweet. It was great.
Our flight home was delayed yesterday and we ended up waiting on the tarmac until after 5. Our departure time had been 3. We got in to Toronto at 12:15am and I didn't get into the concourse until 12:50am. By the time we got home, got everyone into bed, and I relaxed, it was after 3 when I got to bed. I'm bagged but glad to be here.

I have more to write, but will end this post now.
We shall now return to our regularly scheduled programming.
talk later,
s

so I said I wouldn't

post again, that is.
It's 7:50 and everyone is still in bed (although I do think I hear someone getting out of bed). I've been up since about 4am, willing myself to go back to sleep for a couple of hours.
I woke up at 4 wondering how much snow had fallen and looked out the window just in time to see a van identical to ours driving down our street. Now any sane person would go downstairs and look out the window to make sure no one had stolen our van. I, however, did not. Why, you may ask? Because I am scared to go downstairs in the dark. I always worry someone is going to grab my leg as I am running back up the stairs. I need therapy. So anyway, at 7 I finally dragged my sorry ass out of bed and checked on the van. Still there. Thank god - I would have lost it right there and then. The scene would have been horrifying.

We had a "snowstorm" last night. Granted it was a lot of snow, and it is still sprinkling, but we don't have to call out the army or anything. Albertans are made of stronger stock. We'd be outside camping. In Ontario we have a snow day. Heaven forbid we have to drive slowly on the roads.

Have got pneumonia. How is that for a kick in the ass. Been sick for about 5 days. Went to the doctor on Tuesday night and he gave me the good news. He told me I shouldn't fly but I laugh in the face of danger and will be heading out to less snowy climates this afternoon. That is if the 401 hasn't been closed dus a 400 car pile up.

I have gotten everything done except for one project. I finished about 10:15 last night. Talk about cutting it close. The first contingent of staff left this morning at 7. I would have been screwed if that was me. 4am comes mighty quickly. In saying that, I was up, wasn't I?

Although mom and I talked about me not writing a list for Craig about activities, lunches, etc, I broke down and wrote one out. I feel better knowing that he knows who has to be picked up when and what they need in their lunches. Even after 6 months of the same schedule he still comes in the house some nights and says, "Where's Kaedo? TKD?". To which I have to reply, "No, tonight was tennis". Let me just say that I am so thankful for the husband I have. He is so awesome. He says that any dad would do what he does for me, but I know that isn't true. He has taken the time off to look after the boys, get them to their activities, get their homework done, feed them supper (see, they are better off with him), and just spend time with them. He's great. In a class by himself - probably pretty lonely.

Ok - that's it for now. Don't know if I'll be able to post on the road.
talk later,
s

that's it

Hello all -
Last post for a while. I am frantically trying to get prepared for my departure on Thursday and this will have to go on hold. I'm sure Craig will post on Saturday or Sunday with pictures of Kaeden's belt ceremony. I have my fingers crossed for him. I will be back about midnight on the 13th and, as always, will be spending the day with my boys on the 14th. It is the one day of the year I pull them out of school, and we get the chance to sleep in, watch movies, and go out for Heart Shaped Pizzas at Boston Pizza. We have a good time and isn't that what Valentine's Day is about? Spending time with the loves of your life. Craig isn't able to join us this year (boo) but we will be bringing home pizza for him. Thanks mom, for the memories of doing this with you.
Have caught the flu/cold and feel terrible but am in the zone so work is getting done.
Wish me luck on maybe getting to spend an afternoon at the Magic Kingdom. One can dream.

talk later
s

hmmm

sterling: mom, 40 is old

me: hmmm

sterling: GG is prehistoric

Sterling - 7 months old

Sunday news

Not as much to write about as yesterday. Had a good day - aside from the cold that Sterling gave me. Craig says I always get sick before I go away. hmmm
Snowboarding this afternoon and it went fairly well. Kaedo kicked it and was getting down the hill by himself. Sterling was really not feeling well and struggled to get through the lesson - poor kid. He slept all the way to the hill and dozed all the way home. I gave him the option to not board but he was determined. Have to give him that. Hopefully next week will go better. Got home around 3 and called Craig to see if he wanted to meet us at the new Wal-Mart Superstore. Talk about Superstore. Bought all our groceries and the kids got to check out the toy section and electronics. It was good. Now we are home and the boys are in the shower. We had a great supper tonight. The boys had chocolate/strawberry ripple icecream, Craig had a bowl of cereal and a chicken sandwich and I had granola and french bread. AAAAHHHH, the supper of champions.
Craig's team won the Snowbowl and he is not bleeding anywhere I can see. He isn't limping or using Tiger Balm, so that's a good sign.
The boys will be in bed in about 20 minutes - 7pm. They have stayed up very late this weekend and Sterling needs to be asleep by 7:05.
Tennis tomorrow, if he feels up to it, and American Gladiator. Woohoo.
talk later,
s

Say what?

Saturday. Where has the week gone? Sterling has been sick this week and is starting to feel better. He missed half a day of school and came home without going to Spanish one day. He is on the mend but the bugger gave it to me (that will teach me for kissing him). Let's just say that right now the last thing I need is a cold/flu/whatever.
Yesterday was PA Day. Maybe the teachers in the audience can explain to me why teachers have to go back to school once a month. As far as I can see our teachers are doing a good job and it throws off my week having them home an extra day. Someone change this.
So, they were home yesterday. As was Craig. It was a full house. Craig was working so I always feel the need to get out of the house so that I don't bother him. He's either on the phone or thinking so hard the top of his head is steaming. The boys and I went out and had a good time together. Scholar's Choice, Chapters, the mall. It was fun. I haven't been to the mall in months. I am not a mall walker. Remember when you were a kid and you used to go to the mall on Saturday afternoon for a "playdate" with your friends? Giggling at all the way too old cute guys that were on their own "playdates". Aaahhh, those were the days. Now all you see is girls with too much makeup and hooker heels and guys with jeans so low they must be taped to their balls because there is no way on earth they are staying up any other way. They are all hanging out in a gaggle, saying things like, "what's up dude? bitchin', check out the rack on that one" Anyway, boy do I feel old going to the mall. So old I could hear my bones creak and my eyesight go a little dim. I did see a kid rubbing his girlfriend's ass. At least I hope it was his girlfriend and not some stranger. I just a sinking feeling that in 5 years Sterling may be doing the same thing. I am now starting the brainwashing so that he does not want to hang out in malls and will never grope a girl's ass. I'll keep you posted.
We had a snowstorm yesterday. Ontarians are a bunch of pussys. My neighbor is out shoveling and says to me, "I can't remember the last time we had this kind of winter. I'm sick of it". So I'm thinking, "what Winter?" I doesn't seem to me that it has been that bad. It has been cold the last few weeks, but not -50 like those of you on the Tundra. I have shoveled about 4 times and it has been good exerices. I actually hope for snow as it is the only good exercise I get. The boys and I were out yesterday and people were saying, "how good of you to brave the weather". Whatever. In Ontario, within hours of the snowfall, all the streets are plowed. When I say all, I mean all. Not just the major intersections. I remember having our car stuck in the street outside of our house one year in Airdrie. I think the snow on the grass melted and there was still snow on the street. Now the only downside of this is that just after you have finished with your beautiful shoveling, the plow comes through and gives you a 3 foot snowbank at the base of your driveway. Got another few inches last night. Was up early to take Kaedo to get his haircut and the hairdresser said, "you made it OK". Makes me smile.
Sterling bowled this morning and did awesome. 103, 108, 97. I think this was his best triple yet. It was Beat My Average day and he totally kicked it. His average is 81. He did great. Kaedo went to TKD and did fantastic. Only one week to grading. He is so excited and I am so bummed that I won't be there. He is practicing his pattern everyday and feels confident he will do well. This is a big step. We are so proud.
Snowboarding tomorrow. I'm taking them by myself. Have to get out the GPS (thanks Ken) so I get there. Craig is going to the Snowbowl. A bunch of 20-50 something men wearing tights and shorts, chasing a football on the frozen ground covered by a foot of snow. He can barely wait. I told him we weren't watching the Super Bowl tomorrow. At least not until the kids went to bed. He says they are going at 7.
Well, I have so many pictures to add but don't want to upload my camera, so it will have to wait until next time.
Have a great weekend,
s

***please disregard spelling errors. The spell checker isn't working and I've read this over until my eyes have bled, so I might be missing something. Don't correct me or I might have to kick your ass. This means you - Craig.