Merry Christmas

At the end is a little Christmas Card that I put together for Clark to send out to work contacts. I'll admit that I wasn't organized enough to send it out to family/friends. But, that's why you check out my blog, right?
Everyone is getting bigger, getting into school, sports, friendships and hopefully potty training for the youngest. (Think potty training thoughts.)
But I thought that I would make a list of some of my favorite Christmas things. So, with Julie Andrews in the background and with no sort of rhyming or rhythm (bum ba ba bum ba ba)...

*The Festival of Crafts (though not the best this year): has a couple of things that I always pick up: hot chocolate, fudge, bath stuff, doll clothes
*Appetizer Night at Mom's house
*The Nativity put on by our church for the last 30+ years.
*Christmas Music on the radio
*The tree being up on December 1st... the question is when will it come down?
*Candy cane anything: cookies, hot chocolate

Some New Favorites: (bum ba ba bum ba ba)
*Millarville Market
*Watching the kids attempt skating
*EB Ornaments (haven't bought any, but they are nice)
*Snowflake Cookie Crayons

So, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you! And a Happy/Merry what else you may celebrate. Here's to 2011 coming up!

Stupify!

I spent the whole weekend on a Harry Potter marathon with a couple of friends. I had managed to watch #1 with my kids, so we were down to the last 5. 2 movies a night for Friday and Saturday night. 1am bedtimes both nights. I am still recovering. I wasn't able to make it for Sunday so I finished #6 yesterday. There's a little bit of a sadness for me as I see the end of the movies in sight. The books came out in 1997. I was introduced to the first on in 1998. That's a long time to have something that fantastic in my life.
While I'm excited for the next movie (we are going to see it at Midnight on Thursday!) I don't know if I'm ready for the conclusion to happen as well. We have started reading the books to our kids and they have really enjoyed them. My 2 year old even recognized Harry while I was trying to watch the movie without them knowing during the day yesterday.
I just really have a soft spot for such a well written book. Guess that means it'll be time to start looking for a new series. This one though, will be one that I will read over and over again. (Especially now that I have all 7 of them in a nice box set.)
To the Boy who lived!

The tally begins...

I count one, that's one car I've helped push out of the snow. ah ah ah ah (The Count laughing and thunder in the background.) On the first real day of snow, I've already had to get out and help push a car out of the snow that was my street. And, it was a city car to boot. The driver, being from Ontario, I guess hasn't dealt with our kind of winters before. I wish him luck and a steep learning curve as he figures out how to get through the snow.
If our mayor also blog hops as much as he twitters - seriously consider snow removal in the residential areas.

Seriously.

Dear Clark...

... please forgive me for my persistent commitment to the only night that I actually watch TV - Tuesday nights. I know that you are tolerant of this and I really won't change, unless the TV stations change the night. One day you may learn to appreciate my commitment, but for now, I understand that you just roll your eyes and either sit down and watch, or do something else. It's okay, I understand.

Love,
Me

Have you ever?

Have you ever been so unbelievably angry that you were shaking and crying and flooded with such intensity? I can't say that I've had this happen very often. And trust me, I'm a pretty intense (passionate?) person.
Yesterday was that day for me. I know that we should not allow the actions of others affect us, but this did. I've been having problems with one of the companies that I deal with for services. I'm not going to go into details about the company, but suffice it to say, we've had some problems. We set up month withdrawal from this company and they NEVER take the money out on time. N E V E R. Oh, but don't you know, it's a "banking" problem.
So I called the head office to complain. Seriously. Everyone else that I deal with for automatic withdrawals get their money on time. EVERYONE ELSE.
Yeah. The "person" that I dealt with was not very nice. Even as I type this, I can think of several other words that would describe this person. But, the long and the short of it is - this "lady" treated me not only like an idiot, but like she was a scam artist trying desperately to get a quick buck. On top of that, when I did get upset and asked to talk to her manager, she hung up on me.
Needless to say, I was ticked off. Shaking and crying ticked off. Fury just flowing out in emotion that I had no way to channel.
There is no room in my world for people like that. You are offering a service that you are unable to allow me to pay for it on time. You are the business and I am the customer. I don't care if you don't like me getting mad at you. You talked over me, constantly interrupted me, forcing me to pause so you could give me your attitude. And then to top it off, you were cowardly enough to hang up on me.
Just because something has been done the same way for years, doesn't mean it's efficient or effective. And, to top it off, I'm not the only one that has had this problem.
Just venting, and finishing off this angry part of my yesterday. I shall go about today a lot happier and a small pat on my back for trying to make things better for me and those other customers that have been told that there's no point in complaining. I'm going to go dig out from the basement and find my smile again. :)

Back to School Picture

We had our good friend Liz take our back to school pictures. Have to say I like this better then the ocean or flame background one that our school offered. And despite the fact that my 2 year old didn't want to co-operate, she managed to capture him and the rest of my kids perfectly. Thanks Liz! Want to check out more of her work? Go here.

Why the World, and More Importantly I need CHEESE.

Okay, so we're not talking about the edible variation - though very tasty and versitle in my humble opinion. We are talking even stickier and mushier. The chick flick cheese.

Example. Have you seen Letters to Juliette? I love it. It's simple in story with tiny complexities that are sprinkled in with just people being involved. It has the best part - a happy ending. I'm not into the tragic-more-questions-then-answers ending. That is NOT satisfying to me. Another great thing about the Chick Flick Cheese - you and do the most mundane tasks - like folding laundry - to it. The story is basic, the result is always the same. Would you miss details here and there from the up and down motions of your task? Perhaps, but that's why you watch the movie over and over again. I have seen several different movies that way. Eventually I just sit down and watch from beginning to end, but that it usually when the hubby is out for the evening.

Why does the world need more cheese? We overthink things. Seriously. We are all about the critics and their critiques. Sometimes a light-hearted movie where boy meets girl and a story ensues is good for the soul. Sometimes, the entertainment or "aahhh" factor is fabuolous pick-me-up in the middle of our hectic and crazy lives. Simplicity is not a bad thing. And for me, it's a WELCOMED thing. My life is too complicated sometimes (a chunk is my own doing, but that 's another entry). What is wrong with a little cheese? And better yet, feel free to join me, anytime, for a healthy dosing of some good flavoured cheese.

Here's some of my favourite cheese:

Letters to Juliette
Leap Year
The Young Victoria
Pride and Prejudice (the cheese that keeps on giving - not that way)
Emma
Persuasion
A Walk in the Clouds
Sense and Sensibility
My Big Fat Greek Wedding
Sabrina

What is yours?