Wasn't That Just a Day!

Well hey, wasn't that just a day! And I ask you absolutely, is there any better way to start it than with a breakfast of Grande Marnier and coffee? Fine at the North Country Fair and just as fine at Christmas. I don't actually mean the - it's morning, time to start the day- kind of breakfast; not possible when Christmas starts the night before. Shannon and I took a break to try to sleep while Becky and Jordan brought Christmas in through the night. All of you with little ones? You were probably getting up when they were going to bed. Tis the morning of Christmas and not a creature is stirring, not yet in this house. It was more like; okay, the turkey's in the oven, Nick and Sarah are on their way, Aunty Bev's not far behind, coffee's on, neighbours are hauling out their Christmas debris - get your butts out of bed - now.
And then the day whirls by at a speed only seen at Christmas; if anyone finds that Christmas clock, pull the plug or yank the battery - maybe that will slow it down. Is it any wonder the day flies by? Look at what we pack into it. Good thing that January is the grumpy month - my face is sore from smiling and laughing
Then it comes - Boxing Day - the dull day, 'what do I do now" day. The house  is clean, fridge full of food, no work day, nuhuh and no way to shopping - don't like it at the best of times, and sure not on this day. It's way too quiet - bit of boredom ... not for long. I received this gift - I think its a virtual pet. It whirls around vacuuming the floor while I do what ever I want, except vacuum - hit the button and let it go. The concept is that it cleans the floors and then heads back to its dock to recharge - good concept.
I have two German Sheppards - they shed - lots. The virtual pet likes floor stuff - lots - it goes after it; it blinks a blue light when it locates a good find and spends extra time savouring it. I hit the button - it's like a kid in a frenzy at the candy store - darting in different directions to get it all - and chasing the dogs as they drop hair on the floor - it just is not going back to the dock without interference. No concerns for winter fat growth on these dogs - they have their own personal trainer.
Yes, it sure is alot of busy stuff and running around to prepare for the day, but what results and what a day and season  it is. It is a day of people time; we travel short and long distances  to be together and enjoy what we have with each other - leave the other stuff for another day - it isn't going anywhere. We take the time to say hi to each other and share the greetings of the season and wishes for the coming year; and we have social media such as Face Book - we can say it to so many more.
So, here's to my family, my North Country Fair family, and to all of you. Merry Christmas and good energy your way that the coming year will go well for you and lead to the first Christmas wish - let all be healthy and well so that we can get together and do it all again next year. This is the gift we most enjoy at Christmas time. And it gives us a year to plan the stocking stuffers - lets see who gets the best laugh next year. And that is what I have to say - for now

This One's For You Skyler

This one is for you and your family Sky, as you go through this together. You are a really sick little guy right now - you made it through the major surgery and now you are working through a complication that has come up. And you know what little friend? We are all thinking of you and sending huge energy and lots of thoughts your way. Those many messages on Face Book - we mean every word of them. You and your family are very much in the thoughts of your North Country Fair family, stuck like glue right smack in the middle of them little buddy.

We have another North Country Fair peeking around the corner at us; the countdown will soon begin. So maybe it was a little wet this year - okay alot wet - but it sure didn't stop the fun. And next year we are going to do it all again. You will be playing at the Fair with all of the other mud puppies - great to see and even greater fun that I don't have to clean any of you up.

You sure do like those quad rides Skyler, especially when they take you through the most mud they can find to drive through. If you looked back and up, you would see the big people driving are enjoying it as much as you. Mud puddles were not made for going around - straight through the middle is the best way every time. And that is what we want you to do right now - straight through this tough time and out the other end to home and good health. You know Sky, I'm betting you won't have any problems getting those quad rides at the next Fair.

You sure have shown you are a strong person Skyler - look at you smile as you recovered from the surgery - pretty sure I was not the only one who was smiling back looking at those pictures.

If thoughts, prayers and wishes are deeds Sky, then hold on for the ride because you are in for one rapid recovery, with every one of us cheering you on. And for your family, I hope you can feel our energy and take strength and comfort from it. We will be here with you each step of the way.

This was not what I planned to write for my second entry but is sure is the right one. I'll get back to the other one later. And that is what I have to say - for now.

I Told You That You Needed a Cell Phone - or - At Least I Didn't Tell You To Wear Clean Underwear

So - Becky has a blog - good stuff; she is the author and I can't talk back - not so good. This blogging stuff looks okay - might be fun. And if Becky can do it, then bets on that I can. I can text, I could probably drop my phone into the toilet if the opportunity presented. I have rice. Am I suggesting technological challenges - yes.
On the way to London Drugs to get a GPS, me to Becky: "you need a cell phone". Becky: "I have a cell phone". My response - "sure but does it work?" Becky's response - something like: "well yes, if ..." and "and when ..." and "maybe if ..."; decision made. Easy stuff right? Not so much - next conversation - now what do we do? "I don't know, you should know". "Well I don't, how should I know?" "Well I don't know either". Overwhelming task - we know we have a problem.
Into London Drugs - salesman approaches and he smiles - done. Becky starts off nice - smiles, friendly, explains she needs a GPS. And I let it out: "and we need cell phones because she is travelling across Canada by herself and something might happen and she might need help and I need to know every day that she is okay and I'll pay for them because she is going to school when she gets there and we have the U-haul and everything else but we don't have cell phones, well I don't have one and hers spends all its time in the rice box - can you help? If ever at London Drugs at Northgate - say hi to Mohammed - he was still smiling.
Mohammed took over and guided us through the intelligent choices we had to make - enough said. Picking a phone - just a bad thing - what an exercise in regret and yes but what abouts. Finally, Becky: "okay Mom this one looks good and you like it - so what is the problem?" Me: " it's got a pink background with poka dots- I don't like it - it's ugly - I don't want an ugly phone." Becky - well she had an answer. Mohammed did not let us leave until the phones were fully operational with minimal risk of damage by the users. And instruction books, who the hell decided they have to be the size of a small novel? Instruction books should come with two lines: "open the package; good luck". Okay so text messages flew in all the wrong directions but I got it right eventually - I got it. And it should be required that new cell phones must work absolutely right for the first long while. Mine didn't - really - it did not. Phoning customer service - fun, efficient, quick service - no; back to Mohammed - recognized me and still smiling - asked how Becky was doing - how is that for service? I have learned how to use the cell phone and I have defeated its features. If I want to type "bastard", I do not want or need it changed to "pasta turds".
And I was right wasn't I Becky - you did need a cell phone - was I right or what? As you walked down that dusty road away from the broken down van - you were able to talk on a cell phone - a real one - whose the favorite parent now? So maybe there have been a few problems with the three hour time difference but isn't it nice to stay in touch? And I didn't tell you to make sure you wear clean underwear.
Children - by virtue of we gave them life - they owe it to us to flourish and thrive with nothing to cause us even the slightest flicker of worry. Or we chase them down with technology. And that is what I have to say - for now.