To the world...

To the world you are one person....but to one person you are the world!!!!

This is how I'm gonna live my life....

I came across this really neat saying on a sign and thought I should share it with all my friends....

Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body....yet rather to slide in sideways, chocolate in one hand, wine in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming "WOO HOO....WHAT A RIDE"!!!!!

The "After"

So here we are on Sunday September 20th 2009....my handsome devil has changed his appearance for a new job...

hmmmm.....it will be like cheating on my husband with a new man....but not really.....it takes a few days to get used to it. The first time he shaved off his beard in the 25 years of knowing him was 3 years ago.....

We had a gentleman come to the house to do an appraisal for mortgage renewal and I could hear him talking to someone at the front door....I walked to the top of the stairs to see who the rep was talking to...didn't recognize him....but it was my hubby....

He's only had that beard off 3 times since he first grew it in his late teens...."you've got the cutest little baby face"...lol

The "Before"

Look at this handsome devil....yes after 25 years of knowing him and loving him and being married to him and having a family and raising children with him....he still makes my heart flutter....sometimes with sheer love and othertimes with anger .... but I would not change the fact that he can make me laugh and cry and I wouldn't change that fact for anything in the world....

So.....this is my man on September 19 2009.......

Red Leaves of Fall

I was driving down our road last week and couldn't believe my eyes...one lonely branch with all red leaves on it....the horror of it all....fall has now entered the forrest....the summer heat is here but the nights have become cooler and the leaves are officially changing colors. I think the colors are beautiful but it is what weather is soon to come that I am not too happy about!!!

Rainy Monday...Sunshining Tuesday....

I woke up nice and early....came to work...and as I stare down the hallway...I notice what a beautiful day it is...temperature is decent, not a cloud in the sky....and where am I? Why working until 9pm tonight of course. Sucks to be me!!!

The Value of a Rear View Mirror!!!

Hello....can you see it coming....can you hear it.....
The most important lesson I learned at the ripe old age of 18 was to frequently check all the mirrors on the vehicle I was driving. WHY!!! Because you never know when an emergency vehicle might be racing up behind you.
In the year 2009 - I cannot believe the number of drivers who are totally oblivious to the oncoming wailing of or the flashing lights on an emergency vehicle....be it an ambulance, fire truck or police cruiser.
Folks...check those mirrors on your car/truck....they are there for a reason and Icertainly hope its not someone I know that is waiting patiently and you are the one that is holding up that emergency personnel.....How about practicing some road safety and be more aware!!!

To your own self be true!

I have often said on more than one occassion that I will never make mother of the year. I never got the "manual" on how to raise my children without error, or how to be a model mom. I have always said - I am doing the best I can and that's all I have to offer. I love my children unconditionally, I like them as people and I hope that as I age I can honestly say that we have a mutual respect for one another. Well this weekend it was apparent that I was not popular with any of them. I reminded my eldest of an outstanding debt - she got ticked at me. I was absent (with an explanation) for my middle child's birthday dinner and as for child #3 - well we always seem to be at opposite ends of the playing field. No matter how I tried - I could not get any of them to understand my point of view....and probably never will.....but birthday dinner happend last evening with little incident. 2 of the 3 seem to be okay with me but I fear that child #1 is obviously ANGRY at me. Each of them think that they can voice their desire for me to act or behave a certain way. Little do they realize that at my age of close to 50 - it is highly unlikely for me to change my behaviour. If I truly dislike someone and or their behaviour - little is going to make that change. Call the family disfunctional - we are one of millions who are the same. We are not the Cleavers, but we're also not the Simpsons...we are somewhere in the middle...each of us unique but special in our own way. I have never voiced my opinion over and over and over again about "you should learn to get along"...."they're family". Well years ago I thought it was best to tollerate someone for the good of the family or to make everyone happy....hello....now I'm doing whats good for me.

Fish

Hohumm Monday!!

I awoke this morning thinking...hmmmmm...another fine Monday morning. What trouble can I get into today. Well - with work at 10; I have 2 1/2 hours to do one of 3 things....a. I can roll over and pull the blankets over my head and hope that the 2 dogs cannot find me (yeah right) b. go to work early and try to accomplish something constructive...(na...aint gonna happen) or c. pick up my book "The Time Traveller's Wife" and read until the last available minute. Well I can honestly say none of these came to fruition....the phone rang and I had to get my son up for an unexpected day of work. The life of mom and a taxi driver never ends. Working 7 days a week leaves little planned "me" time. There is always laundry, tidying up, meal organizing and many more daily tasks to attend to. So I've raced around - made the bed, put the dogs out for the 9th time, started a load of wash, loaded clothes for the goodwill, dropped the boy off at work and took a quick run into the thrift store around from work....heck I've got 45 minutes to kill. I enjoy roaming thru these stores never knowing what kind of treasures I might come across. Teaspoons....yes I need some of them because somewhere in my house there is a spoon thief and by the love of god if I find him/her - they're gonna get such a talking to. Picture frames .... yes I'll take those. Oh nice pants....yup they just might fit....ok so better leave because the longer I roam these isles....the more "stuff" I'll be taking home with me. Out to the car and oh my god...its 10 minutes past work starting time....impossible....

So the Hohumm day isn't so bad after all...I've managed to squeeze in a little time for me....

So the next time you think its gonna be a hohummm kind of day....just remember - its all what you make it --- I'll be off in an hour and back to another new adventure...


Cheers

"Ass"umptions.....

I grew up in a time where you respected anyone who was older than you. That meant even your best friends older brother or sister deserved a degree of respect. Words such as please and thank you were high in the "etiquette" vocabulary. Even to this day - I still hold anyone older than me in high regard; smile, "have a nice day", even hold the door as a courtesy.



There did this value go...I think it got lost somewhere between the '90's and today. The youth of today have very little respect for anyone but themselves. On many an occasion I have had a store door slam in my face as the uncaring youth (sans pants below crotch) walked thru without a second thought to me with 3 grocery bags in my hands.



Family invitations 40 years ago primarily included the mom and the dad; and if not an adult party the children would be included. Strict warnings prior to arrival would be "behave", "mind your manners" and remember this one "children are to be seen and not heard".



With my family of 3 adult children I always asked the host if the children would be welcome and never made the assumption that they would be. At a younger age...it might have been suggested to get a babysitter for the evening. Now it is not assumed by me that the kids are included.



Now I put the shoes on the "adult children" feet. Recently an invitation was addressed to the older family members with regards to a "family" gathering. I immediately responded that myself and my children would be attending and requested a reply as to what we could bring in the way of food or drink as a contribution to the day.



One "adult" family member replied non-attendance due to a previous engagement. So we "assumed" (as I'm sure did the host) that "non-attendance" implied the entire family. I am to now understand that 2 of their children will be attending with their "significant"others...but I believe they have failed to advise the hostess. Hence "ass"umption..... who looks like the ass here....the adult non-attending? their children? I bet none of these "unconfirmed" guests will consider the food and beverages likely to be consumed....should they contribut....most definitely.



Where did the respect for elders go....it has been lost someone in the past 40 years....such a shame....I hope I have raised more "respectful" adult children than some others....



Here's to an "exciting" family gatering!!!

Blog Virgin

Good morning blog world....its me the Blog Virgin...

I was introduced to blogworld a couple of months ago from a friend and neighbour....forgetting all about it - she suggested I should read her "blog" this week....so not only did I read her current but all previous blogs as well....well the giggles overtook me; I had tears streaming down my face and had more than one "visual" after reading her blurbs....I commented on her various blogs but also had to call her to tell her that she had turned my "blah Tuesday morning" totally around....

In reading her various blogs I thought "hey I can do this"

So I started the process....first come up with a name....and as the ringer song on my cell phone is "Life is a Highway" by Tom Cochrane .... I figured that cathslifeisahighway would be so fitting...

Life is a highway don't you think...we take all the curves and bends, hills and dips and all the other "obstacles" that life has to throw at you. From money to health, we get it all.

Without telling you my complete life story...I am a mother, a wife, a daughter and a taxi service to my 2 youngest children...child #3 does not live at home but I do occassionally act as her taxi (but on a willing basis as the only chance I have to spend time with her is to play taxi - it works for us both) I don't complain about this taxi driver aspect of my existance as I love to get out of the house and "head on down the highway" to my next adventure....I love my children more than life itself and on more than one occassion have gone above and beyond for them. My husband and many friends say that I spoil my kids...maybe so...but they are mine and I love spending time with them.

They are getting older and much less dependant on me and as a mother that diminishes the level of "need" they have for me. Hubby says that he can't wait until the nest is empty...and I think "oh my god" what will I do with myself...I will have nobody to pick up after, no large meals to make and heck I can get away with doing laundry once a week instead of daily....now wait a minute...this might be a good thing!!!

Well back to the grind....we'll "blog" again later....
Signed the Blog Virgin