Joanne again:
The Barrie waterfront was the place to be. Ice sculptures, an ice maze and even a fun fair. This was to be the perfect outing for Craig and I, Caitlin and the two grandsons. It was fairly late in the day when we arrived at Tara and John's house to pick up the adorable duo. By the time we had car seats installed, bags packed and kids strapped in, it was after 5:30. We eventually neared the waterfront and could see the bright colourful lights in the distance. Mittens were put on to tiny hands, hats pulled over ears, scarves wrapped around necks. We were ready for some winter fun. We started our walk viewing the pretty light displays and made our way to the huge snow/ice sculpture on which the children could slide. Except......it was fenced off and guarded by a very bored looking young security guard. The ice maze had a similar fence and clone in a black uniform. He barely seemed to notice the people around him, he was too busy scuffing his feet and rubbing his hands trying to keep warm. The Duggan curse was in effect, we had arrived less than one hour after the displays had closed! The boys enjoyed sliding on the ice of a small pond, taking long runs and dropping to their tummies. Aiden said he was a penguin. When we neared the end of the trail, we found the beautiful ice sculptures, not only fenced in, but also inside a large tent. Thankfully this time the young security guard had a personality and chatted with us.
Aha......all was not lost.....a fun fair appeared before our eyes! We could smell the cotton candy and there appeared to be a number of people milling about. Hey boys, we can go on some rides. .....again with the Duggan curse.....The fair was just setting up, it would not be open for at least another hour! We decided not to wait, opting instead to go to Swiss Chalet for a chicken dinner. We seemed to be in luck, it was not busy. A chatty young lady took our orders, brought the boys some crayons and went off to the kitchen. About ten minutes later she returned to our table.....you guessed it....Duggan curse, yet again! Swiss Chalet had run out of chicken! If we didn't mind waiting for an hour, they would have a fresh batch ready! That's like Tim Hortons being out of coffee or MacDonalds running out of burgers. We changed our orders and eventually ate a less than wonderful meal.
The evening was rounded out with a movie at our house - Craig and I both fell asleep!
Jan 31, 2008
The Duggan Curse!
Have you ever dealt with the "Duggan Curse"? It can manifest in many ways, but the it often comes by way of ruined plans. Plan a trip, and the place will be closed when you get there. Plan a renovation, it will cost double and take twice as long as it should. etc etc.
Post a blog on here and tell us all about it.
Post a blog on here and tell us all about it.
and down she goes!
Joanne here:
I woke before the alarm this morning after a good nights sleep. Toast and tea to start the day, while watching the morning news and weather forecast. So far so good, a routine morning. I walked up to Caitlin's bedroom in our little cottage to get dressed as my clothing is in her bedroom. As I was leaving the bedroom I spied the full basket of dirty laundry and thought I might as well take it downstairs with me. In retrospect, I should have simply chucked the stuff over the railing, it ended up in a heap anyway! The staircase is very narrow and I think the steps are a little short. I briefly thought to myself that I should be careful as I balanced the basket out in front of me, unable to see the steps. I felt my right heel hit the edge of the step and come out from under me. I am sure it would have been a comical sight as the basket flew, my arms went up and my back came down - hard - on the wooden steps. All air escaped from my lungs in a big WHOOSH! There I lay, sprawled in a most inelegant fashion, gasping for air. The noises that came from me can only be described as a beached seal barking! It is amazing the things that rush through your head in milliseconds. Would the kids wake up and help me? I had to work, there were too many dogs booked for me to be hurt. There is no way I am seeing a doctor in this outfit, especially with the Christmas weight I have gained. Will my lungs please take a breath in? I hope none of my makeup is broken. (my makeup bag was in the laundry basket)
Devin and Caitlin did wake up. Devin said he heard a loud crash and came running. Caitlin was worried about the weird noises I was making. Devin asked if I could move. I wasn't sure for a few moments. But, slowly, and noisily, the breath returned to my lungs and I started to pull myself up. I am fine, I assured them both. I just need a couple of advil and all will be well! And, truth be told, I was okay. I went to work. Groomed a ton of dogs and lived on advil for the day. I must admit that now, 12 hours later, I am pretty sore. I am sore in places I wouldn't have imagined, like my sternum! How come?!? My right thigh hurts! And, most of all, my pride!
When I got home from work, Caitlin showed me that she has put a basket at the bottom of the stairs and we can just throw our laundry in it. I like that idea a lot.
I woke before the alarm this morning after a good nights sleep. Toast and tea to start the day, while watching the morning news and weather forecast. So far so good, a routine morning. I walked up to Caitlin's bedroom in our little cottage to get dressed as my clothing is in her bedroom. As I was leaving the bedroom I spied the full basket of dirty laundry and thought I might as well take it downstairs with me. In retrospect, I should have simply chucked the stuff over the railing, it ended up in a heap anyway! The staircase is very narrow and I think the steps are a little short. I briefly thought to myself that I should be careful as I balanced the basket out in front of me, unable to see the steps. I felt my right heel hit the edge of the step and come out from under me. I am sure it would have been a comical sight as the basket flew, my arms went up and my back came down - hard - on the wooden steps. All air escaped from my lungs in a big WHOOSH! There I lay, sprawled in a most inelegant fashion, gasping for air. The noises that came from me can only be described as a beached seal barking! It is amazing the things that rush through your head in milliseconds. Would the kids wake up and help me? I had to work, there were too many dogs booked for me to be hurt. There is no way I am seeing a doctor in this outfit, especially with the Christmas weight I have gained. Will my lungs please take a breath in? I hope none of my makeup is broken. (my makeup bag was in the laundry basket)
Devin and Caitlin did wake up. Devin said he heard a loud crash and came running. Caitlin was worried about the weird noises I was making. Devin asked if I could move. I wasn't sure for a few moments. But, slowly, and noisily, the breath returned to my lungs and I started to pull myself up. I am fine, I assured them both. I just need a couple of advil and all will be well! And, truth be told, I was okay. I went to work. Groomed a ton of dogs and lived on advil for the day. I must admit that now, 12 hours later, I am pretty sore. I am sore in places I wouldn't have imagined, like my sternum! How come?!? My right thigh hurts! And, most of all, my pride!
When I got home from work, Caitlin showed me that she has put a basket at the bottom of the stairs and we can just throw our laundry in it. I like that idea a lot.
Jan 30, 2008
Thats great to hear about Devin, hopefully he will go to college, heck if I knew then what I know now, I would still be in school, and im on board with Caitlin and hating the dentist, I think I will look into the gas thing next time as the freezing is what drives me bananas the most, good luck to her next week, it will all be over soon!
Still cold cold cold today, but managed to time the busses dot on so that was good, I did go to my interview only to find out the manager was elsewhere, she did leave apologies and asked another girl to get my resume and availability, I bet she calls me in over the next day or two to start work as everywhere is desperate for help here.
Carl made it home today bringing 5 times more stuff than he went up there with 18 months ago! how does that happen, its the same no matter where, I had a good cleanout before we moved in here and already im getting rid of junk!!
Anyhow thats all and we need to see more bloggers on here.
Still cold cold cold today, but managed to time the busses dot on so that was good, I did go to my interview only to find out the manager was elsewhere, she did leave apologies and asked another girl to get my resume and availability, I bet she calls me in over the next day or two to start work as everywhere is desperate for help here.
Carl made it home today bringing 5 times more stuff than he went up there with 18 months ago! how does that happen, its the same no matter where, I had a good cleanout before we moved in here and already im getting rid of junk!!
Anyhow thats all and we need to see more bloggers on here.
Jan 29, 2008
How to have fun on a day off!
Craig and I both had the day off yesterday. We began the day at the school board office to get the results of some testing Devin had done recently. It may seem a bit odd to have educational testing done when he is nearing the end of grade 12, but it has important implications if Devin decides to take any college courses. They were able to remove a couple of the original diagnoses that were made when Devin was 10. He has outgrown the adhd! This can happen in high school, particularly to boys. He still has some specific learning disabilities to contend with in the area of memory. Having this officially documented means that the college will be bound to offer various supports to help him, which could include a laptop and a person to take notes! Of course this is all somewhat dependent on Devin passing grade 12 and expressing a desire to go to college.
We next had some time to kill before taking nervous nellie (Caitlin) to the dentist for the first of a series of appointments to fill many cavities! We killed the time in a book store and then had a light lunch. Caitlin requires goofy gas at the dentist and for this reason she was not able to eat in the morning. So, she had the pleasure of watching her parents chow down.
Dentist appointments have always been an adventure with Caitlin. They have varied from outright screaming and kicking to hand clutching and crying. Yesterday went very well. The goofy gas was strapped on, her mp3 player attached firmly to her ears, a death grip on the assistants hand and then dentist was able to fill 4 teeth! She even dosed off briefly!
Next Monday we get to repeat the whole procedure.
As far as the weather goes, Alberta and Saskatechewan are out of order sending their arctic blast on to us! It is due to arrive tonight with very cold temps, tons of snow and strong winds! Yippee, can't wait. Bye for now - Joanne
We next had some time to kill before taking nervous nellie (Caitlin) to the dentist for the first of a series of appointments to fill many cavities! We killed the time in a book store and then had a light lunch. Caitlin requires goofy gas at the dentist and for this reason she was not able to eat in the morning. So, she had the pleasure of watching her parents chow down.
Dentist appointments have always been an adventure with Caitlin. They have varied from outright screaming and kicking to hand clutching and crying. Yesterday went very well. The goofy gas was strapped on, her mp3 player attached firmly to her ears, a death grip on the assistants hand and then dentist was able to fill 4 teeth! She even dosed off briefly!
Next Monday we get to repeat the whole procedure.
As far as the weather goes, Alberta and Saskatechewan are out of order sending their arctic blast on to us! It is due to arrive tonight with very cold temps, tons of snow and strong winds! Yippee, can't wait. Bye for now - Joanne
Jan 28, 2008
I get to go first :)
I had this brainwave today to start a blog where we can all make entries, a great way for us to write down our daily antics and also gives us something to read everyday, and I will personally tutor Mum and Dad on how to use it, and they can then phone Joanne and curse that the bloody thing doesn't work right and she can tutor them again and so on and so on.
So im going to start by saying its way to cold and I was in sheer agony by the time the bus picked me up today, im going to a job interview tomorrow so will have on the long johns which make me look even fatter, a hat that once I take it off will have sticky out static hair and my huge boots, should make a great impression, I guess you lot in Toon town have it just as bad, yuck.
Carl is coming home tomorrow and staying here in Edmonton to work, yahooo first time in about 3 years, will be strange having him home every day, I guess I will have to cook more than just a baked potato for dinner.
The flood repairs are coming along and had the cement put back in the floor today, he had to smooth it out twice as Rocky had to leave his footprints in the first round.
Anyhow thats all for me for now, please add stuff, write whatever about whoever, whenever :) ttfn Jac.
So im going to start by saying its way to cold and I was in sheer agony by the time the bus picked me up today, im going to a job interview tomorrow so will have on the long johns which make me look even fatter, a hat that once I take it off will have sticky out static hair and my huge boots, should make a great impression, I guess you lot in Toon town have it just as bad, yuck.
Carl is coming home tomorrow and staying here in Edmonton to work, yahooo first time in about 3 years, will be strange having him home every day, I guess I will have to cook more than just a baked potato for dinner.
The flood repairs are coming along and had the cement put back in the floor today, he had to smooth it out twice as Rocky had to leave his footprints in the first round.
Anyhow thats all for me for now, please add stuff, write whatever about whoever, whenever :) ttfn Jac.
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