And...It's Been A While...

Hey football fans, I haven't blogged for weeks! How about that upset at the Grey Cup? Ha, ha, how stupid are those Riders? 13 guys on the field...your worst nightmare. I was kinda happy for the Als, mostly b/c Calvillo is a good guy (in my opinion) and because I friggin' hate the Riders. I do...I admit it.

In the NFL, my son's Cowboys beat the Raiders (but of course :-) on American Thanksgiving last Thursday and my Chargers beat the team they were playing (I forgot who...see above, it's been awhile). Nonetheless, a very good week in football!!!

Christmas will be here before we know it. I have completed and mailed the Xmas cards, lots of them, including the annual holiday letter. It's mostly for kicks and giggles, I started doing the letter thing in '05 when we had such a busy year with the wedding & stuff, and I just continued because I actually get good feedback! My Aunties and other assorted people tell me they love getting the letter...so it's a win, win. I like writing it and...they like reading it! Sorry Kim, I didn't send you a letter...but I did send a Christmas picture of S that I, Roseanne Roseanna Danna took, and it's pretty nice. It's her standing in front of the blow up Christmas thingey, which is a Snowman/Christmas Tree/Santa scene (that also lights up and plays music) and she is tentatively holding Santa's hand. It's a very cute picture and I might add, pretty artsy. I am not in the league of my brother in terms of photography but I do love to take pictures.

Anyway, yah, the cards are done. Lots of gifts are bought but not wrapped. Next Thursday (Dec 10) hubby and son are off to Texas!! Back in Sep, I bloged about Son A's birthday/Xmas gift which was a trip to see his Cowboys play my Chargers (go Chargers!). So yah, it's almost here. They will be back Dec 14th. Maybe I can get some gifts wrapped when they're gone...who knows, anything can happen. I detest wrapping gifts...hubby knows this and never offers to help. But he does lots of other good stuff, including cook (on wknds, weekdays he's home too late) and other...stuff...I dunno, take the garbage out? That kind of stuff.

We are having a potluck at work tomorrow...my small area and another small area, combining our efforts and culinary skills. I chose early on to make my 7-layer taco dip...and I'm bringing Tostitos to go with...duh! Some of the others are making hot dishes...that's not for me, ladies & germs. I don't really like to cook and so I have no 'signature dish' to make. Nor do I care!!! Anyway, it'll be fun and we'll have tonnes of food and I can actually relax for like an hour...work's been busy lately (always).

From icanhascheezburger:

I thought it was frikkin' funny.

I found this one hilarious!!! (I like the kitteh's 'cattitude'):

Hmmmm, what else? That's about it.

TTFN and don't do anything I wouldn't do.

CFM

The Winds of November...

Great title, eh? I just thought it sounded like, mysterious...not much to say...anyway...hey, all that rhymes, by the way. That did too! Oh...I am on a roll, football fans. So who's gonna win the really big game this wknd? CFM really does not care all that much since her beloved Bombers were knocked out, early (their own fault). Anyway, given that Calgary won the Grey Cup last year, Burris et al finally got their Grey Cup rings, maybe I'll cheer for da other team...or maybe not.

We are sooooo lucky in the 'Peg to have above-seasonal temps with no precipitation...yet (if you don't count the dam snow on Oct 9th). When I drive by 'the lake' (by our house) at night and see the black sea of Canada Geese sleeping on the water, I can't help but think they are freezing their tushes off!!! What is their problem???!! It's the same story every year, a few misguided geese just cannot get their butts into gear and take off for warmer climes. Fly South! Go! Now! Before it's too late. There's always one in the crowd who gets his (her?) butt frozen to the lake overnight when it starts to freeze over. Typically they are rescued, but sometimes...oh I just can't think about the alternative, being an animal lover and all. I just hope they get on their way soon...dumb-asses!!! Hell, if I had the ability to fly South just for sh*ts and giggles, you bet I'd be long gone...I'd prolly never come back!!!

So, TD Canada Trust. They suck...at least this one particular branch does. My son's GIC (for his edumacation) matured Nov. 6 and on that very day I not only spoke with a nice lady named "C" in customer service, but she got the 'investment' or whatever lady named "O" to call me...and O left a message on my home machine lickety-split, that very day. I wanted another vehicle to put this (copious, vast amount of) money (yah, in my dreams!) into, before son A graduates (God willing) in June and needs it for his edumacation, as stated above. So on Nov 9, I call O and leave her a message...same on Nov 10. Nov 11 was a holly-day, so I call her Nov 12...and Nov 13... and Nov 16. And she never calls me back. How rude! Then I try someone else name of "JL" and we play telephone tag a few times, talk this past Tuesday, and I tell her in the end just write a cheque for the amount of the now moot certificate cuz it ain't doing any good just lying there and I want to put it into my (ginormous) 'premium' savings account at a Credit Union (at a double-top-secret location...if I tell you, I'll have to kill you)...which earns a goodly amount of interest...'spesh when compared with '0' per cent interest.

After Tuesday, JL goes AWOL on me...I leave her several more messages & we play telephone tag for 2 days and then we talk today. I am so exasperated at this point, I instruct her to write a dam cheque and me and my son will be in today after work/school to sign for/pick it up. Which we did. But not before I called this so-called "Manager of Customer Service" (C) at the branch (who was conveniently away today) to leave her a delightful message, chronicling the 2-week dog & pony show of us trying to get our hands on our money. She'll call me back Monday...we'll talk. Methinks this branch desperately needs the following seminars:

1. How To Return Phone Messages, Period

1. How To Return Phone Messages In A Timely Manner

1. Customer Service - You're Doing It Wrong!

Whatever...we got the cheque & that's the end of the story...for now...mutha f*kers

Here is exactly what I think of TD Canada Trust (thank you cheezburger):

And, on a related note:

Hmmm, looks like the gals at TD Canada Trust are on yet another break.

That was way too much time devoted to the Bozos at TDCT.

Here is the BEST LOL ever!!!

And that's it for me, gotz lotz to do and determined to actually get some of it done. Then relax with an MGD...sounds like a plan.

Adieu football fans...

CFM

The Fruits of our Labour

This blog is titled thus because I am going to show you my parents' house, all decked out for Christmas! My daughter and I spent alot of summer refinishing the cedar on the house - as you can see there is a lot of it...cedar I mean. First I prepped it by pressure-washing and letting it dry for days. Then I sanded it all. And then M and I primed it and stained it. We then re-stained the deck and son-in-law came in to finish off the deck with the lattice. My sis and niece did the fascia and eavestrough, under the constant supervision of my Pop :-) He is compelled...so you just go with it. It was a promise made the last week of May when he was in hospital for eight days with pneumonia and other ailments...we fulfilled...and then some, methinks.




I took these shots on Sunday...I think the house looks pretty awesome. I can take no credit for the lighted creatures that seem to multiply each year on the deck. (And I think the pumpkins really add to it, don't you :-)

I thought I'd post some shots of Grandbaby S as she has grown this year. And the odd random, just to mix it up a little. I only got to September...more another day. Enjoy.

At Spaghetti Factory in January.

This one's funny, looks like she's about to "lay one on" her Uncle A!

I'm Too Cute!

With her Mama (guess which one has 'bed head').

Princess "S" in her Princess Chair.

A Princess Birthday Cake made with Love by Granny.



In her Birthday Tutu!

Not enjoying the pool at Granny's b'day party.

Romping thru Great Grampa's grass...



Mwaaa haa haa haa haa haa!



Spencer Dog enjoying some sun.

Son A & best bud C on him's birthday.

Baby S measuring Granny's birthday cedar. Yup, it's this tall.

Just bein' Cute Little Ole Me!

I will end with a cool picture from Vegas:


This is a quaint little liquor/deli/sundries store off the Strip (Vegas) that we frequent each tme we go, for cold bottled water and, of course, room beer. It's right behind our hotel, Bill's Saloon & Gamblin' Hall (I sure liked its former name, the Barbary Coast). Anyway, every year they have 21 years left on their lease...they must keep getting it renewed, huh? Oh...I miss Vegas...see you next year! Same time, same place.


That's it for me today, really didn't have time for this, but it's an excellent housework avoidance maneuvre, n'est ce pas?

See you in the funny papers!

Love & Peace,
CFM

Friday The 13th

No, not the movie, just the title of today's blog. Ugh...I am unwell today (and yet I went in today...more than I can say for a lot of other 'no-shows'). I am queasy and have acquired a sore throat...does not bode well. And I am bloody disappointed! A scant week ago, I rid myself of the evil virus that hung out with me for 2 weeks. Grrrr! I haz a mad! So, not going to visit my buddy tonite, will try tomorrow IF i am feeling bettah. Which I better be cuz I don't have time to be sick, all I'm sayin'. Oh yeah, and I have a sick headache. Who remembers the in-laws (Darren's parents) from Bewitched??? The old tv series, not the movie. Anyway, the mother-in-law would always say "Frank. I've got a sick headache." whatever that meant, but I seriously have a "sick headache"...and an achy throat. This week was uppy-downy...two days of work, one day off, 2 days of work.

Awesome report card brought to us by son A...then his XBox broke, but hubby saved the day, they went out and bought another one. Yes, they robbed a bank on the way :-) I took a pass on Parent Teacher which I was convinced was Tuesday (it said so on the calendar...who knew I had an outdated calendar?) for 2 reasons: One - I had a bad headache/neck pain going on and B. Son A. brought home good marks, so no real screaming need to go...for a change! Wednesday was so-so, did relaxing & some chores, yardwork & housework. Had a bitchin' BBQ for dinner with steak & mushrooms and all that good stuff. It was a good day.

Yesterday (Thurs) I went to the school for the Grad Meeting which I was convinced was yesterday b/c there is one the 2nd Thursday of every month. Except when I got there, the meeting room was set up but devoid of parents-of-grads and I was informed that the grad meeting is next Thursday. Ok. I turn around and there seem to be an awful lot of people milling about. I spot someone I know and ask him if he's there for the (non-existent) grad meeting. He says no, he's there for Parent Teacher...which of course was yesterday and not Tuesday! Whatever. I went home to watch tv...it was Thursday and all my shows were on. So...grad meeting next Thursday, but I already have a commitment (as if I have a life! but I do!!) so I'll ask some other Mom to take notes for me please. What could there possibly be to say that wasn't said at the first grad meeting and that isn't written down in the pages & pages of grad notes, rules & regs...I ask... knowingly...

A cute black kitteh from icanhascheezburger:


Anyway, today not so bad/busy at work, a good thing as I felt a leetle bit like sh*t. What needed to get done got done and precious little beyond that.

So nothing to look forward to in the short-term...in the long-term (by the end of the weekend) I hope to see (cuddle, smooch, etc.) granddotter S...that is, if I am in fact not sick, if I am, then no. Oh please, Gods of the queasy guts, let me get better!!! This I beg of you.

There, that should do it...going to cruise 'o crap my parents joined facebook' and other time-wasting interwebs sites...just because I can!

Adieu, football fans,

CFM

Good Day...Bad Day

It started out ok...nothing unusual. Woke up with a headache...don't you just hate that? At least you should earn the headache; in my humble opinion. Anyway, work was no big deal, neither good nor bad. But more tired as the day wore on and then my neck got into it (old war injuries). However, I went out at lunch to peruse stuff and found a most awesome gift for my seester's birthday. Good Day. By the time I came home, I was pretty sure I wasn't going to Parent Teacher (PT) tonight re: head & neck pounding. And don't you just hate when they put PT on the eve. of a holiday/day off? They do this in the Spring too...Thursday before Good Friday. Thanks...I love that.

Anyway...son A's report card turned out to be Awesome! Marks in the 90's, football fans. Good Day. Great! I thot, he's taking Grade 12 seriously and what a turnaround from the last few years. So, that clinched it for me - no need to go to PT! I'm always going and sweet-talking the teachers, or wheedling them to give him another chance...but not this time! So I lie down with my gel ice pack behind my neck and the next thing I know, A's XBox dies. It just...simply...dies. Done like dinner...poke it with a fork, cuz it's done. Bad Day. Very Bad Day.

'Speshally considering that not 18 hours ago, he & his cousin K went to WalMart and each purchased the new Call of Duty game for Live. And then his system dies. Oh...the bitter irony. I feel badly, I really do. He proceeds to go downstairs to lift weights and scare the bejesus out of all the cats due to all the noise, noise, noise, noise. Between the music and the swearing and pounding of heavy weights to basement floor, they don' know what to think. I just think, better the basement floor than his room or some furniture (taking a pounding).

So since I ain't going to PT, hubby is making dinner...imagine his surprise when he opened the fridge and found this:

No, we are not having cat omelets, stir-fry or Denver sammiches. We shooed him out and off he went. Catz...can't live with 'em, can't live with 'em...

Since we actually never get around to removing our old "eighties" Christmas lights from the house and putting up new ones, I vote we do this (house on the right):

Christmas Decorating 101 : easy peezy.

Well...that's about it for moi on this good day/bad day.

Tomorrow is Remembrance Day, so please remember all those who went before us and made the ultimate sacrifice...and those who are still fighting for freedom and liberty to this day. My hat is off to these brave men and women and may they all come home safely.

Lest We Forget,
CFM

Goodbye Bombers...Nice Knowin' Ya

*Sigh*...*heavy sigh*...all is lost in Bomberville, football fans. Even though Good Michael showed up today, they played very stupidly and they pay a hefty price for it. They are done, it's over, fini, the end of the road, and other phrases that mean the sun has set on our beloved Bombers. I do feel sorry for them, due to the Mike Kelly factor. Really, you can't butcher a team the way he did in June...July...and continued to do pretty much all season, get rid of our quarterback Kevin Glenn who's gone on to do wonderful things for Hamilton, bring in LeFors who sucks big time AND throws like a girl, bring in Bishop after LeFors, Ritchie and every other imposter quarterback wannabe we've had has failed...you can't do all that and expect to have any kind of consistency. Or a good season. Yah, some of them tried, but methinks alot of them gave up and hey, why wouldn't they? They're gettin' paid anyway, right? After game nine...hmmm, sounds like a conspiracy, kinda like MLB. Ugh. Hey Mike, your village called, they want their idiot back. And, Mr. Kelly continued, right to the bitter end, his love-hate (mostly hate) relationship with the media, the fans and the like, all those people who pay his gosh durn salary. A more pompous, arrogant man you would be hard-pressed to find...and all with no good reason...this guy's got an Ego the size of Manhattan, ladies & germs! AUGH!!! see you all next year...well, I'm sure we won't see ALL of you...ah, whatever, it's a sad, sad day and a sad end to a topsy-turvey, uppy-downy, zany season. Hmph.

Oh well. My Chargers beat the Giants today, football fans!!! With like 17 seconds left, Phil squeaked it in. They are SO going to have the Dallas Cowboys for dinner on Dec 13th. This is the game which my hubby & son will be attending...in Dallas...on the 13th. While Iyam envious that Iyam not going, Iyam also looking forward to some ME time...some downtime...some clean the house & get ready for Xmas time...some have a few friends over for wine time! Yes!!!

Anyway, must continue with my current project of purging crap & superfluous clothing from closets and etc., so I can de-clutter and de-crap...and all of this started because I CAN'T FIND MY DAM GLOVES!!! I know I put them in the closet...they seem to have vanished into thin air. Not one pair but two! Black leather and hot pink! which were an Xmas gift from a friend. Oh, I know I'll see them again someday, but I'd like to know where the h-e-double hockey sticks I put them!

G'nite football fans, no bad dreams now,

CFM

Weekend is Finally Here!

Ahh, the weekend...2 of the most bee-utiful words in the English language...aside from "summer afternoon". It's been a loooooong week, but most productive, I must say. Well, at work anyway, not at home...no, I've been resting, trying to get the remnants of this nasty cold outta me for 2 weeks and I think it worked. "The tireds" haz finally gone away...I seriously need to clean this place, get ready for winter, purge, purge, purge (Value Village, I'll have a trunk load of stuff for you :-)

Bombers - it's Win or Go Home time! I hope you guyz haz it in youze to make it work on Sunday. While I won't be there freezing my 'tocks for you, I will watch on the tube if TSN don't black it out. C'MON Blue, you can do it, you can beat those lowly TiCats!!! We are keeping the Faith...in spite of Mike Kelly!

In other news...oh yah, I'm babysitting granddotter S tomorrow while my dotter M gets her hairz dun...son-in-law S be working. I haven't seen her since Halloween, I realize...it'll be fun!! And M has been sick longer than I have with this cold. She can have some 'time out' and away from the behbeh. Sunday, we're s'posed to go shopping...Christmas shopping...for moi, window shopping. Payday is still 6 days away!

Well, that's it for me, going to relax now, lots of stuff to do this wknd...pray for me.

Hope y'all have a good wknd and hope the Bombers win!

Love & Peace,
CFM