grumpy

Seems like a lot of you blog on the weekdays and take the weekends off. I, however, find that Saturday is a good day to sit down with the computer and post something without worrying that I am taking too much time away from the scalps that always await the busy phrenologist.

Rake is off to get ready for the prom. Or as she reminds me, "just prom, not ~the~ prom." OK. We get to go over at 6:15 and take pictures of her and the others she's going with to dinner. She told me she has been waiting for this big weekend, then she'll blog about it. So next week, check out www.creativebrick.blogspot.com.

Polio has been packing up his room and Sandbox has been hanging around waiting for a chance to have some Polio time to himself. Easel had a track meet today. She's pissed cuz she thinks she had the best distances in both events but got second place. I don't know why they had some girl from a rival school helping document the results either. Mmm...

For those who don't know, I am really bummed these days. The stinkin' work permit is taking forever and this whole process has taken a financial and emotional toll on most of us. Gas prices are going up. We had the clutch worked on last week. I mean, glad we got to do it before it went out on the drive to NS or something, but lousy timing. Allergies, packing, constant questions about when I am actually leaving are combining to make me a grump.


harumph.

Another List

I would like to win a lifetime supply of, and never have to spend my hard-earned money on, the following:
1. socks
2. underwear
3. shampoo
4. batteries
5. tampons
6. bobby pins/hair ties
7. toothbrushes
8. milk
9. laundry detergent
10. cat food

What's on your list?

Another List

I really want to post something but I don't have any good stories that come to mind. So here's a list instead.

Favorite Drinks - not really in any order except #1
1. ice water - big glass, glass glass (not plastic), lots of ice cubes (big cubes, not crushed ice), infinite refills at hand.
2. iced tea - weak, almost like ice water, no lemon, no mint, NO SUGAR, lots of ice.
3. Diet Pepsi or Diet Coke - in a glass or styrofoam cup like at the gas station, must have ice.
4. dark beer - glass bottle or pilsner, not too heavy, microbrewery, Mexican, German - cold (I'm not British).
5. white wine - nothing too sweet, not picky.
6. gin and tonic - with a lime, light on the tonic.
7. margarita - original flavor (never had any other), preferable on the rocks but frozen OK.
8. non-dark beer - heffe weisse, other imported.
9. chocolate milk shake - think, but not so thick you can't get it through the straw, no whipped cream or other crap on top.
10. cafe mocha - basically a coffee disguised as hot chocolate, skip the whipped cream.

Nuttin" Much

Here's the latest for those who wanna keep up:
Polio moves to Boomtown May 19th.
Rake's prom is April 28th; the show goes up the following week.
Sandbox's solo is May 6th.
Easel's best stats at the meet today: shotput - 18'1"; diskus - 50'10"

In other news ... there is no other news.

Meanwhile I can't get enough of Dancing with the Stars.
What are you watching?

Trying Something New

OK. I've been wanting to figure out how to post pictures on here. Not because I have any pressing need to show you something right now. But everyone else has them and they do add to the posts I think.

Polio showed me how to do this earlier this evening and now I'm going to try it so this is kind of a test. But what pictures to put on here? The first thing that came to mind are these photos that have haunted me since the first time I saw them. I've added captions/titles, but if you have one, please share.

Here's photo #1: "They tell me the bandages will be off by spring."

This second one I call: My Grandma Knitted Me this Ski Mask. Why does Grandma Hate Me?

Finally, I call this one "I will butcher you in your sleep."

Thanks, Polio, for the tutorial.

Just sittin', and waitin', and dreamin', and postin'

Not a lot to report on Canada and jobs at the moment. Some things may be brewing, but maybe not. I'll keep it on the DL for now and let you know if it pans out.

In other news:

Rake is going to the prom, her one and only Midwest prom since we'll be moving. I LOVE the young man who's taking her (a senior) and think she'll have a great time. We went dress shopping last Saturday. Of course we hit the resale shop because I'm frugal like that. Thankfully, Rake has that gene as well so no arguing about the venue.

I really liked the virginal white dress but Rake pointed out, correctly, that it kind of looked used. Not in an obvious way, especially not obvious in the lighting I would expect at the prom, but still. We both liked the seafoam green dress but it was a strapless dress, rather heavy (more like a bridesmaid dress I thought) and would be tough to dance and feel comfortable in. And not the best color on her. We settled on a killer black number. It has straps (yes), it's stretchy velvet so it'll be comfie and easy to dance in (yes), and looks smokin'! The problem? Well, not sure it's a problem for Rake, but it's very form-fitting and, well, smokin'! I told my mom that Rake needs some opera length black gloves and a microphone and she'd look perfect atop a piano in a smoky nightclub.

Easel didn't get to be in the first track meet since she missed school earlier in the day - recovering from the tiring car trip to Detroit. But she got to be a runner for the judges and had a good time. Just hanging out on the field, she made some new friends from other schools. I don't really worry about her making friends in the new place. BTW, she corrected me - she's not putting shot because it was too heavy and she could only make it go about 2 feet. Instead she's throwing diskus (how do you spell that?).

Sandbox will be going for his red ribbon this spring in the RSCM - very cool. He'll have a solo at their Bach Society concert in May. He's really liking the music they're playing in band too so things are going well.

Polio is making a good impression at the Sammich Shop. Check out his post at www.floppysockdance.blogspot.com . Sounds like they're grooming him for the big time. As he has said to me before, "the oldies and the d-bags love me."

Ciao.

My pirate name is:

Captain Bess Kidd

Even though there's no legal rank on a pirate ship, everyone recognizes you're the one in charge. Even though you're not always the traditional swaggering gallant, your steadiness and planning make you a fine, reliable pirate. Arr!

Get your own pirate name from piratequiz.com.
part of the fidius.org network

I'm kinda boring as a pirate. Guess I'll stick to phrenology and the mesmer. Nevertheless, thanks Q - I like quizzes.

Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain

OK. I'm now in a place (mentally) where I can write about the Canada plan and how things are progressing. They are progressing slowly. And expensively.

Last Sunday we drove part of the way to Detroit. We stopped in Paw Paw , Michigan where we had a nice swim in the pool and a hot tub in our room. The kids liked it a lot, which is a good thing. The next morning we got up early and continued onward to the Canadian consulate in Detroit. I had been in touch with the immigration attorney in Nova Scotia (paid by the new employer, not me) and scoured the applicable website. I thought I had all my ducks in a row. I thought that the process would take two weeks or so if you mail the stuff in, but had been told that you can get your work permit that day if you walk it in. This was our mindset when we arrived.

1. Attorney guy had told me that there are forms to be filled out, but only if you're mailing in your application, not if you go in person. Wrong. We had to fill out work permit apps for me and the DH, and study permit apps for each of the kids.

2. I knew there would be fees for me and the DH. No one had said there would be fees for the kids too. We had brought extra cash "just in case." But when we heard the total ($575!!) we had a moment of panic. We scrounged in our respective wallets and came up with just enough. Well, that is, after the DH ran down to the bank to change some Canadian money I had been carrying around since November. They needed it to be paid all in one currency and in cash. As it was, the nice man there kept the office open an extra 15 mintues so we could do the money thing.

3. So, now it's 11:20 am (they officially close at 11) and we 're waiting, we're waiting, and we're waiting. At about noon, they tell us that "these things take a while and would we come back at 1:30?" No problem. That'll give us time to figure out how to get some money so we can get out of the parking garage and maybe even buy some some gas to get home.

4. 1:30pm. We're waiting. About 1:45, she calls me up and gives me a couple of forms. First, I need to send in proof of five years experience in my current job/profession. Now, I can get this easily. I could have brought this with me IF I HAD KNOWN ABOUT IT. That was not on the website. Anywhere.

5. I had specifically asked the attorney if I would need to have the medical exam because, although I won't be in the hospital, I am employed by the hospital and, on paper at least, it looks like a job that could affect the public health. He assured me that I would not unless we were applying for permanent residency status. Different thing. Guess what! I have to have the medical exam. There are only two doctors in my state (and the one to the east) that do these official exams. And they ain't cheap.

So, we return home, despondent and depressed because we thought we'd be leaving there with permits in hand. Instead, we had had to call a friend to wire us money (which fortunately we had, just not on us), we were hungry, and disappointed. I felt like the Wizard had told me to he'd grant my request, but only after I bring him the broomstick of the ... you get it.

So, yesterday Polio accompanied me to the big city to have the medical exam. I had to give bodily fluids and have a chest X-ray. They were all very nice though the trip took the whole day and the exam cost $250. The doc was impressed that I brought him a copy of my whole medical record, but I'm trying hard to be prepared. What's another twenty bucks? The nurse there was convinced that each family member has to have the exam - better not. I think that's only if you're looking for permant residency, but who the hell knows at this point. I've got my letter from my current boss.

Now we're waiting. I am grateful that we had excellent weather for all these excursions. We are so fortunate to have great friends like the one that sent money. I know I'm lucky that my current place of employment is not kicking me out. But I hate everybody asking me "when are you leaving? when's your last day?" I DON"T KNOW!!

Anyway, Happy Easter everybody. I'm not as bummed as I was on Tuesday and I finally got a good night's sleep. I hope to be blogging regularly again.