It's cottage season

Off we go to the north...my parents have suggested we should 'learn' how to open the cottage for the season, in case they are travelling another year, or something. I don't want to think about them not being around or capable of things they have always done, but I suppose I had better prepare myself for the possibility. Every day I interact with many who are much younger and less mobile, it is a real eye-opener and sad.
Anyway, finally glad that the summer, or hints of it, are upon us.
Cheers! Go mix that margharita and locate some firewood...

Distance really sucks

Just had a deep conversation with my new sister in law, her and my eldest bro-in-law live in Northern BC with my one year old niece. It's really not fair, one of my most kindred spirits so far away - neither one of us ready to leave our home provinces behind. Neither one making the kind of money (as a family) that can manage to visit often... we are lucky if we can see each other once a year. It's really too bad. But maybe it would just be too hard on me to see so much of my adorable neice...I am really jealous, is that so horrible. There are just days that I presume it will never happen, and if it does it will be so riddled with problems that I wish it didn't - what if my potential child had my husband's seizures - could I really watch it go through that?

How much is too much

Another week done, another dollar earned...or more than a few if you are in my line of work.
As I sit here, sipping a glass or 2 or more of Aussie red, one must wonder how we get so damned hypocritical. I was riding my hubby tonight about the amount of whisky he sometimes consumes, reasoning with him to leave some for all the other thirsty people and slow down a bit... but its a bit of a lost cause. Someone who grew up in basically a dry household has a much different concept of what is acceptable than someone surrounded by heavy drinkers.

the battle continues ;)

Fall down, go boom

My husband experienced another seizure on Tuesday, he went down just as he entered a bank in Windsor. I had spoken to him only 45 mins prior and he seemed perfectly fine. His long lost brother was the one to call me to say that he was taken to the hospital. The news that he was taken by ambulance is no longer the alarming part - it is what might come next that scares the daylights out of me. Thank goodness this time he was not injured, beyond some very sore muscles and a headache. He's been very lucky so far that each time he is either sleeping or standing in an open area. His last episode was in Jan, 3-4 months ago. They have done all the tests and tell him he is perfectly fine, just a little dehydrated. Whatever. When I get dehydrated, I get thirsty, I don't have a grand mal seizure...

So I learned that Windsor is an awful long way to drive, especailly a round trip. I had to take someone with me to pick up Dan and his vehicle.

Long lost uncle

I had the strangest dream last night...I received a handwritten card in the mail, addressed to me from a european address. Inside, the card read "Cher Suzan, please join us in celebrating my 80th birthday...Uncle Joe" Included was a boarding pass and cabin number for a cruise leaving from France(?) in 2 months time. Instructions indicated that all cruise expenses were covered by Joe except airfare. WOW! But of course, I don't have an uncle Joe. Do I go anyway and pose and the north american relative, the card was addressed to me in eighty-year old cursive... what would you do?

Too bad it was only a dream...

Waiting on spring

New dusting of snow this morning, I am really getting impatient. Just to be outdoors would be nice. I am feeling lazy and cooped up.

Playing favourites

Ever covet something so much because you can't have it....only to find that eventually when you do it does not live up to your expectations? (and I'm not talking about men :)

This happened to me over something very trivial - my favourite beer, or so I thought.

Caffrey's used to be my beer of choice, hands down over all others. It was tasty and smooth, low carbonation and just plain delicious. I can't stand watery fizzy lagers with no flavour. Anyway, a few months ago I noticed that shelves all over the tricities were void of Caffreys - I feared the worst after they discontinued my favourite brand of Rum last year - Whalers Vanilla - but whew - turns out there was simply a shortage of product being imported from Ireland, so eventually, just after Paddys Day there appeared my beloved Caffreys and it found it's way home with me.

Now, in the mean time during this unexpected dry spell, i have to admit I was cheating - trying desparately to find a suitable and equally enjoyable replacement. One of my old favourites is Amsterdam Nut Brown Ale, but I also found a couple of new favourites: Hockley Valley Dark and Millhouse Coffee Porter (though you can't drink too many, they are great with dessert).

To my surprise, compared to these other brands, I was quite disappointed when I tasted Caffreys again. Could it be that my palatte is changing? That it is becoming apparent that darker is better (again, talking about beer here!). We'll have to see. Kinda like the day I decided that hands down a red wine was much better that white and that rosé was sort of like koolaid.

This may be a long process to determine, since I really only drink a few beers a week. I'll let you know how it comes along.

What I am really waiting for is Creemore Springs to bring thier dark blend to the stores, we tasted this in toronto and loved it.

Do you ever lose your touch?

Experienced quite a vivid dream last night - it involved the restaurant/bar I used to run though of course like most dreams the location didn't look recognizable, but I knew that's what it was supposed to be. A couple of rocker hooligans were the owners and the place was a disgusting mess. I think my friend k was on staff there and complaining that they were so far removed from knowing how to run the place (sound familiar) I remember trying to offer these dudes some tips that would at least retain or attract thier female crowd (clean bathrooms and floors that aren't sticky) and where you have females you will have males. They were more concerned with giving impromptu rock performances and giving away booze -crazy. At one point I felt so bad for the over worked staff I started clearing tables. Someone turned to me as I reached for multiple beer bottles with one hand and said "so you think you can still do that,eh?" I don't think you ever lose the ability to multitask and make fewer trips - it's just a service thing.

It's all about the fresh fried Perch and Vereneki....

SMORG ~ Saturday, April 14, 2007 4:00–8:00p.m. Join us at Grace Mennonite Church in St. Catharines for our Grand SMORG Finale to celebrate 32 years of this successful fundraising event. GREAT FOOD, GREAT FELLOWSHIP. All monies raised will benefit Silver Lake Mennonite Camp.

(I spent 12 years at this great place for kids)

Grace Mennonite Church677 Niagara St, St. Catharines, ON L2M 3R4Tickets: $30 (per person), $60 (per couple), $75 (per family) available on location.Tax deductable receipts will be issued for a portion of the ticket price (minus $5/person for the meal)

Fundraiser for a great kid

Family and friends of a KCA family (Bloomingdale ON) are hosting a special fundraiser at Koinonia on Sat April 14th in support of Jeramee’s Journey. Jeramee Snethlage and his family are in need of wheelchair accessibility for their van. Four year old Jeramee has severe neuropathy and cannot walk. Help Jeramee and his family travel together.
You are invited to come out & support this day by enjoying one of several Professional Spa Services offered. The day is called "Pampering with a Purpose".

Details on the event and more info about Jeramee can be found at:
http://www.jerameesjourney.ca/events/index.html

The flyer for the event is uploaded at:
http://teacherweb.com/ON/KCA/Principal/Pamperingwithpurpose.pdf