Things are a little hectic here these days. Hubby left for Chile on Friday - he returns Dec 8. I thought I'd end up missing a whole bunch of stuff, but somehow everything has fallen into place. It's actually weird how perfectly aligned it is - must be something in the stars. Here is the itinerary, starting with last Thursday evening.

• Thursday: I had a client until 6:30, then skipped choir (gasp!!!) and went to see Raindrop, Bugle Boy and several other friends in the opera Dido and Aeneas. It was awesome. Less awesome was the $55 parking ticket that I got - stupid meters have changed since the last time I parked there. They are now pay and monitored 24 hours/day. Bastards!
• Friday: Went to the warehouse to borrow mosaic lanterns from Boss Lady for the parish supper on Saturday. Picked up Hubby from work at 1:30, helped him get the last of his stuff organized. When the kids got in from school, we left for the airport, stopping to grab a bite on the way. We dropped him off at the curb. Corwin was a bit sad, but got over it one the way home. Corwin and I took Clara to the birthday party she was invited to. It was her first slumber party invite, and she couldn't sleep over because of her Saturday plans. Corwin and I went home, he had a bath, and we watched a movie. We picked Clara up at 9, and got in just as the phone was ringing. Hubby called from Toronto to say goodnight. Corwin got a bit teary at this, but they both went to bed fine. Hubby called me one more time before his flight left for Santiago.
  
• Saturday: Alarm clocks went off, we got up and had breakfast, got dressed, brushed teeth and finished packing toothbrushes and stuffed animals to go to Aunt Kat and Uncle Flyboy's house. I dropped them off and they headed for the train station. The four of them went to Montreal for the day, and then took the train back. Corwin and Clara slept over there. Meanwhile, I took Miss J for a walk, and tidied up a bit around here, and had a nap (glorious, glorious nap!!). Then I picked up Beck (whom it seems may be a Yalie but is never there since they have SO much leave!), and she and I helped decorate for the parish supper. The decor was good, the dinner and silent auction were a success, and then after packing it all up, we went for dessert with another good friend.
• Sunday : Got up, took dog out, went to get kids from Aunt Kat's. They were ready, and we headed for church. My parents met us there and I passed the kids to them. I rehearsed, sang, kissed kids and parents goodbye, went for brunch with choir friends (and Beck, who gave the homily this morning - how cool is that!?!?!), and then had a 2 hour choir rehearsal for the Christmas concert. Came home, took Jazz-dog out for a bit of a run, fed her, then went to my parents where dinner was being prepared. Had a glass of wine, played some Wii with the (tired and slightly whiny) kids, then came home, gave them baths and tucked them in. Planning on getting some major Christmas decorating done this evening.
  
• Monday: Kids have school, I plan on getting stuff done here. Clara has gymnastics, Corwin and I will have dinner at my parents' (we do every Monday).
• Tuesday: I have a client, a lesson, and Clara has violin. I usually have flute choir, and I was going to have to miss it, but T. has a gig so it is cancelled anyway. Will get kids fed, into bed, and then watch some bad tv (and do more decorating, maybe also Christmas cards).
• Wednesday: Have booked off of the Bear place, and will get things accomplished here. Kids have Cubs from 6:30-8:00.
  
• Thursday: Have to be in Carleton Place at 9:30 - it is my hectic day. I will have time in the afternoon to take Jazzy for a good run, and feed her before heading out to my 3:30-4:30 client, and my 5:30-6:30 client. My Dad meets the kids after school on Thursdays, I figured I would have to miss choir and pick them up from my parents' where they would have dinner. BUT . . . Friday is parent-teacher interview day, so there is no school. So I will go to choir, and the kids will sleep over at my parents' place.
  
• Friday: Parent teacher interviews at 9:00 and 9:10. Then will do something fun with my parents and the kids (just depends on the weather what we end up doing).
• Saturday: No plans!!!!! Will do something enjoyable with the kids.
• Sunday: church/choir, and then the kids have birthday parties in the afternoon. They will go to bed early-ish since it's a school night.
• Monday: Kids head to school, I head to airport to pick up Hubby. He'll be tired from the flight but not jet-lagged (time difference of one hour).
  

A for Hubby, he got to Santiago safely, and has e-mailed a couple of times. Here is the first:

Hi

I arrived. The flight was fine. Great food. Business class is very nice.

I got some sleep for a few hours.

No problems with customs, luggage or getting to the hotel.

It is sunny and 28 degrees here. I am going to go out and explore. Very busy city and they drive like they do in Mexico

I hope you and Mommy are doing well. Miss you all!

Can you let my parents know I am still alive.

I hope the parish supper goes/went well.

I will write more tomorrow.

Love

Hubby

XoXO

Your result for The Perception Personality Image Test...

NFDS - The Guide

Nature, Foreground, Detail, and Shape

You perceive the world with particular attention to nature. You focus on what's in front of you (the foreground) and how that is affected by the details of life. You are also particularly drawn towards the shapes around you. Because of the value you place on nature, you tend to find comfort in more subdued settings and find energy in solitude. You like to deal directly with whatever comes your way without dealing with speculating possibilities or outcomes you can't control. You are highly focused on specific goals or tasks and find meaning in life by pursuing those goals. You prefer a structured environment within which to live and you like things to be predictable.

Go here to take the test.

Ice Fish

Seriously, if Karat is still alive, hopefully she will be in the spring. I will do the weekly ice hole just in case. And I may buy a friend for Starla, who looks a little lost in his tank in the basement. Will I feel guilty if she dies? Of course, but I think I made a more than valiant effort. Right?

Snow Fish

Well people, I have officially lost it. This is what I'm dealing with. I am about to make a second attempt to rescue Karat from the pond. Oh, and in my search yesterday, I discovered that Pebbles (the frog) has taken up residence in the mud at the bottom. So I will still have to make a hole in the ice weekly throughout the winter, to allow gases to escape (I think - I am looking into it - it may be less of an issue for frogs, they sometimes reside in frozen puddles for the winter!)

Guess What I'm Doing This Morning?

Before I head out to build stuffed animals with the management team from hell (more on that later), I am going to pull the fish out of the pond and bring them in for the winter. I was just going to get an aerator because they can survive as long as there is a hole in the ice. But Hubby decided it was too expensive (fair enough, since two grand on an unexpected purchase of new oven happened in October). I borrowed a tank and stand from Nancycle, and then bought: pump, line, air stone, filter, gravel, and need a light and a cover of some sort. Seriously, have spent almost as much as an aerator!!!! With a lot more hassle!!!

These poor fish are sure to be surprised.

**Edited to say that I have NO idea what Hubby, Corwin and Clara have done with the net. Serenity now!!!!!!!

3:40 pm update. Tried with the strainer. Wow, it's cold!!!! Hubby called and told me where the net was. Have one fish - Starla. Still looking for Karat. Had to break ice. Damn fish!

First Christmas Decor Post of 2008

Not too difficult to guess the theme this year!!!


Aside from initial assembly (which was fast because I have been in charge of packing this tree for the past two years and I have a system), I did this tree. Took forever, there is more than a CASE of lights on it, and I think it looks good!








I adore this little gold reindeer. If he gets "misplaced" at the warehouse, do you think they'll look for him at my place next year?

Arabian Nights

This is from the Gala last weekend. Did I mention that I have been getting very little sleep?

Christmas Meme

Now that my fall photos are up, I can officially progress towards the Christmas season. And Clementine had the perfect meme to do just that. Without further ado . . .

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping paper. Gift bags for hostess gifts, but wrapping paper here. Oh, except Santa gifts - Santa doesn't wrap, he sets stuff up (fond memories of cursing in the wee hours while setting up the play kitchen. Or calling a toy company at 3 am and leaving a message a week before Christmas because there was a part missing from the Playmobil castle . . . )

2. Real tree or Artificial? Real in the living room, real on the porch (which will be on the deck and decorated for the birds with suet and seed ornaments this year), fake pre-lit in the basement for the Santa tree, fake in the family room (for ambience), and fake in our bedroom, which may move into the hall outside our door if I can fit it).

3. When do you put up the tree? They start around Nov 25th

4. When do you take the tree down? January 7 (after Epiphany)

5. Do you like eggnog? Yes. But I miss this eggnog I used to get in Miami.

6. Favorite gifts received as a child? Monopoly (I played so much by myself I even dreamed Monopoly!), The Narnia Chronicles set, which Corwin was enjoying but the pages started falling out so Santa brought him his own set. And this wacky game called G'Nip G'Nop, which I LOVED.

7. Hardest person to buy for? Hubby. And now my parents because they just downsized and they really do have everything!

8. Easiest person to buy for? Corwin and Clara.

9. Do you have a nativity scene? Kind of. I saw a beautiful one, but it was ridiculously expensive. So I have a snowman one. With a tiny snowman baby Jesus (heresy, I'm sure!)

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Until last year, made my own and mailed them (I even planned ahead when we were having a postal strike and took all my international cards to the US when I had conference!) . Last year was a serious blip on the Canada card factory, but this year I think I'm back on track.

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? A canary yellow ski jacket from my mom. It's the first time I ever said that I didn't like something. I was in grade 7. And I hated yellow (still don't love yellow, and NEVER wear it!)

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? Technically it's not Christmas, but Harry Potter is very Christmas-y (the music always puts me in the mood for Christmas). The Grinch (cartoon). Charlie Brown's Christmas. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. And even though the kids are past it, I will still be watching a Wiggly Wiggly Christmas (shhh, don't tell anyone!)

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? In the fall, after the kids' birthday (to avoid doubles)

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? I don't think so, but I'm not sure . .

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? My mom's sausage stuffing. And her shortbread.

16. Lights on the tree? Of course. Santa tree is multi-coloured, outside tree is red and white, the rest are white.

17. Favorite Christmas song? The Huron Indian Carol. And I still have a hard time singing parts of it because I choke up. Sad, but true

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Stay home!!

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? Absolutely!!!!!

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Blown glass ornament on living room tree, stars on the rest (my parents have an angel on their tree. She actually flaps her wings. Creeeeepy!).

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Used to open one Christmas Eve, but that has stopped since we had the kids.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? Christmas music starting the day after Hallowe'en!!!!

23. Favorite ornament theme or color? I have lots of reindeer, snowmen . . . and trees!!!

24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? Traditional (and not microwaved!!). Turkey, sausage stuffing, mashed potatoes, homemade cranberries, Harvard beets, gravy, other veggies (I can change up the veggies). And carrot pudding, flamed, with custard for dessert.

25. What do you want for Christmas this year? World Peace. Barring that . . . a white Christmas. (and PVR, if any of you know Hubby!!)

Oh yeah . . . tag, you're it!!!

Before I Start Posting Christmas Stuff

Here are my belated autumn decor photos!

Guess Who . . .

. . . is going to be a first after Christmas?

The Talk

(no, not THAT talk - I know where babies come from. And so do Corwin and Clara!)

I am going to have the "I need to know that there is an end in sight to my second soprano placement" talk with Gordon on Sunday after Compline. I'm already feeling nauseous about it, but the fact that I will almost certainly end up stuck on the middle line at Compline will be my motivation to have the discussion on the drive home. While he's driving. And it's dark.

Man, I'm such a chicken!

Yes We Can! (well, not "we" so much as "you", but in spirit . . . you know)

President Elect Barack Obama.

Fucking AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!

'Nuff said.

Hallowe'en at the Less Fancy Address