Masculine Me

Yeeha, finished my presentation! This is my attempt at posing as a male Starbucks barista. I look creepy. However, the skit went off without a hitch and I am so happy to report that I got an A+ on both my last paper and on this presentation which was on Online Research Ethics. My friend and classmate Karen was kind enough to help me with the skit. It was rather brave of her as my rude male character asked her if she was menustrating as she was trying to order a tea to go. The skit pointed out how privacy issues differ between cultures and that in some communities in China it is acceptable to ask a woman if she's menustrating when ordering tea as it determines tea selection.
Last night we attended a pot luck at Mist's school for her social justice club. The dishes were amazing and multicultural and my carrot cake was well received. Mist and a few friends did a Harry Potter spoof skit for entertainment.
Today I attended class all day. Mist had a sleep over at Sarah's house last night and is finally home only to leave again very soon to babysit down the street. I am happy to be home, relaxing. I'd like to rent the movie "Orphan" because it is Canadian and got good reviews. However, Peter hates scary movies and doesn't want to watch it with me and I might just be too creeped out to watch it alone. I have a virus that has spread to my chest: night sweats and congestion. It could very well be a mild case of the swine flu as my vaccination was nearly ten days ago and I have some immunity but not full immunity yet. I will watch it and if I get a fever I will go on antibiotics as all viruses travel to my chest and give me bacterial bronchitis--my Achilles heel--inherited from my Irish grandfather--Edward Ambrose Hart-- who had to live in Arizona for half the year for his lungs.

Home Alone on a Friday Night

Peter, Pip and Tabs tonight on their way to the school movie/Halloween party. Their cousins could not attend because of a possible flu bug.
 Mist and her friend Ashley volunteered at the school tonight, but had already left for their duties before this picture was taken. All arrived back home recently, except Mist has gone out again to a friends party (as Mary Poppins--she looks so stunning as Mary Poppins!) I will post pics tomorrow of the gang.
I asked Peter if he would accompany the girls tonight as I just didn't feel up to it. I had a confusing, stressful and boring day all rolled into one. I couldn't concentrate on any work. Pip was unable to stay at her cousins house today with the nanny as Nem had a fever. And later we found out the Nanny was near death with the flu! She came over to babysit the girls sicker than a dog. When Miranda found out, she sent her home and rushed her girls to the doctor. This story actually started yesterday...a most stressful, convoluted story indeed...
I awoke at 5:30 AM and trotted up the dark, wet, cold street with a water bottle in one hand and Fernando's lead in the other (at this point I wondered if I was insane--who gets up at that hour to run in the dark in cold, rain?) I called at Miranda's window at 5:40 and we hit the trials.
By 7:00 AM all our kids were dressed and in the van and the 6 of us were off to Vernon to crash the swine flu clinic (BC gave certain communities the vaccine first and we were not going to sit waiting for it to come to Kelowna!--too many of us have asthma). We arrived at about 7:45 to a manageable line up. By 10:30AM we were all set to be vaccinated against the swine flu and seasonal flu at once. Tabs had a melt down, Pip and Artemis screamed and cried, Mist was  a perfect angel and Nem lost it. There was no way anyone could vaccinate her--she needed it the most as she has the most severe asthma. Finally we'd given up--ready to leave without her vaccs. At the last moment I suggested Miranda take all the kids to the car and leave Nem with me--I'd try one last time.
Luck would have it, me bribing her (with the thought of how proud her mom would be) worked--she agreed to one vaccs. Pip, Tabs and Nem only got the swine flu vaccs, the rest of us got both.
So, many hours later, after a stop at Starbucks for something to fortify Miranda and I (caffeine, although we really needed something MUCH, MUCH stronger) and sugar for the girls. We arrived back in Kelowna thoroughly exhausted and went our separate ways. My girls and I felt ill and our arms ached.
I arrived home to a blessing--the workers had finished my backyard fence and it looked fabulous!
After settling the bill, I went inside (BTW, fences cost as much as a good second hand car these days!)
This morning I could not attend Bikram's  yoga as I needed to help get the girls get their costumes ready for school. Also, my arm is quite swollen from the shot and I felt off--so it was a good thing I missed class--I get nauseated on a good day!
At 9AM Pip and I arrived at M's to find Nem and Nanny ill--took Pip back home with me. Was too stressed to concentrate on work. Then Tabs called to say she'd forgotten her Halloween costume at home (the shoes) I drove down to her school to drop them off. The afternoon was quiet, I read books with Pip, took Tabs over to a friends after school and then picked up Mist and Ashley from after-dance-clean-up at their school (2 dances at two schools today for Mist--all this and a party tonight while recovering from 2 flu shots--a trooper!)
And so, tonight Peter took the girls to the dance while I stayed home alone--thinking, so this is what it would feel like to be a single gal home alone on a Friday night (although I decided I'd have organized an outing with a friend if it were true). Anyway, I ate a bean burrito in bed and watched Bewitched. The episode that Endora doesn't think Darren is good looking enough and rearranges his face with Samantha's help--so good!
 Hopefully I will get my zip back tomorrow and be bursting with enthusiasm once again...one must never give up hope!
And on a lucky note, Peter won some movie paraphernalia from"Public Enemies." Tabs went down to the theatre with him to claim the mugs, t-shirt, faux leather bag and magnets. The irony is that none of us even saw the movie! Oh well, Johnny Depp does look rather manly and dangerous on the magnets.
Man, can I ramble on about a quiet, rather dull night at home.

Viking Warrior Queen

My darlings.
Today is a day of rain. I am looking after the twins and at the moment they are once again in the tub with dinosaurs. I don't go out much with the "twins." The two of them together is a challenge.
So, what do I do on the days I look after the terrible twosome? I bake. I baked strawberry-oatmeal muffins and dark chocolate cookies with white chocolate chips. Not for me--I'm not really a big muffin or cookie fan. I bake for the kids lunches. I don't buy packaged goods, if we have any baked goods in the house they have to be homemade. So thus, I am baking today.
Gym this am--a full spin class finally! The regular instructor is sick.
When the big girls arrive home from school, we will go out thrifting again, looking for more Halloween costume supplies. If we fail, Auntie T said she'd send her carpet bag and bowler hat on the bus. We just may need it! Time is of the essence. Friday night there is a movie/Halloween party at Tabs school that all my girls and their cousins will attend. Mistaya is volunteering. I may dress up like a Viking warrior Queen--I've got the costume.
Tomorrow night a viola concert at the Minstrel Cafe--a friend of Miranda's from France. Looking forward to the outing. Tonight? I'd like to get out...not sure what I'll get up to though. I am on a tighter budget since I took over the finances. Oh, the power is rather nice...I was able to report to Peter that he spends up to $80 a month on campus lunches--that even  surpassed my Starbucks fixes.
Too many people have the swine flu--bring on the vaccination! The BC Government is so slow about this--flu season will be gone by the time I can get a shot.

Looking for a "Fun Guy"

This is Mist in all her glory. My little doll. She is adorable in her fashions.
She loves fungi like her auntie and uncle the mycologists--she just had to purchase this t-shirt and we also bought one for Miranda as a little present: "looking for a fun guy" (with a mushroom in shades).
My girls are all well and continue to be the most darling rays of sunshine in my life. It is true. They are so much fun and make my life so happy and joy-filled. I am blessed beyond all.
Tabs and Pip just left with their dad for his office to hang while he works and Mist is up the street babysitting Nem and Artemi for a few hours. Went on  a hike early this AM with Peter and Fernando. Crisp and beautiful.
Last might rented movies and ate popcorn in bed. Tabs and Pip watched "Bewitched" and Mist, Peter and I watched "Year One" until we turned it off due to boredom.
 Mist and I attempted one of my retro games from the 1950's called Careers. No wonder it never made it out of the 50's--it expects and demands intelligence from its players. One needs a degree in gameology to play. Talk about a complicated set up. Once we got into it, it made sense but one must devote the time to reading the instruction booklet to figure it out.
 I collect retro board games--a fun hobby when we get the time to play a few of them. The latest one I picked up is called "PIT"--a stock market trading game from 1919. So cool.
Working this AM on a paper. This afternoon tennis at Doe-Doe park and I want to zen my hall and kitchen cupboards. A quiet Sunday.
Really want the swine flu vaccines to start as everyone I know who has had it complains of unbelievable aches and pains.
Possible trips in my future this year:
Texas or Boston, Massachuttes in Feb.
Victoria, BC with family in June.
Malaysia in July with Peter -this one I am really excited about.

Mandala Madness

Mistaya in the wig she wore to school yesterday--just because she's always wanted a fushia bobbed wig.
She looked adorable heading off to school. I am so proud of her. A chip off the old block. I used to love to wear wild fashions to high school too. She had some wig lovers and wig haters she said.
Mist and Tabs are off at Piano lessons. M and I took Artemis and Pip to the duck pond after preschool--a lovely warm afternoon--the turtles were out.
I completed most of my Power Point this morning. I want to have all my assignments done for this class by mid November--that is my goal. Then I'll work on my ethics proposal and thesis plan.
Tonight I want to go over our budget with a fine tooth comb so I can take it over in its entirety. I've done it before but my system was too time consuming. I am ready to simplify and try again.
 I can attend a Buddhist meditation tonight, but I might just get my budget done instead.
This weekend is the "Mountain Film Festival"--nature, outdoor sports films at the Kelowna Community Theatre--I think I'll go. Also Miranda and I want to start an intramural floor hockey league on campus for faculty and grad students--that would be sooo fun! Trying to keep myself busy with fun things to do at least once a week--some kind of fun outing. Otherwise, I get in a rut of just doing chores every evening.
Friday night will be our sports night--we do a family sport, also Sunday.
 I am a compulsive schedule maker. It baffles my sister. However, my lists, compliment my life Mandala and keep me focused and dedicated to working towards my goals. And my goals are wide. Most importantly--just to be happy. And I have specific focused interests I pursue. They are: painting, writing,  Buddhism, and studying French as intellectual pursuits. World travel and a variety of sports for my adventure pursuits. Oh, the lists do go on and I won't bore you to death. However, I only wanted to provide a glimpse into my mind and how I organize my life. When I meditate each evening, I go through my mandala in my mind and check to see if I am on track at working on all my goals. It keeps me sane and focused in life.
Tabs joined volleyball at school and is thrilled about it.
Mist says her English teacher is twisted. The things she tells me--I believe it! I wrote to her(the teacher) and she never even bothered to reply to my email. I will see her in person. She is occupying most of Mist's thoughts with her perverse intent on bullying my girl.
Will call my sis Theresa to see how she is doing today--the poor dear is home with the swine flu!
Peter wants to take me out tomorrow night on a date. I shall go, cause damn, it sure beats last weekend! :P

Work It

Mistaya and her friend Maddi--dressing 1980's aerobics.

A beautiful day today, although I feel a little yuck. A nasty head ache and stomach cramps/nausea. I think it is actually the same bug Tabs has although she has a sore throat and stuffy nose with it. Peter has had it as well and the Mist too. The headache is the worst of it.

At least it is not the swine flu. Epidemics are horrible. 

After reading "omnivore's Dilemma" it is no surprise that human/pig/bird viruses will start combining often. Feedlots and industrial barns create toxic environments. The animals are pumped full of hormones and antibiotics just to keep them standing long enough in such crowded, poor-feed conditions before they're slaughtered. And the drugs pumped into them find their way in ground water, streams and oceans. Yes, I knew reading this book would create a lot more work for me--no more buying any meat at the supermarket. Also, I only buy dairy that is pure milk or cream:

"modified milk ingredients and "milk ingredients" on the label means the product comes from powdered American milk which contains hormones that are illegal in Canada. And let me tell you--the ONLY real ice cream out there is very pricey indeed!

My new class isn't my favorite. I find the professor old style/ego maniac. Doesn't want class discussions, isn't interested in any one else's ideas. He is master. Collective Intelligence doesn't interest him. I wonder if he's even heard of the term!

With this headache--I won't be trying on any major hikes today. I'd like a country picnic tonight, after family photo's at the park.

Rather stressed over future travel. With Pip now 3, we need to book 2 hotel rooms. No one will allow us 5 to a room. This makes our Fairmont stays tres expensive. What shall we do? We must travel, we are a family of five--man life is expensive! 

Pete's PhD convocation is coming up at UBC in Vancouver. His mom, sister Grace and brother Rob are meeting us in Van for the event. And then in June, the five of us will spend 4 nights in Vancouver. The girl's and I will relax and play and Peter has meetings. 

I have soooo much reading to do in the next month. Book after book. I love to read, but making notes takes the fun out of it!