A Christmas Carol

I popped our only Christmas CD into the player this morning, while I was dusting. Yes, we only have one CD of Christmas music. And, it is old...not ancient though. Actually, I quite enjoy this CD, a collection of carols sung by various contemporary Christian artists.

What I love about this CD is the fact that not all the songs are your run-of-the mill carols. In fact, some of my favourite songs are not traditional in any way. My absolute favourite is This Little Child by Scott Wesley Brown. Love it!

Here are the lyrics:

Who would have thought that long ago
So very far away
A little child would be born
And in a manger lay

And who would have thought this little child
Was born the King of kings
The son of just a carpenter
But for whom the angels sing

And who would have thought that as a child
And with other children play
This child with whom they laughed and sang
Would die for them some day

And who would have thought this little child
Would make the blind man see
Feed the hunger, make rich the poor
And set the sinner free

Oh, who would have thought this little child
Was who the prophets said
Would take away the sins of man
And rise up from the dead

Oh, I believe
And I will always sing
This little child
Is the King
Oh, I believe
And I will always sing
This little child
Is the King of kings

Many years have come and gone
Yet this world remains the same
Empires have been built and fallen
Only time has made a change

Nation against nation
Brother against brother
Men so filled with hatred
Killing one another

And over half the world is starving
While our banner of decency is torn
Debating over disarmament
Killing children before they're born

And fools who march to win their right
To justify their sin
Oh every nation that has fallen
Has fallen from within

Yet in the midst of the darkness
There is a Hope, a Light that burns
This little child, the King of kings
Someday will return

Oh, I believe
And I will always sing
This little child
Is the King
Oh, I believe
And I will always sing
This little child
Is the King of kings

Who would have thought this little child
Is who the prophets said
Will return to judge this world
The living and the dead

Oh, can't you see that long ago
So very far away
This little child, our only Hope
Was born a King that day

Wow! Powerful stuff. I'll take my one Christmas CD over a dozen variations of Jingle Bell Rock anyday.

Technology

It seems that our DVD player has decided to go the way of the dinosaur. Our VCR has been deceased for several months now; in fact, we tossed it. But back to the DVD player...

I noticed a couple of days ago that the power light kept going on and off, something that hasn't happened before. I bought a special CD to clean the machine and went to insert it Friday night. It wouldn't open. In fact, I couldn't get that dang machine to do anything! Looking at the troubleshooting section in the manual was a waste of time. There was no troubleshooting tips to cover the problems I was seeing. We've had the machine just long enough to have no warranty anymore, and you can purchase a new machine for very little these days. So, I think we'll just be tossing this one and buying a new, cheap one. Sometime.

I strongly dislike our society for creating technology that is so disposable. When it costs more to repair a machine than it does to buy a new one, there's something wrong. Most warranties are a joke, barely lasting long enough for a person to figure out how to use the machine! Or the remote control.

Beginning to look like Christmas

Yesterday was the "big game" for Canadian Football League fans, and what a big game it was! I was disappointed that my team didn't make it to the final, but I was all set to cheer for the Edmonton Eskimos to defeat the Montreal Alouettes. It came down to double overtime! The game was a little boring up until the final few minutes of regulation time and then WOW! It was exciting, and the Eskimos did win.

I'm glad to be finished work for the day, although, as a mom, my work still continues! Not sure what I'll do over the next two days (I'm off), but housework and baking are at the top of the list. Laundry, of course, too.

Well, Kane and I made a decision last night. We're going to Victoria for Christmas with my brother-in-law, his wife, and daughter. The kids are excited, though I think they're more excited about the ferry ride than they are about the actual visit. I can't say that I blame them...having never been on a ferry, I'm quite excited about that, too. And, I would be very excited about spending our first Christmas away from home if it weren't for the in-laws. The plan is to leave here on Dec. 23 and head back on Boxing Day, so we'll only be there for two full days. We can survive that, right?!

I thought for sure Kane wouldn't want to go to the trouble of putting up a Christmas tree since we're not going to be here, but I was wrong. He still thinks we can do that. Okay. Maybe I can pull out the decorations on one of my days off this week.

fititallinoneday

Today is the only day off I have this week. I would like nothing more than to take a nap, read a book, lose myself in a computer game, do anything other than housework, but housework can only be put off for so long. Even though my shifts this week are not overly long, they are just long enough to put a bit knot in the middle of my day. The knots can be untangled without too much fuss; I guess I'm still not used to not having all the free time that I want.

So, today is a day crammedfullofstuff. Laundry has been started. I've done some general tidying in the kitchen and living room. The garbage, recycling, and yard waste are sitting at the curb for pick-up. I do need to get to the library at some point today, and I need to plan supper for tonight and tomorrow, as well as a snack to bring to our care group on Thursday.

As I float around the house, I keep finding new tasks to add to my mental to-do list. The problem is that most of these new tasks are more fun than the tasks that are already on the list. I'd rather sort through a stack of photos than scrub the toilet. I most definitely prefer to sort through recipes clipped from magazines than dust and vacuum.

Sam has hockey practice tonight which is why I need to figure out supper soon. We either eat really early or really late. Guess I need to check my fridge, freezer and pantry...

Currently Reading: The Romanov Prophecy

Being interested the history and nature of many things Russian, a book caught my eye at the library the other day. I had never heard of it before, nor the author, but the title drew me in. The Romanov Prophecy by Steve Berry. Great book! I have already put a hold on his two other books, though I think only one of them deals with Russian material.

The Romanov Prophecy dealt with the long debated missing (possibly surviving) children of Tsar Nicholas II. The story is a work of fiction set in the modern day. Fast paced, plausible story with just the right mix of truth and fiction.

The book that I am now eagerly anticipating is The Amber Room. Instantly, I know that this book also deals with Russian history, as the Amber Room was a work of art in one of the royal palaces...walls paneled with high-quality amber. I remembered that the panels went missing during World War II, and I had vague recollections of panels either now being found or re-created. Intriguing story! Adding a suspenseful fictional plot to the mix will make for great reading.

100th Post

This is my 100th post at blogger.com, but I sure didn't expect it to be a gripe. It has to be; I'm in a mood.

The owner of the Tim Horton's where I work own two stores. The one where I work is a full-sized restaurant; the other is located inside a gas station, which translates into very small. For the most part, the staff at each store is unique to each store, but there are times when a Glenmore (full-sized restaurant) employee works at the Spall location. When I was hired, I was asked about the possibility of my working at either location, and I was okay with the idea. However, in the two months that I've been in their employ, I've only worked in the Glenmore location.

Until today. For some reason, out of the blue, I was scheduled to work for five hours at the Spall location today. For the past week, I've been leary of this shift; maybe even a little afraid. Most Glenmore employees that I've talked to hate working at Spall. Okay. How bad could it be?

So, I walked in to the Spall store this morning, not knowing a single person, or even where to find a single thing. I think only two people (managers) bothered to introduce themselves to me; the other employees seemed to want to ignore me. Except for one. This one employee seemed to think that I was stupid and untrained. She saw fit to talk down to me while "instructing" me on things like how to sweep the floor or take an order. She also repeatedly commented that things are 'different here', different as in busier and better than Glenmore. If I wasn't such a gentle person, I could have wrung her neck a dozen times over!

Later in my shift, one of the employees finally talked to me...to say, "You're from Glenmore, aren't you!" His implication was obvious: I was from Glenmore, therefore I didn't know squat!

Never has five hours crept by so slowly! During my break, a familiar Glenmore face arrived for work. She asked how I was doing, and my response was less than enthusiastic. She, on the other hand, loves working at the Spall store; in fact, prefers it!

The Spall location is insanely busy and small and cramped. The busyness I don't mind. I do mind being treated like an idiot though. Sure, I didn't know where anything was, but I know how to sweep a floor. I know how to take orders. I know how to make a pot of coffee or tea. If your store has a particular way of doing something, I do not have a crystal ball or the ability to read minds, so simply tell me. If you don't tell me, I'll just do it the way I have already been trained. If you don't like it, bite me!

But, my shift there is done. I don't know if this was just a one time thing, or if I might be getting more shifts there. I hope not, but I'll try to keep an open mind for a little bit longer. Even though nobody really made any effort to talk to me, they generally seemed like okay people with the exception of that one woman. Then again, she seems to rub a lot of people the wrong way. If I do end up working there again, and I have a similar experience, then I might just need to ask my boss to not schedule me there again.

Sure, I need the money, but I am not so desperate for this particular job that I have to put up with crap. Lots of places are hiring. They may be minimum wage jobs, but I am completely fine with that.

Wear and Tear

You know you're getting old when your body starts falling apart.

My elbow still hurts. Last night, my left wrist hurt for a while. (I so do not need tendonitis on each side of my body, thank you very much.) And, my neck is a little sore today...must have slept on it wrong, I guess.

Crazy Days and Hilary Duff

My elbow felt less sore on Sunday and Monday, but yesterday it began to hurt more prominently again. Still, it isn't the same throbbing pain. This is a little more difficult to describe: deeper, stiffer, blunter.

I bought tickets yesterday for Abby and I to see Hilary Duff in concert in January. It will be Abby's Christmas present, and I can't wait to see the look on her face when she opens that present! It will be so much fun. Okay, yes, I am trying to psych myself up for attending a concert comprised of mostly teeny-boppers! It will be fun. Honest.

I am enjoying a rare three days off in a row. Actually, it ended up being four, as I called in sick on Monday. I really did not want to give up my shift, but I wouldn't have been able to do my job anyway. So, I did nothing on Monday but lie around.

Yesterday, I felt much better and caught up on housework and laundry.

Today, I have plans to do some baking, before I go insane this afternoon trying to be in two different places at almost the same time. Abby has her music club at 3:30pm, Sam has an orthodontic appointment at 3:20pm, and Sam isn't finished school until 3:10pm. The school is almost smack dab in the middle with the church and the orthodontist at polar opposites. Yikes!

I have a plan in mind, assuming that everything falls into place. I am hoping to drop Abby off around 3pm, on the assumption that someone will be at the church at that time. Then, I'll go pick Sam up from school and take him to the orthodontist. It would work, but it depends on someone else being at the church. Shouldn't be a problem though...

Tennis elbow, anyone?

My elbow still hurts. I am self-diagnosing tendonitis because that is how it feels. I do get tendonitis in my left wrist from time to time, so I think I can recognize the pain, numbness, and stiffness.

I don't have a fear of doctors; I just don't like to go see the doctor unless I am desperate. It is probably quite silly, but I always get the impression from someone, whether a nurse or doctor, that I am simply wasting their time. I could be a hypochondriac, if I wanted to be. My body is always feeling aches and pains and such, but I refuse to run to the doctor for any of them. Instead, I ignore or research.

With every coffee filter I dumped today and every cup of coffee poured, I felt the pain in my elbow. It can't be helped; I'm right handed, and of course, my right elbow is the offender.

Maybe I'm reluctant to go see the doctor this time, because I know that rest is a big part of the treatment for tendonitis. When my wrist is having a flare-up, rest is no problem; I rarely use my left arm. However, I cannot simply stop using my right arm. I use it all the time, every day! And now, I use it at work. I doubt there is any work I can do at my job that doesn't involve using my arm, and I haven't worked there long enough to merit a leave of absence.

So, I am resting it as often as I can, and I am applying ice and heat as frequently as possible. I do need to remember to take some ibuprofen though...I tend to forget that.

I have three more days of work in a row before my next days off. Surprise, surprise! I get three days off in a row next week: Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday! Do you think three days rest will do the trick?

No. I didn't think so either.

I'll Raise You...

Hey! I got a raise yesterday. Unexpectedly.

The first raise isn't supposed to happen until your three month review. I have only been there for nearly two months, but the owners are so impressed with how well I am doing, that they decided to give me my raise now. Effective on Friday's paycheque!

Cool.

Reading, Writing, and 'Rithmetic

I received a phone call yesterday from Sam's homeroom/English teacher. Mr. C. wanted to discuss his concerns over Sam's spelling. According to Mr. C., Sam's spelling is quite unique. Yes, it certainly is!

Sam has always been a very reluctant reader and writer. His spelling has been bad for years. Last year, being in the public system, he was finally able to get some extra help from someone other than mom. His reading, writing, and spelling improved marginally, but he was still very reluctant. Asking him to write a paragraph would be torturous for him, and you'd be lucky to get three simple sentences.

Last week, Sam had two writing assignments in English that blew me away! First, he had been given a letter written by a grade 8 student, and Sam had to write a letter back. Sam asked me what he should write, I tried to give him some broad ideas but left it in his hands. I expected to see a very short and simple letter without any real content to speak of, but I was so wrong.
Sam had written a page long letter full of fantastic content (but atrocious spelling).

The second assignment was to write about the school library. Sam told me they were required to write 5 pages, but I am not sure that is accurate. Again, Sam didn't know what to write, and I expected very little output. Sam wrote a page and a half, and the content was amazing! Well, it wouldn't be amazing if he hadn't written it. Still, the spelling was really bad. I had no problem reading it, but Kane really struggled to decode the spelling.

So, talking on the phone with Mr. C., he began by saying that usually bad spelling is grouped in with bad punctuation and content, but that's not the case with Sam. I laughed a little and commented on how funny that was to me, knowing how much of a struggle writing is for Sam. I also let Mr. C. know that Sam has never before written so much or so well EVER! He was quite surprised by that news. He said that the content was good, and the punctuation was fine; in fact, he gave Sam a mark of 13/16 for the library assignment. For a moment, I wondered if we were talking about the same child.

Mr. C. seems like a great teacher. He talked one on one with Sam about his spelling and came away with the impression that Sam would really like to work on his spelling. Music to my ears! Mr. C. was also sensitive to the fact that Sam might not like being singled out in class with extra spelling work, so he was hoping to have my help at home. Absolutely! I have been longing for the day when Sam was mentally ready to work at spelling and writing; it has always been more difficult than pulling teeth from an alligator. Mr. C. went on to say that he wanted to approach Sam with some suggestions first and let Sam be the one to take the initiative. Great idea!

So, when I picked Sam up from school, I casually asked him if he'd received his library assignment back yet. He told me his mark and went on to say that Mr. C. had said he was going to show it to some writing teachers (learning assistance) to get some ideas for working on spelling. I asked Sam what he thought of that. "It's okay," he said. Today, he should come home with a list of 1000 common words, which the two of us will work through every day with oral reading and spelling tests. Really, this isn't a new concept. I've tried this approach with Sam before, but maybe, now that he seems willing to work at it, the outcome will be different.

If only we could get him interested in learning his times tables now!