Speedy "Houdini" Hamster

This is Speedy, Casey's hamster.

He should have been called Houdini.

In the past two weeks, he has escaped from his cage 5 times!

Every escape has been at night while everyone else is sleeping, except for Maggie, the cat.

So far, we have found Speedy darting around beneath the computer desk, under my bed, and twice under the boys' bunk bed.

Speedy is either very smart or very lucky to have avoided the stairs to the basement. He is also quite lucky that Maggie has been thus far content to simply follow him around rather than attacking.

Sunday morning, I put a clip on the cage door in an effort to prevent Speedy from opening it enough to escape, although I don't know how his little arms can have the strength to open that gate in the first place. It seemed like a good plan but maybe it wasn't after all. Kane checked on him around 1am last night and he was fine. He checked on him again around 5am, and Speedy had the gate slightly open and was stuck, thanks to the clip. Now, one of his back legs seems to be injured. We're taking him to the vet later this afternoon.

I feel bad. My clip idea wasn't as great as I thought it would be, but we can't do nothing to prevent his escaping. It simply isn't safe. For one thing, his cage is put on the dining room table at night which means he has a long fall to the floor. Then, he is free to roam wherever he wants to in our big house! He could get into places that we can't search or access. We have a cat!

Hopefully the vet will have good news for us.

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Happy Easter

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This is Spring

I took all of these pictures in my yard today. The landscaping in my yard is sorely lacking, and I do not have a green thumb. However, there is a lot of potential! One of my daffodils is on the verge of blooming. The violas have been in bloom for a few weeks already. The maple buds are beginning to burst, and the lilacs already have small leaves and buds. Autumn is my most favourite season, but spring comes in a very close second. I love watching nature come alive.

I went to the doctor this morning and left with request form for an x-ray of my ankle. The doctor believes that I am experiencing the symptoms that I have, but there is no obvious explanation. He doesn't expect the x-ray will show anything since I have never broken my ankle and had no injury to it, but it is the first step to take. After that, I will go back and maybe get some exercises. I have already been doing a lot of stretching and such with that ankle because of the feeling of stiffness. He also mentioned a similar situation that a friend of his went through with his ankle. In that case though, his friend had previously broken his ankle. His friend has the joint scoped/flushed and had no further pain after that. So, I'm still in some pain and discomfort and no explanation for it.

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Parenting isn't for Cowards

Why is it that children push all the wrong buttons when you are already feeling exhausted and brain dead? Two nights in a row now Casey has transformed from the sweet boy that he can be into the Mr. Hyde monster that struggles for control. Obviously last night's lesson was not learned; tonight's issues are exactly the same as yesterday's. Only the situations are different.

Attitude. Arguing. Lying. Refusal to accept personal responsibility.

He was sent to bed earlier than he had expected tonight as punishment for his behaviour. He refused to accept that I might know something that he did not know, so I challenged him to find the answer for himself. He took me up on that offer and discovered that I was right after all; however, he lied to me, telling me that he had not discovered anything. He continued his belligerent attitude toward me, because he was right in his own eyes. I explained that he was going to bed early because he was rude to me, he lied to me, and he refused to apologize and admit that he had been wrong. Of course, Casey believes that we are punishing him for not seeing the "truth" which couldn't be further from the truth!

So, for the moment, Casey has declared that he will never speak to me again. When I responded with "I still love you", he promptly spoke to me. His vow of silence won't last past the morning, I'm sure.

Parenting Casey involves a lot of head banging against brick walls. My head. Figuratively. I hope. In many ways, we are incredibly blessed. Our kids are healthy. We aren't parenting a child or children with disabilities or serious developmental issues. There are many parents who have a much tougher job than we do. I thank the Lord everyday for my kids. I also pray that my kids will become people who love the Lord with all their hearts, soul, mind and strength, that they would be used by Him and be a blessing to others. Sometimes, it seems as if that day, when they are who God intends them to be, is so far off in the future that I can't even see it. But then I notice a kindness displayed by my children or a word aptly spoken by their lips, and I remember that God does indeed have a purpose for them and is not anywhere near finished with them. I know that He isn't finished with me yet!

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I am feeling rather blech today. Not ill but melancholy. Frustrated with a dash of sadness. Heavy.

My wrists have been bothering me again for about a week now. Today, at work, my hands felt useless and wooden. I had to fill out a permission slip for Casey this morning and could barely hold the pen let alone write. For about an hour Saturday morning, I could barely lift a pot of coffee, and I felt similar twinges of pain today. Both hands and wrists feel somewhat numb and tingly and swollen.

My left ankle has been bothering me on a daily basis since September and I don't know why. No, I have not yet seen the doctor about it. Call me chicken; I don't care. It has been my experience that my doctor, as much as I like him, tends to rush through things. I will go to the doctor soon, maybe next week on a day off. My ankle doesn't hurt all the time, but it is always tender and bothersome. I can walk normally most of the time despite the discomfort; however, there are times when I feel that my walk is affected because of the pain. Walking down stairs or stepping down from a ladder or bleacher can also be problematic, especially if I am leading with my left foot. Sometimes, it feels as if my ankle won't support me. Yes, I should see a doctor. Did you know that I don't like going to the doctor?

I can feel a headache coming on.

Kane and I have a funeral to attend tomorrow. It will be exactly four weeks since the last funeral we were at and at the same location. Would it be cold-hearted of me to say that I am not looking forward to the service because it is in an Anglican church? The church itself is beautiful and mysterious. I don't know very much about Anglican rituals or traditions or why there is a fenced off area behind the pulpit, but the history of the building is intriguing. The "very reverend" was very down to earth and laid back which was cool, but the service itself was dull and dry and alien to me. The only thing that had any familiarity was one single hymn and they butchered it. Oh well, it isn't about me anyway.

Speaking of old churches...

I've been doing more reading in my English history book. I'm currently in the life of King James.

The Last

I worked my last Saturday shift for at least the next three months. It is quite possible that I could even drag it out to the end of July. I am so glad!

I have a love-hate relationship with working on Saturdays. The weekend staff consists largely of teens and college students rather than the "more mature" weekday staff. I enjoy working with both groups. The full time staff tends to be more competent, but they can also be grumpier and ready to attack each other. Several of our younger staff are quite competent, but I enjoy the more relaxed atmosphere of a Saturday. The job itself is still crazy and stressful, but at least I don't need to worry about gossip, in-fighting and noses out of joint. Weekdays can be busy, but Saturday mornings are often insanely busy. Weekday mornings are busy but the orders are reasonably small. Saturday mornings produce large orders and lots of them. I was in the drive-thru from 7:15am to 3:15pm, and we didn't stop running until almost 1pm. At one point, there was one order for 2 extra large coffees, 3 bagels and 16 large coffees. One order out of many! Another order for 6 large ice caps! We don't see very many orders like that during the week.

My Saturday shifts are always 8 hours which makes for a very long day. My weekday shifts vary between 4 and 5 hours, no more and no less. I like the shortness of my weekday shifts, but 8 hours is almost enough to do me in physically. By the time I was finished today, my lower back was aching and my feet were throbbing. The ankle that has been bothering me for months was especially sore today, and I had some intense pain in my right elbow and wrist for about an hour. I could barely lift a coffee pot for a while. And I am so tired!

But, I am done with Saturdays for a while. My boss is sad to do without me, and I will admit to the teensiest feelings of...something! Not regret. Not disappointment or sadness. I don't know...maybe loss or something like that. I do enjoy working Saturdays even for all the reasons that I don't like it.

Okay. I am over that feeling. Baseball season is here or very nearly, and I will soon be much too busy to miss my Saturday shifts. Besides, now I won't need to get up at ungodly times like 5am or 6am.

Kane's uncle passed away this afternoon. He hasn't been in the best of health for the past few years, but this was still rather sudden and unexpected. Exactly three weeks ago, we were at the funeral for his wife.

Fore!

Kane and Sam went golfing last Sunday afternoon.

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I have a swollen gland beneath my right ear at the top of my jaw. The doctor says it isn't anything to worry about, use ice and ibuprofen. It began Friday night and is always more tender and painful when I am eating or laying on my right side.

I can't wait to trade this body in for a new one!

Propositioned

I listened to an interesting voice mail message on my phone this afternoon. The voice on the other end was a woman that I am familiar with. My husband hired her at McDonalds many years ago, and she has since risen through the ranks to the very top. Even though I once also worked at McDonalds, we never worked in the same store.

She was calling me to say that she had noticed me working at Tim Horton's, and she was wondering if I would be interested in coming back to work at McD's. I'm supposed to call her back.

Call me a coward, but I'm not sure that I want to call her back. I think that I feel flattered by the proposition, but there is absolutely no way that I would quit my current job to work at McDonald's and I'm not interested in juggling two part-time jobs. I guess I will call her back though maybe tomorrow rather than today.

Sam thinks that I should go work at McDonald's. For some reason he thinks that would be sweet, probably envisioning Quarter Pounders and fries galore. I can't imagine going back. I could do the job and do it well, but I'm too much of a people-pleaser to upset my boss by quitting for a new job. My boss has treated me very well. Why mess with a good thing?

Still, it is kind of flattering. Right?!

Books and Movies

So, I was walking through Wal-Mart a few weeks ago and noticed the big display for the latest James Bond movie newly released on DVD. I hadn't seen the movie yet, but I bought a DVD. In the months prior to the movie's theatrical release, I had a difficult time imagining Daniel Craig as James Bond; I've been a Pierce Brosnan fan since his Remington Steele days. What possessed me to buy the DVD I don't know. As with music CDs, we simply don't buy DVDs very often, but I'm glad I bought this one. We absolutely loved it! I'm sold on Daniel Craig. Sorry Pierce!

Last night we watched Hollywoodland, the movie about George Reeves and the questions surrounding his suicide. Ben Affleck and Adrian Brody did a good job with their roles. I'm not a big fan of Affleck's normally. The movie was quite slow at times and we considered shutting it off a couple of times, but we found ourselves intrigued enough to see the movie to its' conclusion.

I finished off a few books over the past few days. Two were by Steve Berry: The Third Secret and The Templar Legacy. They were interesting books; good enough to keep me hooked. However, I've noticed some common themes in three of his books: the inaccuracy of Scripture, Jesus being only a man, etc. The other book I finished was Step on a Crack by James Patterson. I like his books, and this one was typical Patterson. I'm still plodding my way through British history though, but I have learned why Prince Charles is called the Prince of Wales!

Calm in the Storm

A woman that I work with considers herself to be something of a drive-thru diva as well as the sole employee capable of common sense and customer service skills. This co-worker made my first few months of employment something to be half dreaded, worried as I was that I might be on the receiving end of her tirades. And, at times, it felt as if I was.

Before I knew it, drive-thru diva was excited to see me start my shifts. She talks to me nicely, wishes I didn't have kids to keep me from working early mornings with her, and then complains about everyone else that she is forced to work with.

She still isn't my most favourite person at work, but I'm not afraid of her anymore. In fact, most of the time I feel sorry for her. But anyway...

Today was not so happy a day at work. I was put in drive-thru which is where I like to be and drive-thru diva was happy to have me there. So far so good. Another co-worker seemed to be in a sad state of affairs. She did leave work early, so maybe she wasn't feeling well. I don't know. The french vanilla machine next to the DT stopped working for nearly an hour which meant I was running to the other end of the store every other order. My manager was "too busy" to fix the machine sooner. The sugar dispenser in DT also stopped working. Sometimes a teensy bit would come out and at other times none at all. Most annoying when you go through as much sugar as we do! Once again, my manager couldn't be bothered to fix the problem, and I certainly didn't have the time to be fiddling with the machine. As it was, I was running across the store to a different sugar machine for every order. We were busy in DT. The sandwich bar station was a disaster. Food orders were slow to be made which made diva just a little ornery. Eventually, diva tried to fix my sugar machine. She emptied the sugar into a bowl and played with the machine, while I took cash, made drinks and handed out orders. We thought she had it fixed, but we were wrong. And so it went for the rest of the shift.

At one point, diva commented on how much she enjoys working with me because I don't panic but stay cool and calm. I laughed. We really didn't have time to take that comment any further, but I have thought about it a lot since then. It isn't that I don't panic at work, because sometimes I do. However, my panic is much more controlled than many of the people I work with. Partly, I suppose, that has to do with my personality. I am simply not the kind of person to easily fly off the handle or make a big, public display of emotion. It's not me at all. I do tend to internalize things, but I also don't keep things locked inside. I do have ways to vent and decompress, ways that are far less messy and damaging than public meltdowns. Besides, such panic is counterproductive.

The other reason that I don't panic at work is because it is just work. I go to work, do what I need to do and then I go home. Work is something I do; it isn't who I am. My job meets my needs and I am happy with my job. It's a job. In the light of eternity, this job is significant only in how God uses me there. I am not at work thumping a Bible and shouting calls to repent at my co-workers and customers; I think I'd soon be out of work if I did. But, I know that, as a child of God, I am called to be salt and light to those around me. Relationships are important. Honesty is important. Love is important. Truth is important. A broken machine is not so important in the long run. Running across the store for sugar is merely an annoyance like the buzz of a fly in the house. It can be an all-consuming annoyance, or it can be something barely heard. It just depends on how I choose to look at it and where I choose to focus my energy.

Attitude

We were given tickets to last night's final regular season game for our Kelowna Rockets. It hasn't been their best season and they failed to make it into the play-offs this year. We don't make it to very many games as tickets and time are hard to come by.

Casey was not exactly thrilled about going to the game as he had hoped to have a friend sleep over. He needs to learn that sometimes plans and that fun can still be had when those plans do change; it all depends on attitude. He didn't like my advice, but he did handle the disappointment better than expected.

We went. Before the game started, Casey had decided that he wasn't going to cheer for the home team. Instead, he was going to cheer for the visiting Prince George Cougars! When the Cougars stepped onto the ice, Casey cheered. When the Cougars scored early in the first period, Casey was clapping and cheering. He would yell out, "Good save!" or "Good shot!" in support of the Cougars. Sam was so annoyed, not because he was cheering for the Rockets, but because he was simply irritated by Casey's enthusiasm. It didn't bother me at all; in fact, I had many a laugh over it. Casey had absolutely no qualms about cheering loud and often for the opposition, although I did ask him not to boo the referees when Prince George received a penalty nor to cheer when the Rockets got a penalty.

In the end, the Rockets won and we all had a good time. Even Casey who didn't think that he could have fun going to the game! I guess I was right...it is all in the attitude.

Broken

The boys broke a window several days ago. Actually, it was Sam that took the fatal shot, but both boys were playing hockey outside and so both boys will be required to pay for repairs. Unfortunately, the broken window is in our neighbour's house instead of our own. Or perhaps that is a good thing! We replaced our windows less than ten years ago, while our neighbours windows are quite likely original to the 40 year old house. Still, the broken window is something of a fluke accident. Our hockey net is set up on our patio at least 40 feet from the neighbour's house. The boys stated that Sam's shot deflected off the crossbar which makes the angle rather awkward, too. I must admit that I was rather pleased with my boys that night as they came straight into the house and told me the bad news. Sam also went next door to offer his apology and promise to pay for the repairs.


Kane and Sam left the house this afternoon and returned a short while later with a set of junior golf clubs and golf bag. I registered the boys for some golf lessons through the Rec. Centre in April as the boys are interested in golfing. Just yesterday, Sam received an invitation to a game of golf with some of his hockey teammates for next week. He is excited. Kane is excited! Later this afternoon, we all went to a driving range. We bought two large buckets of balls and let the kids loose. Sam has a smooth swing, and it is easy to see that he will enjoy golf. Casey's swing was not so smooth. I doubt that he will take to golf as easily as Sam will, but he is eager to try it out. Casey is just too eager, too unfocused, too much in a hurry. Abby had fun but not so much success. She did have some better hits after I gave her some pointers on stance and grip. Kane enjoyed the opportunity to teach the kids about golf and to show off his own golf abilities. I must say that even I smiled when Kane would make a great drive! While I took great enjoyment in watching my kids, I did take a few shots myself. The first couple sucked. I don't think I have swung a real golf club since before Kane and I were married. Mini golf clubs don't count. The kids had a laugh or two at my expense, I sat and watched for a while, and then I picked up a club once again. This time I was better and amazed myself; I have never hit a golf ball so well. I didn't hit a lot of balls, maybe a dozen, but I quickly threw in the towel after a hit that sent vibrations throughout my left hand. It felt as if my entire hand was an elastic band which somebody snapped; it hasn't stopped vibrating since then. Obviously golf and carpal tunnel don't go well together, even when the carpal tunnel doesn't seem to be a problem. Lesson learned.

I realized, while sitting watching my kids, that I should have brought the camera. I really should get in the habit of bringing the camera with me all the time, but I haven't quite found that mindset yet. It is easy to remember the camera for special events like hockey tournaments or birthday parties, but somehow I "forget" that photo-worthy events can happen even in the most unexpected and unplanned situations. Need to remember that!

Transparency

Several months ago, I made a decision regarding a friendship. It was not a sudden or rash decision; instead, it was one that I struggled with for a very long time. It was a decision born out of pain, frustration, tears, and prayer. I hated to make that decision, and yet I felt such peace immediately after making it.

I haven't said anything on my blog about this decision, nor have I shared any specific details which led me to that place. While it isn't necessary to talk about the details, I don't want to avoid this topic anymore. And, I have been avoiding it here. I suppose that is because I don't want to step on anyone's feelings. However, this is my blog. I want to be real and honest with those around me and, most importantly, with myself.

It is still true that I feel peace in the decision that I made, but I am still assailed by doubts and uncertainties. I miss my friend. I still feel pain. Sadness. Frustration. Anger and disappointment. Hurt. I think I work it all out only to be slapped in the face once again. As difficult as it was to make that decision, it was easy compared to this, whatever this is. Maybe it is a grieving process...

Whatever it is, here I am! I can't pretend that I am unaffected by what has happened in the past. I can't pretend that I am not affected by what is happening here and now. I don't want to pretend.

So, it has been a busy week. I worked Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Monday night was ball hockey. Tuesday night was hockey practice. Wednesday night was Casey's youth activity. Thursday was Casey's basketball tournament, a funeral, Abby's church activity, and a baseball executive meeting. Friday was the start of Sam's hockey tournament which is where we've been for most of today. Tomorrow, we have one more game and a wrap-up party. That's it!

You know what's on my calendar for the coming week? Absolutely NOTHING! Well, except for a reminder that Big Brothers is picking up several bags/boxes of stuff we don't need anymore. I am planning on a movie marathon, though I can't decide between Lord of the Rings extended trilogy or all six Star Wars movies. Maybe we could do both?

I have been reading a lot lately; my reading tends to be cyclical and I always have more than one book in progress. Currently, I am reading:

The Alexandria Link by Steve Berry
I have only read two of his previous books and enjoyed both immensely as they were fictional pieces based on the Romanovs and the famous amber walls from...the Winter Palace, I think. Can't be sure at the moment. This book reminds me a little of the Davinci Code, at least so far, but we'll see.

The Negotiator by Dee Henderson
Christian fluff but I enjoy the fluff as well as the meaty. I've read it before and will likely read it again.

A History of England and the British Empire by Walter Phelps Hall and Robert Greenhalgh Albion
Now this is a meaty book! It has been on my bookshelf for a number of years now bought at a garage sale. A couple of weeks ago, I watched most of the mini-series Elizabeth I starring Helen Mirren. The movie was excellent and I am easily enticed by historical movies, stories and facts, so I pulled this heavy book from the shelf and started reading. The book begins way back with the Romans and Saxons, about 55 B.C. I'm only a small fraction of my way through the book, but I have already reached the year 1277.

Hockey Night in Kelowna

Sam scored another goal and had an assist in their final round robin game of his year-end hockey tournament. After two disappointing losses, we played well, kept the penalties to a minimum and scored lots of goals to earn the win. Now we wait and see what time we play our final game tomorrow, though it will probably be 8:15am. Ugh. Time change tonight. Ugh.

Air Casey

Casey is in the red shorts/white & teal jersey. He was so excited about being on the school basketball team even though he missed most of the "season" because of his dislocated finger.

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Kane's aunt died on Friday after a lengthy battle with cancer. The funeral is set for Thursday afternoon. Thankfully, I am not working on Thursday, but I will still need to do some juggling in a busy day. Everything will work out though, I think.

Who Wants to be a Millionaire?

I am not a millionaire for life. Disappointing but not unexpected. We so rarely buy lottery tickets of any kind, but I had bought a ticket for a recent special lottery: $1 million dollars a year for 25 years! It would have been sweet.

Ah well...

I am still quite happy with what we have and, in all honesty, we have far too much. The five garbage bags and two boxes of stuff sitting in my house waiting to be picked up give testimony to just how much we do have. My kids won't miss the toys I've purged from their rooms (except for the bouncy balls). We all still have many clothing options available to us on a daily basis. There still isn't enough space to store all the things that we stubbornly refuse to give up.