No Longer "UN~NAMED"

Well, this time when he went away, I didn't end up with PINK hair! I just got a shihtzu, that's all. Isn't he a cutie? He has no name yet. I am waiting for him to tell me what it is. The name I had picked out was Charlotte, but since he's a BOY not a GIRL, I can't really get away with naming him Charlotte. He is quite the cuddle~er though!

After much deliberation I have decided to name him Horatio. What do you think?

And so, today, this is...
Life As I Know It

Crappy Day

I think I am missing my hubby a lot today, I have been crying over nothing.

NINETY-SIX MORE DAYS!

AND... TODAY IS THE LAST BLASTED DAY OF JANUARY! Halle-friggin-lujah!


And so, today, this is...
Life As I Know It

I Miss You Al

Julian Austin
"The Red and White"





And so, today, this is...
Life As I Know It

Thunder & Lightening

In January??? Can you believe it?

Felt much better last night after I got into my jammies and made a fire. Today has been a lazy day. I started a sweater. We will see how it goes. I have never made a sweater before.

I am cooking supper and then Maureen is coming over to watch a movie. That's nice. I always feel better when I have company.

I didn't end up going to Ashley's last night. Once the rain and the storm started I was kinda glad I stayed home.

So, that's about it for today. Just wanted to say I feel better today.


And so, today, this is...
Life As I Know It

On Feeling Crappy

When you feel crappy and there is a reason for it, it is not quite so bad. I mean, feeling crappy is NEVER good, but at least when there is a reason, well, there's a REASON. But when you are feeling crappy and can't figure out what the reason is, that just makes you feel even crappy~er.

Reasons To NOT Feel Crappy Today:

~ It was reasonably warm today. No snow, no rain. These are "non-crappy" things.

~ Went and had tea at Ashley's. Definitely a "non-crappy" thing.

~ Was invited to go over to Ashley's for drinks later this evening. "Non-crappy".

~ House is reasonably clean. CERTAINLY "non-crappy".

~ Wearing my "skinny jeans" and the t-shirt I couldn't get on on Christmas. "Non-crappy"!


Reason TO Feel Crappy Today:

~ Am cold. Kinda crappy, but not devastatingly so.

~ Guitar playing SUCKS! Kinda crappy, but no more so than it was yesterday.

~ Victoria's sleepover got cancelled due to illness at friend's house. Crappy, but more for her than for me. Really, just means I don't have to drive to Cole Harbour tonight, and tomorrow, and then, on Sunday, again. Not really registering very high on the crappy~ness scale.

~ Al's away. This is not new. Crappy, but not NEW crappy.


Well, still don't know why I am feeling crappy. Can't seem to shake it though. Even playing my piano (which is normally a great stress-relief) didn't help.

Need cheering up... Any ideas?


And so, today, this is...
Life As I Know It

Want To Cry With Me?

Read my niece's blog from today.

http://teadayz.blogspot.com/2008/01/my-aunt-donna.html


And so, today, this is...
Life As I Know It

~Untitled~

"Untitled" because I am feeling rather blah, and not very creative.

I think I have discovered one of the reasons I am a night owl. It is because my body tends to not hurt so badly at night. Mornings are excruciating. Ask anyone whose been around me first thing in the morning when all my "get the day going and body moving" meds kick in! {They seem to make me rather chatty for about half an hour...} But as the day wears on, for the most part, the pain goes from being excruciating (like putting on my socks is akin to medieval torture), to somewhat bearable (just don't ask me to lift, bend, jump, run...etc.) Such is the life of a "fibromite". {'Course, being rear-ended by a dump truck - TWICE didn't help much; then falling on the leg/hip that took the dump truck's impact REALLY didn't do a whole lot of good either!}

Today (well technically yesterday) was the 9th. That means Al will be home in 4 months. One hundred and twenty days (not that I'm counting... {where are those eye-rolling emoticons when you really need them?} ...) I think I dreamt about him last night. I can't really remember, but I have that feeling that I was with him. The same feeling I get when I dream about my mother, then I don't miss her quite so much, because we had spent time together. However, the lump of pillows and heating pad that are tucked into his side of the bed are not really cutting it anymore. I am ready for some real body parts - get your mind out of the gutter Elizabeth Dorene! I mean arms to hold me, and lips whisper in my ear and kiss my neck, and chest on which to rest my head at night.

And speaking of my mother, I miss her a lot tonight - thanks to Tim! We talked about prayer and faith and healing at group tonight, which I was ignoring very effectively with my knitting, until he noticed that I hadn't said anything and very promptly asked me what I thought. What I thought! I had been doing very well keeping the tears at bay counting stitches and rows and learning how to do a cable, thank you VERY much! What I thought... Marjorie and Beatrice both knew what I thought, and knew why I was knitting so very diligently. "We've already talked about this!", is about all I managed to get out, hoping it was enough. Men are so thick sometimes, even very kind, gentle, good men like Tim. "I don't understand..." So Beatrice proceeded to tell him of my Mother and my struggle with praying for healing and all I could do was cry and wish that the sofa would eat me.

So now I am feeling rather blah. I am tired. I am sore. I am sad. I am lonely. And I want the 2 people I can't have. Make that 3 - I wanted to run to Lois's but she isn't even here anymore. So, that's that. Time for bed... I hope tomorrow is brighter.


And so, today, this is...
Life As I Know It

I Did It

I stayed home all day. I did not leave my house once all day! This is the first time in over 2 months, and it was nice! I spent part of the day cozied up on the sofa with Johnny (Depp that is - I watched Secret Window, still an awesome movie! Watch it if you haven't.) Then the kids and I played Cranium - I sucked. I made spaghetti and garlic bread for supper - not great, but not bad either. Then my friend Maureen came by. I haven't seen her since, I believe, October - and she only lives a few houses down! Bad, I know. I hate it when my friends get jobs and I never get to see them anymore! (I do not like to intrude on families in the evening, as it is the only time the couple gets to spend time together, and I was told, once, by a friend's husband, "Do NOT be here when I get home from work again!", so...I tend to not visit, call, etc, when the husbands are home!)





Anyway, I had a lovely visit with Maureen. She brought me my Christmas present. {Just a sec, I will take a picture of it...}












Isn't it just sweet? She said, "I don't know anyone who likes tea more than you." I think it is just darling!

We had a nice long visit, got caught up, and just chatted for a few hours.

Then I decided I would pick up my guitar, because I haven't had the time in a LONG time, to play it. So I played til my fingers were sore (which really didn't take that long!)

And so now, here I sit, as the fire does down to glowing embers. It is nearly the 6th of January, which means that my youngest will be a teenager, officially, in 4 months. Actually, 4 months from now, 13 years ago I was in labor. She was stubborn then and is stubborn now! Four months - 4 months and 3 days Al is due home. Whether or not they actually GET home on time remains to be seen. I am not banking on it, that's for sure. If I have learned anything in the 6 years "we" have been in the Military, it is "nothing is for certain til the papers are in your hand!"

Our next door neighbour left today to go to Pet for his 3 month training to leave for Afghanistan. He will not be back to his wife and 3 children until February of 2009. When I ran into him at the grocery store yesterday and he told me I nearly cried. It is just so heart-wrenching when daddies and husbands (and mommies, too, I guess, now) have to go away for so long, to such dangerous places.

So, my plea to you tonight - Love your families. Tell them, show them. Hug them, play with them. Kiss your spouse, make love. Cherish every moment you have with them, if not for yourselves, for those of us who wish we would have had time for just one more...



And so, today, this is...
Life As I Know It

Phone Call

I got to talk to Al today. He phoned from the ship. They are doing exercises, mostly. He seems well. It was nice to talk to him. Haven't since Christmas Day.


And so, today, this is...
Life As I Know It

Change

I've changed my blog and can't get it back to the way it was, so I lost all my pictures and everything. AUGH! I will figure it out.


And so, today, this is...
Life As I Know It

PINK

This is really, quite pink...especially for someone who doesn't really like pink...

And so, today, this is...
Life As I Know It

2008

Well another year gone, another one begun. I now can say my Sailor will be home "this year", however, that still seems a long way off.

We had a nice Christmas, despite the fact that Al's away. He called and talked to us on Christmas day. We also went and had Christmas dinner at our friends' place. We went to Al's father's for Boxing Day dinner, then on the 27th, dinner at another family's place from church. Then on the 28th we went to Doaktown to spend some time with the Leas. I was SO happy to spend time with Lois. I miss her so much. It was great! We intended to come home on New Year's Eve, but seeing as we were in the middle of New Brunswick, we kinda got snowed in, so we came home yesterday.

I hope that everyone had a great Christmas, and I wish you all the best in 2008!

Love to everyone...

And so, today, this is...
Life As I Know It

Bells Will Be Ringing

OP Altair Strike Force

O Bells will be ringing

this sad sad sad news

Oh what a Christmas

to have the blues

Al in Gibraltar

My baby's gone

I have no friends

To wish me greetings

once again

Al in Gibraltar

O Choirs will be singing

Silent Night

Al in Egypt

Christmas carols
by candle light

Al in Egypt

Please come home for Christmas
Please come home for Christmas

Al in Egypt

If not for Christmas

Al in Egypt

by New Years night

Al in Egypt

Al in Egypt

Friends and relations
Send salutations

Sure as the stars shine up above

Al in Egypt

But this is Christmas

Yeah, it's Christmas my dear

It's the time of year
to be with the one you love

Al in Egypt

So won't you tell me
You'll never more roam
Christmas and the New Year
Will find you home

There`ll be no more sorrow

No grief and pain

And I'll be happy, happy, once again

Some of the crew of HMCS Charlottetown on the Flight Deck

There be no more sorrow

No grief and pain

It'll be a happy, Christmas,

once again

Merry Christmas from the SUP guys on HMCS Charlottwetown

And so, today, this is...
Life As I Know It

(Bells Will Be Ringing - The Eagles)

I Don't Really Have A Lot To Say, But...

I think it is about time I updated my blog. Considering I intended to update it daily, and did for quite some time. Why I got out of the habit of doing so is beyond me. At any rate, here I am...





It is December now, and miracle of miracles, it has decided to actually SNOW in December. Go figure!





Al's been gone for over a month now. Only 6 or 7 left to go. He's been to Norfolk, Virginia, and to Gibraltar, and to Spain. He's been to Alexandria and Cairo in Egypt. Saw the pyramids and the Sphinx. That's pretty cool. They passed the part where Moses parted the Red Sea (which does not have red water in it, as Victoria thought). They did a sail past with the Toronto, which is on it's way home now. He's only sent me one picture so far because he forgot to take the USB cord for the camera. He will get it on the 16th when they enter the next port. Anyway, here is Al, Kendall, and some-guy-I-don't-know in front of the Sphinx.








Yup...there he is. In front of the Sphinx. Wearing a Christmas present he wasn't supposed to open! (He claims that the paper was ripped and he liked what he saw so he wore it...likely excuse!) I hope to get more pictures of him and the places he's been once he gets the USB cord. You can look at the pictures of the ship's company at various locations, doing various things if you go here...http://www.navy.forces.gc.ca/charlottetown/gallery/ship_gallery_e.asp


As for how I am doing while he is gone, I am doing OK. Been really busy since he left. Volunteering a lot at the MFRC, getting ready for the Christmas Production at Church. {Here is the church website with the info on the play should anyone wish to come and see... http://www.hillsidewesleyan.com/ (pretty funky new website, looks kinda weird without Pastor Peter sitting in Pastor AJ's office!)} And, of course, getting ready for Christmas. {I think that while the kids are at the Youth Center tonight, I just might take this opportunity to wrap some presents!}

Well, that's about it for now I guess. Not overly exciting, but such is my life...

Oh yeah, I am going to visit Jo (http://barefacedlife.blogspot.com/) on Sunday! I can't wait! So if you are coming to see the play at church, come Saturday Night or Sunday morning because I won't be there Sunday night.

CIAO for now...






And so, today, this is...
Life As I Know It

Festival Angels

This is how we spent Sunday morning, when we "should" have been in church. But sometimes, as important as church is, there are things that are, maybe not MORE important, but at least AS important as church is, and being with other Military Families who are experiencing deployment, and who understand what it is really like to be celebrating Christmas without Daddy/Husband, is one of those things.




Victoria and Santa.



Cody and Santa.



All of us with Santa.


Yesterday we went to "Festival Angels" at the mall. This is what it was about...

Holiday Angel Celebration

This Holiday Season, Halifax Shopping Centre is honouring our Canadian
Forces. On Sunday November 18th, Halifax Shopping Centre invites military
families to Halifax Shopping Centre for a Holiday Angel Celebration.


Activities will include:


* Free Santa photos. Photos can be directly emailed to loved-ones and
prints will also be available at no charge.

* Angel Face painting

* Holiday music

* Children's entertainers

* And holiday treats


Most importantly we will be inviting children to create an angel ornament
to be hung on one of Santa's Christmas trees in centre court. In return, each
child will receive their very own Festival Angel ornament to hang on their
Christmas tree at home.


The ornament each child will receive has been designed by artist Holly Carr
in support of our Canadian Forces. Holly will be on-hand to help the children
with their own angel ornament creations. These limited edition ornaments will
also be for sale throughout the holidays with all proceeds going to the Mental
Health Foundation of Nova Scotia. With every box purchased, a Festival Angel
ornament is donated to a Canadian Forces family in Atlantic Canada.

It was a nice time. I did have to speak to the DJ playing the Christmas music and ask him to please stop playing all the sad, sappy Christmas songs ("I'll Be Home For Christmas", "I'll Have A Blue Christmas Without You", etc), or he was going to have all these women in tears, as most of us are not going to have our husbands with us for Christmas. He said, "Oh my goodness, I never even thought", which I figured he didn't. So he promptly STOPPED playing "I'll Be Home For Christmas", and played Alvin and the Chipmunks, and other more upbeat songs.



We made ornaments, and got pictures taken with Santa, which were sent right to Daddy.



Here are the pictures that I took.














Andrew, Cody, Victoria, our friend Heather, and her little one Emily.









Heather and Emily.









My friend Beth, and her little one William.









My friend Laurie, and Beth with William.









Laurie and her sister, Jill, with Laurie's little one Ethan and Andrew.









Cody learned how to make balloon angels with Milo the Clown.





Andrew putting his ornament on the tree.











Merry Christmas!









Cody putting his ornament on the tree.









Victoria putting her ornament on the tree.









Victoria showing of the ornaments she made.




Heather and Emily, and the four of us went together, as her hubby is deployed on a different ship. He will be home next month, so their 6 months are almost over. We ran into Laurie and Beth while we were there, which was awesome! Their husbands are gone for a month, but will also be back for Christmas, however neither one of them is unfamiliar with being a "single mom" for 6 or 8 months, as their husbands have been deployed for extended periods of time as well.

I usually say that I really don't have any friends here in town, but when I stop and think, and look at all my pictures, I guess I really do. Just because we don't do a lot together, doesn't mean that if I ever needed them, or they me, we would not walk on coals for one another.

So, in the immortal words of Tiny Tim ~ God bless us, every one!



And so, today, this is...
Life As I Know It

What A Difference A Month Makes

Well the last time I posted was on my birthday. Since then Al came home from Sea, my Man~Child turned 16, and Al went back to Sea - for the big one.

This is a very short post as I really do not want my heart plastered over the internet, but if you want to know how I am doing call me or email me or Facebook me...

It snowed yesterday for the first time this season. We didn't get much here, but I guess they got quite a bit back home.

I am still having a significant amount of pain from the stupid dump truck. I haven't been to physio for about a month because I have just been too busy, but I think I will call this week and make an appointment. Seems I am going backwards instead of forward. The spasms are getting bad.

Church this morning was something else! There is a guy on the ship who only had 2 weeks notice that he was going. He and his wife (girlfriend maybe?) go to our church. We never met them before, but the Sunday before they left the Pastor announced that Al was leaving and prayed for him and for our family. After service this couple came over to talk to Al and told him he would be sailing too. Anyway, this morning she (Rachel) asked the usher where I was, so he brought her to me so we could sit together. They did the whole Rememberance Day service, O Canada, Last Post, 2 mins of silence, then talked about the veterns, and the men and women serving. The two of us sat there holding each other's hands crying. It was surreal. It almost felt like we were the only ones there, or like we were transplanted there from 100 years ago. It was the oddest feeling sitting with her and holding her hand as we cried for our husbands who are gone to Fight for Freedom. It is very difficult to describe a feeling, but it was incredible, and not something I will forget in a hurry.

Friends from church invited us to go have Christmas with them since we will be alone. I think that was very nice of them. It is nice to know that people care. Also today at church another man from church, whose son is friends with the boys, told me to call any weekend I need a break and they will take the boys for the weekend so I can breathe. AND, one of the guys who helped out with Youth Group last year messaged me on Facebook yesterday inviting Andrew to a Mooseheads game today. So he went with him, then he invited him back here for supper - so we had left over ham.

I guess even though I am having some struggles with the new leadership in the church, the people are really great - they are the same ones who were always there... I just hope that the new leaders come around. I approached 3 separate people this week, for 3 separate ministries/outreach idea, and was shot down every time. I was very upset about that, really. Made me feel like I wasn't "worthy"... Perhaps they forgot that:

"There is no one righteous, not even one" - Romans 3:9

I am in a bit of a dilemma... I want to grow closer to the Lord, I want to better my walk with Him, I want to have more Christian friends/influences in my life, I want to serve in my Church, but I can't seem to get there. I guess, contrary to what is preached, I really do have to totally "clean up my life" before I can serve in the ways that I am gifted to serve, and that is just really, really sad. Other Christians, what do you think? Please, tell me...


And so, today,
this is... Life As I Know It

A Picture Post

This has been my birthday.

It started with a lovely Tea Party with Kathleen and her Princess. We had cherry tarts, apples and dip, and devilled eggs with our tea. She gave me a jar of her home made chutney with pretty velvet fabric and ribbon wrapped around it. Thanks Kath!



We even used pretty tea cups!





And I played with an editing program and made this.




She had everything all set up for me when I got there.



And I antiqued this picture too. I love this new program!



Then I went to Kelly's for another tea party. We had apple crisp with our tea.




And Roni even came!!!



And brought me the most beautiful flowers!!!! Thanks Roni!
















{Ok, so I LOVE the VERY colorful, GLITTERY flowers!!!!!!}


Tonight I had my Facilitation Class. Holly and Catherine brought me cake(s) - candles and everything!






Singing Happy Birthday to me.



Blowing out the candles. {Please do not look at my bald spot :( }



So here we are having McCain Deep 'N Delicious cakes. A chocolate one and a vanilla one. Thanks girls!





Victoria made me a pretty card and drew a lovely picture for Mommy *smile*.

And so this was my GREAT birthday! Made special by great friends!

I miss my Sweetie, but he will be home tomorrow. Tomorrow night I am going out with some girlfriends for dinner, drinks, and dancing. And Saturday I am celebrating with Al at Oktoberfest at the Sea King Club.

I can't remember when I had such a great birthday!

A HUGE thank you and lots of love to everyone who made it special!


And so, today, this is...
Life As I Know It