Monthly Archives: March 2005

It is my birthday today.  It seems pretty crazy being closer to 60 than to 50 now.  Mostly it was just another work day for me except for all the nice things people did for me.  I did have to tell a couple people that no, this has not yet been declared a national holiday.  So I was definitely at work.

Today was also a milestone of another sort too.  My grandson, Kieran, came in to see me for his first dental check-up.  No cavities!  Only has about 2/3 of his teethe so far.  But I know he has the greatest parents who really do brush his teeth for him.  And when he came in he brought me a birthday present.  So it was doubly special.  He was pretty much like any self respecting kid though – he did not appreciate the dental chair at all. 

Some of the nice things – flowers, which I love.  A bottle of chokecherry wine – a red wine I do not react to; special too because it was made by a friend. A new printer so that I can hopefully print streak free photos.  And a really good quality alto recorder – a Moeck.  And I treated myself to a new pair of blue jeans and shirt as well as a few new books.  I think I may have to start up a lending library in order to justify the expense and space required to store them all.  I do love books.

Sad news is that I am having to write this from the computer at work.  That means coming back after hours.  But at least I have somewhere accessible.  Our home computer is in the hospital with some sort of virus that none of our anti-virus software detected or would remove.  So it pretty much froze every time we wanted to do something.  Hope it is well soon.  I depend on e-mail for some of my communication and on keeping up with my blogging friends.

In the midst of transition, another answer to prayer comes, providing an even better placement for my dad.  I just got a call from Sharon telling me that he not only does not have to be kept confined to the restricted exit area (I called it the SHU) but that with a new assessment comes an opening for a place at Mount St. Joseph’s Home.  So he will be moving again.  All these moves can’t be good but this should be the last one.  Then we can get him settled in to his new place and set up some things he will be familiar with. 

The new place has more available in the way of therapy and recreation.  It is also a newer facility and, well, I think the care is provided with just a bit more of a personal touch. 

I must say that I am glad.  The last time I went to visit him, he was in this confined area and I felt a bit depressed.  If I felt a bit depressed, I have to wonder what my dad was feeling.  If nothing else, I think it will be more normal going to visit him without having to go through doors that lock behind me. 

This has been an event filled weekend.  I spent it in Saskatoon being a soccer mom.  Provincial Under 16 Girls were battling it out – and PA Celtics lost in the semi-finals.  The game today was well played though, just the last four minutes the other side got 2 goals.  Sara came home with a sore foot from a run in with another foot also aiming for the ball. 

Stayed with my sister-in-law this weekend since my son had his mother-in-law visiting.  In terms of luxury, we got the best deal.  We had a bed with as many pillows as we could use.  And we had a great time visiting with her family and Rob, her fiance.  Her oldest son and I share the same birthdate so had a bit of a party on Saturday night. (No- I did not get older yet – not till Monday and then I will be over twice my nephew’s age)

Had another birthday party on Friday night as well.  Jordon has turned the ripe old age of 31 and I got to be at the get together at Ozzie’s. 

March has got to be the best month to have a birthday.  Really cute people are born in March.  If you are wondering who just check out Marc and Dixie’s new son.  What a cute kid Marc!

Life gets very hectic at times.  And then the computer starts to act strange.  Writing kind of stops.  It is too frustrating to write stuff and then have the whole computer freeze and lose it all.

Maybe life is just acting strange these days too.  Sometimes it too seems to freeze up, weird things happen.  But mostly it seems to freeze up and get stuck on the routine. 

So the days go on as if stuck in some sort of a rut.  Up, make coffee, go to work, home make supper, some activity in the evening or driving kids.  Finally bed.  The next day repeats. 

Hard to see how God is acting when life just kind of goes on. 

If life as we repeated each day circled around getting closer and closer to God as our centering point, I think that would be good.  Repitition is not bad if we become better at doing life with practice.  But if we are just repeating as a record stuck on some flaw, then it becomes pretty pointless.

I think I have been learning some new lessons about life through these fairly routine days of mine.  I long for more time, more quiet and time to read and simply talk or listen to God.  Sometimes I think the contemplative life in some religious order would be wonderful.  But God has given me this life of mine to live that includes work, kids, a husband, church, friends, etc.  I guess one of the biggest challenges for me is living in this tension of wanting to experience God’s presence at the very heart of me, knowing that it can’t just be about just my emotions (because this would be a very inward looking and for me a self absorbed affair) and being compelled by his calling me to participate in his work in this world through things he has given me to do.  If I am not constantly in touch with God and learning more of him I won’t keep very good balance. 

Today was one of those good day bad day sorts of days.

Bad day – computer problems. Something is crashing? It all freezes up. So lots of frustration.

Good day – we ate the lobster that Leo brought home from New Brunswick tonight. Sara loves lobster but decided these whole things are too much work. And they are. But worth it for a seafood lover like myself.

And tonight – Grandma is babysitting.

Big question in the staff room this afternoon. What is the last name of the Queen? Not knowing but having a few good guesses my partner decided to find out.

In the back of the phone book is a number for the Government of Canada. General inquiries. Sounded like a general inquiry to him. So he called. He explained what he wanted to know. Whoever answered the phone was as ignorant as us but passed us on to the office of the Governor General. Wow! We are going to get the answer straight from the one who knows. So we threw in another related question – What is the last name of her children?

Disappointment – we only got as far as leaving a message on an answering machine. It may take 2 days to find out this vital piece of information.

Anyone out there know?