Facebook

I "heart" facebook. I know that a few people in my brother's blogging challenge really released their blogging rage on their feeling for facebook, so I have been pretty hesitant to talk about it. I have been using FB since 2006 and not only has it allowed me to reconnect with friends, makes it easier to manage my social life, share pictures of my kid with those that are far away, but also keeps you up to date with the people in your life by knowing what is happening in the moment. I know not everyone appreciates the status updates about what you ate for lunch, and nobody want to read about the indigestion you are suffering through from the 10 pounds of wings you ate, but there are always those status updates about the kid that found mom's mascara or the diaper cream accompanied by pictures and I love that. I love getting friend requests from someone that you haven't see or talked to in forever. A simple hello and bam! it's like the last 10 years didn't happen. I know we have all had that moment when you receive the "friend request" from someone that you would rather not be in contact with. You let it sit there a few days trying to figure out if you decline the invitation if the person will try again, just go with your gut I have been burned by the FB guilt and they usually don't make it through a friends purge.

I am fully aware of all the evil things out there that makes any social media a very scary place for young kids. I think you are going to run into that anywhere on the net, you just have to be very aware that there are creepy people out there. People it's called Security settings, just check it out.

As I'm wrapping up this post on my beloved FB I'm about to do a purge of my friends list, some people are really too high drama for this mommy, and I'm sure they don't really care about what I'm into each day due to the fact that they are consumed with managing their relationship status' and flinging all their emotional baggage around like it's nobody's business. What was I thinking when I added some of these people... guess some people never change, like I stated above, go with your gut some people were cut out of the fold for a reason.

L

Piss and Vinegar

I have had some trouble over the last day or so wondering why the crotchety types always seem to out live the warm hearted kind ones. Is it that they use up more life by sharing their love with the world while the heartless hoard their feeling and keep carrying on? How is it possible that a man who has lived a good life, taken good care of his body, eaten healthy, loved his wife and kids is left to suffer with terrible heart problems while a man who smokes three packs of cigarettes a day, never worked out a day in his life and is a total train wreck can have a devastating heart attack and basically walk away from it? It totally boggles my mind, and it just seems totally unfair. Stupid genetics, saving those that are a total waste of space and taking away other far too soon. I guess piss and vinegar is proven yet again as the better gas in the human engine then good old fashioned compassion and love. I'm so sorry to hear that your dad isn't doing as well as you had hoped Tammy, and I hope that he has a speedy recovery and is back to his old self as soon as possible. You are such an inspiration, always something positive to say even though the situation really, really sucks.

L

Runt of the Litter

As my mom said to me a few weeks back "Every family has their problem child" as she was referring to her brother in an awkward conversation we were having regarding an awkward situation that had caused some amount of stress between my grandmother and my mom. Is this true? does every family have a "problem" person that always causes an extra amount of stress or undue problems? Hey I could defiantly red flag a few people that come to mind in my family, but does this give them an excuse to continue the behaviour as nobody expects anything more from them? On more then one occasion I think to myself are we allowing them to misbehave only because we are really scared that they will fail or are we enabling them because it's just easier that way. I have a couple reasons for this post from a few comments coming from a few family members this week that got me to thinking where we all went wrong in the first place. Example number one, my not so baby cousin Tyler. Diagnosed at a very young age with ADHD or something like that, put on various drugs and left to deal with his terrible impulse control. You couldn't make it through a family get together with out hearing the "poor Tyler" story and how everyone feared that he would never amount to anything. He had trouble with school, oh that's because he has ADHD it's the best he can do. He had trouble finishing school, oh that's because he has ADHD and that's the best that he can do. He had trouble holding down a job, oh that's because he has ADHD and that's the best he can do. He had trouble keeping friends, oh that's because he has ADHD and that's the best he can do... the list goes on and on with the excuses allowed for Tyler to basically suck at life. Now I know a "normal" life would defiantly be a lot harder for him to manage, but the fact of the matter is so many people with the same disorder do a dam good job at it, not only excel at life but find that they can use their hyperactive brain to their advantage. I wonder if that's because they were never allowed to use it as an excuse. As I had mentioned in my last post my aunt and uncle stopped by the house on their way back to Saskatchewan and told us that they were totally blown away with how well Tyler was doing on his own. Go figure the kid was tested, and he is doing very well. Now only if he had been given the opportunity a lot sooner would we have seen similar results? I think so, as I really think Tyler learned how to milk his situation and who could blame the kid. Example number two is what started this all. My uncle. Fleeing from all his problems he is jumping ship and moving to BC. The man needs to get some help and everyone is allowing him to just run away. I guess if we don't talk about it, it didn't happen and everything is alright... right? He has had my grandparents fix his problems in the past and his hand is out again looking for his bail out, which will come and he will learn nothing. Hey I'm not saying I want people in my family to fail, but I'm just wondering if these quote "problem" people will keep being a problem if we keep handling the situations that arise in their lives the same. I guess the silver lining in this post is that my little brother Steve who has always done things his own way has finally seemed to find his way and is doing really well. If he can do it, I'm sure a few of the "others" may come around at some point too!

L

Running Fool

Hooray it's been over a month and I'm still keeping up with my running regime! Survived Thanksgiving and didn't succumb to the temptations of the holiday (I made Mitch and me a weight watchers apple crumble for our dessert, which is super yummy and not that horrible for you) now if I can make it past the delicious little chocolate bars of Halloween I'm pretty sure I can make my goal of getting into an old favorite pair of pants (comfortably with no muffin top) by Christmas! I didn't set a weight loss goal this time, and it seems to be working better for me as weight has always been a relative number as I can put on muscle fairly easily and I will usually see a clothing size drop and not a change on the scale. I am losing my running buddy, as Tara and me have been being accountable to each other by documenting our runs but hopefully her move back home won't derail her efforts thus far.

I also set a goal to run a 10K run before the big 3-0 next June, but I'm already logging 8K without issue right now so I might want to set my goal a little higher. That's a little scary to me as I have never run further then what I am doing right now in one shot and 10K seems like a very realistic distance for me to achieve. I have been inspired by one of the girls I used to work with a few years ago as last weekend she completed a full marathon of 42K. She is a super star losing well over a 100 pounds in the last year and pushing herself to train for the marathon all summer, I think about her everytime I jump on the treadmill.

Well I do love my evening runs, well in exception to last night when I forgot that my aunt and uncle were coming over to drop off a gift for Hailey and I had to fly off the treadmill, shower and dress in a matter of 2 mins and pretend like I wasn't going to die when we were visiting. It gives me a few mins every second day to just remember that I'm not just a mom there is still a bit of Lisa somewhere in there, well the skinnier version screaming at me to keep going.

L

Election Day

If you are in the city of Edmonton and surrounding areas you should be well aware that there is an election tomorrow. It's been tough for me to follow the campaigns this year as we never have anything besides Tree House on during prime time tv hours and I almost never watch the news anymore. I just finished checking out what is available on the Internet for all the candidates running for both Mayor and our Ward. I think I know who I will be voting for tomorrow, it's not a huge surprise as there isn't really any competition for the incumbent in our area.

I have always been a total geek when it comes to going to vote, I just don't think that you are entitled to bitch about the way things are being run if you didn't have a say on who is driving the ship. It totally blows me away on the voter apathy in our community and our country, I guess if you don't live in a country where you don't have the right to have a say you don't really know the importance of making a choice and standing behind it. The people at my last job really thought I was nuts when I would bring the paper in everyday, leave it out and talk about the up coming elections. Yeah I know it's a little psycho, but hey you are entitled to take time off work to go and vote so I was really bossy about it. I don't think that Mitch was much of a voter before I came on the scene, but I think he's better off for it :) I think that my terrible Grade 12 social studies teacher Mr.Montgomery would be proud, well if he is even alive as the last I had heard he was undergoing some kind of study for morbidly obese people with sleep apnea... oh yeah it was super awesome to watch him sweat like crazy when all he was doing was talking to us during class. Well I guess whatever he said sunk in somewhere and I'm a avid voter.

So I hope that you are seriously thinking about going out of your way and making your voice heard by choosing who you would like to be running this joint. Poles are open from 9-8pm.

L

I am Jacks Broken Heart

I mentioned last post that my friends are moving back home, and this week I actually had to start facing reality :( I really thought that I would be taking this better then I have been over the last few days, as it's not exactly a surprise, but it still sucks no matter what way you look at it. I can't believe that I'm not going to beable to see her twins turn one or a variety of things that I just assumed we would celebrate together, it's crazy that they are going to be gone so fast after accepting the job. I guess I when it's something you really want, and have wanted for a long time you are going to make it happen ASAP. The mature side of me knows all the right things to tell myself when I'm having a total self pity moment, but the 5 year old in me wants to tantrum it out anyway. I have never been dumped but I'm thinking this is what it must feel like. Oh well the way things are going right now I know that I'm going to be a ugly mess when it's actually time to wish them off, so much for not falling apart in public.

Steve and I were allowed to go and see our grandfather on Tuesday, and the visit was both nice and awkward. Nice that we got to see grandpa, and awkward that Steve got the 9th degree of questions because they really don't know jack about him. It was nice not to have them grilling me for a change and I could just sit back and talk with grandpa, and just listen to his stories and comparisons of Hailey to his sister (Grandpa thinks Hailey has red hair, hey the man is 92 and not really all here anymore I'm not the one that's going to correct him!). I felt a little bad for Steve as the first thing out of my grandfather's mouth about his car was "you got the color that your grandmother hated". It's hard not to laugh, but come on, doesn't everyone want a bright yellow sports car?? I told them that I wasn't going to stay past 6:30 since the princess needs her beauty sleep and I wanted to get her home before 7, totally left Steve to the vultures. He said that he got the speech that I normally get about not visiting enough, and it was nice that someone else got it for a change, but I really wish that they would realize that crap like that keeps us all away. Ah well I'm good for another 6 weeks or so and will have to do this dance all over again.

I lit my candle today for all the babes whos stay here was shorter then hoped for, I hope everyone else did the same.

L

Happy Turkey Day!

I have mentioned before that I am very grateful for my life and I really like Thanksgiving because it makes others realize what they do have and show an appreciation for it instead of the regular complaining. I thought I would just reiterate what I am grateful for as today is the day for giving thanks.

I am very grateful for my family and friends, I am very fortunate to have such wonderful people in my life that not only make the day to day easier but make it fun as we go! I am very grateful that my mom got back from her trip safely with my grandma and that there was no earthquakes or illnesses this time! I am so so so grateful that my daughter is healthy, happy and such a joy to be around. I'm very happy that the parenthood experience isn't disappointing and that I'm loving every moment of it. I am very grateful of my loving husband, and I can't express how much I love him. There is just so so so much to be appreciative of, I could be here all day!

This weekend was bitter sweet though, as one of by very best and dearest friends celebrated her 30th b-day. I got the news that I have been dreading. They will be moving back home to Vancouver and before the end of the year. I'm very happy that they will get to be near their families, I know that's all she has wanted since she moved her 2 years ago. I'm just struggling to be 100% supportive as my heart breaks a little thinking about what my life will be like without her a call and a car trip away. I love her kids as much as my own so it will defiantly leave a big gaping hole in my life with them back home where they belong. I knew it was just a matter of time, but now my time is very limited and I'm just going to have to use it the best way I can.

So enjoy your turkey, love your leftovers and be grateful for what you have and forget the rest.

L

Denied

So all the worry about going to visit my Grandpa was over nothing, as per usual we were denied our visit over to the house. I should be more angry then I am, but this is the game that is always played when we want to go over there. I used to just do drop by visits, you would think in a house that had 3 retired people that it wouldn't be a problem. But when 4 out of the 4 adults that are living there are quite sick you it would be pretty rare to pick a day that none of them have some kind of appoinment, and I get that, that's why I always call now before I go. But the thing is I did call, on Sunday, before 6 o'clock when everone is in bed as per the rules. I knew deep down that it wasn't going to go well for Steven and I when I only spoke to the freeloader that is staying at the house. He said that it would be fine to stop by "anytime they are always home" which is a bunch of BS and I knew it, I just should have phoned back like my gut told me to. I was super angry after I talked to my dad's g-friend's son on Sunday too as I didn't think it was approprate that he was talking to me like I was his good buddy. No I didn't get "pissed" the night before, No I don't plan on getting "pissed" tonight and what we did all weekend is none of your dam business. Why don't you get off your lazy 40+ year old ass and get a job and get out of my grandfathers house... Besides I think he confused me with my half sis Lana because what he was saying to me didn't make a whole lot of sense, what a total dumb ass.

My dad's g-friend was such a cow when I phoned over there too, which only makes it worse. She likes to be a barrier between me and my family, I don't know if it makes her feel good that she has the ultimate say in whether we can go visit or not but she always plays this game. I'm even surprised that she picked up the phone the first time I called, that's another of my favorite games she plays, listen to the message before she calls me back. Might just be a coincidence you say? well she almost always calls me back within minutes of listening to the message or forgets that I called earlier and says that she was there the whole time (she isn't the sharpest knife in the drawer). Whatever we can't come over, Steven was a little pissed but he ultimatley doesn't care either. The sad thing is we will get the guilt trip laid on us when we finally are allowed over about not visiting more often... Ack why bother, the thing is I love my grandfather so much that I will endure this for as long as it takes.

We will see if it happens next week, I will keep you posted.

L

You can't choose your family...

Things get real messy when you have a "modern" family like we do. Between Mitch and me Hailey technically has 6 grandparents, 2 of which I'm having a hard time calling "grandpa and grandma". Which brings me to the point of this post. My dad and his g-friend want very much to be involved in Hailey's life, I could care less if they are or not, and I'm trying my best to just keep neutral for Hailey's sake. I believe that being a Grandparent is a reward for doing a good job raising your own kids, and you get to enjoy them in a way that you couldn't enjoy your own kids. If you did a bang up job your kids should not only feel comfortable bring them over to their house but leaving them in their care. My dad falls massively short in the good parenting department and fails to make the grade when it comes to any form of nurturing. Not only is he a terrible influence in my opinion, but doesn't really have anything to offer besides a good example of how not to live your life. I'm sure Hailey knows that "life is a bitch, and then you die" already... and if she hasn't picked up that little gem in the few visits we have made it's going to hit home soon. So ditch the losers right? Well I wish that I could, unfortunately my grandfather lives with my dad and in order for me to go and visit I have to go through them. *sigh* The poor guy would be better off in a home, but being the owner of the house he is determined to live in the house "as long as he still has his mind", a point that could be argued either way right now... So the question remains, do I carry on letting them call themselves "grandparents" as they technically are and let Hailey just grow up calling them that, or do I do the asshole move of correcting them now. I guess it's gone on too long now, but I seriously get an ulcer when I hear them refer to themselves as such. I know that the visits to their house will be done when my grandpa is out of the house so does it really matter? Either way it's tricky... I don't want Hailey to carry my baggage, it's my past that keeps me from wanting them to have a relationship, not anything they have done or not done to her. Maybe I'm scared that she will develop a relationship with my dad and he will hurt her the same way he hurt me and I'm just being all momma bear about it. Choices we make as parents sometimes are hard, guess we will have to endure a good dose of ulcers tomorrow as me and Stevie boy are going to head over there to show off his new car. Love being the peacemaker and making it happen, for my Grandpa who misses his grandsons' I will do it... It's sure to be a craptastic time.

L

Photo Shoot!

Sorry it's been a few days since my last blog, but we have been busy with play dates, photo shoots, and general day to day for the last few days, thus the life of a busy family.

I helped my best friend out on a photo shoot on Friday! It was a lot of fun for me to learn how to use my camera in her basement/studio set up. I think that she did a fantastic job too, I can't wait to see the finished product. We had discussed going into business together one day on our girls weekend and with the way we worked together I think it's a definite possibility. We had a play date today where she let me take some shots of Hailey in her Halloween costume (which has been expertly hidden in the closet since I brought it home due to the fact that Hailey would wear it all day everyday if she could). I didn't get "the" shot of her, getting a one year old to sit still for the camera is like herding cats, next to impossible, but I got some really good ones that I'm happy with. Last year she was a cute lamb and I didn't really get any really good pictures of her first Halloween so I'm already way ahead of last year. If I figure out how to post a picture I will attach one from today, I know I'm getting all fancy like with my postings :) I'm actually hosting the mom group Halloween party this year, so that should be really fun seeing all the kids in their costumes and seeing how much they have all changed. It's been awhile since we all have gotten together since most of the mommies have gone back to work.

Anyways I'm missing the end of Hoarders my favorite Monday night guilty pleasure,

L