The Interview

These interview questions were asked of me by my oldest daughter Jen. I'll do my best to answer accurately. Here goes.

1. If you could spend one year anywhere you wanted, where would it be?
That is a tough one for me. One year. Well, I would REALLY love to spend an entire year in Alaska. I would love to see all of the wildlife up close and to look upon that magnificent landscape. As winter is one of my favorite seasons, one can understand why I chose that place.
2. If you could master one type of cuisine (Italian, French, Japenese, Mexican) which would you choose?
I think I would like to master Indian cuisine. No wait, perhaps Italian or Asian. I don't know. There are too many that I like. No, Indian it is.
3. If you were having a dinner party and could invite 5 celebrities, who would be there?
Okay, no laughing here. John Gormley ( the radio personality because I think he is very knowledgeable), Richard Gere (cuz the whole Buddhist thing intrigues me, plus he is easy on the eyes), Ellen Degeneres (because she is so so funny, even though I never watch her show), The Dalai Lama (for obvious reasons) and Meryl Streep (just cuz I love her acting).
4. What is one thing you MUST do before you die?
I must orienteer a canoe on a quiet lake all by myself.
5. What is one lesson you hope your children won't learn the hard way?
Oooh, good question. I don't want them to forget to appreciate all of the good things they have. They and I have so so much. People who we love and who love us. Enough money to live. The safety and security we each have just because we live in Canada. That is so important. We could all grumble and complain about one thing or another but if we compare our lives with those in other countries we have little to complain about. So, I don't want my girls to ever forget to be thankful for what they have. To learn the hard way would be terrible, like the song says " Don't it always seem to go, that you don't know what you've got til its gone."


If you want to be a part of this too, here's what you have to do:
1. Leave me a comment saying, “Interview me.”
2. I will respond by emailing you five questions. I get to pick the questions.
3. You will update your blog with the answers to the questions.
4. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview someone else in the same post.
5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.

Cute Story I am inside on the computer, obviously and Paul is out in the yard chopping wood. Athena is playing in the back yard and all I hear is her singing " Who let the dogs out? Who, who, who, who?" Oh brother. I downloaded that song about 2 months ago. Let her hear it and deleted it. She just started singing it out of the blue. What a character.

Learning to Use Chopsticks

It took her a few tries.

And a few sets of chopsticks,

but she finally mastered it.

And I use mastered loosely.

She ate all of her spicy lime chicken

and her basmati rice with them

Good job gal!

Athena and Eden and The Big Day

What a day it was too.

What fun they had.

They played in the yard.

They collected worms.

They went for a one hour walk

(all by themselves).

Jill and I thought Paul had taken them out.

Turns out, he got a fire call and

the girls got out the gate.

Jill and I sat in the kitchen, drinking wine,

oblivious to the fact that our children were

on the loose.

Oh well.

Good thing we live in Delisle.

You have never seen such dirty children.

Later on we roasted hot dogs over the fire

and the girls had a bath and watched Baby Songs before bed.

All in all a wonderful day.

Spring Fun

It was a cool, cool Sunday morning but that didn't stop

Athena and Daddy from trying out the new kite.

Daddy tried and tried to get it up in the air.

After some time Mommy said to just

give the kite to Athena and she could play

around with it by herself.

Daddy handed Athena the string and

the darn thing just went up into the air...

and stayed there.

Go figure.

Maybe Daddy know now why Uncle Don hates kites!

ENJOYING MY "ME" TIME

After I read Kaili's comment on my last blog about enjoying my "me" time, it got me to thinking. Thinking about what I would like to do in this all to brief life we are afforded. Here is my list. Jen should love this one as she is the "Queen of Lists".
In no particular order:

• I would LOVE to canoe. I think of a long ago seen picture of Pierre Trudeau canoeing. I have wanted to do that for so long. Not with anyone else. Just by myself. I think it would be so calming. Like a Zen meditation.
• I would love to paint pictures. Paul bought me a wonderful easel, loads of canvas, paints and brushes. I have the desire but each time I think about what I will paint, I draw a blank. I think I may move it out to the deck when the weather settles. I'll have a lot of inspiration in my backyard.
• I would love to have my own restaurant. I would never make it in a small town Paul says, because my menu would be so foreign to the locals. I would make hummus, miso soup, all types of curries and the like.
• I would love to be a contract worker for interior design. I love to move furniture around and stage rooms. Lots of fun.
• I would love to get up early, before Athena wakes up, every single day. Trouble is, Paul likes to stay up late with me and she likes to wake early. It is so nice to get ready, have my Green Tea and read the morning paper all before she comes down from her room. I would even like to squeeze yoga in there.
• I would like to run. I know that it would not be prudent for me to start at this age. Walking in a wooded area like my sister in North Carolina has available to her sounds equally as alluring.
• I would like a pie in the face. Just kidding. Although that was on my list when I was in my 20's. Nuts hey?
• I would like to swim naked. Isn't that odd? Actually, i did that last year in our pool outside. Only a 10ft pool but still. That is about as wild as this woman gets. Paul wants to put a bigger pool in so I am sure I can do that one again soon.

Anyway, those are my desires for my life at the moment. If I asked you what yours were, what would you say?

THINGS THAT ONE THINKS ABOUT AT 2:56 AM

Yes, that is right. It is 2:56 am and I am down in the kitchen on the computer. Why you may ask? Why indeed.
Athena was so sick all last week. She ended up on antibiotics and completely lost her voice for several days. Her voice has returned and she is feeling much better. As soon as she was back to health, I got sick. Nice. So, as I am not a mouth breather at all and my sinuses are completely blocked, here I sit, trying to breathe. Geez.

Anyway, we did have a nice Easter. We made a whirlwind trip to Regina. In and out in one day. We had brunch with the Payette family as Jen mentioned on her blog, and then dinner with the Thompson side. Some of the family played poker. Mom cleaned up in the end. Who knew all of her online gambling games would pay off? We left around 7pm Sunday evening. Athena fell asleep about 2 minutes out of Delisle. Figures.

Another thing I think about it trains. Yes, trains. We have lived here in Delisle for nearly a year now. A CN track runs the length of the town just a few short blocks from here. We sleep with our windows open year round. Trains blow their whistles at every grid intersection. I know I have heard each and every one, even though the locals have assured me you get used to them and don't even notice. Hard to imagine. One just passed by a few minutes ago. 5 whistles. 5!! I count them every night. It is true that it doesn't bother me as much, but I still hear them.

Athena is going away for a little visit with Grandma and Grandpa and Mike this coming up weekend. Paul has some business in Moose Jaw so he will drop her off Thursday noon. That means that I will have 2 days to myself and another day and a half with Paul. I really look forward to it although I get a bit worried about her while she is away. I wonder if she will eat properly. She likes certain things and dislikes others. She only likes raw veg. She doesn't like beef. She doesn't like anything mixed, and by mixed I mean anything mixed. Chili, lasagna, stew, casseroles of any kind. She likes her chicken and fish. She loves rice and pasta. Won't touch a cooked potato unless it is in the form of french fries. I know she won't starve and that if she is hungry she will eat but still... I also wonder what she thinks at bedtime. I understand she has her own room there. She doesn't sleep well when she is away. Gets up waaaaaaaayyy to early. She will survive. What I do know is that she really likes going there. She loves seeing them all. She talks about her favorite dog, Silky, all the time. She has such fun. I guess I shouldn't worry. Still, I am a mother. We do things like that.
Athena had her yearly Well Child Check Up today. She is 41 inches tall. Tall is right. She is in the 100th percentile for height and only 75th for weight. All is well with her. The tiny lump on her lower jaw is just a lymph node. No problem. Doctor says we won't worry about her still wearing a diaper to bed and soaking it until she is 4 or so. Okay. Continue with the antibiotics until they are finished. No problem.

Yoga classes are going well so far. I teach another tomorrow, or pardon me, tonight. I have so much prep to do for them as I want to make the course different from the last. I'll have ample time for that on the weekend. I should spring clean my truck too. And take out the summer clothes, even though there is a freshly fallen blanket of snow on the ground today.

I played basketball with my brother and two nephews on the weekend as well. What fun. I was wearing a skirt and sandals and that is my excuse for being the weakest link. I think we may put up a hoop on the garage. This time I won't let Paul win just because he is my boyfriend, like I did 25 years ago. I'll need a lot of behind the scenes practice though. Good thing he travels so much. I used to play 21 with my Dad when we lived in Sherwood Park. That was a great memory. I rarely won. I wonder, actually, I bet that the times I did win, he let me. Is that so Dad?

Anyway, I can actually breathe now so I suppose I will go on up to bed. Thanks for allowing me to amuse you for this short while. Good night.

HOW CUTE IS THIS?

Athena came home from school on tuesday with this

adorable Easter basket made from a milk jug.

On a sadder note, she also came home with illness.

She got sick suddenly that afternoon.

She has a high fever and no voice.

And now she is sporting that "seal bark"

cough that only Croup provides.

Poor little love.

She had to cancel a much anticipated

weekend with Grandma, Grandpa and Mike.

Not to mention Silky, Monty and Bentley,

their three miniature schnauzers.

Maybe another time.