It's Like A Completely Different Country!

Well, I went to Canada. And they let me come back home. Which is good.

I don't have any idea what I actually read on the ferry schedule to Victoria, but I thought it said that a car and driver were $16 and each additional passenger was $5. Those would be normal ferry prices. We got to the ferry and we were informed that it was $75. One way. Yes, I realize that would be $75 Canadian, but the Canadian dollar is only pennies less than the American dollar at the moment, so it still would have cost $150 to get there and back. That was why we didn't take the Victoria clipper- which includes a berth for overnight.

We considered going anyway- right up until the ticket agent said it was $75 EACH WAY. Then I looked at her and said, "Suddenly, I don't care to go to Victoria. At all." We ended up driving away from the ferry terminal, but I wonder how many people suck it up because they want to go to Victoria and already have a travel itinerary.

We didn't have tea in a quaint Victorian village, but we did have a scrumptious lunch in Stanley Park overlooking the ocean. That was the highlight of the day. Seriously, that was as good as it got for me.

When our plans took a left turn, we found a Starbucks and asked what we should do in the fine metropolis of Vancouver. The baristas hemmed and hawed.

We could go to the aquarium.

I can do that in Seattle.

We could go to the Bite of Vancouver.

I can always go to the Bite of Seattle.

We could go to the mall.

Then why are all the Canadians always down here at our outlet malls?

So, soon a regular came in and the baristas asked her, "What is there to do on a Sunday in Vancouver?"

She took one pitting look at us and answered, "Oh Gawwwd. Nothing."

The day would prove her right.

So, why a different country?

The green lights on the traffic signals blink. It's disconcerting.

There are intersections where one road has a traffic signal and the cross road merely has a stop sign. It is hard to tell when you should go.

The signs are all crazy looking.

The parking is metered 24/7. No weekends or evenings off.

The hardest thing about driving there, though, is that in our area, we have I-5. It is clearly marked and easy to find. It runs north. Or south. The freeway there? well, there isn't really one. As soon as you cross the border, it peters out into a boulevard through urban streets.

It was crazy.

We came home and ate dinner at the Olive Garden. We knew where that was, right off I-5.

It was good to be home. In a normal country, eh?

5X7=Me!

35 things:

1. I got up and exercised for 20 minutes on my free elliptical machine. I've had it for a few weeks, and 20 minutes is still hard. I did challenge myself to 25 minutes one day this week and I did 2 15 minute workouts one day.


2. I weighed myself and liked what I saw.


3. I sent my husband out to get doughnuts before the kids left for school because I just didn't want to get out of bed yet.


4. I just ate one.


5. I took Jonah to his preschool party.


6. I got so bored that I came home and cleaned the kitchen. Bad, huh? I went back to pick him up when I was done with the kitchen.


7. I folded and put away all of my laundry. That includes hanging all my clothes and putting away the baskets.


8. I took Jesse to get a haircut.


9. While I was there I asked to have my eyebrows waxed and a 'do done.


10. I picked up the girls I babysit.


11. The kids and I made home made ice cream and had cake since one of the girls I watch is my birthday twin.


12. I told the kids all I wanted for my birthday was a clean house.


13. I instituted slave labor and had the kids clean the family room, the game closet, and the play room.


14. I should have included the bathrooms in that list!


15. Sebastian brought me a bouquet of red roses and white lilies.


16. They are on the counter next to the anniversary bouquet of pink carnations and yellow lilies that I bought for him on Monday.


17. He also brought me a package of Milano cookies, since they are my favorite.


18. I made the kids mad by not opening the cookies.


19. Before you think my husband is a cheep skate, on Mother's day he brought in a huge box and said. "Happy Mother's day. Happy anniversary. Happy birthday." It was a stand mixer.


20. It was exactly what I wanted.


21. My dad called and asked if I wanted to go out for dinner.


22. We went to Mexican.


23. I had a margarita. I thought it was REALLY strong, since I was still tipsy after my dinner.


24. I made Jesse order off the kids menu.


25. We both ordered enchiladas suisa. I got 2 he got 1.


26. We should have just traded plates since he ate my second enchilada!


27. We came home from dinner, put the kids in bed, and watched Alias on dvd.


28. Correction: Sebastian watched Alias. I watched the inside of my eyelids. But I was already ahead of him since I watch it in the morning when I work out.


29. I guess that makes us officially old.


30. Tomorrow my friend and I are going to go to Canada.


31. If you recall, we usually go out to dinner and a movie.


32. This year I wanted to do something different, so we are going to Victoria, BC. That's different.


33. Only the blond and the brunette are going because the red head can't get away.


34. I'm not bitter... I'm not bitter... I'm n....


35. It kind of messes with the whole joke. "A blond, a brunette, and a read head go to Canada...."

Lucky Number 13

What was so lucky about it?

Well, we were lucky that the tire didn't blow out on the mountain pass in the middle of the night. We were lucky that it waited until we hit town the next morning. We were lucky to slide into Les Schwab before the morning rush. You were lucky I bought you four new tires. Don't say I never bought you anything.

We were lucky to find friends and family to watch all five of our children on short notice so we could have a fun weekend of wine tasting.

We were lucky to get to spend some time together. I was extra lucky that you forgot your cell phone at home. No one called us all weekend!

But, mostly, I am lucky to be in love with you, my best friend.
Happy 13th Anniversary.

That's What He Said

Today was leadership clean up for MOPs leadership. While the care group leaders cleaned toys, the steering team cleaned out the MOPs closet. I was brutal. I made people get rid of all manner of things that I knew had only been used once and then languished in the closet for at least 5 years.
Jonah ended up in possession of 5 little globe play balls.
As we were leaving he discovered that he couldn't carry 5 balls with two little hands. I was helping him stuff two of the balls into his jacket pockets while he protested.
"No, Mom, people will think those are my boobs way down there!"
"Sweetie, every one knows that five year old boys do not have boobs..."
"Oh, right. We have nibbles."
"What?"
"Nibbles. NI-BBLES."

*pththfffheeheeheeHAHAHAHA*

Love Believes All Things...It Hopes All Things

Soooo....
We had the dog neutered. We were told he would stop marking and would not need to run away so much. Like, every time he slipped out a door. Or whenever someone unleashed him. Or whenever someone accidentally dropped the leash. Yeah...
Well, I NEVER let him out unless he is securely leashed or tethered. My husband is more optimistic. Sebastian really is a loving guy. He believes the best about people, and the dog, too.
Today, he untethered the dog- just to see what he would do. Sebastian promptly went on an unscheduled lunch hour jog. After the dog. I stood in the driveway and laughed at him. Because he believes that the dog will behave each time.

I Corinthians 13:4-7
Love suffers long and is kind; Love does not envy, love does not parade itself, is not puffed up, does not behave rudely, does not seek it's own, is not provoked, thinks no evil, does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in truth, bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Illegal Immigrants, Health care, and the IRS

What do they have in common? Well, quite a lot, actually.

Now, before I go too deeply into this topic, I need to file my disclaimer.

**I married a man who was illegal at the time we married. We then worked within the system to straighten his status out. We were fully prepared for the moment when we may have had to pack up and go to his home. Technically, I would not have been required to, but the day my husband and I live apart is the day one of us will be lowered into the ground.

**I also realize, that despite the current trend of trampling our constitutional rights by the past and current administrations, we still live in the most prosperous, free, and desirable country on the face of the earth. I understand why people will do whatever it takes to get here. What I don't understand is why we (the system) don't enforce our immigration laws or seal our borders.

So, now you know where I am coming from....

You realize that if you have no health insurance- for what ever reason- that you will now be forced to obtain "insurance" from private or public sources.

Who is going to know? How will it be enforced? Well, that's where the IRS comes in. You will be required to show on some sort of 1040 schedule that you have paid your health care premium.

Who doesn't have to have health care? The government has written themselves out of this legislation. I have heard the Amish are exempt. And any one who does not pay taxes. Who would that be? Oh, yes, illegal immigrants. But where do illegals obtain their health care? From ER's that are forbidden to turn them away.

Who is paying? All law abiding citizens.

Who is receiving? Illegals.

Since I hate taxes, don't care much for doctors and hospitals, and abhor most politicians, I'm thinking about becoming plain.