Oh dear, the price one pays

I've had a most fun but busy time this past week.

Monday was MHYC's 13th birthday.  We combined our weekly visit to my beautiful Suzanne with our trip into the city to have dinner with our newly-minted teenager.

On Tuesday, I went back into the city to see a movie with good friend RR and her friend SM.  They go to a movie every week and I tagged along since their choice this week was the Jersey Boys.  (While it wasn't as good as the stage production, it was nevertheless most enjoyable.)  I spent that night at MLC's which gave me the opportunity to take in MHYC's soccer practice and have breakfast with him the next morning before heading home.

Wednesday this week was my Aaaaaaahday since my massage theraaaahpist had rejigged her week to accommodate end-of school schedules.  (I had cancelled Tuesday's physio session in favour of the massage on Wednesday.  Back to back therapies are not the most beneficial use of my money.)  And I broke my cardinal rule of doing nothing on massage days.  That evening we had a social commitment to attend the launch of a good friend's mayoralty campaign.  Couldn't not show up at that!

Thursday morning I went into town to run grocery errands.  And that evening we had another social commitment to attend a retirement party.

Fortunately neither of those social evenings was a late one.

On Friday, I went back to the movie, this time with my angel, RL, again to see the Jersey Boys.  (Yes, I love them that much, but I went more for the opportunity to spend time with my good friend.)  For the record, I would go again to see that movie, given the chance!

And here we are today.

I woke this morning suffering big time.  Well, mid-time really.  But suffering, nevertheless.

Mack trucks came through during the night.

That tells me that I've maxed out my body's ability to keep up with the social life.

Too much for me.

Today I will not even be getting on the treadmill.  There is no way my legs will allow it.  Doesn't matter how many braces I wear!

Time to stop and rest.

So rest I will.

Guess I'll take in a movie this morning.

My ball game starts at 1:00 pm so that will take care of my afternoon.

Evenings are easy peasy around here.

And I will take this as the reminder that it's meant to be.

Pace yourself, idiot!

MOD is 30 years old!

I revealed this secret a few years ago on this date.

Besides my little chickadee, there is an "other daughter" in my life (hence, MOD for "my other daughter").

And today, she is celebrating her 30th birthday.

My other daughter is the youngest of three children who were actually born to my good friend, LC (good way to "have your children" don't you think?).

From the time this child was born, she didn't much differentiate between her mother and me when it came to her care, so close were our families.

We lived just a few doors down from each other in the years leading up to her birth.  Her older brothers and my little chickadee conspired to bring their mothers together in friendship.

And it worked -- a little too well for their liking, as it turns out.

So by the time her only daughter was born, LC and I were already tight (the two older boys were in my care the night their baby sister arrived).

And that baby was having sleep-overs at my home well before her first birthday.

In fact, it was not unusual for her to fall asleep with her Mom, and wake up with me.

And it didn't faze her one bit.

Hence, I became known as her "other Mother" and she my "other daughter."

Suffice to say, she holds a very special place in my heart.

And that "baby" is now a truly confident young woman who has traveled the world in various capacities and greatly enjoys her role as an aunt to her soon-to-be four year old nephew (and another on the way).

Enjoy your day today, my other daughter.

Love you!

OMG he's a teenager!

Seems like just yesterday we were celebrating the day he joined us.

Today, he's thirteen years old and he still makes my heart swell!

He's gone from being my beautiful boy (MBB), to my striking young man (MSYM), to my handsome young cadet (MHYC).  I guess he could now be my teenager grandson (MTG), or perhaps my most special teenager (MMST), but he plans to remain a cadet for some years to come so that moniker will, I hope, last through the teenage years. (Truth be known, in my heart, I still think of him as my beautiful boy!)

Wherever life takes him, he'll always have one of the very softest spots in my heart!

Have a happy, happy, happy, happy, happy, happy, happy, happy, happy, happy, happy, happy, happy birthday Marcus! 

 Words cannot describe the depth of my love for you.

It's summer time!

Happy Father's Day

Happy Father's Day to all dads and grandfathers everywhere.  And to all those single Moms who are playing dual roles.

      (John and Marcus going in to take a nap after a long day of cleaning leaves.  Oct 2004)

Busy, busy, busy

Gosh, if you ever want to while away a whole lot of time, get into the computer "business."

I'm not really into the business, I just happen to be cursed with a lot of knowledge in that field.  And believe me, it IS a curse!

A while back, John had a computer crash.

In our efforts to "fix" it, I made it worse.  We are still recovering.

In the process of consulting real help, I purchased a Windows 7 system because WinXP is going to leave us all behind on the Internet.

Hasn't that created no end of headaches for this household.

Took over a week to get the printers back up and shared as they should be.  Actually, I don't yet have John on one of them but that will happen in due course.  We have higher priorities.

I've been removing Internet-based software from my WinXP system and ensuring that I have what I need on the Windows 7 system.

So much fun that!

I think I now have everything as it should be.

And just to add chaos to the mixture, this past week didn't I decide to move my cell phone service.

Yep, I've moved into "smart phone" land.  Only problem is, when it comes to cell phones, I'm not so smart it seems.  Wow, what a learning curve!  (All I really need is something with which to make/recieve phone calls.)

Biggest challenge?  How to answer a call.  (Have to hold the green button and swipe across.)  Not even sure I have that mastered yet.  I'm told it comes with practice.

Once I was sure I was keeping the smart phone, I asked the new provider to transfer my number so I wouldn't have to change cell phone numbers.  That happened within three hours.  

We want to now give John my "old" cell phone because his is pretty well toast.  Seems the company hasn't yet released my phone although they have transferred the number out.

I've sent an inquiry but this is the weekend.  Perhaps by Monday the cell phone issue will be resolved.

Now to teach John how to use his "new" phone.

Lord, give me strength!

70th Anniversary of D-Day

Yesterday world leaders, veterans and civilians gathered in Normandy to commemorate the 70th anniversary of D-Day, the military offensive that changed the course of the Second World War.

I want to pay homage to my family members who participated in that War.

Percy E. Gibson was an uncle whom I never knew, but I recall hearing his name often.

  His widow, Mary Gibson, was my mother's eldest sister (my Aunt Mamie).


Percy Edward Gibson
1913-1944

My maternal grandfather, Samuel Sharpe (1896-1964), had served in WWI (photo taken 1915) and loved it so much he re-enlisted for WWII (photo taken 1941).  

And my father, Richard Romeo Cherryholme, (1926-1979), served as a rear gunner in WWII.

My father is seated, second from left.