Hi,
tomorrow night is Oct. 31st... where is 2010 disappearing to? What do you mean it's almost November? That allows 2011 to sneak up on me that much faster. I will not allow this. I demand a recount (hey, they do it all the time with elections, why not calendar dates?). I think we are getting gypped this year: someone has been double-dipping on dates and short changed us. It's the only explanation I can think of that explains how 5/6 of the years is already over and I'm just getting used to signing my cheques with the correct year in the corner.... and yes, I still write out cheques, Internet payments make me nervous, especially when I see how the bank messes up money transfers and other simple transactions... that's a whole other rant.
I have no plans to celebrate All Hallows Eve. I don't need an excuse to dress up funny. I do that every day, it's just called a bathing suit, swim cap & goggles. If you don't think that's a far-out look just try walking around on a busy street and see how many people stare in disbelief. Especially in February in Saskatoon. Gets them every time!
I forgot this weekend is "Halloween'' and I ventured into my local Walmart yesterday. Big mistake. There was a frenzied rush on bad candy and ugly costumes... wait, sorry, that happens in Walmart everyday, why was I shocked??? Just for the record, I don't get any trick-or-treaters' coming to our place. We live on a rather busy street where the houses are very spread apart. That means any kids who may try to collect candy around here have to walk the acreage properties only to cover 3 houses in a half hour of trudging around in funny clothes, schlepping a pillow case with dental nightmares. It ain't worth it.
Personally I don't really get the excitement about all this. Is everyone so hard up to get cavities? Does it fulfill some deep seated perversion to dress up like Snookie? Have I missed something? As a kid I liked getting a fun costume made by my mom or zadie. Playing dress up was okay with me for one night. Going out for a few hours of door knocking with my friends was also a blast, as long as we showed up back home before it was too dark out to see the street signs. I don't remember who ate all the candy we retrieved. I think most of it was consumed by my mother who kept it in a big bowl in the kitchen that we couldn't reach.
My favorite part of Halloween was carving out a pumpkin and toasting the seeds to eat. Kids don't carve pumpkins, it seems that had been declared a dangerous thing to do. Here you buy 'pre-carved' or painted versions of scary faces. What fun is that? No nicked fingers, no near death knife slashes? Dull, dull, dull. Now to get a good scare they pay a small fortune to go to a haunted house and scream at stuffed scarecrows that fall from the rafters. Real blood is so much more frightening when it's your own from stabbing yourself as you engrave an innocent squash. Now that's a blast.
So this weekend I'm hiding out, keeping the house dark and not gaining 5 lbs by avoiding the candy aisle in Walmart... which wasn't easy since at least 5,000 sq.ft. in the store was stacked with Hershey boxes. I do love my Almond Joys but I plan to buy them November 2nd when they are marked down half price. Anyone need a vampire cape? They're a real bargain in November.
xox
m
Day Lily!
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Thursday, October 21, 2010
my dilemma
hi,
if a toddler jumps in a swimming pool, unsupervised by their parent, whose fault is the inevitable drowning? The kid? The parent? The owner of the pool? God?
I work at the NAC (Newtown Athletic Center) as a swim instructor. I love my job. I only teach private lessons to people, from 7 months old to 70 years old. I've been able to get them all comfortable and moving in the water to the best of their ability. I make my own hours, arrange my own schedual, enjoy the accomplishments of the learning process for each student and take great pride when they have the 'ah-ha' moment of seeing that they can swim by themselves. One less potentially drowned person on the plant in my books.
Tuesday morning I was at my job with one of my favorite 4 year old swimmers. Jordyn is pure delight to teach and be with every week. We were using the small therapy pool. It's kept at 92° so the little ones like it better than swimming in the big pool at 82°. There was a second teacher with 2 students sharing the pool with us, no problem, we know how to keep out of each others way in the small space. There was also a father/daughter team.... and there began the problem.
Dad was trying to teach his daughter to swim, she was about 2½ years old. Good idea to start young, I applaud his efforts. He couldn't have cared less that Cynthia and I were trying to teach small kids as well in the same place. We would stick to one side of the pool, he'd have his daughter jump into the middle of where we were. I tried going to the 7' deep end, he ended up in my way. We bobbed and weaved around this moron for 20 minutes. He never did clue into the concept of staying in one corner and not crashing into Cynthia or me. There is also a spectator who was some relation to the dad/kid combo. A huge lard-ass of a woman sitting on the wall bench, making the occasional cooing comment at the little girl. I'm trying to focus on my student and stay away from this dad/daughter issue as best I can. Cynthias' class ends and she is taking a break in the pool office, relieved to be away from the pesky father.
Suddenly, dad has to pee. He proudly announces it and jumps out of the pool. He takes his daughter out of the water and places her on the pool deck, near the 'Jaba-the-Hut' lady who seems to know them. Not in her arms, or even close enough for the woman to reach the kid, and leaves the pool to do his business. Out of the corner of my eye I see the little girl spin around, bee-line to the pool and jump in by herself. She is not in a flotation device, dad is peeing in a bathroom, large lady hasn't even reacted to this turn of events as the kid sinks into the water.... holy shit Batman! The whole thing happens in seconds.
I parked my student by the side of the pool. She was riding a swimming noodle and good enough as a swimmer to be unattended for a few minutes. I dove under water, grabbed the little girl off the bottom and hauled her out of the pool in one swoop. Amazing what strength you get from an adrenaline rush. Dad re-emerged from the bathroom in time to find a crying kid, the woman is still sitting on her fat ass, and I'm swearing a blue streak under my breath at this dumb jerk of a parent. The woman starts to babble about "how she couldn't catch her fast enough before she jumped in on her own" (she never even batted an eye but I bet she moves pretty quick at the Chinese lunch buffet). Dad had the courtesy to say 'thank you' in my direction but I don't think he realized how close he was to calling a funeral home that day and burying his baby.
I finished my lesson and found my boss, the aquatic director, upstairs as I was leaving. I told him what happened. There was no life guard on duty (there rarely is, budget cut-backs) and that I wanted a raise and danger pay for having to deal with stupid people like this... just as the dad, kid and fat lady come around the corner. Daddy is asking his daughter "if she had a good swim today..." ASK ME YOU JERK! My heart is still pounding from getting your child off the bottom of the pool. Did I have a good swim day? Hell no! I do not want to play "Bay Watch at the NAC". I do not have the slow-motion bouncy boobs or flowing blond tresses to do this job. I wanted to punch the S.O.B. for being such a stupid parent. If that kids lives to be an adult I'll be amazed.
Back to my dilemma... who is at fault? Good thing I don't have to live with that on my conscience. I know how to swim.
xox
m
if a toddler jumps in a swimming pool, unsupervised by their parent, whose fault is the inevitable drowning? The kid? The parent? The owner of the pool? God?
I work at the NAC (Newtown Athletic Center) as a swim instructor. I love my job. I only teach private lessons to people, from 7 months old to 70 years old. I've been able to get them all comfortable and moving in the water to the best of their ability. I make my own hours, arrange my own schedual, enjoy the accomplishments of the learning process for each student and take great pride when they have the 'ah-ha' moment of seeing that they can swim by themselves. One less potentially drowned person on the plant in my books.
Tuesday morning I was at my job with one of my favorite 4 year old swimmers. Jordyn is pure delight to teach and be with every week. We were using the small therapy pool. It's kept at 92° so the little ones like it better than swimming in the big pool at 82°. There was a second teacher with 2 students sharing the pool with us, no problem, we know how to keep out of each others way in the small space. There was also a father/daughter team.... and there began the problem.
Dad was trying to teach his daughter to swim, she was about 2½ years old. Good idea to start young, I applaud his efforts. He couldn't have cared less that Cynthia and I were trying to teach small kids as well in the same place. We would stick to one side of the pool, he'd have his daughter jump into the middle of where we were. I tried going to the 7' deep end, he ended up in my way. We bobbed and weaved around this moron for 20 minutes. He never did clue into the concept of staying in one corner and not crashing into Cynthia or me. There is also a spectator who was some relation to the dad/kid combo. A huge lard-ass of a woman sitting on the wall bench, making the occasional cooing comment at the little girl. I'm trying to focus on my student and stay away from this dad/daughter issue as best I can. Cynthias' class ends and she is taking a break in the pool office, relieved to be away from the pesky father.
Suddenly, dad has to pee. He proudly announces it and jumps out of the pool. He takes his daughter out of the water and places her on the pool deck, near the 'Jaba-the-Hut' lady who seems to know them. Not in her arms, or even close enough for the woman to reach the kid, and leaves the pool to do his business. Out of the corner of my eye I see the little girl spin around, bee-line to the pool and jump in by herself. She is not in a flotation device, dad is peeing in a bathroom, large lady hasn't even reacted to this turn of events as the kid sinks into the water.... holy shit Batman! The whole thing happens in seconds.
I parked my student by the side of the pool. She was riding a swimming noodle and good enough as a swimmer to be unattended for a few minutes. I dove under water, grabbed the little girl off the bottom and hauled her out of the pool in one swoop. Amazing what strength you get from an adrenaline rush. Dad re-emerged from the bathroom in time to find a crying kid, the woman is still sitting on her fat ass, and I'm swearing a blue streak under my breath at this dumb jerk of a parent. The woman starts to babble about "how she couldn't catch her fast enough before she jumped in on her own" (she never even batted an eye but I bet she moves pretty quick at the Chinese lunch buffet). Dad had the courtesy to say 'thank you' in my direction but I don't think he realized how close he was to calling a funeral home that day and burying his baby.
I finished my lesson and found my boss, the aquatic director, upstairs as I was leaving. I told him what happened. There was no life guard on duty (there rarely is, budget cut-backs) and that I wanted a raise and danger pay for having to deal with stupid people like this... just as the dad, kid and fat lady come around the corner. Daddy is asking his daughter "if she had a good swim today..." ASK ME YOU JERK! My heart is still pounding from getting your child off the bottom of the pool. Did I have a good swim day? Hell no! I do not want to play "Bay Watch at the NAC". I do not have the slow-motion bouncy boobs or flowing blond tresses to do this job. I wanted to punch the S.O.B. for being such a stupid parent. If that kids lives to be an adult I'll be amazed.
Back to my dilemma... who is at fault? Good thing I don't have to live with that on my conscience. I know how to swim.
xox
m
Sunday, October 17, 2010
it's been 16 days since my last blog....
it's been a busy couple of weeks.
First there was the 'dad' visit. No, this isn't my dad, read on... My father came down for a one night stay-over from Toronto. We ran around Princeton, lunched with friends from Cranbury NJ at a diner, met up with Marshall, saw a play at the university theatre, had dinner, crashed. The next day dad and I did some errands around Yardley then I put him on a train to Newark and he headed home. A whirl-wind tour but it was fun.
Then there were appointments with new dentists and doctors. My 'old' dentist up and moved to Boston. His office didn't inform me until I went for a check-up. I wasn't thrilled to find out as I walked in the door that their personnel had totally changed over so I found a new dentist to see. I like her, and her office, a lot better, so does Marshall. We're also trying out a new G.P. Marshall really likes him, I'm luke warm but maybe he'll grow on me. I also have had to get a new Gynecologist, mine apparently retired, again the office neglected to inform me that he had quit practicing so I'm seeing someone new in 2 weeks... what is with these people? They move, quit, retire and they don't have the courtesy to notify patients? Rude and bad business practice in my books.
Lots of swimming lessons going on. That's always good. I crashed and hurt myself in Yoga this morning, that's bad, but I'll live.
My friend, Carol Ann gave me 2 bushels of green tomatoes that I am going to turn into green tomato relish tomorrow. This will be my second batch of the season. The first one was a huge hit with anyone I gave a jar to. Those who return empty jars get free refills.... hint, hint ;)
Marshall left this evening for India for the week. He'll be back on Saturday. Yes, I know he just got home from his last trip but he is gone again. Don't feel bad, I can't keep up with where he is, and isn't, either. Keep those air miles adding up, Marilyn needs another trip.
Finally, I seem to have acquired a gigantic toad in our pond. I caught this picture of him (see above) this afternoon. You can't tell from the photo but he is bigger than my hand. Weird, he wasn't there last week when I cleaned the pond. Should I charge him rent by the day, week, or month? No such thing as a free ride in my water.
xox
m
Friday, October 1, 2010
Fall weather?
Hi,
we live in eastern Pennsylvania (it's taken me forever to learn to spell this states name correctly). Will someone please tell Mother Nature that it is officially 'Fall'. By October 1st, in Canada, there is the "no white shoes after labor day" law that is strictly adhered too and the plants know to die. Gardening season is over. Jackets are standard fair. The Fall season is in full swing. You know what's coming next, Winter. It's easy & straight foreword.
Here in PA I have no idea what to expect from one day to the next. It's 90 degrees one day and 40 the next. My plants are still blooming and the weeds are having a heyday. It's dry as hell, then you need to build an ark to deal with all the water coming down. Total confusion. I need weather structure, not this sillyness. I'm all gardened-out. April to October is more dirt than I want to deal with. Clipping hedges is getting old. I love the summer but enough is enough. My fall wardrobe needs exercising already. Boots are crying in my closet to be worn, coats, flighting to be loose from the hanger, sweaters, jeans, socks... everything I haven't had on in 9 months is screaming "wear ME!" Why am I worried about the dust bunnies in the closet? Just because they are starting to hold fashion shows with my clothes is no reason to panic. Part of me doesn't want to pack away the t-shirts and shorts, the other half is champing at the bit to bundle up in a flannel shirt and heavy hand-knit sweaters. Delema city.
It would be easier to be a fish in our pond, no trend issues for what's hot to wear this season, just the dim notion that the weather is starting to change and that means ice eventually on the water.... January will be here all too soon. Then I'll get to complain about the cold. Yipee!
xox
m
we live in eastern Pennsylvania (it's taken me forever to learn to spell this states name correctly). Will someone please tell Mother Nature that it is officially 'Fall'. By October 1st, in Canada, there is the "no white shoes after labor day" law that is strictly adhered too and the plants know to die. Gardening season is over. Jackets are standard fair. The Fall season is in full swing. You know what's coming next, Winter. It's easy & straight foreword.
Here in PA I have no idea what to expect from one day to the next. It's 90 degrees one day and 40 the next. My plants are still blooming and the weeds are having a heyday. It's dry as hell, then you need to build an ark to deal with all the water coming down. Total confusion. I need weather structure, not this sillyness. I'm all gardened-out. April to October is more dirt than I want to deal with. Clipping hedges is getting old. I love the summer but enough is enough. My fall wardrobe needs exercising already. Boots are crying in my closet to be worn, coats, flighting to be loose from the hanger, sweaters, jeans, socks... everything I haven't had on in 9 months is screaming "wear ME!" Why am I worried about the dust bunnies in the closet? Just because they are starting to hold fashion shows with my clothes is no reason to panic. Part of me doesn't want to pack away the t-shirts and shorts, the other half is champing at the bit to bundle up in a flannel shirt and heavy hand-knit sweaters. Delema city.
It would be easier to be a fish in our pond, no trend issues for what's hot to wear this season, just the dim notion that the weather is starting to change and that means ice eventually on the water.... January will be here all too soon. Then I'll get to complain about the cold. Yipee!
xox
m
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