Some Random Pictures from the Past Two Weeks

Hi Honey, We're Home!

We are finally back and home and getting settled into our regular routine after a whirlwind two weeks.

The kids had a blast at Grandpa Rick and Nana Holly's and now have a standing invitation to visit for a week every summer. Char almost grew gills and fins she spent so much time in Nana's pool. Emmett hung out with Uncle Devon and learned how to play Game Cube.

Richard and I spent the last couple days of our trip taking it easy. We swam in the Bay of Fundy at Shediac beach, which was cold but absolutely wonderful. We also spent a day with our friends Ross and Cynthia. The morning was spent at Hopewell Rocks then Cynthia and I went shoe shopping. The day was capped off with dinner at our new favourite hangout, The Pumphouse Brewery. I sampled blueberry ale, and Richard finally found chicken wings hot enough to satisfy him.

Upon arriving home with tired and slightly more tanned children, we dropped our bags on the floor and repacked to go Up North to Manitoba Farm Girl's wedding party.

Richard helped my mom with the kids while I attended to assorted bridesmaid duties, then it was back in the van for the trip back home. We found out the hard way that Emmett now suffers from carsickness on long road trips. We also found out he responds well to Gravol.

My friend Janelle followed us home from Up North so we had a little slumber party at my house before she had to drive to Winnipeg to pick up her husband at the airport. We haven't hung out in two years since she moved to BC, so the time we spent together was precious.

Bridget Jones was here.

The nice mailman dropped a box on my doorstep this morning. What was in it? Why a special "slimming" slip to wear under a certain bridesmaid dress as well as a clingly floaty number I bought to wear to another wedding. It looks and feels like a sausage casing, but man, oh man, does it do the trick. I tried it on under the clingy dress and it looks like a whole new outfit. The dress just floats over the industrial-strenghth Spandex and my baby belly is perfectly smoothed out. My waist even nips in a little now. Hubby must never, ever see me in it. It is like the scene in Bridget Jone's Diary where she has to decide if she should look good in the dress by wearing the granny undies or if she should look good out of the dress with the pretty undies.

I am pretty sure I can still get lucky with my man either way. I think seeing me in a glorified girdle is less traumatizing than the time he saw me give birth and then was ordered into the bathroom by the midwife to make sure I didn't topple over in the shower. He had to help dry me off and wipe up the blood that was dripping down my legs and then put the giant pillow-sized pad in my undies and pull them up. Yep, I married a keeper.
Note to those readers who don't have children: sorry, that is the way it is after you give birth. It is not like they show on TV or the movies at all!! Oh, and hubby was not so helpful during the birth of our first--he had to leave during the whole pushing thing because he was going to hit the floor if he didn't. I still give him an "A" for effort--the poor guy is pretty squeamish on a good day.

Sorry for the rambling and tangents--this is what happens when you blog after having half a pot of coffee with breakfast.

The Politics of Pole Dancing.

As all of you in blogland know, I will be a bridesmaid in a friend's wedding this summer. I recently got an email from the Maid of Honour telling us that the bride thinks it would be super-fun if we took a pole-dancing class to celebrate her dwindling days of singlehood. I was very surprised. Clearly, I don't know this woman as well as I thought I did. We've been friends since our first meeting in fifth grade, mumble, mumble, cough ,cough years ago and I never thought she would want to do this--and we have done some pretty crazy things in the years we've known each other.

My first reaction was: "Ew, gross, I would never do that!" After some time to think on it I have formed a much more coherent opinion. I also talked to several of my friends about this party and found them very clearly divided on the subject. It seems there is no middle ground when it comes to pole dancing. Some of my friends were really interested and said that it could be fun and asked me why I didn't want to be sexy for my husband. Others were in my camp and wondered what would be in it for them. They didn't see this as something that would make them feel sexy at all. One of my friends, a certified feminist (she has the woman's studies degree to back it up) was actually nauseous. I could hear her gagging over the phone. I noticed the people on the "con" side of the argument were a little older and married a little longer than the ones on the "pro" side. Have the older women had less exposure to the media influences that tell us how to be sexy and what is sexy now? I doubt it. We all watch TV and browse the magazines in the checkout line. Are we more self confidant and secure in our relationships and therefore more resistant to falling for these unrealistic expectations? Perhaps.

I still stand by the "Ew gross" and raise it to a "Why do I have to try so hard to be sexy for my partner?" I don't believe it when people say that wearing uncomfortable lingerie and spike heels and swinging around on a large phallic object bolted to the floor is empowering, sexy and "for me" in any way. We are not celebrating our womanhood and being powerful and independent by doing something that is so clearly for men. I don't want to be sexy for my partner. I want to be sexy with my partner. There is a big difference in my book. Quite frankly, if I ever did try to swing from a pole my dancing would look more like the Elaine Bennis version of pole dancing, not the Carmen Electra variety.

What about those that claim there are fitness benefits to be had? If I want to strengthen my core muscles I will take a pilates class, fully clothed, dignity intact. If I want to dance to celebrate my femininity and womanhood, I will do so by bellydancing--an artform that celebrates the female form in all of its curvy powerful glory with no stilettos and large phallic objects in sight. As for being sexy with my partner as opposed to being sexy for my partner? Well, that stuff is none of your business!

I will go to the party, because I love my friend and am so very happy for her and her upcoming marriage. I will not dance on the pole. I will probably knit licorice thongs for everyone. I don't want to be a total party pooper --and undies made from candy are fun for all consenting adults.

Are you wondering what hubby thought of all this? He just laughed. I didn't marry a man who needs me to subjugate and demean myself for his enjoyment. We don't believe in spectator sports behind closed doors--we are full contact participants.

I am a glutton for punishment.

Well, we had an almost perfectly enjoyable weekend. Richard and I didn't manage to sneak away for the night, but we were given tickets to a jazz concert and a brave 15 - year - old came by to babysit. As a belated birthday gift Richard's stepmom took me shopping to not one, but two yarn stores!!! At one, which was going out of business, I stocked up on chunky yarn to make the kids new sweaters for fall. At the other one, I picked up some luscious Cezanne to make a lacey sweater in lime. I felt like a kid in a candystore. I wandered the aisles, touching everything!! I am being very careful with my wrists so I haven't been knitting as much as I would like, but I am too stubborn to give it up. Who could say no to the cotton/silk blend I picked up? I just like looking at it and petting it!!

On Sunday I went into a bridal shop to try on a bridesmaid's dress for a friend's wedding. Oh the horror! I looked like a big brown triangle. I was quite disappointed with the shop in general. I started trying on other dresses to see if something else would be more suitable to my frame and most of the sample dresses had broken zippers. Is that any way to sell clothing? Two (of six) bridesmaid's are coming to visit me to see if we can find something that won't make us cry. I officially hit rock bottom with my weight that day. I am going to be starting Weight Watchers as soon as I can. I need some structure and rules to get myself back on track and drop about 25 pounds of baby weight. Unfortunately, only a tummy tuck will really get rid of my belly--I will get stick arms and a flat chest and still have a pooch, but at least it will be smaller. (I have lost these 25 lbs before--I know the road)

I picked up another shift for tomorrow--wish me luck!! I have learned from my previous mistake, so I will have to find a new one to make.

While the cat is away...

Ahhh, who knew that 10 hours on a bus spread over two days could be so blissful? I knit and read and dozed while the scenery whizzed by outside my window. I may have to leave the car at home more often. When you are not responsible for the toddler asking "Are we there yet? How much longer?" it changes from grating and irritating to cute, and at most, easily ignored as you concentrate on the cool clicking sound aluminum knitting needles make as a sweater emerges from them. (yes, it is a different sound than stainless steel or wooden ones).

I love how my sweater is turning out. I am really regretting not using higher quality yarn. I have a handful of rows left on the back, then the front will be cast on today. (Why am I typing??? I should be knitting right now!)

The social was pretty fun. There were a lot of half-naked teenagers there. As I was checking IDs at the door I felt like sending most of the little girls home to put more clothes on. I got a lot of scathing looks as I stamped hands with the "no booze for you" stamp. (not that it mattered--I noticed that they all got hammered anyway)
Charlotte and Emmett are never leaving the house, unless it is to go to a convent or monastery. At the very least, I will try my best to teach them that having sex, even if clothed is not appropriate for public places. I was impressed that no one automatically got me to clean up the vomit on the floor (common hazard of being a nurse and a mom--you are the resident puke cleaner) I was also a little sickened knowing how all of those teenagers were going to get home that night--I didn't noticed anyone staying very sober.

I had a great time visiting with Robin and her family and future inlaws. It was also nice talking to the rest of the bridal party. I think that they put on a great party.

I won a basket full of chocolate at the party!!!!! (no, the draw was not fixed) I got to sleep until noon!!!!!

Meanwhile back at the ranch, Char was not giving anyone a rest. Her teeth are causing her a great amount of pain, and poor Richard did not know the trick to getting the painkillers into her. I was greeted by a sleepy hubby, crying baby and a smiling toddler clutching a video cassette sleeve. When we got home I found dishes done, floor swept, diapers washed and five baskets of folded laundry. I also found the entertainment center rearranged so that Emm (or I, for that matter) will need a stepladder to get to all of the fun stuff. I almost did a little happy dance. I did tell Richard over and over what a wonderful job he did.

I will forgive him for trying to sneak fluorescent bulbs into all of the light fixtures.