I know that we’ve been doing this daylight saving thing forever, and that the media is full of advice on how to cope with it, and that we shouldn’t be making a big deal out of it, and that it may be totally irrelevant to my feeling so exhausted at the moment, but I seem to be so much more tired than usual and I like it much better when we get to turn those clocks back an hour! Isn’t that a mouthful?
With that said, we move on.
One day last week my son sent me a picture of his friend, Keith, who had been to visit Miko. Keith is a very big, black man with a heart of gold. He has a 3 year old son, and one can see how he enjoys children. Tiny Miko didn’t even cover a quarter of his arm that was holding her.
For those of you who use Facebook, you are probably familiar with the ‘Why you don’t leave baby alone with Daddy’ videos. They are short clips with amusing antics – men playing rock music and dancing around their baby, or placing the little tyke on a remote controlled truck and driving him through the house; men being overgrown boys and playing with their child, doing things they probably wouldn’t do in the presence of a protective mommy.
My son posted a picture under the title, and there was little Miko wearing a large, curly, black wig. Under the photo, my son wrote ‘Keith – man – we gotta talk!!’ It was hilarious. Even more so with Keith’s answer: Hahaha! My bad !!!!! She's BLACKINISE - HALF BLACK half ASIAN!
As one girl commented – that baby will never find life boring with her daddy around. I was as much a child as my kids were (and often got lectured about it), and it’s heart-warming to see them continuing the games with their own. I know that little Miko will have many occasions to laugh as she thrives in this family of ours, and the knowledge makes me SMILE!
You’re welcome to share in the fun – I’ve sent the SMILE out and it should be bouncing around you at this very moment!! If it’s not the right size, let me know – there are bigger ones in stock!!
Luv from the Bush in Quebec.
Saturday, March 14, 2015
Thursday, March 12, 2015
A LESSON
I couldn’t take it anymore. I was so lonesome for my baby that I skipped over to see her after work on Tuesday night. Well – skipped is maybe not the right word, seeing that I had to cross the city, but I was well rewarded with a few hours of Miko’s warmth and smell and little smiles. I rocked her as my son and I watched the Habs’ game. They lost, so there was no danger of her flying through the air – I’m rather demonstrative when celebrating a goal – and I kept my swearing to a minimum through the bad hockey moments. I tore myself away finally, and arrived home for bed around 2:30 AM. Yesterday was a loooong day.
My new job finds me among a few familiar co-workers, but there are also some bodies I am meeting for the first time. As I mentioned, my hours are flexible, and often I’ll walk into the office around 11 AM, having already put in a few hours from home or at the local branch. There is one man who remarks on my ‘cushy position’ each time he sees me arrive. I was laughing it off. He’s a bit mouthy anyway and I felt no need to explain myself. His looks and actions only reinforced my opinion of his character – not much there.
He was standing outside smoking when I got to work yesterday. He did his usual routine of looking at his watch, then feigning surprise because it was earlier than usual, so I decided that we would bring this to a head. I stopped to chat with him a few minutes, starting with the beautiful weather at that moment. One thing led to another, and imagine my surprise when I learned that he is an avid reader, that we enjoy many of the same authors! It even went so far as his offering to lend me certain volumes that interested me, and giving me addresses of some second-hand bookstores in the area. Knock me over with a feather, why don’t ya??
He held the door for me as we entered the building, and I could feel that subtle change in our attitudes. He’ll still bug me about my hours, but the teasing will be lighter, amusing, and I’ll accept it for what it is. I didn’t enlighten him as to why I don’t usually come in early. I have a little stubborn streak. He deserves to stew about it a bit longer anyway, just because of his previous behaviour.
Another lesson for Adnohr – Judge not!! Now, to avoid there being truth to his thinking, I had better get my butt in gear and start my work. Wishing you all a great day, and hoping that my SMILE adds some sunshine to whatever you’re doing!!
Luv from the Bush in Quebec.
My new job finds me among a few familiar co-workers, but there are also some bodies I am meeting for the first time. As I mentioned, my hours are flexible, and often I’ll walk into the office around 11 AM, having already put in a few hours from home or at the local branch. There is one man who remarks on my ‘cushy position’ each time he sees me arrive. I was laughing it off. He’s a bit mouthy anyway and I felt no need to explain myself. His looks and actions only reinforced my opinion of his character – not much there.
He was standing outside smoking when I got to work yesterday. He did his usual routine of looking at his watch, then feigning surprise because it was earlier than usual, so I decided that we would bring this to a head. I stopped to chat with him a few minutes, starting with the beautiful weather at that moment. One thing led to another, and imagine my surprise when I learned that he is an avid reader, that we enjoy many of the same authors! It even went so far as his offering to lend me certain volumes that interested me, and giving me addresses of some second-hand bookstores in the area. Knock me over with a feather, why don’t ya??
He held the door for me as we entered the building, and I could feel that subtle change in our attitudes. He’ll still bug me about my hours, but the teasing will be lighter, amusing, and I’ll accept it for what it is. I didn’t enlighten him as to why I don’t usually come in early. I have a little stubborn streak. He deserves to stew about it a bit longer anyway, just because of his previous behaviour.
Another lesson for Adnohr – Judge not!! Now, to avoid there being truth to his thinking, I had better get my butt in gear and start my work. Wishing you all a great day, and hoping that my SMILE adds some sunshine to whatever you’re doing!!
Luv from the Bush in Quebec.
Sunday, March 8, 2015
WHERE IS THAT TO-DO LIST AGAIN?
So – with all those intentions to get so much done this weekend, I have to report that most of those plans turned out to be only that…plans! Well, I did do the laundry, and a touch of dusting here and there, and of course I watched my Habs’ win their game on Saturday night, but those are the only things I can tick off my mental ‘To do list’ this Monday morning.
Bandit, my adopted cat, decided he would finally pull a dog routine and claim the attention he had missed during my week stay in the city. He was continually underfoot, mewling his complaints and/or joy at having me home. It was either kick him or cuddle him, and there is no contest really.
The phone was busy – Suzie from Detroit, my Cuban Suzie – and numerous texts from little Miko’s parents, the Rug rats (sent me a picture of the youngest wearing a Bruin’s shirt, young scoundrels!), other friends wondering how things were going, and to top it all, my daughter and little great granddaughter, Léna, spent Sunday morning here. She is 15 months old, running as fast as her chubby little legs can take her anywhere, and was quite intrigued by Bandit’s bell-balls. I hadn’t seen her for awhile, so we needed to catch up on hugging and kisses and fruit-loop snacking.
They were just leaving when Helen arrived, so more visiting. When she left, my son and I had a long distance discussion about the effects of mother’s nursing on a baby’s constipation...a good part of Sunday afternoon was used for research and discussion about the importance of baby pooping...or not, LOL!
Boring for some people, no doubt, but it is a huge part of my life, and one I would never think of exchanging for a high-stepping career. The perfect end to the weekend were the huge snowflakes playing and glittering under the gallery lights, a scene I enjoyed while relaxing in my Jacuzzi bubbles, the scent of Ocean breeze and the glass of red wine complimenting it all. The world may be in turmoil elsewhere, but here in the Bush life was good, so I am SMILING...and wanting to share it with y’all. Off it goes, soon to land on your doorstep. Any sent back to me will be treated with care!
Luv from the Bush in Quebec.
Bandit, my adopted cat, decided he would finally pull a dog routine and claim the attention he had missed during my week stay in the city. He was continually underfoot, mewling his complaints and/or joy at having me home. It was either kick him or cuddle him, and there is no contest really.
The phone was busy – Suzie from Detroit, my Cuban Suzie – and numerous texts from little Miko’s parents, the Rug rats (sent me a picture of the youngest wearing a Bruin’s shirt, young scoundrels!), other friends wondering how things were going, and to top it all, my daughter and little great granddaughter, Léna, spent Sunday morning here. She is 15 months old, running as fast as her chubby little legs can take her anywhere, and was quite intrigued by Bandit’s bell-balls. I hadn’t seen her for awhile, so we needed to catch up on hugging and kisses and fruit-loop snacking.
They were just leaving when Helen arrived, so more visiting. When she left, my son and I had a long distance discussion about the effects of mother’s nursing on a baby’s constipation...a good part of Sunday afternoon was used for research and discussion about the importance of baby pooping...or not, LOL!
Boring for some people, no doubt, but it is a huge part of my life, and one I would never think of exchanging for a high-stepping career. The perfect end to the weekend were the huge snowflakes playing and glittering under the gallery lights, a scene I enjoyed while relaxing in my Jacuzzi bubbles, the scent of Ocean breeze and the glass of red wine complimenting it all. The world may be in turmoil elsewhere, but here in the Bush life was good, so I am SMILING...and wanting to share it with y’all. Off it goes, soon to land on your doorstep. Any sent back to me will be treated with care!
Luv from the Bush in Quebec.
Saturday, December 6, 2014
JUST A NOTE
Ah! I picked up my new computer last Tuesday night, so things are so much easier now! My tech was unable to immediately extract some of the programs and my photos from my old machine because of the virus, but he will keep working on it when he can, so hopefully not all is lost.
It was good timing. I was spending both Wednesday and Thursday at home and needed to log onto the office site at a distance. It was in preparation for my colonoscopy, overdue by 2 years, but even if I was swilling down that liquid-a-go-go, the employee pays had to done. Fortunately my home office is only a hop and a skip from the bathroom.
The ordeal is over, the results good, and I’m off the hook for 5 years as per my doctor. When I returned to work on Friday, those cheeky girls remarked that I seemed to have lost weight. Hmmm.
This is just a note to let you know that I’m back in circulation; the tablette was not dropped in the water so I still don’t know if it will float, and I think I’ll let that test pass because the thing is handy to look up information on players while watching my hockey games. Blogging on it is another story altogether!
I’m doing housework now, have some work to catch up on too, so will be back in during the weekend and maybe with something more interesting to write. It was great spending some time in Blogit with the means to comment without it taking an eternity to do so!
Leaving you with a SMILE – it’s a biggie!!
Luv from the Bush in Quebec.
It was good timing. I was spending both Wednesday and Thursday at home and needed to log onto the office site at a distance. It was in preparation for my colonoscopy, overdue by 2 years, but even if I was swilling down that liquid-a-go-go, the employee pays had to done. Fortunately my home office is only a hop and a skip from the bathroom.
The ordeal is over, the results good, and I’m off the hook for 5 years as per my doctor. When I returned to work on Friday, those cheeky girls remarked that I seemed to have lost weight. Hmmm.
This is just a note to let you know that I’m back in circulation; the tablette was not dropped in the water so I still don’t know if it will float, and I think I’ll let that test pass because the thing is handy to look up information on players while watching my hockey games. Blogging on it is another story altogether!
I’m doing housework now, have some work to catch up on too, so will be back in during the weekend and maybe with something more interesting to write. It was great spending some time in Blogit with the means to comment without it taking an eternity to do so!
Leaving you with a SMILE – it’s a biggie!!
Luv from the Bush in Quebec.
Sunday, November 9, 2014
IT'S BACK!
Snow! I am one of the few who still really loves that cold, slippery, beautiful white stuff. I stood, sipping my first coffee and gazing through the window during the wee hours, watching Grump as he buried his nose, searching out the best spot for his needs. I could feel Bandit weaving around my legs, his purring just slightly louder than the crackling of the kindling in the fireplace. ‘The world is aglow’, I said to him. He rubbed his head against me, maybe not really agreeing. I noticed he did a kind of high-step dance when he made his way across the gallery to come inside last night, and he didn’t seem so anxious to follow Grump through the door this morning.
Grump was back, and I felt the chill of crisp, winter air enter with him. I hummed Frosty the Snowman as I prepared breakfast for them both, singing the words in whispers when I set their dishes down. My friend was still sleeping, and I didn’t want to wake him. I relish the quiet of these early morning hours spent with my pets. They dug into their food enthusiastically; Grump gobbling, and Bandit far daintier. They were so content in this moment, and that emotion prevailed in our softly lit kitchen. We were warm, our bellies full; happy in our little cocoon, surrounded by the silence of Nature’s awesome white blanket.
Yes, I am very aware that in this world there is strife and war and pain; I don’t wear rose-colored glasses. However, I am a firm believer in appreciating those perfect moments – the ones where you know all those you love are safe and sound and at peace – and the arrival of snow enhances those moments for me somehow. Maybe it’s memories of other winters, growing up on the farm. Who knows?
Whatever it is, I’ll take it, and I’ll greet it with a huge, warm SMILE!! I’m brushing the icicles away and sending it on to y’all!
Luv from the Bush in Quebec.
Grump was back, and I felt the chill of crisp, winter air enter with him. I hummed Frosty the Snowman as I prepared breakfast for them both, singing the words in whispers when I set their dishes down. My friend was still sleeping, and I didn’t want to wake him. I relish the quiet of these early morning hours spent with my pets. They dug into their food enthusiastically; Grump gobbling, and Bandit far daintier. They were so content in this moment, and that emotion prevailed in our softly lit kitchen. We were warm, our bellies full; happy in our little cocoon, surrounded by the silence of Nature’s awesome white blanket.
Yes, I am very aware that in this world there is strife and war and pain; I don’t wear rose-colored glasses. However, I am a firm believer in appreciating those perfect moments – the ones where you know all those you love are safe and sound and at peace – and the arrival of snow enhances those moments for me somehow. Maybe it’s memories of other winters, growing up on the farm. Who knows?
Whatever it is, I’ll take it, and I’ll greet it with a huge, warm SMILE!! I’m brushing the icicles away and sending it on to y’all!
Luv from the Bush in Quebec.
Sunday, October 5, 2014
HOCKEY-HOCKEY...BUT....
I like this time of year; so much to smell. The little creatures out there are scurrying around trying to hide from the cold, so they’re not really paying attention and it’s much easier to get closer and boy! Their faces when they realize I’m right behind them! I give a bark or two to show I mean business, that I can catch them if I tried. I don’t, because my mistress would be so upset with me! She laughs when I tree them, and doesn’t mind if I stand there barking up at them, but I remember how she scolded Smooch when he caught a young chipmunk, and there’s no way I want that! Funny how the cat can come back with mice and leave them right beside her bed, and HE gets petted and praised. Then that smartass just struts his stuff, showing off. I get him back by eating his food when the mistress isn’t watching, ha-ha!
Another reason I like this time is because my Mistress perks right up. Most days I can sense that she is very tired when she gets home from the place called work. But the master is back now, and we have a new routine. The black stick makes a bell sound, the master picks it up and talks to it, then about 30 minutes later he calls ‘Come on, Grump’ and outside we go and I’m all excited because I know the Mistress will be here soon, and sure enough, there she comes in her truck, around the corner and up the lane. I run down to show her how happy I am to see her, and she seems to understand that I can’t make it all the way down and back up anymore, so we meet halfway. She opens her window and talks to me and calls me her baby and she continues as we come slowly together up the hill, then she opens the truck door and before she even steps out I go to her and get hugs and kisses and my tail wags so hard it slaps, slaps, slaps against the door, against the master’s legs who is laughing behind me, and even against my Mistress as we turn and wiggle and just LOVE!
So not too long ago, after the hugging, and the words ‘food now, Grump?’ we’re coming up the stairs and I hear her say ‘Hockey-hockey-hockey, Grump!!!’ and I knew we were in for good nights. The dancing will begin, with longer neck scratching scenes and cuddling up on the couch beside the fire whenever she says ‘hockey-hockey-hockey!’ She hadn’t said it for a long time; it only starts when the leaves begin to fall.
And here we are; she’s on the couch looking at the moving box in the corner and I come to one side of her and put my head on her knee for the neck scratch, and suddenly she gets very quiet and I can feel waves of sadness from her. I look up and her eyes are leaking and this isn’t normal and I lick her face, wondering why hockey-hockey-hockey doesn’t make her happy anymore. Then she speaks to me, but the only word I understand is ‘Smooch’. And I remember.
From habit I had come up to her on my side, and he used to come from the other side, and her two hands would be busy scratching and rubbing both our heads. This is the first hockey-hockey-hockey since he disappeared. Mind you, I don’t mind not having to share, but I hate it when she’s sad, so when she stops scratching and bends over to pick something off the table I go around the back of the couch and come up to her on Smooch’s side, hoping it will make the sad go away (and the extra scratching wouldn’t hurt either) and it works! She stares at me for a second, then I see she understands and there is ‘you beautiful doggie’ and she throws her arms around me and hugs real tight, and even if her eyes are still leaking it is a good kind of feeling, and then more hugs and kisses and plenty of scratching to boot! Hockey-hockey-hockey is back where it belongs!
Except – well, my breathing isn’t so good, partly because of the medication she said, so we don’t dance right now. She claps her hands and makes noises and I bounce my head up and down and we get by just fine. A bonus is that it makes the cat nervous, so he stays in the bedroom instead of crawling up on her knee as he is prone to do if she is sitting anywhere else. Ha, Feline! Hockey-hockey-hockey is a dog thing!! And my human’s thing... because it sure does make her SMILE!!
Luv from the Bush in Quebec
Another reason I like this time is because my Mistress perks right up. Most days I can sense that she is very tired when she gets home from the place called work. But the master is back now, and we have a new routine. The black stick makes a bell sound, the master picks it up and talks to it, then about 30 minutes later he calls ‘Come on, Grump’ and outside we go and I’m all excited because I know the Mistress will be here soon, and sure enough, there she comes in her truck, around the corner and up the lane. I run down to show her how happy I am to see her, and she seems to understand that I can’t make it all the way down and back up anymore, so we meet halfway. She opens her window and talks to me and calls me her baby and she continues as we come slowly together up the hill, then she opens the truck door and before she even steps out I go to her and get hugs and kisses and my tail wags so hard it slaps, slaps, slaps against the door, against the master’s legs who is laughing behind me, and even against my Mistress as we turn and wiggle and just LOVE!
So not too long ago, after the hugging, and the words ‘food now, Grump?’ we’re coming up the stairs and I hear her say ‘Hockey-hockey-hockey, Grump!!!’ and I knew we were in for good nights. The dancing will begin, with longer neck scratching scenes and cuddling up on the couch beside the fire whenever she says ‘hockey-hockey-hockey!’ She hadn’t said it for a long time; it only starts when the leaves begin to fall.
And here we are; she’s on the couch looking at the moving box in the corner and I come to one side of her and put my head on her knee for the neck scratch, and suddenly she gets very quiet and I can feel waves of sadness from her. I look up and her eyes are leaking and this isn’t normal and I lick her face, wondering why hockey-hockey-hockey doesn’t make her happy anymore. Then she speaks to me, but the only word I understand is ‘Smooch’. And I remember.
From habit I had come up to her on my side, and he used to come from the other side, and her two hands would be busy scratching and rubbing both our heads. This is the first hockey-hockey-hockey since he disappeared. Mind you, I don’t mind not having to share, but I hate it when she’s sad, so when she stops scratching and bends over to pick something off the table I go around the back of the couch and come up to her on Smooch’s side, hoping it will make the sad go away (and the extra scratching wouldn’t hurt either) and it works! She stares at me for a second, then I see she understands and there is ‘you beautiful doggie’ and she throws her arms around me and hugs real tight, and even if her eyes are still leaking it is a good kind of feeling, and then more hugs and kisses and plenty of scratching to boot! Hockey-hockey-hockey is back where it belongs!
Except – well, my breathing isn’t so good, partly because of the medication she said, so we don’t dance right now. She claps her hands and makes noises and I bounce my head up and down and we get by just fine. A bonus is that it makes the cat nervous, so he stays in the bedroom instead of crawling up on her knee as he is prone to do if she is sitting anywhere else. Ha, Feline! Hockey-hockey-hockey is a dog thing!! And my human’s thing... because it sure does make her SMILE!!
Luv from the Bush in Quebec
Sunday, September 14, 2014
DISTRACTIONS
For some reason most modern offices have the employees shut away. One sits there from 4 to 6 consecutive hours under artificial light, without birdsong or a gust of breeze, sharing germs that float around in the air conditioning. I am actually luckier than many because my desk is beside a part of plate glass; I won’t call it a window, it can’t be opened, but I can at least see outside.
The building beside us is a warehouse, and my view is of the huge, paved lot behind it. There’s a high wire fence and gate between the warehouse and the lot, then behind the lot again is an undeveloped property with tall weeds and a few trees. I believe it is owned by the City, this belief reinforced by the activity that goes on there. On any given day there will be a fire truck or police cars on site and I can watch drivers practice racing around strategically placed cones, both forward and reverse, or spinning donuts, starting and stopping on a dime. Once an ambulance pulled in and the paramedics spent a few hours running back and forth with equipment, all under the careful eye of a supervisor who would halt them on occasion to show them how to pick something up or how to hold it while on the move. It’s a welcome distraction, and I have to be careful not to spend too much time looking instead of working. The event there this past week had me throw caution to the winds, and I can add that I wasn’t the only one who stood up to gaze at what was going on.
The police cars arrived first, then a van drove in to join them. I guessed what was going to happen before the driver opened his back door – I have seen this type of van before – and sure enough out jumped a beautiful German shepherd. While the officers watched, the trainer put the dog through his paces. The animal was a magnificent specimen of his breed, and he responded to his commands swiftly and perfectly. It was awesome, and I was so proud of that doggie! It was obvious that his trainer felt the same, and that the policemen were impressed, as was the accounting team who had gathered around me for the show. Fortunately it only lasted for 30 minutes or so; it’s difficult to punch numbers into a computer with one eye on other things. If the boss made a snide comment about the incident, I didn’t hear it. I was too busy SMILING.
Sending it out to y’all – it may have a bit of fur attached.
Luv from the Bush in Quebec.
The building beside us is a warehouse, and my view is of the huge, paved lot behind it. There’s a high wire fence and gate between the warehouse and the lot, then behind the lot again is an undeveloped property with tall weeds and a few trees. I believe it is owned by the City, this belief reinforced by the activity that goes on there. On any given day there will be a fire truck or police cars on site and I can watch drivers practice racing around strategically placed cones, both forward and reverse, or spinning donuts, starting and stopping on a dime. Once an ambulance pulled in and the paramedics spent a few hours running back and forth with equipment, all under the careful eye of a supervisor who would halt them on occasion to show them how to pick something up or how to hold it while on the move. It’s a welcome distraction, and I have to be careful not to spend too much time looking instead of working. The event there this past week had me throw caution to the winds, and I can add that I wasn’t the only one who stood up to gaze at what was going on.
The police cars arrived first, then a van drove in to join them. I guessed what was going to happen before the driver opened his back door – I have seen this type of van before – and sure enough out jumped a beautiful German shepherd. While the officers watched, the trainer put the dog through his paces. The animal was a magnificent specimen of his breed, and he responded to his commands swiftly and perfectly. It was awesome, and I was so proud of that doggie! It was obvious that his trainer felt the same, and that the policemen were impressed, as was the accounting team who had gathered around me for the show. Fortunately it only lasted for 30 minutes or so; it’s difficult to punch numbers into a computer with one eye on other things. If the boss made a snide comment about the incident, I didn’t hear it. I was too busy SMILING.
Sending it out to y’all – it may have a bit of fur attached.
Luv from the Bush in Quebec.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)