Autumnal New Year

It always feels like a new year on the Labour Day long weekend more than it does in the middle of winter after Christmas. The change is far more palpable in September. In the dog days of August you can feel some of the coming crispness in the air in the evenings in spite of the searing heat and humidity during the days. This weekend we went from a major high of 34C ( almost 100F) on Friday to barely 17C ( 65F) on Saturday. Change is in the air.

White clothes, tank tops, capris and open toed shoes are tucked away at the end of August, and panty hose makes a return - much to the chagrin of women everywhere.

I've done my share of back to school shopping this year. I took both girls shopping, separately. Their styles of shopping are so different, it never works to take them together. Never has.

Rebel is working now, but I still have to cut her a little slack after her two+ year absence from the work force. She is coaching gymnastics and loves it, but because she doesn't have her certification she has to take a whack of courses and qualifiers to be able to work without a certified coach trailing her every move. She's frustrated but is getting the short term pain long term gain point of view. The other coaches (many younger than her) don't think her diving experience is worth much but she is handling herself. "Back summersault on a trampoline? Piece of cake. You go ahead and do one off a 7 metre board and hit the water without hurting your head or back, okay? Then we'll talk about who was in the tougher sport!" That's a Rebel for ya.

Rebel Junior has finally started looking for jobs. Though given her school agenda - and I don't mean classes, I mean Yearbook Committee, Athletic Association, Grad Committee, and a drive to be valdictorian, not sure whether a J-O-B will fit. Both XSU and I have told her it has to fit as we will not pay for any number of her extra curricular activities including her plans for Punta Cana at March break.

I also did a little shopping for myself. A pair of jeans to die for - Yoga Jeans by Silver. OMG! Best jeans ever! Sold to me by a wonderfully sharp dressed young man at the jean store. I have to get another pair they fit so terrifically. Cost a fortune but whatEV! And a pair of shoes. Not quite flats - a little wedge heel in gold. Perfect for jeans. I also shopped around for drills and impact drivers. But that will now have to wait until late fall, since I blew the budget on the girls.

And this new year for me? It's now been a year since I officially separated from XSU. I am still adjusting but it is easier. I am mostly enjoying my independence. Money is tight. But I'll get there. At least I have a great job and don't have to worry about that. And it will get better.

Had a martini with the widower neighbour the other night - was taking the dog for a walk and he was out on his porch. I told him I envied his porch and his drink, and he invited me to share both. With the dog. And his two cats. We took a chance. Conversation and that's about it. It was a nice. Friends for now that's all I can manage. But I digress....

This year I am still on the board of the gymnastics centre, (yeah the one where Rebel is working- first time I ever used my influence for anything) I will be teaching again in the winter, I have my theatre girls, and am thinking about working a compressed work week, if I can ever figure out how to be a morning person so I can get to work earlier so I can work the extra 50 minutes a day in order to get the 10th day off every two weeks.

I'll be heading to Halifax in a couple of weeks. I won an award from my university. Imagine that. Outstanding alumnae of the year. Given to me by a committe of my peers from the school. The citation was very nice. I have become one of those "been around forever people" and now need to get my speech written. The new crop of students will be in attendance so I have to speak directly to them. Rebel will be coming with me which was a real surprise. She asked to come.

So the "new year" is off to a good start. The air is changing it's a new start for all of us. Happy New Year to you too.

More Sex and Lies... and coulda used the video tape!

I have returned from Edmonton. I had a great time at my conference. I always do. Lots of stuff going on causing great consternation before the annual general meeting meant that I spent some time running around organizing resolutions, finding out who would support the issues and pretty much rabble rousing.

Rebel Junior threw another party while I was gone, after I asked XSU to SPECIFICALLY keep tabs on her. "Oh I will, don't worry. She is going to Jamie's but I will swing by your place just in case." Yeah... a lot of good his swing was. It's never been good. And Rebel seemed to not be around all of a sudden while this partying was going on right under her nose.

RJ managed to con her dad to get her a Blackberry phone. seriously! I am not paying for it. Another whole story. But guess what? He agreed with me - really - he did! that RJ's phone should be blocked for a while. So her phone is turned off for at least a week or three. I am sure she'll be going through withdrawal even before I finish this blog entry.

Rebel had the boyfriend back in the house. I was not impressed but expected this. I figured he'd be around while I was out of town, but enough already! I asked him when he was leaving and he looked over at Rebel. Argument ensued when I stated that unless Rebel was paying the mortgage - looking at her wasn't going to do him any good, and at what time would he be leaving this evening? I stood over him with Rebel telling me to leave her room, while I stared down this idiot.

Good thing I spent a lot of money on new shoes while I was at my conference. In four days I had a mere two hours for recreational retail therapy and I used it well! What would a trip out of town be without a little shopping. We found a shoe store to end all shoe stores. I swear half the women at the conference must have stopped in. I bought two GORGEOUS pairs of shoes as did my room mate from BC. We both pranced around our hotel room in our new shoes admiring our skill at sussing out shoes at full price instead of the sale rack stuff. yeah.... full price, for shoes made some where other than China... France to be specific... I think I have money for the mortgage and maybe the electrical bill and a little gas for my car this month, given what I paid for these shoes. Leather like butter -and the sassiest pair of little summer peek-a-boo pumps. It's my outlet for no sex. shoes. While sex is a whole lot cheaper (but is it?), and quite probably over rated, the shoes will last a whole lot longer and probably give me a whole lot more pleasure. I pant even as I edit the photos

and no.... my toes are not squished into the shoes - I just have this toe that is crooked. My mom had the same thing, and so does Rebel.

Wordless Wednesday

Grand Forks, I heart you!

I've been home two days now and spent all of today out of town. It couldn't be helped. My version of mecca has always revolved around a small town in North Dakota - Grand Forks. And sometimes Fargo. Seriously. They have a Target Store, Kohl's and TJ Max. And let's not even get started on the grocery stores and the prices for a lot of stuff that I couldn't possibly bring back with me all the way to the nation's capital. Having grown up spending many a long weekend going back and forth to Grand Forks, it seemed the right time to return today.

I was so excited. RJ's godmother and I made the trek in her car. The Red River has already crested but my goodness there was a lot of water filling fields and the flood way is looking pretty full. A few roads were closed but not the main highway.

But I digress. Target! And not *just* a Target store - it was a SUPER Target. When you actually don't have to shop for groceries, I find walking the aisles to be a very zen like activity. The place was fairly quiet for a muzak filled store, and we cruised through with our bright red Target carts marvelling over all the unique items in the aisles and despairing of the prices and me thinking how am I ever going to get a cart load of groceries all the way home. Oh wait... I'll go check out the luggage and just buy a suit case that will be good enough to haul back all this stuff!

And at this Target every item was classified by department on the receipt - grocery items, clothing, electronics, or home so when we arrived back at the Canadian border and declared our goods, it was very easy for the border guards and custom agents to apply the right taxes. Now how is that for service?!

What I could have bought but didn't.

And then there was Kohl's... I SAVED $158.65 today! That's right! Just think how much MORE I could have spent if I had known what I was saving?! I must have had 30 things in the dressing room with me - dresses, t-shirts, skirts; never mind trying things on that I was going to get for Rebel but not sure if things would fit. My newest cheap cell phone doesn't have a camera so I couldn't send pictures for approval. I am winging these purchases, but how could I resist since I was SAVING so much?!

And it even gets better because North Dakota will refund the state tax on my purchases so I will SAVE even more.

Grand Forks - a love story. So much retail love to give, and so little time.

Next blog - a little less retail and a little more family!