We went to WEM today, and I took Jerica skating again. The rental skates were lousy as usual, but today at least our feet didn't hurt us! We didn't stay very long - both of us wanted to stay longer, but Bob and Sheriah were finished doing their thing and were getting hungry...so we headed for a late lunch.

Jerica, again, totally surprised me with how well she is able to skate, after hardly skating at all. I think in total, she's made maybe 10 laps around a rink, between both times we've gone, and she can skate reasonably well without hanging on to the wall. She skated right across the rink today, out in the middle! Gotta get that girl out skating more!

A very sweet things happened today. I went in to see my good friend Bobby at work, with Sheriah, while we were at the mall. Sheriah went in and said, "Auntie Bobby!!!!!!" So, Bobby said hi to her, and told her co-worker this was her niece. He looked at us and said, "You guys are sisters?" We paused, looked at each other, and at the same time, smiled and said, "Yeah!" He was kinda confused, and said, "Well, are you or aren't you?" We said we were - just not by blood. (He then informed us that we could remedy that by cutting our fingers and pressing them together...ewwwww!)

We spent a few moments visiting, then said our farewells.

Today I played drums at our new church for the first time. It's the first time I've picked up the sticks for probably a couple years (well, Thursday for practise was, but...!). The song list included some old favourites from Victoria, so they weren't all totally new to me playing-wise.

I got there way early, and Pastor Rick and I had a good chat for a while before everyone else showed up. It further confirms to me that we made a good choice in a church to call home now. After being at NECF for nearly 5 years, it was tough to leave - it so felt like home. But Living Hope is feeling more and more like home every week. And it's only been 5 so far!

I put on a t-shirt yesterday that I haven't worn in - oh, a year and a half. Last I put it on, it was decidedly snug, especially around the shoulders / upper back area. So, I didn't wear it much (it was the shirt I wore to the Wiggles concert in April of 2005 - and not since). Yesterday I took a chance (it was Friday, and I've been trying to remember to wear red on Fridays, to show support for our boys in Afghanistan), and it was even a bit loose! Yay! I knew I've lost 30 lbs since last October, but haven't noticed a drastic difference with the way some of my clothes have fit. I think (besides jeans) this was my first really noticeable change.

For the first part, my day has been pretty good. Sheriah and I were at home all day waiting for the rain to stop and the time to pick Jerica up from school. It wasn't raining when it came time for the walk, and Jerica was home for a couple hours before she went to a sleep over. She's only been wanting to go back to this house for the past year, since her last one! Finally, the day came. So she's gone for the night.

We took Sheriah out to Burger King, where she ate and played and made merry. Then we went to Walmart. She started complaining of feeling sick and going to throw up when we got into the parking lot, but then it seemed to pass. We went inside, looked around (probably a little too long - all we went for was cat stuff, but Bob decided he wanted to toodle around to the rest of the store...grr!), and just as we were contemplating heading out...she fulfilled her promise...! We ditched our cart - no way were we waiting in line to pay with a sick kid, and besides that, Bob needed to run for the bathroom himself, now...VERY weak stomach, that one! So she's in bed now, and he's out getting a few groceries and some ginger ale.

So to borrow a line: it was the best of times, it was the worst of times...!

Well, our cat Skittles has a playmate. Mojo is about 7 weeks old and joined our family yesterday. He comes from an abusive home; the kids' idea of fun was sliding him across the floor and watching him crash into the walls, among other things. He's a charcoal and white tabby, short hair, and he's just adorable! I really didn't want another cat - but Bob's heart wouldn't let him leave this little guy in that home. When I have pictures, I'll share them.

I'b got a code id by doze...ick. It's been coming on for a couple of days now, I'm sure, but today I can't breathe...*help! send air support!* Tomorrow we're planning a full day for the girls' last weekend off school; I hope I feel up to it! (It involves rides at West Ed Mall...hope I can at least breathe - then I'll be ok!) Why couldn't it wait a few more days? I want to make the most of the last weekend of holidays!!

...but he has time to bug me through e-mails! Here's an excerpt from one day when he was feeling particularly cheeky...his notes and my replies:

BOB:
Hey!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
what are you doing here when you should be working on something in the house.
My Grandfather used to work 3 jobs and volunteer at the labour relations department. Do you know what he used to say? >>in a jamaican accent>> GET BACK TO WORK.
LOL
Love you and see you soon.


PAM:
*ahem* Excuse me, but what are you doing e-mailing me? Is Terry paying you to sit on your log in front of the computer and send notes to your wife? I think not! So...

GET BACK TO WORK!!!!!!

Love ya!


BOB:
PISS OFF.
I am paid to do whatever I deem to be necessary at the time and this is totally necessary. Who else is going to keep my wife in line when i am not there.
cya soon.
Love you


PAM:
Face it, I have the run of the remote control when you're not here, and you can't STAND IT!!! LOL! Don't worry, I'm taking good "Wiggly" care of it in your absence...! Muahahaha!

~Pambi


On slow days, too, they've been known to play soccer in the back office...yeah, right..."work"...!

A friend posted this on the Wiggles Message Board, and I just had to share - warning: swallow any food or beverage before reading!!


Dear Makers of Tide Detergent:

I am writing to say what an excellent product you have! I've used it all of my married life, as my mom always told me it was the best. In fact, about a month ago, I spilled some red wine on my new white blouse. My inconsiderate and uncaring husband started to belittle me about how clumsy I was, and generally started becoming a pain in the neck. One thing led to another and somehow I ended up with his blood on my new white blouse! I grabbed my bottle of Tide with bleach alternative, and to my surprise and satisfaction, all of the stains
came out!

In fact, the stains came out so well the detectives who came by yesterday told me that the DNA tests on my blouse were negative and then my attorney called and said that I was no longer considered a suspect in the disappearance of my husband.

What a relief! I thank you, once again, for having a great product.

Well, gotta go, have to write to the Hefty bag people...

Yay! I got a dishwasher from a friend on the weekend, and used it for the first time last night! (We had to co-ordinate my getting the tap adaptor, which happened last night). I'm so excited! No dirty dishes in my sink EVER AGAIN!

My friend's family is moving into a house that already has such an appliance, and she had promised me that, in that occasion, I would inherit her machine.

And, we just got some vertical blinds for our living room. Our place is shaping up amazingly well - we're making the transition from a "kid house" to a "grown-up" house. All our girls' toys are banished from the main floor; of course, I won't discuss the state of the basement...ugh! They're both old enough now that they can play downstairs relatively well together, so...!

We have been going swimming pretty much weekly for the past 7 or 8 months or so, and our girls have become little fishes! At the beginning of last summer, they were both scared of the water, and Sheriah (the 4 year old) took 1/2 an hour to even GET HER TOES WET!!

They both have had swimming lessons since, and Jerica has been able to swim by herself for a while. Sheriah has always had a tendency to sink...but today, dh had her swimming over to me, without a life jacket, all by herself! It was a truly exciting moment!!

My place is a zoo today - my friend Bobby visited with her older son and daughter; our 3 girls get along famously. She went home and her daughter stayed with us for a couple hours. My girls' friends came over later - two sisters who live nearby. I had 5 for a while, then Rae went home, leaving me currently with 4. So far, the house is still standing!

I figured out how to upload some userpix, so check them out! Some of them are actually my family - those of you with kids may recognize some of the others...!

Well, the girls are back...quiet time has come to an end...!

Hey, I'm finally here! I've been promising my friend I would come by for about a year - better late than never!

My kids are downstairs right now and so far it sounds peaceful! LOL! I might actually have a moment to be here before I have to disappear. We tried to go for a bike ride this afternoon, and a quick trip to the park, but it's chilly and windy out there...just as we left to come home, we started feeling some drops, too. Good thing we bugged out.

Just waiting for hubby to get home; he should be here in just under an hour. Then off to my mom's alone for dinner (he gets to put the kids to bed, yay!) and to help her with a couple things. We might pop in a movie, too, depending how I feel later. Right now, I'd just as soon curl up with a good book and hibernate!

Well, the tranquility hasn't lasted...see ya!