Where Have I Been?

 It's been a minute, or two or three. Life happens, things get in the way or you just lose interest. 

July was hard. I lost my aunt to brain cancer. Mom and I were able to visit her for a week. We flew to BC and I was able to get out and explore for a few days but I did spend most of my time at the hospital where my aunt was in hospice. It hurt but also made me happy that my mom was able to see her little sister again. It has been years since they saw each other in person. Life gets in the way, and living across the country makes it harder. We always say we are going to, one day. Thankfully we were able to see her and they reminisced, Mom fussed over her and I know it broke her heart but I also know she was happy to be there, for support and reassurance. Two weeks after we returned home my aunt passed. She had an MAID order in effect and made the decision to exercise it. Her pain was gone, the fear gone. 

I think I stumbled through July, my aunt's passing affecting me in ways I wasn't anticipating. I wasn't close to her, not having seen her in years but just that life is so short. I have made it to the other side with cancer twice, I am one of the lucky ones.....but it makes you think. I had a lot of downtime, all I wanted to do was curl up and read. I didn't get out for walks or pull out my camera. I am not sure what I did other than exist. I wasn't depressed or anything, but I think I just needed to shut down and I did. 

August is almost finished, this month has flown by. I still haven't been out with my camera much or gone to my favourite places. Weather (hot and humid) was the biggest reason, the other is I was content to enjoy being at home, playing with the dog, reading on the deck and just enjoying being home. I came to the conclusion that I was happy, or at least my version of happy. Maybe content and settled are better words. My parents are healthy, my brother and his family are doing well, and my son is absolutely loving his new job which is a career with growth potential. My small world is good.

Back to school is around the corner, with one week left of summer vacation. I will have my 35th first day of school. Wow, where has the time gone?! I am hoping this upcoming year will have fewer obstacles and be more settled. Planning for a good year to come!

A few photos that I took while in BC. The scenery was stunning, so different from the flatness of where I live. 

With that, I will post again at some point. Take care of you, and hold dear those that are important in your life. ♥

Growing

My son is almost finished his first year of college and first year away from home.  We have both adjusted very well, maybe too well for him :). I am so proud of the young man he has become and the experiences that he has had being away from home. Moving from a small town to a city is one thing but to do it at 17 (late in year baby) and three hours away is a big step. He is loving his freedom, school, all the things to do up there, new friends and even got a position as an RA for the second semester. I just signed as guarantor for a room in an apartment for him for second year. He and three buddies are moving into a four bedroom apartment at a new student complex that comes fully furnished and includes utilities.  Even talking about finding a job and not coming home at all for the summer next, just staying in his apartment. *sniff* *sniff* also proud momma moment that he is that independent and has plans for his future.  I hope he continues to follow his dreams. <3

We are now officially on spring break!!  Woohoo!! Jealous of all the people who went away this week but I decided to get Harlow in February and then bought a new TV last week. I hope the weather stays nice here and I can enjoy outside time with Harlow, work on recall and walking on a loose leash.

Feeling back on track as well, at peace and content for the most part.  Have had a few days of feeling stressed and grumpy but got back on track and still trudging forward. Difference is I'm not giving up and also not putting pressure or feeling that I failed if I have a moment.  Life is good!!

Can't go without sharing a picture of my LoLo girl.

looking innocent

vet visit--13 weeks 6 days and 21 lbs

New York New York!

Got the boy off Wednesday morning (as in 5:30 am) to the school for their trip to New York.  He was awake at 3:30 am he was so excited.  I am so glad that he got the opportunity to go, it's great to have a high school trip in your memory bank.  I went to Quebec in grade 11 and still remember bits and pieces of it, matter of fact there were a few of us laughing about it tonight on Facebook. Back to the boy, I had one message saying they got there, another one this morning saying he still had money left.......good thing as they don't come home until tomorrow night.  He went shopping at Hollister, 40% off sale (momma has taught him right, only shop sales) and today they were off to the 9/11 Memorial, Art Museum and then a Yankees game.  Wondering if I will get any details of his trip or just the usual few sentences 'had fun', 'did stuff'......my boy of few details *sigh*

I have had a couple nights of dinners with sauteed mushrooms, peppers and onions served over brown rice.  Things the boy will not eat, have been living it up in that sense, lol.  Really not a lot has happened over the last few days, such a nice quiet boring life I lead :)

On the digi front:

Captivated Visions has a couple of new templates out this week.  I love her Artified series of templates, you can make them look so different and all the blending is so much fun to play with.  They are Artified: I See You and Artified: This is It.  Here are a couple of layouts I created with these templates and the one called Pretty Things actually combines Artified: This is It and Artified: My World which is a sample for a tutorial that will be up on Rachel's blog April 28th.

   Pretty Things           My Shining Star        Change Your World

Bursting with Pride

On Sunday I did another 5K (yes I walked it again) and this was for the Run for Rocky which helps support local high schools GSA's so we can provide a safe and inclusive school for all students. There is also support for the iCANdonate  campaign to bring awareness and support to encourage the Government of Canada to change its legislation on organ donor eligibility through advocacy, education and social media.

We had a lot of students (and staff) who signed up and attended Run for Rocky this weekend.  Our principal offered to pay for a bus to assist students in getting the run and back home (how awesome is she!) and we had about 23 on that bus.  Our school mascot (costume) was also going to make an appearance as long as the weather held out.  I am pleased to say that the weather did in fact hold out and it was hard to miss a giant yellow bulldog roaming the grounds followed by a bunch of students proudly sporting their black and gold wear.  Our group was hard to miss and seemed to be quite popular.  The students were loud, positive and represented our school and community in fantastic fashion.  We had students who once they finished the race were at the finish line cheering others on, congratulating everyone and well just being amazing. Our staff turnout was well represented also, 16 staff members not including their spouses/children.   That's almost half! As we jumped on the bus ready to head home one of the event staff as well as the Director for Windsor Pride came on our bus to express their gratitude to our students for their support and thank them.  The looks of pride on those kids faces were wonderful to see......being thanked for doing good and recognized.  

This run is near and dear to one of our staff member's heart as it is in honour of his wonderful nephew who was tragically lost due to suicide. The pride and emotion you could see on his face at the turnout from his school family will forever be etched in my heart.  

We can create change, it takes time and a lot of support but it can be done.  We can do good things, we can crush stereotypes, we can be supportive of those around us, we can all stand together as people and have each others backs.  You do not necessarily have to walk in another's shoes to stand up and say 'this is not an acceptable way to treat another human being.', we can have each other's backs and be allies.  It is also wonderful to show the world, even if it is our small corner that we have some amazing young people out there who are going to do great things. They need our support and backing to help them achieve the change they want in the world.

As I close out my post for today I just want to say Go Bulldogs!!  I am proud to have been a former student, a present staff member, a member of this community and a parent of a student who attends this school. 

Go Bulldogs!!

*Photo credited to Owen Wolter posted on WindsoriteDOTca

Baby it's Cold Outside

Wow what a few days we've had!  Lots of snow again and frigid temperatures have been this past week. Accumulation was around 20 cm but we had temps of -25C and with the windchill factored in it felt like -40C.  Needless to say while gorgeous outside you couldn't enjoy it and driving was not fun. School was supposed to start back on Monday but we had three days of buses being cancelled.  Schools were still open for those students who wanted to come but they either had to walk or have their own transportation.

It has also been too cold to take Dash the Wonder Dog out for a walk, it was nice that today the temperature was high enough we could go take a jaunt around the block.  Good for me as well as he is my walking buddy. Training is going well in terms of ringing the bell when he wants outside, not always consistent but he is at least doing it sometimes.

As for me, I am continuing to work on being positive and happy.....for me.  Think I'm doing pretty good, even took a picture of me yesterday so I there are two of me so far for the month, small steps, lol.  Now I did have a little bit of a meltdown the other day and it was stupid (aren't they all?).  I was tired, feeling frustrated at the fact I couldn't get in my parking spot and had to park around the corner of my building.  Now in nice weather this would be no big deal but in this weather I have to warm up my car and didn't like that I couldn't see it out my window........told you it was petty.  Then I was attempting to clean the rest of my parking spot out and I slipped, falling hard on the ice.  Just tears of frustration and some pain as I put my hands out to stop my fall.  Then to top it off my neighbour has been parking in half of my spot so back to the end of the building I went.  Yes I have had my moments the last couple of days but I am still hanging in and I know it will be work.