Taking Inventory...

...or "In Which I Address An Irritating Personalty Trait".

I really hate certain aspects of social conversation. I suppose they could all be lumped under the category of 'Confrontation'. Or more benignly, I suppose 'Assertiveness' would do. In my personal life, I don't have a history of being terribly assertive and I avoid confrontation at very nearly all cost.

However.

This weekend is the RVHEA Used Book Sale. This weekend I will step out of my box. This weekend I will ask people for money; a part of social conversation that I think requires a certain amount of 'Assertive'. Wish me luck.

Now. If I could just get past 'Procrastination' and stick a price tag on something, I'd be well on my way.

An Update, A Rant, News and Some Whining

Hello. Some Random thoughts for you all today.

First Thought Not only did R have food poisoning then a fever, he now has a cold virus to rival all colds. If it's not enough to have one male in the house who is ill, the other male in the house is close to death. I'm not exaggerating, he said it himself. I think he might becoming down with whatever it is that is 'killing' R.

Second Thought The city has made a decision to not hire beach patrol lifeguards this summer. Who cares, you say? I care. It seems I care a lot. More than I should? Last week I read an article that mentioned the Recreation Director employed by our lovely city thought it might be a good idea to get rid of the summer lifeguards, a savings of $18,000. Then, in the next breath, she wants to hire a full-time arbourist at a measly cost of something like $6,000. Of course, it's only $6,000 if we get rid of the lifeguards... I never thought council would actually vote in favour of ditching our only supervised waterfront. But they did. And I'm angry for a number of reasons. Perhaps I'll blog about it when I can collect my thoughts somewhat intelligently.

Third Thought I have whiplash. At least it feels like whiplash. Can one get whiplash from skating 13K? Goodness, I am so out of shape, every time I move I hurt myself. I'm not sleeping because my back and neck hurt. I even stepped out of my box and bought some muscle relaxants. Man, a dose of those can make one very dizzy! And it says to drug up with 2 pills 4 times a day. 4 times! Not very likely.

Fourth Thought Being so frustrated with hurting myself every other stair climb, I have decided to soldier though and take advantage of exercising opportunities. My dad has a couple of kayaks. He was thinking about going for a quick paddle this weekend so I signed right up for an early morning paddle on Saturday. Dad is not too keen on the idea. He's worried about me flipping the boat and succumbing to hypothermia in the icy river before reaching the shore, leaving the children motherless. A bit alarmist of him, don't you think? Just for the record, flipping a kayak usually takes some effort. I don't think I have the range of motion or the muscle strength to accomplish that at this particular time. At any rate, I will paddle close to the shore. Hopefully, I'll have some pics up Saturday afternoon for you.

Fifth Thought Once final upcoming blog change for me. I'm tired of trying to tweak things in html unsuccessfully. SO I have been prowling about for a template that I like. A template that I can put my own header into, or not. A free template that I will be happy with so that I can spend time on actual blogs and links, labels and archives. I'm so looking forward to it. I'm sharing this thought with you so that if you happen to pop by in the next couple of days and my blog is inaccessible, you'll know why. I don't want to do a live change. I want to surprise everyone with the new wallpaper all at once. It will be so exciting. So if you're reading this and you'd like your link in my new sidebar, leave a comment and let me know sooner than later.

Sixth and Final Thought of the Day On the homeschooling front, K, the girl child, will be participating in a Red Cross Babysitter and First Aid Training tomorrow. She will be joining a number of other homeschoolers and their siblings for the day. This will necessitate a trip to the store to procure brown-bag lunch trimmings. I think I will leave the dying males at home and K and I will head out shortly before I take any drugs. I think we will also pick up some ColdFx (even if it is too late) and other throat soothing remedies. I wish these males would drink tea. It would be so much easier. Oh yes, homeschooling: not much has happened here this week. K is keeping up with her math all on her own. Pleasant to see such mature independence on her part. The kids are keeping up with their book club reading - many of the selections they are asking me to read aloud to them. I'm glad they're not too old for that yet. I was going to say that we're taking an early March Break, but a little more likely is that the February blahs are occurring. That's be about right on schedule for me - I'm a notorious procrastinator.

♥Bonni

Fundraising For Me

All year I have been fundraising by throwing my spare change into this biscotti container. Sometimes, I've even had a $5 or $10 in my wallet for a week or so...or I washed a bill in the laundry and claimed it...and into the container it went.

B and I sat one evening and rolled. We rolled until we hit $309 and ran out of nickel rollers. I'm using the money to attend the Kitchener-Waterloo Home School Conference.

I know not everyone is a conference person, but I am. I leave the conference feeling motivated. I like bringing home hurriedly scrawled notes of good ideas. I like hearing the authors of a program/curriculum/method talk about how to implement a subject into your homeschool. I know it's a sales pitch. But don't knock it until you've heard Donna Ward talk about Canadian History.

This conference will be a special trip for me. I'm making a weekend of it. I'm carpooling with a fellow-homeschooling-girlfriend. I'm staying in a hotel. There might be evening entertainment or a yarn shop or a cafe visit or who knows what!? I'm taking suggestions. (Please keep in mind it's totally possible that I will ignore all advice and choose to hole up in the hotel all weekend reading stuff I've gleaned from seminars and new books I bought at the vendor fair.)

My fundraising has been particularly successful since we gave up Tim Horton's coffee. There are definitely greater amounts of change present when one doesn't make an almost daily trip there.

Further fundraising happened at my birthday party a couple of weekends ago when my family contributed a few bills to my efforts. They don't get the whole homeschooling thing, however, they understand being excited to go weekend adventuring. Remind me to blog about my siblings' weekend stopover in Paris, France to be at the Tour de France finish line one year.

The fundraising will continue the weekend before my conference at the annual RVHEA Used Book Sale. I've totally stepped out of my box and I've booked a table at which I will attempt to sell the books and things I'm done with. I need to make more than $20 to cover gas. However, to this event I am also carpooling!

I just had to share. Thanks for listening.
♥Bonni

Out Vacuuming. Be Back...Later

The Dyson has landed.

It's light. It's powerful. It's quieter than my last vacuum. Its hose reaches a full flight of stairs without having to lift the main unit off the floor. It sucks up things in the general vicinity of the powerbar. Amazing.

I'm busy vacuuming. When I can wrestle the silly thing away from others. I'll be back to blog once the novelty has worn off.

And, of course, I must post the requsite picture of the nasty bits we've been living with for who knows how long. There's less of these now.

♥Bonni

The Vacuum Is Dead. Again.

The vacuum is dead.

Again.

This is the third one in ten-years-minus-three-weeks. And I was trying to be oh-so careful with this latest model. Especially after B told me - in the gentlest terms possible - that I was a teensy bit hard on things, that I wasn't the most graceful housekeeper and that it would make his life complete if I could please, please be careful with the newest member of our appliance family. But that was a little more than two years ago.

I felt a little sick when the vacuum just sort of droned to a stop three quarters of the way across the rug. I felt a little sick when it wouldn't turn on even after I emptied out all the filters and spoke gently to it and gave it a time out and plugged it into a different outlet. I felt a little sick when B took it apart, right there in the living room and began stripping it of parts and wires. I felt downright nauseous when, two and a half hours later, B announced the vacuum was no more.

Not only can I be clumsy and graceless when cavorting around the house with a vacuum in tow, but I can curse myself. The day before this wretched event I was visiting with my sister. We were talking about house-y things when I told her that me next vacuum was going to be a Dyson. And that I was sure I'd get another two or three years out of my current model giving me ample time to save up my pocket change in anticipation of the big event.

Sure enough, 12 hours later, the Universe decided to have a big laugh at my expense.

So, after both B and I came to terms with the fact that the vacuum could not be economically resuscitated, we sat down to have another little chat. In all seriousness, it was a two sided discussion about investing in something that was going to do a good job for us for a number of years. Hopefully enough years so that when K flies the nest, she can load it up in the back of the car when departing for her post-childhood adventures.

Given our daily use of a vacuum due to our copiously shedding dog, we decided on the Dyson DC25. Works well on all floors, lots of power, large receptacle for dust and dog hair, not too heavy and a good long reach. I'm excited to try out the ball it rides on. I'm hoping it's manoeuvrability will mask some of my clunking around.

The vacuum delivery man, Mr. Purolator, is supposed to arrive with this precious package sometime this coming week. I'm very excited. B is excited that I am excited. I'm even more excited since I used the shop-vac on the living room area rug this evening. That was an exercise in patience if there ever was one. Why must the husky shed in the winter?? And why must each hair weave itself into the fibers of the rug? Is it necessary, really?? I digress.

I know you're all as excited as I am for the arrival of our investment, my birthday present, K's future housewarming gift, the dog-shed-containment-system. I'll keep you posted.

♥Bonni

Motivating, Happy, Colourful Stuff

Baby, it's cold outside! As much as I want to hibernate every winter, I really was motivated today to see all the wonderful things going on around me. Even if it is 20-below (or zero degrees for you Fahrenheit people). And even if I had a headache and fell asleep during 'Geography'. (We were watching Planet Earth: Caves. It's dark and quiet in those things...not a whole lot moving around to keep you alert. I recommend the following episode: The Desert. I have to say, the squat-and-rhythmic-tail-flapping-accompanied-by-loud-honking mating dance of the wild bactrian camel will perk anyone up.)

So, happy, colourful things to get excited about:

Harry's Christmas Blend Butterscotch & Caramel Coffee. A good book. Sitting in the car watching the kids skate on freshly flooded ice. I'm reminded that even on frigid Canadian winter days, if you dress properly and keep moving, it's still a great day.

Cool, colourful knitted stuff at Twist Collective. Check out the patterns and colours. What great energy and contrast. As much as I loved my world today: white, crisp, icy and blue; you can't help getting great ideas when you click through this online magazine.

Like this sweater coat. And the socks, above. Wouldn't it be great to knit socks like that??! Don't you wonder how many little strings there are hanging out inside them and how do you get them on your feet without snagging at least one of the little piggies and messing up the pattern?

Or these mitts. Gorgeous. How insane would I get just attempting the cuff. These almost scream 'I dare you to try!' at me. I mean, they can't be impossible, can they? Think I could get a pair done in time for next winter? Or how about a pair that would match my coat! Then I'd have to plan a colour scheme on top of learning to strand colours.

Maybe I'd be safer with this little A-line sweater. I love it, but don't the fashion people say something about having horizontal stripes running the width of the widest part of your body? Hmm...might have to search Ravelry for a comparably inspiring afghan or something.

What else did I come across today...a new baby born at home to a HSing mama. If that's not inspiring, I don't know what is. Planning a trip to IKEA. Our clock broke (as in shattered, destroyed, in pieces; not 'it just stopped ticking...') and it's a good excuse to go to IKEA to get a new one. I would love to get one of these for my dining room while I'm there, but I think B. might notice a box that big in the car. Blogs like this, making me laugh and reminding me that it's ok to be uncertain and questioning at times on your individual spiritual path. That we all question things from time to time and stressing about it doesn't really help. That looking at situations as learning opportunities and finding the humour in daily life makes for a pretty good day. And the day wrapped up with a nice 'coffee & chat' at the local hot spot with a few local homeschooling moms. It's nice to connect every once in a while with like-minded people. Affirming. Interesting. I always come away with list of things to look into, read, try. Tonight my list said astronomy, The Importance of Being Earnest, Jane Austen and The Rideau Canal.

So there you have it. Some colourful bits. A few things to look forward to. Warm fuzzies from enjoying the day.
♥Bonni

Note To Self:

Hello Self. Wonderful Christmas we had this year. And that bit we did sticking to a school schedule really paid off as the kids and I have really appreciated these last two weeks of 'school holiday'.

Just a thought, Self. When planning your Science curriculum, peek ahead and see exactly what the required elements of each unit are. It may have been prudent to discover back in September that the Biology unit we've been planning on starting in January (tomorrow!!) requires a number of natural elements found in the warmer months here in this corner of Canada.

The beetles, ants, worm and pond water teeming with microscopic life are currently in short supply. The chapter on 'Releasing Your Butterfly' is not likely to turn out well anytime in the next ten weeks.

Self, may I suggest we do the Physics unit and then tackle the Biology unit in the Spring?

Now, don't we have some things to print? Gather? Prepare?

You Know It's Cold When...

You know it's cold when the snow - even the little amount you have - is squeaky as you walk to the curb at 7a.m. on Monday morning to put the garbage out.

But I suppose that's to be expected, this being Canada and all.

It sure is nice, though, walking back in to a warm house to enjoy a hot French Vanilla coffee (if you're into that kind of thing) and a logic puzzle or two before the rest of the sleeping bodies emerge.

Happy Monday, everyone. Have a good week.
~Bonni

My Blogging Hiatus

What is with the blogging hiatus?

Ever since R's surgery blogging just hasn't been the same.

After R recovered, B and I sat down and had a heart-to-heart and we compromised on a workable plan. We re-vamped what our homeschooling day looked like. I shifted my focus.

Perhaps that's all it was - just a wee change of focus for me.

So, thank you, to those of you who have emailed and commented, for checking in every so often. Although I've been perusing the blogosphere, I haven't really been much of a contributor. It's nice to know that I'm not just another mouse click for some of you.

I'm going to try to post a little something in the evenings before bed this week. Perhaps that will kick start my blogging habit. We'll treat it as a little experiment. Perhaps a disclaimer would help - me, that is, not you - remove obstacles: please don't expect pictures or depth or humour or creativity or any other such exciting thing. Just a little check in and we'll see what happens after that.

~Bonni

Too Funny

I was out perusing the blogosphere and I came across this little quiz at Dorothy's. Knowing that I had to procrastinate the making of dinner for at least another 10 minutes, I figured I'd play along.

I had a little giggle at the results...being Canadian and all....although, I can say I think I'm somewhat offended at being lumped in with those Minnesota folk. That part isn't funny.

What American accent do you have? Your Result: North Central "North Central" is what professional linguists call the Minnesota accent. If you saw "Fargo" you probably didn't think the characters sounded very out of the ordinary. Outsiders probably mistake you for a Canadian a lot.
The West
The Midland
Boston
The Inland North
The South
Philadelphia
The Northeast
What American accent do you have? Quiz Created on GoToQuiz