I have a cold. That is all.

I can't tell you how glad I am that the weekend is here. Seriously.

I woke up with a horrible kink in my neck and it's all I can do not to cry when I try to move my head even a little. Our mattresses and pillows suck so bad it isn't even funny. That or I am getting old? Possibly a combination of both.

Time to go see my in-laws' new dog... they got another Chihuahua, which in my books is not a dog at all but some sort of rat-dog hybrid. The kids are beside themselves excited - S and I are feeling blase about the whole thing, and S has already said that when they breed her, under NO circumstances are we taking a puppy off their hands. Hallelujah to that. Our only counter-method to this plot the in-laws have to give us a pup is to maybe get a real dog first. I have been whispering words like "beagle" and "basset hound" but S wants something along the lines of "retriever" or "St. Bernard". Um. NO. No big dogs. Basset is as big as I'm willing to go in this house. If we had a large property I'd think "English Mastiff" but not in our house. No way.

What am I saying? I don't want a dog!!!! See what is happening to me? This crazy family is pushing me over the edge, I tells ya...

I'm not actually sick. I just have that Queens of the Stoneage song stuck in my head.

I want to knit this so badly I can almost taste it. It is beautiful and just the type of thing I would wear. I just need to find the right kind of yarn.

You would never know I got paid this week. Stupid bills. And signing C up for Guides. And a million other things. Siiiigh.

I have no words for this...

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/afp/070912/oddities/russia_demography_offbeat_2

Patriot babies: Russian province holds 'Conception Day'

ULYANOVSK, Russia (AFP) - Bureaucrats in Russia's Ulyanovsk province urged residents Wednesday to do their patriotic duty and make love, with prizes for anyone producing a child on the country's constitution day in exactly nine months.

Not sure what to think of this cover. I think I like it. I think.

There's been all sorts of drama going on in this one circle of friends, that I am just so very tired of and I just want to rip everything to shreds over it. What I cannot abide by is malicious gossip, and there is one person who is poisoning everything for everyone else, and nobody is saying anything about it. At least, not to her.

The troublesome thing is there is really no escape from this person. I could elaborate but I really don't feel that I should, at least not on this forum. To say the very least - I'm tired of the bull. And the drama. And the bull drama.

On another note - guess who got voted back in for treasury for Parent Council?

Let's just not talk about it.

Time to go get ready for work, I guess.

I need a night out. Suggestions?

.

Um. Yeah. No idea about the subject - just popped in my head. Maybe I am channeling someone driving to Salsolito? Who knows.

First week of school = survived. The kids are back in swing of things, I'm still catching up with filling in all the damn paperwork. Bleh. I hate that part of beginning of school.

I'm still waffling about going back on council this year. Those of you who know me, know why.

Tonight is a surprise party for some friends celebrating 10 yrs of marriage (20 years as a couple). I'm happy for them but not in the mood for it - too much drama in that friendship circle of late (none to do with the couple we are celebrating though) and I just don't want that.

Tomorrow: Pig roast for JG & M. It's supposed to be a laid-back pig roast but I think they are using subterfuge and what this really is, is a divorce party for them.

I helped my brother in law choose a ring for his girlfriend last night. I'm too tired to go into details now but I will. Soon. Whoever is reading this that knows these people - keep it under your hats.

I am tired and sore and we desperately need a new mattress because I'm tired of waking up feeling like a truck ran over me.

Ok off to get coffee and fill in sister in law on the details of yesterday's excursion.

Kids: back in school. Finally! I'm beginning to think a friend at work had an idea there, where March Break & Christmas were extended, and the summer vacation was shorter. The kids were driving each other (and ME) bonkers by summer's end this year.

There's a hint of a whisper of a rumor that they want me back on council this year - I might and I might not, it depends... it would be nice not to have to have that on my head anymore, but at the same time, I'm used to doing it by now...

My cousin V is getting married in May... in CUBA. She wants us to go but... ugh. I hate money. It really depends on if we can swing it financially. It isn't that we don't want to go, but life always has a way of sticking it to us, financially speaking. We'll see. I was talking to S about it and he's game, but also is of the same thought - we need to see if we can afford to.

I'm itching to re-vamp this blog site again. The only thing that has been holding me back (aside from lack of creative muse) is that I really really like the Lost in Translation thing. However, I almost find myself missing the "Mean Reds" one I did a while back. Hmmm.

Now I'm just posting crap without meaning, a clear sign I need to make coffee. And send the kids off to school. Ahhh.

With your feet on the air and your head on the ground 
  Try this trick and spin it, yeah 
  Your head will collapse if there's nothing in it 
  And you'll ask yourself 

    Where is my mind?
    Where is my mind?
    Where is my mind? 
    Way out in the water, see it swimming 

Why am I the bestest wife ever? Because I gave S his anniversary gift a couple of months early - the Heroes season 1 DVD box set. That's right, suckas. Totally surprised him and scored bonus points for me.

(Yes, I'm aware our anniversary isn't until Oc-freaking-tober. Pshaw to that. I wasn't going to chance him buying it first.)

This just in: I have not fallen off the planet. I have just been extremely busy.

Wedding went over well, I was given many compliments no my role as MC so hurrah for that. Got to see some old friends I haven't seen in a long time, and scored some chocolate from Geneva - woo hoo! S got along famously with JD which was both hilarious and a relief. It makes things much nicer when boys get along. They bonded over food of all things, which I suppose is the typical Portuguese route.

Helped my sisinlaw make props and decorations for her workplace - they are having some sort of "stars" promotional event, so we decked the place out like an Academy Awards extravaganza. I had the brilliant idea to get some cheap Ken dolls from the dollar store and paint them gold, and prop them on stands. Voila! Instant Oscar. All of her employees are dressed up in formal wear for the event as well. It looks fantastic and she got a lot of compliments from their district manager, so she's happy happy happy.

School is in session next week - I can't wait to get back into routine. I love autumn, have I ever mentioned this? It's may most favorite of the seasons. October is my favorite month (ergo getting married in October) but in general I love the fall. The air just seems sweeter and full of promise. It is a time of new beginnings in a lot of ways, and to me it is the true mark of the beginning of a year. And school supplies. I cannot get enough of new school supplies. You thought my shoe fetish was bad - it doesn't hold a candle to the absolute need to get new school supplies. And I haven't been in school in a long long time.

Got the kids their back-to-school gear this weekend - phew. There goes all that extra money I was making doing overtime. Oh well, it is money well spent as far as I am concerned. The kids' shoe sizes multiplied over the summer. C is in a ladies' 7!!!! K is a size 4 boys which is ok by me, at least it's still easy to find shoes his size. C on the other hand - it is very hard to find something that isn't either a bajillion dollars, or comes with a six inch heel. Honest to Pete. Can't wait till winter... siiiiigh.

I should really be doing laundry right now but I'm sort of skivving off from it at the moment - there is so damn much to do around this house to set it back in order, and I'm just too tired from not sleeping enough lately. So I keep picking things up and putting them down again, wondering where to start. I realize that is a piss-poor way to make a wuss attempt at cleaning, but today I really don't care, so neener neener.

There was a mothers' get together last week that I missed - judging from the photos I missed a VERY good time. I'm sure the opportunity will come again though.

There's also something about autumn that makes me want to knit more. I have been scouring knitty & magknits to find a new project. I'm thinking about this because it is so fabulously ugly and crazy, how could I possibly not want to? Everyone should have a caution tape scarf, n'est-ce pas? I'm sorely tempted to make these for the kids as well. Who doesn't liken their kids to Thing One & Thing Two now and again?

Ok, I really must be going now. Laundry. Yes. That.

C is going through a funny stage in her life right now. She had finally started to get comfortable in her own skin, happy with friends, playful, good. Now puberty is hitting our little home fast and furious, and she's all a mess again. Singing along to Avril Lavigne (champion of the adolescent & teenage girl) and moping about. Crying at the drop of the hat one day, giddy as a 4 year old the next. Ah, me, I wasn't expecting this to happen so soon.

I can't say I'm surprised though. I've been anticipating this. It happened early to me as well, albeit in different ways and likely for different reasons.

K is such a little ham. FIL took me out with the kids last night for a belated birthday dinner for me, and K had to go to the bathroom. Against my inner hyperventilating "everyone is out to get my kids" self, I let him go on his own, with the proviso that he had "five minutes, and then I'm coming to get you if you aren't back". He took a little longer than that, so FIL went to see what was going on, and was back in 30 seconds with a proud little K. K said that there was a dude in the stall and that he told him that he only had 5 minutes or mom was coming in after him, so hurry up man. The dude apparently laughed and hurried up so that K would make it back in good time.

Tonight I'm going out with the wedding party as a pre-wedding bash of sorts, avoiding the whole bachelor/bachelorette regime. That's fine by me, and if it's fine by the bride and groom, it's all good. I feel kind of odd being invited out, since I'm only the MC for this thing, but I guess the bride and groom decided because I helped out a lot with things they wanted to include me and thank me for it. Who am I to disagree to a night out?

School is just around the corner. My good gravy. Where did the summer go???

Sunday I go out for dinner with Lola, I'm so excited!!!!

I'm not sure. But it seems to have passed quickly. My friend's wedding is in a little over 2 weeks now - I'm dying for it to be over with, but at the same time don't want it to come because it means summer is almost over.

Work has been a bit harried and they've had me come in full time the past week - they want me full time for the rest of the summer if I want it, or whatever days I am willing to work it. I don't know what to think about that. The extra coin would be good, but then again - would it?

I have to talk to S about it I guess.

Sleepy. Need a long hot bath.

Ok, so there is a LOT to update on.

K's birthday was spent in Niagara Falls. We went and visited various places on Clifton St and had lunch at Ruby Tuesday's. My Dad has a friend who gave us a bunch of passes and gift certificates to go there, who was I to say no to free stuff??? Downside? K was sick in the car on the way up there, and when we got there a couple of times. No fever or anything, so he was probably just car sick, but still. Ew.

After that it was Marineland which K has been wanting to go to since he could speak. It's an expensive trip but what the heck - we always try to do cool stuff for K on his birthday since he's a July baby and it's tough to try and manage a birthday party, you know?

So a good time was had by all, and it topped our week off nicely.

The week we had off, we had an overnight kid swap with K & C's friends - Z came to our house and K went over to theirs. It was K's first time sleeping over at a friend's house, and he was in good form for it so hurrah. The girls had a good time but they always do - that's how girls operate.

Um, what else?

My birthday - well... It sucked in that I woke up with a headache, worked overtime spending most of the day being carped at by angry bankers, came home to my kids fighting the minute I walked in the door. My parents took us to the Portuguese restaurant in London and that was good - birthdays are always bittersweet since my grandfather died though - it's hard not to remember that when you bury them on your birthday. Dad and I had a drink in his name and then we came home because I was just exhausted. Saturday night I went out with my sisterinlaw and brotherinlaw and their friend and... yeah. I had a few too many sicilian kisses and beer. I think I would have been ok but then they brought out the tequila... needless to say I was a trainwreck.

This past weekend we went camping with the kids and some mutual friends. It was good in the way camping is always good, but tiring in the way that camping is always tiring. It really isn't a vacation for me - with the preparing and cooking and cleaning that happens even in the great outdoors - but the kids had fun. We ended up coming home early on Sunday because I was feeling under the weather and so was C. We stopped at a video store and rented a bunch of movies - hurrah for no late fees. Yesterday was spent with me feeling wretched and sickness coming out all ends, if you catch my meaning. So of course the house is still upside-down, kids feel fine though. S has today off, hoping he gets some things done but I won't hold my breath.

I woke up this morning groggy and still feeling unwell, but off to work I will go to spread my germs because that's what everyone else does to me, the bastards.