Red lights & crosswalks

A little update on #1 and the driver's license.

He still hasn't got it. You know, the one where he doesn't need to be chauferred here, there and everywhere. Hasn't even made an attempt since the last time he made an attempt and well, didn't succeed.

And as such, every week I get to drive him into the city on the weekend (which, by the way, I'm not fond of. Who am I kidding, I don't like it...I'm in the city five days a week, why would I want to go to the city on the weekend?) so he can play water polo. Yes, he's on the water polo team at school. Which is a fabulous thing. But it means every Sunday in the city. At the pool.

Because he doesn't have his driver's license. I mean, I'd probably go anyway to watch, but that's not the point. The point is, I have no choice, I have to go!

So anyway, I let him drive the last time. Which for me, is a big thing. We're talking the highway here. At speeds of 100 km/hour. For a fairly long distance. And then, the city! I've never been in the car with him while he drove in the city. SG has... or so I thought.

The highway was fairly uneventful. He did good. I mean, he's been driving for well over a year and is a pretty good driver. And as we approached the city, I was calm. Relaxed. Hell, I was even texting while he navigated his way to the city centre. Not that there was much to navigate. Straight ahead, no turns, just drive.

Then we started getting into the thick of things. Traffic got a little heavier. There were more signal lights to take notice of. Not to mention the pedestrian crosswalks and red light cameras. And as we approached the famous intersection of Portage and Main, he was getting a little edgy.

"You're making me go through downtown? Do I have to take this way? Isn't there a side street or something I can go down instead?"

"No. This is the best way to go. Just be careful, pay attention, you'll do fine. It's not like it's your first time driving, you're doing good."

"Mom... it is my first time. I've never driven in the city before.... I can't believe you're making me drive downtown."

"What??? You've driven in the city before...with your dad...haven't you?"

"Nope. And here I am, right smack in the middle of it, with all this traffic and people and stuff."

Apparently I needed to put the text messaging on hold and pay a little more attention... my kid had never driven in the city before!!

"You're doing great." I said and really tried to mean it. I looked over at him and he had a little worry action going on in his face. "This really is nothing. This is just church traffic. Can you imagine driving through here in the thick of the morning rush? I do it everyday. You're doing great. Really, you are. You're just fine...whoops...that was a crosswalk, you need to watch for those so you can stop to let the people...hey, don't follow so close to that car, you need to leave stopping..."

"MOM! Can you quit talking? I'm trying to pay attention to the driving here...."

"Okay, I'll be quiet. But make sure you watch all around, just not straight ahead. There's lots going on with the side streets, and the crosswalks, and the traffic lights... not to mention the red light cameras that the city has..."

"MOM!!!!!"

Okay, I get it. I shut up. And let him drive.

We made it to the pool in one piece, without any incidents. Well, other than my stress level having been raised up through the roof. And #1 was pleased. He was very proud with what he had just accomplished. And I was very proud with what I accomplished. I didn't freak out... well, at least he didn't see me having a small freakout in my head. Which is good. For him. Not me.

When the game was over, I asked him if he wanted to drive home. I mean, he'd just come through the city for the first time and I couldn't very well not let him drive through it again. This was going to happen every week and I best just be getting used to it I thought.

"No, you can. I'm heading for lunch with the rest of the team and I'll catch a ride home with Bill."

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!

Ciao!

Just messin' with ya!

Here we go... let the fun stuff start!

I sooooo want to tell you what's rattling around in my head. I do.

I really, really DO!!!!

But I can't.

Not here.

Not in an email.

Not even on the phone....

Hell, I'm not even going to write you a letter! Nor talk about it over coffee. Or beers.

I may relent slightly if offered grape... wait! no, not even grape!!!

I will, however, say this....

I'm getting closer to tasting it!!

Ciao!

Well, this is different

No no no, not a Saturday morning blog. You've come to expect that. Or maybe not. Blogging has been down on the priority list as you've probably noticed. I have anyway. Readership has dropped off. Which is to be expected when the writer can't find the time or harness the creative juices that spill out through her fingers and into the keyboard. And when there's nothing new here, well, people just move along. You need to know that those creative juices just keep rolling around in my head. Not going anywhere. Bouncing back and forth, up and down. It's actually making me crazy. Or crazier maybe? And given everything that's been happening, I probably should've been writing. You know, to try and keep me somewhat sane.


But if I was able to tell you everything that has been happening in the last month or so, (which I'm not going to by the way, I'll just drop subtle little hints here and there to make you wonder, keep you curious and coming back for more thinking that there might be something here), you'd probably fall off your chair. Well, maybe not really, but you'd be surprised. And impressed. Well, maybe not that either.


But I am. And really, that's all that matters.


On to what I can talk about.


#1 turned 17 a couple of days ago. But you knew that already. It's kind of weird for me. I mean, I knew when I had the child that he'd grow up. At least that's what I prayed for. And he has. And is. Growing up. He's turning into quite the man too. It seems that sometime in the last 6 months or so, a switch has been turned over. Not a light switch type of switch. That would be instantaneous. and God knows this hasn't been quick by any stretch of the imagination. But one of those big 'it takes two or three people to push the heavy metal bar over so the lights go on' kind of switch. And then it takes a little time for the light to get brighter and brighter. And I'm seeing the light! By the way, he has an awards night coming up where he shall be noted as an outstanding student for last year's school year. Which had me shaking my head somewhat going "huh?" I then puffed up and strutted about like a proud peacock!

Meal of choice was homemade pizza (it's awesome as you can see) and Ice Cream cake.

I was handed a promotion a couple of weeks back. I am now what they have determined to be a 'customer service/quality manager'. Came with a raise. And a laptop. And an expense account (of sorts). Remote access to the office network and a staff of four reporting to me. Big responsibility I know. But not as big as its gonna get. One of the other perks, and probably the bestest perk of all, was the high speed internet installation that took place here. Yes, I now have a thing on the roof of my house, not very pretty either, that brings in the internet at speeds that have never been seen here. SG, who absolutely had no use whatsoever for the internet, has found that it really isn't all that bad after all. At least that's what I'm assuming as he's turned his attention from the hunting and fishing channels on the TV to the hunting and fishing stuff on the internet. Think kid in a candy store... yeah, good thing I have the laptop! I just need to figure out how to get the wireless router working and we're golden! #2 is particularly thrilled as now he can play his Halo ODST live, with other players who aren't in my house, on the big screen... I tell you, there is no end to the joy in this place...

And it snowed last night. And snowed. And snowed. A little too early and I know it'll melt (it better friggin' melt!!) but really? October 10th I wake up to white? Considering a mere three weeks or so ago it was 32C out. This is just whacked.

I'll leave it here. A little short I know, but I've got me some internet surfing to do. There's a whole world out there that needs me to take a look at it. Finally a true appreciation for the blogs that I regularly read. The waiting for the photos or videos to load, well, there really isn't one anymore. And the downloading. There is a plenty of downloading to be done!! oh, and by the way... family members ~ go ahead and send the pictures and those big ass video clips that used to piss me right off as I waited, sometimes hours, for them to come in... I won't get mad!

And give me a call. The phone will ring.

Ciao!!

Say what???

Seventeen years ago, at the exact time of this post (thank you for the scheduling ability Blogger!) #1 entered this world and blessed me with, well, just blessed me.

All 8 lbs, 11 ozs and 22 inches of him.

It was an adventurous labour to say the least. Not to mention a veeerry long one. I'll spare you all the gory details.... But one that I would never, ever, EVER!! trade or change for anything!

And to quote a friend in a recent email...

"F*#$in' hell, you have a kid who's graduating high school? How did that happen?"

I'm asking myself the same thing.

And now, my little baby is 6' 7" and topping the scales at, well, he's big. My personal bodyguard.

Happy Birthday to you my first born! May life give you all that is good. Great things await you and I hope you embrace them with everything you have! You are one of my reasons for being.

I Love You more than you could ever possibly know.

Love Mom xoxoxo

Okay, mushy I know....deal with it!

Ciao!

Picture Story

Mission?

Accomplished!

Ciao!

A Conversation

At 5:32 am this morning.

#1: Mom...mom....wake up

Me: Huh...what?

#1: We have to leave soon

Me: Oh

Fast forward 7 minutes.....

Me: Oh, and just so you know, the guys usually find their own way to the hunting spot. Mommy doesn't usually deliver. Just so you know.

Ciao!

Who Says

Soooo, my boy John is getting ready to release his newest CD. I'm very excited. But you knew I would be.... He's been hard at it for about a year now. It's called Battle Studies. Well... today it's called that. Tomorrow? You never know with this guy.

Anyway, he leaked what will be the first single on Thursday. On Twitter of all places!! That boy, he is indeed a marketing genius! With well over two million followers... yeah, he knows what he's doing.

And, as is his style, he's been playing secret shows at the Hotel Cafe down in LA. Sort of getting a feel for performing in front of people again. As well, he does like to play "raw" versions of what he's working on and has written. With his taping policy being very liberal, there has been plenty out there for the listening pleasure.

But I made a decision this time. I wasn't going to listen to any of it. I wasn't going to download anything. I would wait, like the all other non-obsessed fans, for the actual CD to come out, listen to it in the car (by the way.... Maggie likes John too), by myself and formulate my opinions. I was going to be surprised. Entertained. I was going to stand strong!!

I am soooo weak!!

First chance I got, away I went... "right click to save to your computer" was I. With everything. I even emailed a person who is a more dedicated fan than I. She actually does the majority of taping that is done in and around LA. She has a library of John stuff going back for what seems like forever. I thought that as long as I just "saved" them, I didn't have to listen. I had them. That was all that mattered. I could listen if I wanted to, but I'm wasn't going to this time.

Again.... I am soooo weak!!!

I have this rather verbose dialogue going on in my head that has all these opinions and thoughts. I won't share with you now, I'll wait until later. But it should be stated that if he was serious and wanted to shed his "Wonderland" reputation, I think he may just have accomplished it this time around. Those that want him to head back to his RFS roots, well, you best be moving along now. Battle Studies, from what I've heard raw, will be nothing like RFS.

The first single is called "Who Says". Here's the lyrics.

Who says I can't get stoned
Turn off the lights and the telephone
Me and my house alone
Who says I can't get stoned

Who says I can't be free
From all of the things that I used to be
Re-write my history
Who says I can't be free

Its been a long night in New York City
Its been a long night in Baton Rouge
I don't remember you looking any better
But then again I don't remember you

Who says I can't get stoned
Call up the girl that I used to know
Fake love for an hour or so
Who says I can't get stoned

Who says I can't take time
Meet all the girls in the county line
Wait on fate to send a sign
Who says I can't take time

Its been a long night in New York City
Its been a long night in Austin too
I don't remember looking any better
But then again I don't remember you

Who says I can't get stoned
Plan a trip to Japan alone
Doesn't matter if I even go
Who says I can't get stoned

Its been a long night in New York City
Its been a long time since twenty-two
I don't remember you looking any better
But then again I don't remember, don't remember you

It's really quite a catchy little tune. Here's a link if you want to download it and listen to it for yourself.

As well, here's what the boy had to say about it.

Per Rolling Stone, John says,
"When I sing it, I do not think about marijuana - I think about walking around your house naked with a guitar," Mayer says. "It's about being in control of the pleasure in your life."

I concur.

I like it.

And, I am, apparently, really weak.

Ciao!!