Saturday, February 26, 2011
New blog
Just wanted to post quickly that I've started a new blog. I've decided to try out wordpress, just for the heck of it. The new blog is entitled: west meets east ottawa. You can check it out here.
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Winding down the blog and moving to the Other Side of the Universe
It came to me today, while I was at the gym, that it is time to wind down Dispatches of a rookie mom of one.
Change has been the theme of the last year. I've had plans change, said goodbye to relationships that were very dear to me, took up running, lost 20 pounds in the process and concluded that change is sometimes very necessary.
The biggest change is yet to come. We've sold the house. We've bought a house in Orleans. For those who don't know Ottawa, Orleans is an east end suburb. I like to call it the Other Side of the Universe. From Kanata, it takes about 30 minutes, depending on the traffic. When we were looking, I thought it would be highly ironic and amusing if we ended up moving to the east-end as we are staunch west-enders. The west end is awesome, we thought. We'd never leave.
Moving to Orleans, in part, was a financial decision. Yes, we could have moved to either the south or north end of Kanata or even up the road to Stittsville and settle for something we didn't necessarily want, but the house prices are a tad steep. Then there was the bus times to consider. We have it pretty good where we currently live. Moving to the north or south end of Kanata and even Stittsville would result in a longer bus ride. Also, there is a what-the-hell-let's-move-to-Orleans attitude. We don't know Orleans. But who is to say this is a bad thing? Stepping out of your comfort zone can be a very hard thing to do.
Moving, along with my growing disdain to the mommy industry (a totally different post) and the fact that my so-called freelance job zaps every ounce of energy when it comes to writing, it is time to wind down the blog. I've got ideas for another blog, but I'm putting them on hold for a couple of months. It has been a good run, and although I do reserve the right to change my mind at any moment, sometimes change is necessary.
Change has been the theme of the last year. I've had plans change, said goodbye to relationships that were very dear to me, took up running, lost 20 pounds in the process and concluded that change is sometimes very necessary.
The biggest change is yet to come. We've sold the house. We've bought a house in Orleans. For those who don't know Ottawa, Orleans is an east end suburb. I like to call it the Other Side of the Universe. From Kanata, it takes about 30 minutes, depending on the traffic. When we were looking, I thought it would be highly ironic and amusing if we ended up moving to the east-end as we are staunch west-enders. The west end is awesome, we thought. We'd never leave.
Moving to Orleans, in part, was a financial decision. Yes, we could have moved to either the south or north end of Kanata or even up the road to Stittsville and settle for something we didn't necessarily want, but the house prices are a tad steep. Then there was the bus times to consider. We have it pretty good where we currently live. Moving to the north or south end of Kanata and even Stittsville would result in a longer bus ride. Also, there is a what-the-hell-let's-move-to-Orleans attitude. We don't know Orleans. But who is to say this is a bad thing? Stepping out of your comfort zone can be a very hard thing to do.
Moving, along with my growing disdain to the mommy industry (a totally different post) and the fact that my so-called freelance job zaps every ounce of energy when it comes to writing, it is time to wind down the blog. I've got ideas for another blog, but I'm putting them on hold for a couple of months. It has been a good run, and although I do reserve the right to change my mind at any moment, sometimes change is necessary.
Monday, February 14, 2011
Happy Valentine's Day
This is a little late, but Happy Valentine's Day dear readers. This has been a crazy, busy month for us so we we didn't celebrate Valentine's Day. However, at the last moment I whipped up some construction paper hearts, gave darling daughter some glue and she went to town. Maybe next year we'll get more into the festive spirit. But there is too much going on right now.
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Dust bunnies never sleep
I've reach nirvana. I have a completely clean house. There is no clutter to be seen. There are no dirty dishes in the sink. Coats and boots are in their place. There is no mess in the bathroom. Yep, I've achieved clean house nirvana.
But I'll let you on a little secret: maintaining clean house nirvana is a high maintenance chore. Very high maintenance and immensely time consuming. You see, we let things lapse a bit earlier in the week. However, when we had to resume house showings on Thursday, it was back at to it. Luckily, darling daughter wasn't home. So for two and a half hours, I spent shining the sinks, sweeping the front foyer, folding laundry and most of all, battling dust bunnies.
Despite the fact I had vacuumed days before, the dust bunnies were back at it, mingling under my bed, in my closets and in nooks and crannies. Out came Dyson. He easily sucked them up. Unfortunately for the dust bunnies, they are attracted to Dyson like bees to pollen. It must due to his powers of persuasion that they'd have a better life inside his canister.
But dust bunnies never sleep. They keep on reproducing. They keep mingling. They keep conspiring. Less than 24-hours since I vacuumed, I was force to eliminate dust bunnies again this morning. Having no time to vacuum, I got out the Swiffer. What came out from underneath the bed was disgusting. I've realized that Dyson and I could vacuum every day and the dust bunnies would still have the upper hand. So here's to you, dust bunnies. You may win the war, but I will keep on battling you to achieve and keep house clean nirvana.
But I'll let you on a little secret: maintaining clean house nirvana is a high maintenance chore. Very high maintenance and immensely time consuming. You see, we let things lapse a bit earlier in the week. However, when we had to resume house showings on Thursday, it was back at to it. Luckily, darling daughter wasn't home. So for two and a half hours, I spent shining the sinks, sweeping the front foyer, folding laundry and most of all, battling dust bunnies.
Despite the fact I had vacuumed days before, the dust bunnies were back at it, mingling under my bed, in my closets and in nooks and crannies. Out came Dyson. He easily sucked them up. Unfortunately for the dust bunnies, they are attracted to Dyson like bees to pollen. It must due to his powers of persuasion that they'd have a better life inside his canister.
But dust bunnies never sleep. They keep on reproducing. They keep mingling. They keep conspiring. Less than 24-hours since I vacuumed, I was force to eliminate dust bunnies again this morning. Having no time to vacuum, I got out the Swiffer. What came out from underneath the bed was disgusting. I've realized that Dyson and I could vacuum every day and the dust bunnies would still have the upper hand. So here's to you, dust bunnies. You may win the war, but I will keep on battling you to achieve and keep house clean nirvana.
Thursday, February 10, 2011
A little pick-me-up
Yesterday was a bad idea. We got some discouraging news. I was operating on little sleep and dealing with a horrible cold and ended up driving in "heavy flurries" (didn't know such a phrase exists, but it does according to Environment Canada) to the doctor's office to get antibiotics.
While I was cleaning up, I discovered that darling daughter had tucked in her dolly on our bed. There she was, propped up on pillows and covered with the small afghan my grandmother made me when I was a baby. Darling daughter had made her comfortable before she headed off for preschool. Despite all the crap I've been wading through lately, this put a smile on my face.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Freckles
For the last two weeks I've been living in a sleep deprived haze. Between getting the house ready for showings, leaving for showings, and dealing will more illness, sleep has been a luxury that I haven't enjoyed. Today, I went down for a nap when darling daughter was having her usual afternoon siesta.
I woke up to a little voice chattering away in the crib in her room. At first, I thought she was saying "We have to go to J's." J is our relief daycare provider. When I stumbled into her room I finally figured out what she was saying. She wasn't saying, "We have to go to J's," but rather "I have something on my skin."
She was pointing to a freckle on her arm, trying to scratch it off. She seemed pretty concerned that this mark wasn't coming off.
Me: It's a freckle.
DD: Freckle?
Me: Yes, a freckle. (I pointed out a couple on my own arm).
DD: (Looking at the freckles on my arm) That's okay, Mommy. I have one, too.
I woke up to a little voice chattering away in the crib in her room. At first, I thought she was saying "We have to go to J's." J is our relief daycare provider. When I stumbled into her room I finally figured out what she was saying. She wasn't saying, "We have to go to J's," but rather "I have something on my skin."
She was pointing to a freckle on her arm, trying to scratch it off. She seemed pretty concerned that this mark wasn't coming off.
Me: It's a freckle.
DD: Freckle?
Me: Yes, a freckle. (I pointed out a couple on my own arm).
DD: (Looking at the freckles on my arm) That's okay, Mommy. I have one, too.
Monday, February 7, 2011
Hair cut in a shopping cart
I should have brought my camera with me yesterday to capture darling daughter's first true professional hair cut. But like most things that happen in my life, it was a spur of the moment thing with absolutely no planning involved.
For the third time within the week, we were at our local mall, killing time as someone looked at our house. Our community mall is pretty small and there are only so many things you can do to entertain a toddler before you are pulling out your hair. While eating lunch, I instantly had an idea. The department store has a hair salon. Darling daughter needed a hair cut. And we had time to kill. Hair cut it was. This idea did not go over well with darling daughter, despite the fact she was cruising around in one of those kids buggies in the shape of cars.
I've cut darling daughter's hair in the past. The results haven't been good. After my second hair cut, I vowed that I should leave it up to the professionals.
Big tears rolled down her face as we waited. The hair stylist suggested that we use a shopping cart to keep her in during the hair cut. Off went dear husband to get a cart while I tried to calm down an upset two and a half year old.
The beginnings of a mullet have ended. While short, it is not straggly. I think darling daughter is still peeved at me because every time I tousle her hair, she says in a stern voice, not to touch her head. Ouch.
For the third time within the week, we were at our local mall, killing time as someone looked at our house. Our community mall is pretty small and there are only so many things you can do to entertain a toddler before you are pulling out your hair. While eating lunch, I instantly had an idea. The department store has a hair salon. Darling daughter needed a hair cut. And we had time to kill. Hair cut it was. This idea did not go over well with darling daughter, despite the fact she was cruising around in one of those kids buggies in the shape of cars.
I've cut darling daughter's hair in the past. The results haven't been good. After my second hair cut, I vowed that I should leave it up to the professionals.
Big tears rolled down her face as we waited. The hair stylist suggested that we use a shopping cart to keep her in during the hair cut. Off went dear husband to get a cart while I tried to calm down an upset two and a half year old.
The beginnings of a mullet have ended. While short, it is not straggly. I think darling daughter is still peeved at me because every time I tousle her hair, she says in a stern voice, not to touch her head. Ouch.
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