Lions and Lambs

The first day of spring was nearly a week ago and yesterday as I looked out my window what did I see.....? A blizzard!!

I know the old saying, March comes in like either a Lion or a Lamb and leaves in the opposite fashion, however, I think this March is definitely ruled by the Lion.

I can't say I'm sick and frustrated by this winter enough, and I hate hearing I'm living in the wrong province to complain (I know that). But this winter has been excrucatingly long! I'm cold, I'm starting to get aggitated from being in doors all the time, I've had this lingering cold for weeks (probably from lack of "fresh" air) and I'm pasty white from the lack of sun.

I was reminded - while I was on another rant about how I hate winter - that the groundhog did say 6 more weeks of winter, however, hasn't that time come and gone? I hate having to shovell in the spring when I should be seeding my lawn or planting flowers or complaining about rain!

A little stuffed up

I knew I'd be bad at the whole "blog" thing, not that I'm over-whelmingly busy but I am a procrastinator so inevidably I'll find something else to do.

Over the last few weeks (and when I say a few I really mean 4) a plague of queezy stomachs, headaches, backaches, plugged noes and ears, runny eyes and bad coughs has infiltrated my house. That's right, we're sick. I'm sure it all started with the little one and the endless amounts of shared toys that go into her mouth, probably in combination with the crazy changes in the weather. But here we are, the first day of spring and finally feeling a tad bit better. Of course my ears are still plugged and my noes is still producing a crazy amount of snot, but the sun is shinning and I think we're about to see some + temperatures (I'm in need of some viteman D).

Crazy

I've been meaning to post this all week. The craziness that is morning traffic. Now that I've been cruising through the morning rush that is "traffic" on route to work each morning I've realized that most drivers are CRAZY.

I'm not saying I'm the best driver on the road but I don't try to manuver in and out of the lanes trying to get two feet ahead of the next guy. I mean seriously, does it really get you to work any faster? You're still going to get stuck by the red light ahead, you still have to stop at that stop sign. Was it necessary to cut me off, then switch to the next lane cutting that guy off, to just cut back in front of me because you think one lane might be moving that much faster than the other?

Or, I question those people who are in traffic not going anywhere in particular. Those people who are just out for that early morning drive maybe heading to the guy or an expensive morning coffee at starbucks. Is it necessary for them to drive 40 in the 50 zone or 50 in the 70 zone because their not late for anything and don't care how long it takes to get to what ever destination they may be heading to?

I find myself in moments such as these trying to rationalize with these people from the driver seat of my van. "Really sir?" Or, "why are you such a jackass lady?" "Speed up""Slow down""Come On."

Again, I'm sure there are those also in morning traffic having these same private conversations with me, as there are days I'm simply just driving, oblivous to those around me. And on those days, I do have little chats with myself... "holy Stacey, wake up"and "oops, you just cut that guy off."

Not enough

Considering it's Monday and I've just begun the tired routine of the "back-to-work," things went pretty smooth this morning, and now that the day is nearly done, things look bright.

Only now that the reality of the Monday to Friday work thing is back under way have I really noticed how short the weekends are. I litterally feel like I blinked somewhere and missed it. Maybe because I'm so use to spending each and every day and each and every minute chasing my daughter that those two days weren't enough. Not enough hugs, not enough kisses, not enough smiles. And as I sit here, at my desk counting down those minutes until I can finally go pick her up from daycare I look at the pictures on my desk and miss those days and minutes when it was just her and I all the time.

And yet, as I stated in my earlier blog, once I get to the daycare I'll get the look, the tears and the crankiness that is the storm before dinner and bed. And then, as I lay her down in her little crib tonight and tuck her in to sleep, I'll realize once more that I've only had a few hours, a few minutes with her. And that tomorrow is Tuesday, another 4 days until the weekend, and I'll promise to spend more time loving her, kissing her, hugging her.

Back in the swing of things

Well, I'm back to work! Apparently I get to utter those words every couple of years. It's funny, even when your brain isn't in "work" mode for a year how quickly it all comes back to you.

For the last couple of weeks I've been asked the same question, "Are you ready to go back to work?" What does that even mean? Physically? Emotionally? Mentally? I mean, lets see, for the last 7 months I've been getting up at 7:30 - 8:00, not neccesarily even needing to get out of pajamma's the entire day. I get to watch Ellen every morning, play peek-a-boo with my daughter and have dinner ready on the table by 5:30. Who would 'want' to give that up?

But alas all good things must come to an end. Monday morning I found myself sleeping past my alarm clock - which was set for 6:15 - jumping into a VERY quick shower at 6:55, racing around for clothes to wear, food to take for lunch, shoes, and of course where I put my coffee. Then get the baby ready, since she didn't sleep past me getting out of the shower, clothe her, change her diaper, vitamen D. And let's not forget it's still winter out there folks, -40 with the windchill so start the van in advance so we don't freeze before we even get anywhere. Quickly checklist everything before you race out the door because I'm already 1/2 an hour behind schedule, shoes, jacket, kid, lunch, coffee.... am I wearing my pants!

And wow, what a wake up call that I'm back into the swing of things with morning traffic! Head NW to drop the munchkin off at daycare, head SE to work, red lights, other people driving with their eyes closed - WAKE UP! I find it extremely rediculous that it takes nearly 20 minutes to get 10 blocks downtown, and it's not really even down town. And don't even get me started on the ride home.

I get back to the daycare by 5 to pick the joy of my world up and she's as pissy as can be. I find that funny! When I dropped her off this morning she could have cared less about me with all the other kids and toys she can play with, but when I pick her up it's the look of death "WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN ALL DAY?" And with that look alone I just won't to cry.

But, we do what we have to and we trudge along. Our minds a little rusty but curiously it comes back way to quickly. Now on day 3, it's like I never left. Sad story, but a true story.

A little confusion

So I am once again going to attempt to blog! And really, I feel I'm doing this because now a days it seems everyone's into the whole "I'm a blogger" thing. Blogging takes time, dedication, and there are days when I poses neither.

Last night I was speaking with my soon to be mother-in-law who is now a blogger. So she sent me the link, I checked it out, I added myself as a follower and then there it is. Sign up now, create your own blog; All this to follow along?

So I enter my email address, my password, a username, create a new password, gender, birthdate, interests, favourite movies/music, etc. It's all a little confusing, I mean is it all necessary? I'm creating a blog to vent the dynamics of me do I have to short story my interests and favourite movies and music before I even begin? But that's the trap, answer this, answer that, tell us a little about ??, and once you're done you begin blogging about the very things you've just commented on.

For example, interestings... reading. The other day I finished reading Nickolas Sparks new book The Lucky One, fabulous. Exactly what I want a book to be, an engaging love story that keeps me on the verge of tears till the very end. A fat 300+ novel (in small print) that takes me less than a week to read because I'm hooked into the plot. What's going to happen next? Who does he think he is? Oh no she didn't!

When you're done, you've typed your blogged in the 100 word maximum "what interests you section" and you have no room for the 'bathing suit mishap' story from swimming last weekend or the stinky fishing trip nightmare from 3 years ago (wonderful blog entries). But then, wait for it, you hit continue..... enter blog here?