Cottage!

Ok, So we had a really really good time at the cottage. First I will share the not so good events that occurred, to get them out of the way.
I got a message on Monday night that my very good friend Darla's father passed away suddenly on Saturday. That was not a good message, and of course I thought that Rae was playing a nasty really bad practical joke on me. Not the case. It was all true. I would have returned home to support Darla at the Funeral on Wednesday, but she told me not to.
Also... Once we returned home, we went to Angela's parents to pick up our dogs... Well Angela's mom sat her down and proceeded to tell her that she has cancer. Yep. She has had a very sore shoulder for almost 8 months now, and they have finally found that it is a tumor, and that she has Multiple Myeloma. So we will be praying that that all comes out ok, as it is a very treatable form of cancer as long as it is found in early stages.
.............................

Enough of the bad news though, on with the fun.
I don't really know what to say other than it was very relaxing and such a nice cottage.
We spent some time on the dock once we got there and the water and view were both beautiful. The water was so clear it was just striking. This is (left to right) me and Courtney and Melissa on the Dock unwinding after a long drive.

After we relaxed a bit, we headed out to the nearest large town to do a bit of grocery shopping and pick up our Liquor for the week. We knew there would be no way to avoid going back to the town, because every year we forget to pick something up and end up going back.

Once we returned, we spent some time unpacking etc. Courtney and Melissa went for a canoe ride, and Ang and I just sat and relaxed.
Oh, my description of the week will not do it justice though, It was so much nicer than I can make it sound.
Most of the vacation we took turns cooking and cleaning up, although Melissa liked cleaning up all the time (so she said) and none of us were about to stop her.
The second night we were there, Courtney got a call that her sister-in-law was in labour, so Courtney and Melissa went back to Hamilton to meet Courtney's very first Niece. (she is a beauty). And returned at 5:30 am. While they slept, Ang and I headed out to the main city to pick up those things we forgot. Once we returned, the girls were up and ready for another day of doing nothing.

We spent some time trying to fish, with no luck. Courtney used a minnow that she had caught off the dock and managed to catch a very small little fish out in the middle of the lake, but that was it for our fishing career. We kept trying all week though with no avail.

We did have a camp fire almost every night, but every time we attempted to relax around the fire, we kept coming down with a bad case of the WAPS. (wild animal paranoia syndrome) This could be mostly because the first evening we sat around the fire, a wild animal walked right past us.. I am talking within 3 feet of us. We couldn't really tell what it was because it was so dark, but we have come to the conclusion that it must have been a fox. It was too small to be a dog, and too big to be a rabbit (ANG!) but it was shaped like a dog sort of, but more slender and shorter. I didn't see it's colour, but Angela said she saw that it was red. So we are going to go with FOX. Courtney kindly brought up that it could have come so close to us because it was being chased by a bear, and this is what caused us to get the WAPS.
Needless to say each night after the bad case of the WAPS set in, it wasn't long before we were going into the cottage for the night.
We did spend some time playing Guitar Hero, I game I swore I would never play because I am not coordinated enough, but I did get rather good at it. Well good at it on the easiest setting, and even then the harder songs I wasn't great at. Oh well it was fun.

<--This is Ang trying out the Guitar. We also spent some time reading on the dock, and in the gazebo, eating our meals each night in the gazebo was nice too. I would definitely go back to that cottage. It was very family friendly. My friends and I aren't party animals so it really was a good cottage for us. I couldn't help but think about having kids and taking them up there for a week in the future. Speaking of having kids, I have begun peeing on my O sticks for the first time. I am very worried that I won't even get a positive. But I guess it is better to know so that I can see my physician and get it all straightened out sooner than later. Our KD agreement isn't complete yet. We have sent our amendments, and are waiting to see the new agreement. So, lets hope for an October start!

We're Back!
After a long day yesterday we finally got back fromt he cottage. I will definaltely post more later, but right now, I have to concern myself with the mountains of laundry I have left to do.
I will post some pics and tell all about the trip in a bit, when I am more organized.

Only 5 Days now...

Yay.. only 5 more days until vacation time!! Sweet.
I know that all this excitement will soon turn into dissapointment becasue I will be here sitting at this computer, typing all about the vacation, and it will be over. That is how I always am. I make this big thing about going away, and then, get all bummed out when I get home.

I cleaned the apartment today. I want to try to keep it all clean before we go away so that when we come back, It will be a nice clean place to come back to.

I don't even know what we are doing with the cat. We could send it to my mom's house for the week, she said she would take him. Or I want to try to get my friend Kristin to watch him. I know she won't want to stay here because she has been house sitting all summer and is looking forward to being back at her own house. But maybe she will just come and spend some time here with poor lonely Murray.

I have been looking over the KD agreement, over and over and over. . . I think I am going cross eyed. LOL... My next move is to write down any questions we have legally and send them off to our friend, who works for a family lawyer, so that she can tell us what legally has to be included in this thing. I wish I knew more people who have been down the KD road, and could share some insight with me. I am a generous, naive person, who can easily get taken advantage of, but this is one situation I don't want that to happen.

Ok, I have to get going.. finish making dinner..

Countdown~

OK, It is only 8 days until I leave to go to the cottage. I have to work for only 4 of those days... Tomorrow, and the first three next week.
I can not wait! Gawd! I hope the weather is good. Normally I would be freaking out by now, because I usually have to have a million lists of everything so that I feel organized, but this year... NADDA! I am just going with it this year. I will pack what I think I need, and if I miss something, I'll make do. :) And I will wing it at the grocery store too... Usually I have a very detailed list of everything I am going to cook, and eat while on the cottage vacation, but I think that just runs the bill up, because I end up getting everything on the list, and then... everything else that looks good. This year.. I am going to just get what looks good, and hope it is enough for at least the week. :) Despite this week being the longest week ever, I am in a wonderful mood. This is also strange because I was all Days this week. You know how I Love/Hate days.


I haven't yet decided what I will be drinking at the cottage, well you know.. drinking drinking lol... I am thinking Beer, casue you have to have Beer, maybe a good old "red eye" and then, not sure.. maybe some slushy Vodka drinks. I make good ones! And maybe then some Baylies just in case it is cold or wet some days/nights, I can make some Coffee/Hot Chocolate drinks :) Anyone have any suggestions?



This could possibly be my last week for drink drinks for the next while if everything works out.

Might be cutting it close though, so I highly doubt that this cycle will work. We have been having some issues with the donor agreement. Anyone out there been through it all with a known donor? It is our hope that we can have the child recognise the Donor as the father, but not in any legal way. He is good with that BTW. We have a good friend who knows the law, but has been busy, helping us out and then we just go to the lawyer to get everything signed. Lets hope it works.
I got my O sticks in the mail yesterday... I hope they work.. (really I hope I work lol)



HAPPY (belated by a day) BIRTHDAY to Elizabeth!!! Yay...

She's Gone

Well here it is, Friday Night...
Angela left yesterday morning. Not forever. Just until Sunday. She has to go to a wedding in New Jersey with her family. We decided that I would stay home to save more money for our real vacation. Luckily, I get to baby-sit her families dogs. They are my Bennie's Mom and Grandfather/Uncle (ya, it works that way in the dog world). They are really nice dogs, but I am having a hard time walking them all. I tried to take them all at once yesterday, but that wasn't great. All the leads got all tangled up and wrapped around my legs etc. So tonight I will take them in shifts. That is hard to do because they all get jealous of eachother, and bark their heads off when they are the ones that have to wait in the house. Oh well it is only 2 more days.

So, at first having the whole bed to myself for 3 nights was something I was kind of looking forward to. Then, last night, I crawled into bed at around 10:00, and it was so lonely and weird. Not having her there with me. I miss her. Not to mention I had this terrible dream that she had an alternate facebo.ok account that I didn't know about, and she was on their flirting with all kinds of other people. I am kind of insecure that way. I always have the anxiety that she will leave me for someone else, etc. It's not a flattering trait, I know, and I do Trust her... I guess I have just been hurt too many times in the past.

3 weeks until the cottage! (mixed feelings - yay.. vacation... boo.. almost fall bye bye summer) The count down is on.

If all goes as planned, we might try our first home insem the first week of September. Nervous. We have to wait for the papers to be signed with our KD. We are currently working on finalizing all the details and then we just have to get our Independent Legal Advise, to make sure we all understand what we are signing.
I am wondering if my EAP from work can do the ILA for us. It does say that through the EAP we can have a 1 hour legal consultation. Good way to save some money.
If you haven't noticed. I am all about saving the money these days. I *was* a big time spender.. if I wanted it, I got it. No regard for money what-so-ever. But now I *am* a money saver.. My ideals about money have completely changed almost over night. I mean, I am still very generous (some say to a fault) when I can be and probably always will be because money doesn't mean more to me than people's happiness, so if I can sacrifice for someone else's well being or joy, i will, but I definately have cut down on my spending a lot.
Just today I spent $50 at Wal-Mart buying things that I NEED like shampoo, soap, shaving cream, underwear, toothpaste and deoderant, but I felt guilty for doing it. I definately have more respect for my money these days.

I guess I am off now.. I don't know.. I might write more later if I am bored. It sure will be a boring weekend for me.
Hope you all have a good one!

Ha ha , Just for fun, here is a picture of Ang and I being our Friends Darla and Rae for Halloween. You would have to know the story to completely get it, but it is funny none the less.

howdy do

Well... weekends off don't really last too long. Two days I guess. LOL. I have just come off the first stretch of three day shifts in a row that I have had in a long time. Phew, I am so not use to that.
I am spoiled when it comes to sleeping in, I get to do it a lot, so when I don't, I whine. LOL... Ya.. and I want to have a kid. What am I thinking.

I hate when Angela works afternoon shifts when I am on day shifts. I like it better when she is home with me. I guess i could call up some friends and hang out or something, but I just feel like being lazy.

OHhhhh.. I have a tummy ache. I ate too many cherries. I haven't eaten too many cherries in a long long time.... I am stuffed full. It reminds me of the movie The Witches of Eastwick, or whatever it was... when they were making the guy puke up all the cherries. That was gross.

Off I go, I am going to relax for a while I guess.

cheers to weekends off

I guess I was sort of protesting my own blog for a while there. I mean, no post in over a week. Whats the sense, no one reads, but I guess it is fun for me because I can go back and check everything out like a journal.
I am sooo looking forward to this weekend off of work. My bestest friend in the world is coming to visit. She lives in Ottawa and she and her husband just bought their first house. I should tell her to read my blog to keep up with the news. I have free long distance calling, but we are always so busy it is hard to connect. I am really looking forward to going for brunch with her tomorrow. I have had a stressful week at work and I miss her.

I may go later to my mom's house to go for a swim with my nephews, but who knows if I will make it. I worked the afternoon shift last night and the days today (by choice though, a co-worker and good friend needed a switch)so I am going on lack of sleep and might fall asleep waiting for them to get home from work/daycare. My mom is watching them tonight while my brother and sister-in-law get all their gear organized for a week of camping. Lucky buggers... I am jealous. But my turn will come in August.

Angela and I are currently saving all money we possibly can for our vacation. We don't want to have anything be off limits... if it is there and looks fun, we wanna do it.. I guess if we don't use up all the saved up money while away, we can be responsible and put it onto our debts when we get back.
Some might think that we shouldn't go on a vacation at all, and just put all the money on our debts.. but I have heard, that you must do some things for yourselves or you will go insane. And my job has been particularly stressful this last while, so I am in great need of a vacation or I just may lose it. LOL..
It will be nice, because although dogs are allowed to come to this cottage, we aren't bringing them. Grandma and Grandpa portuguese are going to babysit them for the week. It is like a vacation all in itself for them to go to their place. Grandma and Grandpa love love love the dogs.. and spoil them rotten. I will completely miss the dogs.. I have never been away from them for a week before, but it will also be nice to just do what I want when I want and not have to worry about picking up poop, or feeding them or whatever.

It truely will be a relaxing week for us

.

Here are a couple of pictures from our last vacation two years ago. Don't you love my aqua socks? or how about my "scuba" bathingsuit. Everyone always makes fun of my bathingsuits..

Happy Canada Day!

HAPPY CANADA DAY!
Angela and I just got back from the beach. Long Beach on Lake Erie. It is actually not a bad beach to go to. We went with our friends Darla and Rae and their kids.
The waves were amazingly fun. I had forgoten how much fun it was to swim in the lake. I wish we had some boogie boards so that we could have body surfed.

I bought this new bathing suit on line, at http://www.ohanaswimwear.com/ it is a swim suit for those of us who are modest. I hate flashing my bod around and just because I want to swim I have to? NO Thanks... SO I love this type of suit, so I don't feel so exposed. It is bad enough it is skin tight... lol. Anyway, my new suit (the gladiator suit) is a two piece. I got it because I usually swim in swimming pools and calmish water, and two piece make it so much easier to go to the bathroom if you have to. Well, not so good in the waves! Let me tell ya. My shorts were falling down and my shirt was riding up. I am sure everyone around got a view they weren't expecting, or wanting.. lol.
Oh well.. I am over it now. It was an amazingly fun fun day all around!
I wish I had my own kids to enjoy this stuff with!... some day.

5 Day Weekend

Oh lordy... what is wrong with me..??? In Canada, Tuesday is our Canada Day Holiday, so I booked Monday off, being as it is my regular weekend off this weeknd, I thought I might use 1 day of vacation to score a 4 day weekend. Well at the last minute today, I decided to use a second vacation day and have tomorrow off as well. I will probably regret it tomorrow, but I am happy to have a nice long weekend off, as my next vacation will not be until we and our friends go up North to a rental cottage for a whole week!! I took some time off before and after the planned vacation to just kind of relax, and not have to jump right back into work. (see the cottage we are renting here)

I am soooo looking forward to it, but I am also the kind of person who looks forward for so long, that I sometimes get dissapointed when it is over.
Here is a picture I found on my computer. So cute. It is my grandma and my dog when she was a puppy. That was probably about two years ago.

I love going through old photo's on the HD. It is fun to remember old times. Well most of the time. I can't even believe how small Cookie is in this picture. I think that harness she is wearing now goes on the cat. lol.

Here is the cat. Murray... he's a nice kitty.

Anyway. Angela just called and is on her way home from work. I must put the finishing touches on the dinner. She worked some overtime today so that we could have more fun on our vacation this year. YES!

Waiting to go to work :(

Ahhhh... I hate these afternoon shifts.. Well, actually I have a love hate relationship with them. I love them, because I sleep better at night without having to worry about getting up on time in the morning, and get to sleep in if I feel like it, but I hate them because I always end up being bored and once it hits a certain time in the afternoon, I always find that I am just sitting around looking at the clock waiting for it to turn to 2:30 so that I can go to work. Another reason I like the afternoon shift is because I get paid a whole $0.55 more an hour. woo hoo... Hey money is money I guess.
I am very proud of us this week. We have managed to keep the apartment clean for almost a week now. It has been since last Friday. WOW.. that is a record for us. It is much easier to keep it clean as you go, than to have to spend your day off cleaning it.
I just heard from my mom that my Grandmother isn't doing so well. She is 91 and lives in a nursing home. She has Alzhiemer's, has for a long time... probably since she was in her late 70s. I can't really remember. She has done well with it so far, but in the past 5 years gone really down hill. She manages to keep holding on though.
I have a feeling when she goes, it will be from starving to death. She has trouble swallowing, and they say that with Alzhiemer's, your body just "forgets" how to function for life. Our family has decided not to take whats the word.. I can't think of it... extreme measures to sustain her life, No machines doing things for her etc. She wouldn't have ever wanted that.

I was hoping that she would hold on until I had my first child at least. I have always wanted my grandma to be a part of my children's lives. She was a very big part of my life, and I think that she is wonderful. We were hoping to start ttc sometime within the next 6 months. We have a known donor set up. He is an amazing person (very handsome too). Just got engaged to his partner last weekend. I don't know that whole story becasue they are away at a cottage and have no cell phone service up there. I can't wait to hear the whole story, I will cry you know. My boys. Making a life together. Very exciting.

Shall I post some pics of how small our place is? I guess, then it should be about time to get going to work. Keep in mind that the Living area of the place has been switched around. Couches on the opposite side of the room, tv as well. So mirror image it.

Day off

Today is my day off from work. I also took yesterday off, just because I could. I am doing laundry and cleaning today, woo fun. This is what I usually do on my day off, but have been a bad house keeper the past month or so, and have been neglecting it all.
I like the apartment much better when it is clean. Feels better and bigger. But I guess everything is nicer when it is clean.
I was in the laundry room earlier and the wall is plastered with notices. Our old building manager got fired or something, and I don't much care for the new people. Sure, they get a lot more done than the last, but it is like boot camp or something here now. Last year we could put in the A/C unit for free, we actually had two of them. This year it costs $125 to put them in. Also the newest A/C drama is that you MUST install plexi glass above it in the empty space in the window, nothing else is acceptable. I am glad that we decided not to use our units this year.
See, this is why home ownership is much better. Well I guess I can't say that it is much better, because I have never owned a house, and I am sure there are a lot of headaches that come along with that responsibility, but at least you can make your own rules up for things.
I just put Cookie and Bennie out, they are driving me nuts. They keep whining to go out, then come back in, then go out, then back in... sheesh, make up your mind.

No one's reading

I guess I am typing all this stuff for myself. I am not sure that anyone is actually reading my blog. That's ok though, I'm not that exciting. Just wanted to try it out anyway.

I worked Days today. It was a long day. And the weather is so weird. My two favourite kinds of weather... ok well three favourite kinds on weather are 1) Thunder Storm 2) Hot and Humid and 3) Blizzard (but only if I am not going anywhere). It is raining again and the clouds look as if there could be some thunder and lightning coming soon, very nice, but I like to break it up a little... You know? How about a week of Hot and Humid, then a thunderstorm on a Sunday evening or something. Not all within the same two hours each and every day of the week.

Well.. Angela should be home from work soon, and I feel like spaghetti. So I am going to whip up some meatballs and get that all ready for dinner. Mmmmm.... If you're reading, I'd love to hear from you... leave me a comment.