Journey & Adventure

The Boy has returned from school. He has successfully completed 20 months of non-stop college education and has come out with a certificate in Blasting Techniques and a Diploma in Resource Drilling. For those of you that have followed my blog, you will know getting to this point was a HUGE undertaking – many false starts, much money spent and much anxiousness on my part. I am so very proud of his success in getting this far!' Now the period of readjustment begins. The Boy, J and I need to learn how to function as a family unit again. Overall - so far, so good but the tiny cracks are starting to appear. The Boy seems for forget, we still own the house and expect it to be kept in an orderly manner. J and I need to remember he is technically an adult and should not be micro-managed. The plan is for The Boy to live at home, while working in order to save money in order to pay off some of his outrageous school debt. He could make a lot more money if he moved away for work, b...

After a couple of years of wandering aimlessly through a couple of different college programs, The Boy has decided to take a year off from his search of post-secondary knowledge. In hindsight, J and I should have encouraged him to do this sooner, as it would have save a lot of time, money and frustration by everyone involved, but as parents, you want your children to succeed, have more and do more than you personally. During my generation, we finished high school knowing we were lucky to be heading off for college because many of our parents didn’t have that ability. They simply finished high school and entered the work force, got married, started a family, etc. A post-secondary education wasn’t expected from them, or in some cases it wasn’t even an option. In this day and age, we expect our children to be destined for greatness and when greatness doesn’t come exactly how and when we expect it – on our terms and schedule, we become overly concerned that there is something fu...

Yesterday was The Boy’s 20th Birthday. I’m not sure how I feel about that little tidbit. Yesterday, it seemed like just another day, but today I’m feeling a little overwhelmed by the thought of where the last 20 years of my life went. Today would have been my mom’s 63rd birthday. As with the last 20 years, the 5 years since her passing have flashed by. I don’t know where the time has gone. So much has happened, yet so little has changed. Tomorrow, I’m having lunch with my boss to complete my performance review. We NEVER go for lunch together until it’s performance review time and then suddenly he feels the need to take me for lunch. Maybe he feels if he feeds me first, I’m less likely to speak my mind. I’d much rather just meet in his office and get it over with. Ugh… Day After Tomorrow is pay day! Everyone LOVES pay day – even if the money is spent before you receive it. Wait, maybe that’s just me… And then…it’s Friday! Need I say more? Happy Tuesday – I hope your...

Well, my long weekend did not go as originally planned. Actually, all my plans pretty much went out the window the moment I threw my back out first thing on Saturday morning. Apart from turning the wrong way, I can’t explain why it happened, but it did and the rest of my weekend was spent between lying on the floor, lying on the sofa, lying in bed, crawling up the stairs and pretty much being miserable. In hindsight, although we didn’t get much done with our projects, or get to the movies or to the beach, we did get some much needed rest and caught up on some mindless television watching, so all in all, I guess it was somewhat successful. Our weather here in Canada has been fantastic – far better than it usually is this time of year. On the downside, we are already experiencing dry, drought–like conditions. Our grass has turned a beautiful shade of brown and the farmer’s fields are quickly becoming dust-bowls. I don’t want to say it, but we need rain. It can rain as much as it w...

With The Boy starting his summer job and J and I working in opposite directions from said summer job, logistically, we could no longer continue with only 2 vehicles in a household with 2.5 adults and the determination was made, that The Boy needed his own vehicle. For the past month, we have been diligently scouring the countryside for a good, used vehicle for The Boy and one he could afford. We searched dozens of car lots, but the pickings were slim in his price range, but we persevered and found this little beauty (similar, but not actual vehicle, just a photo borrowed from the Internet) … It’s a Chevy Tracker, full loaded. When we picked it up last night, it was all shiny and newish-looking. What we saw this morning when we emerged from the house, was not so new looking, but rather was slightly covered in mud. What did The Boy have to say about its new found grunginess? "4WD. It’s unbelievable.”

It’s Thursday and I’m beside myself with excitement. Why? Well, The Boy is finishing up with his last exam for the school year, which means: The Top 10 Things that excite me about The Boy being done school for the summer… 10. No more early mornings. 9. No more late nights. 8. No more having to hear how “STUPID” his professors are. 7. No more cranky people in my car, except me. 6. No more trash in my car that is not mine. 5. Once again, I’ll be able to listen to whatever music I choose. 4. Once again, I’ll be able to sing off key to said music. 3. No more having to hear his ringtone for text notifications. 2. No more stops alongside the road because The Boy downed a whole bottle of Gatorade and cannot possibly wait until we get home. And the #1 thing that excites me about The Boy being done school for the summer… 1.My car will no longer smell like “boy” (aka stinky sneakers and stale farts). PLEASE NOTE: I love him to death, I j...

Let me first start by saying that I have no experience in this area, but am slowly gathering some knowledge through my research while trying to help The Boy “discover himself”. Truth is - I’m trying to get him out of my house and into the world… Although, I joke about his wasted college days, I don’t see anything that helps you decide the things you DON’T want to do in life as a total waste. Yes, money has been spent on school that could have been better spent elsewhere. Enough said… I’m not dwelling on that. Moving forward… So, The Boy is once again at a crossroads of what he wants to do with his life. He’s tried three separate college programs (broadcast television, business marketing and most recently, culinary management) and none seem to be fulfilling a need in his life. While he enjoys culinary, it’s not something he can see himself making a long term career out of. He’s a hard worker, but just doesn’t have the passion for it. With all that being said, it’s been di...

The Boy goes back to school in a couple of days.   I’m not sure if I’ve mentioned it in the past, but he’s decided on another course change for the upcoming school year.   As a matter of fact, he’s decided on an entirely different approach.   This year he plans on living at home and attending college in the same city as where I work, so he will be able to commute with me.   The benefit of this is that, he’ll save a ton of money on housing and I’ll be able to ensure he’s getting the support he needs to make this year count (read…I’ll be nagging him so bad, he won’t have any other choice than to get his shit together).   This year, he’s decided on Culinary Management, which is a fancy way of saying Chef Training as his program of choice and so far he seems committed to it.   He’s even gone so far as getting a second job at local catering company/deli/butcher shop in order to gain some hands-on experience in the culinary fi...

On Tomatoes…   The Boy:   What should I do with a half of a tomato?   Me:         Um…wrap it up and leave it on the counter.   The Boy:     But, I already put it in the refrigerator.   Me:         Then why did you ask me what to do with it?     The Boy:   I dunno.   Me:    By the way, what are you doing with a tomato?   (I ask because he hasn’t eaten a sliced tomato since he was 2)   The Boy:   I made a sandwich.   Me:         But you don’t like tomatoes.   The Boy:     I still don’t like tomatoes.   I didn’t do it for me.   It was done for the sake of the sandwich.   Me:   Stop texting me.                  ...

It was a busy weekend and before I knew what happened, Monday showed up like an uninvited family member and I already have more than enough of those in my life.   Life is getting back to normal (or at least my version of it) now that The Boy has moved back home.     I will be the first to admit that he seems to have matured a little by being away.   He’s not complaining when asked to do things, he does things without being asked, he doesn’t have to be reminded to do things and he’s even doing his own laundry.     Now, I’m thinking about sending J away for a little while, so maybe he picks up on some of those same life skills…   Speaking of J, he has now officially entered into the world of selling his photographs.   He became an Etsy seller (Imagine It Photos) last week.   A first, he wasn’t sold on the idea of Etsy, as he believed it sounded “too artsy fartsy” and was more of a “girly” thing.   He’s changed his mi...

We picked up The Boy from school on Friday and within 20 minutes of being home; he asked to borrow the truck so he could go out.    During the entire ride home, he complained about the food in residence and that all he could wait for was a home cooked meal. On Saturday, he waited long enough for the home cooked meal, but by the time the dishes were in the dishwasher, he was making plans to go out again. On Sunday, he blessed us with his presence for approximately 6 hours and then you guessed it – gone again, but this time he didn’t bother hanging around for the home cooked meal.  I guess the novelty had worn off.   This morning I awoke to find three additional winter coats and pairs of boots in the front closet.  I’m guessing we were the only house left with enough food to feed them all.   College boys are just like pigeons...or vultures – they go wherever the food is plentiful. Ahhh, it’s gre...