We're going on a trip. We're leaving next Thursday. We've been planning it since March. See, I have this really AWESOME friend, Anita. We've known each other forever. Life has taken us away from each other many times, but somehow we always find our way back, and I think she's just the greatest. I need to tell her some time how much I appreciate her. You see, I don't have many friends. I'm outgoing enough, but only to a point. I have HUNDREDS of friends and acquaintances (our wedding was a testament to that!), but I don't get close easy. And I joke a lot...it's hard for me to reveal the deeper parts of myself, so I turn a lot of stuff into jokes. Even my husband gets annoyed with me for that, cause he'll try and tell me how much he loves me, and how beautiful he thinks I am, and I always manage to turn those moments around, and they become an opportunity for slapstick comedy. Anyway, right now I feel like Anita is my best friend. And well, she got a good deal on a special cruise package in Jan. and in March she and Brad (her boyfriend, and another long-time friend of myself and dh) decided they wanted to go on it, but them not being married and all, needed some chaperones, so to speak, so we got asked (disclaimer: this is NOT why she's my best friend!!!). It's been somewhat stressful figuring out all the details, esp. when our driver recently quit on us, but I think it will work out ok. My boys are going to my dad's (that is a miracle in itself for me! I cannot believe I'm doing so well with that whole situation...kinda proud of myself for growing up a bit) for the week, and I just know they will have a great time. We'll be in Florida - Ft. Lauderdale to be specific - for two days; then on a cruise ship for two days, docking in the Bahamas; and then three days in Orlando. I am soooooo excited. I haven't got a thing done for Christmas, what with trying to get all our pennies together for the trip, but hey, I'll have ten days after I get back to do all that, and I mostly know what I want to get anyway...and we're not doing anything big, really. I get too caught up in the must-get-big-ticket-items mentality, and that's not what it's about. So we're having a much needed vacation from all the stress this fall has brought, and then we'll be refreshed and ready to dive into the celebrations of the season. Oh, and I've even started packing already... :)

Well, things are ok again. Just some major miscommunication...don't you hate that?!?!?!?!

Check out this. The name of the site is weird, but it's got some great points!

what a week...things aren't so hot between Greg and I right now. That's very draining. I'm trying, honestly I am, to be submissive, but you know, sometimes when your needs aren't being met, and you're meeting everyone else's you just get drained, and can't take much more. That's all I wanted to tell him. It's hard for him to hear anything that might just be a little bit suggestive of the fact that he's not perfect...

In all honesty, I don't know what I'd do without him. I just wish he'd talk to me. :(

Well, I did it. I hemmed my new exercise pants - by hand. I have a sewing machine, but it's old. It was my mil's. But she wanted a new one. So if she wanted a new one, why, I wonder, was I worthy of the old one??? :P Anyway, it is old, and I don't know what to do with it, so I never use it. I keep BEGGING for a new one, and then answer my own plea with, "But I don't have any room." Which is so sadly true. Anyway, I did get my pants hemmed.

Oh, and I even put them on and exercised! :)

Was doing a little surfing this morning. Haven't done much of it beyond just a few subjects, and thought I should broaden my interests a bit. Came across this...very funny - keep going through the pages. Each one is hilarious. And true. Enjoy!

WHAT A WEEK!!!! We are now plus one bus, minus one driver. Yes, we bought a new bus. And yes, our driver quit. That's ok. She was causing a LOT of headaches. Too many to explain, but let's just say, it's been stressful these past few weeks. So Greg is in Ont. as I type - drove him to Moncton to catch a flight down, and he's starting back tomorrow, driving our new bus. Money is soooo tight right now - thank heavens for Greg's parents!!!! They have bailed us out so many times. So I'm anxiously awaiting news from Greg. I don't do well alone. Kind of a suck that way. He likely won't be back until Monday. He said he was going to try to drive straight through, but sixteen hours of driving is a bit much. The kids did great on the trip today. Of course I was by myself on the way home. Greg gave me about $20 - all he could spare - and I blew a lot of it at Crystal Palace. Took the boys there for a while. Cole had a blast. Still have tickets left over, too, so we'll have a great excuse to make another trip to Moncton very soon! (Moncton was our favorite escape last winter. With such a small amount of space, by the end of the week I just wanted to get away. So we often went and stayed overnight down there.) On our way through F'ton we stopped and got a couple of movies - gotta do something to pass the time! Cole got "Toy Story" - again. He loves Woody and Buzz "Likeyear". I got 102 Dalmatians for me - saw the first one, haven't seen the other one yet. Also got Emma - Gwyneth Paltrow. Hope it's good. Must go pull out the bed and get cozy - it'll be time for Cole to go down soon, and then I'm going to turn in early.

"It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas..." Now if the ROADS didn't look like Christmas, I could go in town and do my Christmas shopping! This snow did NOT help me to calm down about Christmas. I'm wanting to put decorations up sooooo bad...is there any reason I shouldn't? I mean, with the celebration itself being one day, what's the point, but hey, celebrate for two months, and there's a reason to the madness! "...least that's what I think. But I don't suppose I'm right." (quoted by Pooh) So today I'm going to go over my Christmas list - I'm downsizing, well, not really, but I've decided to keep gifts under a certain $ amount. It can get pretty ridiculous. Also thinking I'll lots of gift certificates. How's that for creative. Ah! Just had a GREAT idea. If I can get on top of it now, I can do small $ certificates, but include them with a box or basket of homemade goodies - jars of cookie mix, cocao mix, etc. I have a book by Canadian Living aptly titled, "The Canadian Living Christmas Book." It has tons of great ideas - crafts for kids, decorating, recipes, meal ideas for brunches on Boxing Day, New Year's Day, or whenever else over the holidays you might have a dinner party. Fantastic book - I highly recommend it. Must get to it now! oooo, I'm so excited. :D