A couple weeks ago, the new owners of the house we live in moved in upstairs. We had been in a state of trepidation over this, since we weren't sure what to expect with a new family upstairs. It went from a lovely older couple with a grown son, to a young couple with a 6 month old baby.
Since we have had our own share of 6 month old babies, we knew what kind of risk we would be taking by staying here. The baby actually isn't really that loud, we don't often hear her down here, and if we do, it's never really bothersome. Of course, we still are concerned about the people upstairs hearing our own 6 month old baby screaming at night. Ok, so she is almost 6 years old now, but has a tendency to throw uncontrollable fits, right when everyone else in the entire neighborhood is sleeping.
Alas, I digress, as the point of my post has little to do with Eleanor and her neverending effort to rid our household of complete nights of sleep. The people upstairs maintain that they do not hear her, which is hard to believe with the amount of noise Eleanor puts into her effort to end sleep.
It has to do with the dilemma we are having right now with the removal of cablevision. The lovely folks at Shaw cable have decided that for us to have cable in the basement suite, they would charge us for it. Fine, whatever, if that is what they need to do to make money I will continue to charge $3.99 for ramped up Iced Tea with a fancy name at my work. The issue isn't so much that we are cheap and want free cable, but we are cheap and want free cable. When we moved in, cable was included as part of the rent. Now, since we have new owners, they too are cheap and don't want to pay for our cable. Standoff commences.
Option A: order cable for ourselves and pay for it
Option B: demand that the cost of cable be taken off our rent, since it was originally included and now that it isn't give me a discount
Option C: continue to pay the same amount, and get rid of the TV cause there are better things to do anyway.
Option D: move again
Let me know what you think is the best answer. And please don't say move again (unless you are going to help pack and transport).
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Saturday, May 26, 2007
my tired feet
After a long day at work, it is so nice to come home and be able to put my feet up. We had dinner tonight, a bit later than usual which is probably going to become the usual with the summertime fast approaching. After dinner, me & the kids set down on the couch to enjoy a book or three.
Eleanor picked a couple books, and then Thomas picked a book. As we cuddled on the couch, I had my feet up on the table, relaxing them. Reading the bedtime stories to the kids always seems to have the opposite effect on our family than it's intention. By the end of the stories, I am usually falling asleep, and the kids think it's hilarious and are no closer to sleeping than before the stories. I'm not really sure what the reason is for my heavy eyed fairy tales, but it never fails that I am on the edge of sleep by the end of the stories.
After three books tonight, once again I was close to napping, but was pulled from my gentle drift to dreamland by Eleanor asking if she could rub cream on my feet. OF COURSE! I don't even know how I could say no to that, even if I had some notion that it wouldn't be a good idea. So, Eleanor rubbed some cream on my feet, and although she hasn't really had any practice my feet enjoyed it immensely. It was especially cool that she wanted to do something kind for her dad without being asked.
I know that someday, sooner than I would like, I could beg, bribe and request all I want for her to rub my feet- and the only answer I will get is a benevolent shrug and eyeroll combination that says "dad, seriously?" before walking off to her room to listen to an ipod and talk on her cell phone to her friends about how lame her dad is.
Eleanor picked a couple books, and then Thomas picked a book. As we cuddled on the couch, I had my feet up on the table, relaxing them. Reading the bedtime stories to the kids always seems to have the opposite effect on our family than it's intention. By the end of the stories, I am usually falling asleep, and the kids think it's hilarious and are no closer to sleeping than before the stories. I'm not really sure what the reason is for my heavy eyed fairy tales, but it never fails that I am on the edge of sleep by the end of the stories.
After three books tonight, once again I was close to napping, but was pulled from my gentle drift to dreamland by Eleanor asking if she could rub cream on my feet. OF COURSE! I don't even know how I could say no to that, even if I had some notion that it wouldn't be a good idea. So, Eleanor rubbed some cream on my feet, and although she hasn't really had any practice my feet enjoyed it immensely. It was especially cool that she wanted to do something kind for her dad without being asked.
I know that someday, sooner than I would like, I could beg, bribe and request all I want for her to rub my feet- and the only answer I will get is a benevolent shrug and eyeroll combination that says "dad, seriously?" before walking off to her room to listen to an ipod and talk on her cell phone to her friends about how lame her dad is.
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Friday, May 18, 2007
rock paper scissors
This morning, after the kids came in to our room to wake us up, the four of us were once again just hanging out in bed. After a few minutes of just being together, Vanessa started asking which one of us was going to drive Thomas to school. Eleanor has a pro-d day, so it was a big deal on who gets to stay home and relax and who has to get ready for their day nice and early.
Thus began yet another Rock Paper Scissors war. Blindly I began, which may or may not have annoyed She Who Must Lose, because apparently you need to have your eyes open to play the game. After a quick lead by She Who Must Lose, I abruptly turned up the intensity (only a little, cause really, I'm still half asleep and would like to keep it that way) and pulled out a win in the best of 3 series.
In all fairness, while Vanessa was taking Thomas to school, I did get a few things done around the house. Laundry that had been backing up for far too long was put away, and some ironing which seems a never ending task when you manage a restaurant and have to constantly take care of dress shirts. Even Eleanor got in on the action and did some dusting (which is her favorite).
The best part: Having freshly brewed coffee, from Tim Horton's, delivered by She Who Must Lose, while still just lazing around the house in my Pajama's.
Thus began yet another Rock Paper Scissors war. Blindly I began, which may or may not have annoyed She Who Must Lose, because apparently you need to have your eyes open to play the game. After a quick lead by She Who Must Lose, I abruptly turned up the intensity (only a little, cause really, I'm still half asleep and would like to keep it that way) and pulled out a win in the best of 3 series.
In all fairness, while Vanessa was taking Thomas to school, I did get a few things done around the house. Laundry that had been backing up for far too long was put away, and some ironing which seems a never ending task when you manage a restaurant and have to constantly take care of dress shirts. Even Eleanor got in on the action and did some dusting (which is her favorite).
The best part: Having freshly brewed coffee, from Tim Horton's, delivered by She Who Must Lose, while still just lazing around the house in my Pajama's.
Sunday, May 13, 2007
$14,952
I need to make a t-shirt that reads: I survived the Single Greatest Restaurant Event of the Year. I am alive. Barely awake, but alive. We did have the best day ever, even without the boss man around. I do think that this will bode well for both my chef and I, as we did rock the show today. I know that our supporting cast helped us knock the ball out of the park, in fact shattering the sales record from last year by over $2500. $14,952 is the amount of sales we had up until 5pm. That total doesn't even include the dinner shift.
That being said, I have very little energy, and nowhere near enough to go into why I have been blessed with the best wife ever. I know, and I hope that the kids know, that they have the best mom ever.
(And the best grandma's ever too :)
That being said, I have very little energy, and nowhere near enough to go into why I have been blessed with the best wife ever. I know, and I hope that the kids know, that they have the best mom ever.
(And the best grandma's ever too :)
Tuesday, May 8, 2007
flip flops
Every year Old Navy has a major flip flop sale. For the second year running, the kids have each got a pair of flip flops for the summer season, which will be very well used, according the last years pair.
Today we went on an adventure to the BC Children's hospital, partly for a shot at getting in to see Eleanor's E.N.T. doctor, and partly to see the snuggly & wiggly Ryder.
After the hour long drive to make it to Vancouver, we went in to the clinic to get an appointment with Dr. Kozak, who by the way is the best Otolaryngologist anyone has ever seen. It is not for a couple hours, so we make our way to see Ryder, and give him some love and cuddles.
Down to have lunch at the very busy cafeteria (dubbed the crapateria a long time ago by Vanessa and I after eating there for 3 months straight). After all of this walking, the new flip flops have decided that they do not enjoy the rough and tumble massaging that is the children's feet walking inside of them. The shoes have made the decision to rebel, and are starting to slowly eat the feet of the kids wearing them. Blisters are starting to form, their little bodies trying to use the only defense they know how to keep the evil shoes from devouring the only set of feet that the kids will ever have.
By the end of the day, the kids find it a challenge to walk anywhere, the very idea of having to walk is making them cranky and annoyed. Until we stop at the gas station to get a snack for the ride home. Then it goes from sore feet, to running into the store to pick out some chips. The brief stop to get a snack revitalizes the weary feet somehow, and all goes well. On the way home, Thomas starts to take an inventory of the damage to his feet.
"I have 3 blis-terds on my feet". Yup, he had blis-terds. Somehow, he has more than one blis, 3 in fact. And they had terds.
There are 4 little feet right now that are very happy to be away from the constant gnawing of the evil flip flops, and relishing in the glory of being naked and healing. Soon, they will be blis-terd free.
Today we went on an adventure to the BC Children's hospital, partly for a shot at getting in to see Eleanor's E.N.T. doctor, and partly to see the snuggly & wiggly Ryder.
After the hour long drive to make it to Vancouver, we went in to the clinic to get an appointment with Dr. Kozak, who by the way is the best Otolaryngologist anyone has ever seen. It is not for a couple hours, so we make our way to see Ryder, and give him some love and cuddles.
Down to have lunch at the very busy cafeteria (dubbed the crapateria a long time ago by Vanessa and I after eating there for 3 months straight). After all of this walking, the new flip flops have decided that they do not enjoy the rough and tumble massaging that is the children's feet walking inside of them. The shoes have made the decision to rebel, and are starting to slowly eat the feet of the kids wearing them. Blisters are starting to form, their little bodies trying to use the only defense they know how to keep the evil shoes from devouring the only set of feet that the kids will ever have.
By the end of the day, the kids find it a challenge to walk anywhere, the very idea of having to walk is making them cranky and annoyed. Until we stop at the gas station to get a snack for the ride home. Then it goes from sore feet, to running into the store to pick out some chips. The brief stop to get a snack revitalizes the weary feet somehow, and all goes well. On the way home, Thomas starts to take an inventory of the damage to his feet.
"I have 3 blis-terds on my feet". Yup, he had blis-terds. Somehow, he has more than one blis, 3 in fact. And they had terds.
There are 4 little feet right now that are very happy to be away from the constant gnawing of the evil flip flops, and relishing in the glory of being naked and healing. Soon, they will be blis-terd free.
Friday, May 4, 2007
shoe tying buffers
The start of this morning was about getting Eleanor and Vanessa out of the house, reasonably on time, for her "transportation" field trip. The kindergarten class is taking the Skytrain & Seabus to the Lonsdale Quay today, and Vanessa gets to help chaperone. I helped Eleanor pick out some clothes, which involved the vetoing of first shorts, then a skirt. We decided to settle on capri's, and while she was brushing her teeth I was off to make her lunch. Halfway through, I realized that Vanessa would need lunch too, since the teachers would probably frown on her taking off for some McDonald's halfway through the field trip. The girls are finally ready to go, and Eleanor calls me over to watch see something.
She puts her shoes on, and proceeds to tie them up, in a double knot. This in itself isn't such a miracle, that a child can tie her own shoes. The surprising part is, it wasn't Vanessa or I that showed her how. It was another child her in class that taught her.
THANK YOU BROOKLYN!
Teaching shoe tying is not a task I was looking forward too, and she has it nailed down now.
After they leave, it gets quiet in the house. Thomas and I sit down to have some cereal, and it is here that I come to the conclusion that now would be a good time to break the disheartening news about the Canucks to Thomas.
Me: Hey Thomas, the Canucks lost their hockey game last night
T: Oh no. It's hard to win the game when you can't get any points.
(he's almost 5, and he has that concept down pat. Maybe he should talk to the Canucks powerplay team?)
Me: You got that right. This means that they are out of the playoffs now, no more hockey until September, when you start kindergarten.
T: BUST...MY...BUFFERS
If you have never watched any Thomas the Tank Engine, then you probably wouldn't know that this is where the saying comes from. The show is full of little sayings, my other favorite is "bossy boiler" referring to an engine that is being bossy. Rest assured, that this was quite comical in his delivery, emphatically saying every word. I don't know that he will actually mind hockey being over though, as now I won't have to rush home from work and stare at the t.v., I will be able to play with them before they go to bed.
Enjoy your summer Vancouver Canucks, I look forward to next year.
She puts her shoes on, and proceeds to tie them up, in a double knot. This in itself isn't such a miracle, that a child can tie her own shoes. The surprising part is, it wasn't Vanessa or I that showed her how. It was another child her in class that taught her.
THANK YOU BROOKLYN!
Teaching shoe tying is not a task I was looking forward too, and she has it nailed down now.
After they leave, it gets quiet in the house. Thomas and I sit down to have some cereal, and it is here that I come to the conclusion that now would be a good time to break the disheartening news about the Canucks to Thomas.
Me: Hey Thomas, the Canucks lost their hockey game last night
T: Oh no. It's hard to win the game when you can't get any points.
(he's almost 5, and he has that concept down pat. Maybe he should talk to the Canucks powerplay team?)
Me: You got that right. This means that they are out of the playoffs now, no more hockey until September, when you start kindergarten.
T: BUST...MY...BUFFERS
If you have never watched any Thomas the Tank Engine, then you probably wouldn't know that this is where the saying comes from. The show is full of little sayings, my other favorite is "bossy boiler" referring to an engine that is being bossy. Rest assured, that this was quite comical in his delivery, emphatically saying every word. I don't know that he will actually mind hockey being over though, as now I won't have to rush home from work and stare at the t.v., I will be able to play with them before they go to bed.
Enjoy your summer Vancouver Canucks, I look forward to next year.
Tuesday, May 1, 2007
ipod
Last night our sweet little darling Eleanor was having a hard time going to sleep. She was having fears about having a nightmare. One of her friends told her a story about someone being stabbed in the heart a few months ago, and at the time, she was afraid of having a dream about it. Last night, it popped up again. Because of this, she didn't get to sleep until after 10pm.
That brings us to this morning, where we were all just laying in bed, ignoring the fact that it was after 8am and Eleanor was late for school. The princess was having a small fit, mostly because she wanted to be sleeping still I think.
The best part, as we were laying there trying not to react to the frequent grumblings from the other side of the bed, Thomas tells us he wants and ipod. Not sure that she heard him correctly, Vanessa asks him what he just said.
T: I want an ipod.
V: Do you even know what an ipod is?
T: yeah, it has like a thousand songs on it, and games.
V: How do you know that?
T: Daddy has one.
I think that he has listened to a song on my ipod a total of one time, and I think that I have used it a total of one time in front of them in the 6 months that I have had it.
I should probably get used to this, the boy asking for all the cool new gadgets that are out there as I'm sure the requests will get more emphatic as he gets older.
And more expensive.
That brings us to this morning, where we were all just laying in bed, ignoring the fact that it was after 8am and Eleanor was late for school. The princess was having a small fit, mostly because she wanted to be sleeping still I think.
The best part, as we were laying there trying not to react to the frequent grumblings from the other side of the bed, Thomas tells us he wants and ipod. Not sure that she heard him correctly, Vanessa asks him what he just said.
T: I want an ipod.
V: Do you even know what an ipod is?
T: yeah, it has like a thousand songs on it, and games.
V: How do you know that?
T: Daddy has one.
I think that he has listened to a song on my ipod a total of one time, and I think that I have used it a total of one time in front of them in the 6 months that I have had it.
I should probably get used to this, the boy asking for all the cool new gadgets that are out there as I'm sure the requests will get more emphatic as he gets older.
And more expensive.
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