Just a Canadian Small Town Girl

Welcome back to those who followed me in the past. It’s a difficult year with lots of transitions and updates to be given.

We are back in Canada!!!! it is hard to imagine that your forced to move not on your terms but due to diversity hiring in a company that your FAMILY has given over 34 years to and bye bye…. But after a whole year of applying for jobs in telecom, Ian is back and thriving…. We love him so much 😍. Everyone is healthy and doing well. Gruffy in his second year at the University of Ottawa and Taffy in grade 12, accepted to Georgian College in Owen Sound on his way to being an electrician!!! Of course this busy mom is really good at applications, finding grants/scholarships plus being three boys personal secretary now! Lol 😂

Of course, I’m back to teaching here in Ontario and boy has it changed. …. When did teachers have to be parents, educator, class $$$$ supply buyer and whipping person for any issues that come up??? But bring a stubborn, seasoned teacher and Meafordite, it’s hard to know your boundaries other then your doing it for the kids. I need to take some cues from those new generation of teachers who use AI for everything, don’t take work or stresses home nor buy anything for the class from their own funds….

I digress from my title… Starbucks and me are best buddies. I love their Refreshers…. Just waiting for an Apple tasting one if you know what I mean… have to promote those apples.

It’s probably been a year since I wrote last. It’s been a mixed up world this last 18 months. I resigned from one school teaching sped due to a highly toxic environment where it apparently was okay to get hurt physically and emotionally to a new school teaching a split special needs/general education primary class and loving it. Oh and I forgot I had to sell one home in order to make sure my boys stayed in the same school and buying a new home at the height of the real estate boom before the bust. Oh joy how fun that was being outbid continually by several hundred thousand dollars on homes but we found the perfect home finally.

My new school is so inviting and caring it’s unbelievable to imagine that I put myself in a situation where for several years it was hard to fathom that people could treat each other certain ways, how favouritism drove decisions and how when you spoke up for yourself you were retaliated against until you got an association (like a teachers union in work to rule states like Texas) involved. I’m putting my big girl panties on and saying NO MORE, I DESERVE BETTER.

Fast forward five months and enjoying the new normal. Loving that I’m supported and even when there are issues you aren’t felt to feel like a failure. My boys continue to thrive and I’m trying to find that work life balance which has been lost for me for many years. My New Year’s resolution is to try not to bring work home but we’ll have to see how that goes. Lol

As I’m sitting enjoying myself on a vacation to Cancun and lounging reading and people watching. People that know me, know that this is one of my past times. It’s quirky to think about and watch how other people act.

Also feeling good that I’m sitting here in moderate temperature when knowing I’m going to be coming back to some very cold weather for Texas and just mild weather for Canadian’s. I’m getting texts from neighbours to make sure that I open kitchen cupboards and let faucets drip and me wondering what the bleep – why would I need to do that for since it’s a house but I guess in Texas they don’t make them as good and strong and insulated as in the NORTH aka Canada. But what do I know I’m not a builder.

Happy holidays to all and those back home – get that snowblower attached to the tractor, get out the shovels and get to it eh!

Missing those back home but with my older son admitted to the University of Ottawa for this coming fall, I’m sure I’ll be home more often. So those close to the University, you maybe getting a message to be on the lookout!!! or called in emergencies. Of course my son says oh no worries but as a mom I worry. And those of us who have grown up together know that any of us would be there in a minute. That’s what I love about Meaford and the Georgian bay area we all stick together and have such a unique upbringing and caring nature towards others.

Lots of love and signing off !!

Jocie

Eh!!! Here another one for the record.Enjoy my ramblings. Jocie

It has been a trying year so far and school is only half over. I have not had the urge to blog as much as I do now after only 6 months of school.

As I lay here again enjoying the sound of the water from the Gulf of Mexico and getting sprayed by my own young adults ( G & T) fighting in the pool, I’m finally finding relaxation. It is so strange to think in order to be relaxed I’ve got to leave the country and readily available high speed internet plus plan a few weeks before break for after break, working every night, as a teacher this is unpaid labor that is “strongly” encouraged by the unrealistic expectations placed on us by society…. Of which I fall into the trap since if I let it go, I fall further and further behind my high expectations.

I listen to the waves and feel like I’m back on Georgian Bay minus the snow storm raging and accidents on highway 11 with the OPP and motorists…. I had to put this in for Joanne and Gill – my talented and never stopping sisters. People are always in awe how much all of us do in life for our families and others but little do they know that it is installed in all of us from a small town – eh!! Jenny, Mandy, Jon, Adam, Josh – we have had an amazing life given to us by our every so handy Ruth – Gramma Shortt and loving forgiving nature of Elwood – Grampa Shortt. I remember many times Grampa saying “Don’t say the Lords name in vein!” as us grandkids had him wrapped around our fingers as well as walking along holding the electric fence wire testing it with Grampa, bare feet and all, spitting on our fingers. Boy did that give you a lift after dinner.

This year has been hard for me keeping it all together mentally and emotionally. The demands and needs of students and hand holding of parents have been higher than ever. My kind nature has been stretched almost beyond my ability. Any energy left for home is already on empty… sorry lads.

When you know in your mind you need to relax and just go with the flow but your high standards make you do extra and improve every single time. It’s hard knowing that you’re doing it for the kids and unfortunately you’re not getting the credit from those around you. It’s an uphill battle of which I am known to be stubborn and not retreat from. But I found myself in the last few days thinking that I’ve got to change and change for the better because this pace can’t be kept up.

So in the New Year, It’s going to be in new Jocie with lower standards and trying to get more of a life/work balance where my energy is not all taken at school and none left to give at home. I think this is something that is affecting a lot of people during this pandemic and when you live in a place that is not in agreement on what the pandemic is all about it makes it difficult. It’s like you’re hitting your head against the wall constantly. But I say each has their own choices and the results from those choices so get vaccinated or don’t get vaccinated it’s your personal decision.

For those of you back in the Great White North, aka fellow Canucks- I had to wear my Canucks t-shirt at the airport this week, I miss all of you, the weather believe it or not but mostly knowing that when I go back home to Meaford, I am surrounded by non-judgmental friends and family who don’t take whatever strange things that come out of my mouth much to Ian’s horror!!!! and the reaction of my Texan colleagues and friends that are more politically correct than me. Those that know me, know that I don’t give a bleep!!! and love me anyway.

Now back to my people watching, trying to think about what they might be thinking and trying to read for enjoyment – Romance novels here I come, thinking about thinking about nothing….

And if course watching all 3 of my boys jumping off the pool cliff with one boy skilled at it, one boy doing it out of shame wanting to let the other feel inferior and one husband that has been on his “medicine” all day…. The Japanese restaurant server was surprised when he demanded desert from him wanting to eat the plastic model…. Oh Ian… you are a Brit on holiday no doubt but I love you even so like you know luv.

Signing off – Tidy – Turah luv!!

Relaxing stress break to Mexico!

As I lay here in my covered lounge area, contemplating the way the world is in 2021, I think of all the things which I’m thankful for and all the things that are left to do in my life.

Teaching last year was one of the hardest of the 14 years I’ve had with COVID-19 invading education. Having to teach in person and over zoom simultaneously was very difficult but I got through it and survived.

Also working with a bunch of talented teachers helped relieve additional stress caused by a difficult working environment. Never one to back down from a fight, it was very difficult to keep myself smiling in the dragons den. But of course being from a small town and raised with values, you keep smiling and being kind to those who might not be kind around you. Kindness is where it’s at. You sometimes have to show kindness to those who are unkind in order to make them understand how kindness works.

The Town of Meaford Website

I often listen to a podcast by a fellow friend, Jeni Besworth about living in a small town and it brings back many memories on how no matter what was given to us or put upon us we always survived with kindness and everyone was always included. It’s a persons upbringing in a small town that brings character and empathy to life.

I would never give up the memories that I cherish from growing up in a small town with a loving family and support from everyone you encountered. To this day we may not be in touch frequently but I know that I can always rely on someone from back home to help when I ask.

As I get ready for the new year teaching, I have hope and inspiration for a better year and to meet the kids again for a new school year on August 12. I have so many plans to make things fun and to learn at the same time. Showing kindness goes a long ways in teaching students. Making them feel part of the family and making memories for them to cherish. Many of my anecdotal stories are about funny things that happened in my youth growing up in a small town and people are amazed at what I come up with. LOL

My kids at home nowadays just say oh mom not again… I often start it with just a minute I need to tell you about something that happened a long time ago and… Usually words of wisdom come from a funny episode that may have occurred. Like the time Joanne’s grade one teacher tied a student into a chair with a skipping rope or another time when our baby lamb April would meet us off the bus stomping her feet waiting to go in the house with us or the time most recently when I was telling my boys about the property across from the Esso station that burnt down and the boy coming over and telling my father that he did a good thing for the town and solved all their problems with what to do with it which he did!!! I remember riding our bike’s to Meaford Community School and having to dodge big dead rats on the road that had come out of the buildings that burned down. Oh such fun and unique memories.

Sorry I digress, laying here trying to relieve stress has been a wonderful pleasure in disguise. My people watching habit has been in full motion! It is amazing seeing how people interact with others no matter their culture, ethnicity, orientation, everyone has something to offer, to teach us and for us to learn something from.

I keep that notion in my head at all times because everyone wants to be loved and appreciated in someway.

Hoping that COVID-19 gets under control and fingers crossed 🤞 people abide by regulations and suggestions in order to keep us all safe as we journey on through this next year and grow and explore and thrive!

Signing off from Mexico, enjoying my last few days of freedom. That’s before the shackles of being tied to a school and being responsible for educating others and helping them learn how to shine. A job that’s very difficult but is rewarding ❤️ after you dig through the layers.

Take care and signing off – love 💕 Jocie

So sorry for not writing in ages but Covid has kicked my butt. As the world in March last year turned upside down, my world also went crazy. Virtual learning and virtual teaching was a new concept that everyone had to endure and unfortunately this continued this past September for another full year. I like to call myself an able-bodied individual who can handle many things all at once and still keep a positive attitude yet sarcastic at the same time, for those that know me, but having to teach children at the physical school building and those lounging whoops I meant virtually at the same time for the same pay has brought some gray hairs to my already silver locks.

Who knew that in education you can do two jobs and only get paid for one… oh I forgot also being a janitor and a nurse at the same time as a teacher, mother, parent to your own kids plus parent to other children whose parents don’t parent, you get it and this list goes on….. but I did survive and made it out in one piece. A little worse for wear and a few brain cells gone but glad that there are only two days are left.

I have to say living in the “GREAAAT“ State of Texas it has been a very unusual experience here in terms of Covid. You have those who believe in COVID and those who do not believe in COVID. My grandma always told us grandkids to just agree because you can’t argue with a skunk or an asshole you take your pick. Lol….

Of course when I was leaving school today and hit with 27 C (81F) humidity filled air, I longed for my Georgian Bay and the breeze that comes off the bay. Hoping and wishing that things open up soon so that I can get back home to regenerate and feel comfortable in my environment.

Being a very vocal person, as my family says with no filter – I think that’s a good thing – I often find myself having to retract my thoughts or be very care/creative in what comes out… INSERT FOOT HERE!!! 🐾🦶Of course my are boys often “embarrassed” (If they think that’s embarrassing they haven’t experienced life yet!!!!) by my non-filter but I tell them get used to it this because this is your mother and she knows best and that’s just the way it’s going to be.

Signing off from my rambling and as summer approaches and my new fitness regime starts which includes dragging children to the gym, taking one to driving school and the other to high school football practice everyday trying 🤞to stop my car from driving to Starbucks for a liquid refreshment, I hope to survive and get back to my blog. God I miss Timmies! 🍩

I want to say welcome back to all my readers, family and friends. As I lay here wide awake for another sleepless night worried about starting school next week and that’s without the kids, they start in two weeks. I felt the urge to blog and share my feelings.

Disclaimer… These are only my opinion and not FACT but also not FICTION. Read at your own risk. lol lol and of course be kind in a world of change!

At first we heard that everything was supposed to be in person with social distancing but now we are doing three weeks of virtual online learning and then fingers crossed back to in person learning. I dutifully went into my classroom and set it up at a social distance and me being me, each of my students have a old fashion velvet rocker/glider to read in, day dream in or just relax in. Just think of the 70-80 style. Facebook market place, my favorite place much to my family’s horror! I am NOT really a hoarder!

My family and friends know that I am an avid News watcher and reader. My day starts with scrolling through CNN, CTV and The Daily Mail for the latest updates and antics that are happening around the world.

After watching the news tonight, I begin to worry once more about the situation happening in education this fall.

As a parent I’m concerned that my children will struggle with online learning and need to adapt to these new methods but as an educator I know that the teachers are doing everything they can to provide a safe, stable and learning atmosphere for them. I know as a teacher, I’ve been spending every morning for the last several weeks trying to plan out what’s going to happen this year, how can I adopt materials, how can I make things fun and exciting while learning at the same time.

As a special education teacher, the challenge is 1000 times more for both teachers and parents. How do I reach these kids, am I doing my best, do parents feel supported by me, can I do more, how can I make things come alive so that learning happens, how do I individualize programming for each child that I serve. The list goes on and of course then my worry starts.

My worries manifest in sleepless nights, restlessness, anxiety and my famous worry spots. If you see me scratching my face, my arms, my hands don’t worry I’m not contagious they’re just my response. They seem to flare up with great regularity in these uncertain times.

One moment you hear in the news they have plans to get right back into in class learning while maintaining a social distance and then the next minute they’re delaying us to online learning and the next minute someone else has made a decision that affects the education of our kids. It’s concerning that as an educator I need to keep myself safe and my children at home safe but also keep my kids at school safe. It’s a hard task to think about and plan for.

I worry if I’m doing the right things, that I’m providing a top class education for my kids at school and for my kids at home, that the parents are helping make this transition for the kids a smooth and positive one. This of course is such a hard task when we are in such uncertain times.

Dare I say, it seems that education is in the hands of the politicians arguing back-and-forth on who is right and who was wrong. We are essential workers, we educate children and expand their minds for growth and be contributing members of society in the future. We are valued and should be valued and should be treated with concern and kindness not being belittled and made the enemy by some parents and politicians. Hey, but that’s just my two cents worth and that would be two Canadian cents which is less than one cent worth in the USA.

As I digress, I heard Gruffy this week say eh! and I had to shout at him to say welcome back to being Canadian. Now where is the Tim Hortons hot chocolate and donuts. Dunkin’ Donuts just doesn’t cut it in a Canadian’s world! I got so excited a few weeks ago when I was driving down the Dallas tollway into Dallas that there was a sign advertising Tim Hortons and I thought OMG it’s coming to Texas but when I fact checked it that was not the case. 😢 So I’m wondering who was trying to tease me? 😡

I guess you’ve heard enough of my rambling and concerns and hope for the future.

To everyone – be safe and wear your mask. It will save lives and fingers crossed this will be one of the best years in education. “We teachers” are adaptable and have to change on a moments notice. Let’s make it the best year in this NEW NORMAL.

For all those lovely parents of mine that support me and each one of us, I thank you from the bottom of my heart and love you. For my hard-working administrator at my school, may the force be with you and thank goodness you’re at the helm. We will survive and you will make sure to keep us all safe and the students too! You are one in a million and I’m glad to be able to educate our future leaders of tomorrow with you!

I’m signing off, getting the extra strength the melatonin (only sold on Amazon) and hopefully sleep will come soon. 😴 💤 🛏

It’s been a long time but I decided that I needed to start up my blog again and connect with people while sharing my unique understanding of the world.

It’s been hard several months but we are surviving. It seems strange that things are opening up here in Texas and back home, where my heart belongs, things are not. It makes a person think that why is it opening up here and not at home? Why can I get my haircut and others can’t? Does the COVID-19 not hit everywhere? Why do I wear a mask but other’s don’t?

There’s so many questions with no answers. from this experience of isolation, self-imposed due to the fact that both my husband and I have suppressed immune system’s, we’ve been slowly integrating ourselves back into life a bit from a distance still.

I miss chitchatting with people and talking and I think my family here in Texas is thinking what is going to come out of her mouth next?

But from this epidemic, we have learned to do more family things. Some good things that have come out of this is that we eating at the table as a family without being in separate rooms. It’s the only time Gruffy comes out of his dungeon. Lol.. Not going out to eat all the time and only limit eating out to once a week for curbside pick up.

The boys new obsession – fishing!! To my surprise Wal-Mart in Texas sells Canadian Worms! Of course, it’s country girl Jocie’s job to put on the worms and take off the fish… It’s gross to touch fish don’t you know as the boys say and wait for me to do it.

Fishing brings back memories of fishing back at my grandparents farm with cousins all around. Joyful times never forgotten…

Oh and I forgot making the boys load and unload the dishwasher. One of my pet peeves is that the dishwasher always seems to be my job. But of course in being me, before boys were given the dishwasher job a few lessons had to be done on how to load a dishwasher correctly! As I grit my teeth looking at how the boy’s standards are different than mine, it takes all I can do not to say something or go after they finish to go back and fix it. The OCD comes out with the dishwasher!!

It sure has been a challenge as a teacher and as a parent during online learning to say the least!!! $&@&))$&…..

As a teacher, you do everything you can to try to reach your students and provide them the structure and support to continue learning. It’s a fine juggle between doing interesting things and doing check the box things that the government requires you to do.

Memory stones and postcards to first responders (those two Good Looking Police officers are our dear friends… Way to go Shavon and Tyrone – we all love you!.



On the flipside there is the parent in me and online learning. I am so fed up with checking and asking and begging children to do their work. Sometimes I think mindsets need to change on what is important in life and what the key concepts the children need to learn in each lesson are. But what do I know, I’m just a lowly paid civil servant!

As a parent it can be very overwhelming and also as a teacher it’s hard to choose what to do and find what that balance is.

On top of all of this, those of you who know me, I am a person that has had many disasters with my health in the past… many broken bones, injuries too many to list… My back has been giving me issues which have caused me to have several surgeries and hospitalizations during this time. My last one was two weeks ago when I had an ablation of the third, fourth, fifth vertebrae in my spine. Thankful that that is working to reduce the pain.

So if you see this crazy person walking full speed but not running because that would be a sin according to Jocie’s world, move out of the way because once I get started it’s hard to stop.

But I can tell you having to go and get those long cotton swab stuck up your nose is something I’m not going to forget for a while.

That’s right, COVID-19 testing requires you to get a extra long, I mean extra long Q-tip shoved up your nose.

It’s shocking when the nurse at your drive up testing site says please don’t hit me or slap me!

Knowing me, my hands would fly up and slap her as a reaction so I sat on my hands and did as she said. I closed my eyes, as not to see, that extra long Q-tip as it went further in, in and out of sight. It was all I could do not to react.

Of course people at home, meaning my oh so loving, scream out at the dentist husband said oh no, it couldn’t of been that long of a Q-tip. They do that on TV all the time and people don’t react badly. But as a grown man, I dared him to go get his own COVID-19 test… But of course that never happened.

That sums up about what’s going on in the last several months… I hope I brought some enjoyment to your daily Facebook scrolls and online reading. As the summer goes on, let’s cross our fingers and hope that times get better whether they be about COVID-19 or everything else going on in the world.

Stay safe! Jocie



My lifelong journey…

For those of you that know me I have struggled all my life with my weight, whether it be up there or whether it be down, it’s always been there.

It’s taking a lot for me to actually write this blog this time since it’s something so personal and usually I shy away from that kind of sharing to people that I might not know. But I feel the need to share my happiness and maybe this will help others to make a decision to get back to life and living.

After many injuries due to sports and immobility due to the injuries plus loving food and loving food more, I decided that it was time to get serious about this. My good friend had just gone through gastric surgery and was sharing all the positive and worrisome things with me but to me the positive of anything that I might be scared or worried about were outweighed by the negative.

I’ve never been one to judge people by how much they weigh but I know society does judge people by how much they weigh. I was trying to tell myself that maybe those people aren’t the best to be hanging out with but it’s everywhere. I decided to have gastric surgery to help with my weight loss once and for all. The decision was a hard one to make but for me it was the right decision. People often worry that it’s going to be such a strain and so hard to do but in reality it was hard living the life with the excess weight then to living a life now with less weight, more joy and comfort. Not saying that I didn’t have joy and happiness when I was heavier but it’s nice to not struggle to do anything that I ever want to do.

I started my journey about a year ago with my first visit to the gastric surgeon and we decided that the best method for me would be the gastric sleeve. For those of you that don’t know what that is, it’s where they remove the majority of your stomach and leave a pouch plus remove the hunger gland at the top of your stomach.

I wont admit that it was hard to get started and lose weight before even having the surgery but it put a goal for me to achieve. Prior to my surgery date of August 3, 2017 I found it hard losing 30 pounds before surgery but I knew it was something I needed to do and get under control. Once you got going and your body went into ketosis the weight just starts falling off. For those naysayers that say it’s not a way to live, maybe they should try living the life that people had before gastric surgery.

Surgery for me was a piece a cake, as with all surgeries and aesthetic is the thing that I struggle with. I seem to always have lots of after effects of anesthesia – vomiting, extreme gas and leg pain’s but I soon got over all those.

For the first week after surgery, liquids we’re not a problem getting down. The problem was making sure that I did get enough protein and to get rid of all the excess gas that is used to blow up your stomach in order to perform the surgery.

I have to admit it was hard to adjust to the smaller portions and getting used to the feeling of being full but I was the lucky one who kept everything down and followed the amazing recommendations by Candace our patient coordinator at the Nicholson clinic. Her encouragement and support goes a long ways to helping those adjust to the new lifestyle.

I admit I do get cravings for things that contain sugar but this was always my nemesis. Now instead of having a lot of sugary products, I may allow myself to have a small bite and have alternatives to regular sugary desserts. Dried fruit, nuts and Thinbarks of dark chocolate have become my go to’s. Oh and of course I can’t forget pork jerky which seems to be a staple of protein for me as my Bunco girlfriends know!

My motto is if I want it, I have it but only a very small portion. I’ve tried rice and whole grain bread but no pasta. I really don’t have carb cravings anymore and if I feel a hunger or urge coming on, I drink water.

On a daily basis some people might think that my food routine is very stringent and structured, but for me that’s the way I like it and need it to be.

As for making the decision to have the sleeve, it was the best decision that I could’ve made. My love for exercise has come back and love for myself has grown.

I’ve had friends ask me about the effects of having surgery and for me I haven’t had any but for those that I know that have, the good things far away the bad things.

So if you’re considering having this life-changing operation, my advice would be to talk with your doctor, talk with your spouse or partner and make an informed decision.

Onwards and upwards to achieve a life of living with no regrets….

As December approaches with idyllic visions of a perfect vacation dancing in my head and plans in place to visit the “Green Green Grass of Home” aka Wales aka “God’s Country”, we venture off on Christmas Day for the airport.

Perfect Parking Location at a terrific cost

Free shuttle to the airport, hallelujah!

Seat selection on first leg of the trip, FAILURE….. I’m sorry sir but I haven’t learned how to check in individuals with passports…. as we watch her scan the barcodes on our passports over and over. HELP PLEASE!!!! Thank goodness for a fairly deserted airport and a checking manager close by. WHOOF!! That obstacle is over even though we have three middle seats and one aisle seat. On the positive at least it’s only a short flight and I don’t have to cater to anyone but myself. My mother and wife duties are relinquished during this flight.

Second leg of the trip after a four hour layover go well with food, duty free shipping and content kids! 🤗 loaded on the plane with each of us with one of the happy kiddos… ear phones found and movies on 🍿.

Arrival at our final destination and thank goodness for the British “Fast Track” immigration system and our Daddy with a British Passport. Flying through customs and on to the baggage claim.

FAILURE AT BAGGAGE CLAIM… waiting and waiting and nothing arrives. We check at the airline desk and they did not make the plane…. FIRST TONGUE 👅 biting exercise. In my mind I’m think, WTF.. we had a four hour layover and a one hour delay sitting on the plane while they fix a cockpit sensor. Couldn’t they have found the time to get the bags loaded. 😡😩 but in a positive note they give you a lovely plastic travel pouch with a toothbrush and toothpaste. I grow concerned when they say they found them but it’s a long, long way to Wales for the courier to deliver – as the attendant explains to us. But that long, long way to Wales only takes a day and delivery occurs at 11:30 pm at night.

Lovely visit with family and friends. It’s a great to catch up with love ones and people that you have not seen or chatted with for over a year. 😆❤️🎁🎄😂😊

The art of biting your tongue takes on a whole new meaning when you are not from or grow up in the area/culture that you are visiting. Here is my personal opinion and guidance for others that might experience this phenomenon or run into this situation.

1. Try to be patient and don’t try to understand excuses given from pub owners or shop keepers on why they do the backward things they do. For us, BIG FAT Americans (all those that are not British we are thought of but not mentioned out loud)… I’m sorry we don’t serve food after X o’clock, we don’t allow children in after 9pm (as if they haven’t seen all the drunken shit that adults do before in tv or video games), sorry we don’t have that….(did you not think you might have a busy night? FIRE the manager please), the excuse list goes on.

2. Learn that “that’s lovely”, “yes, ta”, “lush” doesn’t really mean “great”, “terrific” or “ok”. Second confirmation needs to be verified by looking at voice tone, body language and what happens next. Most people are genuine but many don’t like confrontation therefore things might not be all rosey and leave a visitor feeling confused and having your TONGUE 👅 often feeling bitten in half.

3. Try to fit in but know that you never will and that’s ok. 👍 It’s okay not to fit in, watch your “P’s & Q’s” which is very hard for me since I’m often puzzled why everyone is okay with excuses that make no sense. I’ll never make the distinguished height of “OURS” but at least my boys have achieved that status!!!! 😸

A family meal with happy campers and friendly afternoon chatter make a person feel good and included. The catching up with cousins and family leave lovely memories to cherish for years to come.

Finally, my boys are learning that memories are made and not bought at Christmas during the commercialization of Christmas that is witnessed around the world. Hell, I was buckled under pressure and even wrapped the boys limited presents instead of a sticky note 📝 on them under the tree.

In conclusion, I would like to wish a Happy New Year to family and friends for 2018. 🎊🎆🎈

Onwards and upwards to personal successes in the New Year. Remember failure is only a step on the way and failing to fail or giving up will only delay your journey. Keep going and you will achieve your goals.

I’m writing from the restaurant while I wait for my flight back to Dallas from Toronto. I’m going to partake in a pulled pork bacon poutine. For those of you that don’t know what that is it’s cheese curds, gravy, pulled pork, bacon and of course brown gravy. Yum Yum!!! 

What a whirlwind weekend. From one place to another, from one country to another, from one family member to another, I realize how lucky and privileged I am.
I have an adopted country, the USA, that I’m fortunate to live in and my husband is able to work in and provide for us and also be in close proximity to travel back home to the country I love, Canada. This was driven home by the fact that I was close enough to have a great weekend surprising my mom, staying with family, visiting nieces, nephews, sisters, and cousins. I have to thank my amazing, strong aunt Brenda who hosted a meal where family and friends came after church to continue celebrating in the fashion that we know-eating, socializing, joking and allowing little ones to run wild.

I made this long and quick journey to help celebrate a surprise recognition of my mom’s service to the Meaford United Church. She has been the organist and music director for the last 21 plus years. Little did I know that she never missed playing for a Christmas service for the last 44 years since 1972, the year that my twin and I were born. She only missed one Christmas service when someone decided that the congregation might feel uncomfortable with a person playing that had been going through cancer treatments. Which is very unfortunate since the majority of the MUC family at church would not of cared in the least, only this one individual. Everyone at MUC is accepting of everyone, no matter race, ability, orientation, we love everyone.

That’s why I feel torn, living in Texas, and selecting a church that fits my beliefs. So far I’ve chosen a church community that is open, giving and has lots of kid friendly activities for myself and my boys to enjoy but I always come back to the fact that at their core values they do not accept everyone as equals or at all. I struggle with the fact that the majority of members are very accepting and loving and try very hard to create a family environment but deep down the founding principles of the church are unchanged to reflect society. Some of you might say this is a very slippery slope to even discuss in the southern states or the area I therwise considered “the Bible Belt”. I’ve been reminded many times since I’ve moved here to not ask or discuss religion, money or anything to do with sexual orientation. But, those who know me, know that this doesn’t seem to stop me from giving an opinion. I find it hard to accept the status quo since I felt it never was much of an issue when I lived in Canada or maybe I was just living in a bubble? It’s one of my faults that I’m constantly try to work on but many times it goes unchecked much to Ian’s horror. 😫
Onto a much lighter subject, I did miss my boys and Ian. They had a fun time without me nagging them or making them be respectable young men. I just hope that the house is clean, the children are clean, and the lunches are made for school tomorrow.

Of course my journey wouldn’t be complete without getting ketchup chips to take back, including a new one called ketchup Doritos, Walmart mementos celebrating 150 years of Canada. Being Canadian, you can’t forget scratch tickets which are especially a hit with me and the last on my mini-wish list is a Tim Horton’s Ice cappuccino which unfortunately I haven’t been able to replicate in Texas.

For Texans, only a few more days of school!!!! Yah!!!! For those that don’t like the fact that I’m secretly counting down the days until the kids are done school, you should become a teacher too. And for all those people that think that it’s unfair that teachers get eight weeks off during the summer and we are just lazy, remember it’s not taxpayers who are paying our summer vacation. It is us teachers (educators) paying ourselves by taking money off every paycheck in order to have it spread across the time that we are off. If you’re still angry about that, maybe you should try homeschooling your own children and see how far you get at it. 👹🙀insert anger here, shock, disbelief that I actually wrote this, feel free to comment. 👍

I hope I sleep as easy as these two sweet hearts after running the afternoon away with their cousins.