The Old Beak Is Redirected To the New Blog Now!

I am Suffering Blogging Withdrawl

Ok. Seriously. I am going through blogging withdrawl.

I hated the new site, ignore the new Beak I linked to. Its not what I wanted. I nuked my old post.

The Supermom has taken on a life of its own, with books reviews and now has NOTHING to do with my personal blogging, which is ok, its cool, I am happy that I am getting sent books to review by real authors, its fun and I would love for it to get bigger and bigger in that direction. I plan on taking the books into my work and donating them to the children's units, so I really hope it gets larger that way, the more the better!

Mike is working on a new blog for me. Its crazy. Its a huge project. Mega huge. Three blogs in one at the moment. But I have always found blogging to be my "crafting", and he is making me a super duper complex blog that will be my art, my crafting, my creative outlet that I have always wanted, and I am very excited.

But it might be ready in September lol. It WILL be up by September.

I miss MY blogging desperately. I have so much to catch up on, so much to post about my gardening and everything. But I have to wait.

*sighs loudly*

So I still don't have *my* creative outlet running yet. The supermom was going to be, then totally just ran away from me! And then I realized that yes, it is everything that interests me, but its not about me.

So selfish, I know.

So I am still here.....just not blogging as much. Ok not at all. I am still reading all of yours as well, so keep on posting chickies.

This summer has been so busy, I have worked 5/6 days a week, then went to calgary, then worked another full week, then am going to calgary again. And then, I am going to attack my house which has been so sorely neglected. I just can't keep up with it, I am not home.

We have been everywhere, from the beach, to the lake,to the calgary zoo, to the science center, visiting their grandparents and cousins and aunties, the kids have had a fantastic summer, but that means that everything in my house has gone to hell in a handbasket, but when I realized that the kids have done more this summer than I even dreamed I would have, I am ok with the mess. Sorta.

So once the new blog is running, and this one is going to be the final one, I have spent forever designing and planning and concocting it to be exactly what I want, I will go back and blog blog blog about my summer. The new one also will have all my old posts off of here, so it will probably just re-direct to the new one.

I hope everyone is having a fantastic summer!

Who...

....does and doesn't want to be on my blogroll on the new site? Blackbird is anonymous and Twinkle pix is a business, so I moved them, but the rest of you may just want me to move your links to my kids blog (I have to have them listed somewhere cause I remember nothing and I read them at work)

anyhoo let me know where you wanna go!

Shuttin' It Down....

Well, I am going to leave this blog up, for my reference, but I am not going to be posting anymore. But before you ask if I have lost my mind, its because my wonderful husband has created an absolutely beautiful site for me to blog on, not only personal but now I can blog in categories that I like to share things about (crafts, books, food, etc).

Sooooo everyone can now read my blog at thesupermom.com (and seriously I can't believe that that name wasn't taken by a website already, its SO much fun!!!) and feel free to comment as per usual on my posts. I am absolutely in love with what he made me and have another site I want him to make soon too.

There are lots of things that I will be moving over from here, and maybe nuking this one completely if I can get all my old posts over to the new one, there are still things to add on the new site as well. I just don't have time to keep up with two and the kids blog now as well.

See you all over there!!

AND!

I had to harass stupid Chapters why my gawddamn Polo books weren't shipped on the 12th, and I get a bullshit email that their vendor didn't have the supply ready, and they will have the books in 2-4 business days. Which would make it a WEEK past the pre-order date for shipping it out to me. So I replied telling them they had better ship it priority at THEIR expense, because the bloody point of a pre-order is that I get my EFFING books when they are released!

F! #@$%&^%$#@

I need some chocolate.

SIGH!

This has to be the coldest, latest spring EVER. Its snowing today, freezing, the furnace is turned on dammit, and my gardening course is postponed until Monday the 25th. The day before I LEAVE on my trip. Mother EFF I am frustrated. I am not sure how I am going to get my garden in on, oh, the Tuesday morning, we are leaving Tuesday right after school to go to Calgary.

Look at this crappy weather coming next week, I can't even get my plants out because the nights are possibly going into the minus temps again with more snow.

ARGH.

Today

• 9°C
• 
  
• 
  

Fri

• 13°C
• 1°C
• 
  

Sat

• 18°C
• 2°C
• 
  

Sun

• 16°C
• 5°C
• 40%

Mon

• 5°C
• -2°C
• 60%

Tue

• 8°C
• 3°C
• 60%

Wed

• 13°C
• 2°C
• 
  

My Mini-Me...

..reading until there is no more sun in the room to read by tonight.. I used to do this as a kid allll the time. I just don't think it was quite this early on, and definitely was not falling asleep on my books.

Aw my sweet little boy :) He reads every night until he falls asleep, such an incredibly voracious little reader. He's a grump in the mornings tho, not quite sure what we are going to do about that. I am thinking its time for some dim-out/blackout material in the windows!

Cross Your Fingers.....

...that the two new Polo books I pre-ordered ship tomorrow, and are here in time for our trip! That gives me a good hour of entertainment in the car for the kids. I also ordered a couple new Robert Munsch books too.....waiting anxiously for them to arrive!

I was also glad to see there are two more coming out in the fall, Polo and the Dragon, and Polo and the Magician! Can't wait!

Goodies

A couple goodies from Mother's Day...

..homemade window cling, which is something we are going to do this summer as a craft (have to start storing up my ideas for two months of crafts at home). Mr K did such a great job, and it looks so lovely on my window.

..and a book from Mike and the Princess, and a bookmark that Mr K made for me as well. I got a folder full of coupons, crafts, notes, and a poem, all very lovely.

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's day to all the moms out there!

Let's see...Charlynn likes my thankful posts, so I will do another one today for all us moms...


I am thankful this day that my children are healthy. Working at the childrens' hospital often reminds you that not everyone is so lucky.

On that note, I am grateful to be humbled by my job sometimes with the reminder that my complaints are so incredibly minor.

I am grateful to be given the chance to raise these two amazing kids with two distinctly amusing and wonderous personalities.

I am grateful for my friends, my family and the intricate web of personalities I know...I know some truly great people...and not so great..lol. I am glad that I have been challenged to think outside the box, that the selfish have shown me how not to act, that the patient people have helped me learn my own, and to be blunt, that some people have just shown me how I do not want to parent, and on the other side of the coin, how I don't want to treat my friends. That in itself is a valuable lesson, negative as it may seem.

I am thankful that spring is here.

I tear up with joy looking at the crafts made by beautiful little chubby fingers, working so hard to make their mommy something special for Mother's Day. I only get a limited amount of those, there's an age expiry limit...I will treasure them while I can.

I am thankful and very excited to take my garden course with one of those aforementioned good :) friends this Thursday evening!

I am happy that Mike surprised me at work for my supper break with two kids and a box of my favorite sugar free Fudgsicles. Gawd dang, sometimes he gets it right!

And all days, I am just glad I have a heartbeat ;)

Want To Read..

...this book when the revised edition comes out. There are a few books on the topic, but this would be the most recent revised edition that one could find. Its a subject that fascinates me, especially after two children and my own negative experiences with the staff in the hospital and clinics we've been to.

Every day more than 3,000 babies die from infections due to a lack of breastfeeding and the use of bottles, artificial milks and other risky products. In her powerful and provocative book Gabrielle Palmer describes the pressures on women, health workers and governments who are enmeshed in collusion with the sellers of infant feeding products. These companies invest in marketing strategies and clever promotion which help maintain practices that contribute to the suffering, illness and death of children in both poor and rich nations. Gabrielle Palmer vividly describes the far-reaching consequences for health and well-being that the actions of large corporations have on global politics and the environment. With an engaging blend of facts, insight and anecdotes, she puts infant feeding fashions into their historic and economic contexts. An essential and inspirational eye-opener, "The Politics of Breastfeeding" challenges our complacency about how we feed our children and radically reappraises a subject which concerns not only mothers, but everyone: man or woman, parent or childless, old or young. This is the 3rd fully revised and updated edition.

Goofy Goose

What happens when you live near a natural lake area....we sat on the front step last night watching two that were on separate rooftops and were "talking" to each other (translate - total cacophony of honking loud noises, so funny) and now this guy on my back neighbors roof tonight, who's rather quiet. Until another lands on a nearby rooftop I am sure!

And So It Starts...

The annual craze has started, this past week I have cleaned out the flowerbeds, added new soil and manure, raked the grass, and then yesterday planted my lily and glad bulbs, AND finally pulled out that damn tree in the front. Its been half dead (ash mites) for about 2 years now, we tried to save it, but it was so far gone that Mike was able to get it out by just bending it back and forth for a few minutes, everything was so weakened it just came right out.

However, digging out the damn wire basket that held the roots was a freaking chore and a half, not to mention then back-filling the hole when done! I am not sure what's going there, I am thinking a sweet cherry bush perhaps...there are some sweet cherries that we can grow here now, which excites me to no end, but I have to find someone who carries the one I want...

I also pulled out my dogwoods cause I am sick of them and they aren't flourishing either. The rabbit is completely enjoying chewing the twigs, I will have nothing but the root system to throw out in a week or two after she's done having her fun.


There's only 2 weeks till May long! I have to get so much done before we go on our trip too, we're going right in the peak gardening time for me.

Black Eyed Susan Vine

My first bloom on one of my multitudes of vines I started, I can't wait, I love these vines :) I moved them into my hanging baskets yesterday as they were getting a little long, and they can sit inside for a few more weeks.

Alberta Campground Bookings Go Online

This was VERY interesting for me, I doubt we are going camping this year since our trip is taking up lots of fundage, but we are hoping in the next couple years to get another tent trailer and get out there with the kids. I live online, so this is just awesome. I hate phones. LOL. Booking online = perfect.

These two facts on the site I can't wait to check out, the 360 view of the campsites? That's AWESOME!

• Provide “real time” information on campsite availability; and
• Include leading-edge geospatial technology that allows panoramic 360-degree views of campgrounds and campsites

From the Edmonton Journal:

For Cindy Ady, finding a campground with showers, flush toilets and power is a must when it comes to vacationing in the great outdoors.

While unveiling the new online camping reservation system on Wednesday, the minister of Tourism, Parks and Recreation joked about her need for the extras while camping.

"I am a recreation camper, not a hardcore camper," she said.

The reservation service will be available to the public May 1 at www.Reserve.AlbertaParks.ca. Campers may reserve campsites at 25 provincial campgrounds chosen for a pilot project.

The new reservation system will allow people to choose campsites based on individual preferences, such as size, proximity to washrooms, even firepit location. Campers can get a 360-degree panoramic view of campsites and campgrounds on the website.

"This new service that we're announcing today will make it easier for campers to use our provincial campgrounds," Ady said.

The move to create an online registration service came in response to a 2007 survey of campers, many of whom were frustrated with the existing booking system.

"Eighty per cent of (campers) were selecting their campsite online, but they couldn't book the site," Ady said. "It felt like an incomplete service to them."

The first phase of the online service will cost the province $8.4 million, and the estimated cost for the first year of operation is $1.8 million.

In addition to camping fees, users of the online registration will have to pay a $10 reservation fee. The added cost does not sit well with Harry Chase, Calgary MLA and Liberal critic for parks and protected areas. Chase said he is concerned the extra fee will make camping more exclusive and too costly for some families.

"This may force families into random camping on Crown land in the backwoods, and that's where the yahoos are," he said. "The potential for conflict between a family trying to have recreation and a bunch of good old boys boozing it up is a concern."

Camper Lavona Bailer is frustrated with the $10 fee as well. She said she doesn't understand why the government is adding an extra fee when so many other places offer discounts for booking online.

Bailer has started an online petition to protest the fees, which she thinks will hurt tourism more than help it. She said, given the choice, she would choose the campground that does not charge extra for booking online.

"Half the time, the weather on weekends is crappy, so you end up cancelling and then you are out $10," she said. "Where is the money going? It just seems like a bit of a cash grab to me."

The $10 fee is not new to campsite reservations, says Camille Weleschuk, spokesperson for Alberta Tourism, Parks and Recreation. She said people phoning campgrounds to make reservations were charged the same fee.

Campgrounds in the pilot project were chosen based on popularity and proximity to major cities and highways. Ady said the province hopes to add 100 more campgrounds to the online service next year.

You May Not Like The Snow...

...but my plants sure do!

My delphiniums (I think lol, they could be larkspur, the leaves are similar and I planted both) are exploding faster than most of my spring plants, I am surprised at how hardy they are. I am so excited, they should bloom this year!

My giant onions are growing sooo fast.

And some sorta bulb that I can't remember the name, but they are already turning blue, and should be gorgeous in a week.


Pssst...Jane.....my honeysuckle FINALLY CAME BACK this year! What is this, #3 that I have tried? I was shocked to find buds on it.

Animals move today to new Edmonton shelter

Very cool, I knew they were getting a new facility, but didn't know they had revenue generating ideas and classrooms for summer camps etc! I LOVE the idea of classes to educate children on responsible pet ownership, I think that it makes a bigger impression rather than parents, (tho lord know we try) kids going to a class especially for it, and perhaps with some hands on learning as well.

From the Edmonton Journal:

More than 200 shelter animals will be transported from the society's cramped, crumbling 60-year-old facility on Yellowhead Trail on Tuesday morning into the new $22-million Chappelle Centre for Animal Care.

Suffused with natural light, the new 56,000-square-foot facility is the vision of executive director Stephanie McDonald, who developed her ideas through touring more than 70 animal shelters across North America.

Designed to promote animal care and reduce stress — a trigger for disease — the facility also includes a number of revenue-generating elements, among them a day care for dogs, a coin-operated dog bath and an off-leash park that's fenced and gated.

It also has community classroom space, which will be used for workshops and seminars, and for a summer camp where children can learn about responsible pet ownership.

The society plans to develop programs, too, focussed on socialization and behavioural issues, two of the biggest reasons owners surrender their pets.

"We're going to shape young minds here and they're going to change the face of animal care in our community," McDonald said in an interview earlier this year.

"This will be a place you'll want to come to, not just because you want to adopt an animal but because you want to educate your kids, or because you want to volunteer."

The new centre, which is located at 13620 163rd Street, is scheduled to open during the first week of May.

You might be an Emergency Physician if...

(stolen from the U of A emerg medicine website, I guess they have to have a sense of humour to survive!)

-You have the bladder capacity of 5 people
-Discussing dismemberment over a gourmet meal seems perfectly normal to you
-You find humour in other people's stupidity
-You believe 90% of what you are told and 75% of what you see
-You have your weekends off planned a year in advance
-You plan what you are going to have for dinner before doing a gastric lavage
-You believe that unspeakable evils will befall you if the phrase "wow it's really quiet" is uttered
-You take it as a compliment when someone calls you a dirty name
-You are prone to complimenting complete strangers on their great veins when you are out in public
-You have ever answered a "lost condom" phone call
-You have ever wanted to hold a seminar entitled "Suicide…Doing it right."
-You believe that "too stupid to live" should be a nursing diagnosis
-You have ever had to leave a patient's room before you begin to laugh uncontrollably
-You have ever restrained someone and it was not a sexual experience
-You have ever wanted to answer "yes" when someone calls and asks "is my husband, wife, mother, boyfriend, etc. there?"
-Your most common assessment question is "what changed tonight to make it an emergency after six [hours, days, weeks, months, years…..]"
-You believe the waiting room should be equiped with a Valium fountain
-You have been exposed to so many X-rays that you consider radiation a form of birth control
-You have ever had a patient look you straight in the eye and say "I have no idea how that got stuck there..."
-You believe that waiting room time should be proportional to the lingth of time from symptom onset. "You've had the pain for 3 weeks…well have a seat in the waiting room and we'll get back to you in 3 days."
-You know the number for the local Detox by heart.
-When checking the orientation of a patient, you aren't sure of the correct answer.
-You always try to schedule days off around the phases of the moon.
-Your alcoholically challenged patients know you by your first name, and can point to "their room."
-The hem of your uniform is held up with either 3-0 chromic or steristrips.
-You believe things would go much quicker if everyone would just get a head CT, AB's, Narcan and a loading dose of dilantin at the E.D. entrance.
-You associate possible house paint colours with body secretinos or functions such as: Bile green, venous blue, arterial red, puffer pink, mottled blue, etc.
-You believe the sight of a full moon can ruin a perfectly good day.
-You find yourself avoiding an unhealthy COPD patient in the grocery store in fear that he'll drop near you and you'll have to do CPR on your day off.
-Your family members have to have a fever of at least 40 or be missing a limb with active bleeding to receive your sympathy.
-You've held a 14 gauge needle over someone's vein and said "now there's going to be a little poke…."
-You are the only one at the dinner table not allowed to talk about your day at work…
-You've ever sworn that you were going to have "NO CODE" tattooed on your chest (or you already have it tattooed!)

Alberta Spring

Prop 8 - The Musical

Have a good laugh, I love Jack Black!

"Prop 8 - The Musical" starring Jack Black, John C. Reilly, and many more... from Jack Black