I love racing, I love racing...maybe if I say it enough it will take! ;)

Did you know that we're having a little bit of a gas shortage in the south/east?!?

Last Monday when trying to get gas I had to go to 3 stations. Then on Thursday when we were driving to VIRginia we stopped in Concord, N.C. for supper as well as gas. Got the supper, couldn't find the gas! All the gas stations were out.

As it is Concord...home of Lowe's Motor Speedway one gas station had racing fuel. So, that's what we got at $2.00 more a gallon (putting it around the same price as they pay in Canada for regular gas!).

As we were driving along we noticed that those gas stations with gas had line ups that went out to the exits. The rest of the gas stations had bags over their handles.

Yesterday, Callum had to go to 5 different stations to get gas. They say that this is going to be going on until the holiday in a couple of weeks.

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It was a great weekend for Callum and Geordie. They really enjoyed themselves at the racetrack. It had been six months since Geordie had been to a track, that's the longest he has ever gone! Really, it's 1/9 of his life!

Yes, those are Geordie's own pair of mechanic gloves!

We could not get over the change in him. All he wanted to do was watch the races. It was quite funny, and possibly a little tiresome for Grannie. Luckily we stayed at the track and in the morning he could just sit outside our room and watch the races...as they start at 8 AM!!!

Guess, who does not enjoy that bit!??!

The Wright Team!

Callum and Geordie driving off into the sunset...well to the garage!!

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As you may guess, racing isn't exactly my 'bag'...but it is my husbands! Not just his but his whole family. Callum was to his first race when he was 6 weeks old...so was Geordie. So, while we've been living down here every couple of months we will be found at a racetrack for the weekend, sometimes monthly!

What do I do? Well, this weekend I read and did about 50 Sudoku puzzles! I will get food once in awhile and I stay with Geordie while everyone else is on the track but that's about it.

Do I feel guilty for doing nothing?!? At first...YES! but not so much anymore. There really isn't anything for me to do. Everyone has their set jobs now...including Geordie.

So, I just make sure that I have a good book and possibly some other things to entertain me. Geordie has learned 'track etiquette' and is quite easy to manage, pretty much all day long now! Yup, from 8 or 9 in the morning until the 7 o'clock dinner in the evening...we're there! For 3 days in a row!

So, that's my 'give'...the racetrack! Years a go when I was playing Callum had to go to all of my games/concerts/practices. That was my 'take'. Years to come will probably see both 'hobbies' happening at the same time. There will be a hell of a lot of 'give and take' there!

For now, I'm more than willing to deal with long weekends with my in-laws and loud cars! ;)


What do you 'give' for your spouse?
Better yet, what do you 'take'?

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Sunday Song #7

I know, I know, it's Monday but I was unable to get to a computer this weekend!

During the weekend I came across one of 'the greats'!

Yes, my friends, The Goonies!

Little useless tip of info...The actor who played Lawrence 'Chunk' Cohen is now an entertainment lawyer.

Love that movie! Love this song too...

I don't care what anyone says, Josh Brolin in sweats with short-shorts on top is perfectly A-O-K in my books!

Here's the question; do you think it's a cult or a classic?

Thursday Thirteen #8

My first degree is in music and I have an Advanced Graduate Diploma in Early Childhood Music Education (first of all my M.I.L. makes me say the whole thing! AND early childhood in Canada is from birth, not age 5 like it is down here!). I had also started my MMusEd. at UofT but felt that it wasn't for me.

There have been over 30 bands, orchestras, groups that I have had my name on the roster (in other words, played more that once). Many others where I just stepped in for a bit.

A friend from University recently wrote about this topic, and I thought I would today...

The Prime Minister of Canada has really put his foot in his mouth lately concerning the arts, where he wants to make cuts;

"I think when ordinary, working people come home, turn on the TV and see … a bunch of people at a rich gala all subsidized by the taxpayers, claiming their subsidies aren't high enough when they know the subsidies have actually gone up, I'm not sure that's something that resonates with ordinary people."

So...today I will list 13 things that ordinary people do daily that have to do with the Arts!

1) Watch a television program

2) Listen to the radio

3) read a book, the paper

4) hum

5) whistle

6) tap your foot

7) doodle

8) use furniture

9) go to a website

10) take a picture

11) go to a movie

12) clothes

13) the design of the house you live, the building you work in, the car you drive

All these things have to do with THE ARTS! Do they not?!?

So, really, how is it that 'ordinary people' do not have a connection to the arts?


- goodness, I didn't mean to be 'ranty' this week.

Can you righfully criticize another countries health care system?

I can!

Why?

Because I have lived in two countries that have two totally different health care systems!

Which one do I prefer?

USA
Where we have now lived for 4 years, 11 months and 1 day

-or-

Canada
Our home and native land, where we were born and raised

We work for a Canadian company and we have one of the best health care programs in the US. Well, that's what we are told!

When we arrived we were a little over five months pregnant. Let me tell you...a little stressful changing doctors as well as systems!

We would pay out so much money each paycheck (on top of the insurance payments) to go towards the hospital bills; a lot like a layaway plan or one might say, just like TAXES!

Anyway, what was great was that I went to the doctors office, I had three doctors looking after me. It was for sure that I would have one of MY doctors, that I had been seeing, delivering my baby.

What was also great was everything was done in that one office. Blood tests, in one room, ultrasound in another. I remember, a week before Geordie was born asking the doctor if he was in the right position. She looked at me and said, "let's go check!". To the ultrasound room we went (ten steps away...tops!).

Since then for the most part things have been okay. We were having some problems with bills being paid from the provider but that was due to Callum's HR department not knowing how to do their job.

Then, back in the spring, this happened?!?


Do you know how much this cost us?!?!

FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS

yes, $500.00

In Canada, we would have left the hospital and never had to deal with it again! Here, we have to come up with $400 (we had already paid the $100 co-pay) right now to pay it!
As we're trying to get the hell out of dodge (ie. sell the house, leave this country owing nothing as well as money to leave it with)...$400 is quite a sum! Well, really, it's quite a bit at any time!

Here's the thing...the whole ER experience was just as long as it would have been in Canada, possibly a bit longer because we had to deal with the whole money thing.

That blows that whole 'you wait forever with universal health care'!

When going to the doctor, you also wait just as long here in the States as you do in Canada.

Yes, there are waiting lists in Canada for various tests and operations but there are also openings left for emergency cases.

Here, in the US, money is taken out of our paycheck by Callum's employer and goes to the insurance company. The insurance company then only pays for a percentage of the bills, we have to pay the rest. I'm not even going to go into the fine print of things...I have heard people in the medical field have problems understanding the system. Now, the 'rest' that we pay, only is so much per year. It's something like after $2000 the insurance company steps in and takes over 100% of the bill.

In Canada, taxes are taken from your paycheck. You do not have to 'top off' any medical bills after that.

What I think people do not understand is that in this country you are paying out, just as much (sometimes I think more) as what Canadians do with Universal Health Care. Difference being... everyone has health care in Canada! AND you don't have surprise bills popping up!

So, I do believe in Universal Health Care?!? Yes, maybe for the most part because that's what I grew up with but it's also because I think it makes sense!

With that being said, I do think that there are some things that Canada can do to make it better. I'm all for a two tier system (basic health care for all, and a private sector for those who want to pay more). I also like the idea of the co-pay. Paying $5 dollars when you go to the doctor is not much to ask. Maybe $25 when you go to the ER. Might make people think about if they really have to go!

Sorry, I am going to get a little hypocritical here as I am a firm believer in the separation of church and state! But one thing that I really do not understand, specifically down here in south (a.k.a. The Bible Belt) where they are all wild about WWJD and they seem to be the most against Universal Health Care!

Seriously...What Would Jesus Do?!?

I think that Jesus would be all for Universal Health Care...don't you?

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Sunday Song #6

Geordie picked this one! This has been his choice hit of the summer.

There's just something about hearing a four year old voice sing, "we were smoking funny things...sippin' whiskey out the bottle, not thinking 'bout tomorrow"!



This is the best part...

Geordie can distinguish that the song comes from this one...





Genius I say...genius! ;)

A new pet...and other findings!

Geordie and Callum found a new pet to join Steve and Baby Geordie. The poor thing probably had no idea that hanging out on our porch could mean death to freedom.

So, without further ado... here's Ivan!

I was unable to get a good picture of him as I refuse to go too close to these pets of ours! Here's an example...

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More great thoughts by Callum, talking about getting away with things...

Callum; "Mummy stuck with tricks that were tried and true so she didn't get caught much. I was more of an innovator, which meant that I got caught a lot!

Geordie; "I get caught" *with big smile on face*

Callum; "But that's because you're an innovator"

Geordie; "Just like you!"

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Picture it; dinner table, talking, ALL THREE OF US ARE THERE. I just said something that Callum agrees with...

Callum; "f@#*in-eh!"

Total silence. Callum and I are looking at each other trying not to laugh.

Geordie; "I heard that!"

Callum; "you didn't hear anything"

Geordie; "Yes, I did. I heard what you say. You say, f@#*in-eh!"

The next day when Geordie and I were driving home after his nursery school...

Geordie; "Today I was with Carson, and Morgan and Dude and we had a big secret"

Me; "What was the secret?"

Geordie; "I can't tell you, it was bad words."

*quickly dialing Callum's number as Morgan's mother works with Callum*

We later found out that they were saying things like 'tree head' and 'car head'.

I didn't bother asking!

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Both of our mother's are huge backseat drivers. Truthfully, I don't know how the Dad's deal with it! ...and yes, they are both known to read this!!

Well, this backseat driver takes the cake!

Please note that this is a professional former F1 driver who is on a closed circuit. Do not try this at home! ;)

Thursday Thirteen #7

Here are 13 GREAT things said by George W Bush...

1) "I cut the taxes on everybody. I didn't cut them. The Congress cut them. I asked them to cut them."

2) "I'm also not very analytical. You know I don't spend a lot of time thinking about myself, about why I do things."

3) You know, one of the hardest parts of my job is to connect Iraq to the war on terror."

4) "We stand for things."

5) "I know what I believe. I will continue to articulate what I believe and what I believe - I believe what I believe is right."

6) "I'm the master of low expectations."

7) "See, in my line of work you got to keep repeating things over and over and over again for the truth to sink in, to kind of catapult the propaganda."

8) "It's amazing I won. I was running against peace, prosperity, and incumbency."

9) "Rarely is the question asked:
'Is our children learning?'"

10) "Then I went for a run with the other dog and just walked. And I started thinking about a lot of things. I was able to - I can't remember what it was. Oh, the inaugural speech, started thinking through that."

11) "I've coined new words, like 'misunderstanding' and Hispanically.'"

12) "You can fool some of the people all the time, and those are the ones you want to
concentrate on."

13) "It would be a mistake for the United States Senate to allow any kind of human cloning to come out of that chamber"

Back on the wagon...

Remember that list that I did a while back?

Well, I am still working on it! Honestly!

It is taking me longer than what I thought it would. That's nothing new! I'm a huge 'no concept of time' type of person and tend to be VERY optimistic with time. Which drives Callum batty!

Here is what I have done...

Running; I had started a running program...then I went home and 'pressed pause'.
Back on it now, just about to go after I finish this! I have found a couple of 5K's around here for this fall and still plan on doing one of them.

Organizing/de-cluttering; I actually did not stop doing this even though I did not update y'all. Before going back home Callum and I did the spare bedroom and laundry room. While home I did most of my parents kitchen...yes, they finally said goodbye to George Foreman! This past weekend we did our bedroom. It's about 95% done. You will not see before pictures of that room because it was THAT BAD!

By this weekend we will finish our bedroom and then on to the last room. A bedroom that has boxes and boxes and boxes and boxes of books.

Then we're again starting the process to get back to our home and native land and putting the house on the market.
So please pray, chant, talk to your angels, think good thoughts, etc... for us to get the hell out of here!

Welcome to My Etsy Shop!

www.hemsgems.etsy.com

-Rainbow Fluorite and sterling silver bracelet.

-Taqua nut and sterling silver earrings.

- Freshwater pearls, Swarovski crystal and sterling silver earrings.

- Coral and sterling silver earrings.

It's just the start of it. There is much more that I need to get on. I also will be doing a craft fair at the end of October in Atlanta.

Still working on the going green! I am getting better at using less water and I finally believe that you do not need a different cleaner for every mess, room or surface. I am down to 2! I would be down to 1 but I like them both too much!

As for the exclamation points...you will notice that I have cut back hugely on them.

I will still use them! They are a need for me! I have just cut down, eg. before I would have put 5 ! in the last sentence, now I put just one!

I have put in to start volunteering at the American Cancer Society. Just waiting to hear back.


So, as you can see I am still working on my list. Just trying to get back into the swing of things since being back home. Making things even worse is that I've had a horrible headache since last Wednesday which has put me a little out of commission. It's probably the change in air pressure but secretly I think I'm allergic to west GA!


What have you been up too?
Have you worked on your list?

Why can't I post?

Back in the belt...

Got in last night. Had a great trip home. Trying to get everything back in order, clean out fridge, groceries, catch up on my shows, unpack, etc...

This morning, Callum went back to work and Geordie went back to school. There he goes with his new 'packpack' from Nana & Grandad. Geordie loves that there are 'Canadian maple leafs' all over it! He was very excited. Didn't even want to eat breakfast here, wanted to eat it on the way.

Once back to normal life I will be around to visit!

A LOT going on in the coming weeks... I'll keep you posted!


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Thursday Thirteen #6

Here are 13 things that have kept me away from the computer while 'vacationing'...

1)The sights and fresh ocean air!

2) Going oat and a-boat with friends without little people!

3) Cooking Lobster

please take note of my father's white legs

4) Eating lobster

Geordie actually backed out on the trying of it. I tried a bite...still don't like it!

5) Going 'down Bayswater' (the cottage)

6) Skipping rocks

7) Hangin' with the Uncles!

Which, by the way; Uncle Russell will be on CMT tonight as a judge for the Karaoke thing

8pm Easter/ 9pm Atlantic / 9:30 Nfld.

8) Eating freezies and spending time with family and friends!

This one is a twofer

9) Shooting off potatoes!

10) Forgetting your age!

11) Geocaching

12) Seeing how fast we can get our grandparents to fold!

and of course...

13) Skating with the dudes!

Here's to more busy days! We have five more sleeps left...here's hoping I get everyone in!