Peggy

Peggy
Originally uploaded by ssygrl.

I have just finished uploading an old box full of photos of my Grandmother for a slide show I am putting together for her Memorial service, which is taking place this upcoming weekend in Toronto.

It has been an emotional as well as an educational process, to take a look at this woman's life in snapshots...

I know I am proud of her beautiful and independent spirit and that I miss her very much. I am sad that she never got to meet the love of my life and our yet-to-be born baby, who would have called her Gigi as her other 11 Great-grandchildren did.

I have the feeling she'll be smiling down at us as we put her to rest and celebrate her life on Saturday. Here's to you, Gram!

what *isn't* new, pussycat?

In less than four months, I have gotten pregnant, engaged, married and have become a home owner. That's enough to send any girl's head into a spin, wouldn't you say?

I know I haven't been writing as much and some of the time I feel like I need to censor my thoughts, lest I blurt them out here only to have them come and bite me in the ass at a later date. Although this is semi-anonymous, I'm pretty sure that with a little effort I could be identified. Not that I'm trying to be all mysterious or anything, I'm just thinking that if I were completely 'underground', I might feel a little freer to express myself totally and completely. But I suppose that's what the old-fashioned hand written journaling is for.

So what is it that is bouncing around in my head lately? Getting used to a new Mama-in-law, for one. Whose response yesterday when I shared with her the statistic about a pregnant woman's brain shrinking 3 to 5% was "is that why you've been acting so crazy lately?"... My honey was quick to reassure me later on that this was her way of teasing me, a joke not to be taken at all seriously. In my all too sensitive hormone laden state, I was not finding it very funny, but decided for the sake of peace to let it slide.

I am doing my best to let a lot of things not bother me- I know it is in my best interest and in the best interest of the being growing inside of me to keep the stress level as low as possible.

Other things keeping me preoccupied are the need to write and send out about 100 thank you cards...
And scan in a big box of old photographs of my Grandmother for a slide show I am putting together for her memorial next month...
Hmmm and maybe think about starting to pack, seeing as the move is coming up in about 5 weeks. Yeah, I've been a little preoccupied lately.

'cause Shan did it too

1. What is the soundtrack for this blog?

It changes with each entry

2. What's bothering you right now?

my head aching

3. Do you close the door when you are sleeping?

have to so the cats can get out!

4. What is in your wallet?

nothin'- just spent it on lunch for me & Cari

5. Wallpaper on your computer's desktop?

a beautiful Veer image of a path in a forest with the sun shining through...

6. Background on your cell phone?

The cake my Dad's ex gf made us for the Rehearsal dinner with the words "And they lived happily ever after..." in blue icing

7. Next time you will kiss someone?

as soon as I get home

8. Where was your default picture taken?

I don't understand the question (I sound like my mother)

9. Eyes: Blue

10. Life: ideal

11. House: buying one soon

12. Doing this weekend?

finding a house to buy & attending a wedding shower

13. Wearing?

Woke up this morning and thought "black", so it's my black maternity shirt and a red & black top that still fits over my belly

14. Who was the last person to send you a text message?

my honey

15. If you could have one thing right now what would it be?

the afternoon off for a looooong nap

16. Listening to?

nothing right now, but I recently uploaded a CD we picked up on our honeymoon in Hawaii "Acoustic Soul - John Cruz"

17. Have you ever kissed anyone named Patty?

Not that I recall

18. What do you smell like?

Alfred Sung "Paradise" and the rapidly disappearing candy necklace my colleague LB gave me

19. Eating?

Candy off the candy necklace (duh)

20. On your bed, what is your favorite thing?

Besides my man? My body pillow

21. Do you believe in a soul mate?

Yes, several. And they always have a lot to teach you

22. What do you wear to bed?

A sports bra, most nights (poor pregnant boobies)

23. Do you remember your dreams?

Lately, yes. Last nigth I was trying to balance on a cliff over the sea

24. Do you burn easily in the sun?

Lately, yes- apparently your skin is more sensitive when you're pregnant (what part isn't??)

25. Have you ever been gambling?

Yes, a couple of times, I usually take $20 and when it's gone, it's gone

26. What's something you wish you could understand better?

Why humankind can't get along better

27. What did you do last weekend?

Went to open houses & two birthday parties

28. Who do you miss?

My PEI Kimmy, my sister & nephews who just moved to Nova Scotia

29. Who is the last girl you hugged?

Cari at lunch

30. Orange or apple juice?

Both. Craving the juice.

31. Who was the last person you went somewhere with?

My *ahem* husband on our honeymoon

32. What was the last text message?

Am downstairs.

33. Have you kissed anyone on your friendslist dailes?

ummm no

34. Last time you ate a home grown tomato?

last weekend at the in-laws in a zuchini cheese dish. YUM

35.

Huh?

36. What was the last thing you drank?

Water

37. Who's house did you go to last night?

mine

38. Who was the last person you visited in the hospital?

my mom during her cancer operation/recovery in January


39. Do you like someone right now?

I like my husband. A whole lot.


40. What do you wear more, slacks, jeans, or sweatpants?

none of the above. Am preferring skirts/dresses these days. PJ bottoms at home


41. What is the last movie you watched? With who?

In the theatre it was "Surf's Up" with my two nephews


42. Name 3 drinks you regularly drink:

Water, juice, more water


43. What are you excited about?

Everything! Buying a house, having a baby, being married to the man of my dreams!


44. Do you want someone you can't have?

Nope, got him. Hook, line & sinker


45. Who was last to slap your butt?

Probably my sister


46. Where was the last place you went?

Define "went"... the gym last night count?


47. What's on your mind right now?

how to make the three remaining hours of the afternoon pass


48. Have you cried recently?

Are you kidding? I'm pregnant. I cry at the drop of a hat


49. When you think of your crush, who is it?

This is too easy


50. Is taking a shower a daily habit?

Sometimes twice

That's Mrs. to you!!

Away from here

See that empty chair, second from the left? In my mind, I'm there already.


Away from the endless 'discussion' on how to address my new in-laws with the most respect (nevermind my comfort level)

Away from the burst blood vessels on my eyelids from throwing up so violently (whoever said 'morning' sickness ends after the third month was DEAD wrong)

Away from the demands of needy customers and breakdowns of family members

Gone

MAMA MIA!

I don't think it's possible to fit much more into a weekend than I just did... From sneaking out of work early to run 4 or 5 wedding errands, celebrating my sister's beau's b-day, having a dress fitting, learning how to belly dance, helping a friend pick out a dress to wear to my wedding (and hitting the maternity store for a few goodies for me) and then attending a musical... whew! It's no wonder I'm wiped completely out.

With 13 days till the wedding, I'm getting into "get 'er done" mode... have my list and am checking stuff off as fast as I'm adding to it at the moment. B remarked to me while dropping me off tonight after Mama Mia (I will have ABBA songs stuck in my head the rest of the week!!) that I'm the calmest bride she's ever seen. "Well, I'm marrying the man of my dreams, what's there to sweat about?" came my reply.

The beauty rest, that's another thing completely. Goodnight, sweetie-pies :)

I am Mystique

Your results:
You are Mystique

Mystique 52% Catwoman 48% Poison Ivy 48% The Joker 47% Apocalypse 46% Dark Phoenix 45% Lex Luthor 40% Juggernaut 40% Venom 39% Magneto 39% Kingpin 38% Dr. Doom 35% Green Goblin 32% Two-Face 28% Riddler 22% Mr. Freeze 18%

Sometimes motherly, sometimes a beautiful companion, but most of the time a deceiving vixen.

Click here to take the Supervillain Personality Quiz

movin' on

I just deleted my house sitting blog. Now it's just me and Baby Sass.

If there is one thing you can count on in this life, it's change. And change is a good thing. Especially when it means not having to pack up all your stuff and move around every couple of weeks, looking after other people's stuff, in an attempt to avoid horrible roommates.

I've got stuff of my own to look after now, and a wonderful home to come home to.
We're looking at buying a house this year and really putting down roots. As much as I have become accustomed to (and embraced the idea of) moving around my whole life, this comes as a most welcome change. A place to call our own and to bring up baby. I like it!

Junes so soon

Oh my. The days (not so much the nights) are flying by lately. 34 days till I do!! The invites are out, the rsvps rolling in, the 'to do' list ever shrinking. It's a nice feeling to have pretty much everything under control, and that we're going to be able to pull this off just the way we want it. For about half of what the average Canadian wedding costs these days. It's still a huge chunk of cash, but it's not going to put us in major debt. For long. :)

In other news, my ever expanding belly is keeping me pretty occupied. Oh, and the boobs too- had to go out and get a larger bra (and it's just the beginning!!) but what a relief for the girls. Also picked up a nice second hand rocker- if I can only keep the cats/cat hair off it it'll be a nice addition to the nursery. When we're ready to set it up, that is. It'll mean losing my meditation/study room but that's ok- I'm working on a perma-state of Zen-ness so I can carry it around with me. The Buddha might get a little heavy.

bursting at the seams

I am in love with life lately.

I loved this past weekend, the running around doing errands for the wedding, finally finding the motivation to clean the house at 8 pm while my love worked on beautifying the yard. Sitting on the floor working on the invites with one of my closest friends, A and my future mother-in-law (who granted me permission to call her 'Mama' as her son does). Receiving two Super Soakers as a gift from my sister, and promptly lending them to my three precious nephews to go break in in the back yard, clad in kitchen garbage bags and huge grins.

Having the day off today to lounge in bed, watching pointless tv and eating my favourite cereal, a lovely surprise visit my future husband over lunch and a leisurely afternoon spread before me to run yet more wedding errands, discover my brother on Facebook and plan the next Goddess gathering (belly dancing)!

Yes, I'm just about as happy as happy can be, I see the light at the end of the morning sickness tunnel and I greet each coming day with cheerful expectation. Life is so good.

In other news, it's snowing

Seriously. Woke up to snow this morning. Already grumbling cause I had to go into work while the rest of the country slept (we observe Queen Victoria's Birthday here for some reason) it was quite a shock to the system to see the flurries outside the window. It's mostly gone now, although there could be some left up on top of the hill where we live. Hmmm. Mother Nature sure is out of whack.

She's not the only Momma feeling out of sorts. I am *almost* done with the first trimester, but my bouts of nausea have not let up. Kind of a bother while I'm trying to be the super multi-taking organizing queen that I usually am (work being crazy busy AND wedding planning non stop).

I am getting some stuff done, including a wedding website... (leave a comment if you want the link!)

3 days till my b-day...

I am marrying the sweetest man in the world

These arrived today:



The card reads "Sass, to the Mum to be! Love, your Husband to be"

Happy Sigh.

On getting dressed

me: "Does this look like a tent?"

my love: "Would you like to wear something else?"

me: "You didn't answer the question"

Bloated and it's getting worse

Wow. 8 weeks today and I seriously can't get my skirt done up.

I had a different skirt on this morning that I *thought* was going to do the trick and the moment I sat down in the car to leave for work the zipper popped. Argh! Now here I am with my blouse pulled down over the top of my jeanskirt to try and hide the fact that it's undone. Sigh. Guess it's time to go maternity clothes shopping!

The weekend was a wonderful but exhausting blur of home spa-ing, running around making wedding plans and attending family dinners. I wish I could find the energy at the end of the day for all the laundry, cleaning and general tidying that the house deserately needs but mostly I just can't get back up once I hit that couch.

I need a sign to wear around my neck: Quiet, Please! Baby under construction!

Here's to hoping that the rumours of having more get up and go in the 2nd trimester are true...

back to me

Ahhh. I feel 'relatively' normal today, after a week of constant nausea. Just allowed myself the small treat of a cuppa joe with some hot chocolate mixed in. Mmm. It's really the little things, these days.

While I am usually all for the mind over matter theory concerning most things, this particular 'thing' has taken over my whole being. The more I read about the changes that are happening (and the ones still to come) the more fascinated (and somewhat unprepared) I feel. But I trust my body completely to do what it needs to do, my major responsibility now being to fuel it and give it enough rest and relaxation.

Started my pre-natal yoga class last night, in a room full of hugely expanding bellies. I felt like a bit of an impostor as I probably won't even begin to start showing until 2-3 months from now (hopefully *after* our big day). But it was fun to look around and see all of these glowing women in different stages, there was a wonderful ~excuse the pun~ expectant energy in the room.

I also feel wonderfully expectant of what is to come.

A wink and a smile

It's kind of strange to have our news 'half' out there. My Love's parents spend their winters down south in their motorhome, so we haven't yet had the opportunity to share their Grandparents-to-be status with them. I was greeted with the question "Sunday Lunch or Dinner?" upon my return home this evening as he propped the garage door open with one foot. "Dinner" I replied and gathered my various bags together which were strewn all over the front seat of the car. Ginger everything-I-could-find at the health food store- snaps, jam, ale. Plus my extra vitamins and oh so fashionable anti-nausea wristbands in dark grey. Also in tow, a bag full of clothing for the exchange on Saturday, a donation from a coworker.

Yes, another gathering of the Goddesses, and not a moment too soon. Need to send out an addendum to the invite "maternity clothes welcome". How my mom gigggled as she realized how futile it had been to mend my clothes, seeing as they won't be fitting me in a couple of months.

Progress on the Wedding front: a font and a willing (and so able) invitation designer at my disposal, a colour scheme chosen (periwinkle & navy blue), and phone calls put in to the caterer & photographer. We'll pull this all together, with style and grace. And a little life hiding under the empire waist.

announcement announcement annOUNCEment!!

This is just too much good news for me to contain any longer. I have to share it with you, IIFs.

Sass is going to be a Mama!

AND

I'm getting married too... SOON! 07/07/07

If you're interested in following the progress of the pregnancy, I have created a new blog for my baby here

Pure joy bliss and happiness all around.

Now to find a dress...

I'm in the mood

Your Mood Ring is Dark Red

Very happy Love Passion

Mood Ring Generator

Peanut Butter Level 2

I don't know what my problem with Monday is. Or maybe it's Monday that has a problem with me.
Luckily, tomorrow is my Friday as I am in a course for the remainder of the week.
Divine timing is what I call that.
It is part 2 of a course I started last year.

The major descriptor I have heard again and again from past participants has been "intense".
Hey, I feel ready for it, why not?

You might not hear from me for while.
I'll just be over here, processing.

Streamofconsciousnesscurious

I wonder how many calories I burned on my two hour (uphill) walk home yesterday?
I wonder why my nose bled twice today?
I wonder if we'll be able to figure out the new Mac we're getting next week (having always been PC people)
I wonder how many Goddesses are going to sign up for the spa party night?
I wonder how much of a refund I'm going to get on my taxes?
I wonder how my course is going to go next week and how much work I'll have to catch up on the week after?
I wonder why my period is three days late?
I wonder if I'll pass the motorcycle test this time?
I wonder what size of pants I'll be able to get into by track day?
I wonder if I'll be proposed to anytime soon?
I wonder why I care so much?

Wow. Now that's some food for thought.
Guten Appetit my sweet.