Lest We Forget

Well today was Remembrance Day in Canada.  A little different than in the states.  First it starts like 2 weeks ago with poppies showing up everywhere.  The poppy is symbolic of Remembrance Day in Canada.  There is a poem called "Flanders Field" that is part of this day.  Here is a link to a song made out of the poem. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qyQyhVXUwM0&feature=share.  But the beauty of the bright red poppies everywhere is a very stunning daily reminder of the upcoming day.  Anyways, Wil and I went to the festivities in town and it was a very nice.  There are 2 small memorials and one large one and they had a small ceremony at the first one and then they marched to the second one, had a small ceremony and then marched to the large one seen at left.  Then the big ceremony with songs, prayers and lots of wreaths placed.  It was very moving and much more ceremonial and somber than I have seen in the states.  Then we followed the uniforms to the Legion in town and had a drink and ran into some people from our church and then were approached by another Navy man.  He is a WWII vet that lives in Ottawa but is from Smiths Falls and comes down to represent WWII "as the ranks are getting slimmer every year".  He was drawn to Wil since there isn't much navy in the area and he started telling stories and he and Wil talked about Corvettes (ships not cars) and lots of other military verbiage that I understood but would sound stupid trying to restate.  At one point he started talking to me about my "father"...meaning Wil.  I laughed and as Wil explained that I was his wife and he became embarrassed and I gave him a big hug and said THANK YOU!  I know Wil wasn't happy about that but it sure made me smile.

Well this week was also Tabitha's birthday.  She turned 14, so for a couple weeks both girls are 14.  She didn't want to do much but I told her she could have whatever she wanted for dinner.  She asked for baked potato soup, croissants and confetti cake with chocolate icing and neopolitan ice cream (although on her list she put Napolean ice cream).  We laughed.  We had twilight napkins and plates and everything was wrapped in red with black table cloth.  She has asked for her room to be painted red and black so we are going to do that over Christmas break. 

Simba is doing fine in the family.  Lizzy, my younger doxie, tries to play with him but they can't figure out how to play....like a cat or a dog...very funny to see.  Simba tries to swat and play and Lizzy keeps trying to get him to smell her bum....funny.  Anyways, Molly, the older doxie, doesn't like Simba and tries to ignore him and I swear Simba knows that and tries to torment her.  So that is why this pic is so cute.  Simba is looking at Molly and Molly is ignoring him.  It was very cute.  Then Simba gave up and this was what happened.  HA!

Oh, by the way, the Newfoundland dinner/dance got cancelled so hopefully we will get to do that next spring.

Fall is certainly turning to winter slowly.  The leaves are almost completely off the trees although there are still a few hold outs.  What is interesting is that Halloween decorations started coming down immediately and Christmas decor is going up quickly and being turned on!  WOW, that is really early but I am thinking that it is for self preservation.  It is still warm enough to be outside and I am thinking in a month it won't be so I am going to get Halloween stuff put away this weekend and I will start getting out the Christmas stuff.  Maybe that will put me in the spirit.  Usually I am almost done with shopping by now and man it sure is not going that way this year.  

Work is going well.  The other nurse called me last week after my first 2 days alone and said "you get an A+".  I guess everything was fine and they were pleased.  That is a good feeling especially when you work for such a self sufficient laid back doctor.  It is hard to know how you are doing when the doctor is always "fine".  It is a nice thing to not be working for high maintenance docs anymore but it is a little weird for me.  I am still getting called to work at the shelter.  I work at the office 2 days one week and 2 1/2 days the next and so far each 2 day week I have worked at the shelter one day.  So I am anxiously waiting for a 2 day week.  But I love getting caught up on all the animals.

The biggest benefit for working at this office was that Dr. Turner was nice enough to find me and the girls a female doctor in Smiths Falls.  That is unheard of.  I have called all the docs in Smiths Falls and the surrounding area and none are taking new patients.  So I was concerned about how far away I was going to have to drive to see someone.  I am very thankful.  So I will be calling for an appointment next week.  That is amazing and I think that will continue to be a benefit of working in the medical field.  It will give me a HUGE resource to know what is good and bad and what is normal and such.

What's coming up?  Well, tomorrow I am going back into a cute little store called Millers of Merrickville, they are having a customer appreciation day.  Then the stores in Smiths Falls are having a Christmas open house so I will wander around town and see what I can find.  I really enjoy walking around the little towns.  Wil is going to Halifax for a business trip the week of American Thanksgiving so I am bummed about that but the girls will be in school so I guess I just need to get used to it being just another day.  He is going to bring back some lobster hopefully so that would be nice and I am playing with the thought of taking the girls out of school on black Friday and driving to the states for some shopping.  Tiana's birthday is shortly after that.  I am not sure what she is thinking about doing, we'll see.  Then Christmas and New Years, which is our anniversary and then 2011, here we come.

Believe me the irony of November being the month I decide to Thank the Lord for everything is not lost on me.  It certainly is a choice and it has been very helpful.  You should try it.  Basically every time something stressful happens, I can feel my emotions flowing upwards and then I try to pause and Thank God for whatever has just happened.  It usually calms me down and make me think about how it could be soooo much worse.  Not always, mind you, but usually.  I am a flawed human and the attacks are regular but I am blessed to have a wonderful God who has never left me even though I have felt so alone.  God is good, I wish he would teach lessons differently sometimes but then again that is probably why I am not God.  :)

I started working out at Curves.  The work out is a little easy for me but it is something at least.  Of course I am not losing weight...I am gaining...AAAHHHH!  Certainly does not make me want to keep going but I will.

Well, I have more to say but I need to end this one and go get ready for work. The girls are out of school today.  Tiana spent the night at a friends and Tabitha is asleep.  Hockey game tonight.  Oh, the girls went to their first bears game and I think they had fun.  So I will end with a picture of them goofing around at the game.  Talk to you soon.