Back in Trail

Well, I left my last blog as my departure to UBC and now I have returned. UBC is great with the nice weather and not even too bad with the wet. We did have more sun than not. Classes were great but it is even greater to be home - even with a cold.

One of the first things I did was read my new Harry Potter book that was waiting for me at home. I just finished it today. It was very good.

Slowly but surely, I have been unpacking and working on bits of the house that I want to get done. I want to re-organize my desk so that I am all ready to start up again in September.

Dan and I are planning our holiday to Alberta that we start next week... a bit late but who cares. It will be just the two of us exploring and our first vacation together.

Hope everyone's summer is going great.

No Turning Back

Well, here it goes. Today is my last day in Trail before I take off to Vancouver every July for the next 3 of them. I officially start my Master's Degree in Deaf Ed. I am so looking forward to it (except that I will miss Dan and Mouse terribly) but I have worked in my job for 1 year now and it is time to get the 'school learning' started rather than invaluable 'hands on' experience.

I feel like I am packing my house with the list of things I need to bring. I was trying to go there with a light load. Oh well.

I am busy cleaning up the house before I leave in hopes that it will look that way when I get back. What happens in between, I don't care, I just want to come back to a tidy house.

I will still be checking in. Happy July and Canada Day.

Angela

The Olive Garden

We just came back from a weekend in Spokane. It was great - well, the hotel wasn't - but everything else was. I can't believe my husband when it comes to shopping for what he is looking for... he takes so long! I have had enough of surplus and liquidation stores. I got my thrills from Victoria Secret and shoe stores. My only requirement was for us to go to the Olive Garden. Has anyone been? If you like pasta and good food, that is a great place to go. I love it.

Research course is done! Yippee! And one week from today, I will be in Vancouver. Oh, wow, the time has flown so fast.

From out of the dark (momentarily)

For those of you who wondered if I am still around, I came out of my dark hole of study, for the moment. I love to study or learn but this research analysis course is not very thrilling and it takes up way too much of my time; the house is a mess, my banking isn't done, my weeds are winning, and I want time back for myself and my husband (he has been sick so that is kind of good b/c he just wants to be left alone - now, am I awful for saying that is a good thing that he is sick?).

And to top it all off, the final assignment is due the day after my birthday!!! So, there is the panic to get it done ahead of time. EEK!

Anyway, there are 2 more weeks left of school, then I will go down to Vancouver to start my masters, yes, study, but this will be in my area of wanting to learn. Then that month will go by and then it will be August... my holidays.

So, that is it since I last wrote.

Ciao.

Good things

Perks are good things... I went to a conference Thursday to Saturday in Richmond. It has to do with the Provincial Resource Program - Auditory Training Equipment. They paid for everything! The airfare and the hotel plus food for the day. It was very informative especially from the seasoned TODHH (Teachers of deaf and hard of hearing). That I found the most useful.

I also got a couple hour visit with my best friend, Miriam.

Then I got home and there was a letter from the school board. My position has been confirmed from temporary to continuing!!! It is official that I have this job (as long as I complete my Masters). I love that fact that I am going to obtain my goal.

Husbands are a perk too. I got to come home to a welcoming home.

Everyday life

I have time to blog - but what? Ah, I know... how I dislike Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart is really the only big store we have here. I hate how their prices are so low that it makes it hard to patronize local businesses. I went to Columbia Gardens Nursery yesterday. I got a bunch of planter stuffers. They cost 3 for 6 dollars. Then I go to Wal-Mart - .97cents each!!! I am glad I went to Columbia Gardens first though because how hard would it be to choose between 1 $ or 2$ for the same? This is just one example but you get my drift.

My rant for today.

I need to balance it off.
I got my homework done early so I have the rest of Sunday to myself :)

Research

Well, I have started my first course... Reading and Understanding Research. So much for understanding it! There is a term 'research synthesis' that from my reading I am unable to determine the meaning. I think I have got it now and answered correctly. I will find out Wed when it is returned. I sure hope that the first module is not an indication of what I will face throughout the rest of the course.

Anyway, I saw fire works last night for "Silver City Days" It was a very nice evening. I had a buffalo burger too! It was good.

Now, I am off to clean, clean, clean... and next week, steam clean the carpets to remove the evidence of our Bulimic cat - who is better now.

Another death but not what you think.

Thanks to all who sent their thoughts and prayers for my Grandma's funeral. It was beautiful, quiet, and a great celebration of her life. Thanks.

On the other side, my car was sent to be buried. It hemorrhaged anti-freeze yesterday when we were supposed to come back to Trail. We came out of London Drugs and noticed liquid dripping heavily from beneath the car. We managed to bring it to the garage where I have gone to before. Well, our choice was to pay 500 to get it fixed or a new one. My car is 13 years old and has been great. However, I have paid already about 2000 in the last 6 months. Dan was also worried that my car would die on me at the most inopportune moment so we decided to look around. Bruce Striker at Don Folk Chevolds was great. A good salesman who doesn't push. We checked out a few cars and chose the Chev Cobalt (Consumer rated as best buy). By the way, anyone who has graduated from University in the last 4 years, the company will pay your first two months of car payments. Anyway, they took another 1000 off the price and Chev Canada will donated 1000 to a charity of your choice. It is called the "Car Heaven" program. So, I have a new zippy car with a/c (never before) and it is a four door, and it has all the doodads for babies (whenever they come) and a bunch more. It is a fun car to drive (also a standard).

So, bye to my Chev Calavier and hello to Chev Cobalt.

Our sadness, her freedom

Today, I got word that my Grandma passed away. It is a sad time for us but not for her. It is sad as we will miss our mother, grandma, great-grandma, and friend. But for Grandma, she is free of the body that was no longer hers. She now is in a place where she can remember everything rather than the select. She is free.

Now in Heaven, she can golf (and get that hole in one), curl, play cards, and even bet on the ponies. She will see all those who left before her. She will see her infant son, her brothers who died too young, her epileptic mother, her father, her step mother and many more. She will be our guardian angel who will look over us and keep us on the straight and narrow.

We will no longer see her with our eyes, hold her hand, or give her a hug. We will instead see her with our hearts, remember her with our memories, and feel warm when we remember.

Nedra Mae Macallister Snelson, we will miss you.
Love, your grand daughter.

Bulemic Cat

Not for the weak stomach.

This is Mouse. For the past 3 weeks, she has been throwing up. At the beginning, we thought it would pass but then took her to the vet. It was an obstruction; wait for a BM to try and find out what it is and feed her Vaseline with her food. BM's are happening but she is still throwing up. Mostly it is hairballs but sometimes food. Give her hair ball remedy. Still throwing up. I want to follow the directions to the letter but Dan does not. Will it ever stop? She still eats as she has only lost 1 lbs in the whole 3 weeks, she is still active, and healthy. She has become more of a suck - now a lap cat where as before, she would sit beside us not on our lap. We are just tired of her throwing up. If you have any ideas, please pass them on.

teaching

So, I don't work Fridays so at the beginning of the school year, I put my name down to sub on Fridays. I RARELY get called. In fact I have taught a total of 1.5 days since September. However, as I had plans yesterday, I of course get called in. I figure that by the time they call me, they are running out of options plus I got the call at 7:45 rather than an earlier call. So, I saw the call display and debated with myself should I answer or not. I chose to answer. I was asked to go to a grade 2 class nearby (thankfully). I got there several minutes before the bell rang.

It was fun. The class mostly accepted my changes in the way things are done but I tried to follow their routine. I could not find one book I was supposed to read... I looked everywhere except the one place where it was (but I was not looking for a stack of photocopied books). Anyway, it was found for buddy reading.

I forgot how much kids tattle on each other. Groan. At the end of the day, my voice was so tired. I wish I had a sound field system!! Then I kicked myself... I had one in my car the whole time as I have it for a school on Monday to use!!!

So, I enjoyed teaching a class but I also like my job where I am teaching one on one.

And on the note... two more months and I start going to school again myself.

Happy Saturday.

When the timing is right

Don't you love it when the timing is right? This Easter weekend was beautiful so I put off doing the spring clean of my kitchen floor off as long as I could. So, the weekend, I went outside and planted flowers and I went shopping. I love doing my errands when it is nice outside. Then today, perfect! It is raining. What a great time (if there is ever one) to get down on my hands and knees and scrub the floor, floorboards, and gasp, behind the stove and fridge. It is done and death to the first one who messes it up :)

Hope everyone else had a great long weekend. Next stop, May long weekend and then summer - oh my gosh!

Cheers.

yay's and nay's

It has been awhile... I always want to write something profound or insightful but it never seems to happen.
What has been happening in point form?
*Great Spring break!
*Went to UBC (was a gorgeous, sunny day)
*Went to Kelowna - spent too much there
*Tax Canada has given me more refund than my tax return said - who is right and who is wrong? I sure hope they are right.
*Spring time is arriving
*Going to judge a science fair tomorrow - at 8 a.m. (those who know me, I am not a morning person)
*Computer UBC registration still SUCKS! Had to talk to a real person to get it all sorted out.
*Life is good.

unloading the dishwasher

Why do men avoid unloading the dishwasher? My husband will open it up, see clean dishes, and slink away if I am not around. I am stumped.

The Real Vancouver Rain

Hi! I have read every one's blogs and when I am gone for 6 days, a lot happens. I am glad I caught up with you all.

I just came back from Vancouver and yes, it really rained there a lot. The real Vancouver Rain. But I had fun anyway.

I have had the unofficial email that yes, I am accepted into the M. Ed for deaf/hh program. Yay! I went there last week to also visit the campus. It was a beautiful sunny day and the atmosphere is so ... UBCish. I love it. I can't wait to start in July (but I will miss my hubby).

Vancouver was great as I saw my friend, met with some aunts and uncles, and hung out with the best almost 5 year old that I have met. I went shopping on Granville and visited the Vancouver Aquarium. For those of you who saw the Stanley Park tree devastation on t.v., that does not show what it is like. Drive around. It is sad in many ways but it is Nature.

While my car was parked at my friend's house, their neighbour from across the street backed into it. Thank goodness for honest people. Let's just hope ICBC will pay for it as my car is over 10 years old.

Anyway, great trip, great visit, great to be home... till Thursday and then I am off again.

Vancouver Rain

Sunday morning, and it is raining like it does in Vancouver. We have to turn on the lights because it is very somber out there. I want to curl in front of the fire and read a thick, mind-absorbing book. But I don't have one.
So, I will go to option 2. The housework will get done and I will eat chocolate.

In two days, I may be experiencing real Vancouver rain but I hope I get the 'springtime in Vancouver' weather.

Happy spring break to those who have it and to those that don't, happy March.

Newborn Hearning Screenings

Last week, I was invited to Interior Health's information meeting on newborn hearing screenings.

My numbers may be off as I am going from memory but my notes are at the office if someone wants more information.

1. In BC, in any given year, 10% of the population has some form of hearing loss. In BC, 120 - 160 new born babies will be born with a hearing loss. Degree of loss is varied.

2. While educators of D/HH (deaf and hard of hearing) know that giving a child langague before the age of 5 is the best way for success, research has found that the frist 6 months of a baby's life is more important for language accquistion than previously thought. Therefore, the ministry of health has set up the newborn hearing screenings so that every child that is born should have it done either before they leave the hospital (if it is offered there), or by an appointment with the health authority before not too long after leaving the hosptial (those of you who have home births, you would check with either your midwife/doola/doctor ect). This way, any hearing loss is detected and intervention can begin - whether it is sign, hearing aids, cochlear implant or a combination. This way, the child will have the best chance at having langauge at the same level as thier hearing peers.
3. This procedure is totally NON invasive. The mother and baby goes to the technician, the baby should be sleeping and electrodes are placed on parts (head and shoulder) of the baby to read the brain stem waves. Sound is passed through the ears (there is a 'cup' that goes over the baby's ears) and a reading (accuarate) is taken. This takes place in a very quite room, with a comfy chair for the mom to hold her baby as this takes place. If memory serves me correct, this should take no more than 1/2 hour. Once done, the results are read (I am not sure if at the same time or a return appointment) and if there is a hearing loss (remember only 10% of population) then intervention is discussed and it goes on from there.
4. If the baby has a hearing loss that requires a hearing aid, the ear molds have to me made every 6 - 8 weeks (the ears grow). This and the hearing aids are provided free up to the age of 5 (my soap box is why can't gov't pay for school aged kids too?). Hearing aid molds are not painful to get - goo gets put in the ears, it feels cold, and then it is taken out and sent away to be made into a mold.

That is it. A very important screening to be done for sure.

Catch Up

No great insights on this post - just a catch up on life.

I had a few days all with just myself and my cat. Dan was away in Edmonton. Of course, it had to snow a lot one day and that meant I had to do everything (so the garbage didn't get taken out). I hate shovelling snow with a passion. Nothing worse than going smoothly and then the shovel ends up in your gut as you hit an uneven part of the pavement. Anyway, having a few days by myself was nice but it was even nicer when Dan came home.

Work: It is going great. I love the job and can't wait till I get my Masters so that I will really know what I am doing. I think I have mentioned that many times before. I am looking forward to being in Vancouver for July. I love the coast to visit but not to live so this is a perfect opportunity. I am researching UBC and I have a map and everything. I might even bring my bike and get around by bike there.

Spring Break... wow, it is almost here and this district gets two weeks. I like that. So, I will be the traveller and go to Vancouver, come back to Trail and see Bruce Cochran and Red Rider (yep, here in Trail) and then Dan and I will go to Kelowna.

The 'flying without the net' situation... it is going great in that I love learning about my body but it sure takes out the spontaneity as right now as we are still in the beginning stages. Whenever it is safe, someone had been sick or away!!

And as my friend Cheryl is doing, she lists 3 good things she is happy for so I will take a page out of her book and do the same.

1. I heard birds yesterday - spring is near!
2. 2 week spring break is great for getting to visit everyone
3. Twice my husband had the flu this year(that is not the great part) but both times I did not catch it at all.

Update completed.

Internet access easy????

Well, websites are supposed to be easy right? Well, it all depends. Everyone knows that I will start my Master's degree this summer but in the mean time, I need to take one course as a pre-requisite so I went on UBC's website last night. It was NOT easy.

First, to register for summer courses the deadline is Feb 28th! Oh my gosh, I better get to it. Okay, so I find the appropriate page and now here is my choice. Do I register for a returning student as I am a student from UBC-O, a new student as I have been out for a year, a distant education student (yes, but not so easy), for my master's? I am not accepted yet so I can't, nor can I register for regular university course as I am not registered in any other program, or the unspecified student. To make a long story short, I went to bed and called the person on the toll free number. Wow, so much easier! She just took my student number, registered me as an unspecified student, and told me to pay my 100 before my March 29th registration time and that was it. Oh yeah, she also told me the courses that are offered will not be on the web till next week. Whew! As the one I need is not shown yet.

Websites? Not nearly as user friendly as it is supposed to be.

Anyway, everything else is going great! Work is busy and I am constantly learning, spring break is 3 weeks away, and the snow is melting.

Cheers!

Domestic Goddess of the Kitchen

Ah, today is the 3 year marker for Dan and my first date. To celebrate I baked a chocolate cake from scratch, made chocolate icing, from scratch and right now in the slow cooker is a roast with carrots. The potatoes (with garlic) have yet to be made. I can't wait to get to the wine.

Yesterday, I made Cream of Broccoli Soup - from scratch. It is yummy. It was even more special as I shared it with my friend Maureen who was in town for her son's hockey tournament. Last I talked, her son's team had won their first match.

What else will this kitchen goddess make? Nothing for now. We have left overs! Isn't that the whole point to making good things?

If I knew then what I know now

In a previous post, I mentioned that Dan and I have gotten rid of the chemical birth control and went to a natural family planning method. You may be expecting me to say that we tried it and it didn't work and we are expecting... NOT, but I thought I would throw that in. What I really want to say is that I wished I knew about this way back when. I think teenagers should know this so that they can learn about their bodies. Sure, it takes away the 'anytime anywhere' aspect but to know about how your body works, when it is safe, and when it is not is fabulous. That knowledge is power to me... rather than let the pill control me, I control my choices.

Speed visiting

I think we have all heard of speed dating but I am talking about speed visiting. This past weekend, I drove to Kelowna on a Thursday to attend a workshop for hearing resource teachers in Kelowna. Since I didn't make it down at Christmas time, I wanted to see everyone I could possibly (not everyone got a visit this time - I will catch up to those late. So here was my schedule:
Thursday - arrive in Kelowna from a very tiring drive in snow; spend 1 hour in the mall; go to a 2 hour appointment - flying without the net.
Friday - workshop - oh technology failed us and there was a lot of waiting; after workshop get some COSTCO and Princess Auto (for Dan) shopping done, meet with Irene; go home (parents) for dinner; go to Mariam's. Very tired home by 10.
Saturday; meet Leanne and spend time with her and 4 children; have hair appointment to cover grey - thanks Rose; meet Cheryl; go to church and then back to parents for dinner with my sister and husband; sneak off to London Drugs; come home to bed
Sunday - get ready and go see my 96 year old Grandma. She was alert and in a good mood. Then pick up my passengers (one of whom gave me his cold!!!) and head back to Trail.

Whew! Just remembering it makes me tired. I wouldn't have missed it but it was way too speedy. I am glad I saw whom I could and as I said, I will catch those whom I didn't see.

bye.

New Year's Resolution

Well, it only took two weeks into the new year to decide on what I want to do. Admittedly, I have never stuck to the resolutions like losing weight or eating healthy although I will still try to achieve that for sure. But, I thought about my life and all the love and help I have had especially financially. I have never, ever gone hungry but I know many have. So, that is what I will do. Once a month, I will do a grocery shopping and donate food to the Food Bank. It will also be good food, you know, not the kind that no one wants. So, I have said it and it shall be.

Playing without the safety net

I have been debating whether I should write this blog or not... I decided to.

My husband and I have reached a major decision - we, okay, it is really me, are ending our artifical means of, hmmm, say, our child prevention plan. Even though we are not ready to start the family, there is a (new to me,) natural method of family planning called the Creighton Method we will start...

Needless to say, we are without a net. Scary thought in so many ways but so very exciting - I get to learn what my body tells me but there is always the chance it will tell me something that I don't want to hear, or tell me too early! Early messages will be welcomed and loved but this method also can determine if there are issues that may or may not be overcome.

Flying without the net, I can only hope that what will happen, when it happens, will be the right time.

That's my ramble of flying without the net.

Down in the States

We went to Coleville, Washington yesterday to check out the mega Wal-Mart. Interesting that the town can support such a huge store as it is even bigger than the one in Kelowna, yet the town is not. However, we did not see any malls or other big stores so I guess it fulfills the needs of those in the surrounding areas.

Strangely, as we crossed the border, part of me thought everything would be different. Part of me thought I should see people I know. Two things that I did notice was that many houses and businesses had American flags flying - at half mast still due to Gerald Ford's death. I wish Canadians had as many flags flying in front of their houses too. The second thing I noticed was the rural mailboxes... still the big boxes with the flag to be raised to indicate mail - that and the fact they were getting their mail delivered... yes, on a Saturday.

It was a good trip along a nice back road that was gorgeous with the sun shining on the newly fallen snow. We came back with food that we can't get here- Pepperidge Farm Milan cookies and Hershey's chocolate milk POWDER mix - the best, and cheap coolers.

Now as the trip is in the past, I am gathering all my tools for returning to work after two weeks.

Thanks for reading.

Where was my head???

Where was my head really? I don' t know. I had to go into the office today to plan for Monday. Prior to the holidays, I planned for Tues/Wed/Thurs. I did this so I would have an easy start to the new year. I thought, cool! I am all ready for school to start.
NOT
Midway through the break, I realized that kids go back to school on the 8th MONDAY not the 9th TUESDAY!

Where was my head?

Go Canadians!

I just finished watching Canadian Greatest Inventions on CBS - or something along that title. Wow, I didn't know many of the inventions. Here are some of them (they showed 50):
Caulking gun
Screw nail
Square head nail
zipper
Light bulb (they sold it to Edison)
Insulin
Canoe
Lacrosse
Electric Wheel Chair
First radiation machine to fight cancer
Self lubrication piston for the steam engine
Canada Arm (very common knowledge)
Ski Doo
Snow remover
All in one combine for wheat harvesting
Telephone
Basketball
Java Script
Wonder Bra

Go Canada!

Blisters

Oh, last Saturday my friend and I went cross country skiing. As I don't have any equipment, I borrowed her mother-in-law's. The boots seemed to fit perfectly. Nope. 3/4 of the way in, my heels started to hurt - a lot. We had to return and it was a painful journey. When we got back to the car, I had to immediately check my heels... ouch!!! Red and the blisters broken. Even now, 3 days later, they are red and sore.

I want to go again (after the heels have healed), but should I use the boots again and have band aids and thicker socks?

I'm Back

I'm back. I got so busy, forgot my password that I just gave up blogging. However, it is a new year and I am back at it.

2006 was great! I finished my Bachelor of Education, I got married to Dan, I had a wonderful wedding and summer, I found out that I was the new Teacher of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing in SD20. I love it. Now, I just have to get my Master's degree to maintain the position.

Love the job.

Had my first Christmas ever away from home but I had my parents come up here. It was very different but very wonderful to have them here.

New Years was mellow, just the way I like it. Plans for the new year? Exercise (how many of us always say that???) and take what happens as it is meant to be.

Talk to you later.

PS... it is snowing here, again!