Thoughts of the Day

It's a dreary day today, so I have put a movie on for the kids, which buys me a little quiet time to blog. It's actually stopped raining now, and they really could be outside, but....I just might not win that parent of the year award now. So close. Maybe next year...

When I began this blog, I truly did not have a central theme that I hoped to accomplish every time I wrote. In fact, I really had no idea what it would end up being. At one point, before she'd had a chance to read it, my sister asked me what was the point of my blog. She wasn't trying to be cynical, but was curious to know what it was all about. And I couldn't tell her, because it seems to be about anything and nothing, but mainly about our backyard adventures, which I could not have anticipated. I'm certainly open to suggestions, but if you like my ramblings, then carry on! Mostly, there were and are so many thoughts tumbling around in my head and not being much of a journal-er, a blog seemed the way to go. Plus, it seemed like a decent way to keep friends and family from near and far updated on our lives.

Snake sightings are abounding in our yard, and I am resigning myself to that fact. Sigh..... Last week we had some friends over for a playdate, and my dear, sweet Taya managed to pick up , with her BARE HANDS, a snake. All the kids were fascinated, and I insisted that she take turns letting them hold it. She ended up holding it for maybe 10 minutes, and every time she came a little closer to me, I involuntarily shrunk back. I could not help myself. It actually wrapped itself around her arm, probably trying to escape, but she wouldn't let it. I eventually convinced her that the nice snake would be so much happier if she put him over the back fence into the forest, which she did. I'm not stupid, I know it will be back, but it had to be done. I now don't know if the one I've been seeing which lives under one of the steps, is the same one or a different one. All I know is that there is an undetermined number of them and I hate them ALL! They are just too close to where I want to be. When I walk out into the yard, instead of admiring the sky and the trees and things like that, I carefully search the ground in front of me where I am planning to walk, just to make sure I don't step on any surprises. Today when I saw one of these surprises (it seemed to be lying in wait), I actually swore. If you know me well, you probably know that I really don't swear very much at all, and generally feel guilty when I do. But I swore today. Twice, actually. And I don't feel guilty about it. So there.

So now you're wondering what else you don't really know about me. (Actually you're probably not, but I'll tell you anyway. You really don't have to read it you don't want to, but now you've read this far, you might as well read to the end!). I was terribly shy when I was a kid. People often commented on that about me, and so I assumed it was true. I hated having attention on me at school, and didn't really participate in class that much. That all changed in grade 8, thanks to the drama class I decided to take. I think every kid should have to take at least one drama class. It was the best thing ever (and the best teacher ever, Mr. Fatkin). I developed some self-confidence and the ability to be more comfortable in front of people, something you do constantly in drama. And then in my grade 9 French class, I will never forget the day, I blurted something out for the whole class to hear (I can't remember what, but that's not important) and everyone, including the teacher, laughed!! Not at me, but because what I said was funny! A big giant lightbulb went on above my head that day, and it really made me realize the joy of making others laugh. Now I just need to try to do that without sticking my foot in my mouth. I've done that lots before. So there you have it. Did you learn something new about me?

How about this one. I love chatting with people, pretty much anyone, and sometimes start in-depth conversations with cashiers while I'm shopping. (I think this is going to be embarrassing to the kids one day, probably already is for Stefan on occasion, and probably should be for me - too much information!). One time in the Starbucks drive-thru, by the time I had my drink, I already had made the connection with the barista that we had both lived in many of the same cities across Canada, how long we'd both worked at Starbucks, what our husbands did, and each other's names. (Hers was Dottie, and she was so nice!). But put me on an airplane or in the movie theatre and I want to sit by myself. I don't want to accidentally bump elbows with someone else (unless it's my family) and I really don't want to share such close proximity with someone I don't even know!! On an airplane, if I'm flying by myself, I try to get a row with no one else in it. Heaven forbid that I should ever get the middle seat, stuck between two strangers! Maybe I am a snob after all. I can't handle someone invading my personal space (like those men in the line-up, once again at a Starbucks, who lined up so close behind me that I couldn't step back without walking into them). C'mon, give me some space! I am an oxymoron, a walking contradiction of myself.

And with that, I segue to the pond predator. In talking with others, we have determined that the fish eater is likely a mink. Apparently there are minks living in our forest, although I've never seen one. (If you google mink, you can see just how ugly they are). They are the most likely stealer of our fish, not the ducks, not the snakes, and probably not even the raccoons. Black Spots did indeed survive (and maybe others did too and are hibernating, who knows). We got a few more friends for Black Spots and we're, perhaps foolishly, hoping they survive! In addition to the above mentioned creatures, we have also seen squirrels, chipmunks, mice, possums, rabbits, lots of wasps, and bees as big as birds. Life is definitely an adventure in our little cottage in the woods!