IT'S A GOOD DAY TODAY!

So far - I am having a very good day! I decided to work from home today and that really means I do whatever the hell I want. So today - I am blogging, playing Scrabble on Facebook, smooching Arthur at every given opportunity and scanning pictures! To anyone who reads this (Mellie) you are probably thinking that I need to get a life because that is an incredibly boring day. To me - it is like a vacation day and exactly what I needed. Shortly, I will take wee Arthur for a long walk and throw him his ball 1000 times. The only way life could be better is if Wilson was home to play with me.

DiDi

LEST WE FORGET

Yesterday was Remembrance Day and I am always moved by this day. I have a WW2 vet for a dad and the importance of remembering those who have made the ultimate sacrifice was always reinforced in our house. Wearing a poppy was mandatory as was thanking the man from the Legion who was selling them because he too was a veteran of a far off conflict.

While Wilson and I spent the morning with Mellie and Jewemy watching our puppies romp and play it wasn't far from my mind that it was November 11th and that I needed to take a moment and reflect on all that we have because of the sacrifice of so many.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart to those who have fought and those still fighting. It is because of you that I could spend the day with my husband, dear friends and our dogs, walking on a Toronto beach and just enjoying the day.

In Flanders Fields

By: Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD (1872-1918)

In Flanders Fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses row on row,

That mark our place;

and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead.

Short days ago

We lived,

felt dawn,

saw sunset glow,

Loved and were loved,

and now we lie

In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

The torch;

be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders fields.

WENT TO DENVER AND HAD A BIG ACCIDENT

Wilson and I went to Denver for Kacy and Ed's wedding reception - which was a total blast! However, my real plan was to shop until I dropped as the Canadian dollar is pretty much a par with the US dollar (everybody give a big HELL YEAH! on that one) and DiDi just finished paying off a huge tax debt so I was ready to celebrate with some new clothes.

And celebrate I did. Here is what I bought:
- black and white wrap dress - Banana Republic
- black turtleneck - Banana Republic
- 4 pairs of dress pants - Ann Taylor - have I mentioned that I could turn gay for Ann Taylor?
- 3 blouses - Ann Taylor
- 1 green turtleneck - Ann Taylor
- 1 grey sweater - Ann Taylor
- 2 new pairs of jeans - Garment District
- 1 pair flat shoes - Nordstroms
- 4 new bras and 5 pairs undies - Nordstroms
- new dress shirt for Wilson - Nordstroms

Then we went and got manis and pedis so that I can recover from spending like a wild fiend. And now that I am home, I realize that I should have bought more stuff - couple of more tops, some casual wear, etc but the amount that I had spent scared the crap out of me. But did it ever feel good! Thank you Mellie for paving the way for shopping accidents. If not for your example - I would not have known how to accidentally fall into new clothes quite as easily!

New clothes kisses to all,
DiDi

HAPPY THANKSGIVING! (if you are Canadian)

The first long weekend of fall - YIPEEE!!!!!! We are going to my parent's farm to be one with the crisp fall air, walks in fields and lots of turkey. Most of my crazy family will be there and I get to see my newest nephew again. Then on the Sunday, my brother is having a turkey dinner for his kids and Wilson and I are going to that as well. Two turkey dinners - I LOVE IT!!!!! Arthur gets to run around with my parents dog, be leash free, get smelly and have the best time!

Most of all, we are thankful that my Mom is healthy and doing so well after her fall earlier this year. So for turkey, time with family, Arthur being tired and my mom being healthy - we are thankful.

Have a great long weekend and Happy Thanksgiving to all!
DiDi

PS - just realized that this is my first married Thanksgiving. I am very, very thankful for my smart, handsome, funny husband.

IT'S TIME TO CALL IT A DAY!

Another boating season has come to an end and Summer Breeze is no longer in the water. Sniff, sniff.... I love when she goes into the water and hate it when she comes out. However, this winter will be much more bearable with the addition of a hot tub in our back yard.

Farewell Summer Breeze for another winter! We will come down and visit you often.

YOU BE THE JUDGE!

For some reason, I get a lot of forwarded jokes. I think this is because my family is so riduculously large. However, I got this one this morning and it made me shriek with laughter!

Little Girl or Chris Farley? You be the judge...

I know, I know - I am going to hell! And I don't care. Am totally giggling now just looking at the picture again.

Tuesday kisses to all,

DiDi

Arthur

Week 16
- has kennel cough
28 pounds
19 inches high
19 inches long

It never ceases to amaze me how much he as grown since we brought him home 9 short weeks ago. He has completely transformed our lives - in the way that only a puppy can. That being said - when he spills my wine I still could cheerfully give him away but then I would want him back 10 minutes later. When I see Wilson snuggled up with him my heart melts into this big pile of goo!

We can't wait until this damn kennel cough is gone so that he can go back to doggie daycare and playing with his best pal Ivy again.

Growing puppy kisses to all!
DiDi

WHAT IS A MOM TO DO...

I now really feel like a mom! Arthur has kennel cough - which sounds a lot like croup. Apparently as I have since found out - this is 'kennel cough season'...who knew??? It is like a bad dog cold with a horrible cough that makes you think your sweet puppy is about to die. Then you feel like you are about to die as you get NO sleep! Then the drugs are seemingly making Arthur forget all of his housetraining. I am afraid to have a shower - and let me tell you I need one for fear that Arthur is going to pee on my shoes or something.

And on top of it, I am very PMessSy and hate everything and everyone. Frankly I have enough of a hate on right now that if there is someone that you do not have enough hate for - let me know, I have extra hate and can spare you some.

I do not know how real moms do this with live children - who actually talk back and everything. It is all I can do to handle this small puppy some days and not murder all and sundry around me. Wine certainly does help - A LOT!!!!!!

I will stop whining now and go back to trying to work from home. Thank you Internet for allowing me to whine AGAIN!

Whiny, pmeSy kisses to all
DiDi

BORED!!!!

I am so bored of all the bullshit that I have to do at work that I can't conceal it anymore!!!! Here is a short list of the things that I would rather be doing than be here:


- anything
- playing with Arthur
- drinking wine
- anything
- having a massage or mani or pedi or all of the previously mentioned items
- anything
- sticking a pencil in my eye
- walking dogs with Mellie
- playing with Arthur
- anything


I am not sure if I have made it clear how little I want to work anymore. However the lottery is not cooperating with me. Where is the money tree from which I can help myself? Why doesn't my husband make so much money that he looks at me and says with great affection "I make so much money that you do not have to work if you do not want too!" (that is a bit 1950s for me but still a nice fantasy).

I either have to find a new way to make money, win the lottery or shut up and quit whining about it. I know which option I will have to choose...

Bored kisses to all,
DiDi

PS - walked the dogs with Mellie last nite! Much fun and hilarity ensued as we watched our dogs frolic and play. And then we ate sushi!!! Loved it and want to do it again soon!

SEPTEMBER 11TH

Six years ago today, I was blithely sitting at my desk when my phone rang and a girlfriend told me that a plane had crashed into the World Trade Tower. I was shocked but thought the pilot had had a stroke or something like that. Never did I think it was a terrorist attack. I came out of my meeting to find that the entire world had changed as we knew it and life in so many ways would never be the same. I left work, went home and spent the day with my best friend and my dog - somewhere safe, warm and comfortable. I knew that while life for me might include inconveniences it was still all as I knew it. I think about those people calling home for the last I love you every once in a while and am so grateful that no one I know lost their life on that fateful day.

Then last year a good thing happened for me - our dear friends Jer & Tif had a gorgeous baby boy named Jonah on September 11th and now for me September 11th is about renewal. I celebrate a birth instead of looking back at sadness.

People die, things change, time passes and we all move forward. Such is the circle of life and today - I marvel at the resiliancy of the human spirit.

So happy birthday Jonah and may all of you call home to tell someone that you love them - for no other reason than you can.

Kisses to all,
DiDi

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY

On Sunday, 365 days ago, our sweet Mellie became a wife on a cottage dock! Never had she looked more beautiful or happy and never did ReRe and I drink more wine than we did that night! (Internet, remind me to share the story of me singing "Sweet Caroline" on the DJ's microphone, ReRe trying to wrestle it away from me and then Mellie's friend Caroline saying it was her song and then singing into the mic! Good times!!)

Jewemy got it so right when he picked our girl to spend his life with - smart, funny, gorgeous she really is all that and a bag of chips (low fat of course)!

Happy anniversary dear friends and we look forward to celebrating many more of life's milestones with you!

Anniversary kisses,

DiDi

GEORGE CARLIN'S NEW RULES FOR 2007

I am now back from vacation and am not happy - until I just read this email from my girl Cari in Vancouver. I laughed out loud and then decided to waste more time by posting this for all to see!

Reality sucks when you come back from vacation - desparately need a lottery win so that we can live like that all the time! Hope you enjoy the chuckle internet!

New Rules for living - courtesy of George Carlin
1. No more gift registries. You know, it used to be just for weddings. Now it's for babies and new homes and graduations from rehab. Picking out the stuff you want and having other people buy it for you isn't gift giving, it's the white people version of looting.

2. Stop giving me that pop-up ad for classmates.com <> ! There's a reason you don't talk to people for 25 years. Because you don't particularly like them! Besides, I already know what the captain of the football team is doing these days --- mowing my lawn.

3. Don't eat anything that's served to you out a window unless you're a seagull. People are acting all shocked that a human finger was found in a bowl of Wendy's chili. Hey, it cost less than a dollar. What did you expect it to contain? Lobster?

4. Stop saying that teenage boys who have sex with their hot, blonde teachers are permanently damaged . I have a better description for these kids: 'Lucky bastards.'

5. If you need to shave and you still collect baseball cards, you're a dope. If you're a kid, the cards are keep sakes of your idols. If you're a grown man, they're pictures of men.

6. Ladies, leave your eyebrows alone. Here's how much men care about your eyebrows: Do you have two of them? Good, we're done.

7. There's no such thing as flavored water. There's a whole aisle of this crap at t he supermarket, water, but, without that watery taste. Sorry, but flavored water is call ed a soft drink. You want flavored water? Pour some scotch over ice and let it melt. That's your flavored water.

8. Stop screwing with old people. Target is introducing a redesigned pill bottle that's square, with a bigger label. And the top is now the bottom. And by the time grandpa figures out how to open it, his ass will be in the morgue. Congratulations, Target, you just solved the Social Security crisis.

9. The more complicated the Starbucks order, the bigger t he asshole. If you walk into a Starbucks and order a 'decaf grandee, half-soy, half-low fat, iced vanilla, double-shot, gingerbread cappuccino, extra dry, light ice, with one Sweet-n'-Low, and One NutraSweet,' ooooh, you're a hug e asshole.

10. I'm not the cashier! By the time I look up from sliding my card, entering My PIN number, pressing 'Enter,' verifying the amount, deciding, no, I don't want Cash back, and pressing 'Enter' again, the kid who is supposed to be ringing me up Is standing there eating my Almond Joy.

11. Just because your tattoo has Chinese characters in it doesn't make you Spiritual. It's right above the crack of your ass. And it translates to 'beef with broccoli.' The last time you did anything spiritual, you were praying to God you weren't pregnant. You're not spiritual. You're just high.

12. Competitive eating isn't a sport. It's one of the seven deadly sins. ESPN Recently televised th e U.S. Open of Competitive Eating, because watching those athletes at the poker table was just too damned exciting. What's next, competitive farting? Oh wait, they're already doing that. It's called 'The Howard Stern Show.'

13. I don't need a bigger mega M&Ms. If I'm extra hungry for M&Ms, I'll go nuts and eat two.

14. If you're going to insist on making movies based on crappy old television shows, then you have to give everyone in the Cineplex a remote so we can see what's playing on the other screens. Let's remember the reason something was a television show in the first place is that the idea wasn't good enough to be a movie.

15. And this one is long overdue: No more bathroom attendants. After I zip up, some guy is offering me a towel and a mint like I just had sex with George Michael. I can't even tell If he's supposed to be there, or just some freak with a fetish. I don't want to be on your webcam, Dude. I just want to wash my hands

16. When I ask how old your toddler is, I don't need to hear '27 months.' 'He's two' will do just fine. He's not a cheese. And I didn't really care in the first place.

17. If you ever hope to be a credible adult and want a job that pays better than Minimum wage, then for God's sake don't pierce or tattoo every available piece of flesh. If so, then plan your future around saying, 'Do you want fries with that?'

Just back from vacation and not at all happy about it kisses to all,
DiDi

VACATION

I LOVE VACATIONS!!! Wilson and I are off for an entire week together and I love it. The rest of the world is working and we are a lovely combination of boating, being lazy, walking Arthur, drinking A LOT of wine and anything else that we can think of that people do on a vacation. IT IS FABULOUS!!!

Arthur is loving having his parents home for the week and I am afraid that he will never go in his crate again. He is over 20 pounds now and is growing so fast that I can' believe it. He loves vacations too - although any day that he gets to play with another puppy or run off leash is a vacation in his mind.

For those of you not on a vacation right this very minute - I feel for you. Get yourself on vacation as fast as you possibly can - it is just what needs to be done this last week of August.

Have a safe and happy Labour Day dear internet! Back at you in September!

Vacation kisses to all,
DiDi

ARTHUR UPDATE

Playing at Grandma's house - he is about to take flight!

Much has happened in the last week but before I can write about that - there is much to update on Arthur!

Week 3

15 inches high, 15 inches long and 15 pounds

Week 4

17.3 pounds - not sure of his measurements yet but he grows every time he takes a nap!

Arthur will be 12 weeks next Saturday and has brought so much love and laughter into our house. He is one crazy puppy and can frustrate the crap out of me but when he snuggles into his mommy - all is forgotten as my heart melts inside of me.

So tired from all of the playing! It is very hard being almost 11 weeks old!

So glad that Arthur got to meet his grandparents (both of them as my mother is now home from the hospital - YAY!!!) and he got to play with their dog. There is nothing funnier than watching your dog (who is small now but not for long) play with a really big dog. Arthur figured out the only way to have a fighting chance at being able to keep up with the playtime is to do so from a height advantage - from the couch! They would play for hours and then drop of exhaustion only to wake up and do it all over again!

Anyhoo - DiDi is tired but happy!

Kisses to all,

DiDi

CRAP! CRAP! CRAP!

Get ready dear internet - the whining is about to begin!

First - Wilson has been working up a storm - to make up for taking an extra long, long holiday last weekend and being a girl - I miss him and hate that he doesn't get home until 8:30 pm or later.

Second, I have to go to Calgary this weekend - leaving tomorrow - and miss a whole weekend with Wilson and Arthur. Because of this damn trip, we miss the annual friends weekend at Mellie and Jewemy's cottage (aka - The Compound) and it sounded like mucho fun!!!

Third and the worst of all - my mummy fell last Friday and cracked her pelvis and 2 ribs and is in the hospital! As I have to go out of town, I will not get to go to their house until next Wednesday morning (yes, that is the morning after I land from Calgary). This damn trip is making it so that I can't see her and help out other members of my family. I really, really, really hate business travel - especially when it totally interferes with my weekend and my life! However my boss is being a total rock star about letting me go home to help and not making me take vacation. Lizzie is really the best boss EVER!!!! Also, God bless the Brand for giving me a blackberry and air card to help me stay connected and on top of things! This way I can say that I am working remotely when really I am grocery shopping, housecleaning, getting a cleaning service organized, visiting, dog-walking and any thing else that is needed of me for 2 days.

There - that is my whine du jour! I am sure that the trip will be great and all will be fine. My mom is getting better everyday and has started rehab. Thank heavens that no surgery was needed at all or I would not be going on this trip AT ALL!

On the plus side - Arthur gets to go to Grandma and Grandpa's farm and play with a big dog and go for walks without his leash. This will make him so tired and that makes his mummy so happy! I promise that my next post will not be so whiny and my lovely cynical self will be back in action.

Whiny kisses to all,

DiDi

PS - just because I can - here are some of the latest pictures of Arthur! These were taken outside of Pembroke, ON - on Arthur's 9 week birthday. Smooshiness galore!!!!!

GOOD LORD - HE'S EXPLODING!

The story of Arthur...

ARTHUR ARRIVES AND IS 7 WEEKS
He is 10 Lbs and we forgot to measure everything else

WEEK 1 - 8 WEEKS OLD
Arthur is now 12 pounds, 12 inches high and 12 inches long. A gain of 2 pounds in 1 week!

WEEK 2 - 9 WEEKS OLD
15 pounds, 16 inches long, 14 inches high. Wilson averaged it out - he grew approximately 1/2 an inch each day of last week!

He is growing so fast - each time he wakes up from a nap I swear to God he is bigger! So friggen cute but holy is he going to be big!

Growing puppy kisses to all!
DiDi

HOW CAN SOMETHING SO SMALL CHANGE YOUR LIFE SO COMPLETELY?

Sitting pretty for mama!

It has been just over a week since our wee boy Arthur came to live with us - and what a week it has been! I have been run ragged by a 10 lb puppy who thinks that my boobs and ankles are chew toys. I have been woken up in the wee small hours by his crys and I have never been so sleep deprived in my life!

Story Sidebar

Seriously - I have learned that I do not function well on no or little sleep. Besides being so tired that I could hurl on the spot - I become very, very cranky. Mellie says this is all normal but I don't think she turned into a cranky old lady who yelled at neighbourhood kids. (However in my defense - they were shooting off cap guns for an extended period of time and I snapped and yelled out - "We are trying to have dinner here!" and silence reigned over the neighbourhood once more. Then Wilson came in 15 minutes later and he said I got the kids in trouble - I got a big smooch for that one! Ah the benefits of a loud-mouthed wife!) Our conclusion after just one week of a puppy - no babies for Wilson and DiDi!!!

Having now complained about all of the above - I wouldn't have it any other way! He is just such a delightful boy - full of love and fun. When he falls asleep on me - my heart just melts inside me. He loves his mummy so much because she was home with him for his first week. His daddy is equally enamoured of his smooshiness and Arthur loves his daddy sooo much!

For his first week it has been a busy one - even I don't have this kind of activity but here is a quick synopsis:

• 
  
  met his new best friend Ivey (fur baby of Mellie and Jewemy)
• 
  
  had his first walk in the neighbourhood
• 
  
  2 - yes 2 vet visits (there goes my shoe budget again!) - but he had a clean bill of health so all is good there
• 
  
  his first taste of peanut butter and cream cheese - Mmmm Mmmm Good!
• 
  
  played with many neighbourhood dogs
• 
  
  he discovered how much fun shoe laces are to play with - especially when they are attached to other peoples shoes (great for tug of war)
• 
  
  how much fun Auntie Terri's cottage is
• 
  
  his first boat ride
• 
  
  first excursion into a lake - did not like that one so much

Not bad for someone who is only 8 weeks old. While there is no replacement for our sweet Maggie and she will always be the best girl - Arthur is his own man and we love him so! He fills my heart in a different way - with his sweet puppy breath, chin kisses and so soft fur. Everything is an adventure to him and he has no fear - I think that there is a life lesson in there somewhere!

This weekend our wee family will be going to Wilson's parents for 4 days (4 adults and 1 puppy on a 34' boat - YIKES! Anyone who knows me knows that I will be drinking copiously to get through the weekend!) and he will play on a beach for the first time. Somehow I think he is going to love it!

Long weekend kisses to all!

DiDi

ARTHUR MEET THE INTERNET, INTERNET MEET ARTHUR

Well we did it - that is became parents again! We went to a breeder this morning and picked our our new baby boy. He is 4 weeks old, his name is Arthur and he is a German Shorthaired Pointer. This is both mine and Wilson's first time with a puppy in many, many years and also with a purebred dog. We are mutt people and more the rescue kind of family. However our Maggie was a rescue and I didn't want to do that so soon as she was practically perfect and no rescue dog is that and I didn't want him/her to suffer by comparison.

So we are a family of 3 again and it feels right.

This is Arthur being held by his dad!

It doesn't make me miss Maggie any less but it will be so amazing to have that face at the door (eventually) and all that wonderful dog love.

Puppy kisses to all!

DiDi

A Star Is Born

I can't believe this guy! He has bad British teeth, works at Cell Phone Warehouse and has the voice of an angel. Apparently he was sick for quite some time and has a lot of medical bills. My fave moment is how gobsmacked Simon is - that is not something you see every day! Also the 2 old ladies in the audience and how he gets a standing ovation way before he is finished.

I have no idea why I like this so much - perhaps it is the Cinderella aspect of it all. He went on to win the entire competition and hopefully he will have a long career some where other than Cell Phone World.

GOOD BYE SWEET GIRL

Maggie just after she came to live with me

On Friday afternoon, with much thought and consideration we said good bye to our sweet Maggie. It was the right thing to do for her even though it was the most difficult decision we have had to make as a couple.

She came into my life on October 31st, 1999 from the Toronto Humane Society and my life was never the same. It is amazing to me how a four-legged family member can change the course of a life so much. She was love wrapped in fur and was truly our girl. She always managed to make a bad day better just by being her sweet self.

Wilson and I miss her like crazy but just having had her with us for the time we did made our lives richer and more full. The beginning of her life was not so good but we did our best to make her time with us full of love and happiness. It was our way of giving back to her a fraction of what she gave to us.

Good bye sweet Maggie. You will always be our best girl!

On our boat, after a long walk - so happy!