The FM's

Seeing Jennifer and the boys last night was a gift. She's here for work and she brought the boys with her (Jeff was here for work as well but he went back before we got a chance to see him). They have grown so much and are so sweet, I knew they would be. To watch them play, talk, eat and read was pure heaven. Oh I hope they move to Ottawa. Or Newfoundland. Somewhere where I am guaranteed to be able to spend more time with them. When K got up in Jason's arms last night and wanted him to read books (quite quickly, but still reading!) I coudl ahve cried. He, at one point, put his arm around Jason and it was such a genuine gesture of "hey I am your friend, I like you". C. is a hoot, a superstar waiting to be discovered. Funny, personable and will talk to you for hours on end, we have a lot in common with that last trait. A twin but definitely not the same. Two lovely 2 year old boys who are being raised by two of the most caring loving people in the world. Boy did they luck out. I miss all of them so much but brief get togethers like last night's will keep me going. Waiting for the next get together.
Jennifer made noodles for Jacob last night, gave him cookies and milk, took care of him like she saw him every day. I am so grateful Jacob has Jennifer and Jeff and the boys in his life - for many reasons. We are so lucky to have been posted to Yellowknife, so lucky to have met such great people, such great friends.

Trip to Newfoundland

When I go home to Newfoundland, I go home. Everything feels right. The air is better, my body feels better, my mind feels better. Home. How all these mainlanders wander aimlessly without a place to call home is beyond me. I will never know what it feels like to not feel attached to a chunk of rock. Despite Jacob being born in Ottawa he will never feel it either. He has called himself a Newfoundlander in the past - which Jason and I are both proud of. All of those long drives have paid off. He is close with his family, he is close with his friends, in Newfoundland. He loves going home and he loves spending time with his Nan's and his Pop's. He has a worshipper (my oldest nephew) and he gets to share some big brother time with all three cousins. He could be playing Skipbo with his grandparents or looking for rocks on a beach - who could ask for more?

I wish Dad did not have any bad days (physically), I wish certain family members could experience miracles right about now, I wish my sis in law did not have to put her precious pooch down. But despite the hardships I enjoyed everyone's company. I enjoyed getting a facial at the Spa on the Monastery knowing that that Mom and my sis in law were also enjoying it, I enjoyed my nephews - I love being called Aunt Wisa, I enjoyed digging through Cramm's in Green's Harbour (I felt 5 yrs old again), I enjoyed a delicious meal of cod tongues and cheeks at the Seaside Restaurant in Trout River with my in laws, I enjoyed being woke up by the smell of Roland's trout frying in the pan, I enjoyed sleeping in, playing cards, watching Aunt Phyll laugh at Jacob, touring Meyer's Minerals, sittting outside having a conversation over beers and Sour Puss (ouch) with old friends, hearing the two funniest cousins tell stories together. I enjoyed a lot.

Coming back (I flew, lack of holidays), I sat across from Jeanne Bekker and her daughter (Fashion File, Canada's Next Top Model). I also enjoyed knowing that a fashionista from Toronto enjoys the rock as much as I do.

A drive through memory lane

The best place to go for a feed of cod on the island is CJ's (aka Taylor's) in Green's Harbour. It is approximately 13 km off the TCH (at Whitbourne turn off) and completely worth the drive. Picturesque in places, the drive in can consist of yard sales (where you can buy a man's Newfoundland flag for your desk, despite the fact that he had no intention of selling it), a stop at Judy's gift and flower shop and of course a drive into Green's Harbour would not be complete without a visit to Freshmart for local fresh food and desserts. Mom and I arrived at CJ's and had to go find the waitress (love NF) and then waited and waited some more which worked out because when I saw the 2 piece fish and chips a man ordered in the booth next to ours I realized I would have to downsize my order to one piece because there was no way I was going to eat all of that! Air conditioning was a nice touch but I had to order tea (I was cold, ha). When our cod arrived and I dipped into it it was the freshest tastiest cod with the lightest tastiest batter. Amazing. The best I have ever had in my forty years. You must go. I wish I had room for the homemade pies (coconut cream, lemon meringue and apple) but I could not do it.
Now a trip to GH is also not complete with a visit to Cramm's. A store with almost everything you have ever seen or wanted in the past 50 years. I used to go there every time I visited Nan and Pop and I loved looked through ever nook and cranny (all 8765 of them!). I found a Mummer's apron (the last one) which I love and enjoyed the treasure hunt.

Cutting through the day to day BS can be a full time job. Being genuine is much easier than being fake. Fakeness, falseness takes time and energy. Why can't everyone just be themselves? Is it because they do not like themselves? So they invent a new persona, or enhance their lack lustre personality. Pity. Connecting to people is one of the true joys of life. Why would anyone choose not to connect to people? Are they hiding something? When you tell the truth, when you are honest, you do not need to worry about these things - life is easier.
I know I have posed a lot of questions about this topic but I am curious about what other think.

Decisions, decisions......

I am a rather decisive person. I can make things black and white to make a decision but I am aware most things in life fall into the grey area. Being in the grey area is not as comfortable for me. I am going through some issues in life that leaves me in that grey area and it has stressed me out. I grind my teeth when stressed so my teeth have been hurting this past week but once I decided what I was going to do about my grey issues - I immediately started to feel better. I know I am rambling but what I mean to say is: no one should take themselves too seriously. Thank goodness for wit and humour - it will sustain me.