Glow Bowling Glamour

Its been a busy, exciting, and hectic time for us since the last time I posted.

Last Sunday, Action Girl had her sixth birthday party at the local bowling alley. When you're six (give or take) this means glow bowling and everyone looks strangely luminescent. Its dark under the black lights (go figure...) and not always easily to tell who's mis-behaving, but everyone had a very wonderful time.

Part of the booking is that we got a party room to use for pizza, cake, and presents afterwards. Again, everyone, including our very own three year old Super Girl had a good time. The presents were right up Action Girl's alley with ponies, craft supplies, and a new Webkinz.

I noticed that she seemed to be winding down at the end of the part and had dark circles under her eyes. Monday night this came to a head and she started to throw up. On and off she's been sick until today.

Today is her actual birthday and she spent it at home sick, unfortunately. She is coming around, though. Its very fortunate that we didn't have to cancel the party!

She's six, she's great, and we're very, very proud of her!

B.

Slip Slidin' Away

Last Saturday, Action Girl (soon to be six) had a birthday
party to attend in the afternoon. Unfortunately on the way
to the party I hit an icy patch unexpectedly and managed to
go off the road into the ditch. Unfortunately, we spun
around enough that ended up in the ditch facing the opposite
way we had been travelling.

Fortunately, no one was hurt
although there were four of us who were kind of stunned.
Someone drove by very soon after and Super Mom and the girls
got a lift and were only about 15 minutes late for the party
in our other car. I stayed with the offending vehicle and
had a tow in under 25 minutes. Yes, it's a yearly
ritual… Actually, it hasn't been for several years
I'm happy to say.

My question: Do you think a larger car/truck would have
made any difference? (as opposed to our small sedan…)
Please post your comments.

We did have snow tires (unstudded) and an excellent winter
driver (if I do say so myself).

B.

First Week Lessons

What I’ve learned in my first week of work at the new job:

1) Its good to find out where the bathrooms are before you actually need them,

2) No office starts out messy,

3) Its hard not having a key to your own office,

4) Beacause I think highly of the person who got my old job, its not as hard to let it go,

5) Its good to un-forward the phone before people start to call,

6) I get shy in new social situations,

7) I don’t necessarily know where the school counsellor’s offices are in every school I attended as a kid,

8) My new office’s thermostat may just be “for show,” and

9) I think I’m going to like the new job!

B.

A big change with the new year...

As a few of you already know, this was my last week of work with the job
that I've enjoyed for the past five years, three months, and 10 days
(but who's counting.).

On Monday the 15th, I'm leaving the wonderful world of child protection
and working for (at least) a year as a family therapist at a counselling
service for teens and their families (still through our overall
department). I'm really thrilled about this opportunity and the change
itself. I've been part of a very close-knit, dedicated team of
professionals. To give that up (even for just a year), I must really
want to do this. The position itself is someone's parental leave.

To be honest, eleven years ago in grad school this is the kind of job I
pictured myself doing.

I'll let you all know what the change is like.

On a note almost as momentous, I was invited to speak to the third and
fourth year psychology majors at my old Alma Mater. The idea was that a
psychologist (who I knew), me as someone from a connected profession
(social work), and someone who uses their BA (or BSc) in their present
job without a more advanced psych. or related degree spoke to the
students about what we do, how we use our under-grad psych degrees, and
how we got to do what it is we do. Clear? It worked out really well
and I really really enjoyed it. Its faltering to get questions
afterwards.

Gotta go- more later.

B.

What's on your iPod?

My iPod Jan 7-07
Originally uploaded by Binky

My iPod Jan 7-07

My iPod's contents, last weekend.

Track 1 is a Battlestar Galactica podcast.

B.

Super Girl's Boxing Day Snowman

Super Girl's Boxing Day Snowman
Originally uploaded by Binky

The eyes are jelly beans.
B.

Action Girl's Boxing Day Snow Man

Action Girl's Boxing Day Snow Man
Originally uploaded by Binky

The eyes are jelly beans.
B.

No Snow!

According to our outside thermometer, it was 14 degrees yesterday! Wow!
I don't think it actually was over 11 as the thermometer is in the sun,
but it was quite warm. Almost all of our snow is gone.

We're ready for school to start again tomorrow. Tomorrow is a day for
the teachers (like Super Mom) and classes begin on Tuesday. S-Mom won't
be able to drive for another week so we're all leaving extra early
tomorrow. What could possibly go wrong :-)?

Next week (Jan 8-12) is my last week of work in my present job.  I'm
wrapping things up fairly well and am feeling 95% great about the
decision to make a change. Its only for a year so even if I don't like
it, a life sentence it is not.

B.

Magnadoodle Picture of Uncle R. 1

Magnadoodle Picture of Uncle R. 1
Originally uploaded by Binky

Action Girl's picture of herself and Uncle R. (she will soon be six). They are crime-fighting, hence the masks.

B.

Magnadoodle Picture of Uncle R. 2

Magnadoodle Picture of Uncle R. 2
Originally uploaded by Binky

Super Girl's picture of Uncle R. (she is three!). I think the scribbly part in the middle is stubble/beard.

B.

Scene from our Christmas Tree 2006

Scene from our Christmas Tree 2006 DSC00881
Originally uploaded by Binky

I just like the way this one turned out... The reindeer is at least 40 years old and belonged to my grandparents. The white bell is a pew marker from our wedding.

B.

Action Girl's Easy Bake Oven 2

Action Girl's Easy Bake Oven 2
Originally uploaded by Binky

And here are the yummy results. Teeny tiny delcious sugar cookies!

B.

Action Girl's Easy Bake Oven 1

Action Girl's Easy Bake Oven 1
Originally uploaded by Binky

Here it is! A gift from her Grammy and Poppy.

B.

1970s Sesame Street Nativity Scene

1970s Sesame Street Nativity Scene DSC00840
Originally uploaded by Binky

Super Girl made a nativity scene from 1970s era Sesame Street figures. Bert and Big Bird are the wise men. The girl with the brown hair and Ernie are Mary and Joseph. The baby is of course baby Jesus.

B.