Time to get away

With Christmas behind us and a new year ahead, it's an excellent time to escape the ordinary. Blaze a new trail. Start fresh. Choose a cliche and run with it....

You could plan a weekend get away in your own hometown. Pick a hotel with a pool or a spa or a fabulous restaurant and plan to spend the night.  Just the change of scenery and getting away from the housework or the phone, or the computer can be a refreshing change.

What about hopping on a plane and taking advantage of a last minute bargain?  Florida is outrageously cheap this time of year. A week in the sunny state could cost as little as $500 air, taxes and hotel included.  Then again, there are many caribbean and mexican destinations that could spoil you for around that $1000 mark.

Try something new. Santa brought me some boxing gloves. Seems to me a great way to work out some frustrations and try something new. Unless of course, Santa was making a deliberate pun with these gloves and Boxing day? In which case, I totally missed the joke.

Escaping can be as simple as some new music on your iPod and taking a walk through your own neighbourhood. Or going out to a movie. Any distraction that gets your mind off your routine can be a refreshing break.

Getting away doesn't have to be a vacation. I just like it better when it IS!

Our Christmas Puppy

We found our dog Oreo, many years ago, on January 8th. She was abandoned on a busy downtown street with gum in her fur and looked quite a mess. We took her to the vet, called radio stations and tried to return her to her owners.

The kindly vet let us know that abandoned Christmas puppies were not uncommon. This dog, who was probably ten weeks old when we found her, was likely exactly that... someone's discarded Christmas gift. Puppies, though adorable, are a lot of work and expense. Often they are not a gift, but a burden to the recipient.

We toughed it out at our house with this crying, chewing, black and white puppy for a couple nights, but were absolutely relieved when no one ever called to claim the dog. So, she was ours. We named her Oreo and have never looked back.

Almost a full year later, we began to decorate the house for Christmas and put up a tree. This sent Oreo into a crazy panic. She peed on the floor, cried and whined and was just beside herself. That was all the evidence we needed, the vet was right, she HAD to have been a Christmas puppy.  So, the tree came down just as fast as it went up and we did what we could to minimize her distress.

As years passed, she got more and more used to Christmas, though she is always noticeably anxious. Every year, I look into her old "puppy" eyes and tell her that we love her and are not going to throw her away with the Christmas tree. I reminder her of all the years we've been together and that she has a permanent home. She likes Christmas with the kids. She's right in the middle of things when it's time to open gifts. But she just doesn't seem to let her guard down.

I can definitely say her favourite part of Christmas is the shortbread cookies I bake. There is nothing else that she gets assertive over. (I can't say aggressive. She's the most passive dog ever.) But she will literally jump up into your lap and use her paw on your arm to stop you from eating a shortbread cookie. Then she will snatch it from your hand and be gone.  Gingerbread, chocolate chip.... she could care less. But shortbread, she will leap and snatch. She loves them! She just goes crazy wagging her tail when she's eating a shortbread cookie.

Fast forward to this year. We put up the tree last week and for the first time ever, she lay down on the tree skirt and had a nap. I could hardly believe my eyes. After all these years she's decided she's comfortable and secure enough to lie under the tree. Wow. Old dogs... you just never know.

Mom, "It's a life skill"

"It's not just Christmas shopping, Mom, it's a life skill," says my son as we drive home from a successful evening of shopping together.

Wow. I'm just blown away by his maturity and this "ah ha moment." And more than that, for him to realize this and actually articulate it to me. Again, wow.  I've always known he was a mature kid, wise beyond his 9 years, but still I am impressed enough to share this treasured moment.

The shopping event was pretty straight forward. We had planned to go in the evening, once the mall had quieted for the day. I gave him a very specific, and suitable, amount of money. My only instructions were that he had to buy all the gifts for family and friends with that money, no more. He needed to have a list of people, and at least an idea or two of the the gifts he was after for each person. If there was less than $10 left over he could keep it. (If more than $10 he would have to go back for more gifts.)

He knew what stores he wanted to go to and had a general idea of what he was after. Once at the mall, he quickly realized what options were realistic on his budget and what types of things were available and looked good.  He liked the sales and was always calculating out loud. His math skills are quite good. I didn't have to step in there at all.  He even used the automated check stand at one store!

He bought items for his brother, parents and grandparents, six gifts in total. The most money he spent was on his brother, and I think, the most thought as well. (Hooray!!  I'm a proud mom. ) He really likes the gifts he chose. He's excited for Christmas so he can show off his choices.

We were done in under two hours, with little or no stress at all. He was really proud of himself and we had a lively chat all the way home. That's when he told me a bit about what he's learning in school, and what he learned from me this evening.

I am so blessed.

Looking back on 2011

Each year is different. I used to summarize each year in a photo collage of eight or ten pictures and put it in one frame and hang it on the wall. Then for a few years I made gifts of photo calendars for family members. Now, I don't know. Life seems to change by the week. Is it the way we receive our news, our information or the absolute constant contact we have with our friends?

You need an answer? Google it. Want to know what someone had for lunch? Text them. Want to know if your neighbour is at the coffee shop down the street? Facebook it. 

So, does this mean we've stopped thinking and acting in months? Is a year a ridiculous length of time to look back on?  I wonder. And I wonder while I type... obviously. 

My computer is jam packed with photos taken over the last 12 months. Lucky for me the computer has an organizing system and it makes it really easy to take a visual look down memory lane. But, I think all that we do in a year could not ever be summarized by 8 or 12 photos. Things have gotten too fast, too easy to record and sadly... too easy to forget in a blink. 

But to reflect on this past year, I would focus on the great trips and great hockey moments.

2011 started off in Maui!  Best New Year's eve of my life! We were oceanside, at the luxurious Marriott Wailea resort. I slipped the host a $20 and we were seated right in front of the stage for the incredible show. The dancers and musicians were everything you wanted them to be. The sunset and meal were so beautiful and delicious. We had a lively visit with our table mates and even though our homes were thousands of miles apart, we found great things in common to talk about. 

In that inspired New Years moment, I vowed to take more trips, to better stay in touch with friends and most of all, relax and enjoy the moment. 

In April I took a very spontaneous trip with my brother. We flew to Tampa Florida to see a hockey game. We planned it on 6 days notice and were away from home less than 72 hours, but it was one of the best times I've ever had. And even though my team lost and my brother has only vague recollections of conversations "I claim" he had with strangers, I'm pretty sure he remembers it fondly as well. 

Another highlight came in May when a friend breezed through playoffs and had his hockey dreams come true when he won the Memorial Cup. Even watching that on TV, it was powerful and special. 

Then after 15 years, the NHL agreed to give Winnipeg an NHL franchise again and the Jets were re-born. It was incredible! The city and province and hockey fans all over Canada rejoiced. Manitoba got its mojo back thanks to True North Sports & Entertainment.   Grown men cried. Others danced in the street.  I did both.  

This Jets announcement also made dreams come true for two good friends who work in radio.  Knowing how much the return of the Jets would mean to them made me sooooo happy. Hearing them speak to audiences that share their passion for hockey... priceless. 

In August, my own kids won their hockey summer league championship. The best part of that was the boys were on the same team. As teammates they worked together and celebrated together. This was a family first. I hope it's not the last time. And it was quite the game. It really was exciting little league stuff. My goalie son was named "MVP" but he declared it an honour he shared with the team's best defenseman.... his little brother. Awwww. I still melt remembering that moment. 

In October, I took another trip. Big surprise... it was to see a hockey game. This time in Phoenix Arizona.  Again, definitely one of the best weekends of my life. This time, my brother and I travelled with a group of friends. Honestly, it was near perfect! The sun was out, the drinks were cold, and the party carried over into the streets. The camaraderie among Jets fans, and the laughs we had were incredible. 

The year has had, as all years do, ups and downs. But as families we get through them. Friends hold each other up in good times and in bad. The calendar keeps going. And we find things to cheer about. We all NEED to find things to cheer about... each and every year. Life is too precious not to celebrate.

Damn it's been a good year for hockey in my house.  Go Jets Go! 

In the moment

I took my son to his first NHL game this past weekend. He's a little league hockey player himself and probably spends at least 8 hours a week on the ice. For this reason, and that hockey is a huge part of our daily lives, I seemed to overlook that the NHL game would be a big deal to him.

Our NHL city arena is located downtown. That in itself provides new "experiences" for a rural person.  Parking and chaos and ambience aside, my son was obviously feeling a new level of anticipation. Something VERY exciting was about to happen.

Once inside the arena and faced with thousands of exuberant fans, he realized the dream was reality. We found our seats and he saw the ice surface and the glamour of the building and threw his arms around me. "Mom, this is the best day ever!."

Who knew? No, really, who knew?   I have been very wrapped up in my adult life and extremely concerned for the health of my own mother, so this burst of joy was really good for both of us.

When the game started and the chants began, we lost ourselves in the moment. We got behind our team (as we always do!) and enjoyed the game for what it was.

During intermission I ran into an old buddy, another big time hockey fan.  I was so happy to see him. Really and truly thrilled to see him. It was one of the highlights of the night for me for sure.

Our team did well. They battled hard, kept penalties to a minimum and never gave up. Ah, if we could all live every day like that!

My son got the full experience of the game. We did the wave, bought some popcorn and split an over-priced coke. We hi-fived our seat neighbours when we scored and celebrated raucously.  We even picked up a souvenir at the gift shop. Oh yeah, and our team won 4-2.

All and all, it was a great night. I hope he will remember his first NHL game. And for me, I got to see things from a kid's perspective for a little while and forget all my adult worries. That was good. Even if it was just for a couple hours.

Uncle.

Yep, I give. I've had enough. Please stop.

I'm strong, independent, reliable and a good friend. But a lot has happened in the last two weeks. Heck, you could even label it the worst two weeks of my life. But I'm still here.

Kenny Chesney sings a song, where the lyrics go "the fact that I'm still breathing means that I must have survived."  Well, he's singing about a party.... an awesome party at that, and I am surely NOT, however, I somehow feel I can kinda relate.

One family tragedy, after another. Plus somehow my super-secure "chip card" gets hijacked without ever leaving my possession. Neat. Just one more great thing to deal with. 'sigh'

I guess it's times like these you figure out who your friends are, and aren't.

There's really no message and no moral in this blog/rant.  Simply an appeal to the higher powers. It's time to cut me a break. I'll dust myself off and keep going, but I could use a hand.