Lifestyles of a Nurse Manager

Do you ever feel like when you get to work you should just sit down and wait for someone to sit on you cause you are a toilet awaiting a poo dropping? This has been my week apparently one thing I am learning about my job is that Manager is a term that is used to descibe less popular terms like: Complaint department, Shit scooper, employee punching bad... you get the picture.

Anyway this week I have had 4 unpleasant people disrupt my quiet office world. Oh yes things would be great if left to my paper work and solitide. But no this is the real world and people have issues, they have them from 8:30-4:30 pm mon-fri. Oh dont get me wrong I know they exist all the time I just get to deal with them in these hours, and of course when I come in the morning there are usually 10 plus calls with people who have "issues". So I spend a good part of the day dealing with them. However having said that I do want to make it clear Im not complaing or asking people to feel bad for poor office Cherie quite the contray I realize that different jobs have different challenges. Im just finding that Im learning about these new situations and how to best handle them.

Lets take stock of my week:

I have had an angery parent tell me that I am sending her incompetent nurse and she does nto sleep at night and basically this is all my fault

I have had a nurse take my head off after I requested that attend an enservice on patient transfering- after all she has no issues with this shes perfect... right.

I have had a school teacher call and tell me that we at my office have single handedly ruined her year with our awful nursing schdule in her class. Yes ha ha! My evil plot worked after months of planning I have finally driven her over the edge! (like I have time for that!) After all we are not here for the kids we are here to make your life better right? Yeah no! Um perhaps you need to go on summer vacation school is just getting too stressful for you. (sorry to any teachers in the bunch I love you all just not the particular one that does not look at the world from any perspective then her own almighty stand point).

And my all time favorite nurse calls me three times in a day frekaing out about something and I tell her Im dealing with it, finally on the final call to me I believe my words were "Sally you need to calm down Im looking into the issue and I will get back to you" apprently when I said this I was being condesending to her- even though she was frekaing out on the phone and being a baby. However she did call my boss and tell her that she felt I was being condesending. Thankfully my boss knows what a retard this person is.

Anyway I leave you with one final bit of humour: I have been preparing a report to hand out to the nurses about some new guildelines, my version was quite dry so Barry was kind enough to write this version of my report for your enjoyment:

DATC has some new reporting guidelines. They are designed to make more work for you, the nurses out in the field, and less work for us, the managers. As you well know, we the managers are extremely busy and are often unable to field calls from you, crying and boohooing . Perhaps now your time will be spent filling out more paperwork instead of crying to me about your lives.

You should always remember you nursing motto. I care, you care, we care, congratulations you’re a nurse. Thank you.

Thanks Barry for the humor thats exactly how nurse managers think! lol

Happy Birthday Mom

I feel guilty... I have been going about my day and doing things and I realized that I have forgotten something important. I thought that there was a bit of an itch today, something that was making me think about my parents more then normal, then of course I realized it- today was my mom's birthday. I guess sometimes for me I try not to dwell on thoughts of them that might make me sad, like a birthday that wont be celebrated.

However I of course want to acknowledge my dear mom, she deserves that. I have another confession to make I have not been to the cemetary since November 2004. That was the day of my dad's funeral. I just have not been able to bring myself to go, it doesnt mean that I love them any less... I just find that its hard to go. Anyway I feel that I should go, so my plan is when the weather gets nicer Im gonna go and plant something to make it prettier. I dont know if others have been going but I should go, they are gonna put up the stone soon, so I should go see it. I was listening to a song today it was a country song today and it sort of struck how I have been feeling lately:
I raise my hands, bow my head I'm finding more and more truth in the words written in red They tell me that there's more to life than just what i can see I can't quote the book The chapter or the verse You can't tell me it all ends In a slow ride in a hearse You know I'm more and more convinced The longer that i liveYeah, this can't be No, this can't be No, this can't be all there is When I raise my hands, bow my head I'm finding more and more truth in the words written in red They tell me that there's more to life than just what i can seeI believeOh, II believe

I think that my mom and dad would be happy to know that I do believe that there is more to this life then just what is seen. I truely believe that when you take your last breath its just the begining, your onto the next step. So I hope that my mom is having a wonderful birthday in heaven with my dad, my aunt Audery, uncle Sam and my grandparents. I hope there is cake and gifts of joy... I hope they are watching my life unfold and are proud of what I am trying to become. The greatest gift I can give them is to honour the beliefs they have given me. So Im trying- baby steps, trying to sort some stuff out. So Happy birthday mom blow out your candles and smile. I love you.

Apparently Im the April Fool

Good day everyone. I want to share with you a little story. A few weeks ago my husband and I signed up for a contest to win a trip to the Juno awards. So yesterday barry calls me at work and says "Oh my God theres a message at home you have to call and check it!" So I call home and there is a girl named Jennifer from CTV promotions is calling to tell me that she has some good news for me about the Juno contest that we entered. I start jumping up and down in my office and yelling "im going to the Junos!!" People are watching coming out of there offices as I jump around like a fool. So I call the number the girl left (still in shock and shaking with excitment!). Everyone is watching me and the girl "jennifer from CTV promotions" says I have wone 2 round trip tickets to the Junos with air fare, 500 dollars spending money, backstage passes and a stay at a nice hotel! I was so excited (by this time everyone in the office is in my office). So I get told that a limo will pick us up and take us to the airport tomorrow morning (today) at 9am. I have to answer a skill testing question and its who is hosting the Junos I yell as loud as I can Pamela Anderson! She tells me I have won!

So barry calls me back and I tell him the news Im still yelling and carrying on. And he says what if this was all an April Fools Joke? I was like not even hearing him still yelling... Im like what! hes like Happy April Fools. I wanted to kill him! Anyway I have since forgiven him but I do have a long memory and I will find my revenge not just to him but to "all" those at minacs who were involved! You know who you are watch your back!! So I will sit in my basement and watch the Junos... boooo!

The end is in sight

Well I can finally say that the end is in sight. The bathroom may soon be mine again. I have spent the last almost month in Barrys wasteland bathroom. Its dirty grimy and boy like, but I have endured.. sadly I have come to the place where I take more enjoyment showering in public at the gym then in my husbands cave.

Anyway just to review I mentioned a while ago that I had some goals that I wanted to work on. I thought I would update you on that. On the going to they gym front I have been going for the last 2 weeks 5 days a week. I go every morning and work out for an hour. I have been for the most part eatting very well. I am now down 4 pounds - thats almost half way to my May goal of 10 pounds. We are almost done the bathroom and starting to think about the next project.

I am starting to do some causal hours at the hospital just to keep me up to date on all that hands on nursing. Anyway Im totally boring today and have not much to report. Im sure that Barry is gonna write some really funny ironic blog, so Im not even gonna try for humor today. Some days ya got it and some you dont. Today Im just in a boring place, a happy content place but boring none the less.

New computer and other news

Hi Everyone, well I have been lazy these last week or so and Im have not taken the time to write in my blog. So whats new in the Bates household. We are finally finally going to paint or bathroom today! How exciting is that!!! Im pretty excited! That means that we are nreaing completion. We just have to do the floor (or rather or friends dad will do it for us) and put up the new light fixture that we bought. Im so excited! The bathroom is gonna look soo good. We have already decided what our next project will be: the living room, we are changing the very thing that first attracted me to the house- the walls. They are done in a painted Faux finish - which I love but believe its had its day and needs a face lift. So we are gonna paint it and then replace the carpet with new carpet. Alas we were gonna do hardwood or even laminiate but with the stairs it was way out of our price range. Anyway some new paint and some new carpet and that room will shine!!

So last night my dear husband and I went to Best Buy to look at some new flat panel computer monitors and he wanted a DVD burner. We priced them and it was gonna be more then half the cost of a new computer.... so here I sit on a brand new cpmputer- how this happened Im not sure. Anyway Barry sold his old one so it was doable. Barry works so hard often 6 days a week and I felt like he deserved to get something that he really wanted. So Im happy that he has his new computer.

Oh other news! I am excited to tell you all that Im returning causally to the hospital! I had expressed interest to the management that if there was ever a posting to let me know. Anyway They said there were 2 but that they had so many internal applicants that they could not hire me back this time. So I was shocked to get the message that I had been accepted! Im very excited I love my new job but I miss the action and babies in the hospital. Its a very easy commitment only 2 shifts in 9 weeks. so thats not bad at all. Plus a little extra cash never hurt!! Anyway that will give me some exciting stories again (for those of you who thrived on my tales!) I also think maybe it will give me my baby fix .. but it also might just make me want to have one who knows!! Anyway Im excited I am so lucky I have the been granted the best of both worlds my day life and my hospital drama!!

Well thats all for now Hope everyone has a great weekend! Cheers- oh and a speical shout out to Sam on her 25th birthday! See ya at the party Sammy!!!!

Kudos to Barry today!

I give Kudos to my husband today! He is awesome. I was supposed to come home after being out with some friends and prime the bathroom and I come home to find that he has primed the bathroom all himself! I was so impressed! He is turning out to be the best handyman!

Also I was even more impressed that he on his own without any help has learned how to rewire light switches! Barry has not had anyone to teach him how to do these things and Im really impressed at how he has been able to figure out things and just do it. He is a quick learner and just knows how to get things done. Im so proud of him, hes taking such good care of me and out home. Anyway I just thought that he deserved to be acknowledged. Great work honey keep it up!!!

Things that make me smile

I thought I would take a minute to post some pictures that make me smile. These are just a small sample of what I have to be happy about, but even these small things are great.



My husband - living out his dream to have a big dog! very cute!


Currently these are my "children" sometimes even with these ones there are night time feedings and waking! This is as close as they get!

a great memory, this was one of the last pictures taken of us together, it was thanksgiving. Dad saved me from burned gravey! I was trying to impress Barrys family with my cooking! Im glad he was so happy, and that he met Barrys Grandparents to this day that is a great blessing to me.

Humanity

Its funny, one day you feel like writing a blog about how the toilet paper on the roll looks and the next you find yourself reflecting on, well everything that brought you to where you are. This is one of those days. I have found that March has been a werid month, I have found my moods to be all over the map and I have found myself looking at my life.

Sometimes I find myself looking around me thinking that I am this poor example of humanity and that everyone is so much stronger, together and wiser then me. However sometimes you get to see a glimpse of life, you see people around you experience true joy and true sadness. It makes you stop and shake your head and say wow here i am so focused on myself that you forget that there are people out there with needs just like your own. Once you take the time to open your eyes and see what those around you are doing you realize we are all human- I know thats such a hugely obvious statment but sometimes I forget that under the skin and bones and "vitals" that I know how to take, is heart and feeling. I sometimes forget to look at those things. I feel a greater sense of peace knowing that even though we all lead separate lives we sometimes come together and touch each others hearts. Im very glad that the people in my world have touched me and I have hopefully touched. Does this blog make your brain hurt yet? I know that it might not make much sense but it makes sense to me.

Another thing I have been thinking about is God. I feel like I have shut off this tap in myself. Alot of people may not be aware that I came from a very spiritual place. I as many know had some stuff happen in my life over the last few years that made me shut down and it felt like if I let myself be aware of God, or about what that means that I would let in this pain about my family, it felt like if I acknowledged God I had to acknowledge the begining and the end- that death comes and so it has in my life. All those things remind me of parents, and for a long time that was too much. I am lucky to have a friend that recently made me remember that. I had it in my head but I had not verbalized that I well I missed my spiritual side. I perhaps at one time did not have a balance in my life and I was very extreme in some of my views and thoughts, but I believe that there can be balance that includes God. I also know that i was raised in the most loving home my family gave me this God given life they just breathed into me truth and life and taught me how to love. They taught me what God means to us as people. Now Im not preaching to anyone Im just saying my thoughts, I just feel like as I start to think about kids I try to think about the things that I found important in my upbring and I want to make sure that I give those to my family. My parents greatest gift to me was knowledge of God- I need to find my way back to that how can I ever give life to another person without giving them the most important aspect of life - the spirit. Dont worry Im not gonna shave my head or join a cult or anything like that. Im just thinking maybe theres room for God maybe I need to let him in again. I have been scared to think about it scared to think that if I let God in more it will make me feel sad about missing my family. However I would rather chose to think that it would honour them and they would be so proud looking down from heaven. Again not to worry Im still Cherie I just am Cherie who is starting to be touch more with her feelings- I still like red wine...... but so did Jesus so I guess we are in good company!

I have been so narrow minded. Im so blessed yet I complain so much. I have the greatest people in my life- I have the most real people the most true people. Even though we all struggle at times its nice that we can always support each other. Its such a gift to love that sometimes I forget that loving people is sometimes the best you can give- I hope that I can aim to love my friends and family more... complain less appreciate more. I hope that everyone in my life who reads this knows that I feel honored to have you add to my life. Anyway I guess thats enough spilling my guts. Hey what good is a blog if you cant use it to say whats on your mind. I hope you sleep in peace tonight good night.

5 months...

Hi Everyone,

Well today is my 5 month wedding anniversary. I don't know if you really celebrate that sort of thing but its a nice little land mark for us. We have been having a lot of fun as a married couple, planning our summer mini trips, attempting to struggle through home renovation: by the way my list and plan to work on the bathroom has not yet happened. I just find Im so tired by the time I get home from work that I don't want to do anything. So I have to go hard core on Friday and get that bathroom ready to paint. My goal is to have this bathroom done by Easter, Lets hope that we can do it!!!

Barry is great, Im learning more and more about him as time goes on. He always suprises me like tonight he had tidied the kitchen- which was a big help to me. Its great we are definitely in a good place. Talking about having kids has just been a natural progression, we just have become more comfortable talking about it. That's not to say that we are gone rush into anything just that we are getting more comfortable with the thought of it. I think that's the first step. I still have stuff I want to do. I guess there is not magical formula for readiness.. I kinda just hope we know when we are ready.

Anyway Im off to watch some TV and get ready for bed! Happy 5 months to Barry and I!! only 7 more till our one year.. then what will I call my blog I wont be a newlywed anymore!! who knows! night everyone.

Lets get back to business

Well I think we can all agree too much drama for 1 week! I have obviously made some errors and Im ok with admitting that. Anyway Im ready to get back to the purpose of this blog to just be me and share my life with my friends.

Thanks for all the support from my friends who saw how I was feeling about the comments. I have put my blog settings back to just letting my friends post ( I really do like when you all leave your comments). Anyway this blog is now monitored by a blog security system so that if I need to I can track who writes in my blog. I hope this will not be necessary.

I started this as a fun way to destress and share, and thats what I want it to be. If your not on this blog as a friend please dont post. If your not someone who is actively in my life I know I cant stop you from reading but have enough respect to keep your thoughts to yourself. Thanks everyone! Next blog topic on a lighter note: Barry and Cheries dream to go on a vegas vacation!!!

Deep Thoughts and all the crap in my brain

Well it has been a while since I have written but I think that the weather this weekend has made me do some thinking. Barry and I have been talking quite a bit in the last while about babies and family and just evaluating what matters to us.

Of course it has always been the plan to have kids but I think now we are ready to put a plan in action. I know I know not everything is plannable nor is it always go according to plan. But there are things to think about. For myself to have a child (not really soon so dont get too worked up people) but for us to start to plan there are some things that we need to do to be ready:

1. Physical readiness: I have been slacking on my diet and not really pushing my exercise. So my goal is I want to lose 40 pounds by the fall, I want to be in good physical shape before I try to have kids. So that means healthy eatting and more exercise- I know I wont be perfect and i know that there may be a bowl of ice cream somewhere in there so Im realistic. So start I want to lose 10 pounds by the end of May. I think thats a modest doable goal. I also want to start taking vitamins and just looking after myself and helping Barry to focus on his own health. We want to be good role models for our kids. We are gonna get some bikes and try and get out more this spring and summer

2. Home Readiness: We are gonna finish the bathroom we started and try and work on making our kitchen a little nicer, and giving our home some outdoor care. The end of that goal involes transforming Barrys office into a furture bedroom, so that means saving money for a new window.

3. Finacial readiness: we are trying to get some bank stuff sorted out to help us save more for the future and tidy up our spending so that we are more prepared to live within a smaller budget (kids cost money). Also save money for the extras like the new window we need.

4. Emotional readiness- this is a big one! I dont know how to put it into words (this is a whole other blog really!) but we need to just talk and research and just get more comfortable with the process.

Anyway this is just a start, stay tuned!

6am and Im awake whats up with that?

Its 6am and Im wide awake! What is up with that? Im having a very strange week. I have no idea what has brought on this whole weridness. I have been in talks with the mangers at the hospital I used to work with, Im hoping to get back on board causally. I dont know if that will be an option but I think I need to have some hospital time. I need some adventure and action, again part of this is due to the fact that I miss the moms and babies I used to work with. So iM hoping that there will come some answers about this and that I can have a chance to do what Im stil passionate about. Again I love my job but its not exciting. Im not wanting to go back on a full time basis I like the lifestyle I have, but I definatly want the option to go and use my nursing skills. Im really hopeful that this will happen.

Oh I hope spring gets here soon before I go bonkers, Also my theory is if Im back with the occasional shift in the hospital I will get my "baby fix" and stop thinking about them outside of the hospital. Im thinking thats whats wrong with me Im just missing my maturnity. Say a little prayer for me that they have some causal job openings and that I get one! Im gonna go lie down for an hour try and sleep.

I think I have Cabin Fever

Well where to begin? its alot easier to blog I find when one has issues. I think I have issues. Not like serious issues but issues all the same. Today I have been grumpy moody and depressed. I ate chocolate tonight- yes I ate chocolate and lots of it! Did I mention chips to? I hardly eat like that anymore and I had alike a good break down. Im sure I will be seeing my friend the 4 pounds back this week.

I am trying to figure out whats bugging me. To start my bathroom resembles the inner circle of hell. I have a working sink I cant shower or pee in there, so Im forced to use the "boy bathroom" its gross, and cold. So that puts me in a mood off the bat. While I like my job I find it a little isolating I dont have much interaction with people and Im feeling like I miss that. I used to have so much interaction and now I dont, and the only interaction I have is generally with people who want to bitch at me. I like my co -workers and Im greatful for the job, but its just beena slow week and I am feeling bored.

Ok Im just gonna say it: Im having some baby confusion. Now all you baby freaks out there who have been saying I will be the next one and wishing fertility on me dont freak out. I just am feeling like its all around me everywhere I go its babies, my co workers are pregnate, I have friends who are prego, and even unlikely people are now talking about the potential to become parents. Now Im so confused I dont feel ready I like my freedom to a degree, but a part of me feels its like the next step. I also feel like I want to be more finically ready, and more ready with the home stuff. Ugh! Go away babies go away! I thought I would go to the mall tonight to get it off my mind- what is there babies! Babies in strollers, babies in arms. Its unavoidable, I even came on line and noted that a blogger I read about now and then has had a baby. Why is this in my head? I never gave a crap about timing, If something has turned my biological clock on I think I need to hit snooze cause this is freaking me out! Even my husband is freaking me out! Hes like well just let me know when your ready. EEK! What is that! Im sure this is all a phase Im bored and its winter blues. Nice weather is coming and then I will be back out enjoying life and Babies can again take a place in the self marked: "later".

Ok Im gonna go take an antacid, I ate too much.

I have No bathroom

Well the home improvements continue, Barry and I have made good progress. I have finished stripping the wall paper (THANK GOD!) and Barry assisted by removing the toilet and then helping to sand the walls and fill the holes. But sadly we are out of motivation and need some additional stuff to move to the next phase- that will mean next weekend we will paint! So until then I am living in a bathroom that has only a workable sink. I have to go down to Barry's dungeon bathroom for usage of toilet and shower. I don't know if any of you know about Barry bathroom- but it is the area I refer to as the "hot zone" the center for disease control has taken swabs and we are awaiting results. Anyway I'm forced to spend a week in its use. I don't know what's worse, not showering or showering in there. I hope that I make it through the week, as I don't know if I will survive the bathroom experience. Anyway the renovations are going well no major problems yet. We are slowly increasing our handymen skills (we have a book!). Hey everyone has to start somewhere right! Stay tuned!

Im going in!

Prepare yourselves! Im gonna work on my bathroom! Thats right without anyone forcing me, holding me at gun point or threatening to take away my tv watching time. Im gonna go scrape my little heart out! Note: This is also a diet technique. I have lost 4 pounds in the last 4 weeks not alot but they say slow and steady wins the race. So by working on the bathroom it leaves way less time to snack on treats. Wish me luck more details to follow!

Flip this Bathroom!

I spent part of tonight watching some of those home improvement shows and I started to feel motivated, I started to feel powerful! If these common people can renovate then why not me? I have been in the process of redoign my bathroom, but so far all that has entaled has been taking some wall paper off- so tonight I decided to do some more work. I spent an hour on one wall and in all that time all I got done was removing the glue. Note to people: wall paper is never a good thing after 1989, and it is certainly not a good idea in a bathroom. So after an hour of scraping wiping and washing the wall I gave up. Rome was not built in a day nor will this bathroom be redone over night.

So I will try to share my joureny with this bathroom as I make advancements. My goal is to have the wall paper all scraped down by next weekend. Lets see if I can get my lazy butt to work on it! I wish I was rich I would just hire people to do my work for me. Oh well back to my scraper!

Just a General Update

Well I dont have much creative to say, but I feel that I should write a blog as I have been slacking lately. Whats new that I can tell you about? hmm well Barry and I went to Brockville on the weekend and visited his nan and pop. We had a nice time very relaxing and fun.

Work is going well, although I find myself at times bored, but I have come to the realization that this bordom comes from the fact that I used to have alot more people interaction in my job and now I have alot less. I am used to alot of disscussion and I guess its just adjusting to the different environment. Also in the old office we were kinda clustered together, but now that I have my own office its quiet. Again all things I will get used to. Im feeling more independent in my job role I feel like I know what Im doing and that I can take more of lead role in some of the interactions. Sometimes I miss the old schdule work a few days off a fwe days. However its nice to have nights and weekends off. Its all a trade off but a worth while one.

Im enjoying the gym at lunch, its a nice routine, I have lost 3lbs in the last 2 weeks, its not alot but its a good start Im into more of routine which will hopefully help me make more weight loss strides. How am I feeling right now? kinda in a funk I dont know why Im just funky Im tired and I feel like blah.

Anyway I know this is possibly the worlds most boring blog entry Im sure it could win a boring blog entry. That is all I promise to get some spunk next time.

Help Bring back the goatee! Your Comments count!

As you can see from this picture my hubby was sporting a nice goatee for a while. I really liked it thought it made him look older more mature. Alas he did not agree and has since shaven it off. I think that my blog readers need to speak up! Post your comments here and help me convince him to bring back the facial hair! Say yes to Facial hair today by leaving your comments! Come help me with my cause! Thank you.

My Funny Valentine

How could I resist on this hallmark holiday to post a little bit of mushy sentiment about my husband? The answer is I couldnt help myself! This is a picture of Barry my new husband. In fact we will be married a grand total of 4 months tomorrow! Thats so exciting!! Barry bought me some lovely pink roses that I have displayed on my kitchen table, Im so lucky to have such a nice guy, and not just for the obvious reasons, kindness sweetness and cute- but for all the little things. He makes me laugh, he knows the very spot Im most ticklish and never hesistates to use it when we go to battle on our couch watching our favorite shows. He makes the best chili and we have the best bedtime talks about our day. Yes Im very content life is good, I sometimes feel guilty like things are too smooth and I dont deserve to be so happy. But I am and I wont question it I will just enjoy the blessings. I love you Bareclaw!! Happy Valentines Day! This weekend we get to go to Brockville and see Barrys family I love these trips its so nice to spend time with these wonderful peole they make me feel so invited. Im looking forward to a nice relaxing weekend visiting.
My Bareclaw! How cute!

Looking Forward to Friday

Well if looking back at these shots from the past is any indication of the fun that is planned to be had on friday night then yahoo look out! I feel like I have to have a bit of fun now while I can still call myself "in my 20's". I mean 30 is literally walking towards me with a big black hook prepared to grab me and carry me kicking and screaming to middle age! I plan to go out with a bang! Anyway Im looking forward to kicking back and relaxing! Hope to see all that can make it to Tequilla Willys in the shwa on friday! Cheers!



Cherie enjoying her favorite martini yummm!


Missy and I having a toast at our bachlorette party in October!! We were of course the picture of perfect by the end of the night!! ha ha

Cuba: A tale of a drunken night

I want to share a story with you all:

Once upon a time on an island in the sea there was a girl and her husband on vacation. They spend their days on the beach and their evenings taking in the local events. One night the lovely couple decided to go out to dinner to one of the local resturants. At dinner the waiter brought some wine for the two to enjoy. However the husband said "gee I dont drink wine" so the wife being the kind and generous women did not want to put it to waste so she said "why I will drink your wine" the husband replied "but wife you have your own wine to drink" The wife with a happy glint replied "dont you worry about me I can drink them both no problem". So the couple had a nice dinner full of wine and talk and food and more wine. Finally by the end of the meal the wife noticed that perhaps she was not as steady on her feet as she had been "oh" she exclaimed "I think I may have had a glass to many". On they went back to their room with a light hearted step and lots of laughs.


The couple arrive back at the room and the wife by this time was quite shall we say "happy" So for some reason that Im sure at the time made perfect sense the wife decided to crawl inside the closet and sit down when her husband asked " why are you in the closet dear wife?" she exclaimed "cause I want to explore, Im like Dora the explora" Yes yes you can see how this makes perfect sense right?

As the night progressed the wife found herself less and less interested in sitting up talking and more intrigued by the floor below her.... and the rest they say is history.

A picture is worth a thousand words...... someone pass the tylenol.

House Guests who eat cat litter

I have to tell you all a funny story. I love to have guests over, guests of all shapes and sizes. So last night we decided to have our dear friend Julia over and her new son Bentley. Bentley is perhaps the cutest most well behaved puppy. He is still learning and despite his parents great influence he still like all children does things once in a while that his parents don't expect.

So Bentley was a good boy the whole night watched movies with us and played with my dear Mr Columbo. We were getting tired and the room was warm, so we fell asleep. Poor Bentley with a puppy bladder had to pee, so he found a nice soft spot of carpet and went. Not a big deal puppies pee. So Julia being the good mom she is went to clean up after her boy, knowing that part of his training was to not let him see her do this clean up. So we closed the door and locked him out for a minute. In that short time Bentley discovered a hidden treat, a little something to nibble on. It might even become the latest craze in dog treats..... He discovered our cat scoobys litter box. There is Bentley rubbing and digging his face in the cat litter. We were all shocked and horrified by this action so Julia takes him and tries to wipe off his face. However Bentley appeared to be chewing on something. Much to Julia's horror when she opened his mouth there stuck to the roof of his mouth was a nice chunk of cat litter. It was quite the site of gagging and removal attempts, when Julia had done all she could and retreated the the bathroom to gag in private, Barry gagging took a turn. Finally the majority of littler retrieved from the mouth Bentley none the wiser as to the fuss over him having a late night snack. All and all Bentleys first trip to our house made him worthy of a blog entry dedicated just to him. So I say this: Bentley I'm sure the litter was tasty but perhaps you should stick to dog treats, however if you want more I have a cat whose more then happy to "supply " You with treats. Julia he's too cute you know he's welcome here anytime... We just wont offer him litter next time!!



Bentley after the litter lunch, seconds anyone?

More Cuba

Hi everyone, I know that I have not written much lately, but I wanted to share some Cuba pics with you. I tried to post a blog yesterday and my whole blog almost got lost in cyber space. I could not access anything all day long I was in total panic that I had lost my out let! Anyway I just wanted to share some pics. We had a great trip it was very relaxing and just what our honeymoon should be!! Enjoy the pics!




Barry and I on a small island, we took a boat to the island and then went snorkling... however after the guide was yelling at some of the other tourists about putting their equipment on right and constantly barking nazi like orders to Barry to put his face in the water he decided that he was out. So off to shore he went.. poor Barry no underwater adventure for him.

This is my totally hip cool husband. Isnt he cute girls? Notice the tan you would almost think hes latino! Watch out Marc Anthony!

This of course is me, I also get very dark and could give JLo a run for her money! Its like between Barry and I we are like body doubles of this famous couple! We are CherBar! Im gonna have t-shirts made!

How romantic! A true profession of love written in the sand!

Me walking on a sand bar when the tide is out. This was perhaps one of the most peaceful moments I have felt in a long time. It made me feel very centered, forgeting all the crap of life that sometimes gets in the way.

Cuba Part 1: Planes and Panic Attacks

This Picture was not taken on the plane beacuse Im Obvioulsy to happy for that to be the case. So lets talk the flight to Cuba: I had spent a week or so worrying/preparing myself for the big event. I had all the necessary things: alcohol and drugs thats what it takes me to get on the plane. So as if its not bad enough to have to wait in the airport for the plane our situation was even longer. Picture it its 5:30 and we should be on the plane, but there is no crew and no plane. The airport dude announces that there is a delay with the crew and that we would be leaving soon. So I go ahead and take my perfectly timed drugs for the flight. Then a short time later the airport dude announces that we are going to be delayed due to our plane having "mechanical difficulties" Yeah thats just what the panicked flyer wants to hear! So they told us we would be getting a new crew, however the plane would be delayed for like 3 hours! Stuck for 3 hours in an airport with nothing to do but worry and hope that they find a non defective plane. Oh but for our trouble they gave us 5 dollars in airport vouchers thats about enough to get you a soda at the airports highly priced food stops. I am happy to report that I did not panic on the way down, Barry helped me keep calm, with a game of tetrus and a hand massage. The ride home was another story, but you will have to wait till a future installment of the CUBA.

A Taste to tie you over

Hi Everyone, Ok I know that I promised great blogging about my trip. However bear with me I have been off for 10 days and I just had my first day back to work in my new office with a door!! Anyway Im quite tired and I know that it will take me some time to explain the whole trip in the best way possible. So Im just giving you a taste with this picture of me and my better half. This was taken on an island off of a beach called half moon beach. We went the day to snorkle, however I was the only one who ended up making it out in the water (more on that later). Anyway it was great we had fun and a much needed rest. So have no fear give me a few days to get my act together and I will have more tales for you.

On an unrelated matter I have a thought for those of you out there (feel free to comment) How do you feel about public showers at the gym? Im trying out a new gym nearer to my work, I bought a 1 month membership to try and see if I like it. So I went on my lunch for a work out and all went well until I hit the change room. I got in there to go shower and much to my distress there were no shower stalls but rather one big open room, it was like a ballroom for showering. Just this big open echoing tiled room with shower heads coming out of the wall side by side. So you can imagine that being that Im not one for public nudity I was in rather a jam needing to not be sweaty and needing to not be nude. The other horror was that all the naked people that were wondering around were well old flat jack breasts down to there knees. EEK! So I thought well I cant look much worse then that (perhaps better gravity still likes me for the most part) So I thought what the hell. So I wrapped my towel and walked to the shower head in the ball room. I quickly whipped off my towel jump under the shower and did a speed shower. However I had this old lady talking to me, she asked if I knew how to adjust the water. I did not and thought that would be the end, but not she proceeded to talk to me now I dont know abotu you but her being naked and my being naked really broke my social boundaries of comfort. I managed to hurry away saying I needed to go to work. This night mare is only going to get more real so I pose this question: My boss and I enjoy working out on our lunch together, how close is too close is it rather uncomfortable for my boss and I to see each other naked.. my thought is yes, and tomorrow we go to the gym I have no idea what I will do, can I shower in my clothes? Anythoughts to help would be appreicated!!!

Back From Cuba

Hi all

we are back from Cuba! Had a great time! Lots of sun shine white sand and blue water. Anyway I just wanted to say stay tuned I will update my blog more in the next day or so! I hope all is well with my loyal fans.

Upcoming topics of interest:

Plane rides and panic attacks
nicknames for people at our resort
Cuba: is the food bad or is it really bad?
Turning 29 and its effect on alcohol consumption
Scuba its not for everyone
Pictures of the trip

Look Out Cuba Here we come!

Hey Everyone well today is the day! We leave for the airport in a few short hours!! Im nervous but excited!! I cant wait to get away and enjoy the sunshine!! As you know my honeymoon was not so sucessful for weather, but the weather network says its hot and sunny in Cuba!!

Anyway I will be sure to come back and post lots of our pics! I hope everyone has a great week. Buno noches!

Things I have never actually had my eyes open for

Just taking documentation of the plane, it looks ok.. eveything is working (note I have no piolet skills or training Im jut guessing here)

That is Mexico! very pretty, I like it from the ground!!!

I have never actually seen these in real life but Barry says it quite nice!

Facing my fear: flying

I have to say that I have always been a bit of scardy cat, Im afraid of bugs, mice, scarey movies, robbers, being alone at night. However for the most part these things dont get the best of me. There is however one thing that I am afraid of that I have never been able to get over: flying. Ok before anyone out there starts telling me stats and how its safer then driving etc etc- hear me out. If I bang up my car it is likely in most cases I will be ok, if something happens on a plane likely (unless I am the star of lost the tv show) I will not wash up on a tropical island awaiting resuce while werid and wacky things happen (for you fans out there what the heck are those darn numbers anyway??) Anyway Im getting off topic, the point is Im afraid to fly, I always have been probably always will be. The one good thing that I can say is that I dont let it stop me from doing things as I do enjoy travel. I figured that maybe by writing this blog and talking about it I might get it out there and not internally worry till this weekend. Let me tell you what is the hardest about facing an upcoming flight: the week before I go away I will lie in bed and just at that point when your about to fall asleep I will be thinking about the plane and then I have this jolt of fear and Im wide awake trying not to think about what I just imagined happened. For those of you who dont know I had my first (and hopefully only) panic atttack on the plane on the way to Mexico. I have never had one before and to be honest used to make light of people who said they have them. However I now have new respect as I have never felt such a sense of not being able to breathe and feeling so anxious. It was not good, and as my husband can tell you rather a bit embaressing. I do recall he tried to read a book and pretend it was not happening.

So I did something the other day to face my fear: Barry and I were home on sunday just hanging out, I got season one of Lost so we decided to watch the first episode. For those of you who dont watch lost its about a plane that crashes on an island and the lives of these survivors. Anyway the first episode is where the miracle of speical effects takes over and they show you in graphic detail the plane crumbling apart piece by piece. Anyway I know that you are all expecting this story to end with a moral about how I faced my fear and felt better after I watched it. I felt worse and wanted to vomit. Note to self: perhaps its better not to face fear but live in denial and medicate one self for flight. Yes I think my drugs and I will have a happy sleepy flight. Anyway I just thought I would share you my chicken soup for the fear of flying soul. I hope if you are afraid of flying that I have helped- helped you live in denial that is! Ha ha just a little flight humour!

Update on my New Years Resolutions

well here were are half way through the month. I thought I should take a minute to update on how my new years resolutions are going. I have been doing really well in some areas and not so well in others. I have yet to really get into the financial planning (when we get back from Cuba I will look at it). Im finding it easy to stay around postive people cause there just arnt any negative ones around. Im doing well with my gym time I went five days last week, aiming for the same this week. THe weight loss is finally starting to take off, the first week I gained a pound for some werid reason, then last week I lost 3 pounds!! I was really excited about that, Im hoping for some continued sucess this week. Of couse going to Cuba may mean a bit of a set back with lying on the beach for a week, but its definaltly worth it! I might even get up and walk around you can get a tan walking on the beach just as easily as you can lying on it. I know that 3 pounds is not anything great yet but Im on the right path, Im eating healthy, exercising, getting my sleep and man do I ever drink a lot of water!!!

Anyway thats just a quick update on my New year! Stay tuned for the next blog very soon, infact now.

My Poor watch

Well today I am a bit sad, I have lost something that was very precious to me. I went to the gym on my lunch hour and I thought I dont want my watch to get sweaty so I took it off and put it on the ledge on my tread mill. I left it there, it was not for 2 hours that I realized that it was missing. Sadly when I went back to see if it was there it was gone. I am still holding out hope that it got turned in- I have to check with the person tomorrow. Anyway this watch was my cherished wedding gift from Barry, he gave it to me picked out the perfect watch for me all on hi own and I have been silly enough to lose it. I feel awful about it. I hope that maybe it turns up. If it does I will never again take it off unless it goes in its spot in my jewlery box.

Another thing I would like to share with you all is I have come to the conclusion that I dont like to pump my own gas. I go to the gas station and go to the full serve. Its freezing cold and the guy just stands inside and stares at me. I stare at him we stare from through the glass. Im like hello here to buy gas come and pump it. Well after waiting for what I felt was long enough I started my car went over to the other side and tried to pump my own gas. I thought it will be quicker if I just use the pay at the pump. Well I punched all the keys and it kept cancelling my transaction. I was getting annoyed. so I went in and told the guy so he fiddled with it and then said it should work now. So I tried again only to finally get mad and go in and pay inside. However not before I told him what I thought of his pumps, I think though my words were wasted as he looked like perhaps he had limited use of the english language. Anyway I had the coldest feet and hands ever! I will avoid getting gas on cold days... oh wait maybe I can just make Barry do it!! ha that would be much better!

Not to rub it in to all you who are suffering through this cold winter but I have to share its now only 4 days till we leave for Cuba!! How excited am I!! Im very excited- and you my loyal readers will have to listen to this excitment for the next four days!!! Till then good night!

The rice

As some of you may have seen my counter part has posted a rather interesting picture of a very chared bowl of rice. Now dont be milead by his take on the situation. I over cooked the rice due to the fact that as we all know brown rice takes much longer to cook then white. So while our home was filled with smoke and while it might be true that I almost started a rice fire.. I did however learn from this experience and I doubt that I will attempt to do this in the microwave again.

Also some of the blame can lie on the fact that our new microwave has super human stregth! It cooks things at the speed of light. I put something in for a few seconds and the next thing you know its boiling hot! It is gonna take some getting used to!! That is all I have to say on the matter for now. I am going to work but stay tuned loyal fans I will be back and tonight I will give you some blog extravagenza!!!

Random Thoughts from my mind

Well I know that its been a few days since I last made an entry, and I certainly don't want my loyal fans to be let down so here I go. I have a lot of random thoughts that I have decided to share with you:

The gym is a great place to work out and meet your fitness goals, except when you are faced with many New Years goal setters.

cougars at my gym are taking over, there's a new breed in town dark tanned, over exercised and certainly not friendly. Do I wipe the seats of the equipment extra well for fear that I will get a disease from a cougar?? I cant get to the mirror for all the 40 + crowd trying to apply their lip gloss before they go to work out- um whose looking at your sweaty lips anyway?

Trainers appear to like cougars and are therefore disgraceful also.

Should gym bunnies give medical advice? Like say your aerobics instructor is telling people how many milligrams of certain vitamins and supplements to take? " oh yes you should defiantly take at least 3000mg a day" . Can I please see your medical certificate? Last time I checked I don't even have one, and I don't believe 3 day aerobic instructors have them either.

I have learned in my new job that it is much like working in my old job with new moms who need help breastfeeding, except in my job IM the mom and IM now breast feeding my employees. Employees call me to complain about other employees, and I say well maybe you want to talk to them yourself and work it out before you come to me. Four phone calls later they managed to realize they are adults and can think for themselves- amazing, but boy are my nipples sore!

I love my husband, more and more each day. I loved him a lot on our wedding day, but now I am learning new levels of our love. I know someone who right now is watching her husband die of cancer, they infact were supposed to go today to pick out where he will lay in rest, but he is so sick that he cant even stay awake to go out. He is slipping away. My heart goes out to her and I hope to be support for her. It just reminds me how lucky I am to have Barry, and for both of us to be healthy and happy. So even though we have days were we are not happy with circumstatances it is wise to remember that I have him and that we have our love even if things around us are not always perfect.

Finally to end on a happy note I am so very very excited about our upcoming vacation! Cuba here we come! White sand, hot sun, blue ocean Im so ready for that! So ready to go wasting away in margarita vile. cheers everyone!

New Years in Review

For those of you who follow my blog you know that I had the most exciting New years of sleeping and trying to keep my bodily fluids inside. Here is New Years 2005 in review:




New Years drink of champions: Gingerale! But only sips!

This dinner is simply the best! Jello and ginger ale. Party it up! I barely made it to 12!

This picture is worth a thousand words.... I will let you figure out what is on my jeans. King Kong anyone?

Here is Mr. Columbo in my night shirt. This just proves that my night shirt is a "family heirloom". So cute!


This hole not only serves the purpose of ventilation but it can also be used as a spie hole. Note that I"m also wearing a striped night shirt from my trailer park collection. Shame shame this folks is my one true guilty pleasure - ugly pajamas! Oprah help me!

My Pajamas With Pride!

Stand up and be proud of your pajamas!

This is Scooby with the bears hes quite a fan of my "holy" night ware.

Night shirts there not just for humans anymore.

Here is my shirt. I am very proud of it. You will notice the "gang" of bears and that around them is many *#&$@ symbols, we can all use our imaginations on the meaning.

What its art at its finest

Its only a small hole... do you think I can fix it?

My favorite PJ's- Busted!

Have you ever had a favorite pair of pajamas? You know the ones I'm talking about, they have been worn thin, they have holes everywhere and are perhaps the most god awful tackiest things that you can ever been seen in (but are not as you wear them in secret shame). Well I have a confession to make: I am one of these pj owners.

Tonight while out with friends my lovely husband outted my misfit pajamas and let all know of there shame. So I have decided instead of slinking in silent fear and shame that I will share with the world my shame: I have this night shirt its grey, its cotton and not at all attractive to anyone. The best or should I say one of its best features is the bears. There is a picture of bears on the front. No not just ordinary bears but rapping bears, bears that have baseball hats t-shirts and have blanked out swear words over top of them. Its other desirable quality is the number of holes in it. There are holes in most places (although can get away with decentness if wearing a blanket to cover in moments of unexpected pop in visits from friends!!) It is a strange arrangement I will admit but you must understand they are soooo comfortable! How can something that feels so good be so wrong. Now I do realize that this blog is called "newlyweds" therefore its almost sinful to think of a newlywed in her nasty old night shirt circa 1990. However I think that if you see that its merely a statement of art- you will see that the night shirt is a thing of rare and unique beauty perhaps even splendor!!

Anyway if you stay tuned I will be posting a picture of the night shirt. I will no longer hide in the dark, in shame I want to shout from the roof tops: I love my rapper bears night shirt! I'm not ashamed world! Watch out!! its coming to a blog near you!!!!!!!!!!! Good night the bears and I are tired.

New Years Resolution updates and other stuff

Well its day three of the New Years Resolutions and so far so good, Im sticking to my good eating habits, I have been to the gym (although I should have gone more i have at least gone). I started paying off a bill, and I have been in a very positive state of mind.

On the down side My gym membership has gone up and Im rather annoyed with the whole process (see previous blog). Im thinking of looking for a new gym as I feel for the money IM spending I can get much better service else where. Anyway thats it for now see ya later!!

Dear New Gym Members:

Everyone knows that the only reason you are now at the gym in your new shiny white runners, with your brand new ipods and water is because you "decided" for the New year to get in shape. While I would like to say good for you lets be honest your attempts will fail and in a month or so you will be back on the couch at home. So this is what I propose: quit now, save all of us who have been going to the gym the trouble of waiting for your tread mill. We who have been at the gym for a long time hate the way you walk around with your buddies (also on your New year band wagon) like you own the gym. You chat with the trainers and pretend like you have all this fitness stuff wrapped up. Meanwhile you have done nothing to prove that you have gym staying power. Come talk to me in Aug when I'm sweating my butt off in a core stregth class with the A/C busted then I will take you seriously. I find it frustrating to come from work ready to get a quick power work out in before heading home and I find that the only piece of equipment left is a broken bike (and I hate the bike by the way). You hog the mirror in the change room and take all the good lockers. I try and greet my teeth and be friendly but secretly I hope you trip in your new shoes so that I can have your cross training machine. This is my solution if you want to join a gym you should be interviewed by regular members so that we can determine your loyalty factor and there should be no new memberships allowed in January.

That is all I have to say, so go run today for tomorrow you will be sitting on your couch eating a twinkie and I will be back in peaceful bliss on at my gym.

Thankyou

Cherie Bates

Favorite Picture of the Week

Im going to strive to out some more pics on this site so that people can see a little bit more of my world in living colour!!


Barry and I on our happiest day thus far!!! I think we both looked smashing!!

The 2 day honeymoon it was great while it lasted!! We leave in 20 days for Honeymoon #2. Hope its a little bit longer!!

If you could see the hats close up you would note that they say Just Married! I thought they were cute (this is one of the rare shots Bar would let me take of him in the hat haha)

New Years Resolutions in a Nut Shell

Ok so I never have in as long as I can remember made any new years resolutions simply because it would seem that its so easy to break them. However this year Im making a twist on them, Im not gonna call them New Years resolutions Im gonna call them Life Resolutions! I am very happy in my life i have a great husband who I love, wonderful family and great friends. So there are just a few areas that I want to work on to improve myself:

1. Money: We going to attempt to pay off the wedding this year (Im sure many can relate to this as its a major expense). Save a little more spend a little less.

2. Health: The gym and I have a love hate relationship therefore Im going to start to make it more of a fun thing that I do for myself. So Im gonna start learning to enjoy it and find activites that are fun! I also would like to aim to go 3-4 days per week.

3. Weight: Yikes this is a hard one, I lost a good amount of weight before and I have kept most of it off, but some has crept back on and I never did reach my goal. So as of today me and my friend the salad became friends again. I actually have to say that I feel better when I eat healthy felt like crap eatting junk over the holidays. I dont want to post number goal as I dont really have a number in mind just I want to feel good in my clothes and like my body so when I reach that comfort zone I wil call it a day and maintain there.

4. Allow only positive things to influence my life: There in the past have been some negative people in my life that have cause alot of issues and hurt for myself and those I care about. This year I vow to not allow them to ruin my happy place. They can be negative and lie to themselves all they want. They can pretend to be something they are not but it will not affect me or my family anymore. I am done with that kind of thing. If people want to be part of my life then they will add to it not take from it or they just wont be included. Nuff said on that!

5. Have fun and enjoy being married! Im gonna take the next year to really enjoy being married and it just being young fun and in love. I want to travel not necessarily far but just like a weekend trip or a night out. I want to dance (even if Im getting old) and sing at the top of my lungs. I want to take my husband camping and laugh as he battles the outdoors. The list of fun is endless.

Anyway that my list it may not be very original and I certainly know Rome was not built in a day but Im gonna make my best effort to see my goals through. I hope you all do the same! Now im off to enjoy a hot bath in the middle of the day cause Im off and I can! Cheers everyone!

Happy New Year Why cant I make waffles?

Happy New year to everyone! I hope you all had fun. I myself lay on the couch in a half coma like state while trying to watch an movie and stay awake for Dick Clark to drop the ball. Yes poor Dick did anyone else see the obvious affects of the stroke, Barry and I were quite sad. It was quite a romantic moment at the stroke of 12 when I turned my sick face to Barrys to kiss him and he informed me that my breath smelled like a dying animal. Yes I think that the sickness had made me forget about the importance of teeth brushing. Ouch! not very romantic. Anyway I managed to stay awake til about 1215 then off to bed we went.

So today I got up feeling quite a bit better and for the first time in a couple days like I could eat! So I thought lets make New Years Waffles!!! Well three batches later I found that I did not have the ability. The first batch there was not enough batter in it so it did not cook, the second batch I opened it too soon and it stuck everywhere. The third back too much batter and it did not cook all the way threw. So we took the left over batter and made a modified pancake. It was alright. I can honestly say Im done with the waffle, its such a pain in the ass to clean it and I got no reward for all my hard efforts. Anyway Im off to lounge for the day Im gonna do nothing with a capital N!!! Im going to sit and stare at the walls and lie there like a vegtable. I think that will help me appreciate the busyness of life if I just sit still for a while. Happy New Year everyone hope your waffles were better then mine- next time we will just got to Dennys. Stay tuned next blog I speak to my New Years resolutions!!

Us on Christmas Day in Brockville. We are the cutest newly weds ever!!

Barry helping Mr. Columbo open his gift!! I wonder what Santa brought??

Me and Mr Columbo what a cute pair - notice the matching Christmas wear?

Season 4 of 24 what more can a guy ask for???

Santas little helper - hes so cute!! Love the hat!

More December Pics!!

This is us at the Christmas train as it passed through Bowmanville Dont we look cute? It was kinda cold!

Theres the train it was great!

Blair witch? Is that you in there?

Barry want a big cold wet kiss? It can be arraanged!

Bye Bye train come through next year it was great fun! Loved the Hot chocolate

December Moments

Here are some pics of Us at Heathers Christmas Party!
Barry showing his best side!!
where's the Mistle toe???
The two angels (this is as close as they get!)
Heather and I and the ride home it was a good night!

King Kong and the puke

Happy New Year everyone! I'm sick! Nothing like spending your New Years eve in close proximity to the nearest bathroom "just in case". I started my plans for New years with high hopes of a nice evening of eating and movies. (lucky we did not plan anything bigger!!). Now I just feel like a raisin as there is no fluid left in my body. But allow me to explain as its a great story.

Barry and I decided to go see King Kong the Movie last night. We were having a nice time and decided to order some popcorn. I normally never get popcorn but thought it might be a nice treat. Anyway we are eating our popcorn and both of us commented on how it was cold dry and gross, thus we put it aside. So as we watch the epic tale of a big monkey and his love of a women I started to notice that my stomach felt a little sick. No big deal right? So I suck it up and sit there, but suddenly I feel like my stomach is inflating, my pants were getting tight right before my eyes. I felt like I could not sit still. So after a while of sitting there in huge discomfort I decided that maybe I should go to the bathroom. So I leave Barry and the monkey movie to go to the "little girls room". Inside I sat there feeling ill, (warning this is not pretty you may want to stop ready if your easily grossed out). So I puked a small amount, nothing gross or obscene. I felt better and congratulated myself for getting through that. I went back to watch the movie all smiles as the ordeal was over and I could now enjoy the movie and relax. Wait one minute.... I get back to my seat and I am there for a little while when I start to feel that fullness in my belly almost pain like. Then I knew I knew something was gonna happen.

So lucky for me I had met Barry after work and we had both cars so I told him to stay watch the movie and I would meet him at home. So I get out to the parking lot and I suddenly feel hot a sweaty, I quickly move to my car but as I get closer I realize that I'm not gonna make it to the car or home. I'm looking around and there are teenagers hanging out, little do the realize the scene they are about to see. I lean over a corner as much out of view as possible and I puked, I puked up a small child I'm sure, I have never in my worst hangover had such an ordeal. Just as I thought I was done I get up and move to the car, only to add a last insult I lean down to puke a huge amount again and it lands on my pants and my shoes. As I stand in the cold movie parking lot the day before the new year with puke all over my pants and shoes I ask myself is this a symbol of the year to come? I certainly hope not.

I get home and go to bed from there the story is the same a night of stomach pain and more vomit. Even my vomit fearing husband was very good and got me water and was very kind in the midst of my bathroom trips. So today I sit here typing is already taking it out of me, so much energy to type. Today I try to keep some 7up down and the new problem has developed now things are passing very quickly through the other end. I wont give you the details of that but needless to say its gonna be a very happy new year for me! I wonder if I will toast my champagne from the bathroom? I doubt that Barry is excited to kiss me at Midnight for fear he might catch this illness.

Anyway I did not get to see the end of the movie and I'm sticking to the couch. To all of you I wish you better health then I seem to have right now and a Happy New Year! May it be great for us all!!

Christmas Reflection

Tonight Barry and I head to Brockville for our first Christmas together as husband and wife. Ok warning to all that read my blog Im about to get sappy and reflect here so bare with me (its only once a year!!)

Anyway I find that this time of year I feel many things I feel lucky to be alive healthy happy and safe. I feel loved by my friends family and husband. I reflect on many different christmas memories over the years and all those special moments. With this reflection comes the memory of my mom and dad. It would not be right if I did not take a minute to acknolwedge them at this speical time of year.

My parents were big christmas people, they always got carried away with the gifts and the fun. I remember when I was young I was always the first to go jump on the bed and drag them out to go open presents, then as years went on and I became a sleep loving teenager I recall every year my dad would ring his school bell that he got when he retired from his job. I would be sound asleep and he would throw open my door and ring the bell time to get out of bed time to open presents. There are so many things that I miss about them at this time of year that it would take forever to write it. I miss the way my dad gave my mom Lavender perfume every christmas and she would act surprised and put it on as if it were the finest thing she had ever recieved. I miss the way my mom made extra stuffing cause she knew we all loved it and would eat it all. I miss my dad sitting in his chair eatting roasted nuts and watching whatever hockey game was on, he never missed a Toronto Maple leafs game. I miss how we would sit in the living room just the three of us and it would take us hours to open gifts cause my mom was always so slow she wanted to savour each gift. The way my dad and I would make pancakes, or eggs and just relax and talk. The way my dad would put on his big ugly hat with the flaps and go shovel ths snow. I love the way my mom would put on her favorite christmas songs, and just sit and listen for hours. I can still here O Holy night and feel the warmth from our fireplace in our little house.

So as I reflect my heart feels a sad, I feel that choked throat feeling as I try not to cry. To think of not having them anymore. But Im gratful for all those precious memories. To anyone who has parents that annoy you and drive you crazy sometimes take a minute to hug them and savour the time with them. So as I eat more then I should and enter this new phase of life as a married person and enjoy this time with my husband I will carry with me the memories that are more precious that anything that could come in a box with a bow. I will carry the meaning that my parents instilled in me, the fact that this weekend is more then Santa and gifts, its the birth of Jesus and for those of us who believe this significant time of year reminds us of our human frailty and what it means to have God in our lives.

To all of you I wish you the happiest and most special time with those you love. Merry Christmas from my heart to yours- Cherie

What child is this, who lays to rest,On mary's lap is sleeping?Whom angels greet with anthems sweetWhile shepherds watch are keeping?This, this is christ the kingWhom shepherds guard and angels sing.Haste, haste to bring him praise,The babe, the son of mary.

Christmas is exhausting

Tis the season Fa la la la la .. la la la! Yes the spirit is alive and well. People are preparing for the holidays gift buy, wrapping, dinners, parties, eatting, fighting the crowds. The list is endless. While I do enjoy this time of year I find myself sitting here at 8:50pm ready for bed truth be told I think I was ready for bed 2 hours after I woke up.


I think its the combination for the new job and learning so much everyday and then trying to fit massive amounts of holiday fun in every spare momment. I feel like the stay puff marshmellow man as I have not been to the gym in about 5 days and I feel that the extra 45 min of sleep it so much more worth it then the tread mill. Im already thinking about my new years resolutions, but of course thats a whole other blog!!

Im looking forward for the first time in 4 years to having christmas off, I feel like its gonna be great, my first Christmas married to my wonderful husband and my first year in so long where I have all the time in the world to enjoy the holidays. Im so excited. I watched this sad episode of Dr Phil about this family were the dad is really sick and all the problems they are having supporting themselves and raising their children. Anyway it just made me look at things and see how lucky I am I have so much.

Well for me writing this blog is so exhausting Im gonna go relax. Night all!

Winter is a bitch in high heels

Well I hope that everyone is enjoying this nice gentle snow fall as much as I am. Im all for a few flakes to give the feeling Christmas and all that, but I think mother nature might have gone a little over boad.

Last night it took me an hour and a half to get to the mall from my work place in Ajax. I was like Oh my God Im never gonna get there. But the mission to get to the mall was well worth it! I booked my trip!! Yupee Barry and I are going to Cuba!!! Im excited to go the one thing that sucks is we kinda sat on the vacation that we really wanted and in just 24 hours it was gone. Plus we basically had 2 choices for the dates we wanted to go: we could go to Los Cobos and not be able to swim in the Ocean due to the under toe, or we could pay 900 bucks more then we planned and go to this smaller resort in Cuba. Well me not being a big fan of drowning we decided to suck it up and pay the extra money. Anyway its all booked and we are excited, next time when I want to go away I will not wait to book my trip I will go with my first instinct and book it when I feel the deals are best.

So the last event to exhaust me further was having my car pushed up a hill by my husband and neighbour due to the awful snow! Yup as my tires spun and the car swirved the guys heaved ho to get my car up the hill. Not a fan of winter am I!! Anyway better go shovel my car off! Its begining to look like Christmas!- with an attitude!!

Just a Quickie

Hi all

Im just getting ready for work so Im doing a quickie update. Everything is good, Im enjoying my job and married life. I know thats kinda boring does not leave much room for good stories.. but cheer up im going to the nurses Christmas party today and from what I have heard at the office there are so real winners working for us. Yes they have the ability to call with every imaginable excuse as to why the cant work from I dont want to drive my rental car all the way to bowmanville (from Oshawa) to I cant make it to work on time cause Im dying my hair. Yes I sense some stories coming down the pipe. The nice thing about my life is that I dont usually have to try hard for the stories they just magically come to me its like they find me- wow Im so lucky! Anyway Best go get ready for another day! cheers everyone.

Christmas Cheer with friends

Im writing todays blog in red for a little bit of holiday cheer. Anyway this will not be a long blog as Im preparing for a Christmas party. However I wanted to take a minute to reflect on my friends. I have great friends, they have been there through it all, and now that alot of them are married our group has grown with so many fun personalities.

Last night Barry and I went over to our friends Julia and Barts place for a Christmas dinner. We were joined by many good friends and had a great time, we ate talked and laughed. It was nice to take a step back and appreciate what we have and just enjoy a true moment of Christmas that had nothing to do with gifts or running around. Just good friends enjoying time together. By the way Julia if your reading this dinner was fabulous!! Thanks for having us! Anyway I know Im getting all sappy here but I really had a nice time and I really love my friends.

In this day and age when we all have so much and can be thankful for so many things I feel blessed. So as I go prepare for another holiday party I will borrow a phrase that I heard recently that I think describes perfectly what I want for all of you this year: I wish everyone enough this season. Merry Christmas.

What a Change

Im so excited this year its the first time in 4 years that I dont have to chose between holidays, family, who I will spend my weekends with etc. Its all mine and Im enjoying every minute of it. I have lots of dinners and parties planned this month and its great. I am really getting into the monday- friday routine. Its nice i get up go to the gym shower go to work come home relax go to bed and do it again. Then I get every weekend to be with my husband and friends. My body feels better I sleep better at night and generally just have a better outlook on the world. I think the nights must have been screwing with me something awful cause now I feel like wow Im normal like what was wrong with me before? I feel like I just woke up from a slumber that was 4 years long.

I hope that I never have to go back to shift work ever again. I really like my job I feel challenged and excited to try new things, Im making friends quickly. I suppose the only thing I miss is the babies (notice I did not say pp moms lol- dont miss there craziness narotic bahaviour at all!!) I also miss the Docs and nurses. I mean people that you have had a 4 year relationship with its gonna be hard to not miss them. But I know Im in a better place for myself. Im looking at taking a painting class at night and exploring my interest, I have become quite the baker in the last few weeks, trying new recipes and sharing with friends and neighbours (keeps me from eatting it all lol).

Anyway its time for the gym so Im off to start another wonderful day in which Im part of the regular world and loving it!

Is it ever good to get the "new" wax girl?

So its friday and I say to myself its been a long week and I am gonna treat myself to a little pampering. So I head off to the mail to battle the masses and do some christmas shopping. While Im there Im gonna get my eye brows waxed.

So I head to my normal place TRADE SECRETS (theres no secret that I would not pretect their rep on my blog!) Stand at the counter while four girls stand there talking and looking at their nails. I wait patiently till finally one looks at me as though bothered by my presence "can I help you" So I say I want to get my eye brows waxed. So the girl looks around and says come back in 15 min. Ok Im fine with that, but Ilook back to the wax chair and there is no one there but all the waxer are chatting. So I leave and come back 15 min later only to wait another 10 min.

So I sit in the chair awating the familiar face of the wax girl with the dark hair that is always at the chair... but no its a new face, she head for me with a smile on her face. Something in her smile says not hello and friendly holiday cheer but it says Im excited to rip your hair off as I have not really done alot of these. So I sit there while she fiddles around looking for things and trying to organize her self. I watch her pick up a wax stick and drop it into the wax saying "opps" this is the point that I start to think Im in trouble here. So I figure I will give her a chance she comes at me with the wax puts some on and then rather the the efficency Im used to of reaching for the cloth strip and ripping the hair out she stands there and just looks at my eye brow, looks some more. Then goes back and gets more wax and put more on top of the drying wax. Finally she goes to rip it off, it was the most painful wax ever as she just basically ripped it off slowly. I wanted to cry in pain. God must have been on my side as my eye brows remain intact. However heres on last thought for you as I go pay the girl and leave the store I here my little wax friend say "that was not bad" "can I try piercing next" ... yes so next time you go to your favorite wax place ask yourself do you want the new girl? EEK I think not!