Susan at One Woman Show has tagged me for this meme (and I had to look that up). Also, I’m not sure how the tag thing works, my blogging is quite elementary. So now that I’ve registered my ignorance, I’ll move on to something I think I can do with some reverence and sincerity. Like Susan and Sophie before her, I too am casual about when/if the people I tag for this carry through.

5 Things I Want My Kids to Know:

1. My life has more meaning with you in it. I’m grateful for your souls.
2. I think you are excellent teachers. I’ve learned so much from you.
3. Whenever I’m lonely I replay the first time I held you.
4. I’m sorry I yell so much.  I hope I can teach you how not to do that even when you want to.
5. I love you just the way you are.

5 things you want to tell your child when they grow up:

1. Learn to meditate. It will bring you back to yourself.
2. Be at peace with the world. Your world begins with you.
3. Don’t feign affection. As much as you deserve to be deeply loved, you also deserve to love deeply in return.
4. Choices are not forever. You can always make another decision.
5.  Everything changes. Enjoy every moment.

5 things you want to tell your children before you die:

1. Always remember to brush your teeth and comb your hair…check your nose too.
2. Remember the best parts of me and delete the rest. I’ve always wanted you to have only the best of me.
3. Share your happiness with others.  Happiness is stronger when mixed.
4. Find something you love to do. If it pays well, great. If not, work at the next best thing to support your passion.
5. If you make a 1000 mistakes, I’ll still love you. If you feel like giving up, I’ll hold you.

5 things you want your children to know this lifetime:

1. The kind of love that is as wonderful to give as it is to receive.
2. The smell of your newborn baby.
3. Opportunities taken.
4. A gentle and comfortable existence.
5. A grandchild to hold.

5 people I’m tagging for this meme if, and only if, they would like to participate:

1. Kate at Sweet | Salty
2. Kathleen at Mama Words
3. Brahnamin at Juggling Cats
4. Rose at The Story of Rose
5. Bon at Crib Chronicles

The house is quiet for the first time in over 10 days with just the pitter-patter of Mandy nails and Jimmie’s occassional outbursts resonating. The kids are with their Dad who returned from “Up North” after a week-long visit with his sister. He left on Boxing Day, which meant the kids and I had the whole Christmas break together. It was fun. We had no where to go and relaxed into house bunnies.

The holidays were productive. We hosted two parties and even got the old toys cleaned up to make room for the new ones and some shelves I’m hoping to score early this year. So far, nine bags of garbage await their Tuesday morning date with the squeezer. Actually, I’ll have to share some of the garbage with my neighbours since I think we have a 6 bag limit. Update:  the old toilet is still covered in snow.

The tree is now bare, except for the lights and angel and I’m moving into cleansweep mode this weekend, returning our house back to its normal look and feel. As I write this though, I’m thinking I’ll make some changes, drastic ones, like taking the tv out of the livingroom. On second thought, that’s probably not a good idea, yet.

JB got a set of drums for Christmas and the neighbours are so happy. KD got a guitar which I think he’s naming Jimmie 2. That’s original. I’ll get him to work on that. He hasn’t really tried it out, but I was playing it and he commented that he didn’t think it could sound so good.

The best part of the holiday was my friend KT visiting (from “Up North”) with his daughter SE, who is eight. A perfect fit for my kids and my 7 year old nephew MJ who I believe may now be “in love”. What a sweet thing. He bought SE earings as a going away gift. Two nights before they left all three boys gathered and waited for their arrival to say their final farewells. MJ and JB went bezerk and drove SE nuts, until she actually cried. KD sat immersed in re-runs of Bugs Bunny and once SE had tired of JB and MJ, he made his subtle move…sly devil. I was so proud.

KT and SE left this morning. KT and I hung out last night, drank beer, looked backward and forward, laughed and hugged a lot. It’s hard to imagine where all the years went, or what’s ahead. They’ll be back in two year’s time. I’m marking this moment to measure the width of our path and the length of our journey.

I wrote this poem in 2004 and registered it in the summer on Poetry.com. Now they send me lots of emails of adoration and for only $59.95 I can have a leather-bound edition of the book it will be published in if I would only damm well agree to have it included, which I haven’t. I’m saving it. 

However, if you rate it for me and I win, I might get an Apple iPod, which is probably the one Santa forgot…he always forgets one good little boy or girl every year and sadly this year it was me. Oh well, good things come to those who wait and pray hard.

Here’s the link. I expect complete honesty in your rating, my friend:  http://www.poetry.com/voteforme/poemvote1.asp?PID=12323074

Happy New Year everyone…

The cleansing of the body to prepare the mind for meditation. Not to be undertaken by novices to yoga or tantra. Why didn’t I find this article earlier? It rose to the surface when I cleansed the top of my dishwasher. We all have a spot where the comings and goings of life collect and take root until we get tired of looking at it and sweep it clean. I think it appropriate this particular article landed on the top of the pile of yoga handouts. Life is no accident. Messages are all around us. We don’t fail to understand, we fail to notice.

I hit the 200 mark and didn’t even realize it. I think this may be a milestone. Just returned from my work Christmas party. What a bunch of fun people I landed with. I hope I can keep up. One night I’ll hang out with them but not tonight, the hockey rink fun begins at 6:30.

I have one question, and I’m sure I’m not the only one pondering this.

What music do they play to warm up the audience at an AC/DC concert? First correct response takes it and I’ll assume you’re correct since I’ve never been to an AC/DC concert.

So I assume since I’m not taking my time painting the bathroom, that something wonderful is on its way and I’m simply making myself available for it.  I am an optimist with a narrow streak of gulable and a mild affinity for skepticism. Keeps me happy, safe and hopeful.

A few tidbits have been rolling around lately. Here they are in no particular order of significance to me or any other person, living or dead:

If you kick that dead horse long enough, eventually you’ll get glued to it. Have I said that before?

Someone should stand up and tell all the bad people they are being bad, maybe they just don’t know.

Santa’s naughty list DOES NOT exist but a jigger-jagger bogger boger does. I bought two yesterday at the Freak Lunch Box and I’m going back for the big round lollipops.

Yesterday I liked one less person than I like today.

Everyone is lovable as long as they brush their teeth.

Someone once told me they liked being with me. Guess what? I do too, but I’m still here.

Once you name your guitar, you can leave it in your car for two days without it turning on you.

How long do dogs live? Mandy will be 10 next year. She still seems like a puppy to me. Should I be cherishing her even more?

Neither of my kids are feeling well today and I think KD is angry with me for not having the right cough medicine.

Homeopathic and herbal remedies are better for you than Red#6.

Drugstore dust masks are useless.