Share Your World 2015 – Week 41

Posted on October 17, 2015 by Mama Cormier

….she’s finally here

I waited before posting this week’s Share Your World because I didn’t want to report that the baby still hadn’t arrived. Well on Tuesday, October 13th at 10:39 in the evening my daughter, G, gave birth to a healthy 7 lb. 15 oz. baby girl. Mother and baby are doing extremely well and Dad is over the moon.

It’s been a few days since I’ve posted anything. We’ve been a little busy driving back and forth to Hamilton. So here are my answers to Cee’s questions.

What genre of music do you like?

I like lots of different styles of music. On Thursday I went to an afternoon concert and listened to chamber music but I have to admit that I am a fan of Pop and Jazz. I don’t like heavy metal or Rap music.

What is the worst thing you ate this last week?

The worst thing that I ate was a crispy chicken sandwich from Tim Horton’s. I usually like sandwiches from this food chain but we were a little suspect on how they could make such a crispy sandwich in such a short span of time. I also had a chicken breast from Swiss Chalet which is also normally very good but this one was dry. The first meal was consumed while visiting our daughter at the hospital and the second one was at the airport where my husband and I met my sister from Calgary on a 4 hour layover.

Would you like to be famous? In what way?

I don’t want to be famous. I just want to be remembered in a good light as a kind and caring person. I used to think that fame would be fun but I do like my privacy and I think that often you lose that when you’re famous.

Complete this sentence: This sandwich could really use some …

….of my husband’s mustard pickle or tomato jam. This summer my husband has experimented with some new preserves and these two are wonderful on sandwiches.

Bonus question: What are you grateful for from last week, and what are you looking forward to in the week coming up?

I’m grateful for a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner with my family but most of all for the safe delivery of our first grandchild a couple of days later. I think she’s beautiful but I’m sure all grandmothers say that of their grand babies.

In the week coming up I’m looking forward to spending more time with the new baby but I’m also in the mood for art. I need to reorganize some of my art supplies and start framing some pieces for Christmas gifts.

Thanks to my daughter, Gaelan and her husband, Brendan for letting me share these photos with you.

Introducing

Winifred Josephine

Born October 13, 2015

Share Your World 2015 – Week 40

Posted on October 8, 2015 by Mama Cormier

If you have been to a foreign country name those you have been too?

I haven’t travelled extensively but I’ve been to a few places: USA, Germany, The Netherlands, Austria, and Ireland.

Is the glass half empty or half full? What type of glass is it and what is in the glass?

The glass is half full. It’s a wine glass and it contains a hardy red wine or a crisp white wine.

If you could have an endless supply of any food, what would you get?

I have to agree with Cee and say cheese. I love cheese.

List: List at least five places worth shopping.

Winners, Marshalls, Ikea, Costco, Curry’s, Chapters, Home Sense, Apple,

Bonus question: What are you grateful for from last week, and what are you looking forward to in the week coming up?

I’m grateful for a very special birthday weekend for my husband. I took him out for dinner on Friday night and on Saturday we drove to Hamilton with the girls to celebrate with my very pregnant daughter and her husband. The food all weekend was exceptional. The only thing that could have made it better would have been the arrival of our first grandchild but it wasn’t to be.

So again I’m looking forward to the birth of our daughter’s little girl. Hopefully I won’t be saying this again next week.

Cheers!

Thanks again to Cee for hosting Share Your World.

Share Your World 2015 – Week 39

Posted on September 30, 2015 by Mama Cormier

…..thanks Cee for more great questions

Which way does the toilet paper roll go? Over or under?

I used to think that it didn’t matter but recently I converted to the over method. I found that when I had the roll go under the roll would sometimes unroll itself. Does that make sense?

If you were a crayon, what color would you be?

If I were a crayon I would be red. It’s my favourite colour.

You are comfortable doing nothing? For long stretches of time?

There are stretches of time where I sit for a long time but I’m usually writing or reading on my computer or I’m watching TV. I can’t say that I’m comfortable doing nothing for long stretches of time. I become antsy and need to get out of the house.

Rather: Would you accept $5,000 to shave your head or die it bright lime green and continue your normal activities while not explaining the reason for your haircut or color?

I don’t think I would shave my head but I would colour it bright lime green. It would take a long time for my hair to grow back but I could recolour it soon after I dyed it.

Bonus question: What are you grateful for from last week, and what are you looking forward to in the week coming up?

I’m grateful for successfully participating in the Railpath Run on Saturday with my daughter, A and her partner, J. It’s a timed race where you run for 45 minutes and a device on your number clocks the time you run or walk at 1k intervals. I had planned on only walking this year because I hadn’t run since last year but I started to run right at the beginning and I didn’t stop for the entire run. I managed to ‘run’ 4.5 K in 45 minutes. I’m not fast but I have a steady and consistent pace. I’m also grateful that I didn’t hurt too much in the next few days. My leg muscles were a little sore but it didn’t stop me from my daily walking regime. For the last few weeks I’ve been averaging over 11 000 steps a day and I’ve reached my walking goal 11 days in a row.

I’m also grateful for spending time with friends from high school. Every time we meet someone new joins us. There were only five of us this time when we met for lunch but it was CM’s first visit and we had a lot of catching up to do. It was a lot of fun.

This week I’m looking forward to celebrating my husband’s birthday. We’re all going to my daughter’s house in Hamilton. Her baby is due any day now and she wanted to host the party at her place so that she would be close to her hospital in case the baby decided to make an appearance during the festivities. Most of all I’m looking forward to the birth of our first grandchild. I may be saying this again next week if she decides to be fashionably late.

Cheers!

Share Your World 2015- Week 38

Posted on September 24, 2015 by Mama Cormier

….I don’t know how she does it but Cee keeps coming up with new questions each week

What do you do to make a living or during the day if you are retired. If you are a student what are you studying?

I’ve been a school teacher since 1976. I started out teaching Family Studies to middle school adolescents. I did that for about 15 years and then I did guidance for two years. I was toying with the thought of becoming a principal and I started taking a lot of leadership courses in the evenings. I successfully became a chairperson which is like being a principal’s assistant where you take on a few extra responsibilities while still teaching. For many people this is a stepping stone to becoming a vice-principal or principal. In the end I decided that this was enough responsibility for me and that I liked being in the classroom too much to give it up.

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When I became a chairperson I was transferred to a junior school where I taught grade 5 and sometimes a 4/5 split. Five years ago I took a library course and qualified to become a teacher librarian. One year later the library position opened up at our school and I’ve been the librarian/art teacher ever since.

Have you ever participated in a distance walking, swimming, running, or biking event? Tell your story.

Three and a half years ago when I first started this blog I was determined to lose weight. At school I agreed to assist in a program called Girls on the Run and I started to walk/run with the girls twice a week for 10 weeks. At the end of the program there was a 5k run and at the age of 59 I participated in my first serious race. I did the whole thing and ran for most of it but I was so emotional at the end that a dread overcame me and I thought I was going to die. Of course I didn’t and I did the run again the next year. The second time around it was a little easier. Last fall I participated in the Railpath Community Run and I’m doing it again this weekend. This one I did with my daughter.

What is usually your first thought when you wake up?

My first thought is usually to switch my Jawbone Up from sleep mode to wake mode and then check on my phone to see how well and how long I’ve slept.

Complete this sentence: Look out behind you, it’s a …

…it’s your son. I often fantasize that my son and his fiancé pay me a surprise visit. They both live in London, England and I only see them once a year. A few years ago my son did come to Toronto for a convention and I was truly surprised.

Bonus question: What are you grateful for from last week, and what are you looking forward to in the week coming up?

I’m grateful for a visit from my daughter who now lives in Hamilton. I was especially grateful because she was 38 weeks pregnant and I didn’t think that she would want to make the trip and be that far from home. We went to my older daughter’s house and my good friend L and her mom joined us. They weren’t able to make it to G’s shower in the summer so they anxious to see her and bring her the gifts that they had bought. It was also the first time that L’s mom had seen A’s and J’s house.

Years ago my daughter, A had volunteered to undergo testing and see if she was a good match for L’s dad who needed to be treated for C-dificile. It turned out that she was and her donation ended up saving his life. When L and her mom arrived on Saturday they bought her a gift as well. L’s dad is a very accomplished and renowned artist and they gifted my daughter one of his paintings. We were all very touched.

Later in the afternoon my girls and I went for a walk in the neighbourhood along Dupont street and stopped for lunch at a small Vietnamese restaurant and checked out the interesting little businesses that have sprung up in the last few years.

I’m obviously looking forward to the birth of our first grandchild. We all took bets on when she would come into the world but we were a little surprised when our daughter went into false labour yesterday. She’s fine today and this baby may take her sweet time about making her official appearance. Her actual due date is October 4th.

I’m also looking forward to participating in the Railpath Community run on Saturday but I think this year I may do more walking than running. On Sunday some of my friends from high school are getting together again for another lunch. We’re hoping that CM from Thunder Bay will be able to join us this time.

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend. The first weekend of autumn looks like it’s going to be especially nice and warm in my neck of the woods.

Cheers!

Share Your World 2015 – Week 37

Posted on September 19, 2015 by Mama Cormier

….thanks Cee for coming up with four more questions

If you could have three wishes granted for you alone, what would they be?

I would wish that my daughter has a safe delivery and healthy baby so that I can enjoy being the best grandmother ever. My second wish would be that I win the lottery so that I could share my good fortune with my family and friends. My third wish would be that I remain healthy for at least another 20 years so that I can enjoy my grandchild(ren) and the money that I won in the lottery.

What is the most incredible natural venue that you’ve ever seen in person?

Long before I started blogging I went to Banff, Alberta on a skiing trip. The sight of the Rocky Mountains blew me away. I also worked in Bavaria one summer as a student and waking up to the Alps every day was also magical.

Is your hair short (total neck and ear showing), medium (covering ears and neck), long (below shoulders) or extra long (at least halfway down your back)?

My hair is medium to long. Currently it is just long enough to pull up into a bun. In this hot weather we’ve been experiencing I like pulling my hair off my neck.

List some of your favorite blogs.

There are too many blogs to mention them all but my current favourites are:

Trisha – Shedding Light

The Aran Artisan

My Life Lived Full

‘wanderings of an Elusive Mind

Jings and Things

Bonus question: What are you grateful for from last week, and what are you looking forward to in the week coming up?

I’m grateful that my husbands tumour wasn’t cancer. It turns out that he has something called BOOP. When the doctor told us this we both asked ‘What is BOOP?’. He laughed and explained that it’s a build up of cartilage in the bronchiole tubes. It stands for Bronchiolitis obliterans with organizing pneumonia and is a very rare lung disease. After the surgery the lungs looked pretty good in the x-ray so the doctor recommended that we take a wait and see approach rather than prescribing steroids which is the usual treatment for this condition.

I’m also grateful that the first nine days of school have gone pretty smoothly. I’m hopeful that we settle our contract soon so that we don’t have to escalate the conditions of our ‘work to rule’. So far in this new school year the children and parents haven’t been affected by our strike action.

I’m looking forward to getting together with my daughters and my good friend, L, on Saturday. My youngest daughter is only two weeks away from her due date and I’m happy that she is still willing to make the drive to Toronto for a visit. I’m also looking forward to creating more art and finishing some knitting projects for the baby.

Share Your World 2015 – Week 36

Posted on September 7, 2015 by Mama Cormier

…..thanks for Cee for sharing your world with us this week

If you were a pen, what type, style and color would you be?

I would be a black fountain pen.

How many languages do you you speak?

I speak three languages, One well (English) and two poorly (German and French).

Are you a listener or talker?

I’m both. When I became a guidance counsellor I honed my listening skills but as a teacher I need to talk to get my point across. The other day someone commented that I was very quiet. Sometimes I just like to listen to what others have to say. Another time I was told I talked too much and that I should let others answer for themselves. I just can’t win.

Rather Have: Which would you rather have, 2 million dollars or true love?

Can’t I have both? I hate these questions. They say you can’t buy love so I guess I’d have to go with ‘true love’. All the money in the world wouldn’t make me happy if I couldn’t experience true love.

Bonus question: What are you grateful for from last week, and what are you looking forward to in the week coming up?

I’m grateful for a beautiful summer weekend. The weather, although hot, was glorious and the lake at the cottage was the best it’s been all summer. I would have loved to stay all week. Another argument for retiring now.

This week I’m looking forward to seeing all the children back at school and catching up with my colleagues. I’m also looking forward to finally getting the results of my husband’s biopsy (a little nervous as well).

Here are a few photos of my busy week. I didn’t take any new photos from the cottage but I did snap a shot at the farm where we stopped to pick up some fruit and vegetables for the weekend.

Share Your World 2015 – Week 35

Posted on September 3, 2015 by Mama Cormier

…..thanks to Cee for four more great questions

What made you feel good this week?

My family and friends sent me wonderful birthday wishes this week and brought me very thoughtful gifts. I got to go to the AGO (art gallery) with my husband and had a wonderful meal in Chinatown. The next day my girls and their significant others and a couple of dear friends came to the house for a BBQ and my husband outdid himself.

For potlucks or parties do you cook it yourself, buy from a grocery store, or pay for catering?

I went to a potluck yesterday and I brought an arugula and apple salad and spinach and cheese crepes. If I have time I usually prepare something on my own and I like to make appetizers. If I’m short on time I will sometimes go to a take out place and bring samosas, pakoras, fried calamari or sushi (things that I wouldn’t make myself). Cheese and crackers and veggies and dip are also easy.

What is your favorite part of the town/city you live in. And what Country do you live?

I’d have to say that I really like where I live in Toronto. I live right by Lake Ontario (I can see it from my house). I’m right on hiking and cycling trails so going for walks is very enjoyable and I’m only a 15 minute drive from downtown or a 10 minute train ride. The streetcar is about 45 minutes and the subway is 30 minutes (including the 10 minute car ride to get to it). For those of you who don’t know Toronto, I live in Canada.

Complete this sentence: My favorite place in the whole world…..

My favourite place in the summer is my cottage on Georgian Bay. I don’t travel extensively but every place I’ve ever been to I’ve really loved. Some of those places are Ireland, The Netherlands, Hawaii, San Francisco, New England and Quebec City. Funny how all these places are on water.

Bonus question: What are you grateful for from last week, and what are you looking forward to in the week coming up?

I’m grateful for time spent with family and friends on my birthday. I’m also grateful for a wonderful day spent with my Dad. He treated me to a very special lunch at the Royal York Hotel and a visit to the Ripley’s Aquarium. Yesterday I spent a few hours with my daughter, A and her partner, J at the CNE. We played some games, took in the sights and tried some new food.

Today I was grateful to my good friend L who stepped up and helped me clean up the library and transferred all my art supplies to a new home in the school. She came just at the right time when I needed her moral support the most. In the end many people chipped in to make sure that the library would be ready for the first day of school.

For the rest of the week I’m looking forward to spending a few more days at the cottage before I head back to work on Tuesday. I’m also looking forward to getting back to working on my art. Have great long weekend. I’ll be back on Sunday or Monday.

Share Your World – Week 34

Posted on August 25, 2015 by Mama Cormier

…..more great questions from Cee

Was school easy or difficult for you? How so?

School was always pretty easy, especially in elementary school. I did well in school right up to grade 10 and then I was more interested in the social aspect of school. I always managed to miss the honour roll by 1% in the last three years of school. I excelled in math but after grade 10 I started to struggle and in my last year I had an English teacher whose mantra was to make his students sweat and make life as difficult as possible. The grade average in English was 50% and I sat right on the 50% line. I almost had a nervous breakdown that year.

What is your favorite animal?

My favourite animals have to be dogs. I love most of them. In the wild I’m fascinated with Panda bears and the red panda.

If you had to have your vision corrected would you rather: glasses or contacts?

I need glasses for distance and for a long time I wore contact lenses. When I had difficulty reading things close up with my contact lenses I switched to glasses and took them off when I wanted to read a book. It’s only been in the last year that I’ve also needed reading glasses.

List: Name at least five television shows (past or present) you enjoyed?

Survivor, Amazing Race, Friends, CSI (all of them), Grace and Frankie (on Netflix)Grace and Frankie

Bonus question: What are you grateful for from last week, and what are you looking forward to in the week coming up?

I’m grateful that my husband is recovering nicely from his surgery and that he has continued to can tomatoes. I’m also grateful that my daughter and daughter-in-law finally came up to the cottage last weekend. We had a wonderful time. Every time J comes to the cottage she becomes more and more comfortable with our rustic lifestyle. She announced that next year she wants to come up for a week. Yay!

This week I’m looking forward to getting my own car back (it’s been in the body shop) and celebrating my birthday with the family. My husband is planning a BBQ for Saturday.

Share Your World 2015 – Week 33

Posted on August 21, 2015 by Mama Cormier

……thanks Cee for four more great questions

What are some words that just make you smile?

Ice-cream, babies, wine, family and friends are some of the words that will bring a smile to my face.

You’re given $500,000 dollars tax free (any currency), what do you spend it on?

I would pay off the rest of my credit cards and then take some of that money to renovate my house and cottage. I’d also put some money aside for travelling. That would still leave me with a nice sizeable chunk and I couldn’t enjoy any of that money knowing that my children also have debts so I would probably give each of them $50 000. and put the rest away for our retirement.

What subject would you like to study in depth, if given the time to do so?

I’d love to study visual art in depth. I’ve contemplated going back to university after I retire, just for the fun of it.

Would your rather be stuck in a small plane with bad turbulence for 2 hours or be a passenger in a car racing the Daytona 500?

I’d rather do neither but if I have to make a choice I think I’ll put up with two hours of turbulence. But wait! You did say ‘in a small plane’. Hmmm? Maybe being a passenger at the Daytona 500 would suit me better. I don’t know! I’m a terrible passenger in a car that is travelling at high speeds.

Bonus question: What are you grateful for from last week, and what are you looking forward to in the week coming up?

I’m grateful that my husbands surgery is over and that the prognosis looks good. Will know for sure in a couple of weeks. I’m also grateful that our youngest daughter was able to spend some time at the cottage last week.

I’m looking forward to spending the weekend at the cottage with my older daughter and her partner. It will be the first time that they’ve made it up to the cottage this summer. I’m also looking forward to spending some time with our friends D & D, who I haven’t seen much of this summer. Hopefully the weather will be good so that I can get in some swimming and of course lots of walking. Maybe I’ll even start running again.

Share Your World 2015 – Week 32

Posted on August 10, 2015 by Mama Cormier

…..didn’t I just do this

Are you a collector of anything?

About twenty years ago I started to collect teddy bears. I wanted vintage bears or bears with a vintage feel but family and friends bought me all types of bears. It soon got out of hand and I didn’t have the space for more bears. I’ve asked people not to buy me bears anymore and I’ve even given some away.

What is your biggest fear or phobia? (no photos please)

I have two phobias. The first one is standing at great heights. I think the actual fear is the fear of falling. I could never jump from a plane or go bungee jumping. I don’t know where the second fear comes from. I’m terrified of bears. I’ve never had an encounter with bears. My aunt, who recently passed away, did buy me a book many years ago on bear attacks.

Do you prefer reading coffee table books (picture), biographies, fiction, non-fiction, educational?

I like looking through table top books but I love reading fiction.

Complete this sentence: If I Must Be Reincarnated, In the Next Life I Want to Be…

I can’t imagine being any kind of animal so I think I would like to come back as another person and probably as a woman again.

Bonus question: What are you grateful for from last week, and what are you looking forward to in the week coming up?

I’m grateful to my oldest daughter and her partner for putting on a wonderful shower for our younger daughter, G and her husband. I came back early from the cottage to help with the preparations but the girls did most of the work. I made the lemonade and brought over the china cups and saucers for the coffee and cake and I purchased some nice disposable dishes and cutlery from Costco that we can actually reuse. I’m also grateful that my father and his wife made the trip from Oshawa along with my sister from Chatham. It was a bit of a family reunion and when I dropped my Dad off at the train station he told me that he had a wonderful time and felt like the ‘king of the world’.

The shower was a bit different from a normal baby shower in that we had a ‘taco bar’ that we had catered. We played a few games and people painted onesies with special messages for the new baby. There were about 19 people in attendance and almost the same number of people sent regrets because they were away on holidays. This is the one downside of having a shower of any kind in the summer.