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Right now Abbey and across Canada is in the middle of a huge heat wave. Record breaking temperatures in the 40's (something) we aren't used to have been the daily dose of icky sweat and unbearable conditions, especially here in the Valley.

Today it was 38 degrees (felt like 43) with the humidex. And to make matters even worse; we are on a strict water restriction by the city.

Only 3 times in the past 100 years have records like this been recorded across Canada. Vancouver saw one of the hottest days ever recorded in their history, followed by Port Alberni, Abbotsford, Chilliwack, Hope and up to the Okanagan.

We have no air conditioner. In fact you cannot buy a fan or air conditioner anywhere in the city or lower mainland right now, unless I want to go to like Victoria or something.

And to top it off I have pneumonia! WTF? Thanks body for giving up and going on strike you bitch! Who the feck wants to throw up, cough and puke and then of course pee like a dog because I have a torn bladder (thanks to PB) pickleboy (mama luvs you monkey!) you rotten little lovable turkey you!

I can't take it. It's too damn hot. So I have to come up with ways to stay cool (mentally) and below are a few pics that help me along the way.








This one below is of my mom, brother and Pickleboy cooling off how they know best (swim) in our dingy pool!

Head over to WW headquarters and add your post. Have a great one and here's to staying cool to everyone!

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It never fails...

I get stressed...

Then I get sick...

PB (pickleboy) came inside on Friday and he was coughing. I checked him and sure enough my baby had a fever of 100.5.

Okay not too too high but I was concerned. So it was no going outside, drink lots of juice and eat freezies and Popsicles to stay dehydrated, and PRAYING to the Good Lord I did not catch this thing.

I should have prayed harder lol.


My throat feels sticky and hoarse like someone took a razor blade to it. I`m frigging cold all the time when it`s ohhhhh 30`degrees out. I`m sitting on the sofa wrapped in blankets and freezing my tail end off.

PB on the other hand feels a bit better. He`s still coughing but no fever. It went away, thank goodness because I truly hate it when my children are sick.

So I here I sit on the sofa, dressed in sweat pants and ohhhh am I sweating! I seriously need some OJ to help me kick this colds butt. I cannot afford to be sick.

Hope everyone else is having a great weekend! Believe it or not I am actually looking forward to Monday. I know how weird is that? LOL

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Momdot.com hosts this weekly meme where each week there are smtlksix topics you can blog on.

This weeks topic is: 6 talents you wished you possessed.

If you participate in this weekly carnival please head on over to MOMDOT.COM to post your Saturday talents.

This week I had to really think about myself because I do possess some talents but there are other talents I wish I had. Some real and some fantastical.

1.) The ability to eat what I want and keep the weight off. Yes this is a superficial one to many but to me, someone who has battled weight loss my entire life and who absolutely lovesssssssssss FOOD! Sometimes I do wish I could just eat anything and not be so worried about my weight, heart attack or stroke. It would be nice if even for just a week or so.

2.) I wish I knew how to drive. Okay yeah don't laugh. I'm nearly 36 years old and I've never had my drivers license. I grew up in Vancouver surrounded by one of the best public transportation systems around with bus routes and Skytrain. I also love walking and so it never dawned on me to get it. But now I made a promise to my son to get my license before my birthday. He wants me to prove to him that no matter how old you are you can still improve yourself if you study and try hard enough. God bless him.

3.) I wish I had a passion for cooking. I really do. I hate to cook. I can make things, like roast, lasagna, spaghetti, noodles, Chinese food -- you know mostly the basics. But I have no passion for the skill. Not like DH does. He lovessssssssssss cooking which is good since we don't go hungry everything out of the box.

4.) I wish I had the skill to control my mental disability better. I do okay and my family and friends accept me for the crazy bugger I am at times. I take medication daily for my chemical depression and BPD. But I still wish during those times I feel so out of control I had some type of skill to just harness the power to make myself happy without medication being needed.

5.) I wish I possessed the skill to make it so my children don't ever have to feel pain (emotionally or physically). It is one of the hardest parts of parenting, watching your children grow up and make their own decisions, especially when you know those decisions could lead to heartache and pain for them. I wish somehow I could stop that from happening. It would definitely make being a mom easier... that's for sure!

6.) My final talent I wish I had is the ability to draw (be an artist). My aunt and brother both possess this skill and it's truly amazing the life they breathe into the characters they bring to the mural's or pages they work on. I think it would be cool to have this talent, the freedom to release all the energy someone and turn it into floating art for others to see.

So that is my list for this week. Don't forget to leave me a comment. I will return comments for all those that leave one since I love reading other people's lists.

Have a great Sunday!

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Oh yeah it's Friday, well techniqually it's Sat but I'm doing Friday's post a day late and posting so you think I did it on Friday (sneaky eh?)

Ya whatever!

If you are a FF participant then head over to conversations with moms and post will ya. They love it when you do that, and don't forget to give me some comment luv. I could use a little right now.

Nothing ever works out the way it's supposed to.

It really doesn't and I truly fecking hate the big boot to the face life throws at me sometimes.

We were planning this big vacation to go away, up to PG to visit my inlaws and go to my husbands highschool 20 year reunion. We couldn't go because of lack of funds.

We are supposed to pick up my stepson and have him for two weeks, which we still are and are looking forward to it, but I had all things planned to do with the kids.

Those plans are gone now.

Why? Because of a lack of funds.

It just seems we can't keep up with the bills we are paying, car payments, house insurance, food, clothing for the kids, household supplies BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH... my fecking head hurts just thinking about it!

It's friday night and I don't have a pot to piss in as my dad would say. Okay actually I do but I'm using it to cook spaghetti and hot dogs (our grandious) meals we can afford. Nice eh?

It's just depressing and I hate being a downer and don't want this to be a poor me bitch fest, but it's sucks watching people around who have money blow it or throw it in my face, while the peeps I love (like my parents) are struggling because dad lost his job.

I don't know I realize life is more than money. It really is. I have my kids whom I love, friends I adore, family I can't live without and those are the important things in life.

It just sucks when you hear your kids "Mommy can I have a slurpee?" Cost 1.09 to get and my oldest says to my youngest...

"Not today buddy, don't ask mommy okay. I'll make you a cool blue juice when we get home."

And I see that look in my ten year olds eyes. The disappointment we are so broke we can't even buy frozen pop for them to drink. Not that they need it. It just hurts you know?

I can't wait for Saturday!

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Everywhere I look it's babies babies everywhere. I am in love with the little specs of sunshine. Maybe because both of mine aren't quite babies anymore. GB (gamerboy) is ten and PB (pickleboy) is three.

I love the smell of babies.

I love their tiny fingers and toes.

I love their smiles.

I love it when they giggle.

And here are some babies whom I love what they wear.

Image by Cesar R. via Flickr

Summer can be such a drag here, mainly due to the fact that DH doesn't fair well in the summer and lately I've been worried about him.

His headaches are getting bad. He's sleeping more in the afternoon, sometimes until 8pm at night because his head hurts and his toes keep cramping.

And I just wish they'd call already for his MRI so we can check the grey matter in his brain and make sure there are no complications with his brain injury.

On a happy note though: Both DH and I are looking forward to picking up our son next week, my (stepson) Cole is going to be staying with us for two weeks!

The boys are so utterly excited about seeing him and bringing him back here. So are my parents who haven't met their new grandson, despite DH and I being married for five years. Cole was a bit shy to do overnight visits, but now it seems he's excited and we know he's going to have a good time here.


We plan on taking the boys camping, to Dinotown, Waterslides and maybe even into Vancouver to the Aquarium, before heading back to K-town to drop him off and spend a weekend there so Gamerboy can see his dad who lives up there.

Ahhh I love blended families, so much love and fun and travel heh heh...

Cole is turning seven this year and PB (pickleboy) can't wait to see him. PB is old enough now to know as we've telling him he has another brother (Cole) and although he's still too little to truly understand the fundamentals of having a blended family.

He's sooooooooooo excited!

We are sure there will be major romps and fights over who gets to love or spend time with Cole the most lol. I look forward to every minute!

I've been feeling like crap lately. Not quite sure why really. I'm a girl so ahem yeah -- I have my precious bitchy moments that make complete and absolute no sense whatever.

Like today for instance. Everything was bothering me. I mean at one point I sat on the couch just glaring at DH cooking in the kitchen and I thought:

Jeez I wish he'd just stop breathing!

WTF kind of wife wishes her husband would stop breathing? Well-- apparently me! And I cannot even tell you why other than I got angry he rinsed off the hot dogs because he'd added too much oil and only wanted to make sure they weren't too greasy while cooking us our meal.

The Asstasburd! The nerve of some people heh?

I know COO-COO right?

I went upstairs to take a bath and DH immediately followed me up. My head was pounding and I was so irritated. He just stared at me while I wrinkled in the bubbles waiting for a response as to why I'd turned into the wicked witch of Abbey all of a sudden and I know he was politely thinking ...

Could you take the big stick out of your ass honey and tell me WTF I did wrong because it's uncomfortable leaning back on this knife you've kindly stabbed into my back for no reason!

I couldn't explain it to him, other than to say it comes down to stress. I just finished my period, money is tight right now, we haven't had sex in nearly a month. Okay it feels like a month and we get no time to ourselves.

I know call the WAMBBBBBBBBBBBULANCE, right?

But seriously I'm in overload and worried about him and the kids, add in lack of money and time spent together and it turns me into an anger ball with a gianormous headache that makes me feel like screaming loud at the top of my lungs.

I did manage to calm down though, once I got some Advil into me, compliments of SM (shoelessmommy) TY hun.

Hopefully the rest of the week won't be so bad.

Don't forget to head over to Keely at the UNMOM for randomness. She rocks and will tickle your toes and make you squirt milk out your ears. I swear!

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Well it was 3 1/2 month ago when I first reported on young Victoria (Tori) Stafford the little girl who went missing from Woodstock, Ontario.

Tori first went missing after school when she was seen leaving with a stranger and there was a small gleam of hope she would be found.

That was until two residents of Woodstock were charged with her murder, including a 19 year old woman.

Yet Tori's body still remained lost.


Sadly a few days ago they found her buried in the woods.

It makes me sick inside! It really does. I hate it, seeing children as the victims to crimes like this carried out by people who don't deserve jail but worse!

Tori's mom put a note on her door saying she would contact the media later and for everyone to just allow the family to get a hold over finding the remains of their daughters body and grieve her final coming home.

I hope the media listens.

I did not know Tori, nor her family but I want them to know there are many Canadians who are grieving for Tori right along with them. It truly is sad this happened, though I am relieved her remains were found and now her family can finally bring her home for a proper burial.

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Triggers... triggers... and some high emotions swirled through both GB (gamerboy) and myself yesterday when the news broke that a fire had started in Westbank around 3 in the afternoon and was raging out of control.

Back in 2003 Kelowna had one of the worst fires in British Columbia history. 239 homes were destroyed, thousands evacuated as we watched for over a month the hills burn alive with bright embers that were so brilliantly beautiful to watch, but so scary to think about especially since we'd lived there during the course of this treacherous and emotional event.


GB and I decided to move to Kelowna the month the fire broke. It was strange, too. One of my bff's T whom we lived next door to in Abbey told me not to go. She'd had a dream I was in a fire or near a fire off the apartment I lived in.
But off we went.

I was beginning a new chapter in life as a single mom. I wanted a change of scenery and had never moved far away from my parents and wanted to try it. Plus GB's biological father lived up in Vernon and thought it would benefit my son to be around him (another story for another time).

I remember how enamored with firemen and bright shiny trucks he was back then. We would walk around town with him wearing his fire jacket while he told everyone (who already knew) the town was on fire and how cool it was lol.

Well it wasn't so cool yesterday when we heard the news about Westbank.

The heavy heat and humidity caused the area to be so dry and with winds gusting at almost up to 60km an hour, the fire began and jumped out of control just off of Glenrosa, later hopping the highway to entering neighboring areas causing the evacuation of the first 10,000 people.

My mom immediately called her sister who is just off Glenrosa and she was okay at the time. An hour later we called and no answer, she'd been evacuated as the fire was burning just above her home.

Highway 97 was closed leading into Kelowna and the only route into the city was through back roads and woods. Mmmm not tempting as everyone lay glued to the news on alert as the fire continued.

I called Shoelessmommy she was camping with friends and I wanted to inform her what was going on since I knew she had no television and no data device too hear about this. One of her good friends lived off Glenrosa and I thought she'd be concerned. Her friend had been evacuated as well at around four pm.

My biggest concern though wasn't so much the fire as it was GB. His biological father still lives up in Kelowna and guess where? Yep, Westbank.

We couldn't reach Tom on his cell phone, most likely because he didn't have minutes. I sent him a text message letting him know to call his son as well as two emails.

GB sat in DH's (dear hubby's) arms and cried and cried. He was so worried about Tom and then later that worry turned to anger, for both of us.
What kind of person doesn't call his ten year old son knowing his son most likely saw the news and was worried?

Then I told myself that he was probably taking care of himself and just didn't think about GB. They haven't seen one another in over two years and are just beginning to establish a relationship with one another again, and I told GB (wiping his tears) his dad was probably okay since nobody had been injured from fire, but only evacuated.

Still that didn't make my ten year old son who is emotional and wears his heart on his sleeve like his mum very happy. We ended up snuggling downstairs all night together because he needed that comfort.

My stepson Cole also lives in the region, but in Kelowna where it is safe. Still DH called him since he knew that his grandparents were in Westbank and wanted to make sure his son was emotionally alright. We are supposed to be picking Cole up next week for family vaca for two weeks, but now we have to wait and see if the roads will even be open heading into Kelowna.

Firefighters hope to make a dent in the fire today (Sunday) with the warmer weather calming some, along with the winds slowing down.

100 hectares in Rose Valley have been lost, 10 km north of Genrosa where the fire first broke. Difficult terrain is causing firefighters to have their work cut out for them.

You could see water bombers dropping loads on the news and hear the helicopters and planes in the background with each report that came flooding into the television station from local residents sending in videos, texts and images via cell phones and web cams. It was quite surreal watching.

Cost is not an issue in fighting these fire, the minister told Global news. Everything they have will be put into stopping them. That was seen when another 120 men joined the forces on the front lines Sunday morning.

The firefighters courage has never been an issue though. That was clearly seen back in 2003 as the men worked around the clock, some of them watching own homes burn around them.

Nearly 10,000 people have been evacuated now with more on alert in the area. The fire has taken nine homes with no injuries to report as of yet, and more homes are expected to be destroyed, though the men on the front lines have high hopes that today's weather might cut them some slack.

When it first broke it was reported only 15 hectares. By the afternoon it had jumped to 50 hectares. By late evening the fires had totaled up to 500 hectares (300 in the Glenrosa) area alone.
It's just awful!

Residents in Gellatly Bay, Seclusion Bay, Witworth Road and Goat’s Peak were all ordered along with Rose Valley and Glenrosa residents which brought the total to 10,000 people out of their homes with no way into the city and all most likely heading to the emergency shelters set up on the outskirts of town at community centers and halls.

The following areas were placed on evacuation alert as well:
○ Hwy 97 west of Elliot Road
○ South Rubicon Road, south and west of Smith Creek Road
○ Paynter Road
○ Glencoe Road
○ Windt Road
○ Pop Road, Scharf Road
○ Solar Road
○ Delray Road, Shelter Road
○ Broadview/Elliot Road (this is the eastern boundary of alert area)
○ Telcor Place, Twin Pl, Sandberg Rd, Doucette Drive, Summerville Crt
○ Summerville Place, Salish Road, Harold Road, Sugosa Place
○ Rubicon Road, Reece Road west of Elliot Road, Neufield Crescent
○ Rufli Road
○ Butt Road west of Elliot Road, Main Street west of Elliot Road
○ Taneda Road and Lower Glenrosa Road between Delray and Powers Creek


Residents who want information on evacuation procedures or updates are being asked to call 250-469-8490 and if they can't make it to the evacuation center are being asked to call this number 778-797-2269 and register by phone so that loved ones who call in will be told of their safety.

Thank you to roleypoley for providing this video to us via youtube. My prayers go out to all my loved ones (auntie Wannie, Tom, Cole's grandparents and all our friends who live there.) I won't lie I'm glad I moved lol.

We love you be safe!

TGIF !!!!! And boy this week I'm glad it surely is. It's been a very long week both emotionally and financially for the clan here.

For starters, my bff SHOELESSMOMMY went away to bible camp for the week, leaving me and sparkee to drink coffee and smoke alone (without her) which just wasn't the same.

Not that SPARKEE and I don't have fun together because trust me we do, and I sooooooooo look forward to my girl time with the gals. I've been truly enjoying my new friendships lately.

My other friend T also went away and she's been gone like forever! I hope she is having a good time though as it was a much needed vaca for her. Everyone I know and love though seems to be dangling on holidays and it's making me look forward to us leaving this dump place we call home.

I don't mean to say Abbey isn't a nice place. It just seems every time I turn on the news or read the paper someone is doing something awful to someone else.

Like recently (over the past week) an elderly lady was mugged in broad daylight. Two young men, apparently higher than God stole her money and shoved her face into the bus stop post, hit her a couple of times and then when she proceeded to go into a seizure -- they left!!!!



They could have at least phoned the paramedics annoymously. I mean shit if you are going to rob someone that old at least have the heart to make sure you don't take their life. This poor woman is now recovering but afraid to leave her house. It makes me sick inside!

------------------> On another note the boys have been driving me up the wall or rather Gamerboy has. I mean PB (pickleboy) has just been himself, you know whiny and always needing something in his demanding three year old fashion.

GB though is a different story. He's been feeling the friendship loss bug as much as I have with several of his friends leaving for vaca and he has nobody really to play with right now. So each morning he wants to play PS2 and he asks like ten times a day if he can game.

Now I have a rule when it comes to video games. Maybe I'm too strict I don't know. But when school was in session the rule was no video games during the week and on weekends he was only allowed to play for one hour each day, to which he really didn't like.

Now that summer is here I thought for sure with the warm weather hitting us full frontal he'd be outside basking in the sun and having fun. But nooooooooo he wants to be inside battling spidy's evil bad guys or racing Jimmy J on the Nascar circut.

So, I had to sit down and have a talk with him.

He explained he was bored so today we went out and washed the car. I sprayed him with the hose and we had a water fight. It was a ton of fun. I also told him the rules, even though it is summer and his bed time has been extended an hour from nine to ten. Video game time isn't going to change.

We are leaving for PG in less than two weeks and going to his grandparents house on four acres of land with no gaming systems in site.

"Yeah so let me get it all out of my system now, mom. Then I'll be good when I see Gammie."

Yeah okay that's his mentality. Gotta give it to the kid for trying to sway me though but I didn't bite. I told him to read a book or work on his writing. He also has to finish his blog post for this week, which didn't make him too happy because I'm making him write them out before I help him type on the computer his posts. Somebody has to help the poor kid improve his chicken scratch.

---------------------------------> On an up note DH and I have decided to host HELL'S KITCHEN party nights at our house which should be fun. The new season begins on Tuesday and I cannot wait!

We are going to cook a new meal for our party guests each week and then watch the show. It should be a blast.

Anyhoo I've gotta run. Got a ton of laundry to do and Jo for CD (Child Development) is coming in the morning to see PB to assess whether he needs extra help in pre-school or not in September and lord knows I'm not going to be cohearant in the morning to discuss his issues.

Have a great weekend everyone!

If you participate in FRIDAY FRUSTRATIONS then please head over to conversations with moms and post your link there. Don't forget to send me some comment luv!!!! And I'll luvvvvv you back I swear.