Tidbits About Me

I read my sister Eve's post a few days ago, then my cousin Kelly's (if I knew how to link I would) and they each posted a bit about themselves. I loved reading it and decided to do one about me. Here it goes!

1. I have four siblings. A brother who shares both parents, a half brother who shares our father, and two sisters who are the children of my guardian parents.

2. I am nicer and more forgiving than most people.

3. At Christmas time I donate a turkey dinner (uncooked) to a needy family. I get much enjoyment from this.

4. I do not like to be late for anything--EVER!

5. I love to cook and bake. I cooked for the family quite often starting at the age of 13. I can make anything with a recipe except pie crust. I buy those frozen.

6. I have a stong ability to put others at ease.

7. I have worked as a cashier, a roller skating price checker, a video store clerk, sold tickets for BC lotto corp, a nanny, a bank teller, and an administrative assistant.

8. I was never one to excel in school. I attended college as a mature student and finally realized that I am smarter than I thought. Honors in every course. Yay for me!!!

9. I once climbed Grouse Mountain in Vancouver, BC. Took about 5 hours or so the first time and we got caught in a blizzard near the top.

10. I have several female friends but they don't know one another aside from perhaps meeting once or twice. I met each of them at a different time in my life.

11. Paper clutter doesn't bother me in my home as long as my dishes are done, and my bathrooms are clean.

12. I absolutely HATE ironing. My ex is a military man and he used to do it for me.

13. I wore head gear before my braces for six months--TO SCHOOL AND EVERYTHING! By the way, my teeth are not straight.

14. I did a Madonna "Lucky Star" lip sync in grade 8. I had just moved to a new school and actually found it to be a good ice-breaker for me. I did a repeat performance in grade 12.

15. I attended a morning religion class every school day from grades 9 to 12. It started at 7:00am, so I got up earlier than everyone in the house so I could have the first shower.

16. I have been the victim of sexual assault on more than one occasion.

17. I once saw a man intentionally drop his 2 year old daughter from above his head. I was 10 at the time I believe. Still sends shock waves to think of it.

18. I was the last person in the "family" to speak to a man who overdosed on heroin several hours after we spoke. He was the brother of my boyfriend and had called my place looking to talk to his mother. I sometimes wonder what the outcome would have been if he had seen her or talked to her that day. Very sad.

19. Small things can make me feel tremendously happy, or horribly sad.

20. I cry when experiencing any extreme emotion. Anger, Sadness, Joy...you get the idea.

Things That I Love

my children running into my arms...

a long kiss from my lover...

the sound of happy talk and laughter...

satisfaction of a job well done...

helping a friend...

Now onto some smaller things, creature comforts if you will.

coffee and a bagel in the morning...

watching a weekly show that I enjoy...

a quiet evening with no schedule...

work to keep me busy all day at the office...

meals that are well received...

I am grateful for what I have. I am so blessed to have 2 healthy boys, a steady job and a great place to live. I am grateful for my new companion with whom I can share my thoughts and feelings quite freely. I am grateful for my experiences as they make me the person I am today.

Phases

I must say that I have been a little frustrated lately with my boys. Horrible, I know...may I burn in hell for it, but that's just how it is sometimes with children.

Sidney turned 3 in August, and has always been so full of energy and curiousity. As far as I am concerned, terrible 2's have nothing on 3's! He is prone to huge temper tantrums--regardless of where we are. Last night Blake and I took the boys to Wal-Mart, as they just opened in a new location. Sidney wanted to walk but wouldn't hold hands and had to go into a cart. He had a small fit and we almost turned around and left. We got through it and went through the store, then he threw another fit because I wouldn't buy him a toy. Well! Drama Queen emerged in full force, so Blake took him to the car while Seth and I waited at the checkout. When we got to the car, Blake told me that Sidney bit him when he was taking him out. Lovely! Temper, temper! He went to his room for the night when we got home. With Sidney, I know that it will eventually change and we will move onto another phase.

Now Seth. He turned 9 in October, and has always been able to push my buttons. We have spent considerable time alone together over the years as his father would be away for work. We have become very close, but also began to butt heads a lot. He is very intellegent, and believes that he knows everything and that he can make his own choices about what he wants to do at any given time. I am told this is partially an age-related problem which makes me feel a little better about it, but I find it very difficult. I have noticed that in general conversation, he will try to assert his opinions on things which are none of his business. He needs constant reminding that he is not the boss. He will made smart-assed remarks with no concern for consequence. He needs to be asked at least 2-3 times before even acknowledging that I have spoken. I tend to get excited and raise my voice in these situations, however, I am ever mindful and trying hard to change that reaction. I came to the sad conclusion that I find it stressful and unpleasant to spend quality time with him right now. It makes me feel very sad. I don't want to sit with him and have my feelings hurt. I show him love and affection, but have less patience. I feel like I am doing nothing but chastising him or nagging him. I know that as a parent I am doing what I am supposed to do and saying what needs to be said. I know that I am being assertive without being mean. Still feel bad sometimes though. I know that this too shall pass. Onto another phase. God help me!

Indoor Voice

Hello. My name is Corinna, and I am a loud talker. I don't mean to be, really I don't--it just comes out! We recently hired a new employee named Diana as our installation/service coordinator. She and I have had a business relationship for a few years as her old employer used to purchase windows from our shop. She was talking with our service tech one day, and I thought for a moment they were having a disagreement. I spoke with her about it the next day and quickly realized that she is a loud talker too!

She made a comment that compelled me to blog about it. She told me that her sisters always used to tell her to "use your indoor voice!". I cannot count how many times my sisters have said the same thing to me. Made me smile. To everyone who thinks I talk too loud, SORRY! I'LL TRY TO BE MORE QUIET!!!

The Sopranos

A&E just got made! They are now broadcasting The Sopranos on A&E from the beginning! I order the movie channels every year when the new season comes to HBO. I have seen each episode AT LEAST a couple of times, and I absolutely love it! I was very glad to hear they would be running the show regularly so I can get my fix, as the new season will be the last. My only complaint is that it has all been edited. I know some people wouldn't mind this, however, when I see Paulie slam a man's head against the table and holler "Forget it!" instead of "F**k it!", the effect is somewhat different.

It's not that I can't enjoy it without the swearing, but it is different all the same. I have a bit of a potty-mouth myself so I am not the least bit offended by the language. I can appreciate that some folks are, but if you don't like that sort of thing, this is not the show for you. I know they have rules about language, but CTV ran it without editing for a couple of years, so why not A&E? I will still watch because I love it, love it, love it, but inside I will continue to giggle when I hear the substitute words that they have inserted. That's my rant for the day, thank you for listening.

Road Trip

Took a little trip to the Annapolis Valley this weekend. Clear skies and roads for driving made the travel time very pleasant--plus I didn't have to drive! Blake and I went with another couple to spend a couple of relaxing days. It was very nice, but I realized something. I am a homebody! I was happy to be somewhere else for a couple of days, but relieved to come home and be in my own space again. Maybe that comes along as we get a little older--just that we like things to be the same, you know?

I Feel Pretty

Pretty...

I feel pretty...

I feel pretty so pretty and pretty...

Sing it with me!

I have been feeling yucky lately as I have an acne problem that comes and goes. It probably looks much worse to me than to others, but it makes me feel decidedly unpretty. I know there are people with far worse things to worry about, and I don't mean to make a big deal of it, but it bothers me. I feel like "man! I am 35--what's up with this?"! Sometimes it's tough being a girl--waaa waaa. Ok, I'll stop whining now.

What I really want to say is that my man makes me feel pretty even with the spotted face. He calls me "beautiful", or "l'il mama" and tells me how nice I look all the time, and how much he appreciates what I do for him also. That's not to say that men in previous relationships didn't say nice things, but Blake just does it in a way that makes me truly feel it, you know? I am very happy with the way things are going in my relationship. It feels right and positive. Love is grand, ain't it?

Five Years Ago Today...

Happy Anniversary to my beautiful sister Eve! On a gorgeous beach in Mexico, she married the man of her dreams--Rob. I was so blessed and happy to be in attendance. The ceremony was unique and touching, and the company was extraordinary. An entire week of eating, drinking, and socializing with family and friends! She had 35 guests right there on the beach. People walking by couldn't help but stop and watch. It was unforgettable!

I logged on to her blog this morning and got the sad news that she would be a less frequent blogger. Now that she has 3 babies, she just has different priorities. Eve will be missed, I assure you. Her blog is so much fun to read. I have been able to look in on her and her growing family every few days, as we live so far apart. That was part of my inspiration for starting my own blog. Aside from my children and one cousin, my family all lives away. It is a great forum for loved ones to check in on me and see pictures from time to time.

I have loved keeping up with your life, Eve! Many wonderful years of happy marriage coming your way, my sweet sis. You've got it under control.

Back in the Day

I love Hip-hop! We have a great new radio station here that is dedicated to Hip-Hop/Rap music. They started by simply playing music to see how popular it was, and low and behold! People were talking. About a month or two after the initial broadcast, we had a new station complete with fresh new radio personalities and sponsors. We live in a very conservative province, you see, so it really could have gone either way. This genre of music has become so mainstream that people of all ages listen to it. I know why I do. It goes back to my childhood.

After my parent's divorce when I was 7, my mother, brother and I moved into a 2 bedroom apartment in "The Hood", as you will. Anyone from here recognizes the address when I say that's where I lived. I had friends of various races, never knowing what it was to be "prejudice" because we all had one huge commonality. WE WUZ ALL PO. I am very grateful for this as it gave me the basis for a life without judgment of others based on appearances. As I said, Nova Scotia is a conservative province and has a long history of contention among different races(particularly between white and black people). It was while living there that I developed my love of Hip-Hop/Rap music. Every Saturday, all the kids from the neighbourhood would take the bus to the other side of town to rollerskate at "Wheelies". We donned our tight jeans and highcut sneakers, brought our own K-Mart special rollerskates to began our weekly adventure. The tongues on the skates were tied down to the boot with the laces, and fuzzy dice hung down the sides for all to admire. We were kings and queens of that stadium whether others knew it or not. It was all about the hip-hop there, and of course, the slow tunes to show off the skating/dancing technique we had all been working on.

The roller rink is long gone, replaced with a large car dealership, but the memories live on from that time in my life. Gone are the days of children being out and about without parental supervision--even in large groups. There are unseen dangers lurking everywhere that we were oblivious to at the time. I mourn this loss of innocence for my own children, who will never have the freedom I had.

Thank you to Z103.5 for allowing me to reflect on these fond memories.

Happy New Year!

It's been awhile, I know. I started writing several times, but never really finished one to post. Sometimes I have so much I'd like to talk about that I can't pick one topic only. The tree is out and the ornaments are put away. My house is neat and tidy -- back to normal. I like that.

The boys arrived home from their father's this afternoon. So nice to have them back, although I had a nice week getting organized and working, of couse. I just wanted to let you know I will be writing soon. I am being summoned for a cuddle with Seth at the moment. Gonna go do that.