Monday, June 29, 2020

Canada Day

Canada Day is on Wednesday and while we are celebrating how great our country is, let's also remember it can be pretty shitty too.  We have quite a history of human rights abuses, and they continue to this day. We look at the US and comment on their racism, but it is alive and well here in Canada as well.  We do some things well, but really screw up a lot of other things and we need to improve a lot.  I don't want to sound so negative but I think we need to keep this in mind as we celebrate this week.  Given what has gone on in the past month with protests spurred by George Floyd's death, but kept going by so many more names (including many in Canada just in the last month), we have an opportunity to take this momentum and effect real change.



I'm sharing this video from Michael Moore's movie "Where to Invade Next?".  It is the part where he goes to Germany and remarks on how schools do not shy away from teaching students about the Nazis and the Holocaust, and that there are everyday reminders of what happened in that country, by Germans.  


I think you can say that the Nazis are in a class by themselves, but if you are Canadian, you do need to accept that there are atrocities that happened here when the Europeans came over to colonize the land, and since then, including of course the residential schools.  I know our kids are learning a bit about this now, but the rest of us need to catch up.

While you appreciate our country and all of its good things, also spend some time reflecting as well. 

Oh Canada!



Friday, June 26, 2020

Life Lately

Today is technically the last day of school, but since we are on the road to go camping, we considered yesterday E's last day of school.  Check out the comparison with the first day of school.   He thought he should wear the same clothes.  You can see how he is grown up a bit.


And a few outtakes.





Then we have this guy who took all the stickers out of the PJ Masks book and looked like someone from Tiger King.

I finally managed to cut Q's hair and it involved a few tears, some hugs, hard core negotiating with Oreos.  It's not super even, but it will do.

I took the kids with me to do some errands for the first time in forever.  They both dutifully wore their masks while we were in the store, and waited outside when it was safe and appropriate to do so.  And I bribed them with Booster Juices so they were happy.


Have a lovely weekend everyone!

Wednesday, June 24, 2020

What's Up Wednesday


I noted last month that I thought we would still be in the same Covid related stated for June but it looks like things are turning around (at least here in Canada) with much of Ontario already in Phase 2, and Toronto joining them today!   Who knows what July's What's Up Wednesday will be like?!

What we're eating this week...
Sunday - Steak, mushrooms, sweet potatoes, and kale salad
Monday - Burgers and Fries
Tuesday - Chicken Stirfry
Wednesday - Salmon
Thursday - Pasta
Friday - Chili
Saturday - Tacos

What I'm reminiscing about...
As we are getting to the end of E's school year, I have been thinking back over the past year and also thinking ahead to Q starting JK in the fall, and what school will even look like for the kids. I wrote about E's Grade 3 year on Monday.  It will be his last day of "school" tomorrow so stay tuned on my Instagram (@smacto) to see his last day of school picture and how he has grown since September. 


What I'm loving...
Our new patio space.  We cut down two big trees in May (they were dead) and since then cleared out the dirt and stumps, flattened the ground, built a stone wall, and laid the patio stone. (We = mostly Dave) Now we have more space for our table and have been eating outside most nights.  Dave also arranged the other chairs a bit better so we have been enjoying them more too. 
The other morning Q went downstairs before me while I got my dressed and put my contacts in.  When I got down, he had helped himself to a cinnamon bun and had gone outside to eat.

What we've been up to...
I wrote a bit of a Covid update last week, here, so you can check that out.  Masks for everyone when we go inside a store.

What I'm dreading...
What else can there be?! 2020 has been a lot so we'll just take it all as it comes I guess. 




What I'm working on...
I'm working on two computers currently.  I have a Microsoft Surface Pro for my work computer which is like a glorified tablet with attached keyboard, and it has been fine, but the keyboard gave out. A new one is on its way to me, but in the meantime, I'm using it has a tablet, and then logging into Office 365 on the Mac when I need to do some actual typing.  Working from home fun!

What I'm excited about...
Restaurants opening tomorrow! I am not going to rush right out to a patio, but I am glad the option will be there and I will enjoy having someone else prepare my food :)

What I'm watching/reading...
We just finished up Season 1 of Homecoming and Little Fires Everywhere on Prime, Truth Be Told on Apple TV, and Space Force on Netflix.  Not sure what is up next. 


I'm reading The Farm by Joanne Ramos.  It is one of the books I just got from the library. 

What I'm listening to...
I started a new podcast called Rabbit Hole.  It is basically about the internet, and particularly YouTube and how people can be sucked in by continually watching suggested content and how that can be harmful.  I have two episodes left, and what I have learned so far is that there is so much I don't know about how other people live their lives.

What I'm doing this weekend...
We are going camping! It is our annual trip to Sandbanks and we are so glad we can go (Prince Edward County has been in Phase 2 for a couple of weeks), and that our friends can all join us.  As always the weather is questionable, but even with a bit of rain, we will be glad to be out of our house for a few days!

Last year at Sandbanks


What I'm looking forward to next month...
E actually has his soccer camp next month and I'm hoping that Q will get to play soccer as well (although it is not looking likely since the t-ball season was just canceled).  We are also planning to head up to Northern Ontario to visit my cousins

What else is new...
I wrote into Peter Mansbridge's podcast The Bridge last week and he read my letter on Friday's show!! (around the 17:00 mark if you're interested) I wrote about what we had been up and how it has been a struggle to be at home with kids while trying to do my job.  

Linking up with Shay and Sheaffer


Tuesday, June 23, 2020

Weekend Update

Friday morning started out pretty well.  I was enjoying my breakfast outside when I heard Dave calling me from inside.  Q had taken the laptop upstairs and then dropped it on his foot and he was bleeding.  It must have hurt a lot as it took him awhile to calm down and then he needed to watch Paw Patrol in his bed and wouldn't let me leave for awhile. 

Then my workday was interrupted by a software update and then my keyboard stopped working so  I was limited in what I could do.  I did take a walk up the street to get a few things for supper.  Meanwhile Dave made some yummy cinnamon buns. 

We got the pool out for the afternoon and the kids played in it and we at our pizza supper outside.

End of Week 14, we're still smiling.

On Saturday morning we got ready to go for a hike. Dave picked Limestone Conservation Area and it was a great choice!  Really cool hiking trails, caves, and some old kiln ruins to see. 











We ate our leftover pizza in the parking lot before heading home.

After a little break, I cut Dave's hair and E's hair (2nd Covid haircuts!), and then it was pool time again. 

We had some grilled shrimp and vegetables for supper.  When I went upstairs to put Q to bed, I came across this mess.  He wanted to read behind the bookshelf, but I convinced him to get into his comfortable bed.

Meanwhile E skunked Dave at crib.

E's friend came over and we played Catan Junior. 

On Father's Day the next morning, we went for a bike ride on the West Toronto Rail Path to get some beer at Henderson and some food from The Drake Commissary.

The boys brought their masks on but didn't go inside.


We took our food to High Park and had a picnic. 


When we walked over to the pond, a man was there feeding the ducks.  He was a volunteer at the High Park zoo and had lots to tell us.  Some wood ducks came over to eat the peanuts and seeds he had.  And he showed us where the turtles usually hang out. We didn't see them but will check next time. It was a neat visit. 

(Henderson's) Best Dad Ever!

Steak, sweet potatoes, and kale salad for supper, with tarts for dessert. 

We watched Spiderman: Far From Home and went to bed!