Hello, You've reached the United States Government. We are currently Closed.

Can you believe it?  The United States is CLOSED.  The government is on a shutdown. Why? Because the Republicans and the Democrats can't agree on the budget.  And next week, they have to debate on what to do about their $17 trillion - yes TRILLION dollar debt.  Do they ask other countries to borrow money to pay down their debt (thereby putting themselves further into debt), or do they default.  And what does that mean?  What happens if a government defaults on its loans? 
When governments default on debt, several negative effects are likely to follow. The reasons for the default usually stem from revenue shortfalls, and the effects can be both short and long term for government officials and taxpayers. They include higher costs to borrow money and a reduction in services for taxpayers.

Read more: http://www.ehow.com/info_7800623_happens-government-defaults-debt.html#ixzz2gV0Etikp

Doesn't sound so bad, does it?  Now think about it - you want to access a program for your child.  This program is funded by the government.  Your child has been identified as autistic and needs this therapy that you managed to find with government funding, thereby making it more affordable for you.  But guess what?  Because the government is bankrupt, they are no longer funding that service.  You either pay out of pocket, or you don't get that service.

Same goes for if you want to take a camping trip to a national park.  You can't go see Old Faithful right now, because Old Faithful is in a National Park and you can't get into one - they're all closed.  You can't go to the Grand Canyon, even if it's been your life's dream.  Because the Grand Canyon is a National Park and they're closed.

What does this mean for us Canucks?  Right now, not much.  We won't feel the pinch of this government shutdown immediately.  When will we feel it?  When exported product from the US is delayed because the shutdown has affected the US based business that would export.  When exported product from Canada is delayed because the shutdown has affected the US based business that would receive it. 

Our economy, in light of the global financial crises is pretty strong.  But it's not infalliable and it's not impenetrable.  We will likely feel the pinch from this US Government shutdown if it lasts too long.  The last time the US Government shut down was in 1996.  And that was only for 3 weeks.  If this shutdown lasts longer, the world may be in for some very tough times.

I think it's time that the world economy stopped relying on the American Dollar.

School Days, School Days...

So, school's been back in for just over three weeks.

Banana and Squish started Grade Five this year.  Where has the time gone?  My babies are tweens.  They're 10 years old and in GRADE FIVE?!  How did THAT happen?

So what has the past few months been like for us?

As mentioned in July, I had a minor procedure done and the pathology from that all came back nice and clean.  No cancer.  YAY!!  However, there is still the issue of the pre-cancerous cells on my cervix, which I am taking a Progesterone supplement for.  I go back to my doctor in November to see how that is progressing - by which we are hoping it is NOT progressing.

The girls spent July in a Jewish day camp called Ashreinu.  They had a good month in day camp, and were excited to go to the Ashreinu overnight camp for 17 days.  It was definitely strange not having the girls home at night for those just-over two weeks.  But 10 days after they left for camp, we had visitor's day and 7 days after that, we picked them up (two days early from the actual end of camp) for my sister's wedding.  So as weird as it was, it was a fast 17 days.

The highlight of our summer, of course, was my baby sister's wedding.  It was an absolutely beautiful affair.  My sister looked gorgeous, my parents were radiant, the groom - my new brother-in-law - was handsome (as ever - he's a real cutie!) and the girls were adorable in their matching flower-girl dresses. 

 My sister's new niece also marched and was absolutely adorable, too.  I am really happy for my parents, because not only have they gotten an intelligent and wonderful new son-in-law, but they have a wonderful relationship with his mother.  It's so nice to see, since their relationship with my own in-laws is essentially non-existent. 

So, after the wedding it was 2 weeks of relaxation, and getting ready for Grade Five.  Squish needed a new backpack and I got both girls new lunchboxes. 

The first day of school was a completely insane mess.  I don't understand why it has to be so difficult.  The first year, there was a desk in the playyard, you lined up and found your children's teachers by the person with the list.  Then you took your child to the line up for that teacher.

Last year it rained on the first day and that made it chaotic - parents were not allowed past the front entrance and children were to go to the gym to find out their teachers.  An email had gone out accidentally telling us who our children's teachers were.  I was very happy and they got (and kept) the teachers we accidentally found out they had. 

This year was almost like last year - except it was sunny and the chaos was in the entire schoolyard.  You couldn't get near anyone with a list, you couldn't find the pylons on the ground with the grade listed on it.  It was just stupid, crazy and insane.  But, finally, we got the girls squirrled away with their respective teachers and all seemed right with the world.  Both girls love their new teachers, and they have a new French teacher this year, so they are happy with that, too.

Funny thing is, two days after the beginning of the school year, it was Rosh Hashanah and Banana and Squish were off school for 4 days (2 days and the weekend).

We have figured out some new routines to make mornings easier, and to transition when we get home.  We also have a much busier year this year with after-school activities.

Here's our schedule:
Monday - Squish has piano at 7:30
Tuesday - Squish has math tutoring and singing lessons from 6-8.  Banana starts Karate on Oct 1.
Wednesday - Hebrew lessons
Thursday - Art lessons
Friday - thank goodness - a day off.
Saturday - Swimming lessons at 10:30 am starting in Oct.
Sunday - a day to ourselves.

Crazy, huh?  Add to that my last course (which I'm taking online), a new job (more on that another time), and just life in general. 

But, we'll make it work.  We always do.

How has your September been?

Double digits!

I find it hard to believe that my girls are ten years old.  I feel like it was just yesterday that I brought them home from the hospital.  

This year we did their friends party early so we'd have a greater likelihood of school friends attending.  Unfortunately I wasn't as organized as I thought and got the invites out late, so only a few school friends wound up attending. Honestly, it was fine.  We still had a dozen kids.

Also, we had to change our traditional Friday night family dinner to their actual birthday (today) because they have an overnight at camp on Friday night (it's a Jewish camp and they have a Shabbat program planned).

They have gotten some great gifts from friends and family. The Hubs' parents took them, along with their cousin, to see The Wizard of Oz onstage in April.  They loved that.  

From their parties, (friends and tonight's dinner) They got gift cards for iTunes, Old Navy, Indigo, toys r us, and Yogourty's, cash, and clothes. They also got The Great And Powerful Oz and Les Miserables on blu-ray. They were jumping for joy with those and can't wait to watch them.

For dinner, we had Caesar salad, steak with sauce and fried mushrooms, asparagus, kale chips and roasted potatoes.  And of course, birthday cake.

Because it was their champagne birthday, we also celebrated with - champagne.  We let the girls have a little champagne in the flutes we got for our wedding. The rest of us got plastic.  

So now, it's time to see what the double digits have in store for us.  

Happy Birthday, my beautiful girls!!

Another Year Down, New Challenges Ahead

Today was the last full day of school for Banana and Squish.  Tomorrow (which also happens to be my birthday), they'll go to school for a half day, then come home with one of their friends, and we will go out for lunch to celebrate.  Tuesday, they start day camp.  And before we know it, August will be here, and they will be off to overnight camp for the first time ever.  I'm excited for them, but wonder how it will be without the two of them for 16 whole days.

But of course, we have their birthday first. They've already had their birthday party with their friends.  July 10, my babies hit their first double digit birthday!  Traditionally, I host a dinner for my parents, The Hubs' parents and my Bubie (this will be our first year without my Grandma).  This year will be no different, except for the obvious missing of Grandma.  I think this will be one of the first years that the dinner will be after their actual day.  

At the end of the summer we get to celebrate. My sister is getting married!!!  I'm so excited!  Her fiancé is a sweetie. I really like him. And they are so good together.  It's wonderful to see.  We (the Hubs and /or I) will have to drive up to the girls overnight camp to bring them home.  Camp ends on August 19, but the wedding is on the 18th.  

As for the challenges, I've been having some... Let's say... Lady issues.  I've been to the doctor and had several types of ultrasounds, and biopsies. The endometrial biopsy came back per-cancerous.  I also have an intrauterine polyp that will be surgically removed this summer.  Right now the surgery is set for August 21, but the doctor wants it in July, so I'm waiting for an earlier date.  Of course, I'm not letting this get me down.  No point in worrying about something until there is something to worry about. So I'm staying positive.  

So, let's focus on my wonderful girls, and their step toward tween hood, their first summer away, and all the good stuff we have coming up.

Individually wrapped peppers? Really?

So, today I went to do my grocery shopping at Walmart.  I was astonished to find that the bell peppers were individually wrapped.  In a day and age when sustainability and the environment is of greatest concern, it is shocking that a company like Walmart, which says right on its corporate website that it seeks to create zero waste would sell a product that actually creates unnecessary waste.

In trying to teach Banana and Squish about environmental responsibility, I skipped the peppers and moved on to find other vegetables that are  not individually wrapped. 

I called the store to speak to the produce manager and asked why they are selling peppers individually wrapped.  Her response was "for less handling of the product.  The company who sells them to us sells them individually wrapped."  I asked how we could change that.  She agreed that individually wrapped peppers create extra, unnecessary waste and suggested I contact head office and suggest they move to a supplier who doesn't use individual wrapping.  I wrote an e-mail to the corporate head office asking how they could sell a product like this when they say they strive for environmental sustainability.

It sure does make a case for getting up early tomorrow and shopping at the farmer's market rather than going to the supermarkets or big box stores.  At least, I know those vegetables are grown locally at family farms.

Please help me by putting pressure on Walmart to stop selling individually wrapped peppers.   Email Walmart's Canadian Corporate Head Office at the email below and tell them you don't want your peppers individually wrapped.  Let's make a change for our environment!

cacustrel@wal-mart.com

Squish is Expander Free!!

Banana and Squish both had orthodontist appointments this morning.  We were up and out of the house by 8:10 - usually we're still fighting WTB to get up (WTB, for those not in the know is Warm Toasty Bed).  We made it to our appointments right on time and the girls signed themselves in - they have this computer sign in where the kids just touch their names on the computer screen and it signs them in.  Very cool.  My favourite feature of the office?  The Keurig.  They must know me.  Coffee. Available anytime.  LOL!

Anyway, Squish had a palate expander put in back in March.  I think.  Pretty sure she had it put in just before we went to Florida.

Well, today, she had it removed!!  YAY!!  Her first impression:  "It's weird". She'd gotten used to eating, singing and talking around it.  She's excited about being able to eat popcorn, toffee and gum again.  And not having to be careful about cheese on pizza.  Before with the expander, she had to watch for hot foods like the cheese on pizza because if it got caught, under the expander, it could burn her palate. Which could be pretty devastating. 

Next week, we go back for her to get a retainer that she'll only have to wear at night.   And my how things have changed!  When I was going through my orthodontia, you had one choice of colour for the elastic bands on your braces - grey - and one colour for your retainers - translucent pink.   Squish got to choose her colour for her retainer - and of course, she chose blue.  But not only did she choose blue - she had two blues to choose from.  Apparently she chose the darker of the two.

Banana on the other hand is still orthodontia free.  The orthodontist wants to wait until  more teeth come in - so she's not having to go back for nine months.

All in all, a good visit.  Encouraging. 

Happy Mother's Day

This is one of my Mother's Day gifts from Banana and Squish.

They symbolically adopted a snowy owl through the World Wildlife Fund. Of course, being that I am a huge Harry Potter geek, I've named it Hedwig.  

I also got breakfast in bed, a book from Squish, a "newsletter" from Banana with family photos on it, drawings and paintings and two cedar boxes for my soon to be planted vegetable garden.

Now, the girls and I are chilling, Hubs is cleaning for his family to come over for dinner while I will be taking my mother out for her first sushi dinner. I invited my dad to join us this year as it is his first without his mom.

Of Academic and Psychological Assessments

For years we have suspected that Banana may have ADD or ADHD.  Certainly, she's a very distractable child.  Her teachers have told me that she is NOT distracting - that she does not distract her classmates.   But she does sometimes have a short attention span.  To the point that she can easily go off task, right in the middle of the task, because something else has gotten her attention.

This may be typical of many almost 10 year olds, but there have been other marker's that have made us consider that ADD or ADHD may be playing a part.

Thursday I go for a meeting with the Special Education Resources teacher who will go over the results of the Academic Assessment with me (or us, if the Hubs is able to join). 

I've sent back the form for the Psych Assessment, but I don't know when that will be, or if it will even be before the end of the year.  If we have to wait until September, or early next year, so be it.  That's fine with me.

Banana is a bright kids, no doubt, but something that may help her get even better results at school would be nice.  And she's such a sweet kid with such a sweet disposition, that you just want to help her acheive everything.

On the flip side, Squish is coming up on the list for the SERT to do an academic assessment on.  I suspect we may find out there's some sort of learning disability at play with her.  It would not surprise me as both the Hubs and I have LDs of varying degrees.  Again, she's a bright kid.  Very artistic and dramatic.  It'll be interesting to see what everyting comes out to say.

20 Things About Life for Banana and Squish

I was contemplating the other day the things Banana and Squish have grown up with in their lives that didn't exist, or were very different when their dad and I were growing up.

1. I don't think Banana and Squish will ever truly understand the correlation between a cassette tape and a pencil.

2. They will never know a world without cell phones/smartphones.

3. They have grown up knowing DVDs, and now Blue Ray. While Banana and Squish can use a VCR and have several videos, they don't know that the video store actually used to rent VIDEOS. Not only DVDs.

4. They will likely forget the video store ever existed. With Netflix and the Red Box, Satellite, movies On Demand and the proliferation of pirating, which I am against, the video store no longer exists.

5. They would probably never believe that my family didn't own a computer until I was 13, and that we used the PHONE LINE to connect to the Internet then. They don't know that laptops were generally unaffordable alternatives to desktops.

6. They'll likely never use a DOS based system.

7. They've never seen the Twin Towers of the World Trade Centre, except in pictures and on tv during commemorative footage.

8. Animated movies, for them, have always been Pixar or DreamWorks, and computer animated. Even what they see on tv is mostly computer animated.

9. They will never understand what we mean by Saturday morning cartoons and quality tv.

10. Thanks to channels like DejaVu and TVtropolis, I have been able to introduce them to
Some of the quality tv their father and I grew up with - like Golden Girls or All In The Family.

11. They'll likely never know what a triptik is. Everywhere we go, we use our GPS. They've never had to navigate with a map.

12. Israel has never included the Sinai for them.

13. The Loonie and Toonie has always been in circulation for them.

14. They may forget what a Canadian penny is.

15. They have grown up in a world where news is instantaneous. Twitter, Facebook, and other news sources can be updated in an instant. They will never read tomorrow's newspaper without having already read or heard most of the news already.

16. They take for granted the amount of technology available to them. When I was their age, I used a Commodore PET computer and my school only had two. Both in the library.

17. They'll likely never know what a mimeograph is. Nor will they get "high" on the fumes.

18. They will not be able to relate to the Cold War. Even their dad and I have trouble fathoming "Duck and Cover".

19. When they study history, they'll be asking us where we were on 9/11, much as we asked our parents where they were when Kennedy was shot or our grandparents where they were when Pearl Harbour was bombed.

20. They will likely find emailing much more natural and convenient than posting a letter in a letterbox.

I could probably come up with more, but this list is already pretty exhaustive. And it's 1:30 am. And I'm tired.

Banana and Squish and Boston

We weren't there. Thank Gd we weren't there. I was watching the news when Banana and Squish got home from school. I turned it off when they walked in. Not to shield them from it, but because I still hadn't processed the images from the news and my news feeds on my phone, computer and iPad. The news came in from every possible source. How could I explain to my children what happened in Boston when even I couldn't make sense of it?

Of course, when I went out with some girlfriends last night it was one of the top topics we discussed. We still hadn't all made sense of what we'd seen and heard. And a lot of what was being reported was still at the rumour stage.

But when my children ask about Boston, and they will, I will say what has gone viral lately. I will say what Mister Rogers' mother is said to have said. I will tell them to look for the helpers. To look for the people who ran TO the smoke, fire, and injured people.

My thoughts and prayers to the victims and their families.

Life IS Like a Box of Chocolates.

Sometimes it's all nuts!

Banana and Squish had a fun weekend. Saturday, we started our day with swimming lessons, then came home and instead of packing for their overnight at Bubbie and Grandpa's, they decided to clean... The garage!? This included sweeping and pouring some concoction ("cleaning mix", I'm told) that consisted of, as far as I could tell, water, leftover bubble liquid (so, essentially, soap) and rocks. I guess for their exfoliating properties. Since my car was parked in the garage, they could only clean their dad's side. I'm not sure that its so bad that they couldn't clean my side...

I had been making them lunch, so they came in, ate some lunch and then went to pack their overnight bags. Once they did that, I tasked them with cleaning their rooms. Then it was off to play with their friend from their old school. The only kid they've kept in touch with from that school.

I got a couple of hours to myself, watched a movie, and then picked them up to take them to meet my dad to take them to his house for the sleepover.

We went out with my husband's brother and his wife. A nice dinner, no kids and plenty of drinks. Yes, we had a DD.

With Banana and Squish out for the night, I took advantage and slept in this morning. We then headed over to my parents for a pizza dinner with them, and my sister and her fiancé.

Dropped the hubs and Banana and Squish off and headed to my sister in law's for maj. Because yes, I AM that old.

Why We Don't Observe Earth Hour

Squish and Banana were talking about Earth Hour a couple of weeks ago. For those of you who don't know, Earth Hour is an hour in March when people are encouraged to turn out their lights, turn off TVs and computers and electronics in an effort to get people thinking about the environment, pollution and conservation.

Our town has an annual Lantern Walk that leaves from City Hall. Hubs has taken the kids on it in the past.

So why don't we observe Earth Hour? Are we just that unconcerned about the environment?

No.

Hubs and I have been teaching Squish and Banana to conserve energy since they were old enough to understand that it was the light switch and not magic that made the lights work. We turn off lights when we're not using them. We cook with natural gas, which is faster and more efficient. We turn the water off when brushing our teeth and try to take quick showers. We recycle and compost. We try to avoid using plastic water bottles. We send as little throwaway to school in their lunches as possible. We bought reusable cutlery, containers and drink boxes for that purpose. Most of what my kids throw away at school is compostable - apple cores, orange peels, banana skins.

So why, if we're being conscious every day, do we need to dedicate an hour once a year to remind us of the things we're already doing?

I don't feel we do. Not to say YOU shouldn't observe Earth Hour, but once a year doesn't make enough of a difference in the long run.

How I Spent My Spring Break

Because my In-laws own a condo in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, we are able to take cost effective trips. We usually go at Spring Break because my brother and sister in law go at Christmas time. We also usually pull Banana and Squish out of school for a week before or after and take two weeks off.  We get a lot of great time together. So far we've visited with friends who rent a condo in Hallandale, we've visited with relatives who live in various towns around us,

But today was probably the most exciting ever!(I'm dripping with Sarcasm here).

Squish cracked, chipped, or broke, (depending on how you want to describe it) a tooth on her ice cream the other day. It wasn't really bothering her, but we called the ice cream company and our insurance company, who both suggested we have her seen by a dentist. So today, Squish and I headed off to a paediatric dentist. Props to the Main Street Children's Dentistry office in Plantation, Florida!

But it turned out not to be a simple chipped tooth. There's an abscess under that thar tooth.

We go back Wednesday for treatment.

Squish was brave. All smiles. Not at all concerned about Wednesday. And the Target pharmacy ran her prescription through some discount card or something bringing the total cost of her antibiotic to a whopping six bucks!