Back Into the Thick of It!
A belated "Happy Independance Day!" to my American friends. I'd have posted something yesterday, but the whole day was just crazy from the early AM 'til late at night. Started off getting down to the passport office at 8:45am to apply for new passports. It went fairly fast, and we were out of there within 45 minutes! New passports should be arriving in a couple weeks by registered mail.
After we got that taken care of, I dropped Trixstir off at Mom's place to rest while I headed out to do the last of the shopping. Picked up the batteries (rechargable gell-cells) I needed from my favourite supplier, and then headed to Costco to get things we needed there. Get though that mess, head back to Mom's place and load everything into the van. Mom sends more stuff back with us, including a small bed and some play-furniture for the The Munchkin. It was just after 3pm by the time we left Calgary.
The drive back was uneventful (thankfully) and we got to the farm around 9:45pm. Could have made it back faster had we not stopped in Medicine Hat to get frozen goods at that Costco, and a bite to eat at the concession. They have these all-beef "Polish Sausage" hot-dogs that are just awesome; I wanted to buy a pack (or two) of them, but decided against it (massive calorie count, and I am trying to lose weight!) and settled for just having one from the concession.
Spent a couple hours this morning unloading the van, and cleaning the horse-paddocks. It would have killed The Kidling to do any actual work, so there was about five days worth of manure built up in there. I have decided to continue referring to my teen-aged step-son as "The Kidling" until he starts actually showing some maturity. He might be 15 chronologically, but more often than not it's like dealing with a 5-year-old. No, there's nothing wrong with him, mentally or physically; He's just unbelievably lazy, unmotivated, unthinking, and generally uncaring. He will work if there's a pay-cheque involved, and I'll give him credit for that; But anytime that there's work to be done simply because it has to be done, regardless of pay-cheques, he won't do it. I'm tempted to start issuing him a pay-stub, and then add all the deductions for food, clothing, lodging, etc. that he takes for granted.
I got into the shop at 11am this morning, and it was barely-controlled chaos all day. There was a steady stream of customers coming in, or phoning, and I've got five more machines in the shop now, with a sixth coming in tomorrow! Unfortunately, the plans to bring a friend from Calgary to help out for a while fell through, so I am once again severely short-handed at the shop. Anyone up for a "working vacation" - spending some time on a farm and tinkering with small engines? No pay, but good food, private lodging, and critters to cuddle.
After we got that taken care of, I dropped Trixstir off at Mom's place to rest while I headed out to do the last of the shopping. Picked up the batteries (rechargable gell-cells) I needed from my favourite supplier, and then headed to Costco to get things we needed there. Get though that mess, head back to Mom's place and load everything into the van. Mom sends more stuff back with us, including a small bed and some play-furniture for the The Munchkin. It was just after 3pm by the time we left Calgary.
The drive back was uneventful (thankfully) and we got to the farm around 9:45pm. Could have made it back faster had we not stopped in Medicine Hat to get frozen goods at that Costco, and a bite to eat at the concession. They have these all-beef "Polish Sausage" hot-dogs that are just awesome; I wanted to buy a pack (or two) of them, but decided against it (massive calorie count, and I am trying to lose weight!) and settled for just having one from the concession.
Spent a couple hours this morning unloading the van, and cleaning the horse-paddocks. It would have killed The Kidling to do any actual work, so there was about five days worth of manure built up in there. I have decided to continue referring to my teen-aged step-son as "The Kidling" until he starts actually showing some maturity. He might be 15 chronologically, but more often than not it's like dealing with a 5-year-old. No, there's nothing wrong with him, mentally or physically; He's just unbelievably lazy, unmotivated, unthinking, and generally uncaring. He will work if there's a pay-cheque involved, and I'll give him credit for that; But anytime that there's work to be done simply because it has to be done, regardless of pay-cheques, he won't do it. I'm tempted to start issuing him a pay-stub, and then add all the deductions for food, clothing, lodging, etc. that he takes for granted.
I got into the shop at 11am this morning, and it was barely-controlled chaos all day. There was a steady stream of customers coming in, or phoning, and I've got five more machines in the shop now, with a sixth coming in tomorrow! Unfortunately, the plans to bring a friend from Calgary to help out for a while fell through, so I am once again severely short-handed at the shop. Anyone up for a "working vacation" - spending some time on a farm and tinkering with small engines? No pay, but good food, private lodging, and critters to cuddle.