We used to go to the corner store and buy those sweet red berry gummy candies (I think they’re called Swedish Berries, but I have no idea why!) for a penny each! The sign said 1 cent per candy…and that is exactly how much it cost! No taxes!

During the gas war in Montreal in the 1990s, there was a time when gas was only 39 cents/L. (Then it rose to 79 cents/L before I moved and then later, 90+ cents/L) I can’t remember the last time it cost me $20 to fill up my car! Now it’s more like $65!!

We used to play outside until the sun set.

We used to not mind playing in the rain.

Saturday mornings had really good cartoons on TV.

Little House on the Prairie, Webster, Full House, Growing Pains, The Love Boat, Different Strokes, the Facts of Life, Family Ties and The Wonder Years used to be the only shows we were allowed to watch.

I cried when ET had to return to his planet and leave Elliot and Gerty.

My brother and I begged our Dad to buy us a skateboard each.

I wore Airwalks and Converse high tops just because everyone else wore them.

I lived for all those 1980s-1990s Glam Rock boys: Poison, Warrant, Mr. Big, etc.

It cost less than a buck to take the bus.

Stamps (local ones) were 35 cents.

It didn’t cost $13.50 to watch a movie in the cinema!

I first started wearing make-up. Navy blue eyeliner and fire engine red lipstick just seem so wrong now! Oh, and those thick brows and teased bangs!! Does anyone remember ever having a “crimper”?

Tight jeans tapered and pinned with safety pins were in.

I first wore a training bra.

I used to hang out with friends at the mall.

We used to go bowling for fun.

Drive-in movies still existed. I loved going to drive-ins! I’d never manage to be able to stay awake for the double feature though!

I used to be a die-hard Guns ‘N Roses fan and wanted to marry Axl Rose! (as if!)

Music videos were popular.

We didn’t use computers and we didn’t have the Internet.

We used to have sleep overs and stay up all night.

We used to have school dances.

We’d have boy-girl parties and play truth or dare.

We thought kissing was gross.

We’d get excited when one of our friends would tell us about their first “Frenching” experience. “Ewww! You used your tongue???” “He had HIS tongue in YOUR mouth??”

We used to pass around notes to friends in class.
We had secret admirers or were secret admirers.

I first got my driver’s license.

My friends and I would go cruising on the streets of downtown Montreal.

We thought it was ‘grown up’ to go out with friends for coffee.

We’d go for midnight runs to McD’s just because.

We wouldn’t want to see the summer end.

We’d go shopping for back-to-school stuff.

We couldn’t wait to see our friends in school again in September.

I remember when we were young and life was so carefree...

Umm..yeah. I know I have a sick sense of humour! LOL You gotta love that Engrish!!!

I'm going to be an auntie!!!! My brother and his wife are expecting a baby in March. My sister-in-law is 13 weeks pregnant. Here's a pic of my cute little future niece or nephew!!! Toooooooo cute! (Yeah, I know...I'm just a wee bit too excited!!) lol











Photos supplied by my sister-in-law, Elisha :)

A lot of times, I talk about how wonderful the kids are and not so much about all the times that they aren't so wonderful. The problem with being the temporary guardian to teens is that when it comes to discipline, it's a touchy subject. What's acceptable and what's not? How do you let the child (or in this case, teen) know that their behaviour is not acceptable?

In the past two weeks, one of our boys has broken our patio table, a bedroom fan, towel hangers in the bathroom, damaged my gorgeous dining table (and those are just the starters). Certainly, I don't think he purposefully meant to damage our belongings, but seriously...have some respect with other people's things. I would only ask that he be careful with our things. The other boy hasn't broken a thing and is very careful and respectful to other people's belongings.

Now here's where I'm the 'bad cop'. I always seem to be the one to reprimand or bestow chores or whatever. I am the wicked witch. In the way of punishment, I have told said person that he must pile firewood (which wasn't THAT much) and write 150 lines of "I will respect other people's belongings". Do you think this is too much to ask? Noooooo...I get the huffing and puffing and crying and feet stomping. When I was a kid, I was always taught that when in someone else's house, you be on your very best behaviour.

Is helping with the chores and writing lines being too mean??? I can think of way worse punishment! (that does not involve spanking, because A)I am severely anti-spanking and B) Even if I did believe in spanking, I wouldn't ever spank anyone else's child )

IMO, parents should be responsible for the disciplining of their children, but when entrusted in another adult's care (ie: teacher) then the teacher or other adult should use their own discretion, provided that it is fair, in the best interest of the child, and does not inflict harm (pyschologically, physically, etc). Most of my friends who have kids do a wonderful job with discipline. What bugs me is when I get kids/students who are able to have free reign at their homes and are able to get away with everything. Bad manners, lack of respect, horrible attitudes...those are just a few of my pet peeves.

The kids I get are with us 24/7 for two months at a time. They're involved in all aspects of the home while they're here. If I'm doing laundry then they help put away their things. They clean their own rooms and help with dishes. They even help with preparing meals. If they're disrespectful to other students or adults or if they don't behave, they are encouraged to use their words to voice out what is bothering them. Sometimes positive reinforcement or using words don't always work. This is when they get extra chores or extra homework. Is this tooooo much to ask for????

Parents out there...what do you do?

Yesterday, we took the boys on a surprise trip to Science North because they're going back to Korea in 5 days. Science North has very cool stuff for kids of all ages...one of my faves was the GROSSOLOGY exhibit! lol...now who's the kid and who's the adult, eh? Other than all the neat stuff kids can learn about the human body (like what exactly boogers are and what happens when you consume things that make you gassy..lol), my absolute fave was seeing a teeny tiny flying squirrel. I knew we had them in these parts of Canada, but hadn't ever seen one. I was so excited! They're sooooo cute AND they don't fly...they glide.

On the way back to the island, we stopped off at Sears so I could pick up a brand spankin' new vacuum cleaner!!!! I know it sounds nuts, but I am soooo excited! We have a Shop-Vac and it's really good (5 horsepower, sucks like you wouldn't believe, but is so cumbersome it's not even funny). I just needed something lighter and smaller to clean our house. The salesperson pretty much sold me on one particular beauty. I am now the proud owner of a very sleek, new, green machine! Incidentally, my friend Jill posted a review of the same vacuum from Eureka on her blog. I am VERY pleased with it. It's lightweight, has great suction power for a little thing, and it's just so easy to maneuver around with it.

Some of you already know that when it comes to cooking, (in our house) we have to be super careful because one of our nieces has Celiac Disease (gluten/wheat allergy) and both she and her sister have nut allergies. Here's a quick and easy (and oh so yummy) recipe that both our nieces can enjoy :) Today I had my nieces and my two students all help make 200 of these cookies for the baseball game and library fundraiser (as per my sister-in-law's request).

Chocolate Drop Cookies
Yields 2 dozen

2 c milk choc chips
1 tbsp vegetable shortening
1/2 c dried cranberries
1/2 c sunflower seeds

In a double boiler, over simmering water, melt the choc chips and shortening, stir until smooth. Remove from heat, stir in cranberries and sunflower seeds. Drop by tbsp onto waxed paper. Chill.

Last night, my sister-in-law and I took the kids to see a play in Wikwemikong (Canada's only unceded Native reservation). What a magical experience it was. The old Wiky ruins served as the stage upon which the actors wove their tales of ancient years. It is interesting to note that the stories are told by Aboriginal youth for Aboriginal youth.

I absolutely love a good production and plays (along with other types of performances) have always been an important part of my life. I have got to say that the Debaj theater group put on a performance comparable to something one would see in Stratford or in any other place known for their theater/plays.

I'll be back with a write up on the play we saw last night. In the meantime, check out these two links: The Great Spirit Circle Trail and De-ba-jeh-mu-jig Theater.

If only my darling husband knew these things before he married me! :) lol

1. I have a terribly weak tummy (ie: my instant gag reflex sux). I dry heave and barf really easily if I'm anywhere near any kind of scent that is offensive (or even visualize something gross). While visiting Miyajima Island in Japan, my friend and I spotted a man skinning deer. The sight of the pelts hanging and just the thought of the skinning process made me ralph all over the place. Gross.

2. Once (years ago) when I was in a cafe, I asked the waitress for soy milk instead of cow's milk because I was vegan. She told me to grind my own soy beans!!! LOL Mind you, this was at a time when not too many restaurants and cafes catered to vegetarians.

3. I am sometimes absentminded. My students say I'm like a goldfish (small brains therefore short memory spans). The other day, I was washing dishes and cut myself with a very sharp knife. Two seconds after I cleaned and bandaged myself up, I did it again.

3. I once went skinny dipping in the Sea of Japan with a whole bunch of other teachers (from the UK, Aus, NZ, and the US) and some Japanese friends...in the middle of a typhoon! Oh, to be young and stupid :)

4. When I was teaching overseas, a group of Japanese housewives took me to a traditional Japanese restaurant for a meal and I couldn't bring myself to stomach swallowing 'uni' (sea urchin). I didn't want to be rude, so I tried to suck it up, and ended up vomitting into my lap. Embarrassing! (That's one of the only things I can't eat. I absolutely LOVE Japanese food!!)

5. I hate swimming in places where I can't see the bottom. This is why I love swimming here on Manitoulin - the water is so clear! The reason I hate swimming where I can't see is because I don't like swimming with critters and slimy things. LOL

6. I was not as angelic as a teenager/young adult as most people think I was. Those of you who know me and who grew up with me can attest to this. :) University wasn't only about studying and trying to save the world :)

7. I can sometimes be a total spazz! This morning I was hanging the laundry to dry on the clothesline, picking apples, weeding the garden, then when I came in to do the dishes, my darling hubby and my two students were all sitting down watching TV. I just about flipped out and started going nuts-o about doing all the work. They didn't hear me though. Apparently the movie was more entertaining.

8. I like to blog...even if I don't always have anything blog-worthy to write about! :)

9. I'm a little on the artsy side. Unfortunately my creativity always pops up at the oddest moments...like 2 in the morning! I do my best sketching, writing, painting, etc really early in the morning.

10. I'm a nerd. I like to read. I like doing research. I like learning new things.

Heidi and True...this post is for you :)

J and I took the kids to the fair in Providence Bay. The kids begged us to go on a ride with them and we complied. Oh boy...we went on the Avalanche and I was screaming the whole ride through. Poor J had the terrible misfortune of sitting next to me. Luckily he still has all his digits!

I must be getting old, because when I was younger, I'd go on all the rides at Disney World, Canada's Wonderland and LaRonde...and I'd keep going back for more and more and more. Now, one crappy little carnie ride makes me want to lose my lunch. Sucks getting old! :)

I have to admit, I enjoyed our day out. The fair brought back memories of childhood and my teenage years. Tattoo-covered carnies with cut-off sleeves, loud carnival music, flashing lights, sno-kones, cotton candy, candy apples, twirling strawberry rides, flying swings, bumper cars, nearly impossible to win games...ahh the memories! I almost won a little dirt bike, but ended up winning a stuffed bear for my hubby that says "Love You". I joked that all the guys on the fire department will call him a pansy when they see the bear sitting in his truck :)

reads this blog?? LOL Out of curiosity, I was just wondering who reads this..apart from my family and friends, that is!

Of course, this really isn't a blog about anything interesting like politics, entertainment, fashion, mommy stuff (yet!!), but rather a whole mess of a whole lotta stuff.

Anyhooz, drop me a note and let me know who you are :)