Well - its 2009.

 It has been for a grand total of 12 days.

 What do  resolve to work on this year - lets see - budgetting - I want to cut out extras and live as low key as possible.  We don’t have a lot of needs, but we have a tendancy to get a bit carried away on occasion.  I also resolve to let it slide - to try to get my personal relationships to a place where everyone is happy….

So far its working out for me…lol  It will be an interesting year for sure - I want to spend more time on my motorcycle, more time working on my own body image.  Certainly like everyone the concern over the economy is driving more changes - to our habts, our desires - just hoping DH has a job to go back to everytime he goes to work.

Lets see what happens - in 2009…. 

I dunno…maybe it was “sex and the City” - but sometime in the last 30 years - the 30’s stopped being old and started being young, vibrant, sexy!!

I am 32 - or as I like to joke 29 with 3 yars experience. But I don’t feel bad about it - I am proud - I feel young, and vibrant and sexy….

So today - the local radio station has its “radiothon” for the Alberta Children’s hospital - day 1 of the next 3. Every year for the last 3/4 I have donated and today was no exception - its MY birthday and the deserve to have a gift from me.  The very least I can offer is such a small token of what they need - but  huge impact for them.

 PLEASE if you can give - $18/mo - 403-802-2700 (there is my pitch!)

 Otherwise today - the official results of the US elecion were spoken - the US elected their first Dark Skinned President - a day for the history books - the 44th President -Barack Obama! 

 So dad calls - and can’t believe - “so your 32 - MAN I can’t believe that” - gee dad - lol thanks - he feels old - I feel bad for him…hehe.

Well - and the day will go on and the day will end.  It snowed - first snowfall…haha - Happy Birthday to me!

My Van - dubbed “The Cursed” by myself as of - oh yesterday.

 I dreaded theday I had to buy a minivan but with 4 kids I accepted the fate I was faced with.  I told my hubby - if I HAD to drive a van it was dern well going to be the one I WANTED with all the options I WANTED.

So after lots of research I settled on the Dodge Gr Caravan.  I wanted (And got) Stow n’ Go (TM) , leather with heated front seats, dvd, power side doors and rear tailgate - the SXT model with the big engine…..This ain’t your average minivan I used to say. 

 My downfall - I expected that if I spent a a LOT of money on a van that it would be better made than the run of the mill basic version they sell…but was I wrong.  At one point I chalked it up to being  lemon - you know the 3rd shift friday special?!….but yesterdays ordeal brought it to a whole new level - it is not “The Cursed”

 The Van was bought Jan 2006 - its warranty runs out Jan 2009.  Brand New, off the lot - 3kms,  It was brought in for me specially from across the province - I wanted THIS van with THESE options in THIS color and I will pay THIS much - find it - they did.

The first thing to go…paint - the paint on my bumper started to flake - now I know dodge has had some previous paint isues .  I had to take it in to the shop have THEM decide it was flaking (as opposed to being MY fault?!) and then bring it in for repainting.   That took months cause they could not provide me a vehicle for this…That was the least of the problems.

Between years 1 and now (being almost 3) there have been 5 - thats right 5! more warranty repairs. 

Steering Pump, Wiper Arm, ABS Sensor, Oxygen Sensor…..and the leather ripped!  I had to “prove” the last one of course - They didnt want to repair it - I told them the heck it was cut - its on the grain lines and ripping beside my BEHIND in a place my butt doesn’t even touch.  They reluctantly replaced it….

I just assumed again - my car the lemon….yesterday the vehicle was back in the shop (AGAIN) to replace the drivers power side mirror - I BROKE THIS - I admit it - no problem.  I get the 4pm call - we replaced the mirror - but….theres a problem with your vehicle….

Read on….

I start laughing - hard - at least its broke IN the shop…its already there….no - thats not it exactly….

See here’s where its cursed comes in…

Seems the tech involved with working on my vehicle was wiping down the dashboard etc and in true nature to this vehicles perils - used a cloth with a STEEL WOOL CENTRE.  Scratched the entire dash and brand new MIRROR….

How in the heck does this stuff happen to me with this vehicle…

So I am stuck now vehicle-less again- I have opted to have them re-replace the brand new mirror (Shes a lease) and they had to repair (or replace) the dash - ALL AT THEIR COST of course .   Sigh……..what do you say anymore - anyone want to buy a hardly used, in “new” condition minivan?

 Seriously - THIS was a true story - however I kept it short and left out the gorey parts (lol just kidding).  Thanks for reading (and please feel free to laugh - I did)

So here is an entire post dedicated to - well - me.

 I am 31 - nearing 32 quickly..and over the last number of years have experienced changes in myself that have changed what I am about.

 I grew up the only daughter of 3 kids to a Hockey dad type of guy, and a SAHM.  I look back now and I had EVERYTHING you could imagine - I DID everything you could think of - I was fortunate to have it all….

 But sometime in the recent past I have started to “Come of myself”.  After meeting my husband I decided to indulge him and learn how to shoot a bow - and then I took my Hunters education and became legally certified to Hunt.  Surprisingly for  a woman not exposed to this growing up - I enjoy it mostly.

 2 months ago my husband bought me my first motorcycle - no he doesn’t have one - in fact he thinks “they are dangerous” - I however have always wanted one and finally did it - went to Motorcyle school and passed and am now a fully licensed motorcycle driver….

This week - well I have decided I quite enjoy the sport of shooting clays.  I have decided to finally get my PAL - next week in fact - why wait?  I already have my shotgun picked out - yes - girly pink….

 See heres the thing.  I crave learning and rather than put it off (oh I will do it someday) - there is no better day than NOW to do it.  WHY Wait?  Kids?  No - if I waited for my kids to be myself I would never get to do these things.  Is there any purpose to getting my PAL - no - nothing more than I WANT TO.

 But then on my way out to meet up with my husband last week another thought passed my mind - I realized that I can say that I CAN do it.  If ever came a point whereby buying my meat was not an option - I have the skills needed to survive.  Some people don’t agree with hunting and honestly I will respect that - but I ask you respect my decision to hunt.

I LOVE being the Non-typical Mommy - the motorcycle momma, bowhunting, gun slinging momma - kinda reminds me of the old west - the tough widows left behind who shaped the west as tough women.  I like that - I dont feel I have anothing to prove to any man - but I am tough and I can do anything…

 As the saying goes - anything a boy can do - I can do better….

 I hope to raise my daughter without gender lines - she already wants to go hunting with her bow - and wants to shoot a bear like her dad, she knows that she will play hockey and in true form I refuse to segregate her into girls only hockey - boys or nothing.  She will be just like me - but tougher - not some typical girly girl…boys watch out!

 The best gift I can give my children is the knowledge that they CAN do anything. 

Ok - I dont get it…

I am reading a post somewhere and I have seen this kinda stuff before and I just dont understand.

The person got  ticket for breaking a traffic law and wants to fight it - ok….fine - but the twist - we cant admit we were wrong - in fact others being ignorant of said law also dont seem to think she broke the law - more importantly - lets blame the overzealous COP for writing the ticket…

 WTHeck?!

 What is WRONG with people?  Has anyone yet learned that ignorance of something does not excuse you from being punished (geez I didn’t know the punishment for theft was to lose my hands in your country…) or more importantly when will people LEARN TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY for their actions?!

 YOU BROKE THE LAW - I dont care if you didn’t know it, if its “dumb” or doesn’t make sense - its NOT the cops fault YOU broke the law.  Just admit it already - dont make excuses - I hate people who cant accept responsibility.

 Whats worse - this partcular LAW that ws broken is warned on almost every related sign NOT TO DO IT?!  Kinda like speeding - whats you excuse - you didn’t think MAX 50 actually MEANT Max 50?

How many people on the roads DONT know the laws they are suppose to be driving to?

Doesn’t THAT scare you - maybe we need to have manditory driver testing every 5 years - forget sinple cash renewals - dern it give us tests - prove people know the laws….

GRRR - I admit this is one of those HUGE pet peeves in life - people who think that the law just should not apply to them or because it doesn’t make sense or they dont know it they should escape being punished under it if they break it - maybe they would take a lesson to LEARN it for next time instead of over analyze what it is that they dont think they did…

 Even more scary - even being told it breas the law - they still dont think they did anything wrong….yikes…now we just ignore it if we dont understand….

 Oiy….you now what - these are the same people who think speeding tickets/cameras are just “cash cows” - have they NOT learned yet that if you dont speed (READ: break the LAW) you dont pay….

Seriously - get over yourself - you broke the law - pay the ticket - LEARN the law and move on and stop complaining about the other guy - YOU were in the wrong (BTW - go back and read yor basic drivers book - you know the one you should have read when you got your license - ITS IN THERE TOO!)

Shes a dancing queen - if only our queen - or maybe a princess…

 Lil’ sis started her dance classes yesterday.  Now this is not just any class - this is with the Academy I was part of as a child - bet you didn’t know I was a dancer too!  MacDonald Wilson Dance Academy in Calgary - Fabulous group. 

I know when the time came she would be here - its not a group of 6 or 8 lessons - but rather once a week for the entire year - proper dance lessons.

Lil sis was nervous going in but she st wither her teacher and ws the first one out - proud as could be that she had a sticker - course she also told me what they did - she “twirled and spinned” and she “ran like a butterfly” (Butterflies run?!) and she danced on her tippy toes…like this mommy. Awww so adorable! I dont care what daddy says - she is going to dance and shes going to LIKE it…lol…

On Friday night we went to the Stampeders game - sideline passes and everything - you know those football players are not ALL that big.  Bro and Lil’ sis enjoyed it - but it got COLD and rainy…..so we left early - it was a boring game anyways - until after we left - dern - awwww well….

Its now Sunday and again we have hockey….here how the last 9 or so days have looked:

Hockey, Hockey, Hockey, rest, Hockey, rest, Football, Dance and now hockey……again - awww the things we do for our kids!  Is it worth it - yes - of course it is!

SO I am usually pretty good at this kind of stuff - you know - organization, control, life….

2 kids, dinner, hockey starting - I make them dinner and leave the table for a few minutes to take a phone call … Meanwhile - back at the table 2 kids - ok one decides to eat in front of the tv since mom has left and sneaks down the stairrs - which means of course the 3 yr old MUST copy her big brother - cause thats what she does - what else would she do really …

Sure enough - next thing I know on my phone call there are not one but 2 screaming children - Lil’ Sis is crying cause “bro” is mad, Bro is mad cause he was eating at his chair - Lil’ Sis in her horsing around dumped his food all over him and the chair and his new shirt?! Course this wouldn’t be an issue had I not decided to make SPAGHETTI tonight - yup - tomato sauce everywhere… 

Now I am trying to yell through him to take the shirt he so desperately is upset about OFF so I can stain treat it and get it into the wash - Hes yelling back that Lil’ sis did this andhow upset he is aout this new shirt - Lil’ Sis is screaming that her Bro is mad….round and round we go…

 FINALLY we Get changed, get moving, gotta get to Hockey, grab an bunch of laundry including the now infamous “shirt” - hmmm - I should wash my jacket -in it all goes……

10 min later - out the door - wait - where’s my cell - THATS when the sinking feeling that you KNOW happens - the one at the bottom of your stomach that says- DOH! I rush to the washer - knowing full well its too late anyways - dig around- hmmm not there - maybe?!  nope - no maybe it was just hiding - preventing me from having to face the ugly truth…

Cell phones DONT swim.  They don’t honest - no matter what they try to tell you at the store - they just drown - ugly ugly cell phone deaths too….

ETA - Well the good news is tha while the phone can’t be saved… … The cost to get a new one might be minimal -ish - I can buy out a cheap pay n’ talk phone (rather than a costly regular contract one to buy out) and stick it on the contract without a problem!!!  Now to find the time to go phone shopping because I have nothing better to do with my time!

Ya - 4 days until my first real vacation of the year -

Ya - what a vacation. 

So far I have to be up for school at 6am (hmmm - sounds a lot like work), get kid one off to his first day of Jr High - geez where has the time gone.  And just cause I can - kid 2 - shes off to daycare (I am such a mean mom!)

Wednesday - ahh yes the airport and hoping dad’s wife gets home….fun times.

Thursday - Vet - stupid, overweight, unappreciative cat - lol!  Cats like 20lbs now - I swear I only give him half a cup a day - he is just retaining water….bloating!

Friday - well nothing so far…haha - so far.

 Only 100 days until Vegas - sigh - cant come soon enough…..I think I am getting ripped off this time - jusr 100 more days.

OK - so here it is - My first post - let me introduce myself.

My Name is Chelsey.  I am 31 and am married to Joe.  We were married September 4, 2004 - and have been together since October 2002.

We have 5 kids?! Yup - thats right.

Jordan 13 - hes my oldest son - he lives with my mother and her husband - its a long and painful story maybe we’ll discuss some day.

Tyrone 11 - hes my middle child - my youngest son.  Tyrone is ADHD.  I share custody of Ty with his dad - 50/50 - this too has been a challenging sitution.

Gavin 8 - My oldest Step-son, my husbands son with his second wife.  Smart - a lot like his dad - he really looks up to his dad.

Colton 7 - My youngest Step-son, husbands second son with the ex above.  Hes another challenge - very quiet and clumsy - introverted, bordering on a bit bullyish - challenging

Jorja 3 - Our daughter - the only girl, the youngest child, the only child in our home full time - our last.  Bold, courageous, daring, headstrong, spirited.

On top of being a mother and a wife, I work full time.  I am a marketing assistant with an oil based company.  We live in Calgary, AB - where I have live almost my entire life.  My husband also works in the oil industry - in the field.  Joe is gone a lot - so I often am a “single” parent.  I am lucky to have family nearby, at least family I respect - lol. 

 Thats it about us I guess.  There will be more to come as the days go by…..

Mi Vida Loca! aka - My Crazy Life!