Junior Joneses, June '09

Grad '09

In the words of Barry Manilow and, apparently, R Kelly: "Looks like we made it..."

Happy b-day and grad to J - half of a car, with love from us!

Happy Mother's Day everyone!

It's sunny today. I spent my day doing brunch and lounging on the deck with a magazine. HouseofJones is gonna take a walk around the river and settle into some Amazing Race later. Sounds like a nice day to me. Hope y'all had a gooder too.

PS: Our camera was stolen, so no Grease pics to upload. We'll get snapping again soon.

Random is the new boredom...

This was originally going to be a blog note, but went on Facebook first. Anyway, this might be much more entertaining than a laundry list of busywork from the HouseofJones. I'm tired of listing off who did what when. So instead, here are some random facts:

• I'd love to get a tattoo, if I could figure out what my personal logo would consist of.
• 2. I've been writing poetry and prose since I was in Grade 2. ("Teacher, may I write a poem?" nerd.)
• 3. I find it's easier to write a character if they have an accent.
• 4. Cut and color for a 12-year old? $146.00. Watching her face as she walks out? Priceless. Well, actually, $146.00.
• 4. There are certain things I will never do in a public washroom. They all involve the number two.
• 5. I have 6 scars, two of which are from simple bug bites, none of which come with a good story. Except for Stone Kitty Trip Chin. But the title really tells the story, so...
• 6. I wonder if wooden salad tongs are even cheaper in Denmark.
• 7. I think Ricky Gervais is a genius and Karl Pilkington is remarkably underpaid.
• 8. People who take a 22 year break from school are generally much wiser than their classmates.
• 9. I wouldn't do anything for a Klondike bar. But I'd pay for a bag of chips.
• 10. Necks that are abused on roller coasters take at least 6 days to heal.
• 11. I love entertaining, feeding people and laughing.
• 12. I can't remember the last time I entertained anyone (on purpose) or fed anyone (on purpose?).
• 13. I feel a new year's resolution coming on...
• 14. I am literally suffering from travel withdrawal.
• 15. I hate it when people use the word 'literally' to emphasize an overstatement.16. When it comes to neighbours, we really hit the jackpot.
• 17. Sometimes when I'm being sarcastic, people take me seriously.
• 18. I miss my old neighbourhood. So many good friends just steps away.
• 19. Not counting ya-yas, I've talked more about myself here than I have anywhere, to anyone, in years.
• 20. This year I want to fix the front step, plant veg, build railings, replace fence, and build stone wall.
• 21. This year, Tim wants to enjoy the work we did last year.
• 22. Am I the only one who found In Bruges both devastating AND hilarious?
• 23. I absolutely cannot even imagine what the future holds. (Sub-bullet which would fit nicely under almost any bullet.)
• 24. My marriage has spanned 2 decades and I am very proud of that. Take a lesson, kids out there: sometimes you really do know what you're doing!
• 25. We have a kitchen table, a dining room table, and rarely eat at either.
• 26. Coolest snack for the sweet tooth: Tim Tam Slams. You'll have to ask us or the T-Fs to get a description. It is an experience.
• 27. There is nothing else to share of interest. That is all.

Time to obey the T-shirt!

What's a Jones to do when you've officially run out of steam?

• When a family health crisis happens half a country away...
• When a serious family health crisis happens right here at home...
• When you're laid up for a week with a back spasm...
• When there's an utter lack of teamwork or vision at your place of work and so much negativity out in the field that you just wanna wash your hands of it all...

There's a wise old Puerto Rican T-shirt in J3's closet that holds all knowledge on things of this nature, and I quote:

• quit your job
• buy a ticket
• get a tan
• fall in love
• never return

Feels like it's time to obey the t-shirt!

Looking forward to April

Sem 2 has begun for the boys. Final sem for J1 - what a weird concept. Weirder still, J2 will take driver's ed soon. J3's soccer season is ramping up... being at the soccer centre by 4:45 is really pushing the limits of possibility. (I mean, come on! Don't the other soccer moms and dads have lives beyond the game?!) J2's rehearsals for the spring musical, Grease, have begun. Mr. Jones is headed to Detroit for a few weeks. Mrs. Jones is all over the map (the Saskatchewan map, that is) leading various discussion forums and workshops. And if all that wasn't enough, I've dusted off my abacus and am testing the academic waters. How much could one university class possibly add to a workload? (For such an old lady, I can be pretty wet behind the ears sometimes...) Once the training workshops consuming my and Mr. Jones' time, as well as soccer and classes, are out of the way, life is going to feel pretty serene. Hurry up, April!

08 - How crazy was that?!

Pretty crazy awesome. For us, '08 turned out to be all about travel:

Mexico: To celebrate Mr. Jones's 4th decade completion, we snuck off to the Mayan Riviera for a week of relaxation and snuggling.

Germany, Italy and Denmark: J1's exchange opened up the world to him.

Newfoundland and Quebec: Mrs. Jones ate cod tongue in St. John's and checked out the Montreal jazz festival during a whirlwind series of back-to-back meetings in Eastern Canada.

Puerto Rico: The location for this year's Gentle Teaching International conference definitely had its

perks, including the sightseeing. We even had a layover in Manhattan, which was on the bucket list. But mostly, it was great to reconnect with friends from all over the world, especially our good friend Charles (Dr. Conant, who was selectively mute until he was 20 years old and now is a renowned behaviorist): MEXICO - again! We wanted to do something special while we were still a full handful living under the same roof. And special it was:

We sailed on a catamaran to Isla Mujeres to snorkel and play with wild dolphins.

We rented a car and drove through army checkpoints to the Tulum ruins and Akumal beach.

We lazed around the pool. J1 and I ate ate a 7-course french dinner that was sooo weird (hence the laughter).

We snorkeled the heck out of Xel-ha and Garrafon, saw sharks and touched manatees, crabs and dolphins.

We saw the most beautiful sunsets. But mostly, we just dug each other for 8 solid days. It was bliss.

We are blessed with true companionship within our family, true friends, and the ability to peek around a few corners of the world now and again.

To all of our friends and loved ones, you are the icing on a delicious cake. Thanks for being part of our lives. May '09 delight you with unexpected joys at every turn.