And a great December to you too, Ed. The first day has gone well. No snow in Ottawa yet, and quite mild temperatures. Bob is getting better every day and everyone else here is healthy. Love your tree!
POSITION : Mum, Mommy, Mama, Ma Dad, Daddy, Dada, Pa, Pop
JOB DESCRIPTION :
Long term, team players needed, for challenging, permanent work in an often chaotic environment. Candidates must possess excellent communication and organizational skills and be willing to work variable hours, which will include evenings and weekends and frequent 24 hour shifts on call. Some overnight travel required, including trips to primitive camping sites on rainy weekends and endless sports tournaments in far away cities! Travel expenses not reimbursed. Extensive courier duties also required.
RESPONSIBILITIES :
The rest of your life. Must be willing to be hated, at least temporarily, until someone needs $5. Must be willing to bite tongue repeatedly. Also, must possess the physical stamina of a pack mule and be able to go from zero to 60 mph in three seconds flat in case, this time, the screams from the backyard are not someone just crying wolf. Must be willing to face stimulating technical challenges, such as small gadget repair, mysteriously sluggish toilets and stuck zippers. Must screen phone calls, maintain calendars and coordinate production of multiple homework projects. Must have ability to plan and organize social gatherings for clients of all ages and mental outlooks. Must be a willing to be indispensable one minute, an embarrassment the next. Must handle assembly and product safety testing of a half million cheap, plastic toys, and battery operated devices. Must always hope for the best but be prepared for the worst. Must assume final, complete accountability for the quality of the end product. Responsibilities also include floor maintenance and janitorial work throughout the facility.
POSSIBILITY FOR ADVANCEMENT & PROMOTION :
None. Your job is to remain in the same position for years, without complaining, constantly retraining and updating your skills, so that those in your charge can ultimately surpass you
PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE :
None required unfortunately. On-the-job training offered on a continually exhausting basis.
WAGES AND COMPENSATION :
Get this! You pay them! Offering frequent raises and bonuses. A balloon payment is due when they turn 18 because of the assumption that college will help them become financially independent. When you die, you give them whatever is left. The oddest thing about this reverse-salary scheme is that you actually enjoy it and wish you could only do more.
BENEFITS :
While no health or dental insurance, no pension, no tuition reimbursement, no paid holidays and no stock options are offered; this job supplies limitless opportunities for personal growth, unconditional love, and free hugs and kisses for life if you play your cards right.
AND A FOOTNOTE... 'THERE IS NO RETIREMENT -- EVER!!!
Lucy, I am so baffled by the correct answers to #16 and #19 that I have been trying to find some reason for them. After wasting considerable time, the closest I could come to #19 was this: Cran (Scottish, from Gaelic crann): a measure for fresh herrings--as many as will fill a barrel; and beret for berry. Pretty weak, I know. And #16 eludes me completely. I suppose the end of cherry {RY} could be short for railway, but the rest of it is totally obscure. What does Margaret say? BJ
I have not yet had a chance to discuss the answers of the fruit and vegetables quiz with Margaret. I'm just as baffled as you are about #16 and #19 so I'll get back to you if I have anything to add to your research.
In the meantime, we have received our House and Garden Quiz back. We scored 35 out of 38. Here are the 3 revisions to our incorrect answers:
9. At the start of every year the friendly goblin gets this (7). We said PARTIES. The answer is TROLLEY
11. Timer Mrs Cutter uses for her grass (8). We said TRIMMERS. The answer is STRIMMER.
13. Is it an idler who uses this!(7) We said LAZYBOY. The answer is LOUNGER.
I think we should have been given credit for #11 and #13.
David and I celebrated his and your December 7th birthday in a villa overlooking Lake Garda in Italy. We had no access to the Internet or to the family blogsite.
Instead, we mailed you a postcard greeting that day from a delightful village called Malcesine. Later, back in our apartment, we raised a toast to your continuing good health and happiness. Cin! Cin!
Of course, we have already sent personal wishes your way but blog greetings are the order-of-the-day as well.
You can be sure that we'll be thinking of you throughout the day as we go about our work and play.
Later this evening, we will raise a toast to a son who makes us proud. Have a great 31st birthday, Alan. May today's joy be only a shadow of the happiness that is yet to come for you.
May your Sunday birthday be a time of personal relaxation and family celebration in the lead-up to Christmas.
Here in St. Andrews, we are remembering you with joy and thanksgiving. In fact, Amy is here to add a third voice to our cheer, "Life is fine at 69 - an ending and beginning line!"
Bob and I add our best wishes for a good day today followed by a year filled with happiness and love. I think 69 is a pretty good age, mostly because it isn't 70!
We send warm holiday greetings to each one of you from our home here in Scotland. Amy is here to add the elements of family and celebration to our our Christmas Day.
Cheers and love at this happy time! Louise and David
Warm wishes from Marie and I to everyone in the family. We hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas. We celebrated Christmas this morning with Brandon, Tricia and Dana, Jack and Davis. It was magnificent.
Thanks for the birthday wishes. I love the ease and enjoyment part! We had the family fun on the 25th!
I'm 65 today and wondering, "How did that happen?" I now qualify for Old Age Pension!
That reminds me: When Mom turned 65, she received her first old age cheque that Feb. and her last Family Allowance cheque the same month. UNBELIEVABLE. That only happened the one month because the following month Robert turned 18. Dad took a picture of the 2 cheques side-by-side.
That's my idea of a Christmas tree.
26 comments:
And a great December to you too, Ed.
The first day has gone well. No snow in Ottawa yet, and quite mild temperatures. Bob is getting better every day and everyone else here is healthy. Love your tree!
BJ
Hi Ed,
Your living "Christmas Tree" makes a delightful start to the month of December.
Advent has begun; can Christmas be far behind?
Love, Louise
17 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 17
Birthday Greetings, Christine!
We join your Mom, Mary and all your friends in wishing you a happy 17th birthday.
May your celebrations be warm and bright no matter what Regina's weather is like today.
Here in St. Andrews, we are toasting the beginning of another year of good health and much happiness for you. Cheers!
Lots of love,
Louise and David
17 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 17
PARENT
POSITION :
Mum, Mommy, Mama, Ma
Dad, Daddy, Dada, Pa, Pop
JOB DESCRIPTION :
Long term, team players needed, for challenging,
permanent work in an
often chaotic environment.
Candidates must possess excellent communication
and organizational skills and be willing to work
variable hours, which will include evenings and weekends
and frequent 24 hour shifts on call.
Some overnight travel required, including trips to
primitive camping sites on rainy weekends and endless sports tournaments in far away cities!
Travel expenses not reimbursed.
Extensive courier duties also required.
RESPONSIBILITIES :
The rest of your life.
Must be willing to be hated, at least temporarily,
until someone needs $5.
Must be willing to bite tongue repeatedly.
Also, must possess the physical stamina of a
pack mule
and be able to go from zero to 60 mph in three seconds flat
in case, this time, the screams from
the backyard are not someone just crying wolf.
Must be willing to face stimulating technical challenges,
such as small gadget repair, mysteriously sluggish toilets
and stuck zippers.
Must screen phone calls, maintain calendars and
coordinate production of multiple homework projects.
Must have ability to plan and organize social gatherings
for clients of all ages and mental outlooks.
Must be a willing to be indispensable one minute,
an embarrassment the next.
Must handle assembly and product safety testing of a
half million cheap, plastic toys, and battery operated devices.
Must always hope for the best but be prepared for the worst.
Must assume final, complete accountability for
the quality of the end product.
Responsibilities also include floor maintenance and
janitorial work throughout the facility.
POSSIBILITY FOR ADVANCEMENT & PROMOTION :
None.
Your job is to remain in the same position for years, without complaining, constantly retraining and updating your skills,
so that those in your charge can ultimately surpass you
PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE :
None required unfortunately.
On-the-job training offered on a continually exhausting basis.
WAGES AND COMPENSATION :
Get this! You pay them!
Offering frequent raises and bonuses.
A balloon payment is due when they turn 18 because
of the assumption that college will help them
become financially independent.
When you die, you give them whatever is left.
The oddest thing about this reverse-salary scheme is that
you actually enjoy it and wish you could only do more.
BENEFITS :
While no health or dental insurance, no pension,
no tuition reimbursement, no paid holidays and
no stock options are offered;
this job supplies limitless opportunities for personal growth, unconditional love,
and free hugs and kisses for life if you play your cards right.
AND A FOOTNOTE... 'THERE IS NO RETIREMENT -- EVER!!!
Thanks for this posting, Ed!
Who would be foolish enough to apply for such a job?
Who would want to miss the benefits?
LOL, Lucy
Today I received the results of the Fruits and Vegetables quiz we entered. We scored 25 out of 30.
Here are our corrections:
5. The my (Continental). LE MON (We answered THYME)
16. Swiss Queen by the railway. CHERRY (We answered BERRY)
19. Sounds as if the herring have a hat. CRAN BERRY (We answered GUAVA)
20. The kernel is between the spread and the soft drink. BUTTERNUT SQUASH (We answered CORN)
25. A noisy affair - Noel. A VOCA(L)DO (We answered GALA)
#16 and #19 still don't make sense to me but this was a tricky quiz. I'll let you know when the House and Garden answers arrive.
Lucy
This is the day that Vic is having her knee surgery in Saskatoon. We hope all goes well and that this is the start of something very good for her.
Here's to pain-free days ahead! Cin, Cin, Vic!
Lots of love,
Louise and David
Vic's surgery went well. Everything is fine; the doctor is pleased with the results. Best wishes for a complete recovery, Vic.
Lucy,
I am so baffled by the correct answers to #16 and #19 that I have been trying to find some reason for them. After wasting considerable time, the closest I could come to #19 was this:
Cran (Scottish, from Gaelic crann): a measure for fresh herrings--as many as will fill a barrel; and beret for berry. Pretty weak, I know. And #16 eludes me completely. I suppose the end of cherry {RY} could be short for railway, but the rest of it is totally obscure. What does Margaret say?
BJ
Hi BJ!
Thanks for the update on Vic.
I have not yet had a chance to discuss the answers of the fruit and vegetables quiz with Margaret. I'm just as baffled as you are about #16 and #19 so I'll get back to you if I have anything to add to your research.
In the meantime, we have received our House and Garden Quiz back. We scored 35 out of 38. Here are the 3 revisions to our incorrect answers:
9. At the start of every year the friendly goblin gets this (7). We said PARTIES. The answer is TROLLEY
11. Timer Mrs Cutter uses for her grass (8). We said TRIMMERS. The answer is STRIMMER.
13. Is it an idler who uses this!(7) We said LAZYBOY. The answer is LOUNGER.
I think we should have been given credit for #11 and #13.
LOL, Lucy
December 7, 2009
Belated Birthday Greetings, Deanie!
David and I celebrated his and your December 7th birthday in a villa overlooking Lake Garda in Italy. We had no access to the Internet or to the family blogsite.
Instead, we mailed you a postcard greeting that day from a delightful village called Malcesine. Later, back in our apartment, we raised a toast to your continuing good health and happiness. Cin! Cin!
Lots of love and warm wishes,
Louise and David
8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, EDDIE!
E njoy your special
D ay with friends and family who
D elight
I n saying:
E ddie is 8 today!
Congratulations and lots of love,
Louise and David
8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8
Happy Birthday, Alan!
Of course, we have already sent personal wishes your way but blog greetings are the order-of-the-day as well.
You can be sure that we'll be thinking of you throughout the day as we go about our work and play.
Later this evening, we will raise a toast to a son who makes us proud. Have a great 31st birthday, Alan. May today's joy be only a shadow of the happiness that is yet to come for you.
Much love,
Mom and Dad
69 69 69 69 69 69 69 69 69 69 69
Happy Birthday, Bob!
May your Sunday birthday be a time of personal relaxation and family celebration in the lead-up to Christmas.
Here in St. Andrews, we are remembering you with joy and thanksgiving. In fact, Amy is here to add a third voice to our cheer, "Life is fine at 69 - an ending and beginning line!"
Here's to years gone by and to many more to come!
Love and best wishes,
Louise and David
69 69 69 69 69 69 69 69 69 69 69 69
BOB says:
I'm using Mary Ellen's account to blog in.
Thanks for the nice birthnday wishes. I have to tell you that I don't feel a day over 68!!
Bob
Happy Birthday Bob,
Bob and I add our best wishes for a good day today followed by a year filled with happiness and love. I think 69 is a pretty good age, mostly because it isn't 70!
That's the spirit, Bob! One day you're 68 and the next day you're 69 and you really don't feel the difference.
Amy, David and I remembered you throughout your birthday and especially at our evening meal when we gathered round our table for food and friendship.
Lots of love,
Louise
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Happy Birthday, Lindsey!
We hope your special day does not get lost in the Christmas shuffle. Have a good one, however you choose to celebrate being 28 today.
Here in St. Andrews, Amy, David and I will raise our glasses in a toast to your happiness in the most eventful year that lies ahead of you. Cheers!
Warm wishes and lots of love,
Louise and David
28 28 28 28 28 28 28 28 28 28 28 28
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MERRY CHRISTMAS BLOGATIVES!
♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪
We send warm holiday greetings to each one of you from our home here in Scotland. Amy is here to add the elements of family and celebration to our our Christmas Day.
Cheers and love at this happy time!
Louise and David
25 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 25
Warm wishes from Marie and I to everyone in the family. We hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas. We celebrated Christmas this morning with Brandon, Tricia and Dana, Jack and Davis. It was magnificent.
Lui
Merry Christmas everyone.
Sorry I haven't been around.
We love you all.
Martin and Karen
Merry Christmas every one. It has been a great year.
Love, Deanie and Ed
Merry Christmas to everyone. We hope the day was happy and that the coming year will be filled with love and joy for all.
Bob & BJ
Blog greetings from Calgary, Ottawa and Regina gave a cross-Canada touch to Ed's Edition on Christmas Day.
Cheers, best wishes and lots of love,
Louise and David
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MARY ELLEN!
We hope your day is special - a nice mix of ease, enjoyment and family fun.
Here in St. Andrews, we are happily remembering you, with the spirit of Christmas still in our hearts.
May this day be especially satisfying for you and may the coming year be good to you in every way.
Cheers and lots of love,
Louise and David
Thanks for the birthday wishes. I love the ease and enjoyment part! We had the family fun on the 25th!
I'm 65 today and wondering, "How did that happen?" I now qualify for Old Age Pension!
That reminds me:
When Mom turned 65, she received her first old age cheque that Feb. and her last Family Allowance cheque the same month. UNBELIEVABLE. That only happened the one month because the following month Robert turned 18. Dad took a picture of the 2 cheques side-by-side.
Love and thanks,
ME
xoxoxoxoxox
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