My Gramps

This was the speech I made at my gramps' funeral. I meant to post it sooner, but then I didn't.

My name is Holly, and I am the second daughter of Hayley, the second daughter. I have a lot of memories with Grampa. But a time that is special to me was when I lived with Gramma & Grampa when I was little. Mom was working at the factory back then, so I had to go to Happyland, which was not as fun as it sounds. Grampa used to take me in his big ol' Caddy. On good days, he'd take me with him to Chinatown instead and I'd hang out while he played mah jong. Car rides were pretty awesome. As child safety wasn't in yet, I got to ride in the front seat with him. He'd reach over and squeeze my leg. He liked to do it harder and harder until you complained of the pain and then he would laugh. I used to try and hold out as long as I could but eventually he always won. Days with him were way better than days with all those kids at Happyland. Grampa would make me sandwiches that he cut into 4 strips because it was easier to eat that way. He also slipped me money when no one was looking. And even though my mom ended up with it all back then, he continued to do this every time I saw him in the years that followed. One time more recently I went to see him in the home with Uncle Willie and he kept asking Uncle Willie to give him money. Uncle Willie finally gave in and gave him $10, and Grampa proceeded to gift it to me. When my mom was working, sometimes while I was still sleeping, Uncle Willie or Uncle Wilson would come into my room and grab me then dump me in Grampa's bed. I would scramble to climb out- I was terrified that one day he'd roll over and that would be it. All the early stuff I can remember is from my time in LA living in that house. I loved Grampa's bobble head dog in his car. I loved being allowed to go anywhere with him. I loved sneaking into him and Gramma's room and looking at the pictures on his desk. I loved the way he stood with his hands folded over his belly all the time. I visited him as often as I could but I think the best times we had together were back then, when he was my babysitter, my chef, my chauffeur, and my best friend.

Happy Mamajama Day!

I wake up.
I take a shower.
I drink coffee and eat oatmeal.
I get a massage with my mamajama.
I get a facial with my mamajama.
I get my hair washed and blow-dried with my mamajama.
I watch the Canucks game with my family (and friend).
I eat delicious take-out.
The Canucks win.

That's a Happy Day right there. And if you haven't seen The Lookout, you should (I heart JGL).

Sent from my awesome BlackBerry

babywatch 2010

a couple of years ago, i KNEW my sister would give birth early and so i got on a plane a few days before the due date, and 7 hours after i landed, her water broke. it was awesome and magical and my niece and i are super close (even though she's only 2, she knows who spoils her the most).

so fast forward to now and baby due date was april 25th. i flew out there on the 16th thinking, i'll spend a few days with my niece, baby will come, round 2, fight! except that there was no baby. despite the contractions the last month or more and all the signs pointing to an early baby, he decided not to be an early baby. and then i changed my return flight to stay an extra day and i hung out and waited and waited. but he decided not to be on time either.

and here's the thing - the doctor did some medical stuff to help move it along faster.. but to no avail. we consulted with spirits. he told our friend that he was coming one day. but he tricked us. we even went to the emerg in the middle of the night, unsure if my sis' water had broken. yeah, no. then another consult told us he was on his way. nope.

so my conclusion is this. 1. he is a taurus. he is stubborn and bull-headed. although, that could also describe any of the men in our blended families, so maybe being a taurus has nothing to do with it. 2. he is a joker. every time we were like, yes - this is it! it was not. not even close. somewhere in my sis' belly, he is laughing at us. on the bright side, we're all jokers, so we'll have a good time. 3. he is definitely related, because he doesn't know the meaning of punctuality. so if he's running on chinese time, he'll show up... when he feels like it. 4. he just didn't want me to be the first family member to see him naked. how modest. that's not gonna work. nobody in my family is modest.

well i am home now. baby didn't come. and unlike my worst fears, he didn't come out while i was flying either. phew! so i don't know when he's coming. no one does. and i'm okay with that. disappointed, yes. i just spent 9.5 days in the armpit of canada man! but i got to hang with my niece the whole time, give my sis a break from the other chaos (in-laws, my crazy mamajama, anxious hubs), and just chill. so at least it wasn't a totally poopy vacay. but if this baby comes out and they're not bringing him back w/in a reasonable time, i may jet out there for a weekend. ugh. don't make me go back there.

WTF it's already November?

where did this year go?

so it's november. last year in november, my gramma passed away. and while i didn't see that coming, a part of me is bold enough to say that i don't see anything like that happening this year. then the other part of me is like shut the f up before you jinx yourself! and then i tell me that i'm not superstitious enough to care. but other me says maybe you are but denial is not just another river in egypt yo. to which all i have to say back is eat poop be happy.

but enough about the voices in my head. it's november. first things first, i bought my ticket to get out of here for xmas. i really want to be away this year. not just because my family here doesn't really do christmas the way it should be done, but because i really really miss the rest of my extended brood. despite the occasional drama, i'm always happy when i'm with them. and i think i just need it. it's been a long year. between the dead gramma issues and the not drinking demons, i just feel like i need a break from my life. but not the kind of break that is exotic and filled with strangers and maybe a couple of familiar people (although that sure worked for stella and look at her groove), but like the kind of break that involves being surrounded by people who love me. not that my parents don't love me, they really do. but it's just ... different. plus the wall to wall presents are balls of fun. and there are all these kids, but i actually like all of them. and there are grandparents, i can't get that here anymore.

oh holidays. how can i love you and hate you so much at the same time? i was just telling someone how much i dread xmas shopping because of the ring ring ringing of the bells from the fake santas and their charity buckets. and i hate the carollers. i don't care, i just don't enjoy it. i like xmas songs - done by like, sugarland or nsync or something lol. i don't like the la la fake opera carollers. with their curly tight hair and long old fashioned dresses. blah. oh, and i hate the crowds and the pushing and the desperation of people who have no idea what they're buying yet insist on slowly ambling thru the mall anyway, stopping just in front of you periodically as they realize they are in the mall and have no idea where they are going or what they are doing. get the f out of my way!! but i love the feel of xmas morning. i love the getting together with my fave people and opening the presents and all the fun stuff. i love my peoples. i hate shopping for them, but i love them.