If you want something done.
Ask a busy person to do it.
Lucille Ball
*** This post was written last week before the tragedy that struck Paris and the rest of the world. I would like to address these events and then continue with my original post***
While we were having a wonderful visit in Calgary this weekend something happened that rocked the entire world. First, 43 people were killed in terrorist attacks in Beirut on Thursday, that same day 19 people were killed by terrorist attacks in Iraq.
My deepest sympathy goes out to Beirut and Baghdad.
On Friday, at least 129 people were killed in Paris.
My heart goes out to Paris.
My heart breaks for the people of the WORLD, this affects each one of us.
I have a personal belief about what comes next. Or what I believe should come next. Again, this is my opinion.
I believe now more than ever we should open our borders to refugees. We cannot be scared. Children, Mothers and Fathers are running for their lives. Perhaps the answer is an exchange? A safe country to live in for 5 years of Canadian military service? Perhaps we can shush the naysayers by giving these new Canadians a chance to show their loyalty to their new country? I don’t honestly know what to do but this is the fact as I see it, all of these refugees are running from the same people that are terrorizing US. Canadians help people, accept people, treat all people with respect, how could we turn away these people in so much need?
On that note, I am hopeful Justin Trudeau will stay true to his word and bring home our jets/bombers. I believe in my heart that we need to stop the hatred, the revenge, and the retaliation. This is a horrible cycle that won’t stop until 1 party, stops.
We need to stop.
When we bomb the bad guys, and don’t get me wrong, I DO believe they ARE bad guys, we leave destruction in our wake. We leave kids that have lost their families. Those kids grow up to hate us and seek revenge.
I don’t know what the answer is to be honest.
I just know this isn’t working. We have been fighting since before the Crusades… The only thing changing is more radicals are popping up. We kill the leader of 1 group and the next one takes over. They are NOT Muslims. This is NOT Islam. These are Radicals and they are Terrorists. Their hatred for us is overwhelming. Let’s prove them wrong.
I don’t know what the answer is to be honest.
I just know this isn’t working. We have been fighting since before the Crusades… The only thing changing is more radicals are popping up. We kill the leader of 1 group and the next one takes over. They are NOT Muslims. This is NOT Islam. These are Radicals and they are Terrorists. Their hatred for us is overwhelming. Let’s prove them wrong.
Let’s stop.
Stop killing, bombing, and revenge attacks without facts.
Just stop.
Just stop.
For all those out there suffering, for all those that are scared and for all those that have lost something or someone in these horrific acts, I offer you hope and pray to ALL the Gods that you can find the strength to
Heal.
I also want to take this opportunity to say how very sad I am to read all the HATRED being spread on social media. I am actually sick about it. I cannot believe the racism, the intolerance and the extreme scare tactics being used by so many people. I would never “unfriend” someone for saying what they say, that is their right, but I am disappointed with some people and the ugliness they are spreading. Especially those saying things and hiding behind their Christian faith to do it. I would like to reiterate that we need to STOP. We are doing exactly what they want us to do. They want us to close our borders so they can terrorize those people with ease. They want us to spread hate rather than love. They WANT us to fight each other about religion, color and place of birth!
Stop letting them win.
Stop letting them win.
Just stop.
*****************************
Some days Ninja comes home and says “what did you do today Dear?”
I just blink at him as the images of the day flash quickly through my brain.
“Oh you know it was a day just like any other.” LOL
6:30 AM cramps. Tiptoe to the bathroom not wanting to wake anybody up.
7:00 AM why aren’t the kids up?
7:20 AM seriously? Today is the day the kids decide to sleep in? That is bunk.
7:30 AM let’s get this show on the road!
7:35 AM “girls what are we having for breakfast?”
7:55 AM finally… “cereal please.” LOL
8:35 AM we have home reading, lunch, and planner in the bag. Glasses cleaned, teeth brushed, hair done. Dressed, jacketed and in the van. We’re off!
8:45 AM drop off HBear and chat with my SparksBesty.
9 AM fill up the van with gas. While I do this I dance like a fool to keep SBean laughing through the window because getting gas is her LEAST favorite activity. A “fan” of my dancing honks multiple times as they drive by.
9:10 AM stop at home and pick up things I forgot in my rush out the door LOL
9:15 AM while trying to lock up I break my keychain and all of my keys scramble to the floor.
9:25 AM drop off 2 library books HBear was still reading in the drop off slot. Mental reminder to renew James and the Giant Peach! (I totally forgot to do this, now I am in trouble at the library AGAIN!)
9:35 AM drive to Edo to pay for the hotlunch order for the next day. Realize they are not open until 1 PM 🙁 What restaurant doesn’t open until after lunch??
9:37 AM get into the Starbucks drive-through lane, this Mama needs a latte. The Bean neeeeeeeded a cake pop, apparently my dancing wasn’t enough to placate her.
9:45 AM run into Superstore. Completely forgot to pick up my thyroid pill when I went grocery shopping a few days prior and now sadly I’m out. While there I pick up some sausages for a quick dinner.
10:15 AM drive to the cemetery. It was my Nana’s birthday and I picked her up some flowers. Also, Remembrance Day was the day before so I wanted to bring my Poppy up a Poppy LOL.
Also, we were going to Calgary the next day and I never leave without saying bye to my Mommies. 🙂
10:25 AM quickly stop at home and drop off groceries.
11:15 AM we are out of there and on our way to our next stop.
11:25 AM at the mall to pay for Mr. Souvlaki, hotlunch tomorrow.
11:40 AM arrive at Walmart. I need to pick up some ribbon to finish my SweetPea’s last Christmas gift.
11:55 PM stop at the McDonald’s inside of Walmart. I have a Monopoly sticker for a free cheeseburger and I am still boycotting the other McDonald’s so I haven’t had a cheeseburger in 3 weeks! LOL
12:00 PM get SBean back in the van buckled up and set up with her lunch, a blueberry muffin, an orange, and some carrots.
12:15 PM pick up HBear from school. I also have to drop off all of the hotlunch papers for the next day.
12:30PM get HBear settled at her Gifted program and eating her lunch.
12:40 PM put SBean back in the van and quickly get her home.
12:50 PMget SBean into a diaper, read 3 stories, sing 3 songs annnnnnd naptime.
1:00 PM thread the ribbon into SweetPea’s dress and tag the gifts.
 |
| Handmade by ME and my MBesty 🙂 |
1:25 PM rush around getting packed, plugging in all the electronics, and getting toiletries together.
2:15 PM sadly wake The Bean up. Get her bundled and into the van. Go pick up HBear from Gifted.
2:35 Stop by the school to drop off last bit of hotlunch information.
2:50 PM Drive HBear to Broadway class.
3:00 PM go back to Edo and pay for tomorrow‘s hotlunch. You see, our Treasurer is out of town (cheques) and I will be out of town, so all payments must be made ahead of time.
3:15 PM get home!
3:45 PM start “dinner”.
4:00 PM send Ninja to pick HBear up from Broadway, pick up a few craft beer from Tin Whistle Breweryfor my BIL, and to pick up a nice bottle of wine for dinner with my Sis the next day.
4:10 PM eat up! BTW this was awesome! We NEVER have ramen and sausages and it reminded me of my years in University LOL
4:30 PM get uber bundled up and off to the SOEC for the BC Winter Gamestorch lighting. My MIL is the director of special events and I’m her right hand gal 🙂
4:45 PM get our instructions… And grab a coffee LOL
6:00 PM first band goes up on stage. Dad and I were stage security so we were right up close for all the festivities.
7:25 PM the torch came out! It was so cold. For marshmallows like us, it was a very chilly night. It was +7 but under a weather warning of gusting winds to 70 km an hour!
7:35 PM get home. Just in time to see Ninja and HBear watching the end of their movie “Luke I am your father”. I still cannot get over the fact that my 6-year-old daughter loves Star Wars LOL
7:50 PM get HBear into bed and SBean back into bed LOL
8:00 PM get ready to soak in a very hot shower.
8:02 PM scream very loudly because Ninja forgot to turn the tap and cold water from the rain shower hit me square in the face.
8:35 PM finish last minute packing.
8:50 PM finish last-minute wrapping.
9:15 PM set my alarm for 4:00 AM
9:20 PM program Dad’s TV for all the Canucks games this weekend.
9:30 PM get cozy in bed to watch the Oilers game.
9:45 PM Out cold. Sorry Oilers… I’m sure I didn’t miss much 😉
Last week I made a tasty pasta dish using the same sausages we had for dinner this night too. I am from Winnipeg and I LOVE my garlic sausage or as we call it, kube.
I can’t get that here. We ship it in from Winnipeg for the most part but sometimes we just want tasty sausages. I have found Johnsonville Polish Sausages to be my favorite. I do not get paid to say this, however if they would LIKE to pay me to say this, I wouldn’t say no 🙂
Sausage and Spinach Pasta Skillet
Adapted from Inspired Dreamer
1 package Johnsonville Polish sausage
1 tablespoon oil
1 medium onion, diced
1 pepper, diced
2 cloves garlic, pressed
1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
1 can V8
1 (14.5 oz.) can diced tomatoes
2 cups chicken broth
1 box pasta
3 cups fresh spinach
1 cup Mexican cheese, shredded
2 green onions
Thinly slice the sausage and add it to a large skillet with 1 tablespoon of oil. Saute the sausage over medium heat until it is nicely browned (about 5-7 minutes). Drain off the excess fat.
Add onion, pepper, garlic and Italian seasoning to the skillet. Continue to sauté until the onion has softened (about 5 minutes).
Add the can of diced tomatoes, V8 and the chicken broth. Stir to combine and dissolve any browned bits off of the bottom of the skillet.
Add the uncooked pasta to the skillet and make sure it is all submerged under the liquid. Place a lid on the skillet and allow the mixture to come up to a boil. Once it reaches a boil, turn the heat down to low and let it simmer for about ten minutes, or until the pasta is tender. Stir once or twice while the pasta cooks to keep it from sticking.
Stir in the fresh spinach, one cup at a time, until wilted. If you add it all at once, the skillet will be too full to stir. Keep the heat on while adding the spinach, so the liquid will continue to simmer and thicken.
Sprinkle the shredded cheese on top, replace the lid, and let it sit for a few minutes, or until the cheese is melted.
Slice the green onions and sprinkle them over top.
