Well, NaNoWriMo is over. Those of us are heaving sighs of relief, partying, or drowning our sorrows. I’m still writing, though. I have about 12,000 words to go before I put this story to bed, and it’s getting EXCITING. I can’t even believe what just happened, or what’s coming in the revised ending for this one.
I get all bouncy thinking of the horrific death that’s coming for a very bad person. Yaaaaaaay! Never fear, those with sensitive stomachs. This will not be WIPpet Wednesday material.
Things have picked up since Wednesday’s dismal numbers. AJ’s going away, leaving tomorrow and coming back Tuesday, so that’ll give me one night to work this week, and I’ll have afternoons for this until Christmas vacation starts. Think I can finish this draft? I’m going with yes.
Not a ROW80 goal, but a new item is on my to do list now that Amy Snow is visiting again. She’s wearing her pretty dress that I ordered off of Etsy last year, and she’s ready for some fun. She brought season 4 of the Cosby show for the boys as a “happy December” gift. They were pretty excited.
Don’t worry, I won’t spam you all with her adventures. Maybe I’ll put up pics on Sundays and Thursdays or something. I’m sure some of your facebook feeds are already going to be crowded with elf stuff. Don’t want to drive you around the bend with mine. 😉
Wow, does that green wrapping paper look hideously yellow on everyone else’s monitor? Sick.
Amy Snow will be returning soon! For anyone who missed it the first time (ie last December, when most of you weren’t around), here’s why we don’t have an Elf on the Shelf, and an introduction to the lovely Miss Snow, who does the job for us instead. She was a last-minute project for us, but it’s working out well. The boys are both very excited to see her again!
For the rest of her adventures from last year (a whole half-month’s worth), click here. I have a feeling things are going to get even crazier this time…
Language warning. I know other people love their elf, but I can’t talk about him without cussin’. He scares me.
So, Elf on the Shelf. I’m going to be honest here: that tiny bastard scares the bejeezus out of me.
Have you seen him? This little toy elf that you buy (I don’t know where, I assume from Hell’s gift shop) and set up every night in random places because… I think the kids are supposed to think he’s alive and reporting back to Santa.
That’s the theory. I think it’s really an excuse for moms to play with toys. No judgement here- I’m the proud owner of… one or two… *ahem*
If you haven’t seen him, google it. I’ll wait. No, not the cute squishy one, the plastic-headed one that looks like he’s going to consume your soul.
He watches you while you sleep. He thinks it’s romantic.
Look at those eyes. That little fucker KNOWS things.
So anyway, I don’t want one of those, because my dreams are…
(Not to depress anyone on this lovely and otherwise-celebratory-in-Canada day, but history is important, guys…)
Happy Canada Day! Well, mostly… see, when you live in Newfoundland, July 1 is a bittersweet holiday (and not just because so many people still swear that joining Canada was a mistake– not today’s topic, don’t worry). No, it’s because in Newfoundland, July 1 is also Memorial Day, the day set aside to remember the lives lost at the battle of Beaumont-Hamel, France, on July 1, 1916.
It’s not an insignificant number. The Newfoundland Regiment (then hailing from a tiny dominion of the British empire, not from Canada) was destroyed: more than 650 casualties, most within 15-20 minutes of leaving the trenches. Anywhere you read about the Newfoundland Regiment and this battle, the terms “nearly annihilated,” “almost wiped out” or “decimated” are sure to appear.
War is awesome, isn’t it?
But Great Big Sea tells the story far better than I can. The “Blue Puttees” was the nickname of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment.
Two recruiting sergeants came to the CLB,
for the sons of the merchants, to join the Blue Puttees
So all the hands enlisted, five hundred young men
Enlist you Newfoundlanders and come follow me
They crossed the broad Atlantic in the brave Florizel
And on the sands of Suvla, they entered into hell
And on those bloody beaches, the first of them fell
Enlist you Newfoundlanders and come follow me
So it’s over the mountains, and over the sea
Come brave Newfoundlanders and join the Blue Puttees
You’ll fight in Flanders, and at Galipoli
Enlist you Newfoundlanders and come follow me
Then the call came from London, for the last July drive
To the trenches with the regiment, prepare yourselves to die
The roll call next morning, just a handful survived.
Enlist you Newfoundlanders and come follow me
And it’s over the mountains, and over the sea
Come brave Newfoundlanders and join the Blue Puttees
You’ll fight in Flanders, and at Galipoli
Enlist you Newfoundlanders and come follow me
The stone men on Water Street still cry for the day
When the pride of the city went marching away
A thousand men slaughtered, to hear the King say
Enlist you Newfoundlanders and come follow me
And it’s over the mountains, and over the sea
Come brave Newfoundlanders and join the Blue Puttees
You’ll fight in Flanders, and at Galipoli
Enlist you Newfoundlanders and come follow me
So it’s over the mountains, and over the sea
Come brave Newfoundlanders and join the Blue Puttees
You’ll fight in Flanders, and at Galipoli
Enlist you Newfoundlanders and come follow me
Enlist you Newfoundlanders and come follow me
–
Catchy tune, no?
So today we (whether Newfoundlanders, CFAs like me, or mainlanders in the know) remember these brave men and grieve the loss of life.
…and then we get to go and throw some burgers on the BBQ and watch fireworks for Canada Day. *waves flag*
Fantastic (if old) blog post from Rick Mercer, who is actually from here… here.
More information on the  Royal Newfoundland Regiment here and here, and some good information on Memorial Day and its origins here. This article on the memorial in France has good information on the battle, etc.
–
*I don’t know they it’s spelled that way on track listings. Thoughts? Guesses? Answers?
I forgot to finish posting pictures of Amy Snow’s shenanigans. I’m sure you weren’t holding your breath or anything, but here you go anyway: photographic proof that I actually kept this up until Christmas.
I know, I was shocked, too.
To the photos!
Whatcha drawin’ there, Amy? A tree? Awww…
“oh, hey.”
Amy came along for a sleepover at my in-laws’ house (my decorations aren’t quite this nice; I think Amy enjoyed the change of scenery)
Brrrrrr…
Amy Snow stuck around for Christmas morning. Know what Santa brought her?
Ryan Freaking Reynolds.
…or a reasonable facsimile. Lucky bit–Er, very deserving and special doll-type lady. I’m happy for you. Really.
All he brought me was a dragon…
“To the North Pole, Mortimer!”
“Thrlaaaah!”
Goodbye, Amy Snow, until next year. Please send my dragon back.
I realized today that my husband is a better housewife than I am.
I had to drive 45 minutes to the doctor for my annual poke n’ prod (and not the good kind, either). I spent an hour in Walmart battling the crowds of coyotes and cows, then picked up a few things for my husband. All told, I was gone for 4.5 hours.
He did three loads of laundry, did the dishes, and scrubbed the dishrack.
I’m not saying I don’t do anything, but that’s impressive for someone who’s not responsible for those things.
On top of this, I just turned on the faucet and shot water all over the kitchen (my bad, shouldn’t have left that tiny bowl in the sink) and accidentally put a plastic-handled knife in the oven.
Good thing I’m good at other stuff, eh? Like… Um… Gimme a minute.
This morning, we found Amy a wee book labelled with the number 15- she must have spent the night catching up on her advent calendar reading. How sweet and innocent! I hope she stays that way- I caught her checking out the green lantern figure last night.
She also helped decorate the tree today. Only tiny ornaments, of course.
So, Elf on the Shelf. I’m going to be honest here: that tiny bastard scares the bejeezus out of me.
Have you seen him? This little toy elf that you buy (I don’t know where, I assume from Hell’s gift shop) and set up every night in random places because… I think the kids are supposed to think he’s alive and reporting back to Santa.
That’s the theory. I think it’s really an excuse for moms to play with toys. No judgement here- I’m the proud owner of… one or two… *ahem*
If you haven’t seen him, google it. I’ll wait. No, not the cute squishy one, the plastic-headed one that looks like he’s going to consume your soul.
He watches you while you sleep. He thinks it’s romantic.
Look at those eyes. That little fucker KNOWS things.
So anyway, I don’t want one of those, because my dreams are surreal enough without adding something to the mix that’s clearly food for night mares. But I do want in on the fun. My kids do, too; they’re still young enough to really enjoy a little Santa magic, and a doll who’s buddies with Santa sounded like a great idea to them.
Hello, spare Monster High Ghoulia!
She lost the glasses and traded her tarty dress for something a bit cozier, and the boys named her Amy Snow. I know, the outfit looks like Cinderella’s hand-me-downs, but it took me three hours to make.
Sad, right?
Point is, the kids love her, we’re going to have a lot of fun with her, and she doesn’t give me the heebie-jeebies or whisper in my ear that I should stab things.**
I’ll post some of her adventures here. For now, here’s Amy checking out the new decorations:
No time for a big post today (I know, such a shame, right?). There was no post on Tuesday because we were on our way home from St John’s, where my son had a hospital dentist appointment, but I’m still going to try to stick with a Monday, Tuesday, Thursday posting schedule. We’ll see how that goes next month…
But for today, Halloween! Not really, but I found our decorations yesterday, which was pretty exciting. We don’t decorate a lot, but I like what we’ve got- especially my ponies.
I made Pooka Pie and her baby… Last year? I think? So hard to remember. They don’t live on my shelf like my other customs- it feels more special when you only get to see holiday stuff for part of the year.
I’d show you the rest of the Halloween, but our weather here today is downright spooky, meaning no good light for pictures. This is close enough:
That was yesterday. There’s not much more… Sad, really. No lights, no gravestones, no spider webs (aside from the ones I should really be cleaning up in the basement). Call it a work in progress.
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disregard the prologue 