Vancouver and Summer Plans

Well I made it back from my trip to Vancouver to see The Cure. They were totally awesome and amazing! They did 3 huge long encores. I was so tired afterwards; as I was dancing the whole show. We had great seats right in front of the stage (not on the floor). It was great seeing a bunch of friends from Victoria there afterwards, some of us went to a club afterwards, but the music sucked. J and I had a hotel room for the night, so we enjoyed our stay there. It wasn't anything fancy, but had a wonderful shower and a cosy bed with the most wonderfully fluffy pillows. I'm still stiff and sore from our trip to Van, from carrying heavy backpacks around all day, even tho we got back on Tues, and its now Saturday. Sheesh, who'd think being in my early thirties would hurt so much. J put hurt his back the other day and ended up seeing a chiropractor. He couldn't even stand up straight. The doc said he's pulled a tenon or something like that. So basically he's going to be seeing the doc for a few more times and also has some exercises to do to strengthen his back. But this is bad because he's supposed to do yard work for his parents, and we really need the money. His dad has been a real jerk while we were in Van. We should have seen it coming when the grandparents offered (actually insisted) to help babysit our youngest while we were gone. I swear these people are just on a control trip. We told them before they left that we didn't know what time we'd be back on Tuesday. So of course N (J's dad) is phoning us while we're in Van freaking out how we're "buggering up his day" by not being home early and giving us grief. So when J gets a bit angry over what is being said to him, of course he's turned into being the ass; like how dare he get angry! This is why i don't live close to my parents. My dad is the same way, so I always end up fighting with him, cause I won't put up with it. But these aren't my parents and I don't' feel right about yelling at them. It took us 6 hours to get home, traveling by city buses and ferry. So we didn't roll in until about 11:00 at night. The grandparents decided to keep our boy another night. But since then they've been very snippety. We originally didn't even tell them about our trip to Van cause we knew they would cause drama as they always do.

I hate having predictably difficult people in my life, but i suppose everyone's got them. I guess its time to keep them at an arms distance again. We seem to have to do this with them every couple of years, or they get too comfortable at meddling in our lives. J's mom got a huge inheritance a few months back and is very generously sharing it with J and his sister S. But along with the money gift, is also her feeling she has the right to have some sort of control over us. Its always been this way, so I doubt it'll ever change. Well enough of complaining about my in-laws.

Mid-July we are all going to go visit my family for 2-3 weeks. This is a gift from J's mom (paying for our trip there and back). It's been 2 years since i last saw my family. My oldest son lives with his father in the same town as my parents. He's turning 16 this summer. So hard to believe, he'll always be that sweet 4 year old to me. That's when i left. It's been such a rollercoaster of emotions every time I think of when I moved away. But even with hindsight, I wouldn't do anything different. I know I did the best I could for my circumstances. I don't know if many people can say that about themselves.

So I've been planning out our summer, getting summer camps all lined up for the kids. I NEVER plan my life like this (further than 2 weeks ahead). But when summer comes, seems everyone expects plans to be made. I'm going to try to get the kids in swim lessons, its past time for them to learn to swim. Still have to get funding for this. Being low-income sucks! I hate asking for money from people, even if it is the government. They always make you feel like your a criminal or something. So between summer camps and swim lessons, and big trip to visit the parents, that is my summer. I think I have a few weekends to relax, but I'm sure something will fill them up.

J got the barbeque set up last night, it was wonderful not heating the house up with cooking. This is our first barbeque, I've always wanted one, but this is the first place we've lived in that we were allowed to have one. We're working on getting some lawn furniture. J's parents are planning on giving us their old picnic table, but its burried under a bunch of boxes and stuff in storage right now. I bought myself a "zero-gravety" lounger for mother's day. I highly recomend getting one. Its wonderful on my back, and i can sit at whatever angle i feel comfortable at. Also it locks in place.

I've been working on a baby sweater/hat/booties set for my niece L who just had her second child ( a little boy). That makes me a Great Auntie. Thats just sounds so wierd to me. I seems that a person should be older before they become a "Great" anything. But not the case here. Almost done this sweater set, just finishing up the bonnet, then have to put in the ribbons, and roseses, and still need to buy some buttons. Its black and red. Not so traditional but I'm so sick of pastel baby colors. I want to make one for myself too, i just love it so much. I had some problems with the pattern, but after tweeking it here and there its now looking great.

Well I suppose I've rambled on enough for today, I should go sit in my wonderful chair and crochet and enjoy some sun.