Sunday, November 20, 2011

You don't look a day over 20...

..or so my students say!  Of course, I am quite sure my co-worker fed that lie to them when they made me birthday cards last week.  Most don't speak English very well so I know they didn't come up with that little gem on ther own.  Yes, yesterday was my birthday and I hit an age that sort of felt strange for me.  I am getting closer to 40 now and that is kind of scary.  No offense to the 40 year olds of the world...you are fantastic people.  I appreciate the maturity and sense of self that 40 year olds seem to have in general. 

Any guesses how old I am yet?  I am also that age where women are supposed to start getting tested for all sorts of genetic abnormalities if they are pregnant.  Yep, I'm 35 and it makes me reflect on how I arrived here and what the plans are for the future. I didn't really expect to have a 1 year old and 3 year old when I was 35 but life seems to take us on unexpected paths and I don't regret a thing so this is where I belong.  Living in Australia for a year, then in Taiwan for four years and then doing a second degree for my second career in education all fit perfectly with what I wanted.  Really, if I just go ahead and subtract my years overseas, then I'm only 30 and that's sort of how I feel.  Aging overseas doesn't count, does it?

So Connor is standing next to me right now and said that his stuffed rabbit couldn't come to the party because it didn't have a present for me.  He's so funny.  Speaking of presents, I got Johnny Reid for my birthday.  Welll, I didn't actually get HIM but I got tickets to his concert next spring.  I am looking forward to an evening of country crooning from a cute Scottish Canadian.

Of course, I also bought myself a new sweater and jacket at The Gap.  I posted a photo of the new jacket on my Facebook Page since I pinned my new items on Pinterest.  I wasn't convinced it was a great deal when I was ready to throw my items on the floor and leave without them after standing in line for nearly an hour.   I was NOT impressed when I finally reached the front of the line and the manager told the cashier he needed to do an exchange on that till.  Ummm..hello!!  There are two tills on the other side and only one here.  He almost incited a pre-Christmas shopping riot.  I am usually a very pleasant customer since I worked in retail for a few months and know what a crappy job it can be at times.  However, when he didn't even address me before interjecting and then proceeded to use the till for ten minutes...I was not impressed and vowed to do the rest of my shopping online!  I have relaxed my views however and plan on doing some post-work, pre-daycare pick up shopping instead on weekdays.  I used to be more patient...but watch out world because now I'm 35!

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Black Friday and Cyber Monday 2011

As promised, I am starting a post about these festive shopping days.  Most of the in-store deals can be found on Black Friday and most online sales occur on Cyber Monday but there are exceptions to this.  You will find several Black Friday sales online as well.  I am just starting with everything I had heard so far and will continue to revise this post as the dates approach and I see new information.  Please add comments here or on my Facebook page if you have heard of a special deal planned for those days so it can be shared!  If you find things you like on these websites, the best way to remember the sale is to sign up for e-mail alerts on their web pages or make sure to like them on Facebook.

Bebe Bella Designs - You can sign up for e-mails to receive news on their 6 days of sales.  Keep in mind that they often have sales for 60-70% off on various items so it's worth signing up for regular e-mails anyway if you want a nice, comfy blanket from them.  Aleena has one of their toddler sized blankets and it's still one of my favourites.  They are very well made and wash well.  Hers still looks like new after several washes and it's nice and thick.

Rufflebutts - They promise to have a Black Friday sale.  I'll post more details as they become available.

Mamabargains.com - It's the weekend you wait for all year. The beauty here - kick back, relax, sip a cup of coffee or tea, turn up your alert tool volume, and wait...
Black Friday to Cyber Monday. Do we have some awesome plans to make your dreams come true - no need to battle lines, parking lots, crowds, traffic or chaos on the biggest shopping day of the year - we've got you covered! We don't want to give it all away, so let's just put it this way...starting at 12:01 AM Friday morning, if you're sleeping, you're going to be missing out on some seriously awesome stuff, and trust us, you do not want to miss out this year. Be sure to check out our Facebook Fan Page as well, for up to the minute updates and a sense of community that you will be happy to find - oh, and perhaps a giveaway or two as well. Did we mention giveaway? Like to the tune of $100 of sweet, cool, hard MB dollars to spend? Oh, and that's just the tip of the iceberg. We've got more, and you'll only know if you stay tuned on our Facebook page!
Amazon.ca - They started posting deals today and have some amazing discounts on a variety of products.  I am sure that the same can be said over at Amazon.com.
Here's the post from last year.  You can look out for sales from these companies and I'll be adding lots more in the coming days.  Black Friday and Cyber Monday 2010

Also, be sure to check your mail box for The Gap coupon for Saturday, November 19th or ask a friend if they are using theirs.  You can purchase two items for 60% off and also save 40% on all purchases for three days starting on the 19th. 

By the way, I'd be happy to list smaller Etsy shop sales again this year too.  Many of us LOVE Etsy too.

Friday, November 11, 2011

Letters to my Grandma

Remembrance Day is a very important day for Canadians.  It has always held a very special place in my heart because my uncle died in World War II and my grandma was the Silver Cross Mother in Yorkton, SK for several years.  I am thankful for all Canadian soldiers, past and present, and for their contributions to our country in ensuring our daily freedoms.

Last year, my Dad gave me the letters that my grandparents had received from the Royal Canadian Air Force that document when my uncle was first reported missing and later presumed dead.  Reading these letters is heartbreaking as you imagine the grief that my grandparents must have gone through in receiving them.

Flight Sergeant George Alvin Keil

Royal Canadian Air Force

Service # CAN/R.86378

Age: 22 years, 4 months, 28 days.

Birthdate: May 22, 1920

Awards:

1)      The 1939-1945 Star
2)      The Atlantic Star
3)      The Canadian Volunteer Service medal
4)      The War Medal 1939-1945

Other Information received by his mother, Mrs. Amalia Keil, Togo, Sask. Canada (Most of the Official letters were addressed to the mother.)

1. (C.F. King) Wing Commander, Commanding No. 407 Squadron, R.C.A.F., on 22nd of October, 1942.

Unfortunately, this letter is to confirm Air Ministry’s signal that your son, Flight Sergeant G.A. Keil, was posted missing on an operational flight which took place on October 20th, 1942.

Your son was acting as navigator for his regular crew and took off from this aerodrome at 7:30 a.m. on a routine anti-shipping patrol in the Bay of Biscay. In this case, as in most operations of this nature, no information has been received which would throw light on what may have happened. It is necessary that crews maintain radio silence unless in difficulties but in this case no signals were received at base.

Your son has flown a good many operational flights and both he and the crew with which he was flying on this past operation were considered very competent in their duties. You can rest assured that, whatever may have happened, your son carried out his duties in his usual  efficient manner.

2. B. McLean for (W.R.Gunn) Flight Lieutenant R.C.A.F. Casualties Officer, for Chief of the Air Staff, on October 23rd, 1942

Advice has been received  from the Royal Canadian Air Force Casualties Officer, Overseas, that your son was a member of the crew of an aircraft which failed to return to its base after air operations on October 20th, 1942. There was one other member of the Royal Canadian Air Force in the crew, Flight Sergeant Moses Zumar, and he also has been reported missing. His next-of-kin is his father, Mr. Israel Zumar of Ottawa, Ontario.

I desire to point out that this does not necessarily mean that your son has been killed or wounded.  It might be that he is a prisoner of war and inquiries have been made through the International Red Cross Society and all other appropriate sources.

3. Air Commodore, Air officer in Charge, Air Ministry Records, on October 24th, 1942.

I am commanded by the Air Council to express to you their grave concern on learning from the Casualties Officer of the Royal Canadian Air Force that your son, CAN/R.86378 Flight Sergeant George Alvin KEIL has been reported missing as the result of air operations.

The Hudson aircraft of which he was the navigator failed to return to its base on the 20th October 1942 from an operational flight.

The Air Council desire me to express their deep sympathy with you in your great anxiety, and earnestly hope that favourable news of your son may be forthcoming.

4. Minton C. Johnston, Chaplain, R.C.A.F. on November 5, 1942.

I have just learned with deep regret that your son F/Sgt. G.A.Keil, has been reported missing. I hope that before this letter arrives you will have heard that he is safe. Or if the news has not already come, and it often takes weeks to filter through, I hope that it comes speedily.  Meanwhile may I assure you of my deepest sympathy.

5.(L.S.Breadner) Air Marshal, Chief of the Air Staff, on 28th of June, 1943, in a letter to Mr. Jacob Keil, Togo, Saskatchewan.

I have learned with deep regret that your son, Flight Sergeant George Alvin Keil, previously reported missing on Active Service Overseas is now presumed to have died on October 20th, 1942. I wish to offer both you and Mrs. Keil my sincere and heartfelt sympathy.

It is so unfortunate that a promising career should be thus terminated and I would like you to know that his loss is greatly deplored by all those with whom your son was serving.
   
Other

In 1952 Keil Lake was named after F/S George A. Keil R.C.A.F. in the Province of Saskatchewan, Department of Natural Resources. Latitude 59 degrees 25’ 30” and Longitude 106 degrees 00’ 00”.

Sunday, November 6, 2011

Watching Daddy

I am not a huge fan of winter but I couldn't resist taking a picture of my adorable kiddos watching their Dad snowblowing the first snowfall of the year. It was the first and there is a lot of it!  It's the same photo below...I just did some cropping and played with the colour.



Also, I am definitely going to make another Black Friday / Cyber Monday post this year.  I know a lot of you plan on doing your Christmas shopping online and I am with you!  Even today, I went to shopping at The Gap and it was fun but it's so much less stressful to explore a website online and I am not great at visualizing clothes on people...I like seeing the photos of people actually wearing clothes.  I also like having a chance to check others' reviews of things like toys or DVDs before I buy.  I realize I could do this at home and then shop but that doesn't seem to work.  I can never find anything in the stores when I do this and it makes the shopping trip quite frustrating.  Here's the post I did last year to give you some background on these lovely shopping days: 

Black Friday and Cyber Monday 2010

Thursday, November 3, 2011

The Playful Peanut Giveaway Winner is...

Lyne Grimes!  Congrats Lyne...you are one lucky girl!  You will receive $25 to spend towards Playful Peanut merchandise as well as a balloon cocoon as featured in my previous blog post.

Thanks for all the entries.  Playful Peanut is really a great place to look for stocking stuffers and Christmas gifts in general.  I may have to order one of those Super Hero capes for my son.  He would absolutely love it.  I am just a little afraid of what sorts of super powers he may acquire while wearing it!

You can order items through their Etsy Shop or website and ask lots of questions via their Facebook page.  Here are the accompanying links:  Website, Etsy shop and Facebook Page.  Also, Kari-Ann and Amanda have mentioned traveling around to some craft shows in Manitoba so keep your eyes out for them as Christmas approaches!

Hope everyone had a fun Halloween...now I just need to get ready for Christmas and Black Friday in particular.  I am going to create another post again this year regarding Black Friday so watch for that!  It's a great way to get your Christmas shopping done online and take advantage of some amazing deals.

Lastly, if you could take a moment to visit the Circle of Moms website and vote for my blog, I'd really appreciate it!  You can technically vote once per day for any (or all) of the Canadian blogs you enjoy!

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