Support your Local.....everything!

Today was "Library Day" today. Zada has joined a little reading group at our local library - it meets every Wednesday for about 30 mins. It's kind of nice because it gives me a chance to roam around. Today I checked out the DVD section - since there is absolutely nothing on TV due to the writers strike. In the last couple years (thanks to the hubby) I have really gotten interested in documentaries. I find them way more interesting than just movies. For those of you who have watched a movie with me know I usually fall asleep.

I started browsing hoping to find something to watch, I did find one on Mexico that looked really interesting - but it was all in French. I would have spent the whole movie asking James what they were talking about, NEXT. Then in big bold letters I see WALMART. I have been on the fence about Walmart since I moved to Ottawa. When I first moved to Ottawa I was frustrated because there wasn't a Walmart in close proximity to where we lived. In fact James said he absolutely never shopped there. It wasn't until we moved that we were close to a Walmart. I can probably count on my fingers how many times I've been in there. So this documentary. Everyone should see it. It's interesting. As I always say, documentaries are one sided so take it for what it is. But I found it eye-opening and you can bet I will think twice before actually going into a Walmart.

http://www.walmartmovie.com/

I'm lucky because where we live there are so many other places we can shop without ever having to visit a walmart. That being said. I'm did my part in spreading the "word."

Hope you enjoy the movie!

Sleepless....

I didn't sleep well last night. I should have - I spent a lot of time outside yesterday and I am still trying to catch up on sleep from the weekend. I guess you could say I'm a little stressed. Tomorrow I have to visit the US Embassy to turn in some paperwork. I know I should be comfortable with it.. I mean it is the US Embassy and I am an American. I was reading online yesterday to make certain I didn't have to make an appointment and I stumbled on the "rules"... I think that is what has made me on edge about visiting...

Security Notice to All Consular Visitors

Please note that all visitors must be screened prior to entry and are subject to inspection via a walk-through metal detector and with a hand-held metal detector. Carried personal items will undergo full inspection by use of an X-ray machine and other equipment.

Prohibited Items

Please note that the following items are prohibited inside the U.S. Embassy/Consulate and we have no facilities for storing these items, so please leave them at your home, your hotel, or in your vehicle:
food and beverages
weapons or tools
backpacks, luggage, or purses
electronic or recording equipment of any kind, including, but not limited to:
laptop computers
mobile phones
PDAs
cassette, CD, MP3 players
pagers
keyless remotes
and oversized strollers
Drivers, friends, and extra relatives must wait outside or return to meet the applicant after the interview has been completed - with the exception of applicants with children.

I can't bring my purse... I can't bring anyone with me... thank goodness Zada can come. Could you imagine, "no Zada I know you're only five but you can't come in... rules are rules..."

On top of the rules - the building itself isn't all that inviting. It has this huge fence that goes around it and I don't think you're even allowed to walk in front of the building. I feel bad for being scared to go into my own Embassy, infact I'm kind of upset that it is so uninviting! I guess it' s just different. Maybe tomorrow my feelings will be changed and I know 100% that it was just the silly fear of the unknown. I'd take pictures for you guys - but I can't bring my camera.

Us Embassy

memories...

As many of you already know - and those of you who don't - my parents are moving. The have begun the destruction. See - Mom and Dad aren't just MOVING - their house is being demolished. In place of their house with be trees? Hopefully.

I have been asked if I am sad. I should be - I am. Sort of. I mean this is my childhood home. The only HOME I have known, ever. I do know that I am so happy for my parents. Mom finally gets the kitchen she has been wanting for, how old am I again? And dad well he'll get his special space too. Less fixing up too!

So back to me being sad... I think maybe when I see it - or not see if for that matter - I might be. Mom sent me some pictures this weekend. One of them was a wall from my bedroom. I decided to display my artistic abilities (or lack thereof) on my wall. It was left unfinished. But it's there. Mom asked me if I wanted it and I just laughed. Yeah mom - I'd love a piece of wall. That conversation was before I saw MY WALL. I told James about the picture and he asked if my Dad was going to cut it out and frame it or something. I laughed but then thought. Ya know. That might be cool. Conversation piece that's for sure. So now. Do I have a piece of wall added to the pile of "STUFF" that my parents are putting in their new basement. (Thanks again Mom and Dad BTW). I don't have much more time to think about it. Maybe the picture will be just enough.

So again am I sad... I think I'm sad that The Hood is breaking up. There will never be neighbors like the ones my parents have/had.

Bittersweet.


The unfinished wall

Bloggers-block

Hello to all of my regular readers that have come back daily to see what exciting things have been happening in the world of JLZ. (That's J.L."ZED". btw). Nothing overly exciting has happened, well unless I tell you about the banana I tried to peel on Tuesday. It looked ripe to me but well it wasn't and when I finally cut the banan OUT of it's peel and took a bite it was NASTY. Have you ever eaten a not quite rip banana? DON'T.

I think my lack of "stuff" happening or lack of blogging is this terrible (GLOBAL WARMING) weather I'm just kind of stagnet. Today we woke up to snow on the ground. Not a lot just enough to annoy you and then like that it was gone. When James came down the stairs this morning he was singing a Christmas Jingle. So Spring WHERE ARE YOU????????

I realized that I hadn't posted any pictures of my little 5 year old...excuse me my OLD 5 year old since around her birthday and entire month ago!! You all must be wondering just how big she has gotten. HUGE. There are so many things she is able to do now that she if 5. It's cute whenever she accomplishes something that she hasn't been able to do before she says "well, I am five." And she says as if DUH why wouldn't she be able to do it. SHE _IS_ FIVE.

The Easter Bunnie stopped by Zada's classroom on Wednesday while they were playing dodge ball in the gym.  The kids had dyed hollowed out REAL eggs last week and then we (myself and another mom) filled the eggs with chocolates and then hid them for the kiddos to find them. It was so much fun and of course I forgot my camera. Many of the children in Zada's classed didn't really know what an Easter Egg hunt was so it was fun to watch them!

I will have some more pictures I'm sure this weekend...We are all home Friday-Monday! Woho!

    
Zada and her "twins"