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Sunday, November 29, 2009

Going to Bethlehem

Saturday, we went to Bethlehem. See, this is how it all happened: Me and baby Moesha went to sell chocolate at Jingleblades for my skating team fundraising. Then, we were invited to my inlaws for dinner. We had three hours in between so we went to White Rock. Originally I wanted to go to the Mall there, but we ended up walking around White Rock in the rain. Much better, trust me, and much cheaper, trust me on that one too.

Then, on the way back to the Mall (that was a second try to direct us there) I stumbled upon a crowd of people. I wanted to see what was happening, so I was just walking around and trying to find out. Then, Joseph came to me and asked me if we want to walk with him and Mary to Bethlehem. He gaves us a candle and off we followed them around the city block of highrises. The donkey freaked out once, but I think it was just to show me the way as I couldn't walk down the stairs with the stroller.





I posted this on my facebook:

Me: Me and baby Moesha went to Bethlehem today with Joseph, Mary and two donkeys
My Friend
: Did all of you ride the bus?
Me
: Of course not. We wanted to be authentic and Mary and Joseph didn't ride the bus neither. We drove in my car.

And then, at my inlaws, we learnt that my FIL's father, Moesha's great grandfather passed away at the age of 91.

Thursday, November 26, 2009

Do you believe ?

I live in an Olympic city. In three short months, the whole world will come here and ask me if I believe. Im not really sure what they are asking but I hear it on the news every single day. It's quite catchy (except one new spot that is really annoying)

I will not be the part of the games, except watching it on TV and we will most likely go to the city for our annual trip, to see the action (and most likely the mayhem) I would like to be, but I don't want to volunteer. I am not that enthusiastic and I also don't want to lose money working for someone for free (I would like to know where all the profits the games make for the city go, though) so they can make money and hefty bonuses. I am sure the games cost a lot but will bring a lot too. I would have to pay for the daycare, and I was told I would have to interrupt my EI if I want to volunteer (as in, if you're fine to volunteer, you're fine to work as well) And that's just not right.

But what really annoys me are the campains at the stores asking me to contribute for the Canadien athletes. I do have the citizenship now, but in heart and soul, I am still 100% (or more) Czech. I don't want to support the Canadien athletes. I don't want them to beat the Czech ones, that's it ! I also think they still have more $$ and facilities to train then athletes from other countries. Do you know how much $ Czechs get? You would have to sit down. And they still win or do well ! I don't like the pressure for donations Im exposed to daily. And what about the tourists, who have no interest to donate neither. I had friends over for a visit from Europe and they couldn't believe the pressure and demands for money. They felt like wherever they went someone tried to milk them (their exact words)

I am excited we will have the games here, but the regular people like me can't afford to go. The tickets are so expensive and everyone is trying to get advantage. But that's how it works, no one can wonder. I am excited to see Czechs win (we have one figure skater, one speed skater, and the hockey team, that have a promise of some good results) but Im not really sure about the money aspect and politics behind.

Overall, I do believe.

Sunday, November 22, 2009

Very shocking news !

This is something I would never expect. See, I have this friend. I think we met online (I don't remember anymore), we talked for a very long time and then, when I lived in Boston, i went to visit him in Toronto. I have a huge interested in arabic and persian countries and he's iranian. He introduced me to some yummiest foods I've ever had, showed me around the city, showed me the Niagara falls (and thanks to me, he got a speeding ticket, sorry !!) and we had a really good week.

Later that year he got married. And although we were just friends, he didn't wish to stay in touch anymore for the respect of his new wife. Totally understandable. Few years ago, though, we found each other on Facebook. We sent updates maybe like once in half a year or so and then he shared with me their struggles. They were same as ours. I don't want to be too specific as I'm not sure if he shared with his friends, but let's just say we worked it out and he was still working on it.

So I went to his Facebook, to send him a message to ask how things are going. And I found out he passed away last Saturday at the age of 39 years ! You don't expect to get such news doing something as ordinary as sending a message through a Facebook.

He was very funny. He told me some funniest things I've ever heard and some of those I still remember today. He was very kind and nice, really really good person. I sometimes read his FB page and some things cracked me up. He was someone you'd love to be the best friends with or have a lunch every day.

He is also the very second friend of mine who ever died (sure I know some people who have died, but they were like grandparents, neighbours etc) Not a friend, yet alone such young one.

Abbas, I am glad I knew you and I am sure that you know that all your friends and family miss you and I hope you are now watching over us all and that maybe some of the things you were looking for will happen...??? That would be cool.

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Fotka

I'll do something I rarely do on my public blog: I will share a picture with you !! Let me know how you like it.

Love, Molly...




Bellingham. Again.

I went to Bellingham on Tuesday again. I know, I am Belli-crazy. But you can't compare the stuff and prices and pretty much nothing ! I like how it's not overpopulated. I like that we can afford to travel, even if only 50 kms. I like the layout of that town. I like just about everything. And I like Blaine. And did I mention the prices? My friends' husband says he likes being Canadien but he can't afford being one. Haha !! True true.

We went to JoAnn's fabric and bought lots of Christmas books for $1 each. I like for baby Moesha to know all the classical stories. We then went downtown to buy some Czech books, but the store was closed. Again ! That's like the third time we went there and it was closed. Then we went to Bellisfair. My friend was impressed how well i know my way around Belligham. Duh !! (lol)

We love Target. The baby clothes and baby stuff is just awesome. And well priced. I bought her more bows (like if she needs it), I bought formula (we're trying one for the night, called Restfull to add to the breast milk and get her sleep longer) I didn't buy any clothes (unbelievable) but I bought milk for $2 (it's $4.50 here in Canada) We also had a lunch in Old Country buffet where Moesha fed herself mashed potatoes and wiped her mouth all on her own (well she was 4.5 mos after all so we can't expect anything less then independence)

And then we went home. We were so tired. I was impressed with myself that for the very first time I chose the quickest line. Till we were sent inside to pay the duties, that is.

I couldn't believe it. I only had $70 worth of shopping and my friend about $250. Later we figured out he thought I'm saying we have $700. Simple missunderstanding. But led to an hour at the customs which got the baby so excited she had a meltdown all the way home. The guy wanted to check on my car and when he came back, he was holding a stack of receipts. My heart stopped. Did we forget to declare something? (I dont' clean up my car every year, just ask my husband) But fortunately they were those that we already gave him and we were let go.

I still love going there for shopping (not sure why they asked me if I'm going to buy a yacht or an airplane) I don't think the baby stuff in Canada is great and well priced. We live so close to the border and Belli reminds me of Andover, Lowell and Lawrence combined. So I really like it there.
Baby Moesha is turning 5 months next week. Yay !! She is a very petit and cute baby, very courious (she will not sleep if there is anything going around her, she will fight it even if she can't even blink her eyes anymore) She is very alert and active. She wants to stand, sit, talk, grab things etc. Last week she was 13lb5oz. So tiny and co sute !

Love, Molly...

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

We got it !

What, you ask? The shot. The H1N1 shot. Yes. After such a long debate and research and swaying back and forth, we are now immunized. In the end, we decided that we will rather listen to people who know what they are talking about, like the doctors (my Dr highly recommended it and is getting it herself), Health Canada, public health nurse and the news. I am one of those that listen to what they hear on the news, they have doctors, investigate, show you both sides etc. Others think that this virus is a conspiracy of a government, or pharmaceutical companies, or both combined. I don't have a single reason to believe they are out there to get me, to hurt me, to make me vulnerable, to deceive me. If they are, well, I still don't have any proof about that.

Also, we have realized something most don't. We are healthy. We don't have any underlying condition. The one we know of, that is. Apparently up to 40 % of people who died (that's huge!) weren't aware they have any underlying condition neither ! So how do you know whether you have it or no ? And other thing, even if we get the swine flu and it's mild as most cases are (although where is the guarantee mine will be mild too?), we would probably pass it onto another person or people. This thing spreads. It's not like when I get it, it stops with me. There is a 5 days incubation period and within those five days I may get in touch with lots of people. I go to school. I go skating. I go to the store. I have a baby. All these people can get it from me if I am to get sick, and may have serious consequences. I do not want to be responsible. I don't believe I will die from the shot, and I don't believe it will make me more vulnerable. I also believe that the more people get sick the more chances it will mutate.

Of course there are doctors that will tell you it's bad for you. But those are very few of them. And of course, it depends on what kind of doctor you ask. A surgeon doesn't necessarily have the same updated information as the family doctor may have simply because they do not deal with it so they don't really understand. I hear it all the time, that this one and that one asked "the doctor", and when they say what kind of doctor, you can clearly see that they do not deal with the vaccinations. It's not that this doctor would lie to you, no, i don't think so, but they may not really know or they may be opposed to vaccination in general. And who will be the one hurt in the end? You. So that's another thing you need to be aware of and do your own homework.

Also, people say it hasn't been tested long enough. Apparently 33 years is not long enough. Or are they even aware that the first swine flu appeared in 1976 and that's when they started tested the vaccine? There hasn't been a single death from the vaccine and no side effects were ever recorded (this was on BBC few nights ago) And I trust BBC.

And I also would like to let you know that a 2 months old baby passed away from the H1N1 in Ontario. The parents weren't immunized and the baby got it from them. So again, how do I know that if I get sick, and pass it onto my baby that it will be mild? Because yours was, doesn't mean that someone else's, or mine, or my baby will be as well. I rather not take that risk.

A pregnant lady got sick and lost her baby. She was not vaccinated. She later said, that her uncle is a doctor who strongly advised her against the shot. She was asked what doctor, and she said a heart surgeon. Who doens't give vaccinations daily, so he didn't know neither. But becuase he held that "Dr." title, she just thought he knows it all.

Anyway, this post actually is not really about my beliefs (and I'm also not looking for opinions anymore since we're done with that - thanks to those who shared theirs before, really appreciated) but I want to share the actual process. I need to vent somewhere.

So I went to Mother Goose, the program we signed up for. We were not able to do few times before, as baby Moesha, wouldn't cooperate (naps etc) But this time she was ready. I stopped at the Health Unit to weight her. They told me I am now eligible for the shot (caregiver of an infant under 6 months) So I went to the walk in clinic. They told me the wait is 15-20 minutes. So I called my husband to come asap. He was not happy, he said he will get it in few weeks at his work. But I made him to come, in few weeks he may get sick. So we are waiting, waiting, with an infant in a room full of coughing people. Husband is mad that he will get sick. I go for a walk. We come back, now it's one hour from time we got there. They ask What doctor are we seeing? We don't know, or care, the first one available please. So they said it will take 20 minutes. I wonder, it was 20 minutes an hour ago. They said We have only one doctor here. Really? So then why do you ask me what doctor am I seeing, does it actually matter?

We never made it to Mother Goose. The 20 minutes turned out to be 2.5 hours. I was freaking out. I actually gave the nurse crap (and we went in shortly after just to wait another 20 minutes in the room itself) I don't care whether your wait is 20 minutes or 3 hours, but tell me, so I can go for a walk (or to Mother Goose in our case) and come back. There is really no point to wait for 5x 20 minutes. And also, when I asked to be let in a room to nurse my baby, I was told all are filled. So that poor alone doctor was in 11 rooms at the same time. Magnificent !

Finally we got our shots. It hurts. Did you know that? The doctor told us "It will take 10 days before your bodies will develop immunity so until then, wash your hands" Of course, we are going to. After that, we apparently don't need to wash our hands as we are immune. Never heard that before, but ok. This is Canada, after all, and we all know the quality of the health care (this post is written by someone who can compare the health care in the so called Eastern Europe, Czech specifically and Canada) But that would be a post for another day.

Bottom line, we got our shots and we are happy about that. I won't judge those that get this shot or those that don't, I think immunizing is important, but after all it's everyone's personal choice. I also hope that someone who choses not to immunize will not pass the virus to my child that cannot be immunized or one of my friends or relatives. As we know, people who are sick, regardless whether they know it or no, don't care and still go out. Today, we were in the store. A lady in a line up behind me, was on her cell phone, behaving very importantly telling someone I must have the swine flu, Im going to see the doctor. She hangs up, turns to Moesha and says: Oh what a cutie pie ! ... and grabs her hand. Great. Since we living with such morons, I think it's really better to get protected. Not only from the swine flu, but also from some people's stupidity.

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Halloween updates

Long time no talk... well, we're quite busy. I had a midterm at school, for which I learnt a night before and I scored 93%. Given this class is so boring, it's a really good result.

We had a great Halloween. Baby Moesha was dressed up as ladybug, although daddy thought she was a caterpillar. Well, these too are so close, it's so easy to make a mistake when one is dressed in bright red sleeper with big black dots and antens. I wouldn't know neither. My friend came over with her family and it was the bestest Halloween ever. We put her up and front so she was the first and only thing they saw when they opened the door, and it was so cute, everyone was commenting on it. She was so tired that she didn't even make a peep and couldn't even work her paci, just held it in her mouth and looked, well not around, but straight ahead. That's all she had energy for.

She is so cute. Today, I took her to the stroller fitness class in the Mall, she was dressed in her super-awesome pink boots, dress and a hat. She of course scored lots of oooh and aaawwhs... She is really petite, but suprisingly, I have a feeling (the visual one) that she is outgrowing her car seat.

We are still really busy. I am running several times a week, but I need to join the running clinic and find a lazy running buddy. I'll do that when we get back from our Secret trip. The rest is filled with playdates, school, skating, errands etc.

Breastfeeding is going great. I only pump to have a bottle when I go to school, or for one bottle we give her at night (at that point, she demands to be bottle fed while sleeping) Silly pickle !

Oh and lots of goings to the States. We love it there. Last week we went to Bellingham and then to Blaine (two trips) We love our Nexus cards !!! Best thing ever, when one is on maternity leave.

Happy Halloween (belated), everyone !