Hallowe'en Approacheth

Penboy is all set with his kangaroo costume. Actually, I ordered this in August. He also requested a pumpkin hat, which I just started, so I better hurry if I am to finish for next Thursday.
Lots of other crafting has been taking place too.

Work has been insane and will be so for the foreseeable future. At least until mid January. That's good, I suppose - job security. Mind you, can one really talk about job security these days?

Penboy's birthday is coming up and we have been spared organizing a party by some cunning bribery on my part. I asked him if he wanted a party or a bigger gift. Well, of course, he said bigger gift. I would have spent at least $300 on a party, so I got him the underwater camera that he has been pining for.

In other news, I love valerian and skullcap. Whenever I get into a bit of a "state," I take it and it helps almost immediately! I guess when you have a depressive disorder, it's hard to imagine feeling "normal" all the time. You always think about the next episode and how to help yourself when it comes. I'm lucky that there is something that helps. I do not relish the thought of going back on serotonin enhancers.

Thanksgiving

Having a very long weekend (Friday off and Monday Thanksgiving). Love it. Was not tempted even once to sign in and check work e-mails.

There are a few things that I am thankful for this year:

1. My beautiful son
2. My wonderful husband (who, OK, cheeses me off sometimes, but that passes)
3. The fact that his heart is generally OK, though slightly too big (awww, he has a big heart - I know, that is not good)
4. That I have my parents and they are healthy
5. That my sister-in-law is still around
6. That I have lovely friends who do not judge me (at least out loud) and love me for who I am
7. That we live in a country that allows me to drive and vote, and does not require me to cover my face
8. That we live in a country that is safe (albeit a bit boring)

Those are the biggies. Also missing and remembering some people at this time: my grandmas, my father-in-law, Carl whom we used to visit around this time every year; Mr. P's aunt Lena, who was the HQ of his family (all roads led to her house - really!). I am thankful to have had all of them in my life.

OK, I feel all warm and fuzzy now. I better finish this up before I start searching the web for pictures of fluffy kittens.

October

It's a rainy day in October. Fall is here. Mind you, fall here is not like it was in Poland, where it's cold and rainy almost every day. And dark. Warsaw is further north than Toronto and it gets dark very early in the winter, earlier than here.

As I was walking through the park yesterday, it was warm and pretty sunny. These days I sometimes have to walk because the bus is so crowded, I can't get on. The TTC is a warcrime these days. I have to let at least two trains go at College and Yonge and then can't get on the stupid bus. Honestly! Rob Ford wants to ride the Yonge subway at rush hour in the afternoon. Then maybe he wouldn't be making stupid extensions into Scarborough where we don't need them.

I dream of living somewhere where it would take less than half an hour to get to work, where there are not 3.5 million people cramming in to every possible space, where there is fresh air and maybe a wind from the sea...I dream of a salty tang in the air, of fishing boats coming in in the morning and fog horns at night. And maybe somewhere where people have smiles on their faces rather than permascowls.