Random happenings in the neighbourhood.

*A couple of people asked for updates on the woman who coded in Labour and Delivery...she was in fact transferred to a major hospital in the city. (My workplace is not equipped for traumas...so if one gets shot they should hope that they don't get dropped off at our ER doors, which did happen a few weeks ago.) Oddly enough, I was talking to my neighbour who is a student nurse and I asked if she had heard about this and the woman was actually sent to her unit. Apparently she was in labour for some 30 hours, baby was breech and then they did the section. I find this a bit odd as we share the same doctor and I know my doctor would have been pushing for a section long before 30 hours had passed. I'm assuming the mother herself was insistent upon a vaginal birth, but I could be very wrong. Anyhow, hows this for a great big ouch- we all (well, the mothers amongst us) know how painful engorgement is...imagine engorgement right after your chest has been cracked open. Ow!

She saw the baby for the first time at 5 days old, they are both out of their respective hospitals and at home now.

*Proof that I am old before my time...I live right across the street from my community league hall. Behind the hall are some basketball hoops, where we quite often see teenagers hanging out. The other week though, a sports car drove up onto the grass and they blasted music while they played. I was annoyed, is it not bad enough that a fancy dancy sports car is there every Friday night to sell drugs? Do I now need to listen to rap while my girls are trying to fall asleep? And how disrespectful to drive up on the grass...honestly. Teenagers today. Tut tut, she says.

So I called the police. Not 911 people, I am not quite that pathetic. And I was placed on hold. I was on hold long enough that the car drove away and I hung up. Then on the Saturday at about 11.30 they showed up again. The girls were in bed, with their open window kitty corner to the field. The base was so loud that when I stood on my deck I could feel the vibrations. I was pissed off. So just before midnight I called the police. I was on hold for a few minutes and when the phone was answered I explained the situation. He asked my name and I said my first name. I can hear him typing away and then he says "Your last name is Mclastname?"

"YES!" I say, "How did you know that? That's from when I called in about the drug dealer isn't it?"

He says "Call display."

"Oh right, am I ever an eejit."

"Yep, we have all the latest technology."

Facetious bastard.

So he says he'll send out a police car and 15 minutes later I looked out to see police lights and heard the sound of silence. 15 minutes for a noise complaint? I was mucho impressed. I hope I didn't make them late for a stabbing or something.

A while later I see the sports car drive away and a few minutes after that the phone rings. It's a police officer.

I gave those boys a harsh verbal warning, he says. He told them that if they were caught again it would be about $1000 in fines. He says to me that they aren't even from here, they are from the south side.

"What were they doing all the way out here?" I say.

"That's exactly what I asked them, they said it's just a great set of hoops."

"That's fine and dandy, I have no issues with them playing there at all, we are always watching the kids (jeesh, I really am OLD) play, it was the noise so late at night that bothered me, my little girls are in bed."

"I totally understand," he says. "I can tell you that the young man in question has never been in trouble with us before, and that was evidenced by the tears in his eyes."

"Now you're making me feel guilty!"

And I did feel guilty, for a brief moment. But really? I like quiet late at night when the kiddos are in bed. It's bad enough that I live next door to crazy and am across the street from drug dealing luxury vehicles. I don't need to listen to rap at full blast at midnight.

Yep, I'm old. And grumpy. God forbid what I will be like at 75.

*Sophie turned two last Sunday. The Sunday 8 days ago, not just yesterday. I am nothing if not thorough when it comes to posting about my children's milestones. She had a great day, we went to see Sesame Street Live in the afternoon, and then we had some friends over for a barbeque. She received many lovely gifts, even though I said no gifts please! She ate an entire piece of cake and while she was eating it she wished me a happy birthday. I know! She is freaking adorable. I just want to eat her up, she is so cute and cuddly.

Shall I let you see for yourself, the yummy goodness that is my 2 year old? I've posted these on facebook, but apparently the only blogger that regularly looks at my photos is Squishy Tushy. And my mother, but she isn't a blogger and she doesn't comment either. She just calls me up and says "How could you post a picture of Sophie with a dirty face?" (easily...the child is dirty 2 seconds after you give her a wash) and "Take that picture of me down! I look awful!" Which reminds me...better delete that picture. She made me promise.

Oh yeah...the pics...


Well. There are no photos. Blogger is a bastard. I've tried downloading them twice and it hasn't worked. They are on facebook though, and if you don't fancy looking on facebook I'm pretty sure you can scroll through the teeny tiny album in my facebook profile on the sidebar. I mean, I honestly can not imagine that you would not want to look at pictures of my daughter. And then comment on her absolute adorableness and then lovely personality that just shines through.

*I received my book swap last week, from Beckie and let me just say it was like she knows me! Her book was the perfect choice for me. It was "The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox" by Maggie O'Farrell, an author I have read before and quite enjoy. I started reading the book that day, and finished it the next. From the first pages to the shocking last pages I loved every moment. It made me cry, and I love when an author has the ability to make a reader really care for the characters. I adored the character of Esme for both her quirky personality and her strength.

I highly recommend this book to any reader of fiction, I can guarantee you will have a hard time putting it out. It has joined my bookcase of "lend out, but never give away" books. Thanks, Beckie, for a great choice!

If anyone else has blogged about their swap please let me know so I can link to it.