Sorting Through Memories

I went sorting through memories,

stacked in a box.

They weren't my memories,

but they meant so much.

People I didn't know,

some that I did.

All important in that moment,

but forgotten for a bit.

The memories were a bit dusty,

and a few stuck together.

I did try to sort them,

if they made sense to me or not.

They aren't my memories after all,

but they do mean a lot.

Even if they have been stuck in that box.

An Apology to my Mother

I want to take this opportunity to apologize to my mom for all the awful music that I made her listen to when I was a kid. I am sorry for the car rides where I made you blast New Kids on the Block and Debbie Gibson. I am sorry about blaring my Tiffany tape in my room. I am sorry that I listened to the Dirty Dancing tape until I knew the words to every single song. Actually, I am not really sorry about that. It was a really good soundtrack.

I am apologizing for all of this because LaLa has in the last year discovered her own teenie bopper idols that she is now worshiping. Justin Beiber, JLS and Taylor Swift are the artists that make up this fresh hell that I am drowning in. Their crooning about teen aged love and catchy songs about getting on the dance floor make me want to hurl LaLa's CD player across the room.

Of course I won't. I will just grin and bear it. I will tell her to turn it down or go play it in her own room with the door shut. I will pretend that I am enjoying it in the car. I will take it all with good humor. I will also apologize to my mom for being a pain in my mom's rear end.

A Little Help Here

As most of you know, I pretty much "wing it" when it comes to parenting. Yes, I seek the advise of my mother and grandmother. I bounce ideas off my friends. For the most part it has worked out pretty well for me. I have two fairly well behaved kids. Generally. Most of the time. At least out in public.

My biggest parenting "issue" right now is at bedtime with KiKi. She has always been a mama's girl. She wants me to be by her side all the damn time a good bit of the time. When she is upset she will just say "I want you" which doesn't exactly mean she wants me to pick her up or cuddle her, she just wants me to physically touch her. I could be just holding hands with her or putting my hand on her knee while she sits next to her, but she craves *my* physical touch. Now, onto my problem, I would really like to not be in the room with KiKi when she goes to bed. I know, I know, I know, I should have broken this habit already, but we have already established the fact that I am winging it at this whole parenting thing. Right now, I usually lay in bed with her until she goes to sleep. She has a double bed so it isn't exactly uncomfortable, but there are things that I would rather be doing like watching primetime TV getting a start on the next days housework.

So, Internet people, how do you suggest I get myself out of my 5 year olds room at night. When I leave she usually follows me. When I tell her that she needs to stay in bed, she doesn't. I also have to contend with the whimpering and the "I want you," which melts me every single time. Help!

Silent Sunday

Just My House?

Trying to make a decision on what to have for dinner at my house stinks.

Me- "The kids say they don't know what they want for dinner. In fact KiKi said "Just bring me anything" and La said "I dunno". So I am going to the commissary, what do YOU want for dinner?"

The Man- "I dunno. I don't like to make decisions like that."

Me- "So basically, you just want food to magically appear in front of you?"

The Man- "Pretty much."

Does this only happen at my house?

Dear So and So...Is It The End of Summer Holidays Yet?

Dear LaLa,

I hope you learned your lesson. I mean really, it was a rookie mistake. You should have gone and destroyed the things you were going to tear apart before you said "If you make me angry you know I am going to destroy things, right?". Threats don't work in this house missy. Threats work even less when your dad is sitting right next to me. I hope you enjoyed your afternoon sat in your bedroom contemplating the wrongness of your actions.

That'll Learn Ya, Mom

----------------------

Dear KiKi,

I love you, you know that right? Don't think I haven't noticed that you might be the laziest child in the world though. Clean your room isn't code for "pretend you are really tired, start sucking your fingers and laying about", It means clean your room. I will even give you step by step instructions, but I will not clean it for you. I am saying this for your own good. If you comply it will make your life easier, promise.

Love, Mom

-----------------------

Dear Summer Holidays,

You have been a mixed bag so far. Sun was delivered in spades. Unexpected events, done. Illness/injury, covered. Good times, had by all. Rain in the UK, as expected. Can we just get the kids back in school without anything REALLY bad happening please?

With a Cherry on Top, Kat

-------------------------

Dear Hurricane Irene,

Thanks for sparing Charleston. Please don't take it out on Cape Hateras too badly. Actually, I feel really odd that I said that it would hit North Carolina in general so if you could turn out to sea that would cleanse my guilt.

KThxBai, Kat

---------------------------

Dear Hubby,

I know you want to blog and if you start blogging I will promote it. I promise.

Love, Kat

-----------------------------

Dear Spiders That Live At The Back Door of My House,

Not cool. Not cool at all. You know my feelings on spiders. Could you please quit hanging out outside my door and be gone? Take pity on me, please!!!

Yeah Thank, Kat

----------------------------

Dear Readers,

If you are sick of the summer holidays give me a whoop whoop! *cough* Now, that I got that out, if you have letters, don't forget to link up. Have a safe bank holiday weekend.

Love, Kat

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FEAST IN THE EAST V.

Flyers by Tad Michalak.

We're dusting off our guitars, shining up our keyboards, and playing a show. This is a good one too! You should come. Not only do you get a smorgasboard of good music, you also get to check out projections and eat food with your ticket (pressed sandwiches and salad)! Fun fact: this venue is about 3 minutes from where we practice. Let's have fun on the East Side together.



Curious minds might also want to check out an article The Grid recently did about the series.

-------Info from the Facebook Event-------

FEAST IN THE EAST is a monthly east end music, food & installation series.



At Dickens Street Theatre

35 Dickens St. (Dundas & Carlaw)

Toronto, ON

Friday, September 9 at 9:00pm

$7

Featuring:

THE GUEST BEDROOM (http://theguestbedroom.bandcamp.com/) A bit prog, a bit post-punk, a bit dark, a bit dance-y. Toronto avant rock quartet has been making music since 2004 (whoa it's almost 2012!). Rumbling synth lines, jump and bounce against angular guitar jabs, sharp notes quiver out from behind thick synth concoctions. Singer Sandi Falconer's voice soars over the blaring, driving drum beats & synth hums that fill your ears like an empty church. A fun chaos grown out of a frantic pace. Check this!



YOUNG MOTHER (http://youngmother.bandcamp.com/) Jesse Laderoute's every changing krautrock ensemble Solidifies it's line up & becomes a band! A serious undiscovered gem in Toronto's ever evolving music nebulous. Mini synth & guitar drones lead into to ominous beats & guitar whispers that shake and creep. With an almost hopeful pop sensibility buried under the deep compositions, Jesse's voice reaches out of the eerie environment he's constructed. Guitar wizardry and electronic bleeps & bloops grow under layers of rhythmic synth & drum patterns locking you in. Like a dream you can't escape, stuck in the nether world just below the surface. Krautrock lives!



DANIEL FRANCIS DOYLE (http://danielfrancisdoyle.com/) One man band from Austin, TX plays it all guitar, drums, bass, and puts it together in a loop station math equation. Live drums along with looped everything, DFD powers through spazz rock compositions. His voice buzzes over noodle-y guitar guitar work. Pop hums juxtapose with speed punk drums & guitar thrashing. This guy rules big. He will also be joined by a band for some of his set!



JOHN MILNER YOU'RE SO BOSS (http://jmysb.tumblr.com/) Everyone's favourite weirdo-punk keeps it real. Spazz punk for the modern scumbag. Lightning fast speed, thrashed guitar cords, screeched out bleeps & bloops gloop out of circuit bent toys & electronics. Danielle's vocals yelps & spasms rupture in a choatic volcano of pure hecticity. Former east end coffee jobber becomes current east end resident & cool guy. Cred!



Projections & Environs by Cameron Lee!



FREE pressed sandwich & salad with advance ticket from Circus Books & Music, The Film Buff and Soundscapes.



All Ages.