On my birthday, i drank out of a straw like a pro on my first try!
The first haircut for the bug today! boy he looks adorable (no pics yet, he wouldn't sit still). I realized yesterday how much he might be sweating under that mop. I only got home Saturday after we had a crazy sudden downpour. On the train it struck hard - the sky darkened suddenly, the air hot and heavy in the vestibules between cars, hanging heavy after a muggy hot night through southern Ontario. Lucked out working floater, running night duties while everyone slept, wandering chatting light duties during the rest.... No specific duties and lots of sleep, comparatively, makes it a good run.
What a good crew it'll be, although not the same friends I could travel with out west. While I adore Maurice and that crew the trip was just too long. Too many days spent in Vancouver on layover not being paid and spending money on meals minimally... not to mention entertainment. Sadly I didn't bring the camera with me on my (potentially only) trip out west this season. I'd love some shots of the great used bookstore in downtown Vcvr with wild piles to the ceiling! The one layover I had out there was fantastic alone time although I missed my boys terribly and was uncomfortable to boot after pumping for days. I wanted to continue breastfeeding so badly while on the road since neither of us seemed ready to wean. Those first few days my boobs could have stopped bullets! Enormous and hard, it seemed hardly a relief to pump. Finally after a few days my milk dropped - things were much easier this last trip and
way shorter.
Toronto brought me into a quieter Canada Day city - while I didn't go searching I
was in downtown Toronto walking around and didn't see any celebrations at all or really any revelers. The day started oddly after we had a crossing accident near Washago. The guy could easily have lost his life and of course you always fear the worst when the emergency brake gets pulled, and when you hear the engineers confirm they hit a car. Looking for the vehicle, never having it be immediately by my car but going anyway after checking on the passengers in my car, guarding the door... I've done this before, with much worse outcomes (although I've never been right there to see) and this time the guy is wandering about in the road, made it out ok and no one else in the car which is upside down in the ditch near a train crossing. He slowed, or stopped, then decided the train was far enough away he could make a break for it - misjudged our speed as they often do and got hit right on the back end, car bent up, smashed windows no sunroof, must have been wearing a seatbelt or would have been thrown, already crawled out and in shock but essentially alive and likely ok. 'How lucky this guy was' i think. It so easily could have been the end of his life. Reminds me of the car accident and how in the moment you are reacting and don't realize the severity of the situation. This guy is so lucky and I wonder if he'll ever appreciate that.
That made us late after the road flooded with emergency personnel from firefighters and engine to OPP. Who funnily were all told to come to the wrong side of the train (of course we were blocking some roads and in the country). So they all came from the wrong side. After the first two OPP arrived they radioed back to say it was the wrong side but emergency vehicles kept arriving on that side. In the end they all walked over through the train while I guarded the door and steps for safety. Passengers kept wandering through mostly trying to get a peek, everyone curious and slowing down through the vestibule. One man told me to 'Relax' and I nicely but firmly moved him through the doors. And the sexiest OPP was present of whom I would have dearly loved to sneak a photograph. The hat, the sunglasses, the leather vest, the tool belt loaded, the flared hip pants, the knee high boots... ooooh sexy.
We pulled into Toronto 2+ hours late, happy to get some extra hours on the holiday but not what I meant when I wished we'd arrive late. We were returning quickly and the trip passed and was gone. Home to hot heavy air all through southern Ontario during the day lasting to the night. Letting off passengers and canoes in Savant Lake and Red Lake Road during the early morning didn't need a jacket for the muggy night although the bloodsuckers were out in force. Late night cigarette smokers conversations, immediate kinship, second baggage car for the twenty-two canoes and gear in addition to luggage. Crazy train nights and why I love my job. The storm an hour away from Winnipeg came suddenly, the sky darkening FAST the winds and colors outside saturated, i hear the rain on the roof while not seeing anything outside either window for a full minute until the wind shifts slightly and suddenly pounds down the window.
This storm is fierce and howling and over quickly but the morning continue to throw rain our way intermittent with calm sun. We wait to see each other, me anxiously searching the station for signs of my two boys or our noticeable dark green Malibu, easily spotted in the parking lot mostly blocked off for the Queen's anticipated visit later that day. Jude seems so big when I see him long legs and limbs hanging out of the small stroller. Smiles, large and tentative, emotions too strong so he turns for a bit not wanting to cuddle but pushing his stroller around. Then we cuddle, I lift him and hold him tight walking through the station showing off my love. I can be exuberant and single-focused on my loves, it's expected after working away from your family for days. Coming home is the best feeling and such a rush of excitement!
It's been hot and muggy here too, cooling off only under rushing storms that have hung around for weeks. The garden is becoming wilder, tomato plants rampant expansion while I look elsewhere. Luckily Kate, my friend and the lovely lady behind
Cherrystems, and our friend James have been coming over to help weed and plant extras in our large plot. It's rapidly becoming full although we have room in the herb garden. I nearly don't have time to go harvest all the onions and herbs I should. But it's so lovely to have them around for salads and meals... nothing better than running outside for basil or dill.... LOVE this life.
The poor boy was sweating away under his long mop of hair. Blonde and beginning to curl in the back, his hair brushed forward over his forehead. These last two days his head seemed extra warm in the heat and we can't hide out inside with the air conditioning. I finally decided we needed to give him a haircut. Got the buzzers and managed a Mohawk though not without lots of restraints and distractions. Finally convinced Chris that a Mohawk would be a great look for him - and it lets me keep some of his hair the original, long length. So cute. Hope it helps things cool off for him. The other new thing is temper tantrums: suddenly since I've been gone he cries and arches when he's mad or doesn't want something. I think it must be both acting out from feeling bad about Mom being away and the age he's reached because he has always been such a sweet and happy boy. Still very nice, held the hand and shared his toys (very clearly reached out and offered it to the boy) to a new friend at the kiddie pool today! So sweet. But also this emotional, acting out boy when he doesn't like something, or wants attention. Poor boy, it must be difficult for him and such an adjustment every time I go away and come back. Either way we need to find a way to work through it because it's not fun.
And that was the last six days.
