Coucoumellisms

... as mothers go. I make my kids come to mass with me, but I think I have a fairly decent balance of control and tolerance. I do not think that I am either overly strict nor overly lenient. I do not have unreasonable expectations. My kids must stay in the pew that we are in, but the younger ones are allowed to move freely one end of it to the other. They are not allowed to freely roam the church. They are allowed to get up a couple of times to go to the bathroom or blow their nose (and stretch their legs while they are at it), as long as they are not going every 5 minutes. I ask that they do not talk or yell, but they are allowed to whisper to each other. They bring Catholic books and colouring books, and sometimes a toy or two. I know that mass is long and incomprehensible at that age, but I do not believe that what I ask of them is a herculean task by any means. I reward good behaviour, (well, tolerable behaviour anyway) by going to Tim Horton's afterwards. I think I a

This is absolutely beautiful... I could listen to it all day

I drove down the icy road this afternoon, past the snow-covered fields and realized, I love this season. I love the cold. I love the snow, I love the ice. I like to curl up in front of a blazing fire. I like to pad around the house in an extra sweater and slippers. I enjoy putting on a hat and scarf and warm gloves before I go out. I miss the land of the spruce trees that I grew up in. The countryside is beautiful here, but the land everywhere belongs to farmers or some other person. There is no free land left. I miss skating near the flats below my home. I miss sliding down the bank. I miss crossing a frozen river to a nearby island to cook hotdogs over a blazing fire. I miss the ski-doos. I miss tunnelling in the snow. You can take the girl out of the North, but you can't take the North out of the girl.

This is something I wrote awhile ago. I changed the title and a few of the words. Original version here . Take me Whole Bear with me please, it’s hard to find the words I need to find, to tell you what it is You need to know. Take care with me, my heart’s so damn fragile I’m so afraid, to tell you what it is I want you to know. I am here, body and soul Will you take me, take me whole? If I strip down, come out of hiding If I show you my soul, confiding Will you want me then? Want me whole? If I bare all, body and soul This was never something I intended To share my life with one who’s a stranger To what I think I’m so lonely, but I’m never alone. I want you here, inside, but it’s so hard To open the door Naked, anxious, defenceless before you My only wish is that you'd snatch me up Take me here, now. My body’s yours, my soul I offer you Make love to me, hold me close, let’s renew Those vows we once spoke.