Tales From Janet Land

Well, *I* like you, Gary.

Hope you had a great day at work, Mary!

Who are you calling dumb?Oh wait...I have pink hair now. I'm not blond any more anyway!

You crack me up, Mary.

I crave weird things from my childhood, too....like bologna.

Oh, you're so cute.

You certainly surprised me on a few!

Annie, I would give anything to just scoop you up and bring you here for a few very cold but very loud and very *full* days.The coffee is always fresh, the kids are full of energy and love and you could complain and vent as much as you liked.

Dreams become thoughts and thoughts become things.

Ah...just come to Canada instead! Please? Please?

I hate when sh*t like that happens...everything is crazy enough and then a kid (or two, or three!) gets sick.

What is the custody arrangement with G's daughter? Does she not have to stay where she was put?

Jeez...you didn't tell me that Jay was cute!

I'm really glad you're making an effort to get out.Really glad.

Please don't take this wrong way, Mel...

Your sister is dragging her feet because she is scared of being blamed for your niece's problems. She is scared of the professional help telling her she wasn't doing well enough as a mother, that she is at fault, etc. It's hard to understand and it certainly doesn't excuse the procrastinating, but as a parent, it is very, very difficult to not be capable of doing it all, being it all, taking care of it all and handing something over to another person. Mothers especially feel like they should the only solution and when we aren't enough, well, it's really tough. She might not be waiting for this to go away on it's own. She might be waiting to find the solution herself, without the help or interference of an outside caregiver, counselor or whatever.

I'm not trying to give her another excuse and it is exceptionally important for your niece to see someone. Keep loving them both.

And as if this wasn't long enough...

You don't suck.Baby's first Christmas is overrated and anti climactic. Don't go.

He made coffee for you...that's a in my books.

Shoot.

Jeez. Bitter much?

I generally enjoy Michael Moore and the movie Sicko was a real eye opener for me, as a Canadian. That and falling in love with an American and getting an inside view of what your health care is really like.

It doesn't matter if you're rich or dirt poor in Canada...*everyone* gets the same and *nobody* pays. We are not without our flaws, believe me but things were put into perspective for me after my son came home from a two month stay in the NICU (he was a preemie)and I got a bill for over one hundred thousand dollars because his health card wasn't on file with the hospital. I made one simple call, gave them the number from his card (which I received for free when he was born)and the bill was cleared. I can't imagine living in fear or debt because I or someone I love (like my son) got sick.