9/30/2002
Sept 29/02

I am very disappointed with Tara and Chelsea. They left my house at 12:00 last night even when I said the girls were all in for the night. They said they weren't sleeping here and they were going to meet some people. When I was objecting to it, they said they couldn't understand what the big deal was, that they have done it before. Yeah, you little tough tarts, I guess you must have, you are so cool. I told them they can't do it at my place, they glared at me and stepped out long enough to change their mind that they share and stayed overnight.

April and her friends had breakfast, the foods we didn't have they borrowed from all over the neighbourhood!

Monica had a try out with the tier one softball team. She got hit in the calve by a pitch but walked it off and stay in the play.

Stacy is still sick with laryngitis. It is funny when you can't speak, that is all you want to do. It was comical when she tried to phone in sick for work

Nadia came back from the cottage but she is studying with Derrick at his house for a test. It was cold enough there for them to need to use the fireplace.

James and I went to the Keg with the gift certificate from Monica's baseball team he received as a gift for coaching. We had a very nice time. The kids stayed home for Pizza.

Annie at 9/30/2002 04:52:00 a.m.


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9/29/2002

Sept 28/02

Stacy is very sick today, didn't stay at her baseball practice. She made the team.

Monica ran cross country in Markham with a rep club as a spare, came in 17 place. She found it really tough to breath.

James came home from his fishing trip and he still likes females so he wasn't gone too long. There was a guy who really has a thing for Stacy there. He got teased a lot by the other guys about Stacy so this is something that is common knowledge in this crowd. He had to live with the ribbing but was awkwardly quiet and shy around James. His name is John R. He doesn't like Jessie at all, even asked James why she had to have him as a boyfriend. He says he really dislikes Jessie from hockey.

Huey got cut for 40 stitches in his knee for running his bike off the road. He was trying to race Josh and John to the camp on their ATV's. They are right; he does act like a little kid. Some of the guys had trouble getting along and even though he had fun James says that he has had his fill of deep bush fishing with the guys. It was freezing up there.

Monica went to the movies with Sam, Missy and Kate and spent the evening with them too.

April's party
April had her party tonight. It wasn't huge and she was disappointed that certain people didn't show up but I explained that is just what happens at parties. Certain girls that have declared themselves as cool are dictating where all the kids should go. They missed out and probably be very bored being so popular with nothing to do. A bunch of the girls are staying overnight.

April's friends had a couple of laughing fits. They were talking about a girl who has boobs that are so uneven in size that they nick named her JP (Jupiter and Pluto). April stuffed Kleenex down her shirt on one side and Tara yelled out "JP!". It struck Dylan so funny that Dylan spat pop everywhere and spewed it all over April ("He friggin spat it on ME!") so she took the Kleenex out of her shirt and wiped off all the pop he spat on her. Yeah, funny stuff was happening. At a certain point Dylan who hadn't seen Laura in a while asked if Laura was single, "NO I'M DOUBLE!" lol

Annie at 9/29/2002 04:40:00 a.m.


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9/28/2002

Sept 27/02

Our town is in a lock down today. There is a murderer that has escaped from the Courthouse. There are so many police cars around and a helicopter circling overhead with heat seeking devices. It is raining out today so there shouldn't be too many people outside so that should make it easier to search but he is probably in someone's house right now. I hope no on gets hurt. He is considered extremely dangerous. He killed a witness security guard to a break and enter.

I got Monica home from school at lunchtime because they weren't letting anyone leave school without parents. April phoned home to say she wanted to come home too and there were 200 kids trying to sign out there. I have Mark and Carrie's kids here too. I had to pick them up from Mark's office.

Nadia went up north to the cottage with Derrick, Natasha and John. I hope they have good weather, but I know that they will make the best of it no matter what.

Grammie came back from up north and took Monica and I out to dinner. Just at that time when we were passing by the police barricade, they caught the criminal.

Stacy went with her friends to check out Universities at the Trade Centre in downtown Toronto. She likes this one course at St George Campus at the U. of T.

Stacy went to Jessie's for dinner and then out to his game I guess. He had to sit out a suspension. Jessie really didn't sit with her, she was alone for most of the time because she didn't know where his mom was. The more she is with him, the more she realizes that she is lonely and they really don't do much talking. She doesn't talk about breaking up with him, I think she just feels safe that no guy will be after her if Jessie is in the picture and she can hang around with the girls and Brent's friends as much as she needs to without the feeling that someone is hitting on her.

I encouraged her to give him another chance because I hated the fact that they were leaving on bad terms. I wanted them to see if they were meant to be, not just coast. I wish there were a way that she could just not have a boyfriend, be friends with guys so they could actually get to know her instead of just her looks. I guess that is a feeling I have to deal with, leftover from my teen years. But here they are coasting in a so called relationship. I think Jessie is in it because he doesn't have to try with another girl, just to know that he has a beautiful girl on his arm is good enough. While I am writing all this you can plainly see it is all for the wrong reasons. But as it is they are two nice people together for whatever reasons.

Annie at 9/28/2002 04:16:00 a.m.


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9/27/2002

Sept 26/02

Caesar hurt his back paw yesterday when I took him for some fun in the tennis court. He was with two female dogs and he was having the time of his life but it was too much for the pads on his paws. He was off them all day today and keeps licking them, poor baby.

Stacy came home sick with cold in the afternoon.

Nadia was out all day with Derrick, he made her breakfast at his house, I forwarded an important Raptors phone call for her there and then out they went.

The intermediate boys played volleyball outside, which I appreciated as a photo opportunity. I talked to their coach about his rep Volleyball club. He wanted to know why Monica hadn't tried out for his club so I told him he scarred me off of his club when he told me they go mostly with grade eights. Apparently they didn't get a good draw of grade eights so they have a lot of grade sevens. Oh well.

I enjoyed watching Monica at her baseball tryout. They had them running basses in teams. Monica was just blazing around the bases it was incredible. They switched her speed for the next speedster but whatever team she was on, they would be the victors.

Annie at 9/27/2002 04:10:00 a.m.


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9/26/2002

Sept 25/02

Brent is still going to sleep when we are waking up. I guess he is lucky to have school start at 4:30. My friends think that we should get on his case or try to manipulate a situation where his sleeping would be his undoing. Why does everything have to be a lesson? Brent says to me, this is how I want it to be right now, so let it be. He is young, and time is on his side. If he were like this forever I would be upset but hey, chill! I still hold on to the chance that some nights it is just him and me talking, I love that. He is so smart and he has a lot on his mind, I appreciate all and any time I have with him.

Stacy is running x-country in the morning, she says it is freaking great to be running again. It is so nice that she can drive this week because James didn't take his van.

James phoned me - yeah and he is having a great time. It will take him 8 hours to return on Saturday.

Grammie came for a visit and took some of the extra clothes we have in the garage.

I drove the girls to their first Volleyball game and they won all three games. Monica and Britt are very strong. The girls who have never been on a team before did really well too. Luck, instead of talent is on our side.

I took Stacy Nadia and April out on the town for supper. Derrick phoned in the meantime and didn't feel like going out after Nadia got home. We weren't gone that long and she was upset. It bothered me that making plans with me ruined hers but he should bend a little. He has always been a homebody and he has changed a lot for Nadia so I guess we shouldn't complain.

I brought Britt to Basketball with Monica and the girls that Monica knows introduced themselves and were so nice to her. I am glad she knows such social people.

Annie at 9/26/2002 04:03:00 a.m.


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9/25/2002

Sept 24/02

First school cross country meet of the season. I had told the teacher that her first meet she wouldn't have done as well as she would have liked and that it sets her mind to do better. Monica came in 11 place, with a scowl and a determined "I can do better! I will next time." He just smiled at me and said, "Your mom said that you would say that!" Monica still can't bend her waist properly from her stitches and it only bled a little from her activities.

Lorna has her hands full with clubbing Ry. He was fired from No Frills, the job his dad got for him. He is making life miserable for everyone at home, even has an abusive girlfriend who they have had to call the police on. She says she feels like she can't cope. Ry's dad is trying to make sure he does things right, according to his plan and instead ends up doing things for Ry that Ry should be doing himself. So in the end the boy is not accountable for himself.

I bumped into Jessie's mom Hannah today and we had a long talk. I asked her about her daughter, knowing she is at "the age of rebellion" and sure enough it its happening to them. 13, 14 the hardest age I think, when the hormones are just surfacing.

Stacy went to the movies with Jessie, double dated with Shane and Coral. That would be great for Stacy and Jessie if they can hang out as a couple, just what I thought they needed. Coral is very much like Stacy, smart, shy and reserved.

I wish James could phone me from the deep bush.

Annie at 9/25/2002 04:50:00 a.m.


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9/24/2002

Sept 23/02

Monica had a minor operation to remove a mole on her back and she was very good about it. She wanted to still do all her sports after school even though the doctor said not to. She tried volleyball for half an hour but the stitches were pulling so we left and watched her baseball tryout.

I don't know this woman very well, just a baseball mom that I see often at the diamonds. She looked like she had a sad secret and no one to tell it too so I ask her if she wanted someone to talk to. Her dad just died, and she was talking about how her mom would handle it and how sad it would be because he was always at baseball. I told her about how Gramma always brings a chair for 'Chuck' and someone always ends up sitting beside her. She was very touched by that story.

Today at school Amanda pulled the fire alarm. She didn't think it would go off when she only lifted the glass part off. April said as soon as it went off there was no more Amanda, only April. Talk about an adrenaline rush! With trembling hands she managed to quickly put it back on properly and it stopped. April couldn't stop laughing when she told us about it.

Nadia and Stacy went out together to 5 points Mall and bought some sexy underwear and some tops. Hmmm, why do they need sexy underwear?

Brent, Adam and Brandon are trying to start up an Internet business by applying for a grant. They have to get together a business plan, they asked Nadia to do it for $600. but she said that she is too busy.

Annie at 9/24/2002 04:40:00 a.m.


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9/23/2002

Sept 22/02

Brent was still awake when I got up this morning and he was going to stay up all day so that he could sleep better at night but when I got home at noon he was sound asleep- didn't quite make it!

Monica went to her baseball banquet while I took the other girls to the Wing Place. The owner said he was going to hang their team picture but he still hasn't.

Joe mentioned that he needed to talk to James about what team Monica would be playing for. I started to feel bad that James had not talked to him before he left for his trip. All kinds of people were asking what we were doing, so much that I felt comfortable only when I was beside Joe, that was the only time I wasn't being pestered about it. So I went to their house and talked to them privately. I basically told them that Monica will be going to tier 1 but it was only a matter of time before Joe was going to be the coach of tier 1, we might be one year ahead of him. He said that he knew the tier one coach's time was coming to an end, that he had done everything he could do with them. So they had the same impression I did.

April asked me today why James and I don't fight like other married couples, she has noticed that there is major yelling going on in other household. It opened the door to a long conversation about how to handle getting upset with people and trying to work out problems before they get huge. It was good because she brought the topic up and it didn't feel like I was preaching to her. She had some very smart questions and observations.

Stacy drove to Pickering with the girls to watch Jessie's hockey tonight. That is the farthest she has driven. I hope I still get to see some of his games because I really enjoyed them last year.

Stacy's back, they won but the game was rough, Jessie got suspended for one game for telling the ref his call was brutal.
Annie at 9/23/2002 04:29:00 a.m.


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9/22/2002

Sep 21/02

Jess C. and Jake were the last ones to leave, they walked home very late, around 2am. Stacy seemed pretty close to both Jake and Jessie C. at the end of the party. You could hear them yelling and screaming and there were only a few people left. Jess looks at Stacy like he used too, maybe I am imagining it but, I don't think I am. He was continually up and down with her getting drinks of water. He tried to chat her up as much as possible when he had this opportunity, as they were away from the crowd.

Jess is really good to April and she is thrilled at any attention she gets from Jess. As much as people think she is tough, Jess can make her blush big time. April heard me tell Stacy that I couldn't go and pick them up because I had some beers and so now April thinks I am drunk. She heard people talk about pot and I talked to her about drugs again.

Unfortunately, the hanging outside our house is getting out of hand and that is where the trouble will lie with the neighbours. I know what they are doing out there, I don't appreciate it being near my house or my neighbours. Beside if they go to the park, hopefully the smell will have dissipated by the time they come back. Why can’t they just drink here, is that so hard to comply with? I am taking a huge risk and letting them drink as long as they are in my house, but when they start leaving and returning, I have no control. So Unfortunately, I can see the parties coming to an end.

I went to bed about 4am. I am just glad James can sleep through just about anything because he needs to get an early start this morning for his fishing trip.

Oh my god, Dave Kegs phoned at 5am to say he wanted to leave earlier for the fishing trip so it was not much time for sleeping. I hope James can handle whatever drinking he does with those guys.

Caesar was a party animal last night and he is paying the price today. He slept all morning had no energy. We couldn't keep him away from the kids in the basement and he loves to dance!

Stacy had a tournament and there is still little head games going on with the coaching staff. This time one of the wives got involved where she shouldn't. Because of this some of our girls jumped ship and are playing for Ajax. This tournament, girls are playing for teams they are trying out for and apparently our coach never phoned some of last season's girls for even the tryouts,he should have.

Sarah, my niece was playing for one of the Whitby teams, and it was really neat when Stacy, first batter, hit a huge hit out to left field and Sarah ran and caught it and then when Sarah came up she hit a really good one out to center field and Stacy snagged it, got her glove under it just as it was about to hit the ground- tit for tat. Stacy's team wasn't hitting well, with the exception of Stacy she got 2 out of the 3 runs. Sarah had a grand slam. With the politics of the team, I wonder if Stacy should be looking for a new team?

Unfortunately, Gramma was stung by a wasp, on her lip and it swelled up.

Nadia had Derrick over this evening and they lazed around watching TV. She has been working on her sports administration video and added the song 'Camp Granada' to compliment her camping pictures. It is cute.

Brent stayed in all evening.

April was at a sleepover at the Erin's. They played a lot of board games and she really enjoyed winning them all.

Monica went shopping for Stacy's birthday present and found a great little store with unbelievable prices. She bought tons of candy, a candle with starfish and shells in it with candleholder, and a ring for only $11.00. She wants to do her Christmas shopping there. She spent the rest of the day with Melissa and Sam after their shopping trip.

Annie at 9/22/2002 04:44:00 a.m.


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9/21/2002

Sept 20/02

Cleaned all day for Stacy's party. James and I spent most of it hanging pictures.

Nadia got home from her leadership camp and she is hurt. A rope she was harnessed to got caught under her arm when she was supposed to be free falling and she somehow had to support her body weight and hoist up to free herself.

April went to Dan F's party and they all left at 11. He has a playhouse in his backyard where they were playing and climbing in. April got stuck in it until she swung out of it. She was very aware of the party here tonight, usually she stays up in the bedrooms. But tonight big studly Jess paid her some attention, tried to hug her and every time April's face would just glare a fluorescent red, a strange sight to see on a girl that clowns around so much.

People came pretty late for Stacy's party, the majority around 10:30. No one got sick or really drunk thankfully, but people had been drinking before they came to the party. It was too hot again and outside in the evening it was still in the 30's so that was no relief either. They looked like they had a good time, the party matched two people together, Coral and Shane. They finished the video there for Stacy's birthday, but Stacy said that Coral had the camera and ended up getting focused on Shane and it became the Shane show.

Jessie didn't drive his car home for whatever reason, and I am proud of him for that because he did drink, took a taxi home, so he is acting responsibly. He still leaves before most of the kids though, before 12, before the real fun.

Annie at 9/21/2002 04:33:00 a.m.


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9/20/2002

Sep 19/02

Nadia went to a leadership camp today for a couple of days near our cottage. I wish she had of said goodbye to me but I was probably out driving someone somewhere!

Stacy's birthday #17. We went to Red Lobster and had so much shrimp we are all overstuffed. Stacy's friends bought her some very nice stuff, spent a lot of time and money on her. They have spent the last couple of weeks, driving all over Durham recording a video with many people wishing her happy birthday. They had perfect strangers doing little jigs while singing happy birthday to my Stace.

Brent took Caesar for the longest walk and let him loose in the park. When he was finished he held the chain up and Caesar came running back to him. I will have to try that. Dan was waiting for him when he got back. Dan teased me saying that he is going to tell the whole school about Stacy's birthday party for tomorrow. I hope not. It doesn't take much for news to travel about one of our parties. I don't want a swarming.

Caesar By Monica

My dog Caesar was a big fluffy puppy and is a huge dog now. He is really strong and everyone thought he was a tough mean dog. Nobody can beat him in a tug of war.

About two weeks ago we took him to get his hair cut and my mom left because she had things to do. When she left she didn't tell the person who was cutting Caesar's hair how we wanted it cut. When my mom went to pick Caesar up she was shocked but she didn't laugh. She took him on a walk to my school and when I saw him I burst out laughing because they gave him a poodle cut! He has as big ball of fur on the end of his tail!

We went shopping for Halloween costumes and we got Caesar one. For Halloween this year we are dressing him up as a fairy.

Annie at 9/20/2002 04:09:00 a.m.


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9/19/2002

Sept 18/02

Still no word from Brent.

Stacy went to cross country at school this morning. They started the run without her so James tracked them down and she had to run harder to catch up to them. She is going to be sore.

We went out on a quest for the perfect Wings and Beer with Mark and Carrie. It was a last minute thing, we just showed up on their doorstep and said "c'mon!" It was a lot of fun. Some of Stacy's friends work there and so does Crystal.

Stacy went out to dinner with Jessie at the Keg for her birthday. He first pulled up to the food court so she thought that is where they were going to eat but he was only teasing.

Derrick rear ended a rental car today basically the same way I almost hit him last Monday. He was very nervous about what his father would say.

Derrick's parents were very upset so he had to stay in for the evening. I don't understand why parents get involved in the discipline part of a car accident. It is not like he purposely got in an accident. It seems to me that the kid needs his parent's support and understanding at this time. Derrick is mad at himself and will suffer monetarily, his parents don't have to get involved in any punishment. There was about $800.00 damage. That is almost all he saved up for while he worked this summer. Too bad.

Brent dragged himself home around 3 today. He forgot to help Grammie with her yard work this week.

Monica is doing very well in the volleyball tryouts. She wore her Record Breaker Track and Field t-shirt to the tryout and some of the teachers asked about it and congratulated her on earning it.

Annie at 9/19/2002 04:01:00 a.m.


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9/18/2002

Sep 17/02

I haven't seen Brent yet today, he didn't come home last night. He hasn't done that in quite a while, but I wish he would phone to say he is all right or where he is. He used to be so good at checking in and I was always all right where ever he was, I just needed to know. I don't think that he is embarrassed phoning in to me, I just don’t' think he gives it a thought anymore.

April gets a free student id card because she sold 25 boxes of chocolate bars. She did it right after school. Stacy has to sell them too but she had a practice for baseball. If you don't sell them it will cost $25.00 for the student activity card.

Nadia has designed a hooded sweatshirt for Durham College Sports Administration and so far today, the first day offered 80 people are interested.

Monica went to Duffin's Creek with her class for an environmental study. They had a contest and Monica and her partner Melissa hooked up with a boy team and they ended up winning with the most points.

I enrolled Monica for house league basketball. April is finished with house league basketball. Being in high school now, I won't push her into any extra activities, it is up to her to form her own desires as to what she wants to do with her free time. As long as it is not just plain hanging around parks, I am all right. She can have as many kids over here as she wants, she has no need to hang out and get bored with a pack of kids. That is usually when boredom sets give that gives away to stupid ideas.

I met James, Dave, Marita, and their friends at Don Cherry's after James went out after with the boys to get fishing equipment for his week of fishing. He didn't get home till around nearly 12.

I talked to Laurie on the phone for 1 1/2 hours tonight. She said that for the first time ever she should get full time hours at the liquor store so she might be able to afford a computer. We went over my diary from 1972 and had a lot of laughs. Some of the names or experiences we had back then she remembered when I couldn’t. It is weird the things you do and don't remember.

Stacy is getting antsy, she needs to go out more and Jessie doesn't seem to want to. It used to be that they would see each other after work but I guess it doesn't matter because her friends are filling the void she has had since she was sick in the early summer. Jodi went out with her in the late evening.

Annie at 9/18/2002 04:58:00 a.m.


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9/17/2002

Sept 16/02

Colleen left a phone message saying something about the girls being able to go to the baseball tryouts together??? News to me. When Holly came over right after school I sent her home saying Monica was going to volleyball tryouts instead. At the volleyball tryouts I decided to take a peak at the baseball tryouts. When I got there, there was no Holly so I phoned her and I picked her up because Colleen was at the cross country practice. I am glad I figured out the Holly mix up because she should at least try out. There are some people who want James to coach with the tier one coach and even went up to the coach to tell him so. James wants at least one year off to recuperate from all the health problems.

When I went to pick up Holly I was coming out from her street, there were two cars right before me. I pulled out after them and the first one stopped quickly to turn into a driveway and I almost slammed into Derrick! I almost hit Derrick and my Nadia!

Stacy went shopping with friends for her birthday. They are buying her some pretty expensive stuff. I guess that comes along with having part time jobs.

I thought it was very nice the way Stacy was thinking when she reminded Jessie about her upcoming birthday. A lot of girls would wait and see and if the guy forgot they get all mad. Stacy didn't want Jessie to feel bad if he was going to forget and she didn't want to feel bad about it either. I am glad she doesn't play those little head games.

I was lying on my bed watching TV when April started to ask a lot of questions about Stacy's relationship with Jessie C., her first real boyfriend. It must be weird to have gone out with two guys with the same name, confusing or convenient!! When April's questions got too many I knew she was up to something so she showed me the cute conversation she had with Jessie C. on icq tonight. She let me copy it to my diary She looked him up even though I didn't think it was a good idea but they had a humorous conversation. April still is funny.




April - Hi. What school do you go to?

Jess C. - you know what school I go too

April - Is this the Jessie C.?

Jess C. 9- yes. I went out with your sister

April - ok just making sure it was you... what's up?

Jess C. - nothing much at all just studying what about you?

April - nothing talking to my mom and yea... When's your first football game?

Jess C. - Friday at Ajax

April - cool. Do you have a girlfriend rite now?

Jess C. - lol nope why?

April - just wondering...trying to make conversation...

Jess C. - I c , do u like football?

April - I like watching guys play it lol

Jess C. - lol thats great so who's the guys you like watching?

April - you mean besides YOU!?! lol j/k

Jess C. - hahaha, so do you like high school

April - yea it's ok... there's not as many hot guys as I would hope for but hey, i'll live lol j/k
Did you die your hair?

Jess C. - hahahah , nope this is the colour of my hair why whats wrong with it!

April - lol ok...NOTHING! it's just not how it was when you went out with Stacy!

Jess C. - lol that was almost 2 years ago

April - was it really 2 years ago?

Jess C. - ummmmmmmm about that ya actually like a year and 4 or 5 months

April -she was 14 when she went out with you on Thursday she's 17

Jess C. - and 25 days

April - lol

Jess C. - yep grade she was going into grade 10 and I was going into grade 11 ya it was 2 yrs

Jess C. - and 4-5 months

April - lol are you sure not 25 days? lol j/k

Jess C. - hahah ya I was joking around about that , but it was like early sept like the 10th or 17th I think 2 yrs ago I have a good memory :o)

April - lol ok lol was I a pest to you when you were going out with her? cuz that was my job back then

Jess C. - nope actually like liked all of you , you were funny :o)

April - YAY!

Jess C. - nah just funny

April - What grade are you in now?

Jess C. - oac

April - REALLY!?!? wow I forgot you were a year in front of Stacy

Jess C. - yepp

April - Stacy says your a fag

Jess C. - lol tell her she's queer

April - and to go buy a bathrobe

Jess C. - yea that too

April - lol Stacy and my mom are wrestling...she's kicking my moms ass lol its funny

Jess C. - i got 5 bucks on your mom Stacy's a puss

April - lol Stacy's sniffing my moms ear cuz it gives my mom goosebumps lol my moms laughing like crazy

Jess C. - lol

April - Stacy is trying to make her give and my moms trying to make them stop and talk...but she wont give up

Jess C. - lol lol

April - lol anyways...what are you studying???

Jess C. - oac gym, who won?

April - lol its still going... my moms trying to get my dad and the dog to help her

Jess C. - hahahah

April - lol am I bugging you from ur studying?

Jess C. - nope I'm gonna go get some food anyways so i;m taking a break k I'm going now night say goodbye to Stacy and your mom

April - o ok

Jess C. - I mean hey to them Goodnight to you

April - ok will do see you tomorrow at school...night lol ok bye


Annie at 9/17/2002 04:38:00 a.m.


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9/16/2002

Sept 15/02

James partied hardy and drank into the wee hours of this morning. He is finally off the medicine that would make him violently sick if he had even a sip of alcohol. He deserves to kick back and relax. I was tired of having to drink for him anyway! I was already at home in bed battling my cough when Olivia came over for the guitar so I hope James had a good time.

We got up early for April's select tournament and James was feeling rough. Marita said he was very funny, bossy and wanted all the girls to wear white shirts with no bras. I guess he thought of that when it was raining.

Even though he was very rough he managed to see two of April's games, but not the one she pitched in. She did very well especially with her pitching.

It was a lazy day and my cough is still bad. I found another diary of mine in my basement when I was searching for my cookbooks, so I am recording them on the computer. I used to write on anything and lots of times I didn't put a date on it unfortunately and sometimes I even used the same paper or book for different years. I am glad I kept them though. It has helped me to understand some of the things my children are going through.

Annie at 9/16/2002 04:21:00 a.m.


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9/15/2002

Sept 14/02

We started the day with two baseball tryouts. Stacy's team looked a lot better, more people. We brought Caesar but he barked until Stacy brought him home.

A lot of Ajax team was at Monica's tryouts. It is surprising to me at how far people will travel just to have their kids on a rep team. It looks like that team is folding, we heard that the coaches daughter is so upset to think that people don't like him. She thinks that she won't be on a team, that she is throwing up sick about it. I hope she tries out for another team, because she is a good kid, Nadia says so. His team was very unhappy with him and parents on our team that were from Ajax are so against him that even the coaches that were coaching with him, they are suspicious of. One parent says that his stench is on them. The parents had to be set straight about them so that they might hopefully try out for our squirt team. I don't like to see a whole team fold, that town deserves to be represented.

Marita's street party was a real success. Unfortunately for me I am still sick with a bad cough and as the night progressed I got worse. I spent a lot of time getting medicine and cough drops and just plain hacking. There were about 60 people there.

I walked past Ryan E, the Don Juan of the public school. He had his arm draped around Britt in a possessive fashion so I smacked his hand and yelled, "Get your hands off her!" He recoiled away from Britt and looked so scared that Britt had to tell him I was just kidding.

They had put a huge tarp over part of the backyard and we had a lightning show for a while until it starting to rain but no one really left. I kept coming home because of my hacking cough was out of control.

Jessie basically bailed on his commitment to come to our street party. It is not like he wouldn't know people here. So Stacy went cruising with Gemma, playing car hide and seek with Brent and Josh in another van. I could see a fight brewing between Stacy and Jessie over how this evening was developing so I called her home. Gemma, his old girlfriend shouldn't be with her, it would be too uncomfortable with her having gone out with Jessie. But he did say he was coming to this party for her and tonight, it wasn't even a consideration. Too bad, things still aren't smooth with them, he should have come for her. When she finally met up with Jessie they went to two parties and had a good time. Stacy said Jessie drank for the first time in a long time and handled it well so that was a relief.

Annie at 9/15/2002 04:54:00 a.m.


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9/14/2002

Sept 13/02

Friday the 13th!
I got lost the park in the woods and bush with Caesar believe it or not. I knew where I had to go but the brush was so thick and tall and so yucky that we couldn't get there. I was stuck for about an hour and we were covered in little tiny burrs.

Stacy finally got into her psychology course. She asked her teacher for work so she could catch up for the last 2 weeks and he said, "we don't do work here!"

Stacy's supervisor from the rec center phoned and she told me that Stacy is really doing well there. Stacy said that the difference between her job and other kids her age is that she wants to make it as exciting as she can for the people who come to her classes where other people just come into their job and just do it.

April had a baseball practice today and what makes it better is that these girls go to school with her now. She is really enjoying it now.

Nadia did her NFL job again today. She takes the go train in.

Brent is appreciating his 4:30 class, he does love to sleep in. We had a brawl with the phone as my only defence. It was fun.

Jeff is still causing Monica grief by talking about her complexion. I asked her if it bothered Jeff when she said no to the movies in the summer and she said that he was ok with it. I asked if he was mad at her at all after that and she said yes. I asked if he tried to talk to her on the internet and she says he does. I asked her to count how many messages he has sent to her on email and she said 33! I tried to explain to her that he feels rejected by her and he is trying to get even with her. We went to the Burger Joint for lunch. It is so different lunch being just the two of us.

Stacy went out with the girls and met up with Jessie in a Park for a while. Some of the people she was with don't care for some of the people Jessie was with, but Stacy held her ground, she has the van so they can't dictate to her who they are going to be with. I think that some of her friends are cutting themselves off of a lot of fun by limiting who they hang around with. They did this with Brent's friends. When Stacy had a lot of fun with Brent and her friends they must wonder why they aren't included anymore. Stacy didn't like the fact that Jessie let another girl drive his car and he still hasn't let Stacy drive yet, and even has told her no.

Annie at 9/14/2002 04:44:00 a.m.


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9/13/2002

Sept. 12/02

Brent gets so annoyed with me, acts like I am stupid and doesn't give any weight to anything I say lately. The other day he wanted books for school, while I was making supper. I told him to phone Chapters and ask if they have it and what time it was open. He acted like I was stupid, of course they have the book it is a bookstore, and he wouldn't phone. Later, much later he went with Adam and it was closed. He went the next day and they didn't have it. Why wouldn't he just have phoned, saved the trouble or just say he didn't feel like it instead of treating me like an idiot.

This morning he was busy looking for his Cisco Certificates, the same ones I suggested he gather up last week when he found out he might be able to get out of the course because he already has done it. He just shook his head, rolled his eyes and said that if they wanted anything they would just get it off the Internet. So why was he looking for it at the last minute? I am not expecting him to take my advice even a quarter of the time, but treat me like I have even a tiny brain in my head. A little respect would help.

Baseball story from Monica for school

During the summer, I mostly played baseball. We had tons of tournaments and some fun games. I pitched a lot, I'm the starting pitcher. I’m also the fastest runner on my team and the best base stealer. This September I am trying out for every rep baseball team I want to be on. Baseball is my favourite sport, and I have played it since I was five. My Daddy had been my coach for three years. He has a health problem and he might not be coaching next year, he is the best
coach.

Monica

Good news, Brent said that some of his friends were at the Alexio's party on Sunday and they said that the adults were all stinking drunk. That would be nice if it wasn't just all me but I don't even remember them even being there so what do I know? It is just the drunkest I have ever been since I was a teen myself.

Nadia had to go to downtown Toronto today to so some work for the NFL, she will have to go there for about 3 days. She is beat.

Went to the Rep volleyball tryout, Monica played well. There are a lot of kids from one school, the coach who runs the whole organization so I imagine they will all make it regardless of talent. Can't think of a better way to improve your school team that constant practice of a rep team. There is little doubt, they will all make it.

Annie at 9/13/2002 03:35:00 a.m.


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9/12/2002

Sept 11/02

Today was weird, every now and then you would remember something insignificant about something you did last year on this date and it is only because you are thinking about the terrorist attack last year. It is so sad.

I had my eyes checked and they put the stuff in that dilates your pupils and then I went out to lunch with Dave and Marita, I could barely see. Bumped into Dave's friend Steve who has gained so much weight I didn't even recognize him.

Caesar is one today. We bought him a new Ivana Humpalot, a huge stuffed St Bernard. He destroyed the other one. I like that he only uses Ivana to hump, never touched a human except the one time with Stacy and he got fix right away so I think he made the connection! All the kids went crazy for the Beezer today and he did feel special.

April stayed after school to watch the football team practice but by the time she walked to Shopper's Drug Mart she was ready for a ride.

Derrick came over even though Nadia didn't expect him and then they went out for fruit cocktail. I really like that he drops by unexpectedly.

Stacy went out with her girlfriends, kidnapped Kate's boyfriend. The dressed up in dollar store costumes and went to No Frills with Jodi dressed up in a Halloween costume. Jessie wanted no part of it just wanted Jodi to go away. It must have been funny.

Stacy wants to go away for March break to either Quebec or Cuba. I am very leery of March breaks, things are just too crazy and when teenagers get in trouble which they do a lot on March breaks no one takes them seriously. I don't want to tell her horror stories but even me, having been shot at for no good reason at March break in California still wakes me up at night. Then there is Cindy's sister in law, they couldn't even find her for weeks after March break in Florida. What ever happened to her there caused internal injuries and she has never been able to have children because of it. I think it was a gang bang and they tried to do away with her or something like that.

I know the trouble, not just from me but almost any one who has ever gone on one. It is not safe. Besides, she needs to save her money because she has to pay for school! Anyway, I mentioned the saving for college but I am not going to try to make up her mind for her.

Email from Crystal
Hey, I am very happy to hear that you still have it. I didn't know that you would of finished it after Brent and I broke up. I know I was important to the family as well but still the same I didn't think you'd finish it. Thank you. Ya my new job is a waitressing job. I am also going to try to fit in a job at a Spa because they are supposed to call me back too. We'll see which one I like better and I guess I will just try to keep the better paying more hours one. How is life going with you and How is Brents year going so far in College. I really would like to hear about everyone. I look forward to hearing back!

Love Always,
Crystal

Annie at 9/12/2002 04:24:00 a.m.


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9/11/2002

Sept 10/02

I really don't feel good, I think it is my sinuses now. I was up most of the night and I would take something and then want something else because it hurt so much. I kept waking up James because it ached so badly.

April had her business report project about herself and the teacher said that she was the one person in the class that had a good public speaking voice. Her cousin is in the same class and reported to the class that her big family was a bother but April said it was great except for one person and looked at her. I am glad they can joke together like that.

I took Monica to the rep Volleyball tryouts. There were so many teachers there that I recognized, all good coaches. It looks like it would be fun, but Monica is short and in grade seven so I don't think she will make it this year. It might be good for her to be rejected for once.

Stacy took the car to Jessie's hockey tryout. He didn't play so they sat together. He was at the hospital for test during the day because his stomach has been hurting him for weeks. Stacy was trying to figure out where he was and was worried and even got me to phone his house where I found out he was at the hospital. Jessie came back over for a while after. She kept saying "My poor Jessie"

Annie at 9/11/2002 04:12:00 a.m.


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9/10/2002

September 9/02

Day 2 of my worst hangover, ever! This is the part where most people begin to think that maybe it isn't a hangover, maybe it is the flu. No, I will make no excuses, I am hung over big time! Apparently the more sugary the drink the meaner the hangover. Probably bull but at least it gives me a reason to feel this bad right now. I won't be drinking Smirnoff Ice ever again!!!!! No way, it is on my never again list.

Never again
1. Is still Rum for 30 years and going strong,
2. Gilbey's lemon gin,
3. Amerato.
4. Smirnoff Ice

The Internet was down for a couple of days but Brent just got it working tonight.

Gramma just got home from a little trip to Barrie. I am glad that she finds things to do. She was actually golfing in this heat. It is in the 30's C, strange weather for September!

April is doing a project on herself for her business class, she printed out dozens of pictures for it. Monica tried to start a project at 11 but James wouldn't let her. She is trying to put too much into everyday.

I made the rep squirt video today, I just have to do the intro and the ending.

Nadia is out with Derrick late.

Brent is trying to find a bookstore that is still open. He seems to think that Chapters is open 24 hours a day.

Email to Crystal

Hi Crystal
I hope you are doing well and are had a great summer!
I understand that you have a new boyfriend and that is why I am emailing you instead of just dropping the tape off. I made the changes that you wanted to your vcr tape but I wanted to make sure that you still wanted it, it is a cute keepsake. I don't want to intrude or anything so if you just contact me on here. I can get it to you or not.

Hope to hear from you soon
Love Annie



Email from Crystal

Hey, how's it going. I would love that video as a keepsake if you still haven't thrown it out. I just open my hotmail today for the first time in a very long time. I had 300 garbage messages. Oh well. Um, I am currently starting a job so I am not sure what my hours are yet, but if you still have the video I would love it. I will get back to you soon with my hours so I can arrange to pick it up if that's okay with you.

Love always,
Crystal

Annie at 9/10/2002 04:53:00 a.m.


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9/09/2002

Sept 8/02

I am death warmed over, so hung over that James made me take gravol and that didn't help very much. I have mush brain and my eyes are so puffy and purple that I am glad I wear glasses to help hide it a bit. James is sore from doing the splits last night in volleyball! I had to sit for the rest of the day in the horrible shape I was in, feeling sorry for myself and tried to watch baseball. I didn't want anyone to know how bad I was feeling but James needed to share my experiences with the team parents, blast him! Oh well, I would have done the same thing to him too!

Today's games was a challenge only because their coach was playing head games. He was coaching on third with his hands cupped around his eyes trying to peer into Monica's glove to see what kind of ball she was going to pitch and then he would yell it out when she was releasing. He has a booming voice and he is an impressive size about 6'6", a huge cop of a man. It frazzled her for a few pitches and then she was ok but it really upset the parents so that they were razzing their pitchers. Their coach threatened to punch one of our parents out. We won and unfortunately all their staff coaches aren't really talking to each other. I think that there is going to be serious defecting away from that team.

Monica played so well but for some reason Joe started Sheena against in the final game. Our other coach couldn't believe it, said, "Great, now we start off with a 4 nothing deficit" He was right. When he put Monica in her pitching was awesome as usual and you can see her enjoy striking out the top four batters. Again it was unbearably hot and the diamond was just baking. We came in third in the playoffs, bronze. Not bad for a tier 2 team. It was a very good year.

Stacy spent a lot of time with the dog today; she took him to the waterfront, and cuddled with him for a movie. He is such a sucky poo.

Annie at 9/09/2002 04:29:00 a.m.


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9/08/2002

Sept 7/02

We played the tier one team today and they beat us by 1. The parents of the team said that our team scares them more than any other team. Monica's pitching was excellent. The president of the league told me again that they need Monica on the tier 1 team, their pitcher is slowing down. She said that she wants James because the old coaching has gone as far as it can go. He has nothing else to teach them. She said that James is an excellent coach and she wants him on that team too.

We beat Newmarket in the afternoon. It is stinking hot in the mid 30's, especially on the infield. I don't know how the girls can play in that because I found it hard even being near the infield taking pictures. The heat radiating from the infield leaves you wilted. Monica threw 9 pitches in the first 2 innings and 11 in the third and we were so far ahead that Joe put Sheena in.

Another team assistant coach said that his coaches want Monica on their team but the head doesn't because he knows his daughter won't be pitching. The coaching staff on that team are all not happy at all with the head coach.

I went to watch Stacy's try out and it was disappointing to hear all the grunbling about the coach already. I think they are trying to take the team away from the old coach. James and I wanted nothing to do with it and took Caesar for a walk to avoid the complaining.

Next I went to pick up April from her select party at the Alexio's. It was 2 select teams, Aprils and Monica's old team so we knew basically all the parents. I thought I was just picking up April from a party that was winding down because there were people leaving but in the back yard they were loud and having a great party. Lana was pretty drunk even when I got there because the party had been in progress for most of the afternoon.

I phoned James but he was exhausted from our day too. I finally convinced him to come after a few phone calls. I was offered a cooler, I accepted but I wish I hadn't because I had an empty stomach and I really felt the first one. Which means I didn't know when my cut off was. I got so drunk, that the ground felt slanted. I was driven home and sick the moment I got to the bathroom, very sick. I was sick all night.

James played Volleyball and had some drinks, enough to let him do the splits trying to get the volleyball! When they ran out of beer they asked James to go home and get some beer, and James came back with 2- 24's! It really was a crazy night.

April had Amanda and Erin overnight after the select party. Nadia recognized how drunk I was (how could she not?) and kept me out of the way of April's sleepover, which I really appreciate. I feel so bad that I wasn't the responsible person I should have been when April had friend's over. If they had seen me what a good impression I would have made!

Stacy was out with Brent and his friends over to some gut I have heard of but don't really know, just that he had a crush on Chrissie when Brent took her to prom. I got a late night phone call asking if Stacy knew where Steve's keys were but she said it was just a joke. I wouldn't put her through because it was too late.

Annie at 9/08/2002 04:27:00 a.m.


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9/07/2002

September 6/02

We took Caesar in to get his hair cut and they buzzed him and gave him a pompom on his tail! His masculinity is in jeopardy! When they saw how big he was they upped the price from $40. to $60. We came in ahead of schedule against the owners direct orders and I am glad we did. She was with another dog, yelling, screaming and generally bullying the poor little dog. I was not happy to see my dog huddled and whimpering in a crate that was half his size. We won't be back.

Monica's team finally got to play in their softball league playoffs but not without delays. It started late, had trouble with the lights, pitching mound and the lines were off. We won but we were behind for most of the game. I am getting a lot of pressure to put Monica into Tier 1, from the president of the entire league too. She says that the other pitcher has slowed down and that the other pitcher is leaving. She also mentioned that people are saying that the coach has taught them all he can and it is time for someone new to step in. Four people are threatening to leave for another tier 1 team and if they see a change with Monica and James coaching they will be encouraged to stay.

When we got home there was no one home. Stacy was at a party with Jessie, address unknown. They came home and stayed in the basement for a while.

April was at Andrew birthday party (the guy who used to tease her unmercifully) and came home fairly late so that Monica noticed. I told Monica that it was different when you are in grade nine and not to get any ideas about doing stuff like that now.

Amy got really upset with Coral and Stacy for changing their gym electives from bowling to volleyball and didn't speak to them for the rest of the day. Both Stacy and Coral were on school teams for volleyball in elementary school, so why wouldn't they want to play it? Amy has other girls she knows in bowling so she should be ok.

Annie at 9/07/2002 04:21:00 a.m.


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9/06/2002

Sept 5/02

My girl's, the hoochie mamas

Here we go again! You would think that my girls are a bunch of hoes the way the school is treating them. They look nice dammit. Of all the kids I have seen at school today, they are the least offensive in their dress.

Monica got called to the office today for dressing inappropriately. I couldn't believe that they picked that top to complain about. Even if Monica puts her hands up, you still cannot see her stomach. I went to the office to say that blasted Teacher that April had last school year is now complaining about Monica just to throw her weight around. HEHE. She actually went into Monica's science class and told her that her top was too short. Then at recess she hauled her down to the office. They made Monica write a letter saying why she was down there and Monica wouldn't write in the note that what she was wearing was inappropriate. They tried twice to tell her what to say in the letter. When they complained to me about it I said that it was because Monica didn't believe that the top was wrong and that she shouldn't have to write what she doesn't believe. In front of the principal I agreed with my daughter. I congratulated Monica for standing up for herself and not letting anyone make her do something she doesn't believe in. I told the principal that I was not going to let that teacher make life miserable for my daughter like she did last year. I would rather have her in a different school than to let the teacher get away with unacceptable behaviour. I told her to phone any kid that was in grade 8 last year and ask how unfairly she treated my April. There is no fucking way that is going to happen again.

Caesar has a sore paw. He was out yesterday with April for a couple of hours and he was in the tennis courts chasing kids on their bikes. I guess he got a blister on his paw because he is lying around and doesn't even want to go for walks.

Brent is in Cisco class so they told him not to come until next Thursday until they discuss what they are going to do with the four students that have already taken it. He says that the college is like the United Nations with, Brent and Adam and one other guy being the only white kids.

Nadia had Derrick over for the evening

Jessie pretended to have April put in a locker. . It was nice to have Jessie be so very talkative to James and I at No Frills tonight.

We went to Mark and Carrie's for the evening. I thought it was Wednesday but they wanted us over anyway.

I found out that mom and Dave and Kathy are on the outs. Mom really did it this time. Kathy and Dave paid a tax bill for mom when mom was out of town, (Kathy's dad gave Kathy the bill and they just decided to pay it) Mom thinks that they are trying to get the property away from her so she verbally attacked Bill, Kathy's father at a time where he is mentally incapable of handling such an act. His wife is in the final stages of Parkinson's.

Oh mom, why would you do this? Your paranoia is showing again. Actually I don't think it is paranoia at all, rather her attempts to have attention throw her way. This time it is close to unforgivable.

I didn't know anything about what has been happening this summer. All I knew is that Kathy paid the bill and when mom told me that complaining I said that it is probably what I would have done too. Why does mom get herself into these predicaments? What a shame not putting your trust in anyone all your life. How lonely a life is that?

Annie at 9/06/2002 04:10:00 a.m.


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9/05/2002

Sep 4/02

Because of the trouble Stacy had at school yesterday I went to school with her. The guidance counsellor went out of her way to be friendly. She had Stacy's timetable all printed out. She asked Stacy why she didn't get it from her yesterday and Stacy explained part of it, that when she found her it was too late. She didn't say that it was because she had just finished trying to center her out. Stacy has a spare until they can find a course for her. She is on a waiting list.

I drove Brent to Centennial to get rid of his English. He phoned me from mom's in the afternoon saying he wasn't feeling well and wasn't going to school in the afternoon. I wouldn't pick him up. He should have gone no matter how bad he felt. He did stay home at night though.

Derrick has lost weight this summer and his manual labour job has toned up his body so that he is in great shape. He still has a big appetite and unfortunately Nadia has not been very active this summer and she is not in the shape she should be in. I hope this doesn't hurt their relationship but Nadia needs to watch her appearance.

We had to go and look for April at 9:30 she was walking the dog but she was almost 2 hours doing it and it is school nights again.

Annie at 9/05/2002 04:54:00 a.m.


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9/04/2002

Sept 3/02

As usual, the first day of school was a zoo here. Everyone wanted a shower so I didn't get one. Well I could have if I wanted a freaking frozen fanny. Monica ran at 7 with James J., Brent left at 7, I didn't even have to wake him!!! Derrick picked up Nadia and Coral drove both Stacy and April. No driving for me!

April panicked when she couldn't find her schedule and lock. I remember being a little grade 9er!
I walked to school with Monica, thankfully she wanted me to walk her. It has always been a tradition that I walk the kids the first day. After the bell, I went out to Timmy's with Marita, and Olivia. Braden's mom sat with us for a while too. She looks at me as if my April was the evil girl who is luring her son into bad thoughts. If she only knew how much he is encouraging April to keep coming back. I wish she would just give up and move on.

When I got back home there were 9 messages from Stacy. She had been sent home because her top showed some of her stomach, a little bit. Stacy looked very nice, it was a conservative top and it really upset her. She tried a bunch of tops on that she has been wearing all along and they were all just as short, her stomach was showing a tiny bit. The top that she wore when she returned to school with a jacket wrapped around her waist will also be labelled as inappropriate. As I told the guidance councillor on the phone, she was too concerned about what Stacy was wearing rather than helping Stacy with her schedule, which was not right. I went out in the afternoon and found some longer tops but it is really hard because the styles are all short waisted and the pants are all low cut. I bumped into Stacy and her friends at the mall so I showed her the tops and I bought her them. I wasn't going to buy her clothes anymore but she just spent her money on tops that she is no longer able to wear at school.

Monica got told not to wear her black shorts to school. Monica asked me what 69, meant at lunchtime. She said she knew it was something bad because the kids were fighting about who would get that locker number. I asked her if she knew what oral sex was, she said no, so I have a lot of explaining to do. I asked her to give me some time to figure out just what I am going to say or how I am going to say it. She wanted me to just skip to the 69 part but she doesn't really know about any kind of sex so that would not be a good place to start.

Monica had a softball game so we went to eat at Sports garden later. The guy who gave me information about Crohn's disease was there, he recently got out of the hospital to reverse the bag. He has Crohn's like James and I have been talking a lot to him about it last winter.

Nadia and Derrick just sat around our house tonight. One of their teachers, made them help with his presentation at school today for the first year students so they both had to impromptu public speak. It is good practice for both of them to be put on the spot like that.

Annie at 9/04/2002 04:46:00 a.m.


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9/03/2002

Sep 2/02

Stacy enjoyed her late night trip, she said that there was a lot of kids at Tim Horton's by the 401.When they were leaving a guy banged into the van and wanted Stacy to hang out with them. Stacy recognized the guy as one of Jessie acquaintances and told him she was Jessie Black's girlfriend. Then someone else said, Mario's son and they all started yelling "Mario’s Boozer's" for the summer hockey team.

Stacy said her and Jessie were play fighting real hard and her friends say that they looked like wild animals having sex. That is kind of what our friends used to say about James and I. Johnny used to come over a lot and say that he didn't need sex anymore if he could watch James and I play fight.

Stacy went to the movies with Jessie.

For most of the day Monica and Stacy tried to clean their rooms so that they can move in together. April and Nadia are not helping at all.

Derrick came home from his trailer.

It was frustrating to strip down to take a shower late this evening only to find no clean towels, anywhere. Gurrr, we have so many. I looked in the kids rooms and there they were, all piled up dirty so I had to put a load on for tomorrow.

Annie at 9/03/2002 04:35:00 a.m.


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9/02/2002

September 1/02

I am so happy to see Stacy was out and about with her sisters again in the van. It is making them closer and she loves to drive them places.

We visited James's mom for the afternoon. My niece was visiting too and she was saying that her sister is really giving her parents a hard time. She can't understand because why she says her parents are the best. It is strange how two kids from the same family can think of their parents so differently.

Stacy had friends over and finally some of Jessie's friends. She really wants to all of them to get together more often so that Jessie and her will have a lot more in common. She is trying hard to make it work this time so I am glad Jessie came. Melissa and Amy kept going out for cigarette break. I guess that means Amy is smoking too. Just one more person with bad breath. The girls found our tickle trunk so Sandra dressed up as a clown and drove some people home. Jessie was here for quite a while after he drove some kids home so I guess he is keeping regular teenage hours. I am glad he is off of his curfew.

Jodi and Amy stayed overnight but they went out to the Wendy's drive through about 1am.

Monica stayed all day at Holly's. I forgot that we had grounded her after 9 and let her go overnight last night. I hate grounding but we never do it for long because I want my kids to have a good social life. She was at Kate's tonight and phoned me after nine. I reminded her of her curfew so she came home but she stayed up really late tonight.

April wanted to go out again to stay over night at Tara's after spending the whole evening with Erin and her old boyfriend . Tara's parents are away for four days. We kept saying no (why did she even ask after the other night?) and then she said that Tasha wasn't allowed to stay overnight either but she could stay there until 12. I just finished telling her the other night, you don’t start your evening after 11, hello…?

Nadia went out with Natasha and is making gel candles and painting frames.

Brent ended up at the Doobie Brothers near the high school. Brent came home late saying that Keefer was too drunk to drive and that his van would be outside our house with the keys in our mailbox for him to pick up. I guess that means that Brent drove the van home, how else would that happen? I wish he would get his G2.

Annie at 9/02/2002 04:59:00 a.m.


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9/01/2002

August 31/02

We didn't go up to the cottage, 3 out of 5 kids bailed out on us. April was very vocal about not going yesterday so that is why I decided to stay home. Funny but later today she said that she changed her mind, now she wanted to go. What a difference a day makes. She was very pleasant today, none of the anger was left over from yesterday.

I bought April some school clothes, without her since she won't go anywhere near a mall, and Nadia birthday present. I didn't want to buy any clothes for Nadia because I want her to loose weight.

Stacy took the kids out shopping too and then she took the dog to the waterfront with April for a long walk and a swim. It is so nice that Stacy has her license and is using it for good (taking out kids and dog, with our family) and not for evil (partying all the time, with the friends!).

April didn't even ask to go out with her friends today. Monica went to Holly's for a sleepover leaving Cory and Cody constantly phoning here. The constant phone calls were very irritating especially when they knew she wasn't home.

Nadia went to Natasha's house for the evening.

I spent the evening taping 12 baseball video's for Stacy's team. I finished the video, a collection of pictures put to music. I like having them perfectly in sync with what is happening with the words and the pace of the song. Nadia says that my constant repetition of songs can ruin the song for her, but if I like the music I never tire of it. In fact sometimes I crave a tune so much that I have to play it repetitively just to get it out of my system. Anyway my stupid computer won't save in Presentations right now, I couldn't record them to cd so I had to tediously tape them all on the spot. It was soooo boring.

Stacy hung out with Brent, Jodi and Coral in the hood. They cruised around town, with kids in other cars and met up at the High School's parking lot. One of the Doobie brothers raced around squealing his tires, doing donuts, just generally showing off. Soon, the police were on the scene, searched the vehicles with flashlights, checked everyone's ID's. They commented on the fact that Brent and Stacy were brother and sister and commented at how unusual it was and said "at least they get along." The cop took the tire squealer aside and had a long talk, probably because they realized he was high on something.

Then our neighbourhood was under siege with dozens of kids. Our house used to be identified as the house with all the bikes boards on the front lawn. Now it's the house with all the cars. Our neighbours aren't going to be too pleased with the noise tonight. They hung around on the road in front of our house sharing their music techno crap while they shouted above the music using a megaphone. They were honking their horns while their stereo's vibrated our house. Our kids were worried that they were disturbing our neighbours so late at night. I told them that it might be more effective if the neighbours called the police. I mean they know what they are doing and the amount of noise they were making. They are not accountable to me. The neighbours probably wouldn't call out of respect to me but I have told them to feel free if things look like they are out of control. It takes a whole town to raise a kid so I don't mind at all if they feel the need to call the police. Stacy didn't want them getting themselves in trouble so she tried to quiet them down and that is when they left. I will hold my head up high when I greet my neighbours. As I was told many years before, be careful how you judge these young teens, have alot of tolerance and remember your own kids have to go through the teen years too! Better to let the police handle it than cause bad feelings.

Annie at 9/01/2002 04:58:00 a.m.


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