Another Shot in the Arm

Yesterday we got our 2nd rabies shot, in the series of 3, plus a few others including the Typhoid one. In case you're wondering why we're doing them so far ahead of our departure, it's simply to avoid having the kids get a whole pile of shots in a short space of time.
We're trying to spread them over the next 10 months so as not to overwhelm their immune system with all this foreign material, and also not overwhelm them with pain! If you look at Jackson in this picture, the word pain pretty much summarizes the expression on his face. Mitchell seems to be taking it all in stride, though. We tried to explain to Jackson the concept behind vaccines - namely, how this little bit of pain prevents far graver illness. He then asked, "so I won't get sick again? I won't get a cold?" Ah, little one. No cure for the common cold. Adults are smart but we aren't that smart.
I found that my arm that got the typoid shot was pretty sore today - I looked like a bit of a fool in the parking lot of the school I was at today, trying to hurl my heavy suitcase of materials into the back of my car with my one good arm. But the good news is that, truly, all our vaccinations are covered! What a blessing that is. Ciao for now.

Bring Soccer to Ottawa!

Eugene Melnyk, owner of the Ottawa Senators, wants to bring soccer to Ottawa. The soccer team is going to be in the professional soccer league (Major League Soccer). He would build a $100 million, 30,000-seat soccer-specific stadium, near Scotiabank Place where the Senators play. I think that it would be good for Ottawa because we hardly have any pro league sports in Ottawa. We would also get to see alot of different sports teams play, like the Toronto FC and the LA Galaxies.

On our trip, we might get to see some International Soccer games. Here are some countries we will be visiting that have professional soccer teams: France, Italy, Spain, New Zealand, Australia, United Arab Emirates, Vietnam, Thailand, Laos, Singapore, Cambodia, Japan, Samoa, Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, and maybe even Lesotho.

Viewer Discretion Advised

This blog is not for the squeamish . . . thanks to a visit from my talented niece, Tenille. Tenille was here over the Labour Day long weekend and we took in Le Carnivale Lune Bleu (a 1930s-type carnival complete with freak shows), hiked in Gatineau Park, and played around with her make-up.

Tenille is midway through a professional make-up program that includes learning to do make-up for film, theatre, fashion, etc. She is just finishing the prosthetics course and has been doing very well, molding bald heads, wig-knotting beards, and creating bruises, welts, cuts and what have you. It is so great when someone finds their niche, their passion. I predict she will have a great career.

But back to the weekend, she offered to give the boys a black eye or cool scar but they were a bit reluctant (may have had something to do with having to sit still for an extended period of time, go figure). So I gamely volunteered. I thought a black eye might not go over too well at work, so I offered up my arm for a deep gash. Oh my.

The plan was to go for a walk in the neighbourhood with the gash and giggle at the horrified reactions, but it didn't quite work out that way. Once Tenille was finished with the mortician's wax, skin illustrator paints, and other various tools, I could hardly look at my bloody, bruised arm. I honestly felt a bit sick to my stomach so off it came in the wash. I swear my arm even hurt a bit, but I know it was just psychological. I could never be a doctor. Or a make-up artist either, apparently.

And for one more piece of horror . . . we got a call today from the Travel Health Clinic. The rabies shots have arrived. Here comes one more assault to my arm!