Brianna was in gymnastics for a couple of years, and I really thought she liked it. Obviously, she didn't have the same views about it as I did -- I saw her progress from a clumsy child to one able to walk a balance beam with ease. It was so nice to have her in a program that offered excersize, teamwork, coordination, new friends... and she liked it.
Now, not so much.
The Little Gym in our town also offers dance and karate. I aksed her if she wanted to switch into another program (partly because we had already paid for another semester), and I was sure she would have said dance. "Oh, I already know how to dance," was her response. Karate it is.
She loved the new class, and especially loved her gi. Now -- a couple of months later -- she has no interest in going. I have no interest in taking her somewhere she's unhappy going, but she made a commitment to the semester and should at least finish it.
I didn't take her the last couple of weeks, and I'm regretting it. I should have put my foot down and told her she's going.
She's shown interest in music... my sister and step-mom have pianos and she's drawn to them whenever she visits (she was thrilled to learn "Ode To Joy" on her grandma's piano). She was also given a guitar from her great-grandpa and she wanted to learn to play it, but when I bring up music lessons she hums and haws.
She's always loved art... she has an easel downstairs and a huge stash of paint. She'll often paint a picture or two. She says she wants to go to art school, but I had to explain that would when she is much older. I suppose I could look into some sort of classes.
She wanted to join a musical theatre group this season, but her 6th birthday is not till June so she was considered too young.
I just don't know if I can sign her up for something just to have her realize it's not a play date. She has to work at it. She has to practice. She has to behave and pay attention. Am I too cynical? Simple fact: we can not afford to waste money on something she's going to drop after a couple of classes. On the other hand, how do I know what she'll like if she doesn't try it?
Sigh.
In March, Mike and I took off for a few days (sans rug rats) to check out St. John's, Newfoundland. We have always wanted to see the other side of this great nation (Canada that is), and the time was finally right. Well, to be honest, we were trying to decide what time of year to go -- summer being the best bet -- but I found out that Great Big Sea would be playing in their hometown in March...
"Honey, we're going in March!"
We mainly stayed in the St. John's, but we did take a road trip around part of Conception Bay. The city and surrounding area is gorgeous, and every person we met was friendly and happy to chat with anyone "come from away".
Every house in Downtown St, John's is brightly coloured and most of the houses are attached in rows. Doesn't make it very safe if there's a big fire, but they are so amazing! 3 (sometimes 4) full levels of heritage details that take you back 100 years! The hills are killer if you are out of shape... uh... like me. The photo on the right is one of my faves! I took it from an excellent vantage point on the harbour!
I arranged for a tour of St. John's, Quidi Vidi, Cape Spear & Petty Harbour. It was well worth it! Cape Spear is the eastern most point of North America. We just wouldn't have been true Canadians if we didn't take our Timmy's with us! It was so cold out, any drops of hot coffee/tea on the lid were frozen by the time we got back to the car! Quidi Vidi is a village within St. John's. Complete with a micro brewery with the same name, the village is really an entity of it's own. It even has it's own harbour and passage to the Atlantic! It was this village that really made Mike fall in love with St. John's.
Brigus is a wee town nestled in a quiet harbour off Conception Bay. If you're looking at a map of the Bay, Brigus is between Carbonear and Conception Bay South. The place was very quiet while we were there. So quiet in fact, it seemed like something out of a Hitchcock movie! I liked the fact that the two churches in town, and their cemetaries, had some of the best real estate! I call the photo on the right "A View For Eternity".
When we got back to our B&B, we asked the owner about the strange -- but beautiful -- town and he seemed unconcerned about the fact that we did not see one soul the whole time we were there!
Bill: "Well, it's some cold out. No reason to go outside today."
Me: "It seemed so strange! I saw one dog barking though a living room window, but there was no other signs of life save for some laundry hanging on the line. No lights on... nothing!"
Bill (with a chuckle): "It's still daytime. I don't have the lights on either!"
And as I looked around I realized he didn't! It was getting dusky, but we could see just fine. I guess it's a habit born into folk who were raised generation after generation to use what you need, waste nothing, and save pennies where you can. I think westerners could learn a thing or two!
Me: "Do you think they knew we were there? We walked aroung a bit taking pictures."
Bill: "Oh yes, I bet they knew. They'll be talking about ya today and tomorrow. 'Did you see them?' they'll say! You made their day! "
Without a doubt, I'll be returning to Newfoundland. I made great friends, and really felt at home there!
PS: More on the Great Big Sea concert later!
