My People

Have you wondered yet why my blog is called “when do we sleep??”?  Very simple – I don’t.

I work 17, play 1 and sleep 6.  People tell me you have to have a balanced life so I make sure I do.  I have people.  People in my life are what keep me going everyday. 

My time consists of KLIC Photographic Design and looking after my 7 children.  No, I don’t have 7 kids but it does seem that way on some days.  I live with my husband, 3 children, standard poodle, evil cat, and ball python. 

I should explain I really don’t do anything at home.  I don’t take out the garbage, grocery shop or put away dishes.  My husband does all the cooking, laundry and running around with the kids, taking and picking them up from friends, etc.  I’m just the dictator.  I make sure my husband knows everyday where the kids are supposed to be, be with, what time and until when.  Believe it or not – it’s quite a complicated job!  I get involved when it’s big like school plays, music concerts, sports games, etc.  Anything as a parent you just don’t want to miss.  I have to be there – it’s a part of me and it would rip my heart out to miss those opportunities.  My work schedule is around them even if it means I’m up until 5 in the morning making the deadline.

I do clean our house but mostly, I make sure my children (1 biological and 2 stepchildren) have chores.  They are responsible for keeping the house tidy.  I’m a freak when it comes to tidyness.  I don’t like anything out of order but really what’s worse than looking for something that hasn’t been put away properly.  When my house has become a burden I try not to panic and call my cleaner.  She comes in and what would take me a full day to clean she does in less than 2 hours.  There is nothing better than a good smelling home to walk into every day.

 I only have 2 other responsibilities at home which are taking care of our financials – boring…and making sure our children have an education.  Doing well in school is a huge priority to me.  I believe education is everything and knowledge is power.  Then again, our son is in French Emmersion (we’re not french-no help here) and my husband is the one that actually sits down with them to finish their homework.  I just mull around and fill in the blanks when they’re blank.

I don’t even have to buy my own clothes.  My sisters are responsible for my wardrobe, it’s true.  I think shopping is a waste of time and money.  My oldest sister sends clothes from Calgary that she thinks will fit and my middle sister drops bags of clothes off every 9 months or so.  As long as I look nice I don’t care about name brands or what’s “in”.  For some reason, people as in total strangers, give me coats.  Really nice coats, brand new fur coats, leather and wool.  I like coats.  I think I have only bought one coat my whole life – weird.  I’m a big spender, new roof, furntiture, cars, etc. but could care less about the little stuff.  I don’t mean big spender as in we have a lot of money being thrown around – no, it’s all borrowed.  I mean I like the research into buying large items.  And I do research.

 I love to garden and putsy around outside.  Unfortunately, my landscaper (who is a client of mine) would rather I stay out of his dirt.  I killed a whole section off this year and…we don’t have a lot of garden!  I could stand out there for hours just watering.  Every time I come in from outside my kids scatter.  They know I’m coming in all excited about a new flower that has just popped up.  I make them go on garden tours with me around our property on a weekly basis in the summer.  You have to see how small our backyard is to really appreciate this humour.

I have more tools than my husband.  That is the truth.  My husband doesn’t even know what most of the tools are for.  I will start a job than get my brother or a professional to finish the job.  I got my brother to help rip apart the upstairs of our house and of course, he finished the job.  We were a little late with the renovations since he smashed his thumb, went to the hospital and was laid of with a broken hand for 3 weeks.  I couldn’t do anything without his help.  That’s what he told me anyways.

Because of the renovations and the extent of the renovations we have really good friends.  Our carpenter, electrician, plumber, drywaller, and taper, even our chinese food delivery person.  Our painter never came back.  Not because we were nasty but because she knew she would be crazy to come.  I like to work and be with working people – hard. 

I would rather sit down and talk to my family than anything else.  All of my family.  I keep in touch with all of my immediate family on a regular basis by telephone, email or in person and you’ve probably guessed right, I get homesick easily.  Wonder why?  Family to me makes the world go round.

I have a cottage up north that I attend regularly and it is probably the only place you can’t mess with.  It’s my sanction.  It’s my home away from home.  Every leaf, wave and sunset are new with every morning we wake.  I can’t get enough of it.  It’s hard to stay up there for more than 2 days because I’m a work-a-holic.  Yes, I can admit it.  So, when we are there it can only be one thing – peaceful.  Even when the kids bring up friends, screaming and splashing, it is exhilerating and stress free.  The owner of the local marina takes care of the boat and my dad takes care of the major problems like trees falling.  With so many people renting our cottage it has to run smoothly and with organization.

I haven’t even touched on my friends, most of them from the industry who make me laugh off the little problems and take care of the big concerns.  Then there are my old school friends.  We even named ourselves the slipper sisters to make sure we never stop our monthly get togethers.  With some of us living a few hours away it is tricky to arrange our trips but it is so rewarding for us.  We just sit and chat.  I wish all people from all walks of life have this kind of support group to count on.  This is what life is all about.

The people I use on a daily basis for my business are the most amazing people I have ever met.  If it wasn’t for them I would not enjoy my long days, late nights and no returns.  I have a studio manager who does all my daily tasks.  Two financial advisors, one for me personnally and one for my family.  Two lawyers, one for me personally and one for my business and real estate.  My cell phone guy.  A caterer.  My web-designer who is constantly working.  My program operators and designers.  My editor.  No she didn’t write this copy can you tell.  My printers for copy and photography.  My suppliers who have stuck by me for over ten years.  My album designers and my framers.  I could not live without the help and constant support of my people.  I even have a blog person who taught me what a blog was…I had no idea!

I am a mom, a wife, a sister, a child, a daughter, an aunt, a friend, and a best friend, a cousin first, second and third, a sole propriator, an entrepreneur, a volunteer, an artist, a photographer, a Canadian.  I am.  If I wasn’t thankful everyday for all the wonderful, amazing, I can’t say enough about people in my life I would not be as successful as I am today. 

Visit us at www.klicphotographicdesign.com.