It's been a busy weekend, in a way.
Had a fabulous Thursday night out with one of my dearest girlfriends. We went and saw Greg Mortenson speak. It was an amazing night on a few levels, and terrible traffic on the way in to the presentation and monsoon rains didn't deter from our experience, more enriched it as only it could here on the west coast. What a humble man with an amazing vision. It is hard not be moved by what he has to say, and to agree that everything begins with building relationships (in terms of bringing change, you could say to the areas he is directing his energies towards but I think that limits his vision to a degree, or in the specific case of building schools in remote regions in Central Asia). It is also hard not to agree with how important education is, for both sexes. I am humbled at times by how grateful I am for my own education, how it has been a struggle at times, how I am still paying for it, and also the opportunities I have had, and perhaps will have in the future. How important it is to hold on to them, and to try to pay lessons and opportunities forward (that is the true power).
Part of our ticket price included a copy of his new book, and we faithfully stood in line and were the very last souls to get our books signed by him. My gal was amazed that he was a climber because his build didn't fit that of a typical climber, and that he had a different kind of physical presences. I had to laugh, because he came off in person as I would have expected him to - not necessarily comfortable in his skin, but it doesn't really matter in what is important to him. He didn't seem that comfortable in his suit, but he did seem comfortable talking to people, children especially. He spoke much of educating women, and the role that education women plays in improving overall quality of life. I think his unwavering approach and his being true to himself is his key to success and we can all take a few lessons from this graceful man. I was choked up a few times, hearing about his experiences, and the tales of wonder and woe from some of the world's most remote places.
So what do you say when you get to meet someone you greatly respect and admire and know through their writing?? Hi. Thanks. I stumbled for words, and I wonder how awkward I may have come off. I still stick by standard saying - when you are yourself, and authentic, even if you are stumbling, your sincerity does come across. I shock his hand, thanked him for being himself, and for doing what he does. Then we left for home (and a chai), a little inspired, maybe a little verklempt, and just glad.
Then out with a great big group of friends for dinner on Saturday night. I think there was at least 12 kids with us at this kid friendly restaurant. My eldest kid was doing laps of our section. Running. They were all yelling, and having a great time. I spent how many years waiting for him to run, and then he starts to run and get all flushed in the face in a restaurant (yes, he has already been running, but it is funny, he does lap after lap after lap of our big tables chasing the other 3 year old with an endless supply of energy and no time to stop and take drinks until his pizza arrived at which time it was okay to sit still for a minute or two). Timing, right? It was noisy. Nothing like having a dining experience with 32 of your closest friends.. It was fun, and I got to talk to mostly everyone. I must say, I enjoy smaller gatherings better. I want to look you in the eye and have a conversation that isn't rushed. I want a little bit of more controlled chaos, I want to bask in news, rather than feel I get to hear it, sort of talk about it, and then chase a kid down while worrying about whether or not the other one is getting over-tired and cranky. Could be the age our kids are, but I think I have shifted within myself from wanting the big noisy gatherings to enjoying a little less chaos. Who knew? There is a time and a place for everything...
And of course I have finished another book. This time it is Dunant's Sacred Hearts.I think I will recommend this one for my book club because it was excellent. It takes place during the Italian Renaissance in a fictional convent. It is about so many different elements - love, religion, politics, medicine, art, relationships, women... It was a novel read - I had never really thought about the freedom a woman could actually enjoy in a convent, but this book gave me pause and illuminated a few thoughts I have not considered before. It is beautifully written, and I was almost sad to reach the last page.
I think we have hit teething full on. Connor's lower gum is swollen, he has a red cheek, his nose his running, lots of drool, and frankly, he was a little miserable, starting from about 10 o'clock last night. Hopefully we will fare better tonight and will sleep better. So, here we are, just over six months old... Connor has not cut any teeth yet (could change) and he has an amazing amount of hair... we love to call it the party in the back. Connor can roll when he wants to, but he doesn't do it very often yet. He can sit on his own for a while, and from an incline, and pull himself up to a sit position. He is babbling, and when he is really upset, it almost sounds like he is calling for mama... he smiles a lot, and doesn't wake up crying. He watches Brandon a lot, and he loves to be up and likes the excersaucer we have for him. His eyes are still blue, and who knows what hair colour he will end up with. He loves to hold my fingers, and he is a different kind of cuddler, he wants to be up, and as close to you as he can be, but looking out. He loves to grab things, and shake things, and he has a pretty good range of motion. He has done awesome with food - no allergies have cropped up, and it seems a little hit and miss with some dinner combinations I have tried out. Apparently in our house, stew is on it's way out. Not big around here. My stew is the only food Connor gags on. Yeah. I am making all of his food from scratch, like I did for Brandon (except cereals, obviously). Connor loves to eat - he will grab food if you aren't watching carefully, it is funny! Makes Brandon seem not that adventurous when it comes to food. What else??? He is big, about 21 pounds, about 28 and a bit inches tall, and pretty healthy.
While I think about it, I should stretch this marathon post even further - at 3 and 1/2 Brandon is doing awesome. He is really TALL. And big, and strong. It is very assuring because I would be surprised to have smaller kids. Neither Ken nor I are built that way. Brandon has an amazing vocabulary, and we are working with him on the building blocks of reading, and yes, I love phonics. He still loves story time, and he is just getting in to dinosaurs. He still loves the movie Cars, but he will watch other movies, if he has too. He is still very much a poppa's boy and walks at the lake to feed the ducks is still a big hit. He is in swimming lessons, and I am going to see about going to the gym or picking up another sport in the next while. His walking, running, and jumping are coming along at a good pace, and he is pretty good about playing with other kids. Being off with me we are in our little world and play dates are huge to help keep up the social skills (not that he will ever be shy, but just in terms of interacting with other kids and playing nice.. ) He is learning preferences, and he is coming up with some great sayings... like I startled him the other day and he said to me "mom, now was that necessary?" I laughed. He is a cool kid when he isn't trying my patience. He is three, he has a lot of energy, and he is starting to push boundaries and not always act out, but just trying himself out, and expanding his own world. It is cool to see as he emerges from the toddler stage to the preschool stage and his world and his thoughts are just expanding.
Phew. I think that is enough for tonight. Once again, a book calls as the house is silent, although this one is not profound, it is escapist literature, a Nora Roberts book which are always good in a pinch for some light reading but a decent story.
Showing posts with label who knew?. Show all posts
Showing posts with label who knew?. Show all posts
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Well hello there 2010
It wasn't until I started looking at my various pins collected on Polar and Penguin plunges on New Years Day that I realized that it has been five years since my last glorious dip in to freezing water. I was on a hell of a streak between 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 . . . until once again, in 2010.
A few years have been bloody cold - wild winds, rain, snow, and just damn cold. For some reason, this felt like the year to get back at'er and do the plunge. Since the last time, I'm now married, have two kids, and things are on a similar but different track than before. I also figured it was a nice way to bookend the decade. In 2000 I went to English Bay, and yes, that was quite the experience. I had sambucca in a flask and smoked a cigar afterwards. It is a crazy run there in to the water, and you do feel a bit like a spectacle since thousands of people turn out to watch the 2000 or so hardy souls who do the plunge here. A few years we went out to Deep Cove to do the plunge. Nothing like hanging out on some rocks to make your run in and out in a truly beautiful setting. It almost felt colder, being able to look at the mountains and see the snow up close and personal.... this year, it seemed like other plans and ideas did not pan out, and I figured, here I live on the wet coast, and still haven't done a plunge close to my home community.
This year I did. Got there with a few minutes to spare, donned my lovely pink robe, and waited for the run in. The lovely organizing folks even added some ice cubes to the water to ensure that things were good and cold (ha, ha). I ran down the ramp, and then stood there, waist deep in the water. It wasn't bad. In fact it was quite refreshing. I looked around and then figured I should just go ahead and get the rest of me wet, so I did. Then I nonchalantly strolled out of the water. It was great. I am really glad I did it this year. Before I went in, I figured it could be one of my last times doing it.. coming out, I am psyched to do it again next year! Wash away the year, the decade, and start from scratch.
The one down side is that I saw pictures of myself in the bathing suit I was wearing. Oh my. I need something a little more flattering than that. The color is about the only part of that suit that is appealing. This prompted a quick trip to a local store to try on a new suit since they were on sale. Yeah, there goes my ego. Thank god my husband thinks I am sexy because the suits I tried on did nothing for me. Almost as bad as the one I wore to the swim... I need a new suit. Quick. Swimming lessons start up again this week!!!
A few years have been bloody cold - wild winds, rain, snow, and just damn cold. For some reason, this felt like the year to get back at'er and do the plunge. Since the last time, I'm now married, have two kids, and things are on a similar but different track than before. I also figured it was a nice way to bookend the decade. In 2000 I went to English Bay, and yes, that was quite the experience. I had sambucca in a flask and smoked a cigar afterwards. It is a crazy run there in to the water, and you do feel a bit like a spectacle since thousands of people turn out to watch the 2000 or so hardy souls who do the plunge here. A few years we went out to Deep Cove to do the plunge. Nothing like hanging out on some rocks to make your run in and out in a truly beautiful setting. It almost felt colder, being able to look at the mountains and see the snow up close and personal.... this year, it seemed like other plans and ideas did not pan out, and I figured, here I live on the wet coast, and still haven't done a plunge close to my home community.
This year I did. Got there with a few minutes to spare, donned my lovely pink robe, and waited for the run in. The lovely organizing folks even added some ice cubes to the water to ensure that things were good and cold (ha, ha). I ran down the ramp, and then stood there, waist deep in the water. It wasn't bad. In fact it was quite refreshing. I looked around and then figured I should just go ahead and get the rest of me wet, so I did. Then I nonchalantly strolled out of the water. It was great. I am really glad I did it this year. Before I went in, I figured it could be one of my last times doing it.. coming out, I am psyched to do it again next year! Wash away the year, the decade, and start from scratch.
The one down side is that I saw pictures of myself in the bathing suit I was wearing. Oh my. I need something a little more flattering than that. The color is about the only part of that suit that is appealing. This prompted a quick trip to a local store to try on a new suit since they were on sale. Yeah, there goes my ego. Thank god my husband thinks I am sexy because the suits I tried on did nothing for me. Almost as bad as the one I wore to the swim... I need a new suit. Quick. Swimming lessons start up again this week!!!
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Better than I expected
I just finished reading A million little pieces by James Frey... Like a few other books I have read in the past year, I am picking them up a few years after they were popular. Or in this case, perhaps notorious? I remember the big furor with the big O, and that parts of the autobiography could have been embellished for the sake of the story. Which brings up a few things for me.
Firstly, I didn't expect to really enjoy this novel. It is another one that I have been intrigued by, and well, I was a bit turned off by the hype a few years ago, although truly, I did not have a clue what the book was about. As much as you can say that you enjoyed a book like this, I truly did. It is a helluva story, a look in to addiction and alcoholism, and brutally honest (for lack of a better word in this moment), or frank, or just not prettied up. I found that I was compelled to keep reading, and that is was easy to work through, that I was interested to see what would happen to James, and good god, what a story if even a smidgeon of what he describes is accurate. Which, having known someone who was also successful through AA, probably not far off. I could appreciate how he referred to making a decision, taking responsibility for his actions, and choosing a different lifestyle from this moment on. You have to. In your own stark awareness, you have to make a choice for yourself and stick with it if you are going to be successful. I can only relate it to when I quit smoking - it was a decision I clearly made and deconstructed why I was smoking and when I smoked, and I quit cold turkey, I had one big relapse one night, looked at what I did, and truly realized I didn't want to be that person anymore that smoked - not exactly the same type of thing as what happens in the book, but in the same vein of reasoning. I also liked how the book of Tao impacted his thinking and brought him peace - I remember going through some of the stuff with Brandon and reading a book called Momma Zen and it brought me a measure of peace in it's simple message and language. So, all rambles aside, I would highly recommend this book and this came as a surprise to me. It's a helluva a read IMHO.
Secondly, I also think teenagers should read this book in school. It deals with a (potentially) harsh reality in terms I think that would really hit home, the Outsiders times at least ten. Might scare a few folks in to thinking about a few things before blindly trying them.
Thirdly, I don't recall reading that it is a non fiction book or that it is directly billed as an autobiography. I did a bit of probing in to this book's past (gotta love wikipedia), and it seems that there was a big bru-ha-ha with the big O and the reading public because everything may not have been as portrayed in the novel. I don't really have a problem with this because I feel that as soon as you start to talk about something, or commit it to paper, it is already becoming fiction because it is as you remember it, how you would describe it, and how it impacted you. Looking at this book as a book, and not as a the gospel according to James Frey and accurate in every sense of the word, the underlying truths of the book won't change and that is why it is a good book. The rest of the publicity, and the lawsuit that happened... well, I guess not being personally impacted, and well, I am detached in the sense that a good book is a good book and in many ways, as a piece of art takes on a life of it's own, away from the author. What happened here is it's own story and interesting in light of how things unraveled. I can't help but think about the impact of a book becoming an O's choice.. and the instant fame and demand for the book. I must admit, I have mixed feelings when I find a book I am reading was/is an O book, much like finding out it is going to be made in to a movie soon.
Firstly, I didn't expect to really enjoy this novel. It is another one that I have been intrigued by, and well, I was a bit turned off by the hype a few years ago, although truly, I did not have a clue what the book was about. As much as you can say that you enjoyed a book like this, I truly did. It is a helluva story, a look in to addiction and alcoholism, and brutally honest (for lack of a better word in this moment), or frank, or just not prettied up. I found that I was compelled to keep reading, and that is was easy to work through, that I was interested to see what would happen to James, and good god, what a story if even a smidgeon of what he describes is accurate. Which, having known someone who was also successful through AA, probably not far off. I could appreciate how he referred to making a decision, taking responsibility for his actions, and choosing a different lifestyle from this moment on. You have to. In your own stark awareness, you have to make a choice for yourself and stick with it if you are going to be successful. I can only relate it to when I quit smoking - it was a decision I clearly made and deconstructed why I was smoking and when I smoked, and I quit cold turkey, I had one big relapse one night, looked at what I did, and truly realized I didn't want to be that person anymore that smoked - not exactly the same type of thing as what happens in the book, but in the same vein of reasoning. I also liked how the book of Tao impacted his thinking and brought him peace - I remember going through some of the stuff with Brandon and reading a book called Momma Zen and it brought me a measure of peace in it's simple message and language. So, all rambles aside, I would highly recommend this book and this came as a surprise to me. It's a helluva a read IMHO.
Secondly, I also think teenagers should read this book in school. It deals with a (potentially) harsh reality in terms I think that would really hit home, the Outsiders times at least ten. Might scare a few folks in to thinking about a few things before blindly trying them.
Thirdly, I don't recall reading that it is a non fiction book or that it is directly billed as an autobiography. I did a bit of probing in to this book's past (gotta love wikipedia), and it seems that there was a big bru-ha-ha with the big O and the reading public because everything may not have been as portrayed in the novel. I don't really have a problem with this because I feel that as soon as you start to talk about something, or commit it to paper, it is already becoming fiction because it is as you remember it, how you would describe it, and how it impacted you. Looking at this book as a book, and not as a the gospel according to James Frey and accurate in every sense of the word, the underlying truths of the book won't change and that is why it is a good book. The rest of the publicity, and the lawsuit that happened... well, I guess not being personally impacted, and well, I am detached in the sense that a good book is a good book and in many ways, as a piece of art takes on a life of it's own, away from the author. What happened here is it's own story and interesting in light of how things unraveled. I can't help but think about the impact of a book becoming an O's choice.. and the instant fame and demand for the book. I must admit, I have mixed feelings when I find a book I am reading was/is an O book, much like finding out it is going to be made in to a movie soon.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
I like to drop big news in a meme.
1. What did you do in 2008 that you’d never done before?
Played hockey with my son… went to the Harrison Hot Springs Sand Castle competition.
2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I haven’t really been making resolutions for a few years – I always can lose weight, be nicer to myself, etc.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yes, my friends Cheryl and Kelz.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Not this year.
5. What countries did you visit?
United States (the shopping is good) and Calgary. Does Alberta count???
6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
Greater financial stability.
7. What dates from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
The day we found out we were having a second baby.
The day Brandon took his first steps.
The day Ken, Brandon and I stood under the waterfall outside of Hope.
The day I found out Brandon was doing a-ok, and see you next year.
The day I got hired at my new job, after finding out the old job wasn’t so good for becoming a parent again.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Starting to go to the gym and working out – even if working out is ½ hour on the elliptical trainer.
9. What was your biggest failure?
It’s funny, I don’t really think of anything as being a failure, when things don’t happen the best way, it is a learning experience.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Nothing really stands out.
11. What was the best thing you bought?.
Our new campstove, even if we haven’t used it yet.
The new aerobed.
The XOBX 360 to connect to our computer and Media Center.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Depends on what day, what time, the cycle of the moon, yadda yadda yadda. Everyone could be on this list at some time.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Behaviour of the media? I don’t really give anyone that power to make me appalled and depressed in the way it will have an impact on my life. Sad, perhaps, wishful perhaps that things could have been different, but I try not to live with any regrets.
14. Where did most of your money go?
If I knew that, I would be really happy. Bills. Bills. More damn bills. Daycare.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Brandon is walking and doing really well!! That we have another surprise coming June 22nd.
16. What song will always remind you of 2008?
Move it Like This – Baha Men, because Brandon likes to hear it again and again in my car.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? Happier. Things are much more even keeled.
b) thinner or fatter? A little thinner but that will change in the next few months.
c) richer or poorer? A little of both. More assets, more debts.
18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Spent time outside – at the beach, at the park, in the woods, camping.
More little getaways with Ken and Brandon.
Spent more time with a few girlfriends who don't live nearly close enough.
19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Work.
20. How did you spend Christmas?
With family, wondering when the snow would stop.
21. Did you fall in love in 2008?
I fell a long time ago.
22. What was your favorite TV program?
CSI:Miami when I have a chance to watch it.
23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
Hate takes a lot of energy, and I just don’t have any to spare. That’d be a no.
24. What was the best book you read?
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan
25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Some older Flogging Molly? Didn’t really get a lot of chances to enjoy a lot of new music. That if you just give up and sing, your kids adore you for it.
26. What did you want and get?
New PJs and some more books.
27. What did you want and not get?
To be debt free, LOL.
28. What was your favorite film of this year?
WallE, and the movies Ken and I got to see on date nights… and then Toy Story and the short films from Monsters Inc for the joys they brought Brandon.
29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 35 and I believe that we had a really nice dinner with the family. We didn’t do anything too exciting.
30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Job stability and actually liking my job.
31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?
Classical and comfortable, while learning to get more flattering shoe types...
32. What kept you sane?
My husband, my kid, my animals, my books, and my friends.
33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Fancy? Can’t say any are at the top of my list right now.
34. What political issue stirred you the most?
The US election and the excitement it caused worldwide.
35. Who did you miss?
My mom’s mom (grandma).
36. Who was the best new person you met?
Not sure.
37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008.
Which one?
Learning how to let go more, be more authentic, be true to yourself, all that self-actualizing stuff, be true to those you love, say what you mean... etc.
38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
I always make up my own lyrics since I can never remember the words so I am not going to waste much time trying to think of something prolific to put here.
Played hockey with my son… went to the Harrison Hot Springs Sand Castle competition.
2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I haven’t really been making resolutions for a few years – I always can lose weight, be nicer to myself, etc.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yes, my friends Cheryl and Kelz.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Not this year.
5. What countries did you visit?
United States (the shopping is good) and Calgary. Does Alberta count???
6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
Greater financial stability.
7. What dates from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
The day we found out we were having a second baby.
The day Brandon took his first steps.
The day Ken, Brandon and I stood under the waterfall outside of Hope.
The day I found out Brandon was doing a-ok, and see you next year.
The day I got hired at my new job, after finding out the old job wasn’t so good for becoming a parent again.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Starting to go to the gym and working out – even if working out is ½ hour on the elliptical trainer.
9. What was your biggest failure?
It’s funny, I don’t really think of anything as being a failure, when things don’t happen the best way, it is a learning experience.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Nothing really stands out.
11. What was the best thing you bought?.
Our new campstove, even if we haven’t used it yet.
The new aerobed.
The XOBX 360 to connect to our computer and Media Center.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Depends on what day, what time, the cycle of the moon, yadda yadda yadda. Everyone could be on this list at some time.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Behaviour of the media? I don’t really give anyone that power to make me appalled and depressed in the way it will have an impact on my life. Sad, perhaps, wishful perhaps that things could have been different, but I try not to live with any regrets.
14. Where did most of your money go?
If I knew that, I would be really happy. Bills. Bills. More damn bills. Daycare.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Brandon is walking and doing really well!! That we have another surprise coming June 22nd.
16. What song will always remind you of 2008?
Move it Like This – Baha Men, because Brandon likes to hear it again and again in my car.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? Happier. Things are much more even keeled.
b) thinner or fatter? A little thinner but that will change in the next few months.
c) richer or poorer? A little of both. More assets, more debts.
18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Spent time outside – at the beach, at the park, in the woods, camping.
More little getaways with Ken and Brandon.
Spent more time with a few girlfriends who don't live nearly close enough.
19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Work.
20. How did you spend Christmas?
With family, wondering when the snow would stop.
21. Did you fall in love in 2008?
I fell a long time ago.
22. What was your favorite TV program?
CSI:Miami when I have a chance to watch it.
23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
Hate takes a lot of energy, and I just don’t have any to spare. That’d be a no.
24. What was the best book you read?
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan
25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Some older Flogging Molly? Didn’t really get a lot of chances to enjoy a lot of new music. That if you just give up and sing, your kids adore you for it.
26. What did you want and get?
New PJs and some more books.
27. What did you want and not get?
To be debt free, LOL.
28. What was your favorite film of this year?
WallE, and the movies Ken and I got to see on date nights… and then Toy Story and the short films from Monsters Inc for the joys they brought Brandon.
29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 35 and I believe that we had a really nice dinner with the family. We didn’t do anything too exciting.
30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Job stability and actually liking my job.
31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?
Classical and comfortable, while learning to get more flattering shoe types...
32. What kept you sane?
My husband, my kid, my animals, my books, and my friends.
33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Fancy? Can’t say any are at the top of my list right now.
34. What political issue stirred you the most?
The US election and the excitement it caused worldwide.
35. Who did you miss?
My mom’s mom (grandma).
36. Who was the best new person you met?
Not sure.
37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008.
Which one?
Learning how to let go more, be more authentic, be true to yourself, all that self-actualizing stuff, be true to those you love, say what you mean... etc.
38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
I always make up my own lyrics since I can never remember the words so I am not going to waste much time trying to think of something prolific to put here.
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Damn popcorn makers
I lurve popcorn.
In our old house, we have some electrical issues. About a year ago, my old popcorn maker seemed to be on the fritz and just wasn't popping the corn like it should.
Then I got a new one for a pressie (I think Ken was tired of my whining and came off as a superstar since popcorn should be its own food group as far as I am concerned).
Well, the new one has never been perfect. Some days it pops like it should. Other days, it takes about 10 minutes to make a bowl. Saturday night I was ready to finally watch the latest HP, plugged in the maker in a different outlet (to see if that made a difference to its popping abilities) and let'er rip.
About 2 minutes in it made a horrendous screech and sounded like popcorn was banging around inside the motor.
The maker is in recycling. I have no idea if they will take the damn thing. I am done with it.
I went old school. Oil in the pot, a little shaking, a little butter, and viola. Best bowl of popcorn I have had in a long time. Screw hot air popcorn, and the microwave kind?? Not happening. I am going to kick it old school and stick to the stove top version. It isn't like I am eating it every second night.
In our old house, we have some electrical issues. About a year ago, my old popcorn maker seemed to be on the fritz and just wasn't popping the corn like it should.
Then I got a new one for a pressie (I think Ken was tired of my whining and came off as a superstar since popcorn should be its own food group as far as I am concerned).
Well, the new one has never been perfect. Some days it pops like it should. Other days, it takes about 10 minutes to make a bowl. Saturday night I was ready to finally watch the latest HP, plugged in the maker in a different outlet (to see if that made a difference to its popping abilities) and let'er rip.
About 2 minutes in it made a horrendous screech and sounded like popcorn was banging around inside the motor.
The maker is in recycling. I have no idea if they will take the damn thing. I am done with it.
I went old school. Oil in the pot, a little shaking, a little butter, and viola. Best bowl of popcorn I have had in a long time. Screw hot air popcorn, and the microwave kind?? Not happening. I am going to kick it old school and stick to the stove top version. It isn't like I am eating it every second night.
Friday, August 17, 2007
choice bits
Now that I am juggling work and our lives at home, it seems that updating my blog has become a little harder to do. I laughed when I noticed that it has already been a week since I last graced this place.
Crack book is a crazy program. It brings back lots of memories of old friends and older versions of your self as a result. I was flipping through a friend's pictures and saw a few posted of a dear friend that passed away a few years ago, and I found myself getting a little choked up - that's life, but it is actually kind of cool to go to an internet place to be at a fingertip length from those old friends, and see how they are doing in a way where you are finding that kind of thing out directly from them, rather than through the big gossip circuit. The pictures and some of the stories are the best part - seeing how people have changed, who has kids, who is married, who isn't anymore, glimpsing just a few pages of people's stories that have touched your life. Parts of 'book are just time consuming, but parts are really cool too.
Had a client come in today and make a point of asking me how I am so positive and energetic. Isn't this the million dollar question? I have always had boundless energy, and am pretty happy-go-lucky, and I seem to bounce pretty good (even when life has handed me some really rotten lemons)... but how to you explain how you are how you are?? I figure it comes down to choices - being 6 feet up is better than 6 feet below, and every day is a gift. Just like I have a fairly flexible idea about god - god for me is love and the magic of being infused with life and every one has their own path to knowing god (I could go more in to this but suffice to know my views aren't exactly mainstream but they aren't that out there either), but that every day we have a choice on how we act and interact with our environment and the people that are around us, and from those relationships we can take a lot of energy, even as we are giving that energy back to the system. It is hard to articulate in a space like this without a lot of hand waving, but I try to say what matters, do what counts, and life as honestly as I can. If I get tripped up, I admit my mistakes and try to dust myself off.
Speaking of which, work is absolute chaos and I have contemplated the joys of a spiced rum and coke tonight. Definitely a friday night and I see movies and take out in our future. Being back at work is so strange, how fast everything has come back to me, how quickly you settle in to a new rhythm and ironically enough, how hard it was to change my name around here, even though I was only hyphenating my name! Now to keep things somewhat unsettled, next week I am on holidays for a week because our daycare lady is on holidays. What a new reality!
Crack book is a crazy program. It brings back lots of memories of old friends and older versions of your self as a result. I was flipping through a friend's pictures and saw a few posted of a dear friend that passed away a few years ago, and I found myself getting a little choked up - that's life, but it is actually kind of cool to go to an internet place to be at a fingertip length from those old friends, and see how they are doing in a way where you are finding that kind of thing out directly from them, rather than through the big gossip circuit. The pictures and some of the stories are the best part - seeing how people have changed, who has kids, who is married, who isn't anymore, glimpsing just a few pages of people's stories that have touched your life. Parts of 'book are just time consuming, but parts are really cool too.
Had a client come in today and make a point of asking me how I am so positive and energetic. Isn't this the million dollar question? I have always had boundless energy, and am pretty happy-go-lucky, and I seem to bounce pretty good (even when life has handed me some really rotten lemons)... but how to you explain how you are how you are?? I figure it comes down to choices - being 6 feet up is better than 6 feet below, and every day is a gift. Just like I have a fairly flexible idea about god - god for me is love and the magic of being infused with life and every one has their own path to knowing god (I could go more in to this but suffice to know my views aren't exactly mainstream but they aren't that out there either), but that every day we have a choice on how we act and interact with our environment and the people that are around us, and from those relationships we can take a lot of energy, even as we are giving that energy back to the system. It is hard to articulate in a space like this without a lot of hand waving, but I try to say what matters, do what counts, and life as honestly as I can. If I get tripped up, I admit my mistakes and try to dust myself off.
Speaking of which, work is absolute chaos and I have contemplated the joys of a spiced rum and coke tonight. Definitely a friday night and I see movies and take out in our future. Being back at work is so strange, how fast everything has come back to me, how quickly you settle in to a new rhythm and ironically enough, how hard it was to change my name around here, even though I was only hyphenating my name! Now to keep things somewhat unsettled, next week I am on holidays for a week because our daycare lady is on holidays. What a new reality!
Monday, June 4, 2007
Fast flow teatss???
I consider us pretty damn lucky that we have been so fortunate to get a lot of hand me downs when it comes to Brandon and kids gear. It is a life saver, and we pay stuff forward what we don't store, just because.
Well, I acquired a great set of baby bottles, a breast pump and all the accoutrements that go along with it, so I didn't really give it another thought. Although, I did think that those teats/bottle nipples with the number 1 on the side seemed to go down a lot slower than the ones with the 2s on the side.
It s eems that there are about 4 types of baby teats out there. The 1s, which are for newborns and the holes are pretty damn small (helps encourage babes to b'feed since bottle isn't easy), and the 2s have 2 holes in stead of one. What I didn't know was that once your baby was about 3 months old, you move to a 3, and about 6 months old, a 4. The difference is the rate of flow.
Since I just discovered this fact on Saturday, it makes sense that a bottle with a 1 takes a long time to get in him, where the 2s seem to go a lot quicker, but not really fast enough.
Needless to say I purchased some "fast" flow nipples today.
They work like a hot damn, and a feed for an 8 ounce bottle went from about 30 mins down to under 10!!!! Gadzooks!!!! In a sense, getting all the stages of nipples is a total money grab, but I am glad that I have either 2s or the fast ones now.. should make a big difference to the wee guy - making getting his feeds in a LOT easier.
Who knew?
Well, I acquired a great set of baby bottles, a breast pump and all the accoutrements that go along with it, so I didn't really give it another thought. Although, I did think that those teats/bottle nipples with the number 1 on the side seemed to go down a lot slower than the ones with the 2s on the side.
It s eems that there are about 4 types of baby teats out there. The 1s, which are for newborns and the holes are pretty damn small (helps encourage babes to b'feed since bottle isn't easy), and the 2s have 2 holes in stead of one. What I didn't know was that once your baby was about 3 months old, you move to a 3, and about 6 months old, a 4. The difference is the rate of flow.
Since I just discovered this fact on Saturday, it makes sense that a bottle with a 1 takes a long time to get in him, where the 2s seem to go a lot quicker, but not really fast enough.
Needless to say I purchased some "fast" flow nipples today.
They work like a hot damn, and a feed for an 8 ounce bottle went from about 30 mins down to under 10!!!! Gadzooks!!!! In a sense, getting all the stages of nipples is a total money grab, but I am glad that I have either 2s or the fast ones now.. should make a big difference to the wee guy - making getting his feeds in a LOT easier.
Who knew?
Tuesday, November 22, 2005
100 Random Things
I started this list back in November 2005!!!!! This was before I got pregnant, before we got married, before out lives evolved! Crazy eh???
The first 25 or so were from almost 2 years ago. O M G !!! where does the time go?? And wow, has every thing changed or what?? Funny how some years are everything about change, and some years you just float on through.
- I was hatched and raised in British Columbia, somewhat rare in these parts since many people have moved here from the rest of Canada and beyond
- I am in my 'early' 30s
- I am as good as married, even if we haven't done the deed yet
- I am glad that we met when we did, and I didn't expect it when it happened
- I have 2 cats
- I have african cichlids (fish)
- I have a lot of plants
- I have a lot of books, and am finally getting better at paying forward the pocket books which I won't read again
- I love playing ice hockey
- I enjoy knitting
- I love being in the ocean, near the ocean, near any body of water
- I wish I could be more of an environmentalist but I recognize my limitations
- I read voraciously
- I have written a lot of poetry over the years, some good, some not so good
- I have taken way too many post secondary level credits
- I love plaid
- I recycle as much as I can
- I collect rocks
- I love to travel
- I cry when animals get hurt in movies
- I can't carry a note
- I am a morning person, once I am up
- I love a good cup of coffee in the morning
- I like reading the Sunday paper
- I love that moment before the day starts and you are snuggled up with your honey in bed, and the cats are wrapped around your legs
- I have a bird of paradise plant that is five years old and I hope that 2 years from now that it will bloom
- I love popcorn.
- I hate paying for parking and parking tickets
- Learning how to breast feed is really tough
- I am stubborn.
- I don't give up easily.
- I love punk celtic rock
- Watching Brandon grow and change has been humbling
- We had a "shot gun" wedding and I loved every minute of it
- I never expected to be sober for my stag, or for my wedding
- Helping hands that come forward with gently used items when you have a baby is amazing
- Catching up with old and new friends once you have a baby is really cool
- Facebook is some crazy stuff - reconnecting with people on a superficial level, and actually rediscovering connections that were put to the side for a time
- I like trucks.
- I don't miss driving a 5 speed as much as I thought I would
- I like growing plants
- I like rose gardens
- I really don't like any of Vancouver's radio stations. Some days it floors me to admit that a talk radio show, or even a country radio show can be better than the rest of the offerings
- My musical tastes have been trapped in a state of limbo, I really haven't been exposed to all that much new stuff I actually like
- I want to see ZZ Top, Flogging Molly, and George Leach in concert. Talk about extremes eh?
- I have a brother that is 5 years younger than me.
- I like to camp.
- I love to travel.
- I have read all of the Harry Potter books and I think they ended well.
- I hated how the Sopranos ended.
- I have a tan for the first time in years
- We got married on March 25, 2006
- Brandon was born on July 24, 2006
- I want to see Yosemite.
- For some reason, I want to go back to Hawaii one day.
- I would like another try at outrigger.
- Having a power boat would be really cool to get out and explore more of BC's rugged coastline.
- I love cross border shopping.
- I like cheese.
- Coming up with 100 random things about myself is hard work.
- I enjoy going to the tulip festival in la connor and looking at all the colours.
- This summer I visited Nej and her boys, and it blew me away when I looked in the backseat and between us we had 3 boys. 20 years ago, it was just us.
- I want to go whale watching at the north end of Vancouver island.
- I have a yen to do a hot springs of BC driving tour in the fall.
- I want a masters degree one day.
- One day, I would like to have my student loans paid off.
- I have both an outgoing side, and a real loner streak.
- I like doc martens.
- I like to wear white shirts, even if they never stay clean.
- I want another tattoo.
- I don't think I will get more piercings.
- One day, we will get a dog.
- I was born in Richmond, BC
- Watching the Vancouver Giants win the Memorial Cup live was AWESOME
- My son has blue blue eyes and dimples!
- I never thought that cosleeping would be an option but it works
- I miss my dear friends who don't live in the lower mainland dearly, and am so grateful the lot of you stay connected by whatever means works with all of our crazy lives.
- I really try to be a good friend.
- I have seen the northern lights.
- I like to travel in June and September
- I want to start doing some drop in yoga sessions.
- I love massage therapy
- I like having my toenails painted.
- I like taking pictures of my feet in funky places.
- I like reading both high brow literature and page turner thrillers
- I like reading just about anything, and recently signed up for the national geographic magazine as my bathroom reading material
- I never knew I could care so much about another person's bowel movements before we had Brandon
- having kids does change you, no matter how much you yell and scream and deny that it will change you
- having kids doesn't mean you can't do what you used to do, you just do it differently
- I got to see part of the original Cariboo wagon trail and it made my day in a geeky way
- I like guinness.
- I like spiced rum.
- I like blackberries.
- I don't like tuna or tomato soup.
- I am almost there and I am running out of juicy little tidbits to relate.
- I think that my friendships are really cool now, even if I don't get to see all my girlfriends that often (kids, husbands, family, work... )
- I am in a book club, and it makes me gleeful
- I am trying to get out walking as many days of the week that I can.
- I like to take the path less traveled.
- I like arrowroot biscuits.
The first 25 or so were from almost 2 years ago. O M G !!! where does the time go?? And wow, has every thing changed or what?? Funny how some years are everything about change, and some years you just float on through.
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