Yesterday I went in to work to officially hyphenate my name (yes, I am one of those women. I really struggled with it, do I drop my last name, do I stay the same.. do I do the hyphen??? I decided that the middle ground was to hyphenate.. then I could be who I am for work and school, and then we have our family name for the rest, it sits well for me. It helps that our names work well together.. talked to a few other girlfriends about this conundrum, and well, I got off easy with how our names sound linked, where they didn't... funny how that can make this decision that much easier). But, I digress. Ran in to a whole bunch of coworkers, and went out with my mom and a friend. It was nice, but reinforced that I really don't intend to parade my son around work and visit all the departments, etc. Not in me. Not that social. If I am really honest, I just don't care that much about most of the people more than superficially and that just doesn't cut it. Time is precious.
Then today, I went out for lunch with the ladies from my office. One was absent, and one has since retired. One is pregnant and will be gone before I get back!! Which is too bad in a sense, but Brandon will have another new friend!! Which was cool sitting across from her, and realizing that soon, there will be another little person to meet! We have a few new comers, and every one enjoyed spending time with Brandon. It amazes me how good he is in restaurants - it has not been what I expected. I guess time will tell, and really, I haven't been out that much and he isn't that old yet and fully mobile or talking.
I felt weird being with every one. Like nothing, but everything had changed. I really hope that in January it works to go to the second location I have available full time rather than just part of the time, that would be ideal.. will cross my fingers it works out like that. I am glad that I will have a flexible schedule, and only be with everyone three days a week. The politics are still full on - and I just don't want to care... although it is hard not to when it is going on around you. Becoming a parent toughens you up, making you a little more crusty, and for me, a little more honest (not that I am not, just more of the filter is disappearing, although I do try to remain tactful, doesn't always work that way, this is where the conflict resolution courses that I have taken come in handy). I am also better at advocating for myself and what I need, because I shut up about it way too much in the past.
As Candy mentioned, our maternity benefits in Canada are way better than they are stateside. I could not imagine what it would have been like to go back to work when Brandon was 3 months old - like holy shit, what do these people expect the poor moms to do?? Ah yes, pump like fiends all day at work if they want to continue with breast feeding, are completely tired and bleary eyed, missing their babes, and god only knows what else is going on hormonally. Plus, the poor babes miss out on all that bonding time.. or if you do stay home for a while, you take a real financial hit which is hard to recover from (yes, I know we all make choices, but some are harder than others). So I am doing my damnedest to enjoy every last minute of my mat leave that I can, trying to appreciate the moments I have now before I have to go back to work, and trying not to worry about what it will be like handing him over at daycare. It is all part and parcel of it.
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Dirty Hands
I looked down today, and my hands were caked in dirt. And dry. With lots of grime under my nails. It felt great. The last week has been my backyard project, volumes 1 through whatever it has taken to get to this place. At first glance, I think, what the hell took me so long?? Then I remember the painting, and the touch ups, and the weeding, and the planting, and the playing with Brandon in his playpen, and the sweeping, and the moving around of my plant pots, moving of allen blocks, and the cleaning up of a lot of bird shit. I am sure I have missed something in that mundane list of backyard chores, but tonight we got to kick back with a strongbow and enjoy the twilight.
It was totally worth it and it is only MAY!!!! It isn't even summer yet and I feel like I have a handle on the chores that I have assigned myself. I even got my vegetable garden planted, and after watering everything, the plants look like they will survive. YAY! Thank god for small miracles. I guess I can't really complain because I tend to have a green thumb. It is just nice to enjoy being outside in good weather.
Last night was book club, and it was just great to hang with some new and old friends, talking books, but really, talking about everything else too. There was a 5 week old baby there, and it blew my mind to realize just how much Brandon has grown and to visualize the difference between a month and 10 months old. It is worlds apart already. I can feel myself get pretty hyper - talking to adults!!!!! but also, getting to know new people, rediscovering parts of myself and getting to know the latest version of me. Weeks are going by way too fast. I am acutely aware of when that day marking the end of my mat leave is coming up and I have mixed feelings. I am sure once I am back in to it, and in to a whole new routine it will look a little different, but right now it feels like a foreign concept and I feel a new list being formed - making sure I get out and do the important stuff, and do some visiting as well while I am off because damn, where the hell did the last 10 months go?
It was totally worth it and it is only MAY!!!! It isn't even summer yet and I feel like I have a handle on the chores that I have assigned myself. I even got my vegetable garden planted, and after watering everything, the plants look like they will survive. YAY! Thank god for small miracles. I guess I can't really complain because I tend to have a green thumb. It is just nice to enjoy being outside in good weather.
Last night was book club, and it was just great to hang with some new and old friends, talking books, but really, talking about everything else too. There was a 5 week old baby there, and it blew my mind to realize just how much Brandon has grown and to visualize the difference between a month and 10 months old. It is worlds apart already. I can feel myself get pretty hyper - talking to adults!!!!! but also, getting to know new people, rediscovering parts of myself and getting to know the latest version of me. Weeks are going by way too fast. I am acutely aware of when that day marking the end of my mat leave is coming up and I have mixed feelings. I am sure once I am back in to it, and in to a whole new routine it will look a little different, but right now it feels like a foreign concept and I feel a new list being formed - making sure I get out and do the important stuff, and do some visiting as well while I am off because damn, where the hell did the last 10 months go?
Sunday, May 27, 2007
Go Giants Go!
Today rocked.
Started out by going to the flea market and getting some plants to reinvent my garden, to doing a little gambling, to getting ready to head out on a date with my man!!! Which meant that we went out, and Brandon stayed home!!! Woo Hoo!!!!
We headed to the final game of the Memorial Cup. The Giants pulled through for a rematch against the Tigers for the Cup. In case you don't have a clue what I am referring to, this is the final game of a junior hockey tournament that involves the host city and the 3 winning teams from the 3 junior hockey leagues across Canada. This is a few steps away from the NHL, and the kids playing are laying it all on the line because this is the time to be noticed, and hopefully pave their way to the show. The Giants were the host team, but lost out for the Western league championship but a hairbreadth in a nailbiter best of seven series a few weeks ago, against their nemesis for 2007 - the Medicine Hat Tigers.. which if you recall, was ironically enough the team we got to see play at the Saddle Dome when we were in CowTown a while back. Funny how it all works out, eh?
To make a long story short, the game was a sell out - even the standing room tickets were long sold. There were artifacts from the hockey hall of fame, a huge beer garden (although the only choices were Canadian and Coors light, like WTF??? I choked down a Canadian, and well, won't be going that route again soon, I like the dark stuff), and so many people it took 15 minutes to walk a lap of the Colliseum. There were white towels on our seat backs, and people wearing amatuer jerseys from all over. The Memorial Cup is like the Grey Cup in that fans come from all over, and they are representing where they are from. The vibe in that building was unreal.
I will save you from a blow by blow of the action, but when great saves, great hits, goals, and plays happened, the noise erupted and filled the building, and there was a breeze that would lift my hair as the towels waved. The Giants pulled out a huge win, and it was amazing to be there for that moment - and to be there for the win, and the rituals of the cup being brought out and then awarded, to see the unadulterated joy on those kids faces when they won, and the tears on the faces of the winners and the losers. Junior hockey seems to have something that you don't always see in the big leagues, the heart, and putting it all on the line, and then unknown factor about not knowing what the future will hold. Back in the day, when Ken and I were a courting, he introduced me to junior hockey, and it has taken a hold. He was in his Giants jersey, and me in my team Canada one, and it was a great date, perfect for us.
Started out by going to the flea market and getting some plants to reinvent my garden, to doing a little gambling, to getting ready to head out on a date with my man!!! Which meant that we went out, and Brandon stayed home!!! Woo Hoo!!!!
We headed to the final game of the Memorial Cup. The Giants pulled through for a rematch against the Tigers for the Cup. In case you don't have a clue what I am referring to, this is the final game of a junior hockey tournament that involves the host city and the 3 winning teams from the 3 junior hockey leagues across Canada. This is a few steps away from the NHL, and the kids playing are laying it all on the line because this is the time to be noticed, and hopefully pave their way to the show. The Giants were the host team, but lost out for the Western league championship but a hairbreadth in a nailbiter best of seven series a few weeks ago, against their nemesis for 2007 - the Medicine Hat Tigers.. which if you recall, was ironically enough the team we got to see play at the Saddle Dome when we were in CowTown a while back. Funny how it all works out, eh?
To make a long story short, the game was a sell out - even the standing room tickets were long sold. There were artifacts from the hockey hall of fame, a huge beer garden (although the only choices were Canadian and Coors light, like WTF??? I choked down a Canadian, and well, won't be going that route again soon, I like the dark stuff), and so many people it took 15 minutes to walk a lap of the Colliseum. There were white towels on our seat backs, and people wearing amatuer jerseys from all over. The Memorial Cup is like the Grey Cup in that fans come from all over, and they are representing where they are from. The vibe in that building was unreal.
I will save you from a blow by blow of the action, but when great saves, great hits, goals, and plays happened, the noise erupted and filled the building, and there was a breeze that would lift my hair as the towels waved. The Giants pulled out a huge win, and it was amazing to be there for that moment - and to be there for the win, and the rituals of the cup being brought out and then awarded, to see the unadulterated joy on those kids faces when they won, and the tears on the faces of the winners and the losers. Junior hockey seems to have something that you don't always see in the big leagues, the heart, and putting it all on the line, and then unknown factor about not knowing what the future will hold. Back in the day, when Ken and I were a courting, he introduced me to junior hockey, and it has taken a hold. He was in his Giants jersey, and me in my team Canada one, and it was a great date, perfect for us.
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Completely random.
I really want to do some camping this year. I want to get out and kick back on a lawn chair and soak it all in. I want to hang out in the woods, and have a fire, play some cards, and spend time with my family outside and not at home. See something new. Experience some new places. We have some ideas for the summer months, so it will be interesting to see how we fare camping with child.
I am reading up a storm. I brought back an embarrassingly full bag of books from the flatlands as carry on luggage. Only me and my insatiable urge to read. It has been a period of "ooooooooh, I have a stockpile of books, so I must read them as fast as I can." I am so bizarre at times. So in the last few weeks, I have read:
My to do list is also shrinking! I have been doing some touch up painting, and even that is getting closer to being done.
Faceb0ok is a cool and odd thing. It is neat to see what happened to folks from highschool, or through networks of friends that you haven't thought about for a while. It is a glorified way to see what happened to the people you knew in a not so gossipy kind of way because you are controlling the information. For me, it is neat to see that the folks from the old high school gang are all pretty much at the stage of married with kids.. or something like that. We aren't the kids any more. I can't see myself getting too sucked in to it because I think it could become a huge time consuming thing, and I don't feel the need to be that dedicated to it. I have other priorities for my spare time. It is interesting in a "woah, looks what going on over there" kind of way. It is also kind of neat that I have nieces and nephews on there. There are times where I think it is amazing how big my family is now that I have two sides and that I get called Auntie Kazzy! Tee hee. I am a grown up. Still floors me sometimes.
It seems to be once a week where I get the chance to post, and I try to remember the funny ditties or instances that happen to me, and not always do they come off as interesting to relate. Ah well. So long for anothe day!
I am reading up a storm. I brought back an embarrassingly full bag of books from the flatlands as carry on luggage. Only me and my insatiable urge to read. It has been a period of "ooooooooh, I have a stockpile of books, so I must read them as fast as I can." I am so bizarre at times. So in the last few weeks, I have read:
- Prey by Michael Crighton, which is a somewhat distburbing book that delves in to nanotechnology for a thriller
- The Soul Catcher by Alex Kava, a new suspense writer that really grew on me the farther in to the book I got
- The Camel Club by David Baldacci - he always delivers
- The Cove by Catherine Coulter, it was ok. More of a quick read that dragged on a bit towards the end
- Saucer: The Conquest by Stephen Coonts, just a lot of fun. The sequel to Saucer, just a really fun read that was a page turner to see what would happen to earth!
- and I am currently up to my eyeballs in The Bed of Nails by Michael Slade. I am hooked on the Slade books, they are awesome. Well researched, well written, and I like the wry, dark sense of humor that penetrates their books
My to do list is also shrinking! I have been doing some touch up painting, and even that is getting closer to being done.
Faceb0ok is a cool and odd thing. It is neat to see what happened to folks from highschool, or through networks of friends that you haven't thought about for a while. It is a glorified way to see what happened to the people you knew in a not so gossipy kind of way because you are controlling the information. For me, it is neat to see that the folks from the old high school gang are all pretty much at the stage of married with kids.. or something like that. We aren't the kids any more. I can't see myself getting too sucked in to it because I think it could become a huge time consuming thing, and I don't feel the need to be that dedicated to it. I have other priorities for my spare time. It is interesting in a "woah, looks what going on over there" kind of way. It is also kind of neat that I have nieces and nephews on there. There are times where I think it is amazing how big my family is now that I have two sides and that I get called Auntie Kazzy! Tee hee. I am a grown up. Still floors me sometimes.
It seems to be once a week where I get the chance to post, and I try to remember the funny ditties or instances that happen to me, and not always do they come off as interesting to relate. Ah well. So long for anothe day!
I aged.
So this is what 34 looks like. Not much different than what 33 looked like a few days ago. I had a great birthday and felt totally spoiled and then some. I got some amazing earrings, and a few other things that made my day and were bang on for me and some of the stuff I didn't know I wanted!
It felt like one of those charmed days, my man took the day off work and we grabbed my brother and took Brandon to the beach for a day in the sun, dropped my bro off and then we hung out for the afternoon around the house and had some quiet time, then out for a steak dinner. Damn fine if you ask me... although the creme brulee left a little to be desired, if that is all I can complain abuot on a day where I age... life is damn fine. I even saw a bald eagle at the beach, and a heron stalking it's prey! And I found a bunch of golf balls in a tidal pool?! I love going to the beach, you never know what you will find, or what you will do, but you know that you are guaranteed to have a good time! I even got to see a bald eagle, a heron stalking it's prey successfully (on film too!!), and found a bunch of golf balls in a tidal pool. I love going to the beach - you never know what you are going to find or see, but you know that you will have a good time. I love breathing in the salty air, and feeling the sand beneath my toes. The shoes come off almost immediately, and then my shoes usually end up not going back on again. As you can see from my pic, it was a gorgeous day and I was getting a little sun (although I loaded up the sunscreen on my nose...been burned one too many times that I actually take care of it now.. another side effect of aging!!)
I've even had the chance to talk to most of my bestest girlfriends, and I am enjoying a few quiet moments right now to soak it all in, and well, fritter away from time on the net. It was a great way to start this year. Looking back, I can't believe how intensely busy the last year has been. A year ago I was preparing to go to Calgary, I was getting very pregnant, we'd just gotten married, we were starting our current wave of renovations, I was still at work, still on a board (which will come to an end at this point of my life in August), helping put on a conference in June.. egads. Where did I have the time or energy to breath? And then all the joys and new adventures that come with motherhood. I can't tell you how grateful I am that I have a year for my mat leave. I couldn't imagine having had to go back to work when Brandon was 3, or 6, or now, even 9 months old. I am loving being home, and the days are going by way too quickly. But in the last few days, I have also had the chance to appreciate being able to slow down a lot and enjoy my new roles as a mom, and a wife. Gives me a chance to evolve and grow in to the latest version of me.
Sunday, May 13, 2007
To be a mom
I am feeling a little inspired by Nej, and a little inspired by the fact that my birthday is around the corner and I am normally a little melancholic and philosophical about this time of the year.
Being a mom has been an amazing experience. I have made a lot of new discoveries, and yes, I am just like the rest of the moms out there that figure there kidlet is just **so damn cute** and the apple of our eye. There have been incredible challenges to overcome, and I am proud that I stuck it out with breastfeeding, and that we made it through the rough patches with Brandon, and are (all crossables crossed) through to the other side of it all. We have learned that life with a shunt is not any different than life without. Just a different set of challenges and things to be aware of. Brandon is doing exactly what he should be, in fact, probably doing some stuff earlier than others, which warms the cockles of my heart.
Being a mom some times is like being given new chances every day to try again. If something doesn't work, or if the day doesn't go completely right (like the baby food you made has gone over like a lead fart), you have a chance to do it all over again with a few twists and tweaks. Kind of like the rest of life (if we are lucky) and aware enough to take that to heart and dust ourselves off and get back on the horse.
I am grateful that everything doesn't happen over night, even if the time seems to fly by, because you have time to grow in to the next set of stages that you are going through. It is amazing how being a parent is very much being in the moment, because the past is already moving in to something to be nostalgic about but not somewhere to dwell because things change fast with little ones and you need to be on your toes. It is an adventure, and you tend to gravitate towards others who seem to have similar attitudes as yourself/as a family.
Some days I am fricken tired and I think I am just not putting my best foot forward. Other days, I don't have a lot to say, or am not really in a big mood to be really interactive and thinking outside of the box. These are rare days, but they happen. I think part of parenthood is learning how to let go of those feelings, own em for what they are move on because times like this pass and all of a sudden you are on to the next adventure.
Being a mom is a journey, I am sure that Ken finds this to be true of being a dad. We are figuring it out as we go along. I felt pretty spesh today - getting a beautiful mom pendant from Brandon that I will wear with pride (when I can safely wear it without little hands prying all the time) and a great breakfast with Ken's side and then dinner with my side. I know I am coming off all "rose tinted glasses", but for me this has just been an amazing experience. I had no idea if I would ever get to walk in these shoes and frankly, after what doctors told me when I was a teen, I didn't put a lot of stock in to it happening.. and here I am! I have to pinch myself sometimes to realize this is our life - what we have created - and it blows me away. I can look back in to the diaries I kept when I was younger, and when I would keep myself busy 24-7 to fill up the empty spaces in my life that your dearest friends can't fill no matter how much you love them, and here I am - my life is rich and full and I feel blessed. I know I can weather out the storms because I found my safe harbor with Ken, we have a family, I know where I stand.
Being a mom has been an amazing experience. I have made a lot of new discoveries, and yes, I am just like the rest of the moms out there that figure there kidlet is just **so damn cute** and the apple of our eye. There have been incredible challenges to overcome, and I am proud that I stuck it out with breastfeeding, and that we made it through the rough patches with Brandon, and are (all crossables crossed) through to the other side of it all. We have learned that life with a shunt is not any different than life without. Just a different set of challenges and things to be aware of. Brandon is doing exactly what he should be, in fact, probably doing some stuff earlier than others, which warms the cockles of my heart.
Being a mom some times is like being given new chances every day to try again. If something doesn't work, or if the day doesn't go completely right (like the baby food you made has gone over like a lead fart), you have a chance to do it all over again with a few twists and tweaks. Kind of like the rest of life (if we are lucky) and aware enough to take that to heart and dust ourselves off and get back on the horse.
I am grateful that everything doesn't happen over night, even if the time seems to fly by, because you have time to grow in to the next set of stages that you are going through. It is amazing how being a parent is very much being in the moment, because the past is already moving in to something to be nostalgic about but not somewhere to dwell because things change fast with little ones and you need to be on your toes. It is an adventure, and you tend to gravitate towards others who seem to have similar attitudes as yourself/as a family.
Some days I am fricken tired and I think I am just not putting my best foot forward. Other days, I don't have a lot to say, or am not really in a big mood to be really interactive and thinking outside of the box. These are rare days, but they happen. I think part of parenthood is learning how to let go of those feelings, own em for what they are move on because times like this pass and all of a sudden you are on to the next adventure.
Being a mom is a journey, I am sure that Ken finds this to be true of being a dad. We are figuring it out as we go along. I felt pretty spesh today - getting a beautiful mom pendant from Brandon that I will wear with pride (when I can safely wear it without little hands prying all the time) and a great breakfast with Ken's side and then dinner with my side. I know I am coming off all "rose tinted glasses", but for me this has just been an amazing experience. I had no idea if I would ever get to walk in these shoes and frankly, after what doctors told me when I was a teen, I didn't put a lot of stock in to it happening.. and here I am! I have to pinch myself sometimes to realize this is our life - what we have created - and it blows me away. I can look back in to the diaries I kept when I was younger, and when I would keep myself busy 24-7 to fill up the empty spaces in my life that your dearest friends can't fill no matter how much you love them, and here I am - my life is rich and full and I feel blessed. I know I can weather out the storms because I found my safe harbor with Ken, we have a family, I know where I stand.
Wednesday, May 9, 2007
before and after....
As the chaos began...
As you can tell from this pic, just about everything was stripped out of B's room prior to really get in to things. This was taken just prior to starting in on the walls after the ceiling had been painted and the walls filled.
Lines blurred between the grass and the sky... (old and the new)
Viola! Almost everything is back where it belongs in the new digs...
It really doesn't look the same room... there is open space, and it is so much cleaner and brighter, and well, just looks like a room where you can have so much more fun in than before. Did I mention that I love the colour??? Gone are the days of pastels and whites in my life!
PS I finally gave up that bookcase for Brandon. Although technically those Harry P0tter books are technically mine...the hope being that he will enjoy them in time..
Spring Clean Up week
Continuing on the theme of getting rid of excess belongings, this is spring clean up week in my community. Looking in our alley, we really did get rid of a lot of crap. Where the hell does all this stuff come from, and why if half of what we had in our shed is in the alley, can we still not move in our shed?? That remains a mystery.
It is also a mystery why I can have such a hard time letting go of things. Some stuff is easy to part with, other stuff, it is a struggle and at times it was all I could do to not go out in the yard and put it back in our shed. I resisted, but it was close a few times, especially with a doll's crib my grandpa had made for me... what thirtysomething years ago.. it has a huge foot print, and ultimately, I can't see any of my friend's kids using it, or us, if it ever came that. It is cool, but I can't see it staying in our shed forever... not doing much of anything except taking up space. So, here I have immortalized that piece with words, and am letting it go. I hope that some one cruises our alley and has the right person for that. If not, I am not going to be around tomorrow when the garbage trucks come by because I would rather not know. Silly eh?
I do love the spring clean up week, it is almost like a glorified freecycle to your hearts content, or someone else's garbage is someone else's treasure week. So, our shed still not being all that spacious could have something to do with my cruising of the local hood to see what I could score in return for letting some of our things go. I got a new kitchen chair (nice hardwood, probably maple) in almost the same style as the other chairs, but without two posts broken and repaired too many times to count (that chair now sits in the alley, forelorn); a really cool old school wooden tobaggan that needs just a little luvin to be right as rain, and a kids table and chair set - which to my consternation met the previous owner of as I parked in front of their house to abscond with said items. I look forward to painting the table a bright red to go in Brandon's new room :D
Amazing how many pack rats there are around. Some streets there is nothing, other streets, there is crap everywhere. Anything you can imagine - some real steals, and some total crap that really does need to go. And lots of people cruising. I think this week is great - some people get stuff that has lots of potential, others get rid of unwanted clutter, and everyone wins!
It is also a mystery why I can have such a hard time letting go of things. Some stuff is easy to part with, other stuff, it is a struggle and at times it was all I could do to not go out in the yard and put it back in our shed. I resisted, but it was close a few times, especially with a doll's crib my grandpa had made for me... what thirtysomething years ago.. it has a huge foot print, and ultimately, I can't see any of my friend's kids using it, or us, if it ever came that. It is cool, but I can't see it staying in our shed forever... not doing much of anything except taking up space. So, here I have immortalized that piece with words, and am letting it go. I hope that some one cruises our alley and has the right person for that. If not, I am not going to be around tomorrow when the garbage trucks come by because I would rather not know. Silly eh?
I do love the spring clean up week, it is almost like a glorified freecycle to your hearts content, or someone else's garbage is someone else's treasure week. So, our shed still not being all that spacious could have something to do with my cruising of the local hood to see what I could score in return for letting some of our things go. I got a new kitchen chair (nice hardwood, probably maple) in almost the same style as the other chairs, but without two posts broken and repaired too many times to count (that chair now sits in the alley, forelorn); a really cool old school wooden tobaggan that needs just a little luvin to be right as rain, and a kids table and chair set - which to my consternation met the previous owner of as I parked in front of their house to abscond with said items. I look forward to painting the table a bright red to go in Brandon's new room :D
Amazing how many pack rats there are around. Some streets there is nothing, other streets, there is crap everywhere. Anything you can imagine - some real steals, and some total crap that really does need to go. And lots of people cruising. I think this week is great - some people get stuff that has lots of potential, others get rid of unwanted clutter, and everyone wins!
Tuesday, May 8, 2007
More renos
The last week has gone by with a flurry of cerulean blue paint, different carpeting, a bright white ceiling, and hopefully in the next day or so, a new light fixture as well. Brandon's room is just about "officially" done. Looking back over the years, the room has gone through many, many evolutions. From it's first life as our office, hockey equipment air out room, and general room that contains "I am not sure what the hell to do with this, maybe I should just store it in here" area to being a boys room. Now I can let Brandon loose in there and he can play to his heart's content and I don't have to worry about him getting splinters from the very old and battered wooden floor (I won't even grace that old floor with the term "hardwood").
I think Ken has mixed feelings about me being home (half kidding)- especially since the only shows I generally tend to watch during the day are the home improvement shows. In the last year we have redone the kitchen floor, painted the living room and hallway, and now done a complete renovation of Brandon's room. We have pretty much redone our entire since we moved in. I still have a list of little things to do (don't we all, plus it helps with mommy brain to not forget about what you intended to do in some future lifetime). Of course, add to that my ongoing phase of "letting go" of the excess belongings. We timed this reno right - it is spring clean up week and I can see a lot of stuff getting to the curb. I get twitches when I am driving around though - I can see potential in so many other people's piles that could be useful, but I resist and continue driving.
It made the weekend chaos. I had high hopes of being done by 5pm on Saturday night. Yah, right. Needless to say I am nothing if I am not an optimist. Wednesday night we got the carpet, Thursday I started to move furniture and prep the room, Friday I painted the ceiling, Saturday Ken helped me start the painting (before going out for Surf and Turf, you wait, my time will come.. LOL), and I finished up, Sunday Ken and my dad laid the carpet, I then attempted to help (somewhat with the kicker), and Sunday night we moved furniture back in.. yesterday I did some touch ups, put more stuff away, brought the clothes back in to the closet, and today I will put the curtains back up and do the last do-dads. So, if you haven't heard a damn thing from me in the last week, now you know why. Nothing personal, just up to my eyeballs in renos and thank god we are both handy around the house!!!!
I feel oddly content right now. The house is in good shape, Brandon has lots of space to move in, he actually has a room we feel good about letting him loose in, our to do list has shrunk significantly, and best of all, summer is around the corner! I am in bare feet again and can't wait to get out and spend more time outside!
I think Ken has mixed feelings about me being home (half kidding)- especially since the only shows I generally tend to watch during the day are the home improvement shows. In the last year we have redone the kitchen floor, painted the living room and hallway, and now done a complete renovation of Brandon's room. We have pretty much redone our entire since we moved in. I still have a list of little things to do (don't we all, plus it helps with mommy brain to not forget about what you intended to do in some future lifetime). Of course, add to that my ongoing phase of "letting go" of the excess belongings. We timed this reno right - it is spring clean up week and I can see a lot of stuff getting to the curb. I get twitches when I am driving around though - I can see potential in so many other people's piles that could be useful, but I resist and continue driving.
It made the weekend chaos. I had high hopes of being done by 5pm on Saturday night. Yah, right. Needless to say I am nothing if I am not an optimist. Wednesday night we got the carpet, Thursday I started to move furniture and prep the room, Friday I painted the ceiling, Saturday Ken helped me start the painting (before going out for Surf and Turf, you wait, my time will come.. LOL), and I finished up, Sunday Ken and my dad laid the carpet, I then attempted to help (somewhat with the kicker), and Sunday night we moved furniture back in.. yesterday I did some touch ups, put more stuff away, brought the clothes back in to the closet, and today I will put the curtains back up and do the last do-dads. So, if you haven't heard a damn thing from me in the last week, now you know why. Nothing personal, just up to my eyeballs in renos and thank god we are both handy around the house!!!!
I feel oddly content right now. The house is in good shape, Brandon has lots of space to move in, he actually has a room we feel good about letting him loose in, our to do list has shrunk significantly, and best of all, summer is around the corner! I am in bare feet again and can't wait to get out and spend more time outside!
Tuesday, May 1, 2007
A view images from our trip to Alberta...
Who knew there were white outs the week before?
Hey, has anyone seen my dog???
Hey, has anyone seen my dog???
Out in the back 40, 100 miles east of Calgary
The old, red barn. The quintessential part of any farm.
Bison, meet Brandon (just outside of Fort Calgary).
Lake Louise, a little socked in so you can't see the glacier at the end of the lake... there were some snow drifts around the lake which came up past my knees... and yes, I found that out that hard way!! The lake is just starting to break up, and there were home made "caution, thin ice" signs posted all over the place, which to me seemed a bit incongruous considering the location and how much it costs to stay here! You can just the outline of the shinny rink!
Sunday, April 29, 2007
The art of the story
Yesterday Brandon and I hooked up with all the girls on our Albertan side of the family. We went to a country restaurant about an hour outside of Cowtown, about a 1/4 mile off of the Number 1, and in the middle of a big wheat field. The food was what you would expect from a place like that - home cooking served by the daughters of the household. One half of the converted house was the restaurant, and the other was a gift shop with really neat odds and ends that you just can't find every where. It was great to hang with the women, and lunch was capped off with a slice of Flapper Pie. A very simple but tasty concoction of custard, graham wafers, and some merange (sp?) on top. I took a moment when someone was holding my baby to run stuff out to the car and just take a look around. You can watch the clouds dance across the land, and look out forever. Although some areas of Alberta have had a really long and tough winter, this area is already pretty dry and ready for the farming to begin again. I stood and took a picture in each direction, north, south, east, and west because it is such a different environment to me. Yup. I am a coast girl through and through.
The evening finished with a family dinner and reuniting with the boys. Nothing like good eats and great company. I love kicking back with a game in the background (too bad the Canadian team didn't win) when everyone is relaxed and then the stories start to come out. See, not everyone understands the art of storytelling. Some people think that storytelling means that you drag out all the old stuff that is better left in a closet because no one is better off hearing that story again. Nope, the true art of the story is bringing out the slightly embarrassing or incriminating (or both) stories about friends and family and regaling the next generation and newbies to the family legends. Whether it be the sort of the "remember when they shot the bear from the porch" variety or the "do you remember Jake, the rubber chicken?" you know you should just grab your drink. kick back, and enjoy the ride.
*NB - not all good stories involve someone with a red face or doing something a little edgy... but many of them are. But good stories are gems in your arsenal of life experience, to be treasured and brought out at the right time. Now I am definitely getting the urge to do some camping!!!!
The evening finished with a family dinner and reuniting with the boys. Nothing like good eats and great company. I love kicking back with a game in the background (too bad the Canadian team didn't win) when everyone is relaxed and then the stories start to come out. See, not everyone understands the art of storytelling. Some people think that storytelling means that you drag out all the old stuff that is better left in a closet because no one is better off hearing that story again. Nope, the true art of the story is bringing out the slightly embarrassing or incriminating (or both) stories about friends and family and regaling the next generation and newbies to the family legends. Whether it be the sort of the "remember when they shot the bear from the porch" variety or the "do you remember Jake, the rubber chicken?" you know you should just grab your drink. kick back, and enjoy the ride.
*NB - not all good stories involve someone with a red face or doing something a little edgy... but many of them are. But good stories are gems in your arsenal of life experience, to be treasured and brought out at the right time. Now I am definitely getting the urge to do some camping!!!!
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Not so wild animals
Hard to believe that our holiday has already passed the hump day and has started to gather speed down the back half. We spent a good morning at the Zoo, hooked up with some family, and got to experience what life is like with a 3 year old. Welcome to the battle of the wills. No wait, there was no battle, he just tried to do what he wanted to do and the rest of us be damned! Actually he was pretty good - he loved being at the Zoo, but doesn't have the attention span for it all like we do. I would have thought that the animals would have held his attention a lot more, but he was stuck on climbing everything, or that play area over there, or filling his belly than he was at looking at the apes, tigers, and giraffes.
It was fun - Brandon was awesome and took it all in stride. It is really warm, and all of our cheeks are a little rosy. I feel a little bad because I thought that I had B's gilligan's hat on but not long enough because I think this would be his first teaser of a sun burn. Chaulk it up to a learning experience. The weather has been better this week than it was the week that I came out last year in May. It is in double digits, and the wind offers a bit of a reprieve.
After the zoo we have come back home to chill, and the boys are prepping dinner. Alberta beef (read steak), and some veggies thrown in for good measure. Perhaps some vino, some music, lots of talk. Tomorrow we are going to head out to Lake Louise and Banff.
It was fun - Brandon was awesome and took it all in stride. It is really warm, and all of our cheeks are a little rosy. I feel a little bad because I thought that I had B's gilligan's hat on but not long enough because I think this would be his first teaser of a sun burn. Chaulk it up to a learning experience. The weather has been better this week than it was the week that I came out last year in May. It is in double digits, and the wind offers a bit of a reprieve.
After the zoo we have come back home to chill, and the boys are prepping dinner. Alberta beef (read steak), and some veggies thrown in for good measure. Perhaps some vino, some music, lots of talk. Tomorrow we are going to head out to Lake Louise and Banff.
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
The back 40
There is nothing like family history and being able to experience a piece of it when it has been in your family for generations. We got out to what once was Ken's grandparents farm when they first came over and homesteaded from Scotland. His Aunt and Uncle are still at the farm, and for now, it is still being farmed by family.
The original house still stands, and it puts things in to perspective when you consider how little space a whole family could live in (quite happily). I love being able to explore the land - the old red barn, the original buildings, those prairie things called Quonset huts, and grain elevators, and old machinery, and just cool stuff that gathers on a farm over time. Chasing the barn cats, the sun on our faces, and being able to bring the generation back to where part of it started. I did do a search on the old titles, and on the government websites you can find the old homesteading deeds. We have a bit of a shared heritage because my mom's grandparents also homesteaded in 1905/1906 when the west was opened up but they chose Saskabush instead before eventually heading west.
I think the prairies are beautiful in their own way - the big skies and rolling hills (even if they are brown and spotted with the last remnants of winter), but it is the smell of the ocean that lifts up my heart and where I feel the most at home. I have come to really appreciate Alberta through our visits, and I really think that being able to go to farm and visit it just really something else. Being able to touch and smell history, to hear the stories, and experience the timelessness of the farming, and then to have a warm house to retreat too, and the smell of fresh apple pie.
Driving home, full and satiated, it is strange to drive for so long in a straight line. This part of the trip meant a lot to both of us, and driving home we were both quiet, taking it all in.
The original house still stands, and it puts things in to perspective when you consider how little space a whole family could live in (quite happily). I love being able to explore the land - the old red barn, the original buildings, those prairie things called Quonset huts, and grain elevators, and old machinery, and just cool stuff that gathers on a farm over time. Chasing the barn cats, the sun on our faces, and being able to bring the generation back to where part of it started. I did do a search on the old titles, and on the government websites you can find the old homesteading deeds. We have a bit of a shared heritage because my mom's grandparents also homesteaded in 1905/1906 when the west was opened up but they chose Saskabush instead before eventually heading west.
I think the prairies are beautiful in their own way - the big skies and rolling hills (even if they are brown and spotted with the last remnants of winter), but it is the smell of the ocean that lifts up my heart and where I feel the most at home. I have come to really appreciate Alberta through our visits, and I really think that being able to go to farm and visit it just really something else. Being able to touch and smell history, to hear the stories, and experience the timelessness of the farming, and then to have a warm house to retreat too, and the smell of fresh apple pie.
Driving home, full and satiated, it is strange to drive for so long in a straight line. This part of the trip meant a lot to both of us, and driving home we were both quiet, taking it all in.
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
The box
Last night we checked out the local junior hockey game. Gilly scored some awesome tickets through work (a real advantage to working in the private sector vs. the private sector) and we had a box all to our selves and got to hang out like rockstars. This is Brandon's first official big(ger) league hockey game, and I agreed to bring him because of the awesome seats and being able to shelter him from some of the noise. Well, he danced and smiled, and wooed the people around him. We enjoyed over priced beer and chips, and it was great. Unreal how much it can cost to go to a game, even when you had a helping hand with the tickets. Entertainment isn't cheap! I have found that I would rather support the junior leagues a little more on the line for the boys hitting the draft.
The highlight had to be after the game, when we rearranged all the furniture in the box and watched the end of the 'Nucks game. Our hoots and hollars when they won filled the Dome.
Today took off to a quiet start and then we went off to Fort Calgary. Getting in and out our area in Cowtown has been interesting - as navigator I have not always been a shining star but I am getting the hang of this city. Granted, with so many new neighborhoods, and not so many land markers, some hoods look just like the other, and you have to really pay attention to the rights and lefts and subtle variations in place names. Calgary does seem to have a much better infrastructure than we do, between the paths and some forethought in to planning their streets and highways. Then again, you are dealing with the prairies rather than a limited land space like the fraser valley. BUT much better planned than we have at home in many areas. The Fort was cool, not as detailed as Fort Langley but an interesting look in to our past and the NWMP roots of the men in red serge. It appears that our quest for a blooming onion has hit yet another snag, after fighting traffic to hit the restaurant, we were told it was closed down by the health department because they blew a hot water tank as an inspection happened. Right.
The highlight had to be after the game, when we rearranged all the furniture in the box and watched the end of the 'Nucks game. Our hoots and hollars when they won filled the Dome.
Today took off to a quiet start and then we went off to Fort Calgary. Getting in and out our area in Cowtown has been interesting - as navigator I have not always been a shining star but I am getting the hang of this city. Granted, with so many new neighborhoods, and not so many land markers, some hoods look just like the other, and you have to really pay attention to the rights and lefts and subtle variations in place names. Calgary does seem to have a much better infrastructure than we do, between the paths and some forethought in to planning their streets and highways. Then again, you are dealing with the prairies rather than a limited land space like the fraser valley. BUT much better planned than we have at home in many areas. The Fort was cool, not as detailed as Fort Langley but an interesting look in to our past and the NWMP roots of the men in red serge. It appears that our quest for a blooming onion has hit yet another snag, after fighting traffic to hit the restaurant, we were told it was closed down by the health department because they blew a hot water tank as an inspection happened. Right.
Monday, April 23, 2007
Cow Town!
Clear skies and house tops is what I can see from where I sit!
Here were are in Cowtown, and after the tales of the white out conditions last week, the tides have turned and the weather is fantastic today. It also makes me look like I have over packed, or packed for completely the wrong season. For some reason I have not gotten out of the habit of packing my half of our bag until the morning of departure. It is how I roll. I think the worst occaison repacking happened when I was in Cairo, trying to get everything to fit back in to my bag and having a really rough go at it with a mere hour to go before we had to get back to the airport. Having only about an hour or two of sleep at that pointed had not helped things along either. Ah well, with years of practise I am quite good at it.
In Calgary, it is amazing that you are about 40 minutes away from the Rocky Mtns and yet when you live on the outskirts of the city, the city looms in the distance, with only a few rolling hills to separate you. No mountains, no green majestic sweeps of trees, just some smaller trees scattered around and some grass that is damn happy to see the sun right about now and some remaining patches of snow melting away.
Today has been a great mellow day. We are all moving pretty slow, Ken from a long week or two at work, me from just life in general. Well- the last few weeks have been crazy busy for us with the water babies, and other side trips that we have had going on. Brandon is having an amazing nap - between the cold he has had (nothing extreme just there) to all the excitement of the flight and visiting with loved ones, he is just done in today. Hell, we all are. I snatched up a book, and between foraging for food, making Brandon some baby food, a short walk, and my own nap, that sounds like heaven to me right now. It is nice being in someone else's house, where I am not worrying about doing this or that, I just am. It is also cool watching Ken and PKY hang, there is nothing in this world like your bestest friends - the few people who have known you since you were a kid, and you have stuck together closer than family because you chose each other. Of course I have my own copilot to chill with, and it was damn cool to have a gang of folk at the airport to greet us.
Here were are in Cowtown, and after the tales of the white out conditions last week, the tides have turned and the weather is fantastic today. It also makes me look like I have over packed, or packed for completely the wrong season. For some reason I have not gotten out of the habit of packing my half of our bag until the morning of departure. It is how I roll. I think the worst occaison repacking happened when I was in Cairo, trying to get everything to fit back in to my bag and having a really rough go at it with a mere hour to go before we had to get back to the airport. Having only about an hour or two of sleep at that pointed had not helped things along either. Ah well, with years of practise I am quite good at it.
In Calgary, it is amazing that you are about 40 minutes away from the Rocky Mtns and yet when you live on the outskirts of the city, the city looms in the distance, with only a few rolling hills to separate you. No mountains, no green majestic sweeps of trees, just some smaller trees scattered around and some grass that is damn happy to see the sun right about now and some remaining patches of snow melting away.
Today has been a great mellow day. We are all moving pretty slow, Ken from a long week or two at work, me from just life in general. Well- the last few weeks have been crazy busy for us with the water babies, and other side trips that we have had going on. Brandon is having an amazing nap - between the cold he has had (nothing extreme just there) to all the excitement of the flight and visiting with loved ones, he is just done in today. Hell, we all are. I snatched up a book, and between foraging for food, making Brandon some baby food, a short walk, and my own nap, that sounds like heaven to me right now. It is nice being in someone else's house, where I am not worrying about doing this or that, I just am. It is also cool watching Ken and PKY hang, there is nothing in this world like your bestest friends - the few people who have known you since you were a kid, and you have stuck together closer than family because you chose each other. Of course I have my own copilot to chill with, and it was damn cool to have a gang of folk at the airport to greet us.
Sunday, April 22, 2007
Albertan Brunch
Who needs rice, or carrots, or any of that green stuff? It is just filler when you have something like this one the grill! What a great way to kick off a holiday in Cow Town with some of your closest friends.. and then later on... family
Thursday, April 19, 2007
Blast off.
Since we signed up for water babies, the last few weeks seem to have been on hyper drive. Could be a sign of things to come, but our days have been crammed full and I can't believe it was just a few days (so it seems) that Brandon was 8 months old. Another month has almost clicked by!!!
We've gotten out for a few great walks, some good visits with friends and family, done some more reorganizing of the house, went down to the Tulip festival, and frittered away the time. I have also been through a bought of spring cleaning - the curtains are washed, a little bit of touch up painting here and there, and slowly my current to do list is starting to dwindle.
Next week we are heading to Cowtown. It seems like forever ago that we booked our trip, and now it is almost a reality. The days are already filling up with lots of visiting, and my dear friend Gilly called last night, gloating, about the fact that it was snowing. Apparently misery loves company and she is quite gleeful we folks from lotus land get to experience some prairie spring. I guess the other rude awakening will be the brown grass everywhere. Who knew? It will be great to get away - aside from day trips, and visits to see Gram on the coast, we haven't been far since we tied the knot. Different scenery will be good for the soul, although I am starting to appreciate just how much I am going to need to pack since we are traveling with an infant!!! And here I was getting better at not bringing the kitchen sink along - now I will have to!!!
We've gotten out for a few great walks, some good visits with friends and family, done some more reorganizing of the house, went down to the Tulip festival, and frittered away the time. I have also been through a bought of spring cleaning - the curtains are washed, a little bit of touch up painting here and there, and slowly my current to do list is starting to dwindle.
Next week we are heading to Cowtown. It seems like forever ago that we booked our trip, and now it is almost a reality. The days are already filling up with lots of visiting, and my dear friend Gilly called last night, gloating, about the fact that it was snowing. Apparently misery loves company and she is quite gleeful we folks from lotus land get to experience some prairie spring. I guess the other rude awakening will be the brown grass everywhere. Who knew? It will be great to get away - aside from day trips, and visits to see Gram on the coast, we haven't been far since we tied the knot. Different scenery will be good for the soul, although I am starting to appreciate just how much I am going to need to pack since we are traveling with an infant!!! And here I was getting better at not bringing the kitchen sink along - now I will have to!!!
Sunday, April 15, 2007
A bounty of colour
The rain looked like it would hold off long enough that the sun should be able to peek through and we be able to head stateside to enjoy the Tulip Festival (one of my favourite spring things to do). The colours are breath taking, and we got there early enough that it was fairly quiet - it is one of my pet peeves to be somewhere naturally beautiful and have a bunch of strangers in all your pictures. Some places you expect this, but I will patiently wait to try to get the shot without the other peeps in it. These pics were taken from display gardens containing more varieties of tulips than I care to count: all different colours, heights, sizes, some doubles, some early blooming, some almost done.
By the time we were done our sight seeing and sunday driving, it seemed that trying to get fish and chips in either La Connor (no parking spots to be found) or White Rock (50th anniversary celebration and everyone, and I mean everyone was out crowding the streets), or the local shop (closed Sundays, WTF?) was a mission impossible so we ended up grabbing some take out to go back home and chill.
Thursday, April 12, 2007
A big sigh of relief
Today we had cause to celebrate.
Where as last month's doctors appointment for Brandonw as somewhat stressful with the possibility that his shunt was not working properly, this mont's appointment brought better news all the way around.
Although we were waiting umpteem moments to get in, it was time well spent because the office was packed and we got see other kids who had gone through a similar experience all the way from 3 months, to 4 and 5 years old, to 19. All were doing awesome, and you would never know the experiences that they had gone through if you weren't in the know (which in this case would be defined as being in the office to know whom they were there to see). Brandon is doing great and things are progressing as they should. The pressure has been relieved, the shunt is working, his head growth has leveled out, and Brandon is just an amazing little duffer. Like every other parent he is the apple of our eye, tickles the cockles of my heart, and I am pretty damn proud of him. We don't have to go back for another ultrasound and check up for 4 months, after that 6 months, and then just regular check ups. I said to the doc, I am sure with a bit of awe in my voice, that "Once you get through that initial scare, and making sure that everything is working as it should, I guess this is life with a shunt" meaning just like everyone else. And he smiled, and agreed, saying that was what he said to begin with, and I laughed, because in the beginning you are scared and nervous and don't know what to expect.
So tonight we celebrated with a nice dinner at home and counted our blessings.
Where as last month's doctors appointment for Brandonw as somewhat stressful with the possibility that his shunt was not working properly, this mont's appointment brought better news all the way around.
Although we were waiting umpteem moments to get in, it was time well spent because the office was packed and we got see other kids who had gone through a similar experience all the way from 3 months, to 4 and 5 years old, to 19. All were doing awesome, and you would never know the experiences that they had gone through if you weren't in the know (which in this case would be defined as being in the office to know whom they were there to see). Brandon is doing great and things are progressing as they should. The pressure has been relieved, the shunt is working, his head growth has leveled out, and Brandon is just an amazing little duffer. Like every other parent he is the apple of our eye, tickles the cockles of my heart, and I am pretty damn proud of him. We don't have to go back for another ultrasound and check up for 4 months, after that 6 months, and then just regular check ups. I said to the doc, I am sure with a bit of awe in my voice, that "Once you get through that initial scare, and making sure that everything is working as it should, I guess this is life with a shunt" meaning just like everyone else. And he smiled, and agreed, saying that was what he said to begin with, and I laughed, because in the beginning you are scared and nervous and don't know what to expect.
So tonight we celebrated with a nice dinner at home and counted our blessings.
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Time to Vote!
I think it is an interesting bit of trivia if you can actually list off the Seven Ancient Wonders... now, there is the opportunity to vote for what you feel should be included in the new, updated and some what more global list of the "New" Seven Wonders...
A few quick reviews....
Some months I seem to have more to say than others. Either that, or some months I have more time to actually sit down in front of the computer and articulate a few scattered thoughts.
I have done some great reading in the last month. I just finished reading Running with Sciss0rs which is quite the read, especially considering that it is a memoir. What a crazy, fucked up life this guy has had. Like a cat, he seems to have landed on his feet though! It was a compelling read, at some times sad, at some times I was shaking my head in awe (not always in a positive way), and at other times, normal is what normal does and only relates to the confines of your own life. Amazing what becomes routine, no matter how crazy it may seem looking in or out. It was a faster read than the last two novels that I dove in to, but definitely a compelling read.
I also finished The Historian just prior to Running..., which could have also added to it being a sprint compared to this book. The Historian is one helluva page turner. I loved the history, the interwoven tales, the mystery surrounding Dracula and barely revealed violence, the exotic locales and lesser known European states and cities, the love stories, the darkness, and the long passages it took to unravel this tale. There was only one section where I think I felt my eyes crossing unwittingly - a section written as if it was an academic journal and that was pretty much the only part of this 700 page novel in really small font that I didn't enjoy and felt like I trudged through. If I am moved, I ear marked a bunch of pages for future reference and perhaps I can dig out a few quotes. The book is still in the car, and well, there it will stay for a bit longer.
AND I also finished reading the Palace Walk, a tale about Cairo just as WW I is drawing to a close. It is an insight in to Arab culture and what life is like in Egypt at that time. It is also a story about a family, and how each member relates to each other and their own slice of life. It is hard not to be riled at times at how different mens lives were from that of womens, but as I reacted to this book in good and bad ways, I had to admire the style in which it was written in order to evoke such strong responses from me. This is one part of a trilogy, and eventually I will read the other 2 novels.
On a total aside, all three of these books were larger, and somewhat bulky (scissors to a lesser extent) and made b'feeding and reading a little more awkward as one hand tried to grapple with the shape of these books. I couldn't imagine not being able to read during those times because I run out of stories and things to blather on about during those times... as well, besides it being nice quiet time together, some times I hope that Brandon will drift off to sleep shortly there after so keeping it mellow is a good thing.
I have done some great reading in the last month. I just finished reading Running with Sciss0rs which is quite the read, especially considering that it is a memoir. What a crazy, fucked up life this guy has had. Like a cat, he seems to have landed on his feet though! It was a compelling read, at some times sad, at some times I was shaking my head in awe (not always in a positive way), and at other times, normal is what normal does and only relates to the confines of your own life. Amazing what becomes routine, no matter how crazy it may seem looking in or out. It was a faster read than the last two novels that I dove in to, but definitely a compelling read.
I also finished The Historian just prior to Running..., which could have also added to it being a sprint compared to this book. The Historian is one helluva page turner. I loved the history, the interwoven tales, the mystery surrounding Dracula and barely revealed violence, the exotic locales and lesser known European states and cities, the love stories, the darkness, and the long passages it took to unravel this tale. There was only one section where I think I felt my eyes crossing unwittingly - a section written as if it was an academic journal and that was pretty much the only part of this 700 page novel in really small font that I didn't enjoy and felt like I trudged through. If I am moved, I ear marked a bunch of pages for future reference and perhaps I can dig out a few quotes. The book is still in the car, and well, there it will stay for a bit longer.
AND I also finished reading the Palace Walk, a tale about Cairo just as WW I is drawing to a close. It is an insight in to Arab culture and what life is like in Egypt at that time. It is also a story about a family, and how each member relates to each other and their own slice of life. It is hard not to be riled at times at how different mens lives were from that of womens, but as I reacted to this book in good and bad ways, I had to admire the style in which it was written in order to evoke such strong responses from me. This is one part of a trilogy, and eventually I will read the other 2 novels.
On a total aside, all three of these books were larger, and somewhat bulky (scissors to a lesser extent) and made b'feeding and reading a little more awkward as one hand tried to grapple with the shape of these books. I couldn't imagine not being able to read during those times because I run out of stories and things to blather on about during those times... as well, besides it being nice quiet time together, some times I hope that Brandon will drift off to sleep shortly there after so keeping it mellow is a good thing.
Monday, April 9, 2007
Those lumps, humps, and bumps.
Ah those Canadians.
Being married to my own Canadian goalie, this video cracked me up, and then some. Well worth the time to check it out. Perhaps if he ever changed his mind about baseball, this would be a viable off season sport, but that isn't happening any time soon.
I may not always flash my maple leafs in overt ways, but I am Canadian and really quite proud of it. Not that extreme nationalism is necessarily a good thing, personally you should be proud of where you are from, the nature of the geography and its peoples, and how it has [subtlety] shaped who you are and the face that you present to the rest of the known universe. I may be a blend of a few other cultures when you look back to where prior generations came from, but those generational threads have been fused together to form my Canadian identity first and foremost, especially that of being from the edges of the west coast.
So without further ado, I love this video by our own ironic princess of rock, Alanis.
Being married to my own Canadian goalie, this video cracked me up, and then some. Well worth the time to check it out. Perhaps if he ever changed his mind about baseball, this would be a viable off season sport, but that isn't happening any time soon.
I may not always flash my maple leafs in overt ways, but I am Canadian and really quite proud of it. Not that extreme nationalism is necessarily a good thing, personally you should be proud of where you are from, the nature of the geography and its peoples, and how it has [subtlety] shaped who you are and the face that you present to the rest of the known universe. I may be a blend of a few other cultures when you look back to where prior generations came from, but those generational threads have been fused together to form my Canadian identity first and foremost, especially that of being from the edges of the west coast.
So without further ado, I love this video by our own ironic princess of rock, Alanis.
Wednesday, April 4, 2007
Here I am!
I have a quiet moment, so I figured that I would sit down to throw out a few thoughts. Of course, now that I have that proverbial white sheet of paper in front of me, I am just sitting here with a stupid look on my face.
Brandon is in bed, at a decent time. Ahhhhh. Last night was one of those nights where he was wired for light and sound between 3 and 5am. Or was that 6am? I think, er I know, that the numbers started to run in together in between cat naps, breastfeeds that never seemed to end, and various other things that go bump in the night. It is what it is, and it is amazing how much energy goes in to his achieving the state of sleep.
The book I am currently reading is bigger than a pocket book, and so was the last one, both of which I would file under the big L for literary books, and are giving my thumb muscles a work out as I am trying to read one handed as Brandon nurses. I am giddy, I will be joining up with a fabulous group of ladies to read books with and just gossip about our lives from our own perspectives. I am really excited, and I hope that they find my enthusiasm endearing because if the last meeting was any indication, the opportunity to talk about books and hang out is pretty heady stuff about now.
I hate to sound redundant, but time is flying by too quickly. I am so aware of time, that as Brandon gets older (how can I have an 8 month old?) it means that I am that much closer to going back to work. I have been in for a few visits, and I can't believe it is closing in on a year since I worked. What did I use to do with all my time? Oh yeah, run around like a chicken with my head chopped off, only doing slightly different things.
The various hockey seasons are wrapping up. It has been strange not playing and now I wonder how I am going to make it fit again in the future and on what terms. I feel distant from my old team - not that I haven't been in touch with a few friends on the team, but I guess I am little disappointed that I haven't spared for them, or even been asked to come out. Not that everyone isn't really happy to see me when I come out to cheer them on, but it feels weird when people not on the team come up to me and ask me when I feel I am ready to start playing again, or ask me why aren't I out there playing when the team is so obviously short of girls some nights. I can only shrug my shoulders and give Brandon a cuddle. Ultimately, I would have been ready to play not long after birth, but it isn't all about me right now and I have to be respectful of Brandon and what works for all of us, especially now that routines are so much more important to all of our well being. I think I will know more how I feel about everything after I get out for a skate, maybe for a stick and puck sometime in the next while, feel the wind on my face and the slap of the stick on the ice.
I will grudgingly admit I was wrong in my predictions about the 'Nucks this year. I figured that their playoff hopes were a dismal far-fetched idea and here they have gone on a kick ass winning streak (granted, how many of those wins have happened in OT or in shoot outs???). I still can't say that I care as much about professional hockey as I did before the lock out. I just haven't been as excited, or watched as many games, although it is rare when I actually get to read or watch a show without interruptions any more :D I guess part of what gets me is that it is an arm, a leg, and maybe even your first born to go to a game now. Hell, you want a beer at the game and you may as well add your folks to the deal. Going to a game is an expensive endeavour now and I can think of a few other ways I would rather spend my money.
Perhaps I should try to blog more often so I don't go on these marathon posts that go on and on and on... speaking of which, after trying out construction grade garbage bags, and then redesigning the kiddie pool vinyl that I begged and whined Ken to get me days before birth last year (and both methods failed miserably) to create my desired water feature in the backyard in the 1/2 whiskey barrel I procured (errr liberated a rhubarb plant from), we took a trip to a local garden center to get a proper insert and a fountain "spitter". We didn't go for one that looks like a little boy puking up water or a dying fish, we went for a gargoyle with a walking stick, with water coming out one end. I like it. I get a kick out of being outside with my hands in the dirt and watching things grow. I also scored some great deals on potted tulips, which for me is a bonus - not only do I get to enjoy the flowers this year, but I have the bulbs for next year! SCORE!
Dare I mention the enabling that happened on a shopping excursion on Friday? Let it be known I have a fabulous new red shirt, and various odds and sods from that swedish place. Speaking of which, I discovered the most brutal, frustrating little piece of doo-dad to put together. I can nail, and this piece nearly did me in with crooked nails!!! I did end up getting a little mocked, but the job was done and my computer desk has become a much more organized chaos.
Brandon is in bed, at a decent time. Ahhhhh. Last night was one of those nights where he was wired for light and sound between 3 and 5am. Or was that 6am? I think, er I know, that the numbers started to run in together in between cat naps, breastfeeds that never seemed to end, and various other things that go bump in the night. It is what it is, and it is amazing how much energy goes in to his achieving the state of sleep.
The book I am currently reading is bigger than a pocket book, and so was the last one, both of which I would file under the big L for literary books, and are giving my thumb muscles a work out as I am trying to read one handed as Brandon nurses. I am giddy, I will be joining up with a fabulous group of ladies to read books with and just gossip about our lives from our own perspectives. I am really excited, and I hope that they find my enthusiasm endearing because if the last meeting was any indication, the opportunity to talk about books and hang out is pretty heady stuff about now.
I hate to sound redundant, but time is flying by too quickly. I am so aware of time, that as Brandon gets older (how can I have an 8 month old?) it means that I am that much closer to going back to work. I have been in for a few visits, and I can't believe it is closing in on a year since I worked. What did I use to do with all my time? Oh yeah, run around like a chicken with my head chopped off, only doing slightly different things.
The various hockey seasons are wrapping up. It has been strange not playing and now I wonder how I am going to make it fit again in the future and on what terms. I feel distant from my old team - not that I haven't been in touch with a few friends on the team, but I guess I am little disappointed that I haven't spared for them, or even been asked to come out. Not that everyone isn't really happy to see me when I come out to cheer them on, but it feels weird when people not on the team come up to me and ask me when I feel I am ready to start playing again, or ask me why aren't I out there playing when the team is so obviously short of girls some nights. I can only shrug my shoulders and give Brandon a cuddle. Ultimately, I would have been ready to play not long after birth, but it isn't all about me right now and I have to be respectful of Brandon and what works for all of us, especially now that routines are so much more important to all of our well being. I think I will know more how I feel about everything after I get out for a skate, maybe for a stick and puck sometime in the next while, feel the wind on my face and the slap of the stick on the ice.
I will grudgingly admit I was wrong in my predictions about the 'Nucks this year. I figured that their playoff hopes were a dismal far-fetched idea and here they have gone on a kick ass winning streak (granted, how many of those wins have happened in OT or in shoot outs???). I still can't say that I care as much about professional hockey as I did before the lock out. I just haven't been as excited, or watched as many games, although it is rare when I actually get to read or watch a show without interruptions any more :D I guess part of what gets me is that it is an arm, a leg, and maybe even your first born to go to a game now. Hell, you want a beer at the game and you may as well add your folks to the deal. Going to a game is an expensive endeavour now and I can think of a few other ways I would rather spend my money.
Perhaps I should try to blog more often so I don't go on these marathon posts that go on and on and on... speaking of which, after trying out construction grade garbage bags, and then redesigning the kiddie pool vinyl that I begged and whined Ken to get me days before birth last year (and both methods failed miserably) to create my desired water feature in the backyard in the 1/2 whiskey barrel I procured (errr liberated a rhubarb plant from), we took a trip to a local garden center to get a proper insert and a fountain "spitter". We didn't go for one that looks like a little boy puking up water or a dying fish, we went for a gargoyle with a walking stick, with water coming out one end. I like it. I get a kick out of being outside with my hands in the dirt and watching things grow. I also scored some great deals on potted tulips, which for me is a bonus - not only do I get to enjoy the flowers this year, but I have the bulbs for next year! SCORE!
Dare I mention the enabling that happened on a shopping excursion on Friday? Let it be known I have a fabulous new red shirt, and various odds and sods from that swedish place. Speaking of which, I discovered the most brutal, frustrating little piece of doo-dad to put together. I can nail, and this piece nearly did me in with crooked nails!!! I did end up getting a little mocked, but the job was done and my computer desk has become a much more organized chaos.
Thursday, March 29, 2007
Note to self
*when one takes their dear child to water babies, and said parent wears their suit to the pool under their clothes to save time, it is always best to put underwear in the bag with the towel, and child's change of clothes.
Who knew?
So much for running an errand after swimming, what with the girls swinging free?!
Who knew?
So much for running an errand after swimming, what with the girls swinging free?!
My water baby
I love the water. I love swimming, I love paddling sports, surfing is tough but fun (I think I have only managed to stand on a long board for a few moments before I toppled over with a smile plastered across my face), the only thing about water I am not good at is water skiing. The ability to get up on those damn skis escapes me. Scuba diving, skin diving, just hanging out in the water - I am there. Walking near the water, staring at water, mesmerized by water. I was always the first kid in the pool, and the last one to come out, often hours later wrinkled upon beyond that of a prune.
When you become a parent, you discover many of your biases, again and again. I don't want Brandon to be afraid of the water, or not know how to swim. So, I have been eagerly awaiting when we would start Water Babies at the local aquatic centre.
We started on Tuesday, and this morning is adventure #2. Brandon took to water like a fish (yay!). It was also the first time we have been around a lot of other kids. We have friends with kids, and a few babies, but we were with 8 or 9 other babies and parents. It was cool. Amazing to see the range of sizes and tempraments. Funny that the babies were all really good in the water, but to my endless amusement, there was a toddler in another lesson that cried and whined and quivered through the whole experience. I hope Brandon doesn't have meltdowns like that at the pool - this is why we are starting early to hopefully avoid that find of fear!
It was a learning experience, being truly responsible for someone else in an "event" setting, not just the safety of our house and those we care about it (not sure if I have articulated this well). I didn't know the whole routine, and thank you Nej for that bag of spare diapers, because I didn't know about the Lil'Swimmers, but they sure do the trick! And then there is the showing up with your suit on and just getting rid of that extra step right from the get go. I also carried Brandon in his sling, and threw a backpack on, struggling and wiggling all the way in. Made changing interesting - laying towels down to keep him clean, standing next to him to make sure he didn't roll of of the bench, a lot of juggling and josseling, and it seemed the other parents were able to get out a lot quicker than us newbies.
This time around I will bring Brandon in his stroller - it didn't occur to me that it would be the ultimate mom-saver trying to change, and change your child even if you are in a family change room. Tuesday was interesting as I juggled him trying to get my bra on. I am giving him a few moments to sleep since we were up relatively early (for us, not the rest of the known world) and then away we go!
When you become a parent, you discover many of your biases, again and again. I don't want Brandon to be afraid of the water, or not know how to swim. So, I have been eagerly awaiting when we would start Water Babies at the local aquatic centre.
We started on Tuesday, and this morning is adventure #2. Brandon took to water like a fish (yay!). It was also the first time we have been around a lot of other kids. We have friends with kids, and a few babies, but we were with 8 or 9 other babies and parents. It was cool. Amazing to see the range of sizes and tempraments. Funny that the babies were all really good in the water, but to my endless amusement, there was a toddler in another lesson that cried and whined and quivered through the whole experience. I hope Brandon doesn't have meltdowns like that at the pool - this is why we are starting early to hopefully avoid that find of fear!
It was a learning experience, being truly responsible for someone else in an "event" setting, not just the safety of our house and those we care about it (not sure if I have articulated this well). I didn't know the whole routine, and thank you Nej for that bag of spare diapers, because I didn't know about the Lil'Swimmers, but they sure do the trick! And then there is the showing up with your suit on and just getting rid of that extra step right from the get go. I also carried Brandon in his sling, and threw a backpack on, struggling and wiggling all the way in. Made changing interesting - laying towels down to keep him clean, standing next to him to make sure he didn't roll of of the bench, a lot of juggling and josseling, and it seemed the other parents were able to get out a lot quicker than us newbies.
This time around I will bring Brandon in his stroller - it didn't occur to me that it would be the ultimate mom-saver trying to change, and change your child even if you are in a family change room. Tuesday was interesting as I juggled him trying to get my bra on. I am giving him a few moments to sleep since we were up relatively early (for us, not the rest of the known world) and then away we go!
Sunday, March 25, 2007
A whole year.
Last night we celebrated our first anniversary of making it legal.
Where has the last year gone? I may have mentioned previously but I think we have pretty much reinvented most things about ourselves in the last months. We've got a baby! We have newer cars (and we have 2 of them), we painted our living room, and we upgraded our pots and pans! And this is just scratching the surface of the changes, but essentially our core has stayed the same, just the window decorations have evolved. There is also just more of us now.
I got a little spoiled for our anniversary with a few surprise hours at a spa and I now have happy toes painted a rich and sparkly burgundy. We went for dinner at the revolving restaurant in Vancouver. I didn't know where we were going, although I did know we were going to use one of our coupons (which always makes me happy, I am so wired in to using coupons to save money right now). I have never been here before - for all the years I seemed to be in Vancouver more than my little town in the burbs where I grew up, I never really did go to a lot of fancy, or even nice restaurants. Pubs suited my budget in those years.
I would actually recommend this restaurant for visitors, for romance, for something breath taking. The views were amazing, and like our wedding, the rains finally ceased and the skies opened up, showing the blue sky and rewarding us with a sunset. It felt strange to be childless, and it was nice to be all swanky in nice clothes, eating good food, and just reveling in each other's company. I know I am waxinb poetic, but it is the first time we have been out for a nice dinner since before Bubs, so it was a big deal, we were also celebrating us, which was also pretty cool.
I even held off calling home and talking to my mom about Brandon until we were in the car on the way home!!!!
Where has the last year gone? I may have mentioned previously but I think we have pretty much reinvented most things about ourselves in the last months. We've got a baby! We have newer cars (and we have 2 of them), we painted our living room, and we upgraded our pots and pans! And this is just scratching the surface of the changes, but essentially our core has stayed the same, just the window decorations have evolved. There is also just more of us now.
I got a little spoiled for our anniversary with a few surprise hours at a spa and I now have happy toes painted a rich and sparkly burgundy. We went for dinner at the revolving restaurant in Vancouver. I didn't know where we were going, although I did know we were going to use one of our coupons (which always makes me happy, I am so wired in to using coupons to save money right now). I have never been here before - for all the years I seemed to be in Vancouver more than my little town in the burbs where I grew up, I never really did go to a lot of fancy, or even nice restaurants. Pubs suited my budget in those years.
I would actually recommend this restaurant for visitors, for romance, for something breath taking. The views were amazing, and like our wedding, the rains finally ceased and the skies opened up, showing the blue sky and rewarding us with a sunset. It felt strange to be childless, and it was nice to be all swanky in nice clothes, eating good food, and just reveling in each other's company. I know I am waxinb poetic, but it is the first time we have been out for a nice dinner since before Bubs, so it was a big deal, we were also celebrating us, which was also pretty cool.
I even held off calling home and talking to my mom about Brandon until we were in the car on the way home!!!!
Saturday, March 17, 2007
an excuse for a guinness
According to an Irish bloke.. today is amateur day for the folks who figure they know what beers to reach for and have a good time. I think today is a lot more fun than New Years - there is so much less riding on it, you get to wear green (always a bonus), and there are lots of festivals going on which include some great music. One of my favourite bands is playing tonight and I have nothing but fond memories of bouncing up on and down on the floor at the Commodore, outdoor concerts, and the many many other venues where I have had the opportunity to see them live, and finally, the last time, with my man. Not in the cards to go tonight (Brandon is still too young to go out for that long, and well, they are sold out), and next year we will catch the parade.
I see a guinness in my near future - slainte!
I see a guinness in my near future - slainte!
Friday, March 16, 2007
Thank You.
My whining about good reads and chick-lit paid! I have garnered some great recommendations of books to read from some fabulous ladies. THANK YOU. I can't wait to dig my teeth in to these!
It has been yet another quick week, and the highs have overpowered the lows. There are always moments in your life where you wish you could trade shoes with someone else, but I love that saying - "when life hands you lemons, make margaritas" (errrr, I think that was lemonade but I am improvising.. not that I am going to touch the hard stuff until I am done with b'feeding, but I look forward to some fruity or tangy margs when the time is right). Attitude is everything and I figure that every one is entitled to their moments, some longer than others, but there reaches a point where you just have to get over life, and realize that life is life and you gotta roll with the punches or sink in the storm.
Felt like a complete widiot the other day, grabbed the set of car keys without a house key on it. So, off I went grocery shopping for dinner, did some banking, went home and couldn't get in. No folks upstairs, baby that was getting fussy, oh yeah, I was batting a 1000. Drove myself back up the hill to call my DH, and he laughed at me. Hard and long. I had to laugh too, it was a pretty widiot move on my part. A snap decision was made for me to head back down the hill, grab some dessert, and then meet back at home. Passed each other on the hill, and then I ended up in the longest drive through wait of 3 cars I have experienced in a long time. I would have turned around if I wasn't boxed in - that was when Brandon decided that he was done with being in the car and started to wail. Up went my window as I tried what I could to soothe him and get moving again.
Today I had a fabulous outting with a dear friend (whom has her own little bump) and it was such a high - it was like the mutual admiration society. I wonder if the changes I see in her, you could see in me when I was 24 weeks along. Watching someone you love blossom in to a mother is a gift.
And, we got great news about our boy. Last week things didn't look so good in terms of his shunt, however, with the miracles of science and a programmable shunt, a few hours can change everything and with this weeks follow up appointment we are in a completely different place than we were last week. Brandon is doing awesome. Some days he isn't the best sleeper, some days he isn't as smiley as others, but all in all, he humbles me. He has such a great nature (and I am not just biased) I am sure that I am learning as much from him as he is from me. I am sure that as a result of being a mom, I am becoming an even better person. There are so many moments that touch my heart. And when I talk about it, and reflect upon it, as being 1/2 of a couple and now that we are parents, we are a team and we look out for each other, and our own. Damn cool to be able to do that. Can you believe we will have been married a year next weeek?? Where has the time gone?
It has been yet another quick week, and the highs have overpowered the lows. There are always moments in your life where you wish you could trade shoes with someone else, but I love that saying - "when life hands you lemons, make margaritas" (errrr, I think that was lemonade but I am improvising.. not that I am going to touch the hard stuff until I am done with b'feeding, but I look forward to some fruity or tangy margs when the time is right). Attitude is everything and I figure that every one is entitled to their moments, some longer than others, but there reaches a point where you just have to get over life, and realize that life is life and you gotta roll with the punches or sink in the storm.
Felt like a complete widiot the other day, grabbed the set of car keys without a house key on it. So, off I went grocery shopping for dinner, did some banking, went home and couldn't get in. No folks upstairs, baby that was getting fussy, oh yeah, I was batting a 1000. Drove myself back up the hill to call my DH, and he laughed at me. Hard and long. I had to laugh too, it was a pretty widiot move on my part. A snap decision was made for me to head back down the hill, grab some dessert, and then meet back at home. Passed each other on the hill, and then I ended up in the longest drive through wait of 3 cars I have experienced in a long time. I would have turned around if I wasn't boxed in - that was when Brandon decided that he was done with being in the car and started to wail. Up went my window as I tried what I could to soothe him and get moving again.
Today I had a fabulous outting with a dear friend (whom has her own little bump) and it was such a high - it was like the mutual admiration society. I wonder if the changes I see in her, you could see in me when I was 24 weeks along. Watching someone you love blossom in to a mother is a gift.
And, we got great news about our boy. Last week things didn't look so good in terms of his shunt, however, with the miracles of science and a programmable shunt, a few hours can change everything and with this weeks follow up appointment we are in a completely different place than we were last week. Brandon is doing awesome. Some days he isn't the best sleeper, some days he isn't as smiley as others, but all in all, he humbles me. He has such a great nature (and I am not just biased) I am sure that I am learning as much from him as he is from me. I am sure that as a result of being a mom, I am becoming an even better person. There are so many moments that touch my heart. And when I talk about it, and reflect upon it, as being 1/2 of a couple and now that we are parents, we are a team and we look out for each other, and our own. Damn cool to be able to do that. Can you believe we will have been married a year next weeek?? Where has the time gone?
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
Polar Opposites
Lucky for me, I ended up with a few new books (which is rare, since I normally buy used ones or hope that books get paid forward to me as I pay books forward, or I grab loaners from friends) in the last few weeks. I was pretty excited since I had grabbed books that I really wanted to read, rather than books that appeared to "fit the reading bill" and time would tell once I dove between the covers.
Well, the books ended up at opposite ends of the sprectrum. I started with this book by the dynamic duo Preston and Child, and it was a fast paced page turner that kept me on the edge of my perpetual seat. It was a great book/read. I like their writing style, and I also think that it is cool that Preston's brother was the one that wrote the Hot Zone, a non-fiction book that I must admit scared the hell out of me (and then some). Actually both books to differing degrees reminded me of how much we live in a world of trust, social contract, and faith. You really have to believe that most people out there have their own best interests at heart, which by extension means that they are trying to create as little negative waves as possible because of the potential to have a rippling negative effect on their lives reflected back on them.
Then I picked up back to back novels by the next writing combination of Michael Slade, one of which was a book about the second world war in Europe, and the other was a different take on the war in the Pacific. I found the first one riveting, but a harder one to read. Back in my university days I did a course on the Holocaust and it was a chilling, bone numbing experience of just how dark human nature can be. This book reminded me of some of that, but to be aware of the darkness is also to be aware of the lightness of the human soul as well (witnessed by books such as this, which is still one of the most inspiring novels I have ever read). All of the Slade books are dark, but very well researched and very well written. They also take off from a base here in BC, and it is always a thrill to recognize your home town(s) in novels.
In between these two thrillers, I figured that I would dive between the covers of a chick-lit book. I had picked up Bushnell's Four Blondes at a great steal. I thought that after such an intense few novels, something light and fluffy was in order. I could not have been more wrong. I am sure that this is not the quintessential good chick-lit example, but it is complete and utter trash. Even at 5 bucks I think I got ripped off, and it is even a hard cover. After reading the first short story (I am not much of a fan of a short story, the longer the better generally for me) I dropped the book in disgust and went for the second Slade book. Well, now that the rest of my new books have been read, I am trying to get the rest of my way through this one, especially since it really isn't that long. The terms vapid, shallow, pulp writing keep coming to mind. I am disappointed because I am a big fan of S'inthe City, but this is no where close to what I expected. Between this one, and the Sh0paholic (which also didn't do much for me) I can't say that I am a big fan of chick-lit at this point. I am more than willing to try out more if there are some good suggestions out there.
Personally, it was an awakening moment as I realized my own literary journey has taken a few more turns. When I was a kid I loved the Nancy Drews, the Black Stallions, then came all those harlequins and bodice rippers, then all of the literature that I read and continue to read in between the other stuff, and then just plain old romance, to modern day books, to the suspense, some law, some thriller, and crime novels that I am now attracted too. I've really enjoyed books like the Lovely Bones and the Secret Life of Bees, or the Red Tent... but I wouldn't classify those books as chick-lit... which right now I can't say is going to top my list of great reads (however I will keep an open mind since you really can't judge a book by its cover and you just have to try and figure it out and see if the shoe fits for your own reading style).
Well, the books ended up at opposite ends of the sprectrum. I started with this book by the dynamic duo Preston and Child, and it was a fast paced page turner that kept me on the edge of my perpetual seat. It was a great book/read. I like their writing style, and I also think that it is cool that Preston's brother was the one that wrote the Hot Zone, a non-fiction book that I must admit scared the hell out of me (and then some). Actually both books to differing degrees reminded me of how much we live in a world of trust, social contract, and faith. You really have to believe that most people out there have their own best interests at heart, which by extension means that they are trying to create as little negative waves as possible because of the potential to have a rippling negative effect on their lives reflected back on them.
Then I picked up back to back novels by the next writing combination of Michael Slade, one of which was a book about the second world war in Europe, and the other was a different take on the war in the Pacific. I found the first one riveting, but a harder one to read. Back in my university days I did a course on the Holocaust and it was a chilling, bone numbing experience of just how dark human nature can be. This book reminded me of some of that, but to be aware of the darkness is also to be aware of the lightness of the human soul as well (witnessed by books such as this, which is still one of the most inspiring novels I have ever read). All of the Slade books are dark, but very well researched and very well written. They also take off from a base here in BC, and it is always a thrill to recognize your home town(s) in novels.
In between these two thrillers, I figured that I would dive between the covers of a chick-lit book. I had picked up Bushnell's Four Blondes at a great steal. I thought that after such an intense few novels, something light and fluffy was in order. I could not have been more wrong. I am sure that this is not the quintessential good chick-lit example, but it is complete and utter trash. Even at 5 bucks I think I got ripped off, and it is even a hard cover. After reading the first short story (I am not much of a fan of a short story, the longer the better generally for me) I dropped the book in disgust and went for the second Slade book. Well, now that the rest of my new books have been read, I am trying to get the rest of my way through this one, especially since it really isn't that long. The terms vapid, shallow, pulp writing keep coming to mind. I am disappointed because I am a big fan of S'inthe City, but this is no where close to what I expected. Between this one, and the Sh0paholic (which also didn't do much for me) I can't say that I am a big fan of chick-lit at this point. I am more than willing to try out more if there are some good suggestions out there.
Personally, it was an awakening moment as I realized my own literary journey has taken a few more turns. When I was a kid I loved the Nancy Drews, the Black Stallions, then came all those harlequins and bodice rippers, then all of the literature that I read and continue to read in between the other stuff, and then just plain old romance, to modern day books, to the suspense, some law, some thriller, and crime novels that I am now attracted too. I've really enjoyed books like the Lovely Bones and the Secret Life of Bees, or the Red Tent... but I wouldn't classify those books as chick-lit... which right now I can't say is going to top my list of great reads (however I will keep an open mind since you really can't judge a book by its cover and you just have to try and figure it out and see if the shoe fits for your own reading style).
Saturday, March 3, 2007
Eh?
Today is a fine looking saturday.
I booked a massage therapy appointment for first thing this morning, which was fabulous, and then treated myself to a starbuck$. Hung with my man and boy, Brandon went down for a nap without a fuss, cleaned the bathroom from top to bottom (oh the mundane stuff that makes life better) so it sparkles and even smells clean, and now I am frittering away a bit of time.
Later on, I get to try out curling for the first time. It is all I can do not to wear plaid, tuck a hip flask of rum in my pocket, put a ballcap on, get in our truck, and head out to throw some rocks. Wait, that sounds like what we are doing! Aside from playing hockey and seeming oblivious to the cold at times, I would say that this is a pretty quintessential Canuck thing to try at some point. Will be interesting to see how it goes. Then, to top things off we are off to watch Ken play hockey. Then perhaps, a beer. Sounds like some kind of hat trick if you ask me!
I booked a massage therapy appointment for first thing this morning, which was fabulous, and then treated myself to a starbuck$. Hung with my man and boy, Brandon went down for a nap without a fuss, cleaned the bathroom from top to bottom (oh the mundane stuff that makes life better) so it sparkles and even smells clean, and now I am frittering away a bit of time.
Later on, I get to try out curling for the first time. It is all I can do not to wear plaid, tuck a hip flask of rum in my pocket, put a ballcap on, get in our truck, and head out to throw some rocks. Wait, that sounds like what we are doing! Aside from playing hockey and seeming oblivious to the cold at times, I would say that this is a pretty quintessential Canuck thing to try at some point. Will be interesting to see how it goes. Then, to top things off we are off to watch Ken play hockey. Then perhaps, a beer. Sounds like some kind of hat trick if you ask me!
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
The truth is out there....
I stumbled across this in my journeys through the netherworld. This is great, too bad that it was rejected... maybe in this day of the campaign for real beauty there is more of a welcoming market for messages like this, this is just a tad more realistic.Spiked Stew
The joys of multitasking as a not so new mom. I was making a stew yesterday, and I normally like to add a dark beer to the mix because of how it brings out the flavours in the beef (read I just like having a good beer in my stew)... so in the pot went a few handfuls of barley, some spices, some bouillon, the beef, and then I reached in the fridge, grabbed a bottle, popped the top and poured happily away. Being good, I didn't even take a swig before I added the beer to the stew.
I chopped my onions, and just before I added them to the pot, I took a closer look at the empty bottle on the counter. *AHEM* I had grabbed a bottle of J0e Stiffs, the spiked root beer. I would love to have the look on my face captured on film, but I stood there like an idiot for a moment, then tasted the stew. Hmmm. Nice, just a sweet hint, of, is that, root beer and beef? Yah. No. So, out came the beef, and whatever else I could salvage (the bay leaves, since I no longer scrunch them up and leave them whole) , and out went the sloshing sweet mix and spike down the drain. The second coming was much closer to my liking - a not so bad beer from a local company added to my own blend of bits and pieces for stews.
Other than that, my dad and I have been out for a few walks this week. We went on a grand adventure under the Port Mann bridge today - and got caught in the snow! Of course, my dad being him was out in a golf shirt and my only nod at winter was the brown toque I had on. I was glad for the brain wave I had to actually grab the rain shield for the stroller so Brandon was snug as a bug. Granted the snow didn't stick around that long, and nothing that a blast of heat can't cure. Didn't turn either of us off a side excursion for ice cream though :]
Got to spend a good chunk of time in the dentist's chair tonight too. Finally getting that crown done on the root canal from last year. The temporary one held until now - which is great because I had run out of room on our plans last year after that terrible run when I was 4 months pregnant. Of course, being me and my teeth, once the tooth was exposed, it was discovered that the filling on the tooth beside it had cracked. So, while I was frozen, may as well get that fixed too!! It is ironic, although I will have as many fillings and as much work done on my teeth as before, slowly and surely all of my old silver fillings are being replaced by porcelain. I am no longer a metal mouth... well, perhaps the transformation will never be complete because I do have a few gold crowns kicking around....
I chopped my onions, and just before I added them to the pot, I took a closer look at the empty bottle on the counter. *AHEM* I had grabbed a bottle of J0e Stiffs, the spiked root beer. I would love to have the look on my face captured on film, but I stood there like an idiot for a moment, then tasted the stew. Hmmm. Nice, just a sweet hint, of, is that, root beer and beef? Yah. No. So, out came the beef, and whatever else I could salvage (the bay leaves, since I no longer scrunch them up and leave them whole) , and out went the sloshing sweet mix and spike down the drain. The second coming was much closer to my liking - a not so bad beer from a local company added to my own blend of bits and pieces for stews.
Other than that, my dad and I have been out for a few walks this week. We went on a grand adventure under the Port Mann bridge today - and got caught in the snow! Of course, my dad being him was out in a golf shirt and my only nod at winter was the brown toque I had on. I was glad for the brain wave I had to actually grab the rain shield for the stroller so Brandon was snug as a bug. Granted the snow didn't stick around that long, and nothing that a blast of heat can't cure. Didn't turn either of us off a side excursion for ice cream though :]
Got to spend a good chunk of time in the dentist's chair tonight too. Finally getting that crown done on the root canal from last year. The temporary one held until now - which is great because I had run out of room on our plans last year after that terrible run when I was 4 months pregnant. Of course, being me and my teeth, once the tooth was exposed, it was discovered that the filling on the tooth beside it had cracked. So, while I was frozen, may as well get that fixed too!! It is ironic, although I will have as many fillings and as much work done on my teeth as before, slowly and surely all of my old silver fillings are being replaced by porcelain. I am no longer a metal mouth... well, perhaps the transformation will never be complete because I do have a few gold crowns kicking around....
Sunday, February 25, 2007
Oodles of Books (a meme)
Graciously absconded with from Nej
*Look at the list of books below.
*Bold the ones you’ve read.
*Italicize the ones you want to read.
*leave blank the ones that you aren’t interested in.
*If you are reading this, tag you're it.
1. The Da Vinci Code (Dan Brown)
2. Pride and Prejudice (Jane Austen)
3. To Kill A Mockingbird (Harper Lee)
4. Gone With The Wind (Margaret Mitchell)
5. The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King (Tolkien)
6. The Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring (Tolkien)
7. The Lord of the Rings: Two Towers (Tolkien)
8. Anne of Green Gables (L.M. Montgomery)
9. Outlander (Diana Gabaldon)
10. A Fine Balance (Rohinton Mistry)
11. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Rowling)
12. Angels and Demons (Dan Brown)
13. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Rowling)
14. A Prayer for Owen Meany (John Irving)
15. Memoirs of a Geisha (Arthur Golden)
16. Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (Rowling)
17. Fall on Your Knees(Ann-Marie MacDonald)
18. The Stand (Stephen King)
19. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban(Rowling)
20. Jane Eyre (Charlotte Bronte)
21. The Hobbit (Tolkien)
22. The Catcher in the Rye (J.D. Salinger)
23. Little Women (Louisa May Alcott)
24. The Lovely Bones (Alice Sebold)
25. Life of Pi (Yann Martel)
26. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (Douglas Adams)
27. Wuthering Heights (Emily Bronte)
28. The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe (C. S. Lewis)
29. East of Eden (John Steinbeck)
30. Tuesdays with Morrie(Mitch Albom)
31. Dune (Frank Herbert)
32. The Notebook (Nicholas Sparks)
33. Atlas Shrugged (Ayn Rand)
34. 1984 (Orwell)
35. The Mists of Avalon (Marion Zimmer Bradley)
36. The Pillars of the Earth (Ken Follett)
37. The Power of One (Bryce Courtenay)
38. I Know This Much is True(Wally Lamb)
39. The Red Tent (Anita Diamant)
40. The Alchemist (Paulo Coelho)
41. The Clan of the Cave Bear (Jean M. Auel)
42. The Kite Runner (Khaled Hosseini)
43. Confessions of a Shopaholic (Sophie Kinsella)
44. The Five People You Meet In Heaven (Mitch Albom)
45. Bible (not the whole thing)
46. Anna Karenina (Tolstoy) - I tried, couldn't get through it
47. The Count of Monte Cristo (Alexandre Dumas)
48. Angela’s Ashes (Frank McCourt)
49. The Grapes of Wrath (John Steinbeck)
50. She’s Come Undone (Wally Lamb) - I tried here too, didn't go it for me
51. The Poisonwood Bible (Barbara Kingsolver)
52. A Tale of Two Cities (Dickens)
53. Ender’s Game (Orson Scott Card)
54. Great Expectations (Dickens)
55. The Great Gatsby (Fitzgerald)
56. The Stone Angel (Margaret Laurence)
57. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Rowling)
58. The Thorn Birds (Colleen McCullough)
59. The Handmaid’s Tale (Margaret Atwood)
60. The Time Traveller’s Wife (Audrey Niffenegger)
61. Crime and Punishment (Fyodor Dostoyevsky)
62. The Fountainhead (Ayn Rand)
63. War and Peace (Tolstoy)
64. Interview With The Vampire (Anne Rice)
65. Fifth Business (Robertson Davis)
66. One Hundred Years Of Solitude (Gabriel Garcia Marquez)
67. The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants (Ann Brashares)
68. Catch-22 (Joseph Heller)
69. Les Miserables (Hugo)
70. The Little Prince (Antoine de Saint-Exupery)
71. Bridget Jones’ Diary (Fielding)
72. Love in the Time of Cholera (Marquez)
73. Shogun (James Clavell)
74. The English Patient (Michael Ondaatje)
75. The Secret Garden (Frances Hodgson Burnett)
76. The Summer Tree (Guy Gavriel Kay)
77. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (Betty Smith)
78. The World According To Garp (John Irving)
79. The Diviners (Margaret Laurence)
80. Charlotte’s Web (E.B. White)
81. Not Wanted On The Voyage (Timothy Findley)
82. Of Mice And Men (Steinbeck)
83. Rebecca (Daphne DuMaurier)
84. Wizard’s First Rule (Terry Goodkind)
85. Emma (Jane Austen)
86. Watership Down(Richard Adams)
87. Brave New World (Aldous Huxley)
88. The Stone Diaries (Carol Shields)
89. Blindness (Jose Saramago)
90. Kane and Abel (Jeffrey Archer)
91. In The Skin Of A Lion (Ondaatje)
92. Lord of the Flies (Golding)
93. The Good Earth(Pearl S. Buck)
94. The Secret Life of Bees (Sue Monk Kidd)
95. The Bourne Identity (Robert Ludlum)
96. The Outsiders (S.E. Hinton)
97. White Oleander (Janet Fitch)
98. A Woman of Substance (Barbara Taylor Bradford)
99. The Celestine Prophecy (James Redfield)
100. Ulysses (James Joyce)
*Look at the list of books below.
*Bold the ones you’ve read.
*Italicize the ones you want to read.
*leave blank the ones that you aren’t interested in.
*If you are reading this, tag you're it.
1. The Da Vinci Code (Dan Brown)
2. Pride and Prejudice (Jane Austen)
3. To Kill A Mockingbird (Harper Lee)
4. Gone With The Wind (Margaret Mitchell)
5. The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King (Tolkien)
6. The Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring (Tolkien)
7. The Lord of the Rings: Two Towers (Tolkien)
8. Anne of Green Gables (L.M. Montgomery)
9. Outlander (Diana Gabaldon)
10. A Fine Balance (Rohinton Mistry)
11. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Rowling)
12. Angels and Demons (Dan Brown)
13. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Rowling)
14. A Prayer for Owen Meany (John Irving)
15. Memoirs of a Geisha (Arthur Golden)
16. Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (Rowling)
17. Fall on Your Knees(Ann-Marie MacDonald)
18. The Stand (Stephen King)
19. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban(Rowling)
20. Jane Eyre (Charlotte Bronte)
21. The Hobbit (Tolkien)
22. The Catcher in the Rye (J.D. Salinger)
23. Little Women (Louisa May Alcott)
24. The Lovely Bones (Alice Sebold)
25. Life of Pi (Yann Martel)
26. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (Douglas Adams)
27. Wuthering Heights (Emily Bronte)
28. The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe (C. S. Lewis)
29. East of Eden (John Steinbeck)
30. Tuesdays with Morrie(Mitch Albom)
31. Dune (Frank Herbert)
32. The Notebook (Nicholas Sparks)
33. Atlas Shrugged (Ayn Rand)
34. 1984 (Orwell)
35. The Mists of Avalon (Marion Zimmer Bradley)
36. The Pillars of the Earth (Ken Follett)
37. The Power of One (Bryce Courtenay)
38. I Know This Much is True(Wally Lamb)
39. The Red Tent (Anita Diamant)
40. The Alchemist (Paulo Coelho)
41. The Clan of the Cave Bear (Jean M. Auel)
42. The Kite Runner (Khaled Hosseini)
43. Confessions of a Shopaholic (Sophie Kinsella)
44. The Five People You Meet In Heaven (Mitch Albom)
45. Bible (not the whole thing)
46. Anna Karenina (Tolstoy) - I tried, couldn't get through it
47. The Count of Monte Cristo (Alexandre Dumas)
48. Angela’s Ashes (Frank McCourt)
49. The Grapes of Wrath (John Steinbeck)
50. She’s Come Undone (Wally Lamb) - I tried here too, didn't go it for me
51. The Poisonwood Bible (Barbara Kingsolver)
52. A Tale of Two Cities (Dickens)
53. Ender’s Game (Orson Scott Card)
54. Great Expectations (Dickens)
55. The Great Gatsby (Fitzgerald)
56. The Stone Angel (Margaret Laurence)
57. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Rowling)
58. The Thorn Birds (Colleen McCullough)
59. The Handmaid’s Tale (Margaret Atwood)
60. The Time Traveller’s Wife (Audrey Niffenegger)
61. Crime and Punishment (Fyodor Dostoyevsky)
62. The Fountainhead (Ayn Rand)
63. War and Peace (Tolstoy)
64. Interview With The Vampire (Anne Rice)
65. Fifth Business (Robertson Davis)
66. One Hundred Years Of Solitude (Gabriel Garcia Marquez)
67. The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants (Ann Brashares)
68. Catch-22 (Joseph Heller)
69. Les Miserables (Hugo)
70. The Little Prince (Antoine de Saint-Exupery)
71. Bridget Jones’ Diary (Fielding)
72. Love in the Time of Cholera (Marquez)
73. Shogun (James Clavell)
74. The English Patient (Michael Ondaatje)
75. The Secret Garden (Frances Hodgson Burnett)
76. The Summer Tree (Guy Gavriel Kay)
77. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (Betty Smith)
78. The World According To Garp (John Irving)
79. The Diviners (Margaret Laurence)
80. Charlotte’s Web (E.B. White)
81. Not Wanted On The Voyage (Timothy Findley)
82. Of Mice And Men (Steinbeck)
83. Rebecca (Daphne DuMaurier)
84. Wizard’s First Rule (Terry Goodkind)
85. Emma (Jane Austen)
86. Watership Down(Richard Adams)
87. Brave New World (Aldous Huxley)
88. The Stone Diaries (Carol Shields)
89. Blindness (Jose Saramago)
90. Kane and Abel (Jeffrey Archer)
91. In The Skin Of A Lion (Ondaatje)
92. Lord of the Flies (Golding)
93. The Good Earth(Pearl S. Buck)
94. The Secret Life of Bees (Sue Monk Kidd)
95. The Bourne Identity (Robert Ludlum)
96. The Outsiders (S.E. Hinton)
97. White Oleander (Janet Fitch)
98. A Woman of Substance (Barbara Taylor Bradford)
99. The Celestine Prophecy (James Redfield)
100. Ulysses (James Joyce)
Thursday, February 22, 2007
Dirt under my nails
This week was supposed to be nothing but non stop rain! It has been a wonderful surprise that most days the sun has come out, and I have either taken Brandon out for a walk, or, like today, I got out in the garden and was able to get my hands dirty!!
Ok, so perhaps I was somewhat motivated by fear. My dad is something to behold with pruning tools, and he was out lurking in the yard this morning. Once Brandon went down for his afternoon nap, I went outside to suss out what was what. Well, I had to laugh when my dad pointed to the hydrangea bush that he cut back - aside from a few sticks coming out of the ground, I really didn't see the bush anymore. My dad gets a little enthusiastic when he starts to prune, and his sights were set on the apple tree. I gave him a hand, or shall I say, supervised the trimming of the tree. I am happy to say that the tree has not been butchered, and the long straggly branches that needed a trim have been taken care of. It feels good to get out in the yard (to even have a yard to go in to) and pull up the dead plants, move away the broken pottery, and breath in the spring air. I got to garden to the sound of my cats meowing from behind the screen door! A fine way to spend an hour or two. Much better to outside than inside on a day like today!
Ok, so perhaps I was somewhat motivated by fear. My dad is something to behold with pruning tools, and he was out lurking in the yard this morning. Once Brandon went down for his afternoon nap, I went outside to suss out what was what. Well, I had to laugh when my dad pointed to the hydrangea bush that he cut back - aside from a few sticks coming out of the ground, I really didn't see the bush anymore. My dad gets a little enthusiastic when he starts to prune, and his sights were set on the apple tree. I gave him a hand, or shall I say, supervised the trimming of the tree. I am happy to say that the tree has not been butchered, and the long straggly branches that needed a trim have been taken care of. It feels good to get out in the yard (to even have a yard to go in to) and pull up the dead plants, move away the broken pottery, and breath in the spring air. I got to garden to the sound of my cats meowing from behind the screen door! A fine way to spend an hour or two. Much better to outside than inside on a day like today!
Saturday, February 17, 2007
A rant about a children's book
Apparently this book is about sharing.
I think that is a load of pahooie.
This book is about a rainbow fish that has shiny scales that make him/her both unique and beautiful. This fish was all about themselves, and didn't have any friends. Obviously said fish needs to learn how to place nice in the ol' sand box and not alienate their peers. Since this fish wouldn't share the shiny scales, this was the reason given why they were shunned in their animal kingdom. The rainbow fish then seeks advice on how to make friends, and is told to "give away your shining scales. You won't be as beautiful, but you will have friends."
W T F ??? is it just me or is this a really twisted way to teach children how to share?? Oh - take the one thing that makes you unique and give it away because people will only like you if you give them something. Don't stand out! Blend in! People only like you when you give them something! The rainbow fish becomes the happiest fish in the sea once they have given away all but one of their shining scales. Once again -hello, let us count the ways that this is just wrong.
This book rubs me the wrong way. It rubbed my DH the wrong way too. Talked to a friend whom also has young'uns, and she felt the same way. Apparently this is an award winning book - maybe for the illustrations because it is a beautiful book, but the message is whacked. I don't like throwing out books, but I will be paying this one forward. Perhaps someone else won't find it as offensive but I think this is sending out contradictory messages to say the least.
I think that is a load of pahooie.
This book is about a rainbow fish that has shiny scales that make him/her both unique and beautiful. This fish was all about themselves, and didn't have any friends. Obviously said fish needs to learn how to place nice in the ol' sand box and not alienate their peers. Since this fish wouldn't share the shiny scales, this was the reason given why they were shunned in their animal kingdom. The rainbow fish then seeks advice on how to make friends, and is told to "give away your shining scales. You won't be as beautiful, but you will have friends."
W T F ??? is it just me or is this a really twisted way to teach children how to share?? Oh - take the one thing that makes you unique and give it away because people will only like you if you give them something. Don't stand out! Blend in! People only like you when you give them something! The rainbow fish becomes the happiest fish in the sea once they have given away all but one of their shining scales. Once again -hello, let us count the ways that this is just wrong.
This book rubs me the wrong way. It rubbed my DH the wrong way too. Talked to a friend whom also has young'uns, and she felt the same way. Apparently this is an award winning book - maybe for the illustrations because it is a beautiful book, but the message is whacked. I don't like throwing out books, but I will be paying this one forward. Perhaps someone else won't find it as offensive but I think this is sending out contradictory messages to say the least.
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
Flip
Sometimes it is easier being flip, or funny, or sarcastic, or ironic, or dancing around the mulberry bush than it is to be vulnerable.
The last few weeks have been all over the board. Brandon's sleep patterns for a while there went right out the window, which meant that I was pretty over tired, and therefore everything feels that much more personal (even when it isn't). It doesn't help when I have a night where I can't sleep, and I can't seem to shut my mind off and ideas keep rolling around, clanking together and making such an awful noise that when I try to distract myself by concentrating on just breathing, it really doesn't work all that long. And it seems like another hour has slipped by. This pattern seems to happen either right after Brandon falls asleep, or on the night that I have designated as the "early to bed and catch up" night...
This is one of the reasons I love to read, especially at night before bed. It turns my brain off. It distracts me. At a certain point I get tired, turn off the light, and voila - asleep I am. I have always had a hard time falling asleep - back when I/we used to go out partying, or when I used to drink more (after hockey, etc)- I would have the best sleeps. A couple of beers and I was good to .... sleep. When you aren't the type that falls asleep when your head hits the pillow it sure is nice when it does work out that way. Not what you were expecting me to say, eh? Well, don't believe everything you hear!
Its been a quiet night at home, and I can't say that there is much on tv that holds my interest. I am also out of new books to read so I am rereading an old archaeology text book about burial mounds in the Orkney Islands (actually quite fascinating). I don't always think to throw in a CD either to fill in the quiet spaces, although I love music. The last few weeks have felt like a bumpy ride, some good, some whatever. A few days I was worrying myself stupid about Brandon, and then the worry seemed to pass over night when he went back to his own state of what looks like normal. Got our stereo in for warranty work, which means no surround sound movie experiences for a while. It could be up to 65 DAYS!!!!!! to find out if they can fix it (if not at that point it gets replaced, woo woo)... Introducing solid foods has its moments, and the weather has improved enough that I am getting out again. I also haven't been feeling all that social in the last few days either, like I am hunkered down, dealing with housework, and at the same time suffering from a bit of cabin fever too.
The last few weeks have been all over the board. Brandon's sleep patterns for a while there went right out the window, which meant that I was pretty over tired, and therefore everything feels that much more personal (even when it isn't). It doesn't help when I have a night where I can't sleep, and I can't seem to shut my mind off and ideas keep rolling around, clanking together and making such an awful noise that when I try to distract myself by concentrating on just breathing, it really doesn't work all that long. And it seems like another hour has slipped by. This pattern seems to happen either right after Brandon falls asleep, or on the night that I have designated as the "early to bed and catch up" night...
This is one of the reasons I love to read, especially at night before bed. It turns my brain off. It distracts me. At a certain point I get tired, turn off the light, and voila - asleep I am. I have always had a hard time falling asleep - back when I/we used to go out partying, or when I used to drink more (after hockey, etc)- I would have the best sleeps. A couple of beers and I was good to .... sleep. When you aren't the type that falls asleep when your head hits the pillow it sure is nice when it does work out that way. Not what you were expecting me to say, eh? Well, don't believe everything you hear!
Its been a quiet night at home, and I can't say that there is much on tv that holds my interest. I am also out of new books to read so I am rereading an old archaeology text book about burial mounds in the Orkney Islands (actually quite fascinating). I don't always think to throw in a CD either to fill in the quiet spaces, although I love music. The last few weeks have felt like a bumpy ride, some good, some whatever. A few days I was worrying myself stupid about Brandon, and then the worry seemed to pass over night when he went back to his own state of what looks like normal. Got our stereo in for warranty work, which means no surround sound movie experiences for a while. It could be up to 65 DAYS!!!!!! to find out if they can fix it (if not at that point it gets replaced, woo woo)... Introducing solid foods has its moments, and the weather has improved enough that I am getting out again. I also haven't been feeling all that social in the last few days either, like I am hunkered down, dealing with housework, and at the same time suffering from a bit of cabin fever too.
New era ice...
See, playing hockey isn't nearly as easy as it looks. Not only is it the fastest game out there.. but there are all these other variables to take in to consideration!!!
Thursday, February 8, 2007
insight on Valentines
Now, from my humble POV, WTF?! is right!V-day is over a week away and the morning news channels are already playing it to death. Talk about incredible social pressure to be in some kind of relationship, to do something special for that person not because you want to but because someone else tells you that you are supposed to. Bunch of BS if you ask me. Not that I don't like getting flowers (I do and love the unexpected tulips I have), or chocolate anytime, or getting some extra loving from my man - but it's so much better when it is when you least expect it, or after you have had a trying day, or just because - since it means your loved one reflected on things, and acted on them because they wanted to. I resent that florists (etc) ramp up the prices of flowers to astronomical rates (and get them who the hell pays 4 times the price for something that they could get a week later on a fire sale????), just like NYE is ridiculous to go out on costwise. It's one day folks, and what does it truly mean? Who needs to be told that on this one day you appreciated your LOs. I remember back in the days before Ken thinking V-day sucked the hind-you-know-what because that was the day you noticed everyone else seemed to be hooked up but you, and therefore you were a social pariah. I always rejected (still do) that line of thinking and figured V-day could be a day to just enjoy the other relationships I had or to let it be water off my back because you shouldn't need to be told to be romantic with your partner, it should just happen. Ok, already I can hear the "yeah buts", we all need our nudges here and there to be thoughtful to our partners.. but you know what I am saying?!
Granted, I will do something for Ken - but it will be personal, simple, probably something I made myself to celebrate what we do have, or I will see it is an excuse to make heart shaped cookies and a nice meal. It is fun just to celebrate those days with a little red, or Rabbie Burns day with Haggis and Celtic music, or St. Paddy's day with the green and a Guinness *granted, since when do I need a reason to quaff a Guinness???? when it all works out.
Bottom line, you should want to do something, not feel you have to.
To be totally flip (what a surprise) I guess I always get a kick out of the idea that V-Day is for us ladies and that there is some date in March that is known as Steak and BJ day for the guys. Now that seems fair.
Dilettante
Etymology
Italian dilettare, to delight
Noun
Singular - dilettante (Plural - dilettantes or dilettanti)
1. A person who enjoys the arts.
2. An amateur, someone who dabbles in a field out of casual interest rather than as a profession or serious interest.
3. A person with a broad but superficial interest in an art or a branch of knowledge. (Sometimes derogatory.)
I think that I shall appropriate this wonderful noun as an adjective to describe myself, perhaps in conjunction with the concept of a modern Renaissance Woman who equally embraces a hockey stick in one hand, and a book in the other...enrstwhile trying to keep all other interests and concerns loftily up in the air with a modicum of success.
Italian dilettare, to delight
Noun
Singular - dilettante (Plural - dilettantes or dilettanti)
1. A person who enjoys the arts.
2. An amateur, someone who dabbles in a field out of casual interest rather than as a profession or serious interest.
3. A person with a broad but superficial interest in an art or a branch of knowledge. (Sometimes derogatory.)
I think that I shall appropriate this wonderful noun as an adjective to describe myself, perhaps in conjunction with the concept of a modern Renaissance Woman who equally embraces a hockey stick in one hand, and a book in the other...enrstwhile trying to keep all other interests and concerns loftily up in the air with a modicum of success.
Monday, February 5, 2007
Fits and Starts
I am going for another round in Brandon's room to tame the spread of Ken and I's things in to the space that will be his. I am getting a little better at letting go of more things, and have almost got his furniture arranged in a Karen pleasing way.
Yes. I have a thing about moving furniture. Furniture is on the move until I feel that it has reached it's own perfect zen state. My own feng-shui at work, so to speak. Just like for some strange reason I sleep better with my head in the northern direction. Who knows. I know when I am a little odd.
Introduction of sweet potatoes has been a roaring success! Who knew that apples and naners would go over like lead farts and sweet taters would be a hit?! I am turning in to a regular do it yourself mom (no surprise) and have been preparing my own baby foods so far. Not so difficult yet, and I am aiming to introduce a new food every 3-5 days and hopefully avoid major allergies.
Brandon's naps are all over the board. I am also somewhat of a watchful hawk to make sure he gets enough sleep. That said, it seems like his bedtime is almost as obnoxious as mine. Defintely open to suggestions on how to get him to sleep earlier!!! Yes, I know that means we have to get up earlier, and today I am trying that. We got up about 8, which is entirely reasonable. Now lets see if he will go to bed for the night and be asleep by 10pm tonight. Or is this just wishful thinking?
He is nattering away and has crawled backwards away from his playmat and is making eyes at our DVD collection. Speaking of which, the home stereo system decided to up and go kaput last night. Finally having that extended warranty has paid off!!!!
Yes. I have a thing about moving furniture. Furniture is on the move until I feel that it has reached it's own perfect zen state. My own feng-shui at work, so to speak. Just like for some strange reason I sleep better with my head in the northern direction. Who knows. I know when I am a little odd.
Introduction of sweet potatoes has been a roaring success! Who knew that apples and naners would go over like lead farts and sweet taters would be a hit?! I am turning in to a regular do it yourself mom (no surprise) and have been preparing my own baby foods so far. Not so difficult yet, and I am aiming to introduce a new food every 3-5 days and hopefully avoid major allergies.
Brandon's naps are all over the board. I am also somewhat of a watchful hawk to make sure he gets enough sleep. That said, it seems like his bedtime is almost as obnoxious as mine. Defintely open to suggestions on how to get him to sleep earlier!!! Yes, I know that means we have to get up earlier, and today I am trying that. We got up about 8, which is entirely reasonable. Now lets see if he will go to bed for the night and be asleep by 10pm tonight. Or is this just wishful thinking?
He is nattering away and has crawled backwards away from his playmat and is making eyes at our DVD collection. Speaking of which, the home stereo system decided to up and go kaput last night. Finally having that extended warranty has paid off!!!!
Saturday, February 3, 2007
Seriously wrong.
I must admit I laughed really hard at this one when I watched it.
However, this is wrong. Who the hell bathes their cat? Do these people possess a deathwish? In very few cases could I understand even giving my cat a bath, but in the 7 odd years of cohabiting with our present 4 legged feline friends, there have been no situations that have warranted the bathing of said cats.
WTF?! This is sheer torture. Look at that poor guy!! Cats tend themselves. That ain't our job. Dogs, well, they are a little different, but even so, this brainfart is something else. Scary thing is that there is a market for this kind of thing!!!
But, going back to my original comment, it is funny as hell. As Ken would say "It's like a cat exercise room - maybe it will get the little bastard to stop clawing the furniture".
Enuff Said.
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