As is typical for this time of year - time fly's by so quickly.

I have two more sleeps until we travel south for Christmas, and there's no telling how often I'll get back to you all to wish you much love and Christmas cheer.

So please accept this virtual Christmas card from your Mugwhump.



But don't think because I'm not posting that I'm also not checking up on you. So you better be good while I'm gone, and don't eat too many sweets.

Merry Christmas, lots of love and hugs,

LJ

As Promised Caus' You Asked

Couch ...


Recliner .....


Love Seat ....


In the direct shot of the reliner, my back is right against the fire place. Not much room.

Tight, but warm and welcoming quarters. Can you see the Mooses on the lampses?

Hold On To Your Tighty-Whitey's

I'll post pictures of the new furniture as soon as I can take the picture.

Geesh - a demanding crowd reads this blog. ;-)

My Living Room Shrank

Our new furniture arrived!! Hip-Hip-Hooray!!!

We put the old stuff (a couch and swivel rocker) out on the sidewalk with a large "FREE" sign attached. The rocker went quickly. The couch .... is now sitting on our front porch until we can properly dispose of it. It's the wrong time of the year to try to give larger furniture away.

Now ... on to the new pieces - oh how lovely. I have to pinch myself on a regular basis to help myself understand that its ours, its new, and it ain't going no-where! Our wee house is only 1,000 sq.ft. big, which means our living room is teeny-tiny, and a couch, love seat, and recliner (all leather) have taken over. We can't really even fit a coffee table in the center anymore. But that's ok. We actually like the way it looks.

My hubby was so excited by the blooming transformation that he decided "we" need new lamps to go with the new look. Out went to broken ones, in came 4 Moose-thematic ones 1 floor, 3 table tops). I barely recognize the joint. And yes, I really did say 'moose-thematic' .... Don't judge a sister. Just take my word for it - it all works together.


Amongst all this extreme leap into adult ownership, I still found time to play. Also over the weekend I found a local wool shop and purchased some items for needle felting. Here are the results:





And in case you can't tell - - its a starfish - top and bottom respectively.

I think my next project will be a penguin, but then again .... maybe a cat ... or .... heck, I don't know. My mind is all a-quiver with possibilities.

Re-aquaintences and New Found Fun

I got away for the weekend and visited a friend and her family on one of the wee islands surround my larger one. Life being what it is, I hadn't been to see them in 7 years. So needless to say - I saw an opportunity and grabbed it.

Like all our islands it requires a short ferry ride to it. But I often find this the most relaxing portion of any trip. In this particular ferry's case - there is really no where to go except staying in your car. So I did, and read by the light of my dashboard. Twenty minutes later, I was back on terra firma and 5 minute drive in seemingly country side I arrived at my friends acreage. I love their place. Nestled onto a hill, looking out over their sheep pasture towards the ocean (a view of the mainland mountains in the daylight).

It has a generally calming affect on me.

We had a lovely weekend. I teased and joked with her two boys (7 & 10 yrs) mercilessly, and they teased back. Laurie and I went to a craft show and did some crafting of our own on Saturday night. Sunday I even went to their little church with them. What a contrast between my church body of 700+ to their 30+, but homey and welcoming all the same.

Laurie's husband taught me a new craft. Yes, I know what you're thinking - LJ doesn't need another new craft. But I couldn't help myself, especially when I saw what wonderful creations he had made. I don't have any pictures of his work, but I do have a picture of my first attempts at "needle felting".



I have since sewn on larger eyes, a smile, and some beads for buttons down his middle, but I kinda like the dressed down look of this one better. Needle felting is taking wool roving (this is raw or cleaned carted wool that has not been spun into yarn - rough definition), and by using a very sharp needle with small barbs on it you poke the wool (repeatedly) in such a way that the fibers bind up on themselves.

My friend creates small animals, whales, and birds. His birds are amazing and look quite life like. My inconsequential little snowman has nothing compared to his works of art, but I think its a grand start.

On arriving back home on Sunday night I immediately googled as many resources as I could, and have since ordered a starter kit. A Christmas present to myself, but quite possibly beneficial to others.

I will not be giving up my addiction to paper, but maybe there is a way I can incorporate felting and paper .......

A Dream Interpreter Needed

I've been having a recurring dream lately.

I'm visiting someone and at some point need to use the bathroom. Generally I find the toilet in less than private surroundings (large rooms and often with a line up or other other people milling about). What concerns me the most is ... while I'm using it, the dang privy comes off its base and can't be reattached. Spillage occurs (of course) all over the place. I quickly notice/assume that I'm not the first recipient of this foul treatment, and don't know what to do about it.

To top it all off - I DO NOT go about seeking my host or hostess to inform them of this mishap. In fact I slink away in hopes that the next person will break the news.

So ... what do you brilliant peeps think of all this? Or should I really ask.

Another Step Towards Adulthood

We did it! We finally agreed upon, and paid for new living room furniture!!

Last weekend (on our third trip to the same store) we sat down on a couch and love seat set and said - at the same time - "hey! What do you think about this one?" with identical enthusiasm and pleasure. Our butts felt at home. This truly was a mind blowing experience. We rarely agree on anything.

Mind you it did take three weekends, and over 11 furniture stores, and countless pieces of furniture.

This rates right up there with purchasing a new car last January. I feel so mature.

In my 47 years on this earth I have never purchased new furniture. I've always gleefully accepted other peoples cast-offs in order to level up in a bargain basement lifestyle. I feel more grown up now.

Now the bigger question remains - what do we do with the stuff we're getting rid of? They have come to their last living room, and its time to retire them to the great living room furniture pasture in the sky (or dump, whichever comes first).

Included in the new couch and love seat purchase is also a leather recliner. A "must have" or so my husband told me. My new fervent prayer will be to make it all fit into our little rental house living room. I hope I'm not around when its all delivered later this week. Oh Please Lord - let it be delivered this week.

A Silly Saturday Meme

You can thank H2Ophobic for this one. Seemed like a fun way to pass a Saturday morning.

How many keys are on your keychain?
To be honest – I have two key chains. One is for house and it has 4 keys, and the other one is for work and it has keys for every door in the building. And I’m desperately afraid of losing either one.

What curse word do you use the most?
"crap”, but I’m beginning to believe that this is growing into a more acceptable word, and less and less curse word.

Do you own an iPod?
No.

What time is your alarm clock set for?
7am.

How many suitcases do you own? Three

Do you wear flip-flops even when it’s cold outside?
No – generally May through to the end of September though.

Would you rather take the picture or be in the picture?
Take!

What was the last movie you watched?
At the theatre – “Whip It” with and by Drew Barrymore

What CD is currently in your CD player?
None. I don’t tend to listen to music all that often. Except the radio.

Has anyone told you a secret this week?
Who knows? I’m a church secretary, I hear all manner of confidential stuff every day.

What did you have for dinner last night?
leftovers.

Do you wear hoodies often?
I don't. I do own one though, but I don't wear it in public. They don’t look good, but it feels sooo good.

Can you whistle?
Yes, but you didn’t ask me if I whistled in tune.

Who was the last person you spoke to on the phone?
My brother, long distance asking me what my other sister-in-laws birthday was, this morning.

What is your favorite ride at an amusement park?
Every rider at Disneyland – except the Tea Cups.

Do you think people talk about you behind your back?
I certainly hope so. That way I know I must be doing something worthy of gossiping about. Whether I live up to the rumours or not.

What area code are you in? 250

What is your biggest regret? I’m not sure about ‘biggest’, but I certainly regret what falls out of my mouth sometimes. Those are the hardest things to take back.

What movie(s) do you know every line to?
Can’t think of one.

When was your last plane ride? October 2008 to Orlando, Florida

How many chairs are at your dining room table? Four.

Can you speak any languages other than English?
I’m fluent in gibberish.

What color are your bedroom walls? Rental house grey/green

When was the last time you cried?
Last Sunday morning when I was reading “Angry Conversations with God”.

Do you have a desktop computer or a laptop?
both

Which do you make: wishes or plans?
My mom always said “don’t wish your life away”, so I try to strike a healthy balance between the two.


Can you skip rocks?
That perfect rock only comes around once.

Who was your favorite teacher? I had a crush on Mr. MacAllister, but I adored Miss Sly.

What two personality traits attract you most?
Humour, but not off colour or insulting. And someone who exudes a warmth and welcoming presence. (Is that a trait?)

What two personality traits do you most dislike?
Vulgar speech and humour. And an ego or attitude of “I’m better that you”.

What is your mother’s hometown? I’m not sure what my Mother would have called her ‘hometown’. It strikes me that if she were still alive to answer, she’d probably say her hometown was wherever she was living at that moment.

How many hours of sleep do you need to function?
Eight is ideal, but rarely received.

Do you eat breakfast daily?
Not unless you consider a cup of coffee breakfast.

Describe your typical weekday with three adjectives.
Exhausting, Fulfilling, and Ever-changing.

Did you ever get in trouble for talking in class?
Very occasionally. It all depended on the company I was keeping at the time.

What is your favorite fruit? Raspberry.

Do you believe in life on other planets? Not sure.

Who was the last person to piss you off?
Probably the husband, but it’s been a tough week at work too.

What do you tell yourself when times get hard?
Keep moving. This too shall pass.

Would you ever sky dive?
Doesn’t appeal to me in the least. Zip lines – I’m all over it.

Do you sleep on your side, tummy, or back?
Half side, half tummy – but definitely with my pillow over my head.

What character from a movie most reminds you of yourself?
If the question had been who I was the least like – my list would be endless. But trying to figure the opposite ….. I’ve no idea.

Have you ever bid for something on ebay?
Yes, but I wouldn’t do it again.

Do you enjoy giving hugs? Depends on the recipient.

Would you consider yourself to be fashionable?
No. Twenty years ago – yes, but not now in my late 40’s and overweight.

Does it annoy you when someone says they’ll call but never do?
Nah, cause’ I’m the worst offender.

What books, if any, have made you cry?
I mentioned it earlier “Angry Conversations with God”, but Susan E. Isaacs. It is a memoir book, and she was talking about when her father died.

Do you think you’re attractive? Absolutely not. But I could also substitute the same answer as I did with the “fashionable” question.

What are you allergic to?
I wear a Medic-Alert bracelet because of an allergy to Sulfa drugs and penicillin, but I used to joke that it also included men and height. (I’m 5’2” and up until I was 40 I was single).

If you were born the opposite sex, what would your name have been?
No idea. Thought never occurred to me before.

A Monday Meme I couldn't Resist.

An epitaph ever so fitting.

What will your obituary say?

Quickly with one last shriek, LJ Ducharme died laughing hysterically.

LJ Ducharme will be terribly missed by an easy bake oven.

What about yours?

I'm finally feeling ahead of the game

Last night I garnered shear inspiration. And with that inspiration came a trip to a local craft store. While rummaging around said craft store my mind was set afire with a new idea to try.

The long and the short of it was I crafted all evening.

I have a friend who loves watering cans and I came across a pattern to make a paper one. Since Christmas is just around the corner I thought I could use the pattern and make her a Christmasy type waterong can. But once finished it it seemed incomplete. For the life of me I couldn't find small poinsettias to finish off the look.

This is where the lightning bolt hit me while I was in the craft store. How hard could it be to make small poinsettias out of ribbon. Here's what I came up with ...



This was seriously a fun thing to figure out.

What I originally went to the store to get was glass beads to finish of some tree ornaments I'd made. This project was also a lot of fun, and very easy.



I think I'll either adorn these to the top of a present, or give them as a gift by themselves (I'm cheap that way).

Here's another one.



I'm having fun, and I LOVE IT when a plan comes together.

In fact - - I had so much fun creating these that I will make and send a watering can or tree ornament of your choice to the first three commenters on this entry. You can even dictate the colours, or if its the watering can then you can tell me the occasion that you want it for (the watering can can be for holiday or celebration). So, what do you say?

If you just want to comment, but don't want a prize that's ok too. I'm just happy when someone drops by to visit.

I So Love "The Office"

This show cracks me us.



Some may find this video offense. I apologize.

I have worked with (and probably been) office folks just like this.

Choosing the hill on which to Die

My husband and I have been married for 7 years. And coming into that marriage was an amalgamation of mismatched, so early goodwill that even Moses would have rejected it furniture. Seven years later – we still own and use the same stuff.

A couple of years ago we found a stray bolt on the floor, but couldn’t find where it came from. Fast-forward to a couple of weeks ago – the husband was leaning back in our hasn’t-seen-new-since-the-dawn-of-man, comfy, swivel rocker when SNAP! And he falls back hard against the wall.

It was bound to happen, but that long forgotten, discarded screw had been holding half the base of our chair in place. Without it’s solid grasp it left its companion screw holding the bag, and the bag could not longer take the pressure. We snapped the metal base in half – never to be repaired.

What would be the sense of replacing the one chair when the entire room could use the make-over. We began to realize that we – as a couple – had never purchased furniture together. This was going to be a true test of our relationship.

We’ve now spent the last two weekends locating and visiting furniture stores. And unless there are model trains involved, my husband has no patience for such things. I thought we could ease into the experience with lunch first then making it into the doors of the first stop (of many), but this only managed to prolong the coming pain.

Its funny - you live with a person long enough you ‘think’ you understand their tastes. I found out very quickly that what I thought my hubby liked and disliked – was not as first assumed. In fact, I was often shocked at his tastes (sometimes good, sometimes … meh), but I’m learning. I’m also learning to say “definitely NOT! In my house!” I’ve had to put my foot down when it came to the theater style couch with cup holders between each seat. He cannot see my logic, and I refuse to see his.

Never-the-less our search continues. We know we need to make a decision, and it must not linger like an extra stuck bandaid. I am determined to be sitting on new living room furniture by Christmas, if not sooner.

All I want for Christmas

I was googling images for the church bulletin yesterday when I came across this image with led to a site for "unusual Christmas trees". This particular image caught my attention - and now I want one.



Don't you think this would solve the spacial issues that come up in small homes over the Christmas holidays? Not to mention that all those lovely hanging ornaments would just hang all the lovelier? Even the prezzies could be stacked higher (not that prezzies are important mind you).

Give it to me straight people - isn't this just a fantastic idea?

Can you all put together a fund for me to purchase this tree. Paalleeeeezzeeee!

Frozen Juice Might Be Easier

I believe I’ve turned a corner on the weekend. I can’t believe that it’s the end of October and I haven’t got a solid hold on my Christmas card creating yet. However, I finally took the time on Sunday to create my first prototype – and I really like it.

This is something I should begin to think about in early September, but this year it just didn’t happen. Life is like that sometime. And my husband always asks me the same question – “Why do you make them? Why don’t you just buy them?”

In the last 20 years of making my Christmas cards I have only missed 1 year. That was three years ago after my mom passed away. I just couldn’t muster what it took.

And so in a warped sense of pride I need to make my Christmas cards this year. I need to torture my inner creative demon and pound it for all I can. I like flogging my wares. Wares that I don’t even sell – what am I thinking??!!

I digress.

Truth be told I like it when my creative juices get to bubbling and boiling. The summer is a bit of a dry period. The same thing will probably happen in January and February. But when I’m ‘on’ I can think of nothing better than puttering away and afternoon or evening with my papers, ribbons, adhesives, and ever-faithful scissors around me. I can crank it out! And my dinning room table looks like a tornado hit it. Fun!

Call it a vice or call it a hobby – either way – I’m doing something that makes me feel happy.

Mind Over Matter

The Municipality Waterworks has turned off our water today. So, although our offices are open - our bathrooms are closed. No water to flush.

Do you realize how hard it is to NOT thinking about having to pee?

I can't even dart home to use the loo because my house is next door and affected by same issues.

However, to use a motto from the smaller islands:

If its yellow, let it mellow.
If its brown, flush it down.

And we are allowed one courtesy flush.

I make no apologize

Why is it that I allow September to take me by storm? Every August I think I have everything under control and by mid October I begin to come out of the haze of a new season. What the heck!?!

Recapping my last several weeks:

I went to a womens retreat at Rock Ridge Canyon, BC - a Young Life camp.

I seriously skinned my knee at said camp. Inclines, lose gravel, and a well roasted cup of coffee are not a good combination. I lost my footing, lost my cup of coffee, and lost several layers of skin from the knee down 6 inches.

On an upside of that weekend - I did the longest zip-line in Canada (second longest for North America). F-A-N-T-A-S-T-I-C!!! Totally freakin' awesome! One kilometer (.62 of a mile) long and the average run is 30-45 seconds. What A Rush!! Check it out on Youtube, if you've got a chance to surf a little.

Back home I stubbed my toe so bad I think I'm going to lose my toenail.

I learned I'm going to become a great-aunt - for the first time. But then again - I'm already a "GREAT" aunt! Get it? .... great ..... aunt .... great-aunt ...

Hubby and I have been invited to do a sibling Christmas in California at the middle brothers. I'm still waiting on word from work if I can take the time off. Hubby and I really want to go - a nice two day drive down - lots of fun in the warmth of San Fransisco Bay area - and too many laughs to count decent for any family.

Canadian Thanksgiving this weekend. We don't get the extended version like the states, but you can be darn sure I'm thankful its a long weekend.

And so the sunset falls on another Mugwhump entry, all well with the world.

Adventures in a Mugwhump's week

It's been quite a week. Pinch me, this must be September! Always a busy time of the year for me at work, but I love it. I may grow an additional gray hair or two, but only me and my hairdresser know for sure.

Last Sunday I once again proved myself to be a wonderful wife - but you all knew that anyway - right?!? I went with my husband to a model train show. Model trains shows are not nearly as painful as say .... a root canal, but I can safely say they are not my most favourite way to spend a sunny Sunday afternoon. That said, I dutifully ohhh'd and awed and the appropriate displays then after an hour or so excused myself to the Recreation Centres lounge area to pass the remainder of the time in a Sudoku puzzle book and a good cup of coffee.

Much to my surprise, my husband only stayed in the show for few hours. Armed with a couple of bags of purchases and $400 poorer - he was in a hurry to get home and start on new plans for a layout.

This is not a cheap hobby, but then again - neither is mine. I support him in his hobby (HO Scale for those who understand these things), and am thankful for when he's forgiving in mine.

Monday was our 7th wedding anniversary. We were both so exhausted by the time that we got home from our respective work places that we ended up schlepping ourselves off to a local everyday eatery. It suited us just fine. Seven-schmeven!

On Wednesday evening I volunteered my church-secretary self to an event here in the building. We had a Donald Miller and Susan Isaacs evening. They are just beginning a 53 city tour to promote their books. Both books I would highly recommend, and if this tour comes to your city - check it out! You won't regret it in the least!

Susan Isaacs is HIGH-LARIOUS! The book that she is promoting is called "Angry Conversations with God!" and I sincerely doubt there is a person out there who can't relate to something that she says. It's simple too relatable. Put it on your Amazon wish list. I don't have a copy of it myself yet, but if her show is anything like her writing - I'm All In!

Which leads me to today - Friday - .... ummmm ..... hmmmm ... I, ah ..... mmmm ... I got nothin' folks. It's just Friday and it is what it is.

9.9.9.

That's today - 9th day, 9th month, 9th year.

I have no personal attachment to this particular phenomenon, but it gave me a reason to blog today.

As is the affliction of many - my life is very busy right now - hence the lack of popping in. September never ceases to surprise me at it virility of attack. Just yesterday (ok last month) I was lulled into the false sense of calmness and I can handle the new season, and September hit me like a punch in the stomach.

But its all good - crazy busy - but good. And the one thing that keeps me steady is to know that I am not alone in my dog paddling.

So .... 9.9.9. I salute you! You will never come again, but then again neither will this minute, or the next, or the next or the next ......

Darn & Blast - Update

Inquiring minds want to know ....

We are a Wii family, and I had found Rock Band 2 Special Edition on sale for $99.

On Sunday I brought the story up with the hubster to see if I should continue my hunt for this game. I tend NOT to like playing any games that require you to keep a beat, and because hubby likes to play air guitar I thought this might be the answer to an anniversary gift.

As it turns out - he was so-so in his response to my find and what had occurred. I have since found the game locally (ToysRUs) for the same sale price, but given his lack-luster response - I'm not sure what to do. I suspect I will leave sleeping dogs lie and try to find something else.

I'm back to square one.

On a side note: Today I'm in an odd mood. Today is the 3rd anniversary of my mother's passing. We weren't terribly close, but she was my mom. On the other hand - I'm missing the memorial service of a friend who lost his battle to cancer last week. I seriously don't know how to be bright-eyed and bushy tailed today. And that's just the way it is.

Drats and Blast - I Am Defeated!

I canz have patience - when for the right reasons - and I canz have it now!

And I have had patience, while waiting for the arrival of an anniversary gift for my husband. Our 7th wedding anniversary is next month, and I found and ordered earlier this month (with oodles of time to spare) something that I knew would be pleasing to his particular tastes.

However, this morning I got the dreaded email stated "We are sorry, but we are unable fill your order this time. We will be canceling order #blah-blah-blah."

Thank you very much Amazon.ca - once again!

Now what am I going to do? Don't they know how hard it is to please this man? Don't they know that the ideal gift doesn't just fall out of the sky -like I thought it had. Well - Darn and Blast you Amazon! This is the second time in two months that you've disappointed me with your lack of ability to follow through with your sales.

Oh how my Friday is now angst ridden.

Everyone Needs A Little Bit Of Romance

Have you ever wanted to fall into a book that you were reading? Have you ever been so deeply engrossed with the story that you wanted to dive in a meet and interact with the characters? Have you ever wanted to switch places with the heroine so that you could have the hero all to yourself?

This last question probably only holds true for the female readers.

I used to (in high school) love reading Regency Romances. Novels by Barbara Cartland or Georgette Heyer, light hearted innocent love stories set in the Georgian or Regency period of England. Georgette Heyer fashioned her novels after that of Jane Austen's.

I must admit I have never read and of the works of Jane Austen or even the Bronte sisters, but I absolutely adore any movies that are produced now. Dare I say - I own "Pride and Prejudice" with Kiera Knightly, and have watched it a number of cold rainy afternoons - just to warmed the cockles-of-my-heart.

Which leads me to my entry today. Last Thursday evening I settled into our spare room to watch a little non-violet, no guns TV, when I surfed into program that caught my eye right off. At first blush it looked like a period piece movie, and the names "Darcy" and "Bingley" were being bantered about. But wait! There was a woman, who was in the right costuming, but here hair was all wrong. It was a modern straight hair style, surrounded by other women with fancy, twirly updo's.

"What gives?" I asked myself.

What gives was that I was drawn into the middle of a UK mini-series called "Lost In Austen". The story was about a women (Amanda Price) who quite literally tumbled through an unknown door and into the Bennett household in Pride and Prejudice, exchanging places with her favourite literary character "Elizabeth Bennett". Except this modern girl thrown into a less than modern world was really screwing up with the beloved story lines, and you had to find out how she corrected her follies.

At the closing of the program it flashed across the screen "To Be Continued". I was hooked, I had to find the rest of the episodes and how I could get my hands on them. It's pretty much how I spent my weekend - and successfully too.

If you are a Jane Austen fan, or even like just a little romance in your life you MUST find and watch this mini-series. It was wonderful. It is not officially on my Christmas wish list - if I can wait that long.

And don't worry - if you are a die hard Austen fan and afraid of someone mucking with the classic story - be not afraid. It has a lovely ending.

Go ..... Now ..... Run .... find it and watch it!!

Summer / Fall / Card Making Confusion

WHERE
HAS
MY
WEEK
GONE???

I know we still have a month left until "Autumn" officially arrives, but my life and work schedule are already gearing up and well into it.

On a positive summer note - it's been lovely and warm here and I've taken to sleeping outside on the back deck again (house is a little too warm). I'm lovin' it! I've got my sleeping bag, pillows, and I've even put a light out there so I can read. Ear plugs firmly squished into the ears to keep out the street noise, and half a sleeping pill to make sure I cross-over to lala-land. Wonderful!!

Last evening the wind picked up a little bit, so I didn't feel like sitting outside. I did kinda-sorta feel like working on some of my paper crafts. I received a new stamp set this week and was quite excited to try it out.

Sometimes I like to work a card out completely in my head before I begin to put it to paper (no pun intended - I hate puns). Most of the time this process works out, but sometimes - like last night - its a complete FAIL! Or near fail, more aptly. And I hate that when that happens. I get so excited at the pictures that are developing in my head, and its a fantastic feeling when everything comes together and works - on paper. When it doesn't - then I get mildly depressed, and have to step away from it for a day or two. Rethink, re-evaluate, re-make.

Do you think I put a little too much pressure on myself?? Yes, I probably do. I suppose that comes out of loving my hobby, but also wanting to make it the very best that I can.

I was once asked, at work, if I could just pop home and grab a card that could be given to an employee who was leaving staff. I was a little quizzicalled by the request, and asked the person asking me, if they thought I had a store house of cards just waiting for the right occasion. He thought I did.

My card making - for the most part - is usually pretty personalized. I think about the person I make the cards for and try to stylize something around them. This especially applies to men, because men are the hardest to 'create' for. Feminine cards are easy, masculine cards can be brutal.

But I'm digressing. I've covered a lot of topics today. Which is strange because I didn't think I had anything to say and I've been dragging my heels all week. Alas.

If you've actually made it through the entire entry and read almost every word - I thank you. For those that I lost along the way - I'm sorry, but you'll never know it because you didn't read to the end.

Time Wasters

Ok, ok already! This is my forth attempt at an entry. All previous three have ended up in the bin.

So instead, I'll tell ya something special in the form of art.



May I present ... one of the reasons I have sleep deprived, disturbed, disrupted nights - our cat Pirate. Who chillaxe's all day so he can keep us up at night.

Night Vision

In juxtaposition to last week - I can't get warm this week. My fingers are like little icicles. Thank heavens when it comes to typing they have deeply ingrained memory and automatically reach for the needed keys.

I only wish that 'deeply ingrained memory' reached out into the late hours of the night, once the lights are off and the eye lids closed. It's at that precious time of day when my brain does the best writing, only without the cohesiveness to write down said brilliance for blogdom on tangible paper with tangible pen. Alas, these thoughts are lost to me come the light of day.

Seriously folks, I come up with the best prose when I'm least able to attend to them. Last night while I was trying to calm the brain and fall asleep I was mentally writing a future blog entry about my lesser spoken of cat "Digit". The composition was coming together for me in a way that it never does during the light of day, and I was not about to turn on the light to jot down ideas that would make no sense to me in the morning. I even said as much to my inner self as I lay there.

I do that alot, have conversations with my inner self, and sometimes the words reach to my out ears - and anyone withing hearing range. Not always a good move.

I digress .....

I think I may have to invest in a little recording device, so that I can just reach over to my bedside table, click the "on" button and blather away my thoughts, aspirations, and grocery lists. Who knows? I could become the next great Canadian Poet laureate!

Return to ..... Normal?

Balance has been restored to the universe - the heat wave has broken (temperature is around 19C / 66F) and I've returned to work after 10 days off.

Against my better judgment I got out of bed this morning. Let me tell you - it was difficult. I didn't sleep well last night. I woke up several times in fact. Between one of our cats wanting to cuddle (kneading with claws, and wet nose to my neck), and the husband less than gentle breathing - I kept waking up. And each time I woke up I kept thinking about having to come back to work today.

No, it wasn't a fun night at all. Tonight will be different. A guarantee (and a sleeping pill) I can assure you.

My 10 days off were lovely actually. Heat wave aside - it was a nice time to be off. I was able to get away for a couple of days - a change is almost always as good as a rest. And when I returned home I got to pretend camp and sleep on our back deck. The only thing missing was a camp fire. But with an all open fire ban on, I settled for bringing a lamp outside to read by. Lovely, simply lovely. The raccoons didn't even give me a double look.

I tried to get creative during the day to find ways to stay cool, but not spend money (or at least as little as possible). My first plan of action was to take the bus to the mall. But darned if most of the stores in that mall don't have sales on!! I generally can't pass up on a "Sale". Thankfully, I found nothing on sale that was worth my time. I did, however, purchase a new Wii Game (Wii Resort).... I was on holiday's. I had to live a little! Didn't I?

So I am sorry to report I have no wild stories to thrill and entertain you by. Maybe now that I'm back to work strangers will pass my way and I shall share those experiences with you.

Until then ..... keep blogging little ones.

Nuff' Said

Brief hiatus in Vancouver over.

Can't blog.

Too Hot!

Heat Wave - 33C (91F)

Still on holidays.

House is over 25C (80F) at night.

No Air Conditioning.

Must seek relief!

Good friends, Good conversations

It never ceases to amaze me how good life can look after one gets a full 8 hour nights sleep. I feel better than I have in weeks.

That compounded by a most excellent conversation with a friend last night helped me to realize I'm not crazy, I'm just perimenopausal. My friend is fully menopausal, but as we spoke and shared our experiences I could basically take her story, cut out her and husbands names and insert my own (and hubbies). I felt comforted to know I wasn't alone. AND the fact that husbands just can't understand the hormone battle the rages within us women.

Unfortunately - the symptoms are still very present, but I know to stop looking for the men in white who want to give me a new jacket that does up in the back.

Now .... if I can only explain all this to my husband without getting the eye roll.

It's Friday People - Rejoice!

It's Friday and I have next week off work. Although I'm still working through the same issues (mentioned in my last post) I plan on heading over the the Mainland on Sunday afternoon. It will be good to get away, and its just for 2 nights.

One of the disadvantages of 'where' I live is its attached to, and belongs to, where I work. So even doing something as seemingly relaxing as sitting out on our back deck - I look into my works parking lot. I never really get a break from the place.

The hubby is not on holiday's next week, so any adventuring I'll be doing will be on my own. Normally I'm all over that, but the way I've been feeling lately make the thought of doing fun things alone - a little lonely. And I don't just want to stick around the house.

I'll figure it all out. Who knows, maybe I'll go on a mad shopping spree that keeps me in the air-conditioned malls all week. Why not? There's food, there's bathrooms, there's entertainment, there's people ..... we'll see. But don't get all excited for me or anything. I probably won't get up to much to blog about.

Cheers,
LJ

Not in a Good Place

I deleted yesterdays post. I've never done that before, but the post was written from an over-tired, over-heated, over-bitchy place. Not a good place.

Everything and everyone is just plain bugging me these days. Please pray for my husband, he's getting the brunt of it. Poor man.

I can't really figure out whats going on with me. Although I have a sneaky suspicion it has something to do with weaning myself off my anti-depressants AND menopause (or pre-menopause). A cocktail mix that is not recommended.

I tried to talk to my hubby about it last night, but somehow the whole conversation turned and revolved around him. And he NEVER tells me whats going on in his world, so I let him talk. However, this left me feeling somewhat unfinished and unresolved.

I wanted to tell him that I'd had an anxiety attack yesterday. I'm planning on going over to visit his sister on the mainland next week for two days, and I suddenly felt extremely anxious about going and leaving him. Furthermore, upon realizing that is was an anxiety attack - that I'd had one a couple of weeks ago, but didn't recognize it at the time.

I'm not prone to having them, so they are beginning to scare me a little. Which sounds kind of weird that you would get scared for being anxious ... isn't that just compounding the issue? All that to say that I don't know where all this is coming from. There are simply too many factors at play here. Is it withdrawals from my anti-depressants? Is it the beginnings of menopause? Is it the heat? Is it lack of rest? So many factors.

The bottom line is that I don't like me much these days, and I don't like the edgy feelings I'm living with. What do I do with them, and how do I stop hurting the people I love?

Can anyone relate?

Sucking the Fun Out of Summer

Here on the island we have a local health authority (acronym known as VIHA). They are often known to post health information (obviously!) and warnings regarding a variety of things surrounding your health. Recently (although I now can’t find the specific article) they have pronounced roasting marshmallows over your campfire as unhealthy and unsafe.

I stumbled on to this story by means of reading the “letters to the Editor” on our local newspapers website. The readers – much like myself – initially thought that VIHA were having one over on all of us. “Oh, lets have fun, and see if we can pull the wool over some yocal’s eyes!”

But no, their article is completely upfront and spoken in earnest.

VIHA suggests that IF you are going to roast marshmallows this summer, that you should: 1) thoroughly sanitize your hands before touching any food item (ok, somewhat legit’). 2) Take your roasting stick and quickly thrusting the twig in the fire and removing carbon from the twig with a clean tissue. And 3) they finally suggest that once roasted, if the marshmallow has flames coming out of it, it’s too hot to eat (DOH!).

In a day and age where we take more precautions in life than ever before – where do we ever get a chance to learn from our mistakes? I’m not suggesting we rush out there and throw flaming marshmallows at people, but a little common sense goes a long way.

Did eating that worm when I was 6 do permanent damage to me? Did NOT sanitizing my hands and or my marshmallow stick (or wiener stick for that matter) put me one step closer to the grave? If that be the case I should have died – or worse – many years ago. But instead, I got to be a kid and learn that dirt doesn’t taste that good. That touching a burning marshmallow with my hands or my lips – may burn me.

Is it just me, or are there certain people out there who are just looking for ways to suck the fun out of fun??

+++++++

And on a completely different side note: Thank you to all who commented on my last entry. I terribly thrilled that almost all my my readers actually responded.

Behind the Tweed Curtain

After a day of sitting behind a reception desk I really needed to get out and take in some air the other night. The weather has been spectacular, and this evening was no exception.

Behind our house (a half block or so away) are several sports fields leading to a Recreation Centre. I can leave my house and not have to walk along a street. Last night I decided to do just that - stay off the busy street - and see what was up at the baseball diamonds. Between the baseball diamonds and the Rec Centre, and in the middle of the parking area lies a plot of land surrounded by a tall, thick hedge. Rarely have I seen any kind of action in this secret place, and most of the time you kind of forget its there. However, tonight - there was activity on the large scale, albeit low rumbled almost whispered voice levels.

It turns out the hidden place behind the green hedges is a lawn bowling pitch. There's always been something slightly mythical or sacred to me about lawn bowling pitches. One part because of the mystery that surround the thickly boarder area, and in part because - you only ever see seniors gaining entry.

Quite by happenstance I found the entrance, which was clearly marked with a "Visitors Welcome" sign, so I walked in.

What to my wondering eyes did I see ....? A sea of white hair, white shirts, and manicured lawn and many many many little black balls rolling down the green. I am by nature a introvert, however my curiosity and the welcoming feel of the elder onlookers drew me in to ask "Excuse me, can someone please explain the rules to me?"

You never know about the older generation. They might likely bite your head off to gain back some misspent youth. I was fortunate to interrupt four of the more kindly kind, and they were more than willing to explain the basic gist of what I was observing.

As they explained, in the obvious Scottish dialects, the basic rules of the game it would appear that lawn bowling is a loose combination of bocce ball and curling. This game is taken VERY seriously by its players, as was evident on the tournament contestants faces, as well as my new found teachers.

To be honest - with 4 of them all speaking at me at the same time AND in varying degrees of brogue I was hard pressed to completely grasp the finer points. However, one thing I did learn is that the balls that are thrown are weighted, and you throw or roll the ball in such a way that the weighted side will make the ball roll to the left or to the right. The ultimate objective being to be the closest a small white ball at the center and end of the alley.

Clear as mud, right?!

I stayed for 10 minutes or so, and was given a warm welcome to return on Saturdays and Sundays and watch again - on a non-city-wide-tournament day. Marie and Mary would keep a lookout for me. They truly were lovely ladies, and they were very quick to tell me that there is a league in the city for younger set - of which I clearly qualified.

I continued on my walk home with visions of lawn bowling possibilities in my future. My far far far away distant future.

Gone! Gone I tell you!

EVERYBODY! Stop what your doing, don't move. I've lost something and I don't want to step on it!

My week has completely disappeared and I can't locate it anywhere. Have you seen it? I know that it was here just a minute ago, but I turned my back for a second and its gone.

The same thing happened last week, but I put that down to first week back after holiday's with a smattering of a statutory holiday in the middle. But this week has no excuses. It's just gone.

If you see it can you please let me know. There is so much more I wanted to do with it, but just didn't get there.

Much appreciated and have an excellent weekend, I at least know its just around the corner.

What I Learned on My Summer Vacation

I always cringed a little when my teachers in September asked us what we'd done over the summer. Having grown up in small towns we really didn't get up to much.

However, I am proud to say that I did in fact learn something about myself over my recent two weeks on holidays. I'm not exactly sure what I'm going to do with this information, but at least I fired off a neuron or two - that's got to be good for the old noggin'.

As I said in a previous entry our first week of holidays were spent up at a rustic cabin on a lake up island. It truly was lovely, and a person could get used to waking up in that kind of setting. However, this particular accommodation was without cable (TV) & wireless connection for my laptop.

That might not sound like such a hardship, and to be honest I can live without TV, and I can live without internet/email (for a week) - but I am hard pressed to live without BOTH at the same time.

I am someone who sits in front of a computer every day and has learned to rely on the internet for news and a great deal of entertainment. And when it comes to TV, its often a background accompaniment to whatever is going on in my home life. The husband is a little more 'addicted' to TV than I, but to when I can't have one, I resort to the other.

To live without both ..... stretched my every capillary!

Although ... I had to laugh when we got home. We hadn't been in the door for more than 10 minutes, the kitchen was where EVERYTHING got dumped and I was beginning the task of restoring order, when I hear the "background" sounds warbling down the hall to my TV deprived ears. The HUSBAND had the TV on and was already watching the recorded episodes of "People's Court" that he'd missed.

NOT 10 MINUTES into out arrival of reality! Our bags hadn't even been unpacked yet.

I digress - As much as I enjoyed our time away, I missed not having both connections to the outside world at the same time. I thank the Lord (truly) that I had a laptop that could play DVD's.

This is what I learned on my summer vacation.

Am I missing something here?

Let me state off the bat that I truly enjoy meat. I am not a vegetarian or vegan in any way shape of form. I love meat!

That said, I constantly struggle with getting enough vegetables into me, and don't even get me started on trying to get vegetables into my husband! Its a common joke amongst our friends to try to trick him into eating anything vegetable-like.

However last week, while I was away visiting a friend, we made spaghetti for dinner one night. Although she is also a lover of meat, she used a vegetable substitute that looks like and cooks up just like hamburger. In fact, the packaging stated "vegetable Ground Round", "cooks up just like meat". (and in another fact - it was delicious).

But it got me to thinking .... why do 'they' have to disguise vegetables to look like meat products? Veggie dogs, Veggie bacon, Veggie Sausage for a few more examples. Who are 'they' trying to fool?

To my recollection I have never seen a meat product disguised as a vegetable .... I can't even picture a meat product masquerading as a vegetable. I googled it! I know!

Do vegetarians have to fool themselves into eating vegetables? Is it a mind-over-matter thing?

Can anyone shed some light on this world shattering topic?

Holiday's End

Well, my two weeks off has almost come to a conclusion. It's a gorgeous Saturday, but my mind is already gearing up for what Monday - back at the office - will bring.

The husband and I had a lovely time away. The first week was spent up at Sprout Lake in a lovely rustic (and I DO mean rustic) cabin. At the end of our weeks stay we were fortunate enough to see on of the Mar's Water Bomber's giving the lake a buzz over several times. I suppose it was working out the kinks before it took off the next day for a 5 month contract to California to assistance in the abating of forest fires down there. This lake is the home for these magnificent flying machines!!

During our week we also took a day trip out to Tofino, Uclulet and Long Beach. Truly the west coast of Vancouver. Stunning scenery in its rawness.



For more pictures from our trip please check out my Flikr pages at the lower left of my home page here.

I will hopefully have more stories to tell soon. I will NEED to share with you something I learned about myself .... but that's for another day.

Top 10 Gripe for the Day

Ok, now that I've got your attention - I'm really only going to talk about one particular issue.

Can anyone - and I mean ANYONE - explain to me the reason behind wanting to hang these from the back of your vehicle?

I'm almost hesitate to name them - men's testicles - but I'm about to say something far more ... delicate ....

I really do not understand why a man (I'm making assumptions here) would want to advertise his wears this way. Is he proving he has the brain the size of a pea - or a 'p' the size of a pea? Does he think this will honestly attract the opposite sex - or maybe its not the opposite sex he's trying to attract? I just don't get it.

I've seen several of these are around recently, and it almost offends me. In fact I will go so far as to say I think it's incredibly crass and tasteless. I wonder what these fella's (assumptions again) would feel like if their daughters drove home their Ford Focus with a model (brace yourself) 'Vagina' hanging off the back of their cars. What then, do you think?

Please - I'm begging you - someone explain this new trend to me.

A little bit of nothin' and a squirrel

I'm having an out-of-body experience when it comes to blogging lately. Every day I come in and check on you all, and everyday I don't update myself.

The last three weeks I've been in survivor mode to make it to this Saturday - when my holidays start. I love my job, but I'm one tired puppy/kitten/reptile/ ... (insert favourite cuddly being).

So even though I've been 'here', I really haven't been here, but my mind is still constantly thinking of new entries that will never get written. Bad Blogger!

However .... I did remember to bring you a picture of one of the squirrels that live in the tree beside our house.



He has no tail, and if you look closely - you'll notice that the back leg that's facing you - has no foot. That is no trick of photography. He in fact is missing his rear foot. But BOY!!! Can that rodent hustle up (and down) a tree at a moments notice. He's actually very cute. I must make a confession - I leave bird food out for them. That's why he's stopped where he is in the photo. There is a little pile left out, just for him.

Cheers!

I need another name for squirrels

I have a couple of bird feeders outside of our house. I'd have more, but I've run out of trees and places where I can watch the birds. I like to watch .... the birds ....

I do very much enjoy seeing what kinds of birds we have in our area, and specifically watch them while they eat. At one particular feeder I have a mated pair of House Finches that come every day. She sits on one side facing one way, he sits on the other side facing the other way. They're very cute, and I rarely see them come separately.

On Saturday afternoon I was sitting at my kitchen table, looking out the window at a feeder when on the fence between our house and the neighbours two squirrels were sitting there eyeing my feeders.

I do like squirrels, but I don't like the damage they do the bird feeders. They're not called "bird" feeders for nothing.

I digress.

The one smaller squirrel caught my attention first. Something was different about this little fellow. He was smaller, but I could tell he wasn't a baby either. Realization dawned on me that in fact he had no tail, or at least a mere nub of a tail was all that he'd had left. I'm sure he had some wicked story to tell over that one.

At the understanding that I was now dealing with a 'handicapped' squirrel my heart softened to the furry bloke - just a little.

They started up their scare tactics chatter that squirrels do, so I went out to our deck to see if one of my cats were bothering them. Can't have that.

Once I got outside, the pair had moved and one was on the tree only a couple of feet from me. This one was slightly larger - and had a gigantic tail. However, to my astonishment - this squirrel was missing an eye AND had a torn up ear!

Talk about heart wrenching! I'm sure I quite audibly gave a "ohhhh myyyy nooooo" gasp of compassion. And despite my strong feelings of not encouraging the little rotters I went back into the house to get some bird seed to put on the fence for the squirrels to get.

You'd think my story would end here, happily ever after, squirrel couple well fed (and safe from all felines). That I'd have them in for cuddles and daily tea times by the fireside, but no .... my story does not end, and my heart not fully wrenched from my chest cavity yet.

I came back outside to put the seed out for them, the smaller, tailess squirrel was on a tree beside the fence. It was scampering up and down feverishly calling his friend and tailfull / earless mate to come away. Suddenly I made another discovering about my tree living neighbours. Mr. No-tail (prefer to think of him as a him) was an amputee! He was missing a hind leg.

Forget the previous "ohhhh myyyyy noooo", I now let out a huge grown of condolence.

I really have to have the furry neighbours over more often, sit them down for a good old fashioned chin-way. There has to be a good story behind these two. How did they meet? Did they get the plate of the car they crashed into?? Did they meet at the vets office over comparing war wounds? What?

I'll try to get a picture of them. They really are quite cute.

On a Brighter Note ...

My In-Laws pulled out around 2pm on Sunday, and I must admit I felt a huge weight lifted off my shoulders. The balance of tranquility was being restored in my home and for the first time in days I felt that could let my hair down and relax. It was a tangibly physical feeling, and - yes - I reveled in it.

It's also true that I ate my big, heaping bowl of "stew of ugliness", and I must admit it gave me heartburn. But a couple of large Rolaid-prayers and a gallon liquid-grace, and I got things under control.

Please understand that I love my In-Laws BIG TIME, and appreciate their acceptance of me into the family. It's more that I don't like what I turn into when my mother-in-law is around. A very agitated side of me surfaces. I want to correct, if not muzzle, what comes out of her mouth. I need to tell her she's wrong - all the time.

I confess that I am the person in the wrong here. I am not honouring of my mother and father (in-law). I must remember the grace and mercy that the Lord pours on me abundantly - daily.

The majority of the stress came to a head on Saturday morning when I confronted (in love) my M-I-L on behaviour she was giving us (hubby & I) that morning. I won't go into it, other that to say - we hugged and made up.

I am NOT, however, in a rush to have them visit again anytime soon. And Lord help me - if they want to come and stay over on the next statutory/long weekend (it's been two in a row now), or any long weekends to come in 2009. And as much as my hubby loves his parents - neither is he in a wishful stance for the next sleep-over. Neither one of us can handle being around both in-laws when they begin to lay the guilt trips on each other. But that's a whole other story.

For now, I/we are breathing easier, sleeping better, and loving the parents from a distance.

2nd Post - same rant - Part 2

If you haven't read my entry from earlier today, stop and do that first because this is the punch line of a continuing saga.


I got home from lunch to find (her still in the same spot) that she'd gone into our bedroom and folded my dirty laundry!!

I have no more words.

Its My Right To Rant, and you can't take it away from me

I'm starting this entry off by saying that this is a rant. This is my space to do with what I want, and if you know me personally - you will allow me the grace to say what I want how I want to say it - and no talk-back!

I have a rant!! As many of you know from my previous entry my mother-in-law is staying with us this week. She'll be turning 78 next month and is not the most mobile person. My father-in-law is off in Winnipeg at meetings (Meti Veterans) and a bit of a visit with his 93 year old mother.

My F-I-L decided that the M-I-L couldn't/shouldn't stay at home alone for fear of her falling. So instead he insisted that she stay with us where she'll have nothing to do and no one to visit with, and be completely alone ALL DAY because both hubby and I work for a living and can't take extra time off.

I leave the house in the mornings and the M-I-L is sitting on the couch. I come home at lunch and she's still sitting in the same spot. I come home after work and she's STILL in the same spot. The very same spot that she continues to sit in all evening. However, she does get bored enough during the day to 'make herself helpful'.

The word 'helpful' is what I have to keep in mind and I rant, because this particular 'helpfulness' really bugs me (OK - to be honest - it pissed me off!!).

I have a bad habit of, after doing my laundry I leave them semi folded up in the hamper they came from (cause that's the way I like 'em). Then I live out of that hamper until its empty and I refill it with dirty clothes.

My M-I-L took it upon herself (to be 'helpful', said with sarcasm) to refold my laundry. RE-FOLD my laundry. This included folding my underwear.

Who Freakin' Folds Underwear?? Let Alone OTHER People's Underwear!!!!!

If I'd wanted my freakin' shirts to have an extra fold pleat I would have fold them. But I don't, I lie them flat. I freaking want them laid flat. I don't freakin' want them folded!

The woman has GOT to go home! SOON!!

(deep breath in ...... deep breath out .....)

I would like to write that at this point I am feeling better for having ranted. But to be honest - I'm tired, I'm grumpy, its Friday, and I've got another 48 hours of 'helpfulness'. So I am NOT feeling better post writing rant.

Try as I might right now I cannot be filled with grace, mercy, love, and peace. I will be sitting in this stew of ugliness for a little while longer. And hopefully by lunch I can be civil when I get home - to find her sitting in the same spot on the couch that she's taken up residence in all week.

I would like it noted that I did not go into lengthy diatribe on the type of 'conversation' the M-I-L likes to have - during our favourite TV shows, like Hell's Kitchen Finale, or Survivor .... etc.

Harruummmphhhhhhh!

Please have patience for me, God isn't finished with me yet.

Mother of a Week

I've been a bit absent (minded) this week. My mother-in-law has been staying with us, and I have had a hard time keeping routine - in thought or deed. I find that whenever we have overnight company I slip into a parallel universe where very little is familiar, and even less can be attributed to 'mine'. Ya know? Your house is not your house, your kitchen is not your kitchen, your schedule is not your schedule. It all very dependent on 'them'.

And I am by nature - a very routine kind of person. It's probably one of the ways that assists me in feeling in control of my surroundings. Which I recognize as being a total oximoron anyway. Who's really 'in control' of whats happening around them?

At least when I'm at work I feel as if I have some control of my surrounding and people.

Speaking of work / surroundings / peeps - I received flowers this week from our bookkeeper. She brought me flowers for Mother's day, although I am not a mother nor ever will be, in the tradition sense. Our bookkeeper wanted me to be recognized as a mother to my co-workers. And as a past co-worker pointed out later that day I am a 'mother of all co-workers' ....

Is that a back handed compliment, or ....

I'll take it in the spirit in which it was intended - and pay him back later.

In the meantime I will gaze upon my bouquet of flowers (at work) and long for the weekend when I get my house and routine back.

Must share my toys again

My grass-widow days are weaning to a close. Hubby was supposed to arrive at the airport this afternoon, but just as my front tires were still on the driveway and the back tires were on the road, he called to say they'd missed their connection flight. If they were lucky they might be arriving around 8pm tonight.

So much for getting off work early ....

On the flip-side - I've enjoyed my solitude. I was a single adult for over 20 years before the hubby came along, and all but 3 years of that I didn't have roommates. So even though we've been married for almost 7 years now, I still miss my alone times. Hubby is a real introvert, so getting the house to myself is a very rare commodity. If he's not at work, then he's home or out with me.

I am looking forward to having him home again. I need someone to take the trash out.

Ok, ok - it's more than that, and you and I know it. I love his company, I love his friendship, and I love him.

Lets hope he doesn't miss anymore flights today.

I'm Not Buying That Ticket For The Guilt Train

I took the hubby to the airport yesterday morning. He's off on business in Atlanta, Georgia. Part of me wishes I was with him - its warm and not raining in Atlanta right now. And the other part of me is heaving a huge sigh of relief that I have the house and the bed a-l-l t-o m-y-s-e-l-f!!!

Truth be told it falls into a 10 / 90 split, face planting strongly on the latter.

Is that wrong? Should I be feeling guilty?

Naaaaahhhhhh!

As I awoke to the luxuriousness of the bed all to myself, the cats kicked out of the room, and the bed NOT jostling to every tiny move - I (without guilt) felt wonderfully refreshed and ready to meet my day.

Is that wrong? Should I be feeling guilty?

Naaaaahhhhh!!

It doesn't mean I don't love or miss my husband any less. On the contrary, I truly do love him and miss him. I don't miss the fighting over pillow space (he pushes the half way boundary), temperature control, are the cats in or out, and most of all ..... (shhhh don't tell him I said this) I don't miss the loud, purposeful, off key ditty singing he does when he first gets up. Nooooooo! I do not miss that!!

Everyone tells me I have such a quite and polite husband - well "they" haven't spent early mornings with him.

But I digress.

Tonight I will go home to a quiet house, look at a mess that "I" left behind from this morning. Clean up the mess that "I" made this morning. Make a dinner that's healthy and well balanced and nutritious. Watch television that doesn't include guns, cops, or serial killers. And go to bed at a reasonable hour to read in quiet with no background noise.

Is that wrong? Should I be feeling guilty?

Naaaaahhhhh!!

He'll be home late Friday afternoon, we'll be back to normal and I'll be glad for it.

My Life in Cartoon

In other news:

I suck at knitting (except plushy bunnies)

Knit One Pearl Two - continued

Yesterday's post got me to thinking about when I learned how to know. At first blush of the memory my mind went back to a late teen years - or at least this is when it really took off in me. This was alluded to yesterday.

But in fact my very first knitting experience was a Christmas in the late 60's when I was 7 or 8 - my parents bought me a knitting machine. Not the kind that they have for kids now - round with a crank, but the kind that was straight across and you had a handle that you went back and forth on. If you can imagine an iron and ironing board - except you spat out knitting, not flat sheets.

Upon deeper reflection - although I was thrilled with the present (much more than the ski's I received the following year - but that's another story), it was a toy that required initial parental assistance. I didn't get that part, and as any excited youngster would do - I launched into my attempt with glee and gusto and .... broke it.

You would think that you average parent would see the error in their ways and assist a young thing in distress, but no - the knitting machine was returned and never spoken of (or replaced) again. (The same cannot be said for the above mention ski's - but again I digress).

I've never forgotten that knitting machine, and to be frank - I'd seriously like a second shot at it. I know I wouldn't need parental assistance this time. Or at least I think I could handle it on my own.

After the return of the machine that Christmas I went back to my tried and true system of an empty wooden spool of thread with nails hammered in around one end and I made oodles and oodles of long knitted snake coats.

Funny how I never met a snake that would wear my creations. Thankfully I had Barbie dolls to dress up in knitted boas, fingerless gloves, and long scarves.

Something to keep my hands busy

A couple of weeks ago I alluded to having a slightly addictive personality. At the time I was referring to my penchant for spending time with "Shaun" my virtual sheep. One of the other things that I have recently been delving into is the ancient art of knitting.

My mom was a furious knitter, and I still have many of her odd creations. Colour schemes where not her thing.

I digress .....

On and off over the years I've picked up my needles and carried on the tradition. However, for the first time in all my knitting experiences, I've knitted something that wasn't a sweater or scarf.

I knitted bunnies - in sweaters.


I was amazed at the joy of being able to start a finish a project within a couple days. Not weeks like a sweater would take me.

I am presently at the finishing stages of a sweater I started post-bunnies, but I'm already looking for my next 'animal' object to divide and conqueror. But no matter what I chose you can be 'darn' sure it will never, ever, ever be socks. On this ground I firmly stand - I will never knit a pair of socks.

The Box Said "Golden Blonde"

Who knew there was so much red in "golden"? Who knew my gray hair would take red so well?

I came to the decision it was time to update my colour, but that I also wanted to go just a tich darker, warmer, blonder ... So I chose the box, in my regular brand, a number or two higher. "Yes!" I thought to myself, "This will be a nicer, warmer, dark blonde."

It's official - for the next few weeks I'm a red head!!

Four years ago or so, I purchased another colour with - what I thought would be - burgundy or auburn highlights. Little did I realize that I would be channeling Lucille Ball in her hay days. It was a shocking bright red.

Thankfully today, as I look in the mirror, its still red, but a nicer, warmer, dark blondey red. I can deal.

And thank you Lord! I never use 'permanent'!!!

Nocturnal Technicolours

I've warned you before about my crazy dreams. Last night was no exception. It's really a good thing I like dreaming, regardless of the contents.

Picture this - a large theme park atmosphere - crazy rides - lots of people - and me .... in a long full skirted red satin ball gown and red stiletto heels. I'm trying to negotiate myself around the park (with friends, none of which I have in waking life) and on to a variety of rides. Only I find that its taken me so long to walk in my dress and heels that by the time I make it to the next ride, they've just closed it because it was full. So then I would attempt to make it to the next ride - only to not make it on time.


Although - I did make it into a virtual helicopter ride type thing. The pilot kept making the helicopter do loop-di-loops, and my dress spent most of the time up over my head - crinolines displayed loudly!

What is my mind trying to process with stuff like this going on?

A Product of Too Much 60's TV

I don't know what's going on in my brain, but each day that I pop home for lunch a TV commercial ditty from the 60's or 70's come to my head and out of my mouth.

One day it was:

My Bologna has a first name,
It's O-S-C-A-R.
My Bologna has a second name,
It's M-E-Y-E-R
And if you ask me ....
(can't remember the words but ends with)
O$car Meyer has a way with
B-O-L-O-G-N-A ....

Then the next day I was singing:

I wish I were an O$car Meyer Weiner.
That is what I truly wish to be..ee...eeeee.
And if i were an O$car Meyer Weiner,
Then everyone would be in love with me....

Then on the third day is was it was something about Beef-Aroni, a Chef Boyardi product, but at this exact moment I can't remember the tune.

Obviously I have lunch on the brain, but were do these little songs get stored for 30-40 years that they just pop out like that. Does anyone else remember these commercial songs??

A Product of Too Much TV

I have always been one to have wild, technicolour dreams - and for the most part - there's nary a bad one in the bunch.

Over the weekend I had just the TV comedy/drama everyone likes to see. For starters Alec Baldwin was my father, and he and his second wife were living next door to the house I was living in. He'd bought the house I was living in, and shared with my twin brother. (In real life I don't have a twin brother). Our mother had passed away at an indeterminate time, and under indeterminate reasons, along with all that deep background information you innately know when you're dreaming.

My father (Alex Baldwin - who in reality is only three years older than me, but for some reason he was older and I was much much younger than our actual ages) had talked me into having a dinner party for people he'd like me to cook for - my brother and his girlfriend, Dad and Mrs. #2, two other people who I didn't know, and a mysterious date for me.

Dad was trying to hook me up with a business associate, and little did I know - until the gentleman arrived at the door - that the young, eligible, stinking rich, bachelor was in a wheel chair.


The dinner party itself went fine, although I remember feeling like I was being pushed into something with Nick (said wheelchair date), but he was quite comfortable with whole experience. We were all acting like one big happy family - with Alec Baldwin holding court.

Later in the dream it was revealed that Nick was not in fact a paraplegic, but had had a serious accident and was only chair-bound in the short term until his rehab kicked in. I was being tested to see if I had prejudices again handi-capable people. All of this was not revealed to me until after many subsequent dates, and assurances of our mutual affections.

Then I woke up.

Now tell me .... could you write a better 'made-for-tv'movie or what?

Addictions and me

Have I ever mentioned that I have a slightly "addiction prone" personality? The object of my addictions sways and varies with the seasons, but I'm generally addicted to something for periods of time.

Don't be to concerned, as its not drugs or booze or something life threatening. No, its generally something small and relatively harmless - like knitting, a particular video game, reading, sudoku ... you know .... completely harmless.

Recently I've taken much comfort from something I have on my personalized Google homepage. I call him Shaun, and he's a sheep.

Shaun never complains, and is quite happy to graze in his 3x3 inch plot of cyber pasture. He comes with a couple of extra 'tools' of clover or hay, that I can feed him. And if you click your mouse over his wee happy head he bleats, or sometimes he closes his eye's and little hearts float up from his head.

I find spending time with Shaun can be very relaxing. This week in particular Shaun has calmed the chaos that has unfolded around here. Work was very fractured, which is more than I can say for the 16" municipal water main that exploded at the top of our street. The ensuing mini-sunami (above and below ground) sent many pounds of water under pressure into the sewer lines and up into basements several homes on this street - including the church where I work. You would not believe the domino affect of things that occur when something like this happens. We've had more trades people and municipality people through the portals of this building than I've ever seen on any given Sunday.

Thankfully, our little house next door was not affected due to us not having a basement.

So you see, dear friends, what kind of zen moment Shaun the sheep has been able to give me in the midst of it all. Thank you Google.

Irony Lake

47 thinking 37

Today is my birthday, and my head is thick and heavy with a sinus cold. Sucks to be sick on your birthday. That said, I am doing better than I have over the last couple of days.

I am determined, however, to go out and enjoy a fine meal tonight. I'm just praying my taste buds kick in before 6pm. Nothing has tasted quite right lately.

My husband is NOT a planner, so 'celebrating' birthdays is rather lost on him. I've had 7 years to train him otherwise, but to no avail. I can only mention Carrot Cake and Flowers in so many sentences ....

He explains his lack of planning/anticipation/excitement for celebrations on the fact that his birthdays got glossed over as a kid. He's a May baby boxed in there between Mother's Day and his Mother's birthday, so he approaches them with a blase detachment, even his own. I on the other hand want to make the most of it. Is it selfish that for one day of the year I want to celebrate "me"?

I'm not sure if its because I'm not feeling 100% this year, but today of all days - I miss my mom. She's been gone now for over two and a half years. And its not that we were close (far from it), but I long to hear her voice today of all days. Even if her conversation gets no deeper than the weather and who's died recently.

Birthdays are good, and I will celebrate me (turning 47) in some special way.

Rants R Us

I have been lapse in writing for fear of it turning into a rant. Unfortunately - the weather has forced me to vent my frustration somewhere. No one at work wants to hear about it!

It's March and we've just got hit with a pseudo blizzard. I say 'pseudo' because if you live ANYWHERE else but Victoria you'd call it a light, late powdering. But here in Victoria .... it was a minor blizzard - accidents galore, children being kept home from school, and church employees who would rather be at home curled up on their couches (reading a really good book I can't seem to put down)

And I dislike it intensley!!! The snow that is.

Snow during any part of the winter is wrong, but big flaky white stuff in March is wrong on so many levels. This is what we woke up to this morning, and it only just slowed down at lunch time. Combine that with the wind - and you'd think we were living in Alberta! Or anywhere else except the paradise of West Coast Canada.

My second rant for one posting is ..... the time change from this past weekend. Why oh why do we have to change our clocks and hour forward in the spring, and an hour backward in the fall. We (Canada) are only a small hand-full of countries in the world that follows "Day Light Savings Time", and it screws me up every change. Energy saving ... my butt!

Nuf said!

Note to Self

In next job application for an "Office Manager" make sure to have the company define the category "Other job duties as assigned".

I have lost count on how many loads of wash I've done (at the office) of table cloths and tea towels today. I started when I got in at 8am this morning, and only just put the last load of tea towels in at 3:45 this afternoon.

Its getting on my last nerve people. Can her feel my frustration!

Advertising for Dummies

Here we are having arrived at Friday again. Seems to come rather often really, every seven days or so .... Just can't stop a good thing.

This week has been rather uneventful and slow(er), but not in a good way. Quite quickly on Tuesday morning it became apparent that the week would be unfolding unpleasantly. Computer problems at the office.

There is absolutely NO WAY anyone can convince me that Mac's are superior to PC's - NO WAY!!

And whatever you do upon reading that sentence - do not send me "comments" trying to convince me otherwise. Resistance is futile.

I will not delve any further, except to say - today is Friday and the difficulties have not changed one iota! So I happily go home to my PC laptop.

I am happy to report that I made it through Valentine's Day without shedding one single tear, or having the mildest of tantrums. I'm not sure if that's a sign of lost hope, resignation, or a numbness to the realities of married life. As usual it went unnoticed by the male population in our house. With the exception of the following day being told "Happy Un-Valentine's Day".

On another unusual note to my week - I received some mail at work from a company that we deal with for our copier. The previous week I'd been visited by our new sales rep, and his supervisor. This week I get an post-card ad from said new barely twenty-something sales person.

The catch phrase across the top of the 3x9 inch coloured postcard read "Call us if your copier still sucks". The "still" was written like an after-though with a little ^ interrupting the sentence to insert it for emphasis. And just below that it read "it's just that easy!" leading into a grinning head shot of our oh-so-naive new sales rep.

Where do I begin? My first complaint - the word "sucks". It's one thing to say it, it another thing to use it as your advertising slogan.

AND - since we already have a copier from this company - is he calling his own product down?

Then - WHAT is "just that easy!"? Calling them? If you're already leasing one of their machines and it "sucks" wouldn't you have already been on the phone complaining?

I got this piece of 'crap' in the mail on Wednesday and I'm still incensed. I've called and left a message with our rep's supervisor, but lucky for him he's off sick.

Yes - I know I wrote the work 'crap', you don't need to remind me of my hypocrisy. I'm not using the word in an advertising slogan for the church now am I?

Does anyone else see what's wrong in this advertisement? Is it just me? Am I being an old fuddy-duddy? I know I'm not 'hip', but I like to think I'm flexible and accepting of others and generational differences.

Although .... does anyone remember the "Church Lady" from Saturday Night Live in the 90's??