Wednesday, December 24, 2008

christmas

Well nothing went terribly wrong with the house today and I watched the Muppets Family Christmas tonight and actually feel a lot more in the spirit of things... hooray! I just need to watch Garfields Christmas and I'll be good to go :)

The tree has all the presents under it and we have a yummy cookie and carrots for the reindeer (2 for Rudolph, "I feel sorry for him Mom, he should get an extra one," said Kyle) I'm looking forward to a nice brunch-ish meal tomorrow, some good old Christmas cartoons and family arriving... We read the Polar Express before bed and I was surprised that that book inspired the film... I mean the book was good - but man the movie had a lot more details and characters... Kyle enjoyed it and was really happy to get the book - he gave me two hugs for it... it was one of those moments...the ones you can reflect on for a lifetime.

Anyway - I'm going to do a few more things and then get to bed and wait for the kids to wake up and see how the living room has changed, good ole' Saint Nick.

Merry Christmas everyone!

eve

Well this is the first time I've had a few minutes to write anything - today was not a very good day - but it ended well so I can't complain - oh wait, yes I can...

We started the morning with a "plumber" how yanked on my plumbing snake so hard that he broke it - and then left because "he wasn't dealing with that"... my brother came over and he and Andy spent the day working on the problem... the snake was stuck in ice in the drain - and the drain was so full of ice - well it was about 10 ft or more full - so there wasn't much we could do with it... needless to say it was a long day - it ended with a new water pipe being installed and the washer working again...

Some of the day was insane though and part of the reason I'm still awake. I went out to get some work done this afternoon - when I returned to the house are CO2 alarm was beaking off - I go and see it and it has a reading on it - I go into safety mode and evacuate the house... the guys think I'm nuts but I wasn't dying from that shit - that is why I bought the alarm... ok - so we evacuate and I call someone I know on a volunteer fire department - he says call Terasen - gas company - I call Terasen (this is the short version because the long version - well I'll save that for my journal...) Terasen says get out of the house - open windows and doors - and leave - emergency guy will be there soon - ok... I leave again - kids never came back in the house - just me and Andy and my brother (who stayed the whole time...) Terasen arrives and whatever was here has gone with the open windows... from a reading up over 124 down to nothing... but... this very nice Terasen emergency person says he will look around anyway... and what does he find... well no CO2 problem... but he finds that our BRAND new pipes in my BRAND new furnace wasn't tightened enough and was leaking natural gas - which I complained about but was told - "I've got a nose for natural gas and I don't smell it..." I guess he's been smelling too much horse shit lately... cause he was WRONG! Anyway - great Terasen guy tightens the pipe and we seem to back up and running.

I spent the last 2 hours (ish) wrapping gifts and now I can't sleep - the CO2 thing scares the shit out of me. It is dangerous to be around a reading of more than 50 and when I came home from work my whole family was sitting in the house - I think you could have lit me on fire this afternoon and I wouldn't have noticed - I packed Michael - who was asleep - and basically had a fit and now I keep thinking I'm going to hear the alarm go off again - or maybe it won't go off - I know I will sleep tonight but I'm just a little bit ( a lot) out of my gourd...

I'm pretty sure whatever the alarm read this afternoon and beaked off about was something my brother did as he used a chemical ice melter and it stank the house up - it was hard to breath and it gave me a pounding headache - but I never would have thought it would set off our CO2 alarm... I think it was a fluke that Terasen ended up detecting the natural gas leak - I guess the stars aligned on the whole thing - the alarm is clear - the house smells fine now - the pipe is fixed - and everyone is sleeping... except you know who... oh well - so there you go - great holidays... great - flamin' great - it doesn't help that I'm queen of worry-wort village and this just stacks on top of all the shit that runs through my head every day...

Ok - I'm going to watch some tv and unwind... tell me I'm not insane - I'm feeling insane...

Monday, December 22, 2008

Holly-days

So what's new on the work front? Well I thought I was going to work a fair bit today but it turned into a work on the house day - for the most part - we tried - TRIED - to unclog or de-ice our drain to new avail. We got a boiler with a pressurized steam spray that you funnel into the hole and hope for the best - it was a 2.5 person job to get everything working properly and to keep the water that was going in from coming back and going all over the damned place. This didn't work though - which after three good tries, numerous cursing, a significant bruise to my hand I gave in... I called a plumbing company and they should be here tomorrow - again not holding my breath - since I've heard that before. And as I suspected - no sign of the trim guy - freakin' fabulous...

Outside of that nuisance I did get some work done this afternoon - meetings - and then went to one store to look around for christmas gifts - then gave up because it was so busy. I did go to wally world tonight - but even that wasn't very much fun. The boys went to their aunties house and made a gingerbread house while me and my sister walked around wally world. Lots of people out buying... I'm having a hard time buying stuff this year because I'm really trying to avoid useless stuff.

Are there useful and fun gifts?... I'm on the hunt... while trying to complete nearly all my shopping in town..

Sunday, December 21, 2008

holidays... well sort of

The plan was to be in holiday mode this weekend but my work schedule changed last week and then with the unfinished room, plus a clogged or frozen washer line I'm pretty much at a standstill on feeling the holiday season.

I need to get to the library and pick up a book - the newest King one I'm reading - well it is short stories so that is nice - but I've read three and only one was really good - but it was good reading, but terrifying and probably something I shouldn't have read.

Tomorrow the trim guy should be here to install and then I can start loading back into the room - and hopefully we can get the drain fixed. I bonked my head something fierce today - I did one of those stupid open the door when your head is in the way moves and clunked my forehead - I thought I was bleeding - turns out it was just the ooze of stupidity leaking out.

Saturday, December 20, 2008

brrrrrr

Um - it's already MINUS 33 - and it is supposed to get colder tonight - what is going on... I don't remember it ever being this cold in December - January, sure... but not December.

oh spca

So we are watching the great Global BC TV morning news (BCTV) and a commercial comes on for BC SPCA and it stops the boys in their tracks. "Mom, we need to help those animals," says Kyle. This is followed by Michael "Mom we need to save those titties." LIttle boys grow up so fast.

I leave you with that for now... I'm sure more fun is on the way for today - not going too far - -32 and still dropping.... as much as I want to go shopping - I just don't think the guys need to venture into it.

Friday, December 19, 2008

wimp

Ok - so I left off saying that we were trying a snake... sadly this went no where - well the snake did go down the hole but it did nothing to alleviate our problem. Today I called around and talked to a couple of plumbers and they said if it is just a clog we can do it ourselves. So at the end of my work day I rushed over to a plumbing store and bought the supplies. He tells me as I'm buying it that it is sulphuric acid that does the trick... sulphuric freakin' acid.... plus some enzyme that should be applied after...

Enter the wimpee part of me... I don't want to be burned, I don't sulphuric acid on me or splashing on my walls - who knows what could happen - plus I tell my Dad and he gets all - well you better be careful with that stuff and goes on and on about it... so I wimp out - tonight I'm wearing the gear to do it and decide to try the organic way first - so I put in baking soda and then some vinegar and blam-o I've got a volcano for a washer drain - great - so I re-snake it - hoping for the best - and it actually goes in easier than last night but then when it gets as far as it will go it spins in place - the snake twists and twists and then releases because it is bumping up to something - that something could be ice... it could be general laundry crap, it could be a build up of detergent from years and years ago - it could be something the furnace people put in there... it could be IT1 or IT2... it could be a rubber shoe....

So with little success with the snake or the volcano mixture - I try the enzyme - this is stuff that is potent but not sulphuric acid - it has to sit over night in the hole and with any luck - makes its way over to the problem and voila - unclogs the mess - if it is ice... well we've set up extra heat and hopefully it will unthaw over night... of course we are working against -29 right now - looking to -30's over night...

Within any luck my post tomorrow will be - hooray - it worked... but at this rate it is more likely that I will have won the lotto - and we all know the odds on that :)

Thursday, December 18, 2008

angrrrrrrrry

Furious, on fire, mad, upset, stomping, ANGRY!

1:15pm
"Hi... is this April?"

Yes

"Hi, I'm the contractor installing the trim in your room, can I stop by to measure the room?"

sure

"Ok, I'll be there in 10 minutes."

Great

1:27pm
Ok - be patient - it is icy and people shouldn't be rushing around
Gives me time to look around... wait a second... what is that?

I look at a foot print on my BRAND NEW carpet from the furnace people... ARG
Um.. hold the phone... what is that?

I look over in the corner of the room and see what looks to be the corner all darkened - almost.... WET!

I actually left the room because I thought I was just mad about the footprint...

1:34pm
No show - still waiting - getting madder - it isn't just his time that is worth money
Walking around the room - I bend down and feel the dark area.... it is WET.
Blood pressure begins to rise

Above the wet spot (about 3 ft long x 2 ft wide... ish) is a new condensation hose they've installed for the new hot water heater - freakin' fabulous... I assume this is the source, but go to the drain they've guided the hose to and see if there is water there - no apparent water - so I call the furnace people.

I remain calm and just note that I'm trying not to lose it since this leak is happening on my BRAND new carpet in my newly near completed room.

"We'll send someone right away..."

1:47pm
Still no trim guy... but what is that - the furnace people are actually here... so quickly... I guess you just have to get stressed about a leak on a two day old thing and they come running.... amazing.

1:55pm
It isn't the furnace - furnace guy, who is not a plumber suggests that it is a clogged drain that just happened to back up - coincidence?

2:05pm Trim guy shows up
"I can do this next week, I'll call on Monday."

(My inside voice notes Monday suggestion and anticipates more like in the new year... note to self - don't hold breath)

2:15pm Trim guy leaves
THANKS!

2:17pm
Furnace guy finishes up and leaves.

2:20pm I call Andy - no answer
2:21pm I call my dad.. "I need help" "What do I do?" I'm basically on the verge of a meltdown and I just try not to cry the whole time on the phone. I know he can hear me breaking - that I've come to the point where I'd just like to beat my head on the wall - he says he'll call me later - but that the drain probably just needs to be snaked - a term I actually know because this isn't my first clogged drain...
2:22pm I have a small cry - because I just can't F'ing believe this project

2:25pm I move the laundry, undo all the water pipes, and cut a little bit bigger hole in the wall to see the problem more clearly.

I spent the next 30 minutes looking for the snake to try the drain...

So now it is night - I'm still upset and have now steam cleaned my BRAND new carpet - so it doesn't smell like dirty smelly water and doesn't leave a big stain... we've snaked the drain to no avail and now Andy has gone to get an attachment to try one of those air pump things to see if that will work...

I'll let you know how it goes...

One more day till vacation... I don't think it can come soon enough.

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Christmas concert

Tonight was the grade one Christmas concert. Good times, good times. Kyle's class was up first and as I should expect from our school - they didn't sing a Christmas song - very disappointing. They sang a song that was like the wheels on the bus except they sang about the instrument they were holding and sang about the sound it made... I mean there are how many christmas songs and they couldn't sing one... not impressed... but Kyle had fun - so whatever - the other problem is that the kids come in - sing their song and leave... they don't even get to see the other classes perform...

Ok - so we stuck around for a few more songs - the next song - Carmen you'll appreciate this from our bar dancing days... was the grade seven class who were doing a dance number... here I'm thinking it would be something fun and festive and merry christmas and fun ... did I mention fun? and so what did my listening ears hear... Cotton Eye - freakin' - Joe - I'm not kidding you - they danced around to cotton eye joe just like we did in university - TRAVESTY! So you can't say merry christmas anymore - WHAT! I call 'stupid' and I call 'shut the hell up!'

So after two none christmas - non traditional anythings I was ready to go - I went with some family friends and they wanted to hear a few more songs... we sat for one more and than I said let's go. We picked up Kyle and that was it - I'm glad my parents didn't stay in town for it - as much as Kyle wanted them there it just wasn't worth them delaying their trip home by three hours for five minutes of a non christmas song... no wonder he can't sing any of the christmas songs... I guess they'll be taking Santa out next... after tonight's non-christmas event I'm actually surprised Kyle's even heard of Santa - and that they wrote Santa letters... it must have nearly killed them to do something that is part of the holiday season!

I'm definitely in need of a good dose of Christmas music, loud singing, smiling faces and fun... I guess I'll have to wait until I'm on holidays and we do it at home.

Christmas-y update - Sleepless in Seattle is on... now if I can watch Christmas Vacation I'll be starting to get in the spirit

Sometimes I wonder why I spend
The lonely nights
Dreaming of a song.
The melody haunts my reverie
And I am once again with you.
When our love was new, and each kiss an inspiration.
But that was long ago, and now my consolation
Is in the stardust of a song.
Beside the garden wall, when stars are bright
You are in my arms
The nightingale tells his fairy tale
Of paradise where roses grew.
Though I dream in vain, in my heart you will remain
My stardust melody
The memory of loves refrain.

oh babe - i miss you so much - it hurts...

man - another great movie...

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Wrapping

Tonight was the beginning of wrapping presents - I actually wrapped everything we have for gifts right now and now have a few more items to get before Christmas arrives.

I also have an item coming from a distance and I don't know if it will make it here on time... but not the end of the world - just be nice to have here for Christmas.

How are others doing in their Christmas shopping? Finished? Haven't started?

Monday, December 15, 2008

the ear

"Hello, (pause) April."

"Yes"

"April, this is Mrs.Teachers name, Kyle is at school. He said he didn't want to get on the bus today and that he needs to go to emergency. He says that he has a rock in his ear."

*gulp, followed by silence

"I'll come and pick him up, I'll be there shortly."

Fast forward to tonight....

As some will recall our curious five year old (now six) put a rock in his ear earlier this year and we had a highly traumatic visit to emergency. We've dealt with that trauma nearly every day since. Kyle is still sensitive to what happened and is very sensitive about his ears. So when I got this call I wanted to cry. When I put the phone down I'd already decided that I'd ask for sedation for Kyle and some for me... if they could share.

Kyle describes the scene and the more he talks about it, the more I think there isn't really anything there... but he insists that he feels something rolling around. So I make an appointment with our great doctor and we get in about 30 minutes after I call. This also gave me the opportunity to discuss Kyle's ongoing cough - more than three weeks old now...

So hooray there was nothing in his ear and his cough is just a cough and he didn't have any suggestions other than to wait and see if it goes away on its own eventually. So after our little adventure I said I needed to do some work and I took him up to the Mayor's office to drop off some stuff... the Mayor gave Kyle a special chocolate and one for Michael and then we got a tour of City Hall - it was great! Kyle had to hang out for a couple of conversations, but nothing too boring - and he didn't seem to mind... I think he was still getting over the fact that there wasn't anything in his ear... he was actually telling himself to calm down on our way to the clinic...

There you go - another adventure in our lives :) Fun never stops.

Sunday, December 14, 2008

booties

Today was my "bitches" (said with love) christmas brunch and it was fabulous as always! We had this amazing breakfasty/lunchish meal and then exchanged some gifts... I got these great slipper boots - and I've been wearing them since I got home...



So they are definitely comfy and warm - I don't have them rolled up to my knees but it looks like you could pull them up if you wanted to - I've just got them scrunched down. They also have a decent amount of foam in the sole and so they provide a nice cushion... so if you are buying slippers for someone this year who might like something beautiful and functional take a look for these... in Quesnel they are available at Carvers and Outlaw.

And now.. I'm back to finishing my christmas cards - I'm nearly done...

Saturday, December 13, 2008

a gift

So Kyle has been looking for a gift for my mom for a few weeks. About three weekends ago he and I went by ourselves to Farmers' Market Christmas (the best little local Christmas market in the North). There is a lot to look at but he came across a magnet bracelet/necklace table and then found some unique animal jewelry containers. They have little jewels all over them and are child size animals... tough to explain. Anyways I didn't think much of it - and I said we'd come and look at it again. I thought he should look around and see if something else didn't spark his interest. So for the past few weeks I've heard about the dolphin jewelry holder that he needed to get her.

Last weekend we went back to the market and the company wasn't there. He left in tears... so I knew we needed to get it - it meant a lot to him to give her something pretty that also was something he loved - animals. So today we went back to the market and they were there - phew - but... no dolphin. I wasn't really sure what would happen but he decided he wanted to look at all the other animals and pick her a different one.

After some time looking and holding each one he decided on a whale. It is very shiny and will be the shiniest, prettiest animal and quite possibly object in my mom's home. It isn't something I would have picked for her but it means the world to him... I think she is going to look at it and go... um, what? but I'll know (and tell her later) how much it meant to him to give her a gift that he really thought about... and it isn't really about the gift - it is about the love he has for her... I don't think anyone could ask for anything more - love is the most valuable thing.

Well I'm going to finish my christmas cards tonight and then I have a girls christmas party tomorrow morning - hooray.

Friday, December 12, 2008

baby, it's cold outside

This morning it snowed (ok - so my blog is turning into the weather network... so what... ) and then late today it cleared and the wind started up and now it is windy and the sky is clear and it can do nothing but get colder... minus 30 for monday... the upside of that shiny coin is that Monday also represents the start of the five day countdown to my holidays - and Tuesday I'm going to Williams Lake - so that is work - but it isn't in the office - so hooray for that :)

Kyle was sick last night - not fun - so I stayed home for some of this afternoon and Andy and my mom were around today to play with the kids and have some fun while Kyle got better. He was good enough to play outside this afternoon so he wasn't super sick - but definitely not great...

I'm baking tonight - cookies - monster ones (monsters have chocolate candies in them) and I've got some great tins I've collected at clearance sales or garage sales that I'll be using to ship off this week. I don't know how far I'll get with baking tonight - but started nonetheless.

I had this great fun story to share tonight and now it is lost... so sorry about that - I only have the odds and ends of my day to share...

On the reading front - I've started reading Just after sunset - the latest Stephen King short stories novel and so far it is pretty tame - which is shocking to me - but it has made for good reading - with my anxiety this fall I actually didn't want to read King because it made my mind go into overdrive - but I finally gave in and started reading this new one.. so we will see.... I'm hoping to read the follow up book to Pillars of the Earth over the holidays - I really enjoyed Pillars - which surprised me because it wasn't something I thought I would like - and since then (phew - um - about 10 years ago... ) I hoped for a follow up story - Follett delivered and I never read it - so that is one thing I'd like to do.... I'd love to hear what others are reading - or suggest for reading...

On the second Christmas miracle front - the paint is drying in the room and we'll have carpet on Monday - hooray! Then slap up the trim and I'll be able to clean up the basement - just in time for my vacation - giving me lots of time to organize - or at the very least - pretend to organize.

The weekend lies ahead - a little bit of shopping tomorrow and likely more baking and fun with the family.

Thursday, December 11, 2008

Are you a reindeer?




I'm Prancer, the sexiest reindeer



You are the perfect reindeer, with perfect hooves and perfect flying form.



Why You're Naughty: Because you eat Santa's cookies while he is putting presents under the tree...



Why You're Nice: You have the softest fur and know how to make mistletoe magic.



Ok - so I did the survey and then adjusted the answer a bit... just in case you get Prancer as your reindeer and you found out that you aren't the sexiest reindeer as well

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

hooray...



Quesnel got one... holy crapper!

Since I've given up coffee drinking (again) I've been a little less interested in going... but did have a yummy decaf peppermint mocha, no whip... mmmm....

Tuesday, December 09, 2008

nog

Ok - so I'm going to try and work on my christmas cards tonight... that's the plan - I have another 50 minutes to finish up as much as I can...

Time to break out a cup of nog and get to it... what are others doing? Are you in the spirit or spirits? Have you found the spirit?
What are you doing to celebrate the holidays?

I was at a great women in business session this morning everyone talked about gifts they found locally or things they were making or doing with family... it was great to listen to and fun to hear some great ideas to celebrate the holidays and family...
8 more work days - yippee... now that is something to celebrate :)

Monday, December 08, 2008

Sunday, December 07, 2008

a quick thought

We wouldn't have believe without evil....

One of those things that comes out of working on christmas cards and scrapbooking :)

Alright - onward and upward and hopefully not backward.

Saturday, December 06, 2008

tree #2





So here is my 2nd tree this year. I've received a few (a lot) of the Christmas scene houses - you know - the village ones - well I love it - I like having this mini village in the house - I've painted a couple myself and my mom and dad have bought Kyle one every year since he was born. So we have a few and this year I simply didn't have room in our main living room for them - so this year I'm setting them up in the downstairs living room and since I had a spear tree that I'm storing for one of the groups I work for I thought - hell - I might as well use it... so it is all a glow in my basement.

I need to go and finish setting up the village.... maybe I'll follow up with some pictures...

oh and it is raining lots... nice winter... ha

Friday, December 05, 2008

oh the rain, rain, rain came down, down, down

Here it is - Friday night - and it is still raining... we braved the weather and watched the downtown christmas parade tonight - and before that I shoveled the driveway - so now I can hardly move my arms - it took more than an hour to shovel the driveway - but we had fun - cause the guys helped direct the snow piling and we also tried to make a snowman...

The parade was ok - the kids liked it - but it was raining and we were pretty cold... I usually watch it from my office, but I thought since Andy was in it this year we should be on the street so they could see dad...

Anyway - I'm now watching Kenny vs Spenny - I know I probably shouldn't admit that I watch it - but I do ... I'm not a dedicated fan - but for some reason I'm drawn to watching their crazy antics.

I hope everyone has an awesome weekend - I'm hoping the weather breaks overnight; giving our highway people an chance to get the road in good condition so I can drive up to South Quesnel and get some stuff I ordered in. Here's to excellent weekends ahead for all! Hmmmm.... maybe I should be enjoying a glass of wine to warm up - see now that sounds like a good idea!

Thursday, December 04, 2008

it is snowing

I just thought I'd share that :)

11:15pm - still snowing

7:59am - still snowing....

10:48am - still snowing...

11:50am - snow appears to have stopped - will report if it is just a cruel trick of nature or actually stopping - or worse yet changing into some other falling water particle

12:46pm - snow has become freezing rain - blah - so no driving for me this afternoon ... oh well - stuff can always wait until tomorrow :)

2:58pm - still raining - roads not looking good from my birds eye window... loads of fun to drive home in - at least we don't have far to go

news

Last night before I went to bed I turned on the news to see if there was anything interesting on - outside of the chaos in Ottawa... so here is what I listened to - the economy is bad, our government is bad, a bear ate someone's pet while the family watched, roberto luongo still isn't back playing hockey, and to cap it all off - as if all of that wasn't bad enough and fear mongering enough they have a group of american's talking about a lethal biological weapon being released on american soil before 2013... pardon me - but what the hell - like everything isn't bad enough in the news... who are these idiots that put together programming and news timing.

Anyways - here I am the next day and I'm still mad about it - hopefully my torch relay meeting today will bring my spirits back :)

Wednesday, December 03, 2008

project update 2

So woo hoo and happy day I've finished three more projects... well four - but one was for me... I can't share because they are christmas items - but I'm very pleased to be finished - I need to make an adjustment to one of the projects, I think... but for tonight I'm going to sleep on it and look at it again tomorrow to see if I really want to make a change.

Tuesday, December 02, 2008

2nd holiday miracle update

No such luck - looks like the basement won't be ready until end of next week - which is still fine - I'd just really like to have my stuff back in order by Christmas - that's all I really want...

Now I just need to pick a paint color for the room... I'm thinking of following - this will be my office/craft/spare room.



This is a screen shot from behr - a paint company. Any thoughts?

Monday, December 01, 2008

the project - the start of a hooker

I've tried and gotten ok at a number of crafts - knitting - not so good - but I can knit and perl, crocheting - well I'm pretty okay at it and have made a lot over the years... needle point - sure - in the 80's me and my friend use to do a lot of it... chocolate making, cross stitching, drawing, glass etching - I've tried a lot - so my latest venture into the world of crafting was hooking... no - they have not turned the activity of standing on the corner and attracting male attention into a craft - this is all about making a rug or pillow. It is time consuming, but pretty simple - if you have patience. And so - I unveil my first completed (that's right COMPLETED) project! HIP HIP HOORAY - something complete!



So now I'm going to attach this to a pillow and off it will go as a christmas present. What's next? Well I definitely have a project in mind... but I'm not terribly interested in starting it just yet - I have some scrapbooking I want to do and might hold off on new projects until my basement is back in order - which might be as soon as this weekend - the 2nd holiday miracle :)

And speaking of the holidays...


Christmas tree 2008

Sunday, November 30, 2008

santa 2008

On Saturday we went to the annual school district Christmas party and for a change - we were actually on time - usually my mom shows up late and we walk in after the gifts are being handed out... which means that we have to wait until the end and them going back over those who were missed. I did some complaining last year and now this year - we were in the top 20 people there - which meant we were one of the top 20 called up.

It was fun and low stress and usually I'm bitchy and whining during and after the event. This time - pretty good - everyone had a good time - everyone had fun - it was the first holiday miracle :)

After the event we went for lunch - or rather the boys did with my parents while I sat there and played cop to them eating and misbehaving... plus I don't eat fast food and so going to A&W and being offered fries and stuff made me a little - RRRRRR - so I just wanted to get home.

Highlight: Kyle noted the following as Santa made his big entrance - "Look, Santa's grandma came with him." (aka Mrs Claus)


The boys with my mom



The boys visiting Santa - that's as close as Michael came to Santa...



Some photography fun for me after Santa - I managed to get within about 10 feet of this fawn - I got a few other shots of the fawn with the mom and a few other deer - it was awesome!

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

project update

Alright so the project I really got going on this week should be finished for tomorrow... amazing...

I sat here and watched (mostly) the newest Indiana Jones and I gotta say that I can't believe that that was the story line - I mean really - that's how it ends - that is the story of Indiana Jones - it was actually not the worst film until the last 15 minutes or so... ok - I know - that's a stretch that those 15 minutes were the only bad parts, but I'm trying to be kind because I love the other three films... I just can't believe it. I guess I'm not super disappointed - I'd heard it wasn't great and didn't think it would even be as good as it was... at least it wasn't like I am legend - when it was like 'ooohhhh it is the best film ever - it is amazing" and then we watch it and it sucked... and my expectations were sooo high and just completely dashed...

ok - back to the project and less computer...

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

stink

There was something smelly in my office yesterday.... thanks, but no it wasn't me :)

I couldn't figure out what it was and I went as far as spraying down the floor and cleaning my chair pad to get rid of the smell. I'm pretty sure the smell gave me my headache yesterday after - something chemically... anyhow - this mornin I sit down and there it is again - and I decide that's it - I'm not sitting here all day and getting another headache... and so began the tearing apart of my office - I believe that I found the source and am now able to think while I work... amazing how that can turn things around...

Alright - so another day kicked off - time for work.

Monday, November 24, 2008

how did it go...

Well my day wasn't as rotten as I thought after my attempt at negativity control :) I ended up with a terrible headache in the afternoon though and I've been feeling a little rotten the rest of the day. I worked out tonight though and don't feel like such a slug now.

I'm working on a project and I'm hoping to share it by the weekend - I took it on my trip to Seattle and started it but then left it - then I got back to it last night and I'm feeling like I'll have it finished for the weekend.

Alright - a photo and then back to the project and - holy crap - I just realized it was after 11... damn! Ok - so I'm going to bed... ARG... ok - project might be tail end of weekend... k - so no photo tonight - I'll load something tomorrow :)

a post before I really get working

It is 12 minutes to the real start of my work day - although I've actually been working for 20 minutes already... and I just wanted to kick off the week on a high note - I'm actually feeling a little bit low this morning, but I know that I need to be thinking positively and then the good stuff should come back to me - will -... the good stuff will come back to me :)

So in an effort to turn the day around here are some quotes to bring smiles and get anyone else who may be feeling this way some help too :)

A day without laughter is a day wasted ~ Charlie Chaplin

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbour. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore.Dream. Discover ~ Mark Twain

To love abundantly is to live abundantly, and to love forever is to live forever ~ Henry Drummond

And a final one to kick off the morning... To the world you might be one person, but to one person you might be the world - and this came from the ever famous unknown... so feel free to tell people that this morning and throughout the day and tell them you came up with it... :)

Smiling and ready for the work day....

Saturday, November 22, 2008

tonight

It is after one in the morning and I'm still working... why? Special client needed a last minute job - so good that I can bill someone for this time - not so great that I'm sleepy and not feeling particularly sparkly - upset stomach or something.

I'm working on my older computer in the basement, where it is cold and where all the crap in the free world is piled because our leaky reno room has still not been completed... so hordes of our crap is sitting on the floor - stacked and then re-stacked - my desk is a disaster and that's putting it kindly... but being on this computer gives me one advantage - I can share a couple of Kyle's photos...


Grandma and Michael having some fun...


A crocodile adventure shot


A pretty bloom...

Thursday, November 20, 2008

2008 festival of trees

Well another year, another night of competition. 400 chocolates, a hundred red balls, 200 extra lights and much more... plus this year I had help which saved me hours of time - the help was awesome - I'd probably still be there if it hadn't been for all the people that came from other teams to help out... plus it was awesome to just focus on something fun and have a great time - 2 1/2 hours just slipped by - and here it is...



I also bought all the supplies for another tree and provided some direction... but our community spirit team really pulled it together... here was our awesome tree topper!


I love Quatchi!




Ok, one more of the tree topper... this is a beautiful reindeer wall mount that I used as a tree topper and it turned into the show stopper... which I was glad about because once I put it up I was thinking that maybe I'd made the wrong choice... all that matters is that someone pays good money for that tree to support the O.R. in Quesnel.

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

photos...

Right - so I didn't download my camera - so no photos tonight - I spent some time taking the challenge on the biggest loser - 1,000 steps - which when I started I was thinking - this can't be that bad - I thought of all the step classes I've been to and you must put in hundreds, if not a thousand during one of those sessions... well I'm not as sure tonight.

I completed 1,000 steps in about 35 minutes and as far as I can remember the fastest time on biggest loser was something about 40 minutes... but I can't find a note on how long it took anyone and I can't watch hulu or any other places online that would let me watch the episode or piece of the episode - in any case I just wondered if I could get through and how quickly and it broke up the treadmill schedule - it definitely winded me and had my heart rate a pumping but really wasn't long enough for a great workout - oh well - at least I put some time in tonight.

ok - off to bed.

Note to self - 1,000 steps sounded and felt great last night - not so great when you have a calf spasm while shopping and continued pulling pain for remainder of day... brain still thinks it was an ok idea... calf is working on telling brain that it wasn't super smart, ass appears to be getting in the way of message...

where did i go?

Alright - so I've been too busy to write anything exciting and unable to make a comment on the recent political events in our region because someone is always watching... :) In any case I'm looking forward to the year ahead and I'll leave my political stuff there...

What else? Well tomorrow is the festival of trees here in town and because I'm insane I decided I'd help with two trees. I've designed both but I'll only be decorating on one team... a team of one likely - but still a team... I'm swamped with other work both the full time variety and the part time but not feeling sunk... yet. I'm excited about the holiday season and am looking forward to having my sister home and my brother home for a few days. I'm hoping we might actually get a nice family picture together.

I've got a few scrapbook pages finished and I'm working on more and slowly but surely catching up.

Alright - I'm off to finish cooking dinner and with any luck I'll be back here later tonight with photos...

What's for dinner... glad you asked - tonight I'm re-heating some leftovers from my board meeting last night and then I've added a chicken, potato and carrot dish. Take two chicken breasts and cut into small pieces - small enough that you can eat two pieces at a time, then cut up two potatoes into small pieces (smaller than chicken) and the same with one or two carrots. Cook chicken in a little oil and water. Add the potatoes and carrots once chicken is cooked. Add soy sauce and some water to create a sauce in the pot. Cook until potatoes and carrots are... well... cooked. Then serve with rice or just eat with leftovers from board meetings :)

Note - do not blog too long as can result in food sticking to bottom of pan..

Friday, November 14, 2008

oh yeah!

It is Friday! woooooo hoooooooooo!

That is all :)

More later.

Saturday, November 08, 2008

conversation

"Mom, I know how babies are made."

Great... great... (brain catches up with words)... what?

"I know how babies are made."

Holding my breath - what has he heard now.

"Well first..."

Lord - please don't provide the details.

"First you pull out your shirt, like this (extends shirt as far as it can go forward) and then you fill it with sand."
Holds like pouch.

"See."

Yes - I see. Phew.

When is it you have that conversation?

My parents decide that that question wasn't worth answering - or at least not the part I wanted to better understand. I asked that question at about age 12 maybe 14 and got this big long story about the work involved in raising kids...

Friday, November 07, 2008

friday night

Love Actually (definitely a favorite movie) is playing... I'm getting ready to make a loaf of banana bread and I'm then going to watch the movie while I scrapbook and enjoy a cooler... ah - now this is a good Friday night...

love actually is all around... damn I love this movie!

I feel it my fingers
I feel it in my toes
Christmas is all around me
And so the feeling grows

It's written in the wind
It's everywhere I go
So if you really love Christmas
Come on and let it snow, come on and let it snow

Solid gold shit :)

10:12... update


Ready to go....


If you want more
You want more, more, more

Jump for my love
Jump in and feel my touch



Update 11:46pm

Now off to deal with coughing kids... looks like it will be a long night :)

Thursday, November 06, 2008

Two years

Today marks two years since Grandma passed away. I just wanted to acknowledge it. The sense of loss isn't as close to the surface today. I've been thinking about her more this last two weeks leading up to today and what she went through and what our family went through. I wonder what she'd say about things going on in my life and what she'd say about the changes in the world. I want to write more to this end, but it is a little bit too sad to write and it brings it very real and very raw to the top of my mind. "Be good April, and if you can't be good, be safe."

snow

It is snowing right now.... outside my window... I have no harsh words or anger towards the weather - it felt late anyway... I should have my winter tires on by now...

I'm home for the rest of the day with Michael - he is sick with some kind of cold - blah... so it means a movie day with work - since there is no escaping the office during the week.

Idea assistance - I'm in a tree decorating competition in two weeks - I competed last year and we did well - but this year I want to knock socks off - I'm planning on stringing holiday chocolates on the tree. My initial plan was to somehow attach ferriro roches together in a long rope and then string the tree but I'm looking for other ways to cover the tree... I want it to be in a way that allows people to easily take a chocolate from the tree... what do you think? The tree will be red and white - the chocolates need to be one color - so there aren't a tonne of different brands I can use - but there is more than the ferriro's.

Ok - back to work and the coughing babe.

Wednesday, November 05, 2008

An open letter

This is an open letter to the stupid children in our neighbourhood (hood) who think that throwing an egg at a house is a fun past time. Please take notice that hence forth it is not ok and if we catch said children we will be making sure we have a meeting with their parents and ensuring that your little hands are helping out with a clean up project.... Don't kids know that they have to wait until college to do stupid shit and then you can only throw pumpkins and eggs at friends houses - not random strangers.

Thank you for your time.

(Yes, this may be how that whole do unto others thing works... but come on... they were are friends... it wasn't some random act...)

Monday, November 03, 2008

just playing around

and now for some photos


Kyle as a cowboy police man (sheriff) - getting ready to depart for trick or treating...



Buzz Light Year Pumpkin, in honour of Michael's costume that was never worn...



Beaver footprints on the Nazko River



Michael in the new dog house at my parents house



Dew on a pine

Sunday, November 02, 2008

northern bc driving

I was raised to watch for wildlife... mostly this was a tool for hunting - but it is an excellent tool for driving because I see things on the road a few seconds (generally) before I might run into them. I've also been taught that if the road allows it and it's dark out, drive in the middle of the road so if something decides to walk out in front of you you've got an extra second... we spent the afternoon with my parents in nazko, had a yummy moose crumb steak dinner, with basmati rice and mashed carrots and with the damned time change it got dark fast - which is actually fine because I hate driving at dusk.

So we get in the car and I'm watching the road because I'm a trained professional... about 40 km from my parents house the following occurs in less than a few seconds: First let me say that I'm driving in the middle of the road
1) I see something move on my right
2) I see a big dark rear end on the road
3) I realize it is a moose and stay the course hoping it doesn't move
4) I see it is standing in my lane
5) I move a touch more left to give it room
6) I get a blinding light return as it swings its head up
7) I realize I'm now looking at a trophy moose and I see more than 10 points (points are antler points - which means that this is damned big moose) on one side of his head...
8) I see that he is not only looking up now because he's heard me, he is now making for the left of the road - right where I'm trying to go
9) I say "HOLY SHIT!"
10) I pull way over left and now fear that his antlers are going to carve out the ass end of my CRV
11) We pull ahead and it is a miss
12) My heart catches up with my brain and sends in the adrenaline

I've decided that had a been a regular driver I wouldn't be home tonight - I'd have a moose for an ornament on my CRV... or rather I'd be lucky to even have my CRV at all - he'd have landed full into my car - because he didn't see my coming and was likely just as shocked as I was - I'm always looking for my headlights reflecting off of eyes on the sides of the roads - the animals don't usually stand like he was - all ass on the road - eating something in the ditch - I mean come on - he's got the whole ditch to stand in and yet decided tonight to stand on the road to eat... he probably didn't care about the car though - he would have one the battle - I'm sure he out weighed my car....

Good times in Northern BC

Saturday, November 01, 2008

evil yoga

So I've got some workout DVD's and I did one a few weeks ago and it nearly killed me. The routine was great and definitely got my heart rate up but it made me hurt so much that I didn't work out for a couple of days... so I've been scared to go back to them... I woke up with a pinch nerve in my shoulder that has been throbbing most of today and I thought tonight I'd tried the yoga dvd... now my nerve is still pinched but not as bad, but the yoga was brutal... I mean - what the hell - downward facing dog, to plank, to warrior, to multiple warriors to triangle to some weird move where I was desperately trying to stay in the warrior leg position while putting one arm over my back (that's right - over my back) while the other arm is going under my leg to grasp the hand that is coming over... needless to say - I'm not really ready for that one... at 45 minutes I gave up and decided I'd try the rest another night...

but I will go back to the DVD's - I just need to remember that I need to take my time...


AND WHAT THE HELL- there's a commercial from Lowe's for Christmas - holy crap! Ok - wait - I shouldn't say anything - 'binder probably has a few decorations out tonight :) and to be honest - I thought about it... in fact Kyle was asking me about christmas this morning... like Halloween wasn't enough for excitement around here...

Friday, October 31, 2008

Happy Halloween

It is just after one am and I'm heading to bed. I just finished our two pumpkins for 2008... I'll post photos tomorrow because I am too tired and need a warm shower and sleep to rest my hands from carving... gotta say though that I love craving - the time flew by and I'm pleased with the completed pumpkins... we'll see what the boys think in the morning.

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

halloweiner

Well tonight was costume building night for us. I managed to pull off a buzz light year jet pack and a sheriff star for Kyle.. who for the third time will be a sheriff or what he calls a police cowboy... I'll have photos this weekend with the boys decked out.

Throat... not better - I sound terrible, but am not really suffering much more than a sore throat... no nauseau or migraine like last night - I was a basket case from my migraine - I just didn't want to do anything - and I've had migraines before - but this was in a new league... a league I never wanted to join... anyhow this is all my fault anyway... I actually hoped I'd get sick - I know - sad - I just wanted a break - and I know - it is a sad state that I would rather be sick than go to work - and what's funny is work is going well - I'm catching up on everything and feel like I'm on my game with things...

Ok - I'm going to watch some tv...

Dinner - tonight I pan fried some pork chops and thought I'd use a Campbell's Gardennay Harvest Mushroom with Real Cream, which sounds fattening but is actually isn't. Anyone - using it as a sauce - well - not as great - even as a soup - I wouldn't highly recommend it. I've had the Butternut Squash Gardennay soup and it isn't too bad. I've used it as a salad dressing because it adds a nice flavor and is way better than using salad dressing that is super fattening. I also had brown rice for the first time tonight... a tablespoon of it... ok - to be honest - I actually had a salad and this is what I made everyone else... salad - those organic boxes of salad - a big handful of salad, 2 tbsp of feta cheese crumbled, 1/2 an avocado diced, a couple of dried cranberries, a couple of pecans, 1/2 cup of corn - tossed together - dinner is served. The cranberries were the only thing I'd probably remove from the salad - it just didn't need the sweet... I've bought a pomegrante and plan to use it on a salad tomorrow night... do you care about my dinner plans.. likely not... but I just felt like writing about dinner... so there you go :)

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

ache

My throat hurts.




Yes, please feel sad for poor whiny me... my voice is getting worse and it didn't help having a board meeting where I had to do most of the talking. I was dying by the end of it. LONG DAY! Phew! It also didn't help that my brain started to throb about 30 minutes before I could leave.

My throat is all that hurts - so I guess that is good - good for being bad...

How is that for a crappy post.... gees I will work on my comedy routine for tomorrow.

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

fat

where does fat go? I've burned off a few pounds this year and a few inches and today as I put on a piece of clothing that is too big I thought... where did that inch go? Did it really leave... is it stuck to someone else now... could the sweaty fat particles that drop off of me hideout somewhere and talk about the day they'll come back... and taunt me with - nice try salad eater... come back to the dark side... eat everything - everywhere...

I realize that this is a bit (a lot) of a mad thought - but it made me think about how odd this whole weight loss/gain situation is... I mean I know when I'm gaining weight - bigger clothes, stretched skin - but when it leaves - well it was something on my body - it was flabby stuff - the white goo you don't eat from meat - so it was something and now it is evaporating... or am I full of heavy air - or is it just shrunk inside and what was once a flabby cell is now a skinny cell who goes around talking about her great nails and wears high heels... hey girls this way to the skinny section... hey you fat cell - 20 more laps - head to toe - get on it ...

alright - it's official, I'm insane... ok - Paula - you're right - it was more likely official when I did the lingerie show in my res. living room... that was alcohol induced insanity though... sadly i only had milk at dinner :)

Friday, October 17, 2008

fear

Just another day... not feeling fabulous and I happened to have a doctors appointment to chat about other things... so I went into the clinic (multi-floor) and look at the stairs and opt for the elevator. I pressed the button to take me to the top and down comes the elevator and get in and felt off - like I'd stepped into the wrong doors... and I had.

I get up to my floor and the lights on the floor panel go dark. Now I didn't immediately panic,... but, ok I did. Not crying or freaking out - just trying to figure what you do in this situation - if the elevator suddenly pitches down do I pull my feet up. So I stood anchored to a corner giving this all a minute because maybe the elevator is just having a bad day. After a minute and some frantic thinking about whether or not the elevator is sliding down I push the emergency button. Ring, ring, ring... we are sorry no one is available to answer your call. Not good... not happy. I hang up and push the button again. Ring, ring, ring, ring.... no answer. I take a step forward and attempt to pry the doors open - that's what they do in the movies - right... I manage to open it a few inches and see that I'm stuck between floors - trapped - and then it happens - the elevator slides. Blood pressure rising, fear beginning to creep in, walls closing... in... on... me.... I think I made some kind of barking help sound... I start pushing the buttons to revive the elevator - please.... open... PLEASE! I pry at the door again and it doesn't move this time - no glimmer of hope - no light and then suddenly there is a light - one of the buttons I've pushed is lit and I push them all and bing - the doors open and I throw myself out like I've won a flamin' marathon and run - literally - run up the stairs to my appointment -

Shocked that I've survived to live another day I wobble into the doctors office where no one is and finally someone asks if I had an appointment. I say I'm sorry I'm late I was trapped in the elevator... oh.... my knees are clanging together from the ordeal - so I get an oh... and that's it - I tell her I've been in there for eight minutes or so - more than enough for a lifetime... so I didn't panic but I'm pleased the elevator didn't slide to the ground floor.

So in an effort to educate the masses and myself - if you are caught in the same situation and elevator begins to slide and then fall dramatically you are supposed to lie flat on the bottom on the elevator to distribute the force more evenly across your body rather than having the full force on your feet/legs. While searching I also watched a video of a poor guy trapped for 41 hours... so now I don't feel as bad... but still not pleased. Still alive though :) hooray for that.

Thursday, October 16, 2008

yummy chinese food

I always get inspired to cook more Chinese food after visiting my mother in law. She doesn't cook as often as she use to but she has some great dishes that we ask for when we visit... Usually I come home all inspired but don't do anything, but this time I'm on it. I made two dishes and rice and lo bo gho (that's phonetic and not the correct spelling). My favorite dish right now is one with pressed tofu and long chinese chives. And since I know you are dying to know how to make the dish I'm going to share.

Buy some pressed tofu - it comes in a package of 4 small squares. Now when I say pressed tofu - I mean it - that soft stuff is terrible for this and WON'T WORK - dessert tofu isn't good in chinese food - flavoured tofus won't work either - PRESSED ONLY! But April, I don't like tofu... ah.... well this is good tofu... it is yummy and it really doesn't taste like some of the icky tofu.. because I agree why eat a meat replacement if you like meat - eat meat - but this is the one time I'll stand up and say hey - eat some tofu - cause this is yummy (I also like agedashi, as we've seen months ago...) One square will be good for one dish and serves 4 people or more at a time. So you take one square out - cut it into four pieces and then further cut each of the four pieces so you are left with a whole pile of little pieces. (see pic below - it gives you an idea about the size the pieces should be) Then get a package of long chives - now in the North - well good luck to you... this isn't something you'll regularly see at the grocery store - but Extra Foods in Quesnel sometimes brings this in... this could also work with spinach leaves... but it is best with the yummy long chives... so if you can get your hands on the chives they are about a foot long or longer and look just like regular chives from the garden but you'll usually find them with a closed chive bloom on the top. I wash them up and then cut them into four or five pieces, so you end up with about 2 cups of the chives.... ok so now you are ready to cook... stir fry the tofu pieces in a little bit of oil - high heat - they will brown up quickly - likely in less than five minutes at five minutes of cooking or when they are starting to brown but not get too crispy - you add a tbsp of soy sauce and then add in the chives. Then let the chives wilt a bit - probably another five minutes. Add a little bit more soy sauce if you find your pan doesn't have much liquid and then serve with rice... yummy! Ok so one more point - these are not regular chives - if you just buy those regular herb chives in the grocery store this won't taste great - it would be FAR better with spinach leaves... spinach leaves will cook in two minutes...

Sunday, October 12, 2008

happy turkey weekend

Well it's Sunday afternoon - I've just finished putting ye'olde bird into the oven with some yummy stuffing and with any luck we'll be enjoying some tasty turkey at about 6:30pm... woohoo! :)

So let's give thanks this weekend - share your thankful items.... here are some of mine...

1) I'm thankful for my family (boys, husband, extended family)
2) I'm thankful for my friends and my friends who are much more like family

Ok - so those are the critical ones that I'm super thankful for - super duper even.

Now for the not so critical thanks

1) I'm thankful for sushi
2) I'm thankful for sunny days
3) I'm thankful for rainy days
4) I'm thankful for a glass of wine and some beautiful music
5) I'm thankful for a hand to hold
6) I'm thankful for macaroons
7) I'm thankful for words of kindness

So let's hear it - what are you thankful for - what are things/people/items that make you give thanks and reflect on your great life... and I know some of you non-happy people are sitting there - mad because someone peed in your cornflakes - but you are alive and breathing - and there is much in that to give thanks for... and no I'm not talking about some higher lord, god, smurf that some may believe in - I'm talking about believing in yourself and saying - ROAR - I'm amazing and I should be thankful for my life - even if some not so fabulous, happy, positive things have come your way... see I didn't say share your - things I hate about my life list.... and if you aren't thankful for making lists... well you can always go and read someone elses blog :) see thankful for my mouse button that will enable me to click away from here ;)

Sunday, October 05, 2008

talk, talk, talk

For more than a year I've been telling myself that I wanted to try and make homemade borscht. I've had good borscht at Granville's - the best coffee house in the North - but there's is creamy, has dill ~ which I don't always take kindly to and has a tomatoe-y base. So I tried a recipe my mom had last night and voila I have borscht.

I'm sure that you are keenly interested in just how did I perform this wonder... well...

I used 3 giants beets



1 large carrot and 1 onion. All grated - then placed in a pot with water - enough water to just cover all the ingredients. Then I let is boil for 20 minutes. (Note the beets were pre-cooked because they are monsters - it took an hour to cook the beets.)

Ok - so then I added 4 cups of beef stock, 1/3 cup margerine (but totally not necessary now that I've been there, done that) and 2 cups of grated cabbage. Back on the stove for more cooking. At this point it needs to cook for 20 minutes more - but then it can just sit and simmer until you feel like eating it. I let mine cool for a while and then put it away for lunch for today. I'm going to freeze half of the batch too... so yes - this is a large recipe because my intent was to make enough that I could enjoy a little in a few weeks when I don't have access to my parents beets :)

Now off to make muffins...

Friday, October 03, 2008

the weekend

11:20pm - hooray for the weekend

Michael is on the mend - his tummy is still trying to figure out how to adjust to eating again - so we will see how he does over the weekend. He went back to daycare today and they didn't notice any problems... of course - would they?

Did anyone watch the debates last night? I watched the Canadian one for a few minutes and had a great laugh when Layton started slamming Harper. The muddy side of politics isn't great - but man- when they know how to stick it to them and make them wear it around for a few days it is pretty funny. Just a bunch of big kids - of course - as I read in our local paper a few months ago - what are we teaching youth when we bully at the top of our countries government. Is bullying ok when you do it on tv?

I thought Dion did well - I thought he was clear and easier to relate to than I've seen him before. He didn't seem stiff and that is the image I had in my head. So I guess we'll see how this race goes. Our area has a just about 20 year old Liberal candidate, a female NDP candidate, our incumbent conservative candidate and a green party person who is in Vancouver and has no intention of coming into our riding - which is total SHIT - what the hell is wrong with their party that they'd do something like that. Not that I would have voted for the green party but what the hell... here is your candidate and she's too good to come to your area - well that's a great reason to vote green - we should all vote for her and make her move to this terrible part of the world... asses!

Wednesday, October 01, 2008

still home

So Michael is still under the weather - better today than yesterday - he was actually playing around a bit today and took in a trip to Wal-Mart first thing this morning. With any luck he'll be back at school/daycare tomorrow :) He's having a quick nap right now which has given me time to do some baking. Today I'm trying out a (carmen stop reading) banana split brownie, which is basically a banana brownie (which means it is lower in fat/sugars than regular brownies) and a strawberry cream cheese frosting.... but really that is the frosting - those two ingredients plus some icing sugar.

I'm going to pick Kyle up in an hour and half and with any luck we will also do some cooking... hooray for being at home. Man do I miss being around the house during the week. Plus food network has all these great day time shows on cooking. Plus I got to watch Oprah yesterday - which I actually couldn't watch - it was on breast cancer and that nerve is a little to close to my tear duct right now. ...point of clarification - I'm not sad about my boobs - they are a-ok - sad about a good friends recent loss

Tuesday, September 30, 2008

home afternoon

Well it's definitely the start of the school year - I got that great phone call from daycare today. "Michael is sick."
I show up and he is sitting, crying; on a couch, alone. There is one girl who doesn't like me because I came and had a fit one morning about the guys being soaked to the bone because they were allowed to play in a puddle, in the rain. She thought I was speaking about her behavior - I wasn't - I was speaking about the owners. In any case she continues her role as a non-talker and the other employee comes over and says "he doesn't usually sit with me or talk to me but today he did so I knew something was up... (not a good start - I need to be a stay at home/work from home mom...)" She goes on to say his temp was 100.3 and then says - I mean 103... great - there is a difference in shifting the decimal point... so we go home and he looks terrible. We do the song and dance about taking medicine - he cries - its even worse on me but he finally takes most of it. Fast forward three hours and he is hungry and sitting here watching a movie. So I don't know what the heck is wrong with him. He has a slight runny nose and is complaining - a little - about a tummy ache... the joys of parenting.

On the parenting front, because Michael came home at lunch I decided we'd go and get Kyle after school. I arrive and another parent is waiting and we chat a little bit and then I ask - hey have you heard anything from the teacher. Well then I got an ear full about the same stuff I'm concerned about. Do parents not get involved with their students work anymore? I'm shocked that a month into the school year we've received nothing formal from the teacher - no introduction - no welcome - NOTHING! Very - super - extremely frustrating... or is this normal? Am I to expect this low level of communication home? (Jen - what say you?)

Friday, September 26, 2008

the toll

Alright friends - what do you think about the province of BC removing the toll on the coconut highway today?

Here is a few cents worth...

1) The coconut highway tolls puts $57M in the provincial coffers every year. Where will that shortfall come from now? We still need to maintain the highway - the only savings, as far as I can tell is that a group of people lost their jobs today. Not great. Where do we pick up $57M? I know we have a surplus... oh wait - if we have debt do we really have a surplus? I'm sure there is money in education or health care that could be trimmed off.

2) We've been paying the toll for 22 years and raised $853M, the apparent price of the project was $857 and apparently we've paid off the "debt" on the highway so the toll can be removed - debt paid. This is actually a great idea - removing a tax when the reason for the tax is gone... that was what was supposed to happen to income tax, but here we are - still paying - and I don't think good old Steve Harper is going to pull a "let's get rid of income tax" card out of his hat.

3) All my Vancouverite friends and people who don't live in the Okanagan.... are you know going to get in your car this weekend and drive up to the Okanagan because you'll save $20 on tolls... minus the carbon tax, of course.... right.... I'm sure it will cause an amazing boom.... look out!

On the boob tube - The World After Humans - I don't know if any of you are watching this tonight. I'm more half assed listening and as far as I can tell the point is that if we want the earth to get better we should all go and hang ourselves.

in the news

SOUTH CHARLESTON, W.Va. - A West Virginia man who police said passed gas and fanned it toward a patrolman has been charged with battery on a police officer. From the associated press Wednesday Sept 24 08.

I know a few people that should definitely be charged... not naming names... I'm sure a few of my friends will remember someone who was banned from a washroom in university :)

What's even funnier is that it was like fart central at our house tonight. Michael actually declared it "fart time"... a kin to circle time I guess.

ER

Ok so last night was the season opener for ER and it was super sad. I mean they told us all summer that someone was going to die in the season opener but gees... I don't know if any of you watch it - I guess ER isn't as popular as I think it is. It was good in the 90's and I'd still watch it if they carried on with it. It's almost like a soap opera - you don't seem them canning any of those and they are terrible. ER kicks ass over all the daytime stuff... but I guess ER isn't competing with the day... what are they competing with? I don't know what is even on the other channels during that time slot - or do people actually turn off their tvs? - HA - right!

Ok - I won't wreck it for those who didn't see it but I cried hard enough that when Paula called me to say (our ER ritual) - damn - how could they do that and we could both cry on the phone together - that I didn't answer the phone because I was crying so much and just couldn't talk. I know - I'm stupid - it's television... I know, I know... but I cry to good books too...

Thursday, September 25, 2008

politics

Today I was listening to my favorite CBC show - Almanac and people were giving it to Minister Penner. 2 things came out of the discussion that I thought were interesting enough that I'd share them here.

1) Penner noted that NDP has flip flopped on the carbon tax/carbon planning idea. He noted the NDP plan for carbon credits/carbon exchange currently being toted around and then noted that the NDP had voted out/against the idea of that in principal months ago. He then said "I wouldn't drive with Ms. James, pause (paused long enough that I thought what the hell is he talking about that has nothing to do the carbon tax), she's all over the road." To which I started laughing pretty hard. I mean politicians don't usually talk like that - it was actually kind of refreshing.

2) A caller calls in and says he doesn't believe in global warming, but does believe in global cooling. Penner wasn't really listening, I don't think, because he went on Al Gore bender on all these scientists agreeing that humans have caused climate change. I don't think anyone was arguing against climate change - just that the planet is cooling and not warming and that a cooling trend has a direct impact on the people that are trying to heat their homes with natural gas and other fuels that are now being charged an additional 2%.

So where is the carbon tax money going? It's "tax neutral" - meaning our income tax is supposed to decrease to recover what we are now paying in additional taxes for carbon. But does it really add up?

Our family is paying at least $1,800 a year in gas for our cars and another $1,800 in natural gas. So that's $3,600 annually (pre-2% carbon tax). So that's $72 more a year that I'll pay for the governments carbon tax. Does it balance out? Well we got a $100 cheque in July for each of us, that's $400, and we'll see what I'll save on my taxes. So as far as I can tell for this year we are ahead. Now the tax escalates up over the next few years so we will see what it looks like in four years and we will see if it is even there in four years - who knows who will be making the rules by then.

What I also hate about the election season right now is that politicians seem unable to answer questions without first talking about their competition in a negative light. Doing the negative talk says to me that they aren't confident. A confident leader wouldn't need to talk about the other party and their plans and their mistakes. Tell me you are going to make my city, my province, my country a great place to live - economically, socially, and all the other 'lly's - and do it. Politicians need to remember that every day they are in office they are doing the work of the people - every day - not the first year in office and every day after that is campaigning to stay another term. Forget the second term - third term, fourth term.... treat every day like you are really trying to make a difference for us... the tax payers - aka your wage payers.

Where do you stand on the carbon tax? Have I misunderstood the carbon tax?

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

damned costco

On the weekend we went to Costco - likely one of our last visits since I'm not renewing our membership - and did the "aisle" thing and picked up a few items - nothing special and nothing that I couldn't have gotten somewhere else. There was also a nice display of strawberries and since they were less than $4.00 for a big container of them I thought sure - let's get some.

First problem - they stank up our car, leading me to believe that they are spraying the boxes or berries themselves with something that is supposed to smell like strawberries but actually smells quite vile. Seriously it smelled like a strawberry fart - I'll let you think about that - but really - it was that bad.

Second problem - this morning I took them to the sink to be washed - they looked all pretty, sitting in their container - all placed so delicately in the box - so uniformly - and then it happens - I pick one up and my thumb goes right through it - ok - so one strawberry - that's ok - pick up another - same thing - same thing - same thing - same thing.... ARG! So the outside looks great - in fact if I was super gentle I could have probably put them all back in the box and they'd still look fantastic - but the meat of the berry was destroyed - so what are they spraying them with to make the outside look good and the inside rot...

Can I take them back and complain? Not unless I want to spend another $50 in fuel to drive to PG. Arg - again!

Monday, September 22, 2008

Rose


Kissed by the morning fog; a beautiful rose in Lebourdais Park

Sunday, September 21, 2008

Happy First Day of Fall

That's right - it's already here - which means the days are getting shorter and we are marching closer to another winter. Well hooray for that. Thanks for stopping by :)

Friday, September 19, 2008

what happened this week

Well I actually got some scrapbook pages completed. I'm up to 5 pages for the week - which is incredible.

What else? Well on Thursday I got to go on a mine tour. It was pretty amazing! A few photos are below. The only downside was the final building tour - the smells in the building made me feel like I'd been punched in the lung - it was terrible - I actually was struggling to breathe and then it started to get better or my body made the adjustment, but every once in a while I got all choked up - so not great - but I'm pretty sensitive. The rest of the tour was pretty cool though.


Here is my tour group in front of a giant truck - the trucks cost $4,000,000 each - tire replacement runs for $50K each... see you can learn something new every day



Here is one of their active pits - to put it into perspective - each step on the face of the mine is 45 ft tall... it was crazy!