on the road again

Well we hit the coast for some family time with Andy's family from Taiwan and now I'm at a conference in Chilliwack.  I know - it isn't Halifax or Columbus or Quebec City... what the heck!  I'm here for a business improvement area conference and then we head home on Sunday.  The boys are going to Victoria tomorrow - they don't know it though - it is a surprise trip on the ferry... sooo wish I was going and just taking the week off... oh well - we will have a longer vacation soon enough... a quick trip to Vancouver will have to be enough to get us through to the summer.

made it

So we are in Vancouver - I'm attending a conference and the guys are hanging with family.
I'm in no mood to write anything tonight - just wanted to convey that we had arrived.

Migraine - only it feels worse - I've had all the drugs I can take without going to the hospital.
blah

Hopefully sleep will take away the pain.

what are we doing?

First, look here -   http://lightbox.time.com/2011/04/20/terribly-beautiful-industrial-pollution-seen-from-above/?iid=lb-late1#6&hpt=C2

If you are busy or don't feel like looking the link leads you to aerial photography of polluted sites - noted "terribly beautiful".  What will it take for our societies to stop and look at what we are doing to the earth?  I am not a bleeding heart - I get that our cultures (industrial world) need industries to survive now - you stop production on something and people stop working, people stop buying, enter sad music - but when I look at these photos I can't help but wonder why we aren't trying to control ourselves - even a bit.

What can be done? How can we make positive steps forward to create change?  Is no one watching Japan right now - while nature wiped out communities - the mess left by a tsunami can be cleaned up - but the mess we create as humanity in the form of nuclear waste lasts many lifetimes.  Sure, we create these things to be more efficient, we don't create anything expecting this kind of dramatic failure, but we know what happened in Chernobyl - we know what happens when nuclear power goes wrong - and yet... here we are... I guess we can't have the scientific amazement and change without failure - it just makes me sad that one day we might not have water because we used it all up in the name of progress and the ability to live our lives quicker and "better" - *sigh*

33 days

On May long weekend I'll be back out running.  I've been training for a short run as part of the Barkerville Rush Relay.  We have a team of 11 people who will be busting out 100 km's together - each of us gets a leg with the longest leg at 12.5km and shortest at 8km - then there is a team dinner in Wells.

The team is excited and getting ready for the race.  My training has been tough lately because I've been sick and just not into it. Tonight I ran 2 miles and had a stitch so bad in my side that I just gave up - well I actually tried to walk it off and then ran and then couldn't get rid of it and bailed... we head to the coast this weekend and I'm hoping that I'll be able to clock some quality km's for a few days.

I'm starting to think about other races later this year - set another goal or reason to stay in running.  I was so disappointed that I stopped over the winter - I love the activity and how it clears stress - but I totally need a goal.  I heard about a race in Vegas in december - 1/2 marathon... not sure about Vegas but I'm thinking of something between 10 and a 1/2 marathon - I've taken the 12.5 for this upcoming race and feel pretty good about that... hopefully I can continue to feel better this week.

Hope everyone is doing well - hugs to you!

xxoo

ahhhh halifax - you are also pretty great

wedding

Congratulations to Paula & Dean! Today marks their one year anniversary!

And to celebrate... a few photos from the beautiful wedding.

Ahhhhh, love! Fantastic!  The most beautiful and fabulous wedding ever!

seriously

the debate - BLAH

I like politics and I can't even get into this one.  I mean really - four old looking guys fighting about the same old shit.  What I like - I like that all the parties are thinking about agriculture and the important role it plays in our society and our cultures.  Tonight the leaders looked down, old and they are all missing passion - make us believe - I want to believe in Canada - I want to be excited about our future and our direction and right now... 'meh' is the only thing that comes to mind.

one year ago today

Me and beautiful Paula

Gotta say that I miss being in Hawaii so much it hurts. It is the best place and I can't wait to go back and share that with my family and, with any luck, return with Paula, Dean and their new little bundle of joy...

4:41am

Yesterday (amere four hours ago) was a terrible food day for me.  I missed meals because of meetings and then ate a pasta salad at 9:30 at night... what I failed to do was really know what I was eating.  Stupid jalapeno dressing - I mean I got that it was spicy but sheesh... so I'm waiting on my tums to kick in so I can go back to bed for a couple hours.

I know - whining and complaining - but writing here seemed to be a better option than watching tv... and now the heat is kicking on because it is minus 4 outside... mother nature has forgotten to press the spring button to on - it appears to be in a half on/half off position.  I heard that Fort McMurray was getting minus 18 as their daytime high for today - madness!

And since I'm on here and it is now April 12 - Happy Birthday to Andrew and Jen!

And now back to bed.

the guard

Three weeks with a guard, three whole weeks - it made quite the impact on me - my jaw stopped cracking/popping/grinding - while I couldn't eat anything tough or crunchy, or well there were lots of things that just weren't working - I had considerably less pain and then...

"So April, we are just going to take the guard away today and give it back to you with alterations on Wednesday."

PARDON!!!!!

And so I've been guard less today - well since 1:30pm and I can't believe how useful it was.  My jaw has already started popping again and I've had headache after headache since I took it out.  It is disturbing that I need this crutch that causes me other problems... I guess the discomfort and loss of foods is worth it compared to this battle of pain and hurt.  So I get the guard back with alterations - which means they are making it easier (maybe) to eat... and then I don't know what follows - they've mentioned braces but it seems that the next guard is going to last for a while.  Never thought I'd say it but I can't wait to have my guard back.  I'm kind of scared to go to sleep tonight because I know that I've been grinding and clenching my jaw... sigh.... here's to tonight...

good night my lovelies!

xxoo

Hop

The good old Carib Theatre was running Hop at the matinee today and so I sucked it up and took the guys.  Over the years I've given up on seeing movies in the theatre - why - well I usually get nausea from the movie, or I feel like I've really, really wasted money and I'd rather sit at home and waste money than sit in a theatre.

Hop is a kids movie and is probably the best ones I've had to sit through in recent memory.  We sat through Alpha and Omega and I would have to say that was a new low.  The animation was fine, but the story, characters, - issues everywhere.. but Hop had an ok story line - something a little different and throw backs - like 'the Hoff' (Hasslehoff) participating in the film - a kin to the use of him in Spongebob Squarepants - but for a longer period of time.  As an adult there are significant issues with the film, but the guys enjoyed and Michael was asking if we could watch it again tonight - so it is a hit.

And that is about it - I'm still sick - I get the coughs at bedtime and when I get up - today wasn't great either, just not feeling great.  Oh well - still have to train - have a race in 6 weeks - ran a 10km yesterday and should be doing a short run tonight, but I'm bailing and opting for a lame night in front of the tv.

xxoo

mr.kindergarten

Michael went to Ready, Set, Learn tonight, which is basically a starter program to kindergarten.  He is past this as he has been going to daycare for years and has been to strong start a few times.  That said, it was nice to be in the room where he will go to kindergarten and meet his teacher (even though she didn't bother to introduce herself and didn't wear a name tag - I know.. I'm complaining already).

Tonight's session (which was happening during dinner time - which is just PLAIN STUPID) was about... of course, food... we've had a long day, we haven't gotten dinner because I work until 5pm and the thing started at 5pm... anyways... we sing some songs and then she asks about food.. what is a food that is good for you - Michael says - shockingly he says salad - a food he has yet to really eat because there are vegetables in it... then she asks what is a food that is not yummy... well it is the usually foods that kids don't like... but not Michael - Michael has to be wayyyyy outside the box.  "Michael, what is food that is not yummy?"  Chocolate soap.

Now that might sound like a shocking answer - where would he come up with something like that... well it just so happens that one of my co-workers gave us chocolate soap for valentines day and one of my other co-workers fed her husband one and it became legend for the guys (they watched her do it) - we even went to her house and she had them in a bowl and offered them to the boys and they absolutely would not take any - knowing that she was a trickster... so that whole situation really had an impact on him...  :)

Anyways - I don't think we'll be back at it - during dinner time is just a bad idea and then he is pretty adjusted to life with other kids and learning and fun...

Growing up... *sigh* - how can he be going to kindergarten in just a few short months...

celebration

1000

This represents my thousandth post on blogger.

I thought you might be interested in knowing... 

I've managed to get a good case of what the boys had.  I haven't actually had a cold that makes me cough in ages.  It is a nuisance.  I ran out of cold fx and am trying out airborne tabs - they had an immediate effect this morning (they really don't taste good) and plan to have another tonight.  Hopefully it will pass quicker than what the boys suffered with.

It is Sunday - which means if you are postsecret.com reader it is time to go over there and read.  There are a few good ones this week and of course, some crazy ones.

It is also Daffodil month.  Love to hear your thoughts on this. I know there is some anger that they stole the poppy idea and it might impact poppy sales.  I back the daffodil campaign because the daffodil's are cute and brighten up my day, and now that they are tied to the cancer fundraising campaign I get to wear them in my favorite month :)  If you don't know what I'm talking about or don't know where to get one - go here for information on the cause and then for the daffodils - well we are hosting them in my office, so if you want one I'm sure I can send you one... I'll make a small donation for you and mail you one.

i heart craig ferguson

that's all
nothing great to share tonight - tired - long day
working tomorrow

and so - life goes on....

xxoo

rain

The spring rains are starting... I hear they may be spring snow tomorrow - blah! Darn weather.  We still have snow on the lawn, but only inches now and there are lots of green patches.

Why am I blogging at 8am? Well I'm home with sick kids - Kyle isn't that sick, but his cough sounds so awful that I don't want his teacher to have to listen to his cough all day and Michael has the same cold, but isn't coughing as loud - he is more miserable than anything.. fine as long as their are cartoons on and things to do...

So now I'm setting up to work from home - a bit - and just hang out with the sickies for the day.
Hope everyone else is well.

blustery

It is windy in good ole Q-town tonight - so things are rumbling around outside, it is loud and then what I thought was the wind turned out to be something good... you see - my terrible neighbors are moving out.  They were throwing their stuff outside and loading.  I'm sooo glad to see them go!

Not really sure who's bright idea it is to move in the wind, at 9pm - but I don't really care.  Tonight they've been parking in front of our house and about 30 minutes ago the boyfriend/whatever is sitting in his truck, but it is dark and I can't see him - just notice the car - so then I walk into the kitchen and he has a flash light and he starts flashing it at our house - ROAR!!!! Good riddance!  Be gone you stupid M-F'er!!!!!!! Wasn't like it was the one time - it was over and over for five minutes!!!! RRROOOAARRRR!

Anyways - I'm assuming that since Friday is the start of a new month (30 days of April... hooray) they'll be packing and moving for the next two days and then we wait for the next nonsense to move in... of course - this time will be different... there is no way that I'm putting up with the nonsense that has happened with this family - no way!!!

hair cut

Tonight Max destroyed things twice.  First time, he jumped and grabbed a bag of bread, tore into it and dragged out some bread to half eat on our couch - awesome.  (When I say -jumped up- he jumped up to the height of our dinner table - counter height - and drug the bread bag off the counter top and onto the floor) Then tonight we went to go and get Andy dinner and were gone a total of 20 minutes and come home to chocolate wrappers all over the house.  He had grabbed one of my work bags and dug into the chocolate bag - this, again, was put away, up high - and so he is covered in chocolate gunk and so... he got a hair cut - a big hair cut - tonight I figured out that I can give him a shorter cut and he can still have a cute-ish face - so that may be the end of the longer body hair look for Max the House Wrecker!

Kyle is sick with a cold.
Michael continues to like being called Jet.

really... really

And this from the Oxford English dictionary... 


The March update also adds new words from across the dictionary. These include initialisms such as OMG and LOL, and the acronym Wag; plus markers of modern life, from muffin top, n. to non-dom n.


Initialisms are now words... WHAT!!!????????


I call bullshit!  This is just lazy language and the end of english how can an organization like Oxford English Dictionary agree that OMG and LOL are words... surprised that WTF didn't make the grade.


ps... CARMEN - @trevor_linden - he is on twitter... in case you aren't already following him... 

thursday night

Tonight I got to have two great phone calls... I got to talk with Paula and catch up on her pregnancy... hooray!  And with my sister and Nicholas on skype so I got to see him laughing and giggling.. hooray - again!

I love that there are so many babies in or nearly in the family right now.  It is also great to experience life as an aunti - totally love it!

Other things I love - Big Trouble in Little China - and on that note I'm going to go and get my fill since they are running it on AMC tonight and then hook myself with my other dear friend, Advilene :)  

day 2

Alright - so tonight I'm still coping with the mouth piece... I sound like I've got a candy wedged in my mouth when I talk so I get strange looks - like I'm rude for eating while talking - awkward...  chewing is difficult and impossible to do without the guard in - which means I'm trying to chew with the guard in place and it is awful... it is soft food or liquid and the soft food is difficult *sigh*

Hoarding: Buried alive = cleaning time - it is always an inspiration!

baking

It's Tuesday night and thought I should do something special and bake some treats... I picked up BC Hydro's fun recipe cards - each recipe is submitted by a BC celebrity - there is even a Ryan Kesler recipe for Chicken Pot Pie ... this recipe cards highlight powersmart facts and what appears to be a good recipe... that's right - appears.  So what happened...

 This lovely recipe for some yummy chocolate, super banana-y, muffins and the recipe - as you can see - clearly says 7-9 extra large muffins - and now that I've made the recipe and it is smelling up the whole house - well apparently extra large meant more like mini muffin loafs - the recipe is giant!  So while I thought I was getting into an hour of baking... it appears that I'll be up for hours...

Other complaints.. while I'm complaining - the recipe calls for peanut butter - one tablespoon - but what it should say is one tablespoon per muffin and it suggests to simply put the peanut butter on the top of the muffin... except that the muffin is going to rise and when the peanut butter melts it is going to run all over hells have acre and make a mess - so this dawned on me but I also had some kind of hope that maybe the recipe was right and that it wouldn't make a mess - so I did one dozen (yes - a dozen) with peanut butter and one without - and of course... of course it is making a freakin' mess - darn it!  So I'm going to make the remaining dozens - that's right - I'll easily get 4 dozen muffins - I'm going to forgo the peanut butter.

sigh - did manage to use up all my browning bananas - so there is the silver lining..

update: 12:29am, can't believe I'm still up - soooo wanted to be sleeping by now... the peanut butter was a disaster - do not follow that part of the recipe - it basically burned to the top of the muffin and while it may end up tasting ok, it just didn't work... stupid, stupid, stupid!

12:31am - sneezing with new guard is awful - a new, different kind of pain

12:32am - sleep walker is lurking - i can hear him getting ready to make an appearance and probably tell me something like the jellyroll called me and said it was half past lunchfast

12:33am - watching cnn and listening to them talk about libya and the potential that the real reason is about oil - that there is some concern for people, but it is more about oil... makes me wonder about alberta...  dear muffins, cook faster so I don't have to think about oil prices, peak oil, usa interests and on and on and on

a new guard

And so today I went back to get my new guard for my terrible jaw.  It is not pretty and it is totally different than the last one they gave me.  It has metal pieces and it pinches and my 's' and 'c' sounds are shot.  So it is a few weeks at this stage and then onto the next stage ... whatever that is... sigh... it is definitely the end of hard food for a while trying to eat is painful - at best - let alone trying to eat something that needs a lot of chewing.  Having a guard is also causing my lips to dry out and they ache.

It is spring break here and so the guys get to be together at daycare and today they got a day at home which is nice - I know they love the chance to play together and have fun.  Kyle has also been teaching Michael how to play Star Wars on the PS3 and they are pretty into that.  Michael has asked to change his name to Jet, Kyle whined about him changing his name and so I asked what he wanted his changed to and he agreed that his name was fine - ha.  And now we are going to run out for some baking supplies and then we are going to play RISK... or something like it - Kyle is also really into chess (chest) right now - so I'm trying to learn that game all over again.  I was never good at Chess and I just have flashes of losing as a kid every time we set up to play.  Oh well - and now back to playing.

unisheep

A long time ago, when the earth was green  

There was more kinds of animals than you've ever seen

They'd run around free while we were all asleep

And the happiest of them all was the unisheep

guinness

Seriously - why does there need to be photos of the man with the most toes, or the most deformed toes or any of that shit - tonight Kyle brought home his library books and he has to go to the most disgusting section to share.  Now I'm not that old that I don't remember pulling the same shit and being really interested in the crazy crap in the book... but man... that is crazy.. the whole book is insane.

I'm sick with a cold.

That is all.

oh and by the way...

sunday

1. 45 minute snowball fight - check
2. Laundry 
3. Lunch - gooey grill cheese and soup that no one liked
4. Grocery shopping with visit from Kyle's friend who gave him trouble for not pulling his tooth out (he has a front top tooth that is hanging by a thread - literally - it nearly came out last night, but then stopped... his other tooth is nearly out behind the baby one)
5. Grabbed a treat for being sooo good
6. Watched a cartoon and now....

Off to clean a bedroom, do some more laundry and then go to Andy's last game of the season...

we will also continue to miss my sister and her beautiful baby... my evenings are not the same without baby snuggling... :(

Jen - heat helped me with ear/jaw pain - one of those bean packs you put in the microwave can be very helpful as it provides heat for a while - that plus advil... hope you get better soon

photos

Three cute boys

Michael (5), Nicholas (.4) and Kyle (8)

Smooches

the case of the slack ass blogger

I know... what's the deal - where I have a been?
Well between swamped and life.  I'll skip the boring details.  The fantastic stuff is as follows: my sister drove all the way from Calgary to Quesnel to visit and so we get to have her stay with us and hang out and chat and all that great stuff - she also brought my nephew with her - very cute, Nicholas.  He is 3 1/2 months old (that's right and she still drove here on her own) and starting to giggle and is just starting to figure out that his hands are part of his body and that he can hold and pick up things with them... it is fun to watch and great to have a wee-little person around the house.  He is very easy going and happy.

So she has been here since Thursday night and it has been great to have her here.  We are spoiled to have her and Nicholas.

Photos will definitely follow...

Love to all of you! xxoo

can you say - productive

First we had a buffet breakfast at home, which simply means a little bit of everything was available - it was fantastic!  Yummy and fun... then we knew the sunny weather was going to be short lived and wanted to get outside so we went sledding downtown at Lebourdais Park.  We got to sled for an hour alone - hill to ourselves - great.  The guys had a great time.  We all took turns, or went together - awesome!

This afternoon Andy and I installed two new lights in our bedroom.  It took longer than I thought and now that they are up I'm thinking we might switch them.  Now that we got them up the first time it won't be as big a deal the second time.  And now since we took down the old lights we can move them to another part of the house - or possibly get one new one and switch out one old one.

Then it was onto dinner which was lasagna for the cheese eaters and a new recipe that I made up.  You see I really wanted turkey dinner tonight so I made it as a casserole.  Bottom layer stuffing, next layer cream corn, next layer ground turkey mixed with one package of turkey gravy, topped with mashed potatoes - baked in the oven for a little while and then enjoyed with cranberry sauce. Different anyways...  good different... definitely something I'd make again.

There is one more task to get through today, but it is getting late and I don't think we are going to take it on... need to assemble a closet... anyways - a fantastic sunday... sadly tomorrow isn't another day off... but it sounds like I might have some time off coming my way soon as we may just be lucky enough to have a few visitors at our house :)

Tomorrow is celebrate Canada's Gold Medal win at the Olympics day - so remember to wear your jersey!

rrrrrridiculous

So it is roll up the rim time again and we are keeping stats in the office on it.
As a group we are up one stupid lame donut and down six coffees/teas/hot chocolates...

How are you doing?  Any winners out there?

Also - did you know that they have an online game that you can play daily for prizes?  Visit www.rolluptherimtowin.com

freakin' people

I have my hate on tonight for vindictive, manipulative people! ROAR!!!!!!
Seriously - what is wrong with some people...

FOCUS

FOCUS!!!!!!

hello city

Just feeling squirrelly tonight 

tonight

So I'm lame and watching the Grammy's.
Lady Gaga was ok - glad she wasn't wearing meat again.. yuk

Themes tonight - giant, honking, enormous heels - it is one thing to stand in the same spot in the giant heels and sing a song - it is something totally different to prance around the stage and climb stairs and on and on...

Missing the fun collaborations they've had in the past... Lady Gaga and Elton John last year was pretty cool - it is still early though.. maybe there will be more to the show... 

max

Max and I went and played some catch on the weekend... I know - in this photo - he looks cute and fun... two great qualities in a dog... BUT - there happens to be very little for him to destroy right now and yet.. he decided to eat my Mac cord today, eat my ear buds, pull a bag of paper towel off a chair and destroy it, find a roll of paper towel and rip it to shreds - good times... 

how much snow...

Well we didn't actually get much more - that said at about 12:30 my neighbour (the good one) got towed out of his drive way - so sleep was elusive last night.  I got up early this morning and now my neighbour is cleaning his driveway - he started about 20 minutes ago and already brought out his snow blower - buddy - it is still too early for that sound - even if I've been up for an hour...


vent - the stupid commercial on cnn with the women saying that there should be a camera on every street in america if that means one life is saved .... right - or it might be because then cnn would have all kinds of free coverage of the stupid things people are doing all over the usa... maybe...  maybe obama should get behind this - jobs for putting up the cameras, jobs at cnn to sit and watch the cameras and to report crazy things, bad things... cnn could even branch out into home protection at that point - so they could protect the streets and report :)

hmmm

it is midnight - and it is starting to snow again.. so much for thinking that the 8 inches was all we were getting - on top of that max is being crazy and wants to bark in my face at night - two nights ago he put his face on the end of the bed and just starred at me and then barked until i moved... arg!

good morning Paula

More moose!

a year ago

One year ago today I was in Lillooet as their official Olympic photographer.  I thought I'd share the photo book that I put together for them here.. it was so much fun - the community was amazing and the day was full of great activities!  (This is an 8MB file - so it will take a minute or two to download....)

http://twe.ly/t3s

Ps. it stopped snowing - looks like about 8 inches - it has stopped though... 

and now...

Well we have a few inches now... at about 2 pm the skies really opened up and started dropping big flakes.
I'm sick so I don't really care how much it snows.  It continues to snow though and it if keeps up at the rate it is now I won't be surprised if we have a foot by 8pm... 

sunday

So it is postsecret sunday (www.postsecret.com) and as I get to the bottom I see this...

Now I don't know if this is just how smart facebook is now or if this is coincidence... but I know two of the people in "922,144 people like PostSecret" box... anyways - I had to share.

weather

It has been snowing since 9am - we've got about 2 cm...
It started snowing in Nazko at 4am... they have a foot...

great

flowers

BOOOOO YAAAKKKKAAAAA!!!!

hooray!

I got beautiful, super amazing flowers from Paula today!  You totally made my day!
Thank you, thank you, thank you!

sleepwalking - 2nd night in a row

Kyle has a bunk bed and so the slightest move you can hear from a distance - tonight I hear it going like he is playing jungle gym with it.  He is sitting up and babbling and then he is trying to get down from the bunk bed.  I tell him to sit down and take it easy for a second.  He is completely asleep though.

"are you crazy, v..., v..., v..., f..., v...."

Then he gets up and is trying to come down the ladder again.

-buddy - it's ok - go back to sleep

'v'

'v'

That was 20 minutes ago and now I keep hearing him mumble every once in a while...

good times. 

tonight

That's two... two sleep walking events tonight... ah ah ah ah

and ... what the hell does this mean....

I guess this is the weatherman's WTF....

Today's post was sponsored by the letters, W, T and F and the number 2

xoox

dry skin and other end of the day thoughts

Well the weather is definitely shifting and my skin is going nuts over it - plus my thumb is totally cracked and that is just less than grand.

How to make tomorrow a better day...  don't toss chairs in the office when people outside can see into your office and don't curse at the top of your lungs because while you think people can't hear you... they can...

Give away a few thank you's today... this will be good for you and you might even make someone else's day.

No matter what the groundhog decides is the timeline for the rest of winter - remember that today can be fabulous and so can tomorrow and the next - do not let anyone else decide what your day should be like for you...

Coffee has given me heart burn two days in a row.

And now it is after midnight - and I should probably close up shop and stop working and hit the hay...

(Fraggles - it appears that you can buy Fraggles in Calgary at Chapters I'm trying to find other places too)

Paula - I love you! I hope that today is happy pregnant day and that you are feeling great this morning... xxoo

fraggles

In another attempt to get me to buy things I don't need but want because the kid in me totally and completely wants them I give you...

I heart boober!

Ok - seriously - I really heart wembley...

Available at Manhattan Toys - sold all over BC - Chapters is apparently selling some.. but not all... I wonder if Edgewood in Quesnel could carry these... I think it would fit with the book store... (Page 22)

unwinding

My favorite cd right now is Eat Pray Love - it has a little bit of everything.  I also really enjoy the international songs - for some reason I calm down just hearing some of the songs that have some accordion in them...  it also has two new songs from Eddie Vedder (Pearl Jam - lead) and classics from Neil Young.

http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/eat-pray-love-original-motion/id377595028

and tonight...

So we had a buffet for dinner tonight - that's code for left overs and then a couple of deli items from Safeway... and I've got tomorrow nights dinner in the oven now - a pork tenderloin roast with potatoes, carrots and onions... tomorrow night will now be a breeze! hooray!

My chicken noodle soup wasn't bad in the end - but totally needed more seasoning after the initial recipe... so I'm not sure what was really missing... my chicken just wasn't 'chicken-y' enough.

And while I know my friends and family in Calgary are sad about -31 it is more of the same here - we've been locked into the minus 20's for a few days and before that we had all the snow and then it was super cold before that - this darn winter... me thinks the groundhog is going to sleep in on Wednesday... I would :)

dinner

Meatloaf - check
Home made from scratch chicken noodle soup - check
Mashed potatoes - check
Cream corn - check
Family....

So I've been building dinner all afternoon and now that it is dinner time no one is hungry.... awesome... oh well... guess it can all just sit and wait until there are hungry people...

sigh

:)

sunday...

Here is what we are up to this afternoon... first we are making broth... 

• 1 whole chicken rinsed
• 2 carrots, cut in large chunks
• 2 celery stalks, cut in large chunks
• 1 large white onions, quartered
• Ginger - a big chunk (like the size of a toilet paper roll - ok - 3/4 of that... then cut into four chunks)
• 1/4 bunch fresh thyme
• 2 bay leaves
• Black pepper - about 10 turns on the pepper mill

And now... we wait for broth to be finished to transform into glorious soup!

2010 Torch Relay

Today is the day the torch relay came through Quesnel.  I can't believe a year has gone by since the events - it was amazing to be apart of the relay and then to get to go down to some games and events.

Pictures of the relay are here....
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=320069&id=651326140&l=544a87837f

Ps... is it really the end of January... really... really?

today is thursday

Cute boys - making mom's day!

Five moose - hanging out in a field - AWESOME

Steeped on Reid

So super lucky me - I won a bag of tea from the new tea store in Quesnel.  And since I want to share the great experience of trying new tea I took some photos...

A shot of the tea that I won - Pecan Pastry - that's right - no fat pastries - hooray! 

The fuzzy building in the background is actually where 

Steeped is located in the heart of Downtown Quesnel. 

Here is our fancy office teapot and all the great tea parts are going into our

little strainer... green tea, dried papaya and orange petals - oh, and pecans... yummy

All the happy tea parts hanging out - awaiting water

Note to self - line up hot tea kettle with teapot before trying to take photos....

I like honey in my tea and the great flavour - of, you guessed it, Quesnel honey, made 

a great match with the Pecan Pastry tea

And here you go - a finished cup - after steeping for five minutes - very nice!

Join the Steeped lovers on facebook and you too could win a bag of tea... 

*sigh*

I'm sorry I haven't been blogging much.  Too busy and nothing really exciting to share.
I watched an interesting workshop session tonight - I don't normally watch those online, but I've participated in two recently and really enjoyed them.  It was on being human and being connected.  What she ended up talking about was how vulnerability is the core of ourselves in both joy and happiness and also on the negative side of things for ourselves as well.

At the end of her presentation she made a few comments that I wanted to pass on.

1. Let yourself be seen for who you are - be authentic
2. Love with your whole heart even though there are no guarantees
3. Practice gratitude and joy - the power of thank you
4. Remind yourself that you are enough - as you are right now - you are beautiful, amazing, funny, you are what you need to be - do not be misguided by ideas of perfection.

And now - for a hot bath and some magazine reading... love to you!

xxoo

yes, it is

1) Today is National Coffee Break Day - our office is celebrating by having coffee breaks every 15 minutes

2) It is plus (PLUS) one in Q town right now - hooray!

That is all
xxoo

dinner

"Mom, I know all the swear words."

Um - that isn't really something to be proud of.

"Well I know them.  I know the 'n' word."

*in my head - great... that's awesome - crap... now to have that conversation*

Well what is it then.

*giggles*

"Well it is nerd."

Great....

"I also know the 'd' word."

*in my head - what the hell is the d-word... I start going through my on mental list*

"It's douche bag."

And so for the second time today I hear/see that word.  Maybe Kyle was reading Carmen's tweets :)

sleeping

This is a fur ball sleeping on his back - all four legs in the air... awesome....
Somebody had a long day.

while I'm writing letters

Dear Crack Users, Prostitutes, Pimps, Prostitute Users, Crack Dealers,

My alley and back yard driveway are not there so you can do your deals, drop off your whores, pick up your blow or crack or pot or 'shrooms.  It is not a turn around, it is a fire lane and my backyard - that is all.

You have two options - get a brain and realize that your life is worth more than drugs and prostitution or go away and die - please.

Thanks.

ape

IDIOTS

Dear stupid people who are driving like it is summer,

I would like to open this letter with a stern finger wagging and mad face pushed against my window - it snowed people - it snowed A FREAKIN' LOT!  SLOOOWWWW DOWWWNNN!!!!!!

I know you think your car is going to save your sorry ass when it rolls or hits another vehicle but it won't.  You are not superman, he-man, she-ra, my little pony or rainbow brite when you drive - you are a regular old stupid human and you should slow the hell down.

Thanks.

ape

shame

shame on you for waxing your child's eye brows - shame, shame, shame!
I'm not watching that crap anymore.. even out of boredom, which was the case tonight.

sleep

Last night Kyle asked to "spend the night" in Michael's room.  And so he did.

Tonight he asks to sleep in there again... and then 10 minutes ago I find out why.  He is being a detective.  He is trying to figure out why Michael is having nightmares.

"Mom" quietly

Yes

"I figured it out."

Ok, figured out what?

"Well Michael is having nightmares and it is because of the sounds in his room."

blink, blink

"There are sounds in his vent - I can hear them because I'm sleeping beside it and every time there is a loud vent sound he moves in his sleep."

um... well when the heat comes on the vent makes sounds

"ok, but it is why Michael is having nightmares"

ok... well thanks for the (pause)

"advise"

yes, thanks for the advise...

good times
good times

cheese, I hate thee

I thought - I can have pizza... sure it is topped with lovely dairy, but I haven't tried in a while.. so why not... wrong-o - soooo freakin' wrong-o - my guts are killing me and I feel like my heartburn is going to explode out of me 'alien' style!  roar - why can't we be friends - why can't we be friends... 

Help... my readers with kids - Michael is having nightmares - it seems like every night - it is awful... he doesn't say what the dreams are about and I told him a few nights ago that I snuck into his room and stole his nightmares and that I threw them outside... they then froze and can't come back.  I don't know what else to do now.  Tonight he cried and cried because he says he misses me - I don't know where this came from.  It is almost like we got some great time together over the holidays and now we hardly see each other - it sucks... sucks!  Funnier still is that Andy had a nightmare last night and grab me in his sleep - scaring the crap out of me - ah.. but I'm use to his scary antics.

Good times!

meh

Day old homemade sushi is blah!  I made too much last night and we tried to have it again tonight and it just blah - super honkin' blah!  Our guests last night brought dessert and so the boys powered through the rest of it tonight.

Habs scored

It snowed again - so we now have a real snow base in the community - if the weather isn't too terrible tomorrow we will head out for some sled riding... but I hear it is supposed to be minus 10 or colder - blah.

and the Habs score again
TIED!!!

Ok I'm not a Habs fan but I like Canadians winning.

7 billion people

This is a promotional video for National Geographic on their year long review of the earth holding 7 billion people - but it has some interesting facts and information and I thought you might enjoy it...

a weekend

blah

I'm full of the blahs.

That is all...

love to you - happy friday...

if you need something to do tonight - google has set up a map to show mass animal deaths - as a result of the 5000 birds dropping out of the sky... http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&oe=UTF8&msa=0&msid=201817256339889828327.0004991bca25af104a22b  - I know - that should totally kick off your weekend and make your life better - ha.... sorry - it is just where I am tonight.

What do you think happened to those birds and fish...?

devil, thy name be max

I know... he looks cute and loveable... and he might be - if he didn't destroy everything in the house.  This week he has hit the garbage twice and destroyed it, chewed the arms, legs and head off a storm trooper, and eaten a brand new power cord.

He goes a day of being a saint and we start to believe that he is a good dog... and then he pulls another trick out of his bag and reminds us that really he is a lunatic and will eat/destroy any thing...

And... since Paula announced on Facebook tonight... let me also congratulate her and Dean on their pregnancy - fantastic news and we are so happy for both of you and can't wait for your babies arrival.

doing my part :)

Ahhhh so it snowed here... about a foot... yep... it is  a lot of snow - but we totally needed it.  We need snow for next summers crops, so bring it on... that said when the forecast is dead on and we all know there is snow coming it makes me laugh that our city can't seem to get it together to plow.  You see I know, right now, that I'll be lucky if my street gets done before the weekend. Why?  Well there is more snow due tonight/tomorrow and they'll just re-do the main streets - if they do them.  So tonight we shovelled the driveway and the road to ensure we could get out tomorrow.

good old gandalf

“All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us.”

clam chowder

Tonight we made clam chowder - Kyle asked me to make it... and then ate none of it... instead he wanted more lasagna.  Ah... well - such is life.  He then grabbed a couple of cookbooks and picked out meals for the rest of the week - there are 20 post-it notes out with meal ideas and plans...  my little chef...

And tomorrow our associate chef turns five... there are meal and cake plans out already.  Grandma and Grandpa dropped off a giant chocolate cake for tomorrow though, so I guess we will make a cake for the weekend.

food

Tonight was lasagna and to liven things up I cooked an extra two pieces of lasagna noodles and used cookie cutters to decorate the top of the lasagna.  Despite my attempt at getting my fussy eater to try out the pasta he simply ate around it - he ate all the meat/sauce but didn't want any pasta... he did eat the garlic toast, so that is good... plus some cucumber... so we are getting there.

What tomorrow night.. ah... well we will see what chef kyle and his assistant want.  Michael asked to look at a cook book tonight to think about what he wants to make for dessert tomorrow night.  woohooooo - me thinks it will be something to do with chocolate :)

iron chef kyle

Inspired to create something fun for dinner Kyle came up with the following:

Chocolate Raspberry Fruitness

1 tbsp raspberries (frozen/defrosted/added a little sugar)
2 tbsp raspberry jello
2 tbsp light raspberry mousse
1/2 slice of raspberry loaf, crumbled
repeat

Top with a frozen raspberry, garnish with berry pocky and a chocolate stick

Enjoy!

Comments tonight:
"If I sold this recipe to a restaurant I could make a lot of money"
"I'm going to use this recipe when I'm on Iron Chef and it is raspberry night"

So Kyle took care of dessert and Michael made rice, eggs and garlic toast.

Hooray for helpers :)

1/1/11

Nose... still in tacked, however, still sore.  This morning (5am ish) I trashed my baby toe on the corner of my bed as Michael requested I come to his room.  I was so tired that I ignored the pain and went to sleep - wicked.  It didn't tear the nail completely off, but it is gross.

Now Michael decided to wack himself in the face with the stick while we were out adventuring this afternoon - awesome... he has two really nice welts right under his eye.

And now?  Well I'm going to make sloppy joe's and then hang out for the rest of the day. Cleaned the kitchen - finally - and want to tackle a different room tomorrow.

Happy 2011!  Couple more days off - hooray!