Monday, December 31, 2007
Happy New Year!
From CTV.ca, Associated Press, Chiang Ying ying, these fireworks are coming off of the tallest building in Taipei - Taipei 101 and currently the tallest skyscraper.
Best wishes for 2008!
(BC 150th Birthday)
Friday, December 28, 2007
250
I'm here posting my 250th post on the eve of my 31st birthday. I haven't watched the news since I went on holidays. I've caught snips and snipes of it, but I haven't really paid attention. Then yesterday I was compelled to start listening. I don't know if any of you are following the news, but if you have you've likely heard that the opposition leader of Pakistan was assassinated. Her name was Benazir Bhutto. I've been reading about her since her return to Pakistan in October. Why should you care? As small as one of our voices is, she was heard! She was heard and she was only one. I think we all need to start focusing on the pride points in our lives and make contributions. Slough off all the bull shit. Slough it. I say this and I will struggle with it, but it must be done. Take a minute to google Bhutto, learn about something that might encourage you to be great, in small and big ways.
Stupid me, I also chose to read about the murders on Christmas Eve in Seattle. What the hell kind of world do we live in? What is wrong with human kind? What kind of hope can we have for our children or any children when we have these things occuring in our communities and when our media chooses to focus on them?
(End scene)
New scence
A bench rests under a window and a girl sits looking out the window. Thinking. Pondering. Remembering.
So here I am sitting on the door step of 31, what gems of wisdom/thoughts can I share?
1) Love; its important, if you don't have it, find it, if you do hold on to it and embrass it
2) Children make your life better and put all things into perspective
3) Life is constructed in a manner that when you do something negative it will one day come back and bite you, maybe just a nip, maybe it will take out your whole ass
4) Life is also constructed in a manner that when you do something positive it will also effect the course of your life
5) Birthdays are only another day of the year, every day should be celebrated
6) Family is everything, even if they bother you and do things that do not match up with what you think is right - see #3 and 4
7) If you have had pets you know that every day you make a point of acknowledging the pet, a simple ear rub, a scratch - do this same small thing for your spouse - acknowledge them, love them, encourage them
8) I like the number eight...
9) Falling behind sucks - avoid it
10) Listen to people - stop what you are doing and when they stop talking repeat back the message, make sure you understood what they shared with you - it will take longer - but what are you rushing life for - it is short, make time to make a difference
11) Be respectiveful - always
12) Everyone can do something
13) Email and blogging should be a glimpse into who you are - don't give it all away
14) Phone people - there was a time before cell phone texting, and email and chat rooms - it is only laziness that drives the internet forward
15) Giving up will leave you with a life time of regret
16) I am far more sensitive then I was a year ago or ten years ago, I'm learning to live with that.
17) True friendship is hard to come by.
18) Entertainers are overpaid and the entire medical system is underpaid and under appreciated.
19) It is easier to give advice than to take it.
20) Drinking makes the pain dull, but causes it to throb the next day and doesn't solve problems.
21) If you put your mind to it all things are possible.
22) Lies are bad. Avoid them. Ask why you are telling a lie.
23) Gossip is bad. Avoid it. Get the facts. Learn. Be intelligent. It is harder to do, but why be lazy.
24) I love my family.
25) Digital cameras are nice, but if you don't make use of the photos you took, you might as well not have taken the photos in the first place.
26) Learning about nature and getting out to see the Cariboo was one of the best things I could have done for myself, and I only saw a glimpse. It has inspired me to see more.
27) Your physical and mental state are very important. Value your body, show it appreciation by eating well and using it - in all of the many fabulous ways it can be used.
28) You can buy all the crap in the world, but it will stay here when you die. Remember possessions can not hold your hand, love you, sing to you, smile at you, laugh, or anything else. This is a tough one for me and something I'm trying to learn.
29) Technically, my list should be ending here because I promised I would just continue to celebrate my 29th... I'm ok with the number changing though.
30) Enjoy work, and if you don't, start looking for ways to make your work better (on your own) or find new work, see #15.
31) See #1, repeat.
Stupid me, I also chose to read about the murders on Christmas Eve in Seattle. What the hell kind of world do we live in? What is wrong with human kind? What kind of hope can we have for our children or any children when we have these things occuring in our communities and when our media chooses to focus on them?
(End scene)
New scence
A bench rests under a window and a girl sits looking out the window. Thinking. Pondering. Remembering.
So here I am sitting on the door step of 31, what gems of wisdom/thoughts can I share?
1) Love; its important, if you don't have it, find it, if you do hold on to it and embrass it
2) Children make your life better and put all things into perspective
3) Life is constructed in a manner that when you do something negative it will one day come back and bite you, maybe just a nip, maybe it will take out your whole ass
4) Life is also constructed in a manner that when you do something positive it will also effect the course of your life
5) Birthdays are only another day of the year, every day should be celebrated
6) Family is everything, even if they bother you and do things that do not match up with what you think is right - see #3 and 4
7) If you have had pets you know that every day you make a point of acknowledging the pet, a simple ear rub, a scratch - do this same small thing for your spouse - acknowledge them, love them, encourage them
8) I like the number eight...
9) Falling behind sucks - avoid it
10) Listen to people - stop what you are doing and when they stop talking repeat back the message, make sure you understood what they shared with you - it will take longer - but what are you rushing life for - it is short, make time to make a difference
11) Be respectiveful - always
12) Everyone can do something
13) Email and blogging should be a glimpse into who you are - don't give it all away
14) Phone people - there was a time before cell phone texting, and email and chat rooms - it is only laziness that drives the internet forward
15) Giving up will leave you with a life time of regret
16) I am far more sensitive then I was a year ago or ten years ago, I'm learning to live with that.
17) True friendship is hard to come by.
18) Entertainers are overpaid and the entire medical system is underpaid and under appreciated.
19) It is easier to give advice than to take it.
20) Drinking makes the pain dull, but causes it to throb the next day and doesn't solve problems.
21) If you put your mind to it all things are possible.
22) Lies are bad. Avoid them. Ask why you are telling a lie.
23) Gossip is bad. Avoid it. Get the facts. Learn. Be intelligent. It is harder to do, but why be lazy.
24) I love my family.
25) Digital cameras are nice, but if you don't make use of the photos you took, you might as well not have taken the photos in the first place.
26) Learning about nature and getting out to see the Cariboo was one of the best things I could have done for myself, and I only saw a glimpse. It has inspired me to see more.
27) Your physical and mental state are very important. Value your body, show it appreciation by eating well and using it - in all of the many fabulous ways it can be used.
28) You can buy all the crap in the world, but it will stay here when you die. Remember possessions can not hold your hand, love you, sing to you, smile at you, laugh, or anything else. This is a tough one for me and something I'm trying to learn.
29) Technically, my list should be ending here because I promised I would just continue to celebrate my 29th... I'm ok with the number changing though.
30) Enjoy work, and if you don't, start looking for ways to make your work better (on your own) or find new work, see #15.
31) See #1, repeat.
Friday, December 21, 2007
home again jiggity jig
We made it back from PG. Uneventful trip - Costco made some good moola off of us, yet again. And now I sit up waiting for my brothers arrival from Port Hardy. I'm assuming at this point that he made his 3pm ferry and should be here soon... especially the way he drives.
I also wanted to post that... what the heck - it's -19... it was beautiful this afternoon - I was actually thinking to myself how beautiful it would be to get out and do some cross country skiing - and since the sun went down I've been watching the temperature plummet. -19 now at 1am.. what about in another 2 hours... what about another 6... we are nearly at the mid point of the year and days will once again get longer - HOORAY! but tonight at -19 I wonder what the next few days will actually be.
ok - I'm going to do something productive while I wait for my brother - night all
I also wanted to post that... what the heck - it's -19... it was beautiful this afternoon - I was actually thinking to myself how beautiful it would be to get out and do some cross country skiing - and since the sun went down I've been watching the temperature plummet. -19 now at 1am.. what about in another 2 hours... what about another 6... we are nearly at the mid point of the year and days will once again get longer - HOORAY! but tonight at -19 I wonder what the next few days will actually be.
ok - I'm going to do something productive while I wait for my brother - night all
Thursday, December 20, 2007
home again... well kind of
Tuesday was an extra long driving day for us. We left late from Richmond because we knew that we'd be driving in the dark no matter what time we left the lower mainland. So we took our time and I got thirsty at Boston Bar and my eyes needed a break because the roads had gone in the crapper as soon as we left Hope. I'm grabbing a drink and the lady tells me the highway is closed - just closed it - then as I'm leaving she updates with a minimum six hour wait because there has been a fatality. With that I loop back and turn us around. We ended up taking the Coquihalla - not great - the roads actually weren't too bad to the top, lots of snow but people were mindful of each other and because it is a climb most the rigs just get in a line and don't try to pass much. We get to the top and its a whole different story. Not 2km from the tollbooth we come to our first accident and police officer. He tells us to slow down through the accidents and that the roads are slick all the way to Merritt. BLAH! We passed four accidents from the top to about 30 km from the top and then just took our time down.
And then it was another 5 1/2 hours from Merritt home. We stopped at Merritt and then we stopped in Williams Lake at Tim Hortons around midnight - took in some of the night life in WL - and waited about 20 minutes to get tea and some treats to keep us awake for the rest of the drive.
Then yesterday we had to come to PG. We'll be back in Quesnel this afternoon - just doing a little shopping this morning, lunch and then heading home.
I'm definitely looking forward to this weekend and just taking it easy... oh and on the kitchen front the counter top is going to be another few weeks - extra blah! - at least jan 10 and then who really knows... not the end of the world - I'm not making turkey dinner this year - headed to nazko for that... of course as a result cookie production is way down - in fact zero to date...
And then it was another 5 1/2 hours from Merritt home. We stopped at Merritt and then we stopped in Williams Lake at Tim Hortons around midnight - took in some of the night life in WL - and waited about 20 minutes to get tea and some treats to keep us awake for the rest of the drive.
Then yesterday we had to come to PG. We'll be back in Quesnel this afternoon - just doing a little shopping this morning, lunch and then heading home.
I'm definitely looking forward to this weekend and just taking it easy... oh and on the kitchen front the counter top is going to be another few weeks - extra blah! - at least jan 10 and then who really knows... not the end of the world - I'm not making turkey dinner this year - headed to nazko for that... of course as a result cookie production is way down - in fact zero to date...
Sunday, December 16, 2007
the concert
Last night was my first concert since Great Big Sea in university. We were in the upper deck, and funny enough, at the back of the building where I saw my first Canucks game live. Hedley opened and they were pretty good. I confess that I didn't know all of their songs, but I knew three, not bad.
And then we found ourselves inside the church of bon jovi with 17,000 singing strong. It was amazing! They played for nearly three hours and had multiple encores. The old stuff was great - Living on Prayer, Wanted dead or alive, Bad Medicine. I would have liked to hear Bed of Roses - but they had to leave some new stuff for tonight, as they are rocking out again tonight in Vancouver - and hear there are still tickets... definitely worth it and if I'd had an idea they were going to be that good I would have paid more and been closer.
We've cut our trip short, so we will be back in Quesnel on Tuesday night now. Headed to the aquarium on Monday and doing a couple of other things - today is pretty low key - a little shopping and work this morning and then back to Richmond to cook turkey dinner. I hope everyone is taking it easy and not getting beat up in a mall with masses trying to buy gifts. Take a minute for yourself - remember the reason you are buying gifts is because you love the people you are buying for and how much they love you and maybe that will help you see that maybe a gift isn't what you needed to buy for them... will they remember the money you spent on them or the way you spent your time together.
And I finished Potter! Record time for me. Should you read it? Well if you've read all the others I'd be surprised if you haven't already - I'm old and taking too long to read anything these days. Read them, enjoy the story and pass them on to children who will enjoy the growth of characters over 7 years and who will greatly appreciate them. Ok - off to do some work before we had to the mall.
And then we found ourselves inside the church of bon jovi with 17,000 singing strong. It was amazing! They played for nearly three hours and had multiple encores. The old stuff was great - Living on Prayer, Wanted dead or alive, Bad Medicine. I would have liked to hear Bed of Roses - but they had to leave some new stuff for tonight, as they are rocking out again tonight in Vancouver - and hear there are still tickets... definitely worth it and if I'd had an idea they were going to be that good I would have paid more and been closer.
We've cut our trip short, so we will be back in Quesnel on Tuesday night now. Headed to the aquarium on Monday and doing a couple of other things - today is pretty low key - a little shopping and work this morning and then back to Richmond to cook turkey dinner. I hope everyone is taking it easy and not getting beat up in a mall with masses trying to buy gifts. Take a minute for yourself - remember the reason you are buying gifts is because you love the people you are buying for and how much they love you and maybe that will help you see that maybe a gift isn't what you needed to buy for them... will they remember the money you spent on them or the way you spent your time together.
And I finished Potter! Record time for me. Should you read it? Well if you've read all the others I'd be surprised if you haven't already - I'm old and taking too long to read anything these days. Read them, enjoy the story and pass them on to children who will enjoy the growth of characters over 7 years and who will greatly appreciate them. Ok - off to do some work before we had to the mall.
Friday, December 07, 2007
pity
it is -25 here and only going to get colder tonight
please send blankets... and warm thoughts in our direction
coldest winter in 15 years... how about coldest winter ever... yes, thanks - global warming... right... except canada - THANK YOU!
please send blankets... and warm thoughts in our direction
coldest winter in 15 years... how about coldest winter ever... yes, thanks - global warming... right... except canada - THANK YOU!
Saturday, December 01, 2007
sick
This is a new one for me. I've had pneumonia, colds and flus. Now I've got something I've never had before and it is super painful. It feels like I have something stuck in my throat and everytime I swallow I aggrevate it. It hurts bad enough that I'm not getting alot of sleep at night, because I wake up everytime I swallow.... ok so that was my post 48 hours ago and now it is sunday night and I'm sitting here and feel far far far less pain. I ended up escorting myself to the walk-in clinic yesterday afternoon and the doc decided I had a throat infection... hooray - got some strong drugs and they are apparently having some kind of effect on this bacterial germ in my throat.
I'm definitely taking a sick day tomorrow. Time to recover and sleep in the day if I feel like it. Plus my voice is in no condition to answer phones or even talk to people. We did manage to decorate our christmas tree today - hooray - beautiful - boys had a great time and helped a lot this year.
I'm definitely taking a sick day tomorrow. Time to recover and sleep in the day if I feel like it. Plus my voice is in no condition to answer phones or even talk to people. We did manage to decorate our christmas tree today - hooray - beautiful - boys had a great time and helped a lot this year.
Friday, November 30, 2007
freezer, aisle 3
So here I am out in the cold. This is a photo of one of the lucky winners of our christmas contest.
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
extra dose of procrastination
I should totally be doing work right now.... but I just am not in the mood. Instead I wish to share my newest cd favs (note to Paula - I haven't forgotten about your cd... I am working on it and plan to bring to Vancouver in just 16 more days) right now (alright I'm queen of the lame) I'm working out to the Lord of the Rings soundtrack (light and airy music, not the death stuff on the soundtrack), Ratatouille (orchestral jazz), the Incredibles (orchestral jazz), and Happy Feet.
I went to a meeting earlier this year and we were asked to tell the group something no one know about us and I decided to share that I have happy feet and there was a lot of "what the hell does that mean". I guess I should have tried using that at meeting with people under the age of 40 who have kids or at least semi familiar with the world of pixar and disney... I guess I should have also been lame and said something people already knew about me like every other ass in the room. (Alright inside voice, that is enough for tonight... 'master, please let me out to play', sorry not now... patience 'yes, patience master, thank you')
I went to a meeting earlier this year and we were asked to tell the group something no one know about us and I decided to share that I have happy feet and there was a lot of "what the hell does that mean". I guess I should have tried using that at meeting with people under the age of 40 who have kids or at least semi familiar with the world of pixar and disney... I guess I should have also been lame and said something people already knew about me like every other ass in the room. (Alright inside voice, that is enough for tonight... 'master, please let me out to play', sorry not now... patience 'yes, patience master, thank you')
the earth
Today someone suggested another tale of peak oil for me to read. Most of the stuff I've read is doom and gloom and get out your candles because that's the only source of light we are going to have in the future and really we should all just be bucking wood up here and storing it because eventually the only light will come from the fire we sit beside at night.
This book is different. It has history and me, who tried to get a history degree, finds interesting and, me, who likes steven king and the way he interconnects books with characters, has found a commonality with this book. I'm still reading it (that's right kiddies I've actually read 30 pages in one work out - and it was an intelluctual read so that is damn near amazing) and hopefully it will continue to be a good story. So far the best thing I've picked up out of it is that one of us has the answer to this energy "crisis". That an answer is out there and it will come in our darkest hour. The book outlines the history of energy and how societies have forged ahead because of supply demands and that this has created new sources. Sounds like a lot of common sense, but if it so easy why hasn't the new way come up sooner. The next multi-billionaires are in our mist - it could be someone reading this, it could be me if I could just figure out how this darn inter-net-a-ma-thing worked. (ha - I actually have entrepreneurial thought and have invented things - albeit too late or without resources to implement the idea...)
Let us all take a moment to be inspired and dream a bit, in the words of willy wonka "invention, my dear friends, is 93% perspiration, 6% electricity, 4% evaporation and 2% butterscotch ripple". You're right, that had nothing to do with anything... ok - now you are ready to search the corners of your mind, sweep out the cobwebs and see the idea that will save us all from the hype of having no energy to run our vehicles, that transport our food, that build our homes and power our televisions and computers. So are you worried? Is the end closer than we even have a clue of, if the internet died tomorrow because the computers had no power would we just crawl into the corner and die, or would we go outside and play?
This rant has been brought to you by the letter 't' and the number 8.
This book is different. It has history and me, who tried to get a history degree, finds interesting and, me, who likes steven king and the way he interconnects books with characters, has found a commonality with this book. I'm still reading it (that's right kiddies I've actually read 30 pages in one work out - and it was an intelluctual read so that is damn near amazing) and hopefully it will continue to be a good story. So far the best thing I've picked up out of it is that one of us has the answer to this energy "crisis". That an answer is out there and it will come in our darkest hour. The book outlines the history of energy and how societies have forged ahead because of supply demands and that this has created new sources. Sounds like a lot of common sense, but if it so easy why hasn't the new way come up sooner. The next multi-billionaires are in our mist - it could be someone reading this, it could be me if I could just figure out how this darn inter-net-a-ma-thing worked. (ha - I actually have entrepreneurial thought and have invented things - albeit too late or without resources to implement the idea...)
Let us all take a moment to be inspired and dream a bit, in the words of willy wonka "invention, my dear friends, is 93% perspiration, 6% electricity, 4% evaporation and 2% butterscotch ripple". You're right, that had nothing to do with anything... ok - now you are ready to search the corners of your mind, sweep out the cobwebs and see the idea that will save us all from the hype of having no energy to run our vehicles, that transport our food, that build our homes and power our televisions and computers. So are you worried? Is the end closer than we even have a clue of, if the internet died tomorrow because the computers had no power would we just crawl into the corner and die, or would we go outside and play?
This rant has been brought to you by the letter 't' and the number 8.
Sunday, November 25, 2007
reload
The cabinets are installed - hooray! No doors yet, but I'm loading all of our crap back into them now. Not an enjoyable job! Plus so many decisions - where should stuff go... blah! Smelly fozzy is still with us - mom and dad should be here to pick him up in the next few hours - hopefully. My trip to Nazko today was pretty boring - the craft fair was done early so I missed it and didn't even see any wildlife. We ate mom and dad's cheese and crackers - that was the highlight - I know, ultra lame - oh I better take this darn dog out.. arg! barky-bartakamoose..
Saturday, November 24, 2007
neige
It snowed today - first since the last time I mentioned it - 4 inches today
I'm dog sitting "fozzy bear" (parents) pomerian... he pants so loud - I just want to lock him downstairs tonight but then he will bark his little head off - the kids love having him around and it really makes me want to get a little dog - but it is completely out of the question - I know we don't have time for another animal in our office. Two kids is more than enough thank you - god his breath is so bad - he is three feet from me on the floor and I can smell him... blah! I should offer him some scope!
I bought some gear to keep me warm last night and I wanted to share them because they are awesome...
First - socks - they are very warm and mine came with a cute little penguin at the top of them - $9.99 at Mark's Work Wearhouse and right now they are 50% for the second pair plus an additional 20% off both pairs during their sales event...
Ok - so then I bought these hot little numbers... toasterz
Inside these little packs are a stainless steel invention that creates some kind of chemical reaction causing the pack to harden and warm (I know we've all heard that before...) They can be used over and over again - you have to boil the pack and it resets the stainless steel thing and then you just click on the stainless steel thing when you need them and it starts all over - I had mine last night out in the cold and they definitely worked. I had them exposed to the cold, in my pockets and sitting on the table -I tossed one between my hands and ended up using both and putting them in my pockets so my hands had a warm place to go... with the interaction of exposure to cold and then in my pockets they conducted heat for at least 45 minutes, if not an hour - if I'd just kept them in my gloves I think they would have lasted longer. These little babies cost $10.99 at Mark's and I'd definitely recommend them for others to try out if you are going on any kind of outdoor excursions this winter.
Tomorrow I'm off to Nazko to check on the other dogs while my parents are in Vancouver - that's right my dad actually left the north - first time in more than 15 years (easily)... I still can't believe they went - they called me from their hotel room like two little kids - 'there's internet, and we are on the 7th floor and dad says he can see metro town..' plus additional details - down for a day - they come back tomorrow night - crazy - but their pooches need chow between now and then so I'm jetting out tomorrow - it also happens to be the Nazko Craft Fair so hopefully I'll have time to visit and see what crafts they've made out there this year.
I'm dog sitting "fozzy bear" (parents) pomerian... he pants so loud - I just want to lock him downstairs tonight but then he will bark his little head off - the kids love having him around and it really makes me want to get a little dog - but it is completely out of the question - I know we don't have time for another animal in our office. Two kids is more than enough thank you - god his breath is so bad - he is three feet from me on the floor and I can smell him... blah! I should offer him some scope!
I bought some gear to keep me warm last night and I wanted to share them because they are awesome...
First - socks - they are very warm and mine came with a cute little penguin at the top of them - $9.99 at Mark's Work Wearhouse and right now they are 50% for the second pair plus an additional 20% off both pairs during their sales event...
Ok - so then I bought these hot little numbers... toasterz
Inside these little packs are a stainless steel invention that creates some kind of chemical reaction causing the pack to harden and warm (I know we've all heard that before...) They can be used over and over again - you have to boil the pack and it resets the stainless steel thing and then you just click on the stainless steel thing when you need them and it starts all over - I had mine last night out in the cold and they definitely worked. I had them exposed to the cold, in my pockets and sitting on the table -I tossed one between my hands and ended up using both and putting them in my pockets so my hands had a warm place to go... with the interaction of exposure to cold and then in my pockets they conducted heat for at least 45 minutes, if not an hour - if I'd just kept them in my gloves I think they would have lasted longer. These little babies cost $10.99 at Mark's and I'd definitely recommend them for others to try out if you are going on any kind of outdoor excursions this winter.
Tomorrow I'm off to Nazko to check on the other dogs while my parents are in Vancouver - that's right my dad actually left the north - first time in more than 15 years (easily)... I still can't believe they went - they called me from their hotel room like two little kids - 'there's internet, and we are on the 7th floor and dad says he can see metro town..' plus additional details - down for a day - they come back tomorrow night - crazy - but their pooches need chow between now and then so I'm jetting out tomorrow - it also happens to be the Nazko Craft Fair so hopefully I'll have time to visit and see what crafts they've made out there this year.
Friday, November 23, 2007
thank you for warm water
Ok - warming up - showering was a great idea... I'm finding out now that my face got some frost bite or wind burn 'cause damn it hurts now...
um... brrrrrr
So good old work tonight involved sitting outside in minus ten for a christmas campaign - I wasn't really that cold while I was sitting/standing outside - after 2.5 hours (outside for 3.5 hours in total) my feet started to send the single that it was too cold - I wrapped them with a blanket and nice newspaper photographer felt bad for me and gave me a camping seat (foam) to stand on - which actually helped a lot! Now and hour later I'm freezing - I guess I'm finally unthawing and parts are starting to ache... blah... I think it's time for a warm shower or bath...
It was a fun night - we had people pick up keys at businesses and then they had to try their luck at a lock - three people won (there were five keys that worked - out of hundreds) and hundreds lost... what was fun was the expression on the faces of the winners - they couldn't even believe it - one winner started jumping up and down and then says what did I win - so I say - well you need to pick from one of these envelopes - so she and her husband go back and forth on which number to pick - they pick up one and she says - oh it feels empty - and I say -well it is because I haven't put the $1,000 in it - and then it was on - 'shut up - are you kidding me.." and then she's hugging her husband and jumping up and down going nuts - it was very funny!
Ok - I'm going to go warm up - hope everyone has a great weekend! It's the first Christmas Farmers' Market tomorrow - hooray!
It was a fun night - we had people pick up keys at businesses and then they had to try their luck at a lock - three people won (there were five keys that worked - out of hundreds) and hundreds lost... what was fun was the expression on the faces of the winners - they couldn't even believe it - one winner started jumping up and down and then says what did I win - so I say - well you need to pick from one of these envelopes - so she and her husband go back and forth on which number to pick - they pick up one and she says - oh it feels empty - and I say -well it is because I haven't put the $1,000 in it - and then it was on - 'shut up - are you kidding me.." and then she's hugging her husband and jumping up and down going nuts - it was very funny!
Ok - I'm going to go warm up - hope everyone has a great weekend! It's the first Christmas Farmers' Market tomorrow - hooray!
Thursday, November 22, 2007
the kitchen
Day 22... things are going alright - but we had a bit of a challenge in the project. The floor has been in for a couple of days now and the half of the cabinets are installed - my dad came over to help and while he was there Andy had him move in the stove and fridge. Unfortunately the fridge didn't go in as gently as was planned... my dad's side gouged out the floor .... the brand new floor - and now there is nothing that you can do - he hasn't even talked to me about it - or mom and they've definitely had the chance... a - hey sorry 'bout that - would have been nice... nothing - but I know that it's probably my fault... 'why did you install a floor that could be so easily wrecked', 'why did i even get a new floor', 'why did i buy this house'... it really could go on...
in 1995 i had a new (new to me) car and I'd parked in the turn around of our driveway - pretty common practice at the house so other people could come and go as they needed to - one day my mom and dad got in the truck and left and my dad back straight into my car - i cried and had a melt down, but i was the one in trouble - what the hell was i parking there for - and why was my mom blabbin' to my dad while he was trying to drive... 12 years later and I'm still whining about that one.. I'm sure I'll be whining about my floor for just as long...
So what happened with the floor - well the guy came in and said 'oh that happens..." NO SHIT! I'm glad they mentioned how easy it was to cause damage when we were buying the damn thing.. any how he re-sticks it down and then glues it - you can't really see the blip in the floor - but if you are right over you'd see it - I guess it's just one of those things....
What it puts into perspective for me is relationships? If that had been a floor guy, or really - anyone other than my dad the shit would have hit the fan, the wall and probably someone outside! But because it was my dad who I have all the respect in the world floor nothing was said - and it makes me wonder if I shouldn't be treating everyone that way. Not to jump on people for the slightest of things - maybe this is an opportunity to learn something... we'll see...
The whole situation did give me a pretty bad case of terets - 5...4...3..2..1.. launch the f-bomb, load the a-hole bomb... alright now the f-bomb times three plus a kiss my a@#... and it kept creeping up on me - I'd think I was done cursin' and it would be on me again.
in 1995 i had a new (new to me) car and I'd parked in the turn around of our driveway - pretty common practice at the house so other people could come and go as they needed to - one day my mom and dad got in the truck and left and my dad back straight into my car - i cried and had a melt down, but i was the one in trouble - what the hell was i parking there for - and why was my mom blabbin' to my dad while he was trying to drive... 12 years later and I'm still whining about that one.. I'm sure I'll be whining about my floor for just as long...
So what happened with the floor - well the guy came in and said 'oh that happens..." NO SHIT! I'm glad they mentioned how easy it was to cause damage when we were buying the damn thing.. any how he re-sticks it down and then glues it - you can't really see the blip in the floor - but if you are right over you'd see it - I guess it's just one of those things....
What it puts into perspective for me is relationships? If that had been a floor guy, or really - anyone other than my dad the shit would have hit the fan, the wall and probably someone outside! But because it was my dad who I have all the respect in the world floor nothing was said - and it makes me wonder if I shouldn't be treating everyone that way. Not to jump on people for the slightest of things - maybe this is an opportunity to learn something... we'll see...
The whole situation did give me a pretty bad case of terets - 5...4...3..2..1.. launch the f-bomb, load the a-hole bomb... alright now the f-bomb times three plus a kiss my a@#... and it kept creeping up on me - I'd think I was done cursin' and it would be on me again.
Friday, November 16, 2007
the tree
I arrive and, of course, initially have no helpers. I get going on "fluffing" the tree. This took about 15 minutes. Then I brought extra lights (the only person in the competition to do this...) - this took another 15 minutes.... I can't believe how long wiring and everything else takes - plus I was rushing...
I started loading in the extra boughs (purple, pink, blue) a helper areas - a local designer - she helps me load the rest of the tree - I don't know if I'd finished on time without her. I'm not in love with it - it is WAY to girlie girl for me. The second we started adding the dragonflies we started getting questions though. I must have answered the "where did you get that" question 15 times. Maybe more. My helper just laughed every time someone asked, because I answered like it was the first time someone had asked.
I think there will be a good battle over our tree at the auction in two weeks and that we will have done a good job for the hospital (fundraiser for new labour bed).
I started loading in the extra boughs (purple, pink, blue) a helper areas - a local designer - she helps me load the rest of the tree - I don't know if I'd finished on time without her. I'm not in love with it - it is WAY to girlie girl for me. The second we started adding the dragonflies we started getting questions though. I must have answered the "where did you get that" question 15 times. Maybe more. My helper just laughed every time someone asked, because I answered like it was the first time someone had asked.
I think there will be a good battle over our tree at the auction in two weeks and that we will have done a good job for the hospital (fundraiser for new labour bed).
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
help... again :)
Tomorrow night I'm decorating a tree for the local festival of trees competition. Some of the gear I was hoping would be here didn't show and now the tree needs help. The theme is dragon flies but a bunch of them didn't show up or did and looked like they'd come out of an old ladies 1980's garden display of useless crap... think of bright pink nylons wrapped on a net made to look like a dragonfly with added crap on the side... so those were a no go because the rest of the stuff looks too good and that would just drag the look down.
I'm considering placing snowflakes on the tree, with the dragonflies. I've posted the photos below and am just looking for second/third/fourth opinion on it. Does it go? Do you have suggestions for putting them together? I'm decorating in less than 24 hours so any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.
This is a small blue crystal dragonfly.
Small clear crystal dragonfly.
Blue snowflake - a large one of these might act as the topper as well... not sure - could also go with a white/silver one as well.
5" long clear dragonfly
Branch filler - there are small flowers and butterflys on the branches...
I'm considering placing snowflakes on the tree, with the dragonflies. I've posted the photos below and am just looking for second/third/fourth opinion on it. Does it go? Do you have suggestions for putting them together? I'm decorating in less than 24 hours so any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.
This is a small blue crystal dragonfly.
Small clear crystal dragonfly.
Blue snowflake - a large one of these might act as the topper as well... not sure - could also go with a white/silver one as well.
5" long clear dragonfly
Branch filler - there are small flowers and butterflys on the branches...
the book
Last night I went for a walk with my book on the treadmill - made it through 80 pages in an hour - I know - that is a terrible average - it's no wonder that I could hardly get through my university classes... my biggest problem with reading is that I like to take in every word and understand it thoroughly - I also like to pronouce things as I'm reading... I'm retarded - I know.
With 80 pages gone I decided to finish the rest before I went to bed. I ended up reading until 1:20am. It's done. It had 658 pages and now I'm on to Potter - not sure if I will crack it tonight or not... don't want to get too into it. I do want to know what happens though. That doesn't mean anyone needs to spoil it for me... thank you :)
So what of the book? Well as a long time King reader I would say it is better than a bunch, but not as complex as some. I loved the Stand - definitely in my top ten for favorite books. I wouldn't place this in the top ten - Lisey's Story - but it was a good read. The relationship between a husband and wife written in a different style - one that I enjoyed because I write like that - or have thought about writing the way he wrote this book - he will be writing about a past event and then it flips to the next chapter in present tense following off from where he started to explain the past event. There is gore, but not nearly as bad as his other books. There is one scene in it that nearly made me quite reading because it was so vivid and just made me feel like I didn't (shouldn't) want to read anymore if that was going to be the rest of the book - not as bad as the unicorn section of "Not wanted on the voyage" by Findley (another fav author - Canadian) but it ranks up there.
The other book I'm reading tonight is "Deceptively Delicious" by Jessica Seinfeld (yes, Jerry's wife) about cooking for kids. Oprah profiled it a couple of weeks ago. My super wonderful Aunti Jenni ordered me the book (early b-day present - THANK YOU!) and after a few weeks of back order it arrived today. I'm going to read through some of it tonight - but I will likely start Potter.
And speaking of not doing anything any more - I think I might be done with ER. What the hell happened in the last episode? What is wrong with those writers? I found that scene at the end uncomfortable to watch- why, why, why would they do that? That can't be getting the ratings up. It might as well been a rape and I just thought it was in bad taste and poor judgement - me a faithful (ok except for about a year) viewer of ER. Not to mention - eeewwwwwww - come on she's got the hottest man on the show in the sack and she goes after that... WHAT? WHAT..... WHAT?? I don't care if she was lonely, and drunk... did anyone feel like she was drugged... is that where this is going? Ok - good night... tomorrow night I'm decorating a tree in the local festival of trees competition - I'll have photos to share late tomorrow night.
With 80 pages gone I decided to finish the rest before I went to bed. I ended up reading until 1:20am. It's done. It had 658 pages and now I'm on to Potter - not sure if I will crack it tonight or not... don't want to get too into it. I do want to know what happens though. That doesn't mean anyone needs to spoil it for me... thank you :)
So what of the book? Well as a long time King reader I would say it is better than a bunch, but not as complex as some. I loved the Stand - definitely in my top ten for favorite books. I wouldn't place this in the top ten - Lisey's Story - but it was a good read. The relationship between a husband and wife written in a different style - one that I enjoyed because I write like that - or have thought about writing the way he wrote this book - he will be writing about a past event and then it flips to the next chapter in present tense following off from where he started to explain the past event. There is gore, but not nearly as bad as his other books. There is one scene in it that nearly made me quite reading because it was so vivid and just made me feel like I didn't (shouldn't) want to read anymore if that was going to be the rest of the book - not as bad as the unicorn section of "Not wanted on the voyage" by Findley (another fav author - Canadian) but it ranks up there.
The other book I'm reading tonight is "Deceptively Delicious" by Jessica Seinfeld (yes, Jerry's wife) about cooking for kids. Oprah profiled it a couple of weeks ago. My super wonderful Aunti Jenni ordered me the book (early b-day present - THANK YOU!) and after a few weeks of back order it arrived today. I'm going to read through some of it tonight - but I will likely start Potter.
And speaking of not doing anything any more - I think I might be done with ER. What the hell happened in the last episode? What is wrong with those writers? I found that scene at the end uncomfortable to watch- why, why, why would they do that? That can't be getting the ratings up. It might as well been a rape and I just thought it was in bad taste and poor judgement - me a faithful (ok except for about a year) viewer of ER. Not to mention - eeewwwwwww - come on she's got the hottest man on the show in the sack and she goes after that... WHAT? WHAT..... WHAT?? I don't care if she was lonely, and drunk... did anyone feel like she was drugged... is that where this is going? Ok - good night... tomorrow night I'm decorating a tree in the local festival of trees competition - I'll have photos to share late tomorrow night.
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