chish n fips

In other news...

2007-11-17T05:36:00.001-05:00

I hit my weightloss goal 2 weeks ago, but things have been so hectic around here I haven't had a chance to blog about it til now, and I had hoped to have a couple of pics to go with the announcement, but that hasn't happened either. *sigh* Anyways..."ya me!" 80 lbs gone...and I have decided I still have another 20lbs to go. I am referring to them as "bonus pounds" (get to my goal and anything more is a bonus) and so far I am down another 2lbs.

Flying the nest

2007-11-17T05:13:00.000-05:00

It's been a while since I blogged anything substantial admittedly, but on the other hand pictures supposedly say a thousand words... cop out? Yeah, you're probably right.

One little (not so little) development here on the home front however is that the boy is getting ready to fly the nest. He has been offered a job out west and is leaving in 3 days to drive out to Alberta to start his new life. It's a fantastic opportunity, a supervisory position with one of the top hotels, comes with apartment/suite and meals, all set in the most picturesque of settings. I am thrilled for him and wish I'd had the same opportunities at his age.

It has taken a little while getting my head around the idea that my "boy" is leaving. When I cast my mind back however, I realise that at his age I was already married and pregnant, it does put things in perspective for me a little. I wholly endorse his getting out, seeing the world and having a few adventures before he gets tied down himself with family and responsibilities. But that doesn't mean I will miss him any less or worry any less.

My house is in upheaval as we sort through various things for him to take, pack mountains of clothes and try to anticipate what he might need out there. Because he will be living in the hotel he will not be able to take Cleo and she gets to stay home with me. She will be great company as I was somewhat shocked to realise that at the ripe old age of 40, I have never actually lived alone. I went from family, to room-mates, to boyfriend (who became husband), to just the boy and I. It will be a new experience for both of us.

So far emotionally I am holding up, but I am sure come Monday morning when I wave him off on his 4 day road trip across Canada, I will be a basket case.

Wow! She's grown!!

2007-11-07T07:54:00.002-05:00

Darn!

2007-11-07T07:54:00.001-05:00

Well I got the phone call yesterday and this time around I wasn't successful in the promotional process.

Darn.

The Long and Winding Road

2007-11-07T07:44:00.000-05:00

Cleo and I took a walk out by the construction site 2 weeks ago and naturally I was thrilled to see we have curbs on our new roads!

I fired off an email to my contact at the builders, and he told me they'd be doing the temporary tarmac within the next few days...and then the builders will be moving in!! (Thank heavens because if we can get the foundations poured before the ground freezes they can build all through the winter).

So Monday Cleo and I hit the road again...literally! They have laid the temporary tarmac and we were even able to walk our new roads!! Awesome!

Kicking myself

2007-10-29T10:22:00.000-04:00

I had my interview this morning at 6:30 am. (You'd think I'd get bonus points for being bright and articulate at that hour at the very least). I think I bombed big time and was kicking myself all the way home with all those "woulda, shoulda, couldas" that swirl through our heads at times like this. What is done is done however and we will be notified in writing later as to whether or not we were successful. It's a relief this long process is finally over, but I so wish I could re-do that last 5 minutes of the interview. At least then I would feel that I had given it my very best shot.

I just keep telling myself that it was good experience and I can reapply in the new year when they run the process again. Doesn't change the fact that I am bitterly disappointed in myself for how things went this morning.

Oh well.

Car ride

2007-10-15T20:26:00.000-04:00

Car ride!

Shotgun!

Cleo hated the car at first, but slowly and surely she's getting used to it. Today was her first ride through the carwash - now *that* she found interesting, up on her hind legs looking out the window at all the water cascading down.

Our day at the lake

2007-10-15T19:45:00.000-04:00

2007-10-10 Cleo's first visit to the lake.
Run, play, stop, sniff, play some more...

EXTREMELY windy. I'm going for the windswept ears look - it's very "in" this year yanno!

Dog meet Lake...Lake meet Dog...

BIG stick!

She just loves it here!

Dig, dig, dig...

Everything smells so interesting!

Playing at the shore.

Puppy power!!!! (at mach 10)

dig...dig...dig some more!

Checking out the view.

She wants to be a beach bum when she grows up.

Checking out the water's edge.

I can see the Labrador in her is making her a true water lover!! The lake in October though? Brrrrrr!

Cleo!!

2007-10-03T09:53:00.000-04:00

Here are a few pics of Miss Cleo taken yesterday - I can't get over how much she has grown in the past three weeks!!

I love the photos of her with the boy, but now I realise I have none with her myself! I will have to try and get him to take a few of us!

Construction Pics

2007-10-03T09:48:00.000-04:00

Well the crew are wrapping up the sewer and water pipe work, according to the workman who came beelining for me at the jobsite yesterday, I had Cleo with me for the ride and she's a total magnet for cute guys!! So hopefully we will see some actual "construction" work being done in the next few weeks!!

Yes! We have fire hydrants!!

PTD

2007-10-03T09:39:00.000-04:00

Well I tried to get a few pics of my progress to date. Currently sitting at 72lbs gone and 8lbs more to go to the goal I set myself in January - although personally I think I'll try for another 20lbs after that. Anything after 80lbs however will be a bonus.

Wait for hours, then 4 come along all at once!

2007-10-03T09:21:00.000-04:00

Well I seem to be going in spurts on my blogging these days. Nothing for weeks and then bam - 3 or 4 posts at once (kinda like waiting for a bus)...and today's posts will continue in that vein. I have been busy with the camera again. So hang on to your hats ladies and gents, hopefully this wont hurt a bit.

On the "news" front - I finally have an interview date. October 29th at 0630hrs. (Yes folks, that's 6:30 in the freaking morning). Thank heavens I am a morning person. Seventeen of the eighteen candidates made it through the exam process (bunch of smarty pants) so the interviews are scheduled back-to-back over a few days (some apparently into November too!) I am on a week's holls next week over Thanksgiving, so I will sit down then and try to formulate a few responses to anticipated questions using the BEI format. I've even been out and bought myself a new suit for the experience (bargain, sale, and looks fantastic, couldn't resist). So cross your fingers and toes for me for that date.

In other news... quite out of the blue, a week ago last Monday, the boy decided to drop the bombshell that he is thinking of moving out. He'll be 20 in December and I guess he's keen to get out into the big wide world. Needless to say I am beyond words, but he knows the door is always open if he should fall flat on his face and need to come home. The heartbreaking kicker of it all is that my darling Cleo is technically "his" darling Cleo, and will be going with him. Just these few short weeks of having her around and I can't imagine life without her. *sniff* I have assured him however that I am available to doggy-sit whenever he needs me - and if for whatever reason he is unable to keep her, she is to come home here and not be given to strangers.

The current plan is for him to move in with a couple of friends and share a basement apartment not too far from where we are living now. The rent is disgustingly cheap when shared three-ways and the landlords are the parents of one of the aforementioned friends, who reside upstairs. Needless to say this makes the bitter pill of my "baby" leaving the nest a little easier to swallow. Mentally I am already packing spare dishes and plate sets, h'mmm he can take the two love seats from the family room...oh and the coffee table...and... Then I realise that come next spring (assuming all this "moving out" malarkey goes through) when I am ready to move to my new house, I will be moving there alone. That's when the realisation dawns...I've never actually lived on my own ....ever. Cripes!

Exam results

2007-09-23T09:15:00.001-04:00

In case anyone was wondering, I passed my promotional exam! (woooo hoooo!) Very pleased with myself, all those hours of studying paid off and I officially "know my stuff".

Now I just have to wait to be scheduled for an interview sometime in October, along with all the other successful candidates (curse them) as we battle it out in a BEI type interview for the two available supervisor positions. We had originally been told that once the positions had been filled, that management would keep a list of other "qualified/successful candidates" to automatically fill future anticipated vacancies coming up over the next 18 months (of which there will be another 3 or more positions due to retirement etc.). However, management in their infinite wisdom (tongue in cheek), have decided that they will re-run the WHOLE FREAKING PROCESS again in the new year - to create a promotional "standby list".

OK...where's the logic there?

Will let ya know when I have my interview date.

Girls night out

2007-09-22T22:22:00.000-04:00

Most recent pic from a month ago...

Playtime

2007-09-22T16:18:00.000-04:00

Just a few shots of Cleo having some fun in the back garden.

A future cheerleader with her pom-pom.

Getting to grips with her first squeaky toy.

Wonder if she'd like a little mustard with that weiner dog...?

OK ...what now....?

Ohhhhh....a leaf!

OK mom...where now?

New member of the family

2007-09-15T00:18:00.000-04:00

So the boy and I have been back and forth over the past ...omg it feels like forever...over the idea of getting a new dog. Our last dog sadly passed around 8 years ago. She was a purebred rescue, an elderly Westie (West Highland White Terrier) and was only with us a couple of years. Prior to that we'd had another rescue, another mature pooch, a collie-shepherd cross and she was with us for almost 7 years. The boy however has never had a puppy.

After many, many (omg many) hours of back and forth pros and cons (his pros...my cons) we finally decided that if we were going to get a puppy, that it made sense to get one now, and get the housetraining over with before we move into the new house. I made the mistake of saying "We will have a dog before Christmas..." because as soon as those words were out of my mouth it seemed we both became canine possessed. We searched websites, newspaper ads, billboards at the vet's office. Er...what happened to Christmas? What's the rush? We took the "breed quiz" online and heaven knows what other sites. One thing we were both agreed on was that we wanted a larger dog. My favourite being a labrador, his being a German Sheppard.

That was when I happened on a local website and found us the best of both worlds...a lab/shep cross! 24 hours later (whatever happened to Christmas??) we were driving two towns over to "just look" at the litter of puppies. FATAL!! One look at those cute little faces and I was lost. I knew we wouldn't be going home alone.

So without further ado let me introduce you to our latest addition to the family, Cleo. She's 7 weeks old and totally adoreable (and snuggled at my feet as I type this dreaming her puppy-dog dreams...yes, finding time to sit and blog will now depend on puppy nap time!) Enjoy the pics...cuz you know there will be LOTS more to come in the foreseeable future!!

Cleo with her littermates - she's the one on the far right with the tan eyebrow markings.

The boy's heart is won!

Her first vet visit - Dr. Finlay gave her a clean bill of health, her first set of shots...and a tasty raw hide chew!

My fave pic! Look at that face!!!

Waiting for me to quit with the camera and go back inside. hehehe...she'll get used to it!

I caught her in mid-yawn, but I love this pic!

She looks totally lost in her crate, but just wait 6 months and it wont seem so big!

Snuggled up with the boy's shirt.

She wont be in this carrier for long, but for now this is her night time bed in the boy's room.

Shhhhh!

Still alive!

2007-09-14T10:54:00.000-04:00

It's been a busy couple of weeks...studying like mad, and a new addition to the family (more about that later). I sat my promotional exam yesterday and am on tenterhooks waiting to see if I passed. It's been a stressful period for sure.

18 of us took the exam - and one keener was done in no time flat, handed in his exam paper and was gone within 20 minutes! I took almost an hour and there were still at least 10 people in the room when I left. I feel I did OK...they were going to mark them yesterday and send them down to employment down town. I hope they get the results to us today and not make us stew over the weekend! Some of the questions were tricky in the way they were worded to try and deliberately trip us up. Talking to some of the other candidates after the exam we discovered a couple of questions where they had tricked a few of us into the wrong answer. I just have my fingers crossed that I passed...then it's on to the interview in October.

They have already told us that the interview is approximately 1 and a half hours long (FECK!) and it's based on the BEI interview format...which I am not good at. So if I pass the exam I will be studying the BEI format and trying to formulate some responses - although I wont know ahead of time what the questions are.

So I can relax a little for the time being....and I am hopeful.

Design Centre part deux

2007-08-28T16:25:00.000-04:00

Well today was the big appointment at the Design Centre. I didn't get a wink of sleep last night (OK...I'm exaggerating a little, but I swear I woke up and looked at the clock every hour!) I stuck to my guns pretty much on not going overboard on upgrades and everything is very neutral in colour.

Here are a few pics from my final choices...the full album is available on my Facebook account.

Kitchen cabinet in Maple "Wild Apple" - yes, I upgraded from the basic line. (thanks for your feedback Monette!)
Counter top in Tuscan Marble.
Floor tile - Corte Milia Silver.

Kitchen cabinets, counter top and main floor floor-tiles again.

Bathroom cabinet Vermont Classic in natural Maple.
Counter top in Poritico Marble.
Floor and wall tile in New Albatroz Grey.
Brushed chrome handle (closest to cabinet door).

Yep, bathroom again. I steered clear of coloured tiles because I don't want to be restricted decor-wise and the patterned tiles and borders go out of vogue so very quckly.

Broadloom 35 oz (yes, I got the upgraded under pad) next to the floor tile. No the carpet isn't pink...just photographs that way. OK...here's a better shot of the carpet. Bottom row centre.

The bedroom en suite upgrade was ordered, a rough in 3 piece bath in the basement, and a couple of extra cable jack rough-ins ...and presto! We're done!

Now I just have to wait for them to build it! Here's a shot of the site from yesterday....

A shot I lovingly call "Men @ Work"....and now I can't get that song from the 80's out of my head! Arghhhh!

Design Centre

2007-08-19T14:07:00.000-04:00

I was out at the Design Centre this morning to check out all the different samples etc. for the new house. My appointment is in just over a week's time to go in and make final decisions on various items. Carpet, cabinetry, countertops etc. Naturally I took my camera...but I am not about to upload all the pics here. Instead, drop by my photobucket account and have a wee gander ...and if you have a suggestion/preferance or observation, please do not hesitate to leave a comment here.

Holls almost over...sigh

2007-08-18T12:10:00.000-04:00

So I am back to work on Monday...and so far haven't made much of a dent on my other things on my "to do" list - but that's OK, this has been a well deserved break. I've made a point of hitting the gym every day and I'm happy with my progress - although the scale is playing a daily game of "gain 1lb...lose 1lb" just to keep me on my toes. I appear to have entered the twilight world of the plateau and I just have to grit my teeth, not lose hope and battle on through it.

I've been studying the package for the promotional exam daily, making copious notes, drinking gallons of coffee and realising that my brain isn't the sponge it was back in my school days. I was one of the lucky ones who never had to study for tests or exams back in school...but it seems with age I now need to learn some study techniques. Any tips from our resident school teacher would be gratefully appreciated!

So what have I been up to? Well last Friday J. , her bf and I hit the "Taste of the Danforth" street festival in Toronto. A celebration of all things Greek - food, drink, music, culture. We had a wonderful time...but as you can see from this pics it was crowded beyond belief!

Saturday, I was at a pool party with friends, but sadly again it was a tad too cool by late afternoon to tempt me into the water. The food was good however and the company ever better - kinda sad in a way that summer is just about over and this was probably the last pool party of the summer.

The traditional "Jello Shot"

Sunday I was photographing sewer pipes (as previously noted), Sunday night I had a date with a guy I have known for a couple of years - but have successfully been able to duck up until this point. He invited me out to watch the meteor shower. Well, we never saw the promised meteors but it was a very starry night and we had a pleasant enough time. I have been avoiding him since as I really don't think we have much in common.

Tuesday was a date of a different kind. A guy I have known for several months...and who plays games like no tomorrow. We agreed to go to the movies...and then he was "incommunicado" from that point on. My response...fine! Screw 'em! And I went to the movies by myself. The Bourne Ultimatum...two thumbs up. Guy in question is deleted from my cell, blocked on msn and can go forth and multiply as far as I am concerned. (The fact he never called is immaterial).

Wednesday I met with an old girlfriend H. for drinks on the patio at a local bar. Our reunion was thanks to Facebook - we had lost touch probably about 10 or more years ago. What I figured was going to be a hour or two bite to eat and quick pint turned into a 5 1/2 hour gabfest. She's now married, with 2 kids (the youngest being a mere 7 weeks old, so this was a big night out for her). We got caught up, marvelled at how well we still got along after all these years, and generally had a wonderful time, promising we'll do it again soon now that we have been reunited. In itself it's not a huge story, except our friendship came along in the most unusual of ways. As we explained later to the bar owner, who came to join us for a drink mid-way through the evening - we both dated the same guy. "Biff" my ex of almost 10 years ago had the unusual habit of remaining the very best of friends with all his exes. My girlfriend was his ex from high school...and again in their mid 20's (he has a tendency to have at least 2 kicks at the can as it were). When he and I got together in the early 90's it was a given that his exes were still a part of his life - in a totally platonic way. I wasn't totally cool with it...but H. and I hit it off like a house on fire. Although the bar owner's comment of "oh so you both slept with the same guy" elicited a chorus of "ewwww's". "Biff" - I am happy to report has married and divorced since our 7 year relationship broke up (to another ex that he re-dated for the second time around) and is now living common-law and is a proud new "poppa" with yet another "ex" who he dated back in the late 80's. We jokingly wondered when my second "kick at the can" was going to happen...but I think I will pass on those sloppy seconds thank you very much!

Back to skool....

2007-08-18T11:36:00.000-04:00

So I am sitting out on the patio this morning, sipping my mid-morning coffee and leafing through the million or so flyers that were delivered last night with my local newspaper. The thing weighed a ton, and I mentally made note to check the biceps on our paper-girl - she's a trooper. Seems all the big-chain stores are out to grab everyone's "back to school" dollars judging by all the sales going on. I heaved a sigh of relief that I don't have to go through all that rigmarole and palaver anymore with the boy...and cast my mind back (yes, I know - the stone ages) to my own back to school preparations.

Back in those days there were no MP3 players, jump drives or laptop computers on the top of the list. Our back to school preparations generally consisted of making sure the school uniform from last year still fit...could that blazer go for another term? Couple of new white shirts, new P.E. knickers...and the obligatory new shoes that would leave you blistered and bleeding for at least the first month - until the calluses built up. As far as supplies were concerned I'd generally score a new pencil case, compass set, bottle of Tippex and maybe a new bag to lug everything back and forth to school with. Presto! We were done! My trust Casio scientific calculator survived through my entire comprehensive school career (unlike the boy who generally needed a new one every September...and managed to lose it by mid-November) - all I remember about calculators back in those days was giggling at being able to spell "boobless" or "shell oil" on it. We made our own entertainment back in those days! LOL

Let there be sewers!

2007-08-13T07:00:00.000-04:00

OK...who ordered the rock garden?

OK, so most people wouldn't give a sh...but this to me looks like sewer pipes! (pardon the pun)

I'm soooo impatient for them to actually start BUILDING...argh! Would be nice to know what tiny wee plot is mine at least.

...but I will be patient...obviously this stuff is tres important. But wait...orange stick in the ground! Woo hoo...dunno what it means...but it's something!

Is there a better way to spend a Sunday morning than photographing sewer pipes?? Seriously!

Summer Holidays

2007-08-09T18:45:00.000-04:00

I am on holidays from work :0) (as of a week ago to be precise, but I have been a tad lax in blogging as of late). Nothing planned specifically - no wondrous trips booked to far distant lands, no great road trips or "touristy" type activities on the agenda. Both the lack of a travel companion and the need to save funds for the house have dictated that this year's summer holls (much like previous years) will be spent in the "Costa del Back-garden" of "Chez Sue".

I deliberately didn't sign up for any overtime at work - unlike my last vacation in March where I worked so much overtime, that when I finally got back to work after my holidays, it didn't feel like I had had a break at all! No, these nineteen days are mine, all mine! (muhaha) To decompress, relax, laze around and basically do sweet F.A.

I do have a "to do" list - just so that I don't go back to work with absolutely nothing accomplished...but they are all menial things. "Sort bedroom closet/hall closet", "go to the library" "detail car", "go to the movies", "weed flower bed" etc. So far we can cross "detail car" and "weeding" off the list. In addition I've been to the hairdresser for a freshen up, made it to the gym every day and even treated myself to a manicure/pedicure/waxing.

Tuesday I went into work, but just purely to pick up my study package for the promotional exam. One hundred and nine pages to be precise. So for the past few days I have set aside a couple of hours a day to go over the material - I find if I sit out on the patio and study I am killing two birds with one stone. Getting a little sun (burn and freckles) and swotting for the test at the same time.

The weather this week has been beyond gorgeous! So my naturally whiter-than-white skin now has a lobsterish tinge, which I am topping up with daily sunless tanner applications. So now I look sort of orangey-red instead of just red...but it's better than nothing. I also decided to use this time off from work to try a detox-colon flush. I wont go into details, suffice to say a week and a half into the 3 week program it doesn't seem to be working so far. Poop - or should that be no-poop? (ahem...pun intended)

With the weekend right around the corner I do have a couple of activities lined up. Toronto is hosting it's "Taste of the Danforth" this weekend, which is basically a street festival celebrating everything Greek - lots of food, music and maybe a little ouzo. Some friends and I plan on hitting the event tomorrow evening, so that should be lots of garlicky fun! Saturday is another pool party - which I am looking forward to seeing as I haven't exactly been out socially since the last pool party June 30th. Hopefully the weather will hold out and I'll actually get some pool time this time!

The boy and I have been back and forth over the whole puppy debate again. He wants one...and deep down I don't, or at least I am not ready for one right now. I still don't know if it's been settled, but for now at least we are agreed we are not getting one right now. (Famous last words until he walks in the door with a ball of fluff I am sure!)

In other news...h'mmm... well there really isn't any other news. I was out at the construction site last week for the first time in almost a month, but from what I could see there was no real change from the last time I was there (hence no photos posted). My love life is still in mothballs. My pride is still smarting a wee bit from the Irish cop-cutie who didn't mind seeing me for the first month (April) ...but then decided the age difference was too great and he would "freak" if anyone found out about us. Ouch! So needless to say I have been feeling a tad "old" in the last little while. Order me up a vat of Oil of Olay/Ulay (funny how it has a different name this side of the pond). My gf J. has been very busy both with work and her own love life lately, so we haven't even been gabbing on the phone as much - never mind going out! Still perhaps it's for the best...gives me more time to study for my promotional exam in September.

Hope everyone is having a wonderful summer so far! :0)

Hooray! Hooray! I'm on holi-holi-days! (apologies to Boney-M)

2007-08-01T18:42:00.000-04:00

It's been an awesome day! I was officially on leave as of 1500hrs est today, when I handed over the 11 and 12 division dispatch desk to the afternoon shift dispatcher and stowed my headset in my bag for the next 19 days! (Woot!)

This is the first time I have had "summer" (July or August) holls in more years than I care to even think about. So where am I off to? Well nowhere to be honest. It will be "Costa del Back Yard" for yours truly... but fear not gentle reader, I intend to have a relaxing and productive holiday at home, de-stressing.

So what made today awesome? Well ...heck, sad to say other people's misfortune, but it made for an excellent adrenalin filled day...and we all know what an adrenalin junkie I am. I sat down at my desk at 7am to relieve the night shift dispatcher to a home invasion (victim bound and beaten and suspects made off with some cash and "Special K" ....apparently that's not the cereal!) We had a take down of a stolen vehicle ...suspect apprehended (booyah!) We had a gun call - resident calling in a "sound of gunshots" ...a person with a knife call (homeless mentally ill person wandering down the street armed with a knife threatening passersby)...one officer got into a foot pursuit after a regular traffic stop turned into an assault (attacked the officer with a stick)...he left a large stash of Crack Cocaine on the passenger seat of his car- idiot! A lady jumped from a window of a local hospital in a suicide attempt and I had an officer get into a vehicle pursuit right at the end of shift. Talk about being hyped beyond belief! For a very small part of the city that is normally known as "sleepy hollow" it was incredibly busy for a Wednesday morning. I almost wonder if I will be able to give up dispatching (if and when) I ever get that promotion I am after. Speaking of which, I got the official "OK" today that my application has been accepted for the promotional race and I get to pick up my study package for the exam next week. First hurdle overcome...now for the exam...yikes! Study tips anyone?

The boy and I are thinking about a puppy. We had planned to wait until we had moved into the house before getting one, however he came to me the other day suggesting (and heck I hate it when his logic makes sense) that we look into getting the puppy now before we move...so that all the house training (and possible accidents) are over with now in this rented house and not on my new carpets and upgraded under pad in the new place. He has a point. So we've been looking into it. I am waiting for a callback from a breeder that one of the girls from work just got a puppy from a little over a month ago. The boy has never had a puppy...his past 2 dogs have been adult "rescues" ...so this is very special for him. We'll have to see what happens!

So now the next 19 days. My plans include getting some chores done around the house, that I have been procrastinating somewhat over, getting some sun, hitting the construction site for more pics, a trip to the Design Centre to check out the samples for my upgrades, a pool party, a street festival, at least 1 trip to the movies with the boy...and who knows what else. I don't want to head back to work feeling I have done nothing. The one thing I have categorically said, in no uncertain terms, with the exception of 1 shift I volunteered for weeks ago to cover our "Carribana Parade" this coming weekend, is NO overtime! I am taking these next 19 days (as selfishly as this may sound) for me ... and this 2nd rum and diet coke is going down a treat! :0)

"We're all going on a sum-mer holiday, no more working for a week or two..." (apologies to Cliff Richard)

I wonder if I even have a 2B pencil?

2007-07-20T19:01:00.000-04:00

It's been a busy few weeks - work has been busy (and stressful, but I wont go into that), and I have been working all kinds of overtime (yes, for the house). Which reminds me, I need to get out and take a few more pics of my dirt at some point :0)

The promotional process at work has started and I have submitted my resume and application...and am just waiting to hear if I have made the successful candidate list. Assuming I am...the study package will be available the first week of August...and the exam will be September 13th. I hate exams...never was very good at them. If (and it's a huge "if", because apparently it's a bastard of an exam) I pass, the interviews will be in October. They base their interviews on all that "I, I, I, me, me, me" stuff...and when you are a typically self-effacing Brit like myself those kind of statements seem so very alien, smug and downright unattractive. I am going to have to learn how to blow my own trumpet...and sound like I believe it.

My social life right now is it's usual sporadic array of nothing, nothing...busy, busy....nothing. My love life is beyond extinct and I believe it now qualifies for an archaeological dig.

My diet however, is continuing to plod along, as of this date I am down 57lbs and I am trying to "step it up" a little as I have become a little slack in my cardio workouts - hitting the gym only 3 times a week for my weights routine instead of 5-6 times a week with a combination of weights and cardio. I had a knee injury (ironically from over exertion on the treadmill) about 2 months ago. It took forever to heal and I never did get back to running. Originally my goal date was Labour Day weekend...and as of today I am going to be a little short of hitting that target - but not by much, if I step it up now through to the beginning of September. Either way, I will get there come hell or high water before Thanksgiving (Canadian).

I have holidays coming up at the beginning of August...19 days of rest and relaxation. No plans, no destinations ...and definitely no overtime. My last set of holls I ended up working half of them and went back to work feeling that I had never been gone. After the past few weeks at work I definitely need the break...and it will be good study time for the exam.

...did I mention how much I hate exams??

More pics of my dirt!

2007-07-12T12:51:00.000-04:00

Decided to come out on a "work day" to actually catch some action...LOOK!! A workman! Woot!

Workmen again :0)

Digger-excavator-thingy (Hopefully Josh will help here with the correct word!)

I ran into a workman down on the main road who aside from being the spitting image of the construction worker from the Village People (I kid you not) he informed me that they are building roads and laying sewers.

...therefore given my new technical expertise ...this must be a road building thingy! (Dad would be so proud!)

more ptd pics

2007-07-10T00:13:00.000-04:00

Jen emailed me a couple of pics...so here's another "ptd" update @55lbs.
Typical I know...I get bugged for photos for months and have none to show...and then I flood you with them!

Week 4

2007-07-02T22:15:00.000-04:00

The amount of work they have done this week is astounding. The entire area is basically cleared! I litterally gasped out loud when I got out of the car to take these.

It blows my mind that 4 weeks ago this was all trees and grassy hills.

South...wish I could figure out where my lot is...gonna have to have another gander at the site plans.

Now that's what I call a big pile of dirt!

"Excavators" (thank you Josh!)

Looking north/east

Looking east from the far south-westerly edge of the construction perimeter.

I did take more, but let's face it...it's dirt! Crossing my fingers that we see some actual construction starting soon! lol

Happy Canada Day!

2007-07-01T21:06:00.001-04:00

We took a drive out to Cobourg for their Waterfront Festival.

The Cobourg Marina.

The Beachfront

The Midway - the smells from all the cotton candy and hotdog stands was overpowering.

Hope they didnt eat before getting on the ride. lol

Yikes!

The Bandshell - various artists performing all day.

The audience.

Jen and I may have stopped a wee while here to watch. I took another shot to try and get the ball in the frame (a dismal failure) ...to which Jen asked innocently (wiping the drool off her chin).."Oh, they have a ball?"

What a nifty way to get around! I bet one or two of these down at the Ex this summer would be very cool!! It has a little siren and flashing light at the front...which he kindly demonstrated for me (I did ask permission to take the photo)...apparently the top speed is 20kms/hr - but he didn't see the humour about being in a pursuit on it. (typical...only T.O. coppers have a sense of humour)

C'est moi!

2007-07-01T00:24:00.000-04:00

Taken June 30th out front of Jen's place (I was there to pick her up to go to a pool party & bbq). Still a long ways to go...

Week 3

2007-06-25T20:49:00.000-04:00

Ohhhh ...big yellow digger things have arrived! (technical term, I know you're impressed).

A big clearing area.

Looking south.

Still looking south.

Yep...you guessed it...looking south again.

Looking ....north! (ha! fooled ya!)

Looking north again...and the porta-potty stage right.

North....again.

...and finally, north again.

Stayed tuned for more next week!

Giving it my best shot

2007-06-25T20:47:00.000-04:00

Well we got the official word today that the supervisor promotional process is going to run over the summer. It will be posted July 11, successful candidates notified Aug 2, study package available Aug 7, written exam Sept 13 and start of interviews somewhere around Oct 8.

From what I hear there are a lot of people going for it. We have 4 supervisors per platoon (total of 5 platoons) and due to recent retirements/resignations we have 3 vacancies...the rest of the successful candidates will be in a "pool" to fill future vacancies, much the same way uniform spots are filled too.

So I figure what the heck, I've been "acting" for just short of a year, and at the very least it will be good experience to go through the promotional process. Now I just have to prepare a resume (haven't needed one in a few years! LOL)

Wish me luck!

I got flowers!

2007-06-22T16:42:00.000-04:00

...from my trainee!

After 5 weeks of working side by side, leading him through the intricacies of 911 call taking, my trainee was officially set free to fly "solo" today. He surprised me this morning by leaving a "thank you" on my desk. Initially I thought the night shift dispatcher must have left them behind accidentally at shift change, until a co-worker found the card nestled inside...and then I got all verklempt. What a sweet thank you!

I won't tell you how many people stopped by my desk to ask if it was my birthday or alternatively was my "significant other" in a whole heap of trouble! LOL

No longer a golf virgin!

2007-06-20T21:18:00.000-04:00

A few of us off my platoon got together on days off yesterday for a golf day - sadly not everyone, but I don't think even the golf course could have coped with 50 of us all at once. Prior to yesterday my only experience with golf had included windmills and the big clown's mouth at the end of the course....ahem.

I had a totally awesome time. I actually managed to impress a few of the guys with a few of my drives...but there were equally as many pathetic moments - and it was a blast. I even got invited to come out and play at a local course with a couple of the guys from work sometime. Not bad for someone who showed up not even knowing if she golfed left handed or right, eh? I'm a south paw...but it turns out I golf right. We played 9 holes, and I discovered that once the "beverage cart" had visited us around the 4th hole that beer truly doesn't make me a better golfer...but I was definitely more relaxed and not worried about showing myself up!

The full set of photos are on Facebook, but here are a few from the day, I can't wait to go again!

and finally the golfers...(I am 6th from the right).

Afterward we retired to a local watering hole for foam and feathers!

Land clearing week two

2007-06-18T20:10:00.000-04:00

Early Sunday evening I was out prowling the construction site...again.

Week 2 and the progress is staggering!

Those mounds look like earth from a distance, but they appear to be straw/dry grass.

Ohhh look they even have a portapotty! (No! This isn't my bathroom upgrade!!)

Looking south across the construction site.

Ummmm...any suggestions? Someone said "road"...that works for me!

It's almost sad to see all the trees gone (I said *almost*).

Looking north - east from the south edge of the site.

Quite the change in a week, eh?

*sigh* Lovely dirt!

My geekdom citizenship has been revoked

2007-06-11T18:17:00.000-04:00

Well I learned today that I am no computer geek - not that that in itself should be any great shock to the masses. I also learned my son isn't a little boy anymore that needs his mummy to fix all his problems.

As mentioned previously our main computer died on Friday. The boy was pretty sure it was just the power supply unit (psu). He made mention on the all too infrequent times that our paths cross nowadays (due to my shifts and his social life) that he intended on picking one up and installing it.

Naturally I was impatient - so I offered this morning - seeing as I had the morning free - to take the computer up to a local computer repair place to get a diagnostic. The first place I took it to (big box store #1 with computer repair department) gave me a free diagnostic and said the psu was definitely broken. He was also concerned with a little corrosion around a few of the pins on the motherboard. Said I could possibly get a new psu installed but he was thinking that the motherboard wont last much longer and the computer may start freezing up on me. He only had what he described as "overpriced brand name" psu's in stock and didn't even recommend spending the money they wanted to do it, suggesting I find a cheaper one elsewhere.

On to big box store #2....same story. His psu's were the same price, and he wanted another $100 just to install it. At this point I decided to take the computer to the store where I bought it from...

...and here is where I got the wool pulled over my eyes.

I went in saying I was looking for a psu. Their prices were the same as the big box stores, took the cover off the cpu, saw the corrosion on the pins on the motherboard and decided I would definitely need a new motherboard too. At this point I was hot, miserable and just wanted the damned thing fixed. OK - so how much for a new motherboard? Oh, well if you get a new motherboard you will need this...and this...and this...oh and why not upgrade this whilst you're at it...in fact, did you want us to just give you a quote for a whole new computer?

They were quoting numbers and speeds and bits and bytes until my eyes glazed over and I just wanted it all to stop. At some point I signed a work order....for over $800. My "$40-80" repair was suddenly a lot bigger. I even stopped at the bank on the way home to transfer funds into my chequing account just to cover it.

Then the boy called.

And I sat and told him about the new psu, and the new motherboard, and the new ..the new...the new.

To say he went ballistic would be an understatement. "Mother!" (Good sign I am in trouble when he uses my full parenting name) "...why would you go to a computer store and have all that done, when I am a COMPUTER TECHNICIAN?"

I honestly didn't have an answer for him. In my eyes he's still my little boy, who needed help tying his shoes and reminding to do his homework. Not some strapping 6' tall guy who fixes other people's computer and internet issues for a living. I felt very foolish. Then I told him how much it was costing...and he told me what kind of computer he could build from scratch for that price... I felt extremely foolish.

He ended up calling the computer store himself and had the technician go through everything on the list they had talked me into....and to explain the need for each item. He ended up cancelling the work order verbally on the phone and told the technician to install a new psu and NOTHING more.

We picked up the computer late this afternoon - costing me significantly less than the original eight and change I was quoted. (and cheaper than what the big box stores wanted to charge me) and I feel I have learned to leave the technical stuff to him and I'll just stick to what I do best. -whatever that may be.

Of course on arriving home and searching the boot of my car I realised I had left the cpu power cable (I didn't know they didn't need it) on the counter of the first big box store I went into first thing this morning. Quick phone call and thankfully they said we have hundreds - come on up and we'll just give you one.

It's been a hellish day...

ptd

2007-06-10T15:00:00.000-04:00

Oh, and another reason for a big cheesey smile on my face this beautiful sunny Sunday?

I finally hit 50lbs this morning :0) - that's 3 stone 8lbs in English. :0)

Photos to follow I promise - just hard trying to take them on your own!

Clearing the land...finally!

2007-06-10T14:37:00.000-04:00

After getting a quick note from a work-friend on Facebook (if you're not on it yet...why not?) I found myself in my car (right after the Sunday omnibus edition of Coronation Street was over), camera in hand, to grab a few shots of the following...

Starting to clear the land at the building site.

Dirt, glorious dirt!

Even more dirt! Crews clearing ground to service the lot.

A digger!! Bye, bye trees!

Looking south from the development to existing housing. Hello neighbours!! :0)

Down there...somewhere...is my lot. I just haven't a clue where!

One last look at the digger!

Noah, hold off on that Ark a moment, mate.

2007-06-09T14:20:00.000-04:00

We had a storm warning last night. Urgent expressions on newscasters faces breaking into "regularly scheduled programming" to bring us their news. My area was under a "severe thunderstorm warning" whilst areas just to the west, north and east of me were under a "severe tornado warning".

I paused. Checked my mailing address. No, this isn't Kansas...tornado?

Sure enough, the sky outside had darkened considerably fast (it was just after 5pm), the temperature had dropped suddenly from the humid 30+ we had endured all day to a cool 19C. The sky had a twinge of green (feck, that must be bad, right?) and as the first heavily drops of rain began to fall, I scrambled outside to fetch in patio chair cushions and take down the patio table umbrella. (Visions of me flying Poppins-like out over Lake Ontario had me giggling).

The boy thankfully pulled up in the driveway from work just as I was finishing my outdoor storm prep - at least I wouldn't have to worry about him being out on the roads. I had him batten down the hatches (close all the upstairs windows) just as the first flash of lightening crossed the sky, followed immediately a deafening crack of thunder ...no time to count "one Mississippi, two Mississippi"...it didn't take a rocket scientist to figure out the storm was directly overhead. Ten seconds later the power went out and we stood at the door watching the rain come down for no more than 10 minutes. H'mmm, what an anticlimax. The way the winds had been whipping at the trees and the ominously green sky, I had felt sure we were in for a storm of biblical proportions, but no. We waited. Perhaps this was the "calm before the storm" suggested the boy. We waited some more. The power flickered back on briefly and then died again. No, definitely more to come I decided.

After 30 minutes of nothing, we decided we were tired of waiting for the storm...and starting to get hungry for dinner. With the option being firing up the BBQ or going hungry, we hit the local plaza to see if they had power. Amazingly they did. Swiss Chalet for dinner sounded just perfect.

Why is it at "family" restaurants they think it's perfectly OK to f-up your order? I ordered a roasted chicken breast with salad (health conscious girl that I am), the boy ordered the standard chicken breast and fries. We both ordered an appetiser to share.

The drinks arrived.

The main meal arrived.

Where is our appetiser we enquired?

The waitress returned with some forgotten condiments. Didn't my meal come with a whole wheat roll? And the appetiser?

Half way through our meal the whole wheat roll arrived. One single roll looking rather fore lorn and all alone on an overly large plate. And the appetiser?

Finally the boy pushed his empty plate to one side as the appetiser appeared out of the kitchen. We had planned to share it, but by this time we were both more than content with our meals and no longer hungry. Rather than send it back to the kitchen however with a "too late" refusal we ended up asking for a box for it and brought it home. Somehow I don't think they'd do that at Spago. However admittedly I wouldn't get two meals plus drinks for under $40 at Spago, so I will shut the h-up.

Still no power at home...and no sign of the storm. The boy decided he had friends (with power) to visit for the evening, which left me alone, with a laptop and 3 hours battery life...and all the solitaire and minesweeper a girl can handle. (20 minutes)

After texting a few friends who were happy, and had power...and were none too sympathetic to my plight, I decided an early night is always a good thing. No wonder the birthrate always goes up after a power-cut - nothing better to do in the dark! Sadly however I didn't have such entertaining distractions.

Finally at 11pm the power came on again. Bolting me out of a dead sleep as various lights, radios etc. in the house came back to life. All it seems , except my main computer, who refuses to power on, although modem, monitor, router etc all power up, my CPU doesn't even stutter - and before anyone asks, that's WITH being on a surge protector. So it may just be a huge coinkydink...but I fear my computer may have gone to that big scrap yard in the sky...and lord knows I can't afford a new one at the moment. Thank heaven's the boy has this laptop or I'd be going through some pretty major withdrawals right about now.

I ended up watched the TV news for half an hour or so, just to get an idea of how the storm when through the rest of the GTA - seems there were a lot of trees down, blown transformers and wires down...but no mention of any tornado touching down...they did however find time to cover the news of some socialite heiress who is going back to jail - although I can't remember her name for the life of me. (ahem).

You can't teach an old dog...

2007-05-21T18:50:00.000-04:00

I've been with my current employer coming up to 14 years in July, wow how the time has flown. In that time I have experienced many highs (and many lows), I've driven a pursuit car around a race track, been trained in pursuit management and obtained a licence to drive a police vehicle; fired handguns at the range; been a passenger in a twin engined plane flying over the city at dawn; sailed in a rescue boat with the marine unit on Lake Ontario; participated in the Mounted Unit's training by posing as a placard waving protester in a crowd - facing charging horses; worked with police dog services as they took down "bad guy" coppers wearing bite-suits; taken courses in everything from basic first aid to CBRN anti-terrorism; been on ride-alongs dressed in a bullet proof vest, in areas of the city where it simply isn't safe for a middle class white woman to walk after dark; worked as an acting supervisor and had access to areas and information that many people never get to see (or would want to see). I've received documentations, certifications, recommendations, citations and awards...

...but in all that time however I have shied away from one particular aspect of my job...training. For some "teaching" comes easily. I never felt I had the patience to train. I am too much of a perfectionist, impatient, nit-picking...I have no (zero, nada, zilch) tolerance for fools. I tried it once, close to 10 years ago...and I swore I would never do it again. With each new training class that came aboard I was asked if I would take a trainee...and each time I declined.

Until now.

My new trainee is a young man...late 20's to early 30's I'd guess, the standard "how old are you?" hasn't come up in conversation yet. He has gone through the standard 5 weeks of classroom training, and now has an additional 5 weeks with yours truly at his side, leading the way. We are currently on day 4...and either I have mellowed with age over the years, or perhaps this training lark isn't so bad after all, (Or perhaps I have just been blessed with a wonderfully talented trainee who is trying his darnedest), but I have yet to loose my temper, rip the keyboard from his shaking hands or drive home with a raging migraine. I'm trying to teach him the things that they can't teach in a classroom...how to read between the lines, how to listen to tone and hear what "isn't" being said, what questions to ask...and when...and how to use "life experience" to guide reactions and responses. Some of these things just can't be taught...you either "have it" or you don't. We had 6 trainees join us on platoon from the last training class in the winter...3 didn't make it through the 5 weeks with a trainer. From this last class we have received 5 trainees...already 1 of them could possibly be leaving us after only 4 days - thankfully (call me Mother Hen) it's not my trainee who is flunking.

By week 5 I may be ready to pull my hair out and deleting this post in disgust...but for now it's not that bad, not bad at all.

7 Deadly Sins (aka omg another meme)

2007-05-15T11:07:00.000-04:00

Wrath
Who did you last get angry with? I get pissed off, annoyed, mildly miffed and royally ticked off... but rarely angry.
What is your weapon of choice? Oathkeeper with a mongoose enchant. :0)
Would you hit a member of the opposite sex? A loving "thwack" upside the head conveys so much. Forgotten anniversaries, birthdays, bah mitzvahs etc.
How about the same sex? Will there be hair pulling or mud involved? We might make a few quid.
Who was the last person who got really angry at you? Angry? At me?? *batts eyelashes innocently*
What is your pet peeve? Peeve free...other than spelling...oh and being late...poor language skills...oh and queue jumpers...ummm ...OK maybe not totally peeve free :0)
Do you keep grudges, or can you let them go easily? Christopher O'Toole - Roe-Farm Infants school - drop kicking my dolly down the playground...feels like only yesterday.

Sloth
What is one thing you're suppose to do daily that you haven't? Floss - I'm a walking ad for [bad] British Dentistry.
What is the latest you've ever woken up? 4pm (however I was working night shift at the time!)
Name a person you've been meaning to contact, but haven't? My dentist...see above.
What is the last lame excuse that you made? Can't tell you as I will probably be using it again sometime soon.
Have you ever watched an infomercial all the way through? Not much else to watch with no volume on pd11 at 4 in the morning.
How many times did you hit the snooze button on your alarm clock this morning? Zero (only set the alarm on dayshift).

Gluttony
What is your overpriced yuppie beverage of choice? I don't think Timmie's with 2 creams and 1 sweetner counts as "yuppie". Although Sally Struthers says I can feed a whole African village for $1.75 a day - so maybe it *is* overpriced.
Are you a meat eater?...*ahem*....
What is the greatest amount of alcohol you've had in one sitting/outing/event? Who's counting? Who lost count? Guess I have to start over...
Are you comfortable with your drinking and eating habits? Paralytically comfy thanks! It''s all good.
Do you enjoy candy and sweets? I'm British...nuff said.
Which do you prefer: sweets, salty foods or spicy foods? See above.
Have you ever looked at a small house pet or child and thought, "lunch"? Only when I am dieting.

Greed
How many credit cards do you own? 1 - generally found curled in the fetal position and whimpering softly.
If you had a million dollars, what would you do with it? Can't get that BNL song out of my head now ...thanks a bunch!
Would you rather be rich or famous? Stinkingly, disgustingly, insanely, obscenely ...famous ...for being rich.
Would you accept a boring job if it meant that you would make megabucks? I don't believe the "two week notice" thing is actually carved in stone yanno...

Pride
What's one thing that you have done that you're most proud of? Learned to dress myself.
What's one thing you have done that your parents are most proud of? Learned to dress myself.
What thing would you like to accomplish late in your life? Still be able to dress myself.
Do you get annoyed by coming in second place? Nah, everyone loves the underdog.
Have you ever entered a contest of skill, knowing you were of much higher skill than all the other competitors? Racing against the under-5's in an egg and spoon race isn't as easy as it looks yanno....they cheat!
Have you ever cheated to get a better score? ....for the last time ...it was cold medication, not steroids...
What did you do today that you're proud of? Got up before noon.

Lust
How many people have you seen naked (not counting movies, family, strippers, locker rooms)? Does it still count if the lights were off at the time? Cuz that's a whole new batch of therapy sessions.
How many people have seen you naked (not counting physicians, doctors, family, locker rooms, or when you were a young child)? See above.
Have you ever caught yourself staring at the chest/crotch of a person of your chosen sex during a normal conversation? What kind of lefty liberal phrase is "your chosen sex"??
What is your favorite body part of a person of your gender choice? Is it too late to add "political correctness" to my pet peeve list above??
Have you ever had sexual encounters (including kissing/making out) with multiple persons? At the same time? Can you be more specific? Are you meaning an innocent 12yr old game of "spin the bottle" or are we getting all "alternative" with our "chosen sex" or "gender of choice" people???
Have you ever been propositioned by a prostitute? Phew...finally a question I can answer.... NOPE.

Envy
What item of your friends would you most want to have for your own? I want a coloured voice tube. *pout*
Who would you want to go on "Trading Spaces" with? Someone with good taste and excellent decorating skills. :0)
If you could be anyone who existed in the world, who would you be? Me. :0)
Have you ever been cheated on? Yes...word to the wise never play Monopoly with J.M. as the banker.
Have you ever wished you had a physical feature different from your own? I always thought wings would be a nice touch.
What inborn trait do you see in others that you wish you had for yourself? The ability to resist doing surveys like this?

What deadly sin...
Do you do the most often? See "gluttony"
Do you do the least often? See "lust"
Is your favorite to act on? All of the above.

ptd

2007-05-13T21:05:00.000-04:00

Still a long ways to go... here's my progress to date (ptd).

December 2006.

May 12th, 2007

Checking in

2007-05-09T20:07:00.000-04:00

I haven't posted much recently...frankly because there has been bugger all to tell to be honest. My life seems to be a roller-coaster at best and we are currently just doing that slow chug-chug to the top of the next big dip.

Life is just ticking along. Work is going well (I am on midnights this week...and to be honest my biggest challenge is figure out which day of the week it is when I wake up).

Starting this coming Sunday night we have 5 new trainees coming to the shift...and I have been strong armed into taking one of them. I've trained before...and hated it. Some people are born trainers/teachers, with the patience of Job himself. That however doesn't describe me. My one foray as a trainer several years ago was beyond stressful and I swore blind I would never do it again...however.... there is a promotional process due to start in the next year...and one of the "prerequisites" for promotion is that I have to have been an active trainer. Ergo if I plan on applying then I had best train a few calltakers. I feel sorry for my trainee...and hope the years have mellowed me a little that we can get through the next 5 weeks together intact and still on speaking terms at the end of it (unlike my last trainee).

The diet is still going strong, down a total of 43lbs now and working out every day - I'm still on track to meet my goal for Labour Day (first weekend of September) - so I am just ploughing on and loving the results so far.

From a "love life" perspective...h'mmmm. I am still seeing my little Irish cop from work - and he does make me smile - but I sense a certain "cooling off" period with him, so we will see where it goes. He's off to the States (DC) this weekend for the Police Memorial and then will be on leave for approximately 3 weeks, touring around, visiting cop friends, drinking copious amounts of beer etc. before finally making it back home to Canada. We'll see how things go whilst he is gone. Blogging about it period generally is the kiss of death on any of my relationships!

The boy is doing well (when I see him!) He's working hard, loving his new car and has quite the active social life. So far he hasn't met up with his father again, and has no immediate plans to do so - they seem to be content with the occasional email message or chatting on Facebook.

Spring has definitely sprung here in Southern Ontario...going from snow flurries and below zero temperatures just 2 weeks ago...to high 20's and our first Smog Alert of the year just yesterday. I am also sporting my first sunburn of the summer...pass the aloe.

One of those darned "meme" things....

2007-05-01T08:48:00.001-04:00

Nicked shamelessly from Kevin C. (who is a twisted little kilt wearing freak...but a good egg all the same). :0)

1) Are your parents married or divorced? Ummmm...dead? (Which could be the considered the same as married).

2) Are you a vegetarian? No, but I did vote Liberal in the last election.

3) Do you believe in Heaven? Yes, and it's called "Cadbury's Dairy Milk".

4) Have you ever come close to dying? Probably, but not in a freaky "Final Destination" kinda way.

5) What jewelery do you wear 24/7? Rings, chains, earrings - too feckin' lazy to take it all off at night.

6) Favourite time of day? Shift change.

7) Do you eat the stems off broccoli? Bring on the french onion dip and I will demonstrate.

8) Do you wear makeup? Only on days that I don't want to scare small children.

9) Ever have plastic surgery? Do I "look" like I have ever had plastic surgery? C'mon! I'd be feckin' rich from suing his ass if that's the case.

10) Do you colour your hair? If I did I'd pick something nicer than "carrot red".

11) What do you wear to bed? Depends on the occasion. ;0)

12) Have you ever done anything illegal? Possibly filling out this "meme".

13) Can you roll your tongue? Around what?

14) Do you tweeze your eyebrows? Tweeze, pluck, wax...and then pencil them back in again? Nope :0)

16) Do you believe in abortions? No, they are figments of my imagination like fairies and pixies - duh.

17) Your Future child's name? I was thinking of adopting one of those kids off the telly - I think they come pre-named...like Cabbage Patch dolls.

19) Do you snore? Like a freaking freight train.

20) If you could go anywhere in the world where would it be? Any place with a 5-star rating and a half decent lounge singer.

21) Do you sleep with stuffed animals? Savannah's a wee bit pudgey...but I don't think she's stuffed.

22) If you won the lottery, what would you do first? Collect and deposit the cheque. (Obviously)

23) Gold or silver? Gooooooooooooold (credit to "Goldmember")

24) Hamburger or hot dog? This sounds like a B platoon bbq. Ummmm...hamburger please :0) wiv lettuce, tomato, a little onion, ketchup, mouse-turd, and relish...or if you have any of that Lick's "Guk" that would be good too. :0)

25) If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be? Chocolate digestives (with a cuppa tea for dunkin').

26) City, beach or country? Beach - preferably a British seaside resort, complete with deckchairs, seagulls...and the tempting waft of the chippy up on the promenade.

27) What was the last thing you touched? The keyboard (ha! thought you'd get me to say something incriminating didn't you?)

28) Where did you eat last? On pd16.

29) When's the last time you cried? 2 seconds after I started this meme.

30) Do you read blogs? Hell yes. Right bloody nosey parker I am, eh?

31) Would you ever go out dressed like the opposite sex? Sure...costume parties are a blast!

32) Ever been involved with the police? Yeah, buncha freaks :0) hehehe

33) What's your favourite shampoo? Pantene...their conditioners rock too.

34) Do you talk in your sleep? I've never been awake to hear ;0)

35) Ocean or pool? Both! Waterbaby alert!

36) What's your favourite song at the moment? TBA - know the tune damned if I know what it's called! LOL

37) What's your favourite colour(s)? blue 'n' green...oh and black...ummmm....and ...feck, just give me the whole crayon box will ya?

38) Window seat or aisle? Window...I write rude slogans in the condensation.

39) Ever met anyone famous? Political figures sure...but no rock stars or movie stars.

40) Do you feel that you've had a truly successful life? They'll write books about it!

41) Do you twirl your spaghetti or cut it? twirl, suck 'n' slurp :0) - dead classy me!

42) Barbara Walters or Oprah? The big "O". Bra size guru extraordinaire.

43) Basketball or Football? Proper English football! (and it's NOT called soccer!)

44) How long do your showers last? 'til the hot water runs out.

45) Automatic or do you drive a stick shift? Automatic...would love to learn stick though.

46) Cake or ice cream? Cake - preferably something chocolate and devilishly decadent.

47) Are you self-conscious? I can be at times...and other times I really don't give a flying fart.

48) Have you ever drank so much you threw up? *hic* I have had a direct line to God on the great white telephone on previous occasions, this is true.

49) Have you ever given money to homeless people? Homeless? Like that "Shakey Woman" scam artist in downtown Toronto? Who drives a BMW and lives in a fancy condo with a flat screen tv? Hell no!

50) Have you ever been in love? Yep - I'm a softy.

51) Where do you wish you were? In an English pub having a ploughman's lunch. Dunno if the ploughman would be too impressed though. :0)

52) Are you wearing socks? Yup, black ones...not very exciting is it? But at least they are clean.

53) Have you ever ridden in an ambulance? Yup.

54) Can you tango? Ummmm....the dance, nope...the soft drink, sure!

55) Last gift you received? A travel mug...well it wasn't a gift actually, I have to return it at some point, but inside was a gift (nice hot cuppa tea)...oh, and a packet of Walker's Cheese and Onion crisps. (drooool). No, the crisps weren't in the travel mug too, they'd get soggy like that, silly.

56) Last sport you played? Put the unit on the detail (police version of pin the tail...) :0)

57) Things you spend a lot of money on? Petrol. Feckin' $1.05 a litre for gawd's sakes.

58) Where do you live? In my own little world at times.

59) Where were you born? Gawd is this thing ever going to be over? I am ready to cry again. I was born in Chatham...there...satisfied? Questions, questions, questions...forever asking questions.

60) Last wedding attended? L-o-n-g time ago (15 plus years maybe?) Been to more than my fair share of funerals lately. Guess the weddings will start up once our kids start getting hitched.

61) Favourite fast food restaurant? Wendy's/Lick's.

62) What did you do last weekend? Worked, went to the gym, played tennis - lol

63) Most hated food(s)? Brussels.

64) What's your least favourite chores? cleaning the oven, cleaning out the fridge, cleaning the litter box ...ok ....maybe just "cleaning" in general.

65) Can you sing? Yes, (you didn't ask how well though). :0)

66) Last person you text messaged? A tennis pro.

67) Last place you went on holiday? Cuba

68) Favourite regular drink? Tea/Coffee/and various alcohol related beverages :0)

69) what's a good question for 69? Ummmmm...Do you? lol

70) Favourite day of the year? Any day that I can have a good laugh with good friends. :0)

Upholding the masses

2007-04-28T07:08:00.000-04:00

We've all seen the Oprah Winfrey/Dateline investigations over the last little while I am sure. An epidemic affecting up to 70-85% of women. Thousands of women in North American (and no doubt the world!) are living with this everyday....and like many of them, I too was a victim. Floating through life, repeatedly hitching up that fallen strap, blissfully unaware - until I heard Oprah say the following:

"Every woman watching, this is going to change your life Everyone's talking about it. And I'm revealing a beauty secret that literally performs miracles. It can reverse aging. It can make you look 10, even 20 pounds lighter."

...and it suddenly hit me...I was wearing the wrong bra size. (Cue dramatic music).

It seems in our mid 20's we find a size that fits...and we stick with it. Regardless of changes over the years, weight gains, weight losses, nursing, gravity etc. we assume that "the girls" are going to remain the same forever. We all have memories of those first "training bras" our mothers bought for us umpteen years ago. (And most of us can remember the stinging "snap" of elastic against skin as various school boys ran around the playground testing these new catapults). Yes, the tight, white, ugly constrictive devices, complete with tiny embroidered rosebud or bow in the centre (Marks & Spencer Style #: UGLY01). We couldn't wait to move up to something a tad more delicious. We craved something that screamed "Victoria's Secret" or "La Senza" - barely there gossamer. "I must, I must, I must improve my bust...the bigger the better, the tighter the sweater...the boys rely on us!"

By the time most women hit their 30's however, the desire to be seen as a "Hooters" girl has diminished somewhat. OK for me it took 'til I reached my 40's, but that's another story. So hitching my shoulder strap for the umpteenth time that morning, I was drawn to the ladies fitting room of a large department store... after a perky young sales assistant had told me the dress I was trying on would look "awesome" in the right fitting bra (bitch!)...to ask for that most embarrassing of services. A bra fitting.

Bra fitting is not sexy, it is scientific. A cold eye, colder measuring tape — one almost expects calipers and a short stout German woman named Helga prodding at you mercilessly. It's a mathematical formula: this measurement...add 3...then another measurement, divided by the square root of standing on one leg...that finally produces not only the band width, but that ever important cup size.

Cup size, ah yes - so now we get to the crux of the matter. They range from training size AA (fried eggs) to H (big enough for a kiddies paddling pool on a hot day). The old leering adage of "more than a handful is a waste" proffered by local scallywags, accompanied by a knowing wink has been heard by many a woman who has contemplated her assets. According to statistics the average American bra size has grown from 34B to 36C. Move up to a D cup and the bra fashions out there shrink considerably - think of a suspension bridge, that can double as a fruit bowl on weekends. Sexy? Not on your nelly!

And let's not even get into the torture devices known as under-wire. Any woman worth her salt has experienced the "poke through" effect of a well worn and well loved under-wire bra...and probably has the scars to prove it.

Less than 10 minutes later I was mentally digesting the news of my new size and contemplating the various styles of "over the shoulder boulder holders" on offer. I actually ended up going to 3 different stores that day to be measured and fitted. Call me suspicious by nature, but I needed confirmation that Helga was in fact correct and that I had been wrong all these years. Turns out Helga knew her stuff, and her colleagues in the industry confirmed the results.

$100 later I am gleefully skipping home with my new purchases. No more slipping straps, permanent indentations on my shoulders or permanent marks around my ribcage. Do I look any better? Heaven only knows, but my posture has certainly improved. Shoulders back, chest out...onward girls - onward!

For Debbie & Monette

2007-04-27T08:46:00.000-04:00

Jo had me out at the gym yesterday, working on my new program. I have to admit there is a huge difference between working out alone and having a buddy along. She wouldn't let me give up - and by the end of our one hour weight program I was more than ready to call it a day...so naturally she dragged me over to the treadmill and had me interval training for another half hour.

I officially hit the 40lb mark today (I've been hovering all week) - woot! I will post real photos once I hit the 50lb mark, instead of just updating the virtual model in the side bar.

House delays....

2007-04-23T16:23:00.000-04:00

I mentioned briefly in a previous post that my new house has been delayed before we have even broken ground. The builder claims delays "from the town" on various items have pushed back the completion date. By the time we finally get our new place it will have been almost 2 years from when I first signed the purchase agreement. The land was supposed to be serviced last November...they are hoping to have it done before the end of this month. Although this is very disappointing there are however a few positives to this delay:

My closing date has now been moved from January 2008 to May 2008 - therefore I won't be trying to move in sub-zero ice storms.
More time to save for various upgrades.
By the time we finally move in the property will have accrued 2 years of equity from the time I signed the purchase agreement - and it hasn't cost me a bean.
The builder is offering a 10% discount on all upgrades to make up for the delay.

It still doesn't make up for the fact that I am disappointed and May 2008 feels like an eternity away. *sigh*

Postives and negatives

2007-04-20T15:03:00.000-04:00

I appear to have gotten sucked into that latest "crack" of the internet known as face book. I can't even remember how it started, but now two months later, I am seriously wondering where it's all going to end! I have one 'blog buddy' on my list so far (thanks Josh!) so come on the rest of you. You know you wanna!

On the plus side I have gotten back in touch with a few friends from my years with "Biff". One girlfriend in particular I was thrilled to hear from...and 2 hours later when we finally hung up the telephone, it truly felt that we had never been out of touch in all that time.

I received an unsolicited message from a guy who works for the same organization as I do...and two weeks later we are planning a second date this weekend. He's a cop, young (don't ask), hotter than h*** and Irish (well we can't all be perfect). ;)

On the negative side (well that's debatable...but I have a feeling this will all end in tears). The boy received an unsolicited message from his father's wife. This is the first contact regarding him in over 15yrs. She found him on face book and sent a few inquiring messages to establish identity.

The boy's emotions have ranged from excitement to pure rage, so I have no idea how this is going to go. What do you say to the deadbeat father who walked out of your life 15 years ago and never so much as phoned, paid a dime or even sent a birthday card in all that time? Well I guess we will find out tonight...he's supposed to be phoning this evening.

Lock, stock and treadmill

2007-04-08T09:39:00.000-04:00

Well I'm not supposed to be sitting at the computer at this precise moment. In fact right now, (looks at wrist watch), I should be sweating away on the elliptical after finishing my weight routine at the gym. Unfortunately, when I arrived at the gym this morning I was greeted by at least 4 tractor trailers, multiple police cars, security and the Sheriff.

Turns out my gym has been closed/evicted by the landlord. No doubt the tractor trailers will be loaded with all the equipment in lieu of payment. I wandered up to the door from the parking lot, all wide-eyed (especially after I saw the police cars) my first thoughts being that there must have been a break-in or something overnight to one of the neighbouring shops (my gym is in a strip plaza). I spotted the eviction notice pasted on the door around about the same time as I was approached by the Sheriff.

I am so guilty of stating the obvious with my, "Oh, are they closed then?" (10/10 to the redheaded rocket scientist). The Sheriff confirmed my suspicions (I should've been a detective) and said the landlord had ordered the gym owners out. My earth shattering 6 o'clock newsworthy response? "Oh bugger!"

So RIP Roo's Fitness, you were my gym for the past 3 years and thankfully I only had just over 2 months left on my membership, so I don't feel too ripped off. Yesterday had been business as usual, with no hint of anything in the offing. As I left yesterday I even confirmed with the receptionist what their hours of operation were today seeing as it's Easter Sunday - oh yeah, happy Easter everyone - (although I don't think the Sheriff normally announces his intentions ahead of time when he's coming to kick you out, for fear you'll do a moonlight flit with any valuable chattels).

So now I am gym-less - which is a major kick-in-the-pants set back. On the plus side the weather is getting better outside. I will be watching to see if any of the big box gyms step in to take over the facility, as has happened recently in Southern Ontario with a major chain-gym. I also happen to have two very good friends who work part-time for Goodlife Fitness. One is a receptionist and the other was just hired and completed her personal trainer certification.

I did notice a Goodlife Fitness mini van parked in the lot as I drove away. I wondered briefly if they were there because a) they are taking over b) they are signing up old Roo's members or c) they are just vultures watching the local competitor in his final death throes. I wasn't curious enough however to go back and check them out...although I did wish that I'd had my camera with me.

Edit: So I sat here twiddling my thumbs for an hour or so and then decided to head over to the gym again (this time with camera, but sadly all the mayhem had calmed down and photos of trucks parked at shipping doors just doesn't convey much.) I did however pull up next to the Goodlife minivan and a cute perky little blonde thing (oh god I hate her already) hopped out to come and talk to me. She's the Goodlife district manager and it turns out "yes" Roo's has gone under and "yes" Goodlife are taking over the space.

OMG can I call them or what??

Goodlife will honour all Roo's memberships over the summer months (yay!) and they hope to reopen Thursday once they have their own equipment installed. In the meantime they will honour all Roo's membership cards at any of their facilities - the nearest Goodlife to me is only a few minutes up the road, but the only one near here open today (Easter Sunday) is two towns over in Oshawa. Considering I haven't a clue where in Oshawa it is, and the town is notorious for it's one-way system to confuse the bejesus out of motorists, I think I will take this day to mourn the passing of Roo's and tackle the new gym question tomorrow. All being well I will be back in the old Roo's facility on Thursday.

Date rape drugs

2007-04-06T12:30:00.000-04:00

"The Girls" and I were at a singles social in a neighbouring town last weekend - I danced my face off, and paid dearly for it the next day. No, I am not talking about a hangover, I am talking tender tootsies! That'll teach me to wear killer high heels on the dance floor! (but damn I looked good!)

The only thing that marred our evening was when one of our friends got sick. We'd only been at the bar a little over an hour and the poor woman became violently ill. After walking her around in the parking lot didn't appear to help matters, a couple of the girls were dispatched to get her home safely and they returned to finish the evening. Now we can be Monday morning quarterbacks, but in hind sight we are all thinking that her symptoms reek of ghb/Rohypnol. She wasn't drunk by any stretch of the imagination - I believe she was still on her first drink. She was violently ill both at the bar and at home. She claims certain portions of the night are "blacked out" in her memory and her symptoms the following morning were akin to an extreme hangover.

It goes to show that even us "thirty and forty somethings" have to be careful when out socially in mixed company. Date rape drugs aren't just something that hits the twenty year olds on the club scene. Thankfully authorities here in Ontario recently acknowledged this problem and are now allowing bar owners to apply to have their liquor licences amended to include areas like washrooms, so that drinks don't need to be left unattended. Not all bar owners have taken advantage of this yet, but hopefully more will.

I Googled ghb just to see what information is out there...and the results are startling. Everything from how to order it, make it at home, dosage, long term effects...even people who are addicted to it.

Signs of spring in my* part of Ontario

2007-03-29T14:17:00.001-04:00

*may be different for those living in nicer/seedier locations.

Spring is in the air! Over the past few days the temperature has risen (finally) above "feckin' freezin'" (technical Ontario-eese for anything below 0 Celcius) and the following signs of life have been noted.

1. My next door neighbours have finally taken down their Christmas lights, evergreen decorations and the wreath on the door is now a moronically happy faced Easter Bunny in various pastel colours. It must be noted however that there are several people on the street, who's lights remain up year 'round...and I am grateful for not having to live next door to them.

2. The line up at the car wash is ridiculous.

3. The local grocery store has errected their "garden centre" cage area in the parking lot - ready for delivery of various bedding plants etc. Although anyone who plants before the May "24" weekend is nuts in my books.

4. Teen wardrobe choices alternate between winter parkas and baggy shorts - dependant on whether we make it into double digits or not...and with Ontario spring weather which can go from cranking up the furnace and throwing on an extra layer in the morning ...to switching over to the air conditioning by mid-afternoon...perhaps those teens would be best advised to wear both the parka and the shorts at the same time and hope for the best.

5. The pile of snow/ice/road sludge at the end of my driveway has FINALLY melted...the last few remants from yesterday were gone this morning.

6. The gym is less crowded. All those "New Year" resolvers have finally rolled over belly up and given up the ghost.

7. Tim Horton's are running their "Roll Up the Rim to Win" promotion. For the record all I have won so far this year is 1 coffee. (grumble, stomp, swear)

8. The drive home along the 401 could be considered "off roading" ...thanks to all those bloody great potholes in the road. (Please note this is the precursor to that other great Ontario sign of spring....construction!)

9. Work has gotten steadily busier. First bit of nice weather and everyone rushes out, consumes copious amounts of beer...and in the case of the couple last weekend who we had to send the marine unit out to rescue...decide that it would be a really smart move to swim in the lake.

and finally...

10. I am officially on my first week of holidays for 2007! Woot! (so you know that means the weather is gonna crap out, don't take the snow tires off just yet).

Tagged

2007-03-28T08:48:00.000-04:00

Jennyta has tagged me to reveal 5 things about myself that I have not previously mentioned on my blog, so here goes:

1. I am left-handed. High fives all round with fellow "south paws" ...yes, we really are the best people! OK I may have mentioned this before...but if you follow the trail from this blog to Jennyta's...to Gemmak's... you will see we are slowly taking over the world...muhahaha!

2. I am taking up running. OK, well jogging actually...well at the moment it's more jog...walk...jog...walk but I am at least trying. Yes, I am in shock too.

3. I have the skin of a teenager. (This is not a good thing).

4. The closing date on my new house has been delayed. Just found out today...will blog more on this later.

5. I am going to "Line Dancing" classes at a local bar with Jen - she talked me into it...smart woman, lotsa cute guys there! LOL

This was a darn sight harder than I thought it would be.

I am now going to pass the baton on to: Moonie, Snowbabies, Liquid, LouLou and Peachy.

1 tequila, 2 tequila, 3 tequila, floor

2007-03-19T18:42:00.000-04:00

I've been busy the past few days and only am now finding time to sit down for a moment and blog a few thoughts.

Thursday was a day of emotions that went from one extreme to the other. In the morning I attended the funeral for the mother of a very good friend. To say I haven't seen or experienced such raw grief in a long time is an understatement. It was the first funeral I have attended that included a DVD slide show of photographs, set to music, of the deceased and her family through all stages of life. Margaret will be sadly missed by all...and my thoughts and prayers are with my girlfriend and her family.

Thursday night J. and I hit one of the local bars for an evening of entertainment. We saw Tony Lee the X-rated hypnotist. I have to say I haven't laughed so hard in a long, long time. (Told you it was a day of emotions from one extreme to the other!) If you ever get a chance to see Tony live at any of the college and university campuses or at a bar I can highly recommend his show ...just don't volunteer to go up on stage whatever you do! Why is he X-rated? Ahem...check here and here.

Saturday morning I awoke to a snowstorm...and typical I had to go out in it. I had signed up for overtime at work and basically had no choice...even though every bone in my body screamed to be allowed to stay snug in bed. The roads hadn't been plowed yet and just by the way my car fishtailed out of the parking lot, I knew it was going to take a while to get into work. Three times as long to be precise...20 minute Saturday morning ride in stretched to 60 minutes...it simply wasn't safe to go any faster than 70-80 kms an hour...and I am by no stretch of the imagination a "nervous" driver. In typical Canadian spring weather fashion, 8 hours later the sun had melted all the snow and I drove home on bone dry roads wondering if I had actually dreamed the whole winter weather blast.

Saturday night (after a wee apres work nap) I was out with J. again at a St Patrick's Day party. Now admittedly I am not Irish...and I never did get the hang of Guinness...but I am a red head and I do look good in green...so there was nothing holding me back! The party went on til the wee small hours of the morning, but I bailed Cinderella style shortly before 1am as I had to be at work again for 7am for another overtime shift.

I discovered three things that night. #1...I am not as young as I used to be and pulling "all nighters" just isn't in the cards. How we ever did it when we were teens I will never know! #2 Pre-party naps for the over 40's are highly recommended. #3 I am becoming an expert when it comes to Jello-Shooters. My green glow in the dark necklace (apparently a St Patrick's day party necessity in these parts) is still going strong 2 days later.

I am now thankfully off 'til Wednesday...so lots of time to recover from both the social life (which as usual seems to go in spurts) and the overtime shifts.

Progress to date (ptd)

2007-03-16T11:51:00.000-04:00

Well I noticed that Moonie is posting her progress photos...so I figured what-the-heck. Just the face so far, I haven't taken any new body shots yet. On the plus side however the new jeans and dress pants I purchased around the end of November are getting a wee bit saggy and I can even slide off the dress pants without even undoing the button or the zipper with practically no effort. (note to self...time to buy a belt, this could be embarrassing!) J. has offered to "loan" me a few things, because I hate to go out and buy new gear just for it to be "too big" again in a few months. However I do love how that sounds ...has a lovely ring to it. I might browse a couple of bargain/charity shops in the meantime, just to save a buck or two.

So without further ado...here's a pic of me taken at Christmas time.

And here's me yesterday...

OK...not dolled up admittedly...but you get the gist...I think you can see a difference in the face/neck/chin area a bit.

Back to work

2007-03-12T17:48:00.000-04:00

Today was my first day back at work after 3 solid days of a horrid cold - in fact my loving co-workers commented that perhaps I had come back too soon (I think more out of concern that I may still infect them, more than genuine concern!) At my workplace however day 4 is the pivotal day. As soon as you reach day 4 and beyond off sick you'd better have a Doctor's note, and I am darned if I am going to see my family doctor for a common cold! (Plus his waiting room is full of sick people!!! Ewwwww!) So come hell or high water I was going back to work today!

It was hard dragging my butt out of bed for 4:15 am (especially seeing as the clocks went forward this weekend) but I made it through (spreading germs freely) and even hit the gym after work for the first time in 4 days. I was shocked however how drained I felt - that cold really knocked the snot out of me (ahem...punny). During my free weight routine my muscles were screaming and I was drenched with sweat within 5 minutes of the start of my cardio routine, instead of midway through as usual. I hope I've sweat the last of those cold germs right out of my system once and for all! Either way I feel great right now, but I am sure I will be early to bed tonight!

My friend at work, who wrote my workout routine, has just passed her testing and been hired as a part time personal trainer at a local gym (not mine). I keep telling her how great it will be to have my own free personal trainer - hehehe - yes, I know she will get her revenge - ordering an extra set of lunges or squats ...or some other evil scheme.

Little pink flying elephants

2007-03-09T12:24:00.000-05:00

I am home today from work with a yucky head cold that has left me feeling as weak as a kitten. I felt it coming on Tuesday afternoon. Headache, slight runny nose...by Wednesday night I knew for sure that I was coming down with something. Thursday was my first day back to work after days off and all my loving colleagues went to great lengths to tell me that I looked like shite. By dinner time last night I knew I wasn't going to be making it into work today. It's my first "sick day" from work in over 15 months - and I feel guilty as hell for taking the time off. On the other hand I am normally the first one reaching for the antiseptic wipes whenever I encounter a sick co-worker, so I am sure they are all happy that I decided to stay home today.

My flu-ridden brain brought about the strangest dreams last night. Mum was there - decorating the bedroom walls with coloured markers and felt-tipped pens. For some reason I cut out my own tongue with a vegetable knife (probably because I kept waking up totally parched from mouth-breathing and having to get a drink of water) and we kept it in a Ziploc bag so that I could get it sewn on again later. I hasten to add that other than Advil there were no cold medications in my system last night - so I can't even blame the dreams on the hallucinogenic properties of NyQuil.

I'm glad to be back on a normal day schedule, and my weight loss efforts are now back in full swing. All last week whilst I was on the night shift, despite making an effort to go to the gym, and being good beyond belief in my food choices, my weight didn't shift in the desired direction. I had appeared to plateau and at one point my scales even claimed that I had gained back a couple of pounds (I naturally called the scales a bare-faced liar). I wonder if the whole "shift work" scenario has anything to do with it?

Thankfully by Wednesday, back on normal day shift hours my scales (now behaving itself) claims that I had lost another 4lbs. I tried on a pair of old blue jeans that had previously been more than a bit snug and was thrilled to find they not only fit comfortably...they actually hung on my bum and thighs! Thursday morning I was down again...so I am officially 1lb away from my 30lb mark! I have to admit I am feeling fantastic! Still got a long ways to go...but I am determined to get there. Sharing weight loss news with friends like Monette have been a huge help in keeping my motivation going. She is doing fantastically since her gastric bypass surgery in January, and we regularly check on each other's progress on instant messenger. I appreciate however that eventually her weight loss results will have me choking on her dust and leave me trailing behind, but at the moment it really feels like we are doing this together.

The boy started his new job this past Monday and from what I can tell so far everything is going well. The only reason I can't say much more on the subject is that I have hardly seen him! In addition to working full time he is taking night school 4 days a week, and still finding time for a social life himself. I generally get a phone call...or hear the door close as he is coming home in the wee small hours. I shake my head and wonder where he gets the energy from, but then I look back and remember how I was at that age. We'd think nothing of being out partying 'til 2am and still being ready for work the next morning - albeit a tad bleary eyed.

Other than that, not a lot more to report. J. is just back from her week in El Salvador. I can't wait to hear her news and see the pics, I am sure she had a wonderful time. After the kind of week we have had with the ice storm, temperatures of -21 with wind chills of -35 and now this lousy head cold, I am in dire need of some sun, sand and sangria. Roll on spring!

In like a lion

2007-03-02T19:35:00.000-05:00

The storm hit here during the day Thursday...by the time I got up mid afternoon (night shift) it was a winter wonderland outside. Colleagues told of the efforts they went to just to get into work on time. Some leaving home 3 hours early for their usual 30 minute commute just to arrive safe and sound. My own drive in was slow and steady with thankfully only a couple of white knuckle moments. I do however confess to uttering a few expletives at a few passing truck drivers who insisted on barrelling down the highway at ridiculous speeds, whilst the rest of us were inching along.

Being an essential service, calling in a "snow day" simply isn't an option. Authorities were urging people to stay off the roads and only travel if it was absolutely necessary. The ice rain hit around midnight and from then onwards the rest of my shift is just a blur of frantic calls from citizens as the weight of the snow and ice brought down trees, split hydro poles in half, brought power lines down, caused electricity transformers to explode and the Don River broke her banks in a number of areas causing flooding.

Midway through the night frustrations were starting to show. The calls waiting in the 911 queue were at an all time high as we tried to answer them as quickly as possible - it was a total nightmare - our time was being eaten up not by trying to answer the lines, but in trying to advise both the city works department and hydro-electric. Eventually they both simply stopped answering their lines and tempers on the floor were running very short. How nice to be able to just "switch off" the phones when the pressure is too much.

This evening watching the news there have been many news stories detailing the damage left by the storm. Thousands of residents are without power and some may be waiting until Sunday according to Hydro to get power back. Check out this great video/news story from CITY TV.

My thanks and appreciation goes out not only to my colleagues - our humour helped us make it through the night - but to the guys and girls on the road who were detailed to endless calls for live hydro wires down, power outages, trees down, car accidents and flooding in addition to all the usual calls they attend. Crime doesn't stop unfortunately, but thankfully it slowed a little for us last night.

There were numerous calls last night that caused us all to stop, laugh and shake our heads at the sheltered, pampered lives of some people. One indignant woman called in a noise complaint, the excessive noise outside was preventing her from sleeping and she was insistent that we attend immediately and deal with the situation, as her peace, quiet and the enjoyment of her home was being interrupted by this horrific noise pollution. The source of her displeasure? A snow plow. She objected to the snow plows being out at night, plowing the streets, the sounds of their blades dragging across the road surface was keeping her awake. She didn't feel this work should be done at night whilst everyone was trying to sleep.

I shake my head ...oh to be so blissfully ignorant...oh to have such a pampered and perfect life.

End of February?? Yikes!

2007-02-27T20:31:00.000-05:00

February has blown by in a series of sweaty workouts (6 days a week and still going strong) and subzero temperatures (monthly average -10 with wind chills in the -20 ranges). I am soooo ready for spring I can't even begin to tell you. I have been so preoccupied with a series of would be suitors (gasp), life, work, my old Staff Sergeant leaving for a new post...and the arrival of a new Staff Sergeant, the boy starting night school 4 days a week, carpool drama and the ultimate death of said car pool, eating right etc. that I was literally shocked to realise that here we are at the end of February...and I haven't been blogging...

bad, bad, Suzie.

I promise March will be better.

I got my groove back!

2007-02-13T16:07:00.000-05:00

It's nice to report good news for once. As some may know the boy was let go from his previous employer a little over a week ago due to lay off. (Grrr Indian call centres!) He applied the same day to their major competitor, who were all over him like a fat kid on a smartie. On-line applications submitted, 2 hour testing and interview last Tuesday, followed by reference checks made last Thursday - today he got the call offering him the job...and we are going to dinner tonight to celebrate. Yes, I know I am not supposed to be celebrating with food...(20lbs down as of this morning!) but I'll have salad...and the way I look at it, it's another night where I don't have to cook! (bonus)

After looking at a few photos taken on the weekend at a singles event, I decided I needed my fringe back. Today Angie (hairdresser extraordinaire) confirmed the grown out fringe look just wasn't working the way we had envisioned. That's fine! We tried, and it didn't work for my face. Welcome back bangs! It feels great to be more "like me" again!

A friend flew in from Calgary over the weekend. He visited friends in NY state and then came back to the GTA to see yours truly for the first time in 4 yrs for a couple of days. We joked that our "Valentine's" get together is getting to be a regular occurrence....if every 4 years can be considered "regular". All I will say is he is a real gentleman, he has the most perfect manners and respect toward women that one would normally associate with a "gentleman cowboy". I can't say what a boost it gives a woman to have a man stand as she enters a room, making her (me) feel that she is the only person around, open every door, car door, wait for her to be seated before sitting himself...sigh. And he brought flowers....and a card....and he was so touched that I brought him fresh coffee and pastries to his hotel this morning when I picked him up for the morning. I took him out to show off my dirt (soon to be my house) and we wandered around the model home...and he was thrilled for me. This evening he flies back to Calgary, and hopefully I'll see him again in a few years - providing some sweet young thing doesn't snatch him up. I swear if he didn't live so far away...and wasn't 8 years my junior ...I would be chasing him myself!

I rode with the boys from OCC!

2007-02-09T16:11:00.000-05:00

It helps to hum "Born to be wild" whilst you are watching this.

Calling all guardian angels...

2007-02-06T20:32:00.000-05:00

After work this afternoon we (the carpool) started to head home, within minutes of pulling onto the highway we saw brake lights up ahead, a cloud of dust and we knew there has been an accident. In fact there had just been an accident.

As our car pulled level, through the debris that littered all three lanes, two of us already had cell phones out to call emergency services. As we looked over however, the female driver slumped in the driver's seat, our decision was automatic, unanimous and unspoken; we pulled ahead on the shoulder running back to help. Another car pulled in just ahead of us and the driver of that car joined us.

Inside the wreck a young female, slumped unconscious and suffering from head trauma, in the back a toddler strapped in a car seat. There was precious little left of the front end of her car, although surprisingly the air bags had not inflated - so I can just imagine the impact of the crash on the driver. It was a single motor vehicle accident, the vehicle had hit the guardrail and spun out of control across three lanes of traffic before coming to rest against the guardrail on the opposite side. How she avoiding hitting another car during rush hour is a mystery to us all.

Her car doors were locked and battered beyond opening and we pounded on the window trying to rouse her enough to unlock the door. We searched our trunks for a tire iron to smash the window but thankfully after a few minutes the lady in the car regained consciousness long enough to open her lock. The guys tugged on the driver's side door and managed to pry it wide enough to snake an arm in to release the back door. The woman was bleeding profusely from a head injury but thankfully her child was safely strapped in her car seat and suffered not a scratch. One of my colleagues cared for the child, our attention on the female trapped behind the wheel. We obviously didn't want her moving until the ambulance arrived, but in her confusion she struggled, despite her leg being trapped in the wreckage. All we could do was comfort her and assure her that her daughter was fine and that help was on the way.

In all the time we had been stopped at the side of the road, pounding on the window trying to awaken the unconscious driver, trying to pry open the car door, running back to our own cars to search for blankets to keep everyone warm (remember we're in the middle of a major cold spell -27 today) the only other person who had stopped to help us was an off duty paramedic and a tow truck driver.

Four police dispatchers and a paramedic....and everyone else just gawked and drove on by. No-one slowed to see if we needed help, or a phone call...nothing. Ironically I heard later on the radio that there was a second accident near the scene, caused by people rubbernecking at the original crash.

F-f-f-f-f-february

2007-02-04T19:17:00.000-05:00

Well the deep freeze has truely arrived here in Southern Ontario. Today's temperatures hovered around the -14 mark...and with the windchill it was -27. Definitely a day to stay indoors (for me at work, for the boy at home), stay warm and thank heaven above that we don't have a dog that demands walking or the need to leave the indoor warmth for longer than it takes to run to the car.

As of yet however...no major snow. We know it's just around the corner - that big wallop that will blanket everything. It's just a case of sitting and waiting. The forecasted 10-15cms for Friday evening into Saturday morning never materialised - thank heavens because it was my turn to drive the carpool into work.

In other news, the boy was let go from his job on Friday, along with 8 other agents and several supervisors. This on the heels of a larger layoff just before Christmas that he managed to avoid. So many of our call centre jobs now are going overseas to call centres in India. There was news before Christmas that the company he worked for hadn't been successful in securing a new contract and that there would be a mass lay off around March time. I guess they have started to make moves in that direction. Last in...first out.

Far from being despondent however, the boy is quite upbeat. He had an application into a major competitor immediately and is looking into going back to school. He is looking at this as a wake up call, he had settled into working for the past year and hadn't been thinking too seriously about the future. Well no further than which bar or club he and his friends would be frequenting the following weekend. If memory serves, at his age my view into the future wasn't much broader. :-) He has decided he will be taking two advanced courses either through summer school or night classes to allow him to apply to University as a mature student.

A fantastic opportunity ...and whilst he is still living at home with expenses at an absolute minimum, it makes perfect sense. He has already started looking into student loans. I glanced at the University prospectus he had and noted the 4 year degree he is contemplating, realising he could well end up 25 years old and still living at home.

Yes...well, I'll let that thought settle a little.

Romantically....sigh...well my life remains the same as always ...empty. There is/was a gentleman I had pitched my cap at. He loved to play hard to get...and I loved the chase. Funny how we are always attracted to "the bad boy" types....OK...funny how I am always attracted to the unattainable bad boy types. The more of an unfeeling cad he was...the more I wanted him. Typical. After our last date however, and now 5 days later, still waiting to have him call - other than brief MSN conversations - I have decided that he can go find someone else who wants to be his "Beck and Call Girl". Almost 2 months of flirting and phone calls down the drain...but c'est la vie.

Health wise my New Year's resolution to try and lose some weight appears to be sticking so far. Down 18lbs, and working out 5 days a week at the gym. One of my co-workers, a firefly of a 28yr old and soon to be new recruit for uniformed officer has decided to take me under her fitness wing and is encouraging me in my fitness goals. She sat and wrote out a routine for me today, which when I saw it I almost fell over laughing. 45 - 60 mins on the elliptical between levels 3-5...followed by an extensive free weights routine ...and her cool down - 50 sit-ups plus a dozen or so oblique crunches (that's a cool down??) Bloody hell.

So there you have it in a nutshell...aren't you glad I saved you all from the schoolgirl wailing and gnashing of teeth over "the Cad" waiting for him to call? I sure am!

Time off for good behaviour

2007-01-23T15:46:00.000-05:00

I am taking a bit of a sabattical from blogging, well not blogging entirely - obviously if anything major in my life happens, once the builders start on the new house, for example, I will be here with bells on, posting photos and observations etc.

For the time being however, I am going to let this baby mellow, mature and hopefully when I get back it wont read like a schoolgirl's diary. I'll still be dropping by everyone's blog and tossing in my 5 cents worth from time to time...so you don't get rid of me that easily. For the time being however, consider this diary tucked under the proverbial bed, waiting for something more earth shattering than "what I had for breakfast".

Area 51

2007-01-18T00:40:00.000-05:00

1. What is your first name?
Susan

2. Were you named after anyone?
I have a cousin with the same name, but that wasn't deliberate - just a popular name in the 60's - my mum did say once though that they checked with my Aunt and Uncle first to see if they minded. My middle name is same as Great-Aunt - dunno if I was named after her though.

3. Do you wish on stars?
Yep.

4. When did you last cry?
Can't remember. Doesn't mean I don't cry often - just means my memory sucks. The boy made me tear up from sentiment with a sweet comment the other day though.

5. Do you like your handwriting?
I used to have beautiful penmanship. At my old job they always came to me to write out special event cards, invitations etc. because I can do Calligraphy. Nowadays my penmanship is atrocious, lack of practice and too much time using keyboards 24/7. At times I even have trouble reading my own scrawl.

6. What is your favorite lunch meat?
Not a big lunch meat fan.

7. What is your most embarrassing CD MP3?
I don't have one - my music tastes are wide, varied and I am unapologetic for that. If someone wishes to look down their noses at my CD collection then they seriously need a life.

8. If you were another person, would you be friends with you?
Heck yeah! I'd date me!

9. Do you have a journal?
I kept a daily written diary from the age of 11 to 18 - every day, every bit of teenage angst, every crush, every dream was recorded in those pages. A boyfriend found them, read them and I stopped writing - it was such an invasion of privacy. He insisted I throw them away...which I did...foolish, foolish girl. I should have kept the diaries and tossed out the controlling boyfriend (who unfortunately went on to become a controlling husband - foolish, foolish girl). I have been blogging since 2004 - admittedly I have deleted 2 blogs so far - but there are cleansing reasons behind that too.

10. Do you use sarcasm a lot?
Me?

11. What are your nicknames?
My understanding is that a nickname is what someone else calls you...not what you call yourself. So usernames don't really count. Growing up I got, Gingernut, Ginge, Duracell, Greebo, Greenie and Grebbles. I hated all of them.

12. Would you bungee jump?
Absolutely! (Although I would like a little coaxing too...but I would definitely be into it).

13. Do you untie your shoes before you take them off?
Very, very rarely. The only laced shoes I have right now are my runners which I wear for the gym, so I do have to put them on and lace them properly, but I always just kick them off without untieing them at the end of my workout.

14. Do you think that you are strong?
Mentally -yes,
Physically - yes.
Emotionally - ummmm.

15. What is your favourite ice cream flavor?
I am not a huge ice cream fan to be honest. In fact the tub I bought at Christmas time (Neapolitan) is still untouched in the freezer. I do like a soft serve cone in the summer time though. Dairy Queen/99 (with the flake!)

16. Shoe size?
I have wide feet so sometimes I can range anywhere from an 8 (runners) to a 9 1/2 depending on style of the shoe...but I have worn size 10 if the shoe was very narrow. Surprisingly, as I lose weight, my shoe size seems to be shrinking.

17. Red or pink?
No preference. To wear? Neither!

18. What is your least favourite thing about yourself?
The fact that I put myself down all the time.

19. What do you miss most?
My mum.

20. Do you want everyone you send this to, to send it back?
Obviously this was originally an email meme. Nope!

21. What colour pants/shoes are you wearing?
Pale white skin coloured pants...oh wait..those are my legs....hmm, need to shave..No shoes, pink (well they used to be pink...ok dusty pink) slippers.

22. What are you listening to right now?
Nothing. Peace, quiet, the occasional ping from the baseboard heater as the metal expands and contracts. Gentle hum from the lap top. Wall clock ticking.

23. Last thing you ate?
A meal replacement protein bar - brunch!

24. If you were a crayon, what colour would you be?
Firey orange. (who thinks of these questions?)

25. What is the weather like right now?
Current temperature -1 C Windchill -6C Wind coming from the SW at 18 km/hr, cloudy, barometric pressure 102.35 kPa, humidity 69%, Sunrise was at 7:48 sunset will be at 5:10

26. Last person you talked to on the phone?
My date guy. (shriek!)

27. The first thing you notice about the opposite sex?
Eyes, hair, smile, body size, height.

28. Do you like the person who sent this to you?
Nobody sent it, I stole it from Zippy's blog.

29. Favourite drink?
Tea or Coffee for non alcoholic choices. Shiraz or Gewurztraminer for wine. Not a big fan of pop unless it's as a mix with alcohol (ie: rum and diet coke).

30. Favourite sport?
To watch? Figure skating, tennis or Show jumping. To do? Most water sports. Will try most things once. Never really was that 'good at games'.

31. Hair colour?
Red

32. Eye colour?
Blue/grey depending on my mood.

33. Do you wear contacts?
Yes. I am real tempted to one day get the laser eye thing done, but I am also kinda freaked at the idea too. Wear my glasses at home and on omg-I-am-too-tired-to-care days.

34. Favourite food?
Never ask a woman on a diet that! At the moment everything looks good. (With the exception of Brussels - gag) In fact, I don't suggest you even sit still around here too long, or I will be eyeing you up and mentally running through my favourite bbq recipes in my head.

35. Last movie you watched?
On dvd: The Black Dahlia. (wasn't that great) and The Covenant (which was pretty good).

36. Favourite day of the year?
I was going to say Christmas morning, but in truth any summer morning, where it's warm out and I can sit out on the patio, enjoy the flowers in my garden, sipping on my morning coffee...(shooing off the squirrels) is a great day for me.

37. Scary movies or happy endings?
Happy endings (like Love Actually) or last minute twist shocker suspense endings (like the Sixth Sense).

38. Winter or summer?
Summer, fall...sometimes winter...rarely spring.

39. Hugs or kisses?
Kisses...no, hugs...darn...no, kisses...argh...decisions! BOTH!

40. What is your favourite dessert?
Molten chocolate lava cake. (Homer Simpson drool noises).

41. Who is most likely to do this meme?
People who like to do meme's perhaps?

42. Who is the least likely to do this meme and comment?
Seriously...who asks these questions? Who cares??

43. What books are you reading?
Trying to plough my way through Dr. Phil's Ultimate Weight Solution. I don't find his writing style easy to read at all.
Just finished reading:
Jeffrey Archer's False Impression (very good)
Dan Brown's Angels and Demons (very very good)
and Tess Gerritsen's The Mephisto Club (very good).

44. What’s on your mouse pad?
I don't need a mouse pad I have an optical mouse plugged into the laptop because I don't like the laptop's built in mouse thingy. I don't feel like I have the same control.

45. What did you watch on TV last night?
I didn't watch TV last night.

46. Favourite smells?
Fresh baked bread. Fresh laundry. Lilac bushes. The Ocean. Fresh cut grass. Skin, fresh out of the shower. Fresh brewed coffee.

47. Favourite sounds?
Pounding surf. Seagulls. Thunder and lighting storms. Bagpipes (honestly! Hard to explain.)

48. Rolling Stones or Beatles?
Hands down, the fab four ...The Beatles.

49. What’s the furthest you’ve been from your home?
Cuba.

50. Do you have a special talent?
Nope. I do most things "well" or "good enough"...but nothing springs to mind that I excel at.

51. What is your ring tone?
Haven't a clue. I selected a ring tone off the generic list that came with the phone. I once tried to pick a tone to download off the web, spent literally hours browsing different sounds and tones...got frustrated at not being able to make a decision...and logged off without getting one. I don't get that many phone calls on my cell that it matters all that much.

Observation

2007-01-17T09:33:00.000-05:00

Late night phone calls that last til 2am are very sweet and reminiscent of high school, and the residual smiles the following morning at 7am seem to counteract fatigue.

The Crusade has begun

2007-01-16T11:24:00.000-05:00

The Boy was one of many in line at our local EB Games last night to pick up his reserved copy of World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade, which was released at midnight.

I don't expect I will see him for a while. He has even booked a few vacation days off work. I will just leave plates of food at the door and every so often, open the computer room door just wide enough and long enough to aim a can of aerosol air freshener at his general direction.

Thank heavens one of his first purchases from his new job was this laptop...otherwise I would be totally computerless! I get more use out of it than he ever does! hehehe

Frustration

2007-01-15T00:41:00.000-05:00

So the blind date from the other night ...

...the man who has driven me insane with his "come hither, no go away" attitude over the last month.

Who can frustrate me beyond belief with his rigid outlook.

The first man in heck knows how long, who has piqued my interest. (Yes people, we are talking "zing" here).

The same fella with whom on the phone the other day I told in no uncertain terms exactly what I thought and how frustrating he could be ...

....and who in turn said quite calmly that he felt given my thoughts on the matter he should just "bow out gracefully" on our fledgling friendship/relationship...

...to which I retorted, "I agree, you simply aren't the man for me!" (hanging up feeling smug and so forth)...

...MSN's me tonight (which was a surprised because I had deleted him completely from phone, email, you name it...gone!) Just to say hello....and then says...

"For what it's worth, you are the kind of woman it would be so easy to fall in love with....and so impossible to live without. Good night."

And poof ...he was gone...logged off and leaving me sucking a thoughtful tooth.

Game player, arrogant so-and-so, pain in my ass (and potential pain in my heart)...

...that's the sweetest thing anyone has said to me in the longest time....

...and he knows it....

....and he no doubt knows I will go to bed tonight, with him on my mind, wondering what the hell is going on.

Stay tuned ...there may be more to come on this one.

SWF seeks...

2007-01-13T09:51:00.000-05:00

OK, so the new year of being single in the suburbs didn't exactly get of to a successful start, (we wont even touch on my date the other night) but we're hopeful, it's a new year, a new decade (pour moi), I'm optimistic, psyched up and ready to go, so bring 'em on! (Cue "Rocky" sound track)

My single gal pals all use online personals - we've all had varying degrees of success - J. in fact is currently in month 3 of a seeing a guy she met online and so far (touch wood) things seem to be going wonderfully for her. I am thrilled for her and a touch envious too - lol.

For me however it seems I attract the weirdos, the wackos, the ones who can't spell - well let me give you an example. This morning's mail box yielded the following gem from a gentleman I have never seen or spoken to before.

"lets have dinner or lunch to know each other more"

OK...straight...to the point...I will overlook the lack of punctuation, capital letters, salutations etc. Heck, do we even need to know the name of our dinner companions, honestly? I manage marvelously at work with "my dear" or "lovey" when I have totally blanked on somebodies name. So I clicked on my anonymous admirers profile, ready to have my heart whisked away in a frenzy of desire, lust and who cares if he doesn't punctuate his sentences...and this is what I found. In his "about me" section:

im 5'7high and 140lb and clean shaving head,watching hocey and soccer,swimming ,traveling,walking on the beach, eat differnet food.70/80/90/and200..... music and country musice fan too , ihave big tatoowatching mr beeb and funny movie, habs go habs go

Obviously my new friend had problems with spaces between words, spelling...er English even? I checked out his stats...ah, yes - he's oriental. Nothing against orientals, however if you re-read the ad with an Asian accent it does seem to flow a little nicer....(yes I am digging here for something positive to say). I think he means Mr. Bean, not "mr beeb". Either way, you can see what I mean when I say that pickings are slim to none. On the plus side however, he has managed to fit in the classic "walks on the beach" line. Gotta give him points for that oft-used gem.

I keep thinking of Long Duk Dong from Sixteen Candles in search of his "American girlfriend".

Your Cat's New Year's Resolutions

2007-01-10T12:24:00.000-05:00

For the feline lovers amongst us...

When you are in the washroom I will not meow pitifully at the door, or try to reach my paw under the door to get to you. I know you will come out of there eventually and I just need to wait patiently.

When you are taking a bubble bath, I will not peer over the side at you, or hop up onto the edge and precariously walk the perimeter. I know the thought of wet, hissing, scratching cat and your naked flesh makes you nervous.

We will not play "Herd of Thundering Wildebeasts Stampeding Across the Plains of the Serengeti" over any humans' bed while they're trying to sleep.

I cannot leap through closed windows to catch birds and squirrels outside. If I forget this and bonk my head on the window and fall behind the couch in my attempt, I will not get up and do the same thing again.

I will not assume the patio door is open when I attempt to race outside to chase leaves.

I will not stick my paw into any container to see if there is something in it...

...If I do, I will not hiss and scratch when my human has to shave me to get the rubber cement out of my fur.

If I bite the cactus, it will bite back.

When it rains, it will be raining on all sides of the house. It is not necessary to check every door.

I will not play "dead cat on the stairs" while people are trying to bring in groceries or laundry, or else one of these days, it will really come true.

When the humans play darts, I will not leap into the air and attempt to catch them.

When my human is making the bed, I will not repeatedly hop up onto the mattress to be covered by sheets, blankets, duvets etc.

I will not swat my human's head repeatedly when they are on the family room floor trying to do sit ups.

When my human is typing at the computer, their forearms are *not* a hammock. (Point of reference...this is Xena's FAVOURITE spot to lie and nap...and my forearms should look like Popeye the Sailor as a result!)

Computer and TV screens do not exist to backlight my lovely tail. (Sooooooo true it hurts!)

I will not stand on the bathroom counter, stare down the hall, and growl at NOTHING after my human has watched the X-Files.

I will not perch on my human's chest in the middle of the night and stare until they wake up. (Cats, dogs and toddlers have this incredible ability to wake me out of a dead sleep just by staring).

I will not wake my human on her day off at 5 am by pacing repeatedly across her pillow and accidentally-on-purpose pulling at her hair.

I will not walk on the key board when my human is writing important adagfsg gdjag ;ln

And so the start of another year...

2007-01-09T19:36:00.000-05:00

Got a blind date tonight.

Bugger.

I hate this.

Off to stare blankly at my closet.

Slimming Season

2007-01-08T18:18:00.000-05:00

Christmas over.

New Year's over.

Birthday over.

So beginneth the Slimming Season.

Joining me for the first time ever - the boy - who has decided he'd like to drop a few pounds and tone up. I must say I was very touched when he said he wanted to do this with me. It sure makes meals easier to prepare if we are both eating rabbit food, rather than preparing two separate meals.

I'd post "before" pics...but would rather wait and see if the "afters" look any better! LOL

Ironically I was thinking back to my teens/early 20's and happened to recall what I weighed back when I counted every calorie that went into my mouth. It was a shock to realise the weight I was then, that I considered so terribly fat, was even less than what my goal weight today is.

'Twas the month after Xmas and all thru the house
Nothing would fit me - not even a blouse!!!!!
The stuffing I'd nibbled, the turkey I'd tasted
The yummies I'd eaten gone straight to my waist(ed)
The wine and mince pies,the bread and the cheese
I should have just said "No thank you,please"
So as I dressed myself in my boyfriends old shirt
I couldn't believe my bottom and belly-the girth!!!!!!!!
I said to myself as only I can
"You cant spend the year disguised as a man"!!!!!!!
So away with the last of the sour cream dip
Get rid of the fruitcake,every cracker and chip
Every last bit of food that I like must be banished
'Till all the additional ounces have vanished
I wont have a cookie,not even a lick
Instead I'll chew on a long celery stick.
I wont have Irish coffees or chocholates or pie
I'll munch on a carrot and quietly cry
"I'm hungry, I'm lonesome and life is a bore
But isnt that what Janurary's for?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Unable to giggle,no longer a riot
Happy New Year to all and to all a good diet!!!!!!

Party gal

2007-01-07T07:56:00.000-05:00

Friday afternoon I had a makeover appointment with a cosmetician. Funny how they can take over an hour putting all kinds of "muck" on your face. I've always loved a bit of lippy and a bit of eyeshadow, but my god, these women go overboard! Highlighter creams, smoothing bases, concealers and stuff to plump your lips etc. I'd need another blinking mortgage just to cover the cost of it all. I was glad to wash it all off at the end of the day!

Friday evening we started the celebrations off with a nice meal out, the boy and I - his treat! It was lovely to actually sit across the table and have a conversation for once, instead of us being ships that pass in the night between my shifts and his social life!

After dinner I headed off to meet up with J. - I think she's enjoying the fact that I am now joining her in the "Forties Club" far too much! She had my name read out in the "Birthday Bonanza" on the radio - made sure they emphasized the age too. (Witch!) Then she had a gift bag waiting for me, seems she decided to visit an ...erm...."adult store" for my birthday gift and roared laughing as I did a fairly accurate impression of a belisha beacon.
We spent the rest of the evening at a local bar I had never been to before. A little place out in the country, on a back road miles from anywhere - and surprisingly busy.

Out again Saturday - a date of sorts, with a fella I met last summer. Considering we have only managed 4 dates in all this time however speaks volumes - on both our parts - but it was a lovely evening, lotsa laughs and good company.

B-Day

2007-01-05T08:28:00.000-05:00

The much dreaded day has arrived. (dum-de-dum-dummmmmm!)

Well I say dreaded, but I haven't exactly been a total basket case - like some I could mention. I work with women who have spent their entire fortieth birthdays in floods of tears hidden in the office washroom. Women like that totally infuriate me at times.

Forty so far feels pretty much the same as thirty-nine did yesterday to be honest! It's all a mental attitude. Getting my head around the idea of now being in my 40's and not my 30's...the idea that life is half over (assuming I make it to 80) is about the most morbid thought I have had so far, but I am not quite ready to pick up my seniors bus pass or reserve a plot at the local cemetery just yet.

Today's plans so far involve a little shopping, then dinner with the boy this evening (his treat!) and then out for drinks and dancing with J. and the girls tonight. Seems like a pretty good way to spend one's birthday if you ask me!

Stripped bare...

2007-01-03T21:26:00.000-05:00

...my living room that is. Or at least that's what it looks like now that all the Christmas decorations have come down and been packed away for another year. Four hours solid and the living room still isn't straight - but given the time right now and my 4am wake up the final touches will have to wait until tomorrow.

For saying I have a fake tree, I sure have a lot of tree needles on the floor to vacuum up tomorrow night when I get home! What's up with that? And for the record fake snow gets everywhere. I'll still be dusting and vacuuming this stuff come August!

Happy New Year!

2007-01-01T04:20:00.000-05:00

I think the Christmas season of 2006 will not be one that stands out in my memories as the best. The sore throat and tickly cough that had been bothering me all week, on the lead up to Christmas, decided to become a full fledged head cold by late Christmas Eve.

Christmas dinner was declared by the boy to be "delicious" - much to my surprise - after all I cooked it. I, on the other hand, couldn't taste a thing and my appetite was non-exsistant. He cleared his plate and I abandoned mine hardly touched. H'mmmm, the day I am off food, I am definitely sick. The rest of Christmas was spent on the couch. Roll of toilet paper within easy and frequent reach (we ran out of Kleenex). To say I felt like death warmed over would be accurate. Everything, including my teeth and eyelashes, ached.

Boxing Day I was supposed to drive to London (Ont.) with the boy to visit relatives. When I woke up however I knew it wasn't going to happen. I knew that sitting home feeling very sorry for myself would probably be the best medicine. So the boy headed off to London alone for the day with his car loaded with goodies ...and I did the combination of watch tv, sleep and drink endless cups of tea for the entire day. At one point (around the start of t.p. roll #3 of the day) I seriously started to wonder how one body could possibly produce so much mucous. It was disgusting and by pure physics alone I should now technically weigh a mere 100lbs after all the snot that has flowed from this body. I don't however, so sadly this wasn't the diet discovery of 2006.

By December 27th I was starting to feel we had turned a corner - I even ventured out of the house for the first time since the 24th. Still no tastebuds, still no appetite....and the Niagara Falls which was my nose had slowed somewhat to at least allow me to function.

December 28th was back to work. Still not 100%, but not sick enough in my books to be off work. Plus I felt I had milked all the sympathy at home dry and it was time to find new caring folk who would comisserate.

By December 29th I knew that any plans I might have, might make or might even want to make for New Year's Eve would not be including anything remotely party-ish and I had no real need of New Year's Day off (seniority has it's perks) so I cancelled my day off.

December 30th I discovered that we lost a significant number of people at work over Christmas due to a flu virus that is going around the office. Staffing numbers are such that several people are being forced into mandatory overtime just to keep the centre running on our minimum numbers. Thought you were going to be off New Year's Eve in time to celebrate with family and friends? Ha! Fool!

December 31st - I skipped dinner completely, as I now fear I have picked up the stomach bug that is going around work. Spent the evening between the couch and the loo feeling decidedly nauceous - was in bed by 8:30pm, having decided to accept 7:00pm my time as midnight in England and that was good enough for me!

New Year's Day - 4am, good morning ....sheesh I bet everyone is still sauced and sleeping it off - whereas some of us (over dramatic sigh), who are considered essential services, have to get up and go to work. Nausea is gone, I think, touch wood. Still a bit congested but it's nothing compared to a few days ago.

Still mentally going over my New Year's Resolutions - hopped on the scale this morning and was pleased to see that I made it through Christmas and New Year's without putting on any weight...on the alarming side I haven't lost any either...grrrr. I also managed to make it through the entire Christmas season without a drop of alcohol. Didn't feel up to it or just didn't feel in the mood - eitherway we have tons of wine and spirits that haven't been touched. H'mmm save for the birthday celebration perhaps?

....anyways, Happy New Year to all! Here's hoping 2007 brings us much happiness, great friends, prosperity and most importantly (as I have discovered these past few days) HEALTH!

7 Things I am pleased about for 2006

2006-12-31T19:30:00.000-05:00

In the spirit of giving at Christmas time I have to thank Jennyta for the gift of a new meme! And just in time for the New Year too!

(Stop groaning you lot!)

So without further ado, here's my top 7 of 2006 (why it's top 7 and not top 10 of 2006 or even top 6 of 2006 I haven't a clue).

7. Moving into an acting supervisor role at work.

6. Seeing the boy turn 19 - and finding he's turned into a loving, considerate young man...now just to find him a nice girlfriend I approve of ;) (meddling mother? me? nah!)

5. Managing the Naplobo-whatever it was called. Posting every day during the month of November. (Yes, some days watching paint dry was more entertaining...but I persisted!)

4. Proving to myself that if I put my mind to it, I can do anything - in this case reworking my finances (and working my ass off in overtime) to make my dream of home ownership a reality.

3. Finally getting my Will and Power of Attorney drawn up. (Procrastinator extrodinaire)

2. Getting a couple of commendations/documentations at work for a "job well done".

and my number one for 2006 is (drumroll please)

1. The new house!!

2007 promises to be an exciting year - no doubt with oodles of drama, laughter and tears! (And tons of photographs!)

Me-me-merry Christmas!

2006-12-25T06:12:00.000-05:00

Woke up tres early (4am) thanks to cold medication that wore off in the middle of the night. So just chilling here for a while until the boy wakes up! Perfect time for a Christmas Day me-me :-)

1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate?
Hot Choc

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree?
Wrapped or gift bagged! (for the wrapping impaired)

3. Coloured lights or white lights on tree/house?
Coloured

4. Do you hang mistletoe?
Yes

5. When do you put your decorations up?
Go up around 12 days before and down before 12 days after.

6. What is your favourite holiday dish (excluding dessert)?
Turkey & Cranberry!

7. Favourite Holiday memory as a child?
Lying in bed Christmas Eve so excited (I was practically levitating I am sure!) about Santa Claus coming - trying to go to sleep to make it come faster.

8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa?
My cousin L. told me on the beach front at Great Yarmouth one year. I was devastatingly disappointed - but worshipped the ground she walked on....so she HAD to be telling me the truth- right?

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve?
Everything gets opened Christmas morning (over a cup of tea) and before breakfast.

10. How do you decorate your Christmas Tree?
Lot of lights, ornaments I have collected through the years and strings of bead garland and bows (no tinsel, we have cats!)

11. Snow! Love it or Dread it?
Love fresh, new fallen snow....hate having to drive in it...hate ice rain.

12. Can you ice skate?
H'mmm kinda, sorta, ummmm....no.

13. Do you remember your favourite gift?
My EasyBake oven when I was 4.

14. What's the most important thing about the holidays for you?
Spending time with family, good food (good wine) and seasonal shows on tv!

15. What is your favourite Holiday Dessert?
Toss up between Christmas pudding with brandy butter...or homemade Sherry trifle.

16. What is your favourite holiday tradition?
I can't think of one specific tradition that I love more than any other. Pulling the Christmas Crackers at the table. The "stockings first" rule whilst the grown ups make a cuppa tea. Home baked Cinnamon buns for Christmas morning for breakfast. Visits to family on Boxing Day. It's all wonderful!

17. What tops your tree?
An Angel with fibre optic wings :)

18. Prefer giving or receiving?
Both...but if had to choose, giving, I love to see their faces!

19. What is your favourite Christmas Song?
Far too many to list. Both old and new...carols and modern pop!

20. Candy Canes, yuck or yummy?
They are OK once a year :)

A cross between a "good bottoming" and "a lick and a promise"

2006-12-24T12:09:00.000-05:00

So it's Christmas Eve day, I've got the turkey in the fridge defrosting for tomorrow, grabbed a couple of steaks out of the freezer for tonight - my plans for the day amounted to nothing, nadda, zilch - just to sit (with my Eartha Kitt/Bea Arthur sore throat that has been threatening for the last 3 days to develop into one hell of a head cold/flu, but so far hasn't progressed much beyond me feeling tres pooped and a bit under-the-weather), munch the occasional bon-bon, read my book, the girls vying for a spot on my lap....bliss!

Then the phone rang at around 10am and the dream sequence ended.

It was the boy calling from work. Would it be ok if he brought a friend over this evening from work? Yes of course, I said. Would this friend be coming for dinner? (My mind on the two steaks sitting defrosting). Oh we can order pizza, my son assured me, his treat. (My plans of a lovely Christmas Eve steak dinner, just the two of us, suddenly was a pizza party...sigh). I'll have to tidy up a bit (I eyed the rug - burgundy shows all the "bits"). Oh don't go to too much trouble mum - you're sick! I wont I assured him, (knowing full well different).

I thanked him profusely for giving me the forewarning. I hate unannounced guests and like to be ready. He said he hadn't even asked his friend yet, thought he would check with me first. (Ahhhh bless his cotton socks!)

I sat there for a few minutes after his phone call. What had been nice enough and tidy enough for he and I this Christmas, suddenly wasn't good enough for visitors (even if they are male work friends coming over for pizza and a game of WoW).

I'll whip around with the hoover later I decided. Then the narrator voice in my head reminded me that the boy was home early from work yesterday as the call volume was slow. And it is Christmas Eve...and Sunday to boot! How many people could possibly be having ISP problems today?

It was enough to spur me into action and I became a whirling dervish of cleaning power. Bedrooms, computer room, bathroom, stairs, hall, powder room, living room, dining room, kitchen - it's amazing how much you can get done when you are a woman with a mission. Dusted, polished, windows sparkling, hoovered the whole she-bang. Dishwasher is humming away in the background whilst the floors are drying. 11:56...a personal record! Somebody call Norris McWhirter at Guinness!

I sat down to finish a now stone cold coffee...and the phone rang again. It was the boy. His friend possibly wouldn't be coming now after all. (A crestfallen Oh! from yours truly) He had other plans, a Christmas party to go to etc. (Perspiration was still glistening on my flu ridden forehead). But he might drop by later...it all depended on...

I wasn't listening at this point. I surveyed my living room....all neat as a pin and shinning. The whole house smells of a combination of bathroom cleaner, bleach, Pledge, Kitchen cleaner, Pinesol and Windex.

Yes, sure that was fine...no problem...right then, I'll get those two steaks back out the freezer for dinner tonight!

The boy thanked me and said I was brilliant.

Y'know, I am inclined at this moment in time to agree with him!

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas

2006-12-23T18:02:00.000-05:00

My heartfelt thanks to my old pal Heather for this fabulous link. I confess to having played this clip from beginning to end ...oh about 6 or 7 times (minimum) in a row at least....raspily singing along with gusto (I appear to be getting sick just in time for Christmas and sound like a cross between Eartha Kitt and Bea Arthur) Click here and please sing along! Merry Christmas xoxo

Christmas Games!

2006-12-22T17:52:00.000-05:00

I love to find cute little gizmos, games and novelties on the web.

Simon Says Santa....go on, ask him to do anything!

www.simonsezsanta.com

Ever wondered what you would look like as a dancing Christmas Elf?

http://www.elfyourself.com/

OK, well maybe you haven't previously wondered...but it's definitely worth the effort and a total laugh!

Merry
Christmas !!

I'm ready!

2006-12-22T12:46:00.000-05:00

I hit the grocery store this morning to pick up some last minute things (milk, coffee etc) and was totally amazed at the number of people already there shopping like there was no tomorrow! The parking lot was jammed. The stores are only closed for 2 days for crying out loud! You'd think, looking at some people's trolleys, that they were stocking up for the next month or stocking a fallout shelter! Thankfully with my 4 items, I hopped over to the express lane and was out of that mahem in a jiffy.

My last and final task was wrapping pressies. Xena seemed more intent on crawling into gift bags and batting at the curling ribbon, but 2 hours later I am finally, officially, I aint buying another darn thing - even if I win the lottery tonight - DONE!

Merry Christmas from the girls

2006-12-20T18:43:00.000-05:00

I was finally getting around to taking a pic or two of the Christmas decorations today, when a certain little furry face, waiting for Santa under the tree, caught my eye instead.

Xena loves to lie on top of (and totally mess up) the tree skirt and the various stockings waiting to be filled.

I couldn't leave out her big sister Savannah aka Fat Cat, seen here chilling on the couch.

Christmas photos? Oh yeah...well after taking photos of the girls I kinda forgot what I had originally been doing, but I did get a couple of shots of my Christmas village, here and here. Enjoy!

The Weekend

2006-12-17T14:08:00.000-05:00

Well seeing as I am officially on my holls now til the 28th, I've taken advantage of the past few days to try and pry myself into the holiday spirit. I have to say that for some reason, I have failed miserably so far - but it is not for want of trying.

I am trying to blame the lack of festive cheer on the fact that we are having a lean-ish Christmas this year, with next to no pressies because of the new house - but even I know that Christmas isn't just about what's under the tree.

I've tried blaming it on the unseasonably warm weather we are experiencing, the fact that everything is green as can be and I still have one stubborn rose bush in the garden still in flower - but after years of Christmases in England I know it's not the lack of snow. I just can't put my finger on it - and it's driving me potty.

Friday, after a day of tree trimming and hanging stuff from every conceivable place, I headed over to visit J. We had a girl's evening planned - quick one for the road at her place and off to a local pub that was having a singles karaoke night. It didn't happen however. I arrived at her place, we got settled, got nattering...and before I knew it, it was almost midnight and we'd spent the whole night gabbing (mainly about men - my lack of , and her new boyfriend of 2 months). She had work in the morning and I headed off home...actually almost wishing to run into a R.I.D.E. seasonal spot check, just so that I could truthfully say that all I'd had to drink was diet caffeine free coke all night. The boys in blue however obviously had better places to be - gah!

Saturday was my long awaited date with O. We have been trying to schedule a get together since the last singles dance I went to in November. Between my shifts however...and his (he works in the control room of a local TV station)...and the fact he lives on the other side of the metropolitan area to moi....well scheduling this date has taken almost a month and a half. He's a super nice guy, decent, hardworking, fun to be around, easy to talk to, considerate, thoughtful but...(and you knew there was going to be a 'but' in there somewhere)...I just don't see him as anything other than a friend. This was our 4th date since we first met in mid summer. As you can see we don't rush things up here in the great whi...er...green north.

We had an interesting time ....he wanted to check out the local flea market, so we browsed there for a while, (naturally I ran into someone from work - only ever happens when I least want to see someone)...then he suggested we hit Costco...so we browsed there some more (hitting the sample ladies up numerous times). It struck me how comical it was....the makings of a classic date from hell..."He was so cheap, when we went for dinner we ate at Costco's sample tables!" But we were actually having a good time and laughing ourselves at the lameness of it all. Finally dinner at a local family restaurant. No candles or violin soloists...just a Swiss Chalet Festive Special ...and then we headed next door to the pub. I was having a great time, due in no small part to his obviously interest in yours truly, and it's nice to be the centre of attention once in a while - but still I couldn't muster any interest or desire along the lines of looking at him as a potential boyfriend.

Today has been a relatively quiet day. The boy had a late night as he was at his birthday concert in Toronto to see Alexis On Fire - which apparently was excellent - his first ever mosh pit - and then he and his bud decided to hit the local race track/casino, where he won $125 on the slots from a single quarter. He was smart at least and cashed out his winnings immediately and came home. I can't help but think however how much he has done since his birthday. Where do they get the energy?

He still has time for mum however and early this afternoon whilst he was out Christmas shopping he called and suggested we go to the movies - which is why at 4 in the afternoon he and I enjoyed a little quality time at the local Cineplex watching Eragon. 4 thumbs up from us.

Tonight I am still searching for my Christmas spirit ,so we're having an ample helping of holiday tv programming. Mickey's Christmas Carol and Elf , to start the ball rolling. I'll let you know if I find it!

The tree is up!

2006-12-15T15:04:00.000-05:00

Now that the boy's birthday is done and gone it's time to fire up that yuletide juggernaut and get into the Christmas spirit. The entire ground floor looks like Christmas came and litterally threw up tinsel and twinkling fairy lights all over the place. Martha Stewart would probably have a coronary followed by a nervous breakdown.

And how long did it take to create this loving festive arrangement of gawdyness? A mere 5 hours and 24 minutes (including the hoovering at the end to clean up all the tree needles and fake snow). A new record!!

Photos to follow :)

All grown up

2006-12-14T19:08:00.000-05:00

The Boy turned 19 today. Wow, how the years have flown, but he's a grown man now - and can legally drink, thanks to Ontario drinking laws. Tonight he is celebrating with his friend who turn 20 just a few days ago - and they have plans that involve scantily clad ladies and lap dances. I guess it's a right of passage for most young men around here.

How far we have come from Mighty Morphin Power Rangers and Teen aged Mutant Ninja Turtles.

Some things never change however and I spent the day baking his annual birthday cake. Devils Food cake, with chocolate flavoured frosting.

Trip to the design centre

2006-12-05T19:28:00.000-05:00

We took a road trip to the Design Centre today. No decisions made yet, but here are some photos. Naturally *everything* is extra $$, so when it comes to finally making a decision on some items we will be taking the "basic" models. We were a little disappointed that the builder hasn't yet made a decision as to which supplier(s) he is going with for any of the fixtures, tiles, carpeting etc. yet. It certainly made me wonder why they bothered sending out letters inviting us down to the design centre so early. Still, it made for a morning out and emphasized the fact that 2007 will be another year of overtime for yours truly.

The much desired "Oasis".

Yes, the door to the shower is extra...or else all you get is a rod for the curtain.

One of the kitchens in the Design Centre. Muchos upgrades I am sure. We will definitely be going with a more "basic" model.

They had carpeting every colour of the rainbow, from lime green and fuchsia pink to something a little more neutral, such as these.

Knobs

Finally! Something considered "basic"...a pedestal sink!

Basic Kitchen sink...obviously.

Taps

Shower fixtures.

First day of Advent- the tradition continues

2006-12-01T21:28:00.000-05:00

My calendar arrived yesterday. I was actually starting to worry/wonder as to where it was. Every year since I was born, Judith has sent me an advent calendar. She worked with my mum many years ago - and has kept up the tradition every single year for the last 40 years. Considering my mum has been gone for 24 years, the fact that she has continued to send me a calendar every year blows me away. I was just the snot-nosed kid of a casual friend from the office and yet every year she makes the effort. Other than our annual Christmas cards/calendars to each other we have no other contact, no letters, no phone calls, no visits. It's just our Christmas thing. It's a tradition that even the boy has come to expect. He broke into the most amazing smile when he came home from work yesterday and saw the calendar sitting out on the wallunit in the living room. Funny how the "small" things mean the most - even to him!

I assume she must be in her mid 70's by now. She has no family that I know of and so if anything were to ever happen to her I would probably never find out until the year the calendar doesn't arrive.

Day 30!

2006-11-30T21:16:00.000-05:00

I did it!!

I actually managed to complete the NaBloPoMo challenge, and post every single day in November!!

Just completing something ...seeing it through from beginning to end, is a major accomplishment and yes, I am proud - yay me!

Admittedly there were some days I stared at my blank screen, my mind equally as blank. There were days I was brimming with news, and days when I scraped the bottom of the barrel. (C'mon, you gotta admit not many people blog about what speed they drive at on the motorway). But we stuck it out, made it through my shifts, nights out and dancing, a new haircut, my first audio post, Remembrance day, Charity work, ....well you get the idea, and if you don't there are 30-plus posts below this one to give you the jist of the matter.

December may not see 30-plus posts - but then again it *is* my favourite time of year.

meme

2006-11-29T16:28:00.000-05:00

Meme hijacked from Gemmak

TEN FIRSTS

First Best Pal: Hayley
First Hamster: The boy had a gerbil at age 4 if that counts. His name was Nightclimber.
First Piercing: Ears - at age 15
First Crush: First major crush was in the 3rd form, his name was Paul McParland and I loved him from afar until we left school in the 5th form. I used to do daft things like walk past his house and cover my school books with his name.
First CD: First album a K-Tel compliation record called "Don't Walk - Boogie!"
First Car: My dad's old Camero.
First Love: Andy Thompson - soldier who was serving in W. Germany. For over 3 years we learned the art of love letters and waiting for him to come home on leave.
First Stuffed Animal: I don't remember.
First Teacher: A rather jolly sized lady - Mrs. Smith
First Watch: Mickey Mouse watch from my dad for my 5th birthday.

NINE LASTS

Last Beverage: Tea
Last Vehicle Ride: Drive home from picking up chinese takeaway for dinner.
Last Movie Seen: Cars
Last Phone Call: To place the chinese food order.
Last CD Played: Michael Buble (swoon)
Last Bubble Bath: summer? - ish (I hasten to point out do I shower daily - no jokes about annual baths LOL)
Last Time You Cried: Watching some sentimental stuff on tv last night.
Last Person who gave you a hug: The boy.
Last Time you rang your mum/dad/guardian: They are all passed on.

EIGHT HAVE YOU EVERS

Have you ever dated one of your best friends: No - my best friends tend to be girls. I have enough trouble dating boys, don't need to start dating girls.
Have you ever been arrested: No
Have you ever skinny dipped: Hey! What happens in California, stays in California! (1983)
Have you ever been on TV: Yes - was on a news feature about 911.
Have you ever kissed someone and then regretted it: Never
Have you ever had a sex dream about someone you knew: My dreams tend to fall short of the actual sex part...just the "lead up to" part...then the alarm goes off, darnit! Total lunch box let down.
Have you ever been in love: Yes
Have you ever wanted to slap/punch a friend: No - they wouldn't be friends if I wanted to do that.

SEVEN THINGS YOU'RE WEARING

1 Cardigan (Val Doonican eat your heart out)
2 Blouse
3 dressy trousers
4 pop socks
5 Slippers (pink, fluffy and cosy)
6 kni...unmentionables
7 brassi...um....jewellry

SIX THINGS YOU'VE DONE TODAY (in no particular order)
1. Read a fortune cookie.
2. Vetched about the new trainees and their cockups @ work.
3. Fed the cats.
4. Dragged the recycling boxes back into the garage (it was garbage day).
5. Checked my home email...5 times...is that a tad excessive?
6. Checked my work email once - h'mmm obviously have my priorities straight!

FIVE FAVOURITE THINGS IN NO ORDER

1. The Boy
2. Cadbury's Dairy Milk
3. Sex
4. Summer thunder storms
5. Christmas

FOUR LEAST FAVOURITE THINGS

1. Brussel sprouts (childhood trauma - honest!)
2. People who are notoriously late / unreliable.
3. The smell of wet/dirty dog. (gag)
4. The sound of the alarm clock in the morning.

THREE CHOICES

1. Eat or drink: Eat
2. Blonde or brunette: Blonde - I have noticed there wasn't a redhead option, I protest!
3. Pink or black: Black

TWO THINGS YOU WANT TO DO BEFORE YOU DIE

1. Publish a successful novel
2. Own my own home (in progress!! Note to God, this is not an indication of a need speed up any dying stuff!)

ONE THING I REGRET

Being too proud to take my father's offer of a paid university education.

Passwords up the ying-yang

2006-11-28T16:44:00.000-05:00

We have soooo many passwords, p.i.n. numbers, pass codes, security checks and secret handshakes these days - I am amazed that we can still function as a society.

Today I had to add yet another password to my memory banks. We were issued with Tokens (usb port plug in jump key doo-dads) in order to sign into the work stations at the office. My passwords had to be a minimum of 8 characters long, had to contain not only alpha and numeric characters, but also other special characters (#$%@ kinda thing). As if that wasn't hard enough, it couldn't be any of my last 6 passwords. (sigh)

I don't write down passwords, as it seems to me to defeat the purpose of having a password in the first place. It occurred to me however how many passwords I truly have just to get through a normal day.

I wish there was an easier way.

Home phone answering machine.
Cell phone voice mail.
Home computer.
Lap top.
Email accounts (yes, we all have more than one)
Numerous website memberships (including this one), usernames and passwords.
Banking info, debit, credit - banking online? Boy that's one humdinger of a password!
Talking on the phone to your creditor/service provider...in addition to your account number they want your "secret word" to proceed any further.
Heading into work - interac code to pay at the pump for the gas
Passcard to get into the bldg outer door.
Passcard to get through the glass mantrap in the lobby area.
Passcard inside the elevator to get it to stop at my floor.
Passcard to get through the door into my office.
Combination to my work locker.
Password to sign on to my work computer.
Passcode to sign into my phone (I wear a headset and calls come in "live").
Passcode and now a token to sign into my office email and access my company intranet.
...and at the end of the day I hope I can remember my locker combination at the gym .

I am sure I have missed a whole slew somewhere along the lines - but my poor middle aged brain cant remember anymore! LOL

Marvelous Monday

2006-11-27T19:04:00.000-05:00

It's been a great day.

Work was fun for once and we all seemed to find the absurd and humour in most situations we came across. It was a good connection day with colleagues, we gelled, we bonded, we were family....tomorrow of course it will be back to normal and I wouldn't p*** on half of them if they were on fire.

Oops, sorry...out loud voice...I'm just kidding...honest!

There is a very good chance I will be able to get New Year's Day off - tentative at the moment - but it's excellent news. I am supposed to be working the day shift - which ostensibly put paid to any plans of celebrating New Year's Eve. Now suddenly all that is in the air and I am looking to make plans. The psychic in me forsees dancing, alcohol...and I have the perfect dress....except I need to hit the gym hard - are miracles possible in 30 days? Well it is the Christmas Season...anything can happen! LOL

They don't make 'em like this anymore.

2006-11-26T16:27:00.000-05:00

I finally watched that old Gene Kelly classic "Singing In the Rain" over the weekend. I have long been a fan of the old Hollywood musicals, but had never seen this one from beginning to end. Made for a nice evening of nostalgia.

I wonder what Gene would have thought about this updated version of his famous song and dance routine.

"The song has ended, but the melody lingers on."

Commuter girl

2006-11-25T18:57:00.000-05:00

I don't consider myself a "slow" driver...but apparently I am not a fast driver either...at least not in the eyes of my carpool members. We were a little late getting out of work this afternoon (I got tied up on a last call) and I was driving home, very much aware that my two passengers had evening plans with their significant others.

C. leant over, cell phone in hand, and snapped a picture of my speedometer. I gave him the quizzical look...a kinda "wtf?" He just smiled and said G. (missing member of our pool today) would never believe I was doing 130 kms if he didn't have proof. Brat! I indignantly pointed out that if he had checked a little earlier he would in fact have seen I got up to 140!

So stick that in your pipe and smoke it! Cheek!

For the record, the speed limit is 100...and I tend to sit at around 115-120kms.

Ironic really considering G. has just gotten his car back after his 2nd accident in less than a year.

Walk a mile in their shoes - big shoes to fill

2006-11-24T19:34:00.000-05:00

Day 3 of the Season for Giving.

One of the girls at work is helping to run a charitable venture that is very close to my heart. She is organising a "Shoe boxes for Troops" campaign for our Canadian soldiers in Afghanistan.

Instructions:
Take a shoebox.
Fill it with inexpensive trinkets, knick-knacks, toiletries, goodies, small toys etc.
Include a card or letter (optional)
...and presto!
A little something from "over home" for the boys (and girls) "over there".

In addition, for $20 we have Canada Tee's...and for every one purchased we are sending a police tee in it's place to the gang over there.

I am mid-fill on my shoebox and I am running out of ideas...trust me to use one of the boy's size 13 monster shoe boxes and not a small kiddie size!

So I dropped by the Legion this week to pay my annual membership dues and pick up a few more ideas as to what the old boy's would have liked to receive from home when they were fighting overseas all those years ago. The times have changed - but the needs and wants basically remain the same. They just wanted to hear a friendly word from home, to know that we were keeping the home fires burning.

I came across this poem...not the greatest poem to hit literature buffs this century...but the usual patriotic, flag waving and heart warming stuff. It feels appropriate to share it here and now. Maybe I'll print off a copy and include it in the shoebox. Or maybe they'd just find it all too hokey - I dunno.

The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,
I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight.
My wife was asleep, her head on my chest,
My daughter beside me, angelic in rest.
Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,
Transforming the yard to a winter delight.

The sparkling lights in the tree I believe,
Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.
My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,
Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep.
In perfect contentment, or so it would seem,
So slumbered I, perhaps I started to dream.

The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near,
But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear.
Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know,
Then the sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.
My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear,
And I crept to the door just to see who was near.
Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night,
A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight.

A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old,
Perhaps a Ranger, huddled here in the cold.
Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled,
Standing watch over me, and my wife and my child.
"What are you doing?" I asked without fear,
"Come in this moment, it's freezing out here!
Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve,
You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!"

For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift,
Away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts...
To the window that danced with a warm fire's light
Then he sighed and he said "Its really all right,
I'm out here by choice. I'm here every night."

"It's my duty to stand at the front of the line,
That separates you from the darkest of times.
No one had to ask or beg or implore me,
I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me.
My Gramps died in Europe on a day in December,"
Then he sighed, "That's a Christmas 'Gram always remembers."
My dad stood his watch in the jungles of 'Nam',
And now it is my turn and so, here I am.
I've not seen my own son in more than a while,
But my wife sends me pictures, he's sure got her smile."

Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag,
The red and the white ... a Canadian flag.
I can live through the cold and the being alone,
Away from my family, my house and my home.
I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet,
I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat.
I can carry the weight of killing another,
Or lay down my life with my sister and brother...
Who stand at the front against any and all,
To ensure for all time that this flag will not fall."

"So go back inside," he said, "harbor no fright,
Your family is waiting and I'll be all right."
"But isn't there something I can do, at the least,
"Give you money," I asked, "or prepare you a feast?
It seems all too little for all that you've done,
For being away from your wife and your son."

Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret,
"Just tell us you love us, and never forget.
To fight for our rights back at home while we're gone,
To stand your own watch, no matter how long.
For when we come home, either standing or dead,
To know you remember we fought and we bled.
Is payment enough, and with that we will trust,
That we mattered to you as you mattered to us."

- Author unknown

Pass me the Kleenex.

Jamie Durie

2006-11-23T19:47:00.000-05:00

I am in lust with this gorgeous hunk of Australian landscape gardening genius.

Sigh...

He could leave his muddy gardening wellies under my bed any night.

...bet he'd have an idea or two as to how to get rid of my pesky squirrels.

Holiday Across the Border...

2006-11-22T18:43:00.000-05:00

Tomorrow is a regular work day for me, not so for our American cousins across the border, for them it's a national holiday - Thanksgiving - the unofficial start of the Christmas Season. Turkey, pumpkin pie and the further south you get more exotic the menu becomes (to my palate at any rate).

Here in Canada we celebrated our Thanksgiving last month. The benefit of which is we have recovered from our turkey dinner over-indulgences already. We are primed and ready to do it all again next month - bring on the Christmas dinner!!

So to everyone south of the border...Happy Thanksgiving!

I'd give you the shirt off my back...

2006-11-21T16:30:00.000-05:00

Day 2 of my Season of Giving ...

So this morning I headed over to my local Penningtons. I had been browsing a few weeks ago and noticed they had a clothing drive going on - what better place for my stash of clothes from my closet clean out last week? The clothes are all going to be sorted and distributed to local shelters for women escaping abusive relationships.

Again...it's a small thing, but it gives my heart a warm glow.

Of course whilst I was at Penningtons I had to start replacing the clothes I have given away...a new pair of jeans, a pair of dressy trousers for work and two lovely soft cosy sweaters later.... :-)

Hey brother, can you spare a di...bear?

2006-11-20T16:04:00.000-05:00

Well, there's no fighting it, Christmas is just around the corner. We can avoid the shopping malls, plug our ears to the syrupy advert jingles playing on the radio, but there is no escaping it. Santa is aboard his steamrollering juggernaut sleigh of commercialism and he's barrelling down the festive motorway - destination Christmas! Ho-ho-ho!

Every year at work we take up a charity and make this the Season of Giving. Emergency Services personnel - Police, Ambulance and Fire - are reknowned for their generosity and big hearts and this year for us in the Radio Room is no exception. We're a soft touch, especially where kids are concerned - and speaking of soft touches (and you think I just throw this stuff together?) we are once again collecting teddy bears for the Gate House.

We have a house in the city that we use specifically for interviewing child victims of crime, specifically child victims of abuse and sexual assault. The children feel safer and less intimidated in a house setting as opposed to a big (and oft times smelly) police station. When the children arrive at the house they will find bears and assorting cuddly pals in every room. Sitting all the way up the stairs, climbing up the bannisters, hanging out on the comfy sofas...(you get the idea). Each child is allowed to pick a special furry friend to hang on to during the interview, and when the ordeal is finally over they can take their new friend home with them.

So ...(finally getting to the reason behind this post)...I got off work this morning after working the night shift and decided I needed to go find a furry pal looking for a new home...

It's just a little thing...but it gives my heart a warm glow.

Turning Grinch?

2006-11-19T18:47:00.000-05:00

I have decided not to put up exterior Christmas lights this year.

Oh no! Say it isn't so! JustSue, Tinsel Queen of the West, is foregoing Christmas this year?

Well no, not quite...but certainly this year will be a little more toned down.

Last year we had a few light strand casualties - personally I blame the *squirrels, although popular opinion is that it was the cold weather - the fact remains that in order to put on any kind of light display this year, I would need to purchase a whack of new.

I switched all my lights over to the new energy saving led lights about 3 years ago. I have to admit that I was very disappointed with them, found them dull, dingy looking - certainly not bright and sparkly like my Christmas displays of old, so I certainly wasn't heart broken at losing them to my local tree-rodents. Technology changes rapidly however and I have noticed that in the past few years, advances have been made and the newer led's are certainly an improvement.

Seeing as we are moving next year (woohoo!) I'd rather hold off on making any major new illumination purchases until I see what the new place is like and what my decorating style is going to be....and if I have room on the front lawn for a herd of illuminated deer, inflatable snow globe, Santa Sleigh...

Just kidding...

...or am I? Tee hee!

*Notice how I blame them for everything? lol

Filler and fluff

2006-11-18T18:54:00.000-05:00

OK we are on ....what day is it?....right...the 18th day of NaBloPoMo, ummm I mean November. I am on day (night) number 6 of my night shift...and to be honest I have nothing to say. My world this week has been "work-home-sleep repeat" - so I have no news to share and no gossip. So what does a girl do when she has a NaBloPoMo obligation to fill? We do a meme!!

1.Grab the book nearest to you, turn on page 18 and find line 4.
"Like so much of what you see on television or on the big screen, that show and others like it don't reflect any world I've ever heard of." (Dr. Phil talking about the tv show 'Sex and the City' in his book 'Love Smart'.)

2.Stretch your left arm out as far as you can.
H'mmm coffee cup, yes I could do with another one...brb.

3. What is the last thing you watched on TV?
Holmes on Homes...gawd I love this guy. Now watching Top Gear...which I haven't seen in years - I love this BBC Canada channel, it will be hard to give it up in January.

4.Without looking, guess what time it is?
Ummm, about 7:10pm?

5. Now look at the clock, what is the actual time?
7:06 pm ...not bad!

6. With the exception of the computer, what can you hear?
Revving car engines ...see answer # 3.

7. When did you last step outside? What were you doing?
Walking from the car to the house this morning after work.

8. Before you started this survey, what did you look at?
E-mail.

9. What are you wearing?
Still in my sleep tee and robe...need to hit the shower in a few.

10. Did you dream last night?
I don't remember. I rarely remember my dreams.

11. When did you last laugh?
Last night at work probably.

12. What is on the walls of the room you are in?
A few framed black and white photographs and black and white art pieces.

13. Seen anything weird lately?
Nothing springs to mind.

14. What do you think of this quiz?
It is filling a NaBloPoMo requirement. A post a day.

15. What is the last film you saw?
At the movies? Well I saw the World Trade Centre back in August...I can't believe that was the last time I was at the movies.

16. If you became a multimillionaire overnight, what would you buy?
The house of my dreams.

17. Tell me something about you that I dunno.
I go through spells of growing my nails to ridiculous lengths ...well ridiculous for speed typing purposes, getting weekly manicures etc. and then going back to my usual chewed stubs.

18. If you could change one thing about the world, regardless of guilt or politics, what would you do?
Oh this is a toughie. I can think of so many downsides to so many solutions. Obviously an end to all wars, poverty, disease and the environment repaired/replenished...but the actual solutions to these problems just create more problems. Sigh.

19. Do you like to dance?
I love to dance. Shake it!

20. George Bush
Can't stand him and I trust him about as far as I can chuck him.

21. Imagine your first child is a girl, what do you call her?
I had always thought Sarah, which means princess. That is never going to happen now.

22. Imagine your first child is a boy, what do you call him?
My first child is a boy...and for blogging purposes he is simply known as "The Boy". He has told me however that he wishes I had called him Sebastian (which I didn't). I must admit I do like the idea of being able to choose your own name once you are old enough to do so.

23. Would you ever consider living abroad?
Yes, I love the idea of experiencing different countries and cultures. Maybe I could do that with all my multi-millions from question 16.

24.What do you want GOD to say to you when you reach the pearly gates?
Welcome home.

25. 4 people who must also do this meme in their journal.
Oh I hate this part. Do it if you want, specially on a day when your mind is blank, as mine was today. Just let me know so that I can drop by for a read!