Peek-A-Boo! October 2, 2009

I’ve been trying to write a new entry all week and it just hasn’t materialized.  On the *rare* occassion that I’ve had possession of the laptop for more than 5 minutes (Todd’s on days…) I’ve had other things to do.  It’s actually been quite a busy week thus far.  We’ve done A LOT.  We’ve re-arranged/ re-organized/ re-imagined the livingroom/ den / dining room which has  been a lot of work and isn’t completed.  I’m hoping to finish tomorrow – all of the extra stuff and things that need new homes are just hanging out in the spare room right now. 

We also went and visited a friend in the hospital one night.  I’m really not a fan of being at the hospital (ohhhh that smelllll) but I was glad to be able to visit.  She had a gorgeous room though – she was in the cancer ward (she doesn’t have cancer, that’s just where there was an empty bed) and it had just been redone.  There was nice flooring that looked like wood, an LCD tv on the wall and decorative glass over all of the lights.  Hard to remember you were in a hospital.  OK, not that hard.

And rounding out our busy week were two weekday runs.  Since we’ve gotten back from Vegas, it’s been hard to get back on track with fitness.  I feel that I’m back in the groove now though.  Wednesday we were actually able to run outside, down by the river because it was so beautiful out.  14 degrees, but beautiful.  Todd has his half marathon in *gasp* 2 weeks!!!!

Today is Friday (thank goodness…) and my parents are coming over for dinner – ah, the joys of having them closer, can’t wait until it’s official.  So it’ll be a low key Friday night – especailly since Todd has to work Saturday now (figure that one out…can’t get 40 hrs, now working Saturday?  Let’s hope that this means the return of the 40 hour workweek).  That’ll be good though, because Saturday evening (we were planning on Saturday afternoon before we knew Todd had to work) we’re going to Lawrence’s in Ingersol for his birthday party.  It’s a 70’s theme and we’re actually borrowing some clothes from someone who’s on the way to Lawrence’s (sidenote – the person who we’re borrowing the clothes from also has to work on Saturday and unless she’s going to her cottage right after work, we won’t be able to borrow the outfits now…boo.) and I hope that everyone participates.  I’m sure we’ll be up mega late that night and feeling *wonderful* the next day.  I hope to take lots of pictures….

Until then.

Buffalo Lockjaw September 25, 2009

I’m part of a small online bookclub and we just finished a book called ‘Buffalo Lockjaw’ which is written by Greg Ames.  I had never heard of this book before it was selected and I really like the fact that I’m being exposed to new-to-me authors and *hopefully* fantastic literary fiction.  Our October book has yet to be announced (which is just fine as I’m currently reading two others – see the sidebar).  I haven’t suggested a book myself this time, but I eagerly await the decision.  Below is what I added to our bookclub forum as my short review/critique of  the book.  I think that everything I say is obtuse enough that you won’t know anything you shouldn’t if you want to read the book yourself.  This includes the last line – it’s probably not what you think.

Buffalo Lockjaw – Greg Ames

Finished the book! I enjoyed it. Can I say that I *really* enjoyed it and that I’m going to read his entire body of work? Hmmm… not sure, but I can say that it kept me turning the pages, wondering what was happening and where this premise would lead to next. In fact, the first 4 or 5 pages confused the hell out of me! I couldn’t figure out who the narrator was, or what page 1 had to do with page 3. That’s right, the interviews threw me for a loop and after re-reading *ahem* 3 times, I realized the premise. One thing that I really enjoyed was the fact that I wasn’t completely sure until the very end, whether *James* was going to complete the act or not. However, I did feel that there was some foreshadowing to the outcome, in Rodney’s responses/reactions to James’ queries about euthanasia and Ellen. Given this, I wasn’t completely surprised at the ending, but I liked it. I found it sad, of course, but satisfying. Often at the end of a book I find myself looking for 3 or four more chapters. With this book, I felt as though we just saw a small snippet of their lives, and once the book was over, their lives went on…well most of them.

Can’t wait for the next book!

This post brought to you by the letters O, M and G. September 21, 2009

Had a great birthday weekend.

Went out for dinner at this great little Italian restaurant downtown.  I had linguini alfredo with chicken and artichoke hearts and a great glass of shiraz, while Todd had Linguini with chicken in creamy pesto. Mmmmmmmmmmm.

After dinner we walked to a little bar that we like to go to for a couple of drinks.  While we were sitting at the front window, a man came in and you could guess that he was homeless, but he was clean, polite and smiling.  He brought a travel mug in with him and the bartender asked “more water?”  And then I was sure that he was homeless.  He got his water and left the bar.  Through the side window I coud see him sit down at a picnic table and drink some of his water and pull some food out of the bag he was carrying.  I was glad to see that he had food.  I was trying not to stare, and to let him eat his meal without my curious eyes interrupting him.  Then I noticed what he was eating.  He was eating a loaf of bread.  A loaf of bread and water.  And not slices of bread, a loaf  where he had to tear chucks off.  And then I noticed that he had no fingers on one hand.  This broke my heart.  Here, I had just gone out for a big dinner and drinks and really didn’t appreciate the fact that I had the means to do that, not to mention no impairments that would prevent me from working to get said means. Most of the time, when Todd and I encounter a homeless person, we give them the change that we have in our pocket.  A dollar or two mean A LOT more to him/her than it does to me.  We had a five dollar bill sitting on the table.  I decided that $5 could really mean a lot to him.  I asked Todd if he minded if I gave it to him.  He had some trepidations, as he wasn’t asking for money.  I said that, that was part of the reason why I wanted him to have it.  He watched as I walked outside and approached the man.  I said, “Hi!  I was just wondering if this would help you out?”  He looked at the money and then looked at the money, saying in a thick German accent “Were you in the bar?” I nodded and he reached out for the money and hugged me and kised my cheek.  I was a little taken aback – but not nearly as much as I was after the next thing he said: “Can I buy YOU a beer?”  Seriously, you want to thank me by spending your money on me?  Wow.  There is hope for humanity.  I replied, “No! But I hope you’ll have one if that’s what you want!”  I waved and headed back into the bar.  He packed his stuff up and followed me into the bar.  Now some people might think that giving a homeless man money outside of a bar isn’t a good thing and spending found money on alcohol isn’t beneficial.  However, I don’t agree.  I gave him that money to give him a hand up and to hopefully give him a feeling of normalcy for a short time.  While he was at the bar he had 2 beers and bought 2 cigarettes off of another patron.  I have never seen someone smoke a cigarette in such a thorough, urgent and non-wasteful way.  I let that man fee like a normal man sitting in a bar on a Saturday night – if only for a half hour or so.  I don’t have a lot, but many people have less than I do, and I must give if I can, when I can.

*breathe*

On Sunday, Todd and I went shopping in the States for our usual Stateside staples.  We were also on the hunt for new running shoes.  We each found a pair – Todd opted for Saucony (he’s been loyal to Adidas for a long time!) and I expected to buy a pair or Asics, but found the most comfortable and light shoes, which were a pair of Adidas Supernova Glides.  Oh, and did I mention they were cute?  Here they are, check them out! I’ll wait.

http://www.dickssportinggoods.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3204064&cp=2367438.2367454.2866814.2866816.2879033#1

Cute eh?  They fit fantastically too.

Once we got home, Todd’s parents dropped by for a bit.  After they left, we watched the race and sat around enjoying the beautiful day.  We had a great evening with the tube and just enjoyed our Sunday.

Great birthday weekend!

There was one point where the weekend coud have been blown.  On Saturday evening we were leaving Amherstburg on the way back to Windsor after a day of laying flooring at my parents’ new condo.  On our way out of a 50 into a 70, a car flew by us and Todd said “Wow he must have been doing 100!”  The car then went through a traffic light and we stopped as it turned yellow.  When the light turned green, blue and red lights flashed on behind us. Ummm…. WTF?  The cop came to the window and took Todd’s licence and asked, “Do you know why I pulled you over?”  A clueless Todd said, “no idea!” The officer was all too happy to oblige, “I got you doing 101 coming out of a 50!” Immediately Todd exclaimed, “Wasn’t me!”  To which I chimed in, “A blue Calibre flew past us back there.”  OMG, is this actually happening?  What happens now? The cop responded, ”Lucky for him, shitty night for me then isn’t it?” OMG, I always wondered what would happen in that stuation.  And the scary part – that was 51 over.  Stunt Driving.  Licence yanked, vehicle impounded, huge-ass fine.  Once again,  OMG.  I thinked the Lord right there on the spot.

*breath out*

The tribe has spoken. September 17, 2009

I decided that I’m not going to watch this edition of Survivor.  I have watched nearly every episode of every edition of Survivor.  So why am I not going to watch it?  Well, the finale episode of the last edition (last May-ish), was on at a time when I was unable to watch it and due to my non-PVR house, I set my VCR (you remember VCR’s, they use these things called cassettes…) to tape it.  Of course I set it incorrectly and it didn’t tape.  So I didn’t see the last episode.  And I didn’t learn who won.  And I still haven’t seen the last episode.  And I still haven’t found out who won!  WTF?  How could that be possible, you say?  I have no flippin idea.  I absolutely did not try to keep from hearing in hopes that I would see the episode – and in fact, celebrity gossip and hollywood info is a part of my everyday life (shame on me, I know)!  So without actively seeking out the name of the winner, I never found out who won that million dollars.  The fact that I wasn’t eager enough to find the answer (duh, all I’d have to do is google it…), meant to me that I had had enough of Survivor.  And that’s why I decided that I’m not watching Survivor anymore.

So what am I doing right now?  Why, I’m watching Survivor of course!

I can’t quit you Jeff Probst…

Technical terms, not for the feint of heart… September 16, 2009

There.  Done.  Did a little bit of spring cleaning (errr…. fall cleaning?) to the ole bloggy.  What do you think?  Not a complete overhaul (I still like the layout), but I rearraaged a bunch of things and did a wack of updating.  Wack, that’s a technical term. 

Not much new in my world today – except that my back is feeling better!!!  Yay!!!  I’d say that I’m at about 85% (normal is only 90%ish) but with a little sciatica on my left. ick. 

Funny thing happened to me today.  All of a sudden I remembered having a conversation with Todd and it had to do with going to his parents’ house on Sunday.  However, I absolutely couldn’t remember where or when this conversation took place and I could just barely remember that it actually occured.  It took me quite a bit of mind digging, but I finally remembered us talking!  Now, how  could I have forgotten?  Well, it was near midnight and Todd woke me up to say goodnight when he got home from work.  And then we chatted.  Apparently.  Probably not the best time to schedule events.  Which, btw, we’re not going on Sunday.  This makes me happy – not exactly the way I want to spend my Sunday.  No, I’m not evil – did I mention that Sunday is my birthday?!??!  Yay me!

Ok, ANTM is on…

Laters!

D-I-V-O-R-C-E …Farmtown and I that is. September 15, 2009

Well, my love affair with Farmtown is over.  Oh, I still love it – but I’ve made the decision to leave the farm and rejoin reality.  Of course my farm won’t go anywhere, and I could move back in at anytime, but I think that I need to spend less time doing mindless clicking… especially when I could be doing only slightly-less-mindless typing 

Random thoughts:

- Currently reading an interesting and thought provoking book  ’Buffalo Lockjaw’ by Greg Ames

- Huge fan of cauliflower right now

- I have to stay up 2 hours past my bedtime tonight – Damn you 2 hr Biggest Loser and 2 hr Big Brother!!!

- I’m ready to kick it up a notch….bam!

- I think Kanye needs to check himself.

- I am more than a number

- I love watching my doggie sleep….which she does 22 hrs a day… at least!

- I am a huge fan of high fashion and the asthetics of such, but to look at me, you’d never know it!!!

- I haven’t had coffee since Friday.  Huh.  Not on purpose.

The end.

Are Clarissa and Harry getting divorced? Oh, I wouldn’t know. May 27, 2009

I feel all discombobulated.  Or something like that.  I haven’t been able to watch Coronation Street all week.  I missed Monday (Stinkin NHL playoffs!!!!  Nooo… I really didn’t mean that!  I love you hockey!) and so I’ll have to wait until Sunday and watch the whole week.  It’s left my routine with a hole in it – a whole that has turned my routine inside out and I talk to you now after not being to the gym and eating dinner at 430.  Hmmm…  Can one half hour show be so imperative to your life that you can’t function properly without it?  Possibly, or perhaps I didn’t take enough for lunch and it’s so humid outside that I can’t imagine how unbearable the gym would be today.  Nah, that can’t be it - must be Corrie…  

Ohhhhh, btw – How about those Spitfires!!!!  Fantastic hockey – Fantastic outcome!

…. May 14, 2009

I just noticed that I really need to update my sidebars.  There’ll so out of date that theyre almost current again!  Meh, maybe later…

A little Shaggy for you…. Sing along! May 14, 2009

Soooo… Time to update, but what’s new?  Hmmm.  Well, we’ve re-done our our bathroom top to bottom (except for the tub and the toilet) and it looks awesome!  There is still about 5 per cent left to do – all of the little things! And I hope that it’s completed this weekend.  After that, we have new flooring for the two bedrooms and the hall to put in.  The fun never stops around here.    And we’re right in the throes of planting season – lots to do in the flower beds and decisions to be made about the extent of our vegetable garden this year.

My friend Min’s baby shower is this weekend and sadly, I won’t be going.  I only got the invitation (less than!) 3 weeks before the shower, by internet invitation only (wtf?!).  Which didn’t give me a lot of time to sort things out and plans had already been made.  And did I mention that it’s 4 hours away?  I haven’t seen her since last June or July (le sigh) and I would have liked to attend, but the logistics just aren’t conducive to this.  I really hope to visit soon though – perhaps with my dear Bran – and my guess is that it will likely be apres baby. 

So many friends with babies that live so many hours away that I have yet to see.  I feel terrible.  I also am so excited for meeting and getting to know each of them (hopefully soon!).

Ok, I think that’s all for now.

btw – I’m watching Murder She Wrote right now.  Gotta love old ladies who have murders happen around her everywhere they go. 

No really, I think I’m back! May 5, 2009

So how long has it been since I wrote that last entry?  Hmmm…  Anyway!  Lots to keep up on (including emails unanswered, bad Becky!), but ah, how I love writing here.

I’m back.  Not everyday – but the monkeys in my brain (see Bran, I have them too!) are working on overdrive and I just have to puke them out.  I mean, write my thoughts… 

I’m ready for a re-dedication.  A rededication to this blog and a rededication to myself.  The last couple of months have been ok, but could have been much better in weight-loss land.  Don’t get me wrong, I’m happy wih my progress – I’ve lost roughly 65 pounds(!) – but that easily could have been more had I kept better focus in the last few months.  My focus is not gone and forgotten, but just needs to be re-calibrated and less liquidated…which would be difficult considering the summer months are upon us, but we’re getting re-dedicated here, so bring it on!

Well, as much as I would love to contine writing here ( and watching Alton Brown in Good Eats), I must rest my head on my feather pillow (ya, I sleep with a feather pillow, do you have a problem with that?) and go to bed  – wake up time is Early.  Thank goodness I’ve always been a morning person.