Mindless Mutterings

Skill + 1UP – 2KCBWDAY2

2011-03-29T17:13:00.003-04:00

Day Two: 29th March. Skill + 1UP
Look back over your last year of projects and compare where you are in terms of skill and knowledge of your craft to this time last year. Have you learned any new skills or forms of knitting/crochet (can you crochet cable stitches now where you didn’t even know such things existed last year? Have you recently put a foot in the tiled world of entrelac? Had you even picked up a pair of needles or crochet hook this time last year?

- So... I have been knitting since I was a kid, nothing fancy, I only knew knit & purl stitches - but it was more than kinda uncool "back in the day"... so it fell out of favour with me. I was an awkward enough kid, I didn't need knitting to make thing more socially awkward for me than they already were.
... fast forward to 2007 - I needed quite a few gifts for GNO girls, and no budget!!! So... I went to the dollar store, and I bought some needles and funky looking yarn and I rattled off 14 scarves, and beaded 14 sets of necklaces and bracelets too. Some gifts were received gratefully - others were not. The ingrates outweighed the gratefuls - so once again, I put down my knitting needles.
... in Fall 2008, I gave birth to Bean :-) ... and there's nothing like having a child to really re-awaken old dreams, habits, and joys - and I realised - "I LIKE being crafty!!!! - I like sewing, I like embroidery, I like YARN!!!!!" ... and with that - I made another round of homemade Christmas gifts (sewed & embroidered "Dammit dolls" and made cookie mix jars) - not as many this time, but again - the ingrates outweighed the gratefuls. Pah.
So again, things lay dormant as looked after Bean and returned to work ... but in the back of my mind, I've wanted to rekindle my crafty love affairs because I want to teach Bean these trades. Cooking, sewing, embroidery, etc. It's these things that I remember being close to my own Mum with. She would teach me, we would craft together, we would cook together. I believe that a childhood should be filled with rich experiences and memories...

... and then... in Sept 09, my Mum came to visit... and I wanted her to teach me how to crochet. She didn't :-P PAH! But she did buy me an awesome sewing machine for my birthday... and I started sewing again. In October, I thought "Fudge it!!!" and I bought an pink aluminium hook. A friend had given me a black trash bag full of yarn, so I wasn't lacking. And after Two VERY frustrating weeks (90% of it was my fault - I was impatient to learn!) - I made a granny square.

I started a giant granny square blankie, and rattled off 4 hats for my daughters and 3 friends' kids, and mitts, and scarflets, and amigurumi toys - a lion, bear, koala... :-)
... and then I went out to a UpTownKnitMob night, and heard ladies talking about spinning - and lo!!!! I am hooked there too.
It seemed like a natural progression - if I'm going to crochet and knit - I may as well know how to make the yarn :-)
I don't bake cakes from boxes, I bake 'em from the raw ingredients - cos my Mum taught me how to cook - same principles.

So yah... this time last year? I was pretty much not doing anything at all; and now I'm a spinning, crocheting, knitting machine :-)
... what I lack in talent though, I make up for in enthusiasm... and isn't that half the fun? Love what you do, and do what you love...

... and so think of all the awesome skills I'll be able to teach Bean. Cooking, gardening, knitting, crocheting, embroidery, spinning, sewing, quilting, photography... and hubbie is going to teach her fishing... That's a lot of room for a a lot of memories.
I hope she cherishes them as much as I do.

A Tale of Two Yarns – 2KCBWDAY1

2011-03-28T13:27:00.000-04:00

Yippee!!!! My first blogging challenge.

Ok.

So... today's topic is "A Tale of Two Yarns".

A "good yarn" and a "bad yarn".

I recently added spinning to my learning curve, I started it in January. I confessed my new geek sin to a friend and she informed me that her Mum is into spinning. I had wondered given that they own an alpaca and sheep (and turkey) farm in BC.
My friend passes on her mum's email and encourages me to message her - AWKWARD.
Anyhoo - I did, and she generously sent me some samples so that I could get a feel for different fibres.

My "good" yarn was a mohair and wool blend - this was the first yarn I was able to spin "finely" and then use with a thread crochet hook to make a bookmark and a tiny sheep. It was fabulous to spin, I felt like it spun itself - I was still "parking and drafting" (I'd only been spinning 2 weeks or so) ... and it was a dream. Smooth, soft, and fine - and it was so kind to me when I used it to "break-in" those thread crochet hooks.

My "bad" yarn was another sample from my friend's mum. It was Black Welsh Mountain Sheep. Oh... I did not enjoy spinning it, and I did not enjoy crocheting with it. It was short, and coarse - rough. Like spinning steel wool or pubic hairs... awful. I didn't enjoy it at all. Spinning it was awkward. With the short staple length, and my fast spindle - it came out very clumpy/thickthin and therefore the yield wasn't as good. I also found that once it was spun and set - that the yarn wasn't very strong at all. But that could be user error, but I thought I did OK spinning it.

And there we have it. Excuse the awful photos... I took them at night, indoors, with my BB camera. I didn't realise back then that they would be used for anything other than personal reference.

OH!!!! ... and here is the little chap I made with the yarn: Timmy the Tiny Sheep

Knitting & Crochet Blog Week - March 28th + Update @CasaGinger

2011-03-06T09:57:00.000-05:00

I haven't blogged for a while, life has been crazy - and not in a good way. In a shouty "IMMAGETMYLAWYER!!!!" way - which is stressful, and took a wee toll on my body & spirit. Acid reflux, poor sleeping, IBS... HOORAH!!! and no Bean 2.0 either. How could I? So I've been spinning a lot to relax me, and knitting... From the yarn that I'm spinning - I'm knitting Bean a sh-weat-ter (just like how she pronounces it - LOVE this kid of mine!). My first big knitting project (aside from the 2 dozen scarves I did that one time at Christmas) - and I'm excited. I've also been playing about learning new stitches/techniques (SSK, YO, etc.) to do some basic lacey stuff. I bought some gorg. purple merino/seacell fibre - and it's my intent to spin it and use it on ME! :)

So... what's this blogging thing I mention in the subject... WELL!!! It's a week long blog project - and I've never taken part in anything like it before - so I'm going to give it a shot.

:-)

"Knitting and Crochet Blog Week 2011 will run from 28th March to 3rd April 2011 in a week of fibre-arts related posts and events which will see many members of the knitting and crochet community worldwide blog daily together on the same subjects and topics.

Knitting and Crochet Blog week consists of seven daily topics, each to be posted on a given day. The topics are merely starting points for your writing – feel free to use them as jumping points and take the ideas in whichever direction you fancy in your blog posts."

I'm going to try it out :-)

Wonders will never cease...

2011-02-03T13:10:00.000-05:00

Recently... (like 5 mins ago)... I was introduced to the word "mansplain" or "mansplaining" (thanks ZeroCattle!) ... I thought initially that it was an old sailing or pirate term... "Hoist the MAINSPLAIN" or something. Had visions of swarthy sexy seamen with eyeliner and such... and rum!

Sigh.

Yum.

... but those images were not relevant to the discussion at hand, so I googled.

FINALLY!!!!

... after many, many, MANY frustating years - I have discovered that there is a word for what I deal with on an almost daily basis.

Mansplaining.

Allow me to quote:

"Mansplaining is when a dude tells you, a woman, how to do something you already know how to do, or how you are wrong about something you are actually right about, or miscellaneous and inaccurate "facts" about something you know a hell of a lot more about than he does."

Thank you!

Praise Cheesus!!!

Everyday I deal with this... and everyday I try and talk myself down when it happens "Stop overreacting, he isn't really being patronising... he doesn't mean to be a condescending arseknuckle" ... but... the fact that this word and definition exists?

Holywotists!!!!

It means I'm not being stupid, or paranoid, or that I'm overeacting (most of the time - some times, perhaps, I can't be perfect ALL the time... hehehehehehe) ... It means that other wimminz have gone through this, experienced it... and survived.

:-)

*sigh*

I'm not alone.

;-)

It has begun...

2011-01-28T08:40:00.001-05:00

Three things:

1. I was sad this morning, that I couldn't bring my new fibre to work and spin. I am a yarn geek. It's official.

Isn't it pretty?!?!?! :-) Thanks to Lindsey @WaterlooWools! :D

I figured my boss man wouldn't be as excited and super keen as I am.

So. I sighed, said goodbye to Doris (my spindle) and grabbed my handbag and came to work.

I get to work, and I remember I hastily threw my hair into one of Bean's bobbles.
Crap.
I need to find one of my hair bobbles before this puny thing snaps and I have a disaster on my hands... or head.

So I delve into my handbag - which is more of a glorified purse/wallet - I carry nothing of use - usually some bank cards and such are languishing in the bottom, half a dozen screen wipes (which are awesome for cleaning my glasses and touch screen BlackBerry) , a half chewed lip balm, and sometimes one or two hair bobbles.

I HIT PAY DIRT!!!

... not only are there *TWO* hair bobbles - but my favourite pink crochet hook and a tiny ball of yarn!!! :-) YAH! :-D Whooppeeee!!!!!

:-)

2. I've been asked 3 times now when we're going to get Bean's haircut.
I don't want to get Bean's haircut.
"But the mother of the manager of the daycare is a hairdresser"

... uh.
That's nice.

... and now I'm checking Bean's head every night, looking for shorter parts.
I don't want her hair cut. why should I?
:-(

3. I'm bored with the house. I just want to move. I don't want to pack anymore. I don't want to paint. I'm tired of the mice in the garage pooping on everything.
Urgh. And there's no listings. There's NOTHING out there that inspires me. I feel like we're going to be stuck in that godforsaken house.

Spintastic...

2011-01-20T17:21:00.000-05:00

I spinned! or I spun... or something.

Tuesday - spindle arrived - hastily and eagerly spun a wee chunk of yarn. Washed it, and put it out to dry.

Wednesday - tis dry, but xbox woes took over.

Thursday - crocheted a swatch while sitting on the #9 bus on my way to work ;)

I'm so happy.

Yup, it's too kinky, and yup, it's chunky in places... I held the yarn and the spindle too tight, and I watched the Megan videos (which I'm now learning could have been a mistake)... much discussion on the ravelry forums about her... seemingly Abby is the one to watch... I'll do that later... compare techniques.

... but spinning may have to take a wee back seat after the flurry of excitement and activity - I have to get my stupid new xbox HDD working, and a house packed and prepped this weekend ready to paint the following weekend.
*sigh*

And ... Bean has been accident free for 2 days now :-)

... as my mother said "Two smarties, and almost NO pants" ;-)
Oh Mummy... :-)

... and don't be thinking that my adventures in the kitchen are over either - we're just so horribly disorganised. I have planned time to take up my menu planning again.

Eesh.

Thank Crunchie, It's Friday!!!

2011-01-14T17:23:00.003-05:00

What a week it's been.
And by week, I'm counting this time last week.

We've had a Home Stager come into our house to tell us EVERY single TEENY tiny little detail that is wrong with it.
... and to also tell me that I *need* an accent chair.
Why?
"You have 2 sofas"
... uh huh...
"And if you have 2 sofas, you need an accent chair. It's what people do and expect."

Really?

I need one of these:

Cos I only have 2 adults living in my house, and 2 bottoms. Those 2 bottoms can fit on 2 sofas just nicely, and can squidge up onto one sofa is we have (*SHOCK*HORROR*) guests... I also have a storage pouffe that people can sit on, not to mention 4 dining chairs, and an office chair.

I don't want to spend $$$$ on a chair I won't use.

"Can I bring down the slider from my daughter's room?" I asked, genuinely.
Stager Lady raised an eyebrow, "No."

She also thinks we need WAY more focal art pieces in the house.

See, but that's just it.

It's a HOUSE, not a home.
I don't WANT to spend too much time and energy on it, I don't want to give it a soul. It's a HOUSE.
A stepping stone to better things.
Also... I don't like too much stuff on walls. You have to then dust them. And art pieces can be faddy... I prefer to rotate in and out photos I've taken.

*sigh*

So... I'll take on board her recommendations for painting, and decluttering, and purging, etc... but the accent chair?

No thanks.

... in other news - the Beanster is attacking this 'going potty' business all by herself.
Our parenting style is relaxed, yet strict at the same time. (Strict about manners, and morals etc)
I think a lot of things Bean has to work out herself with our love and encouragement - like learning to walk, and potty - we will be there with loving supportive arms, but if she's not ready, she's not ready. I don't believe in "training". She's not a dog, she's a human. I'm not going to try and force her to learn something that her wee body or mind isn't ready for.
So. It was with resounding whoops and yippees and hi5s that Bean decided to go potty, unprompted. No asking, no nagging... "I go pee mommy" ... and off she went. So last week she went to school/daycare with her pants/underwear and many changes of clothes - twice a day she had an oopsie, but she did well.
Again though, we're not pushing it, I don't expect miracles - but it's all a step in the right direction.

... and also... I bought a spindle. I'm going to try this spinning lark. Should be good for a hoot ;-) Make my own yarn, and knit or crochet my own goodies to give away... I also want to try dyeing the yarn too, naturally - onion skins, beets, etc :-)

:-) I've started a shawl... but I also have other projects to finish... GAH! :-) FOCUS WOMAN! I need focus.

So... wish us luck as we attempt to tackle the house this weekend.
Four weekends to get the place gutted, refloored, painted, and packed.
And staged...

... without the feckin' accent chair.

;-)

1-1-11

2011-01-01T15:46:00.001-05:00

A new start beckons.
Look at the date... all ones. It's like a counter has reset.
Although 2010 wasn't too bad a year for us, it was an emotional trial for me at times. Dad's birthday without him, Father's Day without him, etc. Many "first" anniversaries without him. Mum's trip over to visit was a rollercoaster of emotions... we never talked about it, but we both missed him. Doing things without him was odd. Like a wheel wasn't just missing, but something else was also off-kilter.

Other things stung.

I'd receive an email that I would want to forward him; I'd see a webpage I'd want to share with him; a board game or gadget that I knew he would have loved.
Bean's milestones. Dad loved his granddaughter immensely. It may seem odd that I mention it, as don't all Grandads love their grandchildren - but we were a very "British" family. Stiff upper lip and no emotion. No hugging. No "I love you"s. To see such an free-flowing, gush of love emanating from my Father? Was beautiful. He loved her unashamedly. He would ask for photos, or "input" daily. A pause in emails for more than 48 hours would result in panicked messages "Are you OK?!?! What's happened?" ... I loved it. It never irritated me, it moved me. Him not being here this year as Bean made so many milestones? Was painful.

Sure, I shared them with my Mum, and she certainly loves Bean too - but I missed the "need input" emails. I missed the urgency with which my Dad needed to know everything that was happening with Bean.
Mum has been busy dealing with Dad's estate and her own situation. Dad was her rock, her everything. They were everything to each other. Their marriage was a kind of inspiration. I say "kind of" as it wasn't "romance novel" perfect - heck no. But... it was a strong marriage. A marriage that survived many ups and downs. MANY ups and downs. But they loved each other. Together since their teens, married for 35 years... Not having that constant in your life is very unsettling.

It struck me this year also how far apart less grounded friendships have grown. I've decided this year not to fight it anymore. People do come in and out of your life... if you love something, set it free. Isn't that how the saying goes?
I've always wondered though "Was it me? Was it having a baby? Or is it a pure coincidence that so many people have left my life when I needed them the most?" ... yah, having a baby and losing your father in 14 months certainly was difficult. With no family in the country, I leaned heavily on my husband - but he was grieving too, but we got through it. Hopefully the grief is less obvious this year, hopefully it numbs.

Look forward though. Onwards and upwards. Hopefully this year will see us move house and have a second Bean. Bean 2.0 ;-)
We have outgrown this house since Bean entered our lives. Hopefully we'll find the 60s bungalow that I want. Three bedrooms at least, air-conditioned (please, someone put an end to the Summers in an un-AC'd townhouse!), with a fenced in backyard. Oh... and a kitchen. A kitchen with worktops. So many kitchens have great storage - but barely any counter space to roll out pastry, to prep 5 meals, to work effectively.
And room for crafts ;-) ...oh, and if it can have a finished walkout basement? I'd be over the moon.

Ah crafts. :-) Crocheting has possessed me since October, and I've also dusted off the knitting needles and have sewn a quilt for Bean. I've since bought some more fabric, and I intend to try making Bean a dress, and something else. I'm not sure. Fabric doesn't have an expiration date, so no rush.
:-)
I'm participating in a yarn craft forum, I've given up on the local mummy groups. They are a tough clique to break, and I don't fit their pre-formed mould. I give up. I tried for 2 years, but no more. Anyway, being a mum doesn't define me, it's not WHO I am... it's part of what makes me who I am. Take away the mum aspect and I'm still me. I still like trivia, crafts, xbox, zombies, hobbies, camping, photography ...

And Bean. How can I not mention Bean. My beautiful baby girl. She's almost 27 months now, and still a feisty nonsense minx. She's coming along beautifully, words and sentences are flowing, she "cooks", she helps, she pets the animals gently. She has a couple of friends at daycare. She loves new experiences. Just recently we took her to a local free skate for her "ice initiation". She did wonderfully. Took to it like the little Canadian that she is. You wouldn't know that she was born to two Scottish parents ;-) She's still loving swimming, but I don't think we'll take her to Sportball again... it was a little too technical and advanced for her.
I really hope that we can provide her with a sibling - despite her occassional napalm strength tantrums, she's a good kid - I think she'll be a fab big sis.

So yah.
Here's to a new year, and hopefully a new house, a new baby, and more new experiences...
(and learning how to knit socks, and maybe pick up my bass again, and look into this spinning lark)
*cheers*

Lions, and tigers, and BEARS! Oh my!

2010-11-19T11:09:00.000-05:00

... well... not so much a tiger, but perhaps a cat?

I have been a crochet whirlwind!!!

http://www.ravelry.com/people/LaTomate74 <<< That's me :-)

Since getting the hang of the basics, I've churned out 3 winter sets (Hats & mitts) for mine own and other kiddles, a hat for hubbie, a hat for another kiddle, my eternal granny square blanket is about 70-80% done, and I've made a bear amigurumi for Bean (which I gave her) and I'm about 80% way through a lion for her (from Santa).

I have 4 more amigurumi to make for friend's children - a surprise, a cow and a cat, and a moose for a friend down-under. And a few more hats I think...

I also bought a spool of cotton wool, no... not "cotton wool" ... but a wool which is cotton - I don't know, I'm sure there is a "proper" term - but I don't know it. ANYHOO!!!... I made a kitchen washcloth.
... and I also tried knitting socks. First attempt was ripped apart... It was too small for me, and way too large for Bean... so I tried again... and it was WAY to small even for Bean's tiny trotters. I don't know if I'm a fan of crochet socks - there's no stretch... or perhaps I did it wrong and need a better pattern.

I am also trying a scarf - but by chain stitch. We shall see if it works out.

Exciting purchases - I bought a bamboo hook and a pack of plastic (5, colourful ones) - and I like having the variety. Proper wool seems to need a more smooth surface - so my metal hook is great for it... while the more softer polyester wool needs some grip or it's forever slipping off my hook - so the bamboo is FAB for it.
I also bought some eyes for my amigurumi. I need more. I bought a large size and a tiny size, I need inbetween too.

I need something as a stitch marker too.

So yah... I have been having a lot of fun crocheting :)

... life updates...
Bean is doing REALLY well at her new daycare, hubbie was bumped up a room at HIS daycare and is back teaching JK kids, I love Bean's new daycare... did I mention? And we have a PACKED Festive season - train rides, breakfast with Santa, photos, Botanic Gardens... :-) hehehehehe.
... and yah, I've done my Christmas shopping already ;)

Granny B Square!

2010-10-19T17:07:00.000-04:00

Yeah for me!!!

Last night, around 11pm - I FINALLY made a Granny Square.
It's flat, it's not cone shaped, it has only 4 sides, and they're straight.

:-)

Yeah for me!!!! Next stop? Amiguami thingies... or slippers... or something :-)

Crocheting and elevators.

2010-10-14T16:53:00.001-04:00

... so. I've been trying to teach myself how to crochet.
It's been... interesting. Frustrating as hell the first night... but the 2nd night I took a breath and I tried single crochet and double crochet stitches. DONE! Last night, night 3, I decided I would try crocheting a dish-washing cloth. Gah. It's not going well... but I shall persevere. I've been perusing craftster.org for cute patterns :-) I want to try slippers, some dollies for Bean, and perhaps a cushion cover.

In the meantime - check out this lady's amazing crochet art:
Crochet Animal Sculptures

... and back to elevators.

WHY!!! Why on earth do people entering elevators not care about those trying to leave. Sometimes, I have hot food in my hands. Sometimes I don't want to do a quick waltz with a random stranger because just because they're so inconsiderate that they can't wait until I (and fellow lift riders) exit the elevator.

GAH.

People can be so rude.

... and don't get me started on loud chewers.
I had to endure 2 hours of a work colleague loudly eating toffees today.

*ripsouthair*

;-)

Making a collage

2010-10-05T12:53:00.000-04:00

... my Mum brought some photos with her, here's a collage I just made in Picasa of the photos.

Just playing around :-)

Bad news & Good news

2010-08-03T17:52:00.003-04:00

Bad news ... they say that the triceratops never really existed.

BOOO!!!! No!!! OI!!! SCIENCE!!! Stop messing with my childhood memories.

First you take away the brontosaurus (one of my favourite dinosaurs), and then you take away Pluto (one of my most favourite planets)... and now?!?!? Triceratops!!! My 3rd most favourite dinosaur.

(for those wondering, my most favourite dinosaur was the Archaeopteryx. Check out THAT bad boy. it's got the claws, the wings, the jaws...

So... the triceratops was just a junior version of a bigger dinosaur after all? *sadface* ... and noone's ever heard of this more grown up version... I say stick with the triceratops. It was like B list dinosaur - this new fangled Torosaurus is like D list. Torosaurus. Triceratops was way cooler name too.

Here's a side by side... rather... top and bottom comparison.
Completely different. :-P

... but good news!!! We may be able to see some Northern lights tonight (August 3rd)!!!
The sun has awoken after an 11 year "slumber" and awoke with a thunder! The solar storm has meant that perhaps as far south as the GTA could see the Northern Lights!!!
Trouble is, I can't find anything on *when* to see them, other than Tuesday night. Is there an optimal time?
I have work to get through, get home, kid to bed - are we talking between 9pm and 11pm? Cos that would be great Mother Earth. I know it's a little demanding - but I have a schedule.

:-)

CBC news website has some info too...

Gym week #3

2010-07-27T17:27:00.000-04:00

So, as previously mentioned - I have joined a gym.
Scary business.
Fat chick in Skinnyland... my worst nightmare, made only more horrific by the fact that I'm volunteering to wear yoga pants and get red faced and sweaty in front of trendy twiglets.

Why am I doing this?
Well, for me. I'm sick of feeling hideous about myself and having zero self esteem - I want to feel desireable and confident, and not that my husband must have a screw loose to want to fool around with me - "Are you drunk?" ... all joking aside, it's not healthy.
... with this in mind, I realise that my poking fun at myself and lack of self esteem is NOT something I want to hand down to my daughter. Neither is the message that it's "OK" to be like me. It's not. I wish I could say "March on BBWs!!!!" ... but I know the risks that I'm taking with my body, and it's not cool. heart disease, diabeties, strokes - plus, we would like to have another Bean.

Would I want Bean to be like me? No.
Do I want Bean to be embarressed to bring her friends round? No.
Do I want Bean to cringe when she's seen in public with me? No.

As much as I'd love to say that we're not in a superficial society - the reality is that we are, and I don't want Bean to be bullied about her appearance or mine. I'd much rather Bean ate well (everything in moderation) and is as active as she wants to be.

So.
I joined a gym; and we're aiming to eat more GI Diet friendly again. I've been on this diet on and off for ... eessh... 7 years or so... and I find it always works. But I have a long way to go.
So... I was cattle prodded into retaining the services of a personal trainer at the gym too. 6 sessions. Let's see what the twiglet can help me achieve.

;-)

Having said that, I have no sessions with her this week as my shift at work won't allow for the extra time - so - I'm aiming for 4 nights, 30 mins each, cardio this week.

:-)

... adventurous side? We have been to Storybook Gardens (contraceptive) and Day Out with Thomas (Star Trek convention for preschoolers). Both were fun days and we enjoyed ourselves, but by 'eck... it were knackering.

Also I've lamost completed the famed bathroom reno of 08. Paint job to do next and we're done diddly.

Caribana this weekend!!! Woo!!! Gyrate my jigglybits to some rythyms!!

Finding the silver lining to the clouds...

2010-07-10T15:25:00.000-04:00

... urgh. What a week. Not like in a OMGHUGEMELODRAMA kinda way - just in a *URGH* kinda way. Not in a "QUICK!PAY ME SYMPATHY!!!" kinda way, more of it "Nod your head if you know what I'm talking about" kinda way.

Gripe 1 - the crappy weather

... so... it's been a tad warm here in SWO and pretty much all the way up to Quebec City. I don't like hot. I'm a lady of over-average size - I don't *do* hot. I'm Scottish, we think anything over 18C is tropical. So it was with open arms I welcomed the "Week of 40C" WOOO!!!! YEAH! Who the heck can can enjoy 45C with humidex. Even my Jamacian born Scottish friend agreed that "It's a bit warm" ... anyhoo. I actually enjoyed being at work... my toes were cold and frosty :-) Home was a tad different. No AC. But we do have our "Hawaiian breeze" window fan.

*scoff*

Hawaiian Breeze.

... I'd have MUCH preferred "Antarctic Breeze", or "Baltic Breeze"... "Hawaiian" ... pffft. Yeah, that well known chilly bunch of islands NO WHERE NEAR the equator.

:-)

... so... heat. That's gripe number one.

Gripe number 2 - my idiot colleague.
Y'know? The one who thinks I'm from London, UK? The one who thinks that Canada isn't part of the British Commonwealth? The one who thinks that all countries with a red, white and blue colour combo much have been conquered by Britain at some point? The dude who made me snort my chai tea when he stated "I smell metal!" ... ;-) (I still wonder, if it's 80's hair band metal he smells?
All patchouli oil, leather, and hairspray? Perhaps some slight undercurrents of perming solution and Old Spice?
I want that made into a t-shirt.
"I SMELL METAL!")

... anyhoo, I digress... Idiot Lad is reading up about the Queen having come to Waterloo, he's scoffing at claims that she owns a BlackBerry ... "Dude, she's owned one since 2007, along with an email address" ... idiot lad shuts up. A few minutes later, without addressing me...
"I read the other week that Cockney is dying out"

... I don't respond.

"So what do you think about that?!?!"

... "are you addressing me?"

"Yeah!"

... "And you're wondering what I think about an aged London dialect being on the outs?"

"Yeah!"

... "I don't really care being the fact that I'M NOT FROM LONDON!!!!!"

"But you must know people from there"

... "Why the heck should I know people from London?"

"Because it's all the same little island that you live on"

... "I'm from Scotland, that's a country in it's own right with many cities. If I do know anyone in London it's because they've moved from Scotland and I'm PRETTY sure they don't care about Cockney rhyming slang. *shakeshead* And you know everyone in Toronto and Ottawa do you?!?!?"

"Yeah, yeah I do!!!"

... *muttersunderbreath* "fcukinasshole" and turns back to monitor.

Gripe 3...

... field trip.

DNA rules state that children aren't allowed out for more than 30 mins in 33C heat. If they are, then they are to be drenched from top to toe with hoses, sprinklers etc and kept hydrated.

... so I wish someone would explain to me how 2 classes of Toddlers, a JK/SK class and a class of campers ended up on a field trip to a farm in 42C weather with 2 juice boxes each, very little shelter, no hydration points - and all over lunch time - therefore also missing their naps.
And it wasn't a FARM farm - they grow Strawberries (out of season now) and Pumpkins (not in season)... so there was a pile of hay bales for the kids to jump on, a large sandbox (which was, thankfully, sheltered), and a tiny corn maze for the kids to enjoy from 10-2pm.

*sniff*

Oh, super happy fun times it was.
Bean had 3 meltdowns at the farm, and then another 4 back at the daycare.

... but although I complain about my week - I do have some good things.
1. I joined a gym
2. My delivery of new clothes arrived
3. There was a third... what was it? Dang. No. I need to remember... OH!!!! Yes... We've joined a lapidary club, and hubbie is also joining a coin collecting club :-)

... and 4. I, um, may be buying a new telly. I have no ground on which to make this purchase. My only excuse is that it's a bargain, and we saved $200 by NOT needing a new BBQ (we replaced the faulty part)... and it's a very shexy looking telly.

:-)

Open letter to the young lady on the #9 bus...

2010-06-30T17:29:00.000-04:00

... I appreciate what you did.

Although the mother who wheeled her buggy in and sat in your pre-warmed seat didn't look appreciative? I was.

On behalf of all mothers who have boarded a public transit bus to find that noone will vacate the front seats, I thank you kind lady.

Perhaps the mother didn't spot your good deed, I sure did. I'm not sure why she didn't at least look in your direction - I would have done. And I would have attempted a smile, but it would have look like more of a grimace (as if something had flown into my eyeball) - but we would have connected, and you would have known that I was very thankful that you switched seats to allow me to manouvre my stroller into place and sit with my child.

Cheers to you... wherever you are... and once again... Thank you.

... and to the lady who decided that a bus stop was the place to remove her footwear and apply moisturiser - I have one word - "EUGH!!!".

;-)

Happy Canada Day y'all!!!

:-)

Julia...

2010-06-22T11:19:00.001-04:00

.... oh my....

Another huge lapse in blogging.
To be fair to myself - I have been very busy with work and at home.
One of the most exciting things (aside from our little vacation - which will be a blog in it's own right!) is my new purchase.

She's very attractive. White, glossy, metallic; she sits in my kitchen - smouldering at me. Begging me to play with her. Drawing me in with her sleek lines and curves.

She's "Julia" ... my kitchen aid stand mixer.

What a thing of beauty - and it's really changing things at home. I'd always been scared by the notion of making pasta - NO MORE! I've rattled off spaghetti, lasagne, made my own ravioli stuffed with chicken, brocolli and parmesan... I've made macaroni! :D Homemade mac & cheese from scratch. DELISH!!!
... oh, there's what I could make for supper tonight! :D

... but yes. Julia. She's a thing of great beauty. I've also tried my hand at making bread - another thing that I used to be scared of. Easypeasy :-)

I have also used the meat grinder attachment.
I'm a label reader at the supermarket - and it was only recently that I wondered - "Why is ground beef so much cheaper per lb than stewing beef?" ... which made me wonder "What the heck is IN ground beef to make it cheaper?!?!" ... Mince as I know it (ground beef) is our staple red meat in our house. It's mince and tatties, it's shepherd's pie, it's spag bog, it's lasagne... the odd burger or meatball... so... why is it cheaper?!?!
... so with Julia sitting there, and a recipe for meatballs in hand - I made a batch of wholewheat pasta, and then some meatballs. I bought a dollop of some nice looking beef, not totally lean, with some marbling... and I twice ground it for a finer texture, and then made them up. Didn't get a finger nail dirty. I used the grinder attachment to also grind up onions, mushrooms, and courgettes for with the meatballs, and Julia smooshed the mix altogether. These were melt in the mouth, tender and juicy.

Next on my list is the ice-cream maker. I can't eat a lot of store bought icecream - doesn't agree with my stomach - but what if I made homemade frozen yoghurt ... or sorbets!!!! :-)

That could be tasty.

:-)

... also been making up apple sauce bars, breakfast muffins with carrots, courgettes etc ... all good things... yah... I've been a cooking whirlwind :-)

Next stop, is local buying. We couldn't commit to a CSA - as pick up times weren't friendly to us - so I've registered with a local food buying group.

We pick up our first order, and already I'm drooling at the idea of Saturday's breakfast burritos with local sausages, local free run hens eggs, local 5 yr old cheddar... and local made tortillas too... ;-) then I plan on making some pasta, bread, and muffins (also ordered wholewheat flour and 7grain cereal); and with the starwberries and rhubarb - some freezer jam.
(Making real jam intimidates me - freezer jam seems like a good baby step for me)

:-)

nomnomnom.

Good food.

Meanwhile, Bean's language skills are coming along ssslllooooowwwlllyyyy, but we're managing 2 word at a time now. "Mummy no" and "Mummy STOP" are my personal faves! *sarcasm* and she can count to 2. Seems like not a huge step - but I mean she can COUNT. She's not just repeating. She knows and understands the difference between 1 and 2. Happened with TimBits.
"Take one Charlotte"
"No, doo" (doo = two)
"No hunny, just take one"
she takes one, I take away the box
"NO!!! DOO!!! ME!!! DOO!!!"
"Hunny, finish that one and perhaps you'll get two"
"doo"
"maybe"

... :-P

She also came up to me with hair bobbles "One, doo!" ... etc.
... she's not there with three yet... ;-)

She also had her first trip to A&E/ER.
Headbutted a shelf at daycare. Too eager to put away her toys (is this REALLY *MY* child?!?!) and get to circletime - BONK!!! Shelf to the eyebrow.
VERY brave little girl she was. Got 2 bright blue stitches in time for our minivacation.

:-)

Forms & Red Tape & Menu planning Monday & Elevator etiquette...

2010-04-12T11:37:00.004-04:00

... it's so not cool.

Like.

Jeez.

Come ON!!!

... what happened this morning? I approach the lift (elevator) and I catch the eye of the dude inside, I'm 4 steps away, and he hits "door close" - LIKE - WTF?!?!?!

Sorry.

... it's just rude.

... but I had fun planning my menu for this week. I'm trying the old "Make enough one night to do supper the next night" - and I'm combining this with "Make supper the night before and reheat but don't freeze so try and keep things fresh" - I just hope everything comes out OK post-reheating.

So I used my trusty "Eat, Shrink, and be Merry" cookbook. It's like my Canadian Cookbook Bible.

Tonight will be a tofuparmagianna dish (I haven't spelled that correctly have I?) Basically, slices of extra-firm tofu, dipped in egg and then dunked into parmesanny breadcrumbs with basil and parsley (was meant to be oregano - oops) - these are baked in the oven on a cookie sheet. Then in my gorgeous retro-Pyrex casserole dish (did I explain how that came to be? I LOVE it - fave kitchen thing right now) I plop some pasta sauce with courgettes grated into it and sliced 'shrooms (tin BTW - just like a marinara sauce I think). Then I lay out the toasty brown tasty smelling tofu slices, and then dollop more sauce (with added veg) on top. I then topped with mozza cheese and the leftover parmie breadcrumbs. Slammed it into the oven for 15 mins.
When I get home tonight, I intend to whip up some brocolli while the tofuparm reheats and grills in the oven (I *MAY* add a TENNY bit more mozza onto the top).

Sounds good eh?

... and I have a couple of slices for tomorrows lunch.

Tuesday is Greek tortellini salad. We're a fan of the stuffed pastas anyway, this is just a way of combining them with more toddler/finger friendly veggies and feta cheese chunks. Should be very tasty. Make ahead and combine I hope! :D :D ... and no lettuce. *bleurgh* I ate it again recently... I was green around the gills.

Wednesday is Asian Beef salad ... nomnomnom. I can make ahead and then combine everything within 5 mins of coming home! :D AND! NO lettuce.

Thursday is "Cheats pie quiches" ... :-) Yah, more cheats - but - this is our "Fright night". Bean goes to swimming as soon as the car pulls in the drive, she doesn't even get a chance to leave her carseat, so I need something that I can "grab from the fridge" and take with us.
So... I came across this recipe for these little appetizer crab pies - so I'm thinking I'll use a normal muffin tray (and not a mini one that the recipe calls for) and I'll throw an egg in the mix and swap out the crab meat for salmon or sliced ham, and I'm thinking I'll add a little spinach. And as per usual - seeing as I'm not a pastry making queen I need something to replace the crust - the recipes calls for Pillsbury Crescents tube. I'm game.

:-)

... and Friday will be take out cos it Friday, and payday, and I think I'll be done :-)
Scott will also have to start carboloading for his CN Tower climb the next day.

:-)

AND!!!!!

We received our tax refund.

Now it's forms and redtape time.
- new drivers licences
- new PR cards
- Hubbie's College of ECE membership
- CANADIAN CITIZENSHIP APPLICATION!!!!

:-)

:-D

aaawwwwwww-yeah.

*hi-5*
(don't leave me hangin')

The Movie Theatre Quiz... insightful :)

2010-04-09T13:08:00.000-04:00

You Are Imaginative and Idealistic

You are popular and well liked. You know how to please a crowd and work a room.

You tend to go to your friends for advice and opinions. You value what your friends have to say.

You have an optimistic take on life. Things are always a lot better than they seem at first.

Spending time alone makes you contemplative and thoughtful. You can get really deep when there's no one else around.

The Movie Theater Test

Blogthings: Discover the Parts of Your Personality that Have Been Hiding

Wordless Wednesday

2010-04-07T12:52:00.000-04:00

Faithless...

2010-03-16T14:25:00.000-04:00

hhhhmmmmm.... refinding music is fun too.... I've just re-found Faithless :-)

Insomnia: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tBrUjvONIrA&feature=related

Another fabulous Faithless track is Mass Destruction. *The Sun is one of Britain tattiest raggiest "newspapers"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ls3zBL2jPoc&

FAITHLESS -MASS DESTRUCTION

Whether long range weapon or suicide bomber
Wicked mind is a weapon of mass destruction
Whether you're soaraway Sun* or BBC 1
Disinformation is a weapon of mass destruction
You could a Caucasian or a poor Asian
Racism is a weapon of mass destruction
Whether inflation or globalization
Fear is a weapon of mass destruction
.
.
.
.
... Inaction is a weapon of Mass Destruction

Faithless are awesome and they've just released a new album... *giddy*

http://consequenceofsound.net/2010/03/12/faithless-release-single-from-upcoming-album/

:-)

Kitchen Experiments #2

2010-03-10T13:58:00.000-05:00

An experiment for supper tonight.

Working the late shift this week has meant that I need slowcooker/crockpot friendly meals that will be ready for El Husbandino and Bean coming home after the commute home.

So...

I made this recipe in my head for a sort of chicken pie ;)

I'd seen recipes that were chicken and dumplings, and they called for refridgerated biscuit dough as the topping to chicken in mushroom soup base.

Sounded bland to me, plus the dough had to be added 30 mins before the end of the cooking time - no good when I need it ready when the front door opens. I checked the reviews and they weren't favourable either.

But I had chicken boobs that I needed to use.

SO!!!

Here's my recipe - and I have no idea if it'll taste nice.

In the crockpot, I diced up 2 chicken breasts, and 5 slices of cooked ham. I added a handful or 2 of chopped mushroom, one small onion diced, 3 stalks of celery, 2 carrots (sliced), a handful or 2 of mixed frozen veggies, and 4 or 5 florets of brocolli.

I also added 1-2tsp of garlic seasoning as I had run out of my most favourite frozen garlic cubes.

Then I added one tin of condensed soup - low fat mushroom, a chicken stock cube crumbled up, and another tin and a half of water.

I mixed everything up good and proper.

I then made up Bisquick mix (1 cup - 1 egg - half a cup of milk) and dribbled it over the chicken & veggie soup mix.

Then I thought - what the heck, I have veggies, meat, carb - we need dairy... and cheese always makes things taste nice... so I scattered some grated marble cheese over the top of everything.

I turned on the clow cooker, and had 2 hours to kill before I left for work - and I have to say - the dough had started to rise a little on the top of the mix before I left and the house was starting to smell delicious.

SO.

What will the man and the babe come home to?

I have no idea.

Will it be a dried up hunk of veggies and meat with a soggy crust?

Will it be a doughy soggy topping floating on top of glorifed soup?

Or will it be a delicious slow cooker chicken pot pie? hehehe.

Who knows.

Musical Musings Part 2

2010-03-09T17:46:00.002-05:00

... :-)

... So I'm listening to the radio, and I fall in love with this song "Radar Detector" and I google to find out who sings it. "Darwin Deez" ...

Intrigue.

... if you picture Justin Warfield's (from SWR) taller, skinnier, geeky looking younger brother - I think you'd be spot on.

As this article says, this guy would give Napelon Dynamite a run for his money in geekiness.

Still... I love this little tune, it gets stuck in my earhole.

http://www.prefixmag.com/media/darwin-deez/radar-detector-video/38189/

Florence and The Machine

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1TwqE2X55Wg&feature=related

Bombay Bicycle Club

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5OT2M1r-XyM&feature=related

.... wee edition...
... as I'm checking out Darwin Deez more, I find:

Everything Everything
http://www.myspace.com/everythingeverythinguk

Bishop Allen
http://www.myspace.com/bishopallen

Marina and The Diamonds
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_oMD6-6q5Y

Some Musical Musings...

2010-03-03T10:43:00.000-05:00

... Wow... it's been over a month since I blogged?
*eep* I'm lame.
Well. Kinda. :-P
Unfortunately we've been sick and stuff and I haven't been doing a lot in the photography or kitchen department. Lots of the "same old, same old" ...

... but I thought I'd put this out on the blog.

Been swapping music with friends.

------------------

These aren't new songs or fabulous videos ... just ladies I happen to love listening too... :-) ... and I have to admit I'm a HUGE Alanis & Bjork fan - but I believe that you're not meant to actually utter that out loud ;-) But I dig those ladies very much. I've seen Bjork twice - she is a fantastic showman and talent. Much love for My Crazy Icelandic Princess. Alanis I feel like I've grown up with as we're the same age ;-) hehehe.

.... would it be appropriate here to also confess that Moby is my Shiny Headed Love God? ;-) I have VERY eclectic music taste. Pass the Rammstein and the Nina Simone and Scott Joplin ;-) hehehe.

I'll start with Nadia Fay - and this particular song is one I like to call "Bean's Song" :-) hehehehehe. The first time I heard this tune was right after we brought Charlotte home, and listening to it and staring at that little pink bundle, with all those hormones in me? *silenthappytears* I would love this song to mean something to her - but I'm sure she'll be into High School Musical 59 instead ;-)

Nadia Fay

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbpvmsWiFLQ

Ingrid Michaelson

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpMI8Qu5fsc

K T Tunstall

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-jpYwsfC3ZY

Beth Orton

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rFZc4ax4tJs

Duffy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0RtfW1tm5E

-------------------------

and the links I received have been - from Sars:

i love this girl _yes another Aussie :)

her name is Lisa Mitchel and she was actually an idol top 10 in aus a few years back_ but just was never gonna make it- as a person who wrote and played her own music.

anyway she has gone on since then in her own direction.

this song doesn't have a vid but it's a fav...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvns6ttSlLU&feature=related

and this is a dire straights cover but i love her version..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qkfOmBSxJVU&feature=related

:-) Enjoy!!! <3

Thursday Challenge

2010-01-28T12:13:00.000-05:00

Here's my entry for the Thursday Challenge - the word was Messy, and here we have my hubbie created a beautiful mess of light with sparklers at one of our BBQs.

This is one of my favourite things to photograph.

Wordless Wednesday

2010-01-27T16:15:00.000-05:00

Wordless Wednesday

Weekend Prep Prep

2010-01-22T15:54:00.000-05:00

I'm preparing my preparation for the weekend. Working out what I need to buy for food and what I'll be cooking. Planning my menu plan.
I start with what I KNOW I have in the house - why buy more food in when there's something to be made from what we have.
A roasting chicken stands out... I can make that last...
We can have roast chicken on Sunday for dinner.
No.
Wait, then when will I make the stock for soup?
It'll have to be Saturday. Which means I'll make the stock on Sunday, and then we can have the leftovers for supper.
So... what do I need for roast chicken dinner?
- stuffing & sausage
- vegs (potatoes, peas & carrots - we have potatoes and I have a tin of peas & carrots)
Leftovers... what to make with leftover chicken.
Why! Our new favourite! Cheats pie!!! I'll get some veggies, and I have stock/campbell's soup.
So what do I need for Pie?
- mushrooms
- ham
- veggies (we have some frozen veg - that'll do!)
- spring onions
There's enough carbs in the faux pie topping that we won't need potatoes etc.
So... Monday, I'll prep the veggies on Sunday for the soup - I'll make my Asian Jewish Chook Soup, and I like my veggies crunchy in it. Wonder is I can make the matzo ball dough before and chill it?
So what do I need for soup?
- stock (got ;) )
- veggies (leek/spring onion, bok choy perhaps?, bean sprouts, carrots)
- chicken leftovers
- matzo balls (matzo meal, eggs, oil)
And perhaps we'll have them with a grilled cheese sandwich. :-) Dairy and complex carbs :D
OK. so... what about the rest of the week? Friday is take out night...
... and I have 2 boxes of fresh pasta in the fridge. I don't want them back to back - so... Tuesday and Thursday will be pasta night. That leaves Wednesday! OH!!! I made curry last weekend - we'll have curry on Wednesday with naan breads I bought and shoved in the freezer.
Perfect.
So my shoppiung list:
- sausage
- stuffing mix
- mushrooms
- ham
- spring onions x 2
- bok choy? Nah... we'll skip it.
- bean sprouts
- carrots
- eggs - lets try the liquid eggs, never tried them before.
- cheese
- bacon - seeing as we're getting sausage and eggs - we'll have a weekend breakfast, or I'll make a breakfast strata.
- we also need some staples: yoghurts for Bean and I, milk, toothbrush, and lunches for me etc... yadeeyahdah.
Menu Plan:
Saturday - Roast Chicken dinner
Sunday - Cheat's Chook Pie
Monday - Asian Jewish Chook Soup
Tuesday - Pasta
Wednesday - Curry and Naan
Thursday - Pasta
Friday - Takeout :-) (gotta love 2 Fridays in a row that are paydays!!!)

----------------------------------------------
http://la-tomate.deviantart.com/
Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach - "Even a stopped clock is right twice a day."

Supermarket adventures.

2010-01-18T11:24:00.001-05:00

Despite being in the "Great White North" (Or great melting North as it seems) for 4 and a half years - I still feel very shiny and new at times.

For instance... the supermarket.

A trip to "get the messages" (as we'd say back home) isn't necessarily a "obvious" time for me. Most people saunter round in 20 or so minutes, with a full trolley, emprtier wallet, and a fabulous fridge/freezer/pantry.

Me? It can take me 1-2 hours, and after 4.5 years, a lot of North American or Canadian or even some ethnic produce still boggles me.

So, I still buy names and brands and items I recognise from the UK.

Now... that's not very adventurous!! Although, I did push the boat out recently... BisQuick, and Turkey and Kielbasa.

I've decided that once a week or so, we're going to pick a "Mystery Food" and try it out and blog about it.

This week, thanks to El Husbandino (because he picked it), we have Chinese Cabbage.

Cabbage, you may think, is a bland and unassuming veggie - and I'd agree. ;-) Bless my mother, all she'd ever do was boil "normal" cabbage, and then season it with salt, pepper, and some butter.

So I have NO idea what to do with this Chinese Cabbage.

I posted on my facebook status, and I received a few ideas.

Two intrigue me: Pad Thai and a Oriental Fried Noodle salad.

The latter comes from an Australian friend, and I like the idea of it - not only because it seems like "Asian Coleslaw" to me, but also because 2 other Australian friends replied that they too have used this recipe ("off the back of a pack") and it is delicious.

Pad Thai intrigues me as from my friend's description of it, it sounds like Moo Shu crossed with the Asian Coleslaw type of idea! :D

So, what's the deal with Chinese Cabbage? Well, the one we purchased doesn't look like Bok Choy (that's what I was hoping El Husbandino would pick) so I think it's more like a Napa Cabbage. Which I thought was American. huh. I don't know, Napa sounds like it should be in California or something.

"Napa cabbage is lighter in color than other Chinese cabbages such as bok choy, which is also sometimes called Chinese cabbage."

There. Now we know.

Here's the recipe for the Oriental Noodle Salad:

http://www.changs.com/recipes/view-recipe?id=90e1d9544e2a624ad5a9838d57a3ca5b&key=JOsFVz

And a recipe for Pad Thai

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Pad-Thai-2/Detail.aspx

I'll be trying one of them tonight... :-)

Pre-Bean vs Post-Bean

2009-12-14T15:08:00.001-05:00

I recently discovered "EmpowHER" website, and came across this article >>> Things I took for granted
Which much of it made me chuckle - the other parts made me feel smug that we had already "conquered" those little elements... ;-) That was, until I realised the author had 3 boys... I have one barely walking infant/baby/toddler. :-P

Yes, running errands and just popping out of the house takes longer - but the shower thing I'm over. Hubbie and I take turns.
Bath room privacy I aim to retain - my folks managed it - I'm sure I will ;-) That's the plan anyway... and an almost mantra of mine "If it was good enough or doable by my parents - I'll manage too!!" ... so goes the plan.

But I did for real *LOL* when I read "clean clothes" - just on Saturday I was at a surprise party for an old chum - Bean ate well, and I thought that she was deserving of a small treat - and I handed her a small sponge cake. I didn't realise that the sponge cake contained jam.
*SQUISH* went the teeny dessert in my daughter's hands.
*SPLAT* went the jam on my shirt as she gave me a big hug.

... I laughed and dabbed at the jam with a baby wipe, and commented to my colleagues that I never know what food stuffs are smeared on my clothes anymore...

... They're going to swing by my desk on Monday to "Guess the food" ... Yah. Thanks. :-P

But yeah... I don't curse the skies and yell "WHY ME!!!" ... I take each stage of Bean's behaviour in it's stride - be it an hour long giggling fit over "POO-EE!!! SMELLY FEETS!!!", or a 30 min tantrum because I wouldn't let her through the baby gate.
"This too shall pass" a friend's mantra is, and t'is true. :-)
I feel happy and blessed that I have a beautiful child who is happy and sad, funny and angry, passionate and relaxed. She is obviously very healthy, and for that I feel grateful. So I'll take the tantrums with the jammy hugs; and I don't ever want to think "Pre-Kids" again. Why look back? Why remain in the past and compare it with the present or future? Tis done. :-) Move on and be happy. ;-)

DiSC - oh!!

2009-12-10T13:48:00.000-05:00

As if the planets were aligning cosmically - today I received the results of my DiSC assessment at work.

With shaky hand I moved the cursor over the file and double clicked to open. I dreaded what I was about to read. I thought I was going to read "bad team player", "argumentative", I expected lots of negative things.

... and I am pleasantly surprised. This "airy fairy" assessment has me down to a tea. It wasn't brimming with "Friendly" "socialable" "warm" comments - and I wasn't expecting it to.

It has me down (in a nutshell) as a Perfectionst - who isn't domineering or influencial - but is very "steady" and conscientious. I liked it. I like routine and procedures, and supporting others. It's true.

Says I'm sensitive to conflict and tension, and likes to work in a harmonious, informal and friendly work environment. I need to learn new techniques to be more assestive.

So, I'm a chilled out doormat. :-P I'm down with that.

.... and my drama from yesterday still hasn't been resolved. I'm ignoring the Santa-Hater though - and hoping that the initial poster and I can make up.

*sigh*

Why the bah-humbug?

2009-12-09T09:19:00.002-05:00

My brain is still buzzing from a little drama that was had on FB last night on a friend's status.
She announced that she hates Christmas etc etc (and that she doesn't like the apps on FB either) ... I know this to be not 100% true of her. She claims that she always tries to escape it - well... if that were true, then why did they still "do" Christmas when she lived here?
You know? Please, don't fib. ANYHOO!!! ... I was thinking she was in a funky spot and needed some attention. So she got it. Big deal. The big deal came when a mutual friend posted that he hates Christmas and will be raising his children by telling them that Santa is a big fat lie and hopes that his kids spread the word to their friends that Santa is a lie.

I was quite enraged. I don't care how other people raise their kids - but I am certain that Bean is going to have a childhood. I will not be the sort of parent (like he is) that will be telling his 2/3 year old all about sex, and think it's OK to post pictures on FB of their child using a breastpump.
Kids should be kids. They should be all about making mud pies, and dragons, and dinosaurs, and Santa and the tooth fairy; about joy and laughter and love.

Christmas is a time for family. A time for love and joy. Sure it's become more commercial - but you don't have to give into it. I've made gifts for a couple of years in a row; and I'm sure that they weren't all well received - the idea that "it's the thought that counts" obviously went out the window.

I have never been the sort to preach my beliefs on other people - I do what I do - like it or lump it - I don't care. I've never intentionally hurt people, and I certainly wouldn't hurt a child, and I'd hope that my child wouldn't hurt another child. Bean is "The Biter" at daycare and this mortifies me. My daughter is hurting other children? Mortified. Point being? If I'm not going to piss on anyone else's parade? Don't piss on mine or my daughter's.

Do unto other's as you'd do unto yourself.

Why can't people live more like that? THINK about how your actions will affect other people.

Don't be telling your kid to tell all the other kids that Santa is a lie!!! Geez!!!

Bean's 14 months old, and this is her first "proper" Christmas. A Christmas, I may add, with no other family but myself and El Husbandino. Who wouldn't want to make this time of year special for their child? We can't give her Grandparents and Aunts and Uncles; but we'll give her as many happy memories as possible to cherish, shower her with love and laughter and joy. And if those memories involve a tree and some tinsel and a lie about a man in a red suit - so be it. She already loves looking at the decorations at the Christkindl Market, and at the mall... lots of finger pointing and "OH!!!!!" Fills my heart with love to see her so engrossed and happy.

Why is it suddenly "uncool" to like Christmas?

So. Yah. It dwells with me. Like a fog, it's hovering over my head.

Music meme...

2009-11-03T15:13:00.004-05:00

... to start things off.
Been a long time since posting... I can't even say why I stopped - perhaps work got too busy and such. *meh*
Who knows, but now I'm inspired to be back for a wee while... Facebook being banned at work, myspace having lost favour... leaves me with no blogging way out.

---------------

The Music Memoirs has this cute little questionnaire that tickled my fancy this afternoon as I wait for the Helpdesk to make my server live again ....

What is the oldest album in your collection? (oldest as in you've had it longer than the others)
- Albums? Like Vinyl? ... I don't have any anymore. They all got sold before we left the UK. I *do* still have some of my cassette albums, and I think my oldest one of them would be Whitesnake. :-)
Oldest CD? Akira soundtrack.

What albums have you bought recently?
- I bought Nadia Fay and something else ... and then I lost Nadia Fay and the something else in the great PC tidy up of 2009. And that makes me sad as I'd barely listened to Nadia, and the other band was new to me and recommended by a friend... It was on iTunes... don't suppose they offer a free re-download for user ineptitude? I loved the Nadia Fay album as I would listen to "Home" not long after we brought our baby girl home for hospital. Now I know I was a little hormonal having given birth and all... but as I gazed at the sleeping cherubic beauty of my gorgeous baby girl and listened to "home", I would shed a wee tear as the lyrucs sunk in and resonated within me.

"I really thought I was content
Counting sheep and staring at the ceiling
You came and show me what it meant
That home is not a house but a feeling

'Cause when you're around
My world is rosy
When you're around
You make me feel so cozy

Home is where you are
Home is where I wanna be
Wherever you are
You can come home to me

I need a place to rest my head
I've looked North and South, East and West
Slept in the most comfortable bed
Without you here, I can't get any rest

'Cause when you're around
The world is rosy
When you're around
You make me feel so cozy

Home is where you are
Home is where I wanna be
Wherever you are
You can come home to me"

Where do you buy the most downloads?
- To date? That would be iTunes. For buying. :P

If you were to get a gift card from one music store, which one would it be and why? - I wouldn't be picky... ;-) gifts are gifts, and never should be looked in the mouth. But I hear ye, so I'd have to say.... probably iTunes, or amazon, or such.

What do you have more of; physical albums for downloads?
- Physical albums.
I'm over a certain age, so I did a lot of CD/cassette buying in my day. I think younger kids will be answering this question differently.

Friday Memes...

2007-08-03T09:13:00.000-04:00

... so I was going to do the Friday Feast - but once again, I'm disappointed with the Questions... so I went looking for new inspiration and I found a wonderful site

http://illustrationfriday.com/

I won't be participating - but figured some of you may get a kick out of it. :-D

-------------

I also found was intrigued by:

http://friday.criminalgrace.com/

http://musicmemoirs.blogdrive.com/

http://thatsmyanswer.com/

--------------

But the one I think I'll do is: http://community.livejournal.com/thefridayfive/ & http://photofriday.com/

For the photo blog - The theme is "WET". Tempted though I am to post a stock pic of Johnny Depp, I thought I'd go for one from our trip to Tobermory. Here's one of the shipwrecks in "Big Tub".

--------------------

... and here's the "typing" meme. ;-)

1. What item would you be embarrassed for people to know you own?
- My common sense tells me - why would I answer this one? hahahahaha... then people would know. And then I thought - I don't think I have anything too embarressing. Perhaps my 2 Winnie the Pooh teapots may seem "odd" to some people. I've LOVED Winnie the Pooh for many years. He's someone I grew up with - but I'm talking "old skool" Pooh here -not "new fangled" Pooh that's caring and sharing. I'm taking "tripped out of his TREE and see heffalumps and woozles" Pooh. :-D Anyhoo. For 2 Christmases, my parents bought me a Royal Doulton teapot. I had to act quickly though as I'm not a collector of teapots, and I didn't want every Christmas there after to become "Time for a teapot"... ;-)

2. What is something you splurged on just for you?
- Betty. And I just bought a new lens for her too. Very indulgent, but I do love Betty so. Betty is my dSLR. She's a Nikon and she's shiny and now she has 2 lens and a filter. All I want now is a tripod and perhaps an adapter so I can use the 55mm filter on my 52mm lens. ;-)

3. What is something that you own with no real world value that is priceless to you?
- My photos and Fred bear. Fred is the same age as me to the day (I believe) and she's wearing one of MY baby dresses. I love Fred. Perhaps I should change my answer to number 1 now. Yah. And photos. Photos means a lot to me.

4. Do you collect anything?
- I used to collect stamps, and I still have my collection. I may have mentioned in previous blogs - my great Uncle was a spy and used to collect stamps and cigar bands for my Dad and Grandad - I inheritied my Dad's stamp collection from him and added to it. I used to buy first day covers and such. Perhaps NOW I should change my answer to number 1.
Nowadays, I collect treasure and snuff bottles.

5. What item belonging to a friend/family member do you covet?
- Not so much covet - but just WANT!!!! I want the Asterix collection my Dad has. I tried to *yoink* it from the house before we left - but nae. Mean ol' sod wouldn't part with it. WANT!!!! :-P
- I suppose one thing I do covet is Jade's sense of style and creativity. She's a creative chickie and I love her apartment. I know Karl's there too, but I reckon she had more influence over the decor and suchh than he did.... ;-) And she's gifted creatively - can pretty much master whatever she turns her hand or eye to. :-D

Thursday Meme - Toys

2007-08-02T10:46:00.001-04:00

http://www.spunwithtears.com/thursday.html

I like this meme.. and this week the theme is Toys.

""TOYS" (Stuffed Animal, Beach Ball, Water Toys, Yo-yo, Little Cars, Dolls, Games, Video Games, Crayon, Wagon, Bikes,...)"

Cat toy.. :D

Monday Music Madness Mamboness

2007-07-30T10:42:00.003-04:00

Something different to try. ;-)

1. Name a song or two about cars or driving.
- "Madness - I like driving in my car" ... Makes me think of Iain, he introduced me to Madness.

"I've been driving in my car, its not quite a Jaguar;
I bought it in Primrose Hill, from a bloke from Brazil;
It was made in fifty-nine, in a factory by the Tyne;
It says Morris on the door, the G.P.O. owned it before;
I drive in it for my job, the governor calls me a slob;
But I don't really care, give me some gas and the open air."

- "Gary Numan - Cars" - cos I'm an 80's kid I guess... ;-) Actually, I have no fondness perse for this song - it's good an all, but it's also the only other song I can think of. ;-)

2. Name a song that's good to listen to when driving.
- So many. I think... "I'm an asshole" by Denis Leary would be a Scott and Wendy favourite ... just remember to turn it down when you get to the Fort Erie/Buffalo crossing. ;-) Scott's favourite would be "Evil Scotsman" by Billy Connolly. My fave would be.... hhhhmmmm.... "Love Shack - B52s".

3. Name an album that's good to listen to when driving.
- Scott and I don't have the same music tastes so to find something that we BOTH can like? Tough call... but I think the 2 albums that we listen to a LOT in the car are "She Wants Revenge" by She Wants Revenge, and "Mezmerize/Hypnoitize" by System of a Down. It'll always [wipesatear] be a happy moment [sniff] when Scottie realised what how chorus [tearsup] was "done" in "U-Fig". :-D hehehhehehehehehehehe.

"You and me; Should go outside and beat 'em beat 'em beat 'em beat 'em beat 'em beat 'em.
All pathetic flag waving ignorant geeks; And we'll eat 'em eat 'em eat 'em eat 'em eat 'em eat 'em Eat 'em eat 'em eat 'em eat 'em eat 'em eat 'em Eat 'em eat 'em eat 'em eat 'em eat 'em eat 'em Eat 'em eat 'em eat 'em eat 'em eat 'em eat 'em"

- [stagewhispers] He's not really singing it all... ;-) We KNOW the secret. ;-)

4. If you could drive the car of one musician, whose car would you choose?
- One? Dang. Trent's or Moby's. :-) Does Moby even OWN a car? I'd think not given his views and stuff... and the fact that he lives in NYC. huh. So yah. One of them, and I'd rummage about in the glove compartment and boot. =D

Friday Feasties...

2007-07-30T10:42:00.001-04:00

I haven't completed a Feast for a while as the questions weren't attracting my attention. "Favourite colour"... "If you were a crayon, what flavour would you be?"... blah blah... ;-)

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Appetizer
Describe a toy you remember from your childhood.

- Weebles. I LOVED my Weebles.

They wobbled, but they never fell down. I had the treehouse, the picnic set... my friend Martin used to try to bury them in my sandpit. But then I wouldn't let him ask my Mum for a syrup "peice".. it was a stalemate.
- I was also a HUGE bookworm; growing up where I did, there was noone about and nothing to do, so I read. Once I'd read a book 4 or 5 times, I'd then start to make up my own stories to fit the pictures - even colouring book pictures. ;-) ... and lo. The over-active imagination was born. I would also then write these stories down, and sometimes I'd write new ones and illustrate them. I wrote a series for my little brother on the "HuggyBugs". Books are great! I still have my Mum's copy of the Grimm's Fairy Tales (with it's scary 1970's cover with snakes and eggs and flames!), Noddy books, Thomas the Tank books, story book compendiums... it's all good stuff. :D

Soup
On a scale of 1 to 10 (with 10 being highest) how observant are you?

- Depends on how distracted or focussed I am. Sitting in a car, I'll notice all sorts of crap to amuse myself - again, my parents would take us on 3 weeks worth of camping trips a year touring the UK, so we'd spend a good portion of time in the car travelling from place to place. We would also never usually visit the same place twice, and stay for only 2-3 days - so I'd have to soak in as much as I could.
I'm also the "navigator" so I *have* to be paying attention to road signs etc, cos Scott doesn't. No joke. Bless his cotton socks - but he never knows WHERE he is. ;-) hahahahahahaha. So... that's my job. Team work.
But if I'm in a dull situation, or bored or such - I'll be less observant - same if I'm totally focussed on something. ;-)

Salad
Where would you rather be at this very moment?

- Anywhere but the office. I'm tired, and I want to leave... ;-) It's Friday, the sun is shining, and it's payday... there's a party going on tonight... it's all groovy yo!

Main Course
When was the last time you learned something new?

- All the time! :D Life's a journey, we should always be learning. Emotionally, I've learned recently that I can cope with major news in my family life; and intellectually I'm learning all the time on the job and in life. I love learning! Yesterday, I learned that I can fix the BES. ;-) Someone's MDS stopped and wouldn't restart - something to do with the mds.war file being unaccessible and permission being denied. ;-) I didn't know anything about this mds.war file - but I learned quickly, and the BES was fixed! Hoorah! :D ... and I also learned on Tuesday that Mississauga is the 3rd largest city in Canada seemingly! Who knew? Not I!!! ... also learned that no matter what - you NEED air conditionning in a car for Canadian Summers. ;-)

Dessert
Fill in the blank: I have ____________ but I haven't ____________.

- I have a house but I haven't made it a home.
='D
Yah, so I made it more than one blank - sue me. ;-)
... I'm still at a loss for the house. I want to do so much - but I need time and money. I want to gutt the upstairs bathroom, make the downstairs one a lot nicer, put up lots of drywall in the laundry room and make it a bit nicer, want to put up my pictures and photos - need shelves and a display cabinet for our precious stuff... I'd LOVE a new kitchen! ... ;-) - I'd REALLY like Scott to finish messing about in the garage so we can use it for the car... ;-) ... and we need new carpet. ;-)
... well, I guess at least we painted, and we have an awesome little garden! :D :D :D hehehehehehe... I think I'll be happy so long as I can get the pictures up and nicknacks and precious stuff out before Scott's folks arrive at the end of September.

Long and Winding Road...

2007-07-30T10:40:00.000-04:00

Camping trip pics! - Wendy
Camping Trip Pics! - Scott

Camping trip... July's trip actually started in June, and we drove down to the Green Belt Park in DC to catch up with Jade and Karl and rendezvous with my friend Dave. Precious campfire time was wasted though due to our not bringing any food over with us (picky US border patrol people! Don't try aking food over the border into the US from CA). Had to go grocery shopping with 2 indecisive men. :-) hahahahahaha...

Sunday we said a sad goodbye to Jade and Karl... "Don't go home!!!!" ... stupid Karl. Starting stupid new job. Like THAT'S an excuse to go home. Stupid job. [grumble][complain] ... once they left, Dave took us on a tour of University of Maryland campus and we met Jim Henson and Kermit the Frog. I was VERY honoured. I didn't realise that Maryland Uni was where Jim Henson started his magic. I assumed that it would have been in NYC or LA. I'd always wanted to work for the Henson Company or Ray Harryhausen. ;-)
Next onto the Great Falls State Park. Enroute we stopped at Dave's new pad that he bought - very swanky - has pool and all and a very med. feel to it mixed with New England chic... ;-) ... after a picnic and some Wasabi Peas (my new addiction) it was onto the Great Falls (in Virgina) Have to say - I was impressed! ;-) From the photo that Dave sent me originally, I thought the falls looked more like a stoney stream - but there was nothing in the photo to give any scaling towards to height and size of the rocks. What was more impressive to us was the HOW HIGH the water level has risen in the past. As we were standing there contemplating it at Lookout 3 - some old codger "poo-poo'd" the idea to his younger charge. "That's made up", he said pointing the marker post that indicated the various high water points, "The park people just put that there for publicity". He was then behind us when we got to Lookout 2 which detailed HOW the water level would ever reach that high; "There you go Scott", I announced in a stage whisper, "Just incase you were stupid enough to believe the water would never get that high; they tell you HOW it happens right here." The old man heard me. HA! Poo on him!
... and if you're curious, the water levels DOES get exceptionally high after Winter. The snow and rain swell the banks of the Potomac, but then the flow is obstructed by the Mather Gorge and is damned and backs up - causing the water level within the Great Falls Park to rise.
So... after the Great Falls we daudled back to the campsite and hung out by the fire and had some brewskis and sausages.

Monday we went to Shenandoah National Park and drove a third of the way down the Skyline Drive (it last 106 miles or so) and the we detoured out to Luray Caverns! Largest caverns in North America - they were very impressive!!! Then we came back to the Skyline and drove down another third before heading home. Chilled out that night by the campfire and made some Smores. YUMMY!

Tuesday we went to find Fort McHenry in Baltimore. Last year at the Smithsonian we saw a VERY old American flag - from 1814. It was being restored. This flag was flown over Fort McHenry. We found Federal Hill by mistake first and then we went onto Fort McHenry. Fort McHenry is a star shaped fort, and during the War of 1812 and the defense of Fort McHenry against the British (and after something like 25 hours of bombardment the flag was still standing) this is when Francis Scott Key came up with the poem that then became the Star Spangled Banner.
We then came back via Annapolis and the Maryland WWII memorial.
Back at the campsite we did our usual and played cards. Dave taught us Omaha Poker - I like it! :D :D

Wednesday. July 4th, and we went to see Leo and Becky (Dave's parents) and had lunch with them. On the way we heard on the radio about weather warning, tornadoes heading towards DC. Then we heard that they evacuated the Mall (THE Mall, not "a" Mall). After an awesome steak and macca cheese lunch and a lesson in "Seven up" (good wee card game!!!), we braved it back to DC though for the fireworks, we found a good spot, near Capitol Hill with a view of the Washington Monument. However, the fireworks were a little disappointing. 20 mins long. Boo. :-(

Thursday we left DC and headed to Trap Pond State Park nr Laurel, DE. Not a lot to say about Southern Delaware - but they sure like God and guns. Thursday night I arranged the secret rendez-vous with Scott and his long time (19years!!!) pen pal. She's a cool chickie, and her daughters are ADORABLE!!! *SO* well behaved considering there was a huge campfire and sharp pointy toasting forks about... ;-)

Friday we went to explore the Southern Delaware area and it's Atlantic Coast. Yah. Not so cool. Like Blackpool on steroids. We were disappointed as we didn't expect it to be *SO* built up and touristy. :-(
Then we drove up to Lewes, which was a LITTLE nicer, and then back home via the cheapest booze store I've seen. ;-) $16US for 30 MGD. ;-) Bottle of Cabo Woba for $45. NO TAXES... hehehehehehe. Scott then went fishing and I read my new Dean Koontz. Chrissy then came by and we chilled out and had a laugh, her sister and brother in law also came by for an hour. I guess she'd heard a lot about Scott over 19 years and wanted a look-see ... ;-)

Very early on Saturday morning Chrissy picked us up and took us to Assateague Nat Park so Scott could try his hand at surf fishing. Certainly was nice to see the Atlantic and imagine that Britain was *just* over the horizon if you looked hard enough. BUT!!!! I DID SEE SOME WILD DOLPHINS frolicking in the Atlantic Ocean too. They were jumping and stuff... SUPERB!!! I also saw Pelicans. AND!!! Some genuine Assateague wild horses.

Sunday, we came home. LONG drive, but through some beautiful scenery as we came up through Pennsylvania. It was rather gorgeous!

Animal count (all wild and in situ): Does, stag, fawn, horseshoe crabs, pelicans, dolphins, blue herons, red tailed hawks, woodchuck, tortoise, horses - no bears. DAMMIT! ;-)

Monday, I had a day off work - and the new bed was delivered for the guest room.
Tuesday, we picked up Evelyn and Natasha and brought them out to the big 'Loo.
Wednesday, was PubStumpers (dragging Evelyn and Tasha along with us - "Everyone! Meet Evelyn! hahaha")
Thursday, the girls went into TO, so Scott and I chilled
Friday, we chilled some more... ;D
Saturday, was the the BBQ!!! A "Canada" themed BBQ no less... We started the day nice and lazily - made a pancake and sausage breakfast, and then we kinda just drove about doing errands and showing the girls some local stuff (Mennonites, Sittlers Bakery, St Jacobs). This is the first time I'd cooked ribs on the BBQ, so I was nervous - but damn!!! They were good!!!!!!!! BBQ was a success I believe, although it rained late on in the evening, tequila shots, guitar hero2 and poker meant that spirits weren't dampened.
Sunday, we took the girls down to Niagara Falls and we all went on the Maid of the Mist. Fab fun, home via Dairy Queen...
Monday, VERY early AM the girls left. :-( Woke up to an empty house and a sad me.
... and that's that.

Now we have a couple more camping trips planned next month, along with a trip to see Evil Dead - The Musical next week, and a trip to the zoo next weekend.

Pics from the BBQ and trip to Niagara. :D

Friday Feast - on a Saturday ... so sue me. ;-)

2007-04-28T15:57:00.000-04:00

Appetizer
How fast can you type?
- I have no clue. I never took typing at School. I took all the science-y classes. I type fast-ish, but not "properly" which amuses my mother-in-law who was a typist of some sort in her day - and an ex-bf once said I had fingers like sea anemones on the keyboard. I think he was quoting Eddie Izzard.
Go to THIS SITE for a typing test. I just did one and it said that I type 57 WPM. ;-)
So there you go. ;-)

Soup
What is your favorite online game?
- I don't do online games. We have an xBox360, and we've stuck with the silver membership. I was tempted to look into the whole WoW phenomena - but then when I realised I have to purchase the game, pay for my 'net access AND pay $40+ a month to play online, I thought... "Stuff it". No game can be THAT awesome to warrant such a large amount of cash.
Not even at work or home to I dabble. I USED to love playing Literati on Yahoo but the other players frustrated me.

Salad
On a scale of 1 to 10 (with 10 as highest), how intelligent do you think you are?
- I like to think a solid 7.5, perhaps an 8. I'm edumacated to a certain degree - but although I don't have a stonking good degree - I like to think my willingness to learn earns me a couple more points. You can be smart - but if you're not smart enough to realise that personal growth is good - then you lose points. ;-)

Main Course
Name three of your best teachers from your school years.
- Miss MacDonald - Primary 2/3 (5-6). She was awesome. She was such an encouraging, engaging, wonderful lady. She allowed and encouraged me to read and write and do the English lessons that the kids in the "Big Room" were taking. Myself and Martin McCormack were allowed to do this. I think I cried when she left. :-( I idolised her when I was wee. I don't know where she went to.... Mrs Adair was also a good teacher we had at Primary School. My Primary School was a little unique. Coming from a hamlet of some 100 houses, we only had 2 classrooms (the Wee Room and the Big Room), and as such 2 full-time teachers. On a Friday though, Mrs Adair would come in as Ms Cameron had the day off. I liked Fridays. We also had a teacher come in to teach us sewing and crafts for half a day, and another for P.E. for half a day.
- Mr Owen - High School Maths teacher. He taught my DAD! ... First day of Maths with Mr Owen, he asked if I'm related to "Ian B****" ... Oh my. Pressure. I don't think many people appreciated Mr Owen's "classic" style of teaching (no talking, single desks, boy-girl-boy-girl seating configuration, homework everyday, copying off the blackboard into our exercise books and then flipping it over for doing the examples)... but a few of us did. I since found him on Friendsreunited.co.uk and exchanged a few emails with him. He's retired, still lives with mother and has been travelling his socks off since retiring. I'm glad he's really enjoying life, he put ssssoooo much into us, and didn't get a lot of thanks back for it (IMHO).
- Mr Russell - Science, but primarilly Physics teacher. Out of my 6 years at High School, I had Mr Russell for 5 of them. He taught me Science in 1st & 2nd year, and then Physics 3rd&4th and 6th year. He was cute. ;-) But also a VERY good teacher. He was fair, but firm with the jackasses of the class - but he made Physics fun *well, I enjoyed it anyway.

Dessert
What are your plans for this upcoming weekend?
- Working. :P I'm working 3pm-midnight. And then on Monday we're moving. So El Husbandino is manning the fort and getting on with the packing. Next weekend? Painting Frenzy. ;-) Woo!

Holy mother of all annoying quizzes...

2007-04-06T13:10:00.000-04:00

... this takes a while to load... AND it's annoying, but I'll be darned if this thing is going to beat me!!!!

hehehehehehe... ---->>> CLICK <<<----

eesh.

;-)

Le Feasticle de Vendredi.

2007-04-06T12:33:00.000-04:00

Appetizer
When you travel, which mode of transportation do you prefer?

- All bar plane. I'm not a very good flier. El Husbandino does all the driving, so I like being chaufeurred. I'd say I like the bus and train more than I'd like to use a cab though. I don't like the social awkwardness of being in a cab. And taking a bicycle ride round a park is nice too... :D When's the snow going? Dammit. I want to have picnics and day trips.

Soup
Have you ever met a blogging friend in person?

- Blogging I'm new to. But I've met online chums. I've been online and chatting to peeps since 1992, and have been meeting peeps online since then at Mono-Meets and the such (WOO!!! Go Telnet Talkers!!! Underworld. PleasureDome. WBS. Kicking it old skool yo!).
I haven't had any seriously scary situations though, and even once did the "date someone I met online that's hundred's of miles away" thing when I was a student.
It's all good so long as you have your head screwed on.

Salad
When was the last time you were really, really tired?

- Last night. I'm tired a lot right now. I'm not sleeping all the way through the night. But y'day I was borderline "fall over asleep as I'm standing" tired. Before that? Saturday. Got up at 6:00am ish to go to the Elmira Maple Festival and then went out for dinner with the Birthday Boy and then we rented a couple of movies as we were too tired and full to sit in a cinema theatre.

Main Course
If you could have dinner with any one fictional character from a book or movie, who would it be?

- OH MY! :D Um... Books wise: Characters from Easy Freedom/Easy Connections :D :D :D Or the soldier from "Summer of my German Soldier" ... or Atticus Finch, or Winnie the Pooh.

From movies? HAN SOLO BABY!!!! :D *slobber* Can't I pick actors? Damn.

Dessert
Fill in the blank: One day, I hope to see _______________.

- Other countries. Not partiularly fussed with the EU or Oz ... but I'd like to see Egypt and Japan/China especially. I'd LOVE to see Machu Pichu. But there's loads locally I'd like to see, and even more "middle distance" stuff. Like... I want to see where "The Goonies" was filmed. :D hehehehehhehehe.
This is made even more challenging by the fact that I don't like flying... ;D hahahaha...

Un Petit Meme...

2007-04-02T15:49:00.000-04:00

... so, feeling slightly bad for not blogging the most recent Friday Feast (sometimes, the questions don't inspire me)... masg tagged me on her blog, thus making me feel slightly better about bailing on the Feast. :D

So here it is... (and if I tag you back - you have to do the same.. :D ... post a blog, not tag me back... *urgh*)

Five things I can admit to being obsessed with:

1. My pets! :D There are 4.

Jo
Mylo
Steve
Toby.

2. Goals. I like to set myself goals, or 5 year plans. I realised that I like some sort of structure in my life. You go to school, you go to University, and then you're working and it's like "woah! what do I do now?" ... so, I started setting goals and plans. For instance, getting to Canada - that was my first 5 year plan. Once we got here, my next plan was "buy a house"... and we move in on 30th April. My next secret plan has been hindered by El Husbandino, so it's been put back a bit. There is always the constant goal of losing weight and bettering myself - it's a work in progress. Having said that, I'm not the sort that's uncomfortable when I'm NOT planning, and I'm not a control freak. In fact, having too much control and ALWAYS being the one to make a decision grates on my nerves. Sometimes, I'd like someone else to take the reins/make a decision - even if it's about dinner. ;-)

3. Lipbalm. :D In my handbag I presently have 3, and there's one on my desk here. There's also one beside my bed. :D I LOVE LOVE LOVE Burt's Bees lipbalm. It has a nice satisfying tingle to it.

4. Dang, I'm running out of ideas. Exploring. :D I like visiting new places and being a tourist. Whether it's in my town, region, province, country, continent... I like to find new places to "go see!"... it's fun!

5. Oh, I'll say it. Videogaming. Yah... I'd say it's a minor obsession. We have a PS2, Xbox360, Sega Gamegear, Sega Dreamcast, and various other things that you can plug direct into your TV. I'm all about quality, not quantity - I'd rather have one truly awesome game, than 10 mediocre games. If I buy one that turns out to be poo, I'll feel cheated.

OK... so, who am I tagging... I'm kinda new to Blogger, so I don't know many peeps - so... let me think...

Fuzzyzquare

Slow and Steady

Selena Kitt

Egulphy

Titiana Starlight

Friday Feasticle

2007-03-23T12:54:00.000-04:00

Appetizer
Who is your favorite news anchor/reporter? Why?
- Trevor McDonald. :D News at Ten. But not many peeps will know him as he's from the telly back in Blighty.
Here in Canuckland, I love to hate Sandy Rinaldo. ;D I do a not-too-bad impersonation of her. ;D It's her pronunciation of words (I know, considering I'm the girl with "the accent"!) ... it drives me batty. And that clipped way that she speaks and her head !!! Anyway.
The ones I watch more often are the CanadaAM news presenters, and I like Marci Ien, Seamus, Bev and Jeff in the morning.

Soup
Name 3 foods that are currently in your freezer.
- White pudding (from the Scottish Shop in Fergus) and my staples - chook boobs and vegetables.

Salad
If you were to have the opportunity to name a new town or city, what would you call it?
- Breich. ;-) I jest. I have no idea. I'm not sure the name of a town means much to people. Obviously if you were to live in Flanjville or Mingeton you may have some reservations... but aside from calling it something equally hi-larious - I really don't know. Definitely not after myself. *urgh* And there's enough "copycat" names here. I love that about Canada.. you can spot where the immigrunts came from. Like in the Durham Region and thereabouts there are MANY places names after the North East of England (even Durham itself) and then you have Pickering, Scarborough, Newcastle... hehehehehehe...

Main Course
What will most likely be the next book you read?
- I already have it planned. I tend to buy my books in "lumps" and last time I went to a bookstore I got Gary Larson (Far Side), Great Lies to tell Small Children (because I LOVE the Bunny Suicide books), Douglas Coupland "Eleanor Rigby" and ... Fight Club. As I'm reading the Douglas Coupland just now, Fight Club is next :D :D

Dessert
What's the first thing you notice about the opposite gender?
- Depends. Am I checking them out or just meeting them? If I'm checking them out (back in the day) - then I am a little shallow and I will be checking them out. Not one thing draws me to any guy though. Ex's in the past have had either nice hands, gorgeous voice, a goatee, or just been hot... ;) ... There has to be that instant spark of SOMETHING to retain my interest.
If I'm meeting someone like, say, a new work colleague, or a friend of a friend - then I don't really notice anything. I'll just absorb the whole package and then wonder if I think I'll like this person.

Saturday 6 - first time - and a day late.

2007-03-18T12:19:00.000-04:00

1. What was your favorite animated cartoon series when you were little?

- So many to chose from, but I think I have to go with "Ulysses 31" as a pre-teen.
I had a crush on Ulysses. He was all handsome and beardy, and it was the same sort of crush I had on Tom Selleck as Magnum PI and Tom Baker as Doctor Who.

I also used to be glued to "Cities of Gold", and "Thundercats". The younger me used to adore "The Flumps", which is more animation than cartoon but Pootle was my favourite, "Bod".... Oh I adored Bod. I once saw the series on video back home, and I asked El Husbandino to buy me it as a gift as I *REALLY* wanted it... he said he would. And he didn't. :-(
"Mr Ben" was also a fantastic show. And "The New Shmoo". How I used to nag Santa for a Shmoo. I so wanted one. It would have been the most awesomest gift EVER. A real live Shmoo.

2. What was your favorite "live action" children's series when you were little?
- Play School. Play School was wonderful. I used to love guessing which window we'd be going through, and I loved the toys... Humpty, Jemima, Hannibal, Big Ted and Little Ted.

3. Who is your favorite muppet character?
- Fozzie Bear. :D Look at him. How can he NOT be the favourite. Lovable, affable, silly Fozzie. And that laugh! :D He's so cuddly.

4. Take the quiz: What is your Sesame Street personality?

You Are Bert

Extremely serious and a little eccentric, people find you loveable - even if you don't love them!

You are usually feeling: Logical - you rarely let your emotions rule you

You are famous for: Being smart, a total neat freak, and maybe just a little evil

How you life your life: With passion, even if your odd passions (like bottle caps and pigeons) are baffling to others

The Sesame Street Personality Quiz

5. Have you ever appeared on a locally-produced children's show, or would you have ever wanted to?
- I didn't appear ON it as such, but it did go on tour and visited many community centre's and appeared in a neighboring village called Addiewell back home. It was "Glen Michael's Cartoon Cavalcade". As well as showing cartoons, he'd also read out birthday cards for those who had one made and sent in. I tried this, but never received anything, or had my card read out. Sigh. I also sent in a picture to "Take Hart" ... but it was never shown in the Gallery.

But I so desperately wanted to appear on "Jim'll Fix It" when I was younger. I wrote in 3 times. Once for my Father (to have a shot on a Foden Steam Engine), and twice for me. Once I asked for my friend Donna and I to meet 80's hair rock band "Europe" and once to ask if I could appear in "Bugsy Malone" on stage. [blush]

6. Cartoons like "The Flintstones," though animated, were really intended for adults. What's your favorite adult (non-porn) cartoon?
- The Simpsons, Family Guy, King of the Hill, Powerpuff Girls (don't ask... ;-) ... but my cat is now nicknamed "Mojo-jojo" ...

Drive by blogging...

2007-03-17T19:42:00.000-04:00

... on a sssssssssssssllllllllllllllllllllllllllllloooooooooooooooowwwwwwwwwwwwwwww shift on a Saturday. Been here since 11am; taken one email case, and just took my first phone call.

... from a drunk lady.

Too cute. She was out partying up St Paddy's day on the West coast somewhere (so it's only 4 in the PM there) ... and she had to come home and call in here as she was alerted to the fact that one of her servers was disconnected.

A whole 7 minutes later we have everything up and running, but not before she asks me my name 3 times, tells me that she's starting to sober up and is getting a headache, tells me she needs some aspirin so she can continue partying, that she was speaking to someone from Glasgow at the bar and where was I from?, oh, she loves Edinburgh, and then did I know Dublin? and where was I? Oh... all the way up THERE in Canada. Wow. And then when we were done, she's filling in her timesheet or something, and then laughs and tells me I'm super patient... and then tells me that she started drinking too early.

... hehehehehhehe... it was very cute, and I had to stop myself from laughing cos she was so cute and drunk and chatty.

... I wish all my callers had a skinful before they picked up the phone and called us. Man.

Friday Feast

2007-03-17T19:40:00.000-04:00

Appetizer
Name two things that made you smile this week.
- Scottie. The Elephant Man returneth and just because he amuses me so.
- Jade when I was telling her about "Big shexy" .. ;D ... and aquatitting.
- and Cossette almost falling off the sofa last night and the "Lianne & Christina Show".

Honourable mentions: David Spade show last night "WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED TO YOUR FACE", Blaine on Wednesday morning, Fondue!!!! :D

Soup
Fill in the blank: Don't you hate it when ________?
- You need to fart in the office.
I do. Cos then, when I go to the toilets to trumpet - you can pretty much always guarantee that someone else will be in there. And Jade, I tried the paper thing. It didn't work. Needless to say it was a "dry run" at home. ;-)

Salad
When you can't go to sleep, what is your personal remedy to help yourself drift into Lullabyland?
- I try 3 things. First I try my meditation style breathing thingie... then I try just relaxing and emptying my brain... and then (like Roseanne - I have a "game" I play) wherebyb I take a word ending like "AKE" and then I go throuugh the alphabet and see how many new words I can make. "Aake? nah, Bake, 1, Cake, 2, Dake? doesn't count... Eake? no... Fake, 3" ... and after that, if it still doesn't work, I try snuggling, I try sticking one leg out the bed, I'll go for a pee... I try not to watch TV or read...

Main Course
What is something about which you've always wondered but have not yet found a good answer?
- When I was at University, it was "Why DO men have nipples?" .. I know he answer to this one now. So now it's "What makes things smell?" ... I know about how WE smell, our noses function - but why does a mushroom smell like a mushroom? What causes the natural odours?

Dessert
What is your favorite pasta dish?
- Without a doubt, it has to be my Mum's lasagne. It's the European style - not the North American style with cottage cheese in it *eugh*. And it has to have the CRUST of parmesan on top (that's a personal preference). :D Luckilly, I've inherited THAT recipe from my Mum and I love making it. hhhhmmmm.... I think I know what I may be making for dinner on Monday... Or a GOOD spag bog. The stuff of students. Or homemade maccacheese. Krapt cheese is good aussi - but not a candle to home made macca. I LOVE LOVE LOVE pasta. Stuffed, plain with soy sauce a la Gregor, or plain with some grated cheese or blackpepper, ravioli, canneloni, tortellini - I love pasta. I miss the quality stuffed pasta we could get back in Blighty, it's not the same here - but it is getting there. But it's still enough to made me reconsider buying a pasta machine and making my own.