Shel is in the hospital. She was admitted yesterday for what the doc said was an acute cardiac event (I think?) My brain seems to not be functioning well and I am not remembering critical information. (I also forgot to take M's Epi pen to the babysitter).
While I am worried for Shel I am relieved (?) that the doc saw she needed to have some kind of intervention for her blood pressure and admitted her to the hospital. I hope this will bring some answers to the medical problems she has been facing and she will see some improvements in how she feels as a result of all this.
I am somewhat of a workaholic. Under the best of circumstances I can easily work too much, too long and sacrifice family time and personal time for work. It is something I have always done and in times of stress I seem to do it more. I don't know what it is about sitting in a hospital room that makes me want to run to work. Yes, to work. Maybe it is getting lost in the familiar? A distraction? Feeling as if I have control over something? Feeling as though I am accomplishing something? Since sitting in a hospital room I don't feel any of those things.
This morning I got a call from one of the ladies whom I supervise and she called to say she was unable to cover her shift today because she had a medical appointment. Here I sit covering her shift. I don't know why, in my head, my medical emergency is less important than her medical appointment, or if I just need an excuse to say " I HAVE to be at work today ..." really I need no excuse. Even if I don't like the things that are happening at work I get some kind of sick comfort out of it. The same can be said for school. I feel like I HAVE to be there. I let my group and teacher know I would not be in GP for the Friday portion of my class. Missing class gives me anxiety, I am trying to convince myself I am NOT "needed" there and that I won't miss anything critical.
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
RIP Sadee
This is Sadee as a puppy. She and Muk were best of friends. They went to puppy training together and hung out. Last week Sadee was put to rest following the discovery of cancer throughout her body.I hope she and Muk have rejoined one another in a happier place.
RIP Sadee
Our love and thoughts to Steve and Loralee at this most painful time.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Ten on Tuesday
Ten Movies I have intended to watch but haven't.
1. Sicko
2. Cars
3. Ratatouille
4. Juno
5. Jumper
6. The Bucket List
7. Walk the Line ( I can't decide if I actually want to see this or not)
8. 300 (I have mixed feelings on this one also, but it was on my list to see so I am including it for now)
9.Caramel
10. Fool's Gold
1. Sicko
2. Cars
3. Ratatouille
4. Juno
5. Jumper
6. The Bucket List
7. Walk the Line ( I can't decide if I actually want to see this or not)
8. 300 (I have mixed feelings on this one also, but it was on my list to see so I am including it for now)
9.Caramel
10. Fool's Gold
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Unconscious mutterings
- Protocol :: Lcok down
- Girlfriends: making out
- Shoulders :: to cry on
- Coming home :: Ozzy Ozbourne
- Let it in :: fresh air
- Honor :: Among Thieves
- Tyler :: F.
- Thriller :: Micheal Jackson
- Angela:: I girl I knew in school
- The winner is :: ME! at the bonspiel Karaokee :)
Friday, February 22, 2008
Thursday Thirteen: songs I will download
I got all excited about NaBloPoMo monthly challenge for March. NaBloPoMo USED to be about blogging every day for the month of November. Now the challenge has been extended on a monthly basis and the topic for March is "LISTS".
I'm a good list maker. I can make lists that would amaze you - unless lists DON'T amaze you, then you would just think I was a bit of a freak - like my spouse thinks. However, I am excited to do the list a day for the month of March and in my excitement I think I have had some kind of a brain freeze on topics to write about here for the rest of the month. I have been pretty busy at work which makes a difference to how much energy I have for blogging. The busier I am the less energy I have to write something riveting. (assuming anything I write is riveting)
I thought I would make Thursday 13 be about how many unique ways I can procrastinate, then I realized I don't want to reveal myself TOO much to the three people who might read this blog because if I wrote about how I procrastinate then every time they ever see me they with think " Ah HAH, Julie is procrastinating again." Maybe they already know I am?
I'm not feeling hugely motivated right now but I did promise my spouse I would blog today so here goes my thirteen for today. if this works how I want it to you should be able to click on each one for a link to the utube video of each song.
13 songs (out of THOUSANDS) I will download to my mp3 player when I stop procratinating it ...
1. Outkast "Hey Ya"
2. Black Eyed Peas "Where is the Love"
3. Beth Hart "LA song"
4. KT Tunstall "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree"
5. Godsmack "Voodoo"
6. Plain White T's "Hey There Delilah"
7. Rob Thomas "Now Comes the Night"
8. Daughtry "Over You"
9. Sean Paul "Get Busy"
10. Matchbox20 "3am"
11. Toad the Wet Sprocket "Throw it All Away"
12. Indigo Girls "Last Tears"
13. Dave Matthews Band "Ants Marching"
I'm a good list maker. I can make lists that would amaze you - unless lists DON'T amaze you, then you would just think I was a bit of a freak - like my spouse thinks. However, I am excited to do the list a day for the month of March and in my excitement I think I have had some kind of a brain freeze on topics to write about here for the rest of the month. I have been pretty busy at work which makes a difference to how much energy I have for blogging. The busier I am the less energy I have to write something riveting. (assuming anything I write is riveting)
I thought I would make Thursday 13 be about how many unique ways I can procrastinate, then I realized I don't want to reveal myself TOO much to the three people who might read this blog because if I wrote about how I procrastinate then every time they ever see me they with think " Ah HAH, Julie is procrastinating again." Maybe they already know I am?
I'm not feeling hugely motivated right now but I did promise my spouse I would blog today so here goes my thirteen for today. if this works how I want it to you should be able to click on each one for a link to the utube video of each song.
13 songs (out of THOUSANDS) I will download to my mp3 player when I stop procratinating it ...
1. Outkast "Hey Ya"
2. Black Eyed Peas "Where is the Love"
3. Beth Hart "LA song"
4. KT Tunstall "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree"
5. Godsmack "Voodoo"
6. Plain White T's "Hey There Delilah"
7. Rob Thomas "Now Comes the Night"
8. Daughtry "Over You"
9. Sean Paul "Get Busy"
10. Matchbox20 "3am"
11. Toad the Wet Sprocket "Throw it All Away"
12. Indigo Girls "Last Tears"
13. Dave Matthews Band "Ants Marching"
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
17 months old today
Hey there my main man.
Today you are 17 months old. It's hard to believe you have been here for so long already. I still feel sleep deprived from the first months after you came home from the hospital but you are a GREAT night sleeper (when Helios is not opening your bedroom door and sneaking into your crib for nightly play sessions). I have had a few days off this week and you have almost driven me completely whacko. You want to communicate with us so much but not matter how hard I try I CANNOT UNDERSTAND what you are screaming about. So you scream some more. I DO understand the screams of frustration and this week I have wanted to join you. Screaming. In frustration. And then you smile.
Yesterday your mom and I went into town to the grocery store. You are so curious looking at everything and everyone and you were GREAT sitting in the cart almost the whole time - usually you get bored very quickly and try to stand up in the seat. On our way out of the store I was pulling the cart and mom was holding you - you had both hands on the handle of the cart and you were "pushing". Oh you LAUGHED. a deep down, gutteral laugh that had your mom and I laughing right along with you. You have such a beautiful smile and you laugh a lot. Thank goodness those moments of laughter can make me forget the screaming --temporarily.
Today we had a lady come over from Early Intervention. She did a "short" assessment on you because we have been worried about your screaming and your lack of eye contact. Of course from the moment she arrived you were looking at her right in the eyes and I don't think you screamed once. It was nice to hear that she thinks you are on track with your development (other than your speech) and she is giving us a referral to the speech therapist for you.
You are fiercely independent I am already having nightmares about what is in store for us as you grow older. You show your intelligence every moment by picking up on the things that we do and mimicing us and constantly exploring your world. it is a joy to watch you with the pets. Tora is your very best friend and your mom and I are stunned that Nyx and Helios don't go running whenever you walk into the room. Your expressions of love for them are not so gentle, we are still working on it with you and they are extremely patient.
Last night for the first time in a LONG time you woke up with a night terror. Your mom and I both came to you to make sure you were ok and you lay in my arms while your mom went to get you a new bottle. You are SO tall already, you barely fit in my arms. You are growing so fast. It was wonderful to hold you and rock you.
Sleep well baby of mine. Rest your head close to my heart, never to part, baby of mine.
The Translator: BOOK
I was completely captivated by the story told by Daoud Hari in his book " The Translator".
His writing was straightforward and concise. I read the entire book in just two days and passed it on to my spouse to read. Some of his descriptions of the atrocities he encountered are shocking and completely mind blowing. In contrast to the book I previously completed (Eat, Pray, Love) I was moved by the plight of the millions of displaced Sudanese currently living in refugee camps, unable to work and in dire need of appropriate food and shelter.
At the conclusion of the book Daoud has printed the Universal declaration of Human Rights. I am ashamed to say that I have not read this declaration prior to my reading of this book. I was interested to see how many "democratic" countries do not follow the articles which were accepted by the United Nations in 1948.
I think this book is a "must read" which I will highly recommend to others.
His writing was straightforward and concise. I read the entire book in just two days and passed it on to my spouse to read. Some of his descriptions of the atrocities he encountered are shocking and completely mind blowing. In contrast to the book I previously completed (Eat, Pray, Love) I was moved by the plight of the millions of displaced Sudanese currently living in refugee camps, unable to work and in dire need of appropriate food and shelter.
At the conclusion of the book Daoud has printed the Universal declaration of Human Rights. I am ashamed to say that I have not read this declaration prior to my reading of this book. I was interested to see how many "democratic" countries do not follow the articles which were accepted by the United Nations in 1948.
I think this book is a "must read" which I will highly recommend to others.
Eat, Pray, Love : BOOK
I just completed "Eat, Pray, Love" by Elizabeth Gilbert.
It has been on my list of books to read for quite a while and last week when I was at school I came across it in paperback at Costco and couldn't resist.
The novel is divided into three "books", each book one part of the personal journey of the writer.
The first book is about Italy. I was immediately captured by the writers style and humor and didn't put it down - until I reached book 2. The second part of the journey is to India where the author "pursues devotion" living in an Ashram. It was here that she lost me.
I managed to finish the book but I found the last two books to be tedious and a chore. I was completely uninterested in her personal journey to find the divine, her struggle with meditation and chanting, and her "preachiness". Completely uninterested. I was also offended by the fact that this woman leaves everything in New York to travel overseas to "find herself". I think it was a journey of the elite. It was an unreachable journey for the "everyday" person living in the USA who finds themselves in painful circumstances.
The last part of the writers journey takes her to Bali where she pursues "balance".
I would have thought that this part of the story would have captured my interest again because I am very interested in the concept of balance and how to find it. I didn't find any balance in this book.
The writers style didn't change, and honestly I liked her style of writing. I simply found the book a little to "self aggrandizing" and presumptuous. I thought the author was preachy in parts and that turned me off also. Right after I read this book I read a memoir about a man from Darfur. As I read his account of his life I was further turned off by a woman with money to burn who took months and months to "find herself" and preach to me.
This was not at all what I expected from the book and that made it even more of a disappointment. Unfortunately I won't recommend this book to anyone (not that it needs my endorsement!)
It has been on my list of books to read for quite a while and last week when I was at school I came across it in paperback at Costco and couldn't resist.
The novel is divided into three "books", each book one part of the personal journey of the writer.
The first book is about Italy. I was immediately captured by the writers style and humor and didn't put it down - until I reached book 2. The second part of the journey is to India where the author "pursues devotion" living in an Ashram. It was here that she lost me.
I managed to finish the book but I found the last two books to be tedious and a chore. I was completely uninterested in her personal journey to find the divine, her struggle with meditation and chanting, and her "preachiness". Completely uninterested. I was also offended by the fact that this woman leaves everything in New York to travel overseas to "find herself". I think it was a journey of the elite. It was an unreachable journey for the "everyday" person living in the USA who finds themselves in painful circumstances.
The last part of the writers journey takes her to Bali where she pursues "balance".
I would have thought that this part of the story would have captured my interest again because I am very interested in the concept of balance and how to find it. I didn't find any balance in this book.
The writers style didn't change, and honestly I liked her style of writing. I simply found the book a little to "self aggrandizing" and presumptuous. I thought the author was preachy in parts and that turned me off also. Right after I read this book I read a memoir about a man from Darfur. As I read his account of his life I was further turned off by a woman with money to burn who took months and months to "find herself" and preach to me.
This was not at all what I expected from the book and that made it even more of a disappointment. Unfortunately I won't recommend this book to anyone (not that it needs my endorsement!)
888 update
non-fiction (used to be autobiography/biography)
1. Measure of a Man. Sidney Poitier
2. Animal, Vegetable, Miracle. Barbara Kingsolver
3. A Long Way Gone. Ishmael Beah
4. Spycatcher. Peter Wright
5. The Places in Between. Rory Stewart (completed January 19th 2008)
6. Infidel. Ayaan hirsi Ali
7. Glass Castle.
8. Fish:
Young Adult Fiction
1. The Canning Season. Polly Horvath
2. Godless. Pete Hautman
3. Autobiography of my Dead Brother. Walter Dean Myers
4. The Invention of Hugo Cabret. Brian Selznick
5.
6.
7.
8.
Pulitzer Prize Winners
1. Middlesex. Jeffrey Eugenides (Completed January 21st 2008)
2. Gilead. Marilynne Robinson (Completed January 13th 2008)
3. The Known World. (currently reading)
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
From the NYT Bestseller list. (I don't want to limit myself to books that have already been written. There might be some good ones published this year)
1. Bleeding Kansas. Sarah Paretsky. #15 January 13 2008
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Banned or "challenged" books
1. Go Ask Alice
2. The Lorax.
3. The Well of Lonliness
4. Steal This Book. Abbie Hofmann
5.
6.
7.
8.
Books already on my Bookshelf
1. I am counting these three books as one. They were already on my shelf and I had never read them but they are young adult books (and totally predictable).
Gordon Korman. Island: Book one "Shipwreck" (completed February 1 2008)
Gordon Korman. Island: Book two "Survival" (completed February 1 2008)
Gordon Korman. Island: Book Three "Escape" (completed February 1 2008)
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
School reading assignments
I am back in school and I have readings I am assigned to do throughout the term. I know that each of them is not a "book" but there will a lot more than 8 of them over the course of the year. Since I have to do the reading for class I will keep track of it here because having it be a part of this process will be added motivation for me to actually read the stuff.
1. Campus response to a student gunman. Asmussen K. & Creswell, J. (1995) 16 pages. Completed January 11 2008
2. Motivation of parent involvement in secondary-level schooling. Bertrand, R. & Deslandes, R. (2005) 11 pages. Completed January 11 2008
3. Constructions of survival and coping by women who have survived childhood sexual abuse. Morrow, S. & Smith, M. 20 pages. Completed February 7 2008
4. Enlightenment in chemical dependency treatment programs: a grounded theory. Feen-Calligan (199) 14 pages. Completed February 7 2008
5. Reflecting on columbine high:Ideologies of privilege in "standardized" schools. Tonso, K. (2002) 14 pages. Completed February 7 2008
Books on my "to be read" list.
1. Saturday. Ian McEwan (completed January 27 2007)
2. Eat, Pray, Love. Elizabeth Gilbert (completed February 16 2008)
3. The Translator: A Tribesman's Memoir of Darfur. Daoud Hari (completed February 18 2008)
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
1. Measure of a Man. Sidney Poitier
2. Animal, Vegetable, Miracle. Barbara Kingsolver
3. A Long Way Gone. Ishmael Beah
4. Spycatcher. Peter Wright
5. The Places in Between. Rory Stewart (completed January 19th 2008)
6. Infidel. Ayaan hirsi Ali
7. Glass Castle.
8. Fish:
Young Adult Fiction
1. The Canning Season. Polly Horvath
2. Godless. Pete Hautman
3. Autobiography of my Dead Brother. Walter Dean Myers
4. The Invention of Hugo Cabret. Brian Selznick
5.
6.
7.
8.
Pulitzer Prize Winners
1. Middlesex. Jeffrey Eugenides (Completed January 21st 2008)
2. Gilead. Marilynne Robinson (Completed January 13th 2008)
3. The Known World. (currently reading)
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
From the NYT Bestseller list. (I don't want to limit myself to books that have already been written. There might be some good ones published this year)
1. Bleeding Kansas. Sarah Paretsky. #15 January 13 2008
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Banned or "challenged" books
1. Go Ask Alice
2. The Lorax.
3. The Well of Lonliness
4. Steal This Book. Abbie Hofmann
5.
6.
7.
8.
Books already on my Bookshelf
1. I am counting these three books as one. They were already on my shelf and I had never read them but they are young adult books (and totally predictable).
Gordon Korman. Island: Book one "Shipwreck" (completed February 1 2008)
Gordon Korman. Island: Book two "Survival" (completed February 1 2008)
Gordon Korman. Island: Book Three "Escape" (completed February 1 2008)
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
School reading assignments
I am back in school and I have readings I am assigned to do throughout the term. I know that each of them is not a "book" but there will a lot more than 8 of them over the course of the year. Since I have to do the reading for class I will keep track of it here because having it be a part of this process will be added motivation for me to actually read the stuff.
1. Campus response to a student gunman. Asmussen K. & Creswell, J. (1995) 16 pages. Completed January 11 2008
2. Motivation of parent involvement in secondary-level schooling. Bertrand, R. & Deslandes, R. (2005) 11 pages. Completed January 11 2008
3. Constructions of survival and coping by women who have survived childhood sexual abuse. Morrow, S. & Smith, M. 20 pages. Completed February 7 2008
4. Enlightenment in chemical dependency treatment programs: a grounded theory. Feen-Calligan (199) 14 pages. Completed February 7 2008
5. Reflecting on columbine high:Ideologies of privilege in "standardized" schools. Tonso, K. (2002) 14 pages. Completed February 7 2008
Books on my "to be read" list.
1. Saturday. Ian McEwan (completed January 27 2007)
2. Eat, Pray, Love. Elizabeth Gilbert (completed February 16 2008)
3. The Translator: A Tribesman's Memoir of Darfur. Daoud Hari (completed February 18 2008)
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Monday, February 18, 2008
Unconscious Mutterings
- Passport :: international travel ...YAY!
- Small world :: after all. It's a small world after all...
- Radio :: NPR
- Marine ::Biology
- Wall :: Berlin Wall
- Wanna be :: rich
- Pigtails :: me 25 years ago
- Hyphen :: punctuation
- 9.99 :: 1
- Unrated :: unedited
Saturday, February 16, 2008
Photo Hunt: Free
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Technorati Tags: Photo Hunt
Friday, February 15, 2008
Friday Fill in
1. Snowdrops are small and white, clean and bright, (just like edelweiss.)
2. I'm going to set up my PS2 so i can play some games I got for Christmas.
3. Suddenly (by Soraya) is a song whose lyrics have meaning to me.
4. Just one sip and I can tell it's not American Dr. Pepper.
5. Deep in a good book or working on a cross stitch is where I'm happiest.
6. I believe that Mexican food is a necessary part of life.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to finishing a book, tomorrow my plans include starting to read a new book and Sunday, I want to nap!
2. I'm going to set up my PS2 so i can play some games I got for Christmas.
3. Suddenly (by Soraya) is a song whose lyrics have meaning to me.
4. Just one sip and I can tell it's not American Dr. Pepper.
5. Deep in a good book or working on a cross stitch is where I'm happiest.
6. I believe that Mexican food is a necessary part of life.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to finishing a book, tomorrow my plans include starting to read a new book and Sunday, I want to nap!
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Thursday Thirteen: favorite romantic gestures
 |
My favorite romantic gestures ... because my spousal unit posted hers 1. Cooking with onions (because she hates them so) 2. Holding hands. This is how we first "got together" and I love the reminder - also because we really don't hold hands in public because we somewhat fear being bashed, so when we do hold hands "I like it a lot" 3. Walking together at night on the golf course in the summer 4. Kick butt Easter baskets 5. Putting lotion on my elbows. I am not good at the putting on of lotion. I simply don't take the time to do it. I have crackly elbows and she takes care of them for me 6. Buying me roses on the opening night of my acting debut. This is a bigger deal than it seems because we live in a teeny northern Canadian town, with not a lot of access to fresh flowers in the dead of winter 7. Packing food for road trips, and packing my bag for me when I go to school. I need to track down the picture we took in the U-Haul when we left for our trip up here and scan it in so I can show you. Man there was a LOT of good food, and she always packs my favorites! 8. Letting me win at scrabble 9. Laughing at my jokes 10. Letting me take naps in the afternoon on the weekend when technically it is my time to be hanging with 17 month old M 11. Coming with me to the great white north where we needed to relocate in order to preserve our relationship (the grand ol' US of A would not allow a multinational gay couple to stay together legally - even if we WANTED to contribute to taxes etc!) 12. Watching "Set it off" with me in the theater all alone and not walking away thinking I was a whacko when I couldn't stop SOBBING. 13. Sitting on the toilet (with the seat down - DUR) when M and I bath. I know at the end of a long day the last thing she wants to do is watch me play in the tub with the Maxster, so I love it when she comes and chats with me as we splash |
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Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Monday, February 11, 2008
unconscious mutterings
Score :: GGGGOOOOOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!
Luxurious :: Sheets
Party :: All the time, party all the time. My girl wants to party all the time.
Limited edition :: expensive
Security :: Breach
Betty :: Rubble
Under construction :: Roads in Alberta
Pest :: Control
Director :: Ridley Scott
Express ::Mail is expensive and notvery fast
Luxurious :: Sheets
Party :: All the time, party all the time. My girl wants to party all the time.
Limited edition :: expensive
Security :: Breach
Betty :: Rubble
Under construction :: Roads in Alberta
Pest :: Control
Director :: Ridley Scott
Express ::Mail is expensive and notvery fast
Saturday, February 9, 2008
Friday Fill in
1. I'm looking forward to temperatures that are not in the MINUS FORTY range.
2. Morocco is a place I always wanted to visit and haven't made it there yet.
3. I've fallen in love with my baby boy's smile.
4. Six of one, half a dozen of the other.
5. Addiction to food makes me fat.
6. I crack myself up!
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to finishing my homework, tomorrow my plans include having a hotdog at Costco and Sunday, I want to read and take a nap!
2. Morocco is a place I always wanted to visit and haven't made it there yet.
3. I've fallen in love with my baby boy's smile.
4. Six of one, half a dozen of the other.
5. Addiction to food makes me fat.
6. I crack myself up!
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to finishing my homework, tomorrow my plans include having a hotdog at Costco and Sunday, I want to read and take a nap!
Thursday, February 7, 2008
giving up "hope" for lent
So it's Lent.
I missed my FAVORITE holiday of the year - Fat Tuesday - and I have no excuse.
Obviously it is not my favorite holiday or I would have remembered it, but I think it's cool to have a holiday dedicated ENTIRELY to gorging yourself before fasting.
So Lent. I am not Catholic, but every year I give up something for Lent. Every year I give up the SAME thing for lent. HOPE.
That's right, I give up hope for 40 days out of the year. I could probably give it up for more than that, but I try to limit myself.
I would write more on the topic, but I am in despair right now so I have to sign off and get me some chocolate. That's why I can't give up chocolate - how would I get through having no hope if I couldn't bury the pain in chocolate.
(I will just say this. Mitt Romney withdrew from the republican race for candidacy and that ALMOST dragged me RIGHT back into having hope again after I had given it up. I had to fight myself to maintain my hopelessness, but that's what lent is about - effort.)
I missed my FAVORITE holiday of the year - Fat Tuesday - and I have no excuse.
Obviously it is not my favorite holiday or I would have remembered it, but I think it's cool to have a holiday dedicated ENTIRELY to gorging yourself before fasting.
So Lent. I am not Catholic, but every year I give up something for Lent. Every year I give up the SAME thing for lent. HOPE.
That's right, I give up hope for 40 days out of the year. I could probably give it up for more than that, but I try to limit myself.
I would write more on the topic, but I am in despair right now so I have to sign off and get me some chocolate. That's why I can't give up chocolate - how would I get through having no hope if I couldn't bury the pain in chocolate.
(I will just say this. Mitt Romney withdrew from the republican race for candidacy and that ALMOST dragged me RIGHT back into having hope again after I had given it up. I had to fight myself to maintain my hopelessness, but that's what lent is about - effort.)
weather request
This is the picnic table where we sit for coffee break in the summer at work.
I'd like to put in a weather request.
I know I have chosen to live in the north with my family and part of living in the north means cold winters.
I don't hate winter. I like snow because it covers up the ugly brown of death following the fall, but can we PLEASE get an increase in temperature? We are currently sitting at -23 degrees celcius (around -9 degrees F). Because the wind never stops blowing, the actual temperature is colder than that. A few weeks ago the temperature was -53 degrees F.
We have been very lucky this winter because we moved out to an acreage with a LONG driveway and we don't have any snow removal implements other than shovels. We have some contractors using our yard for their staging area while they do work on a bridge by our house and they have been great about ploughing out our driveway. A couple of times I would not have made it out of the yard for DAYS without their help. Shovelling snow when it is -23 (or colder) takes a very long time and energy - neither of which I have much of.
It is snowing now. The snow can come, but PLEASE PLEASE can we get some warmer air up this way?
I know I have chosen to live in the north with my family and part of living in the north means cold winters.
I don't hate winter. I like snow because it covers up the ugly brown of death following the fall, but can we PLEASE get an increase in temperature? We are currently sitting at -23 degrees celcius (around -9 degrees F). Because the wind never stops blowing, the actual temperature is colder than that. A few weeks ago the temperature was -53 degrees F.
We have been very lucky this winter because we moved out to an acreage with a LONG driveway and we don't have any snow removal implements other than shovels. We have some contractors using our yard for their staging area while they do work on a bridge by our house and they have been great about ploughing out our driveway. A couple of times I would not have made it out of the yard for DAYS without their help. Shovelling snow when it is -23 (or colder) takes a very long time and energy - neither of which I have much of.
It is snowing now. The snow can come, but PLEASE PLEASE can we get some warmer air up this way?
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Thursday Thirteen: things in my office
Here are 13 things that are in my office right now:
A goofy punching bag
A mickey mouse can
A bong - which I confiscated (it does not belong to me.... well, I guess it does now!)
A poster about something near and dear to my heart. (Neve Campbell)
My africa carving
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The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others' comments. It’s easy, and fun! Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
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Some plants.
A jar of coins
A goofy punching bag
An Ozzy Bobblehead
Stapler and hole puncher (which I could not do without)
A mickey mouse can
A watering can
A bong - which I confiscated (it does not belong to me.... well, I guess it does now!)
A poster about something near and dear to my heart. (Neve Campbell) 
My africa carving
A coke ad
A dog toy. (yes, it is called "heave a beaver, but that's not ENTIRELY why I have it)
A buddha.
The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others' comments. It’s easy, and fun! Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
View More Thursday Thirteen Participants
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Who would you vote for in the USA election?
http://www.wqad.com/Global/link.asp?L=259460
The WQAD candidate survey is based on the original SELECT A CANDIDATE survey developed by Minnesota Public Radio and posted at: http://minnesota.publicradio.org/projects/ongoing/select_a_candidate/.
I took this survey because my spouse did. I lived in the USA for a lot of years and because I was not a citizen I was not permitted to vote. While I was there I felt somehwat detatched from the electoral process and to be honest I didn't follow politics too closely, other than immigration laws, which never did consider me as a potential legitimate immigrant.
I was so naive to politics that I was shocked to realize how politically slanted the different news broadcasts were. This came to my attention when my in-laws were staying with us. My MIL would watch the news, talk to the newscasters as though they were listening to her, and she AGREED with what they were saying. That's when I knew something was amiss. My mother in law and I can agree on ..... Oh right, NOTHING. For example, she managed to argue with me ona topic I was AGREEING with her on! I literally had to stop and say to her in the middle of a conversation "You know we are saying EXACTLY the same thing here don't you?" She just thought because I was opening my mouth and noise was coming out that I was therefore diametrically opposed to her.
Now I live with my family in Canada, where we can live LEGALLY as a married couple, and where I could sponsor my spouse for landed immigrant status. Now that my family is directly and constantly affected by the decisions made by politicians I tend to follow politics, even (especially) local politics, more closely.
I have been watching with interest the unfolding of the elections this year in the USA. I have also learned that while I no longer live there, many decisions made in the US still affect me.
My spousal unit and I differ in our political outlook. (WHA? such a shocker!) She is a radical libertarian feminist. I am a conservative. Well, ok, as much as I CAN be conservative considering I am also a dyke. (dyke and conservative are not two words which go typically alongside one another in the same sentence)
I used to think that feminism was a dirty word. I believe in the death penalty - in some cases. But I do watch CNN (or as my spousal unit's parets refer to it "the communist news network".)
So as we have been watching the democratic debates and following the political races currently ongoing, we have numerous discussions about who we would support and why. I have been a supporter of Obama since the very beginning and of course, my spousal unit supports Hillary Clinton. I took this test tonight and what do you know? I have more ISSUE similarities with Hillary than I do with Barack Obama. That's what it's all about folks. Issues. I'm going to have to get over my conflict with feminism I think.
Know your issues.
Regardless who leads the democratic posrty to this election, it will be a historic event and one I am thrilled to see in my lifetime. Rock the vote!
The WQAD candidate survey is based on the original SELECT A CANDIDATE survey developed by Minnesota Public Radio and posted at: http://minnesota.publicradio.org/projects/ongoing/select_a_candidate/.
I took this survey because my spouse did. I lived in the USA for a lot of years and because I was not a citizen I was not permitted to vote. While I was there I felt somehwat detatched from the electoral process and to be honest I didn't follow politics too closely, other than immigration laws, which never did consider me as a potential legitimate immigrant.
I was so naive to politics that I was shocked to realize how politically slanted the different news broadcasts were. This came to my attention when my in-laws were staying with us. My MIL would watch the news, talk to the newscasters as though they were listening to her, and she AGREED with what they were saying. That's when I knew something was amiss. My mother in law and I can agree on ..... Oh right, NOTHING. For example, she managed to argue with me ona topic I was AGREEING with her on! I literally had to stop and say to her in the middle of a conversation "You know we are saying EXACTLY the same thing here don't you?" She just thought because I was opening my mouth and noise was coming out that I was therefore diametrically opposed to her.
Now I live with my family in Canada, where we can live LEGALLY as a married couple, and where I could sponsor my spouse for landed immigrant status. Now that my family is directly and constantly affected by the decisions made by politicians I tend to follow politics, even (especially) local politics, more closely.
I have been watching with interest the unfolding of the elections this year in the USA. I have also learned that while I no longer live there, many decisions made in the US still affect me.
My spousal unit and I differ in our political outlook. (WHA? such a shocker!) She is a radical libertarian feminist. I am a conservative. Well, ok, as much as I CAN be conservative considering I am also a dyke. (dyke and conservative are not two words which go typically alongside one another in the same sentence)
I used to think that feminism was a dirty word. I believe in the death penalty - in some cases. But I do watch CNN (or as my spousal unit's parets refer to it "the communist news network".)
So as we have been watching the democratic debates and following the political races currently ongoing, we have numerous discussions about who we would support and why. I have been a supporter of Obama since the very beginning and of course, my spousal unit supports Hillary Clinton. I took this test tonight and what do you know? I have more ISSUE similarities with Hillary than I do with Barack Obama. That's what it's all about folks. Issues. I'm going to have to get over my conflict with feminism I think.
Know your issues.
Regardless who leads the democratic posrty to this election, it will be a historic event and one I am thrilled to see in my lifetime. Rock the vote!
Monday, February 4, 2008
Partners in Crime
It may look very innocent but it is not. These two have partnered up and planned late night crib rendezvous. Helios has figured out some way to open Max's door from the outside and join him in the crib. He waits until the witching hour when all the family is dead to the world and then makes his sneak attack. He climbs into the crib with Max and wakes him up and then they start to play. Max of course gets carried away and even though I am certain Helios attempts to keep him quiet he cannot help but let a squeal of joy escape. Since he has learned the art of stealth from me - and therefore CANNOT be quiet no matter how he tries, he wakes up the whole house with his laughter. They are punks. Both of them.
As a result of this little 3am tete a tete, everyone else in the entire house is exhausted. They think it is the "cats meow." They can't wait to do it again.
WHO ME?
Saturday, February 2, 2008
888 update
non-fiction (used to be autobiography/biography)
1. Measure of a Man. Sidney Poitier
2. Animal, Vegetable, Miracle. Barbara Kingsolver
3. A Long Way Gone. Ishmael Beah
4. Spycatcher. Peter Wright
5. The Places in Between. Rory Stewart (completed January 19th 2008)
6. Infidel. Ayaan hirsi Ali
7. Glass Castle.
8. Fish:
Young Adult Fiction
1. The Canning Season. Polly Horvath
2. Godless. Pete Hautman
3. Autobiography of my Dead Brother. Walter Dean Myers
4. The Invention of Hugo Cabret. Brian Selznick
5.
6.
7.
8.
Pulitzer Prize Winners
1. Middlesex. Jeffrey Eugenides (Completed January 21st 2008)
2. Gilead. Marilynne Robinson (Completed January 13th 2008)
3. The Known World. (currently reading)
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
From the NYT Bestseller list. (I don't want to limit myself to books that have already been written. There might be some good ones published this year)
1. Bleeding Kansas. Sarah Paretsky. #15 January 13 2008
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Banned or "challenged" books
1. Go Ask Alice
2. The Lorax.
3. The Well of Lonliness
4. Steal This Book. Abbie Hofmann
5.
6.
7.
8.
Books already on my Bookshelf
1. I am counting these three books as one. They were already on my shelf and I had never read them but they are young adult books (and totally predictable).
Gordon Korman. Island: Book one "Shipwreck" (completed February 1 2008)
Gordon Korman. Island: Book two "Survival" (completed February 1 2008)
Gordon Korman. Island: Book Three "Escape" (completed February 1 2008)
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
School reading assignments
I am back in school and I have readings I am assigned to do throughout the term. I know that each of them is not a "book" but there will a lot more than 8 of them over the course of the year. Since I have to do the reading for class I will keep track of it here because having it be a part of this process will be added motivation for me to actually read the stuff.
1. Campus response to a student gunman. Asmussen K. & Creswell, J. (1995) 16 pages. Completed January 11 2008
2. Motivation of parent involvement in secondary-level schooling. Bertrand, R. & Deslandes, R. (2005) 11 pages. Completed January 11 2008
3. Constructions of survival and coping by women who have survived chilhood sexual abuse. Morrow, S. & Smith, M. 20 pages.
4. Enlightenment in chemical dependency treatment programs: a grounded theory. Feen-Calligan (199) 14 pages.
5. Reflecting on columbine high:Ideologies of privilege in "standardized" schools. Tonso, K. (2002) 14 pages.
Books on my "to be read" list.
1. Saturday. Ian McEwan (completed January 27 2007)
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
1. Measure of a Man. Sidney Poitier
2. Animal, Vegetable, Miracle. Barbara Kingsolver
3. A Long Way Gone. Ishmael Beah
4. Spycatcher. Peter Wright
5. The Places in Between. Rory Stewart (completed January 19th 2008)
6. Infidel. Ayaan hirsi Ali
7. Glass Castle.
8. Fish:
Young Adult Fiction
1. The Canning Season. Polly Horvath
2. Godless. Pete Hautman
3. Autobiography of my Dead Brother. Walter Dean Myers
4. The Invention of Hugo Cabret. Brian Selznick
5.
6.
7.
8.
Pulitzer Prize Winners
1. Middlesex. Jeffrey Eugenides (Completed January 21st 2008)
2. Gilead. Marilynne Robinson (Completed January 13th 2008)
3. The Known World. (currently reading)
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
From the NYT Bestseller list. (I don't want to limit myself to books that have already been written. There might be some good ones published this year)
1. Bleeding Kansas. Sarah Paretsky. #15 January 13 2008
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Banned or "challenged" books
1. Go Ask Alice
2. The Lorax.
3. The Well of Lonliness
4. Steal This Book. Abbie Hofmann
5.
6.
7.
8.
Books already on my Bookshelf
1. I am counting these three books as one. They were already on my shelf and I had never read them but they are young adult books (and totally predictable).
Gordon Korman. Island: Book one "Shipwreck" (completed February 1 2008)
Gordon Korman. Island: Book two "Survival" (completed February 1 2008)
Gordon Korman. Island: Book Three "Escape" (completed February 1 2008)
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
School reading assignments
I am back in school and I have readings I am assigned to do throughout the term. I know that each of them is not a "book" but there will a lot more than 8 of them over the course of the year. Since I have to do the reading for class I will keep track of it here because having it be a part of this process will be added motivation for me to actually read the stuff.
1. Campus response to a student gunman. Asmussen K. & Creswell, J. (1995) 16 pages. Completed January 11 2008
2. Motivation of parent involvement in secondary-level schooling. Bertrand, R. & Deslandes, R. (2005) 11 pages. Completed January 11 2008
3. Constructions of survival and coping by women who have survived chilhood sexual abuse. Morrow, S. & Smith, M. 20 pages.
4. Enlightenment in chemical dependency treatment programs: a grounded theory. Feen-Calligan (199) 14 pages.
5. Reflecting on columbine high:Ideologies of privilege in "standardized" schools. Tonso, K. (2002) 14 pages.
Books on my "to be read" list.
1. Saturday. Ian McEwan (completed January 27 2007)
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Friday, February 1, 2008
Karma
I have a really good relationship with my brother and his wife. When I moved back to Canada they graciously opened their home to me and let me stay for three months while I looked for work and a place to live and bring my family to. It was a huge sacrifice on their part, they were fairly newlywed and my sister in law was pregnant with their first child. She had never met me and my brother and I had not lived under the same roof since I had been in high school - a long time ago.
We hit it off famously. I am so very glad we were able to spend that time together as it forged for us a bond which has lasted to this day. My brother and I bonded over movies and soccer games and being "siblings" again. My sister in law and I bonded over being two women in a house with one man. Now unfortunately we live over five hours away from one another and we miss being able to hang out. The best part of it was we didn't have ONE argument. I am pretty certain that others in my immediate family are stunned over this. I think it's kind of funny. We are all very strong minded, very opinionated adults and we managed to make the time together a wonderful one, with NO exceptions.
J2 (my bro) and his wife have moved recently into a new home and they now have a yard and a space for a DOG!
All of our growing up years we have had dogs. J2 has always been the most devoted to the pets, he just loves them. Of all 5 kids, he is the most gentle, most natural "dog" person. Since he has been married, he and his wife have lived in apartments and townhomes and other non-dog allowing places. They have always planned that once they move into their own home they will get a dog.
Earlier this week I was talking to my sister in law on the phone. She is also a pet lover and a rescuer of pets, not unlike my spouse. She has been watching news on tv of local shelters having to put down animals from being overcrowded and she has been trying to convince J2 that they should adopt a dog sooner than the original plan of this upcoming summer. J2 has managed to stay firmly attached to his decision of waiting until it is warmer. Des had some blankets and other supplies to drop off at the local animal shelter and J2 (wisely) instructed her (firmly) to stay away from the shelters! He knows she would not be able to resist bringing home an addition to the family. While we were talking I told Des that training a puppy to use the bathroom outside is easier in the winter than in the summer, because the dogs will go to the bathroom sooner in the cold. She passed on my suggestion to J2 and he suggested in return that I jump in a frozen lake! He does not want to train a dog in the wintertime - especially since temperatures this week have plummeted to below 40 degrees and colder.
Fast forward to last night. When I go to school I have to travel to another town. A friend in class has graciously opened her home to me to stay at when I travel, saving me the cost of a hotel room every two weeks. A few weeks ago I offered to her that if she ever needed us to help her out in any way we would be more than happy to. This week she asked us to keep her two dogs for a week while she travelled out of the province. Of course we were happy to oblige, and I promptly forgot she was coming. Shel called me last night at work to let me know our guests had arrived. Odie (an older and very gentle dog) and Fozzie(a german Shepherd PUPPY less than 3 months old) were making themselves at home.
When I got home after midnight it was my turn to take the puppies to the bathroom. Our two dogs are very familiar with the routine - I go to the door, open it, let them out and in a few minutes let them back in. With two new dogs in the mix this is not a good idea at midnight. We live on an acreage and I didn't want "roaming" dogs who didn't know me at all and therefore may not answer me when I called them. I let our dogs out first, then I had to dress and go out one at a time with Odie and Foz.
My theory on how dogs will go to the bathroom quicker in the cold ..... not true. My theory that dogs who don't know me from Adam won't come when I call them ... true. The temperature last night, a balmy -28 degrees celcius.
The puppy slept in his own crate brought from home and he cried all night. I got up twice to take him to the bathroom and both times had to totally dress and go outside. It was cold. He didn't get any quicker as the night went on.
We hit it off famously. I am so very glad we were able to spend that time together as it forged for us a bond which has lasted to this day. My brother and I bonded over movies and soccer games and being "siblings" again. My sister in law and I bonded over being two women in a house with one man. Now unfortunately we live over five hours away from one another and we miss being able to hang out. The best part of it was we didn't have ONE argument. I am pretty certain that others in my immediate family are stunned over this. I think it's kind of funny. We are all very strong minded, very opinionated adults and we managed to make the time together a wonderful one, with NO exceptions.
J2 (my bro) and his wife have moved recently into a new home and they now have a yard and a space for a DOG!
All of our growing up years we have had dogs. J2 has always been the most devoted to the pets, he just loves them. Of all 5 kids, he is the most gentle, most natural "dog" person. Since he has been married, he and his wife have lived in apartments and townhomes and other non-dog allowing places. They have always planned that once they move into their own home they will get a dog.
Earlier this week I was talking to my sister in law on the phone. She is also a pet lover and a rescuer of pets, not unlike my spouse. She has been watching news on tv of local shelters having to put down animals from being overcrowded and she has been trying to convince J2 that they should adopt a dog sooner than the original plan of this upcoming summer. J2 has managed to stay firmly attached to his decision of waiting until it is warmer. Des had some blankets and other supplies to drop off at the local animal shelter and J2 (wisely) instructed her (firmly) to stay away from the shelters! He knows she would not be able to resist bringing home an addition to the family. While we were talking I told Des that training a puppy to use the bathroom outside is easier in the winter than in the summer, because the dogs will go to the bathroom sooner in the cold. She passed on my suggestion to J2 and he suggested in return that I jump in a frozen lake! He does not want to train a dog in the wintertime - especially since temperatures this week have plummeted to below 40 degrees and colder.
Fast forward to last night. When I go to school I have to travel to another town. A friend in class has graciously opened her home to me to stay at when I travel, saving me the cost of a hotel room every two weeks. A few weeks ago I offered to her that if she ever needed us to help her out in any way we would be more than happy to. This week she asked us to keep her two dogs for a week while she travelled out of the province. Of course we were happy to oblige, and I promptly forgot she was coming. Shel called me last night at work to let me know our guests had arrived. Odie (an older and very gentle dog) and Fozzie(a german Shepherd PUPPY less than 3 months old) were making themselves at home.
When I got home after midnight it was my turn to take the puppies to the bathroom. Our two dogs are very familiar with the routine - I go to the door, open it, let them out and in a few minutes let them back in. With two new dogs in the mix this is not a good idea at midnight. We live on an acreage and I didn't want "roaming" dogs who didn't know me at all and therefore may not answer me when I called them. I let our dogs out first, then I had to dress and go out one at a time with Odie and Foz.
My theory on how dogs will go to the bathroom quicker in the cold ..... not true. My theory that dogs who don't know me from Adam won't come when I call them ... true. The temperature last night, a balmy -28 degrees celcius.
The puppy slept in his own crate brought from home and he cried all night. I got up twice to take him to the bathroom and both times had to totally dress and go outside. It was cold. He didn't get any quicker as the night went on.
My brother - he's a smart dude.
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