Ah yes, SUNSHINE ! I was almost starting to forget what that looked like! Sunny and upwards around 30 degrees in the area today. Must get out in it today and get active. I didn't work out yesterday and in fact (*gasp*) yes, I cheated yesterday.

Homemade organic tomato soup (not bad itself- just vegies with herbs, salt and water) with dill, some cabbage, a half a potato, some this, some that- some of everything really. All good things. But it was the 4 pieces of buttered bread WITH said soup AND half a bag of vegie thins that undid me. I think I ate a day's worth of calories (I know I did) but I wasn't feeling well for most of the afternoon and didn't eat from about 130pm until around 8pm. By then I was HUNGRY HUNGRY. Anyhoo, 3 pounds up and I'd rather be 3 down but wudev. I know it's just temporary gain and you pay the piper the day after for the day before. Today it's water, water, water- walk, walk, walk and possibly a good workout and swim at the gym later. Especially if I get outside and get warm. A cool indoor pool is good for that...

In other news (but still on the topic of water) I just got my city water bill and was surprised to see that MY water on my side of the duplex is like, three times that of their side. Now- we did have a plumbing issue where the shower did not divert all the water to the shower head and water GUSHED out the tub spout while you showered. He takes 30 minute showers so I can see where that adds up. And it was like that until last month. And our 1972(?) Admiral washing machine leaks (and sounds like an aircraft carrier but that's another post). So these could likely be factors in why our water bill was 300 bucks. Pretty sure our hot water tank (which must be about 20 gallons based on the limited hot water we get out of it) is probably 15 yrs old as well although I don't see what that would do to the water bill. But holymother...

I have to confess I'm not used to paying "city bills" after living with a sewer and a well on rural property in BC for so long. I find it *weird* to pay huge property taxes that incorporate my garbage pickup, water and sewer services into them. In BC I paid my own 30 bucks a month for garbage pickup and well, never serviced my septic in 13 yrs because hey- we were on a hillside and had "good flow" and excellent drainage, if you will. Not really any need to *do* anything. Shoulda shocked the well at some point but nobody died so whatever. Hence 600 bucks a year in property taxes after the 50 percent government grant that BC so generously gives you AND MANITOBA DOES NOT (she says heatedly). Aside from "luxuries" like living on a school bus route (which meant regular snow clearing) and being 50 feet from a fire hydrant I really had nothing to pay for! So going from 600 bucks a year to 2800 is pretty irritating.

Still working on the subdivision of the duplex units. Likely take me the rest of this year to leap through the hoops and get approval from the city. Few more dollars to the lawyer to complete the process. I'm meeting with my realtor today to talk values of each unit and appraisal processes so I've got all my little duckies in a row. Gives me a few options by doing this- if I *wanted* to sell after these tenants move out in the Spring, I certainly could. Don't know if that would be the wisest decision, but in a pinch it would be feasible. What needs to happen is a few upgrades on THIS side (electrical especially), pay some debts off, save some dollars and move US into a nice 2 bdrm condo with a view and underground parking. And a pool. And a gym in it. Yeah....yeah, that's the ticket. Or on the flip I could easily live in da hood in a small older house that costs the same and live comfortably there either way. Then rent THIS side out, which would make this duplex a money EARNING investment as opposed to the expense it currently is. The rent we would earn from both sides would easily pay our own personal mtg and that's the goal. At least, Goal Number One.

The condo is now earning money (finally) I managed to finagle the mtg pmts down to $250 biweekly. With the condo fees, the insurance, the hydro and the property taxes it actually squeaks out a whopping $50 a month- WOO WEE! But regardless, it was COSTING me $150 previously. So a few tweaks to this and that made it a positive flow. I honestly don't care how much, as long as it is able to float along on it's own without any financial intervention from me =)

The duplex costs me money but, I live in one side. So I pay for that priveledge. Again, property taxes 250 bucks a month (*groans*). Hydro with a 1960 furnace in my side (in Winnipeg, with an 8 month long winter and a shitty cool summer) = VERY EXPENSIVE. 200 bucks a month, no lie, and that's on payment plan. Insurance = another 'bout buck fifty. Yada yada yada, and the beat goes on. Needless to say it's the 'zact same costs I had living in the condo WITHOUT any investment properties. However, tweak tweak tweak and we may be able to eak out a living here over a bit of time. We'll see the truth when we get to tax return time and see if all this was worth it. Or not.

Anyways peeps, this day is warming up and I need some Vitamin D time =) Chow for now, over -an-' out.

Okay time to invite some good, beautiful and positive energy into my space. I could type on and on about the tough times, the year of the ox, the car breaking down, the financial juggling, but for what?! To invite more? No thanks! No thank you, Ever Giving Universe, I have had enough!! No really, I'm done... At my max. Thank you, though, I really appreciate the abundance of shit but woo-ee am I full right now. Not of shit, just full- stuffed - eaten my fill of it ! THANK YOU! No, no desert, really! Not even if it's wafer thin... I can't eat another bite.

Yeah, I'm going to go for a long, long walk in the sun this afternoon. I'm going to see how great everything looks after a long, solid rain. Hey, the Big News is we all have times that try us. Everyone does. Nobody is immune from pulling themselves up and getting a grip from time to time. You can't climb a mountain without tripping a few times on the hillside, or feeling like holy crap will I ever reach the top? Which hill is it over anyways? I can't SEE from here.

Nope, you can't. Sometimes you need to see where you are NOW. Look at how far you have COME already- you've made such progress.. Sometimes you just need to focus on where your foothold is, where the next step is, so you can reach the next plateau and climb to a different viewpoint, a different outlook. Yes, we must find that outlook....I just want to see around the corner. Just give me a glimpse !


Today's puns :

• “It became clear that some of the librarian's best abilities were put on the shelf.”
• I asked my lawyer friend why he painted every room in his house yellow. He said, "This is my legal pad."
• My girlfriend always gets her way by pretending she's sad. She's always using sighcology.
• My friend started making humorous comments about the items in his wife's curio cabinet. The worst part is he knows I hate knick knack jokes
• A hole has been found in the nudist camp wall. The police are looking into it.
• Cartoonist found dead in home. Details are sketchy.
• A bank manager without anyone around may find themself a-loan
  

=) Arf arf arf, yes. Too punny.

I watched X Weighted last night- I think it was "Amy" who was on. I so love that show. She's the same height as me, was about 30 pounds heavier than my top weight but lost 50 pounds in 6 months. I wonder where she is now.

I'm plugging away, scale wobbling between -21 and -23 pounds from the start on July 9. Enjoyed my first "cheat day" yesterday, diving face first into a pile of dim sum. =) I feel pretty good about rewarding myself for losing that much. I wasn't guilty about it although I did punish myself today.

Yup. Worked hard at the gym this AM, 45 minutes of strong heart thumping cardio to combat the damage yesterday. Today's diet will be chicken and spinach, lean lean and more lean.

Raining here daily. Makes it hard to get motivated- last week I managed only 3 workouts and find myself tired and mopey. Hopefully we'll get more sun before fall and winter get here (all at once usually she now says knowingly.) Oy but the soggy stuff continues.

While I was working out I was contemplating this here Year of the Ox. Oxen are hard working people (*ahem* moi) but omg what a hard, hard year this has been and continues to be. It is a work hard year. It says it is a work of prosperity brought on by hard work. I feel like all year I've been tilling fields, and ploughing through to get planting so I can have a healthy crop. Sadly I see not the prosperity yet ! I see more ploughing. Ugh. When, when does the plan drop the supplies ?!?! When do we receive food and reinforcements! Holymother...

I have discovered OATMEAL!

I remember when I was a kid I frickin HATED the stuff. It was gooey, gross, pasty. Omg- I hated it. I figured I did something wrong to deserve that for breakfast, LOL!

Today? I have discovered it can be very good food. I don't like mine overcooked; in fact, 2 minutes does it for me. But omg the varieties you can make ! So far I've done cinnamon, brown sugar splenda and raisins. I've done freeze dried strawberries in it with cinnamon. I've done a tiny bit of egg white in it (...that was sick. I don't care what body builders say, that is disgusting. Don't do that one!) Great thing about oatmeal is it's protein content (which is I think 7 grams per cup?) And at 1/3 of a cup for breakfast, it's only about 125-150 calories, too. That makes a good quick, low calorie start to the day. I've been doing my best to stick around 5 small meals of 250-300 calories (ish) which is working pretty well. Keeps me satisfied (and eating!) all day long. Mmm, eating.

I think my next venture may be trying to get more variety into my diet. I've been making a conscious effort to get more greens in there. Spinach, broccoli, asparagus seem to be staples lately. Chicken is starting to make me snore already, so I've been introducing shrimp, tuna and crab in it's place. Loving the 40 calorie low fat yogurts and hot peppers stuffed with feta (only 25 calories each)

Speaking of heat we finally have some here. 34 degrees today FINALLY. Watching the news this morning, they were interviewing some local moms who agree it has been a long wait to get the kids outside for a good time in the summer sun. All I can say is this BETTER be an indian summer that lasts well into what should be fall. My first winter here (2007) that's exactly what we had. I recall November being easily around 15 degrees every day and sunny. I was sooo pleased. I couldn't imagine why people complained about Winnipeg winters! But I just HAD to ask.... My answer came this year. Winter 2008 started way early with snow in October and lasted until MAY this year with snow May 25th. That was not cool. NOT COOL AT ALL. So summer coming late is well overdue and best be continuing for the next 3 months !!! I will do my best to ENJOY my day off today in the summer sun.

Off to the races !!

Oh and PS... I was starting to think I lost my touch. I've been finding loads of 4 leaf clovers lately. I have four of them under a piece of glass drying as we speak, and gave 3 away to coworkers, wishing them luck. Hopefully someone capitalizes on it !! L8R

Month Number One is over. First 30 days eating properly and working out paid off to the tune of eighteen pounds. Not a bad start. A few lessons learned about the value of stretching and doing abs. I've added this in to my last few workouts and I'll investigate flexibility training a little more. I'd actually really like to get a Beginner's Yoga dvd to try at home, if anyone has any recommendations for that (?) I was very encouraged yesterday to put on my clothes from last summer which all fit and are 2- 4 sizes smaller. Despite some muffin top in a few pants I was so, SO encouraged at least to put them on and button them up WITHOUT sucking anything in or feeling like I was going to rip something. VERY encouraging. Even some of my old dresses I fit into; once my arms are leaner and more toned (okay, ALL of me is) they'll look really good. I'm so encouraged.

Made myself a new inspiration board this weekend. I took down the old one and recognized many of the goals I had listed I achieved! I had written down that I wanted a successful close to my insurance claim for the flood of my condo- DONE. I got every penny I asked for with no hassle. Buy a duplex. Done. Rent out duplex and condo- done. Last few goals regarding refinancing and dissolving debts I transferred to my new board and I peppered the board with images of strength, physical activity and physical transformation. Hence my Strength of Purpose card today- this is my focus. Strength to see things through, strength to physically transform, strength mentally and physically. I so love visual forms of inspiration. That's why I work so much with inspiration boards, tarot and affirmation cards - I can SEE things I need to understand or work on.

I am HORRIBLE with any form of audible information - I don't listen well, I forget immediately what you told me, my ears simply are non functional. They wear earrings and look pretty on my head. They don't listen so much... I READ. I SEE. I DRAW, I PAINT, I doodle and write. I email religiously. I need people to give me FLASH CARDS through life in order to GET THINGS lol !! I've tried informational CDs before to listen to and omg I start day dreaming immediately. I couldn't tell you a damn thing they said. I always hoped that somewhere in my subconscious I was picking up the information because I totally drift off while I listen... On the other hand maybe I can make this work. Hmmm, I wonder if i can ask my mortgage broker to draw out a picture of what our refinance will look like and email it to me =)

Not so much with the blogging lately. My bad! I've been trying to work on some other things, like working out and refinancing options.

First workout at the pool on Tuesday was AWESOME. I went to the pool, and man, I miss the smell of chlorine and the echoes of screaming, laughing, splashing children lol. It's SO NICE to work out then go for a swim. Deliciously refreshing. I managed to do 40 cardio and some free weights afterwards, which I'm going to do again this morning. Cheap like borscht to go, too- only $100 for 3 months membership which is cheaper than the gyms here. And they don't have pools.

Refinancing and subdividing the duplex is the time consuming obstacle, which apparently all requires PATIENCE, and we all know this is NOT my forte. Taking a bit of hoop jumping and red tape, but we'll get there eventually.

Anyways off to the gym and swim; have a great day =)

Not visible from our hemisphere, the eclipse last night was seen in China and other parts of Asia as well as Hawaii.
Apparently the longest eclipse of this century at six minutes in duration. It is also the second of three eclipses to occur within a month. The other two eclipses were lunar eclipses, one of which took place on July 7, 2009, and the other of which will occur August 6, 2009. According to Eclipse Astrology, "[the eclipse] suggests that old methods and technology is no longer working and that new systems are required to keep our society up to standards and to continue its survival. This Saros Series Eclipse happened in 1955, 1973 and 1991. Think about how you handled your life in those years and what solutions worked for you. You may try to work out your problems with the same drive and ambition you had back in those years. This is a South Node eclipse. It brings out issues with partnerships, friendships and marriages that must be resolved. When this eclipse hits your planets or angles at 29 degrees of Cancer in your astrology chart, you may realize that you have been handling other people’s problems well enough, but you have ignored your own life. In order for you to resurrect your life to a high standard, you may walk away from destructive relationships and situations in order to take care of yourself. 29 degrees of Cancer is the “Millionaire’s Degree.” This eclipse will affect monetary systems throughout the world. Remember during eclipse season, health matters come to the surface to be dealt with."

Fascinating.

OMG these links are HILARIOUS (Thanks in part to Big Ass Superstar)

Check these out:

Awkward Family Photos (click on OLDER ENTRIES on the bottom left of each page -this will not disappoint)

Passive-Aggressive

My Life Is Average

FAIL

Funnyxblog

Hello, who's there?

Sound of Music Breakdown !!

New kitties in the Hizz-Owse! I couldn't help it, they were in the paper and free. Pepper needed a friend, and these 2 came as a brother-sister package. He is Guido (bottom), and a big oafy suck. She is Precious, a teeny weeny runt with a HUGE attitude. Oh, don't get in her face or she will PUFF right up, growl and do her best to scare you into next Tuesday. All 10 ounces of her IN YOUR FACE!

Last few days of vacation. Getting a lot done here on the home front, working on some major issues that I won't get into lest I jinx them. I'm superstitious that way =) SEEMINGLY good progress though.

Took Babcha Wadowski out for brunch today; we all went for dimsum. I have to say for 80 some plus yrs old she can pack it back with us young'ns. Good on her, too! Amazing food there, and I was surprised when I googled it to find out how *fairly* low fat the items we like are (depending how much is consumed, she says knowingly). Course not everyone orders weird stuff like tripe or chicken feet (omg, that tripe is delish). Personally, not a chicken feet eater myself. Tried it, and sucking on chicken toes just doesn't do it for me. The skin is all jelly like and weird... I tried pig's feet too, but same deal. What I like are the shrimp dumplings, spinach and seafood dumplings, pork dumplings - all with a generous slathering of hot sauce. We never eat the BBQ buns or deserts; just the baskets of steamed har gau. When I first had dimsum I was so, so not into it. It grew on me, and after repeated visits I've learned what I like and to always, always TRY something because you just never know. Don't get hung up on what it is LOL. So what if your eating chicken toes, who says that's bad?! Or cow's stomach (tripe)?! Who knew it was so tasty !!

Course the downside of these deluctable delicasies is hey, you need to well- not eat the rest of the day because let's face it, that is a crap tonne of calories. So when we got home, I downed a litre of water and went for a 6km walk ('bout 70 minutes) which was FANTASTIC. Gorgeous day for it. They close the riverside roads to bikes and pedestrians only, so I completed a healthy circuit from one side of the river around the other and back home. I need to find my pedometer because I'd like to graduate to the 10,000 steps a day which is about 5 miles or a little over 8km (I can totally do that now). I figured out that the local pool in my area is roughly a 5km walk from my house so tomorrow I will walk there and check out the facilities.

My biggest issue is consistency. I rock, kick ass, take number one, get a gold star and a blue ribbon for starting to eat properly and exercise all the frickin time. But CONTINUING this good behaviour, and not allowing STRESS or mental issues to get to me (note: emotional eater, helloooo) is the kicker. So I returned to journalling and daily meditation and hung up all my "skinny clothes" in the closet so that I can once again wear them. Every day, get the trauma out on paper or say it out loud, just release it instead of EATING it LOL!! Seriously though, nobody wants or plans to gain weight and live in a frickin flesh cocoon. If anything weight gain is a sign of deeper issues right? Nobody says hand me a box of twinkies because I think it looks hot to have a BMI over 30 (which I don't, but yno what I mean). I started purging the house of things I don't need any longer. Items that are remnants of a past that is done and finished. I cleaned and organized rooms that still had moving boxes in them. Still more to go, but the process has begun.

One thing that has become abundantly clear to me when meditating is my beliefs. Everyone has them. We all believe we *can* be or do certain things. We believe we are good at math, or not. We believe we are organized, or not. We believe we are pretty, or not. All these beliefs shape who we become and what we allow ourselves to be, or have. I'll give you a good one I've hung onto forever: starving artist. Artists cannot make enough money to sustain themselves. This is not a truth, it is a belief I hold and why I don't make the effort to paint or draw as often as I should. I tell myself, what for? What will it get me? It's not like I could sell my works. Or have a gallery. On my walks I've started to undo this. I see LOADS of galleries, and communities here within the city that are FULL or artists and studios. Of COURSE I can be an artist, all the while doing what I normally do in my career without compromising anything. In fact, releasing that creative energy helps me see just how talented I am in my own rights. Likewise I believe myself to be "past prime", has been never was, couda woulda shoulda girl. So not true. Again- hanging the clothes up, holding the size 5 dresses I still have up to me and literally thinking today, I could totally get back into these. Hells yeah I can! Because I believe anything is possible. We can be, do, have anything we want. Amen !

Had to take Mister Bob to the vets today; last weekend he had a bout of seizures that lasted about 4 days during which he tore a nail off. Oddly he didn't limp, or whine, or cry about it once in the last week. We just happened to wonder what that weird color was on his toe and when we looked, omg! Ewwww! That cannot be good! So off to the vets where he endured the insult to injury with a poke here and poke there and a shot in the ass at the end. Not impressed. Mister Hissy Face was full of grumbles and groans while we checked his itchy ear, his weepy eye and his bloody toe. Oh, were we miserable about it. Glad we went, though, because the infection could've gotten worse had we not noticed and his other little irritations may be big or no news depending on what his previous files show. Seriously though, he was pissed. Makes me wonder what he might do for revenge...

When we got home my instructions were to call up my old vet to get his files sent out here for review. So I googled her, and it looks like my old vet is quite the poop disturber.. LITERALLY! Guess you can't say a vet isn't dedicated to her job when she digs through waste bins for ... well for WASTE, I guess... !! Now that's the kind of dedication I like !

Sliced cucumber and onion salt. For serious- try it and you'll be hooked. Dunno what it is about the combination but omg. I'm eating it while I'm posting =P

(Oh, and BTW, I'm going to warn you right now, this post is going to be random thoughts. This is what happens when I don't post regularly- I get all those things I was going to say a day at a time ALL AT ONCE!!)

Working on some art right now- this is the start. I can totally see what I need to correct but the good news is after not picking up a pencil for a few yrs it still comes back, which is very encouraging. The oil painting I did the other day for some reason just does not translate on my cell phone camera. Honestly, if you stand about 10 feet back from it, it really does look much better than that photo. But it also needs some touches to it to blend it better and make it look more "watery". It's supposed to look like either a drain or a drop of water in a puddle or pond, depending on your viewpoint. The last time I painted oils was 3 yrs ago, and that work turned out okay.

On the vacay this week- just eleven days but a nice break mid-summer. Not much planned; a little work, a little play. Cleaning out things in boxes that have been sitting there for months. I put some stuff on Kijiji today which is REALLY contagious. The minute I put something on there for sale I swear I feel like digging through the rest of the house to see what the hell else could go! Unfortunately a lot of my "stuff' is books and I wrestle with keeping them or selling them. A lot of them are old, clothbound collectibles that are really a novelty to own. But how to display them? How do you show other people how cool they are?! *sigh* I think the ones that are "less valuable" to me I will part with. No sense dragging things around with me if I move again.

One thing I *purchased* this week is a new (to me) fridge. Stainless steel, top fridge, bottom freezer, 2 yr warranty. Lookin' forward to it being delivered next week. Our old one is going next door to the tenants. Be nice to not bend down or kneel and pray to the powers of the fridge every day in order to find that stray grapefruit that's rolled down at the back of the bottom shelf. Oy, I hate that.

Well, I think today I'm going to repot some plants on the front deck. I'm off- see ya'll next time!

Quick post today just to update my blog at least into the month of July!

Not much going on- I have vacation as of 6pm Friday (weee!!) just for eleven days. I started painting again and have 2 oil paintings on the wall drying. Every night I stare at them, retouch this or that, and sit and stare again! Got some plans for some pencil and conte drawings also which I'm looking fwd to working on on my holidays.

Outside of that this full moon passed with less trauma than I expected lol! Actually it's been a great week- work going well, life going well... ish, and working on things around the house.

Number one- keeping the house nice and clean. Number two- got some plumbing issues fixed which although small make SUCH a difference. My tub spout has a shower diverter on it and for MONTHS we were dealing with the shower diverter not working. Your feet got showered more than the rest of you and the shower head had no water pressure (since most of the water gushed out to tub spout). I bought a replacement spout thinking it would be an easy fix? Um, no. The last person who put the spout on TWISTED the spout so the little SCREW that undoes it off the pipe was who knows where... I didn't want to bust it off, so I had a plumber do it. Now? WONDERFUL. Nice, quiet, soft shower with good pressure and no water gushing out loudly at your feet. Amazing what small things can do for you.

I'll post photos of my art projects once they're complete. Adios, amigos! Off to the races I go!

Kind of fitting that my next post is (ahem) sobering. Literally. (And for the record I had 2 very tasty caesars which met my needs for that flavor. Nice to have tasted it though. I think more than anything I like the salted rim as opposed to the drink itself!)

Got a sobering email today. One that I didn't expect to receive. A friend of mine is sick and in care. I just never expected that to happen when we're in our thirties. Twenty years from now I may have seen that coming but not now.

I've been reflecting on this for some time - just how many of our grad class got sick with various illnesses and whether we are statistically over-average. Are we? I can think of probably 6 people (from our grade class of what, <100> people?) who I know either in their late teens or twenties were diagnosed with things like arthritis or MS or cancer. MS affects one in 700 people. Rheumatoid arthritis 1-2% of the population and juvenile arthritis one in one THOUSAND. Maybe I just find it unfair how undiscerning diseases like this are. Maybe in the city we lived in /out of the several other highschools there were this is normal. Maybe other local grad classes could relate to the same stats. I dunno. Not that these things stop you from living more or less normally. Things like arthritis and MS slow you down, rearrange your priorities, change how you LIVE but for the most part I think can be "managed" ...??

What a weird week though eh? All this news (or focus in the news) of Farrah Fawcett and Ed McMahon and Michael Jackson. Didn't see that one coming. One of the reporters on TV last night covering Michael's death was asking people why they were shocked. He said he as frail and looked unwell, but hey- first off he's a celebrity which means he can afford the best health care. And secondly he has always been thin and pale. Everyone I talk to was shocked.

Just as a point though, it doesn't matter celebrity or not your health will determine your quality of life regardless of who you are. We're all human. We're all experiencing this thing called Life.

Don't take your health for granted!!!

All hail caesar!

(Mott's is on sale at work; I couldn't resist...)

Mmmm, pickled asparagus and caesar rim.

Can't go wrong, seriously.

So today I have a joke for you. Actually some puns. ENJOY!

What do you call a country where everyone drives a red car? A red carnation.

Energizer Bunny arrested - charged with battery.

A pessimist's blood type is always b-negative.

A Freudian slip is when you say one thing but mean your mother.

A hangover is the wrath of grapes.

Corduroy pillows are making headlines.

Every morning is the dawn of a new error.

Sea captains don't like crew cuts.

Does the name Pavlov ring a bell?

A successful diet is the triumph of mind over platter.

A gossip is someone with a great sense of rumor.

Reading while sunbathing makes you well, red.

A man's home is his castle, in a manor of speaking.

Dijon vu - the same mustard as before.

When two egotists meet, it's an I for an I.

A bicycle can't stand on its own because it is two-tired.

What's the definition of a will? (Come on, it's a dead giveaway!)

A backwards poet writes inverse.

In democracy your vote counts. In feudalism, your count votes.

A chicken crossing the road is poultry in motion.

If you don't pay your exorcist, will you get repossessed?

With her marriage, she got a new name and a dress.

Without geometry, life is pointless.

When you dream in color, it's a pigment of your imagination.

Sign for a networking business in Australia: The LAN down under.

He often broke into song because he couldn't find the key.

When she told me I was average, she was just being mean

This is my great great grandmother and great great grandfather. These two had 5 kids before she passed away at age 37 here in Winnipeg. Their daughter was my great grandmother.

(Does anyone ever think about the lineage they are creating when they have a child!?? Just curious if that crosses other people's minds...A hundred years from now your choice to have 3 kids, and they have three kids each, and they... so on and so forth, could result in a hundred people. Holymother!)

Anyhoo, try to follow this: I met my great grandmother's brother's family line yesterday. How neato !! It was so nice of them to invite me in and welcome me so graciously. I really, really, really appreciated it.

Seriously, I love exploring this stuff especially since it was spoken about since I was little. What the "family look" was- the genetic markers, if you will. So fascinating.

I so appreciate feeling some sort of connection to where I now live, though. It MEANS something. I suppose if we were really to investigate any family tree you could theoretically find some sort of 6 degrees in any place you live if you looked hard enough -explored the branches of various family marriages etc. With the world getting "smaller" with the internet it's good, and I'd suggest almost important, that we do know who is who.

'Kay let's take that thought a step further because I always enjoy expanding on ideas lol... I've always been somewhat horrified (excuse my honesty) with the implications of sperm banks and our genetic pool. Mostly because (a) someone could theoretically father a small herd of children (which has happened), (b) regardless of whether those offspring are fathered in different cities or suburbs they *could* quite serendipitously cross paths at ANY point in life. I know there are SOME rules in place in SOME places that are in place to deter this from happening. But I have to wag my finger at what *could* happen.

Matches and fire, people. Matches and fire !!!

Amicable Day

Did you know it's Amicable Day?
It is.
I discovered it.
It's "Day That Everyone Gets Along And Enjoys Their Day". What a great day, bags of puke and all !! How much fun was that ! lol... (Long story, email me and I'll fill you in) Seriously. Every day should be this good.
So I've been reading my own blog and why the hell isn't anyone mailing me anti depressants - seriously! I need some sorta pill to cure what ails me. Alls I do is bitch and moan, which although a relief and sometimes entertaining is a little stale...! Glad that I met someone recently though who seemed to appreciate my self depricating sense of humor and personal language. I felt vindicated [and relieved] to know that I do at times have a sense of humor! (That people GET, she quickly adds...) Nice to be heard, nice to be heard...!
Hopefully when people read this they GET that I have a sarcastic nature to my gnarliness. Of course I love dogs. I love that they eat their own vomit, and whatever else their bodies produce. I love laughing at them... I mean, I love them for that !! Yeeessss. =)
Anywhoodle I hope you all see today as Amicable Day. Seriously, I noticed so much comraderie today in all sorts of ways and places. Nice to see, nice to be part of, and nice to notice.
Mark your calendars going forward that June 18 is now Amicable Day =)

wednesday w's

Wednesday W's and Word Verifica.tion Wednesday!

Who: We
What: didn't get the puppy
Where: from the Humane Society
When: yesterday
Why: because I have some reservations... BUT, I am warming up to the idea.

I just dunno if NOW is the time to get a puppy and this particular one was sorta more than I can handle. I think if we can go when I start holidays in a few weeks THAT would be a better time. At least on vacation I'm there 24-7 to respond to it, teach it, take it for walks, as opposed to leaving him or her in a crate all day =( Aw, that wouldn't be fair.

Thank you for nice weather, Weather Gods !! Mmmm, finally warm sun on the face. If that doesn't boost your spirits I don't know what will. Outdoor activities here I come.. with or without a puppy !!!

Went to the humane society today; meant to look for a kitten. Looks like we may adopt a lab retriever cross (like this one at left, but this isn't him... same markings). Wow, he has some energy to burn...! I dunno, I'm torn between the "aw, he's so cute" and the "omg every thing I own is in peril from puppy teeth"... Seriously, I would have to puppy proof the whole house in like, a day to get ready for him. Let's do a pros and cons list and see if I can convince myself that adopting a puppy owns over adopting a kitten.... !!

PROS
It is summertime and a great time to have a puppy. We can take him for long, exhausting walks every day and play with him in the yard. He is (or will be) protection against theft and vandalism, and our tenants unfortunately just got hit a few nights ago with their car being torn apart in our driveway. (Don't get me started- no car alarm? No broken windows? No broken door lock? What ...??) They're loyal, responsive companions that are attentive to their masters. They're fun. They... they uh... Bah, that's about all I got for pros.

CONS
I love dogs, don't get me wrong. Love them. But this one is going to be a horse. It's not a small breed. And in the winter, what the hell ... I'm not going to be the one to let him outside to pee at minus eighty. And the barking, and the whining, and the ... the DOGness. The running through the house like a bull in a china shop. Chasing the cats. Chewing on anything remotely edible and other things that really aren't meant to be ingested. The dog hair, the dog breath, the... the kennel fees if we travel, not that we do. I dunno. Argh, when did this happen!?

I have apparently turned into a cat lover and a dog snob. I grew up with dogs (okay dashunds, which are half dogs.. Half sized anyways) I got cats in my adult life as pets and have since lived with only cats since my early 20s. Can I get past this though? I love love LOVE cats; they're wholly independant, stand offish, who cares what you do animals. I love that! Truth be told, I RELATE TO THAT! You can literally put a dish of food and water out, say see ya later and leave them for a weekend on their own. Cats can figure out that their food will still be there in a few hours and will remain there to consume tomorrow. They can live peaceably on their own without intervention for days. I even did 5 days once without any problem (okay someone checked in on them but they were fine) If you tried that with a dog it would eat all it's food in the first hour, puke, eat the puke, then eat your garbage and crap everywhere for the entire weekend. And then eat it's crap. And puke. And then eat it's puke. That's what dogs do. Dogs are dogs. Somebody help me see the merits of dogs again... !!! REMIND ME !!!

Aw, look at that puppy face...

So this Swine flu is going to get around to everyone they figure, so why panic (right?!) Manitoba now has 119 cases, BC has 151 cases , Quebec with 706 cases, Saskatchewan with 270 cases and Alberta 240. What's the recommended way to deal with this thing anyway? Is it better to expose yourself to it so you build an immunity, or should we get a flu shot or what?

I don't often get the flu. I never get flu shots. I more often than not take vitamins and sanitize my hands. Last winter was the first time in about 2-3 years that I've gotten SICK sick. It was a viral infection that was sweeping the workplace. Knocked me down for about a week, but nausea- puking? I only had for like, a day. The rest of it the time was consumed by REALLY really light headedness, no balance at all - falling over against the hallway wall, weak stomach, no appetite, headaches, yada yada.

I remember when I was a kid reading a book called Behind The Attic Wall. It was about a young girl, set in the early part of last century, who had lost some of her family to the Spanish Influenza of 1918. When she came down with it they had put mustard and onion packs on her chest to draw out the infection. Apparently these packs (and certain foods) have some pretty admirable remedial qualities if you are ill. Course any of you raw foodies already know this =)

Good luck to all of us with this crazy bug; nothin like Toxic problems...!!

FORECAST IMPROVES!

ALERT ! ALERT !
Sunny weekend ahead!
No, I'm SERIOUS!
For REAL!!

Mark it on the calendar!!!
=)

And to boot I will get to enjoy it because I was blessed with a 3 day weekend starting Sunday.

Ahhh, 3 day weekend. Mmmmm...!

Whatever will I do with myself in plus 26 weather?! Probably burn lol... Actually I think my plans are to do some morning weeding in the garden before the sun gets directly overhead. I'd also like to windex the back windows (which will be in the shade).

YAY, GOOD WEATHER!!!!!!
/*skips off to find warm weather clothes...

Starting to inch towards WARM.
Just INCH, though. Tonight low is 9 degrees.
I took pictures of my plants that I'm discovering in my yard as I try to figure out who they are !! (Okay what they are, but they all have personality so I say WHO...) For instance I have what I think is a SNOWBALL tree, and possibly lily of the valley (which if it is I'm stunned to learn is tolerant to minus 40 temperatures and a zone 2 perennial...). And quite likely this lovely flowering crab apple tree dripping with purple flowers... mmm. That will make some damn good jelly if that's what that is !!!
I was just spreading my learned gardner karma (from Aleesha of course) with someone at work. You know how it goes- plant FRUIT trees and FLOWERING plants along a neighbouring fence so your relationship with that neighbour will also flourish and be fruitful. Never plant prickly plants on a neighbouring fence line again because you would not want a prickly relationship with them. It's just bad vibes, man!! Anyways we had a lovely conversation about how that makes so much sense and I'm so glad I'm able to forward her teachings.
Happy Full Moon all; here's to the energy of this Sagittarian moon. Here's to all of us seeing the big picture and believing in the greater good for everyone. Passing on some good mojo; over and out !

OFFICIAL NEWS - SUMMER HAS BEEN CANCELLED

Time to post in six words !!

Seriously people, is summer ever coming?
I know I cannot be alone.
Everyone anywhere COLD must be PISSED!
Personally I feel like freaking OUT...
No word of a lie here.
Every day I cry about it.
Well not just about the weather.
But it does bring me down.
Let's call it a big contributor.
SERIOUSLY...WHEN WILL SUMMER EVER ARRIVE?!?!?!

Isolation.
Geographically, personally, physically, socially, partly chosen and partly imposed.
And it's really hard to cope; harder than I thought it would be.
Not that this ongoing saga of horrible cold weather helps at all. If I see another frost warning like today at any point in June I'm seriously transferring back.
I give up.
I can't do this.
I can't live an indoor existence.
This is incredibly depressing.

OMG LEAVES!!

I was doing my banking this morning and I'm driving up a street, HAD to take a picture. Only 30 days ago the trees were BARREN. It was like Twig Town everywhere you went, very very very depressing. Today? Lately!? GREEN.... Green is good. Green is fantastic, actually. There may be hope yet !

That's why I love gardening so much; it's the symbolic act of GROWTH that's at the core of it. It's (ahem) ROOTED in everything that is (ahem) NATURAL to us. Growth is good. Growth is fantasic, actually. There may be hope yet !!

Moving to other green news I've been following what's happening economically with Big Companies like GM and Royal Bank which reported a horrifying $50 million loss a few days ago. GMC going under (offically yesterday) was " the third-largest in U.S. history and the largest ever in U.S. manufacturing." Wow. And worse yet- "In the wake of its widely anticipated bankruptcy filing, GMC stock - once considered a rock-solid blue chip - was being removed from the Dow Jones industrial average and delisted by the New York Stock Exchange." Oy. Yeah, always invest in those blue chip stocks... unless we're heading into a recession/ depression and all hell breaks loose. Watch out for that.

I've never so much been into stocks. To me you have to either be on it all the time yourself or have a broker you trust that constantly watches the values. I prefer bricks and mortar. I'd like to buy some gold since the Mint is right here, and there is a finite amount of it in the planet meaning it will always have value. I'd also like to get Universal Life, because it fascinates me that an investment and an insurance product can work together and are tax deferred. Who knew...

Feelin a little like this. Whatever this is. Actually I know what this is but I'd prefer not to get all psycho analytical on you. Meh. Nondescript. I think the one on the left is my favorite. I like the tilted head, I'm so listening to you pose.

So when will it actually get HOT and SUMMERY, I ask you. This whole crap with dipping to three and five degrees at night and maybe if we're lucky hitting a whopping twenty degrees is getting beyond irritating. It's truthfully annoying at this point which is why I'm writing in Angry Red. Someone yesterday said to me, don't you feel ripped off? I almost screamed an Allelujah. Can I get an AMEN!? Holymother, seriously, this is teh lamest, most unsettling, traumatizing, let-down everrrrrr. First we're insulted with seven months of winter including SNOW in MAY. This is not right. Then, throughout May and into the first 2 weeks of June and are we getting any reward for a shit winter? Oh noooo. Nope, we get miserable, mediocre reports from the meteorologist. Jerk. Give me some news that 30 plus degrees and full hot sun is coming and lasting until AUGUST. That *might* appease me...maybe. Check the weekly forecast here for Winnipeg and groan with me. Look at the lows. I'm seriously moving. No lie.

I actually started looking at condos in BC on the mls just to taunt myself into the idea of going home, because honestly can I deal with this for YEARS? I don't know if I want to, and hey, I have choices- I got options here, dudes. Be great to live just minutes to Harrison, or live in Penticton, or Kelowna, or Comox, or Langford... you know what I mean. That province is home to me, doesn't matter where. And it's nice that there are MULTIPLE CITIES to choose from. I probably have camped there, visited relatives there, HAVE relatives there or know someone there in any one of them guaranteed. Or, let's get crazy I mean we could move to the States, like Missoula Montana or Antioch California. I wonder what that takes to do- I guess a work visa and stuff.

It's so humorous when people here think it's sooo costly to live in BC. I mean let's do a side by side comparison ok? Lower personal income tax in BC? Check. Lower property taxes in BC? Check. Property prices comparable? Check those links there and tell me those aren't affordable condos. Better weather? Check check. More opportunity? Check. Hmmm. Looks like a long term goal here is in place. Westward Ho in like, a few years or something.

Amazing how fast twelve days of vacation can go. How did that even happen, seriously. The first week I was off I confess I did NOTHING. And it was good =) I lounged around, watched tv, watched some more tv, diddled around online... okay, I managed to do some laundry and dishes, and I think I grocery shopped one day. Other than that, I did nada. Only in the last three days have I done any yard work.
And yard work I did.
I took out my trusty edger and edged the grass around the property which took a few good hours and several blisters to complete. Also edged the path and swept it REALLY hard to see the cracks and spots the weeds are popping up. Today I'm going to pour boiling water on the weeds to kill them... In a few weeks I'll rent a compressor and hose down the walkway as much as possible. I'm gonna fill the cracks with concrete and probably use one of those concrete sealer products to make it look all fresh and new. It's such a cheap-n-easy thing to do but it so completes the look...Well either that or I'll level it and put brick on top...
I still have to go get my hoe from Sears that I ordered. I'm going to try it out; if it doesn't work their circle hoe looks really interesting. A girl has to have a good hoe these days =P
I used my musckles and heaved forty feet of various types of boulders to create a lovely rockwall... which now needs about 3 yards of soil heaved in there. Suprisingly my spine is completely good after that. I musta lifted properly =)
Hmmm, what else. Oh yeah, we tore apart our 6 x 8 (or 8 x 10?) Rubbermaid shed. I just hated where it was stuck in the yard. For some reason the previous owner slapped it in the middle of the backyard parking spots (?) Why, I dunno. It's lovely and all, very new- probably only a year or maybe two old. But stupid, stupid place to stick it. And honestly I'm humming and hawing whether I need one (?) We have so few things to store (same with our tenants) plus we already have storage space under the back deck. I might just Kijiji it.
And I guess I cleaned some windows. That's it.
All in three days lol... I must've saved up the energy from the week before I guess !!
And now that I'm all worn out I'm heading back to work. LOL ... hence the picture =)

I hate the part where I feel stupid.

I thought I'd be smart yesterday and start investigating how to make my own website, with my own domain. I mean how hard can it be; I've blogged for a few years- I know basic (and I mean BASIC) HTML and stuff. I figured I could manage. Lots of people do this, everyday!

Oh, no. Not so much. Not for me.

So I go get a domain and I register it, and I start feeling like I can do this. I at least know how to register domains. I've been looking at getting one for years, but just never have. I didn't 'get" why I should have an internet address that is "solely mine" as opposed to a "subsidiary" of Blogger. (Does it matter?) In fact actually I might register a few more each payday just to have some domains that I think might be worth something... or not lol...

Anyways I'm reading some online instructions and now I need to "upload files". I realize I need a WAY to get my files TO my site which means I need some sort of FTP uploader thingie. Well, whatever- I've been a fan of CNET or Download.com forever and I know I can find programs like that there. I download a program, install it and open it up.

OMG. What is this thing. My Star Trek antivirus program looks less intimidating (insert my nerd laugh here).

Okay, the instructions ...which include something something drag something here and there. Omg omg omg. Where?! Drag what? To who? For what purpose?! Omg. That feeling of angst is growing. This is where blogs are good because everything is turn key. But I just want to get this thing done, and once I figure ONE out I can do more. Oooooh... grrrr.... okay, okay, come on let's read this thing and figure it out.

Where was I. Something something upload... hmmm. Okay, so I try to open the files that I think need to go to my site. But I think I need the whole folder uploaded, it won't "drag", I don't even know where to drag it TO, and omg I'm getting really angry. I diddled around for a few hours, trying this, trying that and finally I said piss on it. Nevermind. I'll stick to ready made blogs that have everything BUILT IN and require no skill lol...

I think what I need to do is READ MORE about this before I get started. Probably why i never finished my degree, the whole LEARNING thing is a pain in the ass... =P

Anyways I found this online and maybe some of you Proud Parents may be interested:

2009 CuteKid of the Year
Submit your Toddlers photos
Free Membership and chance to Win
www.TheCuteKid.com

6 word saturdays...

SO SMART, LOOK- SIX WORD SENTENCES!

Vacation is for doing absolutely NOTHING.

I don't feel motivated at all.

And better yet I don't care!

I could diddle around all day!



Let's see, what have I accomplished?

Caught up by phone with friends.
Made a new inspiration photo wall.
Read a lot of new blogs online.
Went to a women's night out.
Played some games on the net.

Yep, there's no more to report!

If anything exciting happens you'll know!

NEW MOON REMINDER...
Sunday, May 24
8:12 am - EDST (7:12 am, EST = Eastern Standard Time) is the New Moon Power Day in May!

Don’t miss this opportunity to make wishes for experiences you’d like to have.

This NEW MOON is in the sign of GEMINI, and it’s a powerful time for wishes involving communication, manifesting what makes your life happier in any area that is important to you: a relationship, social or business skills, a new hobby, a new behavior, popularity. Things you may have wanted to happen in your life for a long time can begin easily manifesting through using the boost of the happy, smart, and social GEMINI NEW MOON.

Among other things, this New Moon stimulates the ability to more successfully navigate your life by boosting your ability to see options. It empowers you to become more aware of rising above conflict by seeking more information and seeing events from the other person’s point of view. It stimulates in you the gift of being able to appreciate the value of tact and sophistication - leading to more success and popularity in social relationships. The energy of GEMINI also promotes the ability for enjoying brief conversations and lighthearted exchanges of information with a variety of people

This New Moon is excellent for releasing rigid ways of thinking. Just ask for a breakthrough, and find ways to quiet the monkey mind so you can get to the good stuff. Mercury is in retrograde, so the end result may not come into view for a while. Mercury in Taurus is sensing its way through what's available in the here and now, as a material resource. This is a New Moon to reclaim our direct relationship to life and our world, and step into a new, freer way of being.

Barbie things I remember, and more Barbie things I found out...

BARBIE FASHION PLATES

The BARBIE RV

Barbie THROUGH the ages

Barbie AS she ages - pre Juvederm =)

Barbie by MAC make up

Skipper, Barbie's Suspicious Little Sister

Barbie jewelry - why not

This has been bothering me for a while. I need to get this one out there.

PHONE ETIQUETTE.

So many people, so many phones, so many bad, bad manners.

Let's start with cell phones since they're the easiest to critique.

Let us pray:

Dear Lord, we forgive those that have heinously less IQ than us. Like those that have not or will not figure out that when you are being SERVED by someone either at a restaurant or coffee shop or bank or WHEREVER, get off the phone. These people are stupid, yes, annoying oh for sure, but they deserve your forgiveness. Even though they're a plague on society.

Dear Lord, we forgive those that have ringtones that make you want to stab dull objects into their eye sockets. I mean She Bop by Cindy Lauper was awesome about oh, twenty years ago. But She Bop today on a phone in midi tones is .... so.... sooooo not right.

Dear Lord, we also forgive those that are unable to put their phones on vibrate or turn them off during concerts, performances, oh anywhere public where we are all focussed on something. And then Cindy Lauper comes on, She Bopping away. In the middle of dance recital.


TELEMARKETING PHONE ETIQUETTE.

Okay this list is definitely my MOST HATED. I can't STAND telemarketers at the best of times, and it drives me insane when they do the following :

1. Mispronounce my name. My last name is FOUR LETTERS two of which are the SAME and TOGETHER. There is no need to add VOWELS or CONSONANTS and make it longer or into some other name. Should be simple. Apparently isn't.
   
2. Assume your title is MISSUS for some reason.Who decides this?! Is there something on Equifax that says my marital status?! Am I on a MARRIED PHONE LIST?! What happened to MIZZ or just asking simply BY NAME?! I feel like saying no my mother is not home, actually, you have the wrong Mrs Jones... jerk. How about you also assume I have 2 kids, a dog and drive a Chrysler Seabring convertible? (Which speaking of stereotyping, check out anyone that drives that particular car. We have yet to see anyone other than a 40 something woman driving one. Please verify this for yourself, I'd love to poll this one LOL!!!)
   
3. Won't take no for an answer. The ones that hang on for dear life and blurt out frantically as I'm hanging up that "their coverage will only add to whatever you already have!" Just SHADDAP, if I say no I mean no you moron. Now go phone someone else who might have more patience than me.
   
4. Charities. These I have a soft spot for, I confess. Most of the time I will entertain these calls. But I will NOT give credit cards over the phone. The last charity I had phone I requested to be mailed a form. They hummed and hawed and insisted they PREFER credit cards and that they were REALLY trustworthy. Good for you! Send me the form please. I got upgraded to a supervisor for CLEARANCE for a form to be mailed. Now I understand a SURE SALE is better than a MAILER that may not be returned. But if someone REQUESTS it, for the love of gawd just do it. Plus a lot of the time I find things out FROM the mailer I didn't know from the phonecall. Like I'd be supporting the Pedophiles Anonymous Charity by my donation and things like that. Okay I exaggerate. But I have discovered that some charities are religion based which I steer away from on purpose. I have no use for the whole "I'll build you a village if you just accept Jesus into your life" thing. Sorry, won't support it. Let little Ajibway worship who he wants. Maybe they worship cows or chickens; so what?! Go thump your bible somewhere else. Jerks.
   
5. TIME OF PHONECALLS. And this goes for anyone, telemarketer, friend, family or foe. There are certain hours that are ACCEPTABLE to phone within. I personally believe in the 9 to 9 rule. Never phone someone before 9am or after 9pm at home. These are "safe" hours. I had a dentist's office that used to phone me to remind me about appointments at 755am without fail all the time. Not cool. My mother also used to violate this policy, relentlessly. So I politely informed them all of The Rule and they have since obeyed =). But really it does surprise me that I have to TELL people about this. Everyone knows the ONLY people who are awake at 8am are parents of small children and old people. Anyone else I assure you is NOT RECEPTIVE to speaking to anyone else until after their coffee..s.

Alrighty that's my rant for today.
Spreading sunshine and happiness into the internet everyday
=)
That's my gig...
And the beauty is you can "listen to it" or turn it off, unlike a telemarketer!!