Friday, August 29, 2008

Good times...

...so you all know I hate shopping. I hate shopping for lots of reasons: A) you need to spend money and I'm cheap B) I get annoyed trying stuff on C) heavier people clothes have pleats and elastic waistbands and D) it's just not that fun.

Here's what I don't like today about shopping. No offence to the thin people of the world, but I get real annoyed when they say "I couldn't find anything that fit me!" I understand that you couldn't find something to fit as you're too small...BUT AT LEAST YOU HAD OPTIONS! Geesh, I have 2 pair of pants to try so if they don't fit it means no pants....you have the whole store and if they don't fit it means someone needs to take them in! Hum...Let's go to the mall and buy a shirt for tonight...ok...I like this one...oh wait, none in my size....what about this one?...oh wait, too tight...let's try another store with all the sales...oh wait, that's right, size 2 is on sale for $2-$5....size 16 plus is twice the price...let's go somewhere else...I'll try this on...then here comes the sale-lady "can I get you another size?"...well you could if there was such a thing as another size!....do you see how fun this is?! Now that's what I call a good time right there...fun fun fun...oh joy, oh bliss.

I bought "Wii Fit" the other day thinking this could help me lose weight. I was super pumped the day I got it...proud...best shopping day yet...so I get home all excited to start losing weight by playing video games. I have to create my person so that it can track my success, which is rather cool. It asks for my height and age then you stand on this board and it takes your weight to then figure out your Body Mass Index (BMI)....this was OK with me UNTIL the machine makes the same noise the lotto thing does when you lose and shows me that I'm obese. Well that's real motivating. I could get over that as really, it's personal and no one needs to see it...then it happens....the icing on the cake...my person goes from thin to plump right there on the screen! Can you believe it? Now I have to stare at a FAT video game character every time I play...fricken lovely. I get the point, but seriously...let me have a skinny character...that's all I ask...no need to have large hips and gut on TV...I have them in real life so really, I don't need to see it on a cartoon character of me.

Anyways, despite my fat...oh sorry...obese "Mii", I'm enjoying the game. I'm sure I look like a crazy person in the living room window doing the imaginary hoola-hoop....or ski jumping...or air boxing...the neighbors must think I'm losing it :)

"You look so dumb right now...standing outside my house..." - Rihanna

Thursday, August 28, 2008

Thursday's Thoughts...

...so today I was working away and talking about kids and stuff to some colleagues and started getting annoyed. See, I'm considered to be self-employed so I am not entitled to any Maternity Benefits. I would like to have more kids...not right now...but in the next couple years and started thinking about the hard time I went through after having my son. I went back to work after 6 weeks as we receive absolutely no income from the government for taking the time off. It really irks me that the government preaches that they want women in business, but yet throw us out on the street when it comes to having a family. It really stinks and it makes me so mad that I finally got my thoughts together today on paper and sent it to our MLA. I know him personally so I expect a response...I realize things can't change overnight, but I want to at least have my voice heard as I know many other women feel the same way I do. I was very blunt in my letter..."Do you know how hard it is to take care of a baby, pump breast milk and run a business...?" It even gets more graphic, but I'll spare you the details. If you want to read my letter, please feel free to email me and I'll send it to you.

Ok...enough of that...let's talk about today's weight loss walk discovery...Chocolate cupcake with Chocolate ganache and caramel with a whipped cream topping! Holy Hannah...is there a need for something so delicious to be so close to my office? I couldn't help but get one...after all, the bakery guy did say he baked it with me in mind...yes he knows me well! Oh my dear...it was yummy...equally as yummy as the cookies last week...unbelievable.

One thing I'm real happy about is that I don't fear contamination with this bakery....Geesh, I'm super glad I don't eat too many processed meats cause this Maple Leaf Crisis is a little scary. It's scary for all the Seniors homes, schools, day cares, etc...that serve food to hundreds...that could mean hundreds of infected people...it's just crazy. I can hardly believe that in this day and age such a large outbreak could even happen....killing 6 confirmed from this Listeriosis and even more still waiting for the results. It's real sad. I don't' want to blame anyone in particular for this outbreak as I don't feel I know enough information to pass judgement...what I do know is that the company is really going to suffer over this one and from that could come much job loss. It's sad all around.

I was a little depressed when I read about the Maple Leaf Crisis today in the paper, but was soon revived after hearing "I've got electric boots, a mohair suit, you know I read it in a magaziiiiine...oh...B B B Benny and the Jets"...on the radio! I'm going to the Elton John Concert in Hdot in like a month...how exciting is that? I can't wait...and actually I found out today that on the same day as the concert, there's a an outdoor concert nearby that afternoon featuring Hedley and a friend of mine, Dwight d'Eon and the Nation! YAY! I love concerts and totally plan on attending this afternoon one too...I'm even more excited now!

Well...that's it for me for now...sorry this post is a little scattered...I have scattered thoughts today...need more caffeine.

"When all I want is the feeling...of having someone to steer me..." - Dwight d'Eon and The Nation

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Birds...

...so I'm not sure what's going on but we have a bird poop problem. Every morning when I go down the stairs of the deck there's a spot full of bird doo-doo. Why on earth are they all pooping at the same spot? It's always at the platform 3/4 of the way down the steps, right on the rail where you'd put your hand. How inconvenient is that? I could handle a tiny bit of poop...but nooooooo...there's a mound of it! There's no power line or anything above and there's none anywhere else...so what's the deal? Is it that they all fly by and see the deck and think..."hum...I wonder where the most obvious place to shat is on these people's deck?.....oh look....right there so let's all take our turns and drop some dung all in the same spot." No need....we have a whole lawn...do your number 2 there....we have a lovely driveway, so help yourself....we even have a large shed so let 'er rip....but not on the rail where Blake or I put our hands!

"Come fly with me, let's fly let's fly away..." - Frank Sinatra

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Name...

...so today on my weight loss walk to the bakery I discovered their version of the triple chocolate cookie...very exciting! This cookie was everything I hoped it would be and more....moist, chocolaty, big and just plain yummy! Anyways, I love the bakery near my office...and the bakery guy is quite funny...makes me laugh every time I go in the store....plus he has excellent treats.

So Canada is shaping up a little in the Olympic medal race. Apparently we have one more medal than when we were in Athens so I guess that's a plus. After watching the replay on the trampoline I'm really thinking the Canadian got cheated out of a gold medal. The Chinese guy did good, but he travelled a lot on the trampoline and that's a no-no (apparently) and the Canadian only did a little bit. Even the announcers thought the gold was going to the Canadian. After our discussion on the Chinese Government the other day it kinda makes me wonder if they'd try to sway the judges on stuff...think so? I don't know...I'm not making accusations or anything, but I guess anything is possible. In many Olympics there have been issues with judging and even to the point of having some criminally charged so it wouldn't be a stretch. The Chinese Government did lock up all the smelly, bald cabbies, after all...so... makes you think, eh?

Let's talk about people's names now...there was this guy who's name was Dong Dong. Ok...I guess first of all, I'm super glad they named him Dong and not Ding....but really, if you already have Dong as your last name then why torture your child with naming him that for his first name too? I know sometimes it's hard to think of children's names but I think they could have strayed a little from his last name. Not very original....in my opinion.

Here's some I found online that were rather interesting:

Constance Noring
Harry Pitts
Dick Trickle (apparently a real NASCAR driver)
Dr. & Dr. Doctor (married doctors from Norwalk, CT)
Tad Pohl
Shanda Lear (daughter of Bill Lear, inventor of the Lear jet)
Polly Ester
Peter Peed
Nancy Ann Cianci
Iona Frisbee
Hugh Jass
Harry Legg
Gene Poole
Barb B. Cue
Barry Schmelly

Interesting...these parents must have been in a daze when they picked those names.

"Say my name, Say my name..." - Destiny's Child

The antenna...


Monday, August 18, 2008

Camping at it's best...

...so we spent the weekend at my Aunt and Uncle's camp in Qdot. We settled in on Friday night just on time for the little one to go to bed. Once he was asleep we wanted to watch a few minutes of the Olympics...one problem...no rabbit ears. We turned on the TV and it was set on the channels needed for the dish, which wasn't there, so we couldn't get it off channel 3. If we went up one it went to 30...if we went down we got channel 101. When we tried getting the menu up but it was so fuzzy that we couldn't even see to switch it to cable mode. After 30 minutes of messing around with it we gave up and released our frustrations on some old golf balls. My Farty Cousin and Mr. Sociable came over and we all took turns trying to hit the golf balls across the lake. My Farty Cousin might as well give up golfing cause we could find each and every ball she hit right there on the shore...poor girl...we tried not to laugh too much.

We slept well...well I did after all the crying I did from saying bye to my Mom and Dad...anyways...not talking about that. The little one got up around 6:30am so we played with him for a little while and then I had a brain wave..."let's hook up the VCR to the TV to get the channels changed to then make an antenna to get the Olympics!!???!!" I was excited...I finally thought of something that was actually a great idea. Hubby jumped up and started hooking it up...we finally got the channel changed to 10 (the Olympics Channel) and now on to the task of making rabbit ears! With the use of my smart brain, the fireplace mantel, the old cable cord, speaker wire, black tape and a protractor...VOILA OLYMPICS! It was so exciting...it worked like a charm and now we were all very happy. Now...what better way to celebrate happiness than with a nice cup of coffee? Yup, I thought that was a wonderful addition to the morning so I make my way to coffee maker to find that there's no filters and no instant coffee. Now what do I do? Well, seeing that I'm a great antenna engineer, I thought, I must be able to make a filter! I ripped off a good ol' sheet of paper towel, poured the coffee inside and started brewing a 10 cup pot of coffee...hard to believe, but it worked!

We enjoyed the day outside, despite the overcast weather, and waited patiently for the little ones bedtime so we could enjoy a nice brewski and some smores. Once the little one was all tucked away and in dreamland we got ready to go outside and here came a complete rain storm! Most would be disappointed at this point...not me...I just put my brain into action again and made oven-broiled smores! After all...the saying goes..."when life gives you lemons, you make lemonade!"

Just to end this post...please take note that this is my type of "camping" : fix the TV to watch the Olympics, make a filter for the coffee machine with paper towel and use the oven to make smores...we were really "roughing it"...my old Brownies Leader would be proud :)

"I am so smart...S M R T!" - Homer Simpson

Friday, August 15, 2008

Rowing...

...so I'm a little sad today. My parents are leaving on a sailing adventure for the next 9 months. I really want them to go cause I think it'll be real cool, but in the same breathe I don't want them to leave for so long. I talk to my mother at least twice a day and I know the little one is going to miss them so much. They're leaving on the weekend and we're going away so I'll say my good-bye's tonight. Anyways, enough of that...I'm getting emotional.

Here's an excerpt from the front page of the Chronicle Herald - "The Canadian women's double sculls team and the men's coxless four crew each advanced out of Friday's semifinals and will get a chance to row for an Olympic medal this weekend."

I'm glad they're moving on, but after reading that I'm starting to wonder if I'd even want to be on a rowing team... Sounds kinda harsh...hehehe!

"Row, Row, Row your boat..." - Kid's song

Thursday, August 14, 2008

Nowhere else to go but up...

...so I read the paper today and the headline is: "No Medals, but 'we're improving' ". Well that's a wonderful statement. I would hope we're improving...anything has got to be better than last. I mean, don't get me wrong, if I qualified to go to the Olympics I wouldn't care if I knew I couldn't win - I'd just want to be there...so I feel for the competitors...but seriously, we're a big country...put some money into some good coaching or something. We have the talent - just need the push. China won the bid for these Olympics and immediately hired the best coaches in the world and it's paying off. They are in the lead for total medal count as of a few seconds ago and wayyyy beyond everyone with the total gold medals. Do you know where Azerbaijan is? Didn't think so...well they have 4 medals. What about Kyrgyzstan? They have medals too. Canada - Nil, but "we're improving!"

"If you just believe...you can move mountains with dreams..." - The Aliant Olympic Commercial Song

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Olympics...

...so I've been watching the Olympics and the poor Canadian showing. Man, I don't think we've received one medal...not real good considering countries that I can't even pronounce have won some.

Now let's talk a bit about the cultural differences between us and China. Apparently, the Chinese Government has hoarded all the bald, smelly cab drivers and put them in a compound until the Olympics are over. How ridiculous is that? It's not that I'd want a smelly cab driver, but knowing that they locked them up makes me ill. They have families to feed, but the image of the country is more important. Another story I read about today was that the little girl that sang in the opening ceremonies was lip-syncing as the real girl was too ugly so they got a cuter girl to stand there while the uglier one sang behind the scenes. That is totally wrong. These girls are something like 8 or 9...what is that going to do to their self confidence? Also, the girl they thought wasn't cute enough was actually super cute. Any child is cute when they're doing something that is totally amazing. I mean, this girl can sing...it's just sad that the world wasn't allowed to see her. These are just a few stories...the list goes on. I find this totally absurd. Here we are in a worldwide competition and we're allowing things like this to happen. I know each culture has their own thing, but I think the Olympic committee should be able to step in and say something. Absolutely ridiculous. Well that's it for that.

I think they should ban Spandex for men. That is the most unattractive get-up I've ever seen...not flattering anywhere. The women don't look that bad...but the men...hum...not what I'd want pics of in my Pin-Up Calendar. I know it's to make them swim better...but there's got to be another way. Oh and another thing that annoys me with the Olympics is the diving coverage. When the women dive the camera crew is right there underwater getting the "wedgie" shots. Is there a need...seriously...I don't care to see them adjust their bathing suits out of all the nooks and crannies. They don't show the men underwater...have you noticed? I bet I know why...it's the freakin' Spandex! Not hot out of the water and not hot underwater....and ESPECIALLY not hot in the nooks and crannies!

One more thing...next time you're watching pay close attention to the announcers. HAHAHA...they're really funny! "Now it's Ldot...she broke her left toe when she was 2, but overcame it all and has finally made it to this moment. Last week we caught up with her and her toenail was still crooked from that incident so let's hope she can pull through tonight as she fights for the gold." It's always a ridiculous story just to fill time...actually it's rather comical. It's funny stuff...listen next time.


"Everybody loves my funky pants...London, England, Paris,France..." - Corky and the Juice Pigs

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

"Shake, Shake, Shake, Shake it..."

...so I had another busy week/weekend. The relatives from the States came down for the annual visit on Wednesday so I took half the week off to spend time with them. We always have a good time when they're around as it usually entails some cookouts, swimming, beer and laughter. One of my cousins has triplets and this was their first ever visit to Canada. They were super excited and had a blast. They also have an older sister and she was the mother hen of the bunch. She always kept an eye out for them even though she was only 6. She also took care of my little one too. The triplets are 4 so a little older that my little one, but my little guy was just as tall! It was really neat to see them play all together. The little one was a little bit of a bully at times...pushing the others. I think he was a little intimidated...after all, there were three kids all looking the same running after him all the time...I guess I'd be scared too.

One day we took them all to the beach and threw rocks in the ocean. They just about went crazy trying to hit the seaweed or any other floating object. Good Ol' Nova Scotian beaches never have a shortage of garbage so there was always something floating by to use as a target. The triplets even learned how to pee in the bushes...a very mandatory skill in this neck of the woods...hahah!

We then went to my Aunt and Uncle's Camp for a day. The kids didn't want to go swimming in the lake or play with the toys...they just wanted to throw rocks again! so...we did just that for hours...even Blake was having fun!

On Saturday was the Annual Family Golf Tournament. We had about 60 golfers...all related...and we played a scramble. We draw for teams and I ended up with the Oceanographer, Tante Lady Marmalade and Mr. Rogers. We ended the round plus 5...so not that hot...but we drank lots of beer and had many good laughs! I guess that's all that counts. Our Family Tournament is such a success that people ask all the time how they can sign up...so for the record people, you need to marry in, be born in or start dating someone that's in. It's funny because a real golfer wouldn't want to play with us...we're not quiet. We're known to be a loud family so get a couple drinks in us and there's no way we can be quiet for someone to hit the ball. There's always someone yelling from a green that they actually pared the hole...or laughing cause they swung and missed the ball 3 times...or trying to find out where the booze cart is. This year two teams ended up tie so there was a "put-off" on the 18th green. Everyone crowds on the deck and watches each team member try to get it closest to the hole. We boo the good golfers and cheer on the crappy ones...and the winner this year was N'Oncle BCR's team. It was exciting stuff!

That evening I planned a Bon Voyage party for my parents and the Loveridge's. What a hoot that was! We danced all night long. Me and Tante Lady Marmalade even did a demonstration of what we like to call "The Beyonce Booty Shake". It was something to be seen, but I think Grandmere was the most mortified by the whole thing. Who knew her daughter and her granddaughter could shake it like that!

Sunday was dull...lots of coffee was needed....and my whole body hurt again...I think I did one too many booty shakes.

"Common get busy, girl shake that booty non stop to the beat..." - Sean Paul

Tuesday, August 5, 2008

"One, two, three strikes you're out..."

...so I played softball this weekend...very interesting. I haven't played ball since I was about 12 and played in the Acadian Games. Back then I was catcher and it was our first game...the first batter stepped up to the plate and swung at the first pitch. She must have been real excited cause she started to run with the bat then realized she needed to let it go so she threw it back and hit me in the face. Thank goodness I had a mask on...but either way I threw my mask on the ground and quit. So that was my last experience....kinda wondered what would happen this time. Despite the fact that I get sore just walking to the mailbox, I figured I'd give it a try and try is exactly what I did. I played catcher again, but made sure to keep my glove near my face...afterall...can't be messing up a pretty face! (hehehe ) I didn't get one in the face...Yay...and did manage to catch a foul ball backwards while falling into the fence. I'm sure it was a sight to be seen and so was my victory dance after that...very exciting stuff!

I made it to base a couple times...not by my hitting skills cause when I run I look like I'm dragging an anchor...but because I got walked 3 times...how awesome is that! Just stand there and watch the ball hit the ground 4 times then walk to the base...the best strategy ever...and exerted the least amount of energy. Needless to say, I'm ridiculously sore...pretty much from the top of my head to the very tips of my toes. Gotta look at the bright side...likely lost some weight this weekend with all this exercising and sweating. We wore black shirts so basically we were walking solar panels for the weekend. Good time was had by all.

Saturday night we went to hubby's 10 year High School Reunion. That was interesting. We talked to many people we hadn't seen in a while and also learned lots about those who couldn't be there but managed to write a summary of their lives since graduation. Hubby, apparently doesn't remember much because he didn't have a clue who graduated with him. I started to wonder if we were even at the right reunion...he's not very attentive. We went through the old yearbook and found out that Hubby was voted most likely to get his license revoked. Apparently he was a bad driver back then...maybe that's why he can't remember anyone...no one dared go anywhere with him. Little do they know, I'm the one who had the accident in his Grad Year...a week to the day after getting my license. I still blame it on the weather...I am an excellent driver.

"Shut up and drive..." - Rhianna

Friday, August 1, 2008

Isn't that the rules?...

...so I was driving home yesterday and my cell phone rang. Well, I was right in town so I scrambled to find my ear piece so I wouldn't be doing something illegal. As I get it to my ear I notice a cop car coming towards me...I breathed a sigh of relief as it was a close call....oh and for those who don't know, it's now illegal to drive with a cell phone to your ear - has to be hands free. Anyways, I was telling the person I was talking to how lucky I was to get the ear piece in on time and then I noticed the cop was TALKING ON HIS CELL PHONE!!! Now what's up with that??!! So what is it...one set of rules for the public and another for the RCMP? That's totally unfair!! It's just as easy for him to have an ear piece as it is for me! Why doesn't he obey the law....the one he is supposed to enforce!! Now that really makes me mad...it's bad enough I had to spend $50 on the darn ear thingy then almost crash to put it in my ear...now don't throw it in my face by proving that the cops are above the law! I was so mad when I saw that that I immediately took my ear piece out and just talked on my phone...it was OK for him so why not me?

I've already told you about the time I was following a cop car at twice the speed limit and today I took my car in for an inspection and the worker there tells me about the time a cop came in to do his and it was 3 months overdue! Now, that's not fair at all!

Why is it that the RCMP get to do whatever they want? What is wrong for us should be wrong for them. I still can't believe he was on his cell phone...they, of all people, should have been the first with ear pieces! Heck, i'm sure our tax dollars paid for them...use the darn things! Get a freaking headset...or even better...just a speaker in your car so you don't even have to have anything on your head!

No fair...no friggin fair! I know, life isn't always fair, but cops are supposed to be an example...and right now they're an example of what not to do. Do what I say, not as I do...is that what we take away from this? OOooo...use an ear piece...the government spent how much in advertising to get us to go hands free and the cops just don't care...ignorance is no excuse...we all know the law and we're all responsible to follow it...same goes for the cops.

"I fought the law and the law won..." - The Clash