List 7 - Blog goals
This is easy - I already have one (only one) - see #8 on this post but I will re-affirm it, since I have not been following it.
Post blogs twice a week.
Monday, March 7, 2011
List 6
March 6
List 6 - Least favourite words
Loser - because people usually have one or two redeeming qualities
Suck - as in "you suck". Vacuum cleaners suck - people don't.
Retarded - shouldn't even be a word , simply because of the years of labelling applied to people with developmental disabilities.
Moron - because my sons call each other that all the time....
List 6 - Least favourite words
Loser - because people usually have one or two redeeming qualities
Suck - as in "you suck". Vacuum cleaners suck - people don't.
Retarded - shouldn't even be a word , simply because of the years of labelling applied to people with developmental disabilities.
Moron - because my sons call each other that all the time....
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Weekend goals
List 5 - Weekend Goals
Shop for groceries
Get the laundry done
Try and sleep in
Run once
Knit
Sew
Iron next week's shirts
Relax
Read the Saturday papers
The phrase "weekend goals" is a little bit of an oxymoron,don't you think? The weekend should be a time of relaxation and hanging out. Instead of which, we tend to (or I tend to) fill it up with the stuff that didn't get done last week or needs to get done for next week.
Weekends used to be different. They were more civilized - we could sleep longer (although I certainly didn't). I could relax over the paper and a pot of coffee in my PJs until the paper was done or the coffee. We shopped leisurely, went out to dinner or had people over. Afternoons (especially winter afternoons) were for reading or napping or sewing or whatever.
Now weekends just feel like another work day - albeit with not quite the sense of urgency connected to them that a Monday brings, but a workday nonetheless.
I wish weekends were different - the Christian ideal of not working on a Sunday has some appeal, although I think that might mean working really hard to get everything done on the Saturday in order not to work on the Sunday. And if my memory serves me well, the books that I read in which people did not work on Sundays also meant that meals were cold and the only book read was a Bible - or Bible stories. And I would rather read one of the 60 or so books by my bed instead, and eat hot soup or roast chicken on Sundays.
But still the idea of one day a week where choice becomes the operative mantra rather than necessity, is an ideal I will strive for. Which making the list for weekend goals has helped me realize.
Shop for groceries
Get the laundry done
Try and sleep in
Run once
Knit
Sew
Iron next week's shirts
Relax
Read the Saturday papers
The phrase "weekend goals" is a little bit of an oxymoron,don't you think? The weekend should be a time of relaxation and hanging out. Instead of which, we tend to (or I tend to) fill it up with the stuff that didn't get done last week or needs to get done for next week.
Weekends used to be different. They were more civilized - we could sleep longer (although I certainly didn't). I could relax over the paper and a pot of coffee in my PJs until the paper was done or the coffee. We shopped leisurely, went out to dinner or had people over. Afternoons (especially winter afternoons) were for reading or napping or sewing or whatever.
Now weekends just feel like another work day - albeit with not quite the sense of urgency connected to them that a Monday brings, but a workday nonetheless.
I wish weekends were different - the Christian ideal of not working on a Sunday has some appeal, although I think that might mean working really hard to get everything done on the Saturday in order not to work on the Sunday. And if my memory serves me well, the books that I read in which people did not work on Sundays also meant that meals were cold and the only book read was a Bible - or Bible stories. And I would rather read one of the 60 or so books by my bed instead, and eat hot soup or roast chicken on Sundays.
But still the idea of one day a week where choice becomes the operative mantra rather than necessity, is an ideal I will strive for. Which making the list for weekend goals has helped me realize.
Friday, March 4, 2011
I'm kinda a list person
There are several blogs that I try and visit on a semi-regular basis. It's fun to hear about other people's thoughts and ideas. I even try and comment (when I think I have something to contribute) One of the blogs I like is We do not have a knitting problem (aka Irish girlie knits blog). She is currently doing the 30 days of lists from this blog. So I thought I would give it a try. Except that I have some catching up to do. So here goes.....
March 1
List 1 - A few things about me
mother
wife
sister
daughter
knitter
runner
reader
Flames fan
excellent cook
cookie lover
coffee drinker
red wine drinker
knitting teacher
board member
March 2
List 2 - Things I'm good at
knitting
reading
parenting
wifing (Is that a verb?)
cooking
being a friend
my job
doing laundry (What? It's a skill!!)
ironing (don't do it lots, but I am good at it - sadly)
sewing
making a mess
dreaming
March 3
List 3 - Things I am looking forward to
The weekend
Finishing the pair of socks I have started
My Saturday morning run
Watching my youngest play basketball this weekend
Saturday nights at home
Visiting my sister in April
Going to see Elton John in May
Hot weather (but not too hot)
My next marathon
Starting a new book
Coffee in the morning
Tea at night
March 4
List 4 - Today's playlist
In the bedroom
CBC 99.1 - Jim Brown and the Eyeopener
In the kitchen
Sounds of the family getting going
In the car
102.1 Radio 2 Morning with Bob Makowicz
A year of pleasures by Elizabeth Berg(Audible book on I-Pod)
In my head
Ain't good enough for you by Bruce Springsteen (Plays over and over and over.....)
March 1
List 1 - A few things about me
mother
wife
sister
daughter
knitter
runner
reader
Flames fan
excellent cook
cookie lover
coffee drinker
red wine drinker
knitting teacher
board member
March 2
List 2 - Things I'm good at
knitting
reading
parenting
wifing (Is that a verb?)
cooking
being a friend
my job
doing laundry (What? It's a skill!!)
ironing (don't do it lots, but I am good at it - sadly)
sewing
making a mess
dreaming
March 3
List 3 - Things I am looking forward to
The weekend
Finishing the pair of socks I have started
My Saturday morning run
Watching my youngest play basketball this weekend
Saturday nights at home
Visiting my sister in April
Going to see Elton John in May
Hot weather (but not too hot)
My next marathon
Starting a new book
Coffee in the morning
Tea at night
March 4
List 4 - Today's playlist
In the bedroom
CBC 99.1 - Jim Brown and the Eyeopener
In the kitchen
Sounds of the family getting going
In the car
102.1 Radio 2 Morning with Bob Makowicz
A year of pleasures by Elizabeth Berg(Audible book on I-Pod)
In my head
Ain't good enough for you by Bruce Springsteen (Plays over and over and over.....)
Saturday, February 19, 2011
The top ten reasons why I am glad my daughter came home for reading week.
Baby girl is home for reading week and here is why I like it:
10. The estrogen to testosterone level in the house is more balanced.
9. She likes to drink stinky (or fruity as my husband calls it) tea.
8. The laundry is no longer overwhelmingly black jeans and t-shirts. It also has frilly underwear and cute little socks.
7. She answers with more than a "Huh?" when I ask a question.
6. She doesn't trade fisticuffs with her brother - just for fun. (She doesn't trade fisticuffs period.)
5. She wipes down the kitchen counter.
4. She WANTS to go to the market with me - and not just because I will buy her something.
3. She never looks into the fridge and asks if we have any food in this house.
2. She will watch Glee and Grey's Anatomy with me and not tease me.
And the number one reason why I am glad she came home for reading week?
1. She's right under my nose and I get to see her - every day!!(Until she goes away again in a week!!)
10. The estrogen to testosterone level in the house is more balanced.
9. She likes to drink stinky (or fruity as my husband calls it) tea.
8. The laundry is no longer overwhelmingly black jeans and t-shirts. It also has frilly underwear and cute little socks.
7. She answers with more than a "Huh?" when I ask a question.
6. She doesn't trade fisticuffs with her brother - just for fun. (She doesn't trade fisticuffs period.)
5. She wipes down the kitchen counter.
4. She WANTS to go to the market with me - and not just because I will buy her something.
3. She never looks into the fridge and asks if we have any food in this house.
2. She will watch Glee and Grey's Anatomy with me and not tease me.
And the number one reason why I am glad she came home for reading week?
1. She's right under my nose and I get to see her - every day!!(Until she goes away again in a week!!)
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Jan? It's about your family.....
It all started Christmas of 1990 when my family came to visit. I have 4 siblings and in 1990, my dad was still alive, so they all came for Christmas. In addition to the two of us, we were 11 in number.
We live in a large house, built in the early 1900s. (You have to know Calgary to appreciate that this is an ANCIENT house - we tend to tear everything older than 50 years down). It is large enough to absorb 11 people and not feel too squished. However, the dishwater backed up Christmas night (let me repeat - the dishwasher, Christmas, 11 people in the house).
Two years later, my brother and his boys came to visit - and the toilet got clogged. Turns out a loonie got stuck (had fallen out of someone's pants pocket into the toilet) and things wouldn't ....clear, if you catch my drift. However, my husband and brother took the toilet off and into the backyard and got the loonie out.
The next time, my family came to visit, one of the children turned the hot water on in the bidet and left it running. (Yeah, I know, a bidet. We didn't put it in and it has since been torn out, but at the time, it was a great diaper rinser.) The hot water tanks both drained - not a big deal, because they do fill up and heat up again (not quickly), but a lot of water went..... down the drain in the process.
The next time? The toilet(s) plugged again - not a loonie, not sure what it was, but not pretty.
The next time? The dishwasher broke (the main seal) so we bought a new one.
The next time? The laundry drain got blocked.
The next time? The washing machine stopped spinning.
The next time? Another new dishwasher.
And on it goes. It gets so that if there is any plumbing problem, my husband turns to me and asks which one of my family is coming to visit.
So I have booked a plumber for this weekend. My brother is coming for a visit and I want to be prepared.
P.S. I know - still nothing about the knitting. Going swimmingly - will report next time - when I find my camera card.....
We live in a large house, built in the early 1900s. (You have to know Calgary to appreciate that this is an ANCIENT house - we tend to tear everything older than 50 years down). It is large enough to absorb 11 people and not feel too squished. However, the dishwater backed up Christmas night (let me repeat - the dishwasher, Christmas, 11 people in the house).
Two years later, my brother and his boys came to visit - and the toilet got clogged. Turns out a loonie got stuck (had fallen out of someone's pants pocket into the toilet) and things wouldn't ....clear, if you catch my drift. However, my husband and brother took the toilet off and into the backyard and got the loonie out.
The next time, my family came to visit, one of the children turned the hot water on in the bidet and left it running. (Yeah, I know, a bidet. We didn't put it in and it has since been torn out, but at the time, it was a great diaper rinser.) The hot water tanks both drained - not a big deal, because they do fill up and heat up again (not quickly), but a lot of water went..... down the drain in the process.
The next time? The toilet(s) plugged again - not a loonie, not sure what it was, but not pretty.
The next time? The dishwasher broke (the main seal) so we bought a new one.
The next time? The laundry drain got blocked.
The next time? The washing machine stopped spinning.
The next time? Another new dishwasher.
And on it goes. It gets so that if there is any plumbing problem, my husband turns to me and asks which one of my family is coming to visit.
So I have booked a plumber for this weekend. My brother is coming for a visit and I want to be prepared.
P.S. I know - still nothing about the knitting. Going swimmingly - will report next time - when I find my camera card.....
Sunday, February 6, 2011
In which I talk of vomit and the voice in my head (not for the squeamish)
The stomach flu went through our house this past weekend. Actually, strictly speaking, it likely has not finished going through the house, since my husband and I have not been hit.
Okay - I started this post and then felt a wee bit nauseous. Hoping against hope, I walked away from the screen, thinking it might be the power of suggestion.
If it was, it was pretty powerful. At about 3:00 a.m. Monday morning, I found myself hugging the toilet bowl. Enough said.
Sometimes I wish I would get sick - you know, not alot. Not a week's worth and not the flu - maybe just a small cold. Enough to keep me at home resting and not working, running, buying groceries, doing laundry, driving children everywhere. Sick enough to stay home, but not too sick to read and knit and listen to CBC or my Ipod. For maybe three or four days....
But no, instead, when I get sick, I get the stomach flu and feel absolutely wretched for 24 hours. But then I get back up and go back off to work Tuesday - because I am no longer throwing up, although I am not eating anything and so, you know, I owe it to the world to go back out and do my best to save it (or my part of it).
I did, out of respect for that message that Mother Nature might be trying to pass on, forego my run on Wednesday. You think I would, oh I don't know, forego the flipping laundry or something. Not me - I go back to work and forego my run.
It's the guilt complex I think - the little person who sits in my head (we all have one - mine speaks in a tone reminiscent of my Grade 4 teacher who happened to be our neighbour, commenting on the fact that my older brother was late for school AGAIN - like it was my fault).)The little voice said "Come on Jan, you can get up and go to work. Yes, your head is achy, but you aren't throwing up and you KNOW they are short-handed at work and someone will have to cover your late shift because it is YOUR DAY TO WORK UNTIL 6:00. (Yes, my voice speaks in capital letters - doesn't yours? Especially when it is ANNOYED with me).
Of course, if I did get a little cold, I would not even stay home - I would drag myself off to work (where everyone would PRETEND to be glad that I came in, but really wished I had stayed home - which of course I wouldn't have because it is only a little cold).
And of course, if I did get a little cold, no-one at home would be at all sympathetic, because I am Mom and Mom doesn't get sick - and even if she does, she will still make dinner \take me to music \pick me up from practice \empty the dishwasher \nag me to tidy the kitchen until I go stomping off upstairs, muttering about how Mom NEVER made Alessandra tidy the kitchen when she was home etc., etc. Stop me if this sounds familiar.
Really - I've decided it is just easier not to get sick......
Okay - I started this post and then felt a wee bit nauseous. Hoping against hope, I walked away from the screen, thinking it might be the power of suggestion.
If it was, it was pretty powerful. At about 3:00 a.m. Monday morning, I found myself hugging the toilet bowl. Enough said.
Sometimes I wish I would get sick - you know, not alot. Not a week's worth and not the flu - maybe just a small cold. Enough to keep me at home resting and not working, running, buying groceries, doing laundry, driving children everywhere. Sick enough to stay home, but not too sick to read and knit and listen to CBC or my Ipod. For maybe three or four days....
But no, instead, when I get sick, I get the stomach flu and feel absolutely wretched for 24 hours. But then I get back up and go back off to work Tuesday - because I am no longer throwing up, although I am not eating anything and so, you know, I owe it to the world to go back out and do my best to save it (or my part of it).
I did, out of respect for that message that Mother Nature might be trying to pass on, forego my run on Wednesday. You think I would, oh I don't know, forego the flipping laundry or something. Not me - I go back to work and forego my run.
It's the guilt complex I think - the little person who sits in my head (we all have one - mine speaks in a tone reminiscent of my Grade 4 teacher who happened to be our neighbour, commenting on the fact that my older brother was late for school AGAIN - like it was my fault).)The little voice said "Come on Jan, you can get up and go to work. Yes, your head is achy, but you aren't throwing up and you KNOW they are short-handed at work and someone will have to cover your late shift because it is YOUR DAY TO WORK UNTIL 6:00. (Yes, my voice speaks in capital letters - doesn't yours? Especially when it is ANNOYED with me).
Of course, if I did get a little cold, I would not even stay home - I would drag myself off to work (where everyone would PRETEND to be glad that I came in, but really wished I had stayed home - which of course I wouldn't have because it is only a little cold).
And of course, if I did get a little cold, no-one at home would be at all sympathetic, because I am Mom and Mom doesn't get sick - and even if she does, she will still make dinner \take me to music \pick me up from practice \empty the dishwasher \nag me to tidy the kitchen until I go stomping off upstairs, muttering about how Mom NEVER made Alessandra tidy the kitchen when she was home etc., etc. Stop me if this sounds familiar.
Really - I've decided it is just easier not to get sick......
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