A busy morning

Hi Everyone!

Got the ceiling painted (2 coats) yesterday. You wouldn't believe the fiasco that went on. On Friday night, I pulled the horrid linoleum off the wall (it was used behind the kitchen counter). It was covering up some gritty yellow rubber-like substance (I think it was glue at one point) as well as some uneven glue/sealant that was maybe used for tile? Anyways, I sprayed some paint stripper on it to soften the compound and had to scrape for several hours to get the surface even. I have since put two layers of plaster on it and tonight will do a bit more sanding and put on a final plaster layer. The stupid people also used 2" long screws to fasten the curtain rod hooks up (the ones that are sold with 1/2" nails to hand them). They then painted over the top so I had to pry them out and replaster some big holes. I was not impressed.

Anyways, Sunday afternoon rolled around and I pulled out my painting supplies. Guess what I didn't have - a replacement roller! I ended up applying both coats with one of those tiny 6" long rollers. I was quite angry with myself because I was at Walmart on Saturday picking up supplies (and buying Girl Guide cookies!). Tonight I'll be plastering, sanding and cleaning I'll put on my first wall coat on Tuesday.

Both arms are bruised (tiny bruise on my right but my left is pretty cool looking). They don't hurt anymore unless you poke at them.

Have a great day!

Friday!

Hi Everyone!

I'm very tired and my arm is sore but at least it's Friday.

Went for plasma donation last night. I usually use my left arm but for some reason last night, it wasn't drawing very well. They decided to stop, return my leftover blood (everything except for the plasma - it gets taken out) and I was given the option to try my other arm. I said ok. The problem was, when they started returning my blood in my left arm, instead of going back into the vein, it collected in my arm in a big bump. A lot of rushing and some ice on my arm got rid of the bump. It didn't hurt very much - more like a tingling that you get if the iodine isn't quite dry when the needle goes in. My arm's sore today and my bruise is just starting to appear. It's a bit yellow around the needle hole but I figure the full effect won't show up until tonight or tomorrow.

I switched to my right arm (which only has a small vein so it's very slow) and they were able to get a second draw on me.

When you donate plasma, whole blood is drawn into a machine where it is collected in a bucket and spun around. The centifugal force separates the plasma. The leftover blood is put into a container until it's full. At this point, the machine changes direction. Instead of drawing blood, it pumps the blood back into the vein. This is why you can donate plasma every week but can donate whole blood only every 56 days. In plasma donation, your iron is returned to your body but it isn't in whole blood. It usually takes about 25 minutes for me to donate. Women usually have 2 cycles - draw, return, draw, return. Men usually need 3 cycles.

Last night I finished 2 but I would've needed another draw to fill up the bag. They decided to stop after 2 because they could still use my plasma but they didn't want me hooked up for so long (almost an hour). One of the nurses gave me a ride home (it was the end of her shift).

I slept terribly last night because my arms couldn't get comfortable. Poor Mike! I kept waking up and he kept thinking it was time to play.

Have a great day!

A busy week

Hi Everyone!

Don't have much time to type - we're getting ready to hire/train so it's been pretty hectic.

Next week we'll start the inbound customer service people. I'm being moved to becoming Customer Service Supervisor (for the duration - end of May, beginning of June). I've been updating the training manuals and I'll be doing most of the training on the hands-on computer component.

Have plasma donation tonight and choir practise. Will start prep/painting the kitchen this weekend.

My flowerbed is covered in croci. When I make the flowerbed on the other side, I'll need to remember where they are so I can move some over. My tulips and other bulbs are also about 3" high.

I ordered a new workout video from an infomerical and it arrived last night. I know that I'm a sucker but it's a Windsor Pilates video with a work-out circle that helps with your form. It was also $9.95. I know that pilates is an effective workout so I'll give it a try. I'll do it in the morning so I'll have to adjust my sleep.

Have a great day!

A tired sort of morning

Hi Everyone!

A bit tired today - was up last night starting to pack up the kitchen (to prepare for painting).

Had a nice adventure on Saturday. Walked through the dog park to the Glenmore resevoir, crossed the dam and eventually made my way to the mall. It was a rather long hike (detours that forced me to go quite a bit further south than I wanted to) so I only spend a few hours at the mall. Had fun though and got some great things. Picked up a spring/summer coat (I've never owned one specifically for that season). It's bright robin blue and it's a trench coat style. It has a belt and it comes down to the top of my knees. Ended up walking home as I was just short transit fare and had a headache by the time I got back. It's about 1 1/2 hours to walk from the mall.

Whiskers ate my telephone cord yet again (she ignores the bitter apple spray) so I'm without internet at home until the weekend (I think this time I'll pick up a couple extra cords). I think it's because the cords are thinner and flatter than electrical cords that she sneaks over to them to bite them in half. Stupid rabbit.

Love my new hair cut. It looks great and is super easy to style (brush forward, optional hair wax). I forgot what a difference it makes when you have a short style vs a longer cut. With a short style, there's nothing to hide behind and I find that my shoulders are straighter and my head is up more often. There's no ducking behind bangs (which covered my eyes). I feel a lot more confident but I thinks it's more a pschological thing (of getting a change) more than the actual cut. There was a lot of hair that went and I can feel the difference in the weight.

My croci are about to bloom! The flower buds are just about to open. To me, this is when spring starts.

Have a great day!

TGIF

Hi Everyone!

Getting my hair cut today. I'm rather excited - think Mia Farrow in Rosemary's Baby and you'll have an idea of my soon-to-be haircut.

Wednesday was Sylvia's birthday so after work we (co-workers) went for Japanese. This was a new restaurant for me and they sat us around a grill and the chef prepared the food in front of us. It was really good (although I didn't find it very filling) and the chef was very entertaining.

I've decided that tomorrow I'm going to the mall. I know this seems like an odd statement but usually if I need to go shopping, I'll go to Signal Hill (area of stores beside each other but you have to go outside to get to the next one) or Westbrooke Mall (very small but it has a Walmart). I'm going to visit Chinook Centre (the largest mall in Calgary). My income tax came in so I'm going to buy a new outfit. No big splurge or anything like that but it's been a year since I've been to Chinook and almost the same amount of time since I've been to a mall to browse. Usually, I have a list of things to get and I'm in and out, without browsing and people watching. I'm going to walk there (1 1/2 hours) so hopefully that will make up for the 3 krispy kremes I've eaten so far today (Lori brought them in for me). I can spend the day enjoying myself (with no time limit) and I think I'll go see a movie as well.

Have a great day!

What's in a Krispy Kreme donut?

Original Glazed Ingredients
enriched flour
dextrose
vegetable oil shortening (partially hydrogenated soybean and/or cottonseed oil)
water
sugar
soy flour
dried egg yolks
yeast
skim milk
calcium sulphate
ammonium sulphate
calcium peroxide
monocalcium and dicalcium phosphate
diammonium phosphate
sodium steroyl-2-lactylate
whey
corn starch
ascorbic acid
sodium bicarbonate
calcium carbonate
salt
mono- and diglycerides
lecithin
calcium propionate
cellulose gum
malted barley flour
natural and articifial flavours
amylase
protease
BHT

Glaze
sugar
water
corn starch
calcium carbonate
calcium sulphate
agar
dextrose
locust bean gum
disodium phosphate
sorbitan
monostearate
mono- and diglycerides
artificial flavour
salt

And yet they're so yummy...

Karen's 2rd year anniversary

Hello Everyone!

Today is my second anniversary of arriving in Calgary. This is the longest I've lived in one place, one apartment, and had the same job since high school.

I'm very glad that I moved here. When I was getting ready to head out here, I was very nervous. I didn't know anyone, I didn't have a job and I only had enough money to survive for about 2 weeks. The plane touched down and I had the feeling that "this is where you're suppose to be". Everything worked out (almost to the point of being freaky). I lucked out with my apartment. Since I didn't know the city, I didn't know just how great the location is. The bed & breakfast that I first stayed at was in a neighbourhood called Mission. The other 6 apartments I looked at were in this area. The apartment that I ended up choosing was further away from Mission and when I first saw it, I didn't want it. Later that night, I compared apartments and it turned out to be the best - big (and no funky smells/mold) bathroom, storage, cheapest, and largest. That black & white squares linoleum on the floor was a big turn-off but rugs have since made them less dizzying. I bought Gilbert even before I moved in so he had to wait an extra day at the pet store before coming home. At this point I still didn't have a job. I had my job interview exactly one week from the time I flew in and got the job the next day. I started a couple days later. I was so glad that everything fell into place - if it hadn't, I don't know what I would've done.

Three years later, I love my neighbourhood, apartment (with new paint!) and I've made a life for myself. Work is steady although I don't think I'll still be here in another three years. They've been very good to me at work and I'm glad that this was where I ended up when I first moved out here. I'm going to start taking university courses through distance education and eventually get my BA in Humanities. I have my furry family that keeps me company and I have a network of people I can socialize with through church. I don't have the close friend to go shopping with and do girly stuff with but I'm also not lonely. There's always something going on in the city and transit can get me to most places.

When I was younger, I also thought I'd stay in a small town and I used to hate visiting "the city". It helps that there are a lot of parks/green spaces to relax in. I think living in Hohhot helped me to adjust from country to city live. It's been a struggle financially (Calgary is expensive) but I'm keeping my head above water. There's a lot of opportunities out here (and if you have any experience in a trade you'll make a fortune) and you can see the boom of the city.

A lot of you are probably wondering if I'll eventually move back to Ontario. You never know what's going to happen in the future but at this point I'd say no. I'm not a westerner (nor will I be) but I feel that I fit here better than I did in Ontario. I'll be back for visits to see everyone and you're welcome to stop in for a visit - my futon folds out! I still have a lot of Canada to see (I've only stopped in airports in Sask, Nfld & Man and yet to see the north) although I've mellowed to the point that I no longer have the urge that I have to see everything right away.

Anyways, these are just my musings for the morning. It's weird (and a bit scary) that so much has changed in my life throughout my 20s (I'll hit 28 in a couple months) and Calgary has given me a change to figure out who I am and what I want in my life.

Have a great day!

Mike's doing great!

Hi Everyone!

Got a call from the vet about an hour ago. Mike's doing great and is recovering well from the anaesthetic. He's a big cat (well normal sized to me) and came out of it quite quickly. His teeth are healthy and they discovered he has a couple extra! I was speaking to the vet (rather than the receptionist) and thought it was very nice of her to speak with me personally. I was told that I could pick him up any time after 3:30. I'm impressed that they give such a long observation period to make sure there's no complications. I'll pick him up after work and shower him with kisses.

My anxiety is gone!

Have a great day and Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Mama's already a nervous wreck

Hi Everyone!

Mike goes to the clinic today. I'm already a bit nervous (after all, he doesn't understand why this is happening) and I likely will be until I pick him up tomorrow. Will he think I'm abandoning him? Will he have a lovely sleep-over? Will he be lonely? Will his mouth hurt a lot after the cleaning (very likely)? Will he understand what is happening? Will he be terrified of the cat carrier in the future? Will this just be another day?

I'll sleep terribly tonight without him (as per usual when he's out in the livingroom or I'm on vacation). I might bring Whiskers in so I can sleep!

Finished tidying up the apartment. It's neat, but still looks lived in. Mike's in my bedroom for the inspection (what a day he'll have) and Whiskers is angry that she wasn't let out last night.

Mike's dvd arrived last night. It's a special video made especially for cats. A company in the UK designed it with colour filters and a lens focus to make it suitable for a cat's eyes and they adjusted the sound as well. It's a video of bugs that has a two hour repeat and is continuous play. Mike rather enjoyed it and spent his time swatting at spiders and moths. The bugs looked fuzzy to me (out of focus?) but then again, I don't have cat eyes. If he still likes it after a month, I'll also buy the bird dvd.

Have a great day!

My faith in Tim Hortons is shattered!

Wednesday, Mar 15, 2006

Not all rims rrroll up equal

(CBC) - The odds of winning a big prize when you roll up the rim on a cup of Tim Hortons coffee depend on where you live, CBC News Online has learned.

Canada's biggest fast-food chain is currently running its annual spring promotion that offers customers a chance to win prizes ranging from a cup of coffee to a $33,000 sport utility vehicle.

Albertans and Atlantic Canadians have nearly twice the opportunity of driving off in one of the 30 SUVs as residents of Toronto or southwestern Ontario.

If you live in Quebec, where Tim Hortons is battling for market share with rival Dunkin' Donuts, your chances are even better - a one in four million shot at the SUV, versus one in eight million for B.C. and one in 11 million for southern Ontario.

The same is true to a lesser extent for the three other big rewards: 100 plasma televisions, 500 cash prizes of $1,000 and 10,000 barbecues.

A spokesman at the company's Oakville, Ont., headquarters was initially unaware of the prize distribution breakdown and had to check with corporate lawyers before confirming that the odds have been skewed for at least the past couple of years.

"There are only 30 cars," Greg Skinner said. "If it was all equalized, some places like P.E.I. or New Brunswick might not get one at all. This is just about trying to create some excitement."

The overall odds advertised by the company of winning one of the SUVs is one in 8,296,300. While a longshot, the chances are at least better than those of picking up the Lotto 6/49 jackpot, which are roughly one in 14 million.

Ingredients in a Max 5 candy bar

Max 5 - peanut butter candy, pretzels, caramel, peanut butter, peanuts

Ingredients:
partially defatted peanuts Huh?
sugar
wheat flour
hydrogenated modified vegetable oils (palm kernel and soybean oil)
high fructose corn syrup
modified milk ingredients
peanuts I guess not all the peanuts were defatted!
dextrose
peanut oil They added oil after taking the fat out of the peanuts?
hydrogenated vegetable oils (coconut and soybean) Maybe the modifications worked!
salt
corn syrup Just plain corn syrup - no fancy high fructose here
glycerin
soy lecithin
mono and diglycerides
ammonium
bicarbonate
sodium bicarbonate Bicarbonate got a first name
artificial flavour
carrageenan
yeast
disodium phosphate
TBHQ I'd hate to see what the actual name of this stuff is
citric acid

The "candy bar" (no chocolate involved) actually didn't taste terrible. It was odd and strange looking (and expensive if you compare the weight to an Oh Henry!) but did fulfill my snacking urge.

Halfway through the work week

Hi Everyone!

A cold and grey walk to work. It started to mist/snow when I was almost there. It's overcast and rather blah out.

Tidied the apartment last night. Mike tried waking me up this morning (and was awfully cute about it) but it ended up being Whiskers who got me out of bed. They're going to be very upset with me because Whiskers won't be out of her cage tonight or tomorrow and Mike needs to be shut in my room tomorrow for the inspection. He'll only have a few hours of roaming his territory before going to the clinic. It's going to take a lot of bribes to make it up to him on the weekend.

Have a great day!

Mornings suck

Hi Everyone!

I didn't get enough sleep last night so I'm grumpy and tired this morning.

I ended up getting nothing done that I wanted to last night (had a bath and finished my book instead) so it'll be a busy night tonight. The book was really good. It was a biography of Zainab Salbi. She is the co-founder of Women for Women (an organization that helps women from war-torn countries deal with rape, loss, etc.) She is Iraqi and her father was once Saddam Huissain's pilot. It was very interesting to read because it talks a lot about the manipulation and fear of "close friends" to Saddam (she didn't find out about a lot of the atrocities until she went to the United States). I highly recommend the book. It's called "Between Two Worlds" and she co-wrote it.

Hoping to get my hair cut next week - just waiting for the salon to open so I can make my appointment. I think I'll chop it all off to about an inch. It's much easier to care for and I don't have to worry about bed-head.

Poor Mike! He wanted me to wake up and play with him this morning and I think (it's a bit blurry) I shoved him out of bed! In my defence, it was before 6:00am. I tried to make it up to him when I eventually got up but I think I hurt his feelings.

Anyways, not in the mood for typing.

Have a great day!

I ate a fig!

Hi Everyone!

It may not seem exciting to you but last night I tried a fig. Gayle brought some to the church water study last night. It was dried (apparently - it was soft and very sticky) and although I liked it, I could only eat one. It was so sweet! I was told it makes lovely jam.

Had a productive weekend.

After work on Friday, I detoured onto 17 Ave ("The Red Mile" for hockey fans) and bought some bee pollen. It looks like Rainbow's food pellets but they're golden coloured. It is apparently very healthy for you (30% protein), gives you energy, boosts your immune system etc. I don't particularily like the taste of it although I don't like the taste of honey either. I've been tired so often lately and hopefully this will help. I have noticed that after I take it, I'm not super hungry and need sugar right away. I then stopped at the Paws Boutique which is a dress-up store for dogs and cats. I ended up passing on a t-shirt for Mike but I did get him a toy with catnip in it. While there, two dogs were preparing for a fashion show later that night and one of them got its bangs cut.

I stayed in my pjs all Saturday and cross-stitched.

On Sunday, I made a proper supper. I made roast beef (M&Ms is lovely - it's already seasoned for you!), mashed potatoes and corn. I also did laundry, swept the floor, organized the kitchen and tidied the hallway. I also tried to make pralines. I've made them before (in Ontario) but I ended up burning the candy and setting off the fire alarm. I think I either heated the mixture at too high of temperature (too quickly) or my pot wasn't thick enough. I was quite disappointed.

There was a skiff of snow on the sidewalk this morning and it was -14 C when I left the apartment.

I have a busy week ahead of me. Tuesday is the Townships meeting, Wednesday is Bethel class, Thursday is my apartment inspection, I drop off Mike at the vet, and have choir practise, and Friday is when I pick Mike up. He's having his teeth cleaned. I know this sounds pretty stupid but his teeth are in bad shape. It's probably from him eating that horrible, cheap Safeway catfood for so many years. Since house cats don't have a regular diet of meat (ie mice) and bones to scrub their teeth, placque builds up. In Mike's case, the placque has gotten so bad that by next year, his gums would become infected. I'm hoping that by getting this done now, he won't need it again for another few years. Because of the nature of the procedure, the vet needs to knock Mike out. I could drop him off Friday morning but I'd end up being late for work and I would still need to fast him. The clinic is open late on Thursday and they won't charge me for boarding. I'm still a bit nervous about the procedure and I'll likely sleep horribly on Thursday night.

Whiskers learned a new trick this weekend. I let her out on Friday. When I was getting ready for bed, I did a quick search for her. I found her on top of my bed! She learned how to hop up but I don't think she could get down. I set her down and throughout the night, she kept hopping up. I'd wake up and set her back down (in case she needed to go to her cage to go to the bathroom). By Saturday morning, she had figured out how to jump down. It was rather nice to wake up to two furry family members hopping/stepping on me. Saturday night consisted of her jumping up and down off the bed and tearing down the hallway. Mike took a few swats at her (but she can hold her own) this weekend but I think it's good for the both of them. They both get exercise (Whiskers from her hallway racetrack and Mike from jumping out of the way) and they get used to each other.

I also included two articles in my blog. The first one is about the beer flowing from a faucet in Norway and the second is from the editor of the Danish newspaper who published the cartoons. I thought they would be of interest.

Have a great day!

Kitchen tap in Norway spews beer, not water

Monday, Mar 13, 2006

Kitchen tap in Norway spews beer, not water

(CBC) - A bar worker in western Norway managed to turn water into beer for a lucky woman living in an apartment above the pub.

Haldis Gundersen turned on her kitchen tap on the weekend expecting water to gush out so that she could wash some dishes. Instead, she got beer.

A worker in a bar two floors below had accidentally connected a hose from a new barrel of beer to the water pipe leading to Gunderson's apartment in Kristiansund.

"We thought we were in heaven," she told Reuters.

The beer tasted strange and didn't have the fizziness that specialized bar spigots would create, she added. Given the choice, she would have opted for her favourite coffee liqueur.

"If it happens again, I'm going to order Baileys," Gunderson said.
The mood wasn't so happy in the bar where the problem originated. Expecting beer from the usual tap, staff were startled to see water pouring out instead.

Article from the Danish Editor who published the cartoons

Why I Published Those Cartoons

By Flemming Rose, culture editor of the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten.
Sunday, February 19, 2006; B01 Washington Post

Childish. Irresponsible. Hate speech. A provocation just for the sake ofprovocation. A PR stunt. Critics of 12 cartoons of the prophet Muhammad I decided to publish in the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten have not minced their words.

They say that freedom of expression does not imply an endorsement of insulting people's religious feelings, and besides, they add,the media censor themselves every day. So, please do not teach us a lesson about limitless freedom of speech.I agree that the freedom to publish things doesn't mean you publish everything. Jyllands-Posten would not publish pornographic images or graphic details of dead bodies; swear words rarely make it into our pages. So we are not fundamentalists in our support for freedom of expression.But the cartoon story is different.

Those examples have to do with exercising restraint because of ethical standards and taste; call it editing. By contrast, I commissioned the cartoons in response to several incidents of self-censorship in Europe caused by widening fears and feelings of intimidation in dealing with issues related to Islam. And I still believe that this is a topic that we Europeans must confront, challenging moderate Muslims to speak out. The idea wasn't to provoke gratuitously -- and we certainly didn't intend to trigger violent demonstrations throughout the Muslim world. Our goal was simply to push back self-imposed limits on expression that seemed to be closing in tighter.

At the end of September, a Danish standup comedian said in an interview with Jyllands-Posten that he had no problem urinating on the Bible in front of a camera, but he dared not do the same thing with the Koran.This was the culmination of a series of disturbing instances of self-censorship. Last September, a Danish children's writer had trouble finding an illustrator for a book about the life of Muhammad. Three people turned down the job for fear of consequences. The person who finally accepted insisted on anonymity, which in my book is a form of self-censorship. European translators of a critical book about Islam also did not want their names to appear on the book cover beside the name of the author, a Somalia-born Dutch politician who has herself been in hiding.Around the same time, the Tate gallery in London withdrew an installation bythe avant-garde artist John Latham depicting the Koran, Bible and Talmud torn to pieces. The museum explained that it did not want to stir things up after the London bombings. (A few months earlier, to avoid offending Muslims, a museum in Goteborg, Sweden, had removed a painting with a sexual motif and a quotation from the Koran.)Finally, at the end of September, Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen met with a group of imams, one of whom called on the prime minister to interfere with the press in order to get more positive coverage of Islam.

So, over two weeks we witnessed a half-dozen cases of self-censorship,pitting freedom of speech against the fear of confronting issues about Islam. This was a legitimate news story to cover, and Jyllands-Posten decided to do it by adopting the well-known journalistic principle: Show,don't tell.

I wrote to members of the association of Danish cartoonists asking them "to draw Muhammad as you see him." We certainly did not ask them to make fun of the prophet. Twelve out of 25 active members responded.We have a tradition of satire when dealing with the royal family and otherpublic figures, and that was reflected in the cartoons. The cartoonistst reated Islam the same way they treat Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism and other religions. And by treating Muslims in Denmark as equals they made a point: We are integrating you into the Danish tradition of satire because you are part of our society, not strangers. The cartoons are including,rather than excluding, Muslims.The cartoons do not in any way demonize or stereotype Muslims. In fact, they differ from one another both in the way they depict the prophet and in whom they target.

One cartoon makes fun of Jyllands-Posten, portraying its cultural editors as a bunch of reactionary provocateurs. Another suggests that the children's writer who could not find an illustrator for his book went public just to get cheap publicity. A third puts the head of the anti-immigration Danish People's Party in a lineup, as if she is a suspected criminal.One cartoon -- depicting the prophet with a bomb in his turban -- has drawn the harshest criticism. Angry voices claim the cartoon is saying that the prophet is a terrorist or that every Muslim is a terrorist. I read it differently: Some individuals have taken the religion of Islam hostage by committing terrorist acts in the name of the prophet. They are the ones who have given the religion a bad name. The cartoon also plays into the fairy tale about Aladdin and the orange that fell into his turban and made his fortune. This suggests that the bomb comes from the outside world and is notan inherent characteristic of the prophet.On occasion, Jyllands-Posten has refused to print satirical cartoons ofJesus, but not because it applies a double standard. In fact, the same cartoonist who drew the image of Muhammed with a bomb in his turban drew a cartoon with Jesus on the cross having dollar notes in his eyes and another with the star of David attached to a bomb fuse. There were, however, no embassy burnings or death threats when we published those.Has Jyllands-Posten insulted and disrespected Islam? It certainly didn't intend to.

But what does respect mean? When I visit a mosque, I show my respect by taking off my shoes. I follow the customs, just as I do in a church, synagogue or other holy place. But if a believer demands that I, as a nonbeliever, observe his taboos in the public domain, he is not asking for my respect, but for my submission. And that is incompatible with a seculardemocracy.This is exactly why Karl Popper, in his seminal work "The Open Society andIts Enemies," insisted that one should not be tolerant with the intolerant.Nowhere do so many religions coexist peacefully as in a democracy where freedom of expression is a fundamental right. In Saudi Arabia, you can get arrested for wearing a cross or having a Bible in your suitcase, while Muslims in secular Denmark can have their own mosques, cemeteries, schools,TV and radio stations.

I acknowledge that some people have been offended by the publication of the cartoons, and Jyllands-Posten has apologized for that. But we cannot apologize for our right to publish material, even offensive material. You cannot edit a newspaper if you are paralyzed by worries about every possible insult.

I am offended by things in the paper every day: transcripts of speeches by Osama bin Laden, photos from Abu Ghraib, people insisting that Israel should be erased from the face of the Earth, people saying the Holocaust never happened. But that does not mean that I would refrain from printing them as long as they fell within the limits of the law and of the newspaper's ethical code. That other editors would make different choices is the essence of pluralism.As a former correspondent in the Soviet Union, I am sensitive about calls for censorship on the grounds of insult. This is a popular trick of totalitarian movements: Label any critique or call for debate as an insult and punish the offenders. That is what happened to human rights activists and writers such as Andrei Sakharov, Vladimir Bukovsky, Alexander Solzhenitsyn, Natan Sharansky, Boris Pasternak. The regime accused them of anti-Soviet propaganda, just as some Muslims are labeling 12 cartoons in aDanish newspaper anti-Islamic.The lesson from the Cold War is: If you give in to totalitarian impulses once, new demands follow. The West prevailed in the Cold War because we stood by our fundamental values and did not appease totalitarian tyrants.

Since the Sept. 30 publication of the cartoons, we have had a constructive debate in Denmark and Europe about freedom of expression, freedom ofreligion and respect for immigrants and people's beliefs. Never before have so many Danish Muslims participated in a public dialogue -- in town hall meetings, letters to editors, opinion columns and debates on radio and TV.We have had no anti-Muslim riots, no Muslims fleeing the country and no Muslims committing violence. The radical imams who misinformed their counterparts in the Middle East about the situation for Muslims in Denmarkhave been marginalized. They no longer speak for the Muslim community in Denmark because moderate Muslims have had the courage to speak out against them.In January, Jyllands-Posten ran three full pages of interviews and photos of moderate Muslims saying no to being represented by the imams. They insist that their faith is compatible with a modern secular democracy. A network of moderate Muslims committed to the constitution has been established, and the anti-immigration People's Party called on its members to differentiate between radical and moderate Muslims, i.e. between Muslims propagating sharia law and Muslims accepting the rule of secular law. The Muslim face of Denmark has changed, and it is becoming clear that this is not a debatebetween "them" and "us," but between those committed to democracy in Denmark and those who are not.This is the sort of debate that Jyllands-Posten had hoped to generate when it chose to test the limits of self-censorship by calling on cartoonists to challenge a Muslim taboo.

Did we achieve our purpose? Yes and no. Some of the spirited defenses of our freedom of expression have been inspiring. But tragic demonstrations throughout the Middle East and Asia were not what we anticipated, much less desired. Moreover, the newspaper has received 104 registered threats, 10 people have been arrested, cartoonists have been forced into hiding because of threats against their lives and Jyllands-Posten's headquarters have been evacuated several times due to bomb threats.

This is hardly a climate for easing self-censorship.Still, I think the cartoons now have a place in two separate narratives, one in Europe and one in the Middle East. In the words of the Somali-born Dutch politician Ayaan Hirsi Ali, the integration of Muslims into European societies has been sped up by 300 years due to the cartoons; perhaps we donot need to fight the battle for the Enlightenment all over again in Europe.The narrative in the Middle East is more complex, but that has very little to do with the cartoons.

flemming.rose@jp.dkFlemming Rose is the culture editor of the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten.© 2006 The Washington Post Company

It's Friday!

Hi Everyone!

A cool walk to work. It snowed a bit last night so I had a chance to wear my new snow boots. I bought them at The Bay on Wednesday and they were marked down and on sale.

Felt crappy after work (bad headache, achy eyes, sore muscles) after a bunch of data inputting. Ended up skipping choir and a meeting last night. Stopped at M&Ms for a roast (on sale) and sampled their chili & garlic bread (and ended up buying them for supper). Their garlic bread is lovely and the chili's pretty good too.

After I got home, I curled up on the futon with Whiskers and napped until 7pm. The tv shows were all messed up and The O.C. was on at 7, C.S.I Miami at 8 followed by American Idol. I ended up going to bed early (despite the nap) and Mike pestered me this morning after my alarm went off. I eventually hid under the blankets and had to rush to get ready. I should know better than to ignore Mike but he sometimes confuses 6:30 am with 4:30 am.

Have yoga tomorrow and I want to see a movie in the afternoon. Beowulf is now in theatres and I have a coupon for free admission. Will take it easy tonight and maybe do some tidying up around the apartment.

A warm walk to work

Hi Everyone!

Didn't hear my alarm go off but still woke up in time to get to work. The sidewalks were icy (snow melting that froze overnight) but they should be clear by this afternoon.

Don't have any plans for tonight. This means I can do a bunch of stuff at home. Laundry, dishes, baking, Bethel homework, cleaning etc.

Last night I filed my taxes. I used the same program as last year (recommended to me by the people who do our payroll at work). I really liked it - I don't know the first thing about taxes and they walk you through the steps in an easy manner. You can work on it for a while and then save it until the next time you want to add something. Everything is done on-line and I sent my file electronically to the government. It's also cheap ($14.95 for me) and since my return was fairly straightforward, it took very little time. Last year was more complicated (moving expenses, multiple jobs etc.) but they have a great faq and help section. If anyone's interested, I used Intuit. They also have programs for more complicated returns as well.

Chinook cloud over the mountains today. Have a little headache but nothing bad. Everyone's getting sick with the flu. Sylvia's at home today, Lori was sick last week as well as a couple techs. Hopefully I can stay healthy - January wiped me out enough without getting sick again in the winter.

Have a great day!

Chinook's coming

Hi Everyone

The temperature's should reach +7 today. Not in the mood for typing.

Whiskers spent the weekend hopping around the apartment. Made pudding last night. Slept most of the afternoon (despite having a lot of things to do). I guess I just needed a lazy weekend.

Have a great day!

One more day until the weekend...

Hi Everyone!

It's pretty sad when it's not even 10:30am and you're already counting down the hours until the weekend.

My Tim Horton's rant: they call it a Canadian institution but I suspect they serve you better coffee while you're in a straight-jacket! I decided to treat myself this morning so I jogged a bit and stopped at the stupid Tim Horton's a block south on McLeod Trail. It's a drive-through shack that only accepts cash. I went inside and was the only person in line. I waited three minutes before someone took my order. When I got to work (was late by a minute or so - what fast service they have!), my coffee was bitter, there was definitly not 2 sugars in it and my honey dipped donut was stale. I was rather bitter (like my coffee!) - $1.90 used to at least get you a fresh donut (and mediocre coffee).

Had a great weekend - I finished the bathroom! It looks great (if I do say so myself). I finished the trim Saturday after yoga and then went to Zellers to pick up accessories. My colours are blue and white. I kept my white curtain but got rid of my over-the-toilet cabinet and the under-the-sink cabinet. Both looked cheap and were poor quality. I now have a big blue plastic tote for storage under the sink that has a white towel on it to hide the lid. On the other side of the exposed pipes, I have a woven basket with a unbleached cotton liner. I got a great towel that ties in the blue to the sage on the walls. It's white with blue and green polka dots. The polka dots fade from dark to light and the light colour is the same as the wall. (I already have blue towels). My new towel pulls everything together. I also got small, narrow shelves to go over the toilet. They change in length from 18" to 10" and they have short pieces of wood at the end so they look like this [ if there were turned on their end. I have them staggered up the wall and look very nice. My shower curtain is a translucent white with white leaves on it - really nice and it was on sale! The bathroom looks so much different than the rest of the apartment. I love it!

It's been a snowy week. Went to the Ash Wednesday service last night. Have a doctor's appointment and choir tonight and tomorrow is the World Day of Prayer of service. I'm making squares and the choir is also singing. I was quite surprised last Thursday when we went over hymns (both for last Sunday and for tomorrow night). There were several that were unfamiliar to the members that I learned at St. John's.

Will be taking it easy this weekend. I think I'll do some tidying around the house and I need to do laundry. Maybe I'll just cuddle with my furry family all weekend...

Have a great day!

My enamoument with snow has ended

Hi Everyone!

Was late for work today-partly because I slept in (but should have been able to make up the time by jogging) but mostly because of stupid white fluffy stuff.

While walking through Mount Royal, 3 areas of sidewalk were cleared by the home owners. The rest was piled up and difficult to walk through. During most of my walk today, I was either the first or one of the first people walking in the morning. It was extremely difficult to walk in it because you were never sure of your footing underneath.

Had a good choir practise last night. Will take it easy this weekend and finish the bathroom.

Have a great day!

Snow!

Hi Everyone!

It's a winter wonderland outside! I should clarify in that there is snow on the ground and there's still a few flakes drifting down from the sky. It's pretty sad that I'm excited about 1" of snow on the ground and there were fluffy flakes falling when I was walking to work. Roads were terrible and several people at work ended up taking over 3 times as long to get to work. My walk was o'kay although there were a few slippery spots.

Spent all last night reading Memoirs of a Geisha. This stupid book kept me up until 1:30am. I decided to take it easy last night so I drew a bath and started reading. I kept reading through American Idol (and 10 pm - the time I wanted to go to bed), the news (and 11:30 - past my bedtime) and a bunch of late-night talk shows that I ignored. I really enjoyed the way it was written (first person, as if the character was chatting with you) and it was very discriptive. I still want to see the movie for the costumes but storywise I don't think it'll be all that interesting. My boss has already seen it and he said it was long and uninteresting. An excellent book but not all great books make great movies (and vice versa).

Am very tired today. Have Bethel class tonight. I think I'll also finish painting my bathroom (2nd coat of primer) so I can start getting my apartment back to normal (at least until I start the next room!)

Have a great day!

A productive long weekend

Hi Everyone!

Got a lot accomplished this weekend. I now have my first coat of paint on the trim, I got most of my errands run, and I got to call 911.

Yesterday afternoon, I went outside to shake out Whiskers' blanket. I could smell something burning and the air was smoky. I looked around to see where it was coming from and could see flames behind the apartment building. I ran down the stairs to access the back and my neighbour's trailer was blazing away. He runs a scrap metal business and often stores the scraps in a trailer hooked up to his truck. I ran up to the apartment and called 911. As I was talking to the dispatcher, I looked out the bathroom window and saw that the fire department was already there. The fire didn't cause any damage except for the trailer but I'll admit my heart was racing once I hung up the phone.

The rest of the weekend was less eventful. Yoga class was nice and on Saturday afternoon, Mike & I went to the vet. The vet told me Mike is a beautiful and healthy cat although he needs to loose a little weight and needs his teeth cleaned. We're both going on a diet and he's getting his teeth done in mid March. It sounds pretty stupid to get a pet's teeth cleaned (after all - you don't need to do it with barn cats) but his teeth are in bad shape and they'll soon start to infect his gums if something isn't done now. It's expensive and they have to knock him out for the procedure but if it helps his overall health in the future, I think it's worth it. I was a bit worried about him going under but the vet reassured my of the safety. I will drop him off on the Thursday night (because I'd be late for work if I dropped him off in the morning) and they will fast him and make sure he's comfortable. On the Friday, they will call me if there are any problems (cavities, extractions etc) and I can pick up my Sweetie Friday afternoon. I really like the vet clinic - they refer to me as Mike's mom and they send letters in his name.

On Sunday, I went to church and then went grocery shopping in the afternoon. I'm going to be drinking a lot more milk (as part of my diet) and my grocery cart looked a bit odd - vegetables, meat and no yummy snacks. I did get some Dare Bear Paws cookies (yummy moist apple cookies) for a special treat.

Monday was my "get everything accomplished" day. Painted, did a couple loads of dishes, cleaned out both Gilbert and Whiskers' cages, let Whiskers run around the kitchen, put a few things back into the bathroom, watched the hockey game (Yah!), and cross-stitched. It was a rather nice day. Monday was "Family Day" in Alberta. It's a holiday to promote spending time with your family although I think it's an excuse for a long weekend in February (not that I'm complaining). I rather needed that day and I feel a lot more refreshed for work.

The weather warmed up over the weekend and it was only -4C when walking to work today.

Have a great day!

-28 C

Hi Everyone!

Another friggin' cold walk to work today. It was o'kay until I got out of Mount Royal and I was no longer sheltered by the wind. It wasn't even a strong wind but it made a huge difference.

My horoscope told me to take it easy today. "Trying to get too much work done in the course of one day might prove self-defeating today, dear Gemini. Your physical energy isn't what it usually is, and you are probably operating on nervous energy. Consider the situation carefully and list your tasks in order of urgency. If you don't get them all done by the end of the day, the world won't come to an end. In the evening, rent a pile of videos, order a pizza, and relax."

I think I'll take their advice.

Have a great day!

-22 C

Hi Everyone!

One tv station said it was -23 this morning, another said it was -21. I'm taking the average and saying it was damn cold. I was quite warm (I had to remove my mittens a couple times to cool down) except for an area from about 6" above my knees to just below my knee joint. It was the only area that was exposed to the cold (ie no outer layer there). My eyelashes started to stick together by the time I got to work and I imagine my hair leaves something to be desired. Overall, it wasn't too bad walking although I wished I had left about 10 minutes earlier so I could have taken it a bit easier. My big boots slowed my down and it's a larger strain on my calf muscles. I love my ugly warm red coat and it kept my core quite toasty.

My plans for last night deviated a bit from my plan. (PS - Slyvia just told me the temperature has now dropped to -26 and there's a windchill factor this afternoon for -39). After I got home, I cuddled with Gilbert as I watched the early news. I then crawled into bed with Whiskers and slept for 2 1/2 hours. It was rather nice. I got up, made a Swanson tv dinner (hungry man fried chicken - they have a yummy brownie for dessert) and watched American Idol. Did a bit of cross-stitching and went back to bed (this time with Mike). No painting/plastering for me! I feel a lot more refreshed this morning.

After work today, I'm donating plasma and then have choir practice. I have no plans for tomorrow night. On the weekend, I have yoga and Mike's vet apointment on Saturday, church on Sunday, and I want to go to the museum sometime this weekend for the Petra exhibit. This is the last weekend for it.

Have a great (and warm) day!

Yet another Wednesday

Hi Everyone!

I just heard on the radio that the weather forecast is a high of -26 tomorrow. It's currently -7 C and it'll be dropping dramatically tonight. It was quite cold this morning and I took the bus (because I slept in). Wearing my long johns today and wore my super warm -40 coat today. I'll walk home (quicker than transit) so hopefully my legs won't be too cold. We're suppose to be in a cold snap for the next couple weeks.

Had a great 2 hour nap last night before the meeting. Whiskers didn't want to come out of her cage but Mike curled up with me. I could have slept for a lot longer but I had my meeting. It was very productive so I'm glad I went but my body could have used a bit more sleep. I've decided not to attend Bethel tonight and will head straight home for another nap. Basically, my energy reserves haven't refilled since being sick with that stupid cold. Last week's Townships presentation and the prep work required drained a lot out of me. Now, the physical effort involved with the bathroom is finally forcing my body to take care of itself. Usually, if I have a high stress couple of weeks (ie physically, little sleep, stress and/or unhealthy/strange hours eating) my body can handle it up to a point. It then literally forces me to take some time off to sleep and recover. I was hoping to wait until the weekend (holiday on Monday - Family Day) but I've been so tired this week I think it's best for me to take tonight off as well.

My plan for tonight: go home and kiss my sweeties hello, touch-up the plaster on the wall, do a couple touch-ups on the ceiling, nap, make a proper supper, paint 2nd coat on walls, cuddle with my sweeties, tidy apartment, back to bed.

My stupid croci (we just had an argument about the plural form - both "croci" and "crocuses" are acceptable according to Webster's) and my other bulbs have decided that there is no cold snap and that they should start growing! The croci (hee-hee I like this word!) are up about 1/2" and the other bulbs are about 1" high. Mom told me they should be o'kay - they'll go dormant again until spring.

One of the salespeople brought in Valentine's Day cupcakes to work. There was a huge amount of icing on them, heart candies and a plastic ring on top. They were quite yummy although I'm not fussy on the icing they used. I much prefer butter icing.

Have a great day!

Happy Valentine's Day

Hi Everyone!

Has it ever taken you 1 hour to have 2 cans of paint mixed for you?!

Last night before my dentist appointment, I slipped down to Canadian Tire to pick up my wall paint and a small can of trim paint. I was able to find a clerk "relatively" easy but it literally took 1 hour and 2 clerks (one of them being a manager) to mix my paint.

First, they couldn't find the Debbie Travis kitchen/bath paint I wanted so we had to switch brands. Then the computer didn't say what base to use. Then when it was mixed, there was something screwed up in the code because it turned out mint green! There was then a 10 minute discussion on paint bases between the two people followed by another 10 minutes discussing the tinting code. Eventually the wall paint turned out right. Next came the trim paint. First attempt was very white. Some pink and yellow were added (although the precise amount is unknown so it'll be fun matching it up again). I ended up being there so long I missed my bus and had to run to the dentist (about 3 blocks). I was not a happy camper.

The dentist evened out my bite (my right side was a bit high) and he thinks the cold sensitivity is from my clenching/grinding habit. This would aggrevate the nerve endings and make it take a lot longer to heal. I have an appointment at the end of March to get a night guard to stop my clenching/grinding.

After the fiasco at Canadian Tire, I was not in the mood to deal with supper. Luckily, my faith in the world has been restored by the wonder Chinese delivery. I had a hot and delicious meal show up in half an hour (faster than expected).

Watched the pairs finals on tv and saw the horrible fall by the Chinese pair that ended up winning silver. I can't believe she was even able to get up after that!

I ended up putting a coat of paint on the wall. I was rather nervous because the paint itself looked very light. After cutting in, I though it was much too dark. This morning it looks fine. It ended up taking a long time and I didn't get to bed until about 1:30 am. I had to use the kitchen table to go around the ceiling as my step stool was too short. I should be o'kay for my next coat. Mike was in a couple times to check the progress and he climbed right up on the table beside me.

The texture of my wall looks a bit odd because of how smooth the area is where I plastered it. Do you think I should use some coarse sandpaper to even it up to the texture of the wall? Will the second coat of paint even things up?

I was able to make some changes to the door hardware. On Saturday night it took about an hour to change the door knob but only because my original knob had a plate over the base where the screws fasten into the door. Once I was able to figure this out, putting in the new one was a snap (and it didn't have a stupid plate either). I also changed the hinges last night (when I finished, the buzzer rang with my food - what timing!) It turned out that my original hinges were 3 1/2" long but I couldn't find that size in Canadian Tire. I ended up using 3" long hinges and used the original top screw holes to line everything up. With my trusty drill, I was able to make new holes for the rest and everything lined up (and the door shuts too!). I'll need to fill in the gap below the hinge but I don't think it'll be all that tough - lots of filler!

Sylvia gave me a row of hershey kisses under my computer monitor this morning. It was an unexpected yet nice surprise. Luckily I had a couple Lindor chocolates in my drawer so I slipped some over to her. I love chocolate for breakfast!

After work, I plan to go home and have a nice long nap with at least one furry friend (Whiskers has been getting anxious to get out of her cage so I may just put her on my bed - she doesn't realize that she can jump off!). I have a Townships Meeting tonight although I'll be honest that I'd rather just sleep. I'll attend anyways - it'll get me away from a night of painting.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Paint!

Hi Everyone!

Spent my weekend painting. Went to Walmart on Friday and picked up a can of primer - it was cheap - only $11.95. It didn't cover very well so that's probably why it was that price. It was really akward to get everything home. There was a hockey game (hence no taxis) and I had all my painting supplies. It took me twice as long to get to the bus stop (10 blocks) than it usually does and my shoulders have hurt ever since. Spent Friday night taking everything off the walls and starting to repair holes. The stupid previous painters showed their intelligence yet again. When I removed the towel rack, there was a blue circle where they painted around the wall mount and the other mount took a large piece of paint with it. The paint didn't bond to the wall and I ended up taking off an area about 2 1/2' x 1' to get everything smooth. I have since polyfilled the area although it will take another sanding tonight. They also painted over the curtain rod hooks, hinges, door knobs etc.

Did some sanding and refilling Saturday morning (skipped yoga) and went to my Women's Self Defence class in the afternoon. It was very interesting and I'll likely attend another class when it's being held. Went to Walmart again to get more polyfill and some ceiling paint. Since I only needed a small amount, I ended up getting a small can of flat white paint. Although the paint didn't cover great (I'm putting another coat on tonight), the flat gloss hid a lot of flaws. I think I'll end up using flat paint on the rest of my walls. I also changed the door knob. It took almost an hour to change as I had problems figuring out how to remove the previous knob. There was a cover over the plate that fastened to the door and it took a while to remove it so I could unscrew the knob.

On Sunday, slept in and missed church. Applied one coat of primer and my first coat of paint on the ceiling. It's amazing how nice the white looks on the ceiling compared to that off-white monotone crap that was on there before. It was a rather tiring weekend and my hallway is a huge mess (along with the rest of my apartment - I didn't have the energy to clean anything). Watched Vanity Fair - highly recommend it. I have never read the book so I found it very interesting. The lead role is a strong female character (odd for a book written in the 1800s by a man) and the story talks about her quest for money and acceptance in society. Still very relevent to today. Also had beautiful costumes and sets.

Whiskers has been very unhappy that she's had to stay in her cage - I can just imagine the destruction she'd cause with everything in the hall. She loves tearing up and down the hall and terrorizing Mike.

I'm going to the dentist tonight to check my back teeth. After my bunch of fillings, I've noticed they're sensitive to hot/cold. They're going to check to make sure it isn't anything serious. I'll also pick up my wall and trim paint. I'm going to put on my second coat of ceiling paint when I get home from work so by the time I get back from the dentist, I'll be able to put on my first coat of wall paint. The temperature's dropping today (the weekend was in the low teens and I had my window open during the day) so I want to get things done quickly. By the middle of the week, it'll be a high in the minus teens. It was about 6 C when I left for work and by the afternoon it's suppose to be 0 C.

Have a great day!

They cut off the crusts!

Hi Everyone!

Got through my busy day. It was fancy smancy at the Glencoe Club. This was the first time I ever saw the crusts cut off sandwiches! I've heard of it before and I've seen it on movies but a new experience for me. I actually would have preferred the crusts because I found the bread was a bit dry around the edges where they were removed.

I got to sing the Halleluja! chorus (Handel's Messiah) for the first time last night. It was interesting but not difficult - there was a note for each syllabal of the Halleluja and the note sequence made it easier to hit some very high notes. We will be singing it for Easter. I've only ever hear The Messiah once before so I kept stopping so I could hear the sound.

Whiskers spent the night again out of her cage. Slept in again (very odd dream) but caught transit and was on time for work. I'm dropping off some books at the used books store after work before heading up to Walmart. I'm going to pick up the TSP (cleaner that removes grease etc. and is great for preparing the surface for painting), paint brushes/rollers, primer, and ceiling paint. This will give the primer a longer time to cure before painting next weekend. I don't have a particular brand of ceiling paint that I want or primer brand so I figure Walmart will be just as cheap as anywhere else. I'm getting excited...

Have a great day!

Sleepy today

Hi Everyone!

Things went well last night. There were just over 30 people (although that includes everyone from The Townships Project). Got lots of complements for the squares - thanks Mom for the recipies! Was surprised that more muffins weren't eaten. I made 3 dozen but only about 1 dozen was eaten (they tasted good - I've been snacking on them). Maybe people prefer muffins in the morning. The peanut clusters disappeared right away and the Hello Dollies were gone by the end of the night. Brought in the rest of the muffins to work today so hopefully they'll be eaten up. We ended up raising several thousand dollars and I thought the presentations were very interesting. I have a meeting after work at the Glencoe Club (really ritzy "athletic club" who doesn't list their membership prices on their website. If you have to have to ask, you don't have enough money) to discuss the national board. One of the executive members in Calgary is a member and he's taking care of things. He also offered me a ride to choir after the meeting. It's too bad he old enough to be my grandfather!

A bit worn out today. Just missed the bus (slept in) so I was a few minutes late for work. Had Whiskers out last night when I got home. She didn't want to go back in her cage and I was too tired to chase her down. She spent the night hopping around the apartment and Mike spent the night with me, unsure if it was safe to get down off the bed! Caught her easily this morning so things should be relatively calm in my apartment today.

I don't think I'll get a nap at lunch today - there's training going on. I think I'll just head to bed after choir and forget about all the things I need to do around the apartment. They can wait until tomorrow.

Have a great day!

Hump Day!

Hi Everyone!

I generally like Wednesdays - after all, this is the half-way mark of the work week. Was very busy last night and got a lot accomplished.

Picked up the brochures. They look pretty good. Already have a few ideas for the future... Took transit so I ended up getting home the same time as I normally would if I would have walked straight home from work. Did two loads of laundry (my towels were really fluffy this morning - I love the smell of freshly laundered towels). Made one-pan tacos (yummy). Made 3 1/2 dozen muffins for today (banana, chocolate cream-cheese & carrot/pineapple) which turned out well and peanut clusters. Have everything organized for tonight. It was just after midnight when I crawled into bed but Mike was being cuddly and gave me a shoulder massage (and made sure my forehead was very clean!)

A bit tired today but hopefully I can fit in a nap at lunch. Wore my new comfy $16 pants today but they'll need hemming. I was hoping they would shrink enough in the dryer but I still need them raised a bit. I'm making do right now with safety pins.

If I can continue my rant from yesterday...on the news last night, there was a cat that had been deliberately harmed by his owner. Neighbours had called the SPCA after they saw him trying to scald the cat. The cat ended up with burned paws, a broken tail, trauma to his eye, torn lip & ear and possible internal injuries. They think they may need to amputate his tale and he not eating on his own but he looks adorable and they're hoping he will recover enough to be adopted. I think the man has been charged with deliberately harming an animal and faces a $20000 fine if convicted. The SPCA said that incidences like this are rare but after watching the news, I cuddled with Mike until he escaped (not a hug and cuddle kind of cat).

On a happy note, Whiskers was quite comfortable lounging under the piano last night and I didn't have to trick her into her cage. I treated both her and Gilbert with the carrot peelings. She wasn't too happy with me doing laundry - less soft places to lay on.

Have a great day!

Why hair? Why?

Hi Everyone!

Why is it when you have a shower at night (hence nobody's going to see you) your hair decides to style itself to look really nice! I was feeling a bit grubby after getting home for work so I hopped in the shower before my Friendship meeting. Needless to say, my hair turned out lovely - unlike it normally does when styling it in the morning. I was lucky in that I didn't toss and turn last night so although it's a flatter version of last night, it still looks reasonably nice.

Hope everyone's hydro is back and the snow's let up. Was talking with Mom & Dad last night after seeing an article on-line about the storm. I hadn't seen anything on the news about it.

My paint colours have been approved "Warm and tasteful". I can paint the bathroom and someone will be by in March to approve it. If everything goes well, I was told I could go ahead with the rest.

Will pick up the brochure after work and do a few loads of laundry tonight. Will also make muffins for tomorrow. Hopefully things will go smoothly. At least I know the snacks will be yummy...

A stray kitty followed Sylvia to work today. She's seen it a couple times coming to work. We think it may have been scared off by noise outside. We gave it some water and it wasn't really thin yet - there was a collar but no id/tattoo visible. It was really pretty and I hope it finds its' way back home. I get very upset with pet owners who don't take proper responsibility for their pets. Cats (and dogs) are not allowed to wander in the city (or off their property) and many cat owners seem to ignore this bylaw. These poor cats can be eaten by coyotes, get lost, hit by a car, injured, sick and the owners don't seem to care! They also don't have these wandering cats spayed/neutered which just causes more problems. The city is trying to come up with ideas for stopping this - maybe licensing (which I support), low cost operations etc. I think there should be licensing (just like dogs) that offer cheaper rates for spayed/neutered (like dogs) cats and/or having permenant id (tattoo/microchip).

Have a great day!

A "Got Nothin' Done" Weekend

Hi Everyone!

Did nothing I wanted to accomplish this weekend. Had a great yoga lesson and spent the afternoon strolling around Marda Loop. Wasn't in the mood to attend the symphony, despite paying full price for a ticket. Was excited for months about this performance but felt like staying in.

Slept in Sunday and missed attending St. Andrew's. I guess my body needed the sleep to recover from my cold. Still have a lingering cough but it's infrequent now. Baked several batches of squares for Wednesday. Also cooked some yummy beef satay with peanut sauce. Stayed in my pyjamas and didn't do the laundry that's piling up...

Went to bed early and still slept in today! Took transit and arrived on time for work. Work's been steady but will start picking up in the next week or two.

Have a great day!

It's Friday!

Hello Everyone!

Slept in this morning but still got to work on time. Decided I needed some "me" time last night so instead of choir (I won't be at St. Matthew's on Sunday anyways - Jocelyn from The Townships Project is speaking at St. Andrew's so I'm heading there) I drew a bath, read a book, indulged in some tv and cross-stitched. Started a new project - the material is loose knit so I have to be careful not to pull my stitches tight.

Made a ham & cheese omelet on an English muffin last night. Although it seems the only type of eggs I can eat are the organic free-range eggs, I've noticed they have a higher rate of blood spots than regular eggs. Does anyone know why or have I just been unlucky lately?

Got a solid night's sleep and I feel much refreshed today. After work, I'm going to the printer to approve the proof for the brochure I designed for The Townships Project. On Saturday is yoga (and grocery shopping) and Sunday is church. I got a new movie from Roger's Video Direct - Vanity Fair (Reese Witherspoon). With Roger's, you make a list of all the movies you want to rent. When a title becomes available, the send it to you and include a pre-stamped envelope. I pay about $10/month for 3 movie titles. There are lots of different rates and you can keep the movie for as long as you need. It's cheaper than going to the rental shop and it's convenient.

Have a great day!

In a grumpy mood

Hi Everyone!

In a very pissed-off, grumpy mood this morning.

After work yesterday, took transit to the dentist. I think the bus driver didn't have any basic driving skills as his driving was so jerky that I was queasy by the time I got off. Appointment went well - I think there was just 3 (maybe 4) fillings this time. Only two needles. My mouth was frozen for most of the evening so I didn't get any supper. Got everything ready for today and got a solid night's sleep.

This morning started out o'kay. Mike woke me up by massaging my shoulders with his paws. Decided to take transit as I had my baking for Inn From the Cold and Bethel (today is my snack turn). Got to the bus stop and read a yellow sign that indicated the stop was closed (detour) but to go to the temporary bus stop 1/2 a block away. I went to the temporary stop (with two other people waiting) and watched as the bus ignored the route, paused at the closed stop, and departed just as the three of us came puffing up to the stop after running to catch the bus. I think one of the women called a cab. The other waited with me at the closed stop. A man came up and we explained the situation. He decided to wait at the temporary stop so this way it didn't matter which way the bus went - someone could hold the bus for the rest. Naturally, when the next bus came, it went to the temporary stop and so myself and the other woman had to run back to the stop. This whole episode made me late for work and pissed me off. Phoned Calgary Transit to complain. The woman wasn't too helpful - she just told me that they'd make sure the bus driver knew about the detour!

It probably didn't help that I hadn't had breakfast yet (blood sugar was a bit low), my mouth was still a bit sore, and my cough's still hanging around. When I got to work, I gobbled up some pills and made some breakfast, although I'm still waiting for everything to kick in.

What a way to start the morning! Today's a very hectic day for me. I have a meeting right after work for The Townships Project (someone is giving me a ride there thankfully). Immediately afterwards, I need to drop off my baking at Inn, grab something quick for supper, and head to Bethel class. I'll need to take a nap at lunch to gather my energy again and I won't get back home until late in the evening. Once I do get back, I need to do my final addition to a brochure I've been designing for The Townships Project so I can send it to the printer (they accept files electronically so if it's there for them Thursday morning, they'll have time to print everything up for next week's big event. We're having a public information session.)

I was planning to go to the museum tomorrow (they're running an exhibit on Petra - some of the architecture was used in Indiana Jones) before choir but I think I'll wait until the weekend. It's closing soon so I need to visit within the next couple weeks. I'm very much looking forward to the weekend and some sleep!

Anyways, I hope your day turns out better than mine. Have a great day!

It snowed!

Hi Everyone!

It snowed overnight and I woke up to a winter wonderland. Only about an inch of snow (which has mostly melted) but the trees looked really pretty.

Off to the dentist after work. They said my cold wouldn't affect them. I've gone back to the Tylenol Cold and it seems to be working the best.

My weekly routine starts up again tomorrow. Bible study class resumes and I'll cough my way through choir on Thursday. It'll be nice to have a steady schedule again - I loose track of the days when I don't have anything happening in the evenings.

Got my cheque from Ralph on Friday. Spent it all paying bills. As appreciated as it was, I think the money could have invested in education and health care. Watched The Notebook on the weekend - I've already read the book but I thought it was a very good adaptation. Sappy and mushy but I was in the mood for a movie like that. After, I watched 28 Days Later and got back to my normal self again.

Have a great day!

TGIF

Hi Everyone!

Woke up this morning at the same time I usually try to leave the apartment for work. Luckily I had almost everything ready last night so after a bit of running, I was still able to get to work on time.

Still have a cough. It's no longer a dry cough but I'm still not sure of the cause. Driving me crazy although Mike did spend the night.

Have my paint choices. I'd love them to be brighter/bolder colours but I can deal with the management's request. If you're interested, I'm using Debbie Travis paints on the walls - Nearly Nude CM31L in the livingroom, hallway and bedroom and Soya Bean CM30K in the kitchen and bathroom. The trim/doors will be CIL Almond Wisp C14. Still deciding if the kitchen cupboards will be white or almond. I'll know better when I have the walls painted. I'm also painting the ceiling in the bathroom and kitchen, not sure about my bedroom. I don't think I'll do the livingroom/hall because it'd be a lot of work and there's a bit of water damage from before I moved in and uneveness that I don't think I could repair anyways. I'll just use a white for the ceiling. It'll be a bit of work getting the walls prepped for painting - I have my suspicions that it's actually primer on my walls, not paint. The previous morons didn't sand anything, fills were uneven, paint bristles were left, bolts, hinges etc were painted and the thickness was uneven. I'll TSP everything and sand/fill it properly. After all, if you're going to go through the effort of painting, you'd better do it right.

Have a great day!

New Government

Hi Everyone!

Can't say I'm surprised with the results - at least they're in a minority!

My landlord is letting me paint the apartment! It's been driving me nuts that this apartment was painted so badly. The paint wasn't put on properly and you can see the pre-existing colour under it. My bathroom was once a horrid turquoise colour and cottoncandy pink was the kitchen. They also painted over the lightswitch covers and used the same paint for the walls as they did the ceilings! It will be nice to be able to get the walls looking nice (cover the peeling, holes from nails etc.) and making it look a bit more polished. I am limited to neutral colours but I think I can work with this. It'd be nice to have some bold colours but I can use my curtains, rugs etc to deal with this. I was looking at the Benjamin Moore website for some ideas so I have a basic idea of what I want to do. I can't have a lot of contrast between the different rooms (brightness limitation, lighting, layout etc.) so I'm looking at beige (I know - but it will go with the carpet in the livingroom and flow down the hallway) for the livingroom/hallway. I found a nice "fernwood green" that would look nice in the kitchen. Still a bit unsure about the bathroom but I'm thinking of a yellow/gold tone. I think in the bedroom I'll go for a darker version of the livingroom or maybe stay with the same colour and put a darker colour on one wall. It doesn't get much light and it's rather small. Trim colour is a bit difficult. I have a tiny trim (about 1") above the floor. My flooring is carpet in the livingroom and that black & white checkerboard everywhere else. I can't go with a straight white because the tiles have yellowed in places. I may have to go to a taupe or brown. I also have heaters baseboard heaters running along the walls everywhere. I'm going to check out paint samples this weekend. Overall, I'm looking form warm tones-no blues or greys. It'll be an on-going project - probably one room/month, starting with the bathroom.

Still have a cough and Mike slept in the livingroom last night. He was with me when I woke up so I'm guessing he waited for my medicine to kick in before he settled in to sleep. Gave Gilbert a bath in the sink - seemed less stressful than the bathtub. Whiskers tried to eat my Spiderplant last night - that poor plant - between Whiskers and Mike, I don't know how it's still alive!

Have a great day!

PJ Sunday

Hi Everyone!

Slept through church - decided to stay in my pjs today. Actually did some tidying up around the house. Didn't even need a nap! Still have a stupid cough but my head's less fuzzy.

Did you know that a pot holder can catch fire if it's left on top of the stove while the oven is on? I was reheating my pizza and thought there was an odd smell coming from the kitchen. Luckily whatever the pot holder was made out of was a low-heat burning material. The flame was yellow (like a candle) but it didn't burn very fast. I was able to easily grab the corner and put it in the sink. I've lost a pot holder but there was no damage to the exposed element where it burned. I have no idea how this happened - the element that regulates the heat of the oven is the back left whereas the pot holder was on the front right! Scary thought - the fire alarm didn't go off (batteries are ok - it beeps when it needs changing) By the way, the pizza reheated perfectly.

Still haven't made up my mind about who to vote for tomorrow. My riding is very Conservative so although whoever I vote for won't get in, perhaps when the Conservatives are looking at statistics, they may see some left-wing support. I haven't received a single phone call/message or panflet in the mail about the candidates running or their platforms. I strongly believe it's everyone's responsibility to vote but I can understand why so many people are uninformed. I think there needs to be electoral reform to get people involved again. Unfortunately, the two dominate parties don't have electoral reform in their platforms. Hopefully there'll be enough NDP elected to force them to make some changes.

Anyways, enough of my ranting. I'm spending my evening watching cartoons and cuddling with my guys. Have a great day!

Drugged up on cold medicine

Hi Everyone!

My cold has gotten worse over the week and I was sent home from work. Didn't go yesterday (voice kept leaving me) - spent most of my time sleeping. The week's been a blur and I've been hibernating as much as possible.

Mike's not been too patient with me - he's been hiding behind the chair and trying to claw at the livingroom rug. Whiskers has been surprisingly good - I think she knows I'm sick. I've been alternating between her and Gilbert to go on the futon for a cuddle. She ignores my coughs and doesn't attempt to hop away as much as she usually does.

Anyways, it's naptime for me - have a great day!

I have a cold

Hi Everyone!

Have caught a cold - it's just a cough but it's rather annoying. Mike wasn't impressed last night, although he didn't leave for the futon.

I'm tired and don't feel like typing.

Have a great day!

A hectic start to the week...

Hi Everyone!

Sorry I haven't updated in a while - it's been one of those weeks. Snowed on my walk to work. Furry family upset that I've had meetings the past two nights - hence no playtime with Mama. Got a cordless phone last night. Whiskers (idiot that she is) cut my phone cord in half Sunday night. While looking at replacements cords, saw a nice, yet inexpensive phone so I got it instead.

Work picking up - I'll start writing my blog at night because I won't have time anymore at work. I'll give you a good update tonight!

Have a great day!

A lovely Sunday Afternoon

Hi Everyone!

I skipped out on church today - still a bit tired and I had skipped choir on Thursday.

Went for a run this morning. I should explain - yesterday, I went and bought running shoes and outerwear (pants & long-sleeved shirt). I have decided that I need to improve my cardio activities. Although I do a lot of walking (which is great for endurance and muscle strength), my heart rate doesn't go high enough for cardio. This is why I've decided to go running in the morning. This week, I'm only running for a little over 10 minutes. I worked out a route this morning and it took me 11:51. I'll do this route for a week and then extend it by a few blocks (or approximately 15 minutes). Each week will have a 5 minute increase until I reach 30 minutes. After that, I'll start increasing distance (hence speed) as I don't want to get up too early in the morning. I was able to run for the entire distance today and my breathing wasn't too bad. I want to take things easy at first so my body gets use to running again. It felt really good although I don't know how enthusiastic I'll be in the early hours of the morn.

I'm making hamburger soup today. It's been simmering for about an hour know and the wonderful smell is filling the apartment. I'll keep it on the stove until supper and my mouth is already watering in anticipation.

Bought some potted miniature Irises today (4"). Hopefully I have enough sunlight to let them bloom. Have lots of tidying-up to do around the apartment.

Whiskers has been very well behaved. I've had her running loose around the entire apartment and so far I haven't noticed any droppings or chew marks. Gilbert's been a bit jealous but unfortunately he's not litter-trained and he loves electrical cords. Mike seems afraid of Whiskers - especially when she's in running mode (up and down the hallway). At times he tries to swat her but as soon as she jumps, he runs away. When she's quiet and I'm petting her, he'll lick her and then try to wedge himself between Whiskers and myself! This way (in his friggin' little idiot mind), I'll pet him instead of the rabbit! I think Mike will adjust to having Whiskers hopping around but it'll take time.

Have had an ongoing headache since visiting the dentist. The side of my mouth that he worked on seems higher than the other side. Hopefully this will be rectified when my other side gets done. I think it's causing my headaches and I also notice tense muscles around my jaw, neck and shoulders. I'll keep gobbling down the ibuprofin and wait until the end of the month.

Have a great day!

Another warm day

Hi Everyone!

It was another nice morning to walk to work (although since I didn't want to get out of bed I ended up running yet again). The temperature's not suppose to be as high as yesterday (+9 this afternoon vs yesterday's +10) but I'm not complaining.

Not much going on. Ordered some winter boots from Sears today (will arrive on Monday). They look funky yet practical (white with faux fur at the top but also has a -30 rating and good grip).

Have a huge list of things to do tonight - my apartment looks like a tornado went through it! I've been in a stay-at-home mood since I got back. Hopefully I'll get back into routine soon and things will get straightened out.

My amaryllis plant grew two flower stalks and the first one (with four blooms) has finished. I cut the stalk off at the bottom and have turned the pot so the second stalk will straighten and I'll get more blooms. I have quite a few leaves on the plant and it looks rather interesting. I am also growing a pot head. It's in the shape of a cat and in a couple weeks, I'll have grass to give my pals.

Did you know that people in Calgary have never heard of ham and bacon lunch meat?! I tried to get some at the grocery store. I first went to the meat department where the pre-packaged lunch meats and hotdogs are found. I didn't see any. I then went to the deli. When I asked the lady at the counter, she gave me a funny look and started to search for bacon. I explained to her what it was so she went to the back to ask the senior lady. She didn't know either but still wanted me to get some regular bacon. I asked Lori & Sylvia if they had heard of it but all I got was blank faces. I guess I'll just have to buy my ham and bacon separate for pizza!

Have a great day!

Happy New Year!

Hi Everyone!

Got back in one piece (along with my luggage!) despite having to be on the plane for an extra hour. Mike was extremely happy to see me (wouldn't leave my ankles and followed me around everywhere). He (typical idiot that he is) had me up Monday morning at 6:13am. Went to the dentist for part 1 of my fillings. Some good news - if I had waited for another 3 months, the dentist would likely have had to do a root canal on at least one tooth. Will eventually need a crown for the tooth but that's in the far future. Had 5 fillings done (my mouth still aches) but probably the thing that hurt the most was the needles. I was frozen from one side of my nose right to the back of my throat. The dentist was very nice and warned me about different pressure, shaking etc. Will be back at the end of the month for part 2. My mouth feels a bit odd because my right side teeth are higher than the left. I think he built up the one side and then it'll even out when he does the other side. Other good news - I qualified for a payment plan.

Still a bit sniffly and sore today. Very tired - stayed up reading a book. I just got a copy of the new Terry Brooks book from the library and it's the final book in that particular series.

Went to the grocery store after work yesterday and picked up some fresh, hot bread. I defrosted a chicken earlier but by the time I got home, all I wanted was bread. Had a few slices before getting the roast ready. Had a few more once the roast was in. Made a salad (well, opened a bag and dumped some salad on my plate and added dressing). Had more bread. Took the chicken out of the oven. Ended up being full from the bread and put the chicken in the fridge. Altogether, I ate about 3/4 of the loaf of french bread. It was really yummy!

Have a zillion and one things to do around the house this week. Still not completely unpacked. Spent most of my time cuddling with my pals (Whiskers was actually well-behaved last night).

Have a great day!

Merry Christmas!

Hi Everyone!

This will be my last post until the new year. I fly out tomorrow and will return on the 1st. It's laundry/cleaning day and I'll finish my packing tonight.

Anyways, got all my running around done. Went to the dentist and found out some expensive news. I need to get 8 fillings. Luckily (relatively), 4 of them are to replace fillings (silver fillings have a lifespan of about 15 years) I had done as a teenager. 1 is a serious cavity and the other 3 are small but are between my teeth. Since I grind/clench my teeth, I will also need a mouth guard for when I sleep (to prolong the life of my fillings and to prevent more stress lines from forming). I've done it for years (my previous dentist mentioned it) but I didn't realize what it actually did to my teeth. The guard is expensive however so I likely can't get one until next fall. The hygenist also told me I have gingivitis and that my lack of flossing is causing huge problems. Luckily, I'm still at the stage that it can be reversed and no permenant damage has been caused yet. Quite a wake-up call for me - I've always had bad teeth but this was the first time I was explained everything that is happening.

I now have a nice electric toothbrush that has 3 settings (clean, soft and massage) with a timer so I know how long to brush. Every 30 seconds, there's a pause to let you know when to switch to the next quadrant of your teeth. As well, the hygenist gave me a tool to help me floss (a longer handle than most you get at the pharmacy) and some nice minty floss. It's pretty sad that at my age I wasn't very sure how to floss - I didn't learn as a child.

Note to all parents: teach you children how to floss and make sure they do it every day! This will save hundreds of dollars in future fillings. The dental office does have a payment plan so hopefully I'll qualify. I'll find out on the 2nd when I go for my fillings. Despite the large bill on Monday, they did spend a lot of time with me. They worked on my teeth for 1 1/2 hours (doesn't include wait times or x-ray development time) which included a cleaning.

Been having fun this week playing with my household. Mike's been waking me up when my downstairs neighbour's alarm clock goes off (6:30 am) but Whiskers has let me cuddle with her on the futon while watching/dozing through the morning news. I got Gilbert a new water bottle and so far he hasn't been playing with it as much as his last one. Guinea pigs often like to play with the ball at the end of the spout even when they aren't thirsty.

Got my Chrisco hamper yesterday. It was rather exciting to open the boxes and pull out my treats. I was a bit worried about groceries in January but I'm all stocked up for when I get back. They also included an extra box with candy canes and little treats for Christmas as a present from the company. I thought it was a nice touch. Although it more expensive than the grocery store, I just order again because it was nice to open it and generally, I find the pocket book's rather tight in January/February. If anyone else is interested in them, their website is www.chriscohampers.ca The downfalls are you have to be at home on the day they deliver, they can't narrow the time down more than 7am to 7pm and you don't have a choice of the delivery date. For those of you not familiar with Chrisco, you have a choice of many different hampers (depending on your taste) and instead of paying for it all at once, the cost is split over many months (the earlier you order, the longer you have to pay and the cheaper the weekly payment). You can pay weekly, every other week, or monthly and the money's automatically deducted from your bank account. If anyone does decide to order a hamper (they can also be sent as gifts), you can use my agent number (87751). This way, I make a little money for Christmas.

I wish for everyone to have a safe and happy holiday season!

Turkey!!!

Hi Everyone!

Chris (senior tech) just took me out to lunch. One of our suppliers was having a customer appreciation lunch so we went for turkey. They were service deep fried turkey on a bun. It was so delicious. The turkey was juicy and the skin was crispy - just the way I like it. It's been a while since I've seen so many rough-looking people and mullets!

I've now had my turkey for the year.

Mailed Christmas cards today

Hi Everyone!

Depending on Canada Post, you should receive your Christmas card anytime next week or next month. I had good intentions of having them sent early (they've been sitting on my coffee table since before December) but it seems they always get sent out late.

Ended up waiting 40 minutes to see the doctor so I skipped choir. My feet were wet and the Chinook hadn't come yet. I find it frusterating going to the doctor because my appointment is rarely on time. I've been there about 15 times since a year ago August. In that time, 1 apointment was early, 1 was on-time and the rest ranged from 30 minutes to 75 minutes late. He works in an office that accepts both appointments and walk-ins. I don't know what a reasonable wait time is but this seems excessive.

The Chinook came night and it was a warm windy walk to work. (Hee-hee!) After work, I'll drop off presents for the toydrive, drop of treats for Inn, buy some wine and grab a pizza. What a nice way to end the week!

Have a great day!

Warm weather!

Hi Everyone!

I didn't have to wear a toque today! It's 0 C outside! The weather changed around supper last night.

Tomorrow's my last day of work until January. It'll be nice to have the extra few days off before flying to Ontario. Have a doctor's appointment and choir tonight. Tomorrow I have to go downtown and drop off presents (toy drive) and the last of my Christmas baking (Inn). Jodi (petsitter) is coming on Saturday to pick up keys, meet Whiskers etc. Sunday is church. Have a dentist appointment and book club on Monday. On Tuesday, I have to wait around the house for my Chrisco order to arrive and then have a Townships meeting that night. You've probably seen the commercials about paying a little bit each week and then at Christmas you get a big box of food. I ordered the cottage hamper and chocolate bar/candy hamper. (There's lots of options as to what you want to order) In hind sight, it was more expensive than going to the store and buying them. Therefore, I'm not ordering next year and I'll take the weekly payment money and put it in a bank account for Christmas presents. Wednesday is the only day I don't have something happening but I suspect I'll be doing last minute errands. I also have cleaning and laundry to do before I leave.

The Bethel party last night was very nice. My wings turned out well and I timed it perfectly so I literally took them out of the oven and caught the bus. Fell asleep watching the news so I'm a bit tired this morning.

Have a great day!

-21 C

Hi Everyone!

It's friggin' cold out!! The core of my body kept warm with my jacket but even with longjohns on, my legs were very cold. It's supose to warm up to -13 this afternoon (if you call that warm) and this system is apparently going to clear out in a couple days.

The Friendship Dinner last night went really well. The food was really delicious and I found a new (yet inexpensive) wine that I like. For a present, I got some homemade baking. I think I'll end up giving it to Inn From The Cold because I'm trying to save up my sweets cravings until Ontario.

I'm stopping by Saje this afternoon to pick up a few last minutes things. They're having their annual Christmas sale and serving "refreshments" (wine and healthy finger food). I love this store - they sell essential oils and blends as well as organic skin care products. I was first introduced to their products when visiting Aunt Corinne in 2000. I've used their Peppermint Halo for my ailments (headache, jetlag) ever since. They also have an online store.

Have a great day!

An interesting weekend

Hi Everyone!

Had an interesting experience at the grocery store on Saturday. I needed to buy baby food for the Friendship Dinner on Monday (it's for a charity that helps new/single mothers in need) and had to go through the store twice to figure out where it was. After all, why is food in the pharmacy section? Anyways, got to the checkout and set the babyfood and formula on the conveyer belt first before the rest of my groceries. The guy in front of my glance at my selection and got a puzzled look on his face. He was probably doing what I do when I'm in line - look at other people's purchases and try to figure out their lifestyle. My order was very odd because I had a huge variety of babyfood (both for newborns and toddlers) followed by ingredients to make wings. He kept looking back to figure me out and I had a hard time keeping from laughing. I can't believe how expensive baby food is! If I remember correctly, Christine use to eat two jars each meal. Formula was even more expensive. Why do women pay for something that their bodies produce naturally? (Yes - you can tell I'm not a mom)

Made my Zuccotto on Saturday night and I'll glaze it after supper. I decided to go the easy decorating route. I'll first glaze it with chocolate (very easy - Baker's chocolate & evaporated milk). I'll then sprinkle the dome with shaved white chocolate and my leftover roasted filberts. Around the edge of the plate (to cover where the glaze pooled I'll surround it with Cool Whip (imagine it's snow drifts) and sprinkle a bit more of the filberts and some shaved semi-sweet chocolate. It'll look really nice and yet be very simple to do.

Bought a Peace Lily for Smartie today. I've been a bit worried because Jodi (the petsitter) is only coming every other day and Smartie loves to eat. I can set up the plant so he'll get nutrients from the roots and will only need feeding once a week. Hopefully he likes it...

Have a great day!

Yummy Recipe for Wings

Saucy Wings

3 lbs chicken drumettes or wings

3/4 cup pineapple juice
1/4 cup soy sauce
3 tbsp lemon juice

1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
1/3 cup white sugar
1 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp salt
6 tbsp all-purpose flour

Arrange chicken on foil-lined baking sheet with sides. If using whole wings, discard tips and cut wings apart at joint. Bake in 350 oven for 30 minutes.

Heat pineapple juice, soy sauce and lemon juice in saucepan until boiling.

Mix remaining 5 ingredients well in bowl. Stir into boiling liquid until sauce returns to a boil and thickens. Remove from heat. Brush wings generously with sauce. Bake, brushing with sauce every 10 minutes for about 30 minutes until tender.

Serves about 3-4 people.

When I made these, I submerged the wings into the sauce and didn't need to brush them every 10 minutes. Very yummy.

Sunny Saturday

Hi Everyone!

Love my new haircut - it reminds Velma from Scooby Doo! The colour is dark brown and looks very natural. Puttering around the house doing odds and ends but I'm heading down to 17th Ave this afternoon for a few things.

Ended up not going to the church's dinner - it was just too cold out and I had lots of food in the fridge. Watched "The Blue Butterfly". It's a wonderful movie (based on a true story) about a boy dying from cancer whose last wish is to find a blue morpho butterfly. I'd highly recommend it to everyone (including children above the age of 8). It's a Canadian movie but don't hold that against it!

Have a great day!

Haircut day!

Hi everyone!

Another cold morning (-18 C) and I'm still getting warmed up after my walk.

Made my Christmas treats last night. Much earlier than expected but not everyone is working next week (although I am). It didn't take very long as I had all my ingredients at hand and everything I needed was ready to go. I made turtle squares, peanut brittle, two-tone almond bark, unbaked honey squares and fantasy fudge. Also made some shortbread cookies and chocolate macaroons but both turned out terribly. I find shortbread very tough - mine only turn out about half of the time.

Getting my hair cut tonight and then will attend the church's annual dinner. It'll be my first turkey of the year (Thanksgiving was Indian cuisine - yum!).

Have a great day!