tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-42400380850016609972024-03-13T23:27:33.297-04:00Natural Sense of WonderUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger130125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4240038085001660997.post-38445486207357086072012-02-22T10:24:00.001-05:002012-02-22T10:24:55.537-05:00New Blog!New adventure in life = new blog. <br /><br />www.notafrica.blogspot.com<br /><br />See you over there!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4240038085001660997.post-38408960145092329222010-12-14T14:08:00.003-05:002010-12-14T14:13:42.657-05:00Quick PostFor those of you who read this and don't live in my hometown, we have been getting more snow in the last week than I can remember. From what I've heard, the last big snow like this in our area was 1977!<br /><br />Anyhow, last week the schools had three snow days in a row (I never had that going to school, ever) but of course, being the nerdy homeschooling mom that I am, we didn't get a snow day...not a single one. We just plowed right through working like busy little beavers. You see, I have this day-book for homeschooling and by this Thursday coming, we have some deadlines to meet. Ethan has to have completed Lesson 66 of his math, Grammar needs to be done etc...so there's no time for nonsense. I have things on a list that must be checked off (this is the Type A portion of my personality coming out...)<br /><br />Anyhow, we've gotten over four feet of snow in the last week, actually, almost five feet. That's pretty darn good for balmy south-western Ontario. It's been a beautiful white wonderland out here and I have loved being "snowed in." Turns out I'm becoming a bit of a hermit. How can I tell? When I look ahead to a week and see that we don't have to be anywhere at any time and I sigh a huge sigh of relief. Officially a hermit. Sad but true! <br /><br />If I don't post between now and then, have a very very Merry Christmas and may the blessings of this season remind you of the Greatest Blessing ever ~ the gift of a Saviour!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4240038085001660997.post-6120120726761669772010-12-01T14:15:00.003-05:002010-12-01T14:28:28.670-05:00Brotherly Love<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_P2nrEklIdcM/TPahil9jAmI/AAAAAAAAA7k/vQBGH15nRBo/s1600/100_5488.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_P2nrEklIdcM/TPahil9jAmI/AAAAAAAAA7k/vQBGH15nRBo/s200/100_5488.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545797606831227490" border="0" /></a><br />I was just answering emails a few minutes ago when my brother popped up in the Instant Messaging to have a chat with me.<br /><br />Below is our chat word for word. Who else can you have a conversation like this with other than your own brother. This is why God gave brothers.<br /><br />Brother: Loser, why haven't you answered my email?<br /><br />Me: I'm getting to it right now, dingleberry.<br /><br />Brother: Faster....my time is valuable.<br /><br />Me: w.r.i.t.i.n.g.....v.e.r.y......s.l.o.w.l.y........<br /><br />Brother: you are so dead when I see you next....<br /><br />Me: I very much look forward to our next meeting....fartface.<br /><br />Brother: You suck. Your email is going in the trash <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">(my email was about Christmas gift ideas)</span></span><br />Get lost and leave me alone.<br /><br />Me: Merry Christmas.....smooooooooch.<br /><br />Brother: And to you and your family!<br /><br /><br />Seriously, now, who do you get to call names like that and know that on the other end of the message, they are laughing as much as you are. And when all is said and done, you love each other just as much as you did before -- may be even more.<br /><br />I don't write much about my brother. He's 40 and I'm 34 (although you may not be able to tell that by the maturity of our messaging). He is one of my most favourite people, but don't tell him that. He never reads my blog so I can say whatever I want about him and he'll never know.<br /><br />It is a very good thing to have an older brother. They push you, irritate you, defend you, throttle you, drive you around, drive you crazy, give you advice, give you punches in the shoulder, and love you like no one else could -- at least, my brother does.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4240038085001660997.post-54243098505455480882010-11-11T08:33:00.001-05:002010-11-11T08:34:26.670-05:00Freedom FourIn school yesterday...<br /><br />Me: "Jack, it's time to do your reading."<br /><br />Jack: "I don't want to. I quit."<br /><br />Me: "You can't quit, buddy."<br /><br />Jack: "Then I retire."Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4240038085001660997.post-75478674243753301932010-11-10T07:34:00.004-05:002010-11-10T08:01:44.737-05:00The Trip - Part 2Like I said in the earlier post, Unmentionable and I had this crazy conversation on the way to South Bend that illuminated and enlightened our minds as to each other.<br /><br />Turns out we are both weird -- but in different ways. We did know that before, (<span style="font-size:78%;">it's pretty obvious</span>) but now we know it in a new way.<br /><br />Unmentionable is the kind of person who should be in the army. He loves rules, directions, order. He would be the first to volunteer for a job asked by his superior. His motto would be "mine is not to ask why, mine is just to do or die".<br /><br />For heaven's sake, the more I think about it, the more the man is made for the armed forces. He wears his hair in a buzz cut and gets up before dawn every day because he LIKES it. He may have missed his true calling.<br /><br />Not so with me.<br /><br />If he and I stood before a superior officer that said, "I need you to do __________."<br />Unmentionable's response: Sir, yes, SIR.<br />Mine: "Why?"<br /><br />In our discussion, I explained that my first reaction to someone telling me to do something is "Why?" This is what drives me. A need to understand.<br /><br />Unmentionable is baffled by this. He is absolutely floored that I could utter such a response to a command. To him, this is total disrespect. You do not question authority.<br /><br />I do. And it is my natural state.<br /><br />He was horrified. For him, to ask why to an authority figure is the pinnacle of arrogance and disrespect.<br /><br />I laughed and said....but why?<br /><br />He just about had a conniption. I tried to explain that it isn't arrogance, just a need to understand. If I don't understand then I won't know why I'm doing it. If you can't prove to me why I should do this and why it's the right thing to do, then I'm not doing it. Wait....that sounded a little arrogant.<br /><br />But it's so true. My favourite question is why. Throughout highschool especially, I needed to understand. Why do I have do that? Why do I have to wear a long skirt every day to school? Why is my mark so low on this math test? If someone can't back up their position with a decent response then I figured I didn't really have to listen. Yikes.<br /><br /><br />Isn't that horrible? As we drove through the USA together, chatting about this, I began to realize what an awful teenager I must have been. I had no idea how frustrating it must have been to be an authority figure to me.<br /><br />We laughed. No, I laughed and Unmentionable shook his head in disbelief. We wondered which of our children would inherit my trait and which would inherit his.<br /><br />It was a light bulb moment. It made me laugh and it made me sad. Laugh because I think a lot of things are funny and sad because I may have been and still be a very frustrating person to teach, direct and lead.<br /><br />And that was our conversation. Perhaps it was not that interesting to read but I needed to put it down on "paper" so I wouldn't forget. <br /><br />The End.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4240038085001660997.post-59493249202158084832010-11-08T09:44:00.004-05:002010-11-08T10:09:54.130-05:00The Trip - Part 1A couple weekends ago, The Unmentionable and I went on a weekend getaway to South Bend, Indiana.<br />Through work Unmentionable did, we became friends with a woman who works for the University of Notre Dame in the athletic department. Athletic dept. = free tickets to games. So this sweet friend of ours invites us down to stay with her in her home and attend a university football game. For those of you like me, this means a BIG DEAL to a man.<br /><br />And it was a big deal.<br /><br />Last year was the first weekend we did this. We were amazed at what a big deal "game day" is in the States. We are talking HUGE.<br /><br />I cannot even explain to you the craziness that goes on for a game. A game that happens every other weekend. Every other weekend is a home game in this town and that means that 80,000 people descend upon the stadium to watch the game. Those are just the ones with tickets. There are still thousands of others that just come to the campus to be part of the festivities and the tail-gating.<br /><br />Tail gating, my friends, is another culture entirely. A strange phenomenon that only happens in the parking lot of a sporting event. I have never witnessed anything like it.<br /><br />And then there is the actual game. The cheerleaders, the marching band, the national anthem, the airforce jets flying over breaking the sound barrier just as the national anthem is finished.<br /><br />It's incredible.<br /><br />And squishy.<br /><br />And uncomfortable.<br /><br />Picture sitting a piece of wood with no back on it, the size of a 2x6 board, with 80,000 other people. Your spot on the "bench" is marked by a number. Your number is 4 inches from the next number, so that if you put your bum dead centre on your number, you have a total of eight inches of space before you touch your neighbour. My bum is bigger than 8 inches. Turns out most of the people attending the games have bums even bigger than mine.<br /><br />But overall, its a cool thing to do.<br /><br />This year we went again. We attended a hockey game on Friday night and then Unmentionable and sweet friend's boyfriend went to the football game on Saturday. I didn't need to go again. Turns out this is more of a man thing to do. I went shopping. Everyone was happy.<br /><br />The weekend was so fun. Other than a football game on Saturday afternoon, Unmentionable and I spent loads of time hanging out, walking all over the beautiful campus of Notre Dame (this place is gorgeous!) and eating in different restaurants, just being together.<br /><br />If you ever get a chance to go and see Notre Dame, it is worth the trip. The University in our home town is beautiful and about 30,000 students attend there. Notre Dame is gorgeous, well-maintained and filthy rich. Only 8,000 students attend there. And the facilities are incredible.<br /><br />On the trip down, Unmentionable and I had the most enlightening conversation we'd had in ages. This is another post altogether because it was so interesting. It took a good portion of the trip and had us laughing hilariously and completely astonished that we had just discovered this pattern of behaviour in our lives despite that we have been married 14 years.<br /><br />I'll leave you there, waiting, with bated-breath, for the next post where you discover just how strange and different two people can actually be.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4240038085001660997.post-12037456542665653112010-11-04T09:59:00.007-04:002010-11-04T10:09:53.151-04:00New house.<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_P2nrEklIdcM/TNK988dhLBI/AAAAAAAAA7c/HWybMqvuObY/s1600/DSC_0493.jpg"><br /></a><br />Finally! I've finally posted a few pics of our new place. Sadly, the pics are pretty small. If you know how to make the pics on a blog bigger without making them fuzzy, please let me know.<br /><br />Time for the tour...<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_P2nrEklIdcM/TNK988dhLBI/AAAAAAAAA7c/HWybMqvuObY/s1600/DSC_0493.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 164px; height: 244px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_P2nrEklIdcM/TNK988dhLBI/AAAAAAAAA7c/HWybMqvuObY/s200/DSC_0493.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535695746711497746" border="0" /></a><br />School Room (hard to tell but it's a nice bonus room over the garage/family room)<br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_P2nrEklIdcM/TNK9fLwxRaI/AAAAAAAAA7U/h5rMdAn6QeU/s1600/DSC_0492.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 218px; height: 146px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_P2nrEklIdcM/TNK9fLwxRaI/AAAAAAAAA7U/h5rMdAn6QeU/s200/DSC_0492.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535695235422700962" border="0" /></a><br />Laundry Room (which I love!!)<br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_P2nrEklIdcM/TNK9M_7YwBI/AAAAAAAAA7M/nz6tB0Mdyrw/s1600/DSC_0488.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 216px; height: 144px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_P2nrEklIdcM/TNK9M_7YwBI/AAAAAAAAA7M/nz6tB0Mdyrw/s200/DSC_0488.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535694923008360466" border="0" /></a><br />Dining room<br /><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_P2nrEklIdcM/TNK858DfsDI/AAAAAAAAA7E/N2zNQdtrTto/s1600/DSC_0489.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 156px; height: 232px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_P2nrEklIdcM/TNK858DfsDI/AAAAAAAAA7E/N2zNQdtrTto/s200/DSC_0489.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535694595551113266" border="0" /></a>Kitchen<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_P2nrEklIdcM/TNK8jFxKXNI/AAAAAAAAA68/PqtzIBbi3qc/s1600/DSC_0358.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 225px; height: 150px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_P2nrEklIdcM/TNK8jFxKXNI/AAAAAAAAA68/PqtzIBbi3qc/s200/DSC_0358.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535694203021581522" border="0" /></a><br />Family Room<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">That's all I have for now. If you want to see it in real life, feel free to pop in.<br /><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4240038085001660997.post-7249816112583845442010-10-27T14:50:00.002-04:002010-10-27T14:57:40.741-04:00Not Okay.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_P2nrEklIdcM/TMh1fCTXzuI/AAAAAAAAA6c/Wr0fdrSdQD0/s1600/DSC_0486.JPG"><br /></a><br />I found this in my bedroom:<br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_P2nrEklIdcM/TMh1fCTXzuI/AAAAAAAAA6c/Wr0fdrSdQD0/s1600/DSC_0486.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 247px; height: 165px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_P2nrEklIdcM/TMh1fCTXzuI/AAAAAAAAA6c/Wr0fdrSdQD0/s200/DSC_0486.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532801318279171810" border="0" /></a>Not sure if you can see it. It's a picture of an unhappy face and the message above it states:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">"You are goning to die okay."<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">No, not okay, actually.<br /><br />I don't think this note was actually meant for me, even though I discovered it on my bed. There was a serious game of cowboys and bad guys going on in the house and I'm thinking that it had to do with that.<br /><br />But it isn't nice to go into your room and find this sorta thing on your bed. It made me a little antsy. And it wasn't the actual message that made me antsy...it was the spelling.<br /><br />Man, we really have to work on spelling. Not a proud moment for a homeschooler.<br /></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4240038085001660997.post-53948401645288037782010-10-22T14:17:00.002-04:002010-10-22T14:33:15.515-04:00Grateful.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="data:image/jpg;base64,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"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 113px;" src="data:image/jpg;base64,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" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />It's been a really long time...again. Sorry about that.<br /><br />So much has happened. I don't even know where to begin. Little things have happened and big things have happened. You won't believe what's gone on here, the things Jack has said, the stuff we've done. (Is it bad when your four year old son calls you Toots?? I think so too.)<br /><br />We'll start with the big stuff.<br /><br />We moved. We sold our house and bought a new one in a whirlwind situation. A good whirlwind, if there is such a thing.<br /><br />Nutshell version: We told our family we thought we'd put our house up for sale in the fall. My brother mentioned a friend that he thought might be interested in buying our place. We contacted this friend and his wife. They came over and we showed them our place. We sat and chatted and ate brownies and icecream. They left. The next day they called to say they'd take it.<br />(I think it was the brownies ~ they were that great mix from Costco.)<br /><br />We had seen a place we liked on the MLS. Went to see it. Put an offer on. It was accepted. We moved about 22 days later. Like I said, whirlwind. But it was awesome.<br /><br />So here I am, typing away in my new house. We haven't been here two weeks and we love it. LOVE. IT. It has been so great for all of us. The Unmentionable One has had a hard time returning to work because he loves being here. How great is that? (Except when it comes time to pay the bills, then it might not be so great.)<br /><br />Every morning I have woken up grateful. Grateful for what God has done for us. This is totally from Him. Grateful that we get to live here. Grateful for the space.<br /><br />And since moving here, some interesting things have happened and I've learned a few things too...here they are:<br /><br />-I've learned to chop wood<br />-I've used a dishwasher in my own home for the first time. And I wonder why the heck I never had one of these amazing inventions of mankind before. What was I thinking?<br />-I've learned to drive a four-wheeler and have taken my kids for rides in the bean field behind our house<br />-I've met our new neighbours who brought over a home-made apple pie. As if!<br />-I've had the mayor pop by just to say hi and welcome to the neighbourhood (what planet am I on??)<br /><br />So that's what has been happening here. In another post, I'll show you some pics of our new place so you can see where it is we live.<br /><br />And if you're in the area, feel free to pop in.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4240038085001660997.post-26557798115831611342010-08-31T12:01:00.003-04:002010-08-31T12:03:09.167-04:00The Dress<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_P2nrEklIdcM/TH0npQv1A5I/AAAAAAAAA6M/EBa7wGhLAeQ/s1600/DSC_0103.JPG"><br /></a><br />Really, this time I mean it. Here it is. It's already been borrowed and returned, so if you need a dress for a party -- this is it!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_P2nrEklIdcM/TH0npQv1A5I/AAAAAAAAA6M/EBa7wGhLAeQ/s1600/DSC_0103.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 312px; height: 209px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_P2nrEklIdcM/TH0npQv1A5I/AAAAAAAAA6M/EBa7wGhLAeQ/s200/DSC_0103.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511605108795048850" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4240038085001660997.post-79737746330545592222010-08-25T13:37:00.003-04:002010-08-25T13:48:56.085-04:00Only Sisters Would Do This<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_P2nrEklIdcM/THVXgEKjceI/AAAAAAAAA6E/L4kYiuw8kcM/s1600/DSCF0527.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_P2nrEklIdcM/THVXgEKjceI/AAAAAAAAA6E/L4kYiuw8kcM/s200/DSCF0527.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509405927543108066" border="0" /></a><br />My sister is awesome. She is the elder of us two and is truly, the most generous person I know. She also has a very warped sense of humor and when I get her laughing, she has a serious cackle-like laugh. My mom has always said that when we are at a party or in a large group, she can hear us cackling to one another no matter where she is in the room.<br /><br />Anyhow, my sister and I play this little game. When one of us is in need of something, anything really, from the other, we call each other and start a sort-of "radio program" conversation.<br /><br />Here's an example:<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">My sister phones me.</span><br /><br />Me: Hello?<br />Her: Is this Cooking with Erin?<br />Me: Yes, it is. How can I help you?<br />Her: We have a caller on line 2 who has a cooking question.<br />Me: Put her through.<br />Her: Hello?<br />Me: Hello! You're on the air. Welcome to Cooking with Erin, how can I help?<br /><br />And from there, we have a conversation about whatever recipe she needs, advice she requires etc. It makes a boring old question much more interesting.<br /><br />Here was today's episode:<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Me calling my sister.</span><br /><br />Her: Hello?<br />Me: Is this Harrison's Sanity Services?<br />Her: Yes it is. How can we help?<br />Me: We have a caller on line 2 who is need of some serious help.<br />Her: Put her through.<br />Me: Hello?<br />Her: Hi! You're on the air. What can I do for you?<br />Me: Um....I have five kids.<br />Her: Say no more.<br />Me: Yeah, I don't think there's much more to say today.<br />Her: Are they safe? Have you put them in a room together and shut the door?<br />Me: Yes, I have.<br />Her: What else do you need?<br />Me: Sugar. In some liquid and solid form. And quiet. And may be my book.<br />Her: Well, if you'll give me a few minutes, I can help for sure...<br /><br />And so goes the conversation, with much laughing and carrying on. And her Sanity Services saved my day by offering to meet me at a park so all the kids could play and we could sip and snack on sugary-things and peacefully pass the afternoon away.<br /><br />Only a sister knows to do that.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4240038085001660997.post-74175148636815419712010-08-04T22:48:00.003-04:002010-08-04T22:50:54.658-04:00Me...in the dress.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_P2nrEklIdcM/TFomxNNHHjI/AAAAAAAAA58/Gfvnr0gG09Q/s1600/picture-178.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 279px; height: 187px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_P2nrEklIdcM/TFomxNNHHjI/AAAAAAAAA58/Gfvnr0gG09Q/s200/picture-178.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501752521586581042" border="0" /></a><br />Here I am...with the bride at the wedding. I'm the one in black.<br /><br /> I'm wearing the dress again this weekend. I will try very hard to get a picture of it...from the front.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4240038085001660997.post-69540099491087148602010-08-01T20:24:00.006-04:002010-08-01T20:39:50.626-04:00Summer Update<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_P2nrEklIdcM/TFYRCmpYFDI/AAAAAAAAA5k/s4-tmwXv1EI/s1600/100_8426.JPG"><br /></a><br />It's been a while since I've posted, so I thought that I'd bring you up to speed on how things are going.<br /><br />We're having a great summer. The weather has been supremely hot here and though I don't love the heat, we have still managed to do some fun things.<br /><br />A few weekends ago, we went camping at Bon Echo Provincial Park. This is a beautiful park with a big lake, gorgeous rock outcroppings and great sites. I would totally recommend it, despite the five hour drive to get there.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_P2nrEklIdcM/TFYRCmpYFDI/AAAAAAAAA5k/s4-tmwXv1EI/s1600/100_8426.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 235px; height: 157px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_P2nrEklIdcM/TFYRCmpYFDI/AAAAAAAAA5k/s4-tmwXv1EI/s200/100_8426.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500602731311141938" border="0" /></a>Here's a sorta crappy picture of the kids at the lake.<br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br />When we first got to the lake, we saw this young couple smearing grey mud all over themselves (head to toe and all between) and then they started posing for silly pictures. It was...odd. But mildly entertaining. Then we realized that this fun muddy-clay stuff could be found at the bottom of the lake out in the deeper water.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_P2nrEklIdcM/TFYRf-tb-eI/AAAAAAAAA5s/AyRd778jphg/s1600/100_8435.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_P2nrEklIdcM/TFYRf-tb-eI/AAAAAAAAA5s/AyRd778jphg/s200/100_8435.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500603235986831842" border="0" /></a>I told the kids to get some and smear it on themselves and I'd take pictures. We had just begun the smearing process when a nice little girl swam by. She started chatting with us and as we covered our arms in the mucky stuff, I suggested that it was probably really good for our skin.<br /><br />She says, "Nah, it's not good for your skin. It gives you Swimmer's Itch"<br /><br />Ahem. Excuse me? What does it give us? She quickly added that teeny mites live in this clay and if you leave it on your skin, they bite and give you an all-over itchy rash.<br /><br />We quickly washed. And I wondered about the cute couple that had covered themselves, seriously, head to toe in this stuff.<br /><br />Thankfully, we avoided The Itch.<br /><br />We hiked, we paddled, we slept, we ate, we swam and we fished.<br /><br />It was Jack who caught the one and only fish. And this fish was a good sized fella.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_P2nrEklIdcM/TFYSyYxnLYI/AAAAAAAAA50/dtpYDOH4XmE/s1600/DSC_0427.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 180px; height: 245px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_P2nrEklIdcM/TFYSyYxnLYI/AAAAAAAAA50/dtpYDOH4XmE/s200/DSC_0427.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500604651732938114" border="0" /></a>Before we left for the trip, we bought him this cheap-o "Lightning McQueen" fishing rod from Crappy Tire. You can see it, red and yellow, in his hand. This little rod caught us a big fish that we ate for supper. Jack was a little disappointed that he didn't get to keep the fish and take it home. How we managed to get this fish in the boat is another tale altogether.<br /><br />All in all, the trip was a great time.<br /><br />Although camping is a dirty way to vacation, I do believe it is the perfect holiday for kids.<br /></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4240038085001660997.post-28808524854787141382010-07-20T21:53:00.003-04:002010-07-20T22:03:19.881-04:00Lazy. Random. Thoughts.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_P2nrEklIdcM/TEZVREkGR4I/AAAAAAAAA5c/w6KBKvCIToA/s1600/DSC_3385.jpg"><br /></a><br />It's summer -- we're supposed to be having the lazy, hazy days.<br /><br />Which is totally my excuse for not blogging in the last few weeks. Summer is just too dang short to be sitting at a computer telling you all about my dullsville life.<br /><br />So here's the latest...<br /><br />-went to The Wedding last weekend, wore The Dress and had no issues with bra lines, hem lines, panty lines etc. I didn't get a picture of myself in the dress. Whoops. But I will and then I'll post it and by the time it gets up here you'll be wondering why I've posted a pic of myself in a dress.<br /><br />-currently, I'm packing and cooking for a short camping trip. I'm very excited about this. I just pulled 8 gorgeous blueberry scones out of my oven and will freeze them to take with us. It's killing me having them sitting right there -- just outside my reach from here at my computer. And believe me, I've tried to reach them from here at my computer.<br /><br />-today we went blueberry picking at a great place just outside town called Kustermans. I highly recommend their berries. There were 29 of us that went -- all moms and kids and it was super. I've been other places that aren't so happy to see 9 mom and 20 kids roll in, but this place is very child-friendly. They get a kid-friendly stamp of approval from me.<br /><br />-this is my final random thought. I have this beautiful pic that a friend took at The Wedding of He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Mentioned and two of our boys. I love it. I'm sharing it with you -- but don't tell on me. You can't really see Mr. Unmentionable, so I think this is fair game.<br /><br />Hope you are having a lovely summer...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_P2nrEklIdcM/TEZVREkGR4I/AAAAAAAAA5c/w6KBKvCIToA/s1600/DSC_3385.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 178px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_P2nrEklIdcM/TEZVREkGR4I/AAAAAAAAA5c/w6KBKvCIToA/s200/DSC_3385.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496174147023554434" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4240038085001660997.post-29960045689717849902010-07-08T22:14:00.002-04:002010-07-08T22:15:02.381-04:00Success.The dress has been purchased. The shoes were a miraculous part of the experience. You'll never believe it. Photos to be posted later. <br /><br />I love happy endings.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4240038085001660997.post-81926338393420052862010-06-14T21:01:00.003-04:002010-06-14T21:40:21.242-04:00To Heck with the Dress.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_wmaYDsHuOQI/R23JRdQsGMI/AAAAAAAABXw/irQhOI2Unxg/s400/Nix+Check+Halter+Dress+378.jpg"><br /></a><br />I'm in a bit of a conundrum. Is that how you even spell conundrum? I have a wedding to go to this summer and I need a dress. I was thinking a sundress. I was thinking that I would walk into the mall and purchase a sundress. I was wrong.<br /><br />I have been kinda looking for this dress a couple of times now. I've been to two or three shops, good ones, that actually sell dresses but I'm struggling.<br /><br />Now, I'm not an old lady. But I'm not super trendy. I am the jeans and t-shirt mom. They're nice jeans and a clean t-shirt (most days) but I don't wear super-trendy stuff. So buying a dress is a problem.<br />.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Dilemma #1:</span><br />I saw a cute dress today in the window of a shop at the mall. The mannequin was wearing it. She lookrd nice, despite her lack of a head. I stood there and stared....<br /><br />What kind of a bra do you wear with that? Do you wear one at all? This is a problem. Now the dress I saw was not the dresses pictured below exactly, but the neck line was the same. Please, I'm begging you, educate me on what sort of undergarment goes with this??<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_wmaYDsHuOQI/R23JRdQsGMI/AAAAAAAABXw/irQhOI2Unxg/s400/Nix+Check+Halter+Dress+378.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 307px; height: 332px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_wmaYDsHuOQI/R23JRdQsGMI/AAAAAAAABXw/irQhOI2Unxg/s400/Nix+Check+Halter+Dress+378.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Can anyone help me here?<br /></div><br />Then I see these in the store and I think I actually shuddered:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i.americanapparel.net/storefront/images/detail/serve.asp?media=8328aw_Black.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 250px; height: 300px;" src="http://i.americanapparel.net/storefront/images/detail/serve.asp?media=8328aw_Black.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Oh heavens.<br /><br />Yes, these are acid-washed leggings. I am afraid of these. Can you imagine trying these on, let alone purchasing them?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Dilemma #2:</span><br />This is about boobs. I don't want to show my boobs. And frankly, I'm tired of seeing other women's boobs.<br />And I don't want to wear a strapless dress. But there are very few dresses out there that are not strapless. In my opinion, there are only two options when wearing a strapless dress:<br />a. you end up hiking up the front of your dress all day<br /><div style="text-align: center; font-style: italic;">or<br /></div>b. the dress is so tight it stays up, however, it's so tight, you get back-fat bunching up above the top of the dress. Believe me, I've seen it. It's not the look I'm after.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Dilemma #3:</span><br />Dresses that are so short they are actually shirts. I'm seeing this everywhere I go. Do women not have to bend over anymore? How on earth would I pick up my one year old son wearing a dress like that? Are you supposed to wear little leggings underneath it?<br /><br />Are their classes on this stuff I can sign up for?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Dilemma #4:</span><br />I bought a dress last week. At the grocery store. I know, I know, I can do better. But it was one of those cute t-shirt style dresses and I liked it...and it was like $14, so I threw it in with the bananas and the diapers.<br />I get home. I put on the dress. I go outside and catch a glimpse of myself in the reflection off our black truck. I am in need of a slip.<br />Do girls these days even know about slips? Is this like, so out of date it's like mentioning a corset? Oh wait, corsets are back....we just call them Spanx now.<br /><br />So I went in the house and put on a slip. I had to do some serious digging to find it.<br /><br />I'm not trying to rant or rave or be silly here, my dear reader. I'm honestly wondering what to do. Is there some way of getting an education on these issues before going out into public and making a complete fool of myself?<br /><br />Or should I just go to the wedding in some nice linen pants and a cute top?<br /><br />I'm counting on you to comment here. I'm begging, pleading, typing on my knees right now...<br /><br />Help wanted. Help NEEDED!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4240038085001660997.post-79586009645482346592010-06-10T21:54:00.002-04:002010-06-10T22:01:48.248-04:00One more.Tonight is my last night alone.<br /><br />He-Who-Cannot-Be-Mentioned is coming home. For you readers who were not aware of his absence, he has been away. Far far away. Never this far before, ever. <span style="font-size:78%;">(overseas)</span><br /><br />But seeing as I can't speak of him, I've already said too much. <br /><span style="font-size:78%;">(He was on a missions trip to Ukraine.)</span><br /><br />But he's been away for two weeks. Two long weeks. I've gotten much accomplished in these two weeks like:<br />-staying alive and keeping five kids alive<br />-making fairly crappy meals for me and five kids<br />-cleaning the van (that is an accomplishment)<br />-making jam<br /><span style="font-size:78%;">-spending money</span><br />-going to the Toronto Zoo and Hockey Hall of Fame<br />-cutting the grass, twice.<br />-having the van fixed<br /><span style="font-size:78%;">-crying myself to sleep, okay, may be not, but I did think about it</span><br />-hanging out with my sister and her kids, almost every day for two weeks<br />-cleaning up the barf of three kids...not a good time<br /><br />So, all in all, not an entirely wasted two weeks. <br /><br />I am excited. Tomorrow is the big day. He returns home. <br /><br />But I did NOT mention him here. You've never even heard of him. He doesn't exist in the cyber-world. <br /><br />This post did not happen.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4240038085001660997.post-32776134002614765322010-06-08T15:18:00.002-04:002010-06-08T15:29:31.691-04:00History Repeating...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/4AAQSkZJRgABAQAAAQABAAD/2wBDAAkGBwgHBgkIBwgKCgkLDRYPDQwMDRsUFRAWIB0iIiAdHx8kKDQsJCYxJx8fLT0tMTU3Ojo6Iys/RD84QzQ5Ojf/2wBDAQoKCg0MDRoPDxo3JR8lNzc3Nzc3Nzc3Nzc3Nzc3Nzc3Nzc3Nzc3Nzc3Nzc3Nzc3Nzc3Nzc3Nzc3Nzc3Nzc3Nzf/wAARCABeAI0DASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAGwAAAgMBAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAwQCBQYBBwD/xAA7EAACAQMCBAQEAwYFBQEAAAABAgMABBESIQUxQVETImFxBhQygZGhwSNCUnKx8AcVFiTxU2JjgtHh/8QAGAEBAQEBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQIAAwT/xAAcEQEBAQEBAQEBAQAAAAAAAAAAARECEiExQQP/2gAMAwEAAhEDEQA/APP2tZNGqV8n+GgqkqqAW8tOIG576e2aiWLebqa8krvhVrbHm796WaHz7NV2yHwtCRsOpyedQPDsHX5tWOvQGt6HlXW3DmuG1RqNB3YlcVbRcHgCj+Icw1EtbS4WPQwXAOQcb0YQeE5kc5JFTelTkBuFAAlEU0M8NaNAxjUau1WcdwqjGTn+GuG6XQ22rvkcqn1Tipl4eCQSlcHD1A2P2p7xS7EKigYJ85pbWxDZVtPYDai9UzmAtB+72oRtwTucUVsgagGCk1MRsyaowMD97G+aZ1RYRlSNdyQQO9QR4zkpj0xRzDqmLKCpHQCoi2OQNjk7b1ehEyHQxbmKDgOpOcNzFNGyZj5gMNvsamLLQuAGOdxgVtBJWckFfMxFTUA51JvmmPlipyFOfWiLZlhlzk+premxJLN+rGmbaIxMTImsetNqpVPNG/bmOf4UUQS6NQgP82+DXH06+QxLqUBIj7AU7YWs17N4cER14zhtgB69quOHfDEtxMrajEmBqZipOD26/jW9srG04fbLHax9PqYZLHqc1rQy9t8KRJEr3JZ5Mb6cgA+3UUlf/DsaEiOR4s8gd81sr5yUYEKrDfdudZS9cnJkcqpOAN8mpyn4pJ/hiVmDLcJjoSMbVB/hW4TOLmE56HIz96BNx0NPJbW8ck7q2MJkj1qy4ZY8Qvwsl9JHZ2SHY6tTuew6U5W2B/6RvZ4ywntigPmYA4Ax3oVr8JLLKqDi9mzvssUep2PtyBq5lu4ZU+WhxFFEQYxq1be4J70kBwy1mjlgjBuh5zuQT0IA579zVyJ0W4/w9uIFDy31uEIx50I3HqNWKaj/AMPpTZF472KSZsEokZKD75/PFIcOuLTh9nLYWTXKfMS6pBOxbSeqgfqe9P8ADpbq2twvzIZfEPlEhwhzz/47VXPItZ+/+GL3h6P80gQDOWckAD3IxSlrYoEBZ7aUEADTMNq9ET4nvFcC5eGS1j2KsmWk356s55dMVluNCzm4tNe2YVIH3MSEDScb8tv76UWYNUdxYknLtAF5DQ3TttQnDBCix6RyywyR7dqsDFpB8MAat8k6vauyxyISCNyeRWpKqWBRjO5onhRnqtOeC5bdAAdxtzHejQWDMmfDc79BRpxbG+skyqJHj/uxU47lrhBDbKqxjbSMb15lBxNWOBLgjmF2zWy+HovlokvZSdTLlVI+le/vT1zhbm012yIjElgvMdT1q2trkSaVZc9CTvv+lZSPjAI8z4B23HSinj+CI4JPNzyO9c6qRqp7a1uoninbCMu+Tg1TXHAIFkUC7UoT9DqSQOh61STcXnkbWrHynOd+dGhvmZBM7YkCHQNWSx7mttjWaYbhHDLRJX0q7BifISik8+Wo55dqp+NcWUyiKFwix5K47jGPzrt9xMzxNkkSOBtnZR/9rNzyBWeV85OcepNXzLf0WyQw8qTCOSSRlljB2AyTnv6VX+NrumkcZ2xqV8bf36UJzI0gePbUOQpiKHSMvuTvjma75jm5EoPlh8XIYkK2/wDQYFWUD35YLDkEc1VdfP7UOAtIyrHHvk6dI3zWp4dwr/ax63RCQPKxIblzPY8653u/xU5n9ZdbLjEsz/NXAEf7mpc4/wDXYflVnBB+zUMSRyJXbJ+1aeHgCRlfEm8v1BB5s04nBbZ21s8h6YBwKnbf1tjHpaSM2RHmInDa+nsOtcmtJGOC6MCdlEYGQOQzW2bgVmykKGyR1c7VH/IIkXUjqcYztv8AjWGxkl4U5twhjiyQMsyBsYqS8DkIyZc/yJsK1E1s8BJkGE7nlSpu1jYqUJ/lFZmN4f8AD3CfmRcNEWKklYm/eI7qd8Z6US6lCSeZt1O68q+4stylrHLYKcxnUY8kFh2qla+h4jkvtJjBB2K+hFE2/qskM3F6smWdcgcgDypW2vHgdlkAbIOMdPvU47VtBKsTk7H+zTFj8PXF+wkaVIUX6Xkb6vYU4dN2t8qhkuY1ww1ARsSwGcZ7Y9NjXGntliDwSsVOdWQdjmra54GscKmORpCPqKxgHfrzNVFzDFHl0ZHHI6f1rSStpKbiEWkK4aTJyMDApGSR5JS8jnPIAclHpRp9KsSihh0xQ0IeRcYOk5PvXSWRFfBMAYwO5O5P3/SnbKzNxcxwQyDz7lmzgDuaEZYlyNSKRzxuRUrK4wxjRmIdsnbBAqbdaNtwq0hs7XQssStqOp+p2I6b1Wnibi4cOCMeUHntVLHxcIQizF5By0rkjHLlQy9y6+I9pch8nPkOMZ6fnUyHWps+LTrOiRszebdjuR0xWlt7yW4bQiRiQc1Z8H8OleaWXFI7Wc6xIufpEgZQD3PLNW0nxBDbEMBrkCl9ZffI9eVVRY3uu8AwIlweZEvL8qE97cQuqtayHVtrBBA96xP+vpEeNYooZBsdBYszDryp6y+Mh84YrtmeNuqwgFB02U/1zR5oauaV5oSjRglue+Ris7xK3NrMBCX8NuQ7elMPx61OZDPpTkE0+Y/Y4xVPe8WnunDRBYkGwDnJPr6UMFM00R1xr4pGxiLAAj0J69aWveAW3Eh40a6W0jDxrpbV7/8A5VoVGCYyNR6E4H95qfzLJjJcAHAwfqqZ8dazdlw+Xhd6iX0wlgP0r9JY+vpWmtuM2uAIUCADSxUAFvT+lZ74rcF47kYDRjQ66s5BHP1xVLFdyuVMbeYDAIPm6cq68879Ra3NxeyIpZAQ252U6qx/FLnx7lniXw5js64wG+1W1jdvEf2kjZPNc4XPr1NDuuCrxKSWePXbzOMhoiMZ/lNb5B9Zl51xpkbSM7g+3p7VWXHEf2nh24MmNteOXsK0bcAMh8KceK+fNIoPmx7chTVnwO3THkVccsrk/ar3mDzazlpHd3OgBPDzzZxkn8eVbfgfBOH6U+cAnkByVkGR+HKoJZxxjShH4UwsUgx4b9OQFc73L+LnGNbZQ2VuoVLKKID/AKagfpTcMltOqyQSkq3JlbIP3FZW3ur6IDIBA7nerbhs00gUMoG/tijW8rloxIuh3DIeYYZzSo4Fwxp/F+RtDJ3+WXP9KOqA/Xn7GmAxVRpBAOc4NbRgIsrSJhotLfUf/GFz+VdWEKdCJGCN9IA2+1GgkkX6HDDnkruo96LG8QfzqA3M7Zz60jCxXWcSwQyYGCzoDt9xSsnDbCRtT20AJ/hQ4P4EVbNKu5BQAnOcEH22r5opXOVWLHTNZnnhhbGWON9sLQruSO1iaS5lIReb6SQD64FMxvH8rB/tkOkl31tqyN9tx6gb0ncX9jFe26z2RlZ1IQahhQQATnHfcCjIvSs0EXEomlMnzEZOEdWGPYVTTcDjE5lgdodAy2lgw9j2NbQNZLGSbd9SsAQHOMdevPpVe6vvJFJoJycaFO33B/HnW2w5Ky6RX1oJ2a58RQuVEG5z2OeQ9qqv8w49Leo0dvIx1ZIznb9Nq2htoZR4bglSdQzviirwxFczF5mAGDmdse2nkfetP9JP43hW8O4bxWedZL2/EKls+FbEsT7nkPatDDZxIjMpHnOSCcZPt0+1U7ccgg4nFwu2tmkmdsPJKxUIOoUA7/er0OIyAY125AD1qOraqQMxJEQEU4PI46UeOZlGAv5UypMik4ULXDbh2UazlumNqk4AobXrOD6U0rsw2JT2oaRw+N4bFywPpirFLb9qseo6iM7YH54rYMJK900oIdif5c7VbWkk+gRyhNyMg8/611IIYiCwLHGcZ2pyO3hZtYjAI64qo2OxRFifOhwdsCmURYcZQA89xXwfTgAYHauMwdslMnHVsYplRYkAGiOCur0zXNLfvYPvUg4C/TjejZOBpOxHX/mnRj//2Q=="><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 141px; height: 94px;" src="data:image/jpg;base64,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" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />On Monday my sister and I took all our kids to the Toronto Zoo. I love the zoo. But it wasn't always that way.<br /><br />Many years ago, I went to the zoo, again with my sister...and her grade 2 class. That made me about 4 years old. My mom was one of the trip moms so I got to go too. My only memory from that trip is of a dark and scary hallway of an exhibit that had glass cases on either side full of snakes, lizards and bugs.<br /><br />I hated snakes, lizards and bugs. Still do.<br /><br />I can recall myself, covering my face with my hands, being led by my mother down this hallway, crying my little eyes out. It was a horrible experience. I was very afraid and no amount of rational talk from my mother would calm me down. Fear is not rational, I have discovered.<br /><br />So, on Monday, I walk into the same exhibit and immediately know for a fact that this is where I had my four-year-old melt down. This was the place. I did not want to go in. But I faced my fears and walked down the hallway of hell like a grown-up should.<br /><br />Only moments before, history had repeated itself.<br /><br />My daughter is freaked out by the Komodo Dragon. We went into that exhibit and she lost it. Tears, weeping, gnashing of teeth....the whole show. I could only get her to go through the exhibit by having her cover her face while I led her, protecting her with my body, to the end of the glass cage. Then she was fine. Sorta. At least the wailing stopped.<br /><br />It was kinda funny just because I know how she felt...exactly how she felt. Fear is not rational. She did know that the Komodo wasn't getting out, she did know that it wouldn't eat her then and there but it did not matter. Even when it was bed time and the lights went out, we had a little chat about the Komodo dragon not coming and hiding in her bed. Here's how it went down...<br /><br />Me: "So, even if the Komodo got out of his cage, do you think he could come to our house?"<br /><br />She: "May be."<br /><br />Me: "He can't."<br /><br />She: "Why not?"<br /><br />Me: "Because if he got out, he'd never survive walking down the 401 to get here. He'd die."<br /><br />She: "Oh. Really??"<br /><br />Me: "Yep. He'd eat someone in Mississauga or Guelph first and wouldn't even make it to London."<br /><br />Nice, eh?? Good thing we don't live close to the zoo.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4240038085001660997.post-26176861722676794392010-06-01T16:08:00.004-04:002010-06-01T16:26:01.097-04:00In a Jam.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:8HACkpAw9G2XvM:http://static.ifood.tv/files/strawberry_jam%255B1%255D%255B1%255D.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 137px; height: 137px;" src="http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:8HACkpAw9G2XvM:http://static.ifood.tv/files/strawberry_jam%255B1%255D%255B1%255D.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />So today I made jam. Strawberry jam. The strawberries are in season early here, so I ran out to our local grower, The Heeman Family, and I bought a flat of beautiful red berries.<br /><br />A while ago I was at my mom's and she had the most delicious homemade strawberry jam in her fridge. I ate some and felt like I'd had a burst of summer in my mouth. I asked who made it, got the recipe and was VERY excited to make this myself.<br /><br />While looking on the Heeman's website, they recommended a different jam recipe, saying that it was by far the best recipe the Heeman family had ever used. That's a pretty big statement coming from strawberry experts like them.<br /><br />So I decided to try both. A batch of each...and see who won this duel.<br /><br />The first recipe from my mom's friend (Type A) required 4 cups of strawberries and 7 cups of sugar. Whoa. I like white sugar but even for me, that's a lot of sugar.<br /><br />The second type, let's call it Type B (ingenious, I know) was far less sugar. Four cups of berries to a measly 1.5 cups of sugar. That's a big difference.<br /><br />I made the first batch - it's the kind you cook and the jars have to seal and all that jazz. Total time: 1 hr. and a half. Not bad. It looked like jam. The only complaint was that it boiled over on my stove top and made a nasty red mess. Not really the jam's fault.<br /><br />Type B took about 20 minutes total. Again, quite a different amount. It was simple. Basically you mash, then you stir. You stir again. You place in jars. No boiling over. Not even a chance of being burned by boiling strawberry goo.<br /><br />Results: Turns out I doubled Type A because I don't know why. I have 18 jars of Type A Jam.<br />Type B, well, I was running low on berries by this point, so I only made 5 jars.<br /><br />So about five minutes ago, I laid out a piece of brown bread, cut it in half, and put Type A on one chunk and Type B on the other. The official taste test.<br /><br />Type B looked nice. I ate it first. It was so <span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><span style="font-style: italic;">so</span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"> so </span>good. Like eating summer from a jar.<br /><br />Type A looked nice. I ate it next. It tasted like strawberry jam <span style="font-style: italic;">with about 7 cups of sugar</span> in it. I think I tasted strawberry. Mostly I tasted sweet.<br /><br />So now I have 18 jars of jam I don't really like and 5 jars of jam I will never share. So if you want some strawberry jam, let me know. It's free. I just need to have the jar back so I can fill it with the good jam.<br /><br />Seriously, you can have some. I'll even drop it off. For all I care, you can dump it in the garbage. I am very disappointed. Not to the point of tears or anything, but really, 18 jars of the lesser jam? What a waste.<br /><br />If you want the recipe of the good jam, let me know. I'll save you the hassle!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4240038085001660997.post-24075252893699495882010-05-29T20:59:00.003-04:002010-05-29T21:29:20.213-04:00Scary FlowerI have issues with certain types of flowers. Some flowers totally freak me out. I don't know what it is about these flowers in particular but they will never <span style="font-style: italic;">ever</span> be in my home or garden.<br /><br />The first flower I dislike because it weirds me out is this one:<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="data:image/jpg;base64,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"><img 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" alt="" border="0" /></a>The Iris. Hate it. It looks like a dragon ready to eat me.<br /></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">I also have problems with this one:<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:f56lGkTEsEYvBM:http://herbs-market.com/catalog/images/x_noncacti_yucca_600.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 196px; height: 146px;" src="http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:f56lGkTEsEYvBM:http://herbs-market.com/catalog/images/x_noncacti_yucca_600.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>It's not a great pic...but it's a Yucca plant. This plant is scary. Even the name describes it. Yucca.<br /></div><br />I have issues with almost all succulents and cacti. If I go into a store and they have those mini cacti in pots, I walk waaaaay around them. You're not touching me with your hideous prickly hairs, nasty plant. Here are a few...<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://made-in-afrika.com/aloes/Aloe.falcata.succulent.plants.water.saving.garden.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 520px; height: 385px;" src="http://made-in-afrika.com/aloes/Aloe.falcata.succulent.plants.water.saving.garden.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>This one is going to grab me as I walk by.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/164/432813947_03efa4ad09.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 427px; height: 320px;" src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/164/432813947_03efa4ad09.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Disgusting.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">I get the heebie-geebies just looking at the fat leaves and gross colour. I can barely look at my own computer screen right now.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.gardens-beyond.com/photogallery/Beddin2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 470px; height: 334px;" src="http://www.gardens-beyond.com/photogallery/Beddin2.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />I'm going to barf.<br /><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><br />There are other flowers I hate as well. For various reasons.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br />I hate gladioli...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.shrubs.co.uk/ekmps/shops/shrubscouk/images/gladioli-mixed-cbin-tr-14875-p.gif"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 350px; height: 350px;" src="http://www.shrubs.co.uk/ekmps/shops/shrubscouk/images/gladioli-mixed-cbin-tr-14875-p.gif" alt="" border="0" /></a>These poor flowers aren't scary to me, but they are in <span style="font-weight: bold;">every single funeral flower arrangement ever</span>. Poor things. Everyone associates them with death. They'll never grow in my garden.<br /><br />I also strongly dislike begonias. They make me shudder.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://images.plant-care.com/red-wax-begonias.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 360px; height: 270px;" src="http://images.plant-care.com/red-wax-begonias.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />But my most hated flower in the world, I don't even know the name of. I just know it by seeing it.<br />You see, growing up in south London in our family home, my sister and I shared a room. This room had three pink walls and one wall of wallpaper. And what was on this wallpaper?? Flowers. All in different shades of pink -- a tone on tone sort of affair. Some of the flowers were happy nice flowers but there was this one flower in the wall paper that my sister and I <span style="font-style: italic;">HATED</span>. It was so freaky. We wouldn't touch it on the wall. It was the one that grew tentacles out of itself at night and wrapped them around our tender young necks and strangled us. It was the one that bugs poured out of and snakes slept in. It was evil. We hated that flower and so we hated that wall paper.<br /><br />The funny thing about it was these feelings were generally unsaid between us. It was just understood. We hated the bad flower. Recently, we spoke of it. That dang, nightmare creating flower. And we laughed our heads off. And our mother....she thought we'd gone crazy. But she did remember the wallpaper.<br /><br />So my childhood has definitely altered any normal feelings towards flowers. I am a freak. I blame in on the wall paper of 26 Fennell Cres. I may seek therapy about this. Help us all if the scary flower really does exist.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4240038085001660997.post-8338866899767091882010-05-24T11:01:00.004-04:002010-05-24T11:05:26.800-04:00Guess Who's One!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_P2nrEklIdcM/S_qVgM72tAI/AAAAAAAAA5U/BOaVph5Yd_0/s1600/100_7112.JPG"><br /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_P2nrEklIdcM/S_qVJ7gL-qI/AAAAAAAAA5M/S-vOGixzYz8/s1600/100_7099.JPG"><br /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_P2nrEklIdcM/S_qU-wdrp3I/AAAAAAAAA5E/mywkdQ4x8kI/s1600/100_7096.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 243px; height: 218px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_P2nrEklIdcM/S_qU-wdrp3I/AAAAAAAAA5E/mywkdQ4x8kI/s200/100_7096.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474852102904457074" border="0" /></a>Tasting the cupcake...<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_P2nrEklIdcM/S_qVJ7gL-qI/AAAAAAAAA5M/S-vOGixzYz8/s1600/100_7099.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 229px; height: 171px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_P2nrEklIdcM/S_qVJ7gL-qI/AAAAAAAAA5M/S-vOGixzYz8/s200/100_7099.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474852294846315170" border="0" /></a>Scarfing the cupcake...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_P2nrEklIdcM/S_qVgM72tAI/AAAAAAAAA5U/BOaVph5Yd_0/s1600/100_7112.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 184px; height: 245px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_P2nrEklIdcM/S_qVgM72tAI/AAAAAAAAA5U/BOaVph5Yd_0/s200/100_7112.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474852677482886146" border="0" /></a>Wearing the cupcake...<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4240038085001660997.post-86447801826907140162010-05-20T16:23:00.003-04:002010-05-20T16:30:19.818-04:00And again...<div style="text-align: center;">Turns out he really, <span style="font-weight: bold;">really</span> likes dirt.<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_P2nrEklIdcM/S_Wamyc8PkI/AAAAAAAAA4k/Bc70v2Wt5oQ/s1600/100_6992.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 195px; height: 261px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_P2nrEklIdcM/S_Wamyc8PkI/AAAAAAAAA4k/Bc70v2Wt5oQ/s200/100_6992.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473450913307573826" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Is this normal?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_P2nrEklIdcM/S_Wa-s4Ne3I/AAAAAAAAA4s/gQHcPVSFA9s/s1600/100_6993.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 194px; height: 258px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_P2nrEklIdcM/S_Wa-s4Ne3I/AAAAAAAAA4s/gQHcPVSFA9s/s200/100_6993.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473451324128197490" border="0" /></a><br />I think this is third time I've caught him...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_P2nrEklIdcM/S_Wbak81-OI/AAAAAAAAA40/y3NlTE4j954/s1600/100_6997.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 178px; height: 238px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_P2nrEklIdcM/S_Wbak81-OI/AAAAAAAAA40/y3NlTE4j954/s200/100_6997.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473451803036481762" border="0" /></a>Apparently it tastes good to an almost-one-year old.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_P2nrEklIdcM/S_Wbs2m7l3I/AAAAAAAAA48/-WMxVIe2eFM/s1600/100_7000.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 180px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_P2nrEklIdcM/S_Wbs2m7l3I/AAAAAAAAA48/-WMxVIe2eFM/s200/100_7000.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473452117014058866" border="0" /></a>Ya got a little something on your face, buddy.<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4240038085001660997.post-90084540605473780342010-05-03T17:15:00.003-04:002010-05-03T17:18:45.938-04:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_P2nrEklIdcM/S989gXBlMZI/AAAAAAAAA4c/wv13_pELtbg/s1600/100_6945.JPG"><br /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">On Saturday I did yard work.<br /></div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_P2nrEklIdcM/S989KVgaxoI/AAAAAAAAA4U/uRFJ_sRLgcQ/s1600/100_6946.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 237px; height: 177px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_P2nrEklIdcM/S989KVgaxoI/AAAAAAAAA4U/uRFJ_sRLgcQ/s200/100_6946.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467155720432174722" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">I turned around at one point to see Teddy eating a handful of soil.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_P2nrEklIdcM/S989gXBlMZI/AAAAAAAAA4c/wv13_pELtbg/s1600/100_6945.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 252px; height: 189px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_P2nrEklIdcM/S989gXBlMZI/AAAAAAAAA4c/wv13_pELtbg/s200/100_6945.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467156098796827026" border="0" /></a><br />Turns out he likes it.<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4240038085001660997.post-78815483170701856522010-04-28T12:30:00.012-04:002010-04-28T13:03:22.828-04:00All I Ever Needed to Know In Life, I Learned from RavioliI've done it. I've tried 48 new recipes.<br /><br />This was my new years resolution and it has been accomplished. Never before in the history of my life has a resolution been accomplished before May 1. Never again, I'm sure. Unless it's to gain weight, shop more, or something along those lines. The key to a successful resolution is....you gotta like it. And I liked it.<br /><br />I'll post the list of the 48 recipes on another post, another day. But I want to focus on my final recipe, the last hurrah.<br /><br />I decided to make my own ravioli. Here's a little background:<br /><br />A bunch of friends (and me) went to Milestones restaurant for dinner on March Break. Two of us had the Butter Nut Squash Ravioli. It was amazing. I loved it. I wanted more.<br /><br />I started googling ravioli recipes and found several and then I discovered videos of how to make ravioli. Several of them ~ and they looked like fun.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_P2nrEklIdcM/S9hm79T0cII/AAAAAAAAA3c/bPbDBh7_dCE/s1600/100_6932.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_P2nrEklIdcM/S9hm79T0cII/AAAAAAAAA3c/bPbDBh7_dCE/s200/100_6932.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465231328070103170" border="0" /></a><br />I got myself a couple of the necessary tools (a checkered pin and a ravioli/pastry cutter in pics above and below) and I was off to the races.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_P2nrEklIdcM/S9hnJAX5l5I/AAAAAAAAA3k/K6t9rv_Am6k/s1600/100_6929.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_P2nrEklIdcM/S9hnJAX5l5I/AAAAAAAAA3k/K6t9rv_Am6k/s200/100_6929.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465231552230823826" border="0" /></a><br />I decided to make two kinds. The butter nut squash version was for me and the Unmentionable One and a cheese version was for the kids.<br /><br />Here's a pic of some of them sitting ready to be cooked.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_P2nrEklIdcM/S9hnXN7esxI/AAAAAAAAA3s/nR9gyATYq4c/s1600/100_6931.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_P2nrEklIdcM/S9hnXN7esxI/AAAAAAAAA3s/nR9gyATYq4c/s200/100_6931.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465231796387885842" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I didn't take pics along the way because my hands were covered in cheese and squash puree.<br /><br />I think they look like little pillows.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_P2nrEklIdcM/S9hnjvbJazI/AAAAAAAAA30/1h1WdVNT3xo/s1600/100_6925.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_P2nrEklIdcM/S9hnjvbJazI/AAAAAAAAA30/1h1WdVNT3xo/s200/100_6925.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465232011537509170" border="0" /></a><br /><br />See? This little playmobil guy did too! <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">(Thank you, Jack)</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_P2nrEklIdcM/S9hn2FQ1quI/AAAAAAAAA38/AE5_9qnHbaY/s1600/100_6926.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_P2nrEklIdcM/S9hn2FQ1quI/AAAAAAAAA38/AE5_9qnHbaY/s200/100_6926.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465232326637497058" border="0" /></a><br /><br />My biggest concern was having them burst in the water. I'd heard tales of this woe on the internet. Makes the water gross and the ravioli, well, empty.<br /><br />Here they are -- no bursting so far!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_P2nrEklIdcM/S9hoBFaJntI/AAAAAAAAA4E/iVJywiZuSAM/s1600/100_6933.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_P2nrEklIdcM/S9hoBFaJntI/AAAAAAAAA4E/iVJywiZuSAM/s200/100_6933.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465232515655114450" border="0" /></a>And, the final analysis:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_P2nrEklIdcM/S9hoQgVr1qI/AAAAAAAAA4M/0O_mImefvbY/s1600/100_6935.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_P2nrEklIdcM/S9hoQgVr1qI/AAAAAAAAA4M/0O_mImefvbY/s200/100_6935.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465232780582180514" border="0" /></a>Yum!<br />Butternut Squash Ravioli with tomato sauce, goat cheese, toasted pecans and fresh basil.<br /><br />Thank you, Milestones!<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Note:</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Although this was a tasty meal, it was a very small meal. I didn't take pictures of all the kids eating peanut butter sandwiches after they were done the ravioli. Next time, double the recipe.<br /><br /><br /></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4240038085001660997.post-3142022053408303752010-04-26T16:58:00.003-04:002010-04-26T17:14:10.443-04:00Too Much MoxieOn Saturday night, He-Who-Cannot-Be-Mentioned and I went on a date. A real date. No kids. Just the two of us. I know, I know...a shocker!<br /><br />It was fun! Despite my sister's teasing that we'd have nothing to say to one another and would stare blankly at each other from across the table, we surprisingly had tonnes to talk about, catch up on, analyze and laugh at.<br /><br />We started with dinner at Moxies.<br /><br />Can I just tell you right now that there seems to be an epidemic in downtown London on Saturday nights? It scares me...it could be contagious. Beware.<br /><br />It seems that women -- no matter age, size, shape, socio-economic status or shoe size are FORGETTING TO PUT ON THEIR PANTS.<br /><br />I felt like running up to Talize, buying a bunch of pants in several sizes and handing them out to these poor souls who left the house in such a hurry that they forgot to put on some bottoms.<br /><br />It's almost like they realized it, took off their headband and put it on as a skirt.<br /><br />I've come to know that when at Moxies, the "hostessing" staff at the front door tend to be a little scantily clad. The girl seating us had to tug, tug, tug at her (Lu-Lu Lemon headband turned skirt) bottoms the entire time she walked us to the table.<br /><br />I don't want to see your bum, sweet pea.<br /><br />But it got worse. I know I sound like an old fuddy-duddy right now, but I am honestly shocked that so many women would stand in front of the mirror before they left and think that a skirt that barely covers your bum WHEN STANDING would be in any way a comfortable thing to walk or sit in. And it's the tugging...the constant tugging that bothers me.<br /><br />As customers walked by our table to get to their own, I saw more flesh than I ever cared to see in one evening. Flesh here, flesh there, flesh everywhere. And not just legs and bums. Boobs and cleavage in all shapes and sizes.<br /><br />And what was I wearing? I'll have you know that I looked like a total homeschooling geeky mom. I was covered from chin to toe. I had on a turtle neck sweater and a pair of jeans...and socks...and shoes. And I was totally the odd one out. By far I was wearing reams and reams more fabric than most women in that restaurant.<br /><br />I digress. The point has been made. I am appalled by the current fashion trend.<br /><br />But back to the date. We had a lovely dinner (as in the food) at Moxies and then headed to Chapters (we both love hanging out there and reading for free!) for a while before we returned home to free our babysitter from the five freaky kids.<br /><br />All in all, it was a fabby night out on the town. I'm sure we'll do it again in the next 8 to 10 months.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2