Well the year is coughing out its final breaths and 2013 is almost over. This year has been relatively quiet, but a little busier off the ranch than on. Renovation Central has come to a hop, skip, and a stop. We continue forward when we get some money now and again. Most of the main floor is done, the basement is still in its 1970's glory and is in dire need of some deconstruction. But this too shall happen...eventually. The deck still isn't, although we did add a smallish deck down by the lake. Mostly so when we go and sit there with a rum and pepsi in hand we don't tip over and fall down into the lake. Although small, at least it is a beginning and we kind of, sorta know where the gas shack and dock will eventually live.
The Wookie Cave is done. All that is required is for the final coat of paint and a little thing called heat. We have been kicking about different possibilities, and I think we finally know what we will do. Once that is done I can move ALL of my stuff out there and start doing some serious painting...and writing. The Hubby is champing at the bit for me to get all my crap off the dining room table and out of the house. Neither of us has actually eaten a meal there in weeks...perhaps months.
The weather this year has been...wettttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt...and wet some more. I am hoping for a tad bit more dryness next year.
Oh man...my internet keeping kicking in and out so I will finish this when I have a better connection.....
Thursday, December 26, 2013
Friday, November 22, 2013
Fifty Years
Its been fifty years since JFK was killed, that just seems so bizarre. I remember discussing it in school when I was a kid and back then it seemed like history. Not ancient history, but historical enough. Now it doesn't seem so long ago.
The odd thing is that although being somewhat toddler like at the time I actually do remember some of the stuff surrounding this event. I remember being at my grandparents house and watching the procession, and being bored. I knew something tragic had happened but did not know what it was exactly. So I can only imagine what it was like for people who were into their adulthood, perhaps something like 9/11.
But November 22nd is also my dad's birthday. He would have been 85 years old today. It would have been nice to see what type of old codger he would have been. I was pretty young when he died, but I still miss his quirky sense of humour, and his dimpled smile.
The odd thing is that although being somewhat toddler like at the time I actually do remember some of the stuff surrounding this event. I remember being at my grandparents house and watching the procession, and being bored. I knew something tragic had happened but did not know what it was exactly. So I can only imagine what it was like for people who were into their adulthood, perhaps something like 9/11.
But November 22nd is also my dad's birthday. He would have been 85 years old today. It would have been nice to see what type of old codger he would have been. I was pretty young when he died, but I still miss his quirky sense of humour, and his dimpled smile.
Wednesday, November 20, 2013
Chilliness
Yup it officially feels cold enough to be winter out here in the sticks. I took the hell hound for a walk this afternoon, the thermometer said -1, but the wind said it was a hell of a lot colder. I walked three k out with the wind in my face and it felt frigid, then I walked three k back with the wind at my back and I felt warm...then my butt turned into an assicle. Bad news is that when it thawed it was still as big as ever. Good news is that there still isn't any snow and I am pretty happy about that.
I finished the last of the wood yesterday...serious relief. I actually had all the heating wood done a couple of weeks ago, but still had the "slabs" which have been out most of the summer drying. The slabs are what we use to make our kindling. And although we have had a lot of moisture this year some of it was actually dry...although some was so wet that one slab was almost too heavy to lift. Win some, lose some.
I put the first coat of coloured paint on the Wookie Cave, but I don't have enough to finish all the walls. I keep going into Home Hardware to look for mistinted paint, but this time of year there are few and far between in that department. Come on people! A good inside project would be to repaint your house, mama needs some light pastel colours. So I may have to "gulp" buy some, and pay full price. That's just not right. I did find a gallon for $8 bucks but it was dark grey, almost black...not exactly something I want to use for a studio. I guess I will wait another week before caving to the inevitable.
This afternoon was spent doing a little bit of painting, as in canvases, I usually love that but today for some reason it just wasn't doing what I wanted it to do. I'm hoping that tomorrow things will behave themselves a bit better. Nothing sucks like not being able to get the colours right. (Well that isn't true, going to the dentist sucks worse than that. Breaking a bone sucks. Losing your favourite toque, getting a boot full of water, pulling quills out of your dog's nose, running out of gas...I could go on.)
Well I'd better go, I'm in the middle of critiquing a piece of writing and I still haven't had any supper. So supper first, cause I can get pretty cranky on an empty stomach, and critiquing second. Then off to bed because it is almost 8pm. Yikes!
I finished the last of the wood yesterday...serious relief. I actually had all the heating wood done a couple of weeks ago, but still had the "slabs" which have been out most of the summer drying. The slabs are what we use to make our kindling. And although we have had a lot of moisture this year some of it was actually dry...although some was so wet that one slab was almost too heavy to lift. Win some, lose some.
I put the first coat of coloured paint on the Wookie Cave, but I don't have enough to finish all the walls. I keep going into Home Hardware to look for mistinted paint, but this time of year there are few and far between in that department. Come on people! A good inside project would be to repaint your house, mama needs some light pastel colours. So I may have to "gulp" buy some, and pay full price. That's just not right. I did find a gallon for $8 bucks but it was dark grey, almost black...not exactly something I want to use for a studio. I guess I will wait another week before caving to the inevitable.
This afternoon was spent doing a little bit of painting, as in canvases, I usually love that but today for some reason it just wasn't doing what I wanted it to do. I'm hoping that tomorrow things will behave themselves a bit better. Nothing sucks like not being able to get the colours right. (Well that isn't true, going to the dentist sucks worse than that. Breaking a bone sucks. Losing your favourite toque, getting a boot full of water, pulling quills out of your dog's nose, running out of gas...I could go on.)
Well I'd better go, I'm in the middle of critiquing a piece of writing and I still haven't had any supper. So supper first, cause I can get pretty cranky on an empty stomach, and critiquing second. Then off to bed because it is almost 8pm. Yikes!
Wednesday, October 30, 2013
Writing
The days are flying by in a blur or activity. I am refurbishing furniture, painting pictures, writing stories, and hauling wood. There doesn't seem to be enough time in the day, most especially because the days are quite a bit shorter then they were. I turn into this giant pumpkin of inactivity when it gets dark outside. My brain seems to tell me that it is time to "shut er down" even when it's early.
Mind you I'm not complaining. I may sound like it, but I'm not. I love it all, even the dreaded wood hauling ass workout. I could do this forever, and I hope that I can. Well maybe not the wood hauling part. I'd really like that to be finished so it will free up some more time in my life. Each load takes me about 3 or 4 hours from start to finish, and that is a LOT of time in a short day.
Of course because of all this stuff I've been doing I've been neglecting other aspects of my life...kind of like this blog thing. But this is another one of those "things I like" and am loath to give it up. And because there is nothing to say that I have to, I won't. Hopefully I will keep on bopping in here every once in awhile so my blogging skills don't completely go down the toilet. (Funny that...what the hell are blogging skills?)
Today I ended up sleeping in because I was up until 2am last night. I have no idea why. But when I did get up I managed to put a couple things on Kijiji for sale, repaint the top of a coffee table, bake some cookies, and write part of a story for this weeks submission to Life As A Human. It needs work...lots of work.
Speaking of needing work...I'd better scoot and finish it up.
Mind you I'm not complaining. I may sound like it, but I'm not. I love it all, even the dreaded wood hauling ass workout. I could do this forever, and I hope that I can. Well maybe not the wood hauling part. I'd really like that to be finished so it will free up some more time in my life. Each load takes me about 3 or 4 hours from start to finish, and that is a LOT of time in a short day.
Of course because of all this stuff I've been doing I've been neglecting other aspects of my life...kind of like this blog thing. But this is another one of those "things I like" and am loath to give it up. And because there is nothing to say that I have to, I won't. Hopefully I will keep on bopping in here every once in awhile so my blogging skills don't completely go down the toilet. (Funny that...what the hell are blogging skills?)
Today I ended up sleeping in because I was up until 2am last night. I have no idea why. But when I did get up I managed to put a couple things on Kijiji for sale, repaint the top of a coffee table, bake some cookies, and write part of a story for this weeks submission to Life As A Human. It needs work...lots of work.
Speaking of needing work...I'd better scoot and finish it up.
Thursday, September 12, 2013
Asshats and Other Furry Creatures
As anyone who has a cat will know that they are asshats without having being told that. My cat is a super asshat, most especially in the middle of the night. Some nights she jumps onto the bed with us and goes into her kneading mode until one of us wakes up and threatens to do her bodily harm, other nights she charges around the place going from window, to door, to window, to door, down stairs, upstairs, and all around, still other nights she hides under the bed and when I get up to go pee will jump out and attack my feet. Like I said...asshat.
Then she has the audacity to get sick and lie around looking poorly and make me worried. I often ask myself how it is that me, Ms. Dog Person, has found herself in the position where a) I actually have a cat, and b) feel emotions towards it. Life can be strange when you have small furry creatures around you.
But the good news is that Karson is okay, she was just feeling under the weather from an over consumption of fur. So all I have to do now is feed her fur ball reducing cat food, fur ball preventing brown goop that smells and looks like shit, and brush her.
WTF? Having a cat is a pain in the ass, I'd feed her to the dog but the dog doesn't want her. I'd throw her in the lake in a gunny sack but then I'd feel all traumatized and cry. Dam! Being all empathetic and emotional is taking its toll on my psyche and doing bad things to my reputation as a hard ass.
Then she has the audacity to get sick and lie around looking poorly and make me worried. I often ask myself how it is that me, Ms. Dog Person, has found herself in the position where a) I actually have a cat, and b) feel emotions towards it. Life can be strange when you have small furry creatures around you.
But the good news is that Karson is okay, she was just feeling under the weather from an over consumption of fur. So all I have to do now is feed her fur ball reducing cat food, fur ball preventing brown goop that smells and looks like shit, and brush her.
WTF? Having a cat is a pain in the ass, I'd feed her to the dog but the dog doesn't want her. I'd throw her in the lake in a gunny sack but then I'd feel all traumatized and cry. Dam! Being all empathetic and emotional is taking its toll on my psyche and doing bad things to my reputation as a hard ass.
Saturday, August 24, 2013
August...Quit Shittin Me...It can't be almost gone already....
As time seems not to want to slow down I am hurtling quickly to the end of August. I've come millions of miles since my last entry and feel somewhat guilt ridden about not keeping in touch with billions of readers. (Yeah, I almost wrote that with a straight face.) Thankfully this month has been nice and has been making great strides towards keeping the summer from being a complete bust. I'm loving the weather, it has been in the mid twenties with a humidity which is beyond tolerable. So yay us.
The big trauma in my life has been my computer...gulp. My hard drive bit the big one and went to the big hard drive dump in the sky, taking with it all my information. It was enough to put me over the edge and weep quietly in the corner. I've had an offer from my most favouritest people to see if they can retrieve some of the information for me. I jumped on that offer like a flea going from a twig to a dog's leg! Now every time I even walk by something vaguely wood-like I knock on it. I have also been promising the god of little creatures that I will be much more faithful in backing up my information. I may also send him/her/it a sacrifice in the wind.
Well time has caught up with me tonight and I must bid adeau.
The big trauma in my life has been my computer...gulp. My hard drive bit the big one and went to the big hard drive dump in the sky, taking with it all my information. It was enough to put me over the edge and weep quietly in the corner. I've had an offer from my most favouritest people to see if they can retrieve some of the information for me. I jumped on that offer like a flea going from a twig to a dog's leg! Now every time I even walk by something vaguely wood-like I knock on it. I have also been promising the god of little creatures that I will be much more faithful in backing up my information. I may also send him/her/it a sacrifice in the wind.
Well time has caught up with me tonight and I must bid adeau.
Sunday, July 28, 2013
Days Fly...
I cannot believe how the days are flying by, seems like only yesterday that I was sitting at my blog writing and feeling that I would absolutely get back to writing in it on a regular basis. But here I am weeks later and feeling like the last thing I want to do is sit and write on it. Summer just seems to do that to me, it drains me of all the energy I have for the stuff I usually love to do. And I cannot blame it on good weather because frankly, this summer has stunk to the high, we have had rain, rain, high humidity, cloudy skies, muggy air, and more rain. At least today the sun seems to want to make a bit of an appearance.
So before I go off to the road and another bug infested encounter while I run I thought I would sit and do some quick catch up. Well perhaps not catch up but a little bit of actual writing stuff in random spurts until I run out of steam. (Steam is something I have a whole lot of, thanks to warm wet weather.
Yesterday I actually ran two kilometers...yay me. The hound and I walked 6 and ran 2, it feels kind of nice, not having to expend a shit ton of time to the suffering part. I am hoping by the time I do get my mileage up to a respectable point the weather will have cooled down enough to kill off all the flying critters that make life not so much fun in the bush. The kidlet and I are planning on doing a five k on October 19th this year, which means I have a couple of months to ease into the five k distance. I'm glad I didn't decide on a ten k, just looking at it from this side makes me tired...and feel my knees protesting too loud.
Twenty years ago today my suddenly passed away. Twenty years! Wow, so hard to believe. One second he was here, the next he wasn't, and now he's been gone for two decades. Funny how in the beginning I didn't think much about him. Every once in awhile I'd tell a story or two, but now, it seems like he is on my mind a lot. Dad was quite a mix of good and bad, like most of us I guess. He was a great story teller, but had the worst of the worst for health habits, drank too much, smoked too much, and ate pretty much everything he shouldn't. And was proud of it. His ashes are floating around his favourite hunting grounds now, at least I know he would have liked that. Giving back to nature where he enjoyed being above all else.
So before I go off to the road and another bug infested encounter while I run I thought I would sit and do some quick catch up. Well perhaps not catch up but a little bit of actual writing stuff in random spurts until I run out of steam. (Steam is something I have a whole lot of, thanks to warm wet weather.
Yesterday I actually ran two kilometers...yay me. The hound and I walked 6 and ran 2, it feels kind of nice, not having to expend a shit ton of time to the suffering part. I am hoping by the time I do get my mileage up to a respectable point the weather will have cooled down enough to kill off all the flying critters that make life not so much fun in the bush. The kidlet and I are planning on doing a five k on October 19th this year, which means I have a couple of months to ease into the five k distance. I'm glad I didn't decide on a ten k, just looking at it from this side makes me tired...and feel my knees protesting too loud.
Twenty years ago today my suddenly passed away. Twenty years! Wow, so hard to believe. One second he was here, the next he wasn't, and now he's been gone for two decades. Funny how in the beginning I didn't think much about him. Every once in awhile I'd tell a story or two, but now, it seems like he is on my mind a lot. Dad was quite a mix of good and bad, like most of us I guess. He was a great story teller, but had the worst of the worst for health habits, drank too much, smoked too much, and ate pretty much everything he shouldn't. And was proud of it. His ashes are floating around his favourite hunting grounds now, at least I know he would have liked that. Giving back to nature where he enjoyed being above all else.
Friday, July 5, 2013
Heat Wave Central
Man oh man, we went from 16 degrees to 37 yesterday. Today looks as if it will be around the same. Yikes. I have an 8k planned and I think it may be just a tad bit too hot for that. Maybe I'll do a 6k and finish off with a dip in the lake. Which by the way, is up over two feet. Two feet!!!!! Now that is what I call a lot of moisture.
Hubby is out putting a new log splitter through its paces today. A neighbour down the road purchased a new 20 ton splitter and has been keeping it here, he told hubby to go ahead and use it if he wants to. So now I have been given instructions to start saving for a new log splitter for next spring. Sigh...one of us needs to get a job.
Hubby is out putting a new log splitter through its paces today. A neighbour down the road purchased a new 20 ton splitter and has been keeping it here, he told hubby to go ahead and use it if he wants to. So now I have been given instructions to start saving for a new log splitter for next spring. Sigh...one of us needs to get a job.
Monday, July 1, 2013
A New Day Dawns
Happy Canada Day to everyone from the rainy, rainy, rainy east coast. Our lake is only up another six inches. I'm starting to wonder if I will ever see the sun again. :)
Although I did have a rather enjoyable 8k in the drizzle this afternoon. The Poop Brigade and parents just left to go and watch the fireworks in New Germany. The only fireworks I want to see tonight is the excitement of brushing my teeth.
Party...party...party!
Although I did have a rather enjoyable 8k in the drizzle this afternoon. The Poop Brigade and parents just left to go and watch the fireworks in New Germany. The only fireworks I want to see tonight is the excitement of brushing my teeth.
Party...party...party!
Wednesday, June 26, 2013
Temperature Spike
Yesterday we went from cool, damp spring to boiling summer. Luckily I managed to get the house cooled down over night, then locked down doors and windows to keep it in. Seeing as it got up to +37C. I even managed to get out for a walk, although after six kilometers I pretty much was done...like dinner.
Today, we are back to normal, rain, and more of it. Although the temperatures do not seem to want to drop too much. So it is just muggy...and bug ridden. Oh my walk should be sooooooo much fun. Thank the FSM for my east coast burqua.
Today, we are back to normal, rain, and more of it. Although the temperatures do not seem to want to drop too much. So it is just muggy...and bug ridden. Oh my walk should be sooooooo much fun. Thank the FSM for my east coast burqua.
Monday, June 24, 2013
Remiss
Wow, I cannot believe it has been so long since I dropped a note or two on this here blog thing. The fact of the matter is that I have been doing some writing, but not here. I'm not sure if my brain doesn't have the capacity to keep all the plates in the air, or if I just am super lazy. And it isn't helping that I am at the downward side of my creative cycle and the summer (I never seem to be able to make myself do a lot of computer work in the summer.) I guess I am just conspiring against myself. But if I had to pick, I think I will pick, just lazy, as the answer, because that seems to be what I am.
Our weather this month has sucked the big green apple. It has been wet and miserable most of the time. Of course not as wet and miserable as it has been in the old homestead. It sounds like half of the West is underwater right now. Oh the memories that brings back. I was stuck up at work during the flood of 1995 and had to take a helicopter ride out because 3/4's of the road was washed away. (Oh and all the bridges.) And it looks like the same situation now. So I guess I shouldn't complain about my damp spring.
Hubby is out trying to get some kind of part for the German Gem, which seems to suddenly have decided that it needs a lot of work. And it seems any time we bring our vehicle into the VW shop to fix something, three more things immediately go wrong with it. And not cheap things. Sigh. This would not be a good time to buy a new vehicle. Well I best go and do my walk before I sit down for the day and try to pound out some words on this here contraption.
Our weather this month has sucked the big green apple. It has been wet and miserable most of the time. Of course not as wet and miserable as it has been in the old homestead. It sounds like half of the West is underwater right now. Oh the memories that brings back. I was stuck up at work during the flood of 1995 and had to take a helicopter ride out because 3/4's of the road was washed away. (Oh and all the bridges.) And it looks like the same situation now. So I guess I shouldn't complain about my damp spring.
Hubby is out trying to get some kind of part for the German Gem, which seems to suddenly have decided that it needs a lot of work. And it seems any time we bring our vehicle into the VW shop to fix something, three more things immediately go wrong with it. And not cheap things. Sigh. This would not be a good time to buy a new vehicle. Well I best go and do my walk before I sit down for the day and try to pound out some words on this here contraption.
Wednesday, June 12, 2013
Finally!
Wow the internet guy came by today and replaced my antenna and the works. Apparently water in it makes for an unhappy connection. Thank you Jason! I am seriously pumped that it is working and I can actually do stuff, and search stuff, and not have to choose what I am going to do online, just in case it goes down. Did I mention how pumped I am?
It is a cold, wet, crappy day outside...the hubby actually put a fire on this morning. It is only plus eleven outside. Its freaking June. Yikes. Of course I shouldn't really get my panties tied in a knot about it because I happen to love going outside for a walk/run when it is cold and raining outside. Granted not long, long ones because I wouldn't want to turn into a popsicle, but seven or eight K would be perfect.
So now that I have access to information I may just sit down and write before heading outside. Lately I have been having issues because I need Google to be able to search/look shit up. I hate having to put down notes to myself while writing.
Example -
The war was finally over (look up when the second world war officially ended) he was free as a bird (look up if soldiers really were free right after the war ended or did they have to finish their term) as soon as he got home he bought a car (did the average soldier have enough money to buy a car) twenty five cents would pay for enough gas to get him (seriously...how frikkin far would twenty five cents get a person in 1945/46/47). Iowa reminded him of (France? Spain? Egypt? The Moon? Where the hell would he have been stationed, and what did it look like?) Note to self, put new story into the future.
And so on.
Turns out since Google I've turned into a know nothing moron.
It is a cold, wet, crappy day outside...the hubby actually put a fire on this morning. It is only plus eleven outside. Its freaking June. Yikes. Of course I shouldn't really get my panties tied in a knot about it because I happen to love going outside for a walk/run when it is cold and raining outside. Granted not long, long ones because I wouldn't want to turn into a popsicle, but seven or eight K would be perfect.
So now that I have access to information I may just sit down and write before heading outside. Lately I have been having issues because I need Google to be able to search/look shit up. I hate having to put down notes to myself while writing.
Example -
The war was finally over (look up when the second world war officially ended) he was free as a bird (look up if soldiers really were free right after the war ended or did they have to finish their term) as soon as he got home he bought a car (did the average soldier have enough money to buy a car) twenty five cents would pay for enough gas to get him (seriously...how frikkin far would twenty five cents get a person in 1945/46/47). Iowa reminded him of (France? Spain? Egypt? The Moon? Where the hell would he have been stationed, and what did it look like?) Note to self, put new story into the future.
And so on.
Turns out since Google I've turned into a know nothing moron.
Tuesday, June 4, 2013
Chapter 19
I am on chapter 19 of the book I am writing....yowzah! It has taken a few goodly chunks of time to get here. But I am here. Of course, if it goes as long as I think it will, then chapter 50 is still in a galaxy far, far away, and a long time in the future. I love the creative process, not so much the editing and making it look pretty process. Oh well.
We had two serious days of summer this week, Saturday and Sunday was in the mid to high thirties. That is just crazy! In fact it was so crazy that the water went from being somewhat chilly like ice, to somewhat pleasant like swimming. Even the poop brigade to full advantage of it and spent many hours playing in, on, and around the water. Did I mention in, because there was a lot of that going on. Now this week it has been in the high teens and low twenties. (I'm kinda loving the low twenties on a sunny day. Even though it would be too cold to swim, it is so nice the other 20 hours of the day.
Well now it is time to eat some blueberries and get back to my writing. (Are blueberries brain food? Because I certainly need some of that.)
We had two serious days of summer this week, Saturday and Sunday was in the mid to high thirties. That is just crazy! In fact it was so crazy that the water went from being somewhat chilly like ice, to somewhat pleasant like swimming. Even the poop brigade to full advantage of it and spent many hours playing in, on, and around the water. Did I mention in, because there was a lot of that going on. Now this week it has been in the high teens and low twenties. (I'm kinda loving the low twenties on a sunny day. Even though it would be too cold to swim, it is so nice the other 20 hours of the day.
Well now it is time to eat some blueberries and get back to my writing. (Are blueberries brain food? Because I certainly need some of that.)
Wednesday, May 29, 2013
Peeking Through
The sun came out yesterday, it was the first time in about two and a half years. Okay maybe I'm exaggerating, maybe it has only been two years. Nevertheless it felt freakin awesome! It was so nice that I actually got out and helped the hubby work on my Wookie Cave. Seeing as half of the building is mine, I should at least spend some time on it eh.
But the truth of the matter is that I've been busy sitting here and writing stuff. And when I write, it feels like I am in a time machine. I sit down, write for about three minutes and when I look at the clock 6 hours have gone by. Today the hubby went off to help a damsel in distress (the kidlet) and I was at home doing nothing. Well I made butter tarts for my class tomorrow, and I did finish off this month's budget, and I scrubbed the bathroom from top to bottom, and did a little bit of writing. Then the sun, the dog, and the sound of the waves lapping against the beach made me get up and go outside and do some beach cleaning. I probably could have stayed out all afternoon but when the wind died down the black flies came out to chew on my lily white legs.
So here I am back to the grind. Oh would you look at the time, seventeen hours have gone by.
But the truth of the matter is that I've been busy sitting here and writing stuff. And when I write, it feels like I am in a time machine. I sit down, write for about three minutes and when I look at the clock 6 hours have gone by. Today the hubby went off to help a damsel in distress (the kidlet) and I was at home doing nothing. Well I made butter tarts for my class tomorrow, and I did finish off this month's budget, and I scrubbed the bathroom from top to bottom, and did a little bit of writing. Then the sun, the dog, and the sound of the waves lapping against the beach made me get up and go outside and do some beach cleaning. I probably could have stayed out all afternoon but when the wind died down the black flies came out to chew on my lily white legs.
So here I am back to the grind. Oh would you look at the time, seventeen hours have gone by.
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Star Trek
Last night I went to the new Star Trek movie...wait for it...I loved it. It was really fun, entertaining and pretty cool. Sure there was some cheesy scenes, some kitschy scenes, and some over used phrases, (yes, yes I know...the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the one...I GET IT!) but there was also a lot of fun. I even watched it in 3D, and up until now hadn't really been a big fan, but this was pretty good. However I would like to watch it just as a regular movie as well. Will have to wait for the DVD I guess.
The new Khan was seriously kick ass, way tougher, less friendly, and a little more evil than Ricardo. I still like the original Khan better because he had a lot more personality, but I think this Khan depicted more of what real engineered super humans might be like.
I loved that they threw a tribble into the mix. I liked the evil dreadnaught class of starship. (Spoiler Alert...or maybe no, maybe its just a given.) Why, oh why, oh why, do all Starfleet Admirals go bad? Is it because absolute power corrupts absolutely? It just seems like cope out.
I loved...LOVED Karl Urban's portrayal of Bones. He was awesome! I love Karl Urban anyway...I seriously heart Eomer, never would have picked him for this role but I thought he did an amazing job and now cannot imagine this role going to anyone else. Zachary Quinto did an amazing job as well. He so is the next Spock. Whoever was the casting people for this hit the bulls-eye for these two. I was totally expecting the blond to be Yeoman Rand, it isn't, but who the girl is makes for a good mix in the Khan story line.
Anyway before I go on and give it all away I will stop. But I just wanted to say that I liked this movie. Such a relief! There have been some real stinkers as of late. Now I have to go because I have a tick crawling up my pant leg. I think I will BBQ the little bastard.
The new Khan was seriously kick ass, way tougher, less friendly, and a little more evil than Ricardo. I still like the original Khan better because he had a lot more personality, but I think this Khan depicted more of what real engineered super humans might be like.
I loved that they threw a tribble into the mix. I liked the evil dreadnaught class of starship. (Spoiler Alert...or maybe no, maybe its just a given.) Why, oh why, oh why, do all Starfleet Admirals go bad? Is it because absolute power corrupts absolutely? It just seems like cope out.
I loved...LOVED Karl Urban's portrayal of Bones. He was awesome! I love Karl Urban anyway...I seriously heart Eomer, never would have picked him for this role but I thought he did an amazing job and now cannot imagine this role going to anyone else. Zachary Quinto did an amazing job as well. He so is the next Spock. Whoever was the casting people for this hit the bulls-eye for these two. I was totally expecting the blond to be Yeoman Rand, it isn't, but who the girl is makes for a good mix in the Khan story line.
Anyway before I go on and give it all away I will stop. But I just wanted to say that I liked this movie. Such a relief! There have been some real stinkers as of late. Now I have to go because I have a tick crawling up my pant leg. I think I will BBQ the little bastard.
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
May the Leaves Begin...
Okay so that is a really lame title for this particular post, but the fact of the matter that here at Kitpu Estates, it is May, the leaves have sproinged into being, and spring has sprung. Things were warmish at the beginning of the month and now the rains have been here for a few days and the temperatures have gone down a tich. I am not complaining. I am more into cooler then warmer these days.
I know I have put in a pathetic amount of time to my blog this last month or so, at the start it was because I was suffering from the plague and my brain went into a, Woe is Me, state and could not function. Now it is because I have been scrambling to get my homework done, my story out for publication, and of course the work goes on in my novel. Which is about as far from, woe is me, that a person can get.
The tick count for the hound is into the seventies now, and of course with every passing day we should be seeing a rise in that count. I am looking forward to the time that we get started with Plan A on that front and have ourselves a clutch of guinea fowl. Apparently one bird is good for cleaning one acre of ticks. I'd like to start with ten and go from there.
In the meantime back in the shack old Iron Bess has been getting a lot of help making beds from Karson the Hairball producing cat.
What do you mean you are taking them off the bed? I just spent a lot of time making it just right.
I know I have put in a pathetic amount of time to my blog this last month or so, at the start it was because I was suffering from the plague and my brain went into a, Woe is Me, state and could not function. Now it is because I have been scrambling to get my homework done, my story out for publication, and of course the work goes on in my novel. Which is about as far from, woe is me, that a person can get.
The tick count for the hound is into the seventies now, and of course with every passing day we should be seeing a rise in that count. I am looking forward to the time that we get started with Plan A on that front and have ourselves a clutch of guinea fowl. Apparently one bird is good for cleaning one acre of ticks. I'd like to start with ten and go from there.
In the meantime back in the shack old Iron Bess has been getting a lot of help making beds from Karson the Hairball producing cat.
Oh, I just have to adjust the sheets under here.
What do you mean you are taking them off the bed? I just spent a lot of time making it just right.
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
No Time...
Writing all day long and I have no time to write on the blog, or do my homework. But I can't complain because at least I am putting one word down after the other and it's feeling good!
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Porky Report
It is an odd day here at Kitpu Estates. It started out with fog so thick you could cut it with a chainsaw, then it cleared up and got all blue and sunny. I thought it was a harbinger of dreary, wet, and dark weather. So yippee. And according to the weather guys this nice spell is suppose to last well into next week.
I just saw this meme the other day - Fool me once, shame on your. Fool me twice, shame on me. Fool me 45,000 times, you are the weather man. Bawhahahaha!
So I decided to sit down and finish my story for this week when suddenly my body decided that it would be a perfect time to start emptying out the dishwasher, so that was done. Oh, and there is a hair or two, or a thousand on the floor, so I pull out the vacuum cleaner. Whew, glad that is done. Better start working on that story now, so of course I throw a load of laundry in, fold the load in the dryer, and then hang and put away dry clothes. Oh man, my story certainly is coming along nicely. Then, because I happen to be president and CEO of the Old Shoes and Tea Society, I decide to put on a pot of coffee before starting. Which of course means it is vital that I clean the refrigerator. Then hubby walks in the house and tells me that there is a big-assed porcupine hanging out in the tree right by our place! Gotta go have a look...you know...because it isn't like I've seen about a hundred thousand porcupines (dead and alive) since I moved here. Where was I again? Oh yeah, finish my story...I guess now is a good time to write in my blog.
Oh look, there is a helicopter circling the Estates a la Kitpu...must go and gawk!
I just saw this meme the other day - Fool me once, shame on your. Fool me twice, shame on me. Fool me 45,000 times, you are the weather man. Bawhahahaha!
So I decided to sit down and finish my story for this week when suddenly my body decided that it would be a perfect time to start emptying out the dishwasher, so that was done. Oh, and there is a hair or two, or a thousand on the floor, so I pull out the vacuum cleaner. Whew, glad that is done. Better start working on that story now, so of course I throw a load of laundry in, fold the load in the dryer, and then hang and put away dry clothes. Oh man, my story certainly is coming along nicely. Then, because I happen to be president and CEO of the Old Shoes and Tea Society, I decide to put on a pot of coffee before starting. Which of course means it is vital that I clean the refrigerator. Then hubby walks in the house and tells me that there is a big-assed porcupine hanging out in the tree right by our place! Gotta go have a look...you know...because it isn't like I've seen about a hundred thousand porcupines (dead and alive) since I moved here. Where was I again? Oh yeah, finish my story...I guess now is a good time to write in my blog.
Oh look, there is a helicopter circling the Estates a la Kitpu...must go and gawk!
Sunday, April 28, 2013
Laying the Boots
It is a seriously beautiful day today. Warm, sunny, and no bugs. Did I mention warm...and sunny...and no bugs? The cold nights are keeping them down me thinks. I took the hell hound out for a small walk today and made her tow the line. She had to heel for almost eight kilometers, oh the humanity. I find with this dog, even though she is a bit of a sweet heart, she has a tendency to get all German Shepherd on me, if I am not careful.
For those of you who may not know the formula, German Shepherd = Asshat. If you aren't careful they start to think that they rule the roost, and with a dog that size you cannot allow it, unless you happen to be okay with being ignored, and/or shepherded all over the place. So sometimes I have to lay the boots to her ass. And when I say "lay the boots", I mean make her heel, and if she doesn't heel then I banish her from the pack. Which in doggy-land is wayyyyyy more traumatizing then beating them. When I banish her from the pack she skulks behind me trying to act all cute-like and make me love her again. I didn't let her back in to the pack until the last 300 meters, so of course she was over the moon with excitement and did the "love you long time" routine with me until we got home and someone down the lake pulled in with a dog in tow, then all bets were off. Sigh...she is currently out of favour with the pack again.
Just finished reading, Girl Gone, by Gillian Flynn, it was a pretty good book, except I didn't care for the ending, there was a little too much super criminal going on. I was a little concerned at first because there didn't seem to be a whole bunch going on in the middle, but the writing kept me interested enough to the end. Not like the disaster of a book I just got through awhile ago, A Working Theory of Love, by Scott Hutchins...that was beyond awful. I highly do not recommend that one, unless you don't mind reading a book where absolutely nothing happens. You would think that with sentient computer programs and mystery it would have interesting stuff happening in it...nope.
And speaking of not recommending something, you probably shouldn't bother reading, The Long Earth, by Terry Prachett. Being a Prachett fan I was really looking forward to this book...it was not good. I also cannot recommend it. It doesn't have the Prachett humour, and the scenario he is trying to get the reader to believe, I could not buy into it, there were too many gaps in his science to make it plausible.
The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, by Rachel Joyce now there is another one I do NOT recommend. It started out good, then crashed and burned. And when I say crashed, I mean it. I also just finished, How to be a Woman, by Caitlan Moran just a bit ago...it was pretty good. Funny and interesting although she did seem to be targeting a very narrow version of women, there were many times I could not relate.
Well I didn't mean this to be book review day. Speaking of book review I best be working on mine. Happy warm Sunday all!
For those of you who may not know the formula, German Shepherd = Asshat. If you aren't careful they start to think that they rule the roost, and with a dog that size you cannot allow it, unless you happen to be okay with being ignored, and/or shepherded all over the place. So sometimes I have to lay the boots to her ass. And when I say "lay the boots", I mean make her heel, and if she doesn't heel then I banish her from the pack. Which in doggy-land is wayyyyyy more traumatizing then beating them. When I banish her from the pack she skulks behind me trying to act all cute-like and make me love her again. I didn't let her back in to the pack until the last 300 meters, so of course she was over the moon with excitement and did the "love you long time" routine with me until we got home and someone down the lake pulled in with a dog in tow, then all bets were off. Sigh...she is currently out of favour with the pack again.
Just finished reading, Girl Gone, by Gillian Flynn, it was a pretty good book, except I didn't care for the ending, there was a little too much super criminal going on. I was a little concerned at first because there didn't seem to be a whole bunch going on in the middle, but the writing kept me interested enough to the end. Not like the disaster of a book I just got through awhile ago, A Working Theory of Love, by Scott Hutchins...that was beyond awful. I highly do not recommend that one, unless you don't mind reading a book where absolutely nothing happens. You would think that with sentient computer programs and mystery it would have interesting stuff happening in it...nope.
And speaking of not recommending something, you probably shouldn't bother reading, The Long Earth, by Terry Prachett. Being a Prachett fan I was really looking forward to this book...it was not good. I also cannot recommend it. It doesn't have the Prachett humour, and the scenario he is trying to get the reader to believe, I could not buy into it, there were too many gaps in his science to make it plausible.
The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, by Rachel Joyce now there is another one I do NOT recommend. It started out good, then crashed and burned. And when I say crashed, I mean it. I also just finished, How to be a Woman, by Caitlan Moran just a bit ago...it was pretty good. Funny and interesting although she did seem to be targeting a very narrow version of women, there were many times I could not relate.
Well I didn't mean this to be book review day. Speaking of book review I best be working on mine. Happy warm Sunday all!
Friday, April 26, 2013
Internet Connections...
Well today looks to be the first day in forever that I actually have had internet connection for an extended period of time. It is truly annoying when a body does not have access to the world out there. Annoying and a bit scary. Scary in the way that when I don't have connection I realize how much I have come to rely on instant gratification of my needs.
How big is an acre? I'll just Google that.
What was John Lennon's middle name? What is the average temperature of Antarctica, how about the Arctic? Who wrote Of Mice and Men? What is the name of those two lines under your nose? What is a good recipe for potato soup? How do you train a cat not to scratch the furniture? Do fish have ears? List the best movies of 2012? What is a natural way to rid your property of ticks? What did George Takei post on FB today? And the list goes on.
How does a person get through her day without that information? My mom had three sets of encyclopedia's which she was frantically trying to pawn off on me before her final move out east, I declined, gently, then very firmly. When weight and bulk are issues for transporting stuff across thousands of kilometers, who exactly needs another thousand pounds. Also, call me lazy, but I was not interested in packing the books from her place to my place, from my place all the way across the country, then from the cargo trailer into the basement where they would sit, unopened for the coming millennium. I've considered those encyclopedias once or twice but then realized that the information held between their pages were probably outdated by the time they hit the shelves. (Perhaps the history wasn't, but even history is always being revised.)
Although I do feel out of sorts when not connected to the information super-highway I do think I have become too reliant on it. I just have to consider that when the Zombie Apocalypse happens all of it will be gone with the flick of a switch and the shuffling of undead feet.
How big is an acre? I'll just Google that.
What was John Lennon's middle name? What is the average temperature of Antarctica, how about the Arctic? Who wrote Of Mice and Men? What is the name of those two lines under your nose? What is a good recipe for potato soup? How do you train a cat not to scratch the furniture? Do fish have ears? List the best movies of 2012? What is a natural way to rid your property of ticks? What did George Takei post on FB today? And the list goes on.
How does a person get through her day without that information? My mom had three sets of encyclopedia's which she was frantically trying to pawn off on me before her final move out east, I declined, gently, then very firmly. When weight and bulk are issues for transporting stuff across thousands of kilometers, who exactly needs another thousand pounds. Also, call me lazy, but I was not interested in packing the books from her place to my place, from my place all the way across the country, then from the cargo trailer into the basement where they would sit, unopened for the coming millennium. I've considered those encyclopedias once or twice but then realized that the information held between their pages were probably outdated by the time they hit the shelves. (Perhaps the history wasn't, but even history is always being revised.)
Although I do feel out of sorts when not connected to the information super-highway I do think I have become too reliant on it. I just have to consider that when the Zombie Apocalypse happens all of it will be gone with the flick of a switch and the shuffling of undead feet.
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
Cold!
Yup, it is cold. The temperatures around here have been going up and down like Bertha's pants at a picnic. It was sunny yesterday, sunny and warm, so we took the Poop Brigade for a walk in the back forty before going for a longer walk. The shortest brigade member was by and far the whiniest and not really into the extended walk. By the time we made it back to the stroller he was more then ready to get in and crash. The tallest (by a hair) also did not complain too much upon being confined to the relative comfort of that pushing contraption afterwards and spent close to five kilometers occupying herself before beginning to complain. When we returned the temperature dropped quickly and we were finally forced to leave the out-of-doors and return to the passive solar heated abode that lies on Kitpu Estates. The Poop Brigade engaged the sirens, and could be heard kilometers away, as we dragged them into the house. Although their antics are a bit of a pain in the ass when trying to get them into the house I think it bodes well for the day where they can both be trusted to hang around outside on their own. (Fingers crossed...:)
Although the walk was successful today, it was not so much the day before. Five minutes into that walk we ended up with one broken German Shepherd who had to be rushed to after hours emergency. X-rays, painkillers, and an overnight stay = $500.00 in vet bills, and one dog with a torn ACL. Surgery awaits sometime next week, then a minimum of an 8 week recovery period. Sigh. So we spent the day keeping my dog, Houndicus Jumpicus, away from, Houndicus Ouchicus, so they wouldn't try running around and causing even more damage to the broken one.
Speaking of dogs, with that one warm day the local tick population has become active, so we have officially pulled 13 ticks off the dog. Last year the count totaled 342, being only two days into the season she may give that record a run for its money. Frak! I hate ticks. I get all heebie-jeebie about them and the girl comes out in me. The same goes for leaches...ick.
Although the walk was successful today, it was not so much the day before. Five minutes into that walk we ended up with one broken German Shepherd who had to be rushed to after hours emergency. X-rays, painkillers, and an overnight stay = $500.00 in vet bills, and one dog with a torn ACL. Surgery awaits sometime next week, then a minimum of an 8 week recovery period. Sigh. So we spent the day keeping my dog, Houndicus Jumpicus, away from, Houndicus Ouchicus, so they wouldn't try running around and causing even more damage to the broken one.
Speaking of dogs, with that one warm day the local tick population has become active, so we have officially pulled 13 ticks off the dog. Last year the count totaled 342, being only two days into the season she may give that record a run for its money. Frak! I hate ticks. I get all heebie-jeebie about them and the girl comes out in me. The same goes for leaches...ick.
Friday, April 19, 2013
Heat!
Wow! Here be dragons, or at least the heat generated by them. The temperature has gone from plus 14 to plus 30 in one fell swoop. I was literally sweating up a storm...outside! And I wasn't even splitting, stacking, or hauling firewood. The weather guys were predicting rain all day today and tomorrow, then Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday it is supposed to get all hot and sunny. I think they missed by a few days. It is hot and sunny now.
Hubby is trapping minnows these days, shiners, mini trout, and icky eels. It's weird that I have zero interest in the whole fishing thing these days. As a kid I was all about dangling a hook in the water to try and entice one of the scaly things to it, but now I am all - meh - about it. Perhaps once I start taking a few laps around the lake in the boat (ala motor) I will once again be interested in the process...perhaps.
I received the magazine which I have another story coming out in this afternoon. This one is a children's story. Even though it probably isn't a big deal to anyone else in the world, to me, it's still cool to see my name in print.
Hubby is trapping minnows these days, shiners, mini trout, and icky eels. It's weird that I have zero interest in the whole fishing thing these days. As a kid I was all about dangling a hook in the water to try and entice one of the scaly things to it, but now I am all - meh - about it. Perhaps once I start taking a few laps around the lake in the boat (ala motor) I will once again be interested in the process...perhaps.
I received the magazine which I have another story coming out in this afternoon. This one is a children's story. Even though it probably isn't a big deal to anyone else in the world, to me, it's still cool to see my name in print.
Monday, April 15, 2013
Pets aR'nt Us
I need someone to explain to me why exactly it is that I seem to require a German Shepherd in my life? I mean really, what good are they? They eat you out of house and home then fill your yard with all kinds of surprises. When you finish vacuuming and washing your floors they immediately have to wander around with muddy feet and drooly toilet water. They have uncontrollable urges to sniff every part of your pant leg as soon as you get dressed in the morning, walk back into the room, load the washing machine, or water your plants. If there is a mud puddle anywhere within a ten kilometer radius they have to jump in and drink the water no matter how green/brown/purple or disgusting it is. They also feel it is very, very important to pace, and pace, and pace until the hardwood floors are worn in a nice pattern.
Yes I know I used to wax poetic about taking them for runs, or taking them for walks, but really I could also take a gold fish for a walk and it wouldn't be anywhere near as annoying. For one thing a gold fish would be a lot more discerning about that type of water it wanted to throw itself in. For another, I'm certain they wouldn't chase porcupines and skunks. They also wouldn't make me put a leash on them and yell "heal" at the every five feet. And don't even get me started about the dog hair intensive household I live in. OCD and dog hair is NOT a good combination!
And then there is the cat. Really what use are cats? Mine is a fanatic about helping me make the bed. Again, OCD + cat helping to make the bed = not a good combination. Granted I am new to the whole cat in the house scenario so I am still getting used to having someone hide under the bed then jump out and attack my feet as I make the bed. Or act like she is starving to death when I am cutting up olives. Or no matter where she is, when I open a tub of yogurt she charges into the room then rubs herself against me so hard that my hair stands straight up into the air and I end up getting stuck to the wall because of all the static. Then once she gets the yogurt she acts like I am something which accidentally got stuck to her fur in the litter box. (Don't even get me started about having to keep a box for poop in the house!)
Sigh....maybe I should put them up for adoption and go out and get myself one of them thar gold fishes.
Yes I know I used to wax poetic about taking them for runs, or taking them for walks, but really I could also take a gold fish for a walk and it wouldn't be anywhere near as annoying. For one thing a gold fish would be a lot more discerning about that type of water it wanted to throw itself in. For another, I'm certain they wouldn't chase porcupines and skunks. They also wouldn't make me put a leash on them and yell "heal" at the every five feet. And don't even get me started about the dog hair intensive household I live in. OCD and dog hair is NOT a good combination!
And then there is the cat. Really what use are cats? Mine is a fanatic about helping me make the bed. Again, OCD + cat helping to make the bed = not a good combination. Granted I am new to the whole cat in the house scenario so I am still getting used to having someone hide under the bed then jump out and attack my feet as I make the bed. Or act like she is starving to death when I am cutting up olives. Or no matter where she is, when I open a tub of yogurt she charges into the room then rubs herself against me so hard that my hair stands straight up into the air and I end up getting stuck to the wall because of all the static. Then once she gets the yogurt she acts like I am something which accidentally got stuck to her fur in the litter box. (Don't even get me started about having to keep a box for poop in the house!)
Sigh....maybe I should put them up for adoption and go out and get myself one of them thar gold fishes.
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
Critiques and Dog Poop
My day today was filled with critiquing and dog poop. I know everyone is now asking how your days could become as exciting as that, but to tell the truth not everyone can be as lucky. I took the hell hound out for a walk down to the bridge this afternoon and when she wasn't engaged in leaving her own brand of fertilizer up and down the side of the road, she was busy snorking up other wonderful aromas, that because of all the snow being gone, are now free to waft through the air. Although I'm pretty sure that most of the piles are not in fact dog poop, they are more like porcupine, raccoon, and possibly coyote droppings. Ah the glorious scents of spring time! Although animal shite isn't exactly the creme de la creme of my day, I would so much rather she tangled with a pile then an actual porky. So woo-hoo.
Then when I got home and had lunch, soup and tuna sandwiches (and three rather small and pathetic speckled trout provided by the Hubby) then I threw in a load of laundry and sat down to do some critiquing. And because it wasn't poetry it was wonderful, and easy, and not filled with tension and pressure. So yay me! I am soooooooooo not a poet.
Kitpu Goings On
Me: So why did you keep a couple of minnows, are you going to use them for bait?
Hubby: These aren't minnows, they're fish. I'm going to fry them up for lunch.
Me: I think that flu may have effected you more than you realize.
Hubby: Smart ass, I think I'll go pile some wood now.
Speaking of not being a poet I had better quit sitting here and telling tales from the Old Shoes and Tea Society, and start working on a story for submission.
Then when I got home and had lunch, soup and tuna sandwiches (and three rather small and pathetic speckled trout provided by the Hubby) then I threw in a load of laundry and sat down to do some critiquing. And because it wasn't poetry it was wonderful, and easy, and not filled with tension and pressure. So yay me! I am soooooooooo not a poet.
Kitpu Goings On
Me: So why did you keep a couple of minnows, are you going to use them for bait?
Hubby: These aren't minnows, they're fish. I'm going to fry them up for lunch.
Me: I think that flu may have effected you more than you realize.
Hubby: Smart ass, I think I'll go pile some wood now.
Speaking of not being a poet I had better quit sitting here and telling tales from the Old Shoes and Tea Society, and start working on a story for submission.
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
Hubby Update
The Hubby tells me that I have to update my blog because without it he doesn't know what goes on at Kitpu Estates...funny guy. Its pretty easy to keep up on the goings on at Kitpu when you live here, plus the fact that pretty much sweet tweet has been happening since we have been down for the count for the past month.
The good news on the "not much" front, or the "sweet tweet" front, is that all of the ice is officially gone from the lake. So yippee to that. Also more good news is that pretty much all trace of snow is gone as well. Although there are some tiny piles in the shadows lands of the back forty, but nothing to make it bad to walk in. And the crazy good news is that the ground seems to be thawing out without a whole shit pile of mud and sludge on the road, that means I do not have to use the 4x4 to get in and out of the property this year.
Today is day seventeen of the Flu That Was Like Death, still have some slight remains of symptoms like a bit of a cough, and slightly sluggish on walks, but at least we are back to the land of the living. It was so bad for awhile there that even my internal organs were sore every time I coughed. That can't be good can it? I am very much looking forward to going back to a rather healthier lifestyle.
Yesterday the windows for the Wookie Cave showed up! How cool is that? Soon I will have my own studio, with my own writing space, and my own painting space. Hopefully it will feel like my office at work. For some reason every morning at around 6:30am I used to get this uncontrollable urge to write, write, write. (Well actually it was controllable seeing as I kind of wanted to keep getting that pay cheque thingie.) I am hoping that the same urges will happen once the Wookie Cave is up and running. (Although the 6:30 thing may have to be put off until perhaps 7:30, or even 8:30 seeing as I no longer am getting that pay cheque thingie and thus feel no real need to get up at 4:30 in the morning.) Of course the last couple of years, during the summer months, I have enjoyed getting up early in the morning and watching the sun come up with a steaming cup o Joe in hand. Anyway I do hope to go great guns on my book once ensconced in my new studio and get it finished, and perhaps even sent out for publishing before the end of the year. Now that would be a great big huge tick on my Bucket List.
The good news on the "not much" front, or the "sweet tweet" front, is that all of the ice is officially gone from the lake. So yippee to that. Also more good news is that pretty much all trace of snow is gone as well. Although there are some tiny piles in the shadows lands of the back forty, but nothing to make it bad to walk in. And the crazy good news is that the ground seems to be thawing out without a whole shit pile of mud and sludge on the road, that means I do not have to use the 4x4 to get in and out of the property this year.
Today is day seventeen of the Flu That Was Like Death, still have some slight remains of symptoms like a bit of a cough, and slightly sluggish on walks, but at least we are back to the land of the living. It was so bad for awhile there that even my internal organs were sore every time I coughed. That can't be good can it? I am very much looking forward to going back to a rather healthier lifestyle.
Yesterday the windows for the Wookie Cave showed up! How cool is that? Soon I will have my own studio, with my own writing space, and my own painting space. Hopefully it will feel like my office at work. For some reason every morning at around 6:30am I used to get this uncontrollable urge to write, write, write. (Well actually it was controllable seeing as I kind of wanted to keep getting that pay cheque thingie.) I am hoping that the same urges will happen once the Wookie Cave is up and running. (Although the 6:30 thing may have to be put off until perhaps 7:30, or even 8:30 seeing as I no longer am getting that pay cheque thingie and thus feel no real need to get up at 4:30 in the morning.) Of course the last couple of years, during the summer months, I have enjoyed getting up early in the morning and watching the sun come up with a steaming cup o Joe in hand. Anyway I do hope to go great guns on my book once ensconced in my new studio and get it finished, and perhaps even sent out for publishing before the end of the year. Now that would be a great big huge tick on my Bucket List.
Saturday, March 30, 2013
Alive...again
Today is day nine after having contracted the plague. I was feeling pretty good when I first got up this morning but as the day progressed some serious shittiness settled in. Now typically I am a pretty healthy person, in fact it has been years since I even had a cold, let alone something which knocked me right off my ass, and let me tell you, this certainly has done that. (And continues to do it.)
I actually do remember the last time I was as sick as this, it was during the Calgary Olympics in 1988. That was when I ended up with bronchitis and laryngitis and told the doctor that I was too sick to go to the hospital. I spent two solid weeks in bed (not in the hospital) and if things don't start getting a little better I may end up being out of commission for two weeks with this flu...bronchitis...black death...or whatever the frack it is.
In fact I have been feeling so craptastic that I haven't even been able to write, not even for a minute. So fingers crossed, knock on wood, and three Hail Marys to the fact that I am sitting here trying to put a word or two together because it probably means that I am looking back at the worst of it.
I actually do remember the last time I was as sick as this, it was during the Calgary Olympics in 1988. That was when I ended up with bronchitis and laryngitis and told the doctor that I was too sick to go to the hospital. I spent two solid weeks in bed (not in the hospital) and if things don't start getting a little better I may end up being out of commission for two weeks with this flu...bronchitis...black death...or whatever the frack it is.
In fact I have been feeling so craptastic that I haven't even been able to write, not even for a minute. So fingers crossed, knock on wood, and three Hail Marys to the fact that I am sitting here trying to put a word or two together because it probably means that I am looking back at the worst of it.
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Waiting With Bated (Baited) Breath
Yuppers, we is in the waiting game now. Apparently the snow is supposed to giver shit tonight and pile it on thick by tomorrow. Yay us. I am so hoping that this will be it for the snow this year. Of course I have had places I needed to go for most of this winter and it had to be a serious pain in the ass for me. Sigh. A bloody conspiracy it is. (Yoda told me that.)
Me and the canine were walking mud puddles by the time we finished our walk this afternoon. Her, because well let's face it, she is a disgusting dog. And me, because well let's face it, because I went with a disgusting dog. She managed to gallump all around me while spreading the joy of mud and other gunk. Yesterday we ended in exactly the same situation and she spent the majority of the day tied to the door to dry out. I tried hanging her out front in the sunnier spot but she was so tangled up under the deck that she was howling by the time I got out of the shower. So today I tried Yee Oldde Bucket of Water on her and it worked so much better.
Me and the canine were walking mud puddles by the time we finished our walk this afternoon. Her, because well let's face it, she is a disgusting dog. And me, because well let's face it, because I went with a disgusting dog. She managed to gallump all around me while spreading the joy of mud and other gunk. Yesterday we ended in exactly the same situation and she spent the majority of the day tied to the door to dry out. I tried hanging her out front in the sunnier spot but she was so tangled up under the deck that she was howling by the time I got out of the shower. So today I tried Yee Oldde Bucket of Water on her and it worked so much better.
Monday, March 18, 2013
Busy
I've been pretty busy these days trying to get writing done for class, writing done for group, and editing my novel that I have been seriously neglecting blogging about anything. (I'm pretty sure that the electronic world gives a giant rat's ass about that.) I just finished doing some editing on said novel and starting the process on chapter six and seven and thought I had better stop for a minute and just chill...by writing more. Haha.
I believe winter is giving a last kick at the cat before spring pushes it out of the way. This morning when I woke up it was -13 outside. I KNOW. Like holy-paloly what the hell is that? The wind was just a howling too, so even though by the time I stepped out the door to go for my walk it was only -5 it was still cold. But the sun was shining brightly, so in one direction it was pure winter, the other it was summer. Tomorrow it is supposed to snow...as Tony the Tiger used to say...Greeeeaaaatttt (it really isn't). So fingers and toes crossed...let spring sproing.
I believe winter is giving a last kick at the cat before spring pushes it out of the way. This morning when I woke up it was -13 outside. I KNOW. Like holy-paloly what the hell is that? The wind was just a howling too, so even though by the time I stepped out the door to go for my walk it was only -5 it was still cold. But the sun was shining brightly, so in one direction it was pure winter, the other it was summer. Tomorrow it is supposed to snow...as Tony the Tiger used to say...Greeeeaaaatttt (it really isn't). So fingers and toes crossed...let spring sproing.
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Dampish
Oh yes, today is another wet and dampish kind of day. Took the hell hound and hubby for a walk and squiggied through the mud and puddles. Now I am trying to get my homework done, as well as spend some time on my novel. My computer is acting up though and pissing me off. When exactly don't computers act up and piss people off? Those days are few and far between.
I call on all computer gods to stop fucking around and allow me to keep my connection to the internet so I can Wiki and Google as needed while doing research for my book! (Picture me here dancing around with feathers and raw spaghetti noodles hanging from my clothes while chanting to the computer gods. NOT naked...I don't want to scare said gods away.)
I call on all computer gods to stop fucking around and allow me to keep my connection to the internet so I can Wiki and Google as needed while doing research for my book! (Picture me here dancing around with feathers and raw spaghetti noodles hanging from my clothes while chanting to the computer gods. NOT naked...I don't want to scare said gods away.)
Sunday, March 10, 2013
Smelly
This morning as I was getting ready to work on my homework and write an article for my next submission I got a good whiff of B.O., and where did that BO come from? Oh that would be me. Yikes. Of course it is all due to the fact I had spent most of yesterday sweating up a storm. Not because I was doing some serious working out, or serious work outside, but because I happen to be in that time of my life where every once in awhile I burst into flames from the inside out. Genetically speaking I have a tendency to run on the warm side anyway, both parents were constantly heat generators, and I haven't fallen too far from that tree. So add to my natural state a new and wholly unwelcome hormonal trippy thing my body temperature runs between really warm and middle of the sun hot.
Anyway so here I am this morning all ready to write and I have to go and take a shower so I can handle hanging around myself. This got me thinking about how effectively we as a society have been brainwashed against ourselves. Think about it for a second...how long do you figure people have been using antiperspirant? Fifty years...sixty....seventy...even a hundred? That isn't even a drip in the bucket of time that people have been on this planet. So just a very short time ago people walked around smelling like...well people, not flowers, baby powder, spring rain, or riding lawn mower. (Yes riding lawn mower is an actual scent that the people who sell mandles - man-candles - make. And yeah, mandles, is another story.) But here we are today being disgusted when we smell body odour on each other, and even ourselves. Is it because it is so vile that we cannot stand to be in the same smell space as another human who smells like a human? I think not. In fact I remember when my dad used to come home from the bush smelling like camp fire, pipe tobacco, and yes, body odour, and thinking that he smelled wonderful. The real reason we cannot tolerate the smell is because we have be programmed by the companies who make the stuff which covers it up.
We have also been programmed by the companies who make razors that hair anywhere on our body except our head is unsightly and gross. I admit that I have been indoctrinated into that mind set as well. "Oh gross, she has long hair under her nylons." Or, "Look she's hiding two hamsters under her arms." I spend time trying to keep the eyebrow hair which escaped from my forehead and took up residence on my chin from taking permanent root. I really don't want to start sporting a small goatee at this time of my life. But had I been born a century prior to this I may have thought that it was cool, now I am getting to the crone stage of life. Wise, wonderful, and not giving a flying fuck what anyone thinks about my appearance.
Things that humans have been taught/programmed to do/be/say/act like/eat/appear to be -
1. We smell bad so slap on some deodorant.
2. We're hairy buggers who look gross so scrape/pluck/rip/or burn that stuff off.
3. Our lungs are too pink so we need to suck in some burning weeds. Plus it will make you look cool and don't worry about the side effects.
4. We've been walking around for a few million years now and got that down pat so we need to make it more challenging, especially for the females, so wedge a stick under the heels of the shoes and make everyone walk around on their tiptoes. Plus it will make your ass look better.
5. Our faces are blotchy and lacking in colour, so smear some coloured mud on.
6. OMG we are getting old, time to cut/snip/bleach/tighten/botox the shit out of your face so it is permanently set in a fake youthful stare.
7. Oh the humanity! We have rolls, cellulite, pot bellies, jigglies, and extra chins...quick eat carbs only, now protein only, now only vegies, only fruit, no fruit at all, lots of eggs, no eggs, oils, no oils, drink lots of water, drink only urine, or juice, and jump up and down while you do it.
Anyway so here I am this morning all ready to write and I have to go and take a shower so I can handle hanging around myself. This got me thinking about how effectively we as a society have been brainwashed against ourselves. Think about it for a second...how long do you figure people have been using antiperspirant? Fifty years...sixty....seventy...even a hundred? That isn't even a drip in the bucket of time that people have been on this planet. So just a very short time ago people walked around smelling like...well people, not flowers, baby powder, spring rain, or riding lawn mower. (Yes riding lawn mower is an actual scent that the people who sell mandles - man-candles - make. And yeah, mandles, is another story.) But here we are today being disgusted when we smell body odour on each other, and even ourselves. Is it because it is so vile that we cannot stand to be in the same smell space as another human who smells like a human? I think not. In fact I remember when my dad used to come home from the bush smelling like camp fire, pipe tobacco, and yes, body odour, and thinking that he smelled wonderful. The real reason we cannot tolerate the smell is because we have be programmed by the companies who make the stuff which covers it up.
We have also been programmed by the companies who make razors that hair anywhere on our body except our head is unsightly and gross. I admit that I have been indoctrinated into that mind set as well. "Oh gross, she has long hair under her nylons." Or, "Look she's hiding two hamsters under her arms." I spend time trying to keep the eyebrow hair which escaped from my forehead and took up residence on my chin from taking permanent root. I really don't want to start sporting a small goatee at this time of my life. But had I been born a century prior to this I may have thought that it was cool, now I am getting to the crone stage of life. Wise, wonderful, and not giving a flying fuck what anyone thinks about my appearance.
Things that humans have been taught/programmed to do/be/say/act like/eat/appear to be -
1. We smell bad so slap on some deodorant.
2. We're hairy buggers who look gross so scrape/pluck/rip/or burn that stuff off.
3. Our lungs are too pink so we need to suck in some burning weeds. Plus it will make you look cool and don't worry about the side effects.
4. We've been walking around for a few million years now and got that down pat so we need to make it more challenging, especially for the females, so wedge a stick under the heels of the shoes and make everyone walk around on their tiptoes. Plus it will make your ass look better.
5. Our faces are blotchy and lacking in colour, so smear some coloured mud on.
6. OMG we are getting old, time to cut/snip/bleach/tighten/botox the shit out of your face so it is permanently set in a fake youthful stare.
7. Oh the humanity! We have rolls, cellulite, pot bellies, jigglies, and extra chins...quick eat carbs only, now protein only, now only vegies, only fruit, no fruit at all, lots of eggs, no eggs, oils, no oils, drink lots of water, drink only urine, or juice, and jump up and down while you do it.
Dirt Bags
Hubby and I went for a walk this morning and took the hell hound with us. As our walk progressed it began to warm up, the sun broke out about half way through, the road turned into a mud heap, and so did the dog. She was like a walking mud puddle, but worse, because you aren't expected to bring the mud puddle into the house and let it walk around on your floors. I left her tied up outside with the hopes that she would dry off while I went into the house and did some serious floor maintenance, and as these things happen just as I started vacuuming I ended up with visitors. So the vacuum was put aside, tea was made, and I had a lovely long chat with some local ladies.
Long story short, a few hours went by before I could start back into the cleaning mode. The good news is that I actually got the floors vacuumed, and mopped, the bad news is that the dog hung out on the leash all day and when I finally got around to bringing her into the house she was still a walking mud puddle, still wet, and still mud from tip to tail. And even worse, is that a good scrubbing with a towel did nothing to make her less muddy. Sigh. And of course the lake is still frozen over so it is not possible to have her go in and sluice around for a bit, plus the outside water is still turned off because it still occasionally drops below zero at night. So my two options are, 1) throw her in the bathtub and wash her, or B) make her sleep on her bed to try and dry off. I picked 2. I am definitely not throwing the moose into the bathtub. The way she loves the water I do not want to set a precedent. I can just see getting into the shower and having the asshat decide to join me. Ah no thanks, I already had a shepherd like that the first go around. I ended up having to lock her out of the bathroom and listen to her howl while I took showers.
Long story short, a few hours went by before I could start back into the cleaning mode. The good news is that I actually got the floors vacuumed, and mopped, the bad news is that the dog hung out on the leash all day and when I finally got around to bringing her into the house she was still a walking mud puddle, still wet, and still mud from tip to tail. And even worse, is that a good scrubbing with a towel did nothing to make her less muddy. Sigh. And of course the lake is still frozen over so it is not possible to have her go in and sluice around for a bit, plus the outside water is still turned off because it still occasionally drops below zero at night. So my two options are, 1) throw her in the bathtub and wash her, or B) make her sleep on her bed to try and dry off. I picked 2. I am definitely not throwing the moose into the bathtub. The way she loves the water I do not want to set a precedent. I can just see getting into the shower and having the asshat decide to join me. Ah no thanks, I already had a shepherd like that the first go around. I ended up having to lock her out of the bathroom and listen to her howl while I took showers.
Friday, March 8, 2013
Kids R Us
Great news, I just had another piece accepted for publication. It is a short children's story and will be out in May. Who'd a thunk it eh? Me writing kiddie stories. Although if I think about it I have in fact written several kid stories. In fact I think there may be a tidy sum languishing in some writing book of mine somewhere. (Probably in a box, in the basement. That is my life these days...Oh yeah I have one of those, I think its in a box, in the basement. I am really looking forward to getting some shelving and cupboards built.)
Also good news is that I have sent the first chapter of my novel away to be critiqued by the writing group I now belong to. Good thing I did because had I done one more edit on it I think it would have only been two words long - stuff happened. So instead of butchering it yet again it has gone away for some comments to be flung at it.
Oh and just a quick update on how much I hate the weather network this week. All week long they have been telling me that it is going to be sunny on Wednesday...it wasn't. On Thursday...it wasn't. On Friday...it isn't. Arrggghhhhh. Quit getting my hopes up!!!!!! Apparently it is supposed to be warm and sunny tomorrow, Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday. All I have to say about that is that it had better be or else. (Or else....I will once again rant I guess.)
Also good news is that I have sent the first chapter of my novel away to be critiqued by the writing group I now belong to. Good thing I did because had I done one more edit on it I think it would have only been two words long - stuff happened. So instead of butchering it yet again it has gone away for some comments to be flung at it.
Oh and just a quick update on how much I hate the weather network this week. All week long they have been telling me that it is going to be sunny on Wednesday...it wasn't. On Thursday...it wasn't. On Friday...it isn't. Arrggghhhhh. Quit getting my hopes up!!!!!! Apparently it is supposed to be warm and sunny tomorrow, Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday. All I have to say about that is that it had better be or else. (Or else....I will once again rant I guess.)
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
I Say Good Day
Many of you may have received the following email (or a close facsimile).
From Mr.Abbas Karim.
Ouagadougou,
Burkina Faso.
Dear Friend,
Good day to you. I must say sorry for interfering into your privacy without seeking for permission. It's because of urgency of this matter. Firstly, I am Mr.Abbas Karim a lawyer and personal confidant to Abdullah Senussi who was the intelligence chief of Colonel Muammar Gaddafi. I need your urgent assistance in transferring the sum of ($39.5) million to your account within 14 banking days from a bank in Burkina Faso. This money belongs to my master Abdullah Senussi and was deposited in the bank on the name of his son. The urgent need for the transfer of this fund is to avoid confiscation by the Libyan government as they quest the seizure of every related assets belonging to Late Colonel Muammar Gaddafi and his aides. I am contacting you in a good faith so that the bank will release the money to you for safe keeping/investments till the release of my master who is now in custody.
So if you are capable of receiving this huge amount of money,let me have a positive response from you via return mail for more personal discussions on how we are going to go about it.
Best.Regards,
Mr.Abbas Karim.
When I was a work some days I could get up to ten or eleven of these. Some told me that a distant relative died in a plane crash and left ten million dollars languishing in a bank in Nigeria, some said that they were the mother/wife/daughter of a recently deposed leader and were being held captive and just wanted me to take as much of the money as I wanted and donate the rest to charity. While others wanted to get to know me and my family (those ones were creepy). At one point I started keeping track of exactly how much money I would have if all those offers were real, it turned out that I would be a multi-billionaire within the year.
But as time has been progressing, and more and more people finally get that these are scams, these emails have been slowing down. It's sort of sad in a way. It feels like an era is coming to an end. Goodbye Mrs Momba-momba, see you later General Abdullah, adios Princess Saridini.
But fear not, I'm pretty sure as I write this there are some talented crooks at work trying to come up with the next great scam. I just have to make sure that when I get it I will remember the old adage, if it seems to good to be true it probably is.
From Mr.Abbas Karim.
Ouagadougou,
Burkina Faso.
Dear Friend,
Good day to you. I must say sorry for interfering into your privacy without seeking for permission. It's because of urgency of this matter. Firstly, I am Mr.Abbas Karim a lawyer and personal confidant to Abdullah Senussi who was the intelligence chief of Colonel Muammar Gaddafi. I need your urgent assistance in transferring the sum of ($39.5) million to your account within 14 banking days from a bank in Burkina Faso. This money belongs to my master Abdullah Senussi and was deposited in the bank on the name of his son. The urgent need for the transfer of this fund is to avoid confiscation by the Libyan government as they quest the seizure of every related assets belonging to Late Colonel Muammar Gaddafi and his aides. I am contacting you in a good faith so that the bank will release the money to you for safe keeping/investments till the release of my master who is now in custody.
So if you are capable of receiving this huge amount of money,let me have a positive response from you via return mail for more personal discussions on how we are going to go about it.
Best.Regards,
Mr.Abbas Karim.
When I was a work some days I could get up to ten or eleven of these. Some told me that a distant relative died in a plane crash and left ten million dollars languishing in a bank in Nigeria, some said that they were the mother/wife/daughter of a recently deposed leader and were being held captive and just wanted me to take as much of the money as I wanted and donate the rest to charity. While others wanted to get to know me and my family (those ones were creepy). At one point I started keeping track of exactly how much money I would have if all those offers were real, it turned out that I would be a multi-billionaire within the year.
But as time has been progressing, and more and more people finally get that these are scams, these emails have been slowing down. It's sort of sad in a way. It feels like an era is coming to an end. Goodbye Mrs Momba-momba, see you later General Abdullah, adios Princess Saridini.
But fear not, I'm pretty sure as I write this there are some talented crooks at work trying to come up with the next great scam. I just have to make sure that when I get it I will remember the old adage, if it seems to good to be true it probably is.
Monday, March 4, 2013
Jail Break!
Lately I have been contemplating that idea of letting the cat out of the house. Right now she is specifically a house cat. There are a couple of reasons for that. 1) I read that cats are responsible for the deaths of 4 billion animals, including 500 million birds in the US alone. And I cannot help but notice that the sounds of bird call has seriously been reduced since I was a child. and 2) The vet said that cats only get leukemia from other cats when they get bit and scratched as they fight.
But although I am okay with the cat staying in the house and stalking house flies and spiders, I also feel somewhat guilty whenever she makes an escape attempt when the doors are opened because I figure that she should have a little more freedom. Of course she also does instantly make a run for a closet as soon as anyone opens one in the house. And I definitely do NOT feel guilty about not locking her into the closets.
But although I am okay with the cat staying in the house and stalking house flies and spiders, I also feel somewhat guilty whenever she makes an escape attempt when the doors are opened because I figure that she should have a little more freedom. Of course she also does instantly make a run for a closet as soon as anyone opens one in the house. And I definitely do NOT feel guilty about not locking her into the closets.
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Spring Is Trying to Sproing
Ho man the weather yesterday was so nice that I almost had to do one of those hippy welcome dances in the front yard. But seeing as I am not a hippy, and that the weather guys are saying that we are in for some rather nasty weather starting tomorrow, I refrained. (Plus the fact that I would feel like a super tool as I am not the long skirt/corn rowed/Maria Von Trapp twirling kind of girl.) It was warm, +15, and sunny, with blue skies and birds tweeting. Exactly the kind of February that I never, ever experienced when I was a kid.
In fact I remember vividly one February day as a twelve year old a friend and I had been bush whacking and found a huge rock which took some effort to climb, we finally managed to get to the top just when the sun came out and shone upon our heads. We were out of the wind, and warm for the first time since going outside. It felt like heaven. It almost felt a little bit like summer. But then the wind picked up, the clouds moved in, and the temperature dropped to -20. I remember this feeling of vast disappointment in the world and just knowing that winter was never going to end.
Which brings me to my point. Its February! It was plus 15 yesterday, and plus nine today. How freakin cool is that? I love that it isn't a hundred below zero. I can feel that spring is just hiding around the corner. I am loving that. Plus I am no longer a kid so a few weeks no longer feels like FOREVER. (Unless you happen to be waiting for the last day of work.)
I even managed to go for a rather decent run yesterday. Perhaps that is why the universe seemed to be so benign. Ah the small joys of life. Peace out man.
In fact I remember vividly one February day as a twelve year old a friend and I had been bush whacking and found a huge rock which took some effort to climb, we finally managed to get to the top just when the sun came out and shone upon our heads. We were out of the wind, and warm for the first time since going outside. It felt like heaven. It almost felt a little bit like summer. But then the wind picked up, the clouds moved in, and the temperature dropped to -20. I remember this feeling of vast disappointment in the world and just knowing that winter was never going to end.
Which brings me to my point. Its February! It was plus 15 yesterday, and plus nine today. How freakin cool is that? I love that it isn't a hundred below zero. I can feel that spring is just hiding around the corner. I am loving that. Plus I am no longer a kid so a few weeks no longer feels like FOREVER. (Unless you happen to be waiting for the last day of work.)
I even managed to go for a rather decent run yesterday. Perhaps that is why the universe seemed to be so benign. Ah the small joys of life. Peace out man.
Monday, February 25, 2013
Yawn
There is nothing that makes a person more exhausted then being around little people. Yes you guessed correctly, I had a prolonged visit from the Poop Brigade. They go and go, and go, and go, all the lib long day. Which really isn't the issue at all. I recall being exactly like that when I was a kid, in fact, I had a kid that was exactly like that. No the issue is that they go all day but they are at that stage where they spend every waking moment trying to figure out how to kill themselves, or at the very least do serious bodily injury to themselves. That is what I find to be exhausting, the whole having to be on guard all day long. I may have mentioned that years ago I used to watch David Letterman, he used to have people on a segment called "Stupid Human Tricks" one of them was Velcro Man, this guy used to have a wall made out of one side of velcro, and a suit made from the other side. He then used to jump on a small minitramp and stick himself to the wall. That is what you need when you have tiny people around. That way when you have to do something you can just stick them to the wall for awhile and know that they won't be able to self-harm.
So the following is an ongoing discussion between me and the hubby for the last couple of weeks.
Hubby: My arm still hurts.
Me: You should rest it.
Hubby: I've been resting it forever and it still hurts.
Me: It hasn't been forever, its only been the last couple of weeks and you keep using it and reinjuring it.
Hubby: I'm pretty sure its been three months since I hurt it. And I haven't done anything with it since then I've been resting it all the time.
Me: What about all the insulation you've been adding to the Wookie Cave?
Hubby: Well obviously that doesn't count because it isn't work.
Me: Hmmm.
Hubby: I'm bored. The weather is just perfect to cut down some trees. If I cut down trees that wouldn't be using it would it?
Me: Actually that would be the opposite of not using it.
Hubby: You don't know that for sure.
Me: Um?
So the following is an ongoing discussion between me and the hubby for the last couple of weeks.
Hubby: My arm still hurts.
Me: You should rest it.
Hubby: I've been resting it forever and it still hurts.
Me: It hasn't been forever, its only been the last couple of weeks and you keep using it and reinjuring it.
Hubby: I'm pretty sure its been three months since I hurt it. And I haven't done anything with it since then I've been resting it all the time.
Me: What about all the insulation you've been adding to the Wookie Cave?
Hubby: Well obviously that doesn't count because it isn't work.
Me: Hmmm.
Hubby: I'm bored. The weather is just perfect to cut down some trees. If I cut down trees that wouldn't be using it would it?
Me: Actually that would be the opposite of not using it.
Hubby: You don't know that for sure.
Me: Um?
Friday, February 22, 2013
Wind and then Some
Holy Hannah but it was blowing all night. For awhile there I thought that perhaps I was living on the east coast but in fact had not made it past Alberta. It was blowing pretty good last night and for some reason it kept me awake. I'd sleep for a bit then wake with a start when a good gust rattled the shack. Happily it is no longer like that, but it took most of the day to settle down.
And just to change the subject completely, here's something that no one tells you when you are a dog person, cat's are useless. Yes indeedy they are. Well actually they aren't useless, they are the negative of useless, meaning that not only are they useless, but they also damage the place they live in and make you want to BBQ their little asses.
You can't run with them. You can barely train them to do stuff because they aren't exactly the sharpest tools in the case, if you know what I mean. They shed all over the place. And they try to wreck stuff by kneading, and sharpening their claws. So like I said, worse than useless. Which means that I am now stuck with black fur ball of uselessness. Okay I do have to admit that she does have one quality which is positive, she makes me laugh every once in awhile because she is such a dipshit.
I am hoping that I will at least be able to get a story, or two, out of her. She really does have to somehow start earning her keep. (Okay bring on the "how dare you say that about cats" rants, I'm ready.)
And just to change the subject completely, here's something that no one tells you when you are a dog person, cat's are useless. Yes indeedy they are. Well actually they aren't useless, they are the negative of useless, meaning that not only are they useless, but they also damage the place they live in and make you want to BBQ their little asses.
You can't run with them. You can barely train them to do stuff because they aren't exactly the sharpest tools in the case, if you know what I mean. They shed all over the place. And they try to wreck stuff by kneading, and sharpening their claws. So like I said, worse than useless. Which means that I am now stuck with black fur ball of uselessness. Okay I do have to admit that she does have one quality which is positive, she makes me laugh every once in awhile because she is such a dipshit.
I am hoping that I will at least be able to get a story, or two, out of her. She really does have to somehow start earning her keep. (Okay bring on the "how dare you say that about cats" rants, I'm ready.)
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Pitter, Patter
Boy-za, today started out very, very, very wet. The rain came down in sheets, and buckets, and other metaphor like comparisons to a lot of water pouring out of the sky. I decided to go for a run while it was raining, I had the sliding door wide open and was running inside while it was raining outside, but I am not sure if it was raining more outside, or more inside from the buckets o sweat coming off my body. Yuppers I was soaked by the end.
The good news is that I am still running, and my body is not completely falling apart in the process, which means that I must still be doing the correct thing. Easing into to without going hog wild. I am starting with a brisk 15 minute walk, followed up by a less than brisk 21 minute run (yeah I already added another six minutes on since I started) and then followed by a pretty brisk-brisker-briskest-brisk 18 minute walk afterwards. So good news is that my knees and hips are still okay. Yippee.
The best thing about my foray back into the world of running is that I am starting to feel pretty pumped afterwards. Its not like a runner's high or anything like that yet, but my endorphins are definitely starting to kick in and I am feeling better about life, the universe, and everything. I also am okay with the answer being 42 so it's all good.
Good news is that I have my homework done for tomorrow, and I also am a story ahead of the game for Friday...I think. I will have to go over it again just to make sure. Anyway that is my day in a nutshell...if the nutshell happens to be this fidgety, spring loaded woman with short hair and many jiggly parts!
The good news is that I am still running, and my body is not completely falling apart in the process, which means that I must still be doing the correct thing. Easing into to without going hog wild. I am starting with a brisk 15 minute walk, followed up by a less than brisk 21 minute run (yeah I already added another six minutes on since I started) and then followed by a pretty brisk-brisker-briskest-brisk 18 minute walk afterwards. So good news is that my knees and hips are still okay. Yippee.
The best thing about my foray back into the world of running is that I am starting to feel pretty pumped afterwards. Its not like a runner's high or anything like that yet, but my endorphins are definitely starting to kick in and I am feeling better about life, the universe, and everything. I also am okay with the answer being 42 so it's all good.
Good news is that I have my homework done for tomorrow, and I also am a story ahead of the game for Friday...I think. I will have to go over it again just to make sure. Anyway that is my day in a nutshell...if the nutshell happens to be this fidgety, spring loaded woman with short hair and many jiggly parts!
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Dark Have Been My Dreams of Late
I've just had the most craziest ideas swirling around in my brain as of late...but more on that later. Right now I am seriously shnarkered. That is a state where you allow the hubby to mix you a drink before supper, and then decide that one drink isn't enough so you mix yourself another drink. Add to that the fact that I don't drink very often and that means I have a pretty good glow on.
Today was a beautiful, warm, sunny, glorious kind of day. And seeing as we have had a couple of weeks of cloudy, snow stormy weather it was frikkin awesome!!! Like frakkin awesome...like totally rad man. So nice in fact that I put on the ole walkin shoes and took the hellhoundicus out for a walk. It was muddy, and sweet. Of course as I was walking my brain was engaged in the story making process and it was coming up with some pretty scary shit. It's weird, that is all I seem to be coming up with lately, dark, creepy, and bizarre. I'd blame it on the meds I'm taking but I'm not taking any. I'd blame it on the creepy movies I've been watching, but I haven't been watching anything creepy. I'd blame it on the bizarro-land books I've been reading, but I haven't been reading anything. (Oh, maybe that's the problem, I'm never not reading anything lately I've only been perusing the news. Wait a minute....)
Cool news...today I received a copy of the magazine I have an article published in. My first hard copy. I've been contributing a lot of stories to a really cool on-line zine called Life As A Human, you should check it out. It is wayyyyyyy cool with a lot of really good articles. The only thing that would have made this particular one better is if my mom was still alive, it is all about how her and dad escaped from Hungary in 1957 and decided that Canada was the place for them. I think she would have been seriously stoked. I should have done it sooner. Coulda-shoulda...I guess it's too late to beat myself up over that though.
Well I had better go and eat something before I really get silly...like have another drink. See Iron Bess drink....see Iron Bess throw up all over the floor!
Today was a beautiful, warm, sunny, glorious kind of day. And seeing as we have had a couple of weeks of cloudy, snow stormy weather it was frikkin awesome!!! Like frakkin awesome...like totally rad man. So nice in fact that I put on the ole walkin shoes and took the hellhoundicus out for a walk. It was muddy, and sweet. Of course as I was walking my brain was engaged in the story making process and it was coming up with some pretty scary shit. It's weird, that is all I seem to be coming up with lately, dark, creepy, and bizarre. I'd blame it on the meds I'm taking but I'm not taking any. I'd blame it on the creepy movies I've been watching, but I haven't been watching anything creepy. I'd blame it on the bizarro-land books I've been reading, but I haven't been reading anything. (Oh, maybe that's the problem, I'm never not reading anything lately I've only been perusing the news. Wait a minute....)
Cool news...today I received a copy of the magazine I have an article published in. My first hard copy. I've been contributing a lot of stories to a really cool on-line zine called Life As A Human, you should check it out. It is wayyyyyyy cool with a lot of really good articles. The only thing that would have made this particular one better is if my mom was still alive, it is all about how her and dad escaped from Hungary in 1957 and decided that Canada was the place for them. I think she would have been seriously stoked. I should have done it sooner. Coulda-shoulda...I guess it's too late to beat myself up over that though.
Well I had better go and eat something before I really get silly...like have another drink. See Iron Bess drink....see Iron Bess throw up all over the floor!
Monday, February 18, 2013
Burgle, murgle, gwap...
The dog is sleeping on her bed beside me and all I can hear is, "burgle, murgle, gwap, glurk, glurk." Not the typical sounds you expect to hear coming from an animal of the canine persuasion. It is her stomach making those noises, so I don't have to get the camera out and record it for Youtube. She hasn't been eating very much these days (we thought perhaps she had gotten into something over at the neighbour's place) and this just makes me think that we are right). You see normally we do not allow the hellhound to wander around willy, nilly on her own, because - a) she is a complete dork. b) she has a knack for getting herself into mischief. c) did I mention she is a dork? But lately I have been giving her a tiny bit of freedom with the hopes that she will stay in the yard. I guess her nose just isn't going to allow that plan to come into being.
One of the problems is that our neighbour throws their bones and scrapes out onto the front yard with the idea that the ravens will take it away. (Yeah, I thought so too.) They said that since we got the dog they stopped doing it, but I think they must have restarted because they saw that the dog was always tied up unless hanging out with either me or the hubby. So she has been going over and partaking of the feast methinks. Either that or she's swallowed a few little gremlins whole and they are making some serious noises to try and get out. Which I guess brings me back to the conclusion that it is still too early to allow her freedom on her own. Even though we only have one neighbour, and we live deep in the sticks, dogs will find shit to get into which will make their owners lose sleep. Kind of like tiny, little humans...their main focus in life is to try and figure out ways of either maiming themselves, or each other.
We are in the middle of another winter blizzard. It looks craptastic out there. When I opened the door to throw the hellhound out, just in case she decided to puke in the house, the front door had a perfect replica of itself all in white. The wind has been blowing snow directly against the back of the house so consequently a big wind drift has lodged itself against the door. I figured if I didn't want to get snowed in for a day or two I had better go out and dig out the front step and door. Yes it looks craptastic, yes the wind is blowing the shit horizontally, yes it is all things yucky...sigh...at least it isn't cold. It will be so much fun to take the hound for her walk. Maybe I will bring the GPS so I can find my way home.
One of the problems is that our neighbour throws their bones and scrapes out onto the front yard with the idea that the ravens will take it away. (Yeah, I thought so too.) They said that since we got the dog they stopped doing it, but I think they must have restarted because they saw that the dog was always tied up unless hanging out with either me or the hubby. So she has been going over and partaking of the feast methinks. Either that or she's swallowed a few little gremlins whole and they are making some serious noises to try and get out. Which I guess brings me back to the conclusion that it is still too early to allow her freedom on her own. Even though we only have one neighbour, and we live deep in the sticks, dogs will find shit to get into which will make their owners lose sleep. Kind of like tiny, little humans...their main focus in life is to try and figure out ways of either maiming themselves, or each other.
We are in the middle of another winter blizzard. It looks craptastic out there. When I opened the door to throw the hellhound out, just in case she decided to puke in the house, the front door had a perfect replica of itself all in white. The wind has been blowing snow directly against the back of the house so consequently a big wind drift has lodged itself against the door. I figured if I didn't want to get snowed in for a day or two I had better go out and dig out the front step and door. Yes it looks craptastic, yes the wind is blowing the shit horizontally, yes it is all things yucky...sigh...at least it isn't cold. It will be so much fun to take the hound for her walk. Maybe I will bring the GPS so I can find my way home.
Saturday, February 16, 2013
Sloooooowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww
I have no idea what is going on with my internet connections it is beyond slow. In fact it is so slow I am thinking that perhaps they have decided to use the Pony Express method of getting these electrons hooked into the WWW thing.
I went for a run today and made the poor dog even more miserable than she has been. I think she is going to start hating my treadmill pretty darned soon. My legs are a tich sore but nothing to write home about...or nothing to write about at home...as the case may be.
I'd better see if I can publish this before the internet bombs for reals.
I went for a run today and made the poor dog even more miserable than she has been. I think she is going to start hating my treadmill pretty darned soon. My legs are a tich sore but nothing to write home about...or nothing to write about at home...as the case may be.
I'd better see if I can publish this before the internet bombs for reals.
Monday, February 11, 2013
Holy smoking bejeebers is it ever hot in here. Now it could be a hot flash, because lets face it I am known to have one or hundred of them a day, but it could also be the fact that we have a fire on and it is now in the +5 or 6 range already so consequently the shack is smokin.
Today is one of those beautiful, sunny, warm days that a person can only really appreciate after three or four days of brutal cold and shit weather. In fact last night it actually dropped into the -20's, but once the morning rolled around it quickly went up into the plus zone. Unfortunately I can't take advantage of the weather right this second because we have to make another trip to the bank to sign some more papers. Honestly, in the past year I have been to the bank more times than I have been prior to this in my entire life. And...I do pretty much all my normal day to day banking on line.
This is Karson taking advantage of the fact that it is a million degrees in the house and I have the windows open to allow some of the lifesaving cool air in so I do not die of hyperthermia while I am finishing up my blog.
To finish off the day I will be getting my hair chopped off because it is driving me insane by hanging all over my face and neck, then we are off the the kidlet's place to help snowblow the windrows from her garage. Digging out after a storm is half the fun eh.
Today is one of those beautiful, sunny, warm days that a person can only really appreciate after three or four days of brutal cold and shit weather. In fact last night it actually dropped into the -20's, but once the morning rolled around it quickly went up into the plus zone. Unfortunately I can't take advantage of the weather right this second because we have to make another trip to the bank to sign some more papers. Honestly, in the past year I have been to the bank more times than I have been prior to this in my entire life. And...I do pretty much all my normal day to day banking on line.
This is Karson taking advantage of the fact that it is a million degrees in the house and I have the windows open to allow some of the lifesaving cool air in so I do not die of hyperthermia while I am finishing up my blog.
Sunday, February 10, 2013
Snow eh.
Well it looks like it has finally stopped the whole blowing, and bit of snowing stuff (at least for awhile). I hauled out the treadmill, opened the sliding door in front of it, and went for a bit of a run while watching the snow devils skip and swoosh around the lake. The temperatures are once again at a place where they are tolerable. Only -2 while I write this.
The odd thing is that I did not really get the impression that it snowed a lot because there are large swaths of land where I can actually see the grass through the stuff, but when I took a closer look at the stuff I realized that we actually did get some snow...and the wind blew all of it into these big honking wind drifts. Hubby suggested that I go and take some pictures off the deck, but I wasn't sure if the full impact would come through so I ended up slogging through the stuff so I could get a closer look at it.
The following are pictures of the neighbour's small cabin next to Kitpu Estates, or more accurately surrounded by Kitpu Estates. See that white wall next to it...that was not there two days ago.
This is me getting a bit closer so you I can get a better shot of exactly how deep this stuff really is. It's freaking deep. Oh and from where I am standing I am up to my butt in the stuff.
This wind drift must be over ten feet high as I couldn't even jump and touch the top of it. This is me standing beneath and taking a picture upwards.
This last picture is of the little weeny wind drift behind Kitpu Estates. Shh, don't tell anyone because everyone will want one.
The odd thing is that I did not really get the impression that it snowed a lot because there are large swaths of land where I can actually see the grass through the stuff, but when I took a closer look at the stuff I realized that we actually did get some snow...and the wind blew all of it into these big honking wind drifts. Hubby suggested that I go and take some pictures off the deck, but I wasn't sure if the full impact would come through so I ended up slogging through the stuff so I could get a closer look at it.
The following are pictures of the neighbour's small cabin next to Kitpu Estates, or more accurately surrounded by Kitpu Estates. See that white wall next to it...that was not there two days ago.
This last picture is of the little weeny wind drift behind Kitpu Estates. Shh, don't tell anyone because everyone will want one.
Friday, February 8, 2013
Beware the Storms of February
Beware the storms of February! Not exactly beware the ides of March, but still has a nice ring to it. Last night the mercury dropped to -25 at the coldest, this morning it was hovering at the -20 mark when I left for my meeting. That is probably the coldest it has been since I moved to this land. And even though it was a tad bit chilly it did not seem as cold as it was yesterday. What a difference a bit of wind makes.
The hubby, bless his pointy little head, has fixed the heater in my car, and put some stuff in the front grill to make it a lot less susceptible to being cold as all get out...cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey...colder than a well digger's ass...cold enough to freeze hell over...and the cliches are done...in my car. So I was actually quite toasty on my drive today. Yay me.
Well poetry critiquing went as it usually does...blech. I'm pretty sure I wouldn't hate it as much if I actually wrote the stuff, or was somehow invested in it, but unfortunately at this stage of my life I just can't seem to work up any enthusiasm for it. Maybe when the spring springs around here I will be all glorying in the burgeoning of life, the universe, and everything, and I will become motivated to write poetry, maybe...but I doubt it. Sigh.
Anyway such is life, and such is the life of a wanna be writer. But in the mean time we have prepared for the impending storm of doom which is predicted to hit us sometime this evening, and snow a little, then work itself up into a real howler and then drop a ton of snow on us tomorrow. I did my part by hacking up a couple of pieces of wood as kindling, buying milk, eggs, bread, and then coming home and settling in for a day of hanging in the house until such time as we need to go out and shovel ourselves out. Happy storm day all.
The hubby, bless his pointy little head, has fixed the heater in my car, and put some stuff in the front grill to make it a lot less susceptible to being cold as all get out...cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey...colder than a well digger's ass...cold enough to freeze hell over...and the cliches are done...in my car. So I was actually quite toasty on my drive today. Yay me.
Well poetry critiquing went as it usually does...blech. I'm pretty sure I wouldn't hate it as much if I actually wrote the stuff, or was somehow invested in it, but unfortunately at this stage of my life I just can't seem to work up any enthusiasm for it. Maybe when the spring springs around here I will be all glorying in the burgeoning of life, the universe, and everything, and I will become motivated to write poetry, maybe...but I doubt it. Sigh.
Anyway such is life, and such is the life of a wanna be writer. But in the mean time we have prepared for the impending storm of doom which is predicted to hit us sometime this evening, and snow a little, then work itself up into a real howler and then drop a ton of snow on us tomorrow. I did my part by hacking up a couple of pieces of wood as kindling, buying milk, eggs, bread, and then coming home and settling in for a day of hanging in the house until such time as we need to go out and shovel ourselves out. Happy storm day all.
Thursday, February 7, 2013
Class
I had a great class today. My writing was less than stellar, but there was something about the class that just resonated with me today. I really, really heart taking classes that you actually get something from. It's also just nice to be around like minded people. I feel all warm and fuzzy inside, even though outside it is currently -19 and getting colder.
By the way, I just started watching How I Met Your Mother, and I must say it is a pretty great series. So far the writing has been excellent, quirky, and has given me some pretty good belly laughs. I recommend season one and two...season three is also starting out pretty good. I love Slaps-Giving Day.
By the way, I just started watching How I Met Your Mother, and I must say it is a pretty great series. So far the writing has been excellent, quirky, and has given me some pretty good belly laughs. I recommend season one and two...season three is also starting out pretty good. I love Slaps-Giving Day.
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
I want ta bop with ya baby all night long....
Second run down, millions to go. My running discs are MIA so I dug through some old ones and put them into the machine-thing and ran to the oldies. Dan Seal, Gordon Lightfoot, Boney M, Lynerd Skynerd, and many more. I was sweating to the oldies, but not with Richard Simmons (yig). I even did so much as sing along to the oldies. Wow too bad you weren't here because I was rocking on baby.
So this run was a tich bit faster than the last. The knees were a tich bit more twingey, but not enough to be ouchie. Water poured off my body, as per usual, even though I had the window open to the brisk outside air. Once again the critters were locked out of the room because they have decided that the treadmill is the MOST exciting thing they have ever seen. Even though they have probably seen it every day of their short little lives. The whole moving thing seems to be what is facinating about it.
Today I finished two stories, rewrote my five starts, and got my poetry critiquing done without having an aneurysm. Oh Google, how I love you. Just type in, Best methods for critiquing poetry, then pick your choice. I worked like a hot dam. So off to class tomorrow, here's hoping that the roads are nice.
So this run was a tich bit faster than the last. The knees were a tich bit more twingey, but not enough to be ouchie. Water poured off my body, as per usual, even though I had the window open to the brisk outside air. Once again the critters were locked out of the room because they have decided that the treadmill is the MOST exciting thing they have ever seen. Even though they have probably seen it every day of their short little lives. The whole moving thing seems to be what is facinating about it.
Today I finished two stories, rewrote my five starts, and got my poetry critiquing done without having an aneurysm. Oh Google, how I love you. Just type in, Best methods for critiquing poetry, then pick your choice. I worked like a hot dam. So off to class tomorrow, here's hoping that the roads are nice.
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
Behind...as Usual
I am behind in my homework. Grrrrr. This is getting to be a real habit with me as of late. And what with everything I have to do it shouldn't come as a surprise. Yes...ha...ha. I know I've heard this from other people who are in the same situation as me, but how in the hell did I ever manage to get anything done while I was still working full time?
Yesterday I was feeling all woo-hoo over the fact that I actually managed to go for a run then finish my next article and actually get is slightly polished before sending if off to my editor. In fact I was feeling down right smug about the whole process. But then today dawned bright and early and when I popped my eyes open I had two things go through my head. 1) I really have to call Geri cause its been ages since we spoke. (Geri has been dead for almost ten years.) 2) I still haven't received this week's submission from my writers group.
Obviously it didn't take me a long time to figure out thought number one, that was brought on by a dream I had about me, Geri, Glen, Colin, and Don getting together for a BBQ. That was the group of us who used to meet every Thursday for lunch and we called ourselves the Haha Club. The rule was you had to arrive with at least one joke to tell the assembly. Colin, who was the mayor of our small hamlet, and a minister, (which I did not hold against him) was the best joker of us all. Don, who was the editor of our local paper, had the longest jokes of all. Geri and Glen, who worked together in Glen's law office, told jokes as a unit, one would start a joke, and the other would finish it. I don't remember how I was at the joke telling, but based on present day ability, I expect I was pretty bad.
My second thought of the morning turned out to be unnecessary because as I was making supper at 8am my iPad binged at me and I received an email with this weeks submission to critique. It was POETRY! OMG, I suck royal bee pollen at critiquing poetry. I like poetry, usually the rhyming kind, I have even on occasion memorized poetry, Kubla Khan for example, but I suck...SUCK...at critiquing it.
So I took the dog and went for a walk to clear my head, blow out the cobwebs, and of course let the pup smell the doggy newspaper to her heart's content. Now it is getting to be later on in the afternoon (my witching hour) I still don't have my critiquing done. And to top it all off I have decided that I do not like my Five Starts for my homework from last week and I want to redo it. Which means that I am reeeeeaaaaaaaallllllllllllllllllllyyyyyyyyyyyyyy behind. Sigh.
On a happier note my legs don't feel too, too bad today. A little twingy in the glutes and the adductors, but nothing to write home about. Which means that I did just the right amount of distance and speed on my run yesterday. It also means that the bit of stretching I did after the fact also paid off. I haven't decided if I am going to run tomorrow, or wait one more day after that. The one thing I have learned in the many, many, many years of self abuse through exercise is not to overdo it right from the beginning because down that road lies injury.
You may also be asking if I have so much work to do what the hell am I doing sitting here blogging. Your right, I should be doing my homework. Quit nagging already. ;p
Yesterday I was feeling all woo-hoo over the fact that I actually managed to go for a run then finish my next article and actually get is slightly polished before sending if off to my editor. In fact I was feeling down right smug about the whole process. But then today dawned bright and early and when I popped my eyes open I had two things go through my head. 1) I really have to call Geri cause its been ages since we spoke. (Geri has been dead for almost ten years.) 2) I still haven't received this week's submission from my writers group.
Obviously it didn't take me a long time to figure out thought number one, that was brought on by a dream I had about me, Geri, Glen, Colin, and Don getting together for a BBQ. That was the group of us who used to meet every Thursday for lunch and we called ourselves the Haha Club. The rule was you had to arrive with at least one joke to tell the assembly. Colin, who was the mayor of our small hamlet, and a minister, (which I did not hold against him) was the best joker of us all. Don, who was the editor of our local paper, had the longest jokes of all. Geri and Glen, who worked together in Glen's law office, told jokes as a unit, one would start a joke, and the other would finish it. I don't remember how I was at the joke telling, but based on present day ability, I expect I was pretty bad.
My second thought of the morning turned out to be unnecessary because as I was making supper at 8am my iPad binged at me and I received an email with this weeks submission to critique. It was POETRY! OMG, I suck royal bee pollen at critiquing poetry. I like poetry, usually the rhyming kind, I have even on occasion memorized poetry, Kubla Khan for example, but I suck...SUCK...at critiquing it.
So I took the dog and went for a walk to clear my head, blow out the cobwebs, and of course let the pup smell the doggy newspaper to her heart's content. Now it is getting to be later on in the afternoon (my witching hour) I still don't have my critiquing done. And to top it all off I have decided that I do not like my Five Starts for my homework from last week and I want to redo it. Which means that I am reeeeeaaaaaaaallllllllllllllllllllyyyyyyyyyyyyyy behind. Sigh.
On a happier note my legs don't feel too, too bad today. A little twingy in the glutes and the adductors, but nothing to write home about. Which means that I did just the right amount of distance and speed on my run yesterday. It also means that the bit of stretching I did after the fact also paid off. I haven't decided if I am going to run tomorrow, or wait one more day after that. The one thing I have learned in the many, many, many years of self abuse through exercise is not to overdo it right from the beginning because down that road lies injury.
You may also be asking if I have so much work to do what the hell am I doing sitting here blogging. Your right, I should be doing my homework. Quit nagging already. ;p
Monday, February 4, 2013
Cowabunga!
Hey great news! I finally got off my lazy butt and decided to go for a run today. I was just setting up the treadmill and all my water and stuff and started to have these "Ah maybe I don't feel like it," thoughts. Then I thought, "WTF?" It has been months, and months since my last run and here I am having the perfect opportunity and then I start being all lazy about it. Yikes, that is not like me at all. Happily I powered through those negative thoughts and got on with it. So yay me.
Granted I only ran 20 minutes, and probably slower then the speed of a glacier, but at least I managed to get it done. And the best part about the whole thing was that I was not a hurtin unit through it all. This last spring, before mom got sick, when I started running again I was having some serious issues with the hips and knees. I was a tad bit worried after the first five minutes when my left knee started to twinge, but that went away and I felt fine through out. So one run down, 4,572,862 more runs to go.
Well the dire weather warnings have come to naught here in the south shore, but I hear tell that up in Cape Breton it is a whole other story. Bad winds, lots of snow, and blizzardy kind of conditions. It is snowing here, and it is windy, but so far it is just normal everyday kind of winter weather. Truth be told I really don't care what kind of weather we get as long as it is nice on Thursday and Friday, I have to drive to Lunenburg and Mahone Bay to class.
This is my interpretation of a Partridge in a Pear Tree. It is called, some Snowballs in a Plum Tree.
Granted I only ran 20 minutes, and probably slower then the speed of a glacier, but at least I managed to get it done. And the best part about the whole thing was that I was not a hurtin unit through it all. This last spring, before mom got sick, when I started running again I was having some serious issues with the hips and knees. I was a tad bit worried after the first five minutes when my left knee started to twinge, but that went away and I felt fine through out. So one run down, 4,572,862 more runs to go.
Well the dire weather warnings have come to naught here in the south shore, but I hear tell that up in Cape Breton it is a whole other story. Bad winds, lots of snow, and blizzardy kind of conditions. It is snowing here, and it is windy, but so far it is just normal everyday kind of winter weather. Truth be told I really don't care what kind of weather we get as long as it is nice on Thursday and Friday, I have to drive to Lunenburg and Mahone Bay to class.
This is my interpretation of a Partridge in a Pear Tree. It is called, some Snowballs in a Plum Tree.
Sunday, February 3, 2013
Batten Down the Hatches...maybe
Yesterday I enjoyed a nice little walk sans snow, in fact there was not a bank, flake, nor ball of the stuff to be found anywhere. This morning...serious flakage. In fact it looks kind of purdy out there. And as par for the course here on the very edge of the world the weather wizards are predicting dire warnings of snow, wind, and blizzard conditions. It may, or may not, happen. This is winter number three of me living here and so far I have discovered that the weather people are even more out to lunch on this end of the country than they were on the far west side.
Just thought I would put a picture in to contrast the one from the day before where I took the picture of the tree which was blown down. (Tree has been cleaned up and dragged away. But you can still see the broken stump on the right where it had come from.)
Typically they predict severe winter conditions, and the sun comes out, the temperatures warm up, and the birds sing a happy tune. Then they predict sunshine and happiness, the clouds move in, the rain begins to fall, and the birds sit in the trees with frowny beaks. In no other profession then perhaps politics can you be so fracked up and still keep your job.
Which brings me to my point. They are predicting storms of the apocalyptic magnitude for this area in the next couple of days. There is a pretty good chance we may end up going out sunbathing, but in the mean time we will be battening down the hatches, filling the feeder with birdseed, pulling out our winter garments, and looking for the sunblock.
Wish us luck, we may, or may not, need it.
Just thought I would put a picture in to contrast the one from the day before where I took the picture of the tree which was blown down. (Tree has been cleaned up and dragged away. But you can still see the broken stump on the right where it had come from.)
Typically they predict severe winter conditions, and the sun comes out, the temperatures warm up, and the birds sing a happy tune. Then they predict sunshine and happiness, the clouds move in, the rain begins to fall, and the birds sit in the trees with frowny beaks. In no other profession then perhaps politics can you be so fracked up and still keep your job.
Which brings me to my point. They are predicting storms of the apocalyptic magnitude for this area in the next couple of days. There is a pretty good chance we may end up going out sunbathing, but in the mean time we will be battening down the hatches, filling the feeder with birdseed, pulling out our winter garments, and looking for the sunblock.
Wish us luck, we may, or may not, need it.
Friday, February 1, 2013
Thar She Blows...Again
Yup here we are just recovering from another three and a half days of gale force winds. She huffed and she puffed and she blew a whole shit-bucket full of trees down. Have a gander at one of the trees that ended up horizontal...not a good position for a tree, in our yard.
Now some of you more observant people may have noticed that said tree is lying directly under the wires which run from the pole to our house. Now you might think that said horizontal tree was shorter than the power lines and therefore posed no threat. You would be wrong. This particular tree had been the topic of discussion here at Kitpu Estates, off and on, for the past year, because it was rotten and not looking so well. But because it wasn't actually on our property it wasn't handled with the typical alacrity things like this are dealt with by the hubby. So it stood waiting for the next big wind. It broke about a third of the way up and came a whacking down with authority.
How it missed the actual power lines is something of a mystery. I for one think that it may have actually been a dimension hopping tree so during the actual falling part of the scenario it flickered out of existence for a brief moment thus missing the lines. The hubby's theory, and I quote, "Fucked if I know."
As you may also have deduced from the picture the wind/rain/warm spell also managed to melt all the snow away. The lake even had a brief spell of having water on the ice, but as of last night it has frozen back over again.
I took the dog for a walk this afternoon and finished with a little jaunt up to the back forty to do some woodpile inspection, and yeah, you guessed it the wind blew a tiny bit of stack number one over, almost all of stack number two, and stack number three. So guess what we get to do yet again? Oh joy. Lucky for me I don't really mind stacking wood all that much, it kind of reminds me of doing puzzles but on a much larger scale.
How it missed the actual power lines is something of a mystery. I for one think that it may have actually been a dimension hopping tree so during the actual falling part of the scenario it flickered out of existence for a brief moment thus missing the lines. The hubby's theory, and I quote, "Fucked if I know."
As you may also have deduced from the picture the wind/rain/warm spell also managed to melt all the snow away. The lake even had a brief spell of having water on the ice, but as of last night it has frozen back over again.
I took the dog for a walk this afternoon and finished with a little jaunt up to the back forty to do some woodpile inspection, and yeah, you guessed it the wind blew a tiny bit of stack number one over, almost all of stack number two, and stack number three. So guess what we get to do yet again? Oh joy. Lucky for me I don't really mind stacking wood all that much, it kind of reminds me of doing puzzles but on a much larger scale.
Sunday, January 27, 2013
Sledding Along, Singing a Song
The poop brigade has been camped out at Kitpu Estates for a couple of days now, so yesterday we bundled them up and went for a short two or three k walk with them. When we made it back to Kitpu I mentioned to the hubby that it would be nice if we could find a sled at a yard sale for the kiddies so when they are here, and we have actual snow, we would be able to take them sliding somewhere. This morning as I was being all Dora Domestica, and chatting with the kidlet, the hubby went out to the gee-rage and hung out there. Shortly before lunch he walks into the house and lo and behold brings this with him.
Have I mentioned how impressed I can be with the hubby and his talents? If not...let me state for that record that I am pretty impressed. He built this sled out of old kitchen cabinets and a piece of maple log he had chopped down. Just so everyone knows, I have dibs on the hubby for the Zombie Apocalypse. For that matter I have dibs on him for any of the apocalypses, zombie, Mayan, rapture, or EMP.
And if you are wondering, the snow cover is about two inches in the deepest parts. I think we had a lot more prior to the warm, rainy days of two weeks ago. So it was a little difficult for old Iron Bess to find places to drag these loud and short hooligans. The hubby made their day later on when he took them for a quad/snow plow ride. Fun was had by all.
Have I mentioned how impressed I can be with the hubby and his talents? If not...let me state for that record that I am pretty impressed. He built this sled out of old kitchen cabinets and a piece of maple log he had chopped down. Just so everyone knows, I have dibs on the hubby for the Zombie Apocalypse. For that matter I have dibs on him for any of the apocalypses, zombie, Mayan, rapture, or EMP.
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Hell Has Frozen Over And So Has The East
It is a billion degrees below zero right now and the hubby is out in the bushes cutting firewood. (Okay so maybe not quite a billion more like -14, but freaking cold.) The cold out here isn't anything like the cold I was used to in the western part of the world, it is more bitey than the dry cold. Well much more bitey if the wind is blowing. If the wind is non-existent then it is actually quite pleasant.
I went to town this morning to pick up some groceries and holy-moly was it ever cold. The worst of it was that the usual grocery store I typically go to had many shelves that were devoid of product, the veggie aisle didn't even have carrots or bananas left, so I had to go to a different store altogether. Lots of product in the other store but it also costs a lot more money. (This is me shaking my fist at the bastards...==<3, and no that isn't a heart.) Tomorrow I have a writing class in the big city of Lunenburg, I hear tell that the weather is supposed to continue to be cold and nasty, as long as it is sunny and cold I'm okay with it.
Yesterday me, the hubby, and the hell hound went for a walk. It was cold, and icy. One step forward, 1/4 slide back. I hate ice under the snow, I feel like I have to take these mincing little steps and I look, feel, and act like a dork. It always brings to mind this woman who used to come swimming years ago when I was a lifeguard; she was somewhere in the three hundred pound range, but had the tiniest little feet. Whenever she came out onto the deck she would do this little prancey kind of dance and try to walk on her toes, she looked like she was afraid to get her feet wet or something. I'm not sure if it was an affectation, or she actually always walked like that, but I've never forgotten it, and have always tried to avoid doing it. Tall, hulking girls like me look stupid trying to be prissy. Trust me on this. It is the same reason I do not wear frills, lace, or pants that have the word "Juicy" printed across the ass. Well not the only reason, the other reason is because I hate frills, lace, pants, and false advertising.
Now I have to go downstairs and dig out my arctic parka so I can go outside and take Hellhoundicus for a walk. Hopefully I will not return with a frozen pupsicle.
I went to town this morning to pick up some groceries and holy-moly was it ever cold. The worst of it was that the usual grocery store I typically go to had many shelves that were devoid of product, the veggie aisle didn't even have carrots or bananas left, so I had to go to a different store altogether. Lots of product in the other store but it also costs a lot more money. (This is me shaking my fist at the bastards...==<3, and no that isn't a heart.) Tomorrow I have a writing class in the big city of Lunenburg, I hear tell that the weather is supposed to continue to be cold and nasty, as long as it is sunny and cold I'm okay with it.
Yesterday me, the hubby, and the hell hound went for a walk. It was cold, and icy. One step forward, 1/4 slide back. I hate ice under the snow, I feel like I have to take these mincing little steps and I look, feel, and act like a dork. It always brings to mind this woman who used to come swimming years ago when I was a lifeguard; she was somewhere in the three hundred pound range, but had the tiniest little feet. Whenever she came out onto the deck she would do this little prancey kind of dance and try to walk on her toes, she looked like she was afraid to get her feet wet or something. I'm not sure if it was an affectation, or she actually always walked like that, but I've never forgotten it, and have always tried to avoid doing it. Tall, hulking girls like me look stupid trying to be prissy. Trust me on this. It is the same reason I do not wear frills, lace, or pants that have the word "Juicy" printed across the ass. Well not the only reason, the other reason is because I hate frills, lace, pants, and false advertising.
Now I have to go downstairs and dig out my arctic parka so I can go outside and take Hellhoundicus for a walk. Hopefully I will not return with a frozen pupsicle.
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Bully For You
I just finished editing my next submission to Life As A Human, the topic is about bullying in the workplace. As I wrote away at it, the topic brought back memories of working in an office environment and made me realize how amazing and fantastic my last few years working for my company was. You see I took over the management of the purchasing department in a rather large mine site which meant that I had several buyer types and clerks working for me. I do not know if it was through luck, or because I finally had enough experience working with people, or the fact that everyone working for me were amazing, awesome, and wonderful, but the working environment was the best I ever had. The people in our department all got along so well it was almost scary. Some days I was expecting the hammer to fall and crush several of us under its weight. But while I was there things were pretty darned great. The biggest fly in my ointment of work was the distance I had to travel to get there, and the ungodly hours I had to be up by to do that. I still miss all the girls...and boys who I worked with. It makes me sad to think there are so many people out there right now who have to work and cannot experience a workplace devoid of bullshit. Sigh.
Well now for the weather report here at Kitpu Estates. You know that warm windy weather which blew away all the snow I had in my front yard, well that is gone. Now I have cold, windy, and snowy weather which seems to be bent on bringing back all the snow. It sucks major league spit ball...frozen spit balls. But it is winter, and it is only -9, and the rest of the country seems to be in a deep freeze of the sub twenties and thirties, so I shouldn't complain right? Well I'm gonna!
Yesterday I had a rather nice visit from the poop brigade and although it would have been nice to take them outside to enjoy the great outdoors, it turned out to be a tich too cold for that. So we hung out, ate lunch, chatted, napped, and just kicked back. Having family around is amazing. I realize I have many things to be grateful for. So I just want to put it out there...."Thank you universe! The members of the Old Shoes and Tea Society, Chocolate and Naps Club, and the Poop Brigade are all thankful, grateful, and send you a hey."
Well now for the weather report here at Kitpu Estates. You know that warm windy weather which blew away all the snow I had in my front yard, well that is gone. Now I have cold, windy, and snowy weather which seems to be bent on bringing back all the snow. It sucks major league spit ball...frozen spit balls. But it is winter, and it is only -9, and the rest of the country seems to be in a deep freeze of the sub twenties and thirties, so I shouldn't complain right? Well I'm gonna!
Yesterday I had a rather nice visit from the poop brigade and although it would have been nice to take them outside to enjoy the great outdoors, it turned out to be a tich too cold for that. So we hung out, ate lunch, chatted, napped, and just kicked back. Having family around is amazing. I realize I have many things to be grateful for. So I just want to put it out there...."Thank you universe! The members of the Old Shoes and Tea Society, Chocolate and Naps Club, and the Poop Brigade are all thankful, grateful, and send you a hey."
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