What Blogging has Done for Me

1. I find myself emptying my brain of random stuff that I experience.
Instead of holding on to all my thoughts and/or observations and stuffing them somewhere in my head, where, let's face it, I may never ever find them again, I now blog about stuff and get it out. It creates more space for new things/ideas.

2. It changed the way I view the world.

I started paying closer attention to the world around me. I notice details more now, I try to live in the present moment and relish in life's lessons. I'm more fully engaged in everything that happens; I pay attention to my inner voice and thoughts.

3. Accountability.

If you blog that you are going to lose 50 pounds or donate $100 to a charity, you are far more likely to do it than if you just think about doing these things. You don’t want to have to report that you failed, or gave up, or just got lazy. It helps when your friends/readers ask how some project is going, it keeps the interest and enthusiasm alive.

Blogging has been good for me...it's been like keeping a diary when I was little. But I don't have to rip the pages out and ruin the book. I can just press 'delete'.

Ready...Set...Steam!!!

It finally arrived! Our Shark Steamer!!! It came today while I was out but Bruce's dad brought it in for us while he came to play with Neko. I unpacked it, made sure all the parts were there, filled it with water and now I'm waiting for Bruce to come home because I promised I wouldn't try it until he got home! We got up one Saturday morning and plunked ourselves down in front of the TV and lo and behold an infomercial was on. We sat through it and with the both of us being neat freaks, there was no chance of us walking away from that infomercial! Too bad I just cleaned the house... Bruce isn't home yet, there's still time to throw some crud on the floor...maybe some syrup...something sticky...chocolate sauce? teriyaki sauce? maybe some melted cheese on the stove top...oh the possibilities...gotta go!!!

If You Want It Done Right...

Sometimes we can't do everything for ourselves...there's protocol, there's division of work, there's red tape. Whatever it is, it's really frustrating when those you rely on to get the job done, don't! Today I found out that I haven't had Blue Cross coverage since August 10th of 2009! Thankfully I didn't have to find out when I was trying to be admitted to a hospital or something, just filling a prescription but hey, what happened to people doing their job??? Now get back to work!

Did You Doubt Me?

I know, you were skeptical...2,000 pieces in a week?! Ridiculous...no, not so. I have proof!



I used to puzzle all the time when I was little. I don't know when life got so busy that it fell off my radar but I'm glad I re-discovered it! I have my fellow puzzlers at work to thank for that! Bruce and I had relaxing evenings enjoying a latte and searching for that one piece! I had to make sure that Bruce took a picture - one, for you to believe me that we actually finished it and two, so we can keep a record of what puzzles we've done cuz you know there are gonna be a lot more in our future.

I lost a few days, almost a week to blogging, my apologies. Things pick up and you get home late one evening and you fall asleep when you just meant to take a 5 minute nap and you forget to blog and it's almost like you've formed a habit overnight cuz the next night you don't think about blogging cuz the last time you did it, it was two days ago. Yikes! Anyway, last Wednesday Bruce and I went down to Sir Winston Churchill Square to watch the 2010 Olympic Torch make it's way downtown. It was so exciting! The crowd was massive and full of energy, it made you smile and tears well up cuz there was so much pride in that Square. I brought my camera but when I saw the crowd and factored in my small stature I didn't bother taking it out of my bag! But Bruce was able to get some pretty nice shots...you should check them out his blog on his website - Moments In Digital!

EDO

Earned Day Off. And that it is. Work an extra 20 minutes a day to get an extra day off in the month. You're supposed to use this day to run your errands and go to appointments but c'mon...making appointments?! You're at the mercy of whoever you want to see, you run on their schedule. So I use my EDO as a time to catch up on things, change the bedding, rotate the mattress, laundry. I had aspirations of going to Whyte Ave to check out the stores but sometimes that's more fun with somebody with you, you know?! So I slept in til eight then I made myself a latte and some toast. I caught up on some chores, like I said earlier, changing the sheets and turning the mattress. I didn't leave the house, not once! I didn't feel guilty but perhaps I should've taken advantage of the freedom from work. At least it's casual week...I'll take whatever little break from the routine that I can!

Family's Awesome!

I was able to get my sorry butt off to church today...I noticed my halo was starting to slant a little so I took care of it! As per our Sunday tradition, Dad went home and put the coffee on while Mom and I stopped off at Cobb's Bakery for a little indulgence! We enjoyed a lovely breakfast together and afterward I taught them how to use their latte machine again. They hadn't used it in years and forgotten how cuz you know how those pesky owner manuals seem to grow legs and walk! Anyway we enjoyed some hazelnut lattes and played Boggle together! Not the competitive way though. We put away the timer and we didn't keep score. After all, my dad was playing!!! He hates games! He hates puzzles! He hates anything competitive! I was shocked he even agreed to it. But I was ecstatic...he was using his brain! He even said after that it would help him out...made me smile!

I got a wonderful phone call this evening from my Godmother! I had written her a letter over the Christmas holidays and she called to check in with me and find out some more details on events. It's funny how we don't seem to get phone calls that much anymore or letters for that matter at least none that are personal. There's always someone calling for donations or bills coming in the mail but how often do we get those phone calls or letters that are personal and show that someone has taken time out of their lives to focus on you?! I just love her...made my day!

Turning 90!

Last night Bruce and I went to his aunt's 90th birthday party at the Manor Casual Bistro downtown (it's used to be called the Manor Cafe). We were supposed to have been seated on the main floor as Auntie Eileen has bad knees and has troubles with stairs. When we got there they had us upstairs in the private party room (that's what was originally booked until we found out there was no elevator). They said they'd change us to the main room but I guess they forgot. Anyway, with a little help from family, Eileen was able to get upstairs. Our waiter was a little pretentious, he knew everything about everything and told you it all! Did you know that Doritos are made with corn syrup and MSG?! And did you know that Molson's owns all the hops crops or something like that and they won't sell you any if you're a micro-brewery?! Oh and did you know the Earl of Grey...blah, blah, blah. No kidding, at the beginning of the evening he hardly talked and by the end of the evening you couldn't shut him up! Anyway, the meal was delicious and Eileen is such a sweet lady! Her memory is so sharp and she loves to tell her stories. I hope if I make it to 90 I turn out just as wonderful as she has!!!

Surprises are the Best!!!

I have the best husband! Bruce came home Thursday night and surprised me with a 2,000 piece puzzle!!! You heard right - 2,000 pieces!!! We worked on it that night and finished the border and got a pretty good start on a couple of sections in the middle. I have never seen so many puzzle pieces in my life...dining room table??? Who needs a dining room table?! I think the best part of the evening was that we spent some time together...it was really nice that he didn't have to work on show notes or editing photos, we just spent time together. Can't imagine what it's like for couples who have kids! We're making waves putting the sections together today! Love it!!!

Cozy Moment

I used to get exasperated when Neko wouldn't leave me alone and always wanted attention. Last night he wanted me to pick him up and when I did it was like he melted. He didn't squirm, he didn't try to lick my face, he just wanted me to hold him. I stopped what I was doing and didn't worry about it cuz Neko needed me at that moment. It was a cozy moment knowing that he completely trusts me and turns to me when he needs some comfort. All his crappy barking or peeing on the carpet disappears when he needs to be held. What a suck!

New Project

As you know, I love puzzles...I love riddles, I love challenging myself. As such, I'm excited about starting a new project tonight. Bruce's dad left us a copy of the Clarke Family Tree...I started filling in our family tree a couple of years ago. I have this great program called, what else but 'Family Tree Maker'! Tonight's project isn't so much of a challenge because everything is figured out for me and I just have to input all the information but it's still fun to see how big our 'little' family can grow!

I'm trying to be more positive this year...no, no, don't misunderstand, I didn't say I made a resolution to be more positive because remember that would just be setting myself up for failure. I wore a rubber band around my wrist and would give it a snap when I was being less than positive. Ok, I wore it for a day...it was starting to leave a mark! Perhaps work isn't the place to try to attain such a lofty goal.

Need a Rest

I wake up and I'm tired. You know how when you wake up you have no power in your limbs? Yeah, that's how I feel when I get into work. What's with that?! And to top it off...my dog won't leave me alone...I'm afraid I'm sick or something. My eyelids are heavy, my head feels like it weighs a million pounds and my energy level is so low these days. Perhaps it's winter getting to me, perhaps it's my immune system giving in to all the germs that co-workers are graciously sharing with the office, or perhaps it's my spirit getting tired with the humdrum routine. Dunno which it is or if it's a combination of them all but I'm yearning for a break, a rest, something to re-energize me.

How Puzzling...

I love puzzles. I used to do them all the time when I was little and then somehow I stopped doing them and never really got back into it! Well over the Christmas holiday I rediscovered how much I love puzzles! Work was super slow and hardly anyone was in cuz they were smart and took time off. The Beatles puzzle was screaming my name in the lunch room and so I sat down and started to piece it together...it's totally addicting! Anyway, with the help of some friends we totally finished it and I was left empty. Until the next day when I came into work and lo and behold! a new puzzle on my desk! We cracked into that bad boy right away and spent the majority of the day 'puzzling'. We got all the edge pieces put together and a chunk of pieces in the middle and then, sadly, we had to leave it as it was the New Years break. What a welcome site at lunch time today, to be able to sit back and look for that certain, special piece! I love puzzles!

Dang It!

I set the alarm last night so I could get up in time to go to church today. I set the wrong alarm! I changed Bruce's alarm to the time I should wake up but I put my alarm on, which is set to 5:45 am for getting up for work! Dang it! When it went off, I realized it was way too early still so I thought I switched it over to the right alarm but apparently I just hit snooze so 10 minutes later the darn alarm goes off again! At that point I hit the damn radio and turned off all alarms as I woke up at 8:37, less than half an hour before church starts and it takes me almost 40 minutes to get there from my house, not gonna make it so I may as well roll over and catch a little more shut eye!

Watched The Green Mile today. Love that movie!!! It's been awhile since I last saw it so I had forgotten much of it. I bawled like a little baby! You know it's a good movie if I bawl. Ok, ok, I've been known to tear up at Folgers' commercials too but if you haven't seen it already or it's been awhile since you have, watch The Green Mile.

So the creative menu tonight? Hamburgers. But not just regular winter hamburgers...Bruce said he's gonna bar-b-que 'em!!! Wooohooo!

Routine

We slept in this morning...kind of what we do on the weekends. Showered and headed out to Costco. Super busy there today - I guess everyone re-stocking their homes after the holidays. We have lots of stuff in now and I'm faced with the same dilemma that I'm faced with everyday. What to make for dinner! I'm sure you face the same thing day in and day out. Kinda gets boring - you have a repertoire of 15 or so dishes that you make. Sometimes you just don't want to eat cuz it's not all that exciting. Maybe I should look to change things up a bit. Hmmm, I do like a challenge.

Happy New Year!!!

It's 2010! Where are all the flying cars like in The Jetson's?!! I thought by now we'd be consuming pills flavoured like turkey, mashed potatoes and carrots for dinner...what happened to that?! And what about pressing a button and you'd be clean?! It's 2010 people!!! Ok, so maybe all that future talk is still future talk. I'm good with that.

Happy New Year everyone...all four of you! Ha ha ha! This year has started off beautifully! I woke up next to Bruce, Neko was in his little bed beside me, we got up and made French toast and lattes...just like last New Year's Day...hey is this gonna be Ground Hog Day?!! You know the movie...kinda loses it's funniness if I have to explain it, never mind.

Anyway, as last year, I'm not making any New Year's resolutions. That would just be setting myself up for failure as we all know that rules are meant to be broken. That is if you're a rebel like me! Ok, ok, get yourself up off the floor and pick up your chair - so I'm not that much of a rebel. In any event, I'm wishing you a wonderful 2010! I hope you find your peace and make the best of everything that 2010 hands you!