The End of Another Year...Good Bye 2010

While I waited for a moronic woman reading the label on her carton of milk, to move her cart which she left in the middle of the aisle, it occurred to me that I could redirect my rage to something more positive.  You know?  Like thinking up some New Year's Resolutions.

No really, it was my fault for daring to get a few weeks worth of groceries on a day when just everyone needed to converge on the same grocery store that I frequent.  What was I thinking?  Clearly, not of my new resolutions.

This last week or two I've had some vague ideas float through the transom of my mind.  Some about weight loss and exercise.  Some about inner self-improvements.  Instead of writing a list of the same what not to do's I've thought perhaps it may be more effective to write a list of goals instead.  A wish list for 2011, of sorts.


Of course, on that list are a bunch of running goals both distance and time/speed.  What would my wish list be if I didn't have at least one destination race listed among the other races?  This year trail running will be thrown into the mix.  I have some fitness goals outside of running too.  It would be nice if I could get through one of Misty's classes without stopping or grumbling.  I'm sure she'd be impressed to hear me not whine for a change!

One large entry is to revamp our eating habits.  It's not enough that I should adhere to a clean eating habit and extend my years on this Earth.  I am hell bent to make sure my husband's days are pleasantly extended.  *stop rolling your eyes, Husband!*  It's true, he will put up the biggest fuss but then when he protests about eating lentils I'll remind him that it's better than allowing me to order Chinese!

A long with revamping our diets I also pledge to double my garden size and freezing/canning output.  I was able to put up several months worth of fruit and vegetables, the stockpile which has since been utterly depleted.  I believe strongly in quality and sustainability.  This goal also goes a long way to my getting more mellow.  I thoroughly enjoyed gardening on mass last year.  I'm already craving to get my hands into the seeds and soil.

There are of course wishes like more time with my husband, as a couple, instead of just two parents waiting until bedtime to get some peace and quiet.  There are the entries for having more fun with the kids instead of just shuffling between activities and chores.  I would like to remember what it was like to be a child, again.  Then there is an entry for being a better friend to those I care about.  One more entry for spending my spare or rather quiet time in more fruitful pursuits than watching TV.

Mostly this year I've decided I will not say "no-never"!  No more shutting the door on an idea before I can have a chance to truly examine it.  I can safely say that back when I was a chain smoker (yes, and it wasn't so very long ago either...my shame is great) that I said there was no way I'd ever be addicted to running.  Goes to show..."no never" is a horrible train of thought.

As for my general unsociable qualities and potty mouth....well, if I changed everything about myself then no one would recognize me *snort*

Happy New Years!  Peace, love and fun to you all!

o

It isn't over till the exhausted lady pours her tea!

It's a wrap.  8 pm rolled around and only the little bits of wrapping paper peeking out from under the couch remained.  The kitchen cleared of much of dishes and dinner remnants.  One kid passed out on the floor the other trying to decide how to carry all his bounty up the stairs.  The guests gone home to relax and let their over stuffed bodies settle.

It's amazing but the only other time when a day passed so fast was my wedding day.  Truly a blur.  I'm told our day started at 6 am when my husband crept downstairs by-passing the still sleeping children to start the coffee and make sure everything was ready for the kid's grand entrance.

Once in sight of the tree there was a wild frenzy that overcame the kids.  Without parental refereeing they would have opened every one's presents without so much as a thought or care.  The unwrapping of their entire stash didn't take longer then 7 minutes.  A new record!  Then they were so excited to dive into playing that neither husband nor I got a chance to open our own presents until nearly everything had been explored.

The rest of the day was occupied with food prep and entertaining.  Though never far from my hobbies I managed to incorporate my two dark passions.  Running and Cooking.  Yes, I used my Garmin to time the basting.  Every thirty minute interval had me up on my feet and pulling out the bird.  I got so good at it by the last 30 minutes that I could get the bird back into the oven before the end of the walk break!  Ha let's see Martha do something that cool!

Now with the kids in bed and my run gear in the wash for tomorrow I'm looking forward to a cup of tea, my knitting and a good night's sleep.  This was a good Christmas.  Far better than we had anticipated.  It almost feels as if I've been danced off my feet.

In the words of Ebenezer Scrooge "I have little right to be this happy but I just can't help myself!"

Merry Christmas!

Who'da Thought?

I think my memory must on the fritz.  For some reason I remember that when I was a little girl, the Santa list read: a baby doll in a pink dress, a Raggedy Ann, a tea set and a skipping rope.

I don't ever remember a time shopping for my boys when the gifts had an air of simplicity.  Searching for toys for them means sifting through the thirty different themed sets of Lego.  Getting just the right type of race track with the cars that change colour in water.  Not just any video game but one that can tell when you've walked in the room and identify you.  I don't believe they asked for anything that was generic save for the "bird" my eldest son declared he had to have.  Though he just said "bird", he was very specific in what colour bird he wanted.

I've also noticed that with the very specific gifts comes a very specific price tag.  Expensive.  It is the exclusiveness of these crazy kitted out toys that kills me.  I hunted all over Durham Region for one of the kids toys this year and when I finally got it in my hands and paid for then tucked away safetly at home I sobered up.  Turns out that purchase was largely fueled by the chase. 

My husband reminded me of a time when he was a kid and his dad gave him an empty appliance box.  Not as a christmas gift, he was frugal but not a cheapskate.  From this large box he fashioned many exciting toys.  Spaceship, castle, dog house, as examples.  The box captured his imagination and within it's paper confines anything was possible.

Now toys have lights, annoying music, sensors and the capacity to remember more than a 60 year-old person.  It comes in ten exciting colours and can be recalled at any time due to lead in the paint.  Staggering....I know.

I also recall my own mom telling that when she was a little girl she was happy with a rubber baby doll.  I guess being crusty is a hand-me-down.

All I want for Christmas is clarity, hope and a Golden Retriever

A few days until Christmas and we aren't ready.  After being hit with a figurative truck we are struggling to right ourselves and get into Christmas mode.  I'm not going to share the reason for the derailment, it's far too personal even for this blog.  Though, I will say this, it sure has brought on a much deeper meaning of what this Christmas will mean to everyone in our family.

So I dash about making lists, checking them twice then editing the plans and recreating the holiday that was originally planned to accomodate a new and enlargened version.  More gifts to be purchased and far more food needs to be acquired.  Simplicity is being redefined.

If someone asked me a little over a week ago what I wanted for Christmas they'd have gotten a completely different answer than the one I'm asking for now.  All I want for Christmas now is clarity and hope.  Ok, that and a Golden Retriever that I can take out on 5k's.

Well A Fine How Do Yah Do....

Man forget saying Merry Christmas to some people.  I'm ever so grateful that my Christmas Shopping is winding down and that this year I can do it all by myself because I'm not sure after a shopping excursion that my kids wouldn't come home with a few new swear words to add to their "I'm not allowed to say that" list.  OK, stop laughing.  It is true that they pretty much have heard my full repetoire but have the good sense not to repeat "Mommy" words. *snort*

After getting some work done early this morning after a double school drop off I thought I'd head out and knock a few things off my list.  In the first shop I nearly got knocked over by a large man, and when I say large, I mean, block the sun.  Clearly he didn't notice me under his foot!  Not so much as a "sorry I didn't see you there, can I help wipe my boot print off your forehead?"  Nope, he just kept marching straight past so that he could be the first to get to a display of slippers.  Fine, straighten my ruffled feathers and continue on.

Next a woman cuts in front of me in a long line up at the cash register.  She's got just one item, clearly the gloves must have been deadly heavy.  Instead of making a big deal of it, I choose to let her go thinking someday she'll do that to the wrong person and get her butt kick from Karma.

A couple of items acquired I move on to the next shop.  Five minutes inside and there it is.  The truth I must now acknowledge.  This next gift could be a bomb.  It's like shopping for a new nuclear reactor when you haven't got a clue how much one ought to cost or what features it should have.  It just spells trouble.  That's a gross exaggeration but when you consider that a ill planned gift can blow up just as big, it's a big decision.  Choose wrong and someone gets hurt.

There I was, holding up a line at a frantic store.  Asking an opinion-based questions of something which I had no working knowledge.  I got eye rolls from the younger patrions.  I got grumpy/impatient expressions from those senior to me.  I could read their thoughts "Oh lady, just buy them both and return one after the holidays like everyone else!"  I turned my back and pretended to not notice the back up I was causing.  Talk about performance pressure. 

Here's a warning to you all:  Buy your can of cranberries early and you'll avoid the inevidable stink eye from a fellow, pleasant, holiday shopper.

The Hunt

Christmas shopping, one of my not so fun things to do.  Well that's not necessarily true.  I like the feeling of dragging all the loot into the house much the way a cat likes to leave it's people the spoils of the hunt on the front porch.  Do I enjoy the mall?  Nope, not even a little.

We were fortunate to have a chunk of time sans kidlets today and decided to use that time to getter done.  Yep the whole list for the kids was accomplished in one go.

Now if only my husband would tell me what is on his wish list.  It drives me crazy when he shrugs and says that he doesn't want anything.  I'd be willing to bet there were as many toys on his list as there was on the boy's never ending list.  While walking around the toy store this afternoon I could hear him the aisle over "light sabers...so cool" and "oh wow, they've got The Iron Sheik!"   I'd also be willing to bet there would be more than a handful of video games he'd love to have.  I'm a little envious in one respect.  He gets to revisit his youth by playing with the boys and their toys.  I'm not so much big on the little green army men and Matchbox cars especially when I step on them in the dark!


I will admit I looked longingly at the big display of fashion Barbies.  I miss that new Barbie smell *sigh*

The Odd Stuff That Dreams Are Made Of.

That's right little pink fluff, dream about your cute little hat.  I love knitted hats but don't actually own one that I like.  I'm bad for either knitting or buying nice hats for other people but when it comes to me, it just doesn't happen.

Actually, besides running gear I really don't have anything in the way of proper winter clothes.  You can certainly see where my priorities lie. *giggle*
I was out in the weather for about twenty minutes this morning dropping one of my boys at school and found myself actually trying to dodge the wind.  I think my hard Winnipeg edge is wearing thin.  It's time for me to knit myself a hat.

Oh wait, that's right.  I'm still working on Sheree's project.  Sorry Sheree, I suck *frowny face* Ok, so I guess I'm working on that today *wink*  At least my lap will be warm!

What Am I Craving?

Oh man, I've got a craving and I can't put my finger on it.  Well actually, I can but I'm not going there.  But because I'm denying my love for all things Diet Coke and Chips I am reduced to scouring about for a healthy substitute that will fill the gap.  It doesn't help that I'm fussy.

I've eaten a good breakfast and a decent lunch.  I've had a couple of glasses of water and some Sencha but it's still there.  It's still calling me.  I'm sure most of it stems from it being the holiday season and the power of suggestion is strong with me.  Very strong...Yoda strong.  So what's a girl to do?  Well in my case not much more than just plain denial.  If what is good is not pallitable and I only want something bad...nothing is what I get.

Ok, fine.  What now?  Distractions!  Yes, good suggestion.  I suppose that's what is fueling this odd dialogue/blog today.  I found this site that lists what your body is really saying you are craving when you want things like chips and pop.  Calcium and Chloride.  Um ok.  Fascinating huh? 

Later I'll be craving Turtles, mandarin oranges, brie, cognac goose liver pâté on crackling whole grain baguette and Sauvingnon Blanc.  Gee what does that mean?  Holiday Hell!

Weekend in Review

This was one busy weekend.  Had a really great morning on Saturday.  Got out for a good warm up run with the BRC then headed to the Santa Shuffle with Cheryl and ran a pretty good race.  It wasn't a personal best but I'd be I could have pulled that out of the hat had I been in race mode from the beginning.  I'm very pleased at my training so far.  It's picking up nicely and I'm starting to feel like a runner again.  I will say this.  Racing is so much better with tunes.  Stupid Ipod died before the club run and I didn't want the hassel of fiddling with the Blackberry for tunes as I still have not set up proper playlists yet. It is now on the list of stuff to do this week, that and recharging my ipod.  At least it wasn't my Garmin!

I got a couple hours of peace after getting home.  I was pretty cold after sitting so long in wet gear.  I lobstered for a while in the tub then headed down and had some lunch.  Even got to watch a movie and get good and sleepy by the time the guys returned.  They were out marching in the Santa Parade and you would think all that exercise and fresh air would have tired them out.  Nope, wired!  Spent the rest of the night entertaining them and when they finally went to bed at 8, I was so bored that I retired at 9.  Yep, I'm that exciting.

This morning no sooner than I got a cup of coffee down it was time to get dressed and head out shopping.  My laptop has been dying a painful death for the last month or so.  The lid/screen is just about to snap off and it is so slow.  Husband has been treatening to get me a new one for a long time and today I relented.  Sadly, we didn't pause to look up what time the stores opened and were about an hour too early for the electronics store.  So off to wander around in Walmart.  Luckily, it was empty and we managed to get some things for the boys to start the Holiday list.

Then off to drop some wampum at Best Buy.  Where for an hour I watched E play a game on their demo Kinect.  He was really good.  I had a ball just watching him bop around and laugh.  Of course L got bored after a few minutes and started to wander away.  So there I was standing in the middle of an aisle separating the two departments keeping an eye on one child and the other on L.  I have to admit I was amazed at the constant stream of people leaving the store with really large flat screens.

The rest of the day was dedicated to putting up the Christmas tree and putting out the trinkets.  This is always one hell of a production.  Each year husband and I swear we'll get a new tree.  The one we have is a throw back to my Winnipeg days.  I figure it's got to be at least 14 years old.  Still in good shape but next to the new prelit easy to put up models this one is down right archaic.  Maybe next year....?  *giggle*

Half way through assembling it and putting the lights on husband turned to me and asked where the bottle of rum was. After searching for that for a while I just gave up and made a shaker of Cosmos.  Decorating the tree after that was a sinch.  Now it's just a matter of keeping the weiners from trying to christen it and the kids from playing with the ornaments.

The snow has been falling ever since.  We've already taken a pass at the driveway and porch and by the way it's still coming down I'll need to get out early and take another pass at it.  So glad I found the snow pants at least that's one less bad mommy award I'll win this week.

Well back to moving my files over from the old laptop.  Bah...technology is no one's friend.  If it were I'd have a robo-mixologist keeping me in gin!

The Butt Misty Broke!

Dear Misty,

I've been attending some of your workout classes for the last couple of months and they are really swell.  A new experience each and every class.  Tough.  Challenging.

However, I woke up this morning and attempted to go a long my morning routine when I realize that you made me break my butt.  It may have been the 200 lunges performed in class yesterday morning.  My one request to go forward, please send me a taller toilet.

Pleasethanx. 
You're devoted client.

Katie

Do You See What I See?

It's the first day of December and it's snowing!  That means for me it's the first Day of the Christmas Season.  I'm even in a very light mood.

Yeah, I know while so many are chomping at the bit to break out the holiday trim the day after Halloween, I like to saver each season.  Each special day. I spent a little while winding down from Halloween.  Then working my way to Remembrance Day.  Then the happy non-holiday space in between.  Getting mentally geared up to have my house taken over by holiday trim and  Christmas music.

It is true that I tend to tire of it quickly once the day comes and goes and want to liberate my space of all the decor and stuff the tree back to where it came.  Picture the Grinch shoving the tree into the chimney!  I would be successful too if it weren't for the fact that hubby and the kids protest.  That is one of the reasons why there isn't much done before December 1st.

Today is that day though.  It's time to bust open a can of Christmas and get in the swing.  I've also been blessed with a little dose of fluffy snow flakes to really get the season off to a jazzy start.  This weekend the tree and all comes out.  Tonight a Ho-Ho-Ho martini to kill the pain of a harsh morning workout and some Christmas Tunes while I get some work done.  Yes...dip a toe in.  The season is fine......!