I Know, Right?

This was a meme Note on Facebook – but since I have (my entire) family linked on facebook, I though I would put it here:

Using our awesome new KitchenAid with pasta attachment we decided to tackle something new:

Butternut Squash Soup with Cheese Ravioli!   Here is how it went:

First I cut up the butternut squashthen put into pot with vegetable broth and red pepper chili pepper

while that simmers – start on the pasta dough

let it rise and then move it through the pasta attachment

and then cut and stuff the Ravioliwhile those are cooking on the stove – move the tender squash mix into the blender and puree – transfer back to stove top and….

YUM!  It was so good AND we had enough dough to make a batch of spaghetti noodles

Love it!

I have been debating for quite a while as to whether or not I should keep this thing (the blog).  Everytime I have tried to get on and write something (especially these past few weeks when I have been SUPER bored at work) I start typing along and then realize – damn this is boring shit! No one wants to read about me whinging about all of this stuff.  So, I delete and I close and I try to forget it exists.  Then, something will happen and I will think, maybe I should blog about it?  But the day goes by and I forget about what I wanted to “talk” about… the cycle continues.

I figured I could make one last effort to be a blogger again and if my hearts not in it – I’d call it quits for good (this one, at least).

So, what’s new with you?  I can’t really even remember what’s happened since the last time I posted (like in November? Geez – I just visited the site to see when I posted last and I hadn’t even remembered that I changed the theme!  A good indication of how I was feeling at the time at least, it’s all black and red!  I gotta change that right away…)

In a nutshell:

• Things with Pawhaus are picking up – yay
• Christmas was pretty low-key.  I just wasn’t into it this year – but had fun making goodies with my babe and spending good quality quiet time around the house when we could
• I’ve stepped down as organizer of the pug meetup group I started – I’m still getting used to that one
• My SIL’s mom passed away on Jan 2.  She had MS and was very sick for a number of years.  It’s a situation when you almost feel it’s a blessing that she is no longer suffering.  The funeral was last Friday and was very sad
• Work is work.  I’m bored a lot and that’s crappy
• I’m not very happy with my lack of energy/enthusiam lately. I feel as though I am gaining weight (which I hate) but I can’t seem to get off my butt and on the bike.  I mean, it’s not hard – it’s right in our basement but yet I pretend it doesn’t exist
• I also am not very happy with my lack of housekeeping skills lately.   I wish I would get in gear to keep things more clean – but I just don’t have the energy or motivation.  I want that to change

There seem to be a lot of things I consider for change.  Maybe this is the year to do it.  We often talk about moving away – we both have lived here for 30 years and it hasn’t really done too much for us (except for being the place where we met) so we wonder if we lived somewhere else if we would be more inclined to go out and “do” things. 

On one hand – is now the time to make a huge change?  One the other – what better time to do it when we are young and able to adapt more easily?

We still have a couple of areas in our home that needs updating/improving/rearranging and I would like to get that done and finished – but then I think, would it be a waste if we just end up moving away?  So, then things hang in the balance and that makes us frustrated.  We constantly feel like we are in limbo in life.

When we were at the funeral on Friday – my SIL had made this DVD of pictures of her mom and as I watched I thought – man, we don’t DO enough to experience life.  We sit around and watch TV or play games or fall asleep (me) during so many hours of our life.  What can we do to change that?  I want to make a decision and move on something but I get scared.  And then I get annoyed with myself because I am missing out because I am a scary-cat and I think that’s such a waste.  

On the other hand (haha – that should be the new blog name) – I can’t learn nothing if I don’t try…. right?

I’m going to be taking a little bit of a break from blogging, here and on mypugsblog.  I think I stretched things a little too thin these past few months weeks and am just feeling really burnt out from it.

I’m also not going to be sending out Christmas cards this year – so please forgive me if you are sending out cards.

I will still be reading and (hopefully) commenting on other blogs – but if I don’t get a chance to say it – I wish you all a happy holiday season!

I got a little uptight about something last week and I can’t seem to shake it off me.

My boss was giving me a “hard time” because I mentioned I wasn’t attending the annual firm Christmas (lamefest) Party.  Actually, it started when he found out that I was going to watch the Grey Cup (football – think Canadian Superbowl) game (even though our cities team was in it (and won)).  Apparently, because I don’t watch Grey Cup,  I am un-Canadian.

So, this loser mentality carried over when he found out I wasn’t attending the Christmas party (for apparently, no good reason) and when he asked me if we were at least going to put our tree up that weekend – he nearly came unglued when I said we don’t put a tree up.

So, basically – because I don’t put up a tree (no room in the living room mixed with pugs that like to pull things off it) and I don’t attend lame work-related events – I am Scrooge.

Now, I don’t really know why I am bothered by this.  I mean, it doesn’t bother me that we don’t put up a tree (too much work – one less thing “to do”) – we still put out our stockings, we watch “It’s a Wonderful Life” on Christmas Eve, we listen to Charlie Brown’s Christmas CD from Dec 1 – Dec 25 – so in spirit I think we are there.  I don’t go to the party because it’s a huge pain in the butt for not a lot of fun and I would much rather be at home, playing Rock Band 2 with Jerry and the girls.

What bothers me about it is that he (along with a couple of others) passed judgement about me and continued to throw their judgement in my face, without even knowing a little bit about me. 

Can I be Christmassy without a tree?  Well, other than attending 5 Christmas Craft fairs this month (ok, yeah, it was for business purposes but it was still putting on the spirit), planning the 3rd annual Pug Claus party for 90 people and 60+ pugs, participating in previous years with Adopt-a-family programs through work (different office – doing all the shopping, wrapping all the presents) AND making up big plates of Christmas baking for our family get togethers over the holidays, having the Christmas Eve tradition of watching the best, most classic Christmas movie ever (sidenote:  It’s a Wonderful Life wasn’t originally released at Christmas time!) and always going over the top with gifts for family….

Yeah, I guess they are right.  You can only have Christmas with a tree.

Bah Humbug Bitches.

You know on a Sunday – when you didn’t bother to “do” your hair and makeup – when you are wearing all the baggy, gross clothes you own and you just barely wiped the sleep from your eyes – and your at the supermarket.  You run into a neighbor/co-worker and they insist on recognizing you and chatting for a moment.

Man, I hate that.

I took this from my friend Doozy’s site: 

 

Some stuff I have done (with stories!) and some stuff I haven’t, but wanted to comment on.

If I bolded it – I did it.

 

01. Bought everyone in the bar a drink

02. Swam with dolphins

03. Climbed a mountain – Yes, I’ve climbed Mount Baldy and Tunnel Mountain in Banff.  Mount Baldy sucked because I was at camp with our grade 5 class and when we got to the top it was snowing like crazy (it was June) and because I was slow – the only lunch that was left was cheese slices, peanut butter and pita bread. 

04. Taken a Ferrari for a test drive

05. Been inside the Great Pyramid

06. Held a tarantula

07. Taken a candlelit bath with someone

08. Said “I love you” and meant it – Of course! I Love you Baby!

09. Hugged a tree –we were a bunch of crazy kids who climbed trees and loved them

10. Bungee jumped – never, and never plan to.

11. Visited Paris – no, but I really want too!!

12. Watched a lightning storm at sea – does a big lake count

13. Stayed up all night long and saw the sun rise – Yes, when I was younger

14. Seen the Northern Lights – Many times. Beautiful.

15. Gone to a huge sports game – Flames games I guess would count

16. Walked the stairs to the top of the leaning Tower of Pisa

17. Grown and eaten your own vegetables – does it count when it’s your aunt’s garden?

18. Touched an iceberg – Yes, we went up to the Columbian Icefields and went up on the big truck

19. Slept under the stars – in Osoyoos, BC – it was so hot there we slept out side of our tent in our bikini’s

20. Changed a baby’s diaper – yes, I used to babysit A LOT

21. Taken a trip in a hot air balloon

22. Watched a meteor shower

23. Gotten drunk on champagne

24. Given more than you can afford to charity

25. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope

26. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment – Oh yeah.

27. Had a food fight – it was my friends 16^th birthday party and we had a cake fight in my parents kitchen.

28. Bet on a winning horse

29. Asked out a stranger – Yes

30. Had a snowball fight – but I hates them

31. Screamed as loudly as you possibly can – More than a few times

32. Held a lamb – no but saw a baby cow only hours after birth

33. Seen a total eclipse

34. Ridden a roller coaster – not my favourite thing to do

35. Hit a home run – Baseball, Kickball, sexually…(stole that from Doozy)

36. Danced like a fool and didn’t care who was looking

37. Adopted an accent for an entire day  – we used to do that all the time when I was a teenager

38. Actually felt happy about your life, even for just a moment – Yes, in fact, several moments…

39. Had two hard drives for your computer…I have no friggin idea

40. Visited all 50 states

41. Taken care of someone who was drunk – yup

42. Had amazing friends – Certainly.

43. Danced with a stranger in a foreign country

44. Watched whales

45. Stolen a sign – I don’t think I have… but I wouldn’t be surprised if I did

46. Backpacked in Europe

47. Taken a road-trip

48. Gone rock climbing

49. Taken a midnight walk on the beach

50. Gone sky diving

51. Visited Ireland

52. Been heartbroken longer than you were actually in love

53. In a restaurant, sat at a stranger’s table and had a meal with them

54. Visited Japan

55. Milked a cow

56. Alphabetized your CDs

57. Pretended to be a superhero –   All the time when I was a kid!

58. Sung karaoke – Yes, unfortunately (for those who witnessed it)

59. Lounged around in bed all day – I don’t get to anymore, but I used to all the time when I lived alone

60. Played touch football – in gym class

61. Gone scuba diving or snorkelling – in a lake on a houseboat vacation

62. Kissed in the rain –

63. Played in the mud

64. Played in the rain

65. Gone to a drive-in theatre

66. Visited the Great Wall of China

67. Started a business

68. Fallen in love and not had your heart broken – So far, so good!

69. Toured ancient sites

70. Taken a martial arts class

71. Played D&D for more than 6 hours straight – No, but we used to play Super Mario Brothers for HOURS AND HOURS AND HOURS

72. Gotten married – April 30, 2005

73. Been in a movie

74. Crashed a party

75. Gotten divorced

76. Gone without food for 5 days – could never do that

77. Made cookies from scratch – Totally!

78. Won first prize in a costume contest

79. Ridden a gondola in Venice

80. Gotten a tattoo – yep

81. Rafted the Snake River

82. Been on a television news program as an “expert” – does Pug expert count?

83. Gotten flowers for no reason

84. Performed on stage – I used to be a drama geek in high school

85. Been to Las Vegas

86. Recorded music

87. Eaten shark

88. Kissed on the first date

89. Gone to Thailand

90. Bought a house

91. Been in a combat zone

92. Buried one/both of your parents

93. Been on a cruise ship

94. Spoken more than one language fluently

95. Performed in Rocky Horror

96. Raised children

97. Followed your favorite band/singer on tour

98. Passed out cold

99. Taken an exotic bicycle tour in a foreign country

100. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over

101. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge

102. Sang loudly in the car, and didn’t stop when you knew someone was looking – This is a staple when I am in the car by myself.

103. Had plastic surgery

104. Survived an accident that you shouldn’t have survived

105. Wrote articles for a large publication

106. Lost over 100 pounds

107. Held someone while they were having a flashback

108. Piloted an airplane

109. Touched a stingray

110. Broken someone’s heart – but doubtful really

111. Helped an animal give birth

112. Won money on a TV game show

113. Broken a bone

114. Gone on a photo safari

115. Had a facial part pierced other than your ears

116. Fired a rifle, shotgun, or pistol

117. Eaten mushrooms that were gathered in the wild

118. Ridden a horse – Yes, but I don’t love it

119. Had major surgery

120. Had a snake as a pet

121. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon

122. Slept for 30 hours in a 48 hour period – probably. I love to sleep

123. Visited more foreign countries than U.S. States

124. Visited all 7 continents

125. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days

126. Eaten kangaroo meat

127. Eaten sushi

128. Had your picture in the newspaper

129. Changed someone’s mind about something you care deeply about – Yes.

130. Gone back to school – I went back school after taking a few years off after high school

131. Parasailed

132. Touched a cockroach

133. Eaten fried green tomatoes

134. Read The Iliad and The Odyssey

135. Selected one “important” author who you missed in school, and read – I’m thinking mostly of Jane Austin

136. Killed and prepared an animal for eating

137. Skipped all your school reunions – so far!

138. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language – probably?

139. Been elected to public office

140. Written your own computer language

141. Thought to yourself that you’re living your dream

142. Had to put someone you love into hospice care

143. Built your own PC from parts

144. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn’t know you

145. Had a booth at a street fair – Yes.

146. Dyed your hair – Too many times to count

147. Been a DJ

148. Shaved your head

149. Caused a car accident – some jackass was following me too close on a really slippery road and they tried to get around me, drove into a ditch and got caught in a now drift

150. Saved someone’s life

 

Yesterday at work didn’t turn out to be too bad (although, right now both my “bosses” are sitting together behind a closed door…. which ALWAYS makes me paranoid) – I even got to bolt a little early from the madness and ended up going to a store that I have been wanting to go to for a while now.  The problem was always that it’s only open from 9am – 5pm (Mon – Fri) and on the other side of town from where we live, so it was always a huge hassel to plan for it.

It’s sort of a wholesale type store which sells the merch and hardware for making dog collars!  That’s right, I am going to start making my own merch for Pawhaus!  I know that I already have collars that have our name on it, but the lady who used to make them for me made an announcement last month that she didn’t want to do it anymore.  So I bought a sewing machine off e-bay and now with the supplies I picked up yesterday I am pumped and ready to roll!  I figured it will take a couple of “trials” before figuring it all out, but it’s kind of exciting for me.

And while I was at this store, picking out my stuff the sales lady gave me some thought that I would like to ask you about.  When is it ok to walk around sporting lip fuzz that could strain soup?????  This ladies (wasn’t she?) lip hair was so distracting and disgusting that I just wanted to reach out and (hurl on her) yank it out with my fingers!  How can a person NOT NOTICE THAT ON YOUR OWN FACE?????  I mean, I am probably being mean and unfair…. maybe there is a medical/logical explaination for a women to walk around with such a thing – but when should we – as other women – look at someone like that and say “hey, don’t you think you should leave early today and head to the CLOSEST WAXING FACILITY YOU CAN!”

Or, is that just in the catagory of ‘things you don’t discuss with other people”?

All I know is that my mom and I took at pact once – if one of us is ever in the hospital in a coma that the other will still look after all brushing/waxing/ shaving/ coloring needs so that we will always look like – a woman.   Do you have a person like that?

Maybe I should punch that woman in the store out so that her “person” would come out and do the same for her.

I didn’t even do a half-assed attempt at NaMaBloMePo, did I? 

It’s remembrance day and I am at work.  The only good thing about that is that it took me less than 25 minutes to get here, I parked in my building parkade for $2.00 today (normally it’s $35 for one day) and I got here at 7:30 – which means I can leave early.  I’m hoping that I can leave super early because my boss (the one that is here today, that is) said I should take off early.  I said he will have to tell me when because I was ready to go home nowh the market in the crapper).

So here I sit.  Already caught up on my filing, emails, internet scanning and updating.  I plan to do some “non-work” work but since I was so bored yesterday when I was sitting here (I was begging my desk-mate to pull of my arms and beat me with them) I’m thinking there will be a few moments in time available.   I’m trying my best to not think about Jerry at home with the girls today and all of the things I could be doing there.  Cleaning, baking (I finally got a KitchenAid mixer and need to take it out for a “spin”!) and sleeping to name a few.

Not too much is new in the life department.  I’ve been busy on the weekends with community Christmas/Craft shows and such.  Not much energy for anything other than playing Rock Band 2 and pretending to cook a real meal once in a while.  But I guess that’s life, right?

I know I am up here in Canada – but this means a great change for us too – for the entire world.  I am excited, moved and filled with hope.  Yes We Can.

President Obama – we believe.