A leap

Spider, I know you argue otherwise, but I feel like such a fledgling at this decluttering process... I see I have the feathers but can't yet fly!


I read the books, I read the blogs, I get inspired and visualize what I want from my space... really map out what I want it to be and feel without the distractions and clutter. It feels GOOD, it feels promise -- it feels like the wind is just right!

Then, when I start actually tackling the things that "don't belong", I find myself swamped with all the things that aren't mine to make decisions about.... or things that make me happy to look at but serve no value to the space.... or things that are way too valuable to the space but ugly to look at.... and that's where it all breaks down.

Let's talk about the stuff. I have stuff. More stuff than I want, but apparently it's mostly going to stay exactly where it is.  Because either it's handy, it's pretty or it's not mine to dispose of. It's very heavy.

I guess I am a little bit bummed that my goal of getting the laundryroom done has been demoted to a dream. ( A goal without a timeline is not a goal, it's a dream says Gail). The timeline has been potponed indefinitely... even with a stepdad willing to do the carpentry part and a neighbour willing to do the mudding and taping for the drywall, and a finishing carpenter that owes me for some cards I did up for him.... because, if the husband isn't on board, it's just not acheivable.

So, I'm not leaving the poop and twig infested nest right yet... it will be my humble home for now -- mess and all. I haven't the courage to take those last few inches that would have me take to the wide open blue... not quite. Can you imagine how freeing it would be to have all the sky to look at?! My mind swims at the idea of open space!!!



(photo credit:/)

Countdown to Christmas

I am in the spirit of the holidays big time!

I find myself whistling the holiday tunes and thinking about decorating (however I won't until December, I just won't). I have started making some homemade presents, writing cards, etc... Might as well get it going!!!!!

The kids are beside themselves with excitement already.

The snow helped.

My boy Steve managed to sprain his thumb on the first SNOW DAY of the year! I got to do some sport's medicine on him. I am no nurse, and have nothing but respect for the medical profession. The sprain was obvious, so I went on You Tube and looked up what to do next.... a crash course in taping a thumb immobile without cutting off the circulation! Now, 4 days later, it looks much better and he says it's feeling good too. I will keep a tensor on it to remind him to be gentle with it -- I REALLY don't want him to permanently damage the thumb ligaments!!!!!

My husband keeps asking me what I want for Christmas..... I'm thinking of asking for dinners out. I just don't NEED anything right now. It's a wonderful thing to say: I am wanting for nothing.

**************

I donated some winter items to charity yesterday... my kids are growing fast, hopefully their stuff keeps somebody else's kids warm this winter.

Baby, it's cold outside

I am so glad the weather stations warned us it was coming! I had time to wrap my precious fig tree in burlap and pull the last of the bean stalks, put away the tools, drain the hoses, rake the lawn and mulch the garden with a warm layer of leaves. And then, right on time, the temperature dropped, the snow came and everything is a glistening, sparkly white.

I have chosen not to drive, if I can help it, to protect my pretty car from unnecessary exposure to salt and bad drivers. T even made a space for it in the garage (which surprised the heck out of me honestly). So i have been walking up to the school with the wee one. Good exercise in the cold!

And now, A little song of seduction to warm you up on a brisk day:

**** "Baby, Its Cold Outside" is a duet with words and music by Frank Loesser. 1944
 
  The weather is supposed to return to seasonal by Friday we will be back to rain rain rain.... it's a perk living on the "wet coast"... grey and green for the winter with brief periods of white. I like it here.

I really can't stay - Baby it's cold outside
I've got to go away - Baby it's cold outside
This evening has been - Been hoping that you'd drop in
So very nice - I'll hold your hands, they're just like ice
My mother will start to worry - Beautiful, what's your hurry
My father will be pacing the floor - Listen to the fireplace roar
So really I'd better scurry - Beautiful, please don't hurry
Well maybe just a half a drink more - Put some music on while I pour
The neighbors might think - Baby, it's bad out there
Say, what's in this drink - No cabs to be had out there
I wish I knew how - Your eyes are like starlight
To break the spell - I'll take your hat, your hair looks swell
I ought to say no, no, no, sir - Mind if I move closer
At least I'm gonna say that I tried - What's the sense in hurting my pride?
I really can't stay - Baby don't hold out


Ahh, but it's cold outsideC'mon baby

I simply must go - Baby, it's cold outside
The answer is no - Ooh darling, it's cold outside
This welcome has been - I'm lucky that you dropped in
So nice and warm - Look out the window at that storm
My sister will be suspicious - Man, your lips look delicious
My brother will be there at the door - Waves upon a tropical shore
My maiden aunt's mind is vicious - Gosh your lips are delicious
Well maybe just a half a drink more - Never such a blizzard before
I've got to go home - Oh, baby, you'll freeze out there
Say, lend me your coat - It's up to your knees out there
You've really been grand - I thrill when you touch my hand
But don't you see - How can you do this thing to me?
There's bound to be talk tomorrow - Think of my life long sorrow
At least there will be plenty implied - If you caught pneumonia and died
I really can't stay - Get over that hold out

Ahh, but it's cold outside
Baby it's cold outside
Brr its cold.
It's cold out thereCant you stay awhile longer baby
Well..I really shouldn't...alrightMake it worth your while baby

Ahh, do that again

Mission : Laundryroom

Remember how I said I wanted the laundry room finished by Halloween, well obviously that was much too amitious. My goal is now to have drywall before the new year... maybe? hopefully? if my darling husband has time to help?

What is spurring this renewed focus on the project... Well my mom offered to sell us her 3-year-old whirlpool laundry set for a really reasonable price. The set doesn't have the stacking brackets anymore, but it does have the fancy drawer-stands... so my laundryroom needs a shuffle -- the freezer has to move. It's crunch time -- mom's old set will be here tomorrow morning. AND the buyer for my 9-year old-set pictured below is coming tomorrow evening. I sure hope we are making the right decision here. Our set works perfect now that T has refurbished the heck out of it... my mom's is an unknown (but it is much higher rated than ours).

To keep this in perspective... here are the "BEFORE" pictures....

 

Note: the left bottom shelf is empty... that's because I want to remove it so that the trolly of craft materials can FINALLY have a home. As soon as that shelf is gone and the trolley is away, then I can put the inversion table and the tall fan away too! I have all the nuts off the bolts that hold the shelf in place, but I can not BUDGE the bolts out of the wood. So I am stuck in my tracks... my husband's strength, experience and tools will have to come to my rescue for this.

Then I want to move the freezer to where the wrapping paper station was. I used to be there a long time ago before we got the stacking set. I never liked it there. Ba humbug.

Then I want to take down the cupboards so we can drywall that wall.... easier said than done I think! At least get it boarded before the new washer is installed, right?

Renovations are so much more complicated than they need to be.

Cars with Driving Styles

One of my very favourite TV shows is TOP GEAR on BBC. It's a driving/car review show with some comedy, and very beautiful imagery. I love it.

I've always wanted a BMW, and the show always said time and time again that they are comfortable, beautifully designed, well finished, pleasurable to drive and decent value for money. So that clinched it for me. When I was driving my very reliable rusty old VW, I just KNEW my next car would be a BMW. And with most genuine gut-goals that I make, it happened to happen (sure we almost got a Matrix, but we just couldn't get excited about dumping that much of our hard-saved cash into a bland car). And now my dream is real, I have a Beemer. It's an older entry level version, it has it's quirks and a few warning lights have come on -- and been fixed -- but is still handles amazing and is so thoughtfully designed that after almost a year, the honeymoon hasn't worn off.

But, there is an unexpected side effect to this awesomeness.

I have come to the uncomfortable realization that this BETTER car has made me a WORSE driver.

On TOP GEAR, they always say, "we love this BMW, but we'd never own one because all Beemer drivers are Cocks". It's true! I'm turning into a cocky driver! Nestled in my ergonomically correct driving seat with excellent visibility and intuitive control positions that are easy to reach, I know I can turn on a dime, I know I can accelerate our of trouble, I know I can stop with alarming efficiency, I know this car gives me more control over the road than I have ever experienced in my life (except maybe the dual purpose dirtbike I rode for a while, but that didn't have crumple zones or airbags for safety). So the car not only offers control but also superior safety... damn it the car is smarter than I am!

And I let it be.

Where I used to second guess my lane changes or merging space, I now tackle them decisively.  Where I used to give a polite and generous space for everyone else, I now aggressively take my place where I want to because I am so cocky and confident in my machine. I'm now in a vehicle that isn't holding anyone one up, so somehow I got to this weird head space that means I can always go first now.

BAAH! I make this admission in hope that now that I recognize it, I can make moves to improve Like an addict admitting they have a problem, I think I must admit I am being an ass on the road when I really don't have to be. Right here right now I resolve to revert back to my polite, calm VW driving style when amongst other drivers.... and reserve the lead footed gear shifting action for when it is necessary for safety only.

I have to say here that it's not quite the same in the big old truck. But there is a belligerence to that truck. It is slow, big and loud and there's nothing I can do about that, but I also know that no one is challenging me in it either because it looks like it could do some real damage if I happened to be a road rager...

Are you BRAVE enough?

by Nelson Mandela:

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be?… Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do… It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

I am not small. I am powerful in my own realm of influence. I chose to shine  and I give YOU permission to do the same!

Domo Arigato

Wow.

I have terrific respect for Japanese chefs. Today I decided that I really really wanted to make a Japanese dinner. So I double checked what materials I had on hand..... Roasted Nori, Bonito Flakes, Pickled Ginger, Rice Vinegar, Wasabi Powder, Toasted Sesame Seeds, the little bamboo mat, imitation crab, avocado, cucumber, red pepper, prawns.  GREAT! And a list of things I needed to get, tempura mix, a good quality tamari, yam, zucchini, broccoli, eggplant, sushi rice.

With a plan and a list I did my weekly grocery shopping and made sure those things were on the list.

I started cooking the meal at about 1pm. Starting early is not unusual, I've been know to start dinner the night before to get ahead. But the amazing part was the shear amount of labour involved in this Japanese dinner. The sushi rice needed to be cooked properly and cooled with the folded-in ingredients making it "just right for sushi".

As the rice cooled, I watched some fantastic U-TUBE videos about making Inside-Out California Rolls -- my favourite!!! And got to work putting them together. With the right equipment and a properly done batch of rice AND actually having seen it being done right, it all come together quite well. Even with all the fiddly steps and a messy countertop. The results looked really PRO!

With the sushi rolls done, I watched more web-casts for Tempura and the yummy Tempura Dipping Sauce. This was much easier (in theory) than the rolls, but in fact turned out much more difficult in practice. The batter kept looking too thick, and it kept sliding off the prawns in my too-cool, oil-filled wok. In fact it was looking like a bit of a disaster! BUT, I figured out what I was doing wrong in time to save dinner.

By 6pm there was a mountain of amazing food on the table, Tempura veggies (yam, eggplant, zucchini, red pepper, broccoli) and tempura prawns with the amazing home-made dip, and my spectacularly successful looking California Rolls. Complete with pretty square plates, nice soya sauce dipping bowls and pretty little piles of pickled ginger next to the green blobs wasabi paste. it was really a nice looking meal. Colourful and fresh just the way I like it!

It was completely devoured in no time at all.  Five hours to make, 15 minutes to eat, 1/2 hour to clean up.

It was really delicious though, everyone agreed.

BUT, I think it will only be a once-in-a-while dinner.... it's so much easier to go to the sushi restaurant. (At least now I fully appreciate why sushi is so expensive).

I meant to take photos, but it just disapeared too quickly. You'll have to take my word for it, the kitchen looked like a hurricaine struck it and the food was gorgeous.

Smart Man's Words

“Tact is the art of making a point without making an enemy.”

- Sir Isaac Newton

I think that is very hard to do -- at least for me.

In the past, I have had the bad habit of trying to force my point. Maybe not making enemies per ce, but certainly not making friends along the way.

Then I married a man that wouldn't argue. If I tried to press my point, he would simply say "okay" and that was as far as it would go. He would let me do my thing (even to a mistake) and never rub it in. After a few fails, I have learned a very very hard lesson. I have learned to LISTEN, really listen to his side before pressing my side. Now, quite often I see where my point is incomplete or flawed before I get there. It helps me save face.

But I'm sure that's not what Sir Isaac Newton was talking about, I think he may have been stressing the importance of good people skills and artful management. My sister is blessed with that skill. Me, I'd still rather be RIGHT than make everybody happy. Bad bad me.

Another walk in the woods

(we have BEAVERS around here! I've never seen one, but I see lots of chewed trees and the dam)

T and my oldest boy went to race their dirtbikes together -- as a team (very cool) and left me and the youngest at home.

Determined to make the best of it, we lounged around together for part of the morning, then went for a drive to my favourite discount organics food store downtown. They have really yummy and unique products at crazy great prices, and their sales on near-expired stuff are phenominal. (Today I was on a mission to get some organic, antioxidant fruit juice and more smoothie mix and some non-dairy "icecream" that comes in some fantastic flavours such as Hazelnut Vanilla, White Peach Medley, and Key Lime Pie for a mere $1.50 per 1/2 litre tub). Cammi and I shared the cool sweet treat while we wandered around downtown -- then when we came back to the car we bought a few more tubs for later.

While we were doing the walking, we went in the very best toy store in town. It has the toy megastore beat in every way. We had so much fun, gleefully checking out the latest in science toys, playmobil and imagination toys. TEEHEE I had to keep repeating to myself that Christmas was coming and no more toys were needed in my house right now!

Upon getting home and putting away the food stuff, we decided the day was too nice to stay inside, so I grabbed the leash and my camera and off we went on the mega-circuit version of our local walks in the woods. What a great day!

PS, I am hating the new photo upload interface for blogger -- too many steps!

Excuse me ... who has deflowered my roses?

I was sorting through my china cabinet today and found one of T's Granny's vases. I thought "Hey! I like this one! I want to use it right now." I remembered there were some of my lovely sunset coloured roses -- crazy as they are -- blooming in November, so I took my shears out to the garden to get a couple for the vase.

I get out there and THEY WERE  G O N E !  I thought I was losing my mind, but upon closer inspection of the stems, they had been very recently snipped. How odd.  Eleven years in this house and I've never had flowers taken without my permission.... at least not that I've noticed.

Don't you think that's odd? I sure do!

I resnipped them more in a clean, proper pruning fashion, and carried on with the china cabinet.... how very very odd.

**************

PS, I took a car-trunk FULL of stuff for charity yesterday. Some shoes with lots of life left that the boys had outgrown, some bed covers that were just too many from the boys' bed stuff, a duvet cover that I don't need, a few toys that I don't think the boys will miss, some books that I have to admit I don't need anymore thanks to the convenience of the internet. And some Christmas pillows that have been taking up room in my storage for way too long!

I purged my prtfolio samples last weekend too. I sat there so long I thought I wouldn't be able to stand up after! (Ain't getting older grand?) But I lightened up by several pounds of recyclable paper! I should do the same with my old tax papers in storage, anything before 2000 can go now, right?!

I'm feeling the love of decluttering again. My work has hit a mellow spot after the flurry of craziness in October, and I'm making the most of it!

Thank you, my wonderful nation, for covering kids' health!

As a young adult I never had a doctor. If I was sick I walked into the evening clinic, no regular physician, no check ups, no commitment. I got my "girl stuff" health through Planned Parenthood (a safe, non-judgemental resource that every youth should get familiar with, whether sexually active or not).

It all changed when, after 3 terrific years of marriage, I got a positive pregnancy test (and double checked it at the PP with a doctor nearby for guidance). I was delighted! I was sure I was ready for the experience of motherhood. After all I did it all in order. Finished highschool, moved out, went to college, got the diploma in my chosen field, got married, got a good job, bought a starter house.... babies are next, right?

Ready or not, we were pregnant, T had a rather underwhelmed reaction "Well the timing isn't great" I think may have been his exact words.... to this day I'm still not quite sure what he thought was WRONG with the timing! No matter what the timing was, I had to find a family physician to take care of me and my growing ward. It wasn't as hard as it could have been. Because I had been going to PP all these years, I was familiar with several doctors that put in their time there. By nature these were generous professionals that cared for young people. And I had a favourite. Good timing too! She wasn't taking new patients, but because I was already pregnant, and it was my first, there are special concessions for that "emergency". I was in!

Now for those that have never been pregnant, and are generally healthy, I'll let you in on something.... if you are scared of needles, doctor's offices or scans of any sort -- adopt! I have never had so much blood taken, been weighted, measured, poked, prodded, scanned, asked to pee on demand, etc, etc, etc. There are a list of things you can't eat or even touch that goes for miles. Not just booze and cigarettes (nobody needs those anyways) you can also cross sushi off the menu and that shot of Gensing in your orange julius smoothy too. No painting, steer clear of your cat box, there are so many things that are normally not a threat to us adults, but can cause untold damage to our developing babies! A lady could get seriously paranoid -- but wait! STRESS can cause developmental issues too!

But I digress. In short, I had way more doctor's appointments that I thought possible for a healthy young lady, and the closer the due date came, the closer I was watched. Then my doctor bailed on me. My "chosen one" had a personal issue and left me with her office partner. Not a bad doctor by any means, just not the one I had so carefully connected with. It turned out okay, there is a nasty horror story here of early labour (no need to go into details today) and next thing I knew I had a baby boy that I had made!
I was terrified!
I felt totally unprepared!
I was also in complete awe of the little life.
and the crash coarse in parenthood began (with surprisingly little direction from those doctors).

But the medical profession has been regularly visited ever since, even without the guidance I was starving for in the beginning. Kids are susceptible to every little bug and they are nice enough to share with the WHOLE family!
Poison hotlines, ambulance trips, broken bones, stitches, emergency dental work, finding out who is allergic to what, specialists with long Latin titles, parasites, choking, and things coming out in great volume from every orifice..... oh lord, motherhood is not for the squeamish.

Of course my boys have their school-enforced doctor exams too. My oldest was given a pediatrician when he was in grade 2 to make medicinal recommendations for his learning disability and ADHD, and his in-turning eye has him regularly visiting the optomologist for glasses.

Now the younger is under the school's scrutiny.
This week has been all about the examinations for him. He had his feet checked, his spine X-rayed, an eye exam and his first visit to his own pediatrician for his learning disability and ADD (no H). EGAD! All the running around for this little boy has me spinning.

Results:
Feet: still excessively pronated, but they are sure he'll out grow it (yay!). He just won't be good at running.
Spine: normal (yay!), just off-posture because of his loosy goosy muscles (same cause as his wonky feet).
Eyes: normal (yay!) headaches are probably from his off-posture
ADD: mild, medicating could be an option but not necessary (not an ideal diagnosis, but we are going to go med-free for this guy!)
Learning Disability: Exacerbated by the ADD. He won't excel in school, but he is a "bright" boy so he will probably coast through dispite his reading and processing speed difficulties. Like his dad, he will tolerate in a half hearted way through school and find his in life as an adult.

It's miserable to think BOTH my boys are just "doing time" for 13 years at school so they can get out and get on with some success at real life.

Though the doctors' appointments are far from done for my rugrats, I do feel like I've cleared a few more hurdles this week.

We have had to dish out for the specialists, glasses, ambulance rides, casts and prescriptions, but I SHUDDER to think how much of a financial strain all the rest of the snotty noses and other routine things would have cost us had we not had coverage through BC medical. Sure we have to pay a bit over $100/month for the privilage... but I think that is quite a bargain when you have children!

fun candy times

 An alien starfleet officer.... who is my youngest boy the rest of the year....

 being handed the loot by a harajuku geisha ghost.... aka ME!....

and a mad old rice-paddy man.... who is my clever teeneager by day.... Trick or Treat!

The rain held off until everyone was back at home. But when it came, it came wickedly hard (appropriate).... so the fun ended by 9pm. Ah well, it was a schoolnight anyhow. Only a dozen kids this year, and not fireworks thanks to our city's stupid bylaw. What can I say, other than the great fun of decorating and dressing up, it was kind of boring.