HYC: Week 26

Week 26!  Holy toledo - we're halfway through the year!

This past week was another good one.  I fulfilled my no-longer-a-secret goal of five days of activity (six if you count the time spent running around getting caught up on errands on Saturday).  I only hit the elliptical once for a whopping five minutes, but I'm trying to get in as many walks as possible before it gets too hot and humid for me to exercise outside.  I wasn't happy with my time on the elliptical, but as I mentioned last week, I was warned that my lack of endurance would be shocking.  The way I look at it, it will be easy to gauge improvement based on how much my time improves.  Chebbar hopped on it on Sunday; despite my warnings, he was highly disappointed by the fact that he was huffing and puffing a minute in, and had to step off after two minutes.  Just gives us something both to work toward, right?  :)

We put a diagonal line through the day on the calendar when we've walked, etc (purple for me, green for Chebbar so we don't get confused) as a visual of how many days we've been active in a month.  While he was striking through for yesterday's walk, he started counting and informed me that I had been active 17 of the past 28 days.  Do you know what my reaction was?  Betcha can guess...

"Is that ALL?!?"

*eye roll*  He pointed out that there were still two days left in this month, which would give me 19 out of 30. I started to think and do the math: two "rest" days per week times four weeks is eight days, or 22 days of activity.  Considering the weeks I've only done three days of activity, I'm not doing too badly!  So, yes, I redirected my mind and stopped being so damned negative.  ;)

My eating has been good, as well, with all but one day showing at least a small deficit on Lose It.  Being able to see how my nutrients break down on Lose It's website, I am shocked by the amount of sodium in EVERYTHING.  According to Lose It, there is sodium in tap water, for crying out loud.  Tap water!  O_O  I had no clue.  We don't add salt to anything (other than, say, french fries (baked in the oven, NOT fried, thank you veddy much)), but I guess my semi-reliance on convenience foods (if you consider the odd can of mushroom soup in a recipe a "convenience") contributes to the high amount of sodium in our diets.  It's absolutely frightening looking at the nutrition information on some of the recipes I've come across to see that the sodium in one serving is almost the same as the daily recommended amount.  That's nuts.  Looks like I'm going to have to start reading up and learning how to wean us of the convenience junk.

How do you attempt to control the amount of sodium in your diet?  What changes have you made to the way you prepare recipes to cut back on the sodium?  Any tips, tricks, or substitutions you could share?

I was recently asked to join a health/weight loss/fitness/maintenance group blog, No More Muffintop.  I was flabbergasted by the request because I'm not exactly a bastion of fitness, heh.  However, the cool thing about the blog is that everyone contributing is at different stages in his or her journey.  My intro post is up, so I hope you'll pop in over there and say hello!  (I will be continuing my HYC updates here.)

I'm having a bad body day

I didn't know when I woke up that today was going to be a Bad Body Day.  I didn't even know when I was in the shower with an up-close-and-personal view.  I didn't know until I had gone through two pairs of capris and three shirts that this was going to be one of those days where my unhappiness with my body translates to everything else about me.

You see, there is a whole lot of self-worth tied up in this old body of mine.  I know it's "wrong" or "silly," but there it is.

The first pair of capris - a pair I wore last year, that do fit better this year considering I'm carrying a few pounds and inches less - made me contort my face into a picture of horror as I looked at the "love" (HA!) handles spilling out over the top of the waist band.  Quite frankly, I can't believe I squeezed myself into them last year: I know I was uncomfortable.  The first shirt clung around my midsection.  The second shirt has slightly shorter sleeves than I generally wear and showcased my ham hock upper arms to perfection.  I'm now wearing pretty much what I've worn the last two Saturdays in a row: beige-ish capris and a black top (that probably makes me look like I'm pregnant based on the cut).  Even though I'm now more physically comfortable than when I started, the feeling of disgust lingers and I feel awful mentally.

When I have a Bad Body Day, nothing goes "right": my hair is a frizzy mess that won't behave; the dark circles under my eyes look like neon flashing signs; my pores look big enough to go spelunking in.  I'm caught between wanting to cry, being pissy, and being utterly disappointed in myself.  And unfortunately, a Bad Body Day does NOT translate into exercise and healthy eating for me: on a day like today, I feel so down and depressed, all I want to do is self-sabotage by sitting on my ass feeling sorry for myself with a bag of Cheetos (and anything else junk food-y I can get my hands on).

It will go away.  It always does.  It's just fighting through it while it's happening.

Do  you have Bad Body Days?  How do you get through them?

New favourite website? PERPETUAL KID!

Holy CRAP, you guys!  How come no one clued me in?!?  Perpetual Kid fulfills the kid/dork/geek/twisted em-effer in me like no other novelty shopping site has to date.  SO MUCH COOL STUFF!  Alas, PK is another site that doesn't ship to Canada (well, easily, anyhow: they do link to a mail forwarding company, though).

New and Improved Personal Library Kit $14.99

This makes the book-nerd in me squee hard.  A date stamp!  Sign-out cards!  OMG!

Doctor Visit Note Pad $6.99

This is actually a really great idea if you're a) forgetful like me, and/or b) don't go to the doctor until you have a collection of concerns.

Crayola Crayon Executive Pen $10.99

I know this is simply dorky, but have you learned NOTHING about me yet?  Pure, unadulterated dork.

Mini Flamingo-Be-Gone $39.99

They have another one with two of these little dudes carrying a garden gnome away, but I think this one might raise a few blue-haired eyebrows in the neighbourhood...  hehehe

The World's Largest Gummy Bear $29.95

I love gummi candy, so this intrigues me, but at 12,000 calories, it frightens me at the same time.  Ow.  I think I got a cavity just looking at this.

Paper Tweet Notepad $4.49

THIS IS WHAT YOU DO WHEN TWITTER IS DOWN!  bwa ha haaaaaaaa

Decision Maker $14.99

Like a Magic 8 Ball, only cooler!  Because, uh, because I said so?

"Thanks For Being..." Self-Inking Stamper $7.99

I can think of a person or two whose forehead I'd like to apply this to...

YouDoo VooDoo Doll $19.99

...and a couple of people whose faces would get applied to one of these.  *cackles evilly*

GTT: $100 online shopping spree

Oh, man!  This week's topic is right up my alley!  I've even already done a $100 challenge on my other blog.  And since Chibi Wants hasn't been getting much attention of late, this a perfect excuse to do some virtual window shopping - the hard part will be narrowing down my shopping locations and deciding if I want to blow it on one thing or get the most bang for my buck...  ;)

"Sharpen-er Your Quills"  $5.99

I don't use pencils often, but I love hedgehogs and I'm always looking for cute stuff to liven up my work space.

Meal Measure $14.99

Now this is the kind of food "measuring" I can get behind!  I've mentioned in previous posts and in various comments around the blogosphere that I don't tend to weigh/measure/count because I become to focused (read: obsessed with) on the numbers.  The one-cup compartments on this are labelled vegetable/fruit, protein, and starch, and all have handy 1/2 cup lines inside the cavities.  Kind of cool!

Heart Envelope Wax Seal $28

No reason for this other than that I love it.  Okay, I'll go with "because it would inspire me to send more snail mail."  *nods*

4" Fuzzy Ninja Domo $12.99

Because I have this strange fascination with Domos.  (Possibly because we don't have Target up here, so I haven't seen one in person.)

"Forgotten" Silver Pendant $22

I love this piece (although I'd probably some how end up stabbing myself in the neck with the points at the bottom... ).  Untamed Menagerie has some amazing stuff - check it out!

"Moo... I'm a Goat" T-Shirt $14.95

Once more, I don't know: it made me laugh hard, okay?   MOO.  hehe

That gives me a grand total of... $98.92.  I even get change back!  Woo hoo!

Now, YOUR TURN!  You've got $100 of internet money burning a hole in your virtual pocket: what would you buy?

Whole lotta shakin' going on

As you've probably heard, there was an earthquake in Ontario/Quebec today.  Many, many moons ago (like, probably-still-in-high-school moons ago), we had an earthquake in BC that I didn't feel.  I have to say, I felt rather ripped off.

Unfortunately, my second crack at tremor surfing was rather... lacking?

I was at work at The Big Box Store, juggling four incoming phone lines and a line up of customers at the service desk when everything started swaying (and it was definitely more of a sway than a shake - think standing on a boat).  The managers in the office off the service desk were freaking out and scrambling for the door way (picture three *cough*hysterical*cough* women hugging each other in a single-wide doorway).  Me?

I stood there, continuing to answer the phone.  Derp.

The managers were screaming at me to get in a doorway; the customers were telling me to get in a doorway; I was arguing that I needed to get the phone.  Plus?  I felt kinda guilty seeking shelter while the customers stood in the middle of the aisle with no protection.  By the time I got my wits about me, put the damned phone down, and moved my ass to a doorway, it had stopped.

Yeah, I rock.  *snort*

HYC: Week 25

Last Friday was my weigh-in day (I ended up weighing Thursday and measuring Friday), and that weight I lost while I was sick?  The weight I figured I'd end up gaining back once I was better?  Well, not only did I not gain it back, I lost (almost) another pound!  *boggles*  However, I gained two inches overall.  I honestly don't get it: how is that even possible?  I mean, I've had months that I've lost weight, but no inches, and months where I've lost inches, but no weight (heh, and months where I've GAINED weight AND inches), but not this.  Can someone illuminate me?

Click to embiggen.

I was so upset by the results, when I went to make dinner, I took the measuring tape with me and remeasured (sadly, not a hell of a lot of difference).  *shame face*  On that note, I think I might be back to measuring myself: where the first time Chebbar took my measurements he was almost... forceful, now it seems like he's being too gentle - I can actually feel the slack in the measuring tape, and it slips if I don't correct it for him.

All that aside, this past week has gone really well.  If I count all the walking we did Saturday with running errands and whatnot (and I do - heh), I logged five days of activity.  Five!  Woo hoo!  On my entry last week, CrazyLady told me that I need to give myself more praise for what I accomplished exercise-wise.  Her comment got me thinking about why I had been rather negative about my four days of activity.  I realized that, while I might say that I'm cool with a minimum of three days a week, my *secret* goal is five days: when I get less than five - instead of being proud that I got in more than the minimum - I'm hard on myself.  So silly.  If my *secret* goal is five days, I need to make that my PUBLIC goal; if I'm going to say that I'm fine with a minimum of three days, then I need to knock off the beating myself up for "only" getting four days in.  (Never claimed to be good at math, people.  *wink*)

I've had a couple of NSVs, too.  For the past two weeks, the only time I've taken the elevator at home was bringing groceries home (shopping cart): every other time it's been down - and back up! - 48 stairs a minimum of once a day.  I haven't snacked after dinner in I don't remember how long.  And I seem to be turning a corner (again) exercise-wise: there were two days last week that Chebbar jammed out, but I didn't; and the one day I went home early because the power was out, I used that extra time to get in a workout I thought I was going to have to skip.  Quite proud of that one!  

Ooh!  And one of the errands we ran on Saturday involved bringing THIS home:

I was on it VERY briefly yesterday (I was warned that I'd be shocked by my lack of endurance - no lie!), and we haven't figured out how to program it yet (I swear the manual was tossed through Babelfish a couple of times) or where its permanent home will be, but we got a smoking deal on it.  

Tonight is my first night alone on the exercise-front (Chebbar won't be home from work until 9pm-ish).  I haven't decided if I'm going to go for a walk or try my luck at the elliptical again.  Hell, maybe I'll do both!  :)

Friday Brain Dump

• TGIMFF
• We had to take Chebbar's car in for a tune-up before he started commuting again: $650+  Boo.
• We found out that our provincial health care has been covered for the past six months, so all the money we've been putting aside waiting for The Big Bill is OURS: cancels out the above $650  Yay!
• We've been talking about an exercise bike/treadmill/elliptical for over a year.  We found an elliptical at a liquidator's on Monday super cheap.  We will be going to purchase said elliptical tomorrow with Chebbar's first-week-back paycheque.
• We BOTH need this thing.  *whispers* After 11 months on lay-off, Mr. Jeebs has gained some weight...
• Have I talked about his mother before?  I can't remember & the search function is not my friend today.  If I haven't, this isn't going to make much sense, so I apologize in advance, but I neeeeed to get this out.  Your only son wishes you a Happy Mother's Day, and you don't acknowledge him.  Mere days later, you also don't acknowledge his birthday.  However, two weeks after that, you wish his sister a happy birthday.  On facebook.  Where he'll see it.  Mom of the year, folks.
• We are SO freaking busy this weekend.  I miss weekends that were lazy and full of down time.  *sigh*
• Taylor and Justin came over for dinner last night.  That's another blog post.
• Nick moved into his Official First Place on Tuesday.  He's rented a room from a buddy (and ended up moving back home twice), but this is his first place (with a roommate) where he has the run of the joint.  
• We offered to give him a spare TV because they don't have one.  He asked if he could get it after they're done moving.  Last night I got a text message saying "So, if you guys aren't busy tomorrow after dinner, you should come see the new place... "  What was left unsaid was "...and bring the TV with you!"  Best. Beating-Around-The-Bush. EVER.  bwa ha haaaaaaaa
• Speaking your truth feels very liberating and enlightening.
• I *may* have a movie date tomorrow night.  Whee!

Happy weekend, everybody!

Do you friend your exes on facebook/myspace/twitter?

Oh HAIL no.  I am firmly of the mind that exes are exes for a reason, and considering I've been the one to end 95% of my past "relationships," I must have had a (somewhat) legitimate reason, right?  Why question that?  I have ZE.RO. desire to try to be an ex's BFF.  Sometimes it's because it's too painful (*cough*Jeff*cough*), or because said ex was fifteen shades of screwed up (*cough*Matt*cough*), but generally speaking it's a lack of desire to revisit the past.

(For the purpose of this post, I'm only talking about facebook because I've never used myspace and I'm not "out" as Chibi Jeebs in real life, so Twitter isn't an option/issue.)

Now, don't get me wrong: I make no bones about being a Nosy Parker - I've been nosy my whole life (seriously).  Unfortunately, this characteristic has also gotten me into trouble once or twice...  For example, I sent a friend request to my eighth grade boyfriend (we would take turns calling each other at night when November Rain came on the Top 10 at 10 and we'd just sit there and listen to it together).  However, there was very little interaction (on his part), so after having a gratuitous spree through his pictures, I ended up unfriending him (not right away, but he was removed relatively quickly: I also don't see the point of keeping someone on my list that I don't interact with).

And just after Christmas, I did a stupid thing and tried to creep an ex(best friend/almost boyfriend)'s page.  To be fair, I creep a lot of people's pages that I'm nosy about interested in, but not enough to friend.  Also, when the HELL did "friend" become a bloody VERB?!?  Gah.  

His profile is pretty locked down, but his wife's isn't.  Which is how I discovered that exbff is now a daddy.  I don't know why, but it felt like the wind had been knocked out of me.  You see, we were extremely close from the age of 13, flirting with the idea of flirting for years.  We were the first one the other called when something major - good OR bad - happened.  We leaned on each other.  We used each other.  We depended on each other.  Then he met his wife-to-be and things... changed.  All of a sudden, I was persona non grata: in the blink of an eye, a 10+ year friendship was over.  I think my shocked might have been a little... what might have been?  (Never mind the shock of seeing someone who SWORE he'd never have kids cradling a teeny, tiny baby.  Talk about mind fuck.)  Again, don't get me wrong: I think it's pretty evident and goes without saying that I'm 100% happy with Chebbar, so it's not, like, buyer's remorse or anything - exbff and I would have NEVER worked long-term relationship-wise.  It was just... weird.  And awkward.  And uncomfortable.

So, NO.  No adding exes to my social media!  What about you?  Would/do you?  Why or why not?

Oh, Eeyore

Newsflash, dude: if you expensed the office supplies the BOSS "stole" from you, he has every right to do so - let me know what you need, and I can replace it.  If you didn't submit the receipt and really did pay for said supplies out-of-pocket, let me know what you need, and I can replace it.  GAH.

*head desk*

HYC: Week 24

Last week?  Not bad!  We walked four of seven days, plus three days of weights.  I started tracking on Daily Mile even though I feel a little silly seeing as I'm not really *training* for anything.  Everyone has assured me that that's just fine, though.  I also started using the Lose It app I downloaded for my iTouch, but failed to use until last week.  THAT'S a bit of an eye-opener, let me tell you!  O_O  I've been getting at least eight glasses of water, and skipping evening snacking.  Weekends are still my downfall.

I have a feeling that I may be on my own a bit on the exercise front, at least while Chebbar is working.  Even though we're seriously considering (as in priced out and planned where it would go) purchasing an elliptical with his first pay cheque, and even though he got a big surprise (pun kind of intended) by the size of coveralls he had to buy yesterday, and even though he took SALAD for lunch today (SALAD, people!  WILLINGLY!  And PLAIN water - no Crystal Light!), he was still skirting around making excuses to not walk with me after work - it will be late by the time he gets home, he'll be tired, dinner would be too late, we probably won't end up walking after dinner even if we say we will, etc.  And we're only talking this week and next MAX: after that, he'll likely be back on 12-hour shifts, leaving me to my own devices.  I'm... frustrated, because the few times I've said I was going by myself, he's acted like I've guilted him into walking with me.

Once he's through retraining and back on shift, he'll be gone by 6am and not home until 9pm when he works days, and the reverse when he works graveyards (meaning straight to bed in order to try to get 7-ish hours of sleep).  Because of the schedule, he won't be able to exercise the days he works.  Fortunately, it's a relatively physical job, so he'll be getting some activity in; plus, he has three-day weekends when he works days and four-day weekends when he works nights.

I'm choosing to look at this as my chance to get a really good foundation for healthy habits in place: while he doesn't impede my progress (if anything, *I* choose to use him as my convenient excuse), I know I do better at staying on track and sticking to my goals when I'm working alone and don't have to take anyone else into consideration.  Plus, we'll still have those three and four days a week for walks.

Another curve ball

After the roller coaster ride of last Thursday/Friday, I had another curve ball hit me from out of left field on Saturday.

Chebbar had gotten a gift card from his sister for his birthday that was burning a hole in his pocket, so we stopped at the local big box purveyor of all things electronic.  Oh, did I ever tell you that we discovered just after Christmas that my grandfather works there?  The one who hasn't spoken to me in nine years?  Yeah, that one.  (I haven't quite reached that point in The Story, but you can check out some of the back history if you're interested.  Note that if there is a situation where Grandmonster is being her usual awful self, but there is no mention of him, it means he was sitting idly by with his mouth shut and his balls absent.)  We (read: Chebbar) have joked every time we're in there about going to talk to him in a HURR-HURR-HURR kind of way, but I had ze.ro. intention of ever doing such a thing.

The trip on Saturday was like any other: we were heading toward the checkout, which sides the appliance department (where Gramps works).  Chebbar made some crack about "Hey, there's Gramps!" to which I replied "Whatever."  I did see his head pop up - as has happened on numerous occasions - then duck back down (as per usual).  We stopped to look at air conditioners, and the next thing I knew a voice at my elbow was asking how we were doing.

You know what I hate?  My inability to slip out of Polite Chibi.  Here is a man who has basically acted like I don't exist for the past nine years, trying to sell us a fucking air conditioner, and all I can do is lamely introduce Chebbar to my "grandfather" (I damn near choked on that word, let me tell you) when the awkward silence started to feel too awkward.  Are you KIDDING ME?!?  He doesn't DESERVE to know Chebbar!  He certainly doesn't deserve to know the slightest bit of information about my life.

Luckily a customer came up to ask him a question as the silence suffocated us, so I hurried Chebbar towards the checkout (almost taking out a family of four in the process - sorry!).  Once he was in line, I quickly made my escape outside where I proceeded to fight tears.

What?  Tears?!?  WHY???

I honestly don't know why.  Part of it was shock: I couldn't believe he had actually approached me/us, and found myself thinking that it must have been nerve-wracking for him (and since we made eye contact (albeit brief) before he ducked his head, I don't for a second think that he didn't know it was me).  Part of it was anger: why now?  For what reason?  What's the point?  Part of it was frustration with myself: don't you DARE waste tears on that man.  They celebrated a milestone anniversary recently with a "big, family" dinner, causing Mom and I joked about how it must have felt to be missing half of your family: maybe that was what precipitated this?  

Once we were safely ensconced in the car, I denied anything was wrong (all the while sniffling and swiping tears off my cheeks *eye roll*).  As we talked about it, Chebbar said something to the effect of perhaps Gramps is a coward.  Well, that set me off on a tear: of course the man is a coward!  He stood by and let his wife BEAT his daughter.  He allowed her "I'm getting rid of you!" bullshit trip to last FIVE HOURS OF DRIVING before telling her that it was wrong and that they "couldn't" give my mom away.  He's sat idly by, never once speaking up to her or even seeking out *my* version of events to determine WHY they haven't spoken to me in nine years - he's just blindly accepted it.  At the end of my rant, Chebbar meekly asked about how we handle the situation "next time."

Next time?  I'm staying in the damned car.

Life's not a box of freaking chocolates...

...it's a bloody roller coaster ride!  *siiiiigh*

Oh, internetz.  This past year has been something of a bumpy ride in the employment department.  We're a few weeks short of the one year anniversary of the post in which I excitedly stated that "This time next year, we could be in a house of our very own. Hopefully."  A mere week after that, our hopes were dashed when Chebbar was laid off.  Again.  Then, he got a job!   Aaaaand then he left said job.  And then he found another job!  Aaaaand then he left that job.  But!  It was okay!  Because remortgaging!  And savings!  And school!


Until it was less than okay.


When we made the decision for him to concentrate on school, we had enough in the bank that even I, Stressy McFrugal from Frettville, was comfortable with the loss of income.  Unfortunately, after having to purchase a new washer and dryer (among other sundry expenses), our savings were pretty seriously depleted.  We've started doing the math on upcoming expenses (property taxes, home owner's insurance, TWO weddings, just to name a few), and are quickly realizing that we're going to burn through what little remains in no time flat.  Chebbar's been keeping an eye on the Job Bank website: the number of available jobs is actually decreasing (and there's very little by the way of part-time work, which is what we agreed upon while he's going to school).  However, as is wont to happen when you have horse shoes shoved up your behind, an opportunity fell in our laps before we even really had a chance to worry about the money situation.


Chebbar had a voice mail from "work" yesterday.  (That place that laid him off almost a year ago.)  They're doing a full call-back.  (In (his) union-speak, a full call-back is mandatory - not going back is as good as quitting - versus a temporary call-back in which he could say no and still remain on the call-back list.)  So now we're looking at choosing between him going back to a job he said he wouldn't return to (so as not to be derailed from the school track), and a quickly dwindling savings account.


We talked.  And talked.  And talked about this last night until we had talked it to death.  The decision was made that he'd go back for a year, quitting in time to start the business program next September (2011 - which was what was looking to be his start date anyhow).  We were trying to wrap our heads around him being gone 15 hours a day again; of him having to go straight to bed as soon as he got home again; of only seeing each other 20 minutes a day during the week again.  But we were also thinking of what could be done with all this extra money (keep in mind: all of our expenses are covered by my wage, so his entire paycheque could be put straight into savings): pay off the car; replace the fridge and stove (after having the drier die, he's paranoid about the other two remaining old appliances quitting on us); maybe even go on that trip to Vegas for Mom's birthday...  Huh.  Not *quite* so bad.


Then his dad called to make sure Chebbar had gotten the message (they work(ed) together).  It seems management's version of a "full" call-back to the currently-working staff?  Is *temporary* until August.


.  .  .


Yeah.  On the one hand, it's sort of a "what the hell's the point?" thing, but on the other, we'll still be able to bank a good chunk of change in the next two and a half months that will give us considerable breathing room.  Plus, his benefits will restart, so prescriptions and health care will be covered three months past when this run ends, AND he'll end up with holiday pay for a full year.  As well, his recall rights will be reset to the full two years again.  And there's nothing saying that business won't pick up enough that they keep this shift on longer.


I don't think I like roller coasters anymore.

Favourite childhood books

This week's topic ties in nicely with the one where we talked about whether we loved to read or hated it (I'm pro-reading, if you missed it and are too lazy busy to click the link *wink*).  But this week's topic?  This week's topic had me so geeked out with excitement that I started making a list yesterday.  Yeah, I know.  Whatevs.  So, in no particular order, I give you the books that transported me to happy places when I was a wee tyke...

• Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak: because obviously.  I also love the movie and the soundtrack and Miss Grace's tattoo, so there.  
• Anything by Robert Munsch, but particularly Love You Forever.  <3
• The Borrowers by Mary Norton: I loved the whole notion that little people were pinching our "lost" things and repurposing them to fit their lives (so much so that I roped Nick into making a Borrower's "house" where everything in it was something repurposed, like an egg carton cup for a chair... ).
• The Indian in the Cupboard series by Lynne Reid Banks: again with the little people!  (D'you think it has something to do with being so damned short myself?  *snort*)
• The Anne of Green Gables series by Lucy Maud Montgomery: my grandparents gave me the boxed set for Christmas when I was 18-ish?  I loved the books, but I had read the series LONG before, so they sat, neglected, on my bedroom floor.  The following spring, our basement flooded and they were ruined.  Fast forward 10+ years and I missed those books a great deal.  Enter Chebbar and my first birthday celebrated as a couple, and he surprised me with a new set.  All together now: awwwwwww!
• Anything by Judy Blume, but particularly the Fudge series when I was younger: looking at the Wikipedia list, there aren't many of her books I haven't read!
• Anything by Beverly Cleary, but particularly the Ramona series: oh, how I loved Ramona's persnickety attitude!
• The Little House on the Prairies series by Laura Ingalls Wilder: when I was 9 or 10, my cousin got this boxed set from the same grandparents.  She was not much of a reader and completely dismissed the books once the wrapping paper was removed.  I was so very jealous of her and those ignored books.
• Anything by Roald Dahl, but particularly Charlie and the Chocolate Factory: choosing one favourite was HARD because I love ALL of his books so much.  (That being said, I've only read his children's books - no "adult" works.)
• Anything by E.B. White.
• Shel Silverstein's poetry
• The Babysitter's Club by Ann M. Martin: LOVED these books since I was babysitting from a young age, but never *really* identified with a particular character.  Where's one of those "Which Babysitter's Club girl are you?" quizzes when I need one?!?
• Sweet Valley High by Francine Pascal: but none of that Sweet Valley Kids/Middle School crap, m'kay?
• Loved Christopher Pike's young adult novels.
• The Vampire Diaries by L.J. Smith: LOVED these ones, too.  Never really got into Anne Rice or anything similar, though...
• Anything by V.C. Andrews (et al).

A lot of people have libraries filled with important works of literature, or dream of first edition prints: my dream library would be filled with all of the books of my childhood.

When "all in good fun" goes sideways

I got a call on Monday from a coworker asking if I had gotten any requests for his (work) cell number recently.  I searched my memory and couldn't remember giving it out to anyone (I had given another coworker's cell number to a business associate a week or so ago, but that's all I could remember).  He was completely freaked out.

You see, he had been at a concert with some of his buddies last Thursday.  Apparently he had been drinking a bit and was a little "happy," and was trying to see how many hugs he could get from strangers: he was quick to explain that it was all in good fun and that he'd even gotten "five hugs from dudes!"  (And in all fairness, in the time I've known him, he seems like stand-up guy.)  The group was sitting beside a woman who was at the concert with her child.  She struck up a conversation with Huggie Bear - just general stuff, including work.  When he told her where he was currently working, she told him she drives past the location every day on her way to work.  They also talked about their respective spouses and children.

On Monday morning, he started getting text messages on his work phone from a number he didn't know.  He sent one back asking who it was, only to have the phone ring in his hand, and a female voice ask if he was so drunk he didn't remember her.  O_O  He asked her how she had gotten his number, but all she would say was that she "had [her] ways."  O_O x2  He told her that he didn't know how she had gotten the wrong impression: he hadn't led her on and had told her about his wife (even though a large majority of the guys in this field of work don't wear wedding rings for safety reasons, he does).  He told her it was inappropriate for her to be calling him.  She told him that she knew and that she was sorry, but that she felt a connection and just neeeeeded to see him one. more. time., begging him to meet her for coffee.  O_O x3

He was freaked out, trying to figure out how she got his cell phone number (that one still remains a mystery).  He had called one of his buddies that was there that night who told him not to worry (especially in regards to his wife) because Buddy was with him all night and could vouch that NOTHING happened.  Huggie Bear was still a little concerned that this woman could turn into a bunny boiler, seeing as how she seems to have ways of getting not easily obtainable information.  However, his firm words seem to have worked: he hasn't heard from her since.

Freaking scary!  Just goes to show that you really can't be too careful.  And that you *probably* shouldn't try to hug strangers...

Father's Day: The Think Geek Edition

I know I did a Father's Day post on Monday, but I just got the FD Think Geek email this morning.  I do think it would probably be wise of these companies to send these out a little sooner to allow for shipping time, but what do I know?

Stainless Steel Wallet $79.99

When I saw the name of this, I thought "Damn!  Must hurt to sit on THAT thing!" but after reading the description, I'm *almost* sold.  Apparently these wallets have the "texture of silk."  All I know is that, with the price of leather wallets and how quickly they start to break down, this might be worth the cost if it lasts longer!

Pogo Sketch iPhone/MacBook Stylus $14.99

He's not a dad that he's aware of (KIDDING!), but Chebbar would love this: he has a hard time manipulating the touch screen because of his, well, man-sized fingers (I was trying to figure out a way to reference the size of his fingers without it sounding dirty... gah!).  Hell, I would find one of these handy.  Assuming, of course, there was some convenient way to affix it to said device in order to prevent losing it in the first three minutes...  

Star Wars Victorinox Pocket Knife $9.99

I admit: I have no idea if this is actually as cool as it appears to be, but the males of the species like pocket knives and sci-fi stuff, right?  (Please don't tar and feather me for the sexism: it's still early.  That's my story and I'm sticking to it.)

Grow Your Own Beer Garden $24.99

How cool is this?!?  Talk about taking u-brew to a whole. 'notha. level.*

Batman Cuff Links $49.99

These?  ARE AWESOME.  Case closed.

*Name the reference!  C'mon: you can dooooo eeeeet!

HYC: Week 23

This past week has been better - still not great, but better.  I did get a few nights of decent sleep, so that helped immensely (well, until Sunday night, that is.  Oh, and Monday night...  *yawn*).  We walked three days last week, with a day of walking whilst shopping for me on Saturday, and a few hours of drywalling for Chebbar on Sunday.  Yesterday, I pulled out the weights after we got home from our walk and did some floor exercises while dinner was cooking.  After dinner, I felt annoyed, but didn't know why, which somehow led to me stating that I wanted ice cream.  Wanted.  Didn't need.  Wasn't hungry.  Wanted.  I recognized that I wasn't hungry and, therefore, didn't need it at first; however, I was more proud of recognizing that I was trying to use food as salve to a "wound" that I couldn't identify, and managed to avoid it.  Go, me!

I read two blog posts yesterday that really spoke to me.  Tara from A Perfect Version of Myself talked about how weight loss is all in your head, that your brain is what sabotages your efforts by telling you that you're still hungry, that you DO need that ice cream, that you're too tired/busy to work out.  

"Your brain tells you that you can’t do this.  You can.
Your brain tells you that this is hard work.  It is.
Your brain tells you that you’re not worth the hard work.  You are."

A-freaking-men.  I know all of that, but somehow I manage to forget.  Often.  (Probably whenever it's *convenient* to suffer selective amnesia forget.)  Tara states that it's important to talk to our brains and remind ourselves of the above.  She's bang-on.  This ties in with my whole be-nicer-to-me New Year's resolution thing (that I haven't been actively working on - I'm not as nasty to myself as I was, but I'm certainly not going out of my way to make a conscious effort to be kinder to myself).

Dani from Well-Rounded Woman was discussing the fine line between loving who you are AS you are now, and letting that make you complacent in pursuing your goals.

"So here I am. I'm feeling great, living and loving life. I'm stupid happy. And yet I'm not where I could be, not who I want to be. Not entirely, anyway. Why? Because I'm too content. And being lax in this journey is the worst thing I can be. I would be remiss not to remedy that sense of complacency immediately because the moment I stop being hungry for progress in this journey is the moment that I open up the possibility of finding myself right back where I started."

Again?  A-freaking-men.  Dani wrote how I've been feeling far more eloquently than I ever could.  Hell, I wasn't even sure what exactly it was that was niggling away at the back of my brain.  What Dani wrote makes so much sense to me, yet I'm left a little conflicted: it's been so long that I've been happy with who I am inside AND out that I don't want the feeling to end.  But at the same time, I'm not satisfied with where I am, and I don't want to let my (admittedly partial) self-acceptance derail where I would like to be.  If that makes sense outside of my head.

I know I talk in generalities in regards to weight loss and/or fitness goals: I have a really hard time getting specific because I'm loathe to set myself up for (even just potential) failure.  In this area of my life, failure is not an option because it does my head in and makes me want to quit entirely.  I'm sure there are a number of people discounting my efforts and what I have to say because I don't bang out 5k a day and swear to lose three pounds a week, and that's okay because I'm doing this for ME and no one else.

Thank you, Tara and Dani, for giving me some perspective yesterday, for giving me something to think about, and for giving me something to work toward.


 

Father's Day!

It's next weekend.  NEXT WEEKEND, PEOPLE!  O_O  Do you know what you're getting the father-type figure in your life?  I do, but it's boring (*cough*gift cards*cough*  What?  Gimme a break!  I have THREE dads to buy for!).  I got an email from Ten Thousand Villages this weekend with Father's Day gift ideas - here are some of my favourites...

Green & Blue Leather Box $30

This would make a great catch-all for keys, spare change, and the other detritus that ends up in Dad's pockets.  

Shesham Wood Cribbage Board $64

Handcrafted from shesham wood, this would make a gorgeous addition to any game collection.

Bronze Father and Child Statue $60

This is really cool - you see TONS of mother and child statues, but don't often come across father and child ones.  I like this a lot.

Bicycle Chain Picture Frame $24

I love this!  It's not often you see a unique picture frame that's masculine to boot.  Slide your favourite pic of you with Dad into the frame and voila!

Multi-Coloured Striped Hammock $180

Who wouldn't love lounging away a lazy summer afternoon in those cheerful hammock?  D'you think I could string this up on my apartment balcony?  Hehe

It's true... I was made for you

Part One
Part Two
Part Three
Part Four
Part Five
Part Six

Because I had already been to so many schools in my illustrious academic career, and because the school districts were starting to lump grade 7 students into the high schools, Mom wanted to try to find a house that would allow me to complete my grade 7 year in an elementary school (half the town had instituted the change, while the other half of the town was waiting another year) - being the new kid is bad enough, but starting out in a high school?  Talk about scary culture shock!

Grandmonster had scouted around before we came down and found a house that was one street away from the high school, not far from the elementary school, and two blocks away from their house.  The rent was higher than Mom was comfortable with, but Dad assured her he would help her out under the table (because she was going to be on welfare, anything more than $100 would end up deducted from her cheque: he told her he'd help out with groceries).  As well, Grandmonster painted pretty pictures of weekly dinners to help lighten the load.  Plus, with them being so close, it would be like having built-in help!

Riiiiight.

Mom quickly had to take the insurance off her car because she couldn't afford it.  Even though they were "right around the corner!" and Grandmonster didn't work, there were mornings that Nick and I would walk to school in the pouring rain - walking past Grandmonster's house - to arrive at school soaked to the bone.  (I'll never forget one morning where it was MONSOONING: we were waiting to see if it would let up, but it didn't, so we ended up leaving late and having to ride our bikes to make up the lost time.  We were half way to school, six-year old Nick sobbing his little heart out the whole way, before we turned around so I could take him home.  I carried on to school after that, arriving late and soaked.)  To add insult to injury, they'd loan the car to Donna all the time; however, when they went on holidays - and obviously weren't going to need the car - they LOCKED it in the garage so Mom wouldn't be able to use it (not that she would have without permission anyhow).  Just one more in a long, long list of inequalities and blatant slaps in the face between their two children.

We "shopped" at the flea market (clothes were new, but obvious knock-offs).  We I "borrowed" groceries from Dad's when he never made good on his promise to cover groceries.  Those weekly dinners?  Never materialized.  Mom subsisted on black coffee and cigarettes so us kids would have enough food to eat.  There was no cable.  There was no car.  There was nothing above and beyond the barest necessities.  

When we went to Dad's every other weekend, it was like a trip to Disneyland!  McDonald's!  Movies!  New toys!  New clothes!  A Nintendo a month before Christmas!  (All of which he demanded remain at his house, of course.)  He didn't lift a finger to help Mom.  She had to take him to court to get him to pay child support.  (At the same time, a government agency decided to go after The Donor for 13 years of back child support.  When it was awarded to Mom, she told the judge that she could most certainly use it, but she wanted to put it into a trust account for me to use for school, because when the time came for me to go to college, she likely wouldn't be able to help me out.  I owe my entire post secondary education (and second vehicle, but that's another story) to my mom.)

It got to the point where Mom just could not make ends meet anymore: it became a choice between paying the rent OR paying the electric bill OR putting food on the table.  She made an extremely difficult decision and asked Dad to move into the house with us kids, this way ensuring that Nick and I wouldn't have to change schools.  It broke her heart to try to explain to three-year old Taylor why Mommy was putting her clothes in boxes.  She moved out and Dad moved in during the summer between grades 7 and 8 (I think - it's been so long, I'm not entirely sure anymore).  She moved in with a friend and started working nights at a gas station.  We didn't see her often because where she was living wasn't really set up for overnight visits with three children.  

Life as we knew it turned upside down once again.

Maxi-mum Coverage

I love the hippy-dippy look of maxi dresses.  When done right (i.e. fit/colour/pattern is flattering), they look very nice - so flowy and comfortable and easy to wear.  Unfortunately, I'm damn near as wide as I am tall: short and squat doesn't seem like the shape that would suit a maxi dress.  *sigh*  So instead I'll have to be content with admiring other people who can wear these lovely summer frocks.

Cobalt Tie-Die Maxi Dress $199 $79.99

I really like the colour combination in this one.

Ruffle Neck Maxi Dress $69 $49

Obviously I love this one, since aubergine is my favourite colour...

Antiqued Gypsy Dress $148

This one totally would've fit into yesterday's eyelet post!

Oversize Floral Applique Maxi Dress $69.95

Okay, the pattern is a little... bold (read: I'd probably be too intimidated and self-conscious to actually wear it), but I love the pop of white of the flower - it just looks very crisp and clean to me.  (Not that the other dresses looked, uh, dirty...  )

Ooh!  I thought of another reason I'll probably never wear a maxi dress: gladiator sandals.  *whispers*  I'm not really a fan.

GTT: Renohate?

I bought my condo almost four years ago.  It was one of only two I looked at (slim pickings + real estate agents who didn't return my agents phone calls = not much to choose from).  It was also the first one I looked at, and it seemed perfect.  Unfortunately, I was worried about all the warnings I had heard about not falling in love with the first place I saw.  However, it really WAS perfect - it hit all my must-haves (two bedrooms; in-suite laundry; covered/secure parking) and all my would-likes (top floor; corner unit).  Plus, it had a fire place, 1 1/2 bathrooms, a huge deck, TONS of storage, and it's HUGE (1,200 sq. ft.).  

There were some minor cosmetic things that (still) need to be done.  The lino in the kitchen is torn where someone dragged the fridge out from the wall, and there are cigarette burns in the corner by the counter where the phone sits (evidently someone liked to smoke and talk).  The cabinet doors need to be refaced (at least) - they're original, old, heavy, and starting to sag.  The carpet isn't bad, but could stand to be replaced (there are three different types/colours of carpet, which makes me completely twitchy if I think about it too long).  None of the appliances match - the home inspector and my real estate agent agreed that the previous owner likely bought refurbished stuff from someone's backyard appliance repair place and kept the nicer, newer stuff; to date, we have replaced the dishwasher, washer, and dryer.  Like I said, cosmetic stuff that's easy to live with.

I painted before I moved in, mostly because OMG! My first home! I can paint any and every thing whatever I want!!!  For the record?  I hate painting.  Haaaaate.  ETA: I learned a *very* valuable paint lesson, though: don't EVAH go by what the paint chip looks like under crappy fluorescent lighting - take that puppy outside into natural daylight.  Otherwise, you may end up hating three of the four colours you chose/slapped on the walls...

One of the things that was done ASAP (as in, before I even moved in), was replacing the toilet and sink in the main bathroom...

This is the "good" toilet: it was in the ensuite, then stuck on the deck when they replaced it (and yes: they replaced the toilet & sink in the ensuite, but not in the main bath... go figure); the toilet in the main bathroom looked like something out of a gas station nightmare and didn't even work.

Unfortunately, we haven't gotten around to redoing/replacing the tub...

However, the shower curtain hides the majority of the tub, so I can live with it.  When it comes time to sell, we'll probably cheap out and go with one of those bath-fitter companies that just sticks a plastic liner over the whole thing to "update" it.  We'll see.

The only issue that came up during the home inspection that was an honest-to-Ceiling-Cat safety issue was the deck/railing.  The deck is over 20' long; as such, there is a post in the middle of the railing to give it more support.  Some idiot before me glued that indoor/outdoor carpet down.  (FYI: one of THE worst things you can do to an unenclosed wood deck (unless you live where there's zero rain/humidity).)  There was some serious rot on the floor of the deck around the support post - as in, bad enough that I tried to keep people OFF the deck, and if anyone went out there, I begged them to stay away from the railing.  

It took me TWO AND A HALF YEARS to get *approval* to repair the deck.  Strata ended up paying to replace the post because it was considered structural.  Our portion of the repairs was actually quite reasonable (considering I was getting estimates of $4,000+).  It was finally completed in October of last year.  It was the incident that sealed the no-homes-with-strata-councils-EVER-AGAIN deal.  It was hell, and *we* didn't even do the work!

So, yeah.  New lino in the kitchen/bathrooms.  New cabinet doors.  New liner (at least) over the tub.  Maaaaaybe new carpet.  That's it.  No more.  And no, I can't even begin to guess what (if any of it) we'll do ourselves.  I think I have to put myself in the renoHATE category.

Eye see you!

Yeah, it's corny: I know.  Shut it.  hehehe

I have had a thing for eyelet ever since I bough a pair of denim shorts with eyelet trim when I was on a field trip to Victoria in grade 8.  Sadly, I only wore them once before they disappeared.  (Yes, it was SO sad: they were really cute!  I PROMISE.)  I love crisp, white eyelet anything, although I'm starting appreciate coloured eyelet the more I slop older I get.

Maggy London Faux Wrap Dress - Nordstrom's  $161.93

I love the collar and tie on this.  (I also love that it's a FAUX wrap dress aka Won't Blow Open to Show Your Ginch.)

Shireen Eyelet Dress - Calypso  $165

I really like the white version of this dress, but I thought I'd branch out a bit like I mentioned before and post the kelly green dress.

"Emily" Eyelet Blouse - Overstock  $29.05

I'm kinda digging the pink, but I'm not sure if it would be too P!I!N!K!  The black may be a safer bet.  Love the detail, though.

Lafayette Pleated Eyelet Skirt - Bloomingdale's  $398

Oof!  That's a spendy skirt!  But it's so cute...

Eyelet Tank - Eddie Bauer  $49.50

Love the little ruffle on the colour.  Love the tie.  Love the shape.